Castleton - Indianapolis, IN

Castleton has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1843 as a small town along the Nickel Plate Railroad. After the construction of I-465 in the latter part of the 20th century, the neighborhood experienced a huge spurt in growth, both commercially and residentially. With the intersection of I-69 and I-465 being close nearby, people flocked to the area for its convenient travel and family-friendly neighborhoods. Castleton continued to attract middle to high-income families with the development of Lawrence North High School and Community Hospital North in the late 20th century.

As a heavily commercialized neighborhood, Castleton lacks some of the cultural attractions of other areas, such as museums and art galleries. The AMC Castleton Theater acts as host to the neighborhood's biggest event of the year, the Heartland Film Festival. Each October, the Heartland Film Festival brings people from all over Indianapolis together for 10 days of film screenings from independent producers and directors. Most screenings also feature a Q&A session with the actors and directors. With a focus on cultural and community development, the films at Heartland challenge the views of the audience and move them to greater awareness of other people, cultures and perspectives.

With the amount of consumer traffic coming through Castleton Mall, the neighborhood features plenty of dining options for its residents. Chain restaurants represent the norm for the area, but a few hidden treasures still remain. Despite being largely commercial, Castleton manages to feature a wide mix of ethnic restaurants in addition to the American staples.

When it comes to independent restaurants, Ichiban Noodles acts as one of the neighborhood's best-kept secrets. This family-owned Japanese restaurant serves some of the best sushi in Indianapolis. Diners love the Louis roll, but the bento box provides the most variety with a choice of sushi rolls, fried rice, and meat. The prices remain very reasonable, and the ambience resembles that of a small-town noodle house in Japan.

Though the neighborhood lacks a venue specifically dedicated to live music, residents can still occasionally catch a show. Castleton Grill has been known to feature local musicians on weekends. The AMC Castleton Theater attracts a large crowd every weekend looking to catch the latest film on the big screen.

If you're looking for a place to grab a drink, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a place that suits your fancy. Blend Bar with Davidoff Cigars appeals to those who crave the finer things in life, such as classic Cuban cigars, classy cocktails, and aged whisky. Although this bar welcomes smoking, Blend's state-of-the-art ventilation system keeps the smell from lingering on patron's clothing. Overall, the ambiance suits those looking for a post-dinner hangout to bring a date or to host a business event.

Those looking to break out their dancing boots should check out Saddle Up Saloon & Dancehall. With cheap drinks, a mechanical bull, and country line dancing all night, Saddle Up provides plenty more to do than just grab a beer. On Wednesday night, ladies get in free, and Thursday night features free mechanical bull rides on Unitas, Indy's favorite mechanical animal.

Despite being so close to Castleton Square Mall's many restaurants and shops, the neighborhood remains very car-dependent. Any walking or biking done in the area happens mainly for recreational purposes and not commuting. Allisonville Road includes a bike lane running as far south as the north end of downtown, but remains one of the busiest roads in the area, so not many bikers choose to ride on this path consistently.

Cabs prove hard to come by, so call ahead if you need a ride to the airport. Services such as Uber and Lyft also provide a good option. The IndyGo bus line services the neighborhood with a few stops on Allisonville Road, though few residents choose to use the service, with its infrequent stops and lack of destinations.

Castleton includes two main exits that merge onto I-465. The most popular one, the junction of I-465 and I-69, provides access to the two most important highways in the city. Be ready for traffic around rush hour and on weekends, as the area around the exit ramp becomes quite congested.

Castleton residents enjoy the convenience of having one of the city's best-known parks close to the area. Located just off 91st Street and Allisonville Road, Sahm Park features a number of amenities that draw crowds from all over the area. Looking to start a sports team? Sahm Park contains tons of sports fields, including tennis courts, basketball courts, soccer fields, sand volleyball courts, a disc golf course and a full golf course with a driving range.

Want to cool off in the summer? Kids will love the Sahm Park Aquatic Center. Although the rest of the park remains free, entry to the Aquatic Center costs $5 for adults and $4 for children. Once inside, kids can go wild on the three water slides, multiple water fountains and spacious pool.

In addition to these recreational activities, Sahm Park also includes a fitness trail for those wanting to walk or jog. Visitors with dogs can walk them along the trail or head out to the open fields for a game of fetch. Located at the center of it all, the Sahm Park picnic shelter serves as a great place to have a picnic with friends. Public restrooms are located at the back of the picnic shelter.

Residents of Castleton enjoy a relatively low cost of living, especially when it comes to rent. For one-bedroom apartments, the average price amounts to around $800 a month.

Many people in the neighborhood can find bargain deals on groceries and retail items through the many stores in the area. Compared to areas such as downtown Indianapolis, the price of food and services remains much cheaper. However, residents may spend more money on gas due to the car-dependent nature of the neighborhood. To help with this, some people carpool to work.

At the heart of the neighborhood, Castleton Square Mall serves as the central area of commerce and retail. As the largest mall in the state of Indiana, Castleton Square Mall features all the retail stores that consumers love, from TJ Maxx and H&M to Dicks Sporting Goods and Finish Line. With so many options, many shoppers find no reason to shop outside the mall area. Despite the largely commercial nature of the neighborhood, residents can still find a few small boutiques in the area. Butterfly Consignment provides a selection of shoes, clothes and accessories at bargain prices. Located across the street from the mall on 82nd Street, the consignment shop features second hand clothing as well as new items from some of the top fashion brands. If you're looking to redecorate your living room, head over to Urban Styles Furniture and browse their warehouse-sized selection of interior decor. Unlike traditional furniture stores, this emporium emphasizes modern fashion in its furniture presentations. Each piece of furniture pairs with the surrounding pieces to give the shopper an idea of what a certain couch or chair would look like in a certain theme. The store also features a special selection called "the attic," which includes deals on furniture up to 70 percent off. When it comes to grocery shopping, the people of Castleton have a couple of options. Those who enjoy buying in bulk go to Costco to stock up on all their staples for the month. Kroger and March also service the area. Trader Joe's provide some specialty groceries and food options. Located just off Hague Road and 82nd Street in the Lawrence North High School parking lot, The Market at Hague operates from May to October and provides local produce and foods from regional farms. In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, the farmers market includes artisan breads and other baked goods.