Linden Wood - Indianapolis, IN

Lindenwood acts as one of the many neighborhood offshoots of the central town of Southport. Southport was first established as a town in 1832. After new legislation merged the city governments surrounding Indianapolis, Southport decided to remain its own city outside of Indianapolis limits. Today, Southport has become a thriving community with numerous neighborhoods like Lindenwood housing most if its suburban residents.

Despite its growth, the Southport area lacks any museums or notable art galleries and attractions. However, those interested in taking dance classes can check out the classes offered at the local dance studio on Madison Avenue and Southport Road. The nearest movie theater lies south of Lindenwood in Greenwood Park Mall.

Of the annual events in the area, the Southport Fall Festival acts as the most popular among residents. Occurring on the second Saturday of October, this festival features food vendors and live entertainment for all ages.

The area surrounding Lindenwood contains a good variety of restaurants. From Indian to Italian, the dining experience covers all types of food, with a general emphasis on affordable eats and a slight slant towards Southern-style home cooking.

Clay Oven Indian restaurant remains one of the most popular restaurants in town. Located just off the main road of US 31, this family-owned eatery features all the classic Indian dishes, such as chicken tikki masala and basmati rice. Locals particularly love the garlic naan bread served with each meal. To make the most of your dining experience, stop by during lunch to take advantage of the $9 buffet.

Another noteworthy restaurant is Vito Provolone's, located in the heart of the neighborhood on the corner of S. Meridian Street and Meridian School Road. This locally owned Italian restaurant provides the perfect place to bring a date for a romantic night out. Don't let the location within a strip mall fool you; once inside, a dimly lit, refined ambiance accompanies your pasta dinner. All meals at Vito Provolone's come with the restaurant's famous garlic bread, a consistent crowd favorite. The interior leans toward the small side, so making reservations in advance is advised, particularly on weekends. The restaurant serves an impressive selection of wine, and for dinner, many people recommend trying the chicken diablo or vegetarian lasagna dishes.

For the ultimate dive-bar experience, head to Robby's Pub on Southport Road. What this bar lacks in live entertainment, it makes up for with dirt-cheap drinks and food. Of all the bars in the surrounding area, Robby's Pub is the only place you can find $1 bottled beers everyday of the week, along with 25-cent Taco Tuesdays and 50-cent Coney dogs on Wednesdays. Even without the daily specials, Robby's serves up pub food on the cheap regularly. The inside also features multiple big-screen TVs to watch sports, along with a jukebox for music.

Public transportation in Lindenwood remains minimal compared to other neighborhoods in the Indianapolis area. While travel via public bus is available, the only stops are on US 31 and all go directly north towards downtown Indianapolis.

If you need a ride to the airport, plan on calling ahead for a cab driver. Many people call Uber for lifts to other areas due to the lack of taxis driving through the neighborhood.

While the area remains very flat, biking is usually only done in residential areas and for recreational purposes. The lack of bike lanes on major roads can make cycling in some sections unsafe.

Nearly all residents of Lindenwood use their cars daily to get around. As a car-dependent neighborhood, almost all errands will require driving, with perhaps the exception of a visit to Perry Park. However, drivers never have to worry about finding a parking spot, with plenty of space to park cars available throughout the area. In addition, the convenient location between US 31 and State Road 135 presents two main roads for quick and easy commuting. US 31 presents the best route to take to merge onto I-465, while State Road 135 runs directly into the center of downtown.

One of the highlights of the Lindenwood neighborhood proves to be Perry Park. As an attraction for residents from neighborhoods all around, this park provides fun family activities throughout the year. The most popular amenity in the summertime is the Aquatic Center, which features water slides, fountains, swimming lanes and a kiddie pool for toddlers. Entrance to the aquatic center costs $6 for adults and $5 for children.

In the winter time, Perry Park attracts families from all over with its full size, indoor ice skating rink. The rink serves as host to multiple activities throughout the colder months, including figure skating lessons, ice hockey leagues and broomball games.

Besides the ice rink and aquatic center, other amenities in the park include picnic areas, a section for rollerblading and a community room. The open green areas of Perry Park also serve as a great place to bring a dog to play.

Many residents of Lindenwood experience a lower cost of living than other areas of central Indianapolis. The median rent for a one bedroom apartment hovers at $720 per month.

Despite relying heavily on car travel, gas prices remain equivalent to the national average price. If needed, a day pass on public transport will cost you $4. Expect to pay anywhere from $3 to $5 for a beer at a local pub, although many bars offer drink specials for even cheaper.

Expenses for rent, food and entertainment all prove lower in Lindenwood than downtown Indianapolis. However, those commuting downtown or farther north may end up spending more money on gas than the average Hoosier.

The Greenwood Park Mall, located just over a mile south of Lindenwood, acts as the area's central area of commerce. This mall plaza contains staple mall stores, such as Express and American Eagle. The mall also includes a movie theater. Among the popular chain stores lie some notable specialty stores, like RaeLynn's Boutique. This boutique specializes in prom dresses for young girls, but it also features stylish dresses and accessories for all sorts of events. With dresses from over eight different designers, there is always plenty of styles to choose from. For some popular brands at bargain prices, try checking out Selective Seconds, a local consignment shop with a mix of designer brands. This store features nearly 5000 square feet of selection to browse, so come prepared to do some serious bargain hunting. Selective Seconds also purchases used clothes, furniture and other items, so stop by between business hours during the week and make some extra cash by selling your old stuff. Residents can choose from a number of grocery stores for weekly food shopping, such as Kroger and Walmart. However, some may want to shop closer than the Southport area and stop by Marsh for their groceries. Those looking for a farmers market will need to take a trip east to Southport for the Southport Farmers Market, available on Tuesday mornings and Friday afternoons from May through October. Located in the parking lot of the Southport Antique Mall, this market includes fresh local produce as well as handmade crafts from regional artists.