Monon Trail

Your best buddy can party in Broad Ripple, too: The deck and patio at Plump’s Last Shot is a happening scene for sociable dogs, with water bowls and servers who’ve been known to bring biscuits.

Don’t try to make new friends. Even so, the people-watching is first class. Just don’t gawk.

Craving something salty? Locally made beef jerky at Joe’s Butcher Shop delivers a surprising lemon-peppery kick.

Question: A friend says my Instagramming is disruptive to other trail-users, but everyone “hearts” my tilted shots of trees and bridges. What’s the verdict?

Monon users ponder many things during their straight-line workouts, but how the greenway came to be isn’t one of them. Ray Irvin, its original visionary, walks (or jogs) us through it.

1. It’s an advertising-free zone.
2. Barbecue sandwich at Locally Grown Gardens.
3. Murals.
4. Spying cool bikes. …

I was inspired to schedule date night at Indy’s last-standing drive-in after reading Amy Wimmer Schwarb’s piece on the subject, “Moving Pictures.” Accompanied by photos of outdoor theaters around the state by our own Tony Valainis, the essay explores the importance of these vanishing pieces of Americana—and how the cinemas are fighting to modernize in a world of Netflix and iPads.

When every other person passing you on the Monon offers some sort of greeting, it gets pretty old.

Arie Luyendyk Jr. is in the driver’s seat, and he calls the shots for us as to where one should take a date and what to do there.