Posted in Indianapolis October 10, 2017 by

10 Unwritten Rules Every Hoosier Lives By ‘Til Death

Life in Indianapolis has its own quirks and routines, so there’s no doubt that unwritten rules apply to every resident. Here are 10 guidelines to live by when you’re in Indy:

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1. NEVER cheer for Tom Brady.
Andrew Campbell/Flickr
If you live in Indy, you cheer for Andrew Luck. He’s our quarterback. It’s also, of course, acceptable to talk about Peyton Manning in reverence, but you never, ever cheer or praise Tom Brady.
2. Always expect unseasonably warm or cold weather.
Serge Melki/Flickr
You can never trust the local weather report. Frankly, you can never trust what month the calendar says. If it’s December, it could still be 60 degrees, and if it’s May, there could be snow on the ground. Prepare for every weather scenario.
3. If you’re drinking beer, drink local.
Matt K./Yelp
Indy has become a fantastic city for craft beers. At a bar, forget the Coors or Miller Lite. Order a beverage brewed by Sun King or Bier Brewery.
4. The first weekend of summer is race weekend.
Lenny/Flickr
Forget about the "official" first day of summer in the middle of June. Summer in Indy starts on Memorial Day Race Weekend for the Indianapolis 500.
5. Explore the parks. There are more than 100 of them!
Sammi W./Yelp
The city has so many parks and nature preserves to see. There’s no need to sit inside when it’s nice out. Get out and enjoy some hiking, fishing, or mountain biking. You have over 100 parks to choose from, so you better start soon if you want to see them all.
6. Pork tenderloin is always a good meal choice.
Susan R./Yelp
This fried, delicious sandwich is a staple in Indy and you can never go wrong ordering one at a bar or restaurant.
7. There’s no such thing as soda. It’s called pop.
Thomas B./Yelp
Yeah, we don’t call it soda. We don’t even know what that is. Your sugary, carbonated beverage is called pop.
8. On the weekends, you’re hanging out in Broad Ripple or Mass Ave.
MCC_Indianapolis/Flickr
The younger, college-aged crowd goes wild in Broad Ripple and working professionals meet up on Mass Ave for a cocktail and local live music. You won’t find two better neighborhoods to visit on a Friday or Saturday.
9. Saturdays are for IU, Purdue, or Notre Dame football. Sundays are about the Colts.
bnpositive/Flickr
This is pretty self-explanatory: On Saturdays, you cheer for your alma mater, and on Sundays, you’re cheering on Andrew Luck (when he’s healthy) and the Colts.
10. Keep bug spray on hand at all times.
Mike Mozart/Flickr
The humidity can be unbearable during the warm months, which brings out the mosquitos and assorted flying bugs. Your car, backpack, or purse should always have some bug spray in it.

There you have it: the unwritten rules for living in Indianapolis. What do you think? Are there any other rules you live by? Let us know in the comments!