Indianapolis International Airport

Snack Saturday: Happy, Dizzy popcorn at Indianapolis Airport

Airport shops, Food, Snack Saturday,

Everyone in Indianapolis seems to be gaga over Just Pop In’s flavored popcorn and gourmet nuts.

So as a popcorn fan I was happy to see a Just Pop In shop when I landed at Indianapolis International Airport.

It’s not just the popcorn smell that lures folks this way. It’s the colorful display of choices and, when you get up close, the names.

Just Pop In’s Pop Life Collection includes fun names and flavors such as Happy (cherry)

Soar (strawberry), Dizzy (vanilla) and, our favorite, Jett (cocoa).

There’s a decadent milk chocolate collection too.

Is there a local snack you look forward to eating when you’re Stuck at the Airport? If you’ve got a favorite, please snap a photo and send it along. You snack suggestion might be featured on a future edition of Snack Saturday.

Cleansing the palate after a wild weekend

Air Travel, ,

Between following the fallout from that kiss that forced the shutdown of Newark-Liberty International Airport (EWR), various airport power outages, airplane wheel collapses, and the numerous cases of “unruly passengers” that caused several pilots to turn their planes around and go back to the airport last week, we’ve gotten a real case of whiplash here at Stuck at the Airport headquarters.

So today we’re going to cleanse our palate and look at pictures.

These images come courtesy of Daniel Incandela. He’s a huge airport fan, the Director of New Media at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and – as you can see – a great photographer.

We’ve only met on-line, but I can see from his profile that, on top of everything else he does, he’s a new dad.  So, it’s even more impressive to note that he’s kicking off the New Year by rolling out a new blog.

Daniel says he’s going to feature a regular series of posts profiling people and blogs he’s discovered while out and about in the world and on the Internet.

I believe him because his first post is all about StuckatTheAirport.com.  (I told you he’s an airport fan.)

Good luck, Daniel! Thanks for the kind words. And the great pictures.

Airports offer contests, coupons and karaoke

Air Travel, Airport shops, Contests, Entertainment, Events, Free Stuff, Fun Stuff, Holidays, Music, Shopping, , , , , , ,

Austin - Judy Lee Tap Dancers

The number of people buying plane tickets may be down, but that’s not stopping the nation’s airports from getting all gussied up in their holiday best. And while everyone’s budget is tighter than usual, travelers will still find plenty of airports hosting contests, carolers, karaoke and opportunities for a last-minute heart-to-heart with Kris Kringle.  In my most recent “At the Airport” column on USATODAY.com, I offered a round-up of what’s in store.

Petting zoos, popcorn, and performances

This Saturday, December 12th, 2009, the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) will host Pups, Popcorn & Perfect Pitch in the pre-security Civic Plaza. There will be free treats from Just Pop In! and two “petting” zoos: one with instruments from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) and another with adoptable animals from the Humane Society of Indianapolis.  On December 14th at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), listen for the US Airways Chorus. And on December 16h, look for JJ Jones, the Human Snow Globe, at Nashville International Airport (BNA): he’ll be the one inside a giant inflatable bubble singing wacky Christmas songs.

JJ Jones - Human Snow Globe

On December 21st, the Judy Lee Dancers (dancers are all 60 years old and up) will perform at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), And on December 23rd, a choir made up of local Austin-based TSA employees will present a medley of traditional Christmas carols.

Contests and Coupon Books

Like many other airports, there’s a full schedule of holiday entertainment at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), where you can also pick up a coupon book filled with 80 coupons that can be used at MSP’s stores and restaurants.  The booklets are available at information booths throughout the airport and on-line at ShopsatMSP.com.

Throughout December, you’ll also be able to find coupon booklets at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and in the Central Terminal Building at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), where The Food & Shops at LGA will also be raffling off one pair of diamond earrings from Taxco Sterling (value $2,000.)

SAN Wrapping paper

As in past years, many retail shops and volunteer organizations will be offering free, post-security gift wrapping stations at various airports. Look closely at the paper being used at the San Diego International Airport (SAN) December 18th through December 23rd: the artwork is by students in The New Children’s Museum’s After School Program.

Concourse Karaoke

Housto IAH Karaoke

Karaoke was big at George Bush International Airport (IAH) last year and it’s back again this year on Saturday, December 19th.  Karaoke is also on the schedule at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW).  Their karaoke fundraiser takes place in the McNamara/Delta Terminal from Sunday Dec. 20th through Wednesday, Dec. 23rd.  Anyone (or any group) stepping up to the microphone will be asked to make a $5 donation to a fund that will be split between two local charities. Participants will have their names entered in a drawing for a gift basket filled with items from Delta Airlines and airport vendors.

Indianapolis Airport auction big success

Deals, Events

Looks like yesterday’s auction at the old Indianapolis International Airport terminal was a big success.

According to this article, about 2,5000 people showed up and snatched up most all the “furniture, furnishings and fixtures” put on the auction block.

IND AUCTION INCANDELA

(Photo courtesy Daniel Incandela)

Evan Strange, who’s just finishing up his Communications & Marketing Internship at the airport, attended the auction and sent along some notes:

I have been to auctions before, but nothing quite like this.  Not only were there thousands of items, but they were all being sold in an abandoned airport, which added a sense of eerie nostalgia that is hard to explain…. One of the best parts of the auction was seeing all the people that came out… People from all walks of life, locals and internationals, serious bidders, and souvenir searchers were all there looking for their “piece” of the old IND.

The people I talked to at the auction seemed to be surprised about all of the different items being auctioned, from aerial photographs of the old terminal, to water coolers and refrigerators.

Wish you’d been there?   Dan Incandela was and he was kind enough to post some of his photos from the event on Flickr.

Here are my favorites:

IND Airport Dan Incandela

IND XMAS TO GO INCANDELA

(Photos courtesy Daniel Incandela)

If you attended the auction, please let us know what you saw – and if you bought anything!

Auction day at Indianapolis Int’l Airport

Deals

If you’re in the market for some concrete outdoor planters, aluminum and glass pedestrian shelters, a steel mezzanine, Shaker style seating areas, air compressors, pay phone or remote parking stations, and anything else that may have been used at an airport, then you’re in luck.

ScreenHunter_02 Aug. 03 23.53

All this and more, much more, is being auctioned off today at old Indianapolis International Airport starting at 10 am.  Doors open at 8:30 am.

You can study many of the items up for auction in this brochure, but it unfortunately does not include the lost-and-found property such as watches, luggage, laptop computers, and jewelry, which will also be auctioned.

ScreenHunter_03 Aug. 03 23.56

I sort of had my heart set on an escalator, or those Shaker style benches, but I’m sure those items will find good homes elsewhere.

If you attend the auction and go home with anything fun, please let us know!

Souvenir Sunday: toys from Alaska Airlines & tales from Siena

Souvenirs, , , ,

Happy Souvenir Sunday!

Every Sunday Stuck at the Airport unpacks the carry-on and re-packs for a fresh new adventure. It’s also when we look over the souvenirs we’ve accumulated through the week.

This week, we have this cute little Air Force One that photographer and world traveler Daniel Incandela found for sale at the Indianapolis International Airport.

daniel-incandelas-ind-souvenir

At a Tweetup (a real-world gathering of folks who follow each other on Twitter) hosted by Alaska Airlines in Seattle, I came away with this great souvenir: a Best-Lock construction toy of an Alaska Airlines airplane.

alaska-airlines-toy

I’m not sure what my favorite part of this souvenir is. The cute little airplane (that sells on-line for less than $5), the little pilot inside, or the fact that the package has a message about the dangers of plastic bags printed in 36 different languages!

alaska-airlines-toy-parts

And, because sometimes the best souvenirs are the stories our friends bring home from their trips, I’m including this link to Bob Rini’s Nine Pound Hammer  blog entry about his stop in Siena, “the arch rival of Florence.”

While there he learned the history of Siena through the story of how the 17 contrade (neighborhoods) compete against each other in a wild-sounding bareback horse race, the Palio,  that dates back to 1283.  Those neighborhoods each have their own flags and costumes; a tradition we now think every city should adopt.

sienna-costumes(Courtesy Bob Rini; Nine Pound Hammer)

Have you found a great souvenir while stuck at the airport?

If it is: under $10; not a generic item (i.e. shot glass or mug); and “of” that airport, city or region, then please send a photo and a note about why you chose that souvenir.  It may just show up on a future Souvenir Sunday.

Take an art tour of Indianapolis airport

Art

The lovely, new Indianapolis International Airport (IND) opened to the public in November 2008 and now it has a cool-looking Web site to match.

Take a minute to visit the site, even if you’re not planning a trip to IND anytime soon.  In addition to a tour brochure, the site has a downloadable pamphlet describing the $4 million of new artwork created just for this terminal.

Here are just two of my favorites:

Towards Flight by Brian McCutcheon

ind-mccutcheontowardsflight2

and Baggage Claim by Ron Baron

ind-barondetail4

Love the layover: Indianapolis International Airport

Free Stuff, Museums, Wi-Fi, , ,

All of a sudden there are lots of (free) reasons to visit Indianapolis.

The city has just opened its brand-spanking-new terminal at Indianapolis International Airport (IND), complete with free wireless Internet access, swanky shops and restaurants, and several million dollars worth of brand new public art.

Now museums, attractions and tourist destinations in town have banded together to offer free admission and other freebies, one each day, during the 12 days leading up to Christmas. The promotion begins Saturday Dec 13, with free admission to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum and ends on Christmas Eve with free admission to see Santa, a snow castle and other attractions at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. I have my heart set on flying in by Dec. 20th. That’s when there’ll be free tours at the Indiana Medical History Museum, which bills itself as the “nation’s oldest surviving pathology laboratory.”

(The “Anatomical Museum” room inside the Indiana Medical History Museum. Photo courtesy the IMHM.)

Here’s a link to more information about the 12 days of free events in Indianapolis leading up to Christmas.

Free wireless Internet access at new Indy airport

Art, Free Stuff, Openings, Wi-Fi,

The new Indianapolis International Airport (IND) opened earlier this week, complete with a new terminal building, new parking facilities, new interstate access via I-70, new air traffic control tower, and $4 worth of original artwork.


In addition to lots of new shopping and dining opportunities, the airport is also offering travelers free wireless Internet access. Hooray!!!

The terminal building is named in honor of World War I flying ace Col. Harvey Weir Cook, and soon there’ll be a permanent display honoring the Hoosier hero in the Baggage Claim area near the south garden. The display will feature personal memorabilia and other items, including Cook’s goggles, medals, letters, pilot licenses, photos, antique model planes, and more.

Open house at new Indianapolis International Airport

Art, Openings

Proving, once again, that it’s often lots more fun to just hang out at the airport than to actually fly anyplace, thousands of folks showed up this past weekend for the open house at the new Indianapolis International Airport.

In addition to all the new shops and eateries, the new terminal, just down the road from the old terminal, has lots of great new artwork.

For example:

This piece, called JetStream, was proposed by Rob Fisher, a well-known sculptor who died before he could construct the piece. Luckily his wife and daughter completed the piece, which is made of 120 “crafts” arranged in a pattern that resembles the way the jet stream curves around Indiana on a national weather map.


Breath (above) is a kinetic sculpture created by Indianapolis artist Greg Hull. The work consists of 11 hollow forms suspended at various levels that, when operating, will seem to inflate and deflate – or breathe.

Want to see more? The Indianapolis Star has a nice slide show on its Web Site.

Or you can just plan to a visit on your own. The airport opens for real – with arriving and departing flights – on November 12th, 2008.