Indianapolis International Airport

Souvenir Sunday at Indianapolis International Airport

Airport guides, Airport shops, Shopping, Snack Saturday, Souvenir Sunday, Souvenirs, , , , ,

On Sundays we take a look at some of the inexpensive souvenirs you can pick up for around $10 when you’re stuck at the airport. This week, we’ve got some fun stuff to share from the Indianapolis International Airport (IND).

Of course, there’s the requisite candy ‘poop.’  Here, it’s Cardinal Poop, in honor of the state bird.

Marcella Gruelle created the Raggedy Ann doll in Indianapolis back in 1914, so you’ll find plenty of  Raggedy Anns and Andys for sale at the airport.  Only the tiniest sizes, and maybe the books, fit our $10 or under budget for Souvenir Sunday, but its fun to see the different-sized dolls all piled up and ready for new families.

There’s also the Just Pop In popcorn I featured yesterday on Snack Saturday, but it’s a fair bet that if you buy this as a souvenir, you’ll end up eating it all on the airplane.  Or before you get from the shop to your gate.

So consider doing some souvenir shopping at the airport spa. Yes, the spa.  IND is the only outpost for Erin Humphrey’s Enroute Spa and the spa is headquarters for a locally sustainable retail program Humphrey calls Hip and Handmade in Indy.  I had a chance to sit down and chat with Humphrey about the program and she told me how much fun she’s having scouring craft and DIY fairs in search of products to feature.

I’d already spotted these purses and Humphrey pointed out that they’re made by ReFind Originals, an Indiana company that turns reclaimed leather from everything from discarded old car seat covers to well-worn bomber jackets into purses and handbags.

The purse I had my eye on was over the $10 Souvenir Sunday limit, but the Enroute Spa also has this nicely smelling line of locally-made body care items with all natural ingredients. The blends have names such as Stress Relief, Immune Support, Elysia and Winter Magic and in addition to the $10 price tag on many of the containers, the selling point for me is the fact that body lotion also comes packaged in TSA-friendly solid sticks.

Have you found a great souvenir while you were Stuck at the Airport? If it’s $10 or under, “of” the city or region and, ideally a bit offbeat, please snap a photo and send it along.  Your souvenir may be featured on a future edition of Souvenir Sunday.

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

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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!