Old Northside Bed & Breakfast, Indianapolis, IN

Originally published April 30, 2009

Old Northside Bed & Breakfast Innkeeper Gary Hofmeister opens up to people; people open up to him.

This is the biggest reason for his long track record of success; on stage, in his jewelry business, and for many years at his bed and breakfast. The Old Northside Bed & Breakfast is a resounding success in the Indianapolis area. However one of the biggest assets of this business is the innkeeper. Innkeeper Gary listens to his guests; you can tell because he brings back points from previous conversations. He is an interested and interesting individual and at the Old Northside Bed & Breakfast, Innkeeper Gary was on his best game. Or it just comes naturally to him. However the history at the Old Northside Bed & Breakfast dates back more than 100 years to 1885 when the property first took life in the Indiana foothills.

One of the things that my wife and I immediately appreciated about the Old Northside Bed & Breakfast was its location in relation to the highway. We are not from, nor had we ever been to Indianapolis before. Were it left up to Google Maps (an instrument which, while logical and all that, doesn't always make the most sense) we would have been going a great distance out of our way in order to come back a short distance correctly. However, being Google Maps wise, we were smart enough to contact Innkeeper Gary directly and make sure that we had the right directions from the highway (literally just one turn and straight).

According to the Old Northside Bed & Breakfast website, the inn "is located on the periphery of downtown Indianapolis in the Historic Old Northside. The inn is within walking distance or a short drive to The President Benjamin Harrison Home, Morris Butler House, Monument Circle, Circle Centre, RCA Dome, Indiana Convention Center, and the Conseco Fieldhouse. While in Indianapolis, you may want to also visit the Indianapolis Zoo, catch a baseball game at Victory Field or visit the many attractions that Indianapolis has to offer." With all that said, there is plenty to do in Indianapolis.

However the real draw to the Old Northside Bed & Breakfast has got to be the glowing personality of Innkeeper Gary. As my wife says, the Old Northside Bed & Breakfast is a Bed & Breakfast which is run by a guy but doesn't feel as though it's run by a guy. The ambiance at Old Northside is pitch-perfect. There is a place for everything and everything is in its place. Whatever you need at your stay at the Northside Bed and Breakfast; if it's not here, Innkeeper Gary will see to it that it gets here (or he'll tell you how or where you can get it yourself!). Also the inn is cared for such that you are sure you are being given the top tier treatment. When we arrived Innkeeper Gary was just about to retire to his room to do his ironing! He said that it takes him a movie and a half to do the ironing; the ability to multi-task makes it all worthwhile for him.

Another great fact about the Old Northside Bed & Breakfast was that there were snacks a plenty available here. Innkeeper Gary has a full VHS (!) and growing DVD collection for folks to take back to their rooms (we watched "The Illusionist" while we were there; 1 ½ stars; Jessica Biel in a period piece was distracting) but the real bonus to all this is that you can totally have snacks! Candy, soda, cookies, cakes, and microwave popcorn were all able to be had. I cannot really explain to you how happy my dear wife got when she found out there were movies, time to watch them, and microwave popcorn all made available to her.

The bedroom that we stayed in at the Old Northside Bed & Breakfast was the honeymoon suite and had a queen sized, four post bed, working gas fireplace, Jacuzzi tub, separate bathroom, cable television, desk, mirror, and one more interesting little tidbit about the room. The toilet was in a separate room but the Jacuzzi tub and standing glass enclosed shower were visible to anyone in the room. This room is certainly not for the faint of heart. If you are shy and need your shower time in a separate space, certainly there are other rooms for you at the Old Northside Bed & Breakfast. However if you're still young and virile (or at least feel young and virile) and are (or may be) a showman at heart, then this suite is the perfect place to be.

Breakfast the next morning at the Old Northside Bed & Breakfast was cooked to order and had many, many options. One of the biggest caveats to many bed and breakfasts is not enough variety; however at Old Northside Bed & Breakfast, the variety is yours for the picking. On the morning we were there we were given the option of hot quiche, pepper bacon, ham and eggs, cereal, blueberry muffins, banana walnut muffins, homemade banana bread, fresh pressed waffles, strawberries, bananas, oranges, and apples. Top that off with some coffee and juice and we were good to go!

The Old Northside Bed & Breakfast really is a home away from home. For the world weary traveler who just wants to come home to a place that's not sterile feeling and just like everywhere else, visit the Old Northside Bed & Breakfast the next time you're in the Indianapolis area. It's like nowhere else you know; nowhere except home.