Rev up your engine with motorcycle madness in August

Red Bull Indianapolis GP – Aug. 28
Downtown will feature a slew of events in celebration of the Red Bull GP. During the day, the fourth annual Red Bull Indianapolis GP weekend will feature on-track action from the best motorcycle racers in the world. But as the sun goes down, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will boast the best party of the year for everyone interested in the two-wheeled lifestyle and a great time. An expanded lineup of evening party and social attractions will be featured for fans Friday, Aug. 26 and Saturday, Aug. 27 at “IMS After Dark” during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. Appetite for Destruction and Crash light up the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Aug. 26 and Indie-rock band, Ghostland Observatory is headlining Saturday night’s music at the Red Bull Energy Station Stage at the Speedway Aug. 27. The race is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 28. http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/redbullindianapolisgp/eventinfo/35527/

The XDL Sportbike Freestyle Championship returns to Downtown Aug. 26 & 27 at the Veterans War Memorial and North Street promising all the excitement of last year’s competition. Spectators should expect to see amazing stunts and tricks from this up-and-coming sport. Gates open 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. www.xdlshow.com     

Motorcycles on Meridian will take place Aug. 26 and 27 starting at 7 p.m. both nights.  South Meridian Street in Downtown Indianapolis will be filled with the sounds of engine roars and the sights of leather-clad riders. Motorcyclists will gather on Meridian Street all the way from Monument Circle to South Street to share interests and celebrate the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. 
 
Motorcycle racing will dominate the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix Sunday, Aug. 28! This is the fourth year the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has hosted this intense motorcycle race. www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com 

Buy a lot of souvenirs and need help shipping them? Ride your motorcycle to the race and The UPS Store will give you 15 percent off all packaging and shipping and take your treasures home for you! Call 236.0009 for more information.

Food…Fuel your week!

• If you have the munchies, Scotty’s Brewhouse has the answer! Thursday – Saturday enjoy ½ price appetizers at various times and on Thursday, take advantage of $5 Red Bull well drinks! If you want to continue the party into Saturday morning, Scotty’s has got you covered for breakfast from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.!

• Not sure what you want to drink during Red Bull GP? Make your way to Kahn’s Fine Wines Downtown for a FREE sampling of Red Bull cocktails every day Aug. 22 – 28 from 5 – 7 p.m. 632.9463

• Ride your motorcycle to Turner’s Cocktails & Cuisine at The Canterbury Hotel and take advantage of complimentary parking! Thursday – Sunday enjoy “800 CC” lunch specials for $8 or try the “Nicky Hayden” a delicious mixed drink named for the 2006 MotoGP World Champion. Call 634.3000 for details!

• Get close to the action without buying a ticket at Basey’s Downtown Grill & Spirits before the Colts game Aug. 26 for the Budweiser Colts Tailgate Party from 4 – 8 p.m. Come back Saturday for live music and food and drink specials! 637.4514

• Head to the Elbow Room Pub for spectacular drinks, delicious food and tons of fun! With specials every day, Elbow Room is the place to be during Red Bull GP week! Call 635.3354 for details on daily deals.

• The Skyline Club Board of Governors would like to extend an invitation to the public to dine at the Club and receive $20 off your entire purchase (excluding tax & gratuity) with minimum purchase of $75!  Mention this release when making reservations as reservations are required. Call 263-5000 to put your name on the list!

• High Velocity at the JW Marriott will offer happy hour appetizers for $5 all day Friday – Sunday! For details call 860.6500.

More Downtown kicks for the two-wheel weekend

• Head to Lucas Oil Stadium to support the Indianapolis Colts as they battle the world champ Green Bay Packers, Aug. 26 at 8 p.m. www.colts.com

• Watch the record-setting, red-hot Indiana Fever heat up the court against the Atlanta Dream at Conseco Fieldhouse Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $11 and can be purchased at www.wnba.com/fever.

• The Indianapolis Indians have a long home stand from Aug. 16 – 25 against the Louisville Bats, Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs and the Columbus Clippers with special deals daily! Take the family out to a ballgame in between Red Bull GP events! www.indyindians.com

• Are you ready for a big, bold and bodacious celebration of alternative theatre and performance arts? Then head to Mass Ave for the seventh annual IndyFringe Festival! This splashy spectacle ends Aug. 29. Enjoy artists performing more than 50 unique, cutting-edge stage productions in seven venues featuring dance, drama, comedy, music, magic and more.  http://indyfringe.org/fringefest

• Head to the Rathskeller Biergarten if you’re in the mood for some blues!  See Gene Deer, Gordon Bonham & Benito DiBartoli Friday, Aug. 26 from 7 – 11 p.m. for Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute night! www.rathskeller.com

• The Chatterbox Jazz Club is serving up live jazz Friday – Sunday, race weekend! On Friday and Saturday get in for $5/person cash or $6/person credit for tunes 10:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. and for FREE on Sunday from 8 p.m. – midnight. 636.0584

• Slippery Noodle Inn has a whole weekend of live music and drink specials to keep you entertained! On Friday, Aug. 26 enjoy $4 Absolut flavors while listening to Josh Garrett Band and W.T. Feaster Band.  If you can’t make it Friday, or just want some more, the same bands will be back on Saturday! Both nights require a $5 cover.  On Sunday, head on in without a cover to hear Gordon Bonham and Jes Richmond! Bring your friends for a $15 bucket of beer!

Check out the map for Motorcycles on Meridian and the XDL Sportbike FreestyleChampionship locations.