The Indianapolis City Market is a must-see for those who are interested in good food and local business.

It's located at 222 Market Street and is the central hub for fresh eats, produce, artisan bakery items, and hand-made goods. This market is another place on the National Register of Historic Places list and is still used by the public today. The building is of Rundbogenstil (Round-arched style) a product of German architect D.A. Bohlen's training. In 1821, the city's primary architect Alexander Ralston, marked off this section of the city for a market place, a series of simple stalls.

After 60 years, D. A. Bohlen and Son came up with plans for a more permanent city market. The shabby stalls were replaced with brick and iron work, which still exist today through many rounds of renovation and expansion throughout the years. The original structure consisted of twin towers, pilasters and stilted rounded arches.

Inside, the market stall style was kept but made permanent. The help of Hetherington and Berner ironworks was enlisted to make the internal infrastructure of columns and trusses that would allow for the wide open space.

Today you can find not only Indianapolis based artists and farmers, but over twenty cities and townships being represented here. Indianapolis is truly supported by their farmers and butchers in the buy local, eat local movement. Some of the communities represented in the City Market directory are: Trafalgar, West Point, Ellettsville, Camden, Greenfield, Bloomington, Lebanon, Lewis, Charlottesville, Seymour, Westfield, Spencer, Noblesville, Fillmore, Martinsville, Twelve Mile, Carmel, Peru, Green Castle, Columbus, Zionsville, and Franklin.

Among the seasonal produce, you can find pasta, plants, wine, pasture-raised chicken and turkey, honey, jams, jellies, and fresh made chips. Some of the non-edible items are functional ceramics, clothing, accessories, handmade wooden kitchenware, and soaps. Services include chair massage, shoe shining and a barber shop. Businesses and restaurants that set up at the market include Indiana Craft Beer, Three Days in Paris (gourmet crepes), Papa Roux (Cajun food), Fermenti Artisan (cheeses and sauerkrauts) and A Taste of Philly (soft-baked pretzels).

You don't have to just shop at the market, either. You can sign up for cooking lessons with experienced chefs. The market can also be used for meetings, parties and wedding receptions with access to list of vendors to cater your event.

Goose the Market is a produce, butcher, and delicatessen market located at 25th and Delaware near downtown Indianapolis. Chef-owned and operated, they bring a unique experience to their shop and their small seating area, the Enoteca. At the Enoteca, you can take a wine break and choose from their rotating wine and delicatessen platters while enjoying your experience downtown.

As a butcher shop, they specialize in Indiana locally raised swine, chickens, fowl, lamb, and beef that you can take home or enjoy smoked in their mobile smoke stack.

Other offerings are wines from California, Spain, Italy, France, and Australia; specialty cooking items like oils and syrups; organic certified seasonal produce; and novel goods such as coffee, artisan bread and gelato. On your way out, you can purchase fresh flowers to brighten your day while touring the downtown.

St. Elmo Steak House has been a constant throughout the city's landscape. As restaurants came and went, it has held firm in the same place on South Illinois Street. It has changed hands a few times since its opening in 1902, but has always seen improvement. The latest renovation cost millions of dollars but opened the space to make customers feel more integrated and comfortable in the dining experience. It included private dining rooms, a wine cellar, and opening up the patrons' view to the kitchen.

The steak house, originally a little tavern, was named by the founder, Joe Stahr, after the patron saint of sailors, St. Elmo. He had opened it the same year the Soldiers and Sailors Monument had been dedicated downtown. It opened with a small buffet menu but modifications were made that allowed it to become known for their steaks and seafood. During World War II, they opened early for breakfast in order to serve the military that passed through on the train.

An interesting fact is that in celebration of the end of Prohibition, draft beer was only 10 cents a glass... for the next 20 years. Patrons saw this price again, now a bargain, for their centennial celebration in 2002. The St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail has been featured as the spiciest food on Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate," and won a spicy food award from food critic Alison Stein.

It's not only Goose the Market taking the local food seriously. The entire restaurant scene of Indianapolis is starting to take advantage of what the local agricultural scene has to offer by incorporating the organic and locally raised food that is made available to them through the surrounding communities.

The Loft is a unique restaurant in that it's the project of Indiana's only organic dairy farm, Traders Point Creamery. It uses its own dairy to supply the milk and cheese products for the menu and features ice cream, yogurt, and milk fresh from the dairy at its dairy bar. In addition to the fresh dairy products, it offers items made with elk, wild caught fish, seafood, pastured pork, and chicken. Located about 30 minutes from the downtown area, it's worth the time if you can spare it.

Another market worth visiting is the community-owned, nonprofit Pogues Run Grocer and Indy Food Co-Op. It's located by Mass Ave., south of Pogues Run River, which was named after one of the first known European settlers, blacksmith George Pogue. Their goal is not only provide fresh, healthy, affordable food but also be conscious of their ecological footprint. They are run by a Board of Directors made up of volunteers to help execute their principles.

If you want to make a point to visit more local agriculturally conscious restaurants and stores, the following is a list that is worth a try: Cafe Patachou, R bistro, Recess, Bluebeard, Late Harvest Kitchen, City Cafe, Oceanaire, Pure Eatery, and Meridian Restaurant.