I’m Kayla. I live on the near east side, a few blocks from Irvington. I hang a flag on my porch. In May, it has to be the Indy flag. But this time, I kept it up long after the race. I wanted to see how it holds up, and how it feels to live with it.
You know what? It felt like home.
That smart little star in the middle
Up close, the design just works. Navy blue field. A clean white cross. A red ring around a white star. It’s simple. But not boring.
My neighbor’s kid pointed at it and said, “Is that a bullseye?” I smiled. “Kind of. It’s Monument Circle.” The cross looks like our big roads. The star is the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. If you’ve walked the Circle at night, the red ring makes total sense. It’s a tiny map.
Fun bit: a big flag nerd group (North American Vexillological Association) ranks this flag really high. I get why. You can sketch it from memory. For a deeper dive into the evolution of the city’s emblems, the Indianapolis Encyclopedia’s entry on seals and flags is well worth a skim.
What I bought and where I used it
- I bought a 3×5 nylon Indianapolis city flag from United States Flag Store in April 2023. It had brass grommets and a stitched fly edge. I put it on my porch pole with spinning rings so it wouldn’t wrap.
- I grabbed a small Indy flag patch from The Shop Indy on Mass Ave. I sewed it onto my denim jacket. That patch has gone to Gen Con, the State Fair, and a Pacers game. It still sticks. It even got compliments when I strolled down Georgia Street.
- I also tested a 2×3 printed polyester flag from a local mall kiosk in November. Cheap. It was fine indoors, not on the porch.
I flew the 3×5 through rain, July heat, and those surprise gusts that roll through on a Sunday. I took it to the IMS lot B for race weekend too. It helped my friends find our tailgate. Bright red ring pops in a sea of checkers.
Fabric talk, but in plain words
Nylon: light, a bit shiny, and it flies in light wind. Mine shed rain well. It dried fast after storms. The edges frayed a little by month ten. Not bad, though.
Polyester: heavier and kind of matte. The cheap print looked flat. It fought the wind, but it also faded faster. Blue went chalky first.
Appliqué vs printed: My porch flag was printed, so it was one layer. A sewn appliqué version looks richer and lasts longer, but it costs more and weighs more. If your pole is flimsy, go printed.
Grommets: Brass is best. Mine didn’t rust. The cheaper one had nickel grommets that did.
Little wins I didn’t expect
- The red ring reads from far away. Drivers on my street could spot it at a glance.
- It never felt cheesy. Some city flags do. This one looks grown-up.
- The color balance plays nice with fall leaves. Silly note, but my porch photos looked great.
- During the Circle of Lights, I swapped it out for a wreath for one week. I missed it. Put it back up. Felt right again.
Things that bugged me
- Some printed runs are off. I saw a few with a skinny ring or a star that looked stretched. Mine was centered, but check before you buy.
- The blue on cheaper flags skews bright. True Indy blue is a deep navy. If it looks royal blue, pass.
- Wind will find the weak spot. My nylon flag needed a tiny stitch at the top header after a 30 mph gust day. Took five minutes with white thread.
- The dye in the red ring did fade on the outer edge by month fourteen. Not dead. Just sun-kissed.
Price and sizes I tried
- 2×3 indoor print: under $20. Good for a studio wall or classroom.
- 3×5 porch nylon: I paid about $30–$40. Sweet spot for homes.
- Sewn appliqué 3×5 I handled at a local shop was around $90–$120. Looks premium. Heavy.
For a standard 6-foot house pole, 3×5 is the match. For an apartment balcony, 2×3 looks tidy and won’t tangle on your neighbor’s grill.
Real life moments that sold me
- My daughter traced the white star with her finger and asked if that’s where we are. I said, “Close. But yes, that’s where our city’s heart beats.”
- A man at the Indy 500 tailgate yelled, “Nice flag!” then used it like a landmark. We laughed when he showed up with nachos like it was a lighthouse.
- During a summer storm, I pulled it down, towel-dried it, and tossed it over a chair. It made my living room feel like a little museum piece. Funny how a flag can do that.
Later that month, I pinned the patch on my bag for a grown-up night in Indy; a server on Mass Ave spotted it and gave me a thumbs-up. If your idea of an evening out occasionally leans toward more personalized, adults-only companionship, consider browsing the curated roster of independent professionals at this Indianapolis escorts directory where you can discreetly arrange meet-ups and read verified local reviews to ensure a comfortable experience. For readers who find themselves on the East Coast or have friends in Bristol County, a handy resource is the regional personals hub on Doublelist serving Taunton—Doublelist Taunton—which compiles fresh ads, location filters, and safety pointers so you can connect with like-minded locals just as confidently as you would back home.
Tips if you want one
Before you click “buy,” ALCO offers a concise guide on flag materials and care that’s worth a two-minute read.
- Look for deep navy, not bright blue.
- Choose brass grommets and a double-stitched fly edge.
- Nylon flies better on calm days; polyester holds color a bit longer in heavy sun.
- Wash gently once a season. Cold water. Mild soap. Air dry flat.
- If your pole doesn’t spin, add a swivel clip. Tangling is what ruins corners.
The patch, quick note
That Indy flag patch on my jacket? It survived a washer cycle and still sticks tight. The colors held. I did one extra stitch at the corners. Worth it.
The verdict
I give the Indianapolis flag a 4.5 out of 5 for daily flying. Design is A+. Pride factor is high. Nylon lasts about a year of porch use before it wants a rest, which is fair for our Midwest wind and sun.
Would I buy it again? I already did. I grabbed another 3×5 for this May. It’ll go up the week of the Mini-Marathon. And maybe, just maybe, I won’t take it down after.