The cities represented in this year’s Big Game (ST doesn’t wish to infringe upon the NFL’s copyrighted name for the contest), Indianapolis and New Orleans, represent a distinct contrast of personalities. Indianapolis embodies a buttoned-up Midwestern metropolis that’s home to such solid, if not scintillating, entities as Steak ‘n’ Shake, electronics retailer H.H. Gregg and pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly & Co. Its biggest annual event, late May’s Indianapolis 500 auto race, comprises hours of sound, fury and high RPMs. New Orleans, home to Smoothie King and Zatarain’s, plays host to widespread revelry every February or March as partygoers unleash their id at Mardi Gras (beads, anyone?). However, the festive atmosphere resides year-round as food, drink and music seemingly inundate the very fabric of the Big Easy s character.
Several sign companies and aficionados have graciously provided pictures that underscore, despite the significant cultural differences of the Circle City and the Big Easy, signs play a significant role in both towns’ identities. Thanks to Sign Craft Industries and Indianapolis Signworks for submitting a bevy of Circle City projects, and to Armadillo Signs and Mystic Blue Signs and "anthonyturducken," a New Orleans sign buff, for submitting a roundup of the Big Easy’s eclectic environmental graphics.