Gary Local Custom Tips by sambarnett Top 5 Page for this destination

Garyspeak

G.I. - Gary, Indiana, as in "Live and Die, G.I." or "Shop and Buy, G.I." The latter you'll see on store marquees.

"Where you do stay?" really means "where do you live?"

If you want your food to go, tell 'em to "put shoes on it."

Vacant lots

A 1997 fire left gaping holes in Gary's already decrepit downtown, particularly on the east side of Broadway in the 600 and 700 blocks.

Facade coverings

Like the "Occupied Look," facade coverings are meant to distract attention away from the fact that the building it covers is abandon and serving practically no purpose in its current state.
   This giant billboard was added when Gary announced it was playing host to the Miss USA pagaent in 2001. It covers the empty Sherdan Hotel.

The "Occupied Look"

No, those aren't real windows. Common in blighted areas, the "Occupied Look" is a strategy designed to pretty up an area thus making it, supposedly, more attractive to investors and retailers. You'll notice on the lower left that one of the cardboard windows is about ready to fall out.