Guidebook for Bloomington
Food Scene
Perfect spot for brunch or a treat. Great lattes and cafe cubanos, among other things. They are also very well known for their tamales.
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Feast Bakery Cafe
581 E Hillside DrPerfect spot for brunch or a treat. Great lattes and cafe cubanos, among other things. They are also very well known for their tamales.
Rainbow Bakery
201 S Rogers StTotally vegan, lots of GF options, adorable!
DELICIOUS pizza!!! Really gorgeous looking. Local, organic approach to food. Salads, appetizers and craft beers are great too.
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King Dough
DELICIOUS pizza!!! Really gorgeous looking. Local, organic approach to food. Salads, appetizers and craft beers are great too.
The Amrit India
124 N Walnut StOne of the only Indian restaurants that reminds my husband of home. Try the samosas!
Great date spot. Try the pizzettas and a bottle of wine. Excellent scallops.
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The Roost
514 E Kirkwood Ave Great date spot. Try the pizzettas and a bottle of wine. Excellent scallops.
Burmese restaurant with some other Southeast Asian options too. Try the thai tea or mango lassi, coconut noodle soup with chicken or paratha with yellow peas.
Burma Garden Restaurant (Mandalay)
413 E 4th St Burmese restaurant with some other Southeast Asian options too. Try the thai tea or mango lassi, coconut noodle soup with chicken or paratha with yellow peas.
Anatolia Restaurant
405 E 4th St Turkish. Lunch buffet W - F.
Turkish. Lunch buffet M - F, one of the best, healthiest, yummiest ones I've been to.
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Turkuaz Cafe
301 E 3rd St Turkish. Lunch buffet M - F, one of the best, healthiest, yummiest ones I've been to.
Gourmet Garden
300 E 3rd StAuthentic Chinese, a little pricey, but worth it!
Lucky Express
307 E 3rd StChinese. Cash only hole in the wall.
If you're an English Premier League fan, this place is your friend. Nice brunches though can be expensive...
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Uptown Cafe
102 E Kirkwood AveIf you're an English Premier League fan, this place is your friend. Nice brunches though can be expensive...
Hopscotch Coffee
235 W Dodds StVery cute local coffee shop on the B-Line.
Soma Coffee house And Juice Bar
1400 E 3rd StLattes... Need I say more?
Great lattes and delicious fresh baked cookies, scones, and other pastry goodness.
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Crumble Coffee and Bakery
1567 S Piazza DrGreat lattes and delicious fresh baked cookies, scones, and other pastry goodness.
So cute!!! Come here on a Saturday (or for a smaller experience, a Tuesday evening) for wonderful fresh produce, yummy snacks, drinks and sweets, live music, and great people, dog and parrot watching. You can also often get henna and do other crafty things too. Check http://bloomington.in.gov/farmersmarket for details on hours and location.
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Bloomington Community Farmers' Market
401 N Morton StSo cute!!! Come here on a Saturday (or for a smaller experience, a Tuesday evening) for wonderful fresh produce, yummy snacks, drinks and sweets, live music, and great people, dog and parrot watching. You can also often get henna and do other crafty things too. Check http://bloomington.in.gov/farmersmarket for details on hours and location.
Bapu TeaHouse
1789 E 10th StBUBBLE TEA!!!!!!
Drinks & Nightlife
A married couple runs this local gem and there are many Bloomingtonians that are completely obsessed with it, me included. They have 12 beers on tap, all made in house, INCREDIBLE!!! Their beer menu is changing all the time. Their food is excellent but simple. Sandwiches, soups and appetizers, lots of stuff organic/locally sourced. They have options for vegetarians and vegans, but lots of meats and cheeses too. Family friendly but also a fun hangout spot for couples, friends, you name it.
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Function Brewing
108 E 6th StA married couple runs this local gem and there are many Bloomingtonians that are completely obsessed with it, me included. They have 12 beers on tap, all made in house, INCREDIBLE!!! Their beer menu is changing all the time. Their food is excellent but simple. Sandwiches, soups and appetizers, lots of stuff organic/locally sourced. They have options for vegetarians and vegans, but lots of meats and cheeses too. Family friendly but also a fun hangout spot for couples, friends, you name it.
Upland Brewing Company
4060 Profile PkwyAnother amazing family friendly brewery.
Cardinal Spirits Distillery & Restaurant
922 S Morton StLocal distillery
Small hipster bar, great music, sometimes live, and a small selection of nice craft beers on tap. They make cocktails as well.
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The Bishop
123 S Walnut StSmall hipster bar, great music, sometimes live, and a small selection of nice craft beers on tap. They make cocktails as well.
Root Cellar
108 E Kirkwood AveBeer, cocktails, dancing!
Fun hipster bar. Great drinks and music, skeeball and shuffleboard.
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Atlas Ballroom
209 S College AveFun hipster bar. Great drinks and music, skeeball and shuffleboard.
Parks & Nature
Cute park with two playgrounds, a large field and a basketball court. Very close to the studio!
Building Trades Park
619 W Howe StCute park with two playgrounds, a large field and a basketball court. Very close to the studio!
Rev. Ernest D. Butler Park
812 W 9th StAnother great park within walking distance
Very iconic Bloomington park. Walking trails, picnic tables, multiple playgrounds (including a toddler one), pool with slides, movies in the park, etc!
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Bryan Park Pool
1020 S Woodlawn AveVery iconic Bloomington park. Walking trails, picnic tables, multiple playgrounds (including a toddler one), pool with slides, movies in the park, etc!
Griffy Lake
Pretty lake and great hiking
Lake Monroe
Pretty lake, great hiking, can rent boats and hang out all day!
Lake Lemon
Leonard Springs Nature Park
4685 S Leonard Springs RdWaterfalls, caves and wetlands!
Arboretum Gazebo
An on campus gazebo surrounded by trees, walking/biking paths and a pond
This greenhouse has flowers and tropical plants (and other kinds of plants), some of which are very rare, year round. They have limited hours so check before going. Free!
Jordan Hall
1001 E 3rd StThis greenhouse has flowers and tropical plants (and other kinds of plants), some of which are very rare, year round. They have limited hours so check before going. Free!
The Jordan River is really an campus creek. Very pretty!
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Indiana University Bloomington
107 S Indiana AveThe Jordan River is really an campus creek. Very pretty!
Yellowwood State Forest
772 Yellowwood Lake RdState forest with a lake trail
The Indiana Raptor Center gives presentations on birds on Saturdays in May, June, July and October. Gorgeous in the fall, dramatic overlooks, fun for picnicking and hiking. You can fish in the lake.
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Brown County State Park
1801 Indiana 46 The Indiana Raptor Center gives presentations on birds on Saturdays in May, June, July and October. Gorgeous in the fall, dramatic overlooks, fun for picnicking and hiking. You can fish in the lake.
Non-profit that rescues injured or orphaned wild birds to be rehabbed and released. They give presentations and tours. Call to find out availability.
Indiana Raptor Center
Non-profit that rescues injured or orphaned wild birds to be rehabbed and released. They give presentations and tours. Call to find out availability.
Sightseeing
Beck Chapel
900 E 7th StInterfaith chapel with stained glass windows. A lot of undergrads get proposed to here!
Rose Well House
Iconic on campus gazebo
Restaurant Row is along 4th street. Come here to enjoy a myriad of restaurants from all over the world in converted historic homes.
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East 4th Street
East 4th StreetRestaurant Row is along 4th street. Come here to enjoy a myriad of restaurants from all over the world in converted historic homes.
Sample Gates
Iconic IU symbol that welcomes downtown pedestrians to campus
Really cute artist colony that reminds me a bit of Gatlinburg. Gorgeous especially in the fall, but worth a trip year round.
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Nashville
Really cute artist colony that reminds me a bit of Gatlinburg. Gorgeous especially in the fall, but worth a trip year round.
Story
Cute historic tiny town
Arts & Culture
Eskenazi Museum of Art
1133 E 7th StSuper cool art museum on campus
Artists, entertainers, museums and lecturers come here. Check out their season at http://www.iuauditorium.com/events/category/iu-auditorium-season.
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IU Auditorium
1211 E 7th StArtists, entertainers, museums and lecturers come here. Check out their season at http://www.iuauditorium.com/events/category/iu-auditorium-season.
Come here to see a play you've never seen before (because they're all new!).
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Cardinal Stage
122 E 7th StCome here to see a play you've never seen before (because they're all new!).
IU's Jacobs School of Music is one of the best music conservatories in the US. Go here for the current schedule (which typically includes a mix of operas, ballets and orchestra performances): http://music.indiana.edu/events/.
Musical Arts Center (MAC)
105 North Eagleson AvenueIU's Jacobs School of Music is one of the best music conservatories in the US. Go here for the current schedule (which typically includes a mix of operas, ballets and orchestra performances): http://music.indiana.edu/events/.
Go here for a variety of entertainment options ranging from concerts to films, speakers and comedians (and sometimes dances too!).
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Buskirk-Chumley Theater
114 E Kirkwood AveGo here for a variety of entertainment options ranging from concerts to films, speakers and comedians (and sometimes dances too!).
WonderLab Science Museum
308 W 4th StKids museum that's fun for kids of all ages :-)
Mathers Museum of World Cultures
416 N Indiana AveEntertainment & Activities
Incredibly cool theater on campus. Most movies are free or very cheap. Themes rotate between parts of the world, decades, things relating to relevant awards ceremonies, etc. Find their listings here: http://www.cinema.indiana.edu/calendar/.
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Indiana University Cinema
1213 E 7th StIncredibly cool theater on campus. Most movies are free or very cheap. Themes rotate between parts of the world, decades, things relating to relevant awards ceremonies, etc. Find their listings here: http://www.cinema.indiana.edu/calendar/.
This is where you go if you want to see a mainstream movie in town. Unfortunately not walkable.
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AMC CLASSIC Bloomington 12
2929 W 3rd StThis is where you go if you want to see a mainstream movie in town. Unfortunately not walkable.
The Bluebird
216 N Walnut StLive Music!
Hilarious comedy club with tons of stand up and open mic nights. Food and drinks available (2 item order minimum per guest).
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The Comedy Attic
123 S Walnut StHilarious comedy club with tons of stand up and open mic nights. Food and drinks available (2 item order minimum per guest).
Shopping
Global Gifts
122 N Walnut StFair trade
Landlocked Music
115 S Walnut StGreat record selection
Downstairs has vintage inspired clothes, jewelry, sunnies, etc. Find their vintage collection upstairs.
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Cactus Flower
600 East Hillside DriveDownstairs has vintage inspired clothes, jewelry, sunnies, etc. Find their vintage collection upstairs.
Pygmalion's Art Supplies
108 N Grant StReally cute place to buy art supplies and snuggle with their two shopcats.
Book Corner
100 N Walnut StCaveat Emptor Used Books
112 N Walnut StT D's C D's & L P's
322 E Kirkwood AveRecords, CDs, DVDs