Guidebook for Bloomington
Food Scene
Go to Nick's for dinner and for beer and sports. It's THE place to watch IU on TV or to celebrate after a game. It's only 1-mile from the house.
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Nick's English Hut
423 E Kirkwood AveGo to Nick's for dinner and for beer and sports. It's THE place to watch IU on TV or to celebrate after a game. It's only 1-mile from the house.
Soma offers amazing coffee and bakery items with outdoor seating only two blocks south of the house.
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Soma Coffee house And Juice Bar
1400 E 3rd StSoma offers amazing coffee and bakery items with outdoor seating only two blocks south of the house.
Feta offers fast-casual delicious and nutritious food for indoor or outdoor seating or carry out only two blocks south of the house.
11 Einheimische empfehlen
Feta Kitchen & Cafe
600 E Hillside DrFeta offers fast-casual delicious and nutritious food for indoor or outdoor seating or carry out only two blocks south of the house.
All vegetarian food, all the time--plus beer, wine, and vegan desserts
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The Owlery Restaurant
118 W 6th StAll vegetarian food, all the time--plus beer, wine, and vegan desserts
Wonderful indoor and outdoor seating - try their side of vegetables with anything, including breakfast YUM
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Runcible Spoon
412 E 6th StWonderful indoor and outdoor seating - try their side of vegetables with anything, including breakfast YUM
Everything on the menu is delicious plus they brew their own beer, and now it offers outdoor seating right in the middle of Kirkwood next to Sample Gates.
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Lennie's and the Bloomington Brewing Co. Brewpub
514 E Kirkwood AveEverything on the menu is delicious plus they brew their own beer, and now it offers outdoor seating right in the middle of Kirkwood next to Sample Gates.
You can't beat Upland Brewery for outdoor pub seating and delicious food and beer!
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Upland Brewing Company
4060 Profile PkwyYou can't beat Upland Brewery for outdoor pub seating and delicious food and beer!
Drinks & Nightlife
We love Feast Market & Cellar for dinner, small plates, conversation, and wine tasting. It's also easily walkable from the house or it has plenty of free parking. It has a nice small-cafe vibe and is known for flavor, just like the original Feast in our neighborhood.
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Feast Market & Cellar
407 W Patterson DrWe love Feast Market & Cellar for dinner, small plates, conversation, and wine tasting. It's also easily walkable from the house or it has plenty of free parking. It has a nice small-cafe vibe and is known for flavor, just like the original Feast in our neighborhood.
We love The Tap, and so does everyone in Bloomington. It has a great location, huge beer menu, and very good dinner/snack options, too. The place is full of TV's tuned to sports, but mostly people are there to hang out with friends.
36 Einheimische empfehlen
The Tap
101 N College AveWe love The Tap, and so does everyone in Bloomington. It has a great location, huge beer menu, and very good dinner/snack options, too. The place is full of TV's tuned to sports, but mostly people are there to hang out with friends.
This Big Woods Brewery has a great interior and menu plus the only outdoor Biergarten in Bloomington. Very fun for couples and groups of friends!
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Big Woods Bloomington
116 N Grant StThis Big Woods Brewery has a great interior and menu plus the only outdoor Biergarten in Bloomington. Very fun for couples and groups of friends!
Excellent live music from local artists to national acts in a cozy bar with great drinks.
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The Bluebird
216 N Walnut StExcellent live music from local artists to national acts in a cozy bar with great drinks.
Parks & Nature
This neighborhood park is the "Central Park" of Bloomington, and it's only steps from the house. It has a nice paved walking/running trail, three playgrounds, an outdoor pool with toddler splash pad, and lots of space to play baseball, tennis, or walk through fields and around trees and a creek. Bryan Park often hosts outdoor music and movies, so google the schedule to see what's going on when you're here.
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Bryan Park playground
This neighborhood park is the "Central Park" of Bloomington, and it's only steps from the house. It has a nice paved walking/running trail, three playgrounds, an outdoor pool with toddler splash pad, and lots of space to play baseball, tennis, or walk through fields and around trees and a creek. Bryan Park often hosts outdoor music and movies, so google the schedule to see what's going on when you're here.
Griffy Lake is a lake you can sit and watch from the parking lot (great for people with accessibility concerns). The park also includes several wonderful hiking trails and a boathouse where you can rent a canoe for $8/hour. Super worth it.
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Griffy Lake
Griffy Lake is a lake you can sit and watch from the parking lot (great for people with accessibility concerns). The park also includes several wonderful hiking trails and a boathouse where you can rent a canoe for $8/hour. Super worth it.
The largest inland lake in Indiana is right here in Bloomington. Lake Monroe has many access points if you bring your own boat, or you can rent a boat (a popular choice for families and groups are the double-decker pontoon boats with slides -- too fun). Look up Allen's Creek to find the place where most boaters drop anchor and find friends. You can also find a few beaches and camping areas at the lake. For the view alone, drive to the dam and park in the small parking lot overlooking the lake and dam for a lovely sunset from your car.
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Lake Monroe
The largest inland lake in Indiana is right here in Bloomington. Lake Monroe has many access points if you bring your own boat, or you can rent a boat (a popular choice for families and groups are the double-decker pontoon boats with slides -- too fun). Look up Allen's Creek to find the place where most boaters drop anchor and find friends. You can also find a few beaches and camping areas at the lake. For the view alone, drive to the dam and park in the small parking lot overlooking the lake and dam for a lovely sunset from your car.
Switchyard Park is finished (unlike in these photos) and it’s incredible. A great place to hike or bike or play in a playground or sit outside for live music or a picnic. It’s about seven blocks west of the house.
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Switchyard Park
239 W Grimes LnSwitchyard Park is finished (unlike in these photos) and it’s incredible. A great place to hike or bike or play in a playground or sit outside for live music or a picnic. It’s about seven blocks west of the house.
Arts & Culture
This newly-renovated movie theater on campus shows interesting movies for a budget price and occasionally hosts artist talks. Check out its webpage for the movie and event calendar.
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Indiana University Cinema
1213 E 7th StThis newly-renovated movie theater on campus shows interesting movies for a budget price and occasionally hosts artist talks. Check out its webpage for the movie and event calendar.
Learn the story of local history and visit ever-changing exhibits.
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Monroe County History Center
202 E 6th StLearn the story of local history and visit ever-changing exhibits.
Lots of great music, movies, and shows take place weekly in this historic theater. Definitely check its calendar.
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Buskirk-Chumley Theater
114 E Kirkwood AveLots of great music, movies, and shows take place weekly in this historic theater. Definitely check its calendar.
Essentials
Kroger
1175 S College Mall RdThis Kroger is about 1-mile away and has everything you need.
Sightseeing
You must take at least two pictures at Sample Gates -- one where you can see the gorgeous campus and then walk through and take another photo with Kirkwood stretching out in the background. This is THE prime photo opp in Bloomington.
29 Einheimische empfehlen
Sample Gates
You must take at least two pictures at Sample Gates -- one where you can see the gorgeous campus and then walk through and take another photo with Kirkwood stretching out in the background. This is THE prime photo opp in Bloomington.
Entertainment & Activities
A nice tiered movie theater with all the most recent movies.
17 Einheimische empfehlen
AMC CLASSIC Bloomington 12
2929 W 3rd StA nice tiered movie theater with all the most recent movies.
Memorial Stadium
701 E 17th StIU Football!!!!! With great tailgating nearby, too.
IU Auditorium
1211 E 7th StBroadway shows and great concerts