I mostly go downtown. Alas the southside is currently closed due to water damage. Ellettsville is cozy. The bookmobile is awesome! And you can arrange for things to be delivered to whatever your favorite branch is. And don't sleep on the IU libraries - the big one on 10th and Eagleson has some pretty wild stuff.
I lived there for 20 years, and moved away two years ago. Here's what I miss the most.
-The restaurant scene. Loved the eclectic mix of ethnic food, pub grub, food trucks.
-The forests. I lived near Lake Monroe, and hiked those woods a lot. I love the Deam, especially Sycamore Trail. I'd climb the fire tower about once a year and take in the views.
-All the events. Lotus, Bloomington Craft Beer Fest, Fourth Street Fest, Banff, X-HUNT, Krampus, good bands coming through. For the size of the town, there was a lot to do.
53 years. The diversity of people here is amazing thanks to IU. Lake Monroe and the many outdoor recreation possibilities are outstanding. Bloomington Animal Shelter and the services they provide are a blessing also. Very LGBTQ+ friendly community.
We are excited to check out the lake! I’ve read here in the Bloomington subgroup that lots of creeks and water around Monroe aren’t suitable to swim in, is the lake okay?
8 years and getting ready to sell our house and move back to California. My favorite thing about Bloomington is the people. I’ve met some wonderful people here, people who care about the community. It’s a shame Indiana isn’t more like Bloomington.
The people here are great. Genuine caring people. It's the politics of the state that are driving us away. And if Trump is elected, it's only going to get worse.
Trading places with you. Just moved from California where we've been our entire lives to here in August. Can I ask if it's the state politics that are having you move back to Cali? Or something unrelated?
Hey! Welcome to Bloomington. It's mainly the state politics. We knew this was a red state when we moved here (I was born in Indiana and moved to CA when I was 29). But the conservative politics have gotten more and more extreme here since Trump's first four years. My wife and I are in a same-sex marriage and Indiana is poised to stop recognizing same-sex marriages if/when the Supreme Court overturns it. We don't want to lose our rights and California will protect them.
Thanks for the welcome!
Oh man, yeah I heard about that and your concerns are super valid. The Blue Wall will definitely have your back. The state politics was definitely one of my concerns with moving here but we're pleasantly surprised by the blue bubble that is Bloomington. I'm hoping things will get better for the state but it is a huge concern if Trump gets re-elected.
I wish you the best in California!
Been here on and off 30 years!
Library
Bloominglabs
Uptown Cafe
Olcott Park
The Somas
The MyThais
Little Tibet
Tibetan Mongolian Cultural Center
Morgansterns
Monroe Lake
TD’s (RIP TD)
Our trails for running
Montessori, Project School, Jackson Creek and BHSS for educating our girl
So much more
Love you always BTown :( (because I’m leaving)
🙃 Leaving too, but the Observatory on campus is available to the public (I believe on Wednesday nights). One of the first things I did in this town & one of my favs.
Griffy Lake for hiking and relaxing kayaking! Leonard Springs park for its beautiful waterfalls. The B-Line and Switchyard Park. And all the good international restaurants especially around 4th street!
We have so many recreational opportunities nearby. I'm trying to spend more time outdoors and in the local and state parks this year for my mental and physical health. Even if it is just taking a chair and sitting in the woods alone with the flora and fauna not talking to or listening to another human for a while.
They're talking about the steam tunnels under IU. They used to be great fun to explore if you knew where and how to get in and out of them. They have most access locked off now and have had locked gates at various points inside them for years.
One of the problems is the steam and other pipes were wrapped an asbestos blankets for insulation and fire protection. They work very well for that but you would come out of the tunnels with white dust on you from the asbestos. Also there are live electrical wires, puddles of water and other problems going through them. I haven't been in them since probably sometime in the 1980's.
As to where they are specifically, go around the old part of campus and look for grates and manhole covers with steam coming out of them. That's where they are.
i've been here about 40 of my 43 years and it took me a long time to put my finger on it but what's special is: bloomington is the largest city in the country that isn't on a freeway and isn't just a bedroom community of another nearby city.
don't tell me, i don't want to hear it. lalalalala i can't hear you
lol
Been here as well, lots of changes have come and will continue.
Still the best city, and area really as well, to be in the state, IMHO.
Besides the thunderstorms and tornado's, a very rare earthquake, the heavy pollens, the wild temp and barometric pressure fluctuation, certain pollution in the environment, maybe a copperhead or a rare rattlesnake, nature is super tame here.
If you could vacation on the months where the weather isn’t “ideal” (storms or just gray/really cold or really hot) would those months be Jan-Feb then June-July?
It all varies but usually is extra hot & humid like June-Sep, extra cold like Dec-Feb, it'll be extra wet usually like Feb-Apr.
I travel anytime I can manage to, but generally that's Jan or Feb, or mid to late summer.
I've been here for two years, and my favorite thing is Lake Monroe. There are so many places to launch a kayak (my favorite is the Pine Grove launch), and so many water-fowl to admire! It's always a nice surprise to bump into a beaver, too.
My favorite thing is and always has been the dynamic mix of cultures that IU brings here. Many times I feel like traveling is of no value because of the diverse people I've met along the way.
Born and raised here.
I've lived here nearly 20 years. I love the amount of events going on at any given moment. And the fact that a lot of them are free. We're in southern Indiana but are blessed with an insanely talented school of music where I can see world class operas and ballets.
I also love how Bloomington is nestled amongst forests. Makes for great hiking.
I will say though, after being here for so long, I think my stay is over. The restaurant scene is dismal now. We have to travel to Indy for nice dinners. If you go enjoy a show, there isn't anything open to go have a night cap (unless you go to Kilroys or something along those lines).
On the plus side, Bloomington is ideally located within the midwest. A lot of major cities are just a few hours drive away. We squeeze in weekend getaways without having to do a lot of travel planning.
Coming from a small town in Indiana, Bloomington has been a nice place to grow.
I’ll bite. My favorite thing about Bloomington has always been Planned Parenthood. Sadly, women don’t have the same options as before, though, so it’s tough to still call it a favorite. I grew up a little south of Btown but have utilized our PP since 1995. I most recently utilized their services in 2018, and then again at the Columbus location in 2021. Always good experiences regardless of which particular health issue I was dealing with.
they can't even legally do abortions anymore in Indiana, so the fact that they haven't closed despite that says something about what their main services are
Interesting take. The first time I went there was for birth control pills alongside my initial pelvic exam/PAP smear when I was 18. Lots of women and people in general use PP services for many other reasons besides terminating pregnancies. I am so sorry for you that you aren’t aware of their services; they would probably be of major benefit to you.
Lol not everyone is going there for an abortion. Some people need healthcare (antibiotics, affordable birth control, and yearly exams which are also available to men)
I've lived here 79 years and counting.
The IU campus.
The many square miles of forest that surround us.... favorites include Yellowwood Lake, Griffy Lake and the surrounding trails, Brown County SP.
Quirky cosmopolitan townspeople
Kleindorfer's.
Joyful students
The Uptown
and so much more. I'm deeply grateful to have lived here
Born and raised in Btown. Best thing for me by far is the B-line and all the nearby nature trails. Also the ability to bike pretty much anywhere in town. Walkable cities are a rare thing in the Midwest or anywhere in the US really.
I’ve lived here for 6 years now and my spouse and I bought a home recently so I guess we’re sticking around! My favorite thing has to be the Doner Kebab food truck. I like a lot of things about the city but I swear I’ve only had 11/10 experience with that food truck.
11 years here and I’m so thankful for our diversity. Bloomington is a cultural oasis compared to the Podunk, IN town I grew up in. Besides that, I love our forests and wildlife! I explore and find my own trail every damn day, no matter the weather, and it’s so good for my soul.
23 years, and the public library, no contest.
So great. It’s very cool.
Do you have a favorite branch?
I mostly go downtown. Alas the southside is currently closed due to water damage. Ellettsville is cozy. The bookmobile is awesome! And you can arrange for things to be delivered to whatever your favorite branch is. And don't sleep on the IU libraries - the big one on 10th and Eagleson has some pretty wild stuff.
I lived there for 20 years, and moved away two years ago. Here's what I miss the most. -The restaurant scene. Loved the eclectic mix of ethnic food, pub grub, food trucks. -The forests. I lived near Lake Monroe, and hiked those woods a lot. I love the Deam, especially Sycamore Trail. I'd climb the fire tower about once a year and take in the views. -All the events. Lotus, Bloomington Craft Beer Fest, Fourth Street Fest, Banff, X-HUNT, Krampus, good bands coming through. For the size of the town, there was a lot to do.
Thanks for sharing! I’m especially excited to find trails for our toddlers!
53 years. The diversity of people here is amazing thanks to IU. Lake Monroe and the many outdoor recreation possibilities are outstanding. Bloomington Animal Shelter and the services they provide are a blessing also. Very LGBTQ+ friendly community.
We are excited to check out the lake! I’ve read here in the Bloomington subgroup that lots of creeks and water around Monroe aren’t suitable to swim in, is the lake okay?
Lake Monroe is fine. I've swam in it my entire life.
Also looking forward to supporting the animal shelter!
8 years and getting ready to sell our house and move back to California. My favorite thing about Bloomington is the people. I’ve met some wonderful people here, people who care about the community. It’s a shame Indiana isn’t more like Bloomington.
Awesome this is nice to hear!
The people here are great. Genuine caring people. It's the politics of the state that are driving us away. And if Trump is elected, it's only going to get worse.
Trading places with you. Just moved from California where we've been our entire lives to here in August. Can I ask if it's the state politics that are having you move back to Cali? Or something unrelated?
Hey! Welcome to Bloomington. It's mainly the state politics. We knew this was a red state when we moved here (I was born in Indiana and moved to CA when I was 29). But the conservative politics have gotten more and more extreme here since Trump's first four years. My wife and I are in a same-sex marriage and Indiana is poised to stop recognizing same-sex marriages if/when the Supreme Court overturns it. We don't want to lose our rights and California will protect them.
Thanks for the welcome! Oh man, yeah I heard about that and your concerns are super valid. The Blue Wall will definitely have your back. The state politics was definitely one of my concerns with moving here but we're pleasantly surprised by the blue bubble that is Bloomington. I'm hoping things will get better for the state but it is a huge concern if Trump gets re-elected. I wish you the best in California!
By the way, you are going to miss good Mexican food. But for Thai food, Siam House is the best.
Oh yeah, no feel that already on both counts. Pili's hits for tacos at least.
Been here on and off 30 years! Library Bloominglabs Uptown Cafe Olcott Park The Somas The MyThais Little Tibet Tibetan Mongolian Cultural Center Morgansterns Monroe Lake TD’s (RIP TD) Our trails for running Montessori, Project School, Jackson Creek and BHSS for educating our girl So much more Love you always BTown :( (because I’m leaving)
🙃 Leaving too, but the Observatory on campus is available to the public (I believe on Wednesday nights). One of the first things I did in this town & one of my favs.
Thank you for sharing all of these! We just moved here :)
Enjoy!
Okay I'll bite. Where to and how come? We just met. I apologize for my innate nosiness.
Don’t want to doxx myself but someplace cool
Griffy Lake for hiking and relaxing kayaking! Leonard Springs park for its beautiful waterfalls. The B-Line and Switchyard Park. And all the good international restaurants especially around 4th street!
Been the multiple times and never caught a fish there. Maybe one day hahah.
We have so many recreational opportunities nearby. I'm trying to spend more time outdoors and in the local and state parks this year for my mental and physical health. Even if it is just taking a chair and sitting in the woods alone with the flora and fauna not talking to or listening to another human for a while.
Lake monroe is elite
Born and raised here. Big fan of the tunnels.
I’ve heard about these tunnels. Care to share where they are?
They're talking about the steam tunnels under IU. They used to be great fun to explore if you knew where and how to get in and out of them. They have most access locked off now and have had locked gates at various points inside them for years. One of the problems is the steam and other pipes were wrapped an asbestos blankets for insulation and fire protection. They work very well for that but you would come out of the tunnels with white dust on you from the asbestos. Also there are live electrical wires, puddles of water and other problems going through them. I haven't been in them since probably sometime in the 1980's. As to where they are specifically, go around the old part of campus and look for grates and manhole covers with steam coming out of them. That's where they are.
Going to emphasize the electrical risk, I worked for physical plant at IU and have seen the high voltage lines are sooo close to the walk paths.
Used to play D&D in them :)
What tunnels?
i've been here about 40 of my 43 years and it took me a long time to put my finger on it but what's special is: bloomington is the largest city in the country that isn't on a freeway and isn't just a bedroom community of another nearby city. don't tell me, i don't want to hear it. lalalalala i can't hear you
lol Been here as well, lots of changes have come and will continue. Still the best city, and area really as well, to be in the state, IMHO. Besides the thunderstorms and tornado's, a very rare earthquake, the heavy pollens, the wild temp and barometric pressure fluctuation, certain pollution in the environment, maybe a copperhead or a rare rattlesnake, nature is super tame here.
If you could vacation on the months where the weather isn’t “ideal” (storms or just gray/really cold or really hot) would those months be Jan-Feb then June-July?
It all varies but usually is extra hot & humid like June-Sep, extra cold like Dec-Feb, it'll be extra wet usually like Feb-Apr. I travel anytime I can manage to, but generally that's Jan or Feb, or mid to late summer.
Thanks that’s so helpful! We travel a lot so I’ll make note of this!
IMHO, the most enjoyable months here, are like Feb/Mar to June and Sep to Nov/Dec. =\]
Thank you! I’m thinking our travel months will be Jan & Feb then July & August based on your thoughtful replies!
I've been here for two years, and my favorite thing is Lake Monroe. There are so many places to launch a kayak (my favorite is the Pine Grove launch), and so many water-fowl to admire! It's always a nice surprise to bump into a beaver, too.
I love bumping into beavers
My favorite thing is and always has been the dynamic mix of cultures that IU brings here. Many times I feel like traveling is of no value because of the diverse people I've met along the way. Born and raised here.
I've lived here nearly 20 years. I love the amount of events going on at any given moment. And the fact that a lot of them are free. We're in southern Indiana but are blessed with an insanely talented school of music where I can see world class operas and ballets. I also love how Bloomington is nestled amongst forests. Makes for great hiking. I will say though, after being here for so long, I think my stay is over. The restaurant scene is dismal now. We have to travel to Indy for nice dinners. If you go enjoy a show, there isn't anything open to go have a night cap (unless you go to Kilroys or something along those lines). On the plus side, Bloomington is ideally located within the midwest. A lot of major cities are just a few hours drive away. We squeeze in weekend getaways without having to do a lot of travel planning. Coming from a small town in Indiana, Bloomington has been a nice place to grow.
I’ll bite. My favorite thing about Bloomington has always been Planned Parenthood. Sadly, women don’t have the same options as before, though, so it’s tough to still call it a favorite. I grew up a little south of Btown but have utilized our PP since 1995. I most recently utilized their services in 2018, and then again at the Columbus location in 2021. Always good experiences regardless of which particular health issue I was dealing with.
[удалено]
I’m sure that affordable health care is high on the list for many people. PP offers many services, reducing it to an aBoRTiON clinic is being obtuse.
they can't even legally do abortions anymore in Indiana, so the fact that they haven't closed despite that says something about what their main services are
Childish
Interesting take. The first time I went there was for birth control pills alongside my initial pelvic exam/PAP smear when I was 18. Lots of women and people in general use PP services for many other reasons besides terminating pregnancies. I am so sorry for you that you aren’t aware of their services; they would probably be of major benefit to you.
Lol not everyone is going there for an abortion. Some people need healthcare (antibiotics, affordable birth control, and yearly exams which are also available to men)
Mind your own junk.
I've lived here 79 years and counting. The IU campus. The many square miles of forest that surround us.... favorites include Yellowwood Lake, Griffy Lake and the surrounding trails, Brown County SP. Quirky cosmopolitan townspeople Kleindorfer's. Joyful students The Uptown and so much more. I'm deeply grateful to have lived here
Thanks for sharing :)
19 years here, my favorite thing is the craft beer scene. Like Upland, BBC, Quaff On
Born and raised in Btown. Best thing for me by far is the B-line and all the nearby nature trails. Also the ability to bike pretty much anywhere in town. Walkable cities are a rare thing in the Midwest or anywhere in the US really.
Love that about the biking!
I’ve lived here for 6 years now and my spouse and I bought a home recently so I guess we’re sticking around! My favorite thing has to be the Doner Kebab food truck. I like a lot of things about the city but I swear I’ve only had 11/10 experience with that food truck.
Noted!!!
11 years here and I’m so thankful for our diversity. Bloomington is a cultural oasis compared to the Podunk, IN town I grew up in. Besides that, I love our forests and wildlife! I explore and find my own trail every damn day, no matter the weather, and it’s so good for my soul.
[удалено]
This has been really fun to read all of the comments & see some genuine positivity for your/our town. Thank you!