Bloomington and the IU Campus
Most sites you go to looking for information about living in Bloomington will tell you about its 130,000 inhabitants or how it was chosen as one of the top ten college towns in America. They might even tell you that Rand McNally selected Bloomington as one of the eight most desirable places to live in the nation, or that it's known for all its trees, bungalow-style houses and nearby limestone quarries. But we know what you want to know first...
Where the heck is Bloomington?
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Events Calendars
The IU Events Calendar and the WFIU Events Calendar provide listings of current events and happenings around town:
Why is Bloomington a good place to live?
- Bloomington is a walkable city - and a great place to own a bike. A car is convenient, but not necessary in Bloomington.
- Wonderful, affordable restaurants and many ethnic food selections - everything from thai, afghani, mexican and indian to chinese, morrocan, tibetan and burmese
- It's a great community - see a classic movie at the downtown Buskirk-Chumley theatre, people watch at the independent coffee shops, or concert-hop at the Lotus World Music Festival in the fall.
- And a wonderful place to live - the Monroe County library is always packed with people, the downtown square is vibrant, and the huge Saturday morning farmers market is truly the heart of the community.
What else is there?
- Breakaway Bloomington: Monroe County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Maps and information about local businesses and attractions, restaurant reviews, and entertainment listings. - The City of Bloomington
Offical City of Bloomington Web Site. Go to place for recycling and utility information, community announcements, and neighborhood programs. - Arts events in Bloomington
Calendar of music events, descriptions and tickets. - The Scene
The Herald-Times blog featuring an area entertainment calendar. - Indiana University Visitor Information Center
Located in the Carmichael Center, the Visitor Information Center is the University's official front door. Here you can find maps, arrange a tour, and obtain complete information about Indiana University, Bloomington, and the surrounding areas. - Bloomington Chamber of Commerce
Essential links to the Bloomington community such as libraries, utilities and the local businesses. - Indiana Tourism
Festival dates, trip suggestions, and history and facts about the Hoosier State.
Major Grocery Stores
- Bloomingfoods - A food cooperative offering whole and organic items, bulk foods, and sandwiches/hot bar. Become a member and enjoy a weekly discount. (3 locations)
- Kroger - The largest Kroger is by the mall and was recently redone to include a large organic/whole foods section and larger wine selection. (4 locations)
- Marsh - Great basic grocery stores, plus O'Malias, a gourmet version of Marsh (3 locations)
- Sahara Mart - An independent grocer known for its excellent chocolate, cheese, wine and beer selection. Also has bulk coffee/tea, olives and select middle-eastern items daily. (2 locations)
Shopping
Bloomington has three major shopping areas - the mall (east), downtown, and the west side.
The Mall
Highlights include Target, K-Mart, Macy's, Sears, Best Buy, BORDERS, Barnes & Noble, Staples, Pier One, Petco, Bed Bath & Beyond, Hobby Lobby, a movie theatre, and various mall stores.Downtown
Highlights include J.L. Waters (camping), The Game Preserve, Goods for Cooks, jewelry shops, book stores, art galleries, a theatre and the Wonderlab Science Museum.West Side
Highlights include Lowe's, Menard's, Old Navy, Pet Smart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Big Lots, many chain restaurants, and a movie theatre.
Banks
Suggestions from a townie
Erika Lee, Communications Director for The University Graduate School
The Farmer's Market - The heart of the Bloomington community, this market runs most of the year with a smaller market on Tuesdays and a larger one paired with music, arts, adoptable pets and festivals on Saturdays.
Pet store recommendation - I really like T&T's Pet Supplies on S. Walnut. They remember you when you come in, lots of interesting toys, treats and food, and I love supporting this local business.
Homemade ice cream - We used to have more choices, but if you still want a homemade scoop, try the Chocolate Moose downtown. By the mall and on the west side, go for Jiffy Treat (3 locations).
More shopping - Not a lot of good clothing items for folks who aren't 18 and a size zero at the mall, so I suggest driving up to Indianapolis if you can't find what you need in town. Closest is the Greenwood Mall (45 min), fanciest is Keystone (Carmel, north Indy). Near Columbus, IN, is an outlet mall (1 hr). And on the northeast side of Indy is a huge electronics store called Fry's Electronics. Happy shopping!
Nearby Parks - In town, check out Bryan Park just south of campus. On the southside of town, park and walk/bike on the Clear Creek Bike Trail. If the woods is more your speed, hilly Brown County State park (east by Nashville) and cave-filled McCormick's Creek (north-west) are excellent choices. Or rent a canoe or hike at Griffy Lake (north side of town).
Daytrips & Activities - Take the kids to Wonderlab just off the downtown square. Or take the family to Indiana's largest lake, Lake Monroe (rent a pontoon boat?). or to the artist colony and knick-nack capital of Nashville, IN (east), which is especially beautiful in the fall. Marengo Cave is south an hour and a half or so. And don't forget the Children's Museum (one of the largest in the U.S.), Art Museum, Lilly House, IMAX, and Eiteljorg Museums in nearby Indianapolis (north).
Festivals & Fairs - Lotus World Music Fest is worth the cost and usually runs the last weekend in September. A Taste of Bloomington (mid-summer) by the City Hall is always good for trying new foods and beer. IU holds an Early Music Festival, and don't forget the iconic Little 500 bike race in the spring. Watch the movie classic Breaking Away to see what I mean!
Weird facts - No one knows why the weather vein on top of the courthouse is shaped like a fish in our land-locked state, but you're welcome to guess!
The IU Campus
New to campus?
- Take an Online Tour of IU
- Peruse listings provided by the IU Visitor Center
- Get oriented with a Campus Map
- IU’s A-Z BIG List
A complete listing of student organizations, departments, offices and programs at IU. - IU Visitor Information Center
Located in the Carmichael Center, the Visitor Information Center is the University's official front door. Here you can find maps, arrange a tour, and obtain complete information about Indiana University, Bloomington, and the surrounding areas. - Campus Events
From theatre to sports to exhibits to job fairs - a one-stop event guide for Indiana University. - Campus News and Resources
IU's list of calendars, maps, news and media resources, weather reports, and facts and trivia about the university. - IU Arts and Entertainment
The university's listing of museums, activities, exhibits, and more. - IU Sports
Details on IU sporting events, scheduled games, and how to get tickets.
