Visiting Bloomington? Here’s Your Festival Weekend Guide
View from the Hyatt Place hotel in downtown Bloomington, Ind. (Photo by James Brosher)
Part of the reason why Middle Coast is such a great event is because our local community in Bloomington will sit side by side with filmmakers from around the world to enjoy fantastic films.
If you’re coming from out of town we want to help make your visit to Bloomington the best it can be. Here’s some tips for the best meals, drinks and experiences. Here are our suggestions to get the most out of your trip to our little Midwestern oasis.
Most of these suggestions keep you within walking distance of film venues, SpringHill Suites and downtown.
FOOD
Fourth Street ethnic options: restaurants serving authentic Korean, Thai, Turkish, Chinese, Japanese, Burmese and Indian food.
Vegetarian/Vegan: The Owlery, Rainbow Bakery
Upscale: Uptown Café, Farm, Malibu Grill, Restuarant Tallent, Finch’s Brasserie
Pubs: Irish Lion, Nick’s English Hut, Trojan Horse
Breakfast: The Runcible Spoon, Uptown Cafe, Village Deli, Scholar’s Bakehouse
Food Truck Fridays: For a quick bite in between screenings Friday, head over to The Chocolate Moose where all of the local food trucks congregate from 11 a.m. until into the evening. (And don’t forget a scoop of Grasshopper ice cream while you’re there!)
DRINK
Cocktails: Uptown Café, Cardinal Spirits, Scholar’s Inn
Local Beers: Quaff On Brewery, Upland Brewery, Function Brewing, The Tap
Coffee: Scholar’s Bakehouse, Soma Coffeehouse, Uel Zing, Pour House
Bars: The Bishop, The Atlas Ballroom, The Root Cellar, Dunkirk Upstairs, Kilroy’s on Kirkwood,
ACTIVITIES
Need a break from the screens and looking for other stuff to do?
- Go on a hike or a kayak ride (you can rent them on the water) at nearby Griffy Lake Nature Preserve.
- Visit the Saturday morning farmer’s market, there’s live music, local restaurants selling brunch items and plenty of fresh, local produce.
- Take a walk or bike ride on the B-Line trail.
- Explore Indiana University’s campus (starting at the Sample Gates)
- Check out various art galleries, including exhibits at Pictura Gallery, IU Art Museum, Grunwald Gallery of Art.
FOR MORE DETAILS AND HAPPENINGS in Bloomington visit www.visitbloomington.com.
While you’re out and about exploring our town, pop in your earbuds and listen to music from artists managed by local record label, Secretly Group (seriously, Bon Iver and Major Lazer’s label is based in Bloomington!)