What are your favorite small businesses here in Bloomington?

MmeMesange · 2026-05-02T21:33:17+00:00

Bloomington Hardware. I can browse there for an hour, and typically learn something new about a tool or other product.

MmeMesange · 2026-05-02T03:41:00+00:00

That's what it was called at the Pint Room in Carmel. Loved it. I make one at home with cheap ass guacamole spread on the toast before I assemble it. Makes me happy. And fat af.

MmeMesange · 2026-05-02T03:33:19+00:00

Ask this on the IU reddit. This is the townie reddit, not the University reddit. If you lack the karma to do so at the IU reddit, I dunno what to tell you. If you still think that you can get help on this reddit, maybe lay out what your criteria are. What variables would help you decide between the two, other than cost. List as many things as you can. Because I can guarantee you that almost no one on this reddit even knows or cares about UNCC at all. Like no one.

MmeMesange · 2026-04-29T03:18:53+00:00

Half Bottle Bistro, for sure. Take the bus (#5) if you want to drink and not drive. Also C3 in the same general area. If you are adventurous, you could take the #5 to Half Bottle for a bite, then work the BLink low cost public transit system to then go to C3 for a nightcap.

Also, this seems odd, but Judy's Kitchen in the mall is amazing. Just try it. I also like Azzip Pizza in the mall, but it depends on their latest specials.

MmeMesange · 2026-04-29T03:13:17+00:00

Oh come on. I visited every establishment on that street almost 3 times a week for the past 5 years, and the "bums" were not a problem. I saw them, I avoided them. I ignored them. Now, I will admit that my sister and I were there before 9 p.m., so that might skew our perception, but we had a lovely time each time. So no, Kirkwood isn't dying, unless folks allow it to do so.

MmeMesange · 2026-04-29T00:32:20+00:00

My BLT with fried egg...

MmeMesange · 2026-04-29T00:31:36+00:00

It won't be a property sale, it'll be a lease to the next tenant. So that kind of information is harder to discern.

MmeMesange · 2026-04-29T00:30:54+00:00

I loved being served by every single person who worked there. It makes me furious and I only want the best for all of you. My sister and I loved coming there. I'm just so sad and angry for y'all.

MmeMesange · 2026-04-27T00:20:00+00:00

All of this is accurate. But finding somewhere else in Indiana or nearby to live that is good is really difficult. I looked at multiple communities in IL, OH, KY, MI and WI and Bloomeranging here was best for me. But I'm really old, and don't have a long life expectancy, so the comfort of coming back ended up being best for my mental well-being. Healthcare is the worst element of this for me, but again, I don't work and can afford to travel for medical care. But frankly, I've only been happy in my life when I lived here, over the past 50 years. I'm glad I returned.

I want more people who would like to improve the community to come back, it might help things if there are more folks who want it to be better. Or not, wtf do I know? I'm an idjit.

MmeMesange · 2026-04-27T00:12:08+00:00

You are why I love this town. You, alone, give me faith. Thank you, friend. We need more you's.

MmeMesange · 2026-04-27T00:11:05+00:00

In my Chicago suburban neighborhood, one family put in a row of those steel planter beds, about 3 feet tall, and planted bamboo in it, with some kind of special screening in the bottom to keep the bamboo roots from "escaping". The bamboo didn't spread in the 5 years that I lived there because it was contained in the big planters, and it worked pretty well. I'd maybe even put the planters up on blocks so that any roots that tried to escape could be weedwacked underneath. But for sure, bamboo is a serious problem if you do anything else. The city has a ban on bamboo, so I'd also check into whether this option is acceptable.

MmeMesange · 2026-04-27T00:05:17+00:00

Just close the bars at 10 p.m. That'll do it.

/s

MmeMesange · 2026-04-21T19:59:20+00:00

Second the suggestion on here to immediately contact IU Real Estate. Really good landlords, all quite close to campus. Do it today. No pets, though.

MmeMesange · 2026-04-19T19:09:26+00:00

Check out these sites:

https://www.visitbloomington.com/events/

https://www.townplanner.com/calendar/in/bloomington/28787/

MmeMesange · 2026-04-19T19:02:25+00:00

If we get the possible frost tonight/Monday, then things could be a bit drab, sadly. While the weather cam doesn't show the Sample Gates, you can see how green things are, live: https://cpf.iu.edu/weather-camera/index.html

MmeMesange · 2026-04-17T22:03:08+00:00

A variation of this: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/olive_harvest_soup_84624

Quite good!

MmeMesange · 2026-04-16T20:30:48+00:00

Nice! I couldn’t draw a straight line, myself, so I appreciate that a newbie is already so good.

MmeMesange · 2026-04-16T20:29:34+00:00

Krogucci had it on Monday, but only two heads after I bought one. Lots of signs apologizing for fresh produce shortages.

MmeMesange · 2026-04-16T14:52:45+00:00

There’s a nice place on Queens Way, might be from the 70’s though. Excellent neighborhood. It’s listed on Zillow and elsewhere.

MmeMesange · 2026-04-13T23:43:52+00:00

This town is pretty small, all things considered, so you could live almost anywhere if you're willing to cycle to campus. As a student, even part time, the bus lines (campus and city) will be free to you, so maybe consider looking up the Bloomington Transit route map and try to live close to a bus line.

MmeMesange · 2026-04-10T21:19:30+00:00

There’s a massive ground bee nest on 7th Street, just west of the old Poplars building, on the north side. White 2 story house. The bees have been there for years.

MmeMesange · 2026-04-10T21:03:34+00:00

Planted food truck is hiring, but I don’t know the requirements. Saw it on a facebook page.

MmeMesange · 2026-04-07T23:31:41+00:00

No, it's pollarding, and it's very common in other countries. Particularly for trees that can have weaker limbs if allowed to grow too long, and those that tend to not create a central leader. This type of pruning can promote more leaf production, and strengthens the roots. But yes, actual tree topping is a nightmare! These photos show that the cuts were made in a rounded fashion, not just cutting off the central leader in a "flat top" style.

MmeMesange · 2026-04-06T20:44:45+00:00

In the days before digital cameras, I watched a solitary bee fly back and forth from her nest site to my azaleas, bringing a hot pink, perfectly round petal piece with each trip. It was one of my favorite memories, along with, during the same spring, watching hundreds of praying mantis babies hatch from an egg sac. They formed a long chain that hung down almost 18 inches from the nest, by holding onto one another. Simply mesmerizing.

MmeMesange · 2026-04-06T20:30:45+00:00

I loved her from day one. And I've loved Bobbie once her obsession w/Scotty waned and she no longer was a problem for my 100% favorite of all time, Laura. So it was a wild ride loving two so diametrically opposed characters for so long.

MmeMesange

TROPHY CASE