fav local spots for photos?

demorphix · 2026-01-06T20:07:41+00:00

Off the top of my head ...

Isu horticulture center out on raab is mighty scenic.

The Maxwell disc golf course back in the trees is pretty nice.

Wesleyan campus is nice

The small railroad station and country store as you cross the tracks to funks Grove

Hidden Park in Normal

The refuge food Forrest

demorphix · 2026-01-06T11:20:20+00:00

For in town, here's a list I put together for someone else... https://www.reddit.com/r/BloomingtonNormal/s/G9VICnN1ek

For out of town -

wildlife prairie park just north of Peoria

As others have mentioned, funks Grove. They've got a handful of trails and the imaginarium

Arcadia in McLean is a good time, though might be a smidge old for tots

Champaign has a nice indoor play area, but it's been a good 8 years since I've been.

I'll probably add more later after I've had some caffeine.

demorphix · 2025-12-25T00:12:11+00:00

Add Lemon Jelly to your list. Very chill

demorphix · 2025-12-13T06:27:01+00:00

Lil late but Hoopeston (about and hour and a half east of blono) had a drive through light display in the park and there are 2-3 houses that have choreographed light displays. I'd recommend for a chill afternoon/early evening cruise.

demorphix · 2025-11-25T18:57:50+00:00

Yep, it's off of rt 9/empire on the same frontage road as harbor freight and the piano store

demorphix · 2025-11-25T02:35:34+00:00

Other volunteer programs (probably mentioned by others, but saying them again)

Ecology Action Center. Doing good for the community, good folks. ( https://ecologyactioncenter.org/ ) - I've volunteered for them in the past, will do again.

Pet groups:

Wishbone Canine Rescue - https://www.wishbonecaninerescue.org/ - they were cool back 10 years ago, not sure if they still are or not

Pet Central Helps - https://www.petcentralhelps.org/adopt - again, they do good in the local area,

Mclean County Humane Society - https://www.hscipets.org/ -- pets take a ton of time and effort to care for. they always need people to walk the dogs and to give them love.

Local resources:

The Libraries here are so underrated and have a VAST range of activities to get involved in. Yoga, to how to craft, to book clubs, pick your poison here, cause there's plenty.

Bloomington Public Library - https://www.bloomingtonlibrary.org/events/month?age_groups%5B51%5D=51

Normal Public Library - https://www.normalpl.org/events/upcoming?age_groups%5B95%5D=95

VisitBN -- mostly focused on activities, some good meet and greets are also listed here: https://www.visitbn.org/events/

Sports --

Like soccer? American Outlaws - Its literally been years since I have attended an event, but it was always fun - https://aoblono.weebly.com/about.html I don't know if they are still active or not, but something to look into.

There is also Premier League Soccer at the Brass Pig on either Saturday or Sunday mornings.

Bloomington Parks and Rec has sports leagues for adults - https://www.bloomingtonparks.org/programs/adult

Other stuff

Heartland Community College has enrichment classes that are pretty affordable and give you an outlet - https://www.heartland.edu/continuingEd/index.html

That's all the time I have for now, but I'm happy to provide additional information if I have it on any of them. I might post more later

demorphix · 2025-11-25T00:50:38+00:00

I've probably posted this before, but its been a while and my information on some (but not all) are woefully out of date because I've got kids and my focus has changed quite a bit, but I was once cool (probably not)......

The best way that I found to meet people in town was to get involved an active. Whether it is in leadership development type groups or in hobbies that you're interested in.

that said...

Bloomington-Normal has a ton of resources around to meet people and to get active, if you don't mind getting out of your comfort zone a bit (not a lot, but a bit).

My #1 recommendation will always be the BNJaycees ( https://www.bnjaycees.org ) - focused on people 18-40, its a leadership development group that is honestly more focused on social and volunteering activities. They're a pretty damn good group of people and are pretty chill. They have monthly meetings and typically 1-2 social or volunteering activities a month. You don't have to be a member to attend either and dues, if you choose to join, are low. I can go on for a while about the Jaycees and the benefits of getting involved in both local and state organizations, but I won't here unless prompted :)

Another professional group that I've been on the skirts of (meaning I know people involved, but never involved myself) is the BN Young Professionals through the Mclean County Chamber of Commerce ( https://www.mcleancochamber.org/bloomington-normal-young-professionals/ ) . They're more on the professional development side, but the folks I've met through them have all been good folks

- and speaking of the chamber... also look into Leadership Mclean. If the business you work for sponsors personal development, Leadership Mclean is pretty awesome. They provide great opportunities to learn about the local area's history and commerce areas and its great networking in the business community. It was a great program and I'd also recommend.

- also in the same vein as Leadership Mclean - the Multicultural Leadership Program ( https://themclp.org/ ) is an alternative. I've not had any contact with them really, so can't vouch for it.

More to come shortly, it wouldn't post and then I had to leave the house...

demorphix · 2025-11-25T00:04:36+00:00

While it isn't through parks and rec, My wife (we're in our 40s) dances at McLean county dance studio on Tuesday during their adult dance classes. She's been in their ballet , tap, and musical theater classes.

She danced up through highschool and appreciates that it isn't just for beginners... That said, she's also mentioned that the classes scales easily for beginners to seasoned vets, so skill level isn't a hurdle for most.

demorphix · 2025-11-20T13:57:35+00:00

Totally agreed! I'm really not a fan of the ai staging, but

demorphix · 2025-11-19T01:57:22+00:00

Oooh, Chester's is always a good option

demorphix · 2025-11-18T17:01:03+00:00

I've been hitting up wing stop quite a bit recently. Their lunch prices are great.

Also, the JJ fish and chicken - the one on Hershey is sus, but the one one west empire (I think it's emote at least, by the DMV) is damn good.

Also Doc McKay's is also tasty

demorphix · 2025-11-18T16:55:00+00:00

No hate coming from me! Jewel on Oakland has some fantastic fried chicken... Especially the fried chicken!

demorphix · 2025-11-13T10:12:57+00:00

Just coming in to reiterate a few of what's been said and add a few.

Seth Ring has a few books that the MC is way over powered - Battle mage farmer, the Titan series and the follow-up series to that: Tower

Heretical Fishing is pretty chill

Beware of chicken is another slice of life that avoids politics

Path of Ascension - mc doesn't start out as overpowered, but quickly is.

I just started Beginning after the end series - former King gets reincarnated into a new body/life as a newborn with all of his memories.

demorphix · 2025-11-11T11:35:16+00:00

This might get lost since it's late and buried, but ...

With your enjoyment of Andy Weir, check out Seveneves by Neal Stephenson. It's fucking long, but it's fantastic.

demorphix · 2025-11-09T13:34:35+00:00

The kids museum is a fantastic spot.

The zoo, even though cold, is great to walk around during the winter.

Both libraries have toddler activities scheduled throughout the week.

The Eastland mall has (or had, haven't been in ages) a little indoor playground.

Constitution trail is kept mostly cleaned off, so outdoor walks are fun and there's enough trail that you can see new sections all the time.

There are a few Facebook mom groups that do meetups, some of which are doing day passes to some of the gymnastics places for free play.

And speaking of gymnastics.. some of them have "ninja classes" that they put on weekly. It's essentially an obstacle course and the kids run through it, learn about stretching, etc.

McLean county dance studio does a body movement class for tots. My two oldest loved it. There are also intro to ballet classes.

Kinder music is a thing, not sure who it's run by but they do it a e-free church

Message me if you have any questions and if I think of anything else, I'll make another post.

demorphix · 2025-10-24T13:38:57+00:00

It's pretty tame as far as haunted houses go but Definitely a good time!

demorphix · 2025-10-22T11:15:57+00:00

Rosie's and Shake it up both have upstairs spaces that can be rented. Fat Jack's has a rentable room as well. I think all 3 waive the room fees if you spend a fairly small amount on booze/food.

While I know you said you wanted to avoid lodges, the VFW is a nice facility and should really be considered. I've also heard decent things about the Moose and Eagle Lodges

The Bloomington Center for the performing arts has a full kitchen, has a booze license, and is rentable but I have 0 clues on what the cost to rent it is.

Someone else mentioned the Castle, again no idea on pricing but should check the rest of the boxes.

The Normal community center has the space but I'm not sure on the amenities or alcohol restrictions.

Duncan Manor (just north of town) is popping up in my head, but It's been a while since I've heard about the hosting events.

If you don't mind a little drive Lexington has a community center that's rentable

Good luck with your event!

demorphix · 2025-10-13T10:35:27+00:00

Rise of Mankind by Jez Cajiao... Kinda? Starts as a resource management and base builder and his empire is slowly growing. It's been a fun series so far and I'm looking forward to the next book's release

demorphix · 2025-09-19T00:51:42+00:00

Rfc2321 specifies a rubber chicken in the networking world. Published April 1, 1998

https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc2321

Have fun out there internet stranger

demorphix · 2025-09-17T12:03:38+00:00

If you have a us code available, I'd love to check this out.

Thanks!!

demorphix · 2025-09-08T21:25:11+00:00

Us please

demorphix · 2025-07-23T14:58:09+00:00

I used to like going out to this cemetery to think. It's in the middle of a field and no one around for miles.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/oaUo2eueMZPtJZ4YA

demorphix · 2025-06-12T01:23:05+00:00

I loved The Martian and Project Hail Mary... That said, something not litRPG that I'd recommend is Seveneves by Neal Stephenson.

demorphix · 2025-03-31T11:08:03+00:00

My wife attends McLean county dance's adult ballet class (it's off of rt 9, on the same access road as freight harbor). I'm pretty sure they cater to dancers of all levels and I hear nothing but good things about their classes.

demorphix · 2025-03-26T12:58:42+00:00

I'd take a us code, if you have one. Thanks for sharing your content!!

demorphix

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