Beautiful and iconic. The Buskirk is an absolute must for those visiting Bloomington. Very historic…read moretheater that we, the citizens, have kept under pristine condition. The paid staff is very minimal. 95% of those that run the Buskirk are volunteers. We drive to keep arts and entertainment alive in this busy society. I live its nonprofit nature, but my favorite part of the Buskirk is its diversity. From top shows like Rufus Wainwright to local shows like the Bloomington Symphony all the way to niche shows like Pride Film Festival or Rocky Horror...the Buskirk has it all.

Classic theater in fun college town?!? Yes pls! I've seen everyone from Reverend Horton Heat to…read moreMelissa Villaseñor from Saturday night live to the chefs challenge with my 10YO. Love. This. Theater. I haven't had a bad seat yet; Although sitting up front for a Saturday night live comedian is pretty exciting. The parking situation can be challenging so I get here a little early. There are lots of great eateries within walking distance including Uptown Cafe, Farm, Trojan Horse and Osteria Ragu. Try out a sweet treat at the chocolate shop next door or a classic Chocolate Moose Ice Cream cone. Just strolling the charming downtown after an event is very date worthy. Thanks to all the volunteers who keep this place running so smoothly!

My daughter's sorority hosted a dinner, 150 people. Sycamore Farms provided 2 bartenders, 40 minute…read morewait for Cocktail Hour. When dinner was served, 1 8-foot table being served originally on 1 side. The 3 to 4 servers did expand to double rows after 45 minutes waiting in line, ran out of food, utensils.... There were maybe 60 chairs to sit down and eat. I don't know where the breakdown in communication happened, but we all RSVP'ed, $33 each, and the numbers were so off it was like Sycamore Farms planned for 60 people. It's a beautiful venue, but I'd be very hesitant to book an event there again given what happened that night.

What a beautiful venue! I recently attended a small wedding here and really enjoyed watching two…read moregood friends get married under a rustic altar surround by blue skies and a gorgeous field--quintessential Indiana, folks. There is plenty of space for guests to mingle both in the barn and out on the lawn. Croquet, cornhole, etc. in addition to a designated smoking area. Bathrooms are set up in adorable converted stalls, the bar area is easy to access, there is a designated space for a buffet setup, and I loved the table decor. String lights and soft lighting (no harsh fluorescents!) made the entire place feel like it was lit by stars and moonlight. The dance floor is a covered space between the two sections of the barn, but the walls are open for easy access/mingling. Small tables everywhere, so I never felt like I had to scramble for a place to put my wallet and phone. The owners were unobtrusive, kind, and made sure everything went off without a hitch. If you're searching for a Bloomington-area wedding venue, Sycamore Farm is highly recommended!

We did not stay at Seasons. We only came one Sunday for the Sunday brunch buffet. So this review is…read morefor the buffet only. On the plus side: The items on the buffet were really tasty -- fried chicken, mashed potatoes (not from powder), a delicious chicken/white gravy, and those amazing rolls served with apple butter. Oh my goodness, you could seriously just fill a plate with rolls and apple butter and call the meal a success. They're hard to describe, but they're kind of round dinner rolls with a sweet and slightly cinnamon type flavor. They are crunchy on the outside (possibly fried?) and really delicious. Add the apple butter and some butter butter and it's pretty heavenly. There was also a salad bar that was OK but nothing super special. In all, I guess there aren't a ton of options and it's definitely not a buffet for those watching their weight or with dietary restrictions. But what was there was hot, delicious and plentiful. And, like I said, seriously, the biscuits themselves are worth the trip. And at something like $12 a person, it's a pretty decent deal, especially if you go hungry. Would recommend, but advise that people go knowing what to expect. This is not a buffet that will boggle your mind with options. But it will taste good and leave you satisfied.

Not sure where the good reviews are coming from but I stayed in the lower part of the hotel and it…read morewas like a room where a murder would take place. Actual keys for the door to room so they are way behind times, room looked nothing like pics I saw online...I assure you if they took pics of my dark and dingy room with a crappy little tv screwed to the wall they never would book a room. It just reeks of old mustiness and while on subject of the tv, you best bring a book or tablet cause the crappy reception to the room from some terrible cable connection will drive you mad. The temp to the room was modulated by a switch that states (hot / cold) written in marker on a plate...but doesn't matter cause both do the same thing.....nothing! The actual thermostat is from the 60's...doesn't do a damn thing either. Pillows were made of granite...couldn't even bend them..never had a worse pillow ever... Also seasons staff, don't have a vending machine with perishables in them if it doesn't have refrigeration! Nothing like a liquid kit jar bar..yum! All this for the God awful price of $138 a night!!! Go anywhere else...sleep in a dumpster If you must..

I'd always wanted to check out IU Auditorium. I finally got the chance. I'm quite impressed…read more IU Auditorium opened its doors in 1941. It was built as a Federal Works Agency Project and was the first building completely planned and constructed under IU President Herman B. Wells. It's a 3,200-seat performing arts venue located in IU's Fine Arts Plaza (think Lilly Library and the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture, and Design). The auditorium is home to Thomas Hart Benton's "Century of Progress" murals, the Dailey Family Memorial Collection of Hoosier art, two Robert Laurent sculptures, and the IU Auditorium organ. is a 3,200-seat performing arts venue located at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.[1] It is situated in IU's Fine Arts Plaza alongside the Lilly Library and the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design. IU auditorium has played host to a wide variety of politicians, performers, comics, traveling stage works, and much more. In 1997, it closed for two years to get a $13 million renovation. Accessibility is surprisingly strong here. There's accessible parking almost directly in front of the facility (you do have to have disability tags). There are ramps and elevators that offer access to every level of the facility along with the entrance. Wheelchair accessible seating is available at all price levels (LOVE this. Ruoff could learn a thing or two). For those with hearing concerns, IU Auditorium offers a wireless, infrared headset system that is available for all performances. Headsets can be worn with or without a hearing aid and are distributed free of charge (visit coat check). Braille and large print programs are available with advance notice. Audio description for the visually impaired may be available on an event-by-event basis. They recommend contacting the auditorium at least two weeks in advance. You can rent event spaces. Weddings are often hosted. I found the acoustics to be quite nicely done - especially for an older building. Every person I met here was super friendly and helpful. Bloomington is a lovely town (somewhat hilly, an important note for wheelchair users). There are lots of restaurant and hotel options. Overall, I'm quite pleased with this first visit and I would easily return. The event I attended was a speaker (so a generally polite crowd that didn't hinder my view in any way). However, I'd love to come back for a touring show or music performance.

My husband and I just visited this auditorium to see Colin Jost perform. It was the first time we…read morehad ever been and we really enjoyed it! The theater is absolutely gorgeous. We ended up purchasing tickets to come back and see Tom Segura now that we know how the layout is inside. We sat pretty close, so we didn't have any issue with seeing the stage, but we didn't see any monitors from where we sat and I definitely wouldn't be able to see anything if we had sat really far back. That would be the only downside to this theater (unless they do have monitors and we just didn't see them). The concessions were well-stocked and had friendly staff and the line went very quick. The bathrooms were tight to get in and out of because it seemed like you should only enter on the left and exit on the right, but people were exiting in both directions and it is a slim entrance. The line also flows directly out into traffic of people either trying to get to their seats or leave the theater. Overall, we had a really great time and are excited to return.

For no particular reason, perhaps it was on a whim, I decided to drive the 20 minutes for me, down…read moreto Bloomington and check out their only bowling alley. It's the only one I'm aware of and for a city of this size, I would think there would be more than one. A Yelp search returns this location as the only bowling alley in Bloomington. It does not list the one on the IU campus probably because it is for students and not the public. The location was not so easy to find even with GPS. I missed the first turn because it didn't look like a street but more like a driveway. Eventually arriving close to my destination, I found the building is located behind a row of buildings on a main road and then set back out of sight on a side street to accommodate a large parking lot. Upon arrival I saw half of the overheard lights turned off making it rather dark inside. The counter person gave me an open lane sandwiched between two sets of young children. Out of 32 lanes, everyone was crammed into the last eight lanes all bunched up together. The other 24 lanes were empty on a day when no leagues were due to bowl per their website. Could I not get a lane without having to share the ball return with people that don't know proper bowling etiquette? It is customary to wait for the person next to you to take their turn so they have no distractions. This was not the case with both sets of people on either side of me, including the adults and the children. Then someone turned on the music on these large speakers mounted every ten feet or so. It was so loud people had to shout to be heard. I happen to be on a phone call and had to step outside the building to talk. I could not hear them and vice versa. If it was later in the evening I could understand but it in the middle of the afternoon. I wasn't there to party, I was trying to practice my bowling skills which takes concentration. I found it too difficult to concentrate with their blaring offensive music. Then there was the snack bar. It was closed! There were no alternatives. No vending machines providing liquid refreshments and a big sign on the door that said no outside food or drink is allowed. Is bowling a sport? Hydration during sporting events is not allowed here? I bowled four frames and left; never to return. I donated my remaining games to the children next to me.

Service was friendly. Drinks were abundant. The interface was up to date. Food was great! Cheese…read morecurds are a winner!

Our stay at the Biddle Hotel was nothing short of miserable. The room was freezing cold, and the…read morethermostat offered no way to turn the system on or off. Even though it was set to 80°, the temperature never rose above 67°, while the vents blasted frigid air directly at us all night long. It was so unbearable that my husband had to stuff a towel into the vent just to block the airflow. When we called the front desk for help, we were told there was nothing they could do because the engineer wasn't available. That was the end of the conversation -- no solution, no effort, no concern for the fact that guests were left freezing in their rooms. This level of service is unacceptable for any hotel, let alone one tied to the reputation of Indiana University. Future guests should be aware: if something goes wrong, don't expect help. this hotel is poorly managed and poorly maintained.

The place itself is quaint, nice, but it's the location. It's in the Union, so there are 25 things…read moreto do in that building - multiple restaurants, coffee, snacks, shopping, bowling alley, bars, live music, and an auditorium. And it's right in the middle of campus, so it's a few minute walk from Kirkwood, where all the action is, literally a hundred places to eat and hang out. It's a ten minute drive to the mall area too, the other place with lots to do.

Upon entering this historic-looking building, you'll be surprised by the modern,…read morerecently(?)-renovated interior. The spaces are sleek, resourceful and pleasant. The spaces are incredibly flexible which makes it easy to hold an event here. The Bloomington Handmade Market had the entire second floor completely open to fit all of their awesome, local vendors. Recently, the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce transformed the second floor into a few smaller rooms (used for personal business panels) and also had a bigger, open area available for their keynote speakers. The best part though?! The huge, free parking lot just steps outside the entrance to the building. So convenient and so rare to find at a convention center.

I called the convention center to get some information about hosting an event at this location…read more Jean from Sales was incredibly helpful! She had so much information, and was more than willing to spend the extra time to answer any questions I had. Thoroughly appreciated all of the information, and can't recommend her enough!

Can't say enough great things about Yesteryear photos. We had an appointment on 12/31. I had to…read morecall and cancel and requested an appointment on 1/1. They were closed but came in special for us. We had the best time and she took such time making sure everything was perfect.

We absolutely loved doing our yesteryear photo. There was no one else in line so we were able to…read moretake our time. My daughter gets uneasy with certain clothes but our photographer was able to help her out and still help cheer her up for the pictures. We could not decide between two of our photos and she was so kind to give us both of the ones we liked so much! Our first time doing yesteryear photos and I will definitely encourage anyone that has not gotten one done to do so here. They are very friendly and patient!