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    Musical Arts Center

    4.7 (7 reviews)
    ModerateMusic Venues

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    Photo courtesy of the IUB website
    Sarah A.

    Ahhh, the MAC. Every IU music student's home base. So many good things to say. IU Bloomington is home to one of the finest music schools in the nation, and its preeminent theater, the Musical Arts Center, certainly doesn't disappoint. The hall seats nearly 1500 people, the stage has room for a 100-piece orchestra, and the backstage area is among the largest in the world. The acoustics are excellent. The interior has been described as "like something out of a Stanley Kubrick movie"--clashing red and orange walls, circular stairway cubicles and 70s space age furniture in the lobby. Not only is the hall itself cool, but the performances in here are world class. The opera program at IU is so renowned that the Met in New York will often donate its old sets to the MAC. If you haven't seen "The Nutcracker" here, you absolutely must. It's the best adaptation that I've ever seen, including the production I went to at the Marinskii Theater in St. Petersburg. The sets are breathtaking and the artists are among the best and brightest of the up-and-coming. Don't miss it!

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Wonderful center to enjoy the classics. Truly a talented group of artists. Always an enjoyable evening.

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    Bluebird Nightclub

    Bluebird Nightclub

    3.5(84 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    •$

    My days of going to the Bluebird 2-3 times a week are long behind me, but as I was attending a show…read morethis weekend, I realized I have never done a Yelp review, and since it's potentially the best bar on the planet, I decided I needed to correct that oversight. During my college years, a good portion of my Bloomington memories are from the Bluebird. Fantastic bands, good friends and a somewhat aggressive number of drinks were the common theme multiple nights a week. Now that I'm OLD(er) the visits are less frequent, but when the right bands are in town and my calendar isn't slammed with adulting, I still find the Bird to be my favorite place in town. The original Bluebird was about half the size it is today. Several years ago, they bought out the restaurant next door and added a large additional space, leading to a pretty big bar/nightclub with a 'bar area' that includes a nice full bar, booths and tables, and the 'live music' portion which has a big stage, plenty of room for big crowds, and a warehouse vibe that is second to none. When you arrive, you'll start to see pictures of the amazing acts that run thru the Bluebird when they're just on the cusp of being 'huge' - from REM to Miranda Lambert to Gryffin, just about every genre is represented and it's nice to say 'I saw them with a few hundred of my friends' after you give ticketmaster your kidney to pay for their giant stadium shows. Reasonable drink prices, good people behind the bar, and the best bands currently playing the area, you can't go wrong with a night at the Bluebird. I wish I was still young and able to do multiple shows every week, but for now I'll just appreciate having it in my backyard so I can attend with the mood hits . Best bar in Bloomington. Probably anywhere.

    Nice quaint nightclub small venue real intimate we saw…read moreCooper Allen and Jake Dobbs there really impressed with Jake Dobbs not that Cooper Allen wasn't fantastic either. You can get there early but plan on getting a drink & Find a nice place to stand to see the show, but it is up close and intimate.

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    Bluebird Nightclub - Live music stage

    Live music stage

    Bluebird Nightclub
    Bluebird Nightclub

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    The Back Door - Food truck

    The Back Door

    3.8(31 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    •$

    My girlfriend are on a quest to visit all the lesbian bars in the country, and luckily my sister…read moregoes to school in Bloomington. The weekend we went happened to be Bloomington Pride, so this place was packed. A fun mixture of college students, 20 something's, and older folks. You enter through a tall fence off of an alleyway, so I'm guessing it's challenging to find if you don't know where you're going, but that's part of the fun. Of the 4 lesbian bars we've been to, this place wins for best decor hands down. We're talking zebra print walls, stuffed unicorn heads, yonic art, glow in the dark paint. Great vibes. They have a super cute outdoor patio as well, and I loved the little food truck on the patio that opens at 9 pm! Great waffle fries and hot sandwiches. Nothing hits as right as hot cheese when you're drunk. They have tons of fun specialty drinks on a menu behind the bar! Also a great mocktail menu for the sober community! Everyone was super welcoming in this space. The one complaint I have is the Dj... we came here to dance the night away and barely made it to 11 pm because the DJ didn't play any recognizable songs or songs with a dancing beat. There were only around 10 people on the dance floor at a given time. On the other hand, this is the first lesbian bar I've been in that has had an operational dance floor with anyone on it, so that's a win. I can't wait to come back again the next time I visit Bloomington!

    Ok. Im biting my tongue some in this review. While i personally still do not agree with charging…read morefor mixers, i absolutely agree this place needs to do whatever is necessary to keep their doors open. Its a safe place to foster community of any kind. They support so many local organizations it makes my head spin. I do know the owners on a personal level. That doesnt sway my 5* vote. They are true women who do care. It is undeniably the best place to dance in BLM any day of the week. They do have great drink specials. Some of the bartenders make the best drinks in town, and its not over priced. Gay, straight, anywhere in between has a home here. Come join us.

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    The Back Door
    The Back Door - Comedy Show A+

    Comedy Show A+

    The Back Door - Menu behind the bar (including mocktails!)

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    Menu behind the bar (including mocktails!)

    Musical Arts Center - musicvenues - Updated October 2026

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