If you like your art big and bold, then you will love the massive steel structure on the Musical…read moreArts Center lawn: Peau Rouge. The "Red Skin" structure was built by renowned artist Alexander Calder in France in 1970 before being installed in 1971 at its current location. The piece is 40' in height (40 x 32 x 33). The vibrant red-orange color is known as "Calder Red" and when the original paint (which included lead) began to fade, an extensive search took place to carefully remove the paint (and deal with the lead safely) and restore the original color paint. Normally, Calder pieces are dismantled and sent to the original casting location to strip and repaint. But this piece was welded and can not be dismantled, so it had to be done on site. There were a number of challenges in restoring the 5500 sq feet of surface area with the special paint, but it was worth it as the sculpture is still vibrant ten years after the restoration. It is worth noting that this fixed standing structure, or stabile, was the last stabile that Calder completed before his death. Review #1268

On my most recent trip to Bloomington, I headed out to the west side to find a large wind driven…read moresculpture behind the Bed Bath and Beyond store. Partially hidden by large evergreen trees on the west side of the green space is a sculpture that is nearly 70 feet in height made of coated steel that on sunny days, reflects deep colors off its surface. The piece is officially listed as "Untitled 2001" by artist Stephen Powell (2001) but is also referred to as "Fngers". The piece has two end pillars that support a crossbar. The cross bar has five tapered tubes that use their thicker and heavier bases to counter balance the long and narrow portion that reach skyward. As wind catches the long surfaces, the tubes pivot towards horizontal depending upon the wind velocity. On my visit, the wind was light, so the tubes were generally pointing skyward with litle movement. However, I have seen photos of the tubes frozen in winter parallel to the ground! At the time of my visit, there were no benches in the vicinity for visitors to sit and watch the movement though I can imagine that it may be peacefl to watch the tubes sway. I believe I've read the tubes make noise on windy days as well, but were silent on my trip. If you are in the area and the wind is cooperating, take a moment to swing by to check it out. There is plenty of parking to pull up and view the piece in motion. Review #1370

Local artist, Michael McAuley, created this bronze statue of local music legend, Hoagy Carmichael…read more Hoagy sits at his bronze piano just outside the IU Auditorium on the IU campus. The patio is surrounded by a lush serene garden. There is no parking close to the statue and you have to walk to see the statue. It took me some time to find, as it is tucked in near a wall just outside the doors of the Auditorium. I recommend visiting when classes are not in session. IU has a lot of interesting and beautiful art scattered around the campus.

Beautiful tribute to one of America's best composers. It captures his image well and it's so…read morerefreshing to see this be a fixture at IU, given his legacy and time there. I love that the pose is of him at work with "Stardust" at his fingertips, as he penned that just a few blocks away. It's easy for me to conjure up the image of what his style of work may have been like and I can totally hear the song in my head as I go by. I'm so happy that this tribute to him exists.

One of Bloomington's own has added another fine sculpture to the local Public Art offerings in the…read morearea. Famed sculptor Dale Enochs has put together this giant sculpture near the entrance to the grounds of the NW Monroe County YMCA. The installation called "Stride" (2019) covers 80' in length and 15' wide. The human figure, made from water cut, powder coated aluminum, stands 16' in height! There are four layers of the figure held together just a short space from each other. The two outer layers are black. The two inner layers are colored with the five colors associated with the YMCA and have the words "Mind", "Body", and "Spirit" cut into them. Besides the human figure, there are multiple pieces of cut Indiana limestone that are spread out beside and behind the figure along the sidewalk that visitors can follow near the path of the giant. I really like that kids who go to the YMCA can see this public art each day and be encouraged to stride forward using their own imaginations to create something that will endure. Review #3287

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.

Despite all of the times I visited my daughter at Indiana University, I never found my way to…read moreOliver Winery until this past September. Travesty, right? Now, I'm among the privileged who have enjoyed the special place, pinned by Bloomington regulars and by travelers from around the world. The temperatures were sizzling during the opening IU football game weekend (HOO HOO HOOSIERS!). We went to the winery the day before and had to skip the beautiful paths, aiming to enter the chilled inner space to take our places at the bar to sample the variety of wines. Kate assumed the duties of pleasant host, making our experience a fun learning experience. We chose the $15 Barside Guided Tasting, offering six wines from an extensive menu: Dry White Wines, Dry Red Wines, Semi-Dry Wines, Ciderworks Hard Cider, The Bakery Series, Signature Cocktails, Porch Swing, Pilot Project, and Semi-Sweet Wines. The pours were large while the conversation delved into our life experiences with humor and emotion. My favorites were the Gewürtzmariner with delicate floral aromas and a zesty finish, and the Peach Sangrini, a Bellini-inspired bright peach + zesty lemon. My daughter and I both selected the Apple Pie with crisp fresh apple, warm spices, and creamy sweet vanilla. Yum!! (We were reminded of our visit when we were back in Cleveland and found an Oliver Winery Apple Pie bottle in our grocery store!) The Oliver Winery began as a hobby in the 1960s by Indiana University law professor William Oliver. Now, the establishment distributes across the United States. We totally enjoyed our visit!

Beautiful place! It has such a scenic setting with large pond and walking trails…read more Had a few tasters to check out wines from Oliver we hadn't tried yet. The staff was accommodating and warm. We were unfortunate to be able to take the tour but maybe another day!

The IU campus of Bloomington and the surrounding neighborhoods are filled with art. Some are…read moremurals, some abstract sculptures, and in particular on the campus, a number of lifelike bronze statues of people. On my recent visit to the campus, I found five outdoor installations that can be seen from the sidewalks. (Note that there are some other sculptures within the Eskanazi Art Museum when open and the Memorial Union.) On the west side of Campus in front of Franklin Hall is a bronze of Ernie Pyle by sculptor Harold Langland (2014). Pyle was a famous war correspondent who reported from the front lines to get the news for the readers of his articles. He is depicted seated at a small table typing one of his stories. To the east across the sidewalk from Owen Hall is a plaza that has former IU President Herman B Wells seated on a park bench. This was another sculpture by the Harold Langland (2000). A little way to the south on the edge of Dunn Woods by Lindley Hall is a pair of bronze statues representing Adam and Eve. "The Space Between" by Jean-Paul McAuley was sculpted in 1968 and is the oldest of the lifelike sculptures I found. Instead of being connected like many sculptures, the two figures (maybe a little smaller than life sized) face each other across a small raised platform. To the northwest on the north side of the IU Auditorium by the cinema is a full sized Hoagy Carmichel statue, complete with grand piano! The piece was created by Michael McAuley (2007). You can even see the titles of his music on the sheet music found on the piano. On the north side of the campus is the Cox Arboretum. Near the small pond in this park is a pair of unidentified figures that I assume are another representation of Adam and Eve. I've tried contacting the school, but was unable to gather any information about the origin or creator of the pieces. Review #1399

There are a set of about four or five different murals in downtown Bloomington right next to each…read moreother. This is another one that I called the rainbow Mural none of them have names so I kind of come up with my own names for them. I thought this one was pretty cool with all the colors and displays and fancy artwork

Along the B-line trail in the northwest part of Bloomington's downtown is a massive sculpture by…read morelocal artist Dale Enochs. The piece is called "Bloomington Banquet" and appears to be a giant dinner table and chairs with a bowl of steaming fish soup. The piece is made of primarily limestone along with anodized aluminum, stainless steel, and powder coated steel. The piece measures 24' x 28' x 12'. According to the artist's website, there is a great deal of symbolism and homage to the location. The dinner table represents the coming together of the community as a family does around the dinner table. The site also was formerly the location of a furniture store, so the table and chairs ties to the history. On top of the table is an ornate bowl surrounded by silverware that stands on end. From the bowl can be seen rising "steam" that supports a detailed fish, suggesting the contents of the dish. The fish was playfully added to reference the image of a fish that sits above the Monroe County Courthouse. Dale Enochs has numerous pieces in the Bloomington and Indianapolis areas. For more information about those pieces, go to his website at https://www.daleenochs.com/artists/ Review #1203

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!