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Every year about this time, we start getting antsy. Winter has lost its snowy luster and is more like a heavy ice block weighing us down. So when March hits, we start thinking about spring, and spring break; a chance to take a little breather from the hum-drum that's been playing monotonously since we blew the kazoo at New Year's Eve. It's time for a vacation! Vacations are good for the soul, they let us relax, experience new things, un-experience the daily battles of everyday life and basicall …

I got to see Jersey Boys last night at the IU Auditorium, and the main thing that stuck out to me is how many well-known hits those guys had over the years. IIt follows the rise (and fall?) of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in the 1960s and beyond. If you don't think you know Frankie Valli's voice, just listen to this recording of Big Girls Don't Cry, and you'll know who I'm talking about. Jersey Boys is in Bloomington at the IU Auditorium through Sunday, March 8, and in case you don't k …

Top Ten lists are just too short, and there's too much going on to narrow down my list any further. So here are 11 of the events you simply must go to this March in Bloomington. When you're there, don't forget to share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #visitbtown! Devour Btown - February 25 through March 8 This is one of those events where you'll want to wear elastic-waist pants. It's 12 days of delicious, three-course meals at crazy prices at 40+ independent restaurants across t …

Visit Bloomington is a proud sponsor of the nationally syndicated radio program, In Search of a Song. The weekly 30-minute program is hosted by Bloomington native Jason Wilber, the longtime lead guitarist for John Prine and an accomplished solo musician. The show's flagship station is WFHB here in Bloomington. Each week Jason spins songs while he and his musical guests discuss songwriting and share musical experiences. You can listen on the web and find program archives on the In Search of a So …

My wife and I love the arts with all our hearts, but you could never call us theater buffs. But we'll never pass up free tickets, and since Visit Bloomington is a proud sponsor of Cardinal Stage Company, we were lucky enough to attend the preview night of their new play, Grounded, last Friday. And we were totally blown away. This one-woman show about a fighter pilot in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars genuinely moved us peaceniks who honestly don't think too often about our armed forces and w …

Ah, mon amore, ce restaurant est romantique! For those who don't speak French (and I don't either - thank you Google translator) this month's blog is all about romantic date restaurants. We can't get around it: February 14th is just around the corner and that just brings all the hearts and flowers and chocolates to mind. Of course we've already got a blog post about great things to do for Valentine's (or Galentine's) Day, but this post is going to tell you about the restaurants we love to take  …

Since 2010, a group of Indiana University students has produced a national Indian dance competition called Raas Royalty. This colorful, high-energy event is based on a dance form called garba/raas, commonly found in the western Indian state of Gujarat. To learn more about this exhilarating event that's becoming more popular every year, I spoke with Aesha Maniar, this year's student director of Raas Royalty. Here's everything you need to know before you come to the free event on Saturday, …

It's always nice when other people recognize how cool your city is. Luckily for us, 2014 was a banner year of accolades for Bloomington, Indiana! Here are some of the highlights. Top 8 Indiana Beaches - Indy Star Monroe Lake in Bloomington made this list of the state's top beaches from the Indianapolis Star! With two beaches open to the public plus boat rental and ample space for swimming, this is one of the most popular spots in Bloomington in the summer. America's Quirkiest T …

Whether you're booking a romantic weekend for two lovebirds or a Galentine's Day like they do in Pawnee, you've come to the right place. We're keeping track of all the Valentine's Day events and promotions that we hear of. Read below for events, and click here to see special lodging discounts at area hotels (scroll down the page a bit). Did we miss anything? Post it in the comments or email abby@visitbloomington.com. Oliver Winery February 14-15 All nine wineries on the Indiana Uplands Wi …

Sometimes we need a little push to get out the door and embark on an adventure in the dead of winter. In February, the sun decides when/if it wants to shine, and sometimes we can go weeks with weather in the mid-40s until BAM -- polar vortex. That's why you'll be happy to see a list of 12 can't-miss indoor events for the lovely month of February! So put on your wool socks, turn off Netflix, and come to Bloomington for a memorable month of fun. Even more great events can be found on our ev …