Dress up your dorm, jive with jazz or watch favorite films this week in Bloomington

Maya Gray, The Herald-Times
·4 min read

Whether you're among Bloomington's new arrivals or a townie looking squeeze some more fun out of summer, there's something going on this week for you. Venturing out of your dorm? Head to the Eskenazi Museum of Art on campus or shop the union's poster sale. Looking to learn? Join a hands-on cooking demonstration at the library's Southwest Branch. Here are eight activities in Bloomington calling your name.

Culture through space and time at the Eskenazi Museum

The Eskenazi Museum of Art will extend its hours Thursday, Aug. 17, in honor of Culturefest. There are hundreds of works of art in the five galleries.
The Eskenazi Museum of Art will extend its hours Thursday, Aug. 17, in honor of Culturefest. There are hundreds of works of art in the five galleries.

The Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art is celebrating Culturefest at IU by showing off its free exhibits on Thursday, Aug. 17, from 4-7 p.m. You can follow self-guided tours or create your own masterpiece with the sidewalk gallery. The featured exhibition is Landscape and Abstraction in Watercolor, 1780-1980.

Other, year-round exhibits are:

  • Arts of Africa, Oceania, and Indigenous Arts of the Americas

  • Asian Art, Islamic Art, and Ancient Art

  • European and American Art, Modern and Contemporary

  • European and American Art, Medieval-1900

Find the large, angular building marked by the red "Indiana Arc" sculpture in front at 1133 E. Seventh St. on campus.

'The Big Lebowski' turns 25

Tap into your internal Dude and abide at IU Cinema at 7 p.m. on Friday. Nearly three decades after its initial release, "The Big Lebowski" (1998) is still hailed as an unbeatable two-hour-long crime comedy. IU Cinema is celebrating the film's 25th anniversary by showing the new 4K restoration. Tickets are $5, and breakout the bathrobe because costumes are encouraged.

Rummaging, recycling and treasure hunting

Sellers and secondhand-shoppers rejoice: Junk in the Trunk returns to Switchyard Park Pavilion Saturday, Aug. 19, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Find furniture, books, clothes, household necessities and more from yard-sale vendors inside and outside the pavilion.

It's too late to reserve a spot to sell, but anyone is welcome to peruse the goods during the five-hour sale — rain or shine. Get to 1611 S. Rogers St. on Saturday to turn one person's trash into your treasure.

Block party for all ages

Saturday, Aug. 19, from 5-11 p.m., watch local musicians perform, support nonprofits and taste food and drinks at the WFHB Block Rocker. The event takes place on Fourth Street between College Avenue and Walnut Street, outside the WFHB studios.

The artists and bands playing at the fourth annual block party are: Zero Boys, Rearview Rhonda, Mike Adams at His Honest Weight, TruMusiq, Brenda’s Friend, and Swing Time Big Band. Tickets aren't required for the free event, but you can register ahead of time.

Get to the gala, celebrate Cicada Cinema

Mark your calendars for the evening of Sunday, Aug. 20. From 4-8 p.m., Cicada Cinema invites you to a gala at 505 W. Fourth St. to celebrate its seven-year history. The evening has three parts:

  • 4-5:30 p.m., Food and Music Mixer: Food from community partners, music and movie-related activities for all ages. Beer and wine for those 21+.

  • 5:30-6 p.m., Cicada Cinema History and Raffle

  • 6-8 p.m., "Matinee": A free showing of the 1993 feel-good comedy, starring John Goodman and following the excitement of cinema.

Reserve a spot on Eventbrite for the free event now.

Turn local ingredients into your dinner

The upcoming installment of People's Abundant Kitchen: Hyperlocal series is Tuesday, Aug. 22, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Southwest Branch of Monroe County Public Library. During the hands-on demonstration, learn how to use local vegetables in meals for yourself or your family.

You'll also learn how to receive free local food resources. This program is in partnership with People's Cooperative Market, which will stock the Teaching Kitchen with Monroe County ingredients. Ages 8 and up are welcome. Let them know you're coming by registering in advance at https://shorturl.at/pquQS. The library's Southwest Branch is at 890 W. Gordon Pike in Bloomington.

Downtown Bloomington's Blockhouse bar features a variety of entertainment, including karaoke, open mics, local jazz and other bands and touring musicians.
Downtown Bloomington's Blockhouse bar features a variety of entertainment, including karaoke, open mics, local jazz and other bands and touring musicians.

Get jazzy: IU music faculty performance

The Jacobs School of Music claims some of the world's greatest musical instructors. See the IU Jazz Studies Faculty Quintet — made up of John Raymond (trumpet), Greg Ward II (alto saxophone), Luke Gillespie (piano), Jeremy Allen (bass), and Sean Dobbins (drums) — at the Blockhouse Bar.

Head to 205 S. College Ave. on Wednesday, Aug. 23, to enjoy the jazz performances at 7:30 and 9 p.m. as part of the bar's Call and Response Jazz Series. Admission is $10 for general audience and $5 for students (21+).

Just moved in? Poster sale at the union

The just-moved-in blues: you're away from home, surrounded by cardboard boxes you've yet to unpack, and the walls are bare. Make your dorm, apartment or house a little more homey by visiting the Poster Sale at Indiana Memorial Union. The sale lasts from 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 16, to 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25.

To shop the posters, find the IMU on campus at 900 E. Seventh St., and go to the Georgian Room.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Things to do in Bloomington, Indiana, August 17-24: art, shopping