Things to do on Kirkwood Avenue

Things to do on Kirkwood Avenue

Words by Lexi Lindenmayer

lindena@iu.edu

Kirkwood Avenue is the street at the heart of Bloomington. Beginning at the Sample Gates, the street is home to a wide variety of bars, restaurants and businesses for students and Bloomington residents to experience and enjoy.

Whether you are looking for breakfast, lunch or dinner, the restaurants on Kirkwood have you covered. Village Deli is a classic diner specializing in breakfast, burgers and sandwiches. If you are looking for a latte, smoothie or even a bakery item, make sure to stop at Soma Coffeehouse and Juice Bar.

FARMBloomington is known for its dishes served with locally grown food and global flavors. The menu even changes with the seasons, and there are always daily specials. If you are craving a chicago-style hot dog, cheeseburger or deli sandwich, try Fat Dan’s Deli.

Other beloved restaurants include international food establishments like Z & C Teriyaki & Sushi or the Trojan Horse and pizza from either Goodfellas Pizzeria or Cafe Pizzaria. Additionally, there are various food trucks parked up the street, such as Doner Kebab.

The Kirkwood bar scene includes Kilroy’s on Kirkwood, the Upstairs Pub and Nick’s English Hut. Places like Insomnia Cookie or Hartzell’s Ice Cream will help your sweet tooth craving.

If you are looking for some entertainment after dinner, the Buskirk-Chumley Theater is a venue for local festivals and plays, touring musicians and film screenings. This year marks the theater’s 100th year of business, and celebration events will begin in August and continue through May 2023.

There are various stores and shops up and down Kirkwood.

If you are wanting some IU apparel, try stores like Greetings or Tracks. Along with spiritwear, Tracks also sells a wide array of modern and old vinyl records.

Pitaya is a local boutique selling clothes, shoes and accessories. They stock their racks with fresh merchandise every week, so there are always new items to browse and purchase.

Along with these stores, Bicycle Garage Inc. is a full-service bicycle store and repair shop, offering bike rentals for passionate cyclists. Moon Stones sells handmade jewelry, as well as exotic rocks and crystals.