Bloomington, a charming and historic city of about 70,000 and home to the main branch of Indiana University (IU), ranks among the most gay-friendly getaways in the Midwest – it’s a hilly, green, and rather idyllic community, and it’s within an afternoon’s drive of Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, and Cincinnati, and just an hour south of Indianapolis. This is the quintessential all-American college town yet with some big-city cultural attributes, from high-caliber theaters, galleries, museums, and live-music clubs to a nice selection of cafes and restaurants - there’s even a popular gay bar.
Largely because of the major university presence, the city is quite progressive and possesses a visible lesbian and gay community. In late January, the city hosts a Pride Film Festival, and the local tourism office – the Bloomington/Monroe County CVB – has become a leader among small U.S. cities in actively courting GLBT visitors. It produces an annual gay guide to the city as well as the helpful website, www.visitgaybloomington.com.
IU figures significantly in the city’s openness toward gays and lesbians, as it was here that Dr. Alfred Kinsey established the Kinsey Institute, whose studies of human sexuality helped greatly to increase the acceptance of homosexuality. His fascinating and complicated life was explored in the exceptional biographical movie, Kinsey, in 2004. IU has an active lesbian/gay political and social organization, and just about anywhere you walk around town you’re likely to bump into family.
Like many Midwestern county seats, downtown Bloomington is set around a glorious courthouse square, over which looms the magnificent classical revival copper-dome 1902 Monroe County Courthouse, from which emanate streets of engaging shops, music clubs, and eateries. Tall, three-story turreted Victorians are set throughout the residential neighborhoods, plus very good examples of the Craftsman style and other regional American architecture from the past century. This is a highly pedestrian-friendly community, and one that really bears exploring. If you’re interested in early architecture and IU history, drop by the Wylie House museum, the 1835 period-furnished home of the university’s first president.
Shoppers should check out Caveat Emptor, a great used bookstore with a decent selection of lesbian and gay titles. Gay-owned and with a rainbow-flag insignia above the door, the Inner Chef is a fine little shop for kitchen wizards - inside you’ll find a great selection of cooking supplies. On Saturday mornings from May through November, check out the fresh produce and edibles at the fabulous Bloomington Farmers Market.
The IU campus comprises nearly 1,900 acres and is notable for its grand, locally quarried limestone buildings designed in traditional collegiate Gothic. The Musical Arts Center has one of the top opera programs in the nation, and the IU Auditorium presents outstanding performing arts throughout the school year, from pop concerts to ballet to Broadway shows. There’s also the excellent I.M. Pei-designed IU Art Museum, whose 35,000 works include Picassos and Monets, and the Lilly Library, both in the Fine Arts Plaza.
The must-see for GLBT visitors, however, is the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction. You can drop by without an appointment on weekdays between 2 and 4 in the afternoon - just pick up a self-tour map from the receptionist. But the best way to explore this esteemed facility is to take a guided tour - these are free and given on Fridays, roughly every other week, and reservations are required. The institute contains an art gallery with rotating exhibits; a library with an incredibly vast trove of erotic videos, photographs, periodicals, and books (ranging from clinical to pornographic); and research rooms in which interviews are still conducted on a variety of topics related to human sexuality.
Bloomington is also the home of the Tibetan Cultural Center, which includes the nation’s only Tibetan monastery. The Tibetans operate three restaurants in town, the Snow Lion, which serves outstanding Tibetan and pan-Asian cuisine; Cafe Django, which serves light fare and often has live music; and Little Tibet, which also presents authentic Tibetan fare. Ethnic food is a specialty in this city, and you’ll find a concentration of especially noteworthy options along the 400 block of East 4th Street, just west of campus. Little Tibet is along this block, as are eateries serving Indian, Thai, Turkish, Italian, and Chinese food.
Bloomington’s most esteemed restaurant is Farm, a fancifully decorated spot downtown filled with vintage-farmhouse accessories but serving quite modern food – you might start with Anguillian-style tuna ceviche with coconut water and white-balsamic vinegar, followed by coffee-rubbed bison rib-eye with truffle-mushroom grits. Save room for a slice of red-velvet cake with blood-orange sorbet.
Another fine option is the Limestone Grille, which is notable for its art-filled dining room and a huge mural carved of limestone - this elegant spot serves upscale American cuisine, from hefty steaks to grilled lamb chops with olive oil, rosemary, and Israeli couscous. As much fun for sipping stouts and ales as for digging in to platters of hearty oysters, clams, stews, steaks, and burgers, the Irish Lion ranks among the area’s favorite restaurants.
Bloomington Bagel Co. has some of the best bagels around; try the asiago with olive cream cheese spread and you’ll understand the appeal. For the city’s juiciest and sloppiest burgers, head to Opie Taylor’s. Trojan Horse is a highly regarded Greek/American restaurant that students have been frequenting for years. And Laughing Planet presents a delectable assortment of tasty world-beat foods, from hefty Cal-style burritos to veggie burgers.
Bloomington has one gay bar, Uncle Elizabeth’s, which moved into a newer and more pleasant space in 2008. It’s your typical college-town hangout, drawing a mix of students and locals. Another good bet for socializing is Rachael’s Cafe, a cheery coffeehouse that’s very popular with the GLBT set and is open until 9 p.m. most nights. The Friday open-mike gatherings are especially popular.
You can choose from a number of chain motels and hotels in Bloomington, plus a couple of stand-out B&Bs. Bear in mind that securing a room is tough on fall and winter weekends, when college football and basketball are in full swing. For its central location, attractive lobby lounge, and well-equipped, contemporary rooms, the Hilton Garden Inn makes an excellent choice. Courthouse Square is just a couple of blocks away from the Hilton, whose amenities include a pool, fitness center, and business center. A particularly good but highly sought-after option is the Indiana Memorial Union – the nation’s largest student union contains an upscale 187-room hotel with attractive rooms. An added bonus, the huge IU Bookstore is just downstairs in case you need a little reading material before bed, and there are numerous restaurants to choose from.
The romantic, 24-room Grant Street Inn dates to the 1880s and is filled with period antiques; some suites have whirlpool tubs and fireplaces. It’s just four blocks from Courthouse Square. Another very charming, gay-friendly option is the Scholars Inn, a stately 19th-century brick mansion whose six romantic rooms are done with vintage furnishings and have TVs and VCRs, and comfy king-size beds. A lavish full breakfast is included. The same owners run a couple of restaurants in town, including the Bakehouse, which serves tasty American fare - including exceptional brunches on weekends – and has outdoor seating overlooking Courthouse Square.
If you have time or you’re a serious fan of architecture, consider the short but highly rewarding excursion east to the architecturally prominent town of Columbus. You’ll find a number of spots for biking, boating, and hiking along the way. The drive east on Rte. 46 passes through beautiful countryside that’s hilly and lushly forested, with several state parks. This is the sort of terrain that country drives seem made for, where you’ll find the occasional ice cream shop or farm stand to break up the drive, and little else.
It takes just under an hour to reach Columbus, one of the most architecturally ambitious towns in America (in 1991 the American Institute of Architects ranked this small city the 6th most important U.S. city in terms of architectural quality and innovation, following only Chicago, New York, Washington, San Francisco, and Boston). Downtown is dotted with provocative structures, some successful, some not - it’s remarkable to walk it and observe the contrasts of historic and contemporary buildings.
It all started in 1942 when a local business leader commissioned Eliel Saarinen to build the First Christian Church. Since then the likes of Richard Meier, I.M. Pei, Kevin Roche, Robert Venturi, and many more luminaries have added their own buildings. And don’t overlook the countless beautifully preserved historic buildings, many dating back to the mid-19th century. Two-hour guided tours leave from the visitor center daily (twice on Sat.). Columbus also has a substantial number of outlet shops, antiques and crafts boutiques, and other retail diversions.
If you’re interested in spending the night, consider hip Hotel Indigo Columbus Architectural Center, a new outpost of the moderately priced, design-driven brand that’s been steadily developing a strong following among GLBT travelers. The sleek mid-rise hotel is right downtown, close to many of the town’s significant buildings. Rooms are bright and airy and have such creature comforts as CD players, DVD players, and free Wi-Fi. On the ground level, you can finish off a day of exploring with a meal at the hotel’s whimsically decorated Phi Bar and Restaurant, which serves superb American fare.
The Little Black Book:
Scholars Inn Bakehouse 812-331-6029
scholarsinn.com/BtownBakehouse
Bloomington Bagel Co. 812-333-4653 • bbcbagel.com
Bloomington Farmers Market 812-349-3700 • bloomington.in.gov
Bloomington/Monroe County Convention & Visitors Bureau 866-333-0088 visitbloomington.com
gay/lesbian travel site visitgaybloomington.com
Cafe Django 812-335-1297
Caveat Emptor 812-332-9995
Columbus Visitor Center 812-378-2622/800-468-6564 • columbus.in.us
Farm 812-323-0002 • farm-bloomington.com
Grant Street Inn 812-334-2353/800-328-4350 • grantstinn.com
Hilton Garden Inn 812-331-1335 • hiltongardeninn.com
Hotel Indigo Columbus Architectural Center 877-270-1392
hotelindigo.com
Indiana Memorial Union Hotel 812-856-6381/800-209-8145
imu.indiana.edu
Irish Lion 812-336-9076 • irishlion.com
Laughing Planet Cafe 812-323-2233
Limestone Grille 812-335-8110 • limestonegrille.com
Little Tibet 812-331-0122 • anyetsangs.com
Opie Taylor’s 812-333-7287
Rachael’s Cafe 812-330-1882
Scholars Inn 812-332-1892/800-765-3466
scholarsinn.com/BedBreakfast
Snow Lion 812-336-0835
Trojan Horse 812-332-1101 • thetrojanhorse.com
Uncle Elizabeth’s 812-331-0060
Andrew Collins is the author of Fodor’s Gay Guide to the USA and eight additional travel guides. He can be reached at OutofTown@qsyndicate.com.
Slane Irish Whiskey bottles
Whiskey has been hitting the shelves left and right lately taking up aisles and aisles. All good things if you ask me. I took a quick trip out to Atlanta for a review of Slane Irish Whiskey. I know what you’re thinking. Atlanta and Irish Whiskey? I was waiting for the connection but there wasn’t one, except for the people I met but let’s start from the beginning, shall we?
Visiting a Garden That Gives Back to the Community
The garden at A Sip of Paradise
Photo courtesy of A Sip of Paradise
The first thing on the list is to visit a place called A Sip of Paradise. This non-profit garden space caters to bartenders and people in the hospitality industry. It’s a place where everyone can gather for specific events, help maintain the garden, borrow from the garden, and create a sense of community. It’s a safe space where you can recharge the body, mind, and soul through gardening and health and wellness programs and so much more.
As the day unfolded, we learned how the garden space was created, why it was created, and how it thrives. Anyone in the hospitality industry can tell you that it is sometimes grueling hard work. It takes a toll on the body, mind, and at times, the spirit. Walking among the various plants and flowers, you get a sense of grounding. You take care of and nurture these plants so they will grow and thrive in the sultry weather. You leave your troubles behind as your focus turns to the garden, the people, and the stories they share.
As luck would have it, it poured down rain and we couldn’t go out and weed the garden. Then the rain stopped. Then it started again. Then finally, it stopped. During the rain, we huddled together under pop-up tents and shared stories and cocktails. We learned the stories of a few members and we learned how they give back to the community that has helped them along the way.
This. This is the connection. Slane Irish Whiskey (and company) is long rooted in community, music, sustainability, and a yearning for leaving the world a better place than they found it. Cliche, I know. But the work that A Sip of Paradise does on a daily basis is the same work Slane Distillery is doing. Building a legacy.
These people are more than mere bartenders, mixologists, and drink slingers. There were trailblazers and celebrities in their own right. They were are giving back. They were are making a difference. All the while making amazing cocktails.
A Sip of Paradise’s principles are easy. Come together as a community. Partake in the care of the garden space, take what you need, and give what you can.
Inside the Epicurean Hotel Atlanta
Epicurean Hotel Atlanta
Photo courtesy of Epicurean Hotel Atlanta, Autograph Collection by Marriott
I was staying in the heart of Midtown Atlanta at the Epicurean Hotel. This isn’t your typical run-of-the-mill hotel–it’s a food-themed boutique hotel. Instead of checking in at the front desk or speaking with a concierge person, you actually check in at the host desk inside the first-floor restaurant called Reverence. Upon checking in, you’re offered your choice of a complimentary beer or glass of wine. (impressed already).
Each floor is food themed. I happened to be staying on the Pinot Noir floor. Fitting I know. I have the sense that it didn’t matter what floor I was on! The room was great and wouldn’t you know, there was a bar with snacks. Not one of those tiny little minibars, but a full-on wall dedicated to all things booze. There were shelves with wine on them, spirits, and snacks. Some were complimentary so as I sipped my complimentary wine, I had some snacks as I relaxed and pretended to get some work done before meeting the group downstairs.
Reverence is the main restaurant where you not only dine and drink, but this is where I checked into my hotel. It’s an open kitchen concept with plenty of seating in and around the kitchen. Elegantly designed and decorated to make you feel right at home.
If you want a bit more casual, you can head to Aerial Kitchen and Bar situated next to the swimming pool and cabanas. Seating is like sitting in your familiar backyard and hanging out with friends. The open concept means you’re sitting outside enjoying the weather.
If you’re not quite ready for dining, you can head over to The Office Bar and cocktails. Don’t worry, if you do end up getting hungry, you can order from the eclectic menu.
Perhaps the shining jewel of the hotel would be the cooking theater. The Epicurean Theatre is built for demonstrations, teachings, or any group event where you can learn various cooking techniques.
There’s a Sky Terrance where you can take in the views of Atlanta’s skyline or just lounge around on the large lawn space taking a break from work, or perhaps you’re working remotely. It’s a perfect setting to do that.
Book Now
Cooking Demonstrations with Whiskey Pairings
Chef preparing for his cooking demonstration at the Epicurean Theatre
Photo credit of Joe Eats World
Most of the amazing people we met in the garden were attending the dinner along with a few local writers, bloggers, and fellow lovers of food. One of the Slane Irish Whiskey Ambassadors was there to give us a bit more history on Slane Distillery.
Slane Irish Whiskey is triple distilled and triple casked using virgin barrels, seasoned barrels, and sherry. Slane works on sustainability, renewable energy, and a lower carbon footprint. Toss in the whiskey, music, and oh, a rebuilt Irish Castle and you get some pretty amazing history. The castle is used for tours, weddings, and music venues. Some of the biggest names in music have either visited or played at the castle.
Our dinner was a paring of three different expressions of Slane’s whiskey. Dinner was a four-course experience where we feasted on chilled half-shell oysters, hot and sour pork belly bao buns, scallops n grits, and orange-cured summer peaches. We finished off the evening with another Slane Irish Whiskey coffee old fashioned. Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to sleep that night but curiously, it wasn’t a problem.
Having Brunch Before Heading to the Airport
The James Room entrance
Photo courtesy of Joe Eats World
The next day we set out for The James Room. Their website opens with We’re a Vibe and I have to agree. We were told about The James Room but upon arriving and walking through the glass doors, you’re taken aback because we were supposed to have cocktails and brunch with Tiffanie Barriere. Instead what I walked into was a coffee and pastry shop with a few tables to either side of me and a coffee counter directly ahead. Intriguing.
As we were talking, one of our new friends came walking through one of the side doors and asked us to follow her. Blown away doesn’t even begin to describe what happened next. You know that point in Wizard of Oz when Dorothy walks around her house after the tornado and it’s filmed in Black and White and then she opens the door and walks outside into technicolor? That’s literally what happened to me. As the door opened, another world opened up.
The room was dimly lit in a perfect way, to my left was a very long wrap-around bar and behind (or in front, depending on how you’re standing) were various seating booths with velvet and leather seats. Words of welcome and greetings came from all around as we reunited with more of our friends from the garden.
As we were waiting for brunch, we stood around with cocktails of course, and chatted about the previous day's events when we were almost rained out of gardening! Once brunch was out of the way, it was time to get busy, we were there for an Irish coffee workshop after all. Obviously, we were going to be using Slane Whiskey as the main ingredient. We received a demo of how the Irish coffee is built and then we were on our own to recreate said coffee. We all did pretty well if you ask me but then again, it was 10:30 in the morning and we were already on cocktail two or three and we were flying out in a few hours.
It was a whirlwind event. In less than 24 hours, I met some of the most amazing humans, had some amazing cocktails made from Slane Irish Whiskey of course, ate some absolutely delicious food, and at noon I was on my way back to the airport. My only regret is that the events didn’t last longer. It was definitely not enough time to explore and experience the wonders that Atlanta’s food scene and cocktail scenes have to offer. Especially that hotel. My God, that hotel.
One More Whiskey Tasting After I Return to Chicago
Irish Coffee using Slane Irish Whiskey
Photo courtesy of Joe Eats World
Fast forward a few weeks later as I’m back home in Chicago, I get invited to a dinner and whiskey tasting for Slane. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make the dinner but I did get a chance to hang out a The Kerryman and experience blending my own whiskey and tasting even more Slane Irish Whiskey concoctions. We laughed about the rainstorm in Atlanta and talked about how amazing the people were, how good the food was, and how we went through A LOT of whiskey. One of the reps from a GlenDronach Scotch and Cheese pairing event I attended was there and we talked about how amazing everything there was.
If you’re a whiskey fan, you should do yourself a favor and pick up a bottle or 2 of Slane’s. They’re making some pretty good stuff. Even though they’re a young-ish company, they have some great things on the horizon.
This post was originally published on Joe Eats World
B37 Massage Gun Review
A massage gun is a great way to relieve tension in specific muscles. We can do it from the comfort of our own couches while watching TV. The benefits of a massage gun can help you feel relaxed, feel calmer, improve circulation, and can relieve stress and tension throughout your body. It’s no wonder that we seek out full-body massages whenever we can.
B37 Massage Gun ReviewPhoto courtesy of Erkin AthleticsI would love to say that I work out so much that a massage gun helps me loosen up the tight muscles from lifting all those weights. The truth is, I have pulled a muscle in my next twice just from shampooing my hair…Or there was that time I turned around in my chair awkwardly and pulled a muscle in my back. That actually happened the day before I got the massage gun to review luckily, the battery had a partial charge to it and I had my first opportunity to test it out.
First, let me introduce to you the B37 Massage Gun by Erkin Athletics…
Buy Now
What is the B37 Massage Gun?
Four Attachments for the B37 Massage Gun
The B37 Massage Gun is an ergonomic and percussive therapy machine. The handle sits at a 15° angle which helps lessen arm fatigue. The handle is also designed so that you can reach the hard-to-reach places that normally would require another person to assist.
Features
- 5-speeds: the variable speed ranges from 1,400 to 3,200 RPMs. The lower speeds let you warm up your muscles and work through any sensitive muscles.
- 4 attachments: There are four different types of attachments you can use to work your muscles.
- Flat: The flat attachment is perfect for overall massaging
- Bullet: The bullet is great for zeroing in on specific knots, and is also perfect for hands and feet.
- Round Foam Ball: the foam attachment works best for all larger muscle groups
- Fork: this attachment is specifically designed for the neck and spine.
- Power: the massage gun delivers up to 56 pounds of stall force. What is stall force? Stall force is the amount of pressure you can apply to a massage gun before the motor stalls.
- 8-Hour Battery: The Samsung Lithium-ion battery provides plenty of power so you can really work out those knots. If you’re on the go, you won’t need to worry about recharging or running down the battery prematurely.
- Travel Case: Take your charged, or uncharged, B37 Massage Gun with you in the handy travel case that organizes everything neatly.
How Do You Use the B37 Massage Gun?
According to the information on their website, you should
- Turn the massage gun on before placing it on your body.
- Use speeds 1 - 3 for any muscle recovery and for speeds 4 and 5 for a soothing massage or pre-workout muscle warm-up.
- Glide the massage gun over the muscles and let the gun do the work. Apply pressure for added muscle relief.
- Breathe and relax and let the machine do the work. (in other words, if you’re tense, the massage will not work.)
Another step I would add is to make sure you know which attachment you need before you even begin step 1. This way, you don’t just turn it on, start massaging, and then realize you need a different attachment.
What I Liked About the B37 Massage Gun
What I love about the B37 Massage Gun
Photo by Tyler Nix on UnsplashPower
There’s always the chance that you get a product that just doesn’t perform. I kind of knew that this was not the case when I turned on the B37. You could feel the power when you were holding it. In fact, it was so powerful I had it on the lowest setting and barely applied any pressure to my sore back. After a few swipes, I felt better.
Attachments
The attachments are great and my two favorites are the foam ball and the flat attachment. They really promote muscle relaxation and work pretty well for me. To be honest, the fork scares me a little plus, I can’t really reach. I haven’t used the bullet yet because the foam ball and flat piece work great for me. Did I mention that they’re so easy to change too? You just pop them in or out—that simple.
Battery
Aside from the handy case, the battery is third in line because well, sometimes, you just forget to charge things. Hello, headsets anyone? I can use the massager for an hour or so and then put it away and use it another day.
What I Don’t Like About the B37 Massage Gun
What I didn't like about the B37 Massage Gun
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Noise
It's fine when you are on the lower settings but when you get up to the higher settings, it gets a little noisy. Especially if you’re watching TV. If I need that much work on my muscles, I probably shouldn’t be sitting in front of the TV anyway. The lower settings work just fine for my muscles.
Weight
Also not a deal killer, but it has some heft to it. While the 15° handle does help with arm fatigue and wrist exhaustion, it’s still there especially if you have a particular knot to work out. Usually, I switch hands if possible or take a break here and there.
Is the B37 Massage Gun Worth the Price?
Prices for massage guns can vary and the B37 Massage Gun is decently priced compared to other massage guns. Considering the quality of the massage gun, all of the features, AND a lifetime warranty, I think it’s well worth the price.
Should You Buy the B37 Massage Gun?
Massage guns are perfect for anyone that is an endurance athlete, an avid weightlifter, or anyone suffering from tight muscles. The National Institute of Mental Health also discusses practicing self-care by using relaxing activities such as muscle relaxation. The institute also mentions using relaxing techniques for managing stress.
I would recommend the massage gun for anyone dealing with sore muscles and who may need relaxation in general.
What to Look for in a Massage Gun?
Speed and Power
When you are searching for a massage gun, you want to look for a gun that offers a range of speed and that has enough power to handle the stall force.
Size and Weight
Part of what I didn’t like about the B37 was the weight. It was a little heavy, especially for one-handed massaging. That’s why you need to make sure that the weight isn’t going to be too cumbersome and at the same time, it isn't too flimsy. There is no way around it but if you have a powerful gun, it’s going to be heavy or heavier. The size is a factor too. If it’s too large, it’ll seem awkward; if it’s too small, it just won’t get the job done.
Portability
Chances are, you’re going to want to take the gun with you. Having a nice travel case will make that a lot easier. You will want or need, something compact enough for those road trips and flights. Just don’t forget the charger.
Attachments
Attachments make life and working out the kinks so much easier. While I really only use two, I can see where the four come in handy. Depending on how often you will use one, I would say a minimum of two attachments.