Bloomington Online

03/03/2026

🍺 April 11th. Let's go Btown!! 🍻

03/02/2026

☕️ Now Open in the Trades District ☕️

Bloomington’s fourth Soma Coffeehouse & Juice Bar location is officially open at The Kiln!

Located at 642 N. Madison Street just north of The Mill, the historic Kiln building once supported the Showers furniture factory. Today, it’s home to fresh espresso, fruit smoothies, and one of Soma’s most popular seasonal drinks, “The Cinnamon Roll.”

Owner Bob Costello continues investing in Bloomington with this newest location, adding to Soma’s longtime presence on Kirkwood, East Third Street, and Hillside Drive. The new space also features plans for expanded outdoor seating, making it a great addition to the growing Trades District.

We’ve added Soma Coffeehouse & Juice Bar at The Kiln to the Bloomington Online Business Directory.

👉 View their full listing here:
https://bloomingtononline.com/business-directory/soma-coffee-house-and-juice-bar/

Support local. Explore local. Bloomington keeps building.

03/01/2026

The Freeriders band warming up the crowd for headliner

02/27/2026

🔥 Spotlight: 812 BBQ is now listed on BloomingtonOnline.com!

If you haven't tried 812 BBQ yet, you're missing out! Jarrod and his crew serve up some of the best slow-smoked barbecue in the area — pulled pork, brisket, pulled chicken, pork loin, smoked mac n' cheese, baked beans, and more. Whether you're planning a backyard party, tailgate, or big event, they cater for groups of 10 to 100!

You may have already spotted them at local festivals — their brisket sandwiches, BBQ chicken wraps, and loaded BBQ nachos are legendary around Bloomington. 🤤

📋 Check out their listing: https://bloomingtononline.com/business-directory/812-bbq/

📞 Call or text: (812) 606-4491
🌐 Website: 812bbq.com

Give them a follow on Facebook and show some love for a great local business! 👇
👉 facebook.com/812BBQ

We had the pleasure of meeting Jarrod and Maren at the BASCI Home Show at The Warehouse this weekend — stop by and say hello! Big thanks to the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce for bringing together so many amazing local businesses. 🙌

For all your gathering or event needs, 812 BBQ has all the smoked barbecue you need! Whether you are serving 10 or 100, Jarrod has what you need!

02/22/2026

🌪️ CONFIRMED: The tornado that struck Bloomington on February 19 has been rated EF2 by the National Weather Service — with peak winds of 120 mph, lasting 9 minutes and traveling 3.7 miles across the west side.

The Indiana Daily Student has excellent on-the-ground reporting from the Fieldstone neighborhood, MCHA, and the broader community. Some powerful firsthand accounts from residents like Danny Karas and Jeanie Wright, and important new details from MCHA Executive Director Andrew Krebbs:

👉 MCHA provides roughly $150,000 in free veterinary care annually — that service is now on hold until they can reopen.

👉 A four-ton shipping container was uprooted and traveled more than 500 feet across the MCHA property.

👉 Public debris dumpsters are now available at 5332 W. Stonewood Drive — one for vegetation, one for household debris.

👉 Kirby Road near the airport and Highland Village were among the hardest hit areas.

Great reporting by Jonathan Frey and Chloe Oden at the IDS. Read the full story at the link below.

🔗 https://www.idsnews.com/article/2026/02/indiana-tornado-damage-weather-storm-businesses-humane-association

No Monroe County residents were killed or seriously injured by the Thursday night storm.

02/21/2026

02/21/2026

Wow, video from the Monroe County Airport of last night's tornado in Bloomington.

02/20/2026

🌪️ BREAKING: A tornado touched down in Bloomington on the night of February 19, 2026, causing widespread damage across the west side, Fieldstone, Stonechase, and beyond.

We've got full coverage on BloomingtonOnline.com — including damage to the Fifth Third Bank on Third Street, the Monroe County Humane Association campus, and residential neighborhoods. All animals at MCHA are safe. No fatalities reported.

⚠️ Please avoid the MCHA campus. If you have an upcoming appointment, they'll reach out to you directly.

Our family lives in Fieldstone and we're safe — but the damage in our neighborhood is significant. Read the full story at the link below.

👉 https://bloomingtononline.com/bloomington-news/tornado-damage-bloomington-indiana-february-2026/

02/20/2026

🚨 More tornado damage in Bloomington — this time in the Stonechase neighborhood near the airport. Windows blown in, walls cracked, siding gone, debris throughout the interior. Meteorologist Todd Klaassen confirms this aligns with strong radar rotation he was tracking tonight.

Photos: Kate Rowe via Todd Klaassen Weather

The damage is widespread across multiple Bloomington neighborhoods tonight. Please stay off the roads and away from affected areas. More updates to come.

02/20/2026

🚨 BLOOMINGTON UPDATE: Monroe County Humane Association (MCHA) took a direct hit from tonight's tornado. Executive Director Andrew Krebbs has confirmed significant damage to their campus — but thankfully, ALL animals are safe and have been relocated to trusted care.

From Andrew: "To the community, we'll need you once we assess next steps. Please avoid our campus for now, as it's unlikely usable in the near future."

If you have an upcoming appointment with MCHA, they will reach out to you proactively in the coming days. Please do NOT go to the campus.

The community response is already pouring in — volunteers, electricians, temporary housing, and more. That's Bloomington. ❤️

Follow MCHA's official page for updates on how and when you can help.