Walking into Flaccid’s practice is loud, to say the least. The five-member Bloomington band immediately fell into a natural rhythm with their music, communicating only with eye contact and small hand motions toward each other. What audience members might believe to be a well-rehearsed song m…
“War Dogs” tells the story of David Packouz (Miles Teller) and Efraim Diveroli (Jonah Hill) and their plan to make millions of dollars that eventually leads to a bit of turmoil that the two never see coming.
Fans of the English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys have been waiting eagerly for the band's next album since its last critically acclaimed album "AM" dropped in 2013. The album was featured in numerous end-of-the-year lists and is recognized as one of the best-selling vinyl albums of the dec…
Illinois State’s departments of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures; Criminal Justice; History; Politics and Government; and Sociology and Anthropology will be hosting a four day film series titled ‘Terrorism on Screen’ beginning Sept. 1 in Capen Auditorium of Edwards Hall. This film series…
The Glass Animals dropped their second album last Friday Aug. 26, and indie rock fans can start paying attention to this band out of Oxford, England.
Theatre in Bloomington-Normal just got a little deeper. The Heartland Theatre Company is a non-profit theatre organization right here in Normal that puts on five great shows every year, with even more opportunities to learn and grow as a performer and beyond.
The Goodman Theatre in Chicago will host College Nights starting Sept. 14. These are live performance events that only cost $10 with a valid student ID, and every date has a different performance.
Rape likes to rear its ugly head more and more often in our society. We see it in the news, TV, movies and even right here on campus.
Rt. 66 Haunted Bloomington-Normal Ghost Walk
After 28 years of the Peoria-based Illinois Blues Festival, the festival rebirthed into the Peoria Blues & Heritage Music Festival. Going through a rebranding influenced by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Peoria Blues & Heritage Music Festival quadrupled its talent …
“Dare to suck” is the phrase of ISU’s RSO Theatre of Ted. The organization has open mic and performances at 11:55 p.m. every Saturday night in room 145 of the CVA.
The Downtown Bloomington Association will have its Farmers’ Market from 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 10.
There are plenty of concerts coming up this fall that will satisfy a variety of musical tastes. Nearby venues such as The Castle Theatre, U.S. Cellular Coliseum, The Canopy Club, The Peoria Civic Center and the State Farm Center in Champaign will host big names in country, alternative, metal…
What do you do when you have an inside eye on the home security of your area? Rob the houses, of course. At least that’s how the three friends in “Don’t Breathe” think.
"Time is a precious thing. Never waste it." – Gene Wilder in “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”
Move aside, “Toddlers and Tiaras,” because ISU will be hosting the 2017 Miss Illinois and Miss Illinois Teen USA pageant Friday through Sunday in Braden Auditorium.
In a city like Chicago there is almost always something going on, whether it is a sports game, a public festival or a demonstration of some kind. Some people may not know about the incredible theatre life in the metropolis of the Midwest. From The Second City to Steppenwolf Theatre Company, …
Sweet Corn Blues Festival
With the recent "GhostBusters" reboot and fall on the horizon, Halloween is upon us.
Tuesday, on a fairly quiet and calm night in Bloomington-Normal, the Castle Theatre in Downtown Bloomington brought life to the area. Or more, The Steepwater Band and Vintage Trouble did.
As a new semester begins, there are many things to look forward to this fall at Illinois State University. The leaves start changing, the weather gets cooler and everyone gets to wear their favorite fall fashions again. Sweatshirt weather, tailgates, highly anticipated events and another new…
The latest installment in the DC cinematic universe hit theaters earlier this month, and while the film was highly anticipated, I’m sad to say that director David Ayer’s latest piece of work did not live up to the hype.
Fall is around the corner, and with fall comes the start of school, pumpkin spice and TV premieres. Bob Carroll, the production coordinator for TV-10 and an instructor in the School of Communication, commented on how TV content is made. In his experience observing TV show projects being made…
For some, back to school means back to reality. For Illinois State University student Alyssa Ortiz it means back from reality (TV, that is).
As the “live-wired, straight-shootin, dirty-mouth’d, pelvis-pushing, juke music-makin” foursome that makes up Vintage Trouble travels the U.S. as special guests of the Dixie Chicks’ MMXVI World Tour, they’ll be headlining a separate show at Bloomington’s very own Castle Theatre tomorrow night.
“We Are Woodstock” by G.A. Eldridge is a retro throwback written by a reliable author who was actually at the famed Woodstock Festival of 1969. The book is written in a journalistic style with diary entries written from the first-person account of the protagonist, a hippie who has just left …
Three Girls Rock into a Bar
Every year ISU students are given the opportunity to come out and enjoy activities on the quad during Welcome Week. This year's welcome week will take place Wednesday, Aug. 17 through Sunday Aug. 21.
Concerts at the Castle Theatre
Since 1852, McLean County has held a county fair to celebrate the area and the agricultural society each year. Running on its 164th year, the McLean County Fair will be in full swing Aug. 3 to 7. As usual, the fair will be held at the fairgrounds on Interstate Drive in Bloomington, yielding …
First time in South America
The Summer Olympics are upon us this year, and we are once again left with two questions: Who’s taking home the gold and where can I watch it? While I can’t answer the first one, I can suggest some places you can go to cheer on your favorite country. With the games starting on Aug. 5, many r…
MercyMe concert at Corn Crib
At 8 p.m. on July 22, The Castle Theatre will host Austin, Texas’ musician Bob Schneider for a night of entertainment.
The Minneapolis-based rock band, 3 Pill Morning, will be making a stop in Bloomington at The Castle Theatre July 23 as part of their tour coinciding with their album release, “Never Look Back.”
On July 16, Jan Brandt Gallery hosted an opening art reception that showcased two artists who are connected to ISU. Megan Kathol Bersett showed off her abstract paintings called, “Solid” and Randy Reid presented his metal and wood sculptures called, “Dependent Variables.” As I walked through…
Beauty and the Beast
Creating a sequel to an unforgettable film is a challenge – and that’s an understatement.
An hour and a half of one actor on screen sounds like something most people would turn away from—but add in a bloodthirsty shark and people will pay attention.
Like many pop stars before her, Selena Gomez grew up in front of the American public. From her breakout Disney Channel show “Wizards of Waverly Place” to her provocative step into adulthood in “Spring Breakers” with James Franco, every step Gomez has made in her career has been analyzed unde…
Following the release of its 11th studio album, the Red Hot Chili Peppers made its way back into the music scene with its first album since 2011.
Sometimes beauty can be found in simplicity. In recent years, powerhouse studios such as Pixar have repeatedly, and successfully, aimed to make animated children’s movies that transcend their target demographic and connect with adult audiences by mixing in social commentary, existential them…
Like many others who tune in every Monday night, I hate that I love watching “The Bachelorette.” The newest season has viewers hooked on the drama and memorable contestants battling for the love of JoJo Fletcher. After watching JoJo get her heart broken last season on “The Bachelor,” viewers…
Flume’s “Skin”
Do you have an empty wall in the house? Do you want to be inspired? The Sugar Creek Arts Festival is taking place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 9 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 10. It is located in the streets of Uptown Normal in McLean County.
Do you have an empty wall in the house? Do you want to be inspired? The Sugar Creek Arts Festival is taking place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 9 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 10. It is located in the streets of Uptown Normal in McLean County.
Country Concert at the Vineyard-Brushville
Performing the national anthem at an event can seem like a daunting task to many people. Illinois State University voice professor Michelle Vought was given the opportunity to sing the national anthem at Wrigley Field on Sunday (Mother’s Day), May 8 before the Cubs took on the visiting Washi…
Illinois State University senior Monica Soulsby has recently become an author with the release of her new book titled “No Matter What.”
Run (or walk) for a good cause
Summer nights are the perfect time to relax and take it easy with friends, and bonding around a campfire is the perfect way to do just that. Listening to music, telling ghost stories and sitting under the stars seems like the most ideal way to spend your time together, but one thing is missi…
Whether it’s being in the sun or trying to beat the heat, don’t spend the summer on the couch; get active. If you are having a lack of inspiration when it comes to getting active, here are some ideas for fun activities.
Bloomington Beer Fest at BCPA
Heartland Theatre Company’s senior acting program, Young at Heartland, will present its summer showcase at 1 p.m. Friday and 7:30 p.m. June 22. Performances will be held in the Community Activity Center in Normal.
Whether you are staying in Blo-No this summer because of work, classes or just because, you may be running out of Netflix shows to binge-watch from your couch. There are many activities to do and adventures to take in the area that will not completely empty your bank account. Here are some w…
With Father’s Day quickly approaching, many of us are trying to figure out what kind of gift to get for the man of the household. Perhaps a day of relaxation is all a father wants, but it never hurts to go the extra mile and get your dad a little something special. Here are a few suggestions…
Illinois State University Alumni Mary McMahon and Jay Sukow have collaboratively written and directed “Underachievers: The Story of American Heroes,” a comedy revue. It will be performed at 7 p.m. June 3 and June 10 at Donny’s skybox in Second City, located in Chicago.
Remember the scene from the movie “Doom” when viewers were put into the shoes of the on-screen characters and the action was all from the first-person perspective? It was an awful experience and so was the rest of the movie.
Drake – "Views"
It is Sunday morning, and you are lying in bed watching your favorite TV show on your laptop. Before you know it, you have spent a majority of your day watching Netflix and are not even ashamed. Does this sound familiar?
Everyone loves food. It’s a simple, well-known fact. What’s even better is when that savory food comes to you. Our own Illinois State University campus is lucky to be the home of some great food vendors who serve us on a daily basis.
One of the greatest aspects of the television comedy genre is its innate ability to make us laugh, enabling us to forget about the stresses of our daily lives while also being a relatable medium to enjoy — all in a 22-minute runtime.
From a diner proposal to semi-sweet bank robbers and a horror-esque cooking show, comedy duo “Boys on Broadway” is ISU’s greatest edition to the sketch show community.
Get ready to move out
Tearing down of the old residence halls
Whether you’re staying in the area for work, an internship or because you’re a local, you will have endless chances for fun this summer. The vast majority of your peers are going back to their Chicago-land homes for the summer with talks of Lollapalooza and downtown excursions, but you get t…
For what I thought was about to be just your regular ice cream shop with soft serve ice cream and maybe an unusual flavor or two, I walked out of Carl’s Ice Cream happily surprised with my craving for sweets easily met.
After a long week of studying for finals, nothing quite compares to a night of indulging in Bloomington-Normal’s best pizza. Unfortunately, finding the pizza king in a town full of pies is no easy task. Before you order your next pizza, check out some of the best pizza options in town.
Lately, it seems like a lot of old TV favorites are coming back for a second wind. Both “Arrested Development” and “Fuller House” reappeared on Netflix, along with plans of more old-school classics to make revivals in the coming years. But one of the most anticipated shows coming back to our…
Various organizations from Illinois State University and the community joined forces to find a cure for cancer during the 13th annual Relay for Life from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
On Saturday, over 150 audience members piled into Uptown’s University Galleries to attend “Gender Galleries,” a drag show meant to celebrate art and the freedom of gender.
Origin of Earth Day in the U.S.
A Illinois State University alumnus has been working hard in the music field, and starting to get contacts with big names in the industry in hopes of getting himself further known and listened to.
Rock the Block
As a college student, sometimes there is nothing better than treating yourself to a nice meal as a break from your studies and a reward for the hard work you’ve been putting in all semester.
Transitioning from high school to college can be a daunting task for students looking to begin a new chapter in their lives.
Saying goodbye to your favorite childhood movie is no easy task, especially when Hollywood is constantly trying to shove its newest remake down our young-adult throats. Somehow, nothing can compare to the animated movies of the past.
During graduation and other ceremonies that will wrap up the semester, students might need to get a little dressed up. Here are some great places in town to find formalwear for these events.
As the temperature rises and the sun starts shining, there is no better time to refresh your music. Here are some tunes to lift your spirits as summer approaches.
Between rent payments, credit card bills and writing the date wrong on assignments, it is no secret that the start of a new month can be a real drag. At the same time, however, the start of the month brings plenty of exciting opportunities as well. What is most exciting about what happened a…
In honor of Sibling Weekend, hundreds of Illinois State University students took their brothers, sisters and parents to Redbird Arena to cheer, scream and nervously watch as the members of Gamma Phi Circus flipped on bars and flew in the air. I went with my sister Sierra, who is a future Red…
In the fifteenth year of Paintball Club’s operation on Illinois State University’s campus, the team currently awaits the 2016 National Tournament, where it will compete against teams from all over the country.
The Gamma Phi Circus is one of the first collegiate circuses in the world. Gamma Phi Circus director Marcus Alouan explained that the circus was started in 1929 back when Illinois State University was Illinois State Normal University.
The Best of Bloomington Normal Guide 2016
Bloomington has seen several new eateries pop up over the past few years.
One of the biggest decisions in a college student’s life is whether to stay in town over the summer or return home. Many leasing companies in Normal only offer 12-month leases, so sometimes the only option is to live at school. Other times, the opposite is the case, and there is no choice bu…
Ever since it was announced, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” had comic books fans brimming with excitement. It hurts to say that the film fell short of what we had hoped to see.
Dunkin’ Donuts, step aside. There’s a new doughnut king in town that has Bloomington-Normal residents flocking to its recently opened doors.
Sometimes living a healthy lifestyle can be a real challenge for many of us. We all have our days when we feel like doing nothing, which is completely fine, considering the life of a college student can be pretty stressful.
With unpredictable spring weather underway, it can be hard to plan your weekends ahead of the game. Fortunately, there are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to fill your time, while accommodating the mix of rain and beautiful weather.
Operation Smile is a national organization that raises awareness for clef palates and lips and raises money to assist with surgeries worldwide, especially focusing on low-economic countries.
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