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The 32nd Annual Soup Bowl Benefit for Hoosier Hills Food Bank will take place Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 5pm at the Monroe Convention Center. Tickets are $35 for adults and $15 for children (16 and under) and include a hand made bowl by a local potter. Tickets go on sale January 1st exclusively online at hhfoodbank.org.
The Soup Bowl features the best of Bloomington’s arts and food communities. Guests can choose from hundreds of ceramic bowls hand made by local potters, sample soups and bread from dozens of local restaurants and hear great local music while supporting Hoosier Hills Food Bank. Entertainment this year features Charlie Jesseph, Sam Bartlett, Eric Schedler and friends. Beverages will be available from Oliver Winery, Upland Brewery and Soma Coffeehouse. A volunteer committee including co-founders Carrie Newcomer and Robert Meitus help organize the benefit. Funds raised from the Soup Bowl support HHFB’s hunger relief programs in six south central Indiana counties. Sponsorships are available by contacting [email protected]. Soup Bowl tickets always sell out fast so interested guests are encouraged to purchase their tickets early.
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The City of Bloomington Planning & Transportation and Utilities Departments have commissioned American Structurepoint to conduct an independent and comprehensive audit of our development review and permitting processes. They'll help us identify redundancies, bottlenecks, communication issues and other pain points with a goal of significantly improving our services. As part of the project, American Structurepoint will be facilitating a series of interview sessions with stakeholders familiar with our review and permitting processes, and you’ve been identified as a desired participant in those sessions.
You do not need to prepare or bring anything to participate. We hope you'll just come with your experience and awareness of the City’s development-related assets and challenges, and be prepared to provide your honest feedback. The interview sessions will take place at the Monroe County Downtown Library Branch, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave, Bloomington, on January 14, 2026. Starring Rob Zabrecky, two-time Stage Magician of the Year and resident séance specialist for the Magic CastleThis winter, step into the Waldron Arts Center to summon the unknown in Séance: The Board Awakens, an immersive magic-filled theatrical experience written by and starring Rob Zabrecky. Directed by Constellation’s Artistic Director Chad Rabinovitz and co-produced by Mills Entertainment, this thrilling world premiere will be on stage January 29 - February 15 at the Waldron Auditorium.
Dare to uncover the terrifying secrets of the Ouija board in this spine-chilling theatrical experience. As the magic-filled séance begins, you’ll find yourself surrounded by the eerie remnants of the original Ouija board factory—still haunted by the untimely death of its inventor in 1927. As the spirits awaken, will you unlock the dark secrets of the past or become trapped in their world forever? January 3 · 10am-11am
Saturday Children’s Story Hour at Morgenstern Books January 7 · 7pm-8pm Whole Hearted Book Club at Morgenstern Books ‘Think Indigenous: Native American Spirituality for a Modern World’ by Doug Good Feather January 9 · 7pm-8pm Romance Book Club at Morgenstern Books ‘Flirting With Disaster’ by Naina Kumar January 10 · 10am-11am Saturday Children’s Story Hour at Morgenstern Books Featuring IU Global January 12 · Murder Mystery Book Club at Morgenstern Books ‘Death at the Sanatorium’ by Ragnar Jonasson Strut to Success, Inc. will host Galentine’s Brunch: Mimosas & Manifestations, a wellness-focused gathering designed to bring women together for connection, reflection, and goal setting. Participants will enjoy brunch along with guided activities including self-love letters, manifestation exercises, and mini vision boards. The event provides a supportive space for women to connect, celebrate friendship, and focus on personal growth and empowerment. Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026 Time: Doors open at 11:00 AM; Brunch & program from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Location: The Fields Clubhouse, Bloomington, IN  Dementia Friendly Owen County, in partnership with Area 10 Agency on Aging, will host monthly caregiver support groups throughout 2026 for family members and friends caring for someone with dementia. The groups will take place at the Owen County Library on the fourth Thursday of each month, with two session options available: 11:30am to 12:30pm and 5pm to 6pm. These sessions provide education, problem-solving strategies, and peer support for dementia care partners. Community partners supporting this initiative Owen Valley Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Area 10 on Aging, Elara Caring, Home Instead, Autumn Park Senior Community, Ageless Transitions, Cornerstone Caregiving, and Dynasty Haven. Questions about the program may be directed to Amy Gurrettaz at Area 10 Agency on Aging by call 812-935-2582 or emailing [email protected].  Bloomington, Indiana Resident Selected to Judge at 150th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show12/29/2025 The Westminster Kennel Club has selected Bloomington, Indiana resident Mr. Douglas Johnson as the Sporting Group judge for the 150th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show presented by Purina Pro Plan. Group judging for the historic sesquicentennial event will be held on the evenings of February 2-3 at Madison Square Garden, with breed competitions taking place earlier in the day at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The Best in Show winner will be crowned at New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden, the original home of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, on February 3 and will be judged by two-time Westminster Best in Show-winning breeder-owner-handler David Fitzpatrick. Tickets for all events at both Madison Square Garden and the Javits Center are on sale now through westminsterkennelclub.org.
The 150th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show judging panel represents a variety of excellence in the sport, featuring world-class breeders, leading handlers, and historic winners from all over the globe. For the complete judging panel, please visit westminsterkennelclub.org/judges. Mr. Douglas Johnson grew up surrounded by dogs, working at a veterinary clinic cleaning runs and walking dogs. One weekend, a Clumber Spaniel came to stay, and he found himself immediately taken with the unique breed. After some research, he found a local breeder and mentor who got him involved in showing dogs. The City of Bloomington Common Council’s Jack Hopkins Social Services Committee is now accepting applications for Bloomington residents to serve on the Committee in 2026. This is an opportunity to serve our community by ensuring that funding reaches the people and organizations who are directly meeting the city’s most pressing needs.
The Committee is composed of four members of the Common Council and three City residents with experience in social services, including grant administration, philanthropy, nonprofit organizations, and related fields. The three City residents will be recommended by the 2026 Committee Chair. The Committee will meet six times between January and June 2026, to set program guidelines, consider and evaluate applications from social service agencies, and ultimately make funding recommendations to the Common Council. Applications may be submitted through the Jack Hopkins Committee website. The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department has reopened the Rail Trail crossing of South Rogers St. with new safety and accessibility improvements. The formerly diagonal crossing has been reconstructed to allow trail users to cross South Rogers Street perpendicular to traffic just south of West Baywood Drive, shortening the amount of time needed to cross the road and improving sightlines for both drivers and trail users.
The Board of Park Commissioners approved a $212,280 contract with Milestone Contractors in September for this work, which also included widening and paving the trail on both sides of South Rogers Street. The project was planned to occur simultaneously with the installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) at the crossing by the Monroe County Highway Department. While the trail has reopened, several aspects of the project are still in progress, including the activation of the RRFBs, re-striping the crossing, the installation of a new streetlight, and turf restoration and stabilization. These items will be complete in early 2026. The Commission on the Status of Women is now accepting nominations for its 2026 annual awards, honoring local women and girls who are driving positive change, breaking barriers, and inspiring others in our community.
Award winners will be celebrated at the Women’s History Month Luncheon on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, with an event recognizing the outstanding leadership and contributions of women in Bloomington. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Nominations will be accepted for the following:
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