The vibrant and urbane district of Bloomington, Illinois, offers a unique experience to its residents and guests. Some of the places worth visiting in Bloomington are the U.S. Cellular Coliseum, the McLean County Arts Center and Museum of History, the Public Library, the Center for Performing Arts and the Pepsi Ice Center. The city is dotted with bars for an exciting nightlife of food, drinks and dancing.
Six Strings is a live entertainment venue favoring country music. Dance lessons are held at the bar on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. for a fee ($5 as of 2010). The bar also has a mechanical bull that guests can ride on the first and third Thursdays of the month. An operator regulates the speed of the bull based on the player's skill level. There is also a karaoke machine equipped with wireless microphones, full house speakers as well as a large projection screen that can be viewed from all the way across the bar. Apart from this, the bar also holds American Country Showcase competitions.
Six Strings
525 North Center Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
309-829-9977
sixstringsclub.com
Daddios is located in downtown Bloomington, and (as of 2010) promotes $1 drinks on Thursdays, and live band performances on Friday and Saturday nights. The bar is open from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursdays and 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and there is a cover charge of $5 on all the three days. Dress code is not specific, though the following are not allowed on Thursdays: headwear such as hats and bandannas, athletic gear, excessively baggy clothing, shirts with cut off sleeves, jump suits and hooded sweatshirts. On Fridays and Saturdays, shirts with cut off sleeves are not allowed and hats should be worn straight forward or back. Some of the bands that have performed here include Hairbangers Ball, Wedding Banned, Your Villain My Hero, Mike & Joe and Sixteen Candles.
Daddios
527 North Main Street
Bloomington, IL 61701-3007
309-828-4434
daddiosbloomington.com
This open tavern boasts of 24 draft beers, a huge selection of bottled beer, shots, mixed drinks, bombs, specialty drinks and martinis. As of 2010, the bar is open from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. between Sundays and Thursdays and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Mondays are open mic night, when music fans get to perform live on the stage, and the fountain drinks and domestic beer sell for a discount at $2 each. Live bands like Plain Jane, Big On Blondes, DJ Smiley, Tim Stop Trio perform every night. The bar is also used by locals for throwing parties like graduation parties, birthday parties, charity events and wedding celebrations.
Drafters Pub
612 N. Main Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
309-829-1920
drifterspub.com
