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Tuesday, May 6
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COLUMN: From coffee shops to gyms: 5 study spots in Bloomington

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With midterms coming up, there can be lots to stress over exams, papers and a seemingly endless to-do list. When classes start feeling overwhelming, the first thing I do is get out of my dorm and find a nice place to study.  

Both on and off IU’s campus, the city of Bloomington provides countless coffee shops and places to study that allow you to visit somewhere new and get your work done in a more productive environment.  

Here are five of my personal favorite places to visit in Bloomington when I need an all-day study session, providing the pros and cons of each location.   

Located just off campus at 210 E. Kirkwood Ave., Poindexter Coffee is a go-to study spot for me. The coffee shop, which also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, is inside the lobby of the Graduate Hotel and right next to Sweetgreen 

The shop offers plenty of seating, with even more available in an attached lounge that has comfortable chairs and sofas. What makes Poindexter unique is the vintage, antique feel.  

Decorations include rows upon rows of glass animal figurines, bright red couches, plenty of plants and walls covered in randomly framed photos that make the coffee shop feel old-timey and cozy.  

Unfortunately, I’m not the only one drawn to Poindexter Coffee, because every time I go it is incredibly busy. However, that’s really the only downside I can think of.   

Pros: Unique interior  

Cons: Always busy  

I absolutely love Franklin Hall – the comfortable chairs, glass-ceiling skylight and abundance of seating makes the Franklin Hall commons an ideal study spot. With multiple levels of seating in the common area alone, there is almost always an available seat.  

My only issue with Franklin Hall is the TV in the commons that is 24 feet wide by 12 feet tall. It is the largest indoor screen at any academic institution in the world. Every time I go to the commons to study, I inevitably end up looking up at the screen and being distracted by one of the many broadcasts being shown simultaneously. With breaking news, commercials, sports and more playing throughout the day in the center of the room, it’s hard for me to focus.   

This academic building is at 601 E. Kirkwood Ave., it is right next to Sample Gates at the edge of campus. 

Pros: Glass ceiling with natural light, comfortable seating  

Cons: Distracting TV  

Hopscotch Coffee & Kitchen at 235 W. Dodds St. offers both inside and outside seating, which I can’t wait to take advantage of when the weather gets warmer. This coffee shop has a very cozy, homey atmosphere and is the perfect place to settle down with a coffee or tea and study the afternoon away.   

I have yet to try their coffee, but I can say that Hopscotch has amazing food that’s reasonably priced. Their signature breakfast item, the Hop Bacon, Egg and Cheese, is one of the best breakfast sandwiches I’ve ever had. While I did have to wait for nearly half an hour for one sandwich, it was so worth it.  

Pros: Delicious food, outside seating 

Cons: Long wait time for food  

Surprisingly, the Student Recreational Sports Center is a great place to study. While cozy and inviting, the coffee shops can also often be too loud and too busy for me to focus on my work.  

The main level of the SRSC offers around ten tables and chairs that students can sit and study at. I go to the gym daily, and I haven’t once seen every table taken. As well as availability, the area is in a very wide, open room that is very quiet and peaceful, no matter the time of day.  

Another added benefit is, of course, the rec center. Physical activity before studying is shown to improve concentration and strengthen memory, so before you hit the books, hit the gym to get a quick workout in, all at the same place.  

Pros: Quiet, calm ambiance  

Cons: Small amount of seating  

Morgenstern Books, at 849 S. Auto Mall Rd., is Indiana’s largest independent bookstore that offers a café with plenty of seating. I love to break up my studying sessions by taking short walking breaks every hour or so by perusing the aisles of Morgenstern Books is my favorite way to do so.  

The café sells locally sourced goods from six businesses, including coffee from Brown County Coffee and bakery items from Scholars Inn Bakehouse. This month, the café offers three specialty drinks for February: the Strawberry Shortcake latte, Exes and O’s mocha and Cupid’s Garden matcha. 

Pros: Nice bookstore, high-quality café 

Cons: Further from campus  

Whether you choose to study at a coffee shop, bookstore or anywhere in between, I advise you to take short breaks in between assignments, fuel your body with nutritious foods beforehand and try not to let stress overwhelm you too much.  

At the end of the day, a failed exam or bad grade is only one tiny chapter in your life, and while it may seem like the end of the world at the moment, your grades do not define you.  

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