As a freelance writer who works best away from home, through much trial and error I’ve found my favorite places to read and write in Bloomington. Since I live close to downtown, many of them are found within the BEAD district! While I encourage you all to do you own experimenting, I’m passing along the places that have worked best for me. And because I know it’s important to many of us, all the places on the list (except the B-Line) have free wifi!

Summer is one of the best times to explore the BEAD district. Here are some recommendations for ways to enjoy the culturally rich downtown during these warm weather days! 1) Salsa at Serendipity. Every Saturday enjoy salsa dancing at Serendipity Martini Bar. Come to dance, listen, or just watch! 2) Take a Class. What’s a better use of your time than learning a new skill! Check out summer class schedules at the Bloomington Cooking School, Bloomington Clay Studio, or Ivy Tech’s Center for Lifelo

When you’re downtown, watch for a man in yellow on a matching yellow bike attached to a yellow cart. That’s a cart full of quality caffeine passing by! Featuring ready-to-drink cold or hot coffee depending on the season, you can find Uel Zing Coffee at various locations downtown (follow the schedule on the website or twitter), or on sale at a number of local shops. Uel Zing is also available by subscription, delivery, catering and wholesale, and you can buy online!