From poetry to comedy to cats, there's something for everyone this week in Bloomington

Connie Shakalis
·3 min read
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Gain some refinement with poetry and prose readings or let loose and laugh at Bloomington's annual comedy festival. This week there also are events where you can learn about Bloomington's LGBTQ+ students' lives, watch a compliation of cat videos or hear an old-time string band. Of course, there's another free outdoor summer movie at Switchyard Park.

Poetry and Prose among the books

Women Reading for (a) Change will offer poetry and prose from Rebecca Kaiser Gibson, Merle Bachman and Laura Lasuertmer 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday at Morganstern's Bookstore & Cafe. Proceeds go to the local chapter of Women Writing for (a) Change. Join them at the bookstore at 849 S. Auto Mall Road.

The Comedy Attic at the corner of Fourth and Washington streets.
The Comedy Attic at the corner of Fourth and Washington streets.

Laugh, give your input at 14th Annual Bloomington Comedy Festival

Audience members decide the winner at the Bloomington Comedy Festival, which is currently in the second round of comedic acts. This crazy-fun event is back and already bringing tears (of laughter). Watch the acts at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Comedy Attic, up the steps at Fourth and Walnut streets. Get tickets at comedyattic.com/events/58772 for $10. Wear a mask to enter and arrive at least 20 minutes before the show. The second round comedy will continue July 20 and 21, as well.

The marquee of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater is seen in 2012 during its 90th anniversary celebration.
The marquee of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater is seen in 2012 during its 90th anniversary celebration.

Fest offers fierce feline footage

Come to the Buskirk-Chumley Theater for what's being called the world’s #1 cat video festival. It's at 2 p.m. Saturday for $8 per person, $6 for students. Curators have selected high-quality cat videos from many hours of submissions and animations, music videos and traditional internet sources. CatVideoFest is available only in theaters and raises funds for cats in need with 10%  benefiting the Monroe County Humane Association.

Doors open at 1:30 p.m. for the general admission event. The show lasts about 90 minutes. Wearing a mask indoors is strongly encouraged. The theater is at 114 E. Kirkwood Ave.

The Lost Dog Street Band will perform Friday, July 15, at the Bluebird.
The Lost Dog Street Band will perform Friday, July 15, at the Bluebird.

Lost Dog Street Band performs at The Bluebird

Friday at 8 p.m. enjoy the music of an old-time string band — with fiddle and banjo — that started as buskers. Lost Dog Street Band’s new album "Glory" is about resolve and recovery. Songwriter Benjamin Tod and his wife, fiddler Ashley Mae, front for the group. The Bluebird is at 216 N. Walnut St., https://thebluebird.ws. Get tickets for $25 at https://bit.ly/3Rw1twX.

Explore history of LGBTQ+ student life in Bloomington

Now through July 29, see the exhibition “An Army of Lovers Cannot Be Conquered” as part of Exploring the History of LGBTQ+ Student Life in Bloomington. It's at the Herman B Wells Library, room E460, 1320 E. 10 St. For hours, go to https://bit.ly/3AI58lr. The display comes from the University Archives and has images, objects and stories.

Wait until dusk: Switchyard Park to show "A League of Their Own"

As dusk descends Friday, arrange your chairs and blankets in Switchyard Park to watch "A League of Their Own" (1992). The movie is about a a professional all-female baseball league in the Midwest. There's no charge to watch the movie at1601 S. Rogers St.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington fun includes comedy festival, Lost Dog Street Band this week