Bloomington 101

As another school year approaches, seasoned IU veterans are starting to get back into the swing of things here. Where to find those household supplies, ways to get from point A to point B and how to get cheap eats are all common knowledge to returning students, but for those new to the school and the area, learning the ins and outs of this town is easy. \nStores like Wal-Mart and Target offer some of the best prices for school supplies such as notebooks, pens and calculators. These items can also be purchased at the IU Bookstore with the convenience of charging them to a student's bursar account.\nDrew Parks, a sophomore majoring in business, said he saved quite a bit of money by shopping for school supplies at Target.\n"I needed a TI-83 calculator, which would have cost me $124.95 at the IU Bookstore," he said. "Instead, I went to Target and paid $89.99."\nFor those without their own mode of transportation, fear not. Bloomington Transit will take students to the east side of town, which houses everything from the College Mall to Best Buy, from Circuit City to a variety of fast food restaurants. All Bloomington bus routes are free for students with student IDs.. \nStudents who purchase University bus passes can also opt to ride the IU bus system around campus. But students can take the Stadium Express route, otherwise known as the "X" bus, from Memorial Stadium to the Indiana Memorial Union for free with a student ID.\nStudents with their own vehicles will need to purchase parking passes to avoid the $40 fines that result from violating IU's parking restrictions. "D" permits are available to some students living in the dorms, while "E" permits are available to anyone. But beware: the "E" parking lots are further away from campus. Freshmen should expect a waitlist and a $118 charge for the "D" permits or $81 for an "E." \nStudents who do not want to brave the occasionally harsh Bloomington weather have plenty of restaurant delivery options when dinner time roles around. Whether it's pizza, Chinese food, sandwiches or even ice cream, Bloomington has something to offer for every craving. Some eateries cater to students by offering deals including side dishes and drinks for a college student's budget.\nAdditionally, Bloomington businesses have adapted their hours to satisfy late-night hunger.\n"Saturday is the busiest day of the week," said sophomore Dustin Brown, manager of the 10th Street Pizza Express location. "Between 1 a.m. and time of close at 4 a.m., we produce up to 100 pizzas an hour." \nAnd, for those students who plan to stock up on basic necessities at the grocery store, Bloomington offers a wide selection of shopping choices. Bloomingfoods, Kroger, Marsh and Save-A-Lot are just a few of the many options available for grocery shopping in the area. \n"Our stores in Bloomington do great business all year," said Kroger regional manager Jeff Golic, "but the students' return to the area brings a much more lively atmosphere"