#138: Frank's Place

Three big screen TVs.  A menu of homecooking meets bar food.  Karaoke every other Friday.  Full bar, even an adjoining liquor shop.  If you could talk the owner into renting you the apartment above the bar, you'd never have to leave.

As a true "neighborhood bar" of South Bend, Frank's Place relies on the immediate neighbors of the bar as well as a smattering of loyal South Bend regulars.  Personally, I've viewed Frank's as the ideal place for group watch of anything from an NBA game to the President's State of the Union Address.  It's a great place to sit back, relax with friends, and watch whatever might be on one of the three big screen TVs.  Tucked into the neighborhood just northwest of downtown, Frank's can be an alternate to the downtown bars on a weekend night or a great place for a drink and a bite to eat after work.  Like a couple of the other bars we've featured for our pre-Mardi Gras pub crawl, this bar doesn't bother with frills or gimmicks.  It's simple, honest, and pure South Bend.



Where: 327 W Marion Street, South Bend
When: Open for lunch, dinner, and after-hours
Phone: (574) 232-2277
Tip: Rumor has it that there's 25 cent wings on Wednesdays.....but I've yet to verify this for myself.

#137: Green Star Cafe

First it was the name, and then it was the cool retro sign and then it was just the bar itself.  Those being the increasingly compelling reasons to visit or frequent the Green Star Cafe of course. Oh and then there's the shuffleboard, but I'll get to that in a minute.

See what I mean?

Because of the reasons enumerated above, my friend (and actually fellow blogger) and I visited the Green Star Cafe for the first time several weeks ago. We had no idea what to expect in terms of bar atmosphere, but we were, or at least I was, surprised and pleased in a variety of ways.  You can't miss the cool neon-green sign that blinks above Miami Street, and when we entered, we were greeted by the friendly bar staff. Throughout the night it remained a lively but low-key place to hang out with friends (our choice), play darts, or even, as promised, play shuffleboard in the back. The bar is on the smaller side, but I would argue that that also is to its benefit; its size implies a neighborly friendliness that's hard to beat.

Location: 1605 Miami Street

Tip: As a heads up, the bar is cash only.

#136: Ewing Cafe

[Writer's note: Sledding & skiing are no longer options since the snow has melted (somewhat), and we're a long way from being able to dine al fresco (comfortably).  Spring seems far off, and the next holiday to celebrate is Mardi Gras, so our answer to what to do in South Bend, at least for the next week, is to check out some local bars in the area.]

You can't miss the big letters and glowing neon signs covering the front of the Ewing Cafe.  It's one of those places where the sign for it is almost as big as the place itself.  The small size makes it a perfect stop for a low-key mid-week drink.  You feel at ease even if you're the only one in the place, but they still fit a single pool table in there for all you pool sharks.  The friendly bartenders/owners are another reason worth checking out this bar.  They'll make you feel like a regular, even if you're just passing through town.

Where: 111 Ewing Ave.
Tip: Although they do serve basic bar food here, if you're craving something breakfast-y, the Kitchenette is right around the corner.

#135: The Yarn Gourmet and Bead Creative

Today I got crafty (for the people who know me, I promise this is not a joke). I had an open afternoon and so I took the time to explore two stores in South Bend that will help anyone, from proclaimed novice to expert, learn several of the more unique and specialized artistic skills out there. I'm talking about knitting and jewelry-making, of course.

Some of the (many) skeins of yarn

First up, is the Yarn Gourmet in the River Park neighborhood of South Bend. The store has branded themselves as a "luxury yarn shop" and when I stopped in, they more than lived up to their name. The walls and aisles of the store are lined with brightly-colored yarns of overwhelming variety. For the experienced knitter, you'll have to visit and give me a quick primer on the differences between the various types. As an acknowledged beginner, or I would even prefer "observer", I was content to wander the store and browse their extensive selection of knitting books and already completed projects for sale.

After the Yarn Gourmet, I made my way over to Miami Street to visit Bead Creative. As their name implies, the store features vast quantities of beads in every shape, color, and size. Here too I was out of my league, but the friendly owner answered my questions and let me browse inquisitively for several minutes. Besides the beads themselves, all of the finished jewelry in the store is handmade by the owner and her daughter at the store which has been open for almost 5 years.

In my opinion, the biggest selling point of both stores is that they offer a slate of instructional classes so that anyone can take full advantage of the materials they have to offer. I know friends who knit to relieve stress and, really, who could deny the advantage of custom-making your own jewelry? If you visit either of their websites (linked to below) you can find a listing of the classes offered this spring.

Relevant Info:

Yarn Gourmet

2915 Mishawaka Ave

574-232-9276

Hours: T-W 10-5, TH 10-7, F 10-8, Sa 10-3 

http://yarngourmet.blogspot.com/

Bead Creative

2303 Miami Street

574-234-2323

Hours: T-Sa 10-6

http://www.bead-creative.net/ (Note: The website currently appears to be down, but I just visited earlier this morning, so hopefully it will be back up soon.)

#134: "Equality and Inclusion" at the Civil Rights Heritage Center

One of the most compelling events to happen in South Bend during the past year (and arguably in recent memory) was the re-opening and dedication of South Bend's historically-segregated Natatorium as part of IUSB's Civil Rights Heritage Center.  Opening in 1922 as a racially-exclusive swimming pool, the Natatorium remained segregated until 1950 and then closed, it appeared for good, in 1978. Yet, in the past several years, civil rights activists from the South Bend community have worked to restore the building as a museum, meeting center, and exemplar of change. The new Civil Rights Heritage Center opened for the first time in May of 2010.

The Center is currently featuring the exhibit "Equality and Inclusion" through the end of February. This exhibit itself features 20 separate works of art done by students at IUSB dealing with themes of race, gender, marriage, community, and related local and global issues under the wide banner of inequality and its hoped-for resolution. The art on display was selected by a jury of experts and ranges in media from poster to video. This post is a preview to my planned trip to the Natatorium later this week so I'm just as excited as you to see what this type of artwork looks like. Even more than that, I'm excited, even thrilled, to see what this artwork looks like in the context of its surroundings. For South Bend, the Natatorium, and now the artwork inside, is a lovely illustration of the thriving city we can be.

Location: 1040 West Washington Street
Hours: Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat- 10:00am-2:00pm; Thurs- 3:00pm-7:00pm

For more information on the exhibit go here, and for more information on the Center go here.

#133: St. Margaret's "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes"

Sometimes just being to say "I've been there" is what counts.  That's the spirit motivating the event "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes", a fundraiser to benefit St. Margaret's House.  This non-profit assists women and children in economic poverty, and this annual winter walk is a way for the community to show solidarity with those who rely on public transportation and their own two feet to get around town.

Teams and individuals have raised money to be sponsored to walk a mile on this Sunday afternoon, and these funds help sustain the different programs and services St. Margaret's offers.  It's not too late to register, and just coming out to the event is a sign of support.  In addition, the center will be open afterward for a community reception, so you can meet some of the people who are part of this place.  The gratitude you'll feel for a place to warm up may make you think twice about those who are left out in the cold.

Where: the walk starts at the County City Building, corner of Jefferson & Lafayette, and ends at St. Margaret's House, 117 N. Lafayette Blvd.
When: 2:30 PM (registration opens at 1:30)
Website: http://www.stmargaretshouse.org/winterwalk/

#132: Victorian Pantry

I was looking for a locally-owned place to get coffee in the Granger/Grape Road when I remembered Victorian Pantry.  This operation has been given numerous awards for its full-service catering operation, but it also has a bistro in a strip mall on Cleveland.  I was pleasantly surprised by the warm atmosphere here -- an alcove of personality amid the 'big box stores' in this area.

Well-worn wooden chairs and tables make this place feel homey, almost rustic, and the owner/chef, Steven Stogdill, came around to check on customers and offer a warm-up for their coffee.  Speaking of which, is fantastic.  Their house blend, Walnut Roast, is my personal favorite in the area, a designation I don't toss around lightly.  A wide variety of flavored coffees and tea is sold at the store, as well as gourmet cooking supplies.

Their food offerings are strong as well -- you can try many of their acclaimed catering offerings, including their pasta salads, spinach & feta croissants, and cakes.  The croissant and quiche I ordered on two respective visits were fresh and tasty; their flavors or ingredients were gourmet in a way that distinguishes Victorian Pantry from other area "coffeeshop experiences".

This place is a great stop for shoppers at University Park Mall needing a refuel, and the standout  coffee and food, and welcoming feel, draws me to come from downtown.  I can't wait to go back for lunch to try a sandwich their signature foccacia bread.

Where: 226 W. Cleveland Road, Granger
Website: www.VictorianPantry.com
Tip: On Fridays from Sept.-May, there is a $7.99 all-you-can-eat soup buffet.  Vegetarians, take note, because all their soups are vegetable-based!

If you're interested in the catering options, just ask!  The staff is very friendly, and when I mentioned to Chef Stogdill that I was visiting for the first time, right away he brought a stack of brochures and was happy to answer any questions I had.

#131: Proof

Many of you might know this, but there are three of us who blog here. As of today, I'm claiming the title of "Resident Theater Blogger". South Bend's theater scene is broad, thanks to a great civic theater, the many universities in the area, and a state-of-the-art performing arts center, as well as incredibly varied. I've previously written about theater productions and related events from several of these venues here, here, here, here, and here. For some reason, I gravitate toward the stage and, well, I hope I'm convincing you to do so as well.

Today features another dramatic installment, this time thanks to the talented and thoughtful people in Notre Dame's Film, Television, and Theater Department. Their first show of this semester is David Auburn's Proof, and it opens tonight with a run that continues until Sunday, February 27. Proof only utilizes four actors to tell the story of the famed mathematician Robert, his daughter Catherine, and Hal, whose life intersects both of theirs in increasingly interesting ways. Proof offers commentary on the ideas of genius and madness, and as the advertising for this production highlights, it "suggests that developing trust and love can be difficult, and just as uncertain, as establishing the truth of a mathematical proof." It was first produced in 2001 and garnered an impressive array of awards that year including the Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for Best Play.

Location: Philbin Studio Theater, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center

Ticket Price: $10-15

For more information on this play and to order tickets, go here.

#130: Rocco's

Yes, it is Valentine's Day. If you're still looking for something to do, check out Downtown South Bend's impressive line-up of discounts, activities, and interesting events here. South Bend, as they might say, loves you.

But now that that's out of the way, I want to focus on one of South Bend's perennial favorites; a restaurant that is consistently great any day of the year. I'm talking about Rocco's of course. South Bend has been given an abundances of riches of the pizza variety (all lined up for subsequent posts), and everyone has their favorite. Mine is Rocco's.

I'm unfortunately not a deep-dish pizza fan which is why Rocco's thin, crusty slices are pretty much perfect. I prefer the classic pepperoni, but they offer a wide variety of toppings in addition to pasta dishes and some pretty great salads. The biggest selling point for Rocco's however has to be the owners and their fantastic service. Many of the restaurants and stores we feature here have great, friendly service but Rocco's really goes above and beyond. Every time I've eaten here, Warren, the owner, has stopped by my table to ask how the food and the evening were going. They were, of course, going great but sometimes it's just genuinely nice to be asked. Combine that service with the quality of the food and you've got my pizzeria winner.

Location: 537 North Saint Louis (574-233-2464)

Hours: Tues-Thurs, 5:00pm-11:00pm     Fri-Sat, 5:00pm-1:00am

Tip #1: Learn about Rocco's backstory as the first pizza place in South Bend here.

Tip #2: Give me a tip! I need to branch out, so what's your favorite thing to order at Rocco's?

#129: WNIT's "Ask An Expert" town hall on "South Bend: Thriving or Dying"

Last Thursday evening, the three of us who write this blog were lucky enough to be a part of the audience for the live television town-hall style event on WNIT.  This episode of "Ask An Expert" focused on the question "South Bend: Thriving or Dying?" and featured a panel of experts on our city and economic development in addition to an audience full of community leaders and active citizens.  The idea for this television event was sparked by the Newsweek article that recently ranked South Bend as the 8th most dying city in the country, and the discussion that took place dynamically highlighted the multi-faceted nature of our response as a city, as a community, and as neighbors. 

We were honored to be a part of this audience and more importantly a part of the discussion, especially since we believe our blog makes a pretty compelling case for the striving-side of the debate.  No consensus was reached that night as to whether our city is thriving, dying, striving, or fighting, but rather we all learned a little bit more about what our city has been through and what issues must be confronted next.  You can find more information about this program here on WNIT's website.

Watch, reflect, discuss, debate, and hopefully act.