#41: FTT Talks: Rolin Jones

There are many events, lectures, talks, symposiums, etc. that happen daily on Notre Dame's campus.  I'm highlighting this one, sponsored by the Department of Film, Television, and Theater, for a personal reason.  The speaker is a television writer.  But not just any television writer, he was a writer for both Weeds and, here's the personal bias, Friday Night Lights (one of my favorite shows on television currently). Both shows, however, have been reviewed incredibly well, and Mr. Jones promises to shed light on the writing process and more specifically the writing process for television.  Whether you love creative writing or just Thursday night comedies, this talk should be informative and entertaining.

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.

Where:  University of Notre Dame, 162 Mendoza School of Business
When: 6:00pm

#40: South Bend Symphony Pops with James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band

As part of their 78th season, the South Bend Symphony will be performing tonight at the Morris Performing Arts Center.  If you haven't yet attended a performance, you should make it your first.  Playing in collaboration with an internationally renowned jazz band (that have appeared many times on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion), the performance is bound to be entertaining.  My last experience with the Symphony, at their outdoor concert at the Chris Wilson Pavilion, was incredibly enjoyable and I'm looking forward to hearing them again.

Where: Morris Performing Arts Center
When: 8:00pm

For more information about tonight's performance, upcoming performances, and the South Bend Symphony in general, visit their website: www.southbendsymphony.com.

#39: Unity Gardens Nutrition Workshop

In a previous post, we've mentioned the Unity Gardens that are flourishing around the city. If you want a reminder check out our post here and their website here.  However, the Unity Gardens group does much more than just weed and plant as demonstrated by this class they're hosting at the LaSalle Branch of the Public Library.  Held to promote "healthy eating, cooking, and living" the nutrition class will show participants how to use their gardens to promote healthier and more sustainable lifestyles.  Check it out.

Where: Meeting Room in the LaSalle Branch Library

When: 6:00pm-7:00pm

For more information call: 574-282-4633

#38: 'Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist' at the St. Joseph County Public Library

I like film screenings.  I really like film screenings of good movies at the public library.  Tonight the St. Joe County Public Library is hosting a screening of "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" as part of their Teen Read Week. I've seen the movie, and while its appeal might be somewhat limited to the teen/young adult crowd, I thought it was a refreshingly funny and honest little film about the adventures of one night in New York City.  Check out the New York Times review of the film here. They describe it as a "fleeting" movie, and that's probably the truth, but sometimes something fun and small is just right. Plus it has a great soundtrack.

Where: St. Joe County Public Library, Colfax Auditorium

When: 5:30pm

NOTE: For reasons too lengthy to disclose here, your friendly bloggers are out of state (or out of country) and the posts might be somewhat less frequent this week. We're sorry and we promise to come back with full force next week!

#37: Sidewalk Sales & Yardsales

When the weather's nice and you want to be outside (but aren't really one of those "outdoor" types), try your hand at outdoor shopping.

While other places of the country (shout-out to Short Pump, VA!) may have open-air malls, South Bend's delightful winters aren't as accommodating.  However, that does not mean residents of the 574 have to miss out on this experience.  Fall yardsales and sidewalk sales provide the perfect opportunity to get some fresh air and a great deal.

This past weekend, the row of local shops along East Jefferson Ave. (incl. Marigold's, Just Goods) held a sidewalk sale that featured 30 percent off merchandise I had been eyeing a week before.  Another vendor was selling a bevey of books, from "Marketing for Dummies" to the latest pyscho-thriller, for a dollar each.

And the yardsales!  Nothing is more rewarding than buying that piece of junk that you don't really need and won't ever use because it doesn't work but it was such a good deal that...except for those items that you DO find that become indispensable. My five-dollar pine coffee table, I'm looking at you.  The best place to find the weekend's yardsales is either on Craigslist or in the South Bend Tribune's classifieds on Saturdays.

Happy shopping!

#36: The Riverside Trail

This trail is a newcomer to the South Bend trail system, but the SB Parks Dept. did it right.  You can tell by the variety of activities that this trail supports: fishing, canoeing, biking, walking, running, skateboarding, dog-walking, meandering, sitting and watching the river go by, picnicking, shooting photography, ad infinitum.

On good days, it seems like everyone is out (as well as their kid and dog) but the trail never seems crowded.  The asphalt path is broad enough for at least three people across, and it's set far enough away from the road that you don't feel like you're just on a sidewalk.  The benches, 1/2 mile markers, and decorative railings are extra touches that make the experience even more pleasant.  

Where: Darden Road to Angela Blvd., on the east side of the river

When to go: Because of the high traffic, this past isn't terrible to walk/run on in the snow, but the best time is definitely fall -- the reflections of the colorful trees in the river are breath-taking

Tip: To those living on the northside of Notre Dame, use this path to access downtown (or Notre Dame itself) on gamedays.  ND is right up Angela, and downtown is straight ahead.

#35: Oaken Bucket

These last days of warm sun call for as much time spent outside as possible, which will dictate our next few posts.  Best place to unwind after a long day?  The deck of Hensell's Oaken Bucket.

You feel like you're sitting on a dock on the St. Joe River, which probably explains why the Notre Dame crew team loves this place.  The beer is cheap, and the bar food is quite good, as far as bar food goes.  Their homemade 'chips' -- more like flattened French fries than anything -- are a must-try.  The wire patio chairs evoke memories of summer barbeques and family reunions, and in the same line, the large outdoor space is a perfect place for a large group to gather.

Mellow, relaxed, utterly unpretentious... take advantage while you can.

Where: 1212 S Ironwood Dr
When to go: Monday - Saturday, 11am - 12am
Special thing I love: the frosted mugs beer their beers come in

#34: History's Haunts: An After-Dark Tour of Notre Dame's Cedar Grove Cemetery

So if you think the title of this event sounds cool, well, that's because it is.  As part of the National Endowment for the Arts' The Big Read program celebrating the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe, a local historian will guide you through one of the city's oldest cemeteries. The tour will be led with hurricane-lamps and will feature histories of some of the earliest South Bend residents. I can't imagine a better way to ring in October, prep for Halloween, and support the arts.

Location: Cedar Grove Cemetery, University of Notre Dame
Time: 8:00pm

For more information about The Big Read program in South Bend and upcoming events (I would imagine some of them would even be feature on this blog) visit the website: http://www.nd.edu/~wsnd/content/Big%20Read%20Website/Homepage.html

#33: Marigold's

South Bend is now graced with Marigold's, which offers "uncommon home and garden decor, vintage items and fresh flowers".  In other words, Midwest chic.

I was consistently impressed with the quality and range of merchandise found here.  Each person who comes in here seems to discover something special, from a familiar children's book or "I-would-have-never-thought-of-that!" goods (eg. a salad bowl with built-in tongs).  There's also a lot of "I-don't-need-it-but-I'm-getting-it-because-it's-too-cool-not-to-buy" (eg. white tapered candles that drip red "blood" wax) or their gorgeous flower arrangements.

These goods are spread out over three rooms in an old house, which lends to its welcoming atmosphere, and the kind and knowledgeable owners make shopping here personal and special, just like any upscale boutique.  For example, my friend was interested in whether a certain bowl was microwaveable, and the owner went to great lengths to answer her question so that she would be happy with the product.

Marigolds is part of burgeoning high-quality, locally-owned retail stores on Jefferson Avenue.  It's neighbors with Just Goods and just around the corner from Junk Evolution.   They all complement each other's offerings, and together, these stores present a unique shopping experience that's helping to define a developing South Bend style.

Where: 722 E. Jefferson Avenue
When to go: Tuesday-Friday, 10:00am - 6:00pm; Saturdays, 9:00am - 3:00pm
Tip: The owner also prepares phenomenal snacks for First Fridays.  I strongly encourage you to stop by on these nights, if only to eat and shoot the breeze with the lovely owners.

#32: Jonathan Kozol at Saint Mary's College

After the typo that made national news, South Bend Public Schools would perhaps appreciate a serious, academic look at their education system.

Jonathan Kozol is an internationally-renowned writer and advocate for education.  He is also appearing in South Bend today for a talk at Saint Mary's College.  Kozol's work has appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, and he himself has been called by the Chicago Sun Times, "the most eloquent spokesman for America's disenfranchised."

The event will be held tonight at the O'Laughlin Auditorium on Saint Mary's Campus from 7:00pm-8:30pm.  Not every day does a national speaker come to South Bend, so take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about our education system and what that means for South Bend.

When to go: 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Where: O'Laughlin Auditorium, Saint Mary's College