#118: Madison Oyster Bar

Located right in between two previously featured establishments, Fiddler's Hearth and Saigon Market, Madison Oyster Bar is probably my favorite downtown watering hole.  The beautiful wood bar, the warm colors of the decor and lighting, the big screen TV, and pool table all combine to make a very comfortable, yet classic atmosphere.  It definitely doesn't have the feel of other sports or college bars in the area, yet it lacks the pretension of comparable bars, making it a perfect place for a drink after work, a few pitchers during a football game, or anything in between.

Another element of this bar is worth noting.  While you can sit on the first and second levels any night of the week, the third (and arguably best) level is only open on weekend nights.  On the third floor, you'll find 2 more pool tables, lots of seating, a separate bar, and even a couple vintage "Madison Oyster Bar" signs.  I'd say this is what differentiates a Friday night at Oyster Bar from a Wednesday happy hour.  Between the first, second, and third floors, you can find the ambiance you want for any day of the week.

Location: 129 N. Main Street, South Bend

Hours: Mon - Sat 11 am to 3 am, Sun 6 pm to 12 am

Phone: 574-288-3776

Tip #1: Go thirsty.  They have some of the better drink specials downtown.  Monday night specials include: $4.75 pitchers of Bud Light, Amberbock, and Killians, and $2.50 Washington Apple shots.

Tip #2: Go hungry.  You can find their full menu here.  Yes...true to their name, they do offer oysters, but I'd recommend the crab stuffed baked potato, the crabby cakes, or almost anything on the finger food side of the menu.  Someday, I hope to try out the "Madison Oyster," a sandwich with three plump, fried oysters, tartar and lettuce on a Kaiser roll, but until that day I'll stick with the french onion soup or portobello mushrooms.

Tip #3: Did I mention hookah?  It's one of the only places in South Bend to offer hookah, featuring all sorts of flavors from green apple to pina colada to vanilla.

Cost: NO COVER...ever

#117: Bendix Restaurant Family Dining

I have a soft spot for diners, and this is one of my new favorites. We've mentioned similar restaurants before such as the Sunrise Cafe and The Kitchenette, and I'm making it my personal mission to spend my Saturday mornings ordering omelettes and french toast at these and other as-yet-undiscovered locations (suggestions are welcome!).

Located on Miami near the river, the restaurant is family-owned (as highlighted by the name) and serves a wide variety of breakfast/brunch items as well as lunch sandwiches and speciality items. One of the more unique features of Bendix is its Mexican menu which provides a welcome change of pace from traditional breakfast fare.  During my visit, I was impressed with the friendly, prompt service, inexpensive menu items, and bottomless cups of coffee on a lazy Saturday morning.

Location: 1529 Miami Street (go here for a map)

Hours: Unsure. They're definitely open for breakfast through mid-afternoon, but if anyone knows the specific hours, we'd love to hear from you!

For more information call 574-232-7688

#116: Go on a Blind Date, South Bend-style

It's difficult enough to decide on the place to go for a first date, but a blind date presents a different set of challenges.  So, at the request of one of our readers, here are some of our suggestions of things to do that may do the trick:

• Sample an array of chocolates and candy at the South Bend Chocolate Company.  Why here? Browse the shelves of the specialty candy in the right-hand room and reminisce about Halloween as kid and discover new types of sweets from around the world.  More importantly, "Meet me outside at the gorilla" clears up any confusion about that crucial place of first encounter.
• Go to a how-to event at Junk Evolution or another clinic around town. Why? You walk away with something tangible, whether it's a re-purposed chandelier or rainwater collector.  If your date's good, then it's a great memento of your first date.  And if your date is kinda lame, at least it wasn't a complete waste of time.  Plus, there's always the chance you could encounter someone else who catches your eye a bit better.
• Grab a bite at Bonnie Doon. Why here? It's classic and low-key, and there is a lot of junk on the walls that can keep the conversation going.  This is also a great save if your attention tends to wander.  Don't miss the jukebox, either.  Music is a quick determinant of whether your new relationship will take off...or never get off the ground.
• Attend a local sporting event, like the South Bend Roller Derby, who are having their first public exhibition bout tonight, appropriately named "It's A-Bout Time".  The rationale: sitting in 'suicide seating' can turn your blind date butterflies into full-out fear of being blinded.  You can also use cheering to fill awkward silences, just don't forget about your potty mouth.
• Grab a drink at Madison Oyster Bar.  The most important feature for a blind date bar meeting?  The back door next to the bathrooms, in case you need a fast exit.  The bonus is the good variety of music and the friendly bartenders who aren't afraid to share a bad joke or two.
• Eat at a hibachi grill.  Soho is an elegant place that offers this dining experience, but skip the sushi room and head for the teppanyaki room.  Why?  You don't have to stare each other in the face, you don't really have to talk much, as the cook provides the entertainment, and you don't have to worry about weird dietary restrictions when you can watch your meal be prepared.  And there are guaranteed to be sparks.

#115: Theatre Design Exposition at Bethel College

Most of us are familiar with theater exclusively as audience members so consider this your chance to go backstage. Behind the big red curtain, a theater production often involves a small army of dedicated and trained specialists, from set and costume designers to dramaturges and directors, who construct the world of the play.  However, they are often invisible "actors" (so to speak) which is why this exposition at Bethel College is so exciting.

From now until February 12, the Weaver Art Gallery at the College will be displaying student work in all areas of the stage. Student set design, costume design, lighting design, and even research work in theater studies will be available to view in the Gallery. Hopefully many of you have previously attended a local theater performance (maybe even one we've featured on this blog). If you haven't or maybe just before you go to another production, stop in at the Exposition and I can almost guarantee that your experience of and appreciation for the art form will be transformed.

Where: Weaver Art Gallery, Bethel College, 1001 Bethel Circle
When: 9am-5pm, Mon-Sat
Admission: FREE

#114: Notre Dame Downtown Crossroads Gallery

During the last two decades, Notre Dame has made a significant effort to be a true partner of South Bend, and perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing result of this growing partnership is the Crossroads Gallery at the Notre Dame Downtown office on Michigan Street.  Since 2003, downtown-dwellers have had a reason to stop into the satellite office of Notre Dame Public Affairs and view an artistic space operated by Notre Dame's Institue for Latino Studies.

The gallery walls feature an ever-changing exhibit of painting, sculpture, drawing, and photography, while also offering a space for community meetings, press events, and more.  For example, ND Student Government uses the gallery for their "Community Summit," a meeting of student and local leaders each year, and DTSB and the City have used it for their the Festival of Banners press conferences.  This space is therefore continually transformed by the art work on the walls as well as the community within them.

Location: 217 South Michigan Street South Bend  (also shares an entrance with DTSB's main offices)

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Cost: FREE

Recent exhibitions:

• Fabricating the Real: Artists from L.A., featuring sculptures by artists Michael Amescua and Maria Elena Castro.
• Paradise: Selected Pieces, showcasing the artwork of Scherezade Garcia.
• EVOKE 2 PROVOKE, featuring Rodriguez Calero’s unique style in painting known as ACROLLAGE.
• Graffiti Art Project (GAP), a summer-long endeavor that sought to provide South Bend kids ages 10-17 with a creative outlet and the opportunity to express their unique talents and perspectives.
• Visiones paralelas: Images of the Mexican Revolution in Chicano and Mexican Art,  artwork drawn from the Gilberto Cárdenas Latino Art Collection 
• Materia Prima: Recent Paintings and Prints by Ramiro Rodriguez

#113: Elia's Mediterranean Restaurant

I feel the need to preface this post by saying that I had not even heard of falafel until I got to college. Actually, several years into college. That being said, I cannot recommend this restaurant enough, and, although I'm an admitted neophyte, this place is, without question, the best Mediterranean food around (please enlighten me if I'm wrong or if I'm inadvertently leaving some worthy restaurant out!).

Elia's serves a wide variety of that Mediterranean-style cuisine including the aforementioned falafel, gyros, shish kabobs, and much more. If you like hummus, my friend swears by their recipe as well as the baba ghannouge (an eggplant puree similar to hummus; don't worry I had to ask too).  They are open for both lunch and dinner, and the service is unfailingly friendly.

I can't write about Elia's without mentioning their great move and re-design combo of the past year. Elia's has been open since 2000; initially in a location on 933 close to Roseland. Since May of this past year, however, they have been located on South Bend Avenue. I had been once to their previous location and just recently visited their new address for the first time. While the quality of the food has remained unfailingly high, I was incredibly impressed by the decor and ambiance of the South Bend Ave. location and give the restaurant high marks for initiating such a big change.

Location:  2128 South Bend Avenue
Hours:  Lunch  11:00am-2:00pm     Dinner  4:00pm-9:00pm
Visit their website here to browse through the menu.

Tip:  In case you're as inexperienced as I was:
Falafel: (noun) 1. A spicy mixture of ground vegetables such as chick-peas or fava beans shaped into balls and fried. (Ed. note- It's great.)

#112: Access Sportswear

Finding the "perfect" gift is hard.  Personalization is the clever way around the conundrum of "what can I get without seeming like I just grabbed something at the store?" If you choose this method, I highly recommend using Access Sportswear, a locally owned business.

They are famous in the area for their "I <3 South Bend" shirts and sport team's apparel, but the staff is friendly and creative, willing to work with whatever you have in mind.  Screen printing, embroidery, iron-ons, and more....

Example of their excellence: my friend owned a scarf she bought abroad, and after I had commented how much I liked it, she decided to try to replicate it, with the assistance of Access Sportswear.  They gladly took the challenge to recreate it, and the end product is wonderful reproduction and creation in of itself.

Can you guess which one is the original model?

Where: 530 E. LaSalle

When: Weekdays, 10:00am-6:00pm; Saturday, 10:00am-4:00pm

Tip:  They're very efficient--I stopped in on a Wednesday evening and requested my order for the following week.  It was ready the evening of the next day.  Wow.  They do recommend allotting two weeks for an order because their speed will vary by the season.  Wondering about the cost?  Letters cost 45 cents each; large numbers cost $1. 

#111: 'Earth Friendly Eating' at the St. Joe Library

It struck me, as I was about to write this, that this week we have already published one post having to do with the St. Joe County Public Library. Well apparently they're so great, we're going to go for two. All joking aside, tomorrow's event "Earth Friendly Eating", now in its fourth year, promises to be an event that the community should not miss.

It might be hard, in the middle of the South Bend winter (we love it, we really do!), to imagine planting, growing and harvesting food, but that's just what this event is asking us to do. Several keynote speakers will address the importance of community gardening and the sustainable food movement so that community members and neighborhoods can be prepared for the long-awaited but inevitable Spring. After the keynote speakers, those in attendance will be able to join breakout sessions to create their own food action plan for their family or community. Other community groups, already active in South Bend's sustainability movement, will also be on hand.

It's a unique opportunity not only because of its important subject but because of its proactivity. We might not be able to grow things now (it is 6 degrees outside as I write this), but we will soon, so show your commitment to both South Bend and the environment by coming out tomorrow.

Where: St. Joe Public Library, Humphrey's Multimedia Room
When: 11:00am, tomorrow

For more information visit their website here.

#110: Concerts

If you want to see a concert, go to Chicago...or Indy...or Grand Rapids...or Blue Chip Casino... right?   South Bend doesn't have decent venues or attract decent performers, right?

WRONG.

For post no. 110, here are ten (+2) shows happening over the next ten days.  Variety of genres, variety of venues.  Take your pick and experience the warm and fuzzies only live music can give you.

Thursday:  Bryan Barr, Kelly's Pub, 7pm: The man, the myth, the legend.  Request your show tunes here (...but do they have gospel hour?)
Friday: Alligator Blackbird, Club Fever, 8pm: It's a CD release party as well as benefit concert for the Center for the Homeless.  What more could you ask for?! Oh, Half Pint Jones and Andyman Hopkins are also playing.  $8, $10 at door.
Saturday: Trigger, J.K. Rodeo Bar, 9pm: Country and southern rock. Come for the music, stay for the mechanical bull.  Also playing Friday night.
Don't like country? Check out Destrukters (and more punk bands) at the Anchor Inn, 7pm.
Sunday: Bailey Williams CD Release Party, The Midway Tavern, 8pm:  A fifteen-year old folk rocker performs at the former hangout of Al Capone.  Also featured is the reunion of "Soul Purpose" and a jam session afterwards.  $10 (includes a copy of Williams' CD).
Monday: Irish Music Jam, Fiddler's Hearth, 8:30pm:  You can always depend on Fiddler's to have live music. Kim Hoffmann of WSND's The Celtic Hour leads the group.
Tuesday: Children's Choir of Michiana (Rehearsal), First United Methodist Church, 6pm: Awwww.
Wednesday: Snoop Dogg, Club Fever, 8pm: Fo shizzle. Tickets are sold out, but if you brave the student crowds tonight at 10pm, there are 100 tickets on hand to sell to students. $45. (Kinda expensive? check the cost of his shows in other places.)
Thursday: La Orquesta Soave, Club Landing, 10pm: Celebrate the three year anniversary of the infamous salsa night. Free dance lessons at 10 and a few drinks, and you'll be tearing up the dancefloor with your merengue before you know it. $10.
(365-degree alternative option? The "Mozart Marathon" at Notre Dame from noon-four.  Free cookies and coffee in O'Shaugnessy Hall to celebrate the maestro's birthday.)
Friday: Bill Boris Group, Trio's Jazz Club, 9pm: Keyboards, trumpet, drums and bass make a smooth synthesis of "straight ahead jazz, funk and R&B".
Saturday: The Avett Brothers, Morris Performing Arts Center, 8pm: I'm ended the concert list at this event, because in my mind, it's the pinnacle.  They're one of my favorites band with lots of energy and great live shows.  It's hard to pigeonhole them into a genre, but it's somewhere between bluegrass, punk and pop. $25.

#109: LangLab

It's been called everything from a concert venue to a cultural club to an idea incubator.  LangLab is your friendly neighborhood abandoned-factory hub-o-culture.   Yes, this "space" is a former factory, and yes, they have periodic events featuring music, dance, art, environmental living, and oh so much more.  So no, it's not easily understood in our rigid square terms, man.  I'll let these pictures do the talking.... 

 The view from the parking lot.

 Shoots of the "artist-in-residence" apartment on the second level

 Use of this room: TBD

the LangLab "stage" from the Caught dance performance featured previously on our blog

Location: 1302 High Street, South Bend

Hours: Varying...very varying...depends completely upon their events schedule.

Tip: Like them on Facebook - otherwise there's not a very good way to stay in the know with their events - unless you infiltrate the LangLab "inner circle".....and if you do, report back and leak us stories about their "going-on's"!