🍀Fair Season!

Happy Friday! This newsletter is for the newbies, the lifers, the townies, and the domers.

In today’s digest:

• The Coffee Trail ☕️ South Bend Chocolate Cafe

• The Fair

• Satchmo!

• Pickleball Classic

This issue is 1,100 words, a 4-minute read.

The Digest

The Coffee Trail ☕️ Downtown South Bend Chocolate Cafe

South Bend Chocolate Cafe: This may be the most widely known cafe in The Bend. What you might not have known is working remotely here.

I’ll confess: Until I started this series, neither did I.

HOWEVER, DEAR READERS, the South Bend Chocolate Cafe is surprisingly full of loads of seating (outdoor, indoor, booths, tables, and even a playground to distract the littles while you work).

With WiFi, a variety of options to snag a spot with an outlet, and weekday hours that could rival any Starbucks (6 am - 10 pm),

I give South Bend Chocolate Cafe 3 🔌🔌🔌 out of 5.

Think I got it wrong, though? Check out all the places I’ve mentioned so far and make your own ratings list!

• The General Deli and Cafe

• Revenant at Dainty Maid

• Chicory Cafe

• Java Cafe

• Purely Pressed

• Cloudwalking Cafe

• Quad Coffee Lab

Adopt a new friend: Satchmo

Meet Satchmo: A 2-year-old sure to be the perfect family addition! Satchmo loves pets (who doesn’t?) and lots of love and attention. Satchmo would do great in a home as the sole pet so he can focus on himself and his confidence!

Apply to foster or adopt this darling today!

The Happenings

St. Joseph County 4-H Fair… TURNS 100!

One of my greatest moments in life was when I built a farm-scape project for 4-H and won a blue ribbon because I “followed the instructions”. Hands-down, my little 8-year-old perfectionist heart swelled!

While you might not get a blue ribbon just for attending the fair, it’s sure to be a great way to rack up a few thrills (is that screw on the rollercoaster supposed to be loose?), eat way too much (deep-fried oreos, anyone?) and spend far more than you anticipated winning a giant stuffed bear for your partner (I swear it’s rigged).

But I’ll digress to the details!

June 27 - July 5th

Fair admission:

9am - close: $6/person. 8 and under FREE

Ride Wristbands: $35/person

Click below for the full scope!

More Details

🩷 💛 🩵 Color Run at the Kroc!

Whether you’re a runner or a walker, the Color Run is sure to be fun for all ages!

Tickets are $25 / person, so grab yours and head on out to the Kroc this Saturday with the whole family!

Details

More events

A mix of things happening this weekend and into next week!

⚾️ Head out to the Ball Game for Independence Day: Book your tickets for the 4th of July game! Grab some Tickets and check out all the sweet promotions and fireworks opportunities!

🏕️ Teen Glass Camp at Make South Bend: Does your teen need something constructive and creative to do this summer? Sign them up to make art at Make South Bend! Register

🌺 Kintsugi Pottery:  Kintsugi is a form of Japanese pottery repair where broken pieces are more beautiful than the original. You will learn how to repair broken pottery wiht the Kintsugi method in this class. Details

🎭 Morris Presents: Salute to Freedom - grab your tickets for Independence Day! Check it out!

🎶 1950’s Themed Dance: Twist and Shout your way across the dance floor at the Century Center tonight only! Details

🍷 🌼 Petals and Pours: Learn to make a wreath with your pals and enjoy some wine at Ironhand TOMORROW! Details

⚽️ FUTBOL: Game starts at 5 pm! Check out the Details

🥒 Pickleball Classic: Want to know what all the hype is about? Check out this tourney and beginner lessons pickleball opportunity at Boehm park! Details

🥣 Morning Cartoons and Cereal Bar Join this church in an age old tradition: Saturday morning cartoons and a bowl of cereal! Details

🍅 Portage Farm Market: Head on over to the Near Northwest Neighborhood for their farm market next to the Botany Shop! Details

✨Coming soon✨

🧘‍♀️ Off the Beaten Path - Rooftop Yoga: Make some new connections and get some stretches in on top of the Jackson Rooftop in Elkhart! Register

 🇨🇴 Movies at the Morris: Mark your calendar for Encanto, playing at the Morris. Details

🎆 First Fridays: DTSB is presenting “Backyard BBQ” for July First Friday! Details

🎭 Royal Tenebaums: Mark your calendar for this performance at Notre Dame! Details

Rapid Fire Hits

Quick headlines and things to know from all around 🌐

Notre Dame Football Talk: ESPN’s Greg McElroy says Notre Dame has the best offensive line in college football—by a wide margin. He points to freshman Anthonie Knapp’s stellar debut, the dominant right-side duo of Jagusah and Wagner, and the kind of depth that pushed veteran linemen to transfer. With a fully healthy starting five, McElroy believes the Irish have clearly separated themselves from the pack. (Details)

South Bend Cubs Prospects: The South Bend Cubs are stacked with rising talent. Jefferson Rojas is breaking out as Chicago’s No. 5 prospect, Cristian Hernandez is bouncing back with speed and defense, Ryan Gallagher is dominating on the mound, and Carter Trice is a spark at the top of the lineup. This group is fueling serious excitement for the Cubs’ future. (Details)

Block by Block: Former ND star Devereaux Peters scored a win this week as the South Bend Common Council approved her downtown apartment plan, The Monreaux, on the former Fat Daddy’s site at Michigan & Monroe. The four-story, mixed-income development will feature ~57–60 units—about 75% affordable—with first-floor live-work retail, community spaces, and a small garden.
To get it moving, the city has boosted its financial support—from $2.3 million to $3.3 million—while committing at least $17.7 million in private investment. Construction could begin as early as this July. This project is a signature element of the broader effort to revitalize downtown and bring quality affordable homes to South Bend. (Learn More)

Martins Under New Ownership: Martin’s Super Markets is set for a new chapter as parent company SpartanNash is being acquired by C&S Wholesale Grocers for $1.77 billion. The move is expected to boost efficiency, expand buying power, and help keep prices low—all while maintaining Martin’s strong local roots. (Details)

Happy Friday! See you around the Bend!

Congrats! You made it to the end of the newsletter! I don’t have a prize I can hand out, but! Send me an email telling me about your favorite event this week!

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