🍀How to do Memorial Day in the Bend!

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

In today’s digest:

• The Coffee Trail ☕️ Java

• Meet Brooklee

• Summertime Concerts

• Curated Events

This issue is 1,195 words, a 4-minute read.

The Digest

The Coffee Trail: Java ☕️ 

When Java Coffeehouse (which turns into Sidebar in the evening hours) came to town, it was one of the few cafes west of Michigan in Downtown South Bend.

Though a portion of this story is now more rumor than clear fact, the rumor of how it got its start in South Bend is that Barnes and Thornburg, the Lawyer offices that inhabit the rest of the building, invested the funding to bring the Java chain into the space to provide an easy access lunch and coffee shop option for the partners, lawyers, and other staff in the building.

Now, Java Cafe has solidified itself in the cafe scene by being a more local alternative to Starbucks. They take some fun perspectives on classic drinks (like an iced cherry white mocha), but the real fun is how many outlets they have!!!!

Similar to your classic Starbucks, Java has set up their seating so that regardless of where you end up, you’ll almost always be near an outlet!

So remote workers, rejoice! Parents who need their kids to just chill and watch a movie on the plugged-in iPad while you sip your double-shot espresso, this cafe was made for you.

Open Monday - Saturday 7 am - 3 pm, I give Java Cafe 4 🔌🔌🔌🔌 out of 5.

Adopt a Friend - Brooklee!

Meet Brooklee, a 5-year-old brindle beauty and quite possibly the best girl in the world. This sweet, well-mannered mixed breed is potty trained, trustworthy free-roaming the house while you’re at work, and equally happy sunbathing in the yard or curling up on the couch for a nap. She’s currently in foster care, but she’ll be losing that spot at the end of the month. Let’s get her home before then! Brooklee’s only request? She wants to be your one and only dog. Apply to foster or adopt this couch-loving queen today!

The Happenings

Curated picks 📆 

🎶South Bend’s Sunday Night Music Tradition

Every Sunday evening from May 25 through August 24, South Bend’s Potawatomi Park hosts live music featuring a variety of genres like country, jazz, pop, and rock. Bring your family and friends to enjoy free, all-ages concerts under the stars at the Chris Wilson Pavilion.

📅 Concert Dates & Bands:
May 25 | Left Side of the Dial
June 1 | Rebel Art Fest
June 8 | Jazz Assemblage
June 15 | Brian Mach Music
June 22 | Now & Then
June 29 | Mr. Z
July 6 | Paul Zulas and Later the Never
July 13 | Michiana String Collective
July 20 | The Hipposonics
July 27 | Nathan King
August 3 | Los Hermanos Bueno
August 10 | The David Hiliker Quarter
August 24 | Soul Discovery

📍Potawatomi Park, South Bend, IN
🎤 Free admission, family-friendly event

Details

🎆 South Bend Cubs vs. Timber Rattlers

Memorial Day Fireworks. Enjoy a family-friendly baseball game followed by a fireworks show at Four Winds Field for Memorial Day!

While it’s a little colder than normal this Memorial Day, you can still celebrate by watching a great American pastime and enjoying a spectacular Fireworks show.

More events

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

 🖌️ DIY Hanging Planter Workshop: Shape, decorate, and paint your own 4" air-dry clay hanging planter—then pot it with a tropical plant of your choice in this beginner-friendly, kiln-free crafting session.Tickets

🥾 YMCA Hiking Club: Join the YMCA of South Bend - Elkhart Region for guided hikes across scenic trails in northern Indiana and southwest Michigan, led by outdoor enthusiast Milt Cooper. Details

🕵️‍♀️ The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Show
Immerse yourself in an interactive true crime comedy where the culprit could be anyone—even you—while enjoying a delicious buffet dinner at Embassy Suites by Hilton South Bend at Notre Dame. Tickets

🥂 Brunch, Bingo, and Bubbly: Kick off your Sunday with a delicious brunch at 10 AM, followed by an exciting round of bingo at 11 AM, all while enjoying bubbly drinks in a cozy vineyard setting.” Details

🎖️Westside Memorial Day Parade: South Bend Westside Memorial Day Parade – Honor local heroes with a morning parade and memorial service starting at Navarre Middle School.

✨Coming soon✨

🎉 May Family Fun Fair – A Celebration of Wellness & Community: Enjoy an afternoon of live music, fitness demos, kids' activities, and local food vendors at Howard Park in South Bend. Details

🎤 Aaron Weber Stand Up Comedy: Enjoy an evening of laughter with Nashville-based comedian Aaron Weber at Stockroom East. Tickets

🌈 Pride Patio Party: Kick off Pride Month with an adults-only celebration featuring a live DJ, drink specials, and good vibes at The Lauber Kitchen & Bar. Details

🧘‍♀️ Summer Fitness Series: Back again! Starting June 7th, come downtown for the summer fitness series on the gridiron with yoga at 8 am and anything from Zumba, to drum dancing, to pilates—all on the gridiron in downtown South Bend. Details

🏃‍♂️ Sunburst: Last call to register for the race! Grab some friends or family and join the fitness walk, 5k, 10k, or Half-Marathon! Register

Rapid Fire Hits

Quick headlines and things to know from all around 🌐

Are you from Indiana if you don’t tell people all the different things that can fit inside the IMS Speedway?! (Indystar)

South Bend Turns 160: Celebrate the city’s 160th anniversary with a year full of exciting events, including free outdoor movies, community festivals, and special activities that highlight South Bend’s rich history and vibrant culture. This milestone brings residents and visitors together to honor the past and look forward to the future. (Details)

Notre Dame is set to kick off the 2026 college football season (next year) at Lambeau Field. (Sports Illustrated)

South Bend International Airport Announces $14 Million Expansion to Enhance Traveler Experience: The expansion includes the addition of separate lanes for commercial vehicles and passenger drop-offs, extended canopies for better weather protection, and aesthetic upgrades to the terminal's façade. This initiative responds to the airport's record-breaking passenger numbers and is funded through the airport's revenue sources, not local tax dollars. (Details)

Allegiant Air Launches New Nonstop Flights from South Bend to Fort Lauderdale
Starting August 29, Allegiant Air will offer nonstop flights from South Bend International Airport to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, with one-way fares beginning at $59, providing convenient access to South Florida's popular destinations like Miami and West Palm Beach. (Details)

New Sports Bar Coming to Downtown South Bend: Two seasoned hospitality professionals are set to open a new sports bar near Four Winds Field this fall, adding to the vibrant development on the city's south side.. (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!

📣 Partner with us to get your product/service in front of our audience here

💎 Know any hidden gems we should cover? Reply to this email!