A Week of Mourning: We’ll get you next time OHIO

Good Thursday Morning South Benders! This is Get South Bend. This newsletter is for the newbies, the lifers, the townies, and the domers.

In today’s digest:

• More parking on the horizon

• The Queen of Soul is Visiting the Bend

• Let’s Make a Website to Ask our Friends to Dinner

• Shake Hands with Mayor Mueller

— Written by Alayna

This issue is 1,069 words, a 4-minute read.

The Digest

Phase III: Morris Performing Arts

Need to know: The city’s Redevelopment Commission has green lit a Request for Projects for phase III of the Morris development, which will add 60+ apartments, provide parking for apartments and the neighboring apartments, and maintain accessibility for show groups.

Diving Deeper: The encore center and this proposed development stem from fundraising during Morris's 100th anniversary two years ago. While plans included a new lobby and parking lot, funding shortfalls have delayed phase III.

Fun fact: The new encore center is named after the same family that donated to the new Raclin Murphy Museum of Art on Notre Dame’s campus. Check out their history here.

For the Love of History

Local teacher and history enthusiast, Matt Emery, invites you to explore South Bend’s past on his podcast, Round the Bend.

🎙 Round the Bend is an opportunity to discover local history from Emery’s interviews with “authors, local leaders, and business owners”.

So, if you’ve got the winter blues, take a walk around the Bend, and enjoy learning more about the city and community wherever you get podcasts.

And, if you finish all of Matt Emery’s, check out these other local Storytellers:

Foodies Unite 🍽🥢🥂

“There’s something about the combination of stillness and activity in [South Bend] that inspires the best sort of creativity in the mundane.” - Abby Nelson, an out-of-towner and occasional visitor, on learning about the Dinner Club. 

Winter is the perfect time to grab dinner with your friends -- especially during the frigid temperatures this week -- right now we have two great options.

The first is Kath’s Dinner Club. Kath Keur is a local blogger, graphic designer, and community curator. At dinner club, you can sign up via the link above, show up to the restaurant they signed up for, and be placed at a table Kath has intentionally placed you at to meet new people over a shared meal. All meals and drinks are on your own or split an appetizer with your table! 

The second option gives you the opportunity to create your own Dinner Club with your friends by exploring all the incredible offerings of participating South Bend Restaurants. The deals available will be offered January 24 - February 9. Restaurant Week Details. 

Choose option 1 if you want to meet new people and expand your circle; choose option 2 if you you already have your circle and want to form your own dinner club.

The Happenings

Curated picks 📆 

🎶 Aretha: A Tribute

A night of R-E-S-P-E-C-T is coming to the Morris with a Tribute Performance by the South Bend Symphony orchestra. Get ready to immerse yourself in the sounds of the Queen of Soul next Saturday, 7:30 pm.

Tickets are still available for what is sure to be an incredible evening of soul and sound. Tickets.

🧘Yoga in the Greenhouse

Sun salutations and deep breathing surrounded by warmth and plants? Say less. The Potawatomi Conservatory hosts weekly classes. Bring a mat, a friend and get ready for a relaxing entrance into your weekend.

If you have time afterward, you can grab a coffee at Cloudwalking Cafe, just around the corner, or some fresh veg at the Farmers Market.

Recurring Weekly on Saturdays, 9:00 am - 10:15 am. Drop-in rate $10 for conservatory members or $13 for non-members. Details.

More events

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

🎹 Dueling Pianos - Connect 574 is celebrating their second birthday by bringing back Howl at the Moon Dueling Pianos. Tickets

🪴Plant Sale & Swap - Got extra plant babies you’re willing to swap for some new plant babies? Or just want some more plants? Details

⛷ Night Skiing (Glow-in-the-dark version) - Nothing says winter + fun like glow-in-the-dark skiing. Tickets

🏐 Best D*** Michiana Sports Spring League -This 21+ league just opened sign ups for pickleball and volleyball. See if you can beat my team in Volleyball or check out pickleball. Tickets

🪩 Hamilton Dances into the Bend 🎭 - Dance Society Social Club is bringing us a Hamilton class. Tickets

📸 Beginners Photography Class - Weeping Willow Photography at Langlab is offering classes. Tickets

✨Coming soon✨

If you’re like me and love planning ahead, then mark your calendar for these events happening after January 30th!

🏛 Meet the Mayor - The City of South Bend provides residents with 1×1 meetings with the mayor and other city officials. Details

🇮🇪 Irish in Irish Country - An Irish Curator has come to South Bend to prepare the Raclin Museum of Art for a special exhibit of Irish art, debuting in August. We will post the details as we get closer.

🧬 Science Alive - Enjoy this family-friendly event at the Downtown South Bend Library. Details

💡 IDEA Week - Gear up for this incredible week of inspiration and innovation (I hear there will be some really cool people there) Details

👤 Volunteer & Community Services Fair - Want to get involved in the community but not sure where to start? Or want to share your mission with people who want to get involved? Details

Rapid Fire Hits

Quick headlines and things to know from all around 🌐

🇫🇷 Parle Francais? Brush up on your French with this class at the library (Details)

💸 Money money moneyyyy, Riley High School receives funding to start a Biomedical Engineering Program. (ABC57 News)

✨ Maybe future Taylor Swift tix will be cheaper because of two Notre Dame grads and their startup, MyTicket. An interview with the grads can be found here for a deeper look at the company.

🏃 Register for the annual Sunburst race to keep yourself committed to your New Years Resolutions for at least half the year (Sunburst)

🧑‍🍳 Dainty Maid owners expanding their Michigan St. Footprint (Center City Place)

Happy Thursday!

If you found something useful, please send this to a friend who is still keeping up with their 2025 resolutions.

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