Plunk. Plunk. Plunk. A family peers over the rim of a silver bucket hanging on a maple tree and watches clear maple sap drip from a tiny spout. When temperatures rise above freezing at the end of winter, the sap’s-a running. Syrup-making in our region dates back to Woodland Indians, who mastered the…
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Picture this: It’s a warm midsummer evening in South Bend’s Potawatomi Park. To the west, the sun sets slowly in a glow of orange; the shadows of the oak trees are lengthening. You’re comfortably seated on a blanket on the grass, or perhaps you’ve brought a lawn chair. There’s a picnic dinner in…
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When Brian and I first moved to South Bend, we were blown away with how much there is to see at Notre Dame and how beautiful the campus is. One of our favorite things to do is to take a long walk around the lakes and see how beautiful and peaceful the grotto is all lit up at night. The kids and I…
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I built the Kitchen BMX Skate Park in 2011 to give back to my community and provide kids with a safe and supervised place to ride BMX bikes, skate boards, and roller blade. We’ve had over 5,000 kids come and ride the park since it opened, and we have many local riders that call it their “home” park…
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As South Bend celebrates its 150th birthday next year, the Studebaker National Museum will honor the 150th anniversary of a more somber event with our special exhibition, “Lincoln’s Final Journey: A Nation Mourns,” opening June 19 through October 31. The Museum is the proud home of the carriage…
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It was a sunny day at the beginning of August, comfortably warm, slight breeze… a quiet, gentle day. Michael Newsted and I arrived early and chatted for a while with Kathy… we poked around the shop… turning over ceramics, and eyeing many of the beautiful paintings on the wall. On our way downstairs…
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There's nothing like a homemade breakfast, and the owners of The Oliver Inn Bed + Breakfast in South Bend know that better than anyone. Tom and Alice Erlandson have owned The Oliver Inn since August 2005, and have quickly become a go-to source for freshly made, and extra delicious, breakfasts for…
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I’m a big fan of taking children to see live theater. There’s an inherent excitement in watching real people on stage—people cemented in the moment that we’re sharing with them even as they move us beyond the limits of our own experiences. Even very young children respond to that magic. When my…
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On a summer's evening, there is no place I would rather be than downtown South Bend. The cobblestone streets are quiet, and the gently warmed air creates the perfect environment for city exploration. A few weeks ago, I met up with my friends Mara and Luke… along with our photographer friend Mae…
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