February 1, 2019
February’s “Fire & Ice” themed First Fridays will have ice carvers – some featuring a fire element – and a special fireworks show that will include a choreographed River Lights presentation!
Also enjoy amazing Restaurant Week deals, Meet Me in the Gallery at the South Bend Museum of Art, live music, fiery and icy food & drink specials, and much more! Check out all the details below.
FREE PARKING
Parking (on-street and in DTSB-managed garages) is always free in downtown South Bend nights and weekends. For full details on downtown parking options, click here.
ROAD CLOSURES
The Jefferson Bridge will be closed to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic from 3:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. for the setup, display, and removal of the fireworks. The fireworks show will be at 9:00 p.m.
FREE TRANSPO SHUTTLE
As always, Transpo will be offering FREE shuttle rides on one of their new CNG buses from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. Click here for a map of the shuttle route. Transpo shuttle service will pass each stop approximately every 15 minutes.
The shuttle service now has First Fridays Tour Guides! They will tell you all about the different activities and promotions taking place downtown at First Fridays, as well as give general info about the downtown businesses, mixed with historical tidbits and fun facts. Grab a seat on the new First Fridays Transpo Tour, and enjoy the informative ride!
Entertainment & Activities
Fireworks & Ice Carvings
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
In keeping with the Fire & Ice theme of this month’s First Fridays, we will have 8 live ice carvings taking place by MICA (Michiana Ice Carvers Association), and a special fireworks presentation taking place at 9:00 p.m. The fireworks will be set off from the Jefferson Bridge, so it will be closed to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic from 3:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. for the setup, display, and removal of the fireworks.The best places for viewing the show will be on the Colfax Bridge sidewalk, Seitz Park, in the Great Hall at the Century Center, and, weather permitting, on the Century Center Island.
Eight live ice carvings will be taking place this First Fridays from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the following locations:
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Gridiron area
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Studebaker Plaza
The ice carvings are sponsored by the establishments listed above plus Downtown South Bend, and the Downtown Dining Alliance. Click here for a map.
Meet Me in the Gallery
5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
120 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Come in from the cold and warm up inside the South Bend Museum of Art at Meet Me in the Gallery, featuring incredible art and live music by Whole Tone. Be inspired by the Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition, showcasing the talent of the region’s award-winning middle and high school artists. $5 at the door; children 12 and under free. Members will receive tickets in the mail. Food concessions available and cash bar provided by the Century Center. Presented by SBMA and 88.1 WVPE Public Radio with support from Century Center.
Laura Whidden at South Bend Chocolate Cafe
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
122 S. Michigan St.
Laura Whidden will be performing a free concert at the South Bend Chocolate Cafe from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Also take advantage of their First Fridays special: 2 for $18 any crunch/pretzel combo.
Vyagra Falls at Vegetable Buddies
8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
129 N. Michigan St.
Vyagra Falls will be playing a fundraising event at Vegetable Buddies this First Fridays to benefit the Neighborhood Center of Marshall County. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. with a 8:00 p.m. showtime. Tickets by donation. Come early and enjoy a meal off their Winter Restaurant Week menu.
Stone Carver Exhibit at Fire Arts
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
305 E. Colfax Ave.
Fire Arts Inc. invites the public to the special exhibit, “The Stone Carvers of Fire Arts.” The exhibit represents the efforts of five stone carving members of Fire Arts Inc., whose work area is located in the northwest corner of the Fire Arts building. The stone carvers pursue all kinds of projects, ranging from abstract to figurative, small or large and heavy, using stone of different hardness from soapstone to granite. The stone carvers — Doug Barton, John Hagen, Bill Healy, Robert Polis and Dick Trench — will be exhibiting work which can be serious, whimsical, or curious.
Snow Activities from The Brain Lair at Chicory Cafe
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
105 E. Jefferson Blvd.
The Brain Lair will be at Chicory Cafe this First Fridays, with books about snow/snowflakes and will also have some snow-related crafts.
Kennedy’s Kitchen at Fiddler’s Hearth
9:00 p.m. to midnight
127 N. Main St.
Enjoy free live music at Fiddler’s Hearth by local Irish band Kennedy’s Kitchen from 9:00 p.m. to midnight every First Fridays!
Live Music at LaSalle Kitchen & Tavern
5:00 p.m. to midnight
115 W. Colfax Ave.
Enjoy free live music by Jusin Staublin Band at LaSalle Kitchen & Tavern from 9:00 p.m. to midnight.
Tours of the Historic Hoffman Hotel
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
120 W. LaSalle Ave.
The Hoffman Hotel will offer free tours of their renovated historic apartment spaces and free refreshments. The tours will be given every half hour (5:00, 5:30, 6:00, etc.)
Specials on Retail & Services
Date Night at The Pigeon & The Hen
6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
217 S. Michigan St.
The Pigeon & The Hen Pottery will be hosting a date night event this First Fridays. Bring your sweetheart, your special someone or significant other for this bubbly fun painting night!
Attendees will be painting mugs using specialty glazes and the interactive bubble technique. Desserts like macarons and chocolate dipped strawberries will be available, and wine and beer will be available for purchase. Mugs will be ready for pickup in 7-10 business days. Registration is $50/couple and reservations can be made by clicking here.
6 Year Anniversary Celebration at Therapeutic Indulgence
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
903 E. Jefferson Blvd.
Join Therapeutic Indulgence as they celebrate their 6 year anniversary, with 20% off gift cards, and BOGO on their retail items.
Surprise Coupons at Idle Hours Bookshop
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
212 S. Michigan St.
Stop in and warm up with a sale at Idle Hours Bookshop! Reach into the sale bowl and pull out your savings coupon. Discounts will be taken off at the register.
Sale Racks at Ali on the Boulevard
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
722 E. Jefferson Blvd.
Ali on the Boulevard will be having $10/$15/$25 sale racks this First Fridays.
Friends of the Library Book Sale
12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
333 S. Michigan St.
The Friends of the Library Book Sale is in their newly renovated space – with extended hours. Enjoy amazing bargains on books, CDs, magazines, and more for both kids and adults from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Food & Drink Specials
Winter Restaurant Week
18 Downtown Restaurants
Restaurant Week offers diners the opportunity to experience the variety of cuisine downtown South Bend has to offer from Italian to fine dining, New Orleans inspired to Japanese flavors. The menus include breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner options. 18 Downtown South Bend restaurants will offer valued-priced menus at $11, $22, or $33 (view menus here.) Approximately 10% of the proceeds from each meal purchased will be donated directly to the Memorial Children’s Hospital.
Enjoy Winter Restaurant Week Fireworks this First Fridays shortly after 9 p.m.!
Fiery Pizza Special at Barnaby's
713 E. Jefferson Blvd.
Barnaby's will be featuring a fiery pizza with pepperoni, jalapenos, and pepperoncini, plus a hot and spicy chicken sandwich (grilled or deep fried) and $4 pints; also take advantage of their First Saturdays special each month: any large 2 topping pizza, an order of breadsticks, and a pitcher of pop (or a 2 liter on carry out orders) for only $19.95 plus tax.
Frozen Hot Chocolate at Edible Arrangements
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
123 S. Michigan St.
Edible Arrangements will be featuring $3 frozen hot chocolates, $1.25 fire & ice chocolate-dipped pineapple pops, plus 50% off a box of dipped fruit (pick-up only.)
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
123 N. Hill St.
Purple Porch Co-op will be have both fire and ice this First Fridays, with hot chocolate by Violet Sky, free ice cream samples by The Outside Scoop, Muscle Mending Jam sampling by Sai Shakti Massage, and an ice carving of a goat.
Free Kids' Meal at Linden Grill
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
119 S. Michigan St.
Linden Grill will be offering a free kids meal to the first 80 kids under 12, which will include a hot dog, chips, and a juice. Free face painting will also be taking place from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. They will also have a fiery drink special called the "Flaming Dr. Pepper" for $5 and a 4 piece perch dinner with fries and a drink for $8.00.
New Beer Release at Brew Werks
5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
216 S. Michigan St.
South Bend Brew Werks will be releasing Walk Tall - a hoppy wheat brew that will be benefiting Relay for Life.
Hot Food & Drink Specials at Spirited
4:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
105 E. Jefferson Blvd. (located on Michigan next to Jimmy John’s)
Spirited will be featuring a fiery wing sauce for their weekend wings and a hot rum cider.
Plus...
123 N. St. Joseph St.
Buy one appetizer, get one 50% off.
713 E. Jefferson Blvd.
$4 pints every First Fridays; also featuring a First Saturdays special each month: any large 2 topping pizza, an order of breadsticks, and a pitcher of pop (or a 2 liter on carry out orders) for only $19.95 plus tax.
122 S. Michigan St.
3 pretzels for $10 (not including sauce).
131 S. Michigan St.
Get one 14″ 1-topping pizza for $12
105 E. Jefferson Blvd.
Live music, $1.50 one scoop gelato, and 16 oz. Hurricanes for $6.00
123 S. Michigan St.
50% off a box of dipped fruit (pick-up)
602 Lincoln Way East
20% off for new guests and 10% off all retail
216 S. Michigan St.
New seasonal beer release
122 S. Michigan St.
2 for $18 any crunch/pretzel combo
620 W. Washington St.
1/2 price appetizers In the Studebaker Lounge
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