YESvember
November 1, 2023
2023 info appears below. 2024 info coming soon!
Downtown South Bend encourages you to say "yes" to new experiences at YESvember!
About
November? More like YESvember!
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This month's First Fridays theme is "YESvember" and we we are encouraging people to say “yes” to something new!
We have created a menu of experiences and opportunities for you to say "yes" to, including saying "yes" to fitness at the downtown South Bend YMCA FREE Fitness Fest Friday, saying "yes" trying something new like holistic offerings at Healing Oasis, saying "yes" to joining a new club at the mini JoinUp South Bend Club Fair on the Gridiron, saying "yes" to trying a new downtown restaurant, new entertainment offerings like a stand-up comedy show at The Drop, or live music at various other downtown businesses like Ironhand, Chicory, and Fiddler's Hearth!
Say "yes" to karaoke at South Bend Brew Werks or on the Gridiron, say "yes" to learning a new fun skill like how to juggle or make a balloon animal, or say "yes" to checking out art at one of three opening receptions taking place this Friday, or trying out mead or cider at Perry Vine.
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There is so much to say yes to! Check out all the details below!
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FREE PARKING
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Parking (on-street and in City-managed garages) is always free in downtown South Bend nights and weekends. For full details on downtown parking options, click here.
Entertainment and Activities
111 W. Jefferson Blvd.
6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Say "yes" to moving and getting healthy, by attending the Fitness Fest Friday at Downtown South Bend YMCA. This free event is a great chance for you to check out this downtown fitness facility, and to try out some of their classes!
The public is invited to attend the following scheduled classes for Friday, November 1:
6:00 a.m. to 6:45 a.m. - Full Body Strength
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. - BODYPUMP™
10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. - Cardio Drumming
12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. – Tabata
1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. – Enhance®Fitness
5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. - BODYPUMP™
Please check out their website for class descriptions and feel free to drop in to as many classes as you'd like November 1!
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To make the day even more exciting, they’ll be giving away a 3-month Household Membership and a Smart Start Personal Training Package (four 30-minute sessions.) You don’t need to be present to win – winners will be contacted on the following Monday.
120 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Visit the South Bend Museum of Art this First Fridays for a celebration of two expansive exhibitions, with artists, educators and curators. Catered by ‘A Bite with Mee’! Admission is free.
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'Humanity Illuminated' showcases Moreau College student artwork, from Westville Correctional Facility in Northern Indiana. This evening will also celebrate the work of one of their teachers, Father Martin Lam Nguyen (Notre Dame Associate Professor of Art). Fr. Martin’s solo exhibition ‘Looking From Inside’, featuring lager than life sized paintings and photo-collages of worship sites, inviting the viewer to see these spaces from a new perspective. Fr. Martin will be giving remarks during the reception.
Try it Friday Pottery Wheel Class at The Pigeon & The Hen Pottery
217 S. Michigan St.
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Say "yes" to trying out the pottery wheel this First Fridays! The Pigeon & The Hen Pottery will be having a 1.5 hour lesson with instruction, supplies, first firing, glazing, then second firing - for only $50. Registration is required and space is limited to 6 people.
439 S. Michigan St.
5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Highland Studio & Gallery - a downtown art gallery hosting monthly exhibitions, showcasing local and national artists - will be hosting an opening reception for "New Works" by ceramic artist Sara Truman from Gainesville, Florida this First Fridays. Join in for an evening of snacks, beverages, and ceramic art.
435 S. Michigan St.
7:00 p.m.
The Rocki Button will have entertainment by Why Not Both and Infinite Buffalo this First Fridays. $10 cover, 21+, doors open at 7:00 p.m.
714 E. Jefferson Blvd.
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Say "yes" to natural healing and wellness opportunities, by checking out all that A Healing Oasis has to offer at their Second Anniversary Open House. They offer yoga classes, energy reading, crystals, retail and other services.
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Practitioners will be offering the following mini sessions this First Fridays:
*Fusion Flow Dance with Sophia
*Energy Healing with Sunny
*Tarot Readings with Jemma and Michah
*Sound Bath with Chayla
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The event will also feature snacks, drinks, and exciting giveaways!
Mini JoinUp South Bend Club Fair
The Gridiron
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Say "yes" to getting more involved in your community! JoinUp South Bend recently launched October 13 with a film screening of Join or Die (catch it on Netflix!) and a club fair. JoinUp South Bend is a celebration of the clubs, associations, and organizations that make this community so awesome. Check out these organizations at the encore mini JoinUp South Bend Fair this First Fridays!
*Connect 574
*First Unitarian Church
*League of Women Voters South Bend Area *Sunday Drive Meditation Collective
*Ultimate Werewolf Michiana
Other YESvember Opportuntities on Gridiron
The Gridiron
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Say "yes" to one or more of these fun experiences on the Gridiron!
*Human Hungry Hungry Hippos game
*Learn how to make a balloon animal dog with El Campito
*Juggling lessons from twin brothers Luke and Jake (and performances by them!)
First Fridays Vendors
The Gridiron
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The following vendors/organizations will be at the Gridiron this First Fridays:
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BE KIND Campaign
Crazy in Yarn
El Campito Child Development Center
HealthLinc
OneHope Wine
PetsConnect!
Purdue Club of St Joseph Valley
Tanai Sisters Henna
Temet Jewelry
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Plus food vendors! See list below.
Headliner Terry McNeely at The Drop Comedy Club
111 N. Main St.
9:00 p.m.
In case you didn't hear The Drop Comedy Club relocated to the Aloft Hotel and features amazing comedy shows every Friday and Saturday night! This First Fridays they will have headliner Terry McNeely featuring Adam Gabel. DTSB will be featuring a contest on their Facebook page for a pair of free tickets to the Friday night show.
DTSB Fall Photo Op
217 S. Michigan St.
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
DTSB has set up a Fall Photo Op with a mum wall, pumpkins, and hay bales, right outside their offices at 217 S. Michigan. The photo area will remain up through mid November. Take some fun photos and post them using #DTSBFallFun. Special thanks to Matthys Farm Market for helping supply the fall items and Ambassador Dan for his artistic vision and providing the finishing touches!
Retail and Dining Specials
NOTE: First Fridays drink specials are available for anyone 21+ throughout the day on First Fridays, for the operating hours of participating businesses.
November First Fridays Food Vendors
Gridiron
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Almost Vegan
Burrito Mafia
Dena's Kitchen
El llanito #2
Froggies Concession and Inflatables
Kate's Kitchen
Ko-s port-a-pit
L's BBQ
Mummy Lue African Foods
105 E. Jefferson Blvd.
4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Chicory Cafe will be having a Crab and Shrimp Feast for Two available for pickup this First Fridays. PREORDERS REQUIRED by 10:00 a.m. November 1.
The meals will include 1 lb. of snow crab, gulf shrimp, andouille sausage, corn on the cob, seasoned potatoes, garlic butter, and a crab shell cracker tool for just $59.99. Preorder at this link or by calling 574-234-1141. Delivery is also available through Dine IN Delivery at this link.
Chicory will also be having their normal First Fridays specials - live music, FREE Beignets with purchase, and 16 oz. Hurricanes and Blue Raspberry Long Islands for $5​
Ongoing First Fridays Promotions
714 E. Jefferson Blvd.
A Healing Oasis invites you to attend their First Fridays Open House, which is all about you coming to find out what their practitioners have to offer. Healers share their "magic" by offering mini sessions. You will also have a chance to check out their retail space, group events, and what services are at A Healing Oasis.
127 N. Main St.
Enjoy live music by Kennedy's Kitchen from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. every First Fridays!
333 S. Michigan St.
Enjoy amazing bargains on books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, and more for both kids and adults from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
1025 Northside Blvd.
Live music by Lucas Miner and 20% off bottles of MI Cabernet Franc​
121 S. Niles Ave.
Perry Vine - located inside the Emporium Building - will be doing tastings this First Fridays. Enjoy three free 1 oz. tastings, and additional for tastings $1.50. In partnership with Island Fusion guests may buy a meal and a glass and dine in the atrium area adjacent to our store — please note seats are limited. They will also have bottles for sale! Bring back your clean bottles and receive 10% off your next purchase!
218 Sycamore St.
They are located near Fire Arts and are a minority-owned studio that is seeking to build individual and community power through pole dance. They provide quality pole instruction and a welcoming atmosphere for all of their students.
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They will be featuring an Intro to Pole Class every First Fridays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for $22. Registration is required and can be done on their website.
WXYZ Bar at Aloft
111 N. Main St.
Buy 1 flatbread pizza and get a 2nd flatbread pizza at 1/2 off; plus monthly Cocktail for a Cause, with $1 from every cocktail sold donated to their featured charity of the month.
Plus Live @ Aloft with DJ Outlaw playing your favorite tunes. Live @ Aloft features local artists, groups or DJs playing music every Friday from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the WXYZ lounge.
SPONSORS
