The 2009 Annual Michiana Home Show is happening this weekend at The Century Center. This year’s show includes a green side to it – green building products and energy conservation products. With over 150 vendors, you’ll find tips and experts on everything from landscaping and windows to roofing and concrete.

Michiana Home Show
Century Center – downtown South Bend
March 6, 5:00pm-9:00pm
March 7, 10:00am-9:00pm
March 8, Noon-5:00pm
Adults $7; Kids 12 and under are free; Free Parking
*$2 off coupons available at all Michiana Toyota Dealers
More Information? Call 574-271-8488

Billed as “Art in the Heart of South Bend”, the 6th annual Art Beat is scheduled for Thursday, September 4 from 4-8:30pm. The free event promises over 200 local artists, performers, musicians, poets, chefs, and dancers. Take a stroll through the dowtown area and take in all of the sites, sounds, and feasts the area’s cultural side has to offer. For more information including area map, parking, and how to become one of the exhibitors, visit the Art Beat site.

Independence Day, commonly referred to as The 4th of July, commemorates our nation’s adoption of the Declaration of Independence. To many, it also means picnics, cookouts, parades, and fireworks! If you plan to shoot off your own fireworks, keep in mind our local laws as well as good fireworks safety tips.

If you decide to leave it to the pros, here’s where you can find some of our area’s displays:

Blast at St. Pat’s – St Patrick’s County Park
Saturday, June 28
South Bend Symphony Orchestra 8:00 pm; followed by the Fireworks display 10:30 pm
Admission: $15

SilverHawks games – Coveleski Stadium
Tuesday, July 1 through Saturday, July 5
Game time is 7:30 p.m. each night; fireworks display follow each game
Admission: $5-7; Children under 5 are free

Meet me on the Island – South Bend Regional Museum of Art
Thursday, July 3
Music by Clifford & Michaels Blues Band 5:00 pm; followed by fireworks at dusk
Admission: $7; Children under 12 and museum members are free

Comcast Day – East Race/Seitz Park
Sunday, July 6
Music and activities starting at 2:00 pm; followed by Fireworks at dusk
Admission: free

It’s time to enjoy great weather and great tunes. Check out the schedule of bands, days, and times below. There’s something for everyone.

Meet Me On the Island – Century Center, Island Park
Admission: $5; children under 12 free
July 3, 5:00 – 10:30pm – Clifford & Michaels Blues Band
August 29, 5:00 – 9:30pm – Darryl Buchannan
September 19, 5:00 – 9:30pm – The Whistle Pigs

Fridays By The Fountain, near W Colfax and N Michigan Streets
Admission: free
June 27, 11:30am – 1:30pm – John Sapen Band
July 11, 11:30am – 1:30pm – Little Frank & The Premiers
July 25, 11:30am – 1:30pm – Everyday People
August 8, 11:30am – 1:30pm – Kennedy’s Kitchen
August 22 11:30am – 1:30pm – Half-Pint Jones

Rooftop Rendezvous, near E Wayne and S St Joseph Streets
Admission: $7.00
June 21 , 6:00pm to 11:00pm – Driving Reign
July 12, 6:00pm to 11:00pm – Live Wire and Ruin Hayes
August 16, 6:00pm to 11:00pm – Vyagra Falls
September 20, 6:00pm to 11:00pm – Soul Funkshun

Beutter Park Thursday Concert Series
Admission: free
Jun 5, 6:30pm – South Slope Cut Throats
Jun 12, 6:30pm – Steve Foresman Band
Jun 19, 6:30pm – Driving Reign
Jul 3, 6:30pm – South Side Denny
Jul 10, 6:30pm – Soundwave
Jul 17, 6:30pm – FBI – Funky Blues Intuition
Jul 24, 6:30pm – High Life
Jul 31, 6:30pm – Last Call
Aug 14, 6:30pm – Vehicle
Aug 21, 6:30pm – Jason Sapen Band

Sundays at East Race / Seitz Park
Admission: free
June 22, 1:00pm — Celtic Fest and Kennedy’s Kitchen
June 29, 4:00pm — Dry Flood
July 6, 2:00pm — Comcast Day featuring: Jetta & the Jelly Beans, The Whistle Pigs, South Side Denny, Ruby Jazayre, and the Sisters of the Nile
July 13, 4:00pm — Zonnix The Band
July 20, 4:00pm — NIPSCO Day featuring: This End Up, LD Swygg Band, Jetta & the Jelly Beans, Leonardo
July 27, 4:00pm — Los Hermanos Bueno
Aug 3, 4:00pm — Soul Riders
Aug. 10, 4:00pm — Soul Funkshun

The elves may be busy making toys in the North Pole, but Santa Claus is touring the South Bend area. Here are some of the places you can find him:

• Fernwood Botanical Gardens – Lights Before Christmas Festival
• Downtown South Bend – Magical Adventure with Santa
• Mishawaka – University Park Mall
• Wakarusa – Christmas Around the Tree

Fall weather is upon us, but there’s still time to get in a few last runs outdoors. Following are a list of some of the area’s organized runs remaining this year.

Sept 15 – Salmon Chase – 5K, 10K
*Benefits Madison Center and The College Football Hall of Fame

Sept 29 – Fall Frolic – 5K, 10K
*Benefits Montessori Preschool Classroom at the Center for the Homeless

Sept 29 – Domer Run – 3mile, 6mile
*Benefits ovarian cancer awareness & education

Oct 21 – Pumpkin Run – 5K

Summer officially began a few days ago. It’s time to enjoy great weather and great tunes. Your chances are plentiful for both. Check out the schedule of bands, days, and times below. There’s something for everyone.

Meet Me On the Island – Century Center, Island Park
Admission: $5; children under 12 free
July 6, 5:00 – 10:00pm – Kuul Hand
July 27, 5:00 – 9:00pm – Clifford & Michaels Blues Band
August 24, 5:00 – 9:00pm – Mack Pherson and The Struts

Fridays By The Fountain, near W Colfax and N Michigan Streets
Admission: free
July 6, 11:30am – 1:30pm – The Chargers
July 20, 11:30am – 1:30pm – Blues, Inc.
August 3, 11:30am – 1:30pm – High Life
August 17, 11:30am – 1:30pm – Shilo

Rooftop Rendezvous, near E Wayne and S St Joseph Streets
Admission: $6.00
July 21 , 5:00pm to 10:00pm – Driving Reign
August 18, 5:00pm. to 10:00pm – Vyagra Falls

Beutter Park Thursday Concert Series
Admission: free
Jun 28, 6:30pm – South Side Denny
Jul 5, 6:30pm – The Benders
Jul 12, 6:30pm – The Soul Riders
Jul 19, 6:30pm – FBI-Funky Blues Intuition
Jul 26, 6:30pm – Everyday People
Aug 2, 6:30pm – Gold Mine Pickers
Aug 16, 6:30pm – Vehicle
Aug 23, 6:30pm – Last Call

Sundays at East Race / Seitz Park
June 24, 4:00pm — Whistle Pigs
July 1 — Comcast Family Day with Jetta & the Jelly Beans, 2 p.m.; Roz Puppets, 3 p.m.; Ruby Jazayre and the Sisters of the Nile, 4 p.m.; South Side Denny, 5 p.m.; Duke Tomatoe, 6:30 p.m., and fireworks at dusk.
July 8, 4:00pm — Hot Mulaba
July 15, 4:00pm — In the Pocket
July 22, 4:00pm — Blues Inc.
July 29, 4:00pm — The Buzz Band
Aug. 5, 4:00pm — Everyday People
Aug. 12, 4:00pm — E.T.A.
Aug. 19, 4:00pm — Phil Hornet
Aug. 26 — NIPSCO Family Day featuring Derrik Entertains (juggling and magic), 2 p.m.; Jetta & the Jellybeans, 3 p.m.; Vinylized, 4 p.m.; Dwendee, 6:30 p.m., and fireworks at dusk.

South Bend’s Spring Art Walk will be this Saturday, May 5th. Eleven galleries will host displays that include sculptures, paintings, hand-crafted furniture and works in other media. The current forecast for Saturday calls for a high of 70 with a chance of rain. Regardless, the Art Walk promises to be a quick and enjoyable introduction to the South Bend art scene.

Have a home improvement project idea you’ve been pracastinating on? You could hire one of the area’s many reputable contractors or you could put on a tool belt and tackle it yourself. Before tackling a project that seems foreign to you, you might try one of the many how-to clinics that area stores are now offering. You can learn everything from faux painting techniques to how to build a bird house to how to install hardwood flooring and sprinkler systems.

The clinics vary weekly and can be found online at Lowes or Home Depot. While you may not become as handy as Bob Villa, you just might save some money and learn a few tricks at that same time.

It’s April. Flowers are blooming and lawns are getting their first cut of the season. It’s also time to get your peanuts and crackerjacks and catch a ballgame. The South Bend Silverhawks had their season opener this week. Visit here for a schedule. Seats start at $5 and are free for children under five, making this an affordable family activity. With a party deck, beer garden and an animated mascot named Swoop, there’s bound to be fun for everyone.