'Fall Frolic' on First Friday, or Ailey II dance, a concert, an author or comic books
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Fall-themed activities have begun to heat up even as the temperature outside begins its annual slide downward. Indeed, "Fall Frolic" is the theme of South Bend's First Fridays event this week. But the arts also have dance, the blues, a young adult novelist and comic books in and around South Bend this weekend. Plus, Joseph Dits has updates on the East Bank, trails and a bike ride here. And don't forget to check The Tribune's online events calendar for more things to do.
‘Fall Frolic’ theme of October’s First Fridays event in downtown South Bend
SOUTH BEND — Downtown South Bend Inc. presents its October First Friday event from 2 to 10 p.m. Oct. 7.
With a theme of “Fall Frolic,” the event features an Oktoberfest Block Party in the 200 block of South Michigan Street that includes a free polka concert by Will Smaka's Music Connection from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., German food from Weiss’ Gasthaus and a beer garden provided by Chicory Café.
Some other highlights include the following:
• Over the Edge, from 2 to 9 p.m.: a fundraiser for Youth Service Bureau in which people who raise $1,000 or more to help homeless youth in the community receive the opportunity to rappel down the side of the Robertson’s Building.
• Pumpkin Palooza at South Bend Chocolate Café, 122 S. Michigan St., from 5 to 7 p.m.: The first 200 visitors to the South Bend Chocolate Cafe will receive a free pumpkin to carve, with the donation of pet food for the Humane Society of St. Joseph County. Carving tools and table space will be available. Fifty small pumpkins also will be available for the younger kids to decorate.
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• DTSB Fall Photo Op, 217 S. Michigan St., from 5 to 9 p.m.: DTSB has set up a Fall Photo Op with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and corn stalks right outside their offices. The photo area will remain up for the month of October. Post photos to #DTSBFallFun.
• Fall Craft and Contest at DTSB Booth in the Key Bank Plaza, from 5 to 8 p.m.: Stop by the DTSB info booth for a free fall craft and contest.
• Guided Walking Tour of Historic West Washington District, beginning at the historic Ambassadors for Christ Church, 302 W. Washington St., from 6 to 7:30 p.m.: Steve Szaday, with the City of South Bend, in conjunction with Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County, leads this tour of the West Washington Street area, a National Register District showcasing an exemplary and eclectic blend of architectural styles and structures. Cost is $5 (cash only). Reservations can be made by clicking here or by calling 574-282-1110.
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• Fall Frolic Fiesta at Merrimans’ Playhouse, 401 E. Colfax Ave., from 5 to 9 p.m.: Spanish Rose Dance Studio performs flamenco dances on the patio behind Merrimans’ Playhouse. Guitarist Bryan Edington and guests also perform, as well as Merrimans’ Play-House Players.
• New Industry Dance at the South Bend Museum of Art, 120 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd., from 6 to 8 p.m.:New Industry Dance will debut a new work this First Fridays, developed and choreographed during the InResidence exhibition period. This will be the first full performance of this new work, free to the public, followed by a Q&A with group members.
For more events and information, call 574-282-1110 or visit downtownsouthbend.com.
Dance company Ailey II performs at Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND — The dance company Ailey II performs at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 and 8 at the University of Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.
The second company of the storied Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, founded in 1974 as the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, merges the spirit and energy of the early-career dance talent with the vision of today’s emerging choreographers.
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The program, titled “Legacy/Future,” includes three works:
● Artistic Director Francesca Harper’s “Freedom Series,” created in collaboration with Ailey II dancers as an exploration of identity and community
● Alvin Ailey Artistic Director Robert Battle’s fast-paced “Takademe and The Hunt” performed to a thundering percussion soundtrack by Les Tambours du Bronx.
● Alvin Ailey’s “Revelations” closes each night in tribute to the founder’s genius.
Tickets are $69-$25.
For more information, call 574-631-2800 or visit performingarts.nd.edu.
Ignition Music Garage presents ‘Fred Hostetler: The Day Goshen College Got the Blues’
GOSHEN — Ignition Music Garage presents “Fred Hostetler: The Day Goshen College Got the Blues” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at 120 E. Washington St.
A Goshen native and graduate of Goshen College, Hostetler has worked and performed with many blues legends throughout the years.
“The Day Goshen College Got the Blues” crosses the “genre divide” from folk to blues to rock and includes Hostetler’s versions of many blues classics and his reflections on them.
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He previously performed a version of this program in 2017 at a sold-out show at Ignition. It has been revamped for 2022.
Hostetler has appeared on albums as a songwriter and/or performer by Jeff Beck, Graham Parker, Johnny Winters and The Knack, among others.
He also served as a sound and stage technician for the concert sequences film in the Los Angeles area for the film “This Is Spinal Tap” and has contributed songs to the soundtracks of several films, including “Perfect,” “Soultaker” and “Up Against Amanda.”
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His solo albums include “Fred’s Blue Chair Blues,” “Fortuna Redux” and his latest, the “Wall of Dreams” EP.
Hostetler also spent 15 years of voluntary service in an ashram in Tamil Nadu, India.
Hostetler currently resides on Whidbey Island in the Pacific Northwest.
Tickets are $15-$10.
For more information, call 574-971-8282 or visit ignitionmusic.net.
Young adult author Renée Watson appears at Brain Lair in South Bend
SOUTH BEND — Author Renée Watson makes an appearance at 5 p.m. Oct. 8 at Brain Lair Books, 1005 Portage Avenue.
On Sept. 27, Watson Bloomsbury published the third book in her “Ramona”-esque Ryan Hart series, “Ways to Share Joy,” following “Ways to Make Sunshine” and “Ways to Grow Love.”
A spirited Black girl, Ryan lives with her middle-class family in the Pacific Northwest, and “Ways to Share Joy,” she’s caught in the middle. She has an older brother and a new baby sister, and she’s in a friendship tug-of-war with two friends who both want to be her best best friend.
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How can Ryan think about being kind to a classmate who is relentless with his teasing? Or be her signature sunny self when her brother, Ray, pulls the ultimate prank?
A poet, activist and educator in addition to writing for young people, Watson has won a Coretta Scott King Award and a Newbery Honor winner and has been nominated for an NAACP Image Award.
Some of her other books include “This Side of Home,” “Piecing Me Together” and “Some Places More Than Others,” as well as the collaborations “She Persisted: Oprah Winfrey,” with Chelsea Clinton, and “The 1619 Project: Born on the Water,” with Nikole Hannah-Jones.
For more information, call 574-207-6514 or visit brainlairbooks.com.
South Bend Comic Book Convention held Oct. 8 at Comfort Suites
SOUTH BEND - The South Bend Comic Book Convention takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 8 at Comfort Suites, 52939 U.S. 933.
Dealers will sell a variety of new and old comic books, toys and collectibles. They also will consider buying old comic books from attendees.
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Admission is free.
For more information, call Alan at 309-657-1599 or visit epguides.com/comics.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Downtown South Bend holds First Fridays, Ailey II at Notre Dame
