First Fridays, music and art make for indoor and outdoor fun this weekend

Can you dig it? Check out Joseph Dits' Outdoor Adventures column for archaeology-related events happening in the area. He also has some other outdoors suggestions, including archery, here. There's more fun outdoors, too, with two area First Fridays events, as well as an art opening and two concerts in this week's Five Things to Do. For more options, visit The Tribune's events calendar.

James Austin Jr. Trio pays tribute to Stevie Wonder at Merrimans’ Playhouse in South Bend

SOUTH BEND — The James Austin Jr. Trio performs at 7 p.m. Sept. 1 at Merrimans’ Playhouse, 401 E. Colfax Ave., Suite 135.

The trio features Austin on piano, Clark Sommers on bass and Clif Wallace on drums.

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“Songs in the Key of Wonder,” Austin’s 2018 debut album, showcases his instrumental arrangements of 10 classic compositions from the songbook of Stevie Wonder, including “Tuesday Heartbreak,” “Golden Lady” and “Isn’t She Lovely?”

The album forms the bedrock for the trio’s performance, which also includes some originals and some standards.

A native of Chicago and now based in New York City, Austin advanced to the semifinalist stage in the 2006 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

He also has served as pianist and arranger for several star-studded concerts at Carnegie Hall under the baton of musical director Ray Chew and also has curated and led the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s monthly Jazz Jam Session series since its inception.

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Sommers leads his own group, “Ba(SH)” and also is the bass player for jazz vocalist Kurt Elling, with whom he tours the globe and has recorded two Grammy-nominated albums, one of which won the 2009 Grammy for best vocal jazz album.

Born in Fort Wayne, Wallace also plays with his own Quartet and Trio, his funk fused rock band Cousin Affect, and as a sideman with other musicians in Chicago and surrounding cities in the Midwest.

Tickets are $10-$5.

For more information, call 574-310-9977 or visit merrimansplayhouse.org.

‘Dog Days of Summer’ returns as theme for September First Fridays in South Bend

SOUTH BEND — Downtown South Bend Inc. presents “Dog Days of Summer” from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 2 as the September First Fridays event in downtown.

There will be booths with animal rescue groups and organizations that provide goods and services for animals on the Gridiron and at Studebaker Plaza, including Bunk and Biscuit Clean Paws, Gordon’s Grooming/Gordon’s Feline Exclusive Boarding and Grooming Salon, Heartland Small Animal Rescue, Humane Society of St. Joseph County, Pet Refuge, Pets Connect! Inc., PetSmart South Bend, South Bend Animal Resource Center, South Bend Lost and Found Pets, and Sheltie Rescue of Central Indiana, Northern Division.

Several of these businesses and organizations will have pet-related materials to give away, and some may have adoptable animals.

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In addition, the following downtown and East Race restaurants will have pet-friendly patios: Cafe Navarre, Chicory Café, Chimichurri, Cinco 5, Fiddler's Hearth, Hammer & Quill, Howard Park Public House, Ironhand Wine Bar, PEGGS, Purple Porch Co-op, South Bend Brew Werks, South Bend Chocolate Café, Spirited, The Cellar Wine Bar & Kitchen, The Garage Arcade Bar, The Hideaway, The Lauber, Woochi and WXYZ at Aloft.

Other highlights include live music by The Erly, a block party from 5 to 9 p.m. in the 200 block of S. Michigan St., dog-related giveaways from 5 to 8 p.m. in the 1st Source Bank Lounge in Studebaker Plaza, guided architectural walking tours of downtown from 6 to 7:30 p.m. departing from the corner of Washington St. and Michigan St., Bike Valet provided by SB Bicycle Garage from 5 to 9 p.m. at Key Bank Plaza, a Studebaker Car Show from 5 to 8 p.m. in the 200 block of S. Michigan St., a reception for “Visualizing Innovation” from 5 to 8 p.m. at the South Bend Museum of Art in Century Center, a First Fridays Latin Dance from 8 to 11 p.m. in Howard Park, ​a Vegan Corner with vegan food vendor SteMartaen from 5 to 9 p.m. at the south end of 200 block of Michigan St., the opportunity to make a paw print from 5 to 9 p.m. at The Pigeon & The Hen Pottery, and a Friends of the Library Book Sale from noon to 8 p.m. at 333 S. Michigan St.

Many events are free, but some do cost money.

For more information, call 574-282-1110 or visit downtownsouthbend.com.

‘Gifts of the Sea’ ceramics exhibit opens at Fire Arts Inc. with a reception

SOUTH BEND — The ceramics exhibit “Cynthia Cooper: Gifts of the Sea” opens with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 2 and continues through Oct. 28 at Fire Arts Inc., 305 E. Colfax Ave.

This exhibit is comprised of work inspired by Cooper’s love of the ocean, specifically the coral reefs of the Florida Keys. Her first experiences of snorkeling and scuba diving were cathartic and became the catalyst for her ceramics.

After 20 years of exploring and learning about the Keys’ habitats, Cooper saw drastic changes and became an advocate for the coral reefs.

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Each piece is an experience with nature around a reef system above or below the water, with sea turtles, undersea fantasy “Shepots” and an abstract egret, among other subjects.

After 15 years in Dallas, Cooper returned to her hometown of Goshen in 1992.

She eventually became the art chair at Goshen High School, where she taught ceramics, Advanced Placement art and International Baccalaureate Art for 24 years. She retired in 2019.

In 2013 she received a Lilly Grant titled “Dive Down to Change the Coral Reefs through Art.”

Cooper also is a founding member of the Goshen Clay Artists Guild, where she currently has her studio, teaches, sells and is an active part of the group.

Masks are required for the unvaccinated and recommended for the vaccinated.

During the Sept. 2 reception, Pets Connect will have several Chihuahuas available for adoption. For more information, visit petsconnect.org.

Cooper will give a talk at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7.

Hours are noon to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Admission is free.

For more information, call 574-282-2787 or visit fireartsinc.com.

Volkswagens in the spotlight for Goshen’s First Fridays event

GOSHEN — Goshen’s September First Fridays event takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 2 in downtown.

Titled “Volksfest,” the event showcases area-owned Volkswagen Beetles and buses. Because the July First Fridays event was rained out, a separate car show also will take place. Porsches, VWs and electric vehicles will be displayed on South Main Street, while North Main Street will have a classic car show.

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McLane & Co. performs from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the First Fridays stage. A five-piece band with a folk/indie rock sound, the band’s instrumentation includes acoustic guitar, electric guitar, tin whistle, banjo, bass and drums.

Lalo Cura performs from 7 to 9 p.m. on the First Fridays stage. A Latin-soul fusion band, Lalo Cura has developed a unique sound that stems from its powerful rhythm section, Santana-inspired guitar solos, culturally progressive lyrics, and synchronized guitar and horn lines.

Other highlights include music trivia for single- and two-player teams at 7:30 p.m. at Ignition Music Garage, 120 E. Washington St.; book signings by Thomas L. Rose, author of “Balloon in a Box,” and Shana Dines, author of “You Knew I Was a Snake,” from 6 to 8 p.m. at Fables Books, 215 S. Main St.; autoharp instructor, performer and multi-instrumentalist Les Gustafson-Zook at Goshen City Church of the Brethren, 203 N. Fifth St.; the First Fridays Beer Tent featuring brews from Goshen Brewing Co. and Wedgewood Brewing; and a free kids craft, “Decorate Your Own VW Bug,” between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. at The Imagination Spot, 111 E. Washington St.

For more information, visit downtowngoshen.org.

Miles Nielsen & the Rusted Hearts perform Sept. 4 at The Acorn in Three Oaks

THREE OAKS — Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 4 at The Acorn, 107 Generations Drive.

Based in Rockford, Ill., and formed in 2011, the band — Nielsen on vocals and guitar, Daniel James McMahon on guitar, Adam Plamann on keyboards and horns, Dave McClellan on bass, and Jeff Werckle on drums — plays in a style that combines elements of power pop, rock and 1960s soul music, with an emphasis on four-part harmonies.

The band wrote half of its 2016 album, “Heavy Metal,” during a four-day session at The Acorn.

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Nielsen also plays in The Nielsen Trust, a band featuring Nielsen and his wife, Kelly Steward, as well as his father, Rick, and brother Daxx, both of Cheap Trick.

Tickets are $55-$30.

For more information, call 269-756-3879 or visit acornlive.org.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Five Things to Do in and near South Bend