Southgate Crossing is a large indoor antique and flea market with food vendors, handmade goods, and event rental space near County Road 26 in Elkhart. Southgate Crossing Elkhart, Indiana Southgate Crossing is a large indoor antique and flea market with food vendors, handmade goods, and event rental space near County Road 26. Address 27751 Co Rd 26, Elkhart, IN 46517 Phone 574-221-1999 Indoor antique and flea market in Elkhart Southgate Crossing is a large indoor market in Elkhart, Indiana, known for antique vendors, flea market style booths, handmade goods, and food options inside the building. It stands out for its large red barn style exterior and Amish built peg and beam construction, which makes it feel bigger and more destination-like than a typical small market stop. Food vendors Southgate Crossing is not just a shopping stop. A few permanent vendors sell food on site, which makes it easier to spend more time there than at a typical antique mall or flea market. That mix of shopping and food is part of what makes it function more like a destination than a quick browse. Event space & rentals In addition to the market, Southgate Crossing also includes upper level space and event areas used for weddings, gatherings, and other rentals. Their Harvest Hall and event center spaces make this location relevant for people searching Southgate event center, Southgate Crossing weddings, or event space in Elkhart, Indiana. This page was last updated on Jul 9, 2026 About the author Corky Lorenz is a photographer based in Elkhart, Indiana, who documents parks, restaurants, festivals, and everyday places across Indiana and the Midwest. To request a visit or license images, email Corky at corkylorenz@gmail.com

Optional chemical that helps dyes stay wet longer and penetrate fabric. Urea supply Urea, when used for tie dye, is an optional chemical that helps dyes stay wet longer and penetrate fabric. It's use when mixing liquid dye to get vibrant color. Some people like to use this when they are mixing up big batches of chemical water. It's something liquid dyers prep ahead of adding dye to the water. It can contain thickening agents, urea or salts to make the dye behave for their specific technique. I don't see ice dyers using urea in their process very often, and I have never used it with ice dye. I need to do more experiements to see where the most value comes with using urea. Tie dye links See all glossary items See tutorials for flowy ice dye and geode tie dye .

Snake feeding tongs work best when they have blunt, rubber-coated ends and a strong grip so the snake doesn’t injure its mouth during a strike. Here’s what actually matters when choosing tongs and how they help prevent the snake from launching out of the enclosure. Snake feeding tongs for boas Snake feeding tongs work best when they have blunt, rubber-coated ends and a strong grip so the snake doesn’t injure its mouth during a strike. Sturdy tongs keep the feeder animal stable so the snake doesn’t launch out of the enclosure. Tong types My friend was feeding his boa pets. They’re boa imperators. He has three of them. One is a large female. He has a male that is smaller just because he’s a male. And the third one is a female albino boa. She’s the really light-colored one in the photo. Something he mentioned about his feeding tongs is that they’re covered in rubber on one side to protect the snakes when they’re striking their meal. They’re built really solid, so you can hold on to the feeder animal and not worry about dropping it or hurting the snake as it strikes. Rubber-coated ends When a boa sees food, they hit pretty aggressively, and they will launch right out of the enclosure if the item is dangling. They don’t slow themselves down. They just follow the strike. If you have a firm grip on the feeder animal when the boa hits, you can basically catch the snake at the point of contact instead of having the snake fly out of the enclosure with the rat. Then you can set the snake back inside to coil and eat. These tongs have a long reach, and you squeeze a handle at the end. It clamps tight. There are no pointy parts at the end, so the snake isn’t going to hurt its mouth or teeth when it hits. That’s one of the most important things. No skinny sharp metal ends. I want everything to be more like paddles holding the feeder animal. Rubber-coated is helpful. Boa launch He found his on eBay for cheap. The main thing is that they’re sturdy and thick. Nothing flimsy. Nothing with loose hinges or little gripping teeth. Just something that can hold a rat firmly without twisting or slipping, and that won’t injure the snake on contact. After the snake strikes and firmly bites, he uses the tongs to set the snake back onto the enclosure. This wouldn't be possibly with flimsy or pointy tongs. What to look for If someone is shopping for tongs, the most important details are the build quality and the safety of the gripping surface. Rubber padding or silicone padding protects the snake. A thick metal bar and paddle-style grab. Long handles keep your hands out of the strike zone. A strong hinge makes sure the feeder animal doesn’t slip. A lot of tongs look the same in photos, so the easiest way to pick them is to avoid anything thin, sharp, or flimsy. The thicker and blunter the ends are, the better. This page was last updated on Feb 6, 2026 About the author Corky Lorenz is an independent publisher and photographer based in Elkhart, Indiana. She documents parks, restaurants, festivals, and everyday life across Indiana and the Midwest.

Downtown Elkhart Cinco de Mayo celebration at the Civic Plaza featuring food, vendors, and live performances. This page documents the May 3, 2025 event and will be updated for future years. Cinco de Mayo in Elkhart The Cinco de Mayo celebration happens in downtown Elkhart, at the Civic Plaza, with food, vendors and live performances. The 2025 Cinco de Mayo event occurred at the Civic Plaza , near the Lerner Theatre , and ended up being a huge event. Location 350 S Main St, Elkhart, IN 46516 Date & time May 3rd, 2025 12pm - 10pm 2026 Cinco de Mayo It does not seem like there is going to be a big celebration promoted this year. I have not been able to find information on one. This page was last updated on May 5, 2026 About the author Corky Lorenz is an independent publisher and photographer based in Elkhart, Indiana. She documents parks, restaurants, festivals, and everyday life across Indiana and the Midwest.

The orange clamp pieces in RV ceiling wiring are Wago lever connectors used during rooftop air conditioner replacement. Here’s what they do, why they’re there, and how they fit into the AC installation process. What are the orange clamp connectors in RV ceiling wires? The orange clamp connectors in the photo are Wago lever connectors, which are used to join RV ceiling wires during a rooftop air conditioner removal or installation. They keep the copper covered, prevent shorts, and make it easy to reconnect the new AC unit without cutting or twisting wires. In the photo, you can see two groups of ceiling wires hanging down through the opening where a rooftop air conditioner is being replaced. The clear plastic pieces with orange clamps are Wago 221 lever connectors. These are reusable electrical connectors that hold stripped wires securely in place without twisting them together. Wago connectors are common in RVs because they make it easy for technicians to disconnect the old AC unit and reconnect the new one. You flip the orange lever up, insert the stripped wire, and close the lever to lock it. This keeps the copper protected and prevents the wires from touching metal framing or each other while the AC is removed. In a setup like the one shown in the image, the wire bundles typically include: 120V power wiring (black hot, white neutral, green ground) Control or thermostat wiring that the new AC unit will reconnect to When the new rooftop air conditioner is installed, the technician simply reconnects the unit’s wiring harness to these ceiling wires, often using the same Wago connectors or a fresh set. Seeing dangling wires at this stage of the install is normal, and the connectors are there to keep everything safe and organized until the new unit is secured. This page was last updated on Jul 10, 2026 About the author Corky Lorenz is an independent publisher and photographer based in Elkhart, Indiana. She documents parks, restaurants, festivals, and everyday life across Indiana and the Midwest.

Letting dye sit so it bonds with fabric. Batching process The process of letting a dyed item sit undisturbed, often in a warm environment, so the dye reacts with the fabric and becomes permanent. Tie dye links See all glossary items See tutorials for flowy ice dye and geode tie dye .

Find Burrito Mafia food truck menu, location, and schedule in South Bend, Indiana. See what to order and where to find the truck today. Burrito Mafia Food Truck A popular food truck operating in South Bend and Elkhart, serving burritos, fries, and quesadillas. Burrito Mafia Food Truck Schedule July 2026 July 15, 2026 – Kamm Island Fest Kamm Island, Mishawaka 5:00pm–9:00pm July 16, 2026 – Tire Rack 7101 Vorden Pkwy, South Bend 11:00am–2:00pm July 17, 2026 – Fridays by the Fountain Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend 11:45am–1:15pm July 18, 2026 – Rip the Wave LAX Tournament Edwardsburg Sports Complex, Edwardsburg, MI 8:00am–6:00pm July 19, 2026 – Rip the Wave LAX Tournament Edwardsburg Sports Complex, Edwardsburg, MI 8:00am–3:00pm July 22, 2026 – International Motors 32104 SR-2 W, New Carlisle, IN 11:00am–2:00pm July 23, 2026 – Tire Rack 7101 Vorden Pkwy, South Bend 11:00am–2:00pm July 24, 2026 – Fridays by the Fountain Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend 11:45am–1:15pm July 25, 2026 – SB Roller Derby St. Joseph County 4H Fairgrounds 11:30am–5:00pm July 26, 2026 – Summer Concert Series Seitz Park, South Bend 3:00pm–5:00pm July 30, 2026 – Tire Rack 7101 Vorden Pkwy, South Bend 11:00am–2:00pm July 31, 2026 – Fridays by the Fountain Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend 11:45am–1:15pm August 1, 2026 – Get Wet for a Vet VFW, 1307 E Jefferson Blvd, Mishawaka 2:00pm–6:00pm August 6, 2026 – Tire Rack 7101 Vorden Pkwy, South Bend 11:00am–2:00pm August 7, 2026 – Osceola Music Fest 202 N Lamport St, Osceola, IN 4:00pm–10:00pm August 8, 2026 – Osceola Music Fest 202 N Lamport St, Osceola, IN 10:00am–10:00pm August 9, 2026 – Osceola Music Fest 202 N Lamport St, Osceola, IN 10:00am–3:00pm August 13, 2026 – Tire Rack 7101 Vorden Pkwy, South Bend 11:00am–2:00pm August 13, 2026 – 2nd Annual Edison Bienvenidos Bash Edison Middle School 4:00pm–7:00pm August 14, 2026 – Fridays by the Fountain Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend 11:45am–1:15pm August 15, 2026 – Art Beat Downtown South Bend All day August 16, 2026 – Family Fun Night Community Baptist Christian School 3:00pm–6:00pm August 20, 2026 – Tire Rack 7101 Vorden Pkwy, South Bend 11:00am–2:00pm August 21, 2026 – Fridays by the Fountain Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend 11:45am–1:15pm You can see their full schedule of events on their new website: burritomafiafoodtruck.co m For quick updates, see the Burrito Mafia Facebook account. Menu Burrito Mafia is best known for burritos packed with steak and French fries. Popular options include: Cali Burrito with steak, fries, cheese, pico de gallo, and queso Spicy Cali with their house hot sauce Philly Burrito with steak, onions, and peppers Bang Bang Burrito with their signature sauce Sides: Loaded fries with steak and toppings Cheese quesadillas with queso sauce Burrito Mafia food truck in South Bend, Indiana Burrito Mafia is a South Bend based food truck known for loaded burritos, fries, and quesadillas. Their menu mixes steak, fries, cheese, and sauces into big, filling meals. If you’re looking for their official website or trying to see where they’ll be next, use the links above. That’s where they post their schedule and updates. Events Burrito Mafia is a mobile food truck, so their location changes. They usually post: daily locations event stops pop ups around South Bend and nearby areas Check their website or Facebook page for the most current location and hours. This is a food truck, not a restaurant. Hours and locations can change depending on the day, weather, or events. This page was last updated on Jul 15, 2026 About the author Corky Lorenz is an independent publisher and photographer based in Elkhart, Indiana. She documents parks, restaurants, festivals, and everyday life across Indiana and the Midwest.

A digital or analog tool used to measure dye powders or chemicals by weight. Scale tool A digital or analog tool used to measure dye powders or chemicals by weight. Tie dye links See all glossary items See tutorials for flowy ice dye and geode tie dye .

The next NARBC Tinley Park Reptile Expo is March 14–15, 2026, at the Tinley Park Convention Center. See show hours, ticket prices, vendor info, and what to expect. When is the next Tinley Park Reptile Expo? The next NARBC Tinley Park Reptile Expo will be held March 14–15, 2026, at the Tinley Park Convention Center in Illinois. It’s one of the largest reptile shows in the U.S., featuring vendors, breeders, and reptile enthusiasts from around the country. Spring dates The NARBC Tinley Park Reptile Expo returns March 14–15, 2026, at the Tinley Park Convention Center in Tinley Park, Illinois. This event is hosted twice each year, drawing reptile keepers, hobbyists, and exotic pet fans from across the country. Show hours: Saturday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Tickets: Adults: $15 Kids (ages 6–12): $10 5 and under: Free VIP pass: $55 (includes both days and early access before public entry) You can buy tickets online through the NARBC website or purchase them at the door. Vendor booths are currently sold out, but vendors can join the waitlist directly on the NARBC site. Many well-known exhibitors return each year to their same booth locations, which helps regular visitors find familiar faces and favorite species. The show floor includes reptiles, amphibians, supplies, feeders, terrarium setups, and educational talks. Parking is available at the convention center, and hotels nearby often fill early during show weekends. If you’re planning to attend, consider arriving early on Saturday to avoid lines and get first pick at rare animals and morphs. This page was last updated on Feb 6, 2026 About the author Corky Lorenz is an independent publisher and photographer based in Elkhart, Indiana. She documents parks, restaurants, festivals, and everyday life across Indiana and the Midwest.

Synthetic backing fabric for flowy folds. Poly fleece tool A thick, synthetic fabric made from polyester. Used behind fabric in the flowy ice dye method to mimic the structure of thicker folds. Tie dye links See all glossary items See tutorials for flowy ice dye and geode tie dye .