Curbside Concerts in downtown Elkhart take place Fridays at 7 PM outside the Elkhart Public Library. See 2026 concert dates, parking info, food trucks, drinks, and what to expect before you go. Curbside Concerts The Elkhart Public Library, in downtown Elkhart, hosts free summer concerts on Fridays at 7pm. Address Elkhart Public Library Downtown 300 S 2nd St, Elkhart, IN 46516 Time Fridays starting at 7 PM. Dates for 2026 May: 22, 29 June: 5, 12, 19, 20, 26 July: 3 August: 21, 29 September: 4, 11, 18, 25 Admission Cost Free to attend What to expect There will be food trucks, drinks, and space to dance. Dogs are welcome and you can bring your own comfy chair if you want to sit back further with kids or pets. There is parking in visitor lots across the street, or you can park along the street. Corky Lorenz May 6, 2026

An overview on what it is and how to use soda ash for tie dye and ice dye. Soda ash Soda ash is a chemical used in tie dye to prepare fabric so fiber reactive dye bonds permanently and does not fade. What is soda ash? Soda ash is sodium carbonate. It is a white powder that makes water more alkaline. What is soda ash used for? In tie dye, soda ash is used to prep fabric so fiber reactive dye bonds to the fabric and does not wash out. 1 cup of soda ash dissolved in 1 gallon of water is the ratio often recommended. Here's a short video for mixing soda ash into water. Outside of tie dye, soda ash is also used to raise the pH in swimming pools so the water stays clear and balanced. Where to buy soda ash Soda ash is commonly sold at pool supply stores because it is used for pool maintenance. It can also be purchased online from dye suppliers, craft stores, or general online retailers. Some people choose to make soda ash at home instead of buying it. Is baking soda the same as soda ash? No. Baking soda and soda ash are not the same thing. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Soda ash is sodium carbonate. Baking soda can be turned into soda ash by heating it, but they start as different chemicals. How to make soda ash Soda ash can be made from baking soda by heating it in an oven. Spread baking soda in a thin layer on a baking sheet and bake it at 400°F for about one hour. After it cools, the baking soda will have changed into soda ash.

Where to park, hours, ticket prices, RV museum exhibits, and photo guides for visiting the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana. RV Hall of Fame in Elkhart, IN A guide for the RV Hall of Fame in Elkhart IN, including parking directions, ticket info, exhibits, and photo-based walkthroughs for visitors. The entrance in located at the back of The Northern Indiana Event Center building. Hours & Address Summer hours (April 1 – October 31): • Monday–Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM • Sunday: 10 AM – 3 PM Winter hours (November 1 – March 31): • Monday–Saturday: 10 AM – 4 PM • Wednesday: Closed • Sunday: 10 AM – 3 PM Phone number: (574) 293-2344 Address: 21565 Executive Pkwy, Elkhart IN 46514 Entrance When you have made it to the correct entrance, you will see sinage on the front of the building that reads "RV/MH Hall of Fame" and "RV & MH Museums." The building that reads Northern Indiana Event Center is the wrong entrance to visit the Hall of Fame. Drive around the left side of the building to get to the correct door. Check in & bathrooms This is what the lobby looks like, with the front check in desk on the right, and the exhibit entrances to the left. You can hit the bathrooms by the front desk if you need to. Upper level If the gift shop, you can find the stairs to see the 2nd floor. In the upper floor, you can view all of the RVs from above or visit the library.

The Tinley Park Reptile Expo is a twice-yearly NARBC event held at the Tinley Park Convention Center in Illinois. See show dates, hours, and visitor photos from the fall 2025 expo, plus details for the upcoming spring 2026 event. Tinley Park Reptile Expo A large 2 day Reptile expo that happens twice a year at the Tinley Park Convention Center. See dates and photos below. Dates NARBC Tinley Park Reptile Expo 2026 is planned for March 14th and 15th. Location This is a 2 day event that usually happens twice a year at the Tinley Park Convention Center. Address 18451 Convention Center Dr, Tinley Park, IL 60477 Photo use Vendors are welcome to download and use images of their displays. Oct 2025 vendor, reptile, and guest images are posted below. See details for the Spring 2026 event here . NARBC 2025 Articles from the fall 2025 reptiles expo. Bullfrog Sundown Hold it Bring a friend Animals Josh’s Frogs Plants John Chausmer Rare plants Crosstown

Corky Lorenz is a photographer who documents local life in Elkhart, Indiana. See events, people, and process notes. Corky Lorenz Corky is a photographer in Elkhart, Indiana. Tutorials See tutorials for tie dye or l earn how to sew cloth pads. Shirts Order a shirt in pink, blue, or burgundy .

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. Corky Lorenz December 16, 2025

Explore the Sims Education Center at Fernwood Botanical Gardens, where kids can rest, read, stack rocks, and use binoculars to watch birds through the large viewing windows. Bird watching at Fernwood Botanical Gardens Follow the trail to the Sims Education Center. It's the grey building with plants on some parts of the roof. Inside, you'll find bird watching stations. When we first started walking through the trails at Fernwood, we weren’t really sure where we were going or what we would see. One of the first things we came across was the Sims Education Center. We wandered inside and were delighted to meet someone at the front entrance who welcomed us and was very friendly. She let us know that we could explore the education center and take a look at the bird viewing area or the library. There was also an area for rock stacking, which looked like a lot of fun for kids. What was really neat to see was how many stations they had set up for bird watching. There were large windows with binoculars and chairs so you could sit and wait for birds to come to the feeders outside. I imagine this is a great space for field trips or if you’re visiting with your own kids and want to keep everyone in one place. Guests can look at books, bird watch or stack the rocks, or the rock pillows. It’s a nice little rest spot where everyone can take a break during a walk on the trails. Corky Lorenz November 2, 2025

Learn how to water a snake plant the right way. Let the soil dry completely, then soak it thoroughly to support healthy growth in Sansevieria cylindrica and other snake plant varieties. How to water a snake plant Snake plants should be watered only when the soil is completely dry. When you do water, soak the soil thoroughly so the entire root system gets moisture. Snake plants (including dwarf cylindrical forms like Sansevieria cylindrica var. patula) naturally store water in their leaves, which means they prefer long intervals between waterings. Let the pot dry out all the way, then water generously until the soil is evenly saturated and excess water drains out. Frequent, light watering leads to root rot because the soil stays damp for too long. These plants tolerate neglect extremely well. If a snake plant goes too long without water, the leaves may soften or lose firmness, but a full watering usually corrects that quickly. During warm, bright months when the plant is actively growing, you can add a diluted general-purpose liquid fertilizer every other watering to keep new growth thick and green. While some houseplants react poorly to softened or mineral-heavy tap water, snake plants aren’t sensitive. Reverse osmosis water isn’t necessary, but you can use it if you prefer. The main goal is simply allowing the soil to dry fully between each soak. I saw this dwarf version of a snake plant at Lowe's and it was dropped into a self watering pot that I thought was really cute. You would just pour water into the side opening and then the holes in the bottom of the inner pot allow the water to seep up into the root ball. Corky Lorenz December 6, 2025

Learn how a hot soak speeds up tie-dye batching. Use hot water to set color in about an hour instead of overnight, with tips for safe fabrics and color control. What is a hot soak in tie dye, and how does it speed batching? A hot soak is a shortcut for ice dyers who want to see their results faster. Instead of waiting 24 hours at room temp, you soak the item in hot water to set the dye faster. I started doing it while testing geode style shirts because I wanted a faster feedback loop: tie it, dye it, rinse it, study it, repeat. A hot soak reduces batch time down from a full day to about an hour. How to do it: Place the shirt in a bin of very hot water (not boiling). Leave it for about an hour. Then rinse normally. If you’re worried about color loss, you can put the item in a plastic bag before soaking so dye doesn’t bleed off, but skip the bag when your piece has light or pastel areas next to dark ones. The pooled dye can touch lighter sections and cause blotches. When the piece is mostly dark or a single color, bagging works fine. And sometimes I leave it loose on purpose. The tiny bit of dye that washes away can create soft, radiant streaks that look like light rays. Use this trick only on 100% cotton or other sturdy naturals. The hot water can distort bamboo velour or polyester blends, especially if the fabric is tied tight in a geode fold because the heat and tension can warp the fibers. Also, if you are using a turquoise based blues, you might lose some vibrancy when speeding up batch time with heat. Usually, I'm not bothered by that, especially if my goal is to quickly test tying and dyeing techniques. Corky Lorenz October 10, 2025

A helmeted iguana shown by Ginkgo’s Exotics was one of the highlights at the Goshen Reptile Expo, known for its tall crest and calm nature among a variety of reptiles. Helmeted iguana at the Goshen Reptile Expo, by Ginkgo's Exotics A helmeted iguana was displayed by Ginkgo's Exotics at the Goshen Reptile Expo. The reptile’s distinct crest and calm temperament made it a standout among the animals shown at the event. The Goshen Reptile Expo was lively and well attended, with a wide variety of reptiles, amphibians, and exotic pets on display. One of the most interesting animals we saw was a helmeted iguana at the Ginkgo's Exotics booth. The lizard had a tall, ridged crest and a pattern that made it look like a mix between a stick insect and a tiny dinosaur. It rested calmly while its handler held it for visitors to see, showing off its unusual head shape and detailed scales. We chatted briefly with the owner, took a few photos, and continued exploring the other tables around the expo. The event featured a range of vendors with snakes, lizards, frogs, and supplies for reptile keepers of all experience levels. Corky Lorenz November 8, 2025