Life in South Bend – Page 2

The best weekday bars near Notre Dame

By: Hannah Fronczak

9.5 Notre Dame MBA students enjoying a round at Brother's. (Photo courtesy Dara Chesnutt) — 9.5 Notre Dame MBA students enjoying a round at Brother’s Bar & Grill. (Photo courtesy Dara Chesnutt)

In my last post, I listed four great places to eat near Notre Dame. Here’s a list tailored more towards the “work hard, play hard” professional. These are our favorite bars, in all their glory, organized by weekday. It goes without saying that I highly recommend drinking in moderation, taking an Uber when you want to leave (Uber exists in South Bend!), and probably not visiting all of these bars in one week. You only get one liver.

Pro tip: If you plan to go out one day during the week, we recommend shooting for Thursday. Continue reading “The best weekday bars near Notre Dame”

Unwinding on Thirsty Thursdays: A Notre Dame MBA tradition

By: Dara Chesnutt

(Editor’s Note: The Round 2 admissions deadline is coming up! In honor of the occasion, enjoy this bonus post from MBA IRISH ECHOES, and be sure to check back over the next few days for more content.)

Fun fact: Of the top 25 MBA programs in the U.S., Notre Dame has the highest percentage of students from the Mushroom Kingdom. (Photo courtesy Dara Chesnutt)

Once a week, the Notre Dame MBA program coordinates “Thirsty Thursday” – when we meet at different bars! It’s a great opportunity for students to take a break from classes, clubs, and career recruitment. Most classes are held Monday-Thursday, so Thursday evenings are generally a good time to unwind. Sometimes we meet at 5 p.m. for a quick beer after class, and sometimes we meet later to explore the South Bend nightlife.

As one of the social chairs in the program, I have the privilege of coordinating these events. It’s a great excuse to see friends with whom I don’t have class, and to catch up on the week. Things happen quickly here, so Thirsty Thursday is often the time to celebrate recent internship offers, intramural wins, and surviving another accounting exam! Continue reading “Unwinding on Thirsty Thursdays: A Notre Dame MBA tradition”

How to survive a Notre Dame winter

By: Stacy Srivastava

Notre Dame's campus in winter is a snow globe come to life (Image used with permission. Photo credit: Jessica Cepele Photography) — Notre Dame’s campus in winter looks like a snow globe come to life. (Image used with permission. Photo credit: Jessica Cepele Photography)

If you’re from a warmer climate, you may wonder how we in the Notre Dame MBA program manage the wintry chill and deep snow on campus. Have no fear. As a lifelong Midwesterner, I’m here to offer my expert advice on surviving a South Bend winter:

1. Dress for success. To equip yourself before the cold hits, you need:

* A coat: warmth is key. Nobody will judge you if you spend the season looking like you’re wearing an ankle-length sleeping bag. Seriously.

* Boots: warm and waterproof, with good traction for slippery sidewalks. I personally swear by my fleece-lined Hunter boots, but there are many other options if Hunters aren’t your style. Continue reading “How to survive a Notre Dame winter”

A foodie’s 4 favorite restaurants near Notre Dame

By: Hannah Fronczak

Topping off the night with dessert and coffee. (Photo courtesy Stacy Srivastava)

When I decided to move to South Bend from Chicago to attend the Notre Dame MBA program, I felt like I had sentenced myself to culinary oblivion. I pictured endless cans of Ragu and soggy homemade pasta. However, from my first day on campus, I discovered many of my classmates were ardent foodies. Within the past few months, we have found a lot of local gems. Here are a few of my favorites:

Girls’/Boys’ Night Out: Salsa’s Mexican Grill

Hands down my favorite restaurant in the South Bend area. The interior of the restaurant alone is worth the visit – it feels like you teleported to Mexico. During the winter months when you’re knee-deep in snow, it’s a nice way to remember that sometimes it’s warm outside. It goes without saying that the margarita pitchers aren’t half-bad either. Continue reading “A foodie’s 4 favorite restaurants near Notre Dame”