Art on the Walls, 30 Years of Pastries & a Weekend Worth Getting Out For

Blue skies, warm breezes, and a full calendar. This is why we live here.

📸 Spotted Around Town

• Spring is already showing off along Sunset Drive. The early orange blossoms are putting out that fragrance that hits you before you even see the trees. Windows down weather.
  
  
• The Citrus Blossom Spring Market at Edwards Mansion is coming up March 7. Over 100 local vendors. Mark it now.
  
  
• Fae, the black Lab at Fire Station 261, continues to be the best thing in the department. She helps our firefighters decompress after the hardest calls. A quiet hero nobody talks about enough.
  
  

🌤️ Weather Watch

• This weekend: sunshine, mid-70s. Perfect farmers market and patio weather.
  
  
• Mountain snow still visible from downtown. Big Bear backdrop is gorgeous right now.
  
  
• Evenings cooling into the low 50s. Bring a layer if you're hitting live music outdoors.
  
  

🎓 Campus Corner

• More than 30 RUSD students from Citrus Valley, Redlands High, REV, and Orangewood debated AI policy, cell phone bans, and a 4-day school week at RUSD Civics Day. These kids are sharp. The future of this town is in good hands.
  
  

🚗 Getting Around

• Heads up: the Redlands Bicycle Classic returns April 8-12. Road closures on Citrus Ave April 11 and 12. Start planning your parking now.
  
  
• The Santa Ana River Trail Phase III is open and waiting for you. 3.8 new miles from Waterman Ave to California Street. Lace up.

📸 Spotted Around Town

• Spring is already showing off along Sunset Drive. The early orange blossoms are putting out that fragrance that hits you before you even see the trees. Windows down weather.
  
  
• The Citrus Blossom Spring Market at Edwards Mansion is coming up March 7. Over 100 local vendors. Mark it now.
  
  
• Fae, the black Lab at Fire Station 261, continues to be the best thing in the department. She helps our firefighters decompress after the hardest calls. A quiet hero nobody talks about enough.
  
  

🌤️ Weather Watch

• This weekend: sunshine, mid-70s. Perfect farmers market and patio weather.
  
  
• Mountain snow still visible from downtown. Big Bear backdrop is gorgeous right now.
  
  
• Evenings cooling into the low 50s. Bring a layer if you're hitting live music outdoors.
  
  

🎓 Campus Corner

• More than 30 RUSD students from Citrus Valley, Redlands High, REV, and Orangewood debated AI policy, cell phone bans, and a 4-day school week at RUSD Civics Day. These kids are sharp. The future of this town is in good hands.
  
  

🚗 Getting Around

• Heads up: the Redlands Bicycle Classic returns April 8-12. Road closures on Citrus Ave April 11 and 12. Start planning your parking now.
  
  
• The Santa Ana River Trail Phase III is open and waiting for you. 3.8 new miles from Waterman Ave to California Street. Lace up.

Your ears deserve a good weekend too. Here's what's playing in and around Redlands.

🎸 LIVE MUSIC THIS WEEKEND

Thursday Night, February 26

Jon McCracken Live at The District (10:15 PM)
Late-night live music in the heart of downtown Redlands. The District brings cocktails, food, and the kind of vibe that turns a random Thursday into a story worth telling. If you're up for a weeknight adventure, this is it.

📍 The District, Downtown Redlands
🕑 10:15 PM

Friday Night, February 27

Good Trouble Bike Night (Evening)
Bikes, community, and the kind of Friday night energy that makes New York Street feel alive. Roll up on two wheels or just come for the atmosphere.

📍 922 New York St., Redlands

Wine Release Party: 2021 Tannat "Anger Management"
A new vintage drops at one of Yucaipa's hidden gems. The 2021 Tannat is bold, dark, and full-bodied. Grab a glass, grab a bottle, and toast to a Friday well spent.

📍 12132 California St., Yucaipa, CA

Saturday Night, February 28

Three Stags Live Music (8:00 PM)
One of Redlands' favorite live music spots. The Three Stags Irish Pub on Orange Street brings authentic atmosphere, quality performances, and a crowd that actually came to listen. Arrive early. Weekends fill up fast here, and for good reason.

📍 The Three Stags Irish Pub, 328 Orange St., Redlands
🕑 8:00 PM

Escape Craft Brewery TikiFest (5:00-10:00 PM) This might be the best free event in Redlands this weekend. Escape Craft Brewery transforms their Downtown Oasis into a full-blown tropical party with live music, Polynesian dancers, local vendors, and 25+ craft beers on tap. Family friendly. No cover. No tickets. Just show up and let the island vibes take over. If you've never been to Escape's Oriental Ave location, this is the night to fix that.

📍 Escape Craft Brewery Downtown Oasis, 440 Oriental Ave, Redlands 🕐 Saturday, February 28, 5:00-10:00 PM 🎟️ FREE

Blue skies all weekend. Mid-70s. Get outside.

RAA Mini Show Open House (FREE)

Friday, February 27 | 5:00-7:00 PM

Redlands Art Association, 215 E. State St.

The 57th Annual Multi-Media Mini Show opens with a free reception. Walk in, see incredible local art, meet the artists, and remind yourself that Redlands is full of people making beautiful things. No tickets needed. Just show up.

Samurai Movie Night

Friday, February 27 | Evening

Redlands Japanese Cultural Center, 542 E. Stuart Ave, Unit B

A unique Friday night option for film lovers. Classic samurai cinema in a culturally rich setting. If you've never been to the Japanese Cultural Center, this is a great reason to go.

Friday Flea Market

Friday, February 27
Olive Ave Market, 530 W. Olive Ave

Deals, finds, and the thrill of the hunt. Local vendors. Friday afternoon vibes.

Farmers Market at Grove School

Saturday, February 28 | 8:00 AM
Grove School, 11126 Iowa St.

Your Saturday morning ritual. Fresh produce, local vendors, community atmosphere. Show up early for the best picks.

RAA Mini Show Awards Reception

Saturday, February 28 | 1:00-3:00 PM

215 E. State St.

Come celebrate the winning artists from the Mini Show. Saturday afternoon at the gallery. Good art, good people, good energy.

Storytime at The Frugal Frigate
Saturday, February 28

The Frugal Frigate, 9 N. 6th St.

If you've got little ones, this is one of Redlands' best-kept secrets. Storytime at a real, independent bookshop. The kind of memory kids don't forget.

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off

Saturday, February 28
500 Kansas St., Redlands

Got old paint cans, batteries, or chemicals cluttering the garage? Free, safe disposal. Clean out and feel good about it.

Sunday Morning Market

Sunday, March 1 | Morning

530 W. Olive Ave

Small businesses and makers every Sunday. Local vendors, fresh finds, and a perfect way to ease into the week.

Redlands Bicycle Classic Returns April 8-12
Mark your calendars now. One of our signature events rolls back into town with SERVPRO (Team Jeff Padgett) as presenting sponsor. Road closures on Citrus Ave Saturday April 11 and Sunday April 12. Plan your parking ahead of time. This race puts Redlands on the map every single year.
🌐 redlandsclassic.com

Citrus Blossom Spring Market at Edwards Mansion - March 7
9 AM to 2 PM. 2064 Orange Tree Ln. Over 100 local vendors. A perfect spring Saturday.

Chamber of Commerce Rise & Shine Breakfast - March 6
8-9 AM. Casa Loma Room, University of Redlands. 1173 E. Brockton Ave. redlandschamber.org

Martha Green's 30th Anniversary Week - March 2-6
107 E. Citrus Ave. Daily specials all week. Go celebrate thirty years of homemade goodness.

Food Box Registration Opens March 2
Redlands Family Service Association. Online registration, first-come first-served. First distribution March 31. If you know someone who could use this, point them to redlandsfamilyservice.org. That's what neighbors do.

Quick Reads

🍗 Hens Coming to Redlands Backyards? The city is advancing an ordinance that would allow backyard hens in most neighborhoods. Fresh eggs from your own yard might be closer than you think.

🚲 Redlands Bicycle Classic Gets SERVPRO Sponsorship: The iconic cycling event locked in its presenting sponsor for 2026, ensuring another world-class race through downtown.

🎓 RUSD Civics Day Was a Hit: Students debated AI policy, cell phones, and the 4-day school week. These kids showed up prepared. The future is paying attention.

🐕 Meet Fae, Redlands Fire's Four-Legged Hero: This black Lab at Station 261 helps firefighters decompress after tough calls. A quiet reminder that this community looks after the people who look after us.

🌞 Weekend Weather: Sunshine all weekend. Saturday mid-70s. Sunday even better. Bring sunscreen, leave the umbrella at home.

There's a small shop at 623 West State Street, tucked between the Breakfast Shack and Savarino's Deli, that most people walk past the first time. But nobody walks past it twice.

Feel Good Market is one of those places that makes you wonder why every town doesn't have one.

Here's the deal. Christy started making soap at her kitchen table years ago. Her family had eczema. Her sister had psoriasis. The stuff on the drugstore shelves was full of chemicals she couldn't pronounce, so she learned to make her own. That kitchen operation became Mama's Handmade Sudsy Soap in 2018. Then it outgrew the house. And when it was time to open a real studio, Christy didn't just open a soap shop. She built something bigger.

Feel Good Market is a zero-waste refill store, a soap kitchen, and a boutique all under one roof. You walk in and the first thing that hits you is the smell. Clean. Fresh. Not the fake chemical "clean" you get from a plastic bottle at Target. Real clean. The kind that makes you stand there for a second and breathe.

Bring your own containers. Fill them up with shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, dish soap, hand soap. All made with natural and organic ingredients. All toxic-free. No single-use plastic. No waste. Just good product that works, at a price that makes sense.

They make their lotion bars, bath bombs, and soaps right there in the shop. Face soap. Dog shampoo. Laundry soap. If it touches your skin or cleans your home, they've probably figured out a better way to make it. You can literally watch them craft it in the soap kitchen while you browse.

But here's what sets Feel Good Market apart from every other eco store you've scrolled past online. Christy doesn't just sell her own stuff. She supports other local makers who share the same mission. Small-batch artisans. Local creators. People who care about what goes into their products and what doesn't end up in a landfill. The boutique side of the shop is stocked with goods from people just like her, doing it right.

And the community noticed. Feel Good Market now has two locations. The original right here in Redlands, and a second shop in Claremont Village. Both thriving. Both doing it without a single piece of unnecessary plastic.

Look, I know "sustainability" has become one of those words that gets thrown around so much it almost loses its meaning. But this isn't a corporate greenwashing campaign. This is a woman who started making soap for her family in her kitchen and turned it into a business that's quietly changing how an entire community thinks about the products they use every day.

Millions of people doing sustainability imperfectly is better than a handful doing it perfectly. That's their motto. And that's the kind of thinking I can get behind

.

Next time you're on West State Street, walk in. Grab some samples. Smell the soap. Talk to Christy. You'll walk out feeling good about what you bought and where your money went.

And that's the whole point.

Feel Good Market 623 W. State St., Redlands, CA 92373 (909) 253-1812 feelgoodmarket.com @feelgoodmarket_ on Instagram

Hours: Mon-Tue: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM Wed-Fri: 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM Sat-Sun: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

GRATITUDE & COMMUNITY

Every week I sit down to write this thing, I'm reminded of how lucky we are to live in a town that genuinely shows up for each other.

The firefighters at Station 261 and sweet Fae. The volunteers at Family Service making sure no one goes hungry. Martha Green keeping the ovens warm for thirty years. The Bulldogs leaving everything on that basketball court. The artists at the RAA pouring their souls into work that makes our town more beautiful.

That's Redlands. That's who we are.

If you're not part of our Inner Circle yet, I'd love to have you. We go a little deeper each week. More stories, more behind-the-scenes, and a community of people who actually care.

See you around the groves,

Carlos Samaniego
Enrolled Agent | Redlands Resident | Your Neighbor

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That's all for this week! Thanks for reading, and we'll see you around the groves.

Stay connected, stay local,
Carlos Samaniego, EA

The RedlandsNow.com Team