National Champions! Plus, Midweek Rescues at Madre's

The Bulldogs bring home the title. Wine Wednesday at Madre's, Redlands Night Out, and the Hunger Walk.

Redlands vs. Trine: 2026 DIII softball championship Game 1 | FULL REPLAY

From the Groves
Why This Matters

First things first. Congratulations to the University of Redlands softball team. National champions. First time in program history. They went to Salem, Virginia, fell behind 3-0 before recording a single out, and came back to win 11-3. Final record: 48-6.

That is not a fluke. That is a program that built something, and this town should be loud about it.

Now, the rest of the week.

Yesterday was one of those workdays where the idea of going straight home to figure out dinner just did not sound appealing.

Instead, I did what I've done a few times now and pointed the car toward Madre's in downtown Redlands. We're talking about Wine Wednesday, half-priced bottles, and the kind of Italian food that makes you wonder why you ever overcomplicate a weeknight.

More on that below.

This weekend is a full one. Redlands Night Out is Friday at Dodge Stadium -- Redlands FC takes on AMSG FC, and tickets are seven dollars. Saturday morning, the 12th Annual Hunger Walk & Run kicks off at the University of Redlands, and if you have never done it, this is the year.

Saturday also brings Bartholomew Bear's birthday celebration at Kissui in downtown, which is exactly what it sounds like and is worth knowing about if you have kids in your life.

Sunday, Dr. Larry Burgess is leading a history program at the Contemporary Club, followed by a rare books and memorabilia sale.

Live music at Three Stags all weekend.

Let's get into it.

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🏆 SPORTS

National Champions! Bulldogs Softball Makes History

For the first time in program history, the University of Redlands softball team has been crowned NCAA Division III National Champions.

They rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the opening game of the Championship Series against defending champs Trine University, eventually winning 11-3 behind the arm of ace Katlyn Gandara and a massive bases-clearing triple from Maya Holshoe.

The Bulldogs finished the season with an incredible 48-6 record. This is a massive moment for Redlands athletics and a testament to the grit of these players who refused to quit when they fell behind early on the biggest stage.

Full story at GoRedlands.com →

🍝 LOCAL EATS | MIDWEEK TREAT

Why Wine Wednesday at Madre’s Keeps Pulling Me Back!

Some weeks, Redlands gives you exactly what you need in the middle of a long stretch, and lately for me that has been Wine Wednesday at Madre’s.

Tucked into downtown, it is the kind of Italian spot that feels like a small reward at the end of a day when your brain is still buzzing and the last thing you want to do is cook.

Every Wednesday, Madre’s runs half-priced bottles of wine, which changes the whole equation on going out midweek.

You see couples splitting a bottle they might save for a Saturday, coworkers decompressing over a glass they did not have to think too hard about, and a few regulars who clearly know their way around the list. It is relaxed, but it still feels like you went somewhere on purpose.

The food holds up its side of the bargain. The bruschetta comes out bright and generous, the mozzarella appetizers taste like they were actually made for that day, and the cheese pizzas are the kind of simple, fresh, straight-ahead pies that make you wonder why you ever overcomplicate dinner.

For what you get on the plate, the pricing is more than fair, especially with the wine special doing some of the heavy lifting.

A big part of why I keep ending up there, though, is the people. The bar has its own rhythm, and Landon behind the bar is a big reason for that.

He remembers faces, checks in without hovering, and has that easy, low-key way of making you feel like you picked the right place. If you head in on a Wednesday, tell him we sent you and see what he recommends.

Madre’s is not new to this newsletter, nor to most folks who have been in Redlands for a while.

But sometimes it is worth circling back to the spots that make weeknights better, especially when they keep quietly showing up for the town like this.


🌳 AROUND THE GROVES

🧸 Bartholomew Bear Birthday Celebration — June 6

Kissui in downtown Redlands is hosting a birthday party for Jellycat's Bartholomew Bear this Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM, featuring raffle prizes and sweet treats. Read more.

📚 Museum of Redlands Program — June 7

Dr. Larry Burgess leads a history program at the Contemporary Club at 1 PM, followed by a sale of rare Redlands books and memorabilia. Read more.

♻️ Hazardous Waste Disposal — June 6

Clean out the garage. The city is hosting a household hazardous waste disposal event at 500 Kansas Street starting at 7:30 AM. Read more.


🎯 YOUR REDLANDS WEEKEND

FRI 6/05 7:00 PM	Redlands Night Out — Redlands FC vs. AMSG FC Dodge Stadium \| 840 E. Citrus Ave, Redlands \| Tickets: $7 The Redlands Chamber of Commerce is putting on a community night at the pitch. Redlands FC hosts AMSG FC under the lights, and tickets are half price at just seven dollars. Bring the family, bring the neighbors, and make some noise for the home side. This is the kind of Friday night Redlands was made for. Get tickets here →
SAT 6/06 7:00 AM	Downtown Morning Market Ed Hales Park Parking Lot \| State Street & 5th Street \| Free to attend Redlands' weekly certified organic farmers market runs every Saturday through November. Fresh produce, local vendors, and a good reason to be up early. Grab coffee from one of the downtown spots and make a morning of it. Learn more →
SAT 6/06 7:45 AM	12th Annual Hunger Walk & Run University of Redlands \| 1215 E Brockton Ave \| $45 Adults / $15 Kids Lace up and hit the University of Redlands campus for this family-friendly 5K. All proceeds go directly to the Family Service Association's food pantry and breakfast program. In 2025 they served nearly 29,000 meals. Show up Saturday morning and add to that number. Register here →
SAT 6/06 10:00 AM	Bartholomew Bear Birthday Celebration at Kissui Kissui \| 5 E Citrus Ave #102, Redlands \| Free to attend Jellycat fans, this one is for you. Kissui is throwing a birthday party for Bartholomew Bear from 10 AM to 1 PM, complete with raffle prizes, sweet treats, and a little something special for the stuffed animal devotees in your life. If you have kids, grandkids, or just a soft spot for Jellycat, this is a fun stop on a Saturday morning downtown. Details here →
SUN 6/07 9:00 AM	Sunday Morning Market at Olive Avenue Market Olive Avenue Market \| 530 W Olive Ave, Redlands \| Free to attend The Sunday Morning Market runs from 9 AM to 1 PM with local vendors, fresh produce, and the kind of easy Sunday energy that makes you feel like you live in a good town. Pair it with breakfast at Olive Avenue Market's own kitchen and you have the best possible start to a Sunday. Learn more →
SUN 6/07 1:00 PM	Museum of Redlands Program & Rare Book Sale Contemporary Club \| 173 S. Eureka St, Redlands \| Free admission Historian Dr. Larry Burgess leads a program on Redlands history, followed by a sale of rare books and memorabilia from the Monte and Nelda Stuck collection. If you have any love for this town's story, this is worth an afternoon. All proceeds benefit the new Museum of Redlands. Get the details →


🎯 Live Music & Entertainment

Friday, June 5

Circle of Friends at September's Taproom & Eatery (8:30 PM ) September's brings live music every Friday night, and this week it's Circle of Friends -- a Southern California cover band known for a mix of oldies and crowd favorites. Good food, full bar, outdoor patio, and a room that knows how to have a good time. 📍 515 Orange St, Suite B, Redlands 🕐 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM 🎫 No cover Details →

Live Music at The Three Stags Irish Pub (8:00 PM ) Traditional Irish music and local artists every Friday night. The Stags keeps the craic going all weekend long -- check their Instagram (@thethreestags.irishpub) for the specific artist announcement. 📍 328 Orange St, Redlands 🕐 8:00 PM 🎫 No cover

Saturday, June 6

Bren Holmes at The Three Stags Irish Pub (8:30 PM) Bren Holmes takes the stage Saturday night at the Stags. Grab a Guinness and a seat early -- this one fills up. 📍 328 Orange St, Redlands 🕐 8:30 PM 🎫 No cover

The Rosedale Ramblin' Band at Tartan of Redlands (6:00 PM) The Tartan's outdoor patio live music series kicks off with the Rosedale Ramblin' Band for an early evening set. Prime rib on the plate, live music on the patio -- that's a Saturday. 📍 24 E Redlands Blvd, Redlands 🕐 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM 🎫 No cover

Live Music at Escape Craft Brewery – Nevada Barrelhouse (6:00 PM) Escape Craft runs live music every Saturday at their original Nevada Street location. Over 25 house-made beers on tap, a game room, and a covered patio. Dogs welcome. 📍 721 Nevada St, #401, Redlands 🕐 6:00 PM 🎫 No cover

Sunday, June 7

Live Music at The Three Stags Irish Pub (4:00 PM) Wind down the weekend with an afternoon set at the Stags. Sunday sessions start at 4 -- earlier than you think, and worth it. 📍 328 Orange St, Redlands 🕐 4:00 PM 🎫 No cover

GRATITUDE & COMMUNITY

One last thing before I let you go.

Massive congratulations to the University of Redlands softball team. Winning a national championship is no small feat, and doing it by rallying back from a deficit shows exactly what this town is made of: grit.

If you're looking for something to do this weekend, get out to Dodge Stadium on Friday night for Redlands FC, or wake up early Saturday for the Hunger Walk. It's a good weekend to be in Redlands.

→ Redlands Night Out — Dodge Stadium, Friday June 5

That's everything for this week.
Stay gritty, Redlands.

— Carlos Samaniego,
RedlandsNow.com

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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