august 2014 newsletter - downtown marquette · august 2014 marquette downtown development authority...
TRANSCRIPT
An eclectic mix of local musicians will play along the sidewalks of Third Street from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 21 as part of a summer series titled Music on Third. Music on Third brings the community out onto the summer sidewalks of Marquette’s Downtown District to enjoy fresh, local music and visit the more than 100 unique shops and restaurants that line Third Street. For more information, contact the Marquette DDA office at (906) 228-9475 or visit www.downtownmarquette.org.
Downtown Marquette Quest for Hidden Treasure Continues
Downtown Marquette’s Quest for Hidden Treasure continues through the end of August, and hunters are out in full force seeking the coveted treasure of gift certificates
from Downtown District businesses. Clues are posted each week via the Downtown Marquette Twitter Page, @DowntownMQT, with Twitter posts going live each Monday. Various clues follow each day until the treasure is found. Once someone finds the hidden treasure, they must snap a photo of themselves with the envelope and tweet the photo to @DowntownMQT or e-mail it to [email protected]. This will allow the individual to fully claim the prize. Congratulations to those who have mastered the quest and claimed their prize. For more information on the “Downtown Marquette Quest for Hidden Treasure” visit the Downtown Marquette website at www.downtownmarquette.org.
Downtown Marquette
August 2014
Marquette Downtown
Development Authority
203 South Front Street, Suite 1-B Marquette, MI 49855 Phone: 906-228-9475
Fax: 906-228-6288
Mona Lang Executive Director
Becky Salmon Assistant Director
Samantha Collins Promotions & Events Coordinator [email protected]
Lizzie Corser
Marketing & Administrative Assistant
Myra Zyburt Farmers Market Manager
Jay Brady Maintenance Coordinator
Morgan Collins
Summer Intern
By all accounts the 2014 Blueberry Festival was the most successful since its inception in 2002. More than 90 downtown business and vendor booths lined the streets and additional activities and entertainment added to the success. Business owners that were interviewed reported that the day was a record breaker and provided top sales. Thanks to all who helped, especially Lorrie Hayes for coordinat ing the center s tage entertainment, Marquette City Community Services, and mostly the DDA staff for a job well done. The final design recommendations for Baraga Avenue were presented on
Thursday, July 24 by the MIplace Plan Team. The City’s downtown was a recipient of a planning grant from the MIplace Plan Initiative. The MIplace Initiative is a collaboration with the Michigan Municipal League and the MSU School of Planning, Design and Construction. The process included several community input meetings prior to the plan presentation. Feedback on the plan was positive from those attending the presentation. The presentation is available at www.downtownmarquette.org. The final report should be available for public review by the end of August.
We were planning on a much needed
curb reconstruction and sidewalk repair project for the 200 block of West Washington Street to be completed this year. Unfortunately, only one construction bid was received and came in $100,000 over the engineer’s estimate and our budget. The DDA Board decided to delay the project until early next spring with the anticipation that the project will be more in line with expected costs. The sculptural benches that were formerly placed at the Rosewood Walkway and at the Marquette Commons have been sandblasted and powder coated. The benches have now been redistributed throughout downtown. The benches are unique pieces of art that were created
from the m e t a l conserved from the overhead r a i l r o a d s t ructure that ran
through downtown. They were created as part of the memorial in memory of Jayne Hiebel acknowledging her dedication to fostering arts and culture in our region.
Blueberry Festival Draws a Crowd
The 13th Annual Downtown Marquette Blueberry Festival brought people out in record numbers to enjoy the day’s sidewalk sales, performances and blueberry fare.
Nearly one hundred vendors offered their wares, from delectable blueberries and other delights to jewelry, clothing, artwork and more. Center stage was alive with local youth proudly
demonstrating their musical and theatrical talents at the annual Youth Talent Show, while Front Street played host to children’s activities, arcade jumps, aerial dancers and pony rides.
The DDA would like to thank everyone involved in making this event possible: Downtown District businesses, vendors, musicians, Youth Talent show participants & coordinators, Blueberry Dance Festival organizers, the Marquette County Convention & Visitors Bureau, our generous volunteers and DDA maintenance staff.
From the Desk of the Director Mona Lang
Executive Director
Page 2
Awesome August Update from the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market
www.downtownmarquette.org
The Marquette Downtown Development Authority is pleased to announce that Downtown Marquette has been named “The Best Shopping Experience for 2014″ in Lake Superior Magazine’s Best of the Lake Awards.
Downtown Marquette will be featured in the August/September 2014 issue of the magazine which will highlight the winner of each of the eleven categories that were open for voting. The survey let visitors vote for their favorite views, restaurants, lodgings, hikes and a host of other activities. Categories include Best Annual Event, Best
Overnight Stay or Lodging, Best Toe-Dipping Beach, Best In-Town Hike, Best Spectacular View, Best Local Fish Dish or Sandwich, Best Restaurant or Lodging Staff, Best Shopping Experience, Best Art Gallery/Museum, Best Family Attraction, Best Waterfall and Best Boat Ride.
Lake Superior Magazine will announce the winners on their website on August 1. The magazine has subscribers in all 50 of the U.S. states and most Canadian provinces, along with 20 other countries. More information can be found on their website at www.lakesuperiormagazine.com.
Downtown Marquette Named “The Best Shopping Experience
for 2014″
Join the City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center for a Halloween Spectacle “think tank” at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20. This event will be held at the Ore Dock Brewing Co. located at 114 W. Spring Street in Downtown Marquette.
Share and generate ideas with other community members for the third annual Halloween Spectacle, which will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2014. All skills and talents welcome.
The City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center is located in the lower level of the Peter White Public Library. For more information or questions, please contact (906) 228-0472 or
e-mail [email protected].
MACC Hosts Halloween Spectacle Think Tank
DDA Staffing Corner It’s with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to DDA Promotions and Events Coordinator, Samantha Collins. Samantha and her husband, Dusty, are relocating to the Lansing area. We wish her the best as she embarks on her new adventure and will miss her smiling face and charismatic presence in the office and throughout the Downtown District. Thank you,
Samantha, for the extraordinary work you ’ve done f or Downt own
Marquette. The DDA is currently in the process of filling this position.
On a brighter note, we are pleased to introduce Morgan Collins (no relation) who has been assisting in the office this summer as an intern. “Morgan has been a welcome addition to our staff, offering valuable administrative support and enthusiasm. We are lucky to have her onboard,” says Becky Salmon, Assistant Director. Welcome, Morgan!
Samantha Collins
Morgan Collins
During July, the renovations to the Commons building and plaza area were completed. The $57,416.00 grant funded: enclosure and heating of the vestibule area, heating and air conditioning of the Commons building and electrical upgrades and concrete modifications of the plaza area that has increased the vendor spots by 7. There was also a drinking fountain installed by the restrooms. We are excited about the increased functionality of the Commons area. At the end of July, in conjunction with the Marquette Downtown Development Authority’s Blueberry Festival, the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market held the 5th Annual Blueberry Pie Baking Contest. Judges Dusty Collins, Joe Heck and Charlie Booth diligently tasted, carefully deliberated and choose Dominic Davis’ Blueberry-Cherry Vanilla Bourbon Pie as the 1st place winner. Jenny Stoudt earned 2nd place with her Blueberry Cream Cheese Pie with Blueberry Wine Glaze. Karan Day took 3rd place with her Blueberry Pie. Thank you to all the participants. The prizes awarded were donated by the market vendors and the DDA. The compiled recipes will be on the website, www.mqtfarmersmarket.com, and also at the market kiosk. August will bring us to the half way point of the summer market. If you have not been to the market yet this season, there is plenty of time! The produce is bountiful now: blueberries, raspberries, gooseberries, some rhubarb, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, greens of all kinds, onions, radishes, kohlrabi and much more each week. There are also many other food items to complete menu planning: eggs, meat, bread, other baked goods, jams, pancake mixes, maple syrup, coffee beans, even wine (tasting available at the market). A wide variety of artisan goods are available at the market. The Downtown Marquette Farmers Market runs every Saturday between 9 a.m.-1 p.m through October 25. The market accepts debit/credit cards, SNAP/EBT with Double UP Food Bucks, WIC Project FRESH and Market FRESH.
As Available: Tomato Tasting
(watch website and Facebook for updates)
October 11: Hoophouses for Health Event
Free Apple Cider Pressing
October 18 and 25: Pumpkin Carving
September 13: Hoophouses for Health Event
August 9: National Farmers Market Week
Wood Turning Demonstration by Dave Payant
An Iron Ore Heritage Trail kiosk was installed at the Marquette Commons recently commemorating the history of mining in the area. The 48-mile, multi-use, year round trail
connects communities and people to the region's historic sites, sharing the story of the Marquette Iron Range and the 160+ years of mining ore that changed the landscape of Marquette County and the United States. For more information on the trail, visit http://ironoreheritage.com/.
Iron Ore Heritage Trail Kiosk
Installed