What's New

Decades | Car & Fashion Show

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:21:57 -0500

It’s time to start your engines and head up to Historic Commercial Street for the Decades | Car & Fashion Show, hosted by Decades Vintage Boutique. There’s nothing like classic cars lining the streets of a historic district, and there’s no better place in Springfield than what fans and neighbors are calling “C-Street.”

Events will jump start with an opening ceremony featuring a Cook-out & Cruise on September 9^th at 6:00pm with special guest Sydney Friar, Miss Missouri 2011. Sydney will be opening the event with a live song performance before taking part in the ribbon cutting ceremony of this new event. Cooks Kettle will be providing a pulled-pork BBQ Benefit dinner with all money going to support Victory Trade School. Bring your lawn chairs and come early for the best view as classic cars will cruise the downtown center city area and make a loop back to Commercial Street. Following the cruise there will be a “Meet and Greet” at the neighborhood Sonic Drive-In on the corner of Commercial and Grant. No better way to wind down the evening than to grab a cold beverage or head to Lindbergs for an evening of live music featuring the Domino Kings.

Festivities continue on Saturday, September 10^th, with a car show from noon-6pm, pin-up contest at 6:30, and the launch of Decades Boutique’s Fall/Winter Fashion Collection following the pin-up contest. Other festivities include a merchant sidewalk sale, live 1950’s-60’s music, “Meet the King”-an Elvis Tribute, and complimentary chair massage by Professional Massage Training Center. Also be sure to stop in Big Mommas as this charming Coffee and Espresso Shop is transformed to a 50’s diner for the day, serving hot dogs and shakes! Both evenings will be filled with nostalgic music at Lindbergs. Come listen to some good ol’ music as Queen City Cats and Blue Plate Special take the stage on Saturday.

For more information or to register your car please contact Jina Gorham at 417.300.8756 or check out the event website at www.DecadesEvents.com

Decades Vintage Boutique is located at 213 W. Commercial Street in the heart of the Commercial Street Historic District.

Park Central Plaque Commemorates "Wild Bill's" Gunfight

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:10:18 -0500

As part of the final renovations to Park Central Square, an historic marker commemorating the famous 1865 shootout between "Wild Bill" Hickok and Dave Tutt has been installed at the southwest corner of the outer Square sidewalk, near the Park Central Branch Library.

The plaque is a 30-by-24-inch piece of engraved aluminum with custom artwork and a description of the circumstances surrounding the duel, which began over a pocketwatch used as a collateral for a gambling debt and ended in Tutt's death. Hickok was uninjured and was acquitted of manslaughter by a jury after a three-day trial. Hickok is one of the Old West's most enduring figures thanks to his exploits as a soldier, gambler, gunfighter, and lawman. Download a PDF image of the plaque engraving.

The renovation of Park Central Square continues on schedule. The one-year project began in November 2010 and is nearly at the 75 percent completion mark. Much of the work to this point has been in the form of infrastructure improvements, but visible signs of the restoration are now more apparent to the public, including new concrete signage and improved pedestrian access. New landscaping and sidewalks will go in soon.

A lasting work of one of America's premier landscape architects, the project will restore and rehabilitate the work of Mr. Lawrence Halprin rather than redesign and build over. The final plans remove many non-historical additions and replace elements that had been lost over the intervening four decades, restoring what was, in the words of Mr. Halprin, "an active space for public assembly, devoted to pedestrians and their needs and comforts." This is the first update to the Square in four decades. The Square was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010 and will be preserved in this state for generations to come.

The $1.78 million project is made possible by a $1.2 million Department of Housing and Urban Development Economic Development Initiative grant. The remainder is paid for by the City's voter-approved 1/4-cent Sales Tax for Capital Improvements. The general contractor is Carson-Mitchell, Inc. Plans were prepared by Butler-Rosenbury & Partners, Inc.

For more information, contact: Jonathan Gano, Assistant Director of Public Works – Operations, (417) 864-1961; or Mike Brothers, Co-Interim Director of Public Information, (417) 864-1119.

Market Lady Visits the Downtown Greater Springfield Farmers Market

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:41:55 -0500

The Market Lady, Lane McConnell, will visit the Downtown Greater Springfield Farmers Market in Springfield, Mo., Thursday, July 21. The Market Lady and video crew will begin at 3:00 p.m., with two cooking demonstration incorporating products from the market and will be interviewing producers and consumers for various other segments.

“I strive to inform folks on the ease of preparing homemade meals for their families through shopping at the market,” said McConnell. “Consumers can log on to our website or Facebook page to view short videos of interviews with the farmers that grow our food, topics such as food safety, organic, naturally grown and learn how to cook simple meals.”

The purpose of The Market Lady Project is to educate consumers about eating healthy, locally produced food found at their farmers market.

“We are happy to welcome The Market Lady crew at our market,” said Market Master Brad Gray. “We hope that customers will come out to the market and bring their families to watch The Market Lady cooking demonstrations.”

Below is one recipe that The Market Lady will be preparing at the market. Be sure and come out to the Downtown Greater Springfield Farmers Market on July 21 to meet the Market Lady and video producer Kelsie Young, downtown Springfield at Jubilee Park.

Traditional Bruschetta
7 ripe plum tomatoes, with skins removed
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp. cracked peppercorns
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 ½ teaspoons balsamic vinegar
6-8 fresh basil leaves, chopped
Salt to taste
1 baguette French bread
1/4 cup olive oil

Preheat oven to 450°F. After removing skins from the tomatoes, cut tomatoes in quarters and remove the seeds and juice. Chop tomatoes finely, then place tomatoes, garlic, 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, vinegar in a bowl and mix. Add chopped basil, salt and peppercorns.

Slice baguette on a diagonal about 1/2 inch thick slices. Drizzle one side of slice with olive oil and place on a baking sheet, oiled side down. Toast for 5-6 minutes, until the bread just begins to turn golden brown.

Place toasted bread on a serving platter and top with topping.

Learn more at www.themarketlady.com or find videos and recipes on The Market Lady Blog at www.themarketladyblog.com or follow The Market Lady on Facebook. The Market Lady is funded through a Specialty Crop Block Grant through the Missouri Department of Agriculture and filmed through partnership with Missouri State University’s William H. Darr Agricultural Center. Videos will be distributed to KY3 News in Springfield, Mo., and KSNF TV 16 in Joplin, Mo., weekly throughout farmers market season.

Art Walk announces Anniversary Raffle Winners

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:27:12 -0500

The galleries of First Friday Art Walk are proud to announce the winners of the FREE Art Walk 10th Anniversary Raffle. “After 10 years of First Friday Art Walk, we wanted to show our appreciation to the people who have made this event a success – our faithful Art Walk fans,” said Clarissa French, First Friday Art Walk communications director.

Art Walkers were invited to fill out FREE raffle tickets or drop business cards in collection boxes place in Art Walk galleries in June and July. Prizes and winners are:

Obelisk Home
$250 Gift Certificate
Winner: Nicole Talbot, Springfield

Randy Bacon Photography
$125 Gift Certificate for an Artist Sitting and/or Enlargements
Winner: Alex Hendrick, Springfield

Springfield Pottery
$100 Gift Certificate
Winner: Sarah Bergquist, Springfield

Springfield Hot Glass Studio
Two Bead Making Classes
Winners: Fred Kavanaugh, Springfield; Sarah Derr, Springfield

Canvas
$50 Gift Certificate
Winner: Ryan Willis, Republic

CaraDee Photography
$75 Gift Certificate
Winner: Hannah Grimes, Ozark

Farmers Gastropub
Four $25 Gift Certificates
Winners: Crissy Fenwick, Nixa;
Mack Murray, Springfield;
Erin Clark;
Brian and Melody Long, Springfield

Fresh Gallery
Two $10 Gift Certificates
Winners: Georgene Verlin, Marshfield
Michele Ellison, Rogersville

Good Girl Art Gallery
$25 Gift Certificate
Winner: Priscilla Arens, Springfield

Hawthorn Galleries
10 $20 Gift Certificates
Winners: Char Alexander, Theodosia;
Janna Woods, Springfield;
Sara Foster, Springfield;
Shandon Hill, Springfield;
Brandon Waterworth, Billings;
Anessa Stewart, Springfield;
Carmen Whorton, Mansfield;
Jennifer Tucker, Aurora;
Mike Whorton, Mansfield;
April Whitlow, Springfield

Mille’s Turn of the Century Cafe
Six $20 Gift Certificates
Winners: Aubree Taylor, Springfield;
John Price, Springfield;
Shawna Patach, Nixa;
Liesel Benecke, Springfield;
Karin Hedrick, Springfield;
Debi Brennan, Springfield

Beat the Heat at Fireworks at the Field

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:52:27 -0500

As the heat index rises for this holiday weekend, the Urban Districts Alliance wants to remind patrons that Fireworks at the Field on Saturday, July 2^nd offers many opportunities for families to celebrate their independence and remain cool. From 3pm to 9pm, Fireworks at the Field offers four different air conditioned venues for families take a break from the heat and still have fun.

For only $5, patrons can enjoy arts activities including face-painting and balloon-twisting at The Creamery Arts Center, ice skate at Mediacom Ice Park, explore the interactive exhibits at the Discovery Center and enjoy inflatables from Amberg Entertainment in the Bill Rowe Training Center at Hammons Field.

The admission sticker for Fireworks at the Field also allows for patrons to come and go as often as they like. We encourage everyone to visit the over 40 restaurants that call Center City home before, during and after the event.

Main stage entertainment starts at 3pm at Hammons Field with local bands, the RetroGnomes, Little Hoover’s Big Band, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin and Big Smith, and followed by the region’s largest fireworks show!

Advance Fireworks at the Field stickers are now on sale for $5 at all Springfield area Price Cutter Supermarkets (including the downtown Bistro Market) and the Hammons Field box office. The admission price the day of the event will be $7 per person. Veterans and active military personnel with an ID can purchase stickers at the gate for $3. Children under 5 are free.

Fireworks at the Field is presented by CoxHealth, with the support of John Q. Hammons Industries, Springfield Cardinals, KOLR/KSFX, Midwest Family Radio, Clear Channel Radio, Ferrell-Duncan Clinic, Great Southern Bank, Hoover Music Company, Hollywood Theaters, Price Cutter/Bistro Market, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company, the Downtown Community Improvement District, Springfield Cares Magazine, the Springfield News-Leader and AM Pyrotechnics. 88.3 The Wind will provide the Official Soundtrack to Fireworks at the Field.

Additional event information is available at www.itsalldowntown.com or by calling the Urban Districts Alliance office at (417) 831-6200.