History Meets Progress

Resurfacing of Douglas Avenue is underway! I snapped a couple pics of the old brick streets that have been hiding under the asphalt. Cool stuff.

For more information on the Downtown Streetscape Project, visit http://www.downtownelgin.info/.

Sign up to receive weekly construction updates via email here. Click on "Join the Top Ten Mailing List," then choose "Downtown Streetscape Construction Update."

Rediscover Downtown Elgin Walking Tour VI

Tomorrow, Jerri McCue, Downtown Neighborhood Association board member and owner of Ravenheart Coffee, will be leading the fourth and last walking tour of the year through Downtown Elgin, specifically on Douglas Avenue and South Spring Street. Tour goers will be lead through many retail and restaurants businesses like Keeney’s Sporting Goods, Villa Verone, Bangkok House, Kim’s Black Belt Academy, Rancho Vargas, Al’s Café & Creamery, Elgin Pianos, Tongue N Chic, WRMN, and Shockey Jewelers! The public is welcome to enjoy this FREE event by meeting at the Harvest Market location, the Civic Center parking lot at the corner of Douglas Avenue and East Highland. In case of rain bring an umbrella, as most of the tour will be inside. For more information contact Jennifer at 847.488.1456 or e-mail jbenson@elginil.org.

Power Outage in Downtown Area on Thursday

**** Special Alert from the Downtown Neighborhood Association ****

Power Outage in Downtown Area on Thursday

Commonwealth Edison is doing work on a transformer near Fountain Square Condos on Thursday, October 8 from 9am to 1pm.

The following buildings/units may experience power outages
lasting 1/2 hour to 1-1/2 hours during this time:

101 E CHICAGO ST
22 S SPRING ST
23 S GROVE AVE
24-26 S GROVE
25 S GROVE AVE *BLDG
25 S GROVE AVE *ELEV
25 S GROVE AVE *PUMP FIRE
25 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 1ST
25 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 2ND
25 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 3RD
25 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 4TH
25 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 5TH
31 S GROVE AVE
33 S GROVE AVE
40 DU PAGE CT *UNIT 212
40 DU PAGE CT
40 DU PAGE CT
40 DU PAGE CT
40 DU PAGE CT
40 DU PAGE CT, 01
47 FOUNTAIN SQ
50 S GROVE AVE *BLDG
50 S GROVE AVE *BLDG
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 201
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 202
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 203
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 204
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 205
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 206
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 207
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 208
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 209
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 211
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 212
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 301
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 302
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 303
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 304
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 305
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 306
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 307
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 309
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 310
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 314
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 315
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 316
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 401
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 402
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 403
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 404
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 405
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 406
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 407
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 408
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 409
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 410
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 413
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 414
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 416
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 421
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 422
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 501
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 502
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 503
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 504
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 505
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 506
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 507
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 508
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 509
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 510
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 513
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 514
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 516
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 521
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 522
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 601
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 602
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 603
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 604
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 605
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 606
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 607
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 608
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 609
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 610
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 613
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 614
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 616
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 621
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 622
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 701
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 702
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 703
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 704
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 705
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 706
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 708
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 709
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 710
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 711
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 712
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 801
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 802
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 803
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 804
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 805
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 806
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 807
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 808
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 809
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT 810
50 S GROVE AVE *UNIT A


If you received a call from ComEd earlier in the week and your address is not on this list,
you will most likely not be affected by this outage.

Thank you for your understanding.

Downtown Neighborhood Association

The 3/50 Project

Thanks to our friends at the Downtown St. Charles Partnership for bringing an uber cool cause to our attention - the 3/50 Project.

Here's how it works . . .

3 Think about which three independently owned businesses in Downtown Elgin you'd miss most if they were gone. Stop in and say hello. Pick up a little something that will make someone smile. Your contribution is what keeps those businesses around.

50 If just half the employed U.S. population spent $50 each month independently owned businesses, their purchases would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue. * Imagine the positive impact if 3/4 of the employed population did that.

68 For every $100 spent, in independently owned stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.

1 The number of people it takes to start the trend...you.

Pick 3. Spend 50. Support Downtown. Sustain Our Local Economy.

Bicycle to Shop & Bicycle to Eat - All in Downtown Elgin!

Nearly fifty downtown Elgin businesses ranging from Al’s Café & Creamery to Topnotch Tattoo are taking part in an “Elgin by Bike” campaign during the month of September. The purpose of Elgin by Bike is to encourage bicycling and shopping locally. All participants who visit at least ten participating businesses by bicycle may receive a small gift and enter in a raffle to win prizes, including a new Raleigh bicycle from Main Street Bicycles in Carpentersville. Anyone interested in taking part in Elgin by Bike may pick up their Elgin by Bike wallet guide at any of the participating businesses or the Elgin Downtown Neighborhood Association offices. Business employees will initial the guides of any bicycling customers. A helmet is considered evidence enough that one rode a bike to a business.

The Elgin Bike & Dine is another event that promotes both bicycling and local spending. Scheduled for September 19th from 11 am – 4 pm, the Bike & Dine is a 13-mile bike ride and progressive dinner that will visit Ravenheart Coffee, Douglas Street Sports Bar & Grill, In the Neighborhood Deli, Elgin Public House, and Elgin Public Museum (where Al’s Café & Creamery desserts will be served). The cost is $30 and the registration deadline is September 16th. To register, or for more information, call the Elgin Downtown Neighborhood Association at 847-488-1456 or e-mail jbenson@elginil.org.

Elgin by Bike and the Bike & Dine conclude a summer-long bicycle safety campaign in Elgin. For more information on this campaign, visit www.cityofelgin.org/bikes. This campaign was funded by the City of Elgin and federal highway safety funds through the Illinois Department of Transportation. Active Transportation Alliance has worked as the consultant on this campaign. The Elgin Downtown Neighborhood Association partnered on the Elgin by Bike and Bike and Dine events.

Trivia Night in Downtown Elgin

So I went with a girlfriend last night to Trivia Night at Elgin Public House. And man, do I feel dumb.

Who knows what the three parts of a comet are? Anybody? Anybody? Bueller? Bueller?

The three parts are the nucleus, the tail and the coma. I feel like that was buried somewhere deep in my brain from elementary school. Same goes for many of the questions - the answers were in there somewhere, just couldn't dig 'em up. Of course, beer doesn't help.

Though it does help you come up with very funny answers when you don't know the real answer. Which for us was the majority of the time. And probably only the two of us thought they were funny. Whatev.

They say two heads are better than one. When it comes to Trivia Night, 10 heads are better than two. There were 5 large teams playing against eachother, all having a great time, and using their combined brain power to come up with the answers to some pretty difficult questions.

The music round was entertaining. And not just because emcee Brent Edwards was nerd dancing to the sound bytes. The theme was musicals. And the team who got every answer right was made up of young, athletically inclined guys. Kinda funny. Maybe you had to be there.

And you should be there! Check out Trivia Night at Elgin Public House on Wednesday nights starting promptly at 8 p.m. 219 E. Chicago Street in Downtown Elgin. www.ElginPublicHouse.com or call (847) 468-8810.

What Harvest Market Means to This Girl, This Month

Okay so it is apparent that I am from Maine when I get excited that Fall is coming after what you Midwesterners call a "mild" summer. But I can't help it. When you are born in the fall, have memories of straw, pumpkins, apples, plus the seasonal changes of entering a new grade, a different swing at work, it all accumulates to good times for this girl.

So having a Harvest Market here in Downtown Elgin during this season floods the memories and realities of a bit of the farm, nostalgia, and crisp, warm yummy items. For example I am so searching for gourds and apples tomorrow, along with possible gifts for friends born in September (maybe soaps and yummy brownies?). And since I don't have a bread maker or much patience in making bread I will load up on some bread purchases via Breadsmith. Plus I might grab a snack while I am in shopping mode from the Community Crisis Center (their last day at market!) and get that popcorn they are always popping up. Then Lucy Elliot, a great Downtown partner and Elgin Area Historical Society chica, will be displaying and playing with old fashioned games: no batteries included she says.

Now if all this fall talk has you disgusted, the market will not fail you in continuing on your summer kick. There is still ice cream and lemonade via Oberweis for sure tomorrow, plus many greens and veggies to make those nice grilled recipes the demo chefs have been displaying at the market each month, or a simple salad. Find that meat to grill over Labor Day, treats for the dog, and bring your knifes to get sharpened before guests arrive over the long weekend!

Whatever purpose the market fulfills for you I hope to see you the next couple Thursday's in Downtown Elgin. I'll be that girl with that big red apple in her hand and a tote bag full with gourds;)

Gasthaus September Bands

Madman Karaoke joins 2 for Tuesdays- every Tuesday great $2 specials on food and drink followed by karaoke! And 2 Nicole bartenders!!

Friday Sept. 4th- local punk bands The Turdles, Sleeping Under 47 & Dressed for Radio take the stage!
Saturday Sept. 5th- Human Garbage --local film crew unveils their own "Jackass" type movie premier with special guests Tongues & the Oil Can Boys performing
Sunday Sept. 6th-- Banner Pilot, Bust, Liarbirds, Arms aloft & Written off - Labor day punk fest!

Friday Sept. 11th- Laterdaze Band - awesome classic rock covers for the "grownups!"
Saturday Sept. 12th- enjoy the Downtown Elgin Car & AFV Show in the Civic parking lot. The Gasthaus is a proud sponsor and will be open for lunch that day offering a 10% discount to car show patrons all day and night! Immediately following the car show enjoy great Rockabilly music with The Boneyard Brawlers & The Blue Lincolns from 5 to 9 followed by Negative One - Classic Rock covers at 10:00! A weekend of music we grew up with!!

Friday Sept. 18th- The Return of BLACKENED- Chicago's premier Metallica cover band!!
Saturday Sept. 19th- Pooch Carver opens for Iron Horse Chicago- Motorhead tribute-

Friday Sept. 25th- The Lenny's - great oldies by a great Elgin band!!
Saturday Sept. 26th- Metal Fest- 5 metal bands perform beginning at 8:00 p.m.

Enjoy our $5 lunch specials Monday -Friday
September is ride your bike month-- The Gasthaus is offering a 10% discount when you show your bike helmet for lunch!

Market Cancelled Today

The Harvest Market is cancelled today due to weather. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Market Cancelled Today

The Harvest Market is cancelled today due to weather. We apologize for the inconvenience.