Its Happening Downtown - August 29th - September 5th

It's Happening Downtown!
A Time to Network and Eat - Monday, August 29th
Come to our Out to Lunch - Monday, August 29th @ Noon at Cafe Magdalena. Our speaker will be Sean Stegall, Assistant City Manager of the City of Elgin, and we will be thanking Bob Beeter from the Elgin Police Department. We will be having a buffet meal with free drinks for $6.50.

Parks & Recreation Board Meeting - Tuesday, August 30th
Located at the Centre at 7pm. Call 847.931.6126 for more information.

Don't forget the Martini Room's Weekly Happenings - Every Wednesday and Friday
Every Wednesday night several artists work are showcased and sold in Martini Room's great lounge atmosphere. And then on Friday take advantage of the great tunes of "Inertia".

Harvest Market - Thursday, September 1st
Harvest Market is EVERY Thursday!! Located in the Civic parking lot next to the Elgin post office this weekly happening is every Thursday from 12pm-6pm. So head on over as the last day of the Harvest Market is September 22nd!

The Gail Borden Public Library Foundation cordially invites you to attend a Champagne Preview Party...Thursday, September 1st
Come celebrate and support the opening of the upcoming exhibit - Giants: African Dinosaurs created by Project Exploration.
Attendance and donation is $50 per person, and special donation levels are Suchomimius Level ($100-$249), Afrovenator Level ($250-$499) Vobaria Level ($500 & up)
RSVP the Gail Borden Library at 847.742.2411 and ask for Joyce Schifferer.

Do you want to be in the Fiesta Salsa Parade? - Deadline:September 2nd
The Grand Marshall this year is Zoraida Sambolin from NBC 5. The parade kicks of at 12 pm on September 17th at Grove and Slade.
Contact Jeanette Mihalec at 847.741.5660 to get your group in!!

The Historic Elgin House Tour Needs Your Help!!! - Saturday and Sunday September 10th & 11th
Currently they are in need of volunteers to help be guides on Sunday September 11th from either 9:50am-1:30pm or 1:20pm-5pm. Not for being a guide. Please call Sandy at 847.347.1589 to help and get a FREE TICKET to the House Tour !!

Flea Market Vendors Wanted! - Saturday September 24th
DNA will be hosting a Downtown Elgin Flea Market from 9am-3pm at the Civic Center Parking Lot. For more information call 847.488.1456. Spaces are $20.

Boat Races in the Fox River

The Elginite is proposing Asian boat races in the Fox River. (See the post).

There's a Southeast Asian Water Festival in Lowell, Mass, which features traditional boat races. The festival is expected to draw 50,000 to 60,000 visitors to Lowell's Merrimack River each year, a celebration of the river as a God in Southeast Asian culture.Imagine bringing 50-60,000 people to downtown Elgin for something similar. The Lao community here can be joined by Thai, Cambodian and other communities in Chicagoland to host this event. This could be a good way to highlight Elgin's diversity and deliver traffic to downtown businesses. It would also highlight the downtown and especially the riverfront's revitalization.

Wikipedia entry on dragon boats. I also found swan boats and long boats.

What do you think?

Sculptural Signs

I found this mention of Sculptural Signs on The Northfield Downtown Development Corporation blog from Northfield, Minnesota. This is a great downtown site.
Several more sign links from the NDDC are listed below:
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Signs of Newburyport

Don't forget the revised sign ordinance is coming up before the Planning Commission on Monday, September 19th at 7 pm. The meeting will be held at the City Council Chambers, City Hall North Wing.

Dinosaur Photos on Flickr

Thanks to The Elginite (see post) for discovering these pics on Flickr. Go to the library link for more information on the exhibit. See the "Dinos on Parade" article the Sunday Daily Herald.

It's Happening Downtown! - August 22 - 29

It's Happening Downtown!

Want to help with the image of Elgin? Or meet the New Police Chief? - Monday, August 22nd
The Elgin Image Advisory Commission will be meeting at 7pm in the second floor conference room in the North wing of city hall.
The Police Chief's Monthly Community Meeting will be at 7pm at the Elgin Police Station.

"Walk Across Illinois" with Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn - Tuesday, August 23rd
As part of the Walk Across Illinois program Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn will be in Elgin at 11 a.m. on Walton Island. From there, there will be a walk heading north along the bike path next to the Fox River. Please come and take a break from work during your lunch hour and go for a walk!!

Want to know the latest decisions in Elgin first? - Wednesday, August 24th
City Council Meetings - Wednesday @ 6pm and 7pm
Click on the times to see the appropriate agendas. Please check the location.

Harvest Market - Thursday, August 25th
Did the rain spoil your Harvest Market plans last week? Harvest Market is EVERY Thursday!! Located in the Civic parking lot next to the Elgin post office this weekly happening is every Thursday from 12pm-6pm. So head on over as the last day is September 22nd!

A Time to Network and Eat - August 29th
Come to our Out to Lunch - Monday, August 29th @ Noon at Cafe Magdalena.
Our speaker will be Sean Stegall, Assistant City Manager of the City of Elgin, and we will be thanking Bob Beeter from the Elgin Police Department. We will be having a buffet meal with free drinks for $6.50. Please remember to tip, and RSVP by August 26th. Thanks!!

Do you like old houses and their history? - ASAP
The Historic Elgin House Tour could use your help!! They are in need of volunteers to help on September 10th from 1:20pm-5:00pm and on Sunday September 11th from either 9:50am-1:30pm or 1:20pm-5pm. Please call Sandy at 847.347.1589 to help and get a FREE TICKET.

Bleu Delph Flower Shop Relocates

The Bleu Delph Flower Shop is now located at 17 N. Grove. Stop in and see the unique arrangements Jonathan creates. Read Lenore Adkins' article in the Sunday Daily Herald.