Downtown Elgin Employee Appreciation Week - August 2-6

The Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin announced a brand new promotion entitled Downtown Elgin Employee Appreciation Week from August 2-6.

Beginning Monday, August 2nd, many Downtown Elgin businesses will be offering special promotions geared only towards Downtown Elgin employees and business owners. Promotions will include discounted goods and services, restaurant food and drink specials and a punch card promotion enabling those who achieve the required amount of punches to be entered into a drawing for great prizes.

Individuals must show proof of their employment status within Downtown Elgin with either a business card, work I.D. badge or other means.

Even the Downtown Elgin Harvest Market vendors will be offering 10% off of any purchases on Thursday, August 5th to Downtown employees. Employees will check in at the DNA’s Harvest Market booth to obtain a special identification card to be used at the market.

This promotion is a great way not only to thank the men and women whose collective efforts help sustain Downtown’s economy but also an opportunity for the local businesses to more effectively engage their most readily accessible base of customers as well.

A complete listing of participating businesses and their corresponding specials will be available on Wednesday, July 28th in our Downtown Neighborhood News Top 10 e-blast, right here on the DNA Blog and on the DNA website at http://www.downtownelgin.com/

For more information about Downtown Elgin Employee Appreciation Week and how your business can participate, please call Jason Pawlowski, Promotions Coordinator for the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin, at (847) 488-1456 or e-mail: jpawlowski@elginil.org

Curb and Gutter Work Begins Monday

Water Main Connections Begin Tonight

On Monday, July 26, work will begin at the north end of Grove Court for the removal and replacement of the curb and gutter and sidewalk along the east side of Grove Court and the north side of Highland Avenue from Grove Court to Center Street. Curb and gutter and sidewalk removal will also begin on Spring Street between Highland Avenue and Division Street. Weather permitting, this stage of the work is expected to be completed by the end of August.

WATER MAIN
Work on the connection from the new main on Highland Avenue to the existing main on Center Street will take place this evening, July 20, 2010 beginning at 7 p.m. An additional water main service crossing on Highland Avenue between Grove Avenue and Douglas Avenue is scheduled to be done this week also. This work will also be done between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.

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Highland Ave. Sewer Separation Project Update
Work has resumed on the City's Highland Avenue Sewer Separation Project. E. Highland Avenue at Rte. 31 is expected to reopen within 2-4 weeks to allow north-south access to Rte. 31, weather permitting.
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Weekly Progress Meetings
Weekly progress meetings for the Central Business District construction project are held on Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. at the construction office located at 201 E. Chicago Street. Business and property owners are invited to attend the first 15 minutes of the meeting if they have any questions or concerns regarding the construction.
Specific questions regarding the construction may be directed to Shelley Costello with TranSystems at 847-871-3185.

For general information on the project, please contact Joe Evers at 847-931-5955 or visit the City's website at www.cityofelgin.org and click the Gettin' Around in Downtown icon.

Downtown Elgin Live Music & Entertainment Scene - July 21-25

No fluff. No cute intros. Just serious live music and entertainment. So much to do in Downtown Elgin this upcoming weekend - lets just get Down to it! Here's the line-up:

Mad Maggies
51 S. Grove
847-531-5883
http://www.madmaggies.net/

Thursday, July 22

Steel City with Arla Mae, Ithica, A Subtle Way and Destruction of a Rose
Cover: $10
All Ages
Doors: 6:00pm
Show: 6:30pm

Friday, July 23

Casa Karma
$8.00
All Ages
Doors: 6:00pm
Show: 6:30pm
Main Stage

Thieves and Villains
$10.00
All Ages
Doors: 6:00pm
Show: 6:30pm
Basement Show

Indika Reggae Band
$7.00
21 & Over
Doors: 9:30pm
Show: 10:30pm

Saturday, July 24

Noise Apparel
$8.00
All Ages
Doors: 6:00pm
Show: 10:30pm

Hit or Miss
$7.00
21 & Over
Doors: 8:00pm
Show: 10:30pm


Gasthaus Zur Linde
15 N. Grove Avenue
847-695-8828

Friday, July 23
Adrenilize and Friends

Saturday, July 24
Romero, Pony & Pooch Carver


Elgin Public House/Pub 217
219 E. Chicago Street
847-468-8810
http://www.elginpublichouse.com/

Friday, July 23
Hyperplasia

Saturday, July 24
Storm Crow


And don't forget Elgin Summer Theater's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which continues at The Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, this Friday, July 23. The Biblical saga of Joseph and his coat of many colors comes to vibrant life in this delightful musical parable. Set to an engaging cornucopia of musical styles, this Old Testament tale emerges both timely and timeless. Showtimes this weekend are Friday & Saturday, July 23 & 24 at 8pm and Sunday, July 25 at 3pm. Tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased at The Hemmens' Box Office by phone at 847.931.5900 or online at http://www.hemmens.org/

Remember that bands, ticket prices and performance times are subject to change so we ask that you please call or visit each venue's website for ticket information, performance times or for any applicable cover charges.

Congratulations to our Photographers on Parade Winners

The public has spoken, the votes have been tallied and we are pleased to announce the winners of our Photographers on Parade contest in conjunction with the City of Elgin's 2010 Fourth of July Parade - Presented by Sherman Health.

Congratulations to our winners:

FIRST PRIZE - "Smile Elgin" by sirridge66
Wins a 2010 Fourth of July Parade T-Shirt and $15 in Downtown Elgin Gift Certificates

SECOND PRIZE - "Boy Scout Troop" by hamsandwich_imagery

Wins 2010 Fourth of July Parade T-Shirt and $10 Downtown Elgin Gift Certificate

THIRD PRIZE - "End of a Great Parade" by hamsandwich_imagery

Wins a 2010 Fourth of July Parade T-Shirt and $5 Downtown Elgin Gift Certificate

Winners, please call or stop in the DNA Office at 2 Douglas Avenue Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm to pick up your prizes.

Thank you to all of our Photographers on Parade who submitted their wonderful Fourth of July parade images and thank you to all of you who voted as well!

This Week at the Harvest Market - July 22

The Downtown Elgin Harvest Market continues its landmark tenth season this Thursday, July 22, from 10am-4pm. The Harvest Market runs every Thursday thru October 7 at the Civic Parking Lot at the corner of Highland and Douglas Avenues near City Hall.

We are also putting the “Out” back in “Out to Lunch”. On Thursday, July 29th we are taking our usual monthly Out to Lunch Meeting, which normally occurs the last Monday of each month at a local Downtown eatery with a special guest speaker, out to the Harvest Market.

For $11 (cash only) Domani Café at 109 E. Highland Avenue will provide a boxed lunch featuring your choice of their scrumptious Turkey or Cuban sandwiches, chips, cookie and bottled water or pop. DNA staff will preview some of Elgin’s upcoming August events as well as provide a brief overview of how farmers markets contribute to the sustainability of a community.

There will also be a guided walking tour of the market, a corn boil and a jaw-dropping baton twirling performance by former Miss Illinois Outstanding Teen 2007 and current Purdue University Golden Girl, MerrieBeth Cox of Roselle.

To RSVP for July’s Out to Lunch Meeting at the Harvest Market, call 847.488.1456 or e-mail jpawlowski@elginil.org

Our next “First Thursday” market takes place on Thursday, August 5. Among the confirmed attractions for August include:

• August 1-7 is National Farmers’ Market Week and we will be celebrating all day with several promotions and giveaways!
• Steve Thoren will have his Model T car on display in advance of the 100th Anniversary of the Elgin Historic Road Rally which takes place at Sherman West Court at 1950 Larkin Avenue on Sunday, August 8.
• Chef Virginia Lopez will conduct a cooking demonstration.
• Live music performances by Riverside Chorus, The Fox River Trio and Trillium.
• The Centre of Elgin will conduct live fitness/healthy living seminars.
• Antique treasure hunt with Collingbourne’s Interesting Things, PK’s Antiques, Elgin Antiques and Uniques, Rediscover Records and Two Doors Down.
• August 2-6 is Downtown Elgin Employee Appreciation Week - all Downtown Elgin employees who can show proof of their Downtown employment status will receive 10% off their bill with any Harvest Market vendor.

Nestled in the heart of historic Downtown Elgin within minutes of the Grand Victoria Casino, Metra and the scenic Fox River, and within walking distance from Downtown’s dining and shopping district, the Harvest Market attracts hundreds of local residents and workers each and every week.

For more information about the 2010 Downtown Elgin Harvest Market, please call Jason Pawlowski, Promotions Coordinator for the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin, at 847.488.1456 or e-mail: jpawlowski@elginil.org

Streetscape and Water Main Work Resumes Today

Work on Phase 4 streetscape improvements resumes today, July 20, 2010.

Sidewalk removal will take place on Center Street. Additional work on Grove Court will begin today with removal of pavement in front of the Post Office for placement of a new gutter and removal of the existing raised median and replacement with pavement.

On Monday, July 26, work will begin at the north end of Grove Court for the removal and replacement of the curb and gutter and sidewalk along the east side of Grove Court and the north side of Highland Avenue from Grove Court to Center Street.

Work on the connection from the new main on Highland Avenue to the existing main on Center Street will take place this evening, July 20, 2010 beginning at 7 p.m. An additional water main service crossing on Highland Avenue between Grove Avenue and Douglas Avenue is scheduled to be done this week also. This work will also be done between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Weekly Progress Meetings

Weekly progress meetings for the Central Business District construction project are held on Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. at the construction office located at 201 E. Chicago Street. Business and property owners are invited to attend the first 15 minutes of the meeting if they have any questions or concerns regarding the construction.

Specific questions regarding the construction may be directed to Shelley Costello with TranSystems at 847-871-3185.

For general information on the project, please contact Joe Evers at 847-931-5955 or visit the http://www.downtownelgin.info/