Friday, November 25, 2011

List of Participating Windows in Window Wonderland Decorating Contest (to date)

This Saturday, December 3, downtown Elgin will be rockin' in the holiday season as the DNA's Window Wonderland - Presented by Provena Saint Joseph Hospital returns to the streets of downtown Elgin from Noon-5PM.

In addition to all of the wonderful activities and attractions available around downtown, the highlight of the day will be the opportunity to visit all of our beautifully decorated storefront windows and even judge for yourselves which ones are your favorites in our People's Choice Award voting.

The following is a list of the addresses of confirmed windows to date that will be decorated in the theme of this year's event, "Rockin' in a Window Wonderland", as well as the participating decorating group and the category in which they will be competing:

Demi and Cooper Advertising
18 Villa Court
Business

Downtown Elgin Harvest Market decorating
59 Douglas Avenue
Open

Elgin Antiques and Uniques
203 E. Chicago Street
Business

Elgin Citizens Police Academy decorating
Elgin Police Department
151 Douglas Avenue
Open

Elgin Junior Service Board decorating
Al's Café
43 DuPage Court
Open

Elgin Lodge No. 117 decorating
56 S. Grove Avenue
Open

Elgin River Rats High School Rugby decorating
Steffen Kelly and Steffen
17 Douglas Avenue
Open

Elgin Symphony Orchestra
20 DuPage Court
Business

Extreme Wireless
119 S. Grove Avenue
Business

Gifford Park Association decorating
Future Link IT
164 E. Chicago Street
Open

Highland Fellowship Church decorating
62 S. Grove Avenue
Childrens

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church decorating
165 E. Chicago Street
Open

Judson University decorating
Ken Stepps State Farm
111 Douglas Avenue
Open

Kirkpatrick, Jones and Herzog
19 S. Spring Street
Business

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
205 Fulton Street
Open

Puerto Rican Heritage Organization decorating
Montana Realty
8 Douglas Avenue
Open

Ravenheart Coffee
176 E. Chicago Street
Business

Rediscover Records
207 E. Chicago Street
Business

Salon Couture
176 E. Chicago Street
Business

Shockey Jewelers
18 Douglas Avenue
Business

Simple Balance Holistic Center
221 E. Chicago Street
Business

Spring Hill Gymnastics decorating
61 S. Grove Avenue
Childrens

SWAN decorating
SpaceTaste Gallery
10 Douglas Avenue
Open

The Annex Antiques
201 E. Chicago Street
Business

The Centre of Elgin
100 Symphony Way
Open

Two Doors Down Antiques
207 E. Chicago Street
Business

WRMN's The Radio Shopping Show
22 Douglas Avenue
Business

Wrona Brothers
205 E. Chicago Street
Business

YWCA Elgin
220 E. Chicago Street
Open

All windows will be marked with appropriate signage to indicate they are a participating window as well as a unique corresponding category code. Ballots for the People's Choice Award will be included inside the Window Wonderland adventure packet. You must submit your People's Choice Award ballot to the DNA office at 2 Douglas Avenue by 5PM on Monday, December 5. You can also vote online at DowntownElgin.com starting December 2.

Our judging panel will score each window based on a variety of criteria. Winners in each category will win $50 in Downtown Elgin Gift Certificates. The group or business whose window is selected as the Best Overall Window will win $500 CASH!

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor: Provena Saint Joseph Hospital.

Thanks also to our Event Sponsors: Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick; Kirkpatrick, Jones and Herzog Insurance; Tom's Auto Clinic; Judson University; Elgin Public House and Elgin Junior Service Board.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Give the Gift of Downtown Gift Certificate Promotion

The Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin encourages everyone to shop local this holiday season by patronizing our downtown businesses for your holiday shopping needs. Downtown Elgin Gift Certificates are a great way to not only support our small businesses but to Give the Gift of Downtown to friends and loved ones!

Now thru December 30 during the DNA's Give the Gift of Downtown Promotion:

- Buy at least $50 in Downtown Gift Certificates and receive one $5 Downtown Gift Certificate FREE!
- Buy at least $100 in Downtown Gift Certificates and receive one $10 Downtown Gift Certificate FREE!
* Limit one special promotional rate offer per person, per household during the length of the promotion.

Downtown Elgin Gift Certificates are available in denominations of $5 and $10 and are accepted at over 60 of the following downtown businesses:

RESTAURANTS AND BARS

Al's Cafe and Creamery
43 DuPage Court

Bangkok House and Shanghai Restaurant
11 Douglas Avenue

Camaroncito Loco
21 N. State Street

Casa Lara Restaurant
7 Clock Tower Plaza

Domani Cafe
109 E. Highland Avenue

Douglas Street Sports Pub
231 Douglas Avenue

Eaton's Redwood Inn
118 W. Chicago Street

El Faro #1
9 N. State Street

Elgin Public House
219 E. Chicago Street

The Gasthaus
15 N. Grove Avenue

La Rosita Bakery
9 N. State Street

La Quebrada Restaurant
50 N. Spring Street

Martini Room
161 E. Chicago Street

Medusa's
209 E. Chicago Street

Pastigel Bakery
154 E. Chicago Street

Ravenheart Coffee
176 E. Chicago Street

Spanky's Gyros III
51 Clock Tower Plaza

Toom Toom Thai Restaurant
23 S. Grove Avenue

Villa Verone
13 Douglas Avenue

RETAIL AND SERVICES

Andersen's
27 N. Grove Avenue

The Annex Antiques
201 E. Chicago Street

Artistic Framing and Supplies
25 N. Grove Avenue

Budget Signs
20 S. Spring Street

Butera Market (this location only)
3 Clock Tower Plaza

Central Barber Shop
172 E. Chicago Street

Collingbourne's Interesting Things
219 W. Highland Avenue

Crawford's Automotive
151 N. Spring Street

Crucial Cuts
15 Ziegler Court

Divine Touch Salon
15 N. State Street

Elgin Antiques and Uniques
203 E. Chicago Street

Elgin Books and Coffee
209 E. Chicago Street

Elgin Jewelers
11 N. State Street

Extreme Wireless
117 S. Grove Avenue

Fadez and Bladez
9 N. Grove Avenue

Fusion Mind-Body Studio
221 E. Chicago Street

Integrity Beauty Salon
217 E. Chicago Street

JJ Peppers Food Store
10 S. State Street

JR Photographics
164 Division Street

Kellenberger Auto
217 Symphony Way

Kerygma Piano
164 Division Street

Kim's Black Belt Academy
5 S. Spring Street

Nick's Liquors
71-77 Clock Tower Plaza

Pittsburgh Paints
266 Kimball Street

The Razor's Edge
55 Douglas Avenue

Rediscover Records
207 E. Chicago Street

Salon Couture
176 E. Chicago Street

Shockey Jewelers
18 Douglas Avenue

Simple Balance Holistic Center
221 E. Chicago Street

SpaceTaste Gallery
10 Douglas Avenue

Studio One Hair Design
151 E. Highland Avenue

Super Print
160 E. Chicago Street

Tom's Auto Clinic
264 Prairie Street

Sophie's Jewelry
125 S. Grove Avenue

Tongue N Chic Dental Boutique
14 Douglas Avenue

Top Notch Tatoo
216 E. Chicago Street

Two Doors Down Antiques
207 E. Chicago Street

Wrona Brothers
205 E. Chicago Street

Ziegler's Ace Hardware
215 N. Spring Street

ENTERTAINMENT

Elgin OPERA
350 Park Street

Elgin Symphony Orchestra
20 DuPage Court

Elgin Theatre Company
350 Park Street

Janus Theatre Company
164 Division Street, 8th Floor

Monday, November 21, 2011

DNA Honors Businesses, Volunteers in Roaring '20s Style

The Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin celebrated downtown Elgin in the Roaring ‘20s last Thursday by transforming the Grand Victoria Casino’s Fox River Room into a 1920’s-style speakeasy called “The Blind Tiger” for the organization’s annual Awards Gala.

The DNA handed out seven awards to individuals, organizations and businesses that had a positive impact on downtown Elgin over the past 12 months.

Extraordinary Volunteers: Armida and Joe Dominguez;

Outstanding Member Business: Elgin Public House;

Outstanding Partner Business: In the Neighborhood Deli;

Remarkable Renovation: Senior Services Associates;

Excellence in Business: Villa Verone;

Above and Beyond Award: Krisilee Murphy;

President’s Award: ACME Design

Click here to view a slideshow of the evening > > >

DNA Board President Karin Jones and Board Member Armida Dominguez also celebrated the lives of former DNA Board Members, Patricia Keeney and Steve Munson, both of whom passed away during the last year.

To lend to the evening’s golden ambience, cast members from Janus Theatre portrayed fictional ‘20s characters that interacted with guests and performed Vaudevillian musical numbers during dinner hour.

A judging panel also selected both the best dressed “guy” and “doll” whose attire was most reflective of the ‘20s theme. The winners were Alex Pecharich and Nikki Adams Hutcherson, who each received $25 in downtown Elgin gift certificates.

The DNA Awards Gala was presented by TranSystems, Landmark Contractors, Grand Victoria Casino and the City of Elgin. Sponsors included Sherman Health, Shales McNutt Construction, Janus Theatre, Future Link IT, Forthwrite Message Boards, Hitchcock Design Group, Nick’s Liquors and VTS Investigations.