Downtown Madness Score Central Update - March 19

Welcome back to Downtown Madness Score Central. We are coming up on buzzer beater time in the Second Round of Downtown Madness! With less than 48 hours to go in Round 2, let's update you now on the scoring in each of the match-ups in the Round of 8 (as of 5PM CDT on Saturday, March 19):

Al's Cafe & Creamery's Burns Malt leads
Domani Cafe's Domani Latte by 68

Elgin Public House's Pulled Pork leads
La Puesta Del Sol's La Puesta Margarita by 59

Bangkok House & Shanghai Restaurant's Pa-Naeng leads
Buckingham's Steakhouse's Grand Tomahawk by 54

Toom Toom Thai Restaurant's Thai Style Chicken Wings leads
Villa Verone's Asparagi by 13

It's Bracket Buster time. If you have not already voted for your favorites in Round 2, VOTE NOW!

If you have already voted (remember, one vote per person, per computer), forward the voting link onto your friends and family to encourage them to get out and rock the vote for your teams!

Second Round voting continues thru Monday, March 21 at Noon. Downtown Madness Score Central will update the voting throughout the weekend and announce the winners of the Second Round of play as well as unveil the updated brackets for the Third Round on Wednesday, March 23. Voting for Round 3 tips off March 23 thru March 28.

Stay tuned to Downtown Madness Score Central on the DNA Blog for the latest updates!

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CLICK HERE to watch Jeff Myers of Elgin Today announce the updated brackets for the Round of 8.

Downtown Madness Score Central Update - March 18

Welcome back to Downtown Madness Score Central. We are coming up on buzzer beater time in the Second Round of Downtown Madness! Let's update you now on the scoring in each of the match-ups in the Round of 8 (as of 4PM CDT on Friday, March 18):

Al's Cafe & Creamery's Burns Malt leads
Domani Cafe's Domani Latte by 42

Elgin Public House's Pulled Pork leads
La Puesta Del Sol's La Puesta Margarita by 35

Bangkok House & Shanghai Restaurant's Pa-Naeng leads
Buckingham's Steakhouse's Grand Tomahawk by 45

Toom Toom Thai Restaurant's Thai Style Chicken Wings leads
Villa Verone's Asparagi by 13

It's Bracket Buster time. If you have not already voted for your favorites in Round 2, VOTE NOW!

If you have already voted (remember, one vote per person, per computer), forward the voting link onto your friends and family to encourage them to get out and rock the vote for your teams!

Second Round voting continues thru Monday, March 21 at Noon. Downtown Madness Score Central will update the voting throughout the weekend and announce the winners of the Second Round of play as well as unveil the updated brackets for the Third Round on Wednesday, March 23. Voting for Round 3 tips off March 23 thru March 28.

Stay tuned to Downtown Madness Score Central on the DNA Blog for the latest updates!

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CLICK HERE to watch Jeff Myers of Elgin Today announce the updated brackets for the Round of 8

New Harvest Market Manager Jennifer Benson to Speak at DNA’s March Out to Lunch

The Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) of Elgin's next "Out to Lunch" meeting will be Monday, March 28 from Noon-1:15PM and is proudly hosted by Toom Toom Thai Restaurant at 23 S. Grove Avenue in Downtown Elgin.

Our featured guest speaker for March will be the DNA's new Downtown Elgin Harvest Market Manager Jennifer Benson, who will discuss her exciting plans for the 2011 Harvest Market season, which begins Thursday, June 2.

For $12.00 per person (all inclusive with tax & tip included - cash only), guests will enjoy a delicious lunch buffet courtesy of Chef Toom Wiitanen, featuring Pot Stickers, Garden Salad, Thai Chicken Wing, Chef Surprise, Pepper Steak (Beef), Pad Thai Woonsen (Tofu), Thai Fried Rice (Veggie), Fruit, and choice of Tea, Coffee or Soda.

Interested guests should RSVP to DNA by no later than Friday, March 25, with your name and e-mail address via our Online RSVP Form, by phone at 847.488.1456 or by e-mail at downtownelgin@gmail.com.

The Out to Lunch Meetings, presented by the DNA and conducted on the last Monday of each month, are an effort to engage the public by showcasing a different downtown Elgin restaurant each month and featuring guest speakers and topics relevant to the community. Recent Out to Lunch guest speakers have included City of Elgin Mayor Ed Schock, City Manager Sean Stegall, Police Chief Jeff Swoboda, and U-46 Superintendent Dr. Jose Torres.

Downtown Brainstorm to Focus on Addressing Perceptions

The Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) of Elgin invites the community to participate in Downtown Brainstorm #2, an interactive planning workshop about downtown Elgin and the DNA, on Tuesday, March 22 from 6-8PM at The Centre of Elgin's Heritage Ballroom, 100 Symphony Way.

The theme of this workshop will be “How do we continue to change the perception of downtown Elgin for the better?”

Proposed discussion topics include, but are not limited to:

• Proposed new downtown marketing and branding campaigns, including a new DowntownElgin.com website
• Plans for marketing downtown's available commercial spaces and properties to potential tenants and buyers
• Accentuating the positives/eliminating the negatives through key marketing messages via social media, community outreach and other engagement tools
• Image enhancement through special events and promotions

The public is encouraged to attend this workshop to share ideas, meet new people and get involved in their community. To RSVP for Downtown Brainstorm #2, please contact the DNA at (847) 488-1456 or e-mail downtownelgin@gmail.com by Monday, March 21 at Noon. You can also RSVP via our Online RSVP Form.

In November of 2010, the DNA held its first Downtown Brainstorm Workshop in an effort to engage the Elgin community and encourage more involvement in downtown issues, happenings and DNA programming. Approximately 60 people attended this workshop and in a series of 3 roundtable rotations discussed topics such as special events, arts initiatives, property improvement, community outreach, “green” initiatives, new business recruitment, fundraising and marketing. Three reoccurring themes emerged from this workshop, upon which the DNA based its focus for programming and projects for 2011:

1.) More communication about who DNA is and what we do.
2.) Smaller, more frequent downtown events and promotions, especially in the arts.
3.) More marketing about the positive changes in downtown.

The DNA will provide an overview of how this feedback is being implemented in its current programming and projects at the workshop.

Downtown Madness Rolls into Round 2

Welcome back to Downtown Madness – the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin’s exciting new interactive promotion for the entire month of March pitting downtown Elgin's restaurants and bars in a head-to-head bracket tournament, similar to the NCAA’s March Madness, where the public’s votes determine the winners.

After a hotly contested Opening Round of voting from March 4-14, our voters have paired the original Field of 16 to eight elite establishments.

Here are the Final Results from the Opening Round of Downtown Madness:

- Domani Cafe's Domani Latte defeats La Quebrada's Tampiquena by 84

- Al's Cafe's Burns Malt defeats Spanky's Gyros Italian Sausage by 132

- La Puesta Del Sol's Margarita defeats Douglas Street Sports Pub's Bacon Cheddar Burger by 13

- Elgin Public House's Pulled Pork defeats Ravenheart Coffee's Mediterranean Club by 108

- Buckingham's Steakhouse's Grand Tomahawk defeats Gasthaus Zur Linde's Das Boot by 31

- Bangkok House & Shanghai Restaurant's Pa-Naeng defeats Red Bar Winery's Spicy Butter Poached Shrimp by 14

- Toom Toom Thai Restaurant's Thai Style Chicken Wings defeats Martini Room's Appletini by 23

- Villa Verone's Asparagi defeats PRIME BurgerHouse's Drunken Bull Burger by 6

Here are the Downtown Madness Second Round match-ups:

- Domani Cafe's Domani Latte vs. Al's Cafe's Burns Malt

- La Puesta Del Sol's Margarita vs. Elgin Public House's Pulled Pork

- Buckingham's Steakhouse's Grand Tomahawk vs. Bangkok House & Shanghai Restaurant's Pa-Naeng

- Toom Toom Thai Restaurant's Thai Style Chicken Wings vs. Villa Verone's Asparagi

Second Round voting in Downtown Madness opens at Noon on Wednesday, March 16 and concludes Monday, March 21 at Noon. Subscribers to the DNA’s Downtown Neighborhood News Top 10 weekly e-blast will receive the link to the Second Round Voting Form in Wednesday’s edition of the DNN. Voters can also visit www.DowntownElgin.com, "Like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DowntownElgin or just CLICK HERE to access the Second Round Voting Form.

Voting is limited to one vote per e-mail address and you must vote for one of the two entries in each match-up! Failure to vote for one entry in each match-up will invalidate the remainder of your votes.

For an up-to-date scoring summary on all the match-ups to see how your "teams" are doing, visit Downtown Madness Score Central throughout the Second Round on the Downtown Neighborhood Association’s Blog at DowntownElgin.blogspot.com.

Third Round voting for the Final Four establishments tips off March 23-28. The Championship Game round of voting then takes place March 30-April 4, with the winning venue announced on Wednesday, April 6. The DNA will also announce the winner of our Downtown Madness Pick ‘Em Challenge, in which individuals attempt to predict the winners from the Opening Round thru the Championship Game according to the weekly voting

For more information about Downtown Madness, please contact DNA Promotions Coordinator Jason Pawlowski at (847) 488-1456 or e-mail jpawlowski@elginil.org.

Downtown Madness Score Central Update - March 14

Welcome back to Downtown Madness Score Central. We are coming up on buzzer beater time in the Opening Round of Downtown Madness! Let's update you now on the scoring in each of the match-ups in the Round of 16 (as of 9AM CDT on Monday, March 14):

Domani Cafe's Domani Latte leads
La Quebrada's Tampiquena by 85

Al's Cafe's Burns Malt leads
Spanky's Gyros Italian Sausage by 125

La Puesta Del Sol's Margarita leads
Douglas Street Sports Pub's Bacon Cheddar Burger by 14

Elgin Public House's Pulled Pork leads
Ravenheart Coffee's Mediterranean Club by 107

Buckingham's Steakhouse's Grand Tomahawk leads
Gasthaus Zur Linde's Das Boot by 29

Bangkok House & Shanghai Restaurant's Pa-Naeng leads
Red Bar Winery's Spicy Butter Poached Shrimp by 21

Toom Toom Thai Restaurant's Thai Style Chicken Wings leads
Martini Room's Appletini by 11

Villa Verone's Asparagi leads
PRIME BurgerHouse's Drunken Bull Burger by 5

Time is ticking down on the Opening Round voting clock. If you have not already voted for your favorites, VOTE NOW!

If you have already voted (remember, one vote per person, per computer), encourage your friends and family to get out and rock the vote for your teams!

Opening Round voting concludes TODAY at Noon. Downtown Madness Score Central will announce the winners of the Opening Round of play and unveil the updated brackets for the Round of 8 on Wednesday, March 16. Voting for the Round of 8 tips off March 16 thru March 21.

Stay tuned to Downtown Madness Score Central on the DNA Blog for the latest updates!

* * * * * * *

And don't forget to download your bracket in our Downtown Madness Pick 'Em Challenge - Presented by Daily Herald Media Group. Correctly predict the winners (based on the round-by-round voting) from the Opening Round straight thru the Championship Game to take your shot at $100 in Downtown Elgin Gift Certificates.

To download and fill out your bracket, click here!

Completed Downtown Madness Pick 'Em Challenge sheets must be submitted to DNA by Monday, March 14. E-mail predictions and completed sheets to DowntownElgin@gmail.com

Downtown Madness Score Central Update - March 13

Welcome back to Downtown Madness Score Central. Time is running out in the Opening Round of Downtown Madness! Let's update you now on the scoring in each of the match-ups in the Round of 16 (as of 12PM CDT on Sunday, March 13):

Domani Cafe's Domani Latte leads
La Quebrada's Tampiquena by 81

Al's Cafe's Burns Malt leads
Spanky's Gyros Italian Sausage by 119

La Puesta Del Sol's Margarita leads
Douglas Street Sports Pub's Bacon Cheddar Burger by 15

Elgin Public House's Pulled Pork leads
Ravenheart Coffee's Mediterranean Club by 101

Buckingham's Steakhouse's Grand Tomahawk leads
Gasthaus Zur Linde's Das Boot by 22

Bangkok House & Shanghai Restaurant's Pa-Naeng leads
Red Bar Winery's Spicy Butter Poached Shrimp by 17

Toom Toom Thai Restaurant's Thai Style Chicken Wings leads
Martini Room's Appletini by 15

Villa Verone's Asparagi leads
PRIME BurgerHouse's Drunken Bull Burger by 3

Time is ticking down on the Opening Round voting clock. If you have not already voted for your favorites, VOTE NOW!

If you have already voted (remember, one vote per person, per computer), encourage your friends and family to get out and rock the vote for your teams!

Opening Round voting concludes Monday, March 14 at Noon. Downtown Madness Score Central will announce the winners of the Opening Round of play and unveil the updated brackets for the Round of 8 on Wednesday, March 16. Voting for the Elite 8 tips off March 16 thru March 21.

Stay tuned to Downtown Madness Score Central on the DNA Blog for the latest updates!

* * * * * * *

And don't forget to download your bracket in our Downtown Madness Pick 'Em Challenge - Presented by Daily Herald Media Group. Correctly predict the winners (based on the round-by-round voting) from the Opening Round straight thru the Championship Game to take your shot at $100 in Downtown Elgin Gift Certificates.

To download and fill out your bracket, click here!

Completed Downtown Madness Pick 'Em Challenge sheets must be submitted to DNA by Monday, March 14. E-mail predictions and completed sheets to DowntownElgin@gmail.com

Downtown Madness Score Central - March 12

Welcome back to Downtown Madness Score Central. It's getting down to crunch time in the late stages of the Opening Round of Downtown Madness! Let's update you now on the scoring in each of the match-ups in the Round of 16 (as of 5PM on Saturday, March 12):

Domani Cafe's Domani Latte leads
La Quebrada's Tampiquena by 73

Al's Cafe's Burns Malt leads
Spanky's Gyros Italian Sausage by 109

La Puesta Del Sol's Margarita leads
Douglas Street Sports Pub's Bacon Cheddar Burger by 15

Elgin Public House's Pulled Pork leads
Ravenheart Coffee's Mediterranean Club by 97

Buckingham's Steakhouse's Grand Tomahawk leads
Gasthaus Zur Linde's Das Boot by 38

Bangkok House & Shanghai Restaurant's Pa-Naeng leads
Red Bar Winery's Spicy Butter Poached Shrimp by 13

Toom Toom Thai Restaurant's Thai Style Chicken Wings leads
Martini Room's Appletini by 11

Villa Verone's Asparagi leads
PRIME BurgerHouse's Drunken Bull Burger by 9

Don't get too complacent leaders. Remember, no lead is safe when the stakes are this high! Cinderellas - if you want to keep dancing it's time to rally fan support for your squads!

Time is ticking down on the Opening Round voting clock. If you have not already voted for your favorites, VOTE NOW!

If you have already voted (remember, one vote per person, per computer), encourage your friends and family to get out and rock the vote for your teams!

Opening Round voting concludes Monday, March 14 at Noon. Downtown Madness Score Central will announce the winners of the Opening Round of play and unveil the updated brackets for the Round of 8 on Wednesday, March 16. Voting for the Elite 8 tips off March 16 thru March 21.

Stay tuned to Downtown Madness Score Central on the DNA Blog for the latest updates!

* * * * * * *

And don't forget to download your bracket in our Downtown Madness Pick 'Em Challenge - Presented by Daily Herald Media Group. Correctly predict the winners (based on the round-by-round voting) from the Opening Round straight thru the Championship Game to take your shot at $100 in Downtown Elgin Gift Certificates.

To download and fill out your bracket, click here!

Completed Downtown Madness Pick 'Em Challenge sheets must be submitted to DNA by Monday, March 14. E-mail predictions and completed sheets to DowntownElgin@gmail.com

Downtown Madness Score Central Update - March 11

Welcome back to Downtown Madness Score Central. It's getting down to crunch time in the late stages of the Opening Round of Downtown Madness! Let's update you now on the scoring in each of the match-ups in the Round of 16 (as of 5PM on Friday, March 11):

Domani Cafe's Domani Latte leads
La Quebrada's Tampiquena by 63

Al's Cafe's Burns Malt leads
Spanky's Gyros Italian Sausage by 95

La Puesta Del Sol's Margarita leads
Douglas Street Sports Pub's Bacon Cheddar Burger by 19

Elgin Public House's Pulled Pork leads
Ravenheart Coffee's Mediterranean Club by 87

Buckingham's Steakhouse's Grand Tomahawk leads
Gasthaus Zur Linde's Das Boot by 41

Red Bar Winery's Spicy Butter Poached Shrimp leads
Bangkok House & Shanghai Restaurant's Pa-Naeng by 1

Toom Toom Thai Restaurant's Thai Style Chicken Wings leads
Martini Room's Appletini by 15

Villa Verone's Asparagi leads
PRIME BurgerHouse's Drunken Bull Burger by 19

Don't get too complacent leaders. Remember, no lead is safe when the stakes are this high! Cinderellas - if you want to keep dancing it's time to rally fan support for your squads!

Time is ticking down on the Opening Round voting clock. If you have not already voted for your favorites, VOTE NOW!

If you have already voted (remember, one vote per person, per computer), encourage your friends and family to get out and rock the vote for your teams!

Opening Round voting concludes Monday, March 14 at Noon. Downtown Madness Score Central will announce the winners of the Opening Round of play and unveil the updated brackets for the Round of 8 on Wednesday, March 16. Voting for the Elite 8 tips off March 16 thru March 21.

Stay tuned to Downtown Madness Score Central on the DNA Blog for the latest updates!

* * * * * * *

And don't forget to download your bracket in our Downtown Madness Pick 'Em Challenge - Presented by Daily Herald Media Group. Correctly predict the winners (based on the round-by-round voting) from the Opening Round straight thru the Championship Game to take your shot at $100 in Downtown Elgin Gift Certificates.

To download and fill out your bracket, click here!

Completed Downtown Madness Pick 'Em Challenge sheets must be submitted to DNA by Monday, March 14. E-mail predictions and completed sheets to DowntownElgin@gmail.com

Downtown Madness Score Central

Welcome to Downtown Madness Score Central. We are at "halftime" of the Opening Round of voting for Downtown Madness. Let's update you now on the scoring in each of the match-ups in the Round of 16 (as of Noon on Wednesday, March 9):

Domani Cafe's Domani Latte leads
La Quebrada's Tampiquena by 47

Al's Cafe's Burns Malt leads
Spanky's Gyros Italian Sausage by 69

La Puesta Del Sol's Margarita leads
Douglas Street Sports Pub's Bacon Cheddar Burger by 7

Elgin Public House's Pulled Pork leads
Ravenheart Coffee's Mediterranean Club by 69

Buckingham's Steakhouse's Grand Tomahawk leads
Gasthaus Zur Linde's Das Boot by 33

Bangkok House & Shanghai Restaurant's Pa-Naeng leads
Red Bar Winery's Spicy Butter Poached Shrimp by 1

Martini Room's Appletini leads
Toom Toom Thai Restaurant's Thai Style Chicken Wings by 4

Villa Verone's Asparagi leads
PRIME BurgerHouse's Drunken Bull Burger by 12

Our voters have come out strong in the first half with great team efforts put forth by each participating establishment's starters. With the second half of the Opening Round of voting upon us, it's gut check time! Don't get too complacent leaders. Remember, no lead is safe when the stakes are this high! Cinderellas - if you want to keep dancing it's time to rally fan support for your squads!

If you have not already voted for your favorites, VOTE NOW!

If you have already voted (remember, one vote per person, per computer), encourage your friends and family to get out and rock the vote for your teams!

Opening Round voting concludes Monday, March 14 at Noon. Downtown Madness Score Central will announce the winners of the Opening Round of play and unveil the updated brackets for the Round of 8 on Wednesday, March 16. Voting for the Elite 8 tips off March 16 thru March 21.

Time for the second half of voting to get started!

Stay tuned to Downtown Madness Score Central on the DNA Blog for the latest updates!

* * * * * * *

And don't forget to download your bracket in our Downtown Madness Pick 'Em Challenge - Presented by Daily Herald Media Group. Correctly predict the winners (based on the round-by-round voting) from the Opening Round straight thru the Championship Game to take your shot at $100 in Downtown Elgin Gift Certificates.

To download and fill out your bracket, click here!

Completed Downtown Madness Pick 'Em Challenge sheets must be submitted to DNA by Monday, March 14. E-mail predictions and completed sheets to DowntownElgin@gmail.com

Adirondacks - Thrones of Summer 2011 Participation Reminder

Adirondacks-Thrones of Summer 2011 is directed by the Elgin Community Network in partnership with the Gail Borden Public Library, City of Elgin, Elgin Climate Change Organization, Elgin Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Neighborhood Association and Elgin's businesses, corporations, restaurants, public agencies, schools, churches, community groups and not-for profits. The event is completely volunteer driven and free to the public!

Once again ECN is asking the community to enthusiastically embrace the imaginative Thrones just as they did the Rain Barrels, Bicycles On Parade, and Dinos. They are asking you to be a part of this extraordinary project and create a fanciful work of art using a simple, oversized adirondack chair as the canvas.

These artful entertainment pieces will be

· Displayed throughout the community during June
· Be a part of Gail Borden's Midsummer Knight's Read
· On the float in the City of Elgin's 2011 4th of July Parade
· Showcased in July and voted on at the library
· Exhibited & auctioned off at Elgin's largest art festival, Art & Soul on the Fox/Passeggiata on July 31

At less than $3 a day, this is a great way for you to advertise your identity. The exposure is immense and ongoing from June to August.

The deadline to participate is Tuesday, March 15. There will be a colossal, eco-friendly, medieval kickoff slated for Saturday, April 23 at Gail Borden Public Library.

The DNA encourages all of our downtown businesses to participate in this excellent promotional opportunity which enhances and enriches our community.

For more information, please download the Adirondacks-Thrones of Summer 2011 application by clicking here!

Again, please submit your completed application and fee by Tuesday, March 15.

For more information, contact Sigi Psimenos at 312.953.8216 or email sigiusa@yahoo.com

The Madness is Here!

The Madness is Here! Welcome to Downtown Madness - the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin's exciting new interactive promotion for the entire month of March with downtown Elgin's restaurants and bars.

In the spirit of the popular NCAA College Basketball Tournament, we proudly unveil our own version of March Madness with a distinctly downtown twist this Friday, March 4 in the form of a bracket tournament that will pit 16 sweet dishes and drinks from downtown establishments against each other and YOU, the voting public, determine the winners.

Beginning this Friday, the public will be able to vote online for their favorite "dish" or "drink" in each of the Opening Round match-ups at http://bit.ly/fQ7GtX. (NOTE: The link will not be "live" until Friday at 1PM.) Downtown Neighborhood News subscribers will receive a personal invitation to the voting link on Friday morning.

Here are your Opening Round match-ups with corresponding "signature dish" or "signature drink" in parenthesis:

-Domani Café (Domani Latte) vs. La Quebrada (Tampiquena)
-Al's Café & Creamery (Burns Malt) vs. Spanky's Gyros (Italian Sausage)
-Douglas Street Sports Pub (Bacon Cheddar Burger) vs. La Puesta Del Sol (La Puesta Margarita)
-Elgin Public House (Pulled Pork) vs. Ravenheart Coffee (Mediterranean Club Sandwich)
-Buckingham's Steakhouse (Grand Tomahawk) vs. Gasthaus Zur Linde (Das Boot)
-Bangkok House & Shanghai Restaurant (Pa Naeng) vs. Red Bar Winery (Spicy Butter Poached Shrimp)
-Martini Room (Appletini) vs. Toom Toom Thai Restaurant (Thai Style Chicken Wings)
-PRIME BurgerHouse (Drunken Bull Burger) vs. Villa Verone Ristorante Italiano (Asparagi)

Opening Round voting lasts from Friday, March 4 thru Monday, March 14. After which eight of the 16 establishments will move on to the Round of 8, with second round voting slated for March 13-21. The final four establishments tip-off third round voting March 23-28. The Championship Game round of voting then takes place March 30-April 4, with the winning venue announced on Wednesday, April 6.

In addition to the public voting component of Downtown Madness, there will also be a separate Downtown Madness "Pick 'Em" Challenge - Presented by Daily Herald Media Group, where the public will have the opportunity to fill out and predict the winners of the entire Downtown Madness bracket tournament from the Round of 16 through the Championship Game.

Points are awarded for each correctly picked "winner" based on the week-to-week voting results. The sheet with the most points at the end of the promotion will win $100 in Downtown Gift Certificates. In case of a tie, a drawing will be conducted amongst the high-point sheets to determine a winner.

The official Pick 'Em Challenge brackets will be available this Friday, March 4 at www.DailyHerald.com/community/elgin as well as http://www.downtownelgin.com/.

All completed sheets are due into the DNA, via e-mail at DowntownElgin@gmail.com or dropped off in-person at 2 Douglas Avenue, by no later than Monday, March 14. A complete list of rules and instruction on how to play will be available on the bracket sheet and on the DNA Blog.

For clarification purposes, the round-by-round selections made by participants in the Pick 'Em Challenge DO NOT have any bearing on the voting component of Downtown Madness.

We invite everyone to join in on all the "hoopla" of Downtown Madness! Bring your family and friends downtown to rediscover all of our great restaurants and bars and vote for your favorites.

Downtown Madness Round of 16 Voting

WELCOME!

Click here to Join the Madness!

2011 Downtown Elgin Harvest Market Seeking Volunteers

The 2011 Downtown Elgin Harvest Market - Presented by Alexian Brothers, which kicks off Thursday, June 2, is seeking volunteers interested in participating in our Market Advisory Committee.

Under the direction of the Downtown Neighborhood Association’s new Market Manager, Jennifer Benson, this advisory committee will provide input and feedback about shaping the market in 2011. We are also seeking volunteers to assist with set-up, take-down and other duties during the market season.

Vendor and sponsorship applications for the 2011 Harvest Market as well as other Harvest Market specifics will be available soon.

If you have any questions or suggestions about the Downtown Elgin Harvest Market or would be interested in joining the Harvest Market's Advisory Committee, please contact Jennifer Benson at 847.488.1456 or via e-mail at elginharvestmarket@gmail.com.

Last Chance to RSVP for February Out to Lunch at DSSP

Our next Out to Lunch meeting will be Monday, February 28 from Noon-1:15pm and is proudly hosted by Douglas Street Sports Pub at 231 Douglas Avenue.

February's featured guest speaker will be City of Elgin Police Chief Jeff Swoboda.

For $12 per person (all inclusive with tax & tip included - cash only), guests may choose one of three delicious lunch options:

- Italian Beef Aus Jus on soft roll
- Turkey Patty Melt - 1/2 lb of homemade turkey breast piled high on marble rye with Jack & American cheese and grilled onions
- Vegetarian Patty Melt - served between two roasted pieces of marble rye with Swiss and American cheese and grilled onions

All meals come with fries, a cookie for dessert and a beverage of choice - soft drinks, iced tea or coffee.

Please RSVP to DNA by no later than Friday, February 25, with your name, e-mail address and choice of entree, by phone at 847.488.1456, by e-mail at jpawlowski@elginil.org or you can RSVP Online!

Downtown Brainstorm #1 Results & Next Steps

In November of 2010, the DNA held its first Downtown Brainstorm Workshop in an effort to engage the Elgin community and encourage more involvement in downtown issues, happenings and DNA programming. Approximately 60 people attended the workshop and discussed the following topics in a series of 3 roundtable rotations:

• Special Events
• Arts Initiatives
• Property Improvement
• Community Outreach
• “Green” Initiatives
• New Business Development
• Fundraising
• Marketing

An overview of the feedback received at this meeting is available here >

The DNA utilized this feedback to help us plan our organizational programming for 2011. We decided to focus on the 3 themes that we saw reoccurring at the workshop. These themes are outlined below along with a brief summary of some of the programming that we have started for 2011 to address them.

More communication about who DNA is and what we do.

• Creating a direct mailer to Elgin residents promoting the mission of the DNA along with our new downtown directory brochure listing downtown businesses and attractions.


• Speaking to neighborhood groups and encouraging resident memberships and involvement.


• Putting out regular communication about what our committees are currently working on via social media and website.


• Providing small “innovation grants” to downtown businesses to assist them in promoting their business and the downtown in creative and innovative ways.


• Hosting an information workshop about downtown grant programs and an open house for our Downtown Design Resource Center in April.

Smaller, more frequent downtown events and promotions, especially in the arts.

• Planning at least one promotion each month to promote downtown businesses and attractions. Look for "Downtown Madness" in March...


• Planning 1-2 downtown cruise nights leading up to the Downtown Car Show.


• Working with the Cultural Arts Commission on public art component of a poetry and photography contest to display work in vacant storefronts.


• Encouraging and supporting other groups to do small downtown “street” events throughout the summer and fall.
  

More marketing about the positive changes in downtown.

• Revamping downtownelgin.com with enhanced visual media and social media applications to engage visitors.


• Producing short videos interviewing downtown business owners about what they do and why they do it.


• Planning to launch a campaign marketing downtown’s available commercial spaces and properties to potential tenants and buyers.


• Planning a downtown streetpole banner campaign with key marketing messages.


• Distributing our new downtown directory brochure in the Daily Herald Fox Valley edition (15,000+ subscribers)

We hope you will join us for our next Downtown Brainstorm Workshop on Tuesday, March 22, 6-8PM at The Centre of Elgin’s Heritage Ballroom. Please RSVP to (847) 488-1456 or downtownelgin@gmail.com.

Thank you for supporting the organization that supports downtown.

The DNA Board of Directors & Staff

Thunder on the Fox Informational Meeting at Elgin Public House on 2/21

This summer the excitement of national professional powerboat racing will hit the waters of the Fox River as Thunder on the Fox comes to Elgin on Saturday, June 18 and Sunday, June 19. The event is projected to bring close to 30,000 spectators from all over the country into the Elgin area over the course of the entire weekend.

The organizer of this sporting event, Jim McGrath, would like to speak to area businesses about potential promotional and sponsorship opportunities available with the race, as well as answer any questions about the event that you may have.

Business owners are invited to attend a brief informational meeting at Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago Street on Monday, February 21 at 6:00PM.

If you are interested in attending this meeting, please RSVP at 847.488.1456 or e-mail jpawlowski@elginil.org by no later than Thursday, February 17 at 5:00PM.

February Downtown Gift Certificate Promotion

Calling all Cupids and Casanovas!

Want to know the perfect combination to his or her heart this Valentine's Day? This year, give them what they really want: Downtown Gift Certificates and Red Bar Wine.

Throughout the month of February, purchase a minimum of $50 in Downtown Elgin Gift Certificates and receive a voucher for a complimentary bottle of Red Bar Winery's hottest new custom varietals:

Rediscover Red (Red Sangria)

or

Get Down 2Nite (Cranberry-Apple White Wine)

Downtown Gift Certificates are valid at over 60 downtown businesses and available in $5 and $10 denominations. Stop into the DNA Office at 2 Douglas Avenue in downtown Elgin to purchase yours today!

Make your Valentine's date night special this year with Downtown Gift Certificates and Red Bar Winery's Rediscover Red or Get Down 2 Nite White.

Limit one bottle per customer. Wine must be redeemed at Red Bar Winery, 74 S. Grove Avenue by March 1, 2011. Red Bar Winery cannot guarantee choice of Downtown Red or Downtown White as supplies are limited.

Downtown Snow Removal Update - February 4

As a reminder to our downtown residents and businesses, the NO PARKING signs and parking restrictions throughout downtown will remain in effect from now through Sunday morning.

We realize these parking restrictions are an inconvenience but they are necessary to assist City crews in cleaning out the parking stalls. We continue to urge you to park in the city lots and decks throughout the weekend. Parking time limits will not be enforced in city lots and decks during this time. Enforcement will resume Monday at 8AM.

Also curb-to-curb haul out of the snow continues tonight and Saturday night.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

If you have any questions, please contact the City of Elgin's 24-Hour Snow Command at 847-931-5977 or e-mail snowcommand@cityofelgin.org

Welcome New & Renewing DNA Members for 2011

The Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) of Elgin welcomes our new and renewing DNA Members from the month of January 2011:

BocaJump
1331 Davis Road
(847) 695-9476

Gifford Park Association

O'Connor-Leetz Funeral Home
364 Division Street
(847) 741-1400

Ziegler's Ace Hardware
215 N. Spring Street
(847) 742-8939

Nick's Liquors
71 Clock Tower Plaza #77
(847) 742-4939

164 Division LLC
164 Division Street, #705
(847) 697-7799

Boys & Girls Club of Elgin
355 Dundee Avenue
(847) 608-5017

Fox River Water Reclamation District
(847) 742-2068

Tom's Auto Clinic
264 Prairie Street
(847) 695-5835

Elgin Public Museum
225 Grand Boulevard
(847) 741-6655

Elgin United Methodist Church
216 E. Highland Avenue
(847) 741-0038

YWCA Elgin
220 E. Chicago Street
(847) 742-7930

Elgin Parent Co-Op School
240 Standish Street
(847) 741-0506

Demi & Cooper Advertising
18 Villa Court
(847) 931-5800

Future Link IT
166 E. Chicago Street
(224) 523-8000

Provena St. Joseph Hospital
77 N. Airlite Street
(847) 695-3200

Elgin Public House
219 E. Chicago Street
(847) 468-8810

Colonial Cafe
600 S. McLean Boulevard
(847) 888-3939

La Puesta Del Sol
165 E. Highland Avenue
(847) 468-1416

Shockey Jewelers
18 Douglas Avenue
(847) 742-0113

Steffen Kelly & Steffen, P.C.
17 Douglas Avenue
(847) 741-0503

The Larkin Center
1212 Larkin Avenue
(847) 695-5656

Anderson Graphics, Inc.
9N656 Beckman Trail, Unit 1
(847) 521-9225

CSI Technologies
1 Douglas Avenue
(847) 836-3000

Kim's Black Belt Academy
5 South Spring Street
(847) 695-5434

Senior Services Associates, Inc.
101 S. Grove Avenue
(847) 741-0404

Prominent Property Management, Inc.
160 Symphony Way, Suite 400
(847) 697-7764

Highland Fellowship Church
2250 W. Highland Avenue
(847) 741-6629



Armida & Joseph Dominguez

Bill & Kathleen McGraw

Dan & Karen Fox

Jack & Beverly Sabo

Jerri McCue

Patricia & Dan Miller

Steve Thoren

Alex Pecharich

John Bordsen

Tony Aiello & Laurie Faith Gibson-Aiello

Weert Goldstein

Mohammad Iqbal

Keith Farnham

Rhonda & Ed Huber

Michael & Gail Foltyn

John DiVerde, Jr.


Help support the organization that supports downtown Elgin by becoming a Downtown Neighborhood Association Member in 2011.

Community Family/Individual Memberships start as low as $30!

Community and Downtown Business Memberships are available with a variety of valuable member benefits packages including special member rates on DNA events, promotional mentions in the Downtown Neighborhood News, display ads at www.DowntownElgin.com and much more!

Click here for a list of available DNA Membership packages and rates > > >

You can even sign-up and pay for your DNA Membership securely via our Online Payment Processing Page.

For more information about DNA Membership or for other ways you can support downtown Elgin, contact us at 847.488.1456 or e-mail downtownelgin@gmail.com.