Downtown Details News From Downtown Mobile Alliance http://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent... News from the Downtown Mobile Alliance October 2009 In This Issue Dear Carol, Development Buzz Though the temperatures might argue otherwise, the holiday Retail Happenings season is quickly approaching, and it's time to begin planning for decorations and activities to draw folks downtown. In recent BayFest years Downtown Mobile has been woefully unadorned for the Article Headline holidays, but an energetic group of Royal Street businesses have decided to make downtown THE place to visit to see fun and New Downtown Marketing Campaign fancy decorations. See the story below for details on how you Article Headline can participate. In the meantime, enjoy the fabulous fall temperatures... take a walk at lunch to see the new plantings...come down for the countless events... contribute to the great street scene the defines downtown! We also note, with sadness, the passing of downtown icon, Virginia Naman. Mrs. Naman oversaw Naman's Department Store for decades, and even when others abandoned the city center for the suburbs, she became more determined to succeed in her beloved downtown. Of course, she was right all along. The redevelopment of downtown was and is worth the effort, and we will miss her presence as we continue the mission. Development Buzz For obvious reasons we love announcing new businesses that have located or moved downtown, but we especially love it when the business is an entirely new enterprise. That's the case with Boom Buggy, a pedicab operation that will carry passengers through the streets of Downtown Mobile during the day and night. The buggies will begin operation in about two weeks and will not charge a fee...instead, the passenger will tip the driver 1 of 20 11/30/2009 7:10 PM Downtown Details News From Downtown Mobile Alliance http://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent... (or pedaller as the case may be). June Reddix-Stennis bought two of the cabs from a manufacturer in England and plans to begin operation the first week of November. In other development news: If you grew up along the Alabama Gulf Coast you probably visited the Gulf Gate Lodge at the beach a time or two. You'll soon have a chance to relive those moments in an entirely different setting...Downtown Mobile! The son of the original proprietors will be bring the Gulf Coast seafood classics to 161 Dauphin Street as soon as renovations are complete. BP has moved its offices from mid-town Mobile in the Bel Air Mall area to the RSA tower. The 20 employees are occupying offices on the 20th floor of the tower. The Birmingham law office of Maynard Cooper & Gayle has opened an office in downtown. Headed up by local attorney Jay Watkins, the Port City office is located at 3 South Royal Street, above Serda's Coffee Retail Happenings Shopping, Dining and Entertainment News This month we say goodbye to Time to Eat, whose owners are focusing on their Theodore operation, but we are pleased to welcome Fine Dining and Catering, which just opened its doors at the corner of Jackson and St. Francis streets last week. The establishment is currently open for lunch Monday - Friday and dinner on Friday & Saturday evenings. The menu, which changes daily, features a soul food centered menu. In other news: Haven't decided on a Halloween costume yet? If you have a yellow hard hat, a red checkered shirt, overalls and a tool belt, you could be Bob the Builder...and you could get into the Gulf Coast Exploreum for all the permanent exhibits as well as the Bob the Builder exhibit free on October 31st. The costume promotion is open to all ages. The Mediterranean Sandwich Co. at 274 Dauphin Street is now open and offers a great $5 lunch during the week and late night on the weekends. Some Upcoming Live Entertainment: Alabama Music Box: Tornado River - Thursday, October 22 Entropy, SubjectMatters, Super Nice Bros. - Friday, October 23 TKO Indie Dance Party: Necrovita, Zombie Photography show by: Brett Moroun - Saturday, October 24 Or The Whale, Muskrat Hannah, Heath & Melody of El Cantador - Monday, October 26 Rise Up Howling Warewold, Heat Lightning Record Release Show - Thursday, October 30 Halloween Party music by DJ Charles III - Saturday, October 31 2 of 20 11/30/2009 7:10 PM Downtown Details News From Downtown Mobile Alliance http://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent... DooDoo Fest Night 1: An Albatross, Dark Meat, Cockfight - Tuesday, November 3 DooDoo Fest Night 2: Thomas Function, Yussuf Jerusalem, CCUSA & the HHR, Wizzard Sleeve - Wednesday, November 4 DooDoo Fest Night 3: Pinehill Haints, The Coathangers, The Underground Railroad to Candyland - Thursday, November 5 SoAl Film Fest After Party with Mob Towne Revival, Blueyes Soul - Friday, November 6 Today the Moon Tomorrow the Sun, Shotgun Lover - Saturday, November 7 Lucero "Ramblin' Roadsho and Memphis Revue" all ages - Tuesday, November 10 Tea Lights - Wednesday, November 11 Pygmy Shrews - Thursday, November 12 Bamboo Shoots, Too Far From Amsterdam, Kadesh & the Perfect Strangers - Friday, November 13 Captured! By Robots, Kid Midi - Saturday, November 14 Awesome New Republic, Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears, Rosewood Thieves - Monday, November 16 The Battle House Hotel: John Anthony (in the Tavern)- Every Monday through Saturday Loose Cannons (Joe Cain Cafe) - Every Wednesday Bay City Brass (Joe Cain Cafe) - Every Sunday The Blind Mule: Muskrat Hannah, Sugarcane Jane - Friday, October 23 The Curtis Jaywalkers - Saturday, October 24 You & What Army? Improv Comedy - Friday, October 30 The Sunshine Factory, TBA - Saturday, October 31 Free Show: A Bridge To Burn, Delirium Trigger - Friday, November 6 Phil Lee - Saturday, November 7 Come Up For Air - Friday, November 13 Muskrat Hannah, Whiskey Comatose, Renee Arozqueta, Spide, Octopus - Saturday, November 14 Grand Central: Last Episode - Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24 Top of the Orange - Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31 Silver Tongue Devil - Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7 The Ugli Stick - Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14 Serda's: Seeking Sui - Friday, October 23 Jon Cowart Music - Saturday, October 24 Lil Greenwood - Friday, October 30 Bruce Innes - Saturday, October 31 Elements of a Difference - Friday, November 6 Gentry Dodd - Saturday, November 7 The Curtis Jaywalkers - Friday, November 13 Scott Chism & the Better Half - Saturday, November 14 Soul Kitchen: 3 of 20 11/30/2009 7:10 PM Downtown Details News From Downtown Mobile Alliance http://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent... Once: Pearl Jam & Nirvana Tribute Bands - Friday, October 23 The Uglistick - Saturday, October 24 Galactic with Molotov Circus Side Show - Saturday, October 31 Jessie James and Push Play - Wednesday, November 4 Tim Reynolds and TR3 - Thursday, November 5 BoomBox - Friday, November 6 The Velcro Pygmies - Saturday, November 7 Perpetual Groove - Friday, November 13 Veets: Jodyoke - Every Tuesday Doug Previto & the Family Jewels - Every Wednesday through Sunday Public Hearing Set for Business Improvement District Renewal The Mobile City Council will hold a public hearing on the renewal of the Downtown Mobile Business Improvement District (BID) on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at Government Plaza. The BID was established in 2005 to provide services to property owners and amenities to visitors that were not then available. It must be reauthorized by the city council every five years. If you would like to read a draft of the BID Management Plan, which sets the focus and scope of work for the next five years, please click the link below. It is also on the home page of our website at www.downtownmobile.org. District Management Plan Draft Decking the Balconies for the Holidays Towns and cities across the country create holiday displays that attract visitors from near and far, but except for the beautiful Christmas tree in Bienville Square, there hasn't been much reason to come downtown for great holiday decor in recent years. Some energetic businesses along Royal Street are working to change all that this year and they're making it easy for you to get involved. The balconies at the Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown will be alive with music as area choirs are invited to perform during the holiday season. Space is provided at no charge and the hotel will provide a hot cocoa and cookie reception after the event. Interested groups should contact either Cynthia Mitchell at [email protected] or Justine Burbank at [email protected]. The Hampton Inn will also be sponsoring a decorating contest on the 16 balconies facing Royal Street... look for details soon on how you can join the competition. The Royal in Lights Committee is also planning to brighten everyone's holiday season with a dazzling light display and a special mailbox for Letters to Santa. We're hoping to offer families a no-cost event to celebrate the season and giving them an extra reason to come downtown! Two Fundraisers Aid the Homeless As homelessness becomes more of a problem in Gulf Coast cities (in 2009 the homeless population in Mobile and Baldwin Counties grew 42%), the work of the Waterfront Rescue Mission becomes more important than ever. For more 60 years the Mission has been a faith-based rescue and recovery organization for the poor, addicted, abused and homeless, 4 of 20 11/30/2009 7:10 PM Downtown Details News From Downtown Mobile Alliance http://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent... helping to rehabilitate those with few resources or family support. You can help with this valuable mission by attending a fund-raising luncheon on November 20th at the Mobile Convention Center.