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WHAT'S HAPPENING IN JULY
Downtown Public Art Project Coming To Tower Square Park
Keep your eyes on Tower Square Park across the street in the coming weeks, because one talented and lucky artist will be putting his/her "footprint" on the park, literally!
Tower Square Park has been selected as one of twenty sites to display a variety of original five-foot sneaker art projects. The sneakers will serve as canvases for local artists as part of the Art & Soles public art project.
A select group of artists who will be chosen to work on the twenty fiberglass high-top sneakers. The artists will be selected based on their proposals and how they answered the question: What makes Springfield great? Each winning artist will be given a stipend of $500 and a $250 materials allowance.
All twenty of the creatively designed sneakers will be on display at various locations throughout downtown Springfield prior to the 2010 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement festivities and remain until late October. A gala celebration is also planned during which the twenty sneakers will be auctioned off for charity.
Art & Soles is collaboration between the Springfield Business Improvement District, the Greater Springfield-UMass Amherst Partnership and TSM Design. These three organizations came up with this historic public art project during discussions around the notion that art can change perceptions about public spaces.
Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno is excited about the possibilities, "This is a terrific idea for the City of Springfield in that it will highlight many downtown businesses and attractions. It will help with the city's economic revitalization as it brings people to Springfield to view these art pieces."
Businesses and organizations interested in sponsoring a sneaker should contact the Springfield Business Improvement District at 413.781.1594. Anyone interested in receiving an Artist Prospectus should email: Pat@tsmdesign.com
Farmers Market in Full Swing on Fridays
A new vendor this year, View For Miles Farm, is one of ten vendors currently
participating in the Downtown Farmers Market at Tower Square Park
open every Friday thru September 25.
The Downtown Farmers Market at Tower Square Park has hit the ground running this season with ten of the area's finest growers, including a few new vendors, all featuring a nice variety of fresh local products.
Conveniently located across the street at Tower Square Park (Bridge & Main St.) every Friday from 11am-2pm, this downtown market offers a great opportunity for you to get a jump on your weekend meals and even your gardening!
This year there are ten vendors participating at the market from all over Western Mass and Northern Connecticut. The farmers offer a wide array of products including; organic bread, artisan cheese, pesticide free produce & plants, herbs, ice cream, honey, cheese, baked goods, jams, jellies, pickles, hand raised poultry and even organic pet treats. You will want to stock up, so don't forget to bring your cooler on Fridays!
This market is once again managed by Belle Rita Novak, who also has 12 years of experience as the manager of the successful Farmers Market at the X. As a result of her rapport with the farm community, Novak was instrumental in breathing new life into this downtown market when she began running it last year. Her dedication and experience continues to make an impact at the X market in the Forest Park community and the same is expected for the downtown market.
"Farmers' markets are truly symbiotic," says Novak. "Farmers get retail prices for their goods, and those of us who don't live in the country can purchase delicious food and other products without having to travel to buy them." (See Belle Rita's commentary in The Buzz from Belle Rita inside.)
The Farmers' Market is co-sponsored by the Springfield Business Improvement District and Tower Square Management. For more information visit SpringfieldDowntown.com. and VisitTowerSquare.com
Travel Agent vs On-Line Booking
To book your travel plans via the web or use a travel agent? That is the question many busy and budget conscience travelers are asking!
The experts say that the general rule of thumb is ..the more complex or expensive the itinerary, the better off you would be to use a travel agent, but there are other issues to take into account as well.
Here are some things from www.smartertraveler.com to consider before planning your next trip:
Good Deals:
Travel agents can get any deal that you can get for yourself on-line, but they also have resources that the typical consumer doesn't: such as deals limited to computer reservation systems, as well as cruise and tour deals distributed directly to agencies.
Booking Savvy:
A savvy travel agent knows booking tricks that can sometimes cut your costs considerably.
Upgrades:
When you buy cheap on line, you get cheap. But when you buy cheap through a travel agent, often times the agent can wangle an upgrade (i.e. upgrade your cruise cabin, your hotel room, and even your airline seating.)
Travel Counsel:
A good travel agent knows destinations and can help you make decisions based on first hand knowledge.
Efficiency:
Online booking can take a lot of time and research. A 10-minute call to an agent can get you what would take hours to find on the Internet on your own.
Help in a Pinch:
If something goes wrong on your trip, your travel agent is your best ally!
Finding an Agent:
Seek out a specialist who has some experience, and has a good reputation.
For your convenience Tower Square has just such travel specialists at Emerald City Travel located on street level. Emerald City Travel has been handling the needs of travelers from across the Pioneer Valley for more than thirty years. For questions regarding your next trip, contact Janice Webb at Emerald City Travel at 413.737-4361.
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