Now Open on Wednesdays! Summertime will be a little livelier in downtown Springfield as the The Downtown Market at Tower Square Park kicks off the season on Wednesday, June 11 with sixteen vendors including local farmers, crafters, artisans, as well as food vendors.
The market, which was held on Fridays in past seasons, has been moved to Wednesdays to increase foot traffic as well as to help break up the monotony of the work week with a little excitement. The Downtown Market, which is located across the street at the corner of Main & Bridge streets, runs from 10am 3pm every Wednesday now through the end of September.
One of the highlights of The Downtown Market will be the CityBlock Lunchtime Concerts from noon 1:30pm, featuring some of the region's favorite bands.
The popular Jimmy Mazz Band will kick off opening day on June 11, and the Zoo in Forest Park will be on hand to introduce their new timber wolf cubs to the public as an added attraction. Tower Square's own Neighborhood Foods will be on hand with their delicious popcorn as well!
Farm vendors at the market each week will offer locally grown in-season produce, plants, flowers, and herbs. Participating farms to date include Green Acres Fruit Farm, Hickory Dell Farm, Sangha Farm, and Rudy's Greenhouse.
The weekly crafts and retail vendors will be selling hand-woven baskets (woven on site), jewelry, hand-painted wearable art, hand-made hemp bags, books and much more. Participating vendors include: Sista's Baskets at the Market Place, The Hemp Power Bag Company, Jewelry by Migdalia, Usborne Books, Feast the Eyes, Harmonic Healing, Wild Tree Herbs and Something to Talk About.
For your enjoyment and convenience Tower Grill and Villa Pizza will also have food and beverage stations at the market on Wednesdays as well.
The Downtown Market at Tower Square Park is sponsored by the Springfield Business Improvement District and Tower Square.
*Market activities and vendor stations are contingent upon the weather each week.
Student Art on Display in Center Court on its Way to Capitol
This pen & ink entitled Panning in on Perspective by Rashelle Palmer
of Uxbridge, MA, won our district's Congressional Art Competition for
High School Students and will hang in the halls of the US Capitol for one year.
Did you see the high school students' artwork on display in Center Court last month as part of US Congressman Richard Neal's art competition? Wow! After looking at the various works, one thing became clear..we have a lot of talented students in the region!
However, only one piece could be chosen to win the high honor of this Congressional Art Competition.the honor of hanging on the walls of the United States Capitol in Washington, DC.
That honor goes to Rashelle Palmer of Uxbridge High School for her wonderful pen and ink entitled Panning in on Perspective. Over the course of the two week exhibit at Tower Square a team of judges selected Rashelle's work for the top honor.
An Artistic Discovery, is the annual nationwide Congressional High School Art Competition, sponsored by the Congressional Arts Caucus and coordinated by Members of the United States House of Representatives in their districts. The winning entry from this competition, along with others from similar competitions in Congressional Districts across the nation, will be exhibited in a remarkable display in a hallway of the United States Capitol for an entire year.
The art competition and exhibit provides Members of Congress and the public the opportunity to encourage and recognize the rich artistic talents of young Americans at a time when local cultural organizations and arts-in-education programs are being curtailed.
Look for next year's Congressional Art Competition Exhibit in Center Court in May 2009!
Survey Results Are In: Americans Need A Vacation!
The Emerald City Travel Experts Can Help You De-Stress
For the eighth consecutive year Americans were found to receive and use less vacation time than their counterparts abroad, and it may have an impact on our stress levels. That's according to the eighth annual Vacation Deprivation Survey commissioned by Expedia.
According to the survey, despite reporting an average of 14 available paid vacation days, an estimated 47.5 million Americans (31% of employed US adults almost as much as the entire population of California and Illinois combined) will not use all of their vacation days. Once again employed US adults will leave an average of three vacation days on the table.
Despite these numbers, Americans say they do see the advantages to some down time, with 52% claiming to feel rested, more productive and efficient after returning from vacation.
Work responsibilities are one of the biggest deterents to taking vacation, with 18% reporting that they have cancelled or postponed vacations due to work, and another 29% admitting they have trouble coping with stress from work while on vacation.
As a comparison the Expedia survey found the average number of available vacation days offered for employed workers around the globe as follows:
United States 14 days
Canadians - 17 days
Great Britain 26 days
Germany 27 days
Netherlands & Austria 28 days
Spain 31 days
France 37 days
To make the most of your vacation days, the travel consultants at Emerald City Travel can help you plan a stress free get-away that will leave you feeling rejuvenated and ready to hit the ground running when you return to work afterwards!
Contact Janice or Julie at (413) 737-4361.
D.R.E.A.M. Studios
Launches Summer Programs
Local youngsters will be given the opportunity to strengthen their talents and abilities in the performing arts through the DREAM Studios summer camp program.
Launching its sixth season this month, the purpose of the DREAM Studios summer camp program is to help develop outstanding inner city youth through the performing and visual arts, by providing them with a safe outlet to express themselves creatively. Promoting teamwork, self confidence, reading skills, presentation and hard work are just a few of the areas the camp programs focus on.
Upcoming camp sessions include:
Writers Block: For young writers, actors and actresses: June 23 27 (Ages 9 18)
Audio & Video Production: The basics: June 23 August 29 (Ages 13 18)
Shakers Performing Arts Camp Session I: Dancing, singing, acting with emphasis on classical theater: June 30 July 19 (Ages 9 18)
Shakers Performing Arts Camp Session II: One-on-one training with accomplished dramatist: July 21 August 1 (Ages 5 9)
Costume Design: July 21 August 1 (Ages 9 18)
Dance Intensive: dance boot camp in preparation for Dance Factory performance:
August 4 23 (Ages 5 18)
To find our more about DREAM Studios summer camps or to support a camper, log onto www.dreamstudios.org or call 413.739.1500.
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Take a break downtown and enjoy the
JIMMY MAZZ
BAND
Wednesday, June 11
Noon 1:30pm Tower Square Park
As we kick off the summer season with the
CityBlock Lunchtime Concert Series
Join us EVERY Wednesday
this summer for some of the region's best bands!
2008 CityBlock Concert Schedule
Jimmy Mazz Band........................June 11
Sweet Daddy Cool Breeze..........June 18
Bad Monkey................................June 25
Alibi................................................July 2
Janet Ryan & Straight Up................July 9
The Inside Job...............................July 16
Time Trippers.................................July 23
Red Haired Strangers...................July 30
Floyd Patterson Band...................August 6
Dan Daniels & Your No Good Buddies.. .................................................August 13
Janet Ryan & Straight Up...........August 20
Alibi...........................................August 27
Sweet Daddy Cool Breeze....September 3
Bad Monkey.......................September 10
The Inside Job....................September 17
Gene Donaldson & The Stingrays............... ..........................................September 24
For your enjoyment located across
the street from Tower Square at
The Downtown Market
at Tower Square Park at the
corner of Main & Bridge Streets
Sponsored by www.SpringfieldDowntown.com
& Tower Square. |
Check Out
WEDNESDAYS
10am 3pm
LOCAL FARMERS n CRAFT VENDORS n FOOD n MUSIC
FEATURING:
Hickory Dell Farm
Sangha Farm
Green Acres Fruit Farm
Rudy's Greenhouse
Hemp Power Bag Company
Sista's Baskets at the Market Place
Jewelry by Migdalia
Usborne Books
Feast The Eyes
Harmonic Healing
Wild Tree Herbs
Something To Talk About
Villa Pizza
Tower Grill
CITYBLOCK Concerts
at Noon!
Joining us on OPENING DAY: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11
Forest Park Zoo
introduces their new Timber Wolf Cubs!
Jimmy Mazz Band
from Noon 1:30pm
Popcorn from Neighborhood Foods
Located across the street at Tower Square Park at the corner of Main & Bridge Streets.
Sponsored by www.SpringfieldDowntown.com
& Tower Square.
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Mark your calendars!
Every THIRD THURSDAY
of the Month this summer enjoy the
Tower Square Mini-Summer
CRAFTS FAIRS!
11am 2pm Citywalk Cafes
June 19
July17
August 21
September 18
Featuring Ten of your favorite
crafts vendors & artisans from past
Tower Square Crafts Fairs!
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
Beaded Jewelry
Homemade Soup Mixes
Candles
Silpada Jewelry
Tupperware
Bath & Beauty Products
Handpainted Glass products
& much more..
Sponsored by the Tower Square
management office.
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Tower Square Celebrates the Arts with.
The Springfield Cultural Council's
STORE FRONT
ARTS PROJECT
Bringing local artists and available display
space together to make a better Springfield.
Celebrate the talent of local artists:
Janet Stupak
Sarah Russell
Julie Ayotte
Lori Mader
& More
On Display Now in the
Tower Square MAIN STREET windows!
For information on the Store Front Arts Project
contact the Springfield Cultural Council at
413.543.6030 or www.SpringfieldCulturalCouncil.org
Exhibit ends June 30, 2008.
You're invited to sneak a peak at the
Our Walls Are Your Walls
EXHIBIT at the
Valley Photo Center
Check out the photographic expertise of regional amateur and professional photographers who have submitted their best works to be featured
in this Open Submission Show.
Show ends June 21
The gallery is open Tuesday Saturday 11am 2pm. Located on the Upper Level. |
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Season Finale!
Here is your last chance this season
to attend the Chamber's
EXECUTIVE POWER NETWORKING
Hosted by Tower Square in the
MEETING ROOM
Wednesday, June 25
7:45 - 9:45am
Enjoy the
Keynote Speaker
Networking
Business Card Exchange
Coffee & Pastries
To register contact Diane Swanson
at the Chamber at
(413) 755-1313
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NEIGHBORHOOD
FOODS
Now has
Play your favorite KENO numbers for up to 30 consecutive games,
then visitwww.masslottery.com for the drawing results just minutes
after the games have been drawn.
You must be 18 years old or older to play.
If you have a gambling problem, help is available at 1-800-426-1234.
Read All About It.
NEIGHBORHOOD FOODS
Helps you to stay current by carrying
your favorite
NEWSPAPERS!
The New York Times
Boston Globe
Wall Street Journal
USA Today
Washington Post
Hartford Courant
New York Daily News
New York Post
Boston Herald
The Republican
Stop by Neighborhood Foods on Street Level to purchase your periodicals! |
