Northfield Downtown Development Corporation

Meetings either seem to keep me from getting my work done or add many more items to my “to-do” list. Often they do both. However, sometimes meetings are a valuable source of important information.

This morning I attended an interesting meeting. The gathering, back in maybe 2000, was known as something like the Art Town Group, then it became the Joint NDDC-NAG Arts, Recreation and Culture Committee, and now it seems to be the Arts and Culture Committee. It is peopled with some of Northfield’s most independent thinkers.

Today’s group included Bardwell Smith, Hayes Scriven, Dixon Bond, Philip Spensley, Rob Schanilec, Keith Covey, and Jane McWilliams. Library Board member Bob Bruce gave an update on the library’s planning process. That’s where the important information was shared.

The Library Board sent out a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Feasibility Study of the current site. Six architectural firms responded and four are currently being considered. In the next week or so, a final decision will be made. Then a two to three month process will begin, including at least two public forums. The first public forum is anticipated for early May.

Then Northfield Historical Society E. D. and new father Hayes Scriven and I made like bakers and hauled buns over to our next meeting. It was the Heritage Subcommittee of the Northfield in Bloom group.

There Alice Thomas led a group that included Gail Jones Hanson, Richard Collman, David Gonnerman, Judy Swanson, Marcia Walters, Joe Hargis, and Cliff Clark through a series of three steps. They included an Inventory of Existing Projects, “Opportunities” for New Projects, and a Prioritization of Projects.

During this work, I experienced another occasional outcome of meetings: humor. Richard Collman suggested a new slogan for Northfield:

“Pubs, Professors, and Preachers”.

In yesterday’s StarTribune (4/6/08), there was an interesting opinion piece. “Have dollars-will spend locally”, by Christy DeSmith, discussed her plans for spending her stimulus check.

Christy is a freelance writer and, from her description, it sounds like she’s generally pretty careful with her money. It’s also clear that she’s quite thoughtful about how she spends her limited resources.

She’s going to spend her anticipated money in an effort to maximize the local stimulus. Specifically, she is going to try to direct as much of that stimulus check as possible to the state’s economy “by shopping local, family-owned businesses for Minnesota-made goods”.

Christy is one of those creative professionals, she earns her bread by writing, and it appears that she hangs out with other creative types. Her “local-only bender” begins with an “extravagant dinner” at a local restaurant and then she heads to a play performed by local actors and, “most important, written by one of the Twin Cities wealth of fine playwrights”. Finally, she ends up at one of the locally-owned boutiques that carries Minnesota-designed products.

I think she’s on to something. If we follow her advice and spend our stimulus checks locally, it might really have a meaningful positive impact. We can dine at one of our locally-owned restaurants, swing into a shop that carries Minnesota-made products (pictured is the Arts Guild’s Felicia Peters gesturing to her shop’s wide-range of local artists’ offerings), and then check out some of the hometown talent on one of the many local stages. It would be a hot time for you and a heat-up for the local economy.

I really enjoyed her closing lines: “For the first time in a long while, I’ll shop without guilt. Buyer’s remorse? Try hometown pride.”

Yeah, let’s try some hometown pride.

…and so do the cultural activities.

One of the most talked about events is the Opening Reception for Jill Enestvedt’s new works at ArtOnWater Gallery (217 South Water Street). Jill (pictured here) has been a quiet but powerful force in Northfield’s art world for many years. Check out her most recent burst of creativity from 3 to 9 pm in one of Northfield’s classiest venues.

While you’re in the neighborhood (that’s the westside of downtown), enjoy dinner at the Eagles Club (304 South Water Street). It’s a benefit for the expansion of Way Park and you’ll enjoy Nordic music, provided by Hutenanny and Scandium, with your Italian spaghetti, provided by the Friends of Way Park. It’s from 5 to 8 pm.

Head west (across Highway 3) young (or not-so-young) man or (woman) and enjoy the Pajama Game, 7:30 pm at the Northfield Arts Guild Theater (411 West Third Street). Or head east (across the pedestrian bridge), and enjoy Trace Remington at the Contented Cow (302B Division Street), or Matt Arthur and the Bratlanders at the Tavern Lounge (backside of the Archer House, 212 Division Street)…

…and raise a toast to our small but vibrant town and the many creative and energetic people that contribute to its rich quality of life.

Sounds like a hot time, Saturday night, in Downtown Northfield.

The NDDC recently conducted a naming contest for their “cow-cierge”. After much thoughtful, and creative, deliberation, the Events and Marketing committee of the NDDC decided to put together two of the entries for a winning combination. Her name is now officially: PATTY CASH.

The winners are Jariya Goerwitz and Scott “Scooter” Houfer. Jariya suggested “Cash” with the additional phrase of “so you can milk it for all it’s worth”. “Patty” was the entry of Scooter Houfer who was quick to recognize that “cow patty”, though clever, was maybe not completely appropriate for the downtown mascot. Jariya is 7 years-old and is a 2nd Grader at Prairie Creek. Scooter is a bit older than 7 and, along with his wife Kerri, owns Echo Used DVDs and Games.

Here are Scooter and Jariya with Patty inside Echo. Rumor has it that Patty bought a used copy of the DVD Johnny Cash – Live from Austin, TX once the photo shoot had ended.

I’m certain of the latter; I’m hopeful of the former.

At 4:30 pm today (Thursday, April 3rd), there is an Art Preview and ChARTdonnay Thursday at ArtOnWater Gallery (217 South Water Street) featuring sneak preview of new works of former NDDC Board Member Jill Enestvedt. Jill’s work is mixed media including acrylic paint and collage work inspired by quilts.

For those who prefer policy discussions to art viewing, there is an HRA Community Input Meeting on the proposed Southbridge Development, 6 pm, Council Chambers at City Hall, the Arts and Culture Collaborative, 7 pm at ARTech (1719 Cannon Road), and “Global Warming – Lost in a Fog of Skepticism“, 7:30 pm in Boliou 104 on the Carleton Campus.

Finally, there’s a Bluegrass and Old-Time Jam Session at the Contented Cow (302B Division Street) at 7:30 pm, a Deanne Mohr and Eric Brisson Recital at Urness Hall on the St. Olaf campus, and Todd Thompson at the Tavern Lounge (backside of the Archer House, 212 Division Street).

Friday night (April 4th) there’s Joseph Hines, 6 pm at Hogan Brothers Acoustic Cafe (415 Division Street), Kim Bloom, 7 pm at The HideAway (421 Division Street), ArtOrg’s ARTProm, 7 pm at the Upstairs Rueb (503 Division Street), the Northfield High School Jazz Band’s Concert, 7:30 pm at the Northfield Ballroom (1055 Highway 3 North), the Northfield Arts Guild’s Pajama Game, 7:30 pm at the Northfield Arts Guild Theater (411 West Third Street), an Art Opening and Reception for “Whistler Circles”, 8 pm at the Carleton Art Gallery on the Carleton Campus, The Renegade Ensemble, 8 pm at the Carleton Concert Hall, Toby Koenigsberg, 8:15 pm at St. Olaf’s Urness Hall, Mark Mraz, 8:30 pm at Froggy Bottoms (305 South Water Street), Last Known Whereabouts, at the Contented Cow, and Harmonic Voodoo at the Tavern Lounge.

Saturday (April 5th), local author Tom Swift will read from and sign copies of his book, “Chief Bender’s Burden: The Silent Struggle of a Baseball Star”, 3 pm at River City Books (306 Division Street), Jill Enestvedt has her Opening Reception, 3 pm at ArtOnWater Gallery, the Friends of Way Park are hosting a Fundraising Dinner, 5 pm at the Eagles Club (304 South Water Street), Trace Remington is at the Contented Cow and Matt Arthur and the Bratlanders are at the Tavern Lounge.