Northfield Downtown Development Corporation

This afternoon (it’s finally Friday), the weekend begins with the Lampe Law Group celebrating 130 years of continuous legal service in Northfield. The firm is hosting an Open House from 2 to 4 p.m., at 105 East Fifth Street, with hors d’oeuvres and beverages. The attorneys will be joined by the artists from the studios just upstairs from the law offices. Rikki Kolbl Nelson, Karen Oiseth, Kirsten Johnson, Wendy Nordquist and Guildcraft Carpets are all open to the public.

Friday, October 31st, it’s Open Mic, read your own work or that of others, 7:00 p.m. at Tiny’s Dogs-All-Day Cafe, 321 Division Street, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a cult classic musical with a ’70s sexy flair, 7:30 p.m. and special midnight performance for Halloween, at the Northfield Art Guild Theater, 411 West Third Street, Symphony Band Concert, conducted by Bruce Gleason, 8:00 p.m., at the Concert Hall on Carleton College’s campus, as well as the continuing exhibitions, ” A Favorite Cup“, functional art by regional artists, at the ArtOnWater Gallery, 217 South Water Street, “Pulled from the Earth“, Minnesota women ceramic artists, at the Northfield Art Guild’s Gallery, 304 Division Street, and “World Ceramics: Transforming Women’s Traditions” at Art Gallery on Carleton College’s campus.

Saturday, November 1st, it’s Diwali, Festival of Light with food and performance, 7:00 p.m., at The Pause, on St. Olaf College’s campus, The Living, a play by Anthony Clarvoe directed by David Wiles, at the Arena Theater on Carleton College’s campus, The Cave and KRLX present Local Fest, five bands from the Twin Cities playing at The Cave, 8:00 p.m., on Carleton College’s campus, D. J. Music, 9 p.m., at the Rueb-N-Stein, 503 Division Street, the Spruce Top Review, eclectic urban folk music, at The Contented Cow, 302B Division Street, Ian Alexy, a finger-picking songwriter, at The Tavern Lounge, riverside of the Archer House, 212 Division Street, and Feedback Frenzy, 10:00 p.m. at Sweet Lou’s, 303 Division Street.

Sunday, November 2nd, it’s the Choral Day Concert, with the St. Olaf Choir, the St. Olaf Cantorei, and St. Olaf Chapel Choir along with visiting choirs, 4 p.m. in Skoglund Center on St. Olaf College’s campus and Quiz Night (4 p.m.), Politics and a Pint (6 p.m.) and Northern Roots Session (7:30 p.m.) all at The Cow.

The NDDC will present Scott Taylor and Chad Oudekerk, professors from South Central College, at the November Downtown Forum.

The event is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4th at 8 a.m. in the Riverview Conference Room, located in the lower level of the Archer House, 212 Division Street, in downtown Northfield. Local business owners are encouraged to attend this valuable session on timely topics.

Scott Taylor is a Small Business Management professor at the Faribault campus. He is well known to a number of successful downtown business owners in Northfield. Chad Oudekerk is a Small Business Management professor at the North Mankato campus. He is recognized as the school’s web site expert.

Small business success is never easy. It takes smart decisions and hard work. With increased competition from new sources and the reality of a slowing economy, the challenge can be even greater. Come hear Scott and Chad share their ideas for getting more from your small business.

The NDDC is a non-partisan, non-profit community organization dedicated to the vitality of downtown Northfield. The event is free and open to the public. As always, coffee and cookies will be served.

For more information, contact Executive Director Ross Currier at (507) 663-0319 or rcurrier@nddc.org.

This morning’s NDDC Block Head Gathering focused on technology topics. The subjects had been requested by the attendees at the previous meeting.

Jordan Bechdol, a St. Olaf College student and College Board of Business Consultants volunteer, presented his recommendation for a business networking tool. The tool was an idea that came out of the NDDC-Chamber-EDA Retail Support Strategies work last year. With retailers confined to their stores on the same schedule, face-to-face interactions are difficult. Communications about a snow removal contractor, City awning regulations, or a promotional opportunity will soon be possible at any time.

Craig Dunton, director of the St. Olaf College phone company, talked about the services that they could offer downtown businesses. With the Carleton College and St. Olaf College fiber backbone, the speeds exceed anything else available in the area. The “pipe” is installed along Washington and Water Streets and is easily accessed. A number of downtown business are already connected and praise its speed, service and price.

Melissa Reeder, City of Northfield IT Director, gave a brief update on the City’s current Fiber Optic Feasibility Study. The City’s goal it to pursue potential partnerships with existing providers to achieve a wider distribution of capabilities throughout the city. There will be an Open House on the topic next Thursday, November 6th, 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.

As a follow up on other topics raised at the previous Block Head Gathering, the NDDC is featuring two special guests at next Tuesday’s (November 4th) Downtown Forum. Scott Taylor and Chad Oudekerk, professors at South Central College, will share their ideas for increasing sales through smart management and technology use.

Some might say he was preaching to the choir last night. Jay Walljasper remarked on it himself as he opened his presentation at The Grand for the NDDC’s Partnership Celebration. In fact, he said he was working with folks in Brainerd recently and he asked them what they wanted their downtown to be like when they had completed their project and they said “Northfield or Stillwater”. He noted that they are both successful, but slightly different, models of great downtowns.

Indeed, Walljasper emphasized the importance of many things that the NDDC has been talking about for almost ten years.

He talked about Fostering Community and Assuring Safety, and we hold Monthly Forums and Block Head Gatherings, regularly focusing on “Quality of Life Issues”. He praised Places to Hang Out and Nurturing Pleasure and Pizazz, and we work for Sidewalk Dining and Downtown Events. He advocated for Taming Traffic and Keeping Things Clean and Green and we’ve argue for safe crossings of Division Street and Dahomey Avenue and an Annual Spring Cleaning Downtown. Finally, he emphasized Boosting Local Economic Vitality and we champion Reduced Commercial Property Taxes and Shopping Locally.

Jay also spoke for benches, bike racks (yes, bike racks), public restrooms, allowing sidewalks sales and sidewalk dining, and overturning regulations that hinder economic vitality. The NDDC’s old Action Squad formally presented many of these ideas to the City Council and Staff back in 2003. Most of these ideas are now being slowly but steadily realized.

It was clear from his remarks that changes for the better take time, often more time than seems necessary. From Jay’s perspective, the most important ingredient for change is Social Capital, the citizens who are dedicated to making their communities great places. He gestured to the group and pointed out that it was obvious that we are rich in that kind of capital in downtown Northfield.

With on-going attention, unflagging determination, lots of hard work, and an occasional enthusiastic celebration, our progress will continue. Thanks to Jay for his fine presentation and thanks to all the “social capital”, the folks who partner with us for the success of the NDDC, Downtown, and Northfield.

Photograph courtesy of Griff Wigley. See more about last night on Locally Grown.

…for shopping at the Farmers’ Market in Downtown Northfield.

The official end of the season is October 31st. Who knows, perhaps some determined farmers might show up on Saturday, November 1st. In any case, there are just a few more opportunities to take advantage of this seasonal treat.

Last week I found apples, tomatoes, zucchini, root vegetables, members of the cabbage family, and a wide variety of cooking and salad greens. Oh, I cherish every precious mouthful of those tender salad greens this time of year.

Back to the winding down of the Farmers’ Market… Tomorrow, Friday, October 24th, Saturday, October 25th, Tuesday, October 28th and Friday, October 31st are the last scheduled dates. On Tuesday and Friday, it’s 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. and on Saturday, it’s 9 a.m.-11 a.m. The Farmers Market is located at Riverside Park on Seventh Street.

So come on down(town) and check out the last few days of the 2008 Northfield Farmers’ Market.