Northfield Downtown Development Corporation

There are only seven days before Valentine’s Day. Although some may try to dismiss it as a holiday created to sell greeting cards, those of us experienced enough to have a shred of wisdom realize that it’s an opportunity to say something that we don’t say enough the rest of the year, “I love you”.

Admittedly we all may have many other things on our minds and on our schedules. Finding that perfect way to emphasize the saying of “I love you” can be a creative challenge to over-taxed minds. Fortunately, there is Downtown Northfield.

Linda Schneewind and Eric Hope at digs have jewelry, great cards and “lots of heart-felt knick-knacks” and an energetic and innovative staff to help you come up with a good idea. April Ripka at The Sketchy Artist has a fun and funky card selection, “How to Make Love” and “The Art of Kissing” books with advice from the 1930s, the Love Gun and cupid ammo and lots of materials to get creative and make your own valentines. Ally Beyer at The Rare Pair says that they’re having a jewelry sale from Monday to Thursday and suggests that a be.ology t-shirt would be an affectionate gift.

Jon Lee at River City Books has a little Valentine’s Day section set up with books for kids and adults as classic love stories (Jane Austen is always big this time of year). Kerri Houfer at Echo Used DVDs and Games has a good selection of romantic films, guaranteed to set the right mood. Jerry Bilek at Monkey See, Monkey Read recommends poetry this time of year, in particular he suggested Fourteen Sonnets by Joyce Sutphen (a handmade book by a regional artist) or Penchant by the Northfield Women Poets.

And, there’s the time-proven gift of love…chocolate…and Mary Rossing at Present Perfect has the McElrath Valentine Collection. Of course, Eileen Seeley at the Cocoa Bean always has a wide variety of sweets for your sweetie.

When in doubt, or really pressed for time, why not go out for drinks and/or dinner. Norman Butler at The Contented Cow is doing a wine special and Chapati is doing a Valentine’s Day dinner special. Joe and Jody Grundhoefer at The Rueb-N-Stein are offering a sirloin steak special for lovers who might ask “where’s the beef?” For couples for whom the art of seduction moves to the music of Tom Waits in a Biergarten, Tim Sellars of Tiny’s Dogs All Day recommends his (delicious) new Hot Dog Reuben, washed down with some 1919 Root Beer. Finally, Brad and Lula Valek, that’s B & L Pizza, believe that nothing says “Amore” like a Greek pizza and a bottle of red wine.

So for Valentine’s Day, Downtown is for Lovers: Love Local and Shop Local.

I received an anonymous tip that Scarlett Johansson, star in a number of films, including “The Horse Whisperer”, “Ghost World”, “Lost in Translation”, “Girl with a Pearl Earring”, and “A Love Song for Bobby Long”, was shopping for shoes in Rare Pair today. It has been suggested that this photo was taken when she was gazing at the incredible selection of quality footwear offered by this local retailer.

She was in town for an appearance at Carleton College, stumping for Barack Obama. It was rumored that she arrived a few minutes late…wearing a new pair of shoes.

I guess the moral of the story is SHOP LOCAL, you never know who you might meet in…

…Downtown Northfield.

Word on the street is that this Saturday, January 26th, there’ll be a Caribbean Experience in Downtown Northfield. It’s called Caribbean Day.

Apparently Tim Sellar’s of Tiny’s Dogs All Day will be selling “Tropical Hot Dogs”…perhaps with Jamaican jerk spicing?

The Contented Cow will be featuring free appetizers, tropical drink specials, and a Limbo Contest.

I’ve even heard rumors that the women of Rare Pair have something in mind too.

So, stop by Fine Groove and get your Rastaman Vibration on early.

Oh, and I’m so appreciative of the opportunity to post a picture of Bob Marley on this site.

…that would be Echo Used DVDs and Games, the new store at 409 Division Street.

Pictured are Scott and Kerri Houfer, the husband and wife team that own and operate the business. When scouting for a new location for Echo, they participated in the Retail Support Strategies kick-off session at the Grand, to get a sense of the place.

They said that they were really impressed with the progressive and proactive attitudes of Northfield’s business community. It was something that they didn’t find in their previous location. Apparently that experience sealed the deal.

They are very happy with their move so far. Even though they haven’t yet done any advertising, they are really pleased with the considerable foot traffic and the amount of business they’ve picked up from the sidewalk.

They have a really great selection of used DVDs, from classic to contemporary, and games, which I’m thirty years too old to figure out. Stop on in and take a good look and welcome Scott and Kerri to Northfield.

Although many of us were saddened by the closing the The Art Store, there’s a reason to be hopeful too. A new art store is opening in Downtown Northfield.

I got a chance to talk with April Ripka, the owner of The Sketchy Artist, a few weeks ago. She was busy getting ready to open, including spending time with Northfield’s famous sign artist, Jim Bohnhoff.

April hopes to open on January 2nd. She’s currently stocking up on inventory and having custom fixtures built. She plans to offer products for a wide range of creative types, including those of different ages, incomes, and skill levels. Her philosophy is “Let out your inner creativity”.

She comes to retailing with a wide variety of experiences. April was an art major at St. Olaf College (graduating in ‘99), and has worked in many aspects of graphic design, including freelance advertising and web design. She currently is the web master (or is it mistress) for the City of Dundas. She plans to showcase Ole art in her store as well as work by artists she has met throughout her career.

So come on down(town) and check out the Sketchy Artist on January 2nd. Be sure to welcome April to the neighborhood!