DNA Member Spotlight: Andersen’s – 5/15/13

May 15, 2013 By

Andersens50th_6As part of the Downtown Neighborhood Association’s brand new “We ♥ Downtown Elgin” Buy Local campaign, the DNA will highlight one local downtown Elgin member business each week throughout 2013.

 

 

We shine this week’s DNA Member Spotlight on:

Andersen’s
27 N. Grove Avenue
Elgin, IL 60120
847-742-5434
WeddingPrinter.com


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Andersen’s is a family owned and operated downtown Elgin business since 1961 specializing in social invitations, napkins, matchbooks, favors, place cards, thank you notes, wedding programs and custom engraving on brides knives and gift items on site.

They are members of Carlson Craft’s PSR Group, consisting of only their top dealers. Andersen’s goal is to give you, the customer, the best quality service at the lowest cost. Just getting a discount somewhere doesn’t mean you will get the lowest price, not to mention good service and reliability. Dave and Dawn Andersen help you buy smart.

They also can do Graduation Announcements, Engraving, Trophies, Plaques w/Logos & Crests, Foil Hot Stamping, Christmas Cards and Business Cards.

Filed Under: News/Events

Calling All Downtown “Ad Men”

May 13, 2013 By
Sample_AdThe DNA is seeking “mad” talented artists for a unique, downtown-focused art project that will complement our 2013 DNA Awards Gala this October.

We are looking for artists to create vintage 1950′s or 60′s inspired advertisements for current Downtown Elgin businesses a la the kind produced by the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce ad agency on the hit AMC TV series “Mad Men”. A sample of the kind of look and feel we are seeking in your “creative” is depicted on the left.

All finished pieces will be displayed at our 2013 DNA Awards Gala. The public will also help select the best ”creatives” both online and at our Downtown Ad Men Creative Pitch juried art exhibit at Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court, in September. The Top 5 artists as determined by our Creative Pitch judges will then be invited to attend the DNA Awards Gala to pitch their work to our team of mad men and women at the Gala. The overall winner will receive a $250 CASH PRIZE and the runners up will each receive $50 in downtown Elgin gift certificates.

Submitted advertisements can be paintings, sketches, photographs or digitally composed work. Electronic submissions must be minimum 300 dpi high-resolution file in PDF or JPG format with minimum dimensions of 12′ x 16′. Hard copy submissions will also be accepted with minimum dimensions of 12′ x 16′.

Advertisements must depict a current Downtown Elgin business. Artists can submit pieces for multiple downtown businesses with a maximum of three. There will likely be multiple submissions representing the same business but only one creative per business will be selected for the Creative Pitch exhibit with the tie breaker determined by online voting. There is no fee to participate. All submissions become the property of the Downtown Neighborhood Association and may be used in future promotions, fundraisers or other marketing campaigns.

Submit your “creative” as a hard copy or electronically on a CD or DVD to:

Downtown Neighborhood Association
Attn: Downtown Ad Men
2 Douglas Avenue
Elgin, IL 60120

Submissions are due no later than Friday, August 2 at Noon.

Call the Downtown Neighborhood Association at 847-488-1456 or e-mail downtownelgin@gmail.com for more participation details and guidelines.

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RSVP Now for Out to Lunch at Danny’s Pizza on Douglas

May 13, 2013 By

Out to LunchOur next Out to Lunch in Downtown Elgin takes place on Monday, May 20 beginning at 10AM (PLEASE NOTE THE EARLIER START TIME) the Gail Borden Public Library’s Elgin Room, 2nd Floor, 270 N. Grove Avenue.

This month, the DNA’s Design Committee has invited representatives from the cities of Aurora, Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles to downtown Elgin to showcase our successes, discuss the development challenges our downtowns face, share strategies and take a brief tour of the downtown.

Transportation will be provided from the library, to the downtown and then to Danny’s Pizza on Douglas, 231 Douglas Avenue for a buffet lunch beginning at Noon. Buffet lunch is $12 per person – CASH ONLY, tax and tip included.

RSVP with your name and e-mail address to 847-488-1456 or via RSVP ONLINE by no later than Friday, May 17 at 5PM.

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Celebrating Mother’s Day in Downtown Elgin

May 7, 2013 By

MothersDayMake Mom feel extra special with myriad Mother’s Day events in downtown Elgin. Reservations are highly recommended!

Al’s Cafe
43 DuPage Court
(847) 742-1180
www.AlsCafe.com

Chef Tony rolls out a special Mother’s Day menu including two specialty desserts and a FREE gift just for mom!

Elgin Public House
219 E. Chicago Street
(847) 468-8810
www.ElginPublicHouse.com

Enjoy a marvelous Mother’s Day brunch with the family from 10am-2pm.

Grand Victoria Casino
250 S. Grove Avenue
(847) 468-7000
www.GrandVictoriaCasino.com

Brunch buffet in the all new Indulge Show Kitchen. Check out music by R Gang in the GVC Showbar later that evening.

Martini Room
161 E. Chicago Street
(847) 741-0349
www.MartiniRoomElgin.com

Martini Room staff will be serving up the Wild Sensation Martini on Mother’s Day. Later that evening enjoy Martini Room’s monthly Vino Van Gogh painting class at 6 pm.

Villa Verone
13 Douglas Avenue
(847) 742-0263
www.VillaVerone.net

Make your Mother’s Day dinner reservations now at (847) 742-0263.

Salon Couture
176 E. Chicago Street
(847) 488-1465
www.SalonCouture.biz

Offering Mother’s Day packages on Saturday, May 11, including complimentary sweets and a gift bag while supplies last.

You can also give mom the gift of jewelry at Shockey Jewelers, 18 Douglas Avenue, and Elgin Jewelers, 11 N. State Street. You can also find great gifts at many of our downtown shops and businesses.

Not sure what to get mom? Downtown Elgin Gift Certificates make great gifts and are accepted at over 60 downtown businesses. Nothing says love like the gift of Downtown Elgin. Purchase your Downtown Gift Certificates at DNA, 2 Douglas Avenue in Elgin from Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.

We ♥ Moms and We ♥ Downtown Elgin!

Filed Under: News/Events

DNA Receives 2013 National Main Street Accreditation

May 2, 2013 By

national-trust-historic-preservationThe Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) of Elgin has been designated as an accredited National Main Street Program for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Main Street Center®, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Each year, the National Main Street Center and its partners announce the list of accredited Main Street® programs that have built strong revitalization organizations and demonstrate their ability in using the Main Street Four Point Approach® methodology for strengthening their local economy and protecting their historic buildings.

“We congratulate this year’s nationally accredited Main Street programs for meeting our established performance standards,” says Valecia Crisafulli, acting director of the National Main Street Center. “Accredited Main Street programs are meeting the challenges of the downtown in the economy head on and are successfully using a focused, comprehensive revitalization strategy to keep their communities vibrant and sustainable.”

Downtown Elgin’s reinvestment statistics for 2012 included over $2 million in commercial and residential real estate transactions and over $800,000 in commercial rehabilitation. More than 25 new businesses opened their doors in downtown Elgin during 2012 creating approximately 70 full time jobs and 50 part time jobs. DNA volunteers invested over 3,000 hours into the downtown community at an estimated economic impact of over $65,000 in 2012. The new Elgin Artspace Lofts, which were completed in 2012, significantly expanded downtown’s residential base with 55 live-work units for artists and their families.

The DNA’s performance is annually evaluated by Illinois Main Street which works in partnership with the National Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet ten performance standards. These standards set the benchmarks for measuring an individual Main Street program’s application of the Main Street Four Point Approach® to commercial district revitalization. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as developing a mission, fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking economic progress and preserving historic buildings.

Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) of Elgin is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit, volunteer-driven organization focused on enhancing the economic vitality of downtown Elgin through promotions, special events, economic development and historic preservation. The DNA is celebrating 15 years of downtown Elgin revitalization in 2013 with a brand new “We ♥ Downtown Elgin” Buy Local Campaign. For more information, visit www.DowntownElgin.com.

Established by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1980, the National Main Street Center helps communities of all sizes revitalize their older and historic commercial districts. Working in more than 2,200 downtowns and urban neighborhoods over the last 32 years, the Main Street program has leveraged more than $55.7 billion in new public and private investment. Participating communities have created 473,535 net new jobs and 109,693 net new businesses, and rehabilitated more than 236,418 buildings, leveraging an average of $18 in new investment for every dollar spent on their Main Street district revitalization efforts.

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May Live Music Line-Up at Danny’s Pizza on Douglas

May 2, 2013 By

DannysSpring has sprung and summer is around the corner. Why not let the hot live music performances at Danny’s Pizza on Douglas, 231 Douglas Avenue, put a spring in your step?

Here’s a schedule of upcoming bands making the rounds on the Danny’s Pizza World Tour this May.

Drumroll please…

Friday, May 3, 9pm
FMR Featuring Cry Baby

Friday, May 10, 9pm
The Lenny’s

Saturday, May 11, 9pm
Hans and the Hormones

Friday, May 17, 9pm
Rock Boxx

Saturday, May 18, 9pm
Bound 4 Trouble

Friday, May 24, 9pm
The Neverly Brothers

Saturday, May 25, 9pm
Petty Cash

You can also take your shot at stardom and glory every week at Danny’s Open Mic Night every Tuesday evening starting at 8pm.

For more details on upcoming events at Danny’s Pizza on Douglas, visit their website at www.dannyspizzaelgin.com or check out Danny’s Facebook Page.

Filed Under: News/Events

Cruisin’ in Downtown Elgin

May 2, 2013 By

DSC_1121With winter in the rear view mirror, it’s time to put the top down, fire up some AM Gold and feel the downtown summer breeze blowing thru your hair as we are Cruisin’ in Downtown Elgin this summer.

Beginning in July (dates and times TBA), the DNA rolls out its monthly cruise night where classic and cool cars of all makes, models, shapes and sizes cruise the streets of downtown Elgin precession style and then park to show off their wheels for the public to enjoy. There will also be restaurant and shopping specials as well as live music or other entertainment following the cruise.

If you have a vintage Vette, a classic convertible or just a really cool car that you’d like to show off this summer, please call Jason Pawlowski at (847) 488-1456. Sponsorship and marketing opportunities are also available.

You can also pre-register your vehicle thru our Online Cruise Night Sign-Up Form.

You can also e-mail us a photo of your classic car along to downtownelgin@gmail.com along with your full name and the town you live in so we can show off your wheels on the DNA’s website at www.DowntownElgin.com and on DNA’s Facebook page.

Click here for a YouTube preview of how we roll in downtown Elgin >

Filed Under: News/Events

DNA Member Spotlight: Side Street Studio Arts – 5/1/13

May 1, 2013 By

SideStreetAs part of the Downtown Neighborhood Association’s brand new “We ♥ Downtown Elgin” Buy Local campaign, the DNA will highlight one local downtown Elgin member business each week throughout 2013.

We shine this week’s DNA Member Spotlight on:

Side Street Studio Arts
15 Ziegler Court
Elgin, IL 60120
847-429-2276
SideStreetStudioArts.org

 

 


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Side Street Studio Arts was founded in 2013 by Tanner Melvin and Erin Rehberg as an outlet for the artists of Elgin. Side Street’s mission is to provide an accessible space encouraging all aspects of the artistic process ​from creation to curation.

In just a few short months, Side Street Studio Arts has already created dozens of connections in Elgin’s business and artistics community. Since opening the space has played host to two locally curated art exhibits, multiple dance and musical performances by local performing artists, a Burlesque night and myriad artistic workshops for theater, dance, visual and multimedia art.

Every first Friday of the month Side Street hosts First Fridays – an ecclectic gathering of art, music and performance under one roof. Rediscover Records’ Rich Wagner spins vinyl at Turntable Tuesdays on the last Tuesday of each month and members of Janus Theatre Group conduct Shakesplay theatrical workshops for kids every other Thursday evening throughout the spring.

During the month of July, Side Street Studio Arts will showcase the artistic medium of tattoo art in a gallery exhibition. They will also offer two Summer Studio Film Camps for student filmmakers June 17-21 and August 12-16.

Filed Under: News/Events

Last Chance to RSVP for Out to Lunch at Indulge

April 26, 2013 By

Out to LunchOur next Out to Lunch in Downtown Elgin takes place Monday, April 29 at Noon at the beautiful new Indulge Show Kitchen & Buffet inside the Grand Victoria Casino, 250 S. Grove Avenue in downtown Elgin.

This month’s special guest speaker is Kimberly Bless, President & CEO – Elgin Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, who will be speaking about tourism and its economic impact on the Elgin area as well as promoting National Tourism Week and the EACVB’s 6th Annual Mayor’s Luncheon, which takes place on Monday, May 6 in Grand Victoria Casino’s upper level Fox River Room.

For $12 per person – CASH ONLY – guests will enjoy an exclusive buffet dining experience at downtown Elgin’s newest restaurant, Indulge Show Kitchen & Buffet at Grand Victoria Casino.

RSVP with your name and e-mail address to 847-488-1456 or via RSVP ONLINE by no later than TODAY at 5pm.

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DNA Takes Harvest Market on the Road with “Pop Up” Markets

April 25, 2013 By

2013_HM_LogoBefore the Downtown Elgin Harvest Market – Presented by Alexian Brothers Health System gets popping this June, the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) of Elgin is taking the Harvest Market on a May road trip by offering two “Pop Up” Markets to preview the upcoming season.

The “Pop Up” Markets will take place on Thursday, May 9 from 10am-1pm, at the newly opened Alexian Brothers Women & Children’s Hospital in Hoffman Estates, and again on Thursday, May 16 from 10am-1pm inside the pavilion of the Grand Victoria Casino, 250 S. Grove Avenue in downtown Elgin.

These Pop Up Markets will be a sampler size version of our normal market to give the public a taste of just a few of the many fresh, local products available at the Downtown Elgin Harvest Market, which opens Thursday, June 6, 9am – 2pm at 200 N. Grove Avenue in Downtown Elgin and runs every Thursday for 18 weeks.

For more information about the Downtown Elgin Harvest Market, contact Market Manager Jennifer Benson at 847-488-1456 or visit www.ElginHarvestMarket.com.

For more information about the Downtown Neighborhood Association or upcoming Downtown Elgin special events, contact Jason Pawlowski at 847-488-1456 or visit www.DowntownElgin.com.

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