Mainstreet Steamboat Springs

Tuesday News from MainStreet Steamboat – 2.28.12 – Sisters Weekend a go

mainstreetstmbt — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:06:25 +0000

“Sisters in Steamboat Weekend” – October 12-14. Having received word that Sisters’ Weekend has received special event funding from the Chamber for this year, Sisters in Steamboat Weekend for 2012 is a go. The organizing committee has chosen “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” as the theme for this year. The three day event in October is designed to bring women to town during a slow time of year to commune with each other, to enjoy all Steamboat has to offer, shop, dine, hike, relax at a spa or whatever else they choose to do. The event has grown each year despite the down economy with more and more women learning about the event. In the first year we relied on Steamboat women inviting their own sisters, mothers, friends and colleagues to come and play with them, but, each year the circle of women attending has grown. Alice Klauzer from Alpine Bank (our title sponsor) invited her high school girlfriends to join her in the first year. Christy Culp from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs in Denver invites her mother from Montana and her colleagues from work to join her each year. Katherine Correll and several of her board members come each year from Downtown Colorado, Inc to attend. Women, mark your calendars now and start inviting your friends to join you for this fun weekend. It’s a weekend of fun for all.

Farmers Market able to expand at the Courthouse After months and months of evaluating possible new locations for the Farmers Market that would allow for some additional booths in the market, it has been determined that we will stay on 6th Street, next to the courthouse. Despite not being able to use the lawn for booths, we now plan to add some of the premier booths (produce, meat, and other anchor vendors) to the alley. The shade of the alley will be good for the produce. By adding these extra 8-10 booths the market should generate enough funds to make up for the cut in funding for MainStreet from the City for 2012. As MainStreet’s largest fundraiser, it is imperative that we take any measures we can raise funds to maintain services to “preserve, promote and enhance Downtown Steamboat Springs”.

Leadership Steamboat adopts downtown recycle containers as annual project MainStreet has received word fromGarrett Smith (Ski Corp) that Leadership Steamboat has chosen to pursue acquisition of new recycle containers to place along Lincoln Ave as the class’ project. These containers would replace the green and blue containers that were donated by Ski Corp two years ago to capture recyclable materials rather than throwing these materials in the regular trash. With recycling becoming mainstream throughout the country, and with the urging from Yampa Valley Recycles (Catherine Carson),the containers will be a welcome addition to the streetscape. Sponsorship opportunities will be available to help purchase the containers. Stay tuned for more information on this program.

Misconceptions about the USDA Last week the Steamboat Pilot reported on the progress of the Chief Theater project, saying that Friends of the Chief has received approval from the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) of the preliminary application for $4 million in funding and inviting a formal application for funds. The bloggers took exception to this use of USDA funding, asking what a theater rehabilitation has to do with agriculture. What the bloggers and probably many other people don’t know is that the USDA is involved in much more than just agriculture. In 1862, when Abraham Lincoln established the USDA 50% of Americans lived on farms. Today that number is only 2%. Lincoln called the USDA “the people’s department”, serving the needs of Americans in rural areas. As the country evolved, so did the functions of the USDA, which now include expanding job opportunities, improving housing , utilities and infrastructure, and economic development in rural America. You can learn more about “the people’s department” here. Agriculture and food safety are still prominent in the functions of the USDA, but life in rural America involves much more than just agriculture. Perhaps it is time for a name change.

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Downtown Tidbits:

Have you tried the soups available daily at The Soup Kitchen, located in Fixin’s Kitchen at the corner of 11th and Oak, next to Creekside Cafe? Each day Kevin Nerney offers six choices of delicious soups (reminiscent of the soup kitchen from Seinfeld) for $5 a 12-oz serving. The mulligatawny is to die for! Last Friday Kevin was also offering a delicious fish sandwich on ciabatta bread for lent. You can also buy a refillable soup mug, complete with a lid so you can take it back to the office, for $10 and, each time you get it refilled, you get 16 oz soup (instead of 12 oz) for $5. Also, the girls at Fixin’s Kitchen (who make the cider reindeer mulling spices and jams for the farmers market ) have developed a new jam they are calling Nana’s Cranberry Jam, made with cranberries, orange and spices. YUM!

Post Net open on Saturdays – 10-4 Although not downtown,Post Net is a member of MainStreet, seeing the benefit to supporting a vibrant downtown. Now that Walgreens is open in the Steamboat Crossings development, Kathy and Terry Stokes of Post Net have chosen to be open again on Saturdays. This is really good news for those of us who can’t seem to get there during the week. So, if you need to make copies, mail packages, have something shipped (like luggage and skis), or order a banner for your event, you can now do it on Saturdays.

Tuesday News from MainStreet Steamboat – 2.21.12 – Flower Baskets funded

mainstreetstmbt — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:04:18 +0000

Flower Basket Update - This has been the most amazing week! In last week’s Tuesday News, it was reported that the flower baskets that adorn the light poles downtown in the summer had been cut from the City’s budget and, unless the community could come up with the funding, they wouldn’t happen. By cutting the flower baskets from the budget, the collateral damage from that decision endangered the Rotary Club’s flower barrel program as well because the city had been watering the barrels at the same time that they watered the baskets on Lincoln Ave. Steamboat Today (Jack Weinstein) picked up on the story and spread the word to the entire community on Thursday. Thursday evening Richard Thompson, owner of Freshpet Pet Food and potential part-time resident who is considering moving his business to Steamboat, flew into the Hayden airport, picked up a newspaper and read the story. He finds the flowers to be just one of the charming aspects of this community and wanted to offer a challenge to the community to come up with the funds. Richard presented MainStreet with a check for $3,333, one third of a $10,000 challenge, saying the check was only good for one week. Richard and Tracy Barnett were interviewed on KBCR radio on Friday regarding the challenge, and by Saturday night MORE THAN $10,000 had been raised. The flower baskets will be happening this summer! While this is only a temporary fix to the flower baskets for this year, it gives us some time to figure out a more permanent solution for the future. Estimated costs for the purchase and ongoing watering of the pots throughout the summer are about $12,000. Any funds raised beyond the actual cost and maintenance of the flowers will be rolled over for next year’s flower program.

Many thanks go out to the generous patrons who have helped to fund the flowers. In the order of their donation, please thank

Richard Thompson – Freshpet – $3,333; Rob Douglas – $500; Steve and Denise Hitchcock – Zirkel Trading – $200; Mary Jo Weidel – $100; Scott Marr – Holiday Inn – $200; Patrick Phillips and Debra Stencel – part-time residents from Washington, DC – $300; Brady Worster – B Fitness – $20; Bill and Kathy Moser – $1,000; Suzie and Tom Spiro – $100; Mark Scully – Howelsen Place/AlpenGlow – $1,000; Tracy Barnett – $50; Sally TeStrake – $100; Don Valentine and Joe Brennan – $5,000*, Karl Bunker – Ski Town Cleaners – $100; Rex Brice and Bettina Neset – Steamboat Restaurant Group – $200; and Tom and Rosie Kern – $200.

*Don Valentine and Joe Brennan contributed the $5,000 that put us over the $10,000 mark. The donation is to honor Rita Valentine who was a city council member back in the early ’80s when the original beautification efforts of downtown Steamboat began. This was a time when the street trees, benches, trash cans and flowers all were added to our streetscape, softening the edges and making downtown a more inviting place.

Farmers Market is full for the summer

Registration for the farmers market opened in mid-January to a flood of applications. Since that time all applications for food vendors, whether they be for fresh produce and other farm products, prepared foods, concession foods, or wine have been approved for the market while the non-food vendors have been put on a waitlist. This was to give the food vendors time to get into the market and so we could see how many food vendors we have. There are several new food products coming to the market this summer, some because we now have an easily accessible commercial kitchen available at Fixin’s Kitchen (11th and Oak).

At the same time MainStreet has been working to expand the size of the market by considering alternative venues, to allow for more vendors to participate (and to increase the funds raised by MainStreet to return to the downtown business community in the way of marketing funds). After many discussions with the city and reviewing alternative spaces, the market will remain on 6th Street where it has been in the past. There is still some hope to be able to find some additional space around the courthouse to use for expansion, but that has not yet been determined.

There are more applications for the market than there are spaces. The Steamboat Farmers Market, in its 8th year, has become one of the most popular farmers market in the mountains. Vendors from other markets are now applying to the Steamboat market. While priority goes to local vendors, the variety offered by those from outside the region adds new energy and interest.

This week the waitlisted non-food vendors will be notified if they have been approved for the market. The market opens on June 9.

Tuesday News from MainStreet Steamboat – 2.14.12 – Flower Barrels Gone

mainstreetstmbt — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:02:35 +0000

Today is Valentine’s Day! Have you madereservations downtown for dinner or bought your sweetie a gift? It’s not too late!

“What’s Up Downtown? – Coffee and a Chat

You are invited to the second “Coffee and a Chat” in the MainStreet offices at 751 Yampa Street this Friday – 8:00 am to 9:00 am. At the first coffee chat we had lively conversation on several topics and concerns facing downtown. This is your chance to talk to MainStreet, to share ideas and to learn more about what MainStreet is doing to preserve, promote and enhance downtown Steamboat Springs. Stop by on your way to work.

VNA Daffodils support Hospice – ORDER NOW

Each Springs the annual Hospice Daffodils event generates over $15,000 for Northwest Colorado’s Visiting Nurses’ hospice program in Steamboat and Craig. This year’s event takes place on March 13th. New this year: Order ONLINE. Click here to order or contact Dervla Lacy, director of development at 871-7602. Orders must be placed by March 1. There is a minimum order of 10 bunches of daffodils for $46, or in additional increments of 5(ie: 15, 20, 25, etc). Can’t you just picture daffodils on all the restaurant tables and sitting on all the checkout counters of the retail stores? Talk about a WOW statement downtown!

Speaking of Flowers – Downtown Flower Baskets gone this summer

Perhaps you missed this information back in the fall when the City was considering its 2012 budget, but one of the items axed from the budget was the beautiful flower baskets along Lincoln Avenue (and everywhere else in the City). Cutting this budget item from the budget will save the City more than $10,000. What can cost so much, you wonder? The cost of the baskets is a very minimal part of the entire expense, less than 25%. The rest of the money goes to the watering program from approximately the first week of June through the middle of September. The baskets along Lincoln were watered by an outside contractor – half watered one day and the other half the next day, 7 days a week all summer. This watering would take place very early in the morning. The baskets were so beautiful because of this regular watering. In addition to watering the baskets, the contractor also watered the Rotary Flower Barrels sponsored by the businesses along Lincoln. Those barrels not located on Lincoln were the responsibility of those who sponsored them. Often those barrels didn’t look nearly as healthy or luscious as those watered by the contractor. Rotary is struggling with what they are going to do to ensure the barrels get watered this summer without the City’s help.

MainStreet investigated the possibility of taking over the flower basket program. The flowers added such a WOW factor to downtown, only getting better and better as the summer went along and the baskets matured. What we discovered was the program would probably cost upwards of $13,000, a huge nut to crack. It would cost MainStreet more than the City because the City got a deal from the contractor in return for consideration on other City landscape maintenance projects – like mowing medians. Even at the $10,000 pricetag, it would be impossible to raise that kind of money (without a huge donor) for something that is pretty to look at but temporary. $13,000 is almost 10% of MainStreet’s entire budget. Without additional funding in some form (Business Improvement District funding perhaps?), the beautiful flower baskets will be a thing of the past. The window for ordering the baskets is quickly closing for this year. Downtown will certainly not look nearly as beautiful this summer without the baskets. If you have an idea about how we can still get the baskets or if you would like to express your opinion about the baskets, please send an email to tracy@mainstreetsteamboat.com .

The Concert Series- On the Right Track – Steamboat Springs Arts Council fundraiser

Join the Arts Council for a fun evening on Saturday, February 18 at 7:00 pm at the Depot. This concert, featuring The Nadas is a fundraiser for the Arts Council, with tickets $10 at the door. Sponsored by Colorado Mountain College, Soda Creek Pizza, Element Prints and the Steamboat Springs Arts Council. From the poster: ”Best Band you never heard of” – Playboy Magazine; ”The Nadas down-to-earth-hard-working approach to rock and roll is refreshing and so is their music” – Denver Examiner.

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Downtown News

Thank You from Tara Nultemeier – Peak Fitness

Peak Fitness ( 1103 Lincoln Ave) would like to personally thank you for supporting the local businesses of Steamboat Springs. Your support of Peak Fitness Center has enabled us to remain open since 1999 and we look forward to supplying your fitness needs in the future. We truly appreciate your patronage and commitment to a healthy lifestyle.

Spring “Sidewalk” Sales – March 23-25

Tuesday News from MainStreet Steamboat – 2.7.12 – Winter Carnival

mainstreetstmbt — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:59:47 +0000

99th Annual Winter Carnival – A Yampa Valley Tradition

Steamboat boasts the longest consecutively running winter carnival west of the Mississippi. Whether it is the jumping events, the night show with the lighted man and fireworks, the diamond hitch parade or street events, what we have here is a wonderful community tradition we share with the world. Be sure to get your button for $7 to help support the Winter Sports Club. The Chamber is responsible for the Street Events and MainStreet helps with sponsorship dollars. Without support to cover things like insurance and the horsemen, the event wouldn’t happen. Click here for the schedule of events for the weekend.

Snow Sculptures

On Thursday 18 teams high school students will tackle huge blocks of snow deposited along Lincoln Avenue by the City of Steamboat Springs’ Public Works department. Each of the sculptures is sponsored by a business downtown. Many thanks to our sponsors:Steamboat Shoe Market, Steamboat Smokehouse, Off the Beaten Path, Lyon Drug, Om Gallery, FM Light and Sons, Steamboat Ski and Sport, Johnny B Good’s Diner, Ski Town Lifestyle Properties, Bucking Rainbow Outfitters, DC/Oakley, Chez Nous, Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, Old Town Pub, Alpine Bank, 5th Street Market Place, Chieftain Building, Wells Fargo Bank and Rabbit Ears Motel.

With the weather being so warm this year, you better get out there early on Friday morning to take pictures! This is when it pays to be located on the shady side of the street.

49 Communities apply for Creative District Status

MainStreet has submitted a grant application to Colorado Creative Industries, hoping to be recognized as a Colorado Creative District. As it turns out, there are 49 applicants vying for 15 possible grants ranging from $2000 to $15,000. As another tool in the revitalization toolbox, being named a Creative District can help in enticing “creatives” to come to Steamboat, perhaps choose to live and work here, which, in turn, can make the community a more attractive place to visit, all of which will help our businesses thrive. We should hear whether we have been chosen by the middle of March. Keep your fingers crossed. Even if we aren’t named a recipient in this round of grants, the idea alone will help to organize our creative industries to attain the goal in the future.

VNA Daffodils support Hospice – ORDER NOW

Human Resources Basics for Entrepreneurs

This month’s Success Steps Luncheon, a training offered by the Small Business Resource Center, is designed to inform the businesses with a small number of employees about best practices when it comes to fundamental processes, legal requirements, and other human resource management. Hiring and administering a small group of employees usually falls to the owner and does not take a lot of work, but must be done right.

When: Thursday, February 9th – 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Where: Steamboat Smokehouse – 912 Lincoln Ave

$15 includes seminar and buffet lunch

Register in advance by calling 870-4491

BookTrails

Off the Beaten Path Bookstore is partnering BookTrails, an exciting new program to bring environmental education to children in a one week day camp setting this summer. The camps, held over 6 weeks, will be held on local ranches.

Because their mission is to provide this experience to all children interested, a fundraiser, involving “Environmental Super Heroes” art created using recycled materials, to raise money for some scholarship assistance. The works will be displayed in sponsoring venues downtown and auctioned off at a fundraiser in May. Submissions are requested immediately. The deadline is May 1.

For more information on submitting art or on the program, click here, or email here, or call 970-879-6830. Ask for Emily Krall, the founder of this project.

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Downtown News

The Bakery is now open for business between 11th and 12th Streets. Open from 6 AM to 6PM each day, you can now get fresh baked bread, pies, cakes, sweet rolls and other tasty baked goods right downtown. Tables are available for having one of those rolls right there. Shortly owner Doug Mathews and his crew will be serving lunch with Doug’s River Ranches beef, as well as other choices. A liquor license is in the works. Special orders are encouraged. Stop by today.

Spring “Sidewalk” Sales – March 23-25

Tuesday News from MainStreet Steamboat – 1.31.12 – No GAMSA

mainstreetstmbt — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:56:58 +0000

We didn’t win the Great American MainStreet Award

Steamboat got the news on Friday, right after the MainStreet Annual Meeting. We will be receiving a letter from the National Main Street Center outlining the jury’s suggestions and observations. According to the woman who called, many communities apply several times before actually being named a GAMSA winner. AsTahnee Miller from Lyon’s Drug puts it, “We know we are the best. It’s just that they don’t know it yet.” We will look at the suggestions, maybe make a few changes, and try again. Thanks to all who helped with this application. This might be a blessing in disguise. In this economy it would have been difficult to get others to join Tracy in Baltimore in April to accept the award.

Watch the GAMSA Video here

One of the requirements for the GAMSA award was a five minute video. Click here to watch Erin McDaniel’s (Erin McDaniel Media)creation. Many thanks to the “stars” (Del Lockhart, FM Lights; Tahnee Miller, Lyon’s Drug; Laurie Peter, SAM; Lizzie LaRock, Old Town Pub; Tom Ptach, Colorado Group Realty) for sharing your thoughts and taking time to make this video. It has been shared on Facebook and is on the MainStreet website. Please share this video with your family and friends. We want to let everyone know how wonderful this place we live in is.

Chief Theater Update

Those who attended the annual meeting last Friday heard an update on the Chief Theater by Jim Cook. After submitting a pre-application to the USDA for $4 million in financial assistance in purchasing and renovating the downtown Chief Theater, the USDA has invited the Friends of the Chief to submit a formal application. The pre-application process gives the USDA an idea of the project. If they think the project has merit and can be successful, they invite a formal application. Chances of receiving the funding are greatly enhanced through this process. We should hear by May if the award has been made. A feasibility study is being undertaken to determine the financial viability of ongoing success once the facility is completed. Purchase and renovations for the state-of-the-art facility will total about $7 million. You can follow the progress of the Chief Theater project here and follow the Chief on Facebook here. Fundraising for the project will start in earnest when we have approval from USDA. No work will begin on the building until all monies for the project are secure.

MainStreet submits application for Creative District

The state of Colorado passed HB11-1031 back in July, identifying the arts and creative industries as a potential economic driver to help communities increase jobs, tourism and property values. The creative industries are the 5th largest economic cluster in Colorado, with over 186,000 people. Communities were invited to apply to named Creative Districts, making them eligible for grant funds from Colorado Creative Industries. The grant deadline was Monday, January 30. MainStreet has applied for this designation and should hear by the middle of March whether it has been awarded to us or not. If not, we can take whatever suggestions they offer and work toward this designation in the future. To become a creative district, a formal steering committee must be formed encompassing representatives of the creative disciplines, economic groups, local government, and the tourism sector. Applicants for this designation will be awarded in three categories; Creative District (2 districts – $15,000 grants), Prospective Creative District (5 districts – $8,000 grants) and Emerging Creative District (up to 8 districts – $2000 grants). MainStreet has taken the position as lead applicant, however the soon-to-be-established steering committee will direct the efforts of the district while MainStreet will handle administrative duties.

Meet and Greet United States Congressional Candidate

Catherine Carson forwarded this invitation to meet Sal Pace, congressional candidate, for an informal discussion regarding state and national economic opportunities, priorities and solutions. Sal Pace is a current Colorado State Representative for House District 46 and former Colorado House Minority Leader. The meeting is this Saturday, February 4, at 8:30 AM at Off the Beaten Path Bookstore. For more information, call Catherine at 970-870-2896.

Spring “Sidewalk” Sales – March 23-25

Tuesday News from MainStreet Steamboat – 1.24.12 – Annual Meeting

mainstreetstmbt — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:55:14 +0000

What are you waiting for? Sign Up NOW

Annual Meeting January 27

Friday, January 27

12:00 Noon

Old Town Pub

$20 per person

Call now to RSVP: 970-846-1800

Learn more about Business Improvement Districts

See the video being entered for the

Great American Main Street Award.

State of MainStreet

Recognition and awards

Featured Speaker: HJ Stalf, former Executive Director

of Grand Junction BID

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5th Annual Real Estate Roundup and Expo – January 24th – Sheraton Ballroom

The free Real Estate Roundup will start with a Homeowner Expo of local building and design related trades, developments, lenders, residence-related goods and services, title companies and more. EVERYONE (not just realtors) IS WELCOME. NO RSVP REQUIRED. The Real Estate Roundup is presented by Colorado Group Realty.

The presentation will begin with an annual update on the local real estate market. Guest speaker, Pam O’Connor will continue with a nation-wide real estate overview. Pam is the CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and has been named one of the top 25 thought leaders by the National Association of Realtors, as well as one of the top 100 most influential people in real estate by Inman News. Pam will take questions from the audience at the completion of her presentation.

Update on Downtown Late Night

Despite the (hopefully) temporary closure of the Ghost Ranch, nothing seems to have dampened the nightlife in downtown. There is still plenty of music available all over downtown, perfect for bar hopping. Have you tried to get a parking place downtown after 4 pm most nights of the week? True, Monday and Tuesday may be a little quieter, but the later you get into the week, the more it makes sense to take alternative transportation to get downtown. Many of the mountain condos has shuttles but they often stop service around 10 pm. The city bus runs until after the bars close (last bus leaves the transit center at 2:20 pm) so even if it won’t deliver a person right to the front door, it will get you a lot closer than having to walk all the way from downtown.

Go Alpine shuttle service runs on a call-in system. They remind us that they are not taxi service. They do not have taxi stands where you can just walk up and get a taxi. You have to call first. The later you get into the evening, the longer it will take to get a shuttle. Everyone wants to go home at the same time. If the person who called for the ride is not there when the ride shows up, they can’t just pick up the next person standing there. People have called in and are waiting too. They have to take the next person on the call list. By the way, if, while you are waiting, you agree to share your shuttle with others, everyone will be better served, and you might make some new friends. Incidentally, if you have seen the ads in the paper recently, Go Alpine is looking for drivers willing to take the 12:30-3:00 AM shift. From what we hear, the drivers make really good money for this short very late night shift.

If you do decide to drive downtown and have a little too much fun, you can always call the new service being offered bySober Guys (970-688-4252). Give them a call (all of the bars have their number) and they will come to collect you AND YOUR CAR and drive you home. You pay for the privilege but you will have your car tomorrow morning. Priceless!

ERC meeting – BID committee

As MainStreet begins to explore the idea of moving forward with a TABOR election next November to fund the already existing Business Improvement District, anyone interested in helping to sort out the process is invited to attend the Economic Restructuring Committee meeting on Wednesday,January 25th at 11:30 AM, upstairs at Harwigs (911 Lincoln Ave). The committee wants to hear all pros and cons for moving forward, especially from those who are directly affected. The city is going to continue to cut funds to MainStreet and other organizations

Fun Fact:

MainStreet volunteers logged 896 hours in 2011 serving on the board, planning committees and helping at events. That equates to $19,371.52 in free labor. We couldn’t do it without you! THANK YOU, MAINSTREET VOLUNTEERS!

Tuesday News from MainStreet Steamboat – 1.17.12 – Creative District

mainstreetstmbt — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:51:49 +0000

MainStreet Applying for “Creative District” designation

A new tool in the downtown revitalization toolbox has been created by the governor’s office, the Creative District (CI). MainStreet is applying for this designation within the existing MainStreet district boundaries.

According the the guidelines for creating a creative district, “Colorado is a magnet for creative enterprises and creative workers. With almost 8000 businesses and 186,000 jobs, the creative sector is the 5th largest employment sector in Colorado. Colorado Creative Industries Division (CCI), within the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) was established in July 2010 to capitalize on the immense potential for our creative sector to drive economic growth in Colorado. The mission of CCI is to promote, support and expand the creative industries to drive Colorado’s economy, grow jobs and enhance our quality of life.”

We already have several of the pieces in place in Steamboat to be named a creative district. The emerging arts and culture scene with the Steamboat Arts Council, First Friday Art Walk, Strings, numerous art galleries, cultural heritage initiatives, historic preservation of key buildings, numerous arts and performance organizations, Steamboat Art Museum, Tread of Pioneers Museum, the Steamboat All Arts Festival and several others all point to the commitment of the community to the arts.

By being named a creative district, there are and will be opportunities for grants to expand arts and culture within the community. Currently there are 13 grants possible for small projects through CCI. Without the designation, we couldn’t even apply for the grants. The deadline to apply is January 30.

REMINDER: ”What’s Up Downtown” – Coffee and a Chat on Friday

To further open the lines of communication and encourage downtown businesses and residents to share ideas for ways to improve downtown, MainStreet is initiating a monthly networking coffee hour. On the third Friday of each month (January 20 this month) from 8:30 – 9:30am, people can drop in to talk with Tracy Barnett, MainStreet program manager, and board members, hear what’s being worked on or coming up, offer suggestions or ask questions, and/or learn more about the MainStreet organization. This will be a free flowing exchange and topics will be determined by those attending. The first coffee hour will be at the MainStreet office at 751 Yampa Street. Please join us.

Farmers Market registration Now Open

It’s hard to believe, but the opening of the 2012 Steamboat Farmers Market is only 20 weeks away. That sounds like a long time, but preparations for the market have to start early. Registration for the market opened on Monday, with 25 registrations received online that day. The word is out throughout the state that Steamboat has one of the best markets in the mountains with vendors calling from all over the region. Already there are some new vendors applying along with many of our old favorites. Those wishing to apply for the market can go to www.mainstreetsteamboat.com for more information and a link to online registration. Call 970-846-1800 with questions.

American Cancer Society – Relay for Life is seeking volunteers

to help with the 2012 annual late summer event. Join the world’s largest movement that has raised $4.6 billion in the last 27 years to end Cancer. Funds raised go to research that has tremendous impacts on Cancer treatment, early detection, and quality of life in our community. This community event is a fun way to ge the entire family together in remembrance and celebration of life, and to fight back for those we have lost. For more information on how you can help, please call Sarah Blakeslee at 970-276-2147 or email sarah.blakeslee@cancer.org

A Memorial Fund for Donna (DJ) Chotvacshas been established at Bank of the West. DJ was a true and passionate advocate for the preservation of our historic resources and those elements of our culture that truly make Steamboat special. DJ died this past summer following a courageous battle with cancer. In remembrance of DJ and her tireless efforts, DJ’s family and the Historic Preservation Commission of Steamboat have chosen to purchase a bench in her name. If you knew DJ and would like to honor her memory, please send your donations to the Donna Chotvacs Memorial Fund at Bank of the West.

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Annual Meeting January 27

Friday, January 27

12:00 Noon

Old Town Pub

$20 per person

Call now to RSVP: 970-846-1800

Learn more about Business Improvement Districts

See the video being entered for the

Great American Main Street Award.

Recognition and awards

Speaker to be announced.

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Downtown News

There is a new taco stand in downtown Steamboat, Tacos del Barqo, located in the parking lot at the Space Station. Owners, Danielle and Jeff Hubler (also owners ofCuginos and 7th Street Liquor) opened the stand last week. Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, combos and bundles (3 of any of the above) and beverages are made to order by Jeff from the walk-up window. There is even a heater over the window to keep you warm while you wait. Open from 11am to 7pm Monday through Saturday, there is a little twist on Friday and Saturday nights, because they re-open at 11pm for late-night munchies. During those late hours you can also get Cugino’s personal pizzas. You can call ahead for take-out or arrange catering at 970-871-7930.

Tuesday News from MainStreet – 1.10.12 – GAMSA thanks

mainstreetstmbt — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:06:02 +0000

Thank you to letter writers

The final submissions for the Great American Main Street Award have been wrapped up and sent to Washington, DC. to be judged against those of the other 9 semi-finalist communities. The 30 letters of support were a critical part of additional requirements. Thank you to all who took the time to write letters extolling the virtues of Downtown, our community and MainStreet. The additional requirements included 8 notebooks with the letters, a resolution of support from the City, a 5 minute video (created by Erin McDaniel Media) with interviews, maps of Steamboat, downtown, and where Steamboat is in the state, and examples of printed materials. Now we wait to see if Steamboat is one of the five winners of this award. The winners will be announced at the National MainStreet Conference in April.

Health and Wellness enclave developing on Oak Street

Very often, when we talk about Main Street, the general public thinks we are only talking about Lincoln Ave. The MainStreet district is defined as 3rd to 13th Streets and from the river to Oak Street. Lincoln Avenue is our primary retail street, Yampa Street is becoming restaurant row with entertainment, and Oak Street is more of a service oriented street. If one takes a closer look at Oak Street, you will see that from 3rd to 5th Street there is a “health and wellness” niche developing. Spas, salons, massage therapists, chiropractor and holistic health (both for humans and pets), dance and fitness, and mental health services are concentrated in this area. And, while in this area, many stop at Mountain Brew coffee cafe for a cuppa and a snack. If you haven’t taken a good look at Oak Street lately, it’s time to do so.

Its all in the terminology – guests and part-time residents

Last Wednesday, while attending the Steamboat Pilot’s Coffee and a Newspaper morning chat, the free-flowing exchange of information got around to talking about second-homeowners. Scott Ford was very quick to point out that most second-homeowners consider themselves to be part-time residents, not just second-homeowners. These part-time residents are more connected to the community than the term second-homeowners implies. Part-time residents volunteer in the community, choose a church family, and participate in many of our social groups, such as the Over The Hill Gang. They read the paper online when they aren’t here, to keep up with activities and news in the community.

Speaking of terminology, we then discussed the difference between tourists (kind of derogatory), visitors (better but still set apart) and guests (much more welcoming). Steamboat prides itself on being very friendly, welcoming. Doesn’t it seem much more welcoming and inclusive to refer to part-time residents and guests? You may have noticed that the Steamboat Today referred to part-time residents this week in the newspaper. I did. Good job, Pilot!

Farmers Market registration opens on Monday, January 16

It’s been a long time coming, but the Steamboat Farmers Market will be open for registration on Monday, January 16. Those wishing to register for the market can go to ManageMyMarket.com to get all the information on the market and to register. The wait list for last year’s market is as long as the number of vendors who were actually able to participate. In the market, food takes precedence in the market and non-food vendors will be juried for this years market. Some categories of vendors (jewelry, soap and lotions and others) will be limited in the number of vendors participating. MainStreet members who wish to have a booth or have a representative of their products in their stores will have an advantage.

The Steamboat Farmers Market is one of MainStreet’s biggest fundraisers. The funds from the market are used to promote downtown to our guests and locals year around.

For more information on the Steamboat Farmers Market, call Tracy at 970-846-1800 or email atfarmersmarket@mainstreetsteamboat.com

Christmas Morning downtown – Eric Dorris

Eric Dorris is the owner of the Space Station, the convenience store and gas station at the corner of 7th and Lincoln. In a conversation this past week, he shared what he had seen on Christmas morning from the windows of his store. He watched as people got off the bus from the mountain and began looking for a place to have breakfast. And we aren’t talking one or two people here. We are talking whole families. Imagine these people on vacation, looking for a place to have breakfast on Christmas morning and finding every place in downtown Steamboat closed. Yes, Eric was able to sell them prepackaged muffins and a carton of juice, but do you think this what they had in mind for vacation? A couple of the restaurants had indicated, back when we asked if businesses would stay open on Christmas Day, that they would be willing to try it next year, but that the plea had come to late for this past Christmas. Christmas 2012 is a full year away. The time is now to start planning for next Christmas. People have to eat. And people MAY want to shop Christmas Day. It works at the mountain. Why wouldn’t it work downtown?

Business Marketing Opportunity

Colorado Group Realty is proud to present the 5th Annual Steamboat Springs Real Estate Roundup and Expo on Janaury 24th at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort. The event begins with an industry expo at 4 pm, and presentation at 5:30 pm given by both local and national real estate professionals. The Expo is expected to be attended by prospective buyers, part-time residents, and guests. Booths are available to local businesses (not just real estate companies) and non-profit organizations. To register, please contact Laurie Peter at 875-2917 orlaurie@mybrokers.com.

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Save the Date – Annual Meeting January 27

Friday, January 27

12:00 Noon

Old Town Pub

$20 per person

RSVP: 970-846-1800

See the video being entered for the

Great American Main Street Award.

Speaker to be announced.

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New Members of MainStreet

Om Gallery

Max Halterman: owner

Karen Halterman: manager

821 Lincoln Ave

970-871-7870

You have seen the blast of color through the windows of Steamboat’s newest home decor store and art gallery. All products inside are made to Max Haltermans’s specifications in South East Asia by fair-trade artisans. The families who make the lamps, home decor items, clothing, and original wall art are all supported by Max’s en devours. Raised in South Routt, Max and his passion for the colors and people of SE Asia, discovered while on a post-college around-the-world trip, supports many families through his Om Gallery network. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of every lamp helps fund educational opportunities for the artisans, workers and their children through the OmGallery Educational Fund – OMGEF. After spending several years selling his items at craft shows, fairs and festival, Max finally settled in Santa Cruz, California, where his flagship store is located. Now the Steamboat store and another gallery soon to open in San Francisco are expanding the OM Gallery reach. For much more information and online ordering capability, go to www.omgallery.com

Downtown News

Bamboo Market opens Bambook Cafe at the Library. In the space recently vacated by Amante Coffee, Anne Halloran and the crew from Bamboo Market are offering up healthy snacks and beverages right inside the front door of the Bud Werner Memorial Library. The cozy cafe offers a place to read your book, use your computer, play a board game, catch up with friends and enjoy a healthy snack. Seems like a good match to us.

Hungry Dog has opened a second hot dog stand at the ski area. You love the hot dogs offered at the little kiosk at the corner of 7th and Lincoln. Now you have the opportunity to get grab a quick dog with your choice of toppings on your way to or from the ski slopes. Located at the base of the mountain, you can’t go wrong with one of these dogs.

The Laundry, the newest of Rex’s restaurant (Steamboat Restaurant Group), on 11th Street, opens on Tuesday. Located in the space formerly occupied by Giovanni’s Ristorante, the new decor is more open and contemporary with an Old World feel. Traci Clark of Finial Design(located in the Branches home decor store at 624 Lincoln) captured owner Rex Brice’s idea of the feel of the restaurant perfectly. The Laundry is offering creative small plates for sharing. Also being offered is a special “72 Hour Feast” which is a party for up to 10 people in a specially reserved dining room with a creative menu made especially for the group. JJ Johnson, the longtime bartender at Mazzola’s Italian Bistro will be the onsite manager,schmoozing with the guests and overseeing operations. Reservations are recommended at 970-870-0681. You won’t be disappointed! -

You are cordially invited to the opening of the Mandala Yoga Boutique’s new location at 1306 Lincoln Ave from 5-7pm on Friday, January 13th, in the old Burger Express building across from Lincoln Park West. Formerly located on Oak Street, the new location offers yoga and dance wear as well as fair-trade clothing and other specialty items. Stop by and see what the new location has to offer.

Tuesday News from MainStreet – 1.3.12 – Coffee and a Chat

mainstreetstmbt — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:04:10 +0000

“What’s Up Downtown?” – Coffee and a Chat

MainStreet has a board meeting and four committee meetings every month that are open to the entire membership but are typically only attended by those on the committees. New members often ask when our membership meetings are. So, to give you an opportunity to share ideas and concerns, we are going to start holding monthly “coffee and a chat” business and event briefings on the third Friday of each month.

Learn what’s going on downtown. This business briefing will recap events from the past month, let you know what is coming up, and cover a main topic of interest. An agenda will be published just before the briefing. This is also a way to meet your fellow business neighbors. January 20 will be the first gathering at the MainStreet office, 751 Yampa Street, at 8:30 am. Each gathering will be an hour long. You will have the opportunity to meet with Tracy Barnett, the program manager, and members of the board. Coffee and snacks will be available. 970-846-1800

Thanks for your letters of support

By the end of this week we will have all the additional requirements for the Great American Main Street Award compiled and on their way to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s GAMSA jury. Thanks to all the letter writers for the great letters of support. Each one of the letters points out why Steamboat should be named one of the five winners from the list of 10 semi-finalists.

Also a special thank you to Erin McDaniel of Erin McDaniel Media for shooting and editing the five minute video. With interviews from Tom Ptach, owner of the former Pilot Office Supply building (and one of the founders of MainStreet), Del Lockhart of FM Light’s, Tahnee Miller of Lyon Drug, Lizzie LaRock of the Old Town Pub, and Laurie Peter for the Steamboat Art Museum, along with footage of our downtown and some of our events, the video should help to secure our win. We plan to show this video at the annual meeting.

All of the additional requirements must be submitted by January 13. Then we wait. The winners will be officially announced at the annual National Main Street Conference in Baltimore the first week of April. We should hear just before that if we are winners. It would be great to rally a contingent of supporters to go to Baltimore to accept the award. Typically the winners have 10 or more people there to accept. Keep your fingers crossed. This award could be a great marketing tool for our community.

Steamboat Gravity Center moving forward

You have probably noticed the big MOVING SALE signs in the windows at David Chase Rugs and Furniture. David Scully is moving his business to the Copper Ridge Business Park to make room for the newest recreation opportunity for the youth of this community.The Steamboat Gravity Centerwill be created in the vacated space at 3rd and Lincoln, offering indoor activity centers and gathering spaces primarily for teens, although there will be open activity time slots for all members of the community. The plans call for a foam pit, trampolines, bike and skateboard courses, and climbing, as well as gathering spaces with computers, lounge areas, and a snack bar space.

With extensive research and collaboration with the teen programers from Parks and Rec, scheduling will include separate times for pre-teens, teens and adults. Teens have also been consulted to detemine what they would like to see. Equipment rentals including bikes, helmets and pads will be available. Adults craving a climbing wall will have access during open schedule hours. The facility will be available for rent for private parties.

The organizers have applied for the non-profit 501 c 3 status, making fundraising donations tax deductible. Fundraising efforts will begin in earnest in the next few weeks. Stay tuned as the plans for this exciting facility are revealed. This facility should be a terrific addition as a supervised active indoor outlet for the energy of our youth.

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Save the Date – Annual Meeting January 27

Friday, January 27

12:00 Noon

Old Town Pub

$20 per person

RSVP: 970-846-1800

See the video being entered for the

Great American Main Street Award.

Speaker to be announced.

**********************************************

New Members of MainStreet

Mandala Yoga Boutique

Cindy Ridley

1306 Lincoln Ave (across from Lincoln Park)

970-367-6900

Currently located on Oak Street, Mandala Yoga Boutique will be moving to its new location in “The Express Building” in January. Specializing in clothing for yoga and dance, loungewear, yoga mats, accessories, and books. Also certified fair trade products from Nepal and Tibet, 10% ogranic cotton and silk tie-dye scarves from Thailand. If you need comfy clothing for yoga or your exercise class, this is the place to go. Until the move takes place, you can find Cindy and her products at 306 Oak Street in the Steamboat Reservations and Travel building, around the front and downstairs. Watch for Mandala’s grand opening in its new space in mid-Janaury.

Le Bateau (means “the boat” in French)

Avriel Agnello (Abby Nielsen – mgr)

635 Lincoln Ave (upstairs next to Backcountry Provisions)

Le Bateau popped up in Steamboat earlier in 2011 and stayed under the radar. With extensive renovation to resemble a large walk-in closet, Le Bareau has reopened with new inventory and new management. Le Bareau features carefully selected boutique-only brands as well as brands featured in high-end department stores and suited to life in Colorado. Most important is the fit!! Le Bateau carries clothing from extra small to extra large to flatter your figure. They also carry menswear. Daily discounts up to 50% off on designer clothing. 10% for locals when you “like” us on Facebook or sign our guestbook for special event alerts.

Downtown News

Following the recap of all the openings, closings and moving around of businesses in last week’s Tuesday News, Joe Kboudi called from All That Jazz to remind us that ATJ has a new owner, Kim Haggarty (with Joe staying on), and lots of new lines of merchandise. If you haven’t been in ATJ in the past couple of months, stop in and see the additions/changes. 601 Lincoln Ave right at the corner.

Have you noticed? Lightning, the horse in front of FM Light’s, got a new saddle blanket with his name on it and a new saddle for Christmas. The hundreds of visitors who get their pictures taken each year with Lightning will have a great new splash of color in those pictures. Many of those pictures are sent to FM Lights each year with a note about how much the senders enjoyed Steamboat Springs.

Tuesday News from MainStreet – 12.27.11 – 2011 Recap

mainstreetstmbt — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:02:20 +0000

2011 in the Rear-View Mirror

As 2011 comes to a close, it is time to reflect on the past year downtown. Despite the down economy, downtown Steamboat was able to hold it’s own with respect to vacancies While we are sorry to say goodbye to Cowgirls and Angels, Rustique Home and Garden, Ghost Ranch Saloon, Old West Steakhouse and Goody 2 Shoes, we are happy to welcomeCarl’s Tavern, Om Gallery, Branches – An Inspired Collection, Calamity Pass Trading Co, Milk Run Donuts, Fixins Kitchen, Steamboat Home Consignment, Mountain Brew Coffee Shop, Acqua Spa, Steamboat Hat Company, Robin’s Nest, Rina’s Tea Haven, Spostas World Sushi, Sambi and ART Works Functional Art Gallery.

Wheel’s Bike Shop moved into the front of the building withBackdoor Sports. One Fine Day moved to Oak Street andQuiksilver expanded in its new location in Howelsen Place.Ski Town Lifestyle Properties and the MainStreet office vacated their spaces in Howelsen Place to make room for Quiksilver. STLP moved next door, filling the final space in the B Building at HP. MainStreet moved back down to 751 Yampa Street, between Sunpie’s and Sweetwater Grill, courtesy of STLP. Sweet Pea Market has become a year round operation by moving the cafe indoors for the winter. DC/Oakley moved into the former Quiksilver space. Chocolate Soup moved all operations back up to the Mountain, making way for Bella’s Crepery, a complimnent to the popular Bella’s Wine Bar downstairs. WithEmbellishments combining with Steamboat Art Company,Straightline was able to expand operations into the former Embellishments space. Bushwackers is still in the FM Light and Sons family of stores, but is now run by Lockhart daughter, Lindsay, and her husband, Chris Dillenbach. Chris Allen has joined his father, Tod, at Allen’s Clothingand is making some changes in the store. It’s great to see another generation joining their parents in these long standing family businesses. The Laundry, another in the Steamboat Restaurant Group family of restaurants is about to open the Soda Creek Building. While it may seem like musical chairs out there, the vibrancy of downtown continues to lure new business. Downtown is the place to be!

2011 also saw a change in the noise ordinance to more accurately reflect the desire for a vibrant night-time economy. The Hospitality Resource Panel, with the help of MainStreet, was established to engage the stakeholders in the night-time economy in working on issues of mutual importance to all sectors. Despite the fears of the bar owners that the revised ordinance would adversely impact business, the fears were unfounded. Noise complaints have been minimal, usually stemming from people out on the street rather than coming from inside the venue.

With the completion of the Lincoln Avenue Streetscape project, focus has now been directed toward Yampa Street. Bike lanes have been added to Yampa to help create more awareness about the active bike and pedestrian scene on that street. Infrastructure needs (curbs, gutter, sidewalks, undergrounding of utilities) are being assessed. Design guidelines are being reviewed and may become standards. View corridors to Howelsen Hill are important and should be preserved. Public access to the river is important. To reduce the impact to Lincoln Avenue and Hwy 40, Yampa Street could become more of a festival street in the future.

Oak Street is no longer the sleepy transitional street of the past. New businesses, like Mountain Brew Coffee Shop, Acqua Spa, One Fine Day, Kneading Hands Massage, Habitat ReStore and Spostas are all adding to the vibrancy on Oak.

Residential units in Howelsen Place, Alpen Glow Townhomes, The Olympian and The Victoria are slowly being absorbed. More of the unsold units are in the nightly rental pool, bringing more guests downtown. The downtown rentals have proven very popular. Having lights on in the upper units is extremely important to a sense of livablility and safety downtown.

The Farmers Market reached capacity in its present location on 6th Street, with as many vendors on the wait list as were able to participate this past summer. The market continues to draw crowds downtown on summer Saturdays.

MainStreet events continue to grow. The Downtown Hoe Down/Chuckwagon Chili Challenge, Sisters in Steamboat, Light Up the Night and Merry MainStreet drew more participants than in years past. The new Downtown Chocolate Tasting for Small Business Saturday on the Saturday after Thanksgiving was a huge success!

The USA Pro Cycling Challenge brought downtown Steamboat to the world stage via video feed. The thousands of people in downtown that day created an energy that was hard to match, and drew people who would never visit Steamboat in the winter to experience our town. While retail and restaurants didn’t experience the business they had expected during the event, the days following proved to be successful.

And, MainStreet Steamboat has been named as a semi-finalist in the Great American Main Street Awards. It’s been a great and very busy year for MainStreet and for downtown. Here’s to even bigger and better 2012.

We still need letters of support for the GAMSA award.

It’s not too late to get us a letter of support to send to the GAMSA jury. You don’t have to own a business in downtown to write a letter. You just have to value downtown Steamboat and want Steamboat to be named a Great American Main Street community. The marketing value of the title will be invaluable in years to come. As one of the 10 semi-finalist communities chosen for these awards, we are required to send in 30 letters of support from the community, along with a 5 minute video, a resolution of support from the City of Steamboat, and maps of the community. We have almost enough letters to send, but could use yours, if you would consider writing one. We have a template we can send you. All letters must be turned in or sent electronically to MainStreet no later than January 3. Your support would be greatly appreciated. Please call Tracy at 970-846-1800 or email tracy@mainstreetsteamboat.com.

Tablet maps available – just call

Now that the flights have started flying, businesses are being inundated with questions about where to eat, where to shop, where to take a walk and more. Most of those “where” questions would be easier to explain with the use of a convenient tear-off map to “mark the spot” and give to the guest. MainStreet has tablet maps and will gladly bring you one or more to help you answer questions. Just call 970-846-1800 to have one delivered. The maps will be available anytime throughout the winter.