Happy Spring!

Spring is rolling into downtown Rogers, and I can't wait to see folks out and about in downtown Rogers!

Snippets of news & fun updates:
(Suggestions welcome: downtownrogers@gmail.com)

• Downtown Merchants: Be sure to frequent the shops of all our new neighbors (The Rail, Kirby's Kupcakes, Lucy's Diner for example) and old friends (Dollar Saver, Showcase Trophy, Brick Street Botanical, Iron Horse Coffee Company)!  If there are businesses missing from our list, send a heads-up to downtownrogers@gmail.com!

• Photos: Share your photos of downtown business, houses, people and other fun items as well as suggestions for blog updates!

• Farmers' Market: It's almost time!  If you love the farmers' market, join us at our first marketing committee meeting on Tuesday, April 5 at 5:30 p.m. at Iron Horse Coffee Company!  Subscribe now for this season's market email updates!  And, be sure to visit the Market website, follow the Market on Twitter and visit the Market on Facebook! 

• Susie Q: When the weather is nice, you can be sure your favorite downtown malt shop is open!  Visit the Susie Q Malt Shop on Facebook.

• Emails: Subscribe to occasional downtown resident email updates (or forward to a neighbor): http://eepurl.com/c3-A2

• Pasta Feed: We're still dreaming of a neighborly pasta feed in a particular alley on the north side of Walnut.  Would you help make this happen, say on May 1?  Let us know if you're interested!

The Best of Summer Downtown

Downtown Rogers, Arkansas is a special place... but you knew that, didn't you?

Fourth of July Parade

The annual downtown Fourth of July parade epitomizes the spirit of the place, with neighbors, newcomers and visitors alike bedecked in red, white and blue.  It's one of the truest slices of Americana that seems to still exist today, with every home and resident sharing in the glee.  The parade itself and the grand finale potluck gathering under the big shade tree seem to leap straight from the pages of Southern Living (which, incidentally, we're sure will cover the parade in all its glory one of these days).  In case you missed it, here are a few highlights:

Rogers Farmers' Market

Speaking of which, a recap of summer in historic downtown Rogers wouldn't be complete without mention of the Rogers Farmers' Market.  In the right-hand column of this blog you can subscribe for the freshest updates on produce and reminders of market days, which you'll want to do since there are many good things in store related to the Rogers Farmers' Market.  You can also visit the market's website in progress: www.rogersfarmersmarket.org.  In the meantime, get down there on Wednesdays and Saturdays through September and October for the best of the season!

Another reason to subscribe to those Farmers' Market emails: profiles of the farmers (know your farmer, know your food!) as well as easy recipes to make the most of the produce you score!


One last morsel of summer...

Sure, I'm biased... but it wouldn't be summer without a lemonade stand!  A certain young Rogers resident (and downtown enthusiast) had a corner on the market during the Twilight Walk this summer.  If you missed her, don't worry... she'll be back with her best-selling homemade lemonade in 2011.

Happy fall - see you out and about downtown!

Summer updates for Downtown Rogers residents

Happy summer, neighbors!

Isn't it great to live in historic downtown Rogers in the summer time?  Here are a few updates and reminders for you:

Fourth of July Parade - Saturday, July 3rd at 10:00 a.m.

The annual neighborhood Fourth of July parade will be on Saturday, July 3rd (that's tomorrow)!  Gather at 9:45 a.m., parade begins at 10:00 a.m.  The parade will line up in the Benton County School of the Arts parking lot off Sixth Street, just south of Poplar (the former Immanual Baptist Church).  The parade will travel south on 6th Street to Pine Street; east on Pine to 4th Street; north to Cypress; west on Cypress and north (returning to BCSA).  Refreshments and socializing will follow the parade under The Tree at Jim and Nancy Swearingen's home (412 South 6th Street, directly across from the BCSA parking lot). 

Coffee and lemonade will be served; dogs watered and delicious goodies will be consumed.  All who would like to contribute to the food table are welcome to do so - in the past, we have enjoyed cinnamon rolls, doughnuts, muffins, cookies, fruit etc.  New neighbors are introduced, guests and relatives greeted and a good time is had by all.  Returning by popular request, a band will perform on the front porch.

So... dig out your red, white and blue duds; grab a flag; decorate your bike, trike, go-cart, baby stroller, golf cart, lawn mower, spouse or dog; bring your spiffed up pick-up, convertible, Model T, Harley, horse cart, roller blades or just good old walking shoes.  WHATEVER - just come and be part of a wonderful neighborhood celebration.  We'll be looking for you and your families!

Downtown Rogers Farmers' Market

Don't forget the Downtown Rogers Farmers' Market this summer!  Stop by the corner of Arkansas and Elm on Wednesday and Saturday mornings between 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. or on Monday evenings between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. for the freshest 100% homemade and homegrown fruits, vegetables, herbs and more!  Receive weekly e-updates on what's new at the market by subscribing here: http://eepurl.com/DM8t, or connect with the Rogers Farmers' Market on Twitter (www.twitter.com/RogersFarmerMkt) or Facebook (http://bit.ly/a6ufTg).

Third Friday Twilight Walks in the Rogers Historic District

Main Street Rogers presents Third Friday Twilight Walks in historic downtown Rogers, May through September, from 5:00 p.m.– 9:00 p.m. During these events, the merchants of the historic district host local artists, photographers, and musicians as well as promote special 3rd Friday Twilight Walk events and sales.  Each Twilight Walk is uniquely themed. The 2010 themes are:

• May 21 Celebrate the Arts
• June 18 Picnic in the Park
• July 16 Summer in the City
• August 20 Dog Days of Summer
• September 17 –Indian Summer

Other highlights include live bands and performances on the Frisco Stage; community art projects for children of all ages; street musicians, artists and crafters lining the sidewalks; loft tours of our historic downtown residences; and various local food vendors. Come and see our beautiful new intersections making downtown accessible to all and creating wonderful green spaces.

Many downtown businesses will remain open late during these special evenings. The historic district has something for everyone, including art galleries, vintage book stores, antique and flea market shops, restaurants, coffee shops, flower shops, furniture and interior design shops, a specialty quilting and fabric shop, an old-fashioned candy store, ladies clothing stores, silk floral shop, a store for engraved items and awards, the Daisy Air Gun Museum, Roger’s Little Theater, Rogers Historical Museum and more.

In conjunction with the Twilight Walks, the downtown merchants are holding Twilight Walk Raffle. Merchants have donated over $2,250.00 in gift certificates as prizes for the monthly drawings, and there is a final drawing for $500.00 cash prize in September. Ticket sales benefit the Main Street Rogers merchant association. They will be sold at most merchant locations for $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00.

Twilight Walks offer the perfect opportunity to rediscover Historic Downtown Rogers. With great food, quality art, live music, and outstanding bargains at the stores, these events promise hours of summer fun for visitors of all ages.  Visit www.mainstreetrogers.com for more details.  Each Wed before the Twilight Walks the Morning News will be include an insert with highlights and a map!

Mark your calendar for Frisco Festival!

Don't miss THE annual event in downtown Rogers: Frisco Festival!  Mark your calendar for August 27 - 28, and visit www.friscofestival.com for all the event details!  For more information, contact Main Street Rogers at 479-936-5487.

Are you supporting downtown Rogers?

• Recruit a neighbor to downtown Rogers!  Is there a great house on the market near you?  Hand pick your neighbors - who do you know who might enjoy the life you enjoy in our special community?
• Shop downtown merchants!  Support the unique businesses that make up the backbone of our community, and tell others about them! 
• Support Main Street Rogers!  Check out their website (www.mainstreetrogers.com) for activities and events or call 479-936-5487 to find out how you can be involved!  Connect with MSR: www.twitter.com/MainStRogers or on Facebook: http://bit.ly/cs5K58
• Check out the new downtown Rogers blog: http://thewordonwalnut.blogspot.com/ and submit story/update ideas to thewordonwalnut@gmail.com.

Other ideas, comments, questions?  DowntownRogers@gmail.com. 

See you at the parade, Twilight Walk, Farmers' Market and Frisco Festival!

~ Your downtown neighbors

The Rogers Farmers' Market

Recently, members of the Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders (http://www.nwalead.com/) downtown workgroup launched a Rogers Farmers' Market steering committee to support the Rogers Farmers’ Market and its board of directors and manager and to grow awareness and traffic for the market. The ultimate goal is to make the market a sustainable, integral part of downtown Rogers and help the farmers succeed by growing local support.

Efforts are already underway: the Rogers Farmers' Market now has an active presence on Facebook (http://bit.ly/cuXfmg) with a rapidly growing fan base, as well as a presence on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RogersFarmerMkt.  If you use these tools, be sure to connect to both sites and promote the market!  Best of all, you can now receive Farmers' Market updates via email to stay in the loop on the freshest 100% homemade or homegrown offerings at the market!  Sig up here: http://bit.ly/9ZITMy.

The committee is also exploring the viability of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) through the Rogers Farmers' Market.  This is common in metro areas, and allows residents to support local farmers and fund their success.  There is a great overview of CSAs at http://www.localharvest.org/csa/ if you would like to learn more.  Rogers is one of the only communities without a CSA in northwest Arkansas, although Old Soul Organics does provide delivery in Rogers (http://www.oldsoulorganics.com/).

Other activities being explored by the committee to support the Rogers Farmers' Market include assisting the Office of Human Concern (http://www.eohc.org/) with promotion of its Senior Nutrition Program offered in partnership with the USDA, promotion of SNAP (formerly WIC or food stamps) to encourage use of the Farmers' Market for purchasing healthy foods, outreach and promotion of the market to downtown residents and the community at large, recruitment of more unique, non-competing vendors to the market and more.

If supporting the Rogers Farmers' Market through this group (or just your patronage!) is of interest to you, please contact rogersfarmersmarket@gmail.com to get involved!  We meet once or twice a month in season at Iron Horse Coffee Company in downtown Rogers.

See you on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the downtown Rogers Farmers' Market.  Tip: put the market as a recurring event on your calendar so that you remember to stop by regularly!

Downtown Rogers Blog Debut

It's high time historic downtown Rogers had a blog of the caliber of some of our sister cities.  My dear friend Heidi Demarais launched The Word on Main Street (http://mainstreetsiloamsprings.blogspot.com/) in March 2009, and I've long been wanting to do the same for Rogers. 

A number of important business entities do a fine job of being the source for the community and outstanding resources for downtown Rogers - that's not the point of this blog.  Main Street Rogers (http://www.mainstreetrogers.com/ or 479-936-5487) is the official organization for downtown businesses, events and activities, and the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce has an outstanding business directory on its website (http://www.rogerslowell.com/ or 479-636-1240).  Those are the very best sources for official information, along with the City of Rogers (http://www.rogersarkansas.com/ or 479-621-1117).

However, if you care about the vibe of downtown Rogers, the word among downtown residents, the freshness of the Farmers' Market or the reason so many people are starting to understand that it's a very special place to live, raise a family, open a business or visit for something a little unique and off the main roads, this is the place for you. 

Send your comments, observations, suggestions and feedback to thewordonwalnut@gmail.com, and keep on supporting historic downtown Rogers, Arkansas!