Downtown Fourth of July Parade tomorrow!

     Downtown Rogers 4th of July Parade!

Happy summer, neighbors!

It's time for the Annual Neighborhood Fourth of July Parade!

WHEN:            Monday, July 4^th     Gather at 9:45 a.m.     Parade begins at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:          The Parade will line up in the Benton County School of the Arts parking lot off 6^th street.

THE ROUTE:  The Parade will travel south on 6^th to Pine Street; go east on Pine to 4^th, north to Cypress, west on Cypress to 6^th and north to BCSA.

THE FESTIVITIES:  Refreshments and socializing (following the parade)

WHERE: under The Tree at Jim and Nancy Swearingen’s - 412 S. 6^th  - (directly across the street from the BCSA 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 and guests and relatives are greeted.  Recognition of those who have served our country and patriotic songs are always a highlight.

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 a part of a wonderful neighborhood celebration.  We’ll be looking for you and your families!!

See photos of last year's 4th of July Parade on The Word on Walnut and watch for an update following this year's event.  And, be sure to subscribe (or forward to neighbors) to intermittent downtown resident email updates!

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!  Call 479-936-5487 to find out how you can be involved!  Connect with MSR on Twitter and Facebook, as well!
• Check out the downtown Rogers blog, The Word on Walnut, and feel free to submit story/update ideas!

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

Bienvenue à Méridienne!

As both a francophile and a downtown Rogers enthusiast, there are few things I can think of that are more personally exciting to me than the recent opening of Méridienne Dessert Salon & Café at 112 South First Street!

However, it turns out I am not alone in my ardor.  It's been a delight to see a stellar crowd at Méridienne each time I've visited.  I confess I haven't strayed far from the salade niçoise avec saumon (humor me, won't you? I rarely get to turn a French phrase with proper accents...).  Suffice it to say you will not be disappointed.  And, lest the more masculine among you fear that the offerings are girly or attempt some line such as "real men don't eat quiche," I'd suggest you hold your tongue until it has sampled the outstanding food.  

You'll find a simple (as in, exquisite but not overwhelming in its variety) menu with several specials, and the dessert tray alone is well worth saving a little room.  However, in typical French Women Don't Get Fat fashion, you'll find the meals served are perfectly filling but not overwhelming.  Owners Wednesday Arend and Tammy Varney are also continuing their wonderful custom "couture cake, pastry and dessert" business along with other delights. 

The space is comfortable, unique and attractive, and there is a small sampling of cute merchandise available.  It's the perfect treat for a little girl just out of school for the summer (I have one in particular in mind), or an excellent spot for you to suggest someone indulge you for a special lunch.  Visit their website and Facebook page, and stop in soon to check it out!

*Selfishly, I must also mention that Méridienne will be hosting a little gathering to benefit the Ozark Natural Science Center on June 16!  Let me know if you'd like more information.

Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged mini-conference!

By the way, if you're a blogger, check out the Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged mini-conference, to be held June 10 - 12, 2011 at the Ozark Natural Science Center.  Join us, and be sure to tell others about it! #AWBU

Details & registration: http://bit.ly/cNMkoV

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!

Lucy's Diner

If you haven't yet visited Lucy's Diner, you're one of a scant few.  It's been hopping ever since opening the doors this January despite plenty of snow and ice. 

We are fortunate to live a hop, skip and a jump away and have walked there several times, and it is always happily bursting at the seams no matter the time of day.  I've enjoyed seeing a healthy dose of our local law enforcement and fire fighters there on a regular basis as well - seems appropriate.

The shiny stainless steel and checkerboard floor are spot on, along with the diner-esque tunes and swarms of friendly, genuinely warm wait staff.  While I confess I've had an order or two go wrong, they swooped in immediately to make it right, which is what really matters.  The pancakes are true flapjack style and they are fantastic, and the coffee is piping hot and flows rapidly.

Lucy's (511 West Walnut in the former Hi-D-Ho location) is open 24 hours a day, and breakfast is served anytime.  Its predecessor in Fort Smith has been open about a year and a half.  You might have caught a recent article in the paper about the opening of the local Lucy's Diner, as well as a review.  You'll certainly want to swing by yourself as soon as you get a chance.  It's destined to be a staple in the downtown scene.  Word on the street is that it will be a welcome option for performers and patrons of evening performances at the Rogers Little Theater.

And, happily, all the regulars are still flocking to Wesner's Grill and Iron Horse Coffee Company, hopefully proving that there's plenty of room in the downtown landscape for variety.  Keep 'em coming - we love the options and will support you all!

The Rail: Opening Soon!

Hopefully, you read the previous post about The Rail, A Pizza Company. 

Get ready for some good times - they plan to open in February!  Connect with The Rail on Facebook - their page is in development, but it will be a great way to stay in the loop and keep tabs on their grand opening!

The Icing on the Cake

Hurry!  If you haven't been to Kirby's Kupcakes, get to it!

Kirby and Lisa have a fun concept that's sure to find its niche and flourish in downtown Rogers.  Their cupcakes ($2.50 for a generously frosted, diet-defying treat) are outstanding.  They'll let you grab one from the display case if you like your frosting a little crunchy, or they'll swoop into the back with your chosen cupcake and frost it with a flourish if soft and creamy frosting is your thing.  I love this little nod to individual taste - it shows the thoughtfulness they put into all that they do.

I recently descended upon both ladies near closing time on a slow day with a gaggle of girls pre-sleepover, and Kirby and Lisa set up a little "frost and decorate your own" station for them.  The girls, as seven year olds are prone to do with frosting, had a blast.  Kirby's will be the perfect spot for a unique birthday party, and they have some creative tricks up their sleeves.
 

They are also serving some unique, homemade lunch treats - check out their menu at www.kirbyskupcakes.com or swing by during the work day for something a little different.  Their fun pink boxes make picking up a dozen mini or regular cupcakes to deliver to a friend or bring to work an especially fun treat.

It's up to all of us to support our downtown businesses and help them thrive - that's what makes downtown Rogers all that we hope it can be!  Swing by to say hello to Kirby and Lisa at the corner of 2nd Street near the Rogers Little Theater, Chicago Dog, the Daisy Airgun Museum and M.D. Bishop & Sons Candy in historic downtown Rogers.

And, be sure to connect with Kirby's Kupcakes on Facebook and Twitter!  Plus, dollar cupcake day when they reach 300 Facebook likes - send them some love!