News from Downtown Bloomington, Inc

	pictura gallery Grand Opening Friday, April 4 5 pm to 8 pm pictura gallery is located on the square at Sixth and College. Arboles by Tyagan Miller, a contemporary American photographer, will be on display for the event. Hosted by David and Martha Moore, owners and Brenda Stern, associate director


The IU Visitor Information Center Celebrates its Tenth Anniversary!! Join the Celebration April 9, 2008 2 pm - 5 pm Please RSVP to: CaStokes@indiana.edu The Official Front Door of Indiana University The IU Visitor Information Center, the "official front door" of Indiana University, is excited to celebrate its 10th year of service to Indiana University and the Bloomington community. The center was the dream of Maynard Thompson and opened April 1998 in the Carmichael Center at the corner of Indiana and Kirkwood Avenues. Services offered: - Information packets for visiting guests and potential faculty candidates. - Recruiting and marketing materials for prospective students. - Information for Bloomington newcomers, regarding housing options, the Bloomington school system and local childcare options. - Undergraduate majors and programs available at IUB. - Bloomington's varied and numerous dining options. - Community and cultural events and opportunities. - Parking information and public transportation information.

	Downtown Bloomington Online Directory
As a member of Downtown Bloomington, your business is listed online at Downtown Bloomington's webpage. Please check your listing to verify information is correct and up to date. To view our on-line listing click here Downtown Directory

New Wings - Middle Way House
Open House
Friday, April 4th
4:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Middle Way House will hold an Open House at the historic Coca-Cola Company Building, 318 South Washington, for its New Wings Community Partnership. Tours will be conducted of the old bottling plant and the attached building. A review of plans will also be available during the Open House. At 5:30, there will be a short program and New Wings will honor their business donors at that time. Light refreshments provided. For more information, call 812.333.7404.

To learn more about Middle Way House, visit Middle Way House

Downtown Clean Up
Tuesday, April 29th

Downtown Clean Up will be held April 29th. Registration will start at 8:30 am in the City Atrium. A light breakfast will be served compliments of tutto bene. Volunteers will help clean up the downtown area and do small beautification projects from 9 - 11:30 am. Lunch will be provided to the volunteers compliments of Noodles. All volunteers will receive a t-shirt compliments of Campustown and CFC, Inc. People, businesses or organizations interested in volunteering should contact Sue Owens at owenss@bloomington.in.gov.

Taste of Bloomington
Saturday, June 21st
3 pm - 11pm

Restaurant applications are now available for The Taste of Bloomington. The event will be Saturday, June 21 from 3 pm to 11 pm at the Showers Common located at 401 North Morton Street. Attendance at the event is traditionally 6,500. Restaurant applications are available and may be obtained by calling 336-3681 or through email request at tcoppock@downtownbloomington.com. Space is limited so restaurants are encouraged to return completed applications early. The application fee is $275. The deadline for applying is May 10th. The event is sponsored by the Bloomington Area Restaurant Association and Downtown Bloomington, Inc. A percent of proceeds benefit the Hoosier Hills Food Bank and Community Kitchen of Monroe County.

Four-Point Approach

The Indiana Main Street Four-Point Approach involves:

1. Design: Enhancing the physical appearance of the commercial district by rehabilitating historic buildings, encouraging supportive new construction, developing sensitive design management systems and long term planning. The look of downtown, its streets, signs, buildings and store interiors is unique to each Indiana community. Main Street's goal is to work with all these elements to create a friendly, attractive place that will draw in visitors and businesses.

2. Organization: Building consensus and cooperation among the many groups and individuals involved in the revitalization process. To ensure a self-reliant, broad-based, long lasting downtown revitalization program, the entire community must rally around the idea. Cooperation from both the public and private sector is critical to achieve visible results.

3. Promotion: Marketing the commercial district's assets to customers, potential investors, businesses, local citizens, and visitors. To keep investors, visitors, and business coming downtown, Main Street must reshape the community perspective of downtown as a hub of activity. Successful downtown image campaigns, as well as promotional activities that build upon the community's unique heritage and culture send a consistent, compelling message promoting the downtown area.

4. Economic Restructuring: Strengthening the district's existing economic base while finding ways to expand it to meet new opportunities and challenges from outlying development. Main Street's ultimate goal is to create downtowns that are economically viable.

Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs

Upcoming Downtown Bloomington Events

Downtown Gallery Walk First Friday- Friday, April 4th 5 pm-8 pm Gallery Walk
Farmer's Market - Saturday, April 5th 8 am - 1 pm Showers Commons
Promotion Meeting - Thursday, April 24th 8:00 am Bloomington Cooking School
Downtown Clean Up - Tuesday, April 29th
First Friday - Friday, May 2nd 5 pm - 8 pm