Downtown Partnership November 2011 Newsletter

Beginning on Friday, November 25, look for bright orange vests worn by volunteers strolling through Downtown. They may also be sporting orange ball or stocking caps, and black shoulder bags to hold maps and other literature. Who are these folks? They're part of a new project of Downtown Ambassadors. Their role will be mainly customer-service focused, but they'll also be a valuable set of "eyes and ears" to help keep Downtown safe.

This is a joint effort of the Downtown Partnership, BID and CSPD, says DP's Executive Director, Ron Butlin. The volunteers will be trained by CSPD and work in teams of two, patrolling in three-hour shifts between noon and 8 p.m. The Ambassadors will carry radios to communicate

The pilot program will run through the end of the year and, if successful, will be reimplemented next summer.

any concerns to CSPD, but will have no enforcement capability. Uniforms will be provided by the BID.

Get involved

DDA Needs You!

The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is seeking applicants to serve voluntarily on its Board of Directors. This is a great opportunity to share in guiding the future vibrancy of Downtown.

Board members must live, own property or operate a business within the DDA district to qualify. See a map here. Additional requirements include knowledge about and passion for Downtown, and availability to serve a three-year term as well as attend monthly meetings from 8 to 10 a.m. on second Tuesdays. Experience in previous Downtown planning efforts is a plus.

Please submit a resume and cover letter as application. Be sure to tell us why you wish to serve and specify appropriate qualifications. Mail or drop off your material by 5 p.m. on December 2 at the Downtown Partnership office, 111 S. Tejon, Suite 309, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. You may also email them to ronbutlin@downtowncs.com.

Community celebrates Downtown

Mayor's Breakfast Draws Crowd

More than 200 folks flowed into the Cornerstone Arts Center for Downtown Partnership's Annual Mayor's Breakfast on October 26 - despite the threatening weather!

Guests mingled and noshed on breakfast delectables before hearing President Chris Jenkins make opening remarks followed by an address by new Mayor Steve Bach. All of the many exciting programs and efforts of the DP, BID, DDA and Community Ventures were recapped.

A new video on Downtown debuted, too. Catch it here. The Partnership's Annual Review was also distributed. Read it online or contact DP at 719-886-0088 for a print copy.

Music to our ears

Colorado Springs Conservatory now Downtown!

CSC New Home Picture

The Colorado Springs Conservatory is one of the community's most expansive and prestigious arts-immersion programs for youth and now has made a home Downtown. The Conservatory recently moved to 415 S. Sahwatch after several years renting space in a School District 11 building.

The Conservatory is the vision realized of dynamo Linda Weise, who has served as its founding director since 1994. Weise is a native of Buffalo, NY and graduated from Oberlin Conservatory and the Juilliard School in both piano and vocal performance.

The mission of the Conservatoryis to inspire, motivate, and challenge all students to aspire to their highest potential as artists and as human beings through arts immersion studies and community arts advocacy participation.

An after school program serves students from ages four to 19, from every socio-economic background within a 100-mile radius of the Pikes Peak Region. Summer weeklong and longer intensives are also available for students seven years of age and older.

Every student is enrolled in the CORE program, which provides a comprehensive arts education based on classical music and theater. CORE programs are non-auditioned and open to all levels of proficiency and experience. All students' involvement also includes a private lesson in a focus area, including vocal studies, piano, strings, brass, percussion, woodwinds, composition, theory, dance, theater or art.

Conservatory students frequently perform throughout the community, and in the coming weeks, they'll reprise the extremely popular Amahl and the Night Visitors, a "quintessential holiday story for the whole family." The FREE production will be performed on December 2, at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., and again on December 3 at noon in Colorado College's Packard Hall.

A Grand Opening for the Conservatory will be held Monday, November 28 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the organization's new facility. For more information, call (719) 577-4556 or visit www.coloradospringsconservatory.org.

Welcome to the neighborhood

Fine Dining and Fun Treats

We're putting out the welcome mat to two fabulous new Downtown businesses.

conscious table

Conscious Table, 26 E. Kiowa Street, opened late September and is the newest venture by local chef Brent Beavers, along with chef Dave Cottrill and Aaron Retka. Conscious Table provides an intimate setting for dinners and late night cuisine served Thursday through Saturday evenings. Menus change weekly and include inspired dishes based on locally sourced proteins, sustainable seafood and, in season, local produce. Pricing ranges between $10 and $30 per person; double that for the most incredible experience - the five-course, three-wine Chef's Table!

Beavers, formerly of Sencha fame, speaks passionately of a commitment to inspired, contemporary American cuisine. "Our goal is to be creative and interesting incorporating well sourced food that hasn't harmed the planet in its production."

Other days of the week, Beavers and crew offer a variety of cooking classes and demonstrations, wine tastings, and private party events. Find out more at www.conscioustable.net

or just go for it - reservations can be made by calling (719) 636-3276.

Buttercup's Yogurt

If you're just looking for something delicious and also healthy and locally produced, stop in at Buttercup's Frozen Yogurt, 27 S. Tejon Street. The yogurt here is made from local cows NOT treated with synthetic growth hormones and is "100 percent natural, with no artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners." It's also conveniently self-serve!

Sixteen flavors were recently on hand, including the not-so-expected Red Velvet Cake Batter, Blood Orange, and Caramel Apple, along with a bevy of toppings of your choice. The coffee flavor is made with real coffee; the cheesecake flavor with real cheese; the peanut butter with ... yup, real peanut butter.

Buttercup's also offers soft-serve ice cream, dairy-free and no-sugar-added flavors.

Check out the Grand Opening on November 19 and enjoy the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, half off yogurt and raffled prizes! For more information visit www.buttercupsfroyo.com or call (719) 635-6666.

'Tis the season

Enjoy a Holiday Stroll Downtown

Here's an annual treat to jumpstart your holiday cheer - the Tejon Street Holiday Stroll on Wednesday, December 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy food, wine, sights, sounds and savings at 17 different merchants! All free and gifted to you! Each location will offer a free "taste" of cuisine from a Downtown restaurant.

Participating shops and restaurants include:

Fabulous Finds, 130 N. Tejon, featuring Jack Quinn's fare

Jack Miller Jewelry Designers, 111 N. Tejon, featuring The Famous

Title Nine, 210 N. Tejon, with yummies from José Muldoon's

Terra Verde, 208 N. Tejon, featuring The Melting Pot

Saboz, 128-1/2 N. Tejon, with Dove Chocolate Discoveries

Zeezo's, 104 N. Tejon, starring The Ritz

Savory Spice, 110 N. Tejon, offering Alice's Mexican Cuisine

Regina's Unique Boutique, 119 N. Tejon, with Nosh delectables

Lasko Fine Art, 113 N. Tejon, featuring The Olive Branch

What's in Store, 125 N. Tejon, presenting Old School Bakery treats

Tillie & Toad, 125-1/2 N. Tejon, with The Flow of Mexico

CJ Kard, 214 N. Tejon, showcasing Mediterranean Café

Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 8 S. Tejon, featuring Sonterra Grill

Kirk and Hill, 129 N. Tejon

Sparrow Hawk Gourmet Cookware, 120 N. Tejon

Phancy Pheasant, 220 N. Tejon

Unique at the Peak, 103 N. Tejon

Register at any location to win one of these great prizes: Four lift tickets and equipment packages for two days at Monarch Mountain; Four tickets to the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park; or a $100 Downtown Gift Card. Prizes will be drawn and announced on Thursday, December 8. Winners will be notified by phone or email.

For more information about the Holiday Stroll, contact Denise at (719) 886-0088.

Save the date

DP Holiday Mixer

Please join Downtown Partnership for its Holiday Membership Mixer on December 8, 5 to 7 p.m. at the Colorado Springs Conservatory, 415 S. Sahwatch.

Enjoy light hors d'oeuvres from The Famous, spirits, and entertainment by Conservatory students and faculty. Please RSVP to (719) 886-0088.

Here we go a-wassailing...

Carolers Downtown

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Looking for another great reason (besides the shopping and dining) to venture Downtown this holiday season? Grab the kids, or maybe just your special sweetie, and catch some holiday music on the streets. Here's the schedule:

Christmas Brass

12/3, noon until 2 p.m.

12/9, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

12/11, noon until 2 p.m.

12/17, noon until 2 p.m.

12/23, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Band Wassail

12/10, noon to 2 p.m.

12/16, 11:30a.m.

to 1:30p.m.

12/18, noon to 2 p.m.

12/23, 11:30 a.m.

to 1:30 p.m.

Another holiday goody

Saturday Parking Downtown

What might make your shopping a bit more fun? How about FREE Saturday parking during the month of December? Enjoy free meter parking December 3, 10, 17 and 24!

Plan for it

Look what's happening Downtown

NOVEMBER

Now through

January 8, 2012 Sandzen in Colorado

Fine Arts Center

634-5581, www.csfineartscenter.org

15,22,29 Jack Quinn's Running Club

Jack Quinn's Irish Pub, Tejon St., Starts 6 p.m.

385-0766, www.jackquinnsrunners.com

18 Jamoral West African Dance & Culture

Smokebrush Gallery, 7 p.m.

444-1012, www.smokebrush.org

19 VIVAAH - An Indian Wedding Musical

Pikes Peak Center, 4 p.m.

520-7469, www.pikespeakcenter.com

20 Mannheim Steamroller

Pikes Peak Center, 4 p.m.

520-7469, www.pikespeakcenter.com

25 Last Friday BYOB Poetry

The Modbo, 8 p.m.

633-4240, www.peakradar.com

25-27 The Nutcracker

Pikes Peak Center, 7 p.m.

520-7469, www.pikespeakcenter.com

27 Messiah Sing-Along

First Christian Church, 7 p.m.

633-8888, www.firstchristiancos.org

30-Dec. 1 Young Frankenstein

Pikes Peak Center, 7:30 p.m.

520-7469, www.pikespeakcenter.com

DECEMBER

1 A Year with Frog and Toad

Fine Arts Center, call for times

634-5581, www.csfineartscenter.org

2 First Friday Gallery Opening

Smokebrush Gallery, 5 p.m.

444-1012, www.smokebrush.org

2-3 Amahl and the Night Visitors

Packard Hall, Colorado College

Call for times

577-4556,

www.coloradospringsconservatory.org

3 Christmas Caroling by Christmas Brass

Throughout Downtown, noon to 2 p.m.

886-0088

Children's Holiday Magic

Pioneers Museum, 10 a.m.

385-5990,

www.springsgov.com

Festival of Lights Parade

Tejon Street, 5:50 p.m.

649-9111,

www.coloradospringsfestivaloflights.org

6 Pikes Peak Watercolor Society

Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 10 a.m.

520-1899,

www.cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com

6,13,20,27 Jack Quinn's Running Club

Jack Quinn's Irish Pub, Tejon St.,

Starts 6p.m.

385-0766,www.jackquinnsrunners.com

7 Tejon Street Holiday Stroll

Tejon Street, start 5 p.m.

886-0088

9 Christmas Caroling by Christmas Brass

Throughout Downtown, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30pm

886-0088

24th Annual Members Christmas Show

and Last Friday Gallery Opening

Cottonwood Center for the Arts

10 a.m. - member show; 5 p.m. gallery opening

520-1899,

www.cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com

Colorado Springs Chorale - Deck the Hall

Pikes Peak Center, 7:30 p.m.

520-7469, www.pikespeakcenter.com

10 Christmas Caroling by Band Wassail

Throughout Downtown, noon to 2 p.m.

886-0088

11 Christmas Caroling by Christmas Brass

Throughout Downtown, noon to 2 p.m.

886-0088

16 Christmas Caroling by Band Wassail

Throughout Downtown, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

886-0088

17 Christmas Caroling by Christmas Brass

Throughout Downtown, noon to 2 p.m.

886-0088

Highlight from American Indian

Collections

Pioneers Museum, call for hours

385-5990, www.springsgov.com/

17-18

Christmas Symphony

Pikes Peak Center, 8 p.m.

520-7469, www.pikespeakcenter.com

17-19 Coalescence: Photography by Barbara Sparks

Fine Arts Center, 10 a.m.

634-5581, www.csfineartscenter.org

18 Christmas Caroling by Band Wassail

Throughout Downtown, noon to 2 p.m.

886-0088

20 Colorado Youth Ballet Nutcracker

Pikes Peak Center, 7 p.m.

520-7469, www.pikespeakcenter.com

23 Christmas Caroling by Band Wassail and

by Christmas Brass

Throughout Downtown, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

886-0088

23-24 Little London Wassail Society

Enjoy some delicious, traditional hot wassail!

Northwest corner of Bijou and Tejon,

from11:45 a.m.

886-0088

24 Christmas Caroling by Band Wassail

Throughout Downtown, noon to 2 p.m.

886-0088

Major Sponsors

of the

Downtown Partnership

H. Chase Stone Trust