The date is set.  More info to Come!

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Filed Under: Eastown Events

On Saturday, June 23 the Eastown neighborhood will again play host to many of the leading artists and craftspersons of West Michigan, and feature the talents of some of the finest singer-songwriters in the region, when the Eastown Community Association and the Eastown Business Association come together to stage Bizarre Bazaar 2012.

Bizarre Bazaar has become a Grand Rapids institution.  Wealthy Street will be closed to traffic from Atlas to Lake Drive, and around fifty leading artists, potters, sculptors, jewelry makers, hand bag and clothing designers, and other craftspersons will take over the street with colorful booths, selling their wares to the thousands who traditionally flock to the event.  Vendors will be operating their booths along both sides of Wealthy Street from 9.00 am until 5.00 pm.

At the same time, the fine restaurants and cafes of Eastown will provide opportunities for casual and gourmet dining throughout the day, and the eclectic retail outlets of Eastown will be open for business with a range of specials.

Info For Vendors:
At least 50% of goods offered for sale must be handmade. This year the fee is $70 for a booth space. The deadline to submit your application is FRIDAY, JUNE 14. Please note your application will not be processed until we receive payment.

Submit this application to apply!

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Filed Under: Eastown Events

Help clean up the Eastown Business District the day before Bizarre Bazaar, one of our biggest events of the year! Harmony Brewing Company is sponsoring this event and will provide lunch for the volunteers.

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Filed Under: Eastown Events

June 20 coming up quick, and we need your help! We’ve got a headliner, but we are looking to fill the rest of the four hours with a variety of events around Eastown. Do you have an idea for entertainment? Or would you like to host something at your location? It can be anything you want, such as an acoustic band in a parking lot, a swing band on a stage with dancing encouraged, or strolling musicians/entertainers on the sidewalk - the sky is the limit.
If you are a retail location, we encourage you to stay open for the event past your regular hours. If you are a bar or restaurant, join the fun by providing a happy hour or late night special! 
Please contact Kelly (kelly@uptownkitchengr.com) if you are interested in hosting entertainment by Friday, May 31 . Email any additional details for specials or late-night hours no later than Friday, June 7.

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Filed Under: Eastown News

Thursday, June 20th, 5-10pm
The Uptown Marketing Committee is working hard in collaboration with each of the four business districts to pull of the first-annual Eat.Shop.Rock event. This event will be centered on outdoor entertainment and bringing people in to the four neighborhood business districts for a fun experience. If you are a retail location, we encourage you to stay open for the event past your regular hours. If you are a bar or restaurant, join the fun by providing a happy hour or late night special!
While the Uptown Marketing Committee is taking the lead on marketing and promoting the event, each business district is responsible to provide some type of outside musical entertainment. We are working with Kava House to host our headline event at 8pm, but we need to fill in half hour spots between 5-8pm. So we are reaching out to you - the businesses that make up this wonderful district.
Do you have an idea for entertainment? Or would you like to host something at your location? It can be anything you want, such as an acoustic band in a parking lot, a swing band on a stage with dancing encouraged, or strolling musicians/entertainers on the sidewalk - the sky is the limit. Please contact Kelly (kelly@uptownkitchengr.com) if you are interested in helping with this event!

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Filed Under: Eastown News

Uptown Concierge Tour
Tuesday, May 14th, 12-5pm
The Uptown Concierge Tour is coming up soon! We have a full shuttle and a waiting list! Uptown will be bringing people who regularly have contact with visitors to our city around the four districts of Uptown to experience this great place and be better equipped to suggest it to their clients. They may even stop in your business and take a peek. Please make sure we put our best foot forward for this event and do some outside cleaning/sweeping if need be. 
We are looking for a gift certificate or small gift (valued $20-$30) to give each concierge at the end of the tour. This is a great opportunity to market your business. The raffle will be held at Trillium Haven and we hope to have one per person. If you would like to donate a certificate or two, please contact Kelly (kelly@uptownkitchengr.com). We hope these gifts/certificates will either be used by the concierges themselves to experience more of our district, or given to clients to come into theneighborhood. 
Tour Details:
12:00pm: Meet and Greet at FSFM
12:45 - 1:30pm: Tour East Fulton
1:40 - 2:25pm: Tour East Hills
2:35 - 3:20pm: Tour Wealthy Street
3:30 - 4:15pm: Tour Eastown
4:15 - 5:00pm: Wrap up at Trillium Haven

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Filed Under: Eastown News

Good morning everyone,
Today is the day!  The Public Hearing is scheduled at the City Commission meeting at 7:00pm tonight at City Hall (300 Monroe Ave NW).  Bring your parking ticket with you to the 9th floor Commission Chambers to have it validated.  Public Hearings follow the regularly scheduled meeting agenda.  This is the time to go downtown and voice your support for the Uptown Business Improvement District.  I cannot stress enough the positive impact is has on Commissioners when you take a few minutes to show your support in person.
If you are not sure what to say, here are a few pointers:
-      Tell the Commissioners why you chose to locate your business where you are
-      Share with them your experience with things like Shop Hop and other collaborative events between the business districts
-      Express your wish to see the vibrant nature of Uptown take it to the next level
-      Humbly request their support of a ballot to let the property owners in the proposed district vote on the matter
It should be a good night tonight.  But a strong show of support is going to be needed to move this forward.
Two more reminders.  The BID planning team meets this Friday May 3rd at 8:30am at NV.  And, finally, keep working on your nominee list of who your district would like to have serve on the BID Board.  This process will move quickly and those names need to be in by the end of May.
Thanks everyone.  We’ll see you tonight.

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Filed Under: Eastown News

The Concierge Tour will be coming through Eastown on Tuesday May, 14 2013 during the hours of 3:30pm and 4:15pm.  That’s about all we have right now for information and we will provide more information and opportunities to be involved as they come in.  Be prepared to show off your business!

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Filed Under: Eastown News

April 20, 2013 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
In honor of Earth Day on April 22nd, the ECA is organizing a clean up of the Eastown neighborhoods and business district. We will start off at the ECA with a story time for Eastown families and kids. Volunteers will then clean up the Eastown business district and neighboring streets. We will finish up at Connie’s Cakes who will provide treats!

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Filed Under: Eastown News

Please let us know if your business would like to hold a Mixer.  We are planning on holding them monthly and would like to get other businesses involved.  This is a chance for you to showcase your shop to other business owners and get involved.  If you are interested, please email Stacy Wolfgang at stacywolfgang@gmail.com

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Filed Under: Eastown News