Lafayette Online » Downtown Lafayette Indiana

Downtown Lafayette to be decked out for holiday season

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:24:13 +0000

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Downtown Lafayette will be transformed into a winter wonderland this Saturday (Oct 31) when volunteers install holiday lights, banners and decorations.

Nearly one hundred volunteers from the IBEW Local 668 (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) and the NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association) will install special lighting on the Tippecanoe County courthouse dome, Riehle Plaza, the community tree, and other places throughout downtown. Holiday banners and lighted snowflakes will be installed on light poles as well.

The lighting effort, organized by Greater Lafayette Commerce and sponsored by Lafayette Savings Bank, Cook Medical and Landis + Gyr, will take place Saturday, October 31 beginning at 8:00 am.

The decorations will remain unlit until the official Holiday Lighting Celebration and Community Sing on Saturday, December 5th. The lighting ceremony will follow the last scene from A Christmas Carol at the conclusion of Dickens of a Christmas between 5:25-6:00 pm.

The holiday decorations will remain lit through the first of the new year.

Dickens of a Christmas will be in Downtown Lafayette-West Lafayette from 10:00 am – 9:00 pm on December 5.

Other upcoming holiday events include Merchant Holiday Open House on November 13 and 14 and the Christmas Parade on December 6. For more information, please contact Jane Ness or Erin Nelson at GLC, 765/742-4044.

“A Night of Hot Blues & Cool Jazz” at the 5th Annual Uptown Jazz and Blues Festival

admin — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:46:44 +0000

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The 5^th Annual Uptown Jazz & Blues Festival hosted by Greater Lafayette Commerce and presented by Lafayette Bank and Trust will be held on Saturday August 22, 2009 from 5:00pm to midnight in the 5^th Street Farmers Market area between Columbia and Main Streets in downtown Lafayette. The official “After Party” will be held at Indiana’s Oldest Bar, the Knickerbocker Saloon, from midnight to 3:00am.

The annual Jazz & Blues Festival features “hot blues and cool jazz” on three stages and a variety of food from local eateries.

Advance tickets are $8 for adults, $12 at the door. Children 12 to 5 are $5 and under 5 free. Uptown Jazz and Blues Festival advance tickets are available at the locations listed on the community calendar.

Historic downtown Lafayette adds to the ambience of this festival and the mood of the music.

“Downtown is our community living room,” says Dennis Carson, Director of the Downtown Development Council. “It is not only a destination for commerce and government but a place where we gather with friends, family and visitors to share and celebrate greater Lafayette.”

Mayor Tony Roswarski adds, “Residents and visitors can make a full day of it by visiting the many shops, restaurants and galleries downtown including Indiana’s oldest farmers market and then spend the evening with great entertainment.”

Entertainment will feature imported and domestic talent selected by Lafayette Bank and Trust Vice President and local musician Mark Molter and Charlie Hoovler, Jazz and Blues aficionado and owner of Life Employment. There will be three stages of continuous music to enjoy throughout the night.

Souled Out Band

“We have another exceptional band line-up this year. We are excited to have the Souled Out Band from the Muncie area headline the festival. They are an 11 piece soul, funk, and rhythm & blues band that are recognized as one of the best party and dance bands in the Midwest. Their trademark is their always hot and energetic horn section. We also are pleased to have one of Indy’s finest jazz bass players, Frank Smith, back again this year. Joining Frank is renowned vibraphonist, Dick Sisto and Sonny Rollins guitarist, Bobby Broom,” says Molter.

The evening will start with Lafayette-based Big Swing Band on the Back Alley Stage sponsored by Electricom. Big Swing Band is sure to get you out of your seat and moving to their big sound of 1930s swing jazz. The funky side of blues will hold center court with Fremont Jackson’s Funky-Blu-va-Tron. Be ready to end the night dancing under the stars with the fun, soulful sound of Souled Out Band as they close out the evening on the Back Alley Stage.

Lafayette's Big Swing Band

On the Promenade Stage, sponsored by Carl E. Most & Son, the night kicks off with local Jazz legend the Danny Weiss Quartet. Frank Smith & the Jazz Giants will wrap up the night on the Promenade Stage with legendary double bassist Frank Smith leading a talented group including, Sonny Rollins guitar player, Bobby Broom playing classics from the bebop era of Jazz.

The Time Out Lounge, sponsored by Keramida, will feature three local bands ranging from smooth and smoky Jazz to gritty Blues. The opening act is the Delphi Saxophone Quartet demonstrating their prowess of the saxophone with cool jazz. The Hot Club of Colfax will take listeners back to the revolutionary 1920s and 1930s era of Paris jazz. Their gypsy jazz sound mingles with string and western influences to create a unique experience. At the end of the night get ready to switch gears to Mississippi Delta Blues and jam with Blind Boy and the CNI Dawg.

The evening doesn’t end at midnight, however, music lovers can continue jamming at the Knickerbocker Saloon “After Party” with Uncle Buck’s Mojo Box. This band of local rockers will keep everyone dancing with their electrifying blues.

Back Alley Stage

Big Swing Band
Fremont Jackson’s Funky-Blu-va-Tron
Souled Out Band

Promenade Stage

Danny Weiss Quartet
Frank Smith & The Jazz Giants

Time Out Lounge

Delphi Saxophone Quartet
The Hot Club of Colfax
Blind Boy & the CNI Dawg

The Knickerbocker Saloon “After Party”

Uncle Buck’s Mojo Box

Food and beverage are always a popular part of summertime events, and this year is no exception. Greater Lafayette’s favorite local dining establishments will be on-hand to fill bellies and quench thirsts. This year will feature cuisine from Arni’s, Spurlock’s, Bea One, D & R Market, Sgt. Preston’s, Cold Stone Creamery, Skylight Coffeehouse, and Kathy’s Kandies. Unique beers and wine will be provided by Sgt. Preston’s. Two in-event restaurants will be serving up great dishes with your jazz and blues, the Knickerbocker Saloon and Bistro 501.

Event Chairman Tom Gall states this is one of his personal highlights each year.

“I have been chairing this event for the past several years because it’s really great fun. Every year we see if we can do better than the last and I think this year we have a line-up second to none. The caliber of musicians is outstanding with several legends of the jazz world. And we have local musicians that have quite a following and are recognized by their peers and others. Add to this great food and libations what more could you ask for?”

To make it easy and convenient Gall notes that credit cards will also be accepted for food and beverage tickets.

36th Annual Round the Fountain Art Fair

admin — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:03:35 +0000

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The ‘Round the Fountain Art Fair, now in its 36th year, has brought high quality fine art to the Greater Lafayette community every year since 1973. The juried fair of 89 artists represents a number of media categories like watercolor, oil/acrylic, ceramic, sculpture, mixed media, wood and more.

The 36th Annual Round the Fountain Art Fair will be held Saturday, May 23rd in Downtown Lafayette. (Photo courtesy of roundthefountain.org)

This year’s ‘Round the Fountain Art Fair is slated for Saturday, May 23rd (rain or shine), from 9:00a until 4:30p in Downtown Lafayette.

Local, regional and national artists participate in what is considered by many to be one of the finest art fair in the Midwest.

Proceeds have supported Tippecanoe County Courthouse restoration projects in the past, and currently support the visual arts programs in the five local high schools (Jefferson, Harrison, McCutcheon, West Lafayette, and Central Catholic.)

The RTFAF Committee also has a permanent collection, purchased from participating artists, of 2 dimensional art that is exhibited in the Tippecanoe County Courthouse for the enjoyment of the community.

Historic Lafayette Farmers Market opens 2009 season, May 2

admin — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:38:50 +0000

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The historic Lafayette Farmers Market opens its 2009 season on Saturday, May 2. The Market operates in Downtown Lafayette on Fifth Street between Main and Columbia, and will also operate a new location in West Lafayette on the campus of Purdue University.

Fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, kettle corn, free range farm fresh eggs, flowers, honey, maple syrup, jams and jellies, dried herbs, baked goods, soy candles, Traders Point certified organic whole milk, Fair Oaks cheeses, perennial flowering transplants, arts/crafts, roasted coffee beans are all examples of items available at selected times during the 2009 Market.

The Farmers Market season is May 1 through October 31, and is open in its Downtown Lafayette location on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 7:30a–12:30pm. The new West Lafayette vending location will be open Thursdays from 3:00p–6:30p from June 4 through August 13 in the Dauch Alumni Center Parking Lot at 403 W. Wood Street on Purdue University campus. From August 20 through October 29, the Market will move back downtown on Thursday evenings from 4:00-7:00 pm.

In addition, the Sagamore West Farmers Market will be in operation on Wednesdays from May 6 through October 28. Information regarding this market can be obtained at www.westlafayette.in.gov/departments/parksandrec/.

The number of growers and the amount of produce on a given day is dictated by the natural progression of the growing season. An early arrival will assures the best selection.

For more information or to become a vendor at the Lafayette Farmers Market, contact Jane Ness at Greater Lafayette Commerce, 765/742-4044

Lafayette Online » Downtown Lafayette Indiana

Downtown Lafayette to be decked out for holiday season

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