Monday, December 15, 2008

Downtown Updates for Dec. 15

Butcher Block Antiques and More (formerly New Era) is having a Flea Market on Saturday, Dec. 20 and Sunday, Dec. 21. Their November Flea Market had nearly 300 attendees. For details, call 284-1204.

The Next Picture Show has the "Rhythm and Blues Show: All Media Exhibition" continues until Jan. 13. Also featured throughout December is the Christmas to Me Poster Contest sponsored by Next Picture Show and Creative Printing. For more information, call 285-4924.

The Crystal Cork Art Quarterly presents "fresh water Pearls: Unique creations by Linda Brantley" during the months of December and January. For more information, call 285-3496.

Mama Cimino’s is continuing their holiday food drive throughout the month of December. By donating a food item for the Dixon Food Pantry, Cimino’s will give you $2 off your pizza.

Toys for Tots can be dropped off at a variety of downtown locations including, Bill and Dick’s Barber Shop and J Salon.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Main Street to head Reagan Trail Days

Starting in 2009, the annual Reagan Trail Days celebration will become part of Dixon Main Street’s calendar of events. The change comes as the event that honors President Ronald Reagan has grown too large for the Reagan Trail Days committee to plan alone.

Bill Wadsworth, Reagan Trail Days committee member and former chairman, said the Reagan Trail Days is excited to have Dixon Main Street assume leadership of the event with a membership dedicated not only to the Dixon downtown but to the community as a whole.

"The Reagan Trail Days committee has expanded its leadership base by turning over management of the event to Dixon Main Street,” Wadsworth said. "Reagan Trail Days will continue its mission to honor President Reagan, and Dixon as his hometown.”

After serving on the Reagan Trail Days committee in 2008, Dixon Main Street executive director Josh Albrecht is excited about Main Street’s new role in leading the Reagan Trail Days activities.

“We are truly honored to have been asked to lead this great community event,” Albrecht said. “The downtown is where Ronald Reagan went to church, to the library and to shop. And just a short walk up Reagan Way takes you to his boyhood home. Our involvement with an event celebrating his life is natural.”

During the past eight years, the Reagan Trail Days has grown steadily. The RTD Committee has developed a great connection to the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier and members of its crew and the Navy band. It also has developed the annual honoring of Dixon High School graduates, the Reagan Legacy Award, pontoon rides at Lowell Park, Jelly Belly contests, trolley tours and much, much more.

“Dixon Main Street will work with the RTD committee members to ensure that all the great traditions are continued in 2009 and beyond,” Albrecht said. “This past year, Main Street helped to organize the first Thai Festival as part of the Reagan Trail Days events, and we hope to bring more activities to this wonderful community celebration.”

The 2009 Reagan Trail Days events are already being planned for August 14-16 and regular committee meetings will begin in January. Main Street is looking for more volunteers to help with the event, so those interested in joining the committee should contact Albrecht at 815-288-2308 or email him at mainst@grics.net.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Upcoming Events

Downtown Dixon Upcoming Events

Main Street Chili Cook-off is set for Sunday, Nov. 2 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Bean Blossom parking lot. The event will feature teams competing for the best chili with prizes awarded. Admission for tasting is $3 per person or $5 per couple. Come and help decide who has the best chili in Dixon or enter your chili into the competition. The registration form is attached.

Downtown Saver Cards are now available at the Dixon Main Street office. The card contains great deals from downtown businesses including: Audio Video Connection, Salamandra, Touch of Thai, Trein's, Baker Street, Tangibles, Crystal Cork, Frameworks, Carebear's Popcorn, Treats and More, Mama Cimino's, Spurgeon's Bay, Fern's, Twice is Nice, Curve’s, KSB Gift Shop, Snow White Bakery, Blumen Stuff, Something Special, Sherwin-Williams and The Purse Addiction. Cards are $10 and help to fund Dixon Main Street events.

At the Next Picture Show, the “Farms and Barns 3: Juried Art Show” will remain up until Oct. 21.

“4Visions: A relation of color, life and form” is the featured art show at The Crystal Cork through Oct. 31. Call 815-285-3496 for details.

The Graffe String Quartet with Michiko Otaki will perform at the Dixon Theatre on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. And Nov. 2 at the theatre, the Dixon Library is sponsoring a free movie based on the book The Maltese Falcon at 3 p.m. For more information on Dixon Theatre events, go to http://dixontheatre.com/.

Phidian Art Club of Dixon will present a free concert at the First United Methodist Church on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. The event features the musical talents of Jon Warfel, a Dixon native.

The 2nd Annual Breast Cancer Pub Crawl is Saturday, Oct. 18 from 3 – 7 p.m., starting at First Street Pub. Proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. For information, call 815-440-3657.

Christmas Walk – Dec. 5-6
Lunch and Learn – Nov. 19

For more information about Dixon Main Street, go online to www.dixonil.com/mainstreet or call 815-288-2308.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Upcoming Events

There is a lot going on in downtown Dixon this month and this list doesn’t even cover it all. So, check you schedule now and plan for a busy month! And look for our latest newsletter that will be going into the mail in a few days.

-- At the Next Picture Show, the “I Am Woman: Women’s Juried Exhibition” continues until Sept. 16. Beginning Sept. 19 is the “Farms and Barns 3: Juried Art Show” that will remain up until Oct. 21. Go online to www.thenextpictureshow.com for a full calendar of events at Dixon’s downtown cultural arts center. Also in September, is the Canterbury 25th Anniversary Music Festival Weekend, September 12, 13 and 14. A variety of events will be held. For more information, call 815-285-4924

-- The Dixon Sister Cities Association will present their Second Annual September Concert on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. More than 300 people attended last year’s event. For more information on Dixon Theatre events, go to http://dixontheatre.com/

-- “4Visions: A relation of color, life and form” is the featured art show at The Crystal Cork through Oct. 31. Call 815-285-3496 for details.

-- Main Street Clean-up Day will be Saturday, September 13 from 9 a.m. – Noon. Bring your gloves, trash bags and friends. Meet at the Main Street office at 9 a.m. or just start cleaning things up!

-- The Lunch and Learn series continues Wednesday, Sept. 17 at noon at the Post House Ballroom. The program cost is $3 and is open to the public. Lunch will be provided by Baker Street and the program will be on the Dixon Historic Center.

-- The Chamber of Commerce is holding a Legislative Luncheon with the help of the Rotary Club. The luncheon is set for Monday, Sept. 15 at noon at the Loveland Community House. RSVP to the Chamber at 284-3361 by Sept. 10. Cost is $15 and includes lunch.

-- Scarecrow Festival will be held on Saturday, September 27 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The day-time activities are family-focused events including pumpkin painting, kiddie water fights, bean bag toss, classic car show, the Dixon Theatre’s Acoustic Jam, chalk the walk and much, much more. At night, join one of the Progressive Walks starting at 5 p.m. Call the Main Street office for details 288-2308.

For more information about Dixon Main Street, go online to www.dixonil.com/mainstreet or call 815-288-2308.

Musical Fridays Thank You

Dixon Main Street would like to thank everyone who came out to the Musical Fridays Concert Series this summer in downtown Dixon. The concerts were held every Friday from June 6 – August 29. Each week a different musical act was featured which brought a great variety to the downtown. Thanks to all of the musicians that helped make the event possible, as well. Of course, like most Main Street events, the volunteers and sponsors were the ones that made it happen and this event had some great ones. Volunteers Joni Ehnen and Mitch Tucker were instrumental in the execution of the event each week, scheduling the bands and helping to set up picnic tables. Several other volunteers helped at different times throughout the summer and we thank all of those people for their dedication to Main Street. Thanks also to the Dixon Park District for the use of their picnic tables, to KSB Hospital for their space just outside of the Town Square Center and to the Dixon Chamber of Commerce for their sound-system. Finally, a huge thanks to our sponsors, Wal-Mart, Kitzman’s Lumber, C&N Supply, Mama Cimino’s and Now Care Clinic. The tremendous support from the downtown business community was also greatly appreciated. Main Street strives to provide great opportunities within the downtown and this was another great program for businesses, residents and visitors alike.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Scarecrow Festival is Sept. 27

Dixon Main Street will host the 13th Annual Scarecrow Festival on Saturday, Sept. 27. The day features a wide variety of activities for the whole family. Starting at 10 a.m., the festival will feature pumpkin painting, flower pot painting and kids’ games. During the festival parts of First Street and Hennepin Avenue will be closed to traffic.

“Last year, the flower pot painting and the pumpkin painting were both huge hits,” Josh Albrecht, Dixon Main Street executive director said. “We knew that those are now highlights that we needed to bring back.”

Also back this year will be the Bean Bag Tournament. First Street Pub will host the tournament and two age divisions will be available: 18 and over and 21 and over. Prizes will be awarded and sign-up is being held at First Street Pub and Sherwin-Williams.

New this year will be a Chalk the Walk event where kids can color a section of the downtown sidewalks with chalk. The Chalk the Walk goes from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and is free. Registration will be the day of the event.

“All of the events downtown during Scarecrow Festival are very affordable and family-friendly,” Albrecht said. “We want this to be an enjoyable day for everyone.”

Another new element this year is the historic Dixon Theatre’s Acoustic Jam. From noon to 8 p.m. a variety of acoustic acts will perform in 20-minute increments. The theatre is currently looking for acts to participate in the Acoustic Jam. Those interested should call Tom at 815-973-4318. Admission to the Acoustic Jam is $5 and the concert-goers will be able to come and go all day long so that they can enjoy all the aspects of the festival.

The day continues in the afternoon with a car show starting at 3 p.m. The show will be at the corner of First Street and Ottawa Avenue and will feature music by 3D Sound. Anyone with a classic car is invited to come down for the event. There is no admission charge. For more information about the car show, call 815-288-2308.

The day ends with the new Scarecrow Festival tradition of the Progressive Walk. This year there are two walks to choose from. Walk A features the downtown bars and will food will be served by downtown restaurants and Walk B features the downtown restaurants and coffee shops. Both walks begin at 5 p.m. and finish after 9 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person or $60 per couple. Space is limited and reservations are required by calling 815-288-2308.

“The Progressive Walks are a fun way to experience a lot of the downtown in just one night. Plus, getting to sample all the great food and drink makes the evening very memorable,” Albrecht said.

For more information about the 2008 Dixon Main Street Scarecrow Festival, go online to www.dixonil.com/mainstreet or call 815-288-22308.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Final Musical Fridays this week

Robbie LeBlanc will perform in downtown Dixon on Friday, August 29 as part of Dixon Main Street’s 13 Fridays Lunch-time Concert Series. The concert will be held at the Town Square Center, begins at 12 p.m. and is free and open to all.“It’s hard to believe that the final concert of the summer is already here,” executive director Josh Albrecht said. “This year was a great success and we hope that we can bring the concert series back again next year.”This year, 13 total concerts were held with a wide variety of music performed. Main Street Board members Joni Ehnen and Mitch Tucker were instrumental in planning for this year’s concert series.Those looking to catch a quick bite before heading over to the concerts can go online to www.dixonil.com/mainstreet and click on the “downtown restaurants” link to get the latest lunch specials. A full listing of all the summer concerts can be found at the Main Street website, too. The concerts are sponsored by Kitzmans, Wal-Mart, Now Care, Mama Cimino’s and C&N Supply. For more information, call the Main Street office at 815-288-2308.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

White Striped Rock to play Musical Fridays

White Striped Rock will perform in downtown Dixon on Friday, July 18 as part of Dixon Main Street’s 13 Fridays Lunch-time Concert Series. The concert will be held at the Town Square Center on First Street, begins at 12 p.m. and is free and open to all.

“The concert series gets a taste of acoustic Rock and Roll this week with White Striped Rock,” Executive Director Josh Albrecht said. “We have been thrilled with the turnout so far this year for our concerts and we expect them to continue growing until the end of summer.”

This Friday also will feature Sidewalk Sales from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. and a Cruise Night from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Wermer’s Parking Lot of the corner of First Street and Peoria Avenue.

This year, 13 total concerts are planned for the series, with the final act on Friday, August 29. Main Street Board members Joni Ehnen and Mitch Tucker were instrumental in planning for this year’s concert series.

Those looking to catch a quick bite before heading over to the concerts can go online to www.dixonil.com/mainstreet and click on the “downtown restaurants” link to get the latest lunch specials. A full listing of all the summer concerts can be found at the Main Street website, too. The concerts are sponsored by Kitzmans, Wal-Mart, Now Care, Mama Cimino’s and C&N Supply. For more information, call the Main Street office at 815-288-2308.

Upcoming Concerts
July 25 – Ross Miraglia
August 1 – Hosanna’s Singers
August 8 – Lucas Zellers

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Restaurant Lunch Specials

Carebear’s has 16 flavors of Cedar Crest Ice Cream now available. Stop in and find out which one is your favorite. Or, pick up a bag of popcorn to go!

At Salamandra pick up some tacos or chips and salsa. Daily lunch specials are offered.

Pick up a delicious Vanilla Latte or a cup of coffee at Books on First.

At Snow White Bakery, enjoy several grilled items or chicken salad sandwiches and soups.

Quizno’s has their flatbread Sammies or the $5 footlong subs.

Several specialty sandwiches await at Alley Loop. Try their famous tuna salad sandwich or egg salad.

Touch of Thai has daily lunch specials for $5.95 for an entrée and appetizer, or pick up a to go order of their sushi.

Baker Street is a must stop for soup, sandwiches or coffee.

The Dixon Dog House has daily specials. Try their Chicago-style hot dogs or Italian Beef or the Wiseguy.

And Stop in at Mama Cimino’s for pizza by the slice.

Fern’s Café has daily specials for breakfast and lunch.

Spurgeon’s Bay has outstanding sweet potato fries, along with burgers and salads.

Fung Ming has a variety of Cantonese-style dishes.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Illinois to host National Main Street Conference

SPRINGFIELD – The 25th Annual National Main Streets Conference will come to Illinois for the first time in 2009, bringing thousands of committed volunteers, developers and community organizers from across the nation to the Land of Lincoln.

“This is an exciting opportunity for the state of Illinois to showcase its diverse and vibrant downtown districts that so many dedicated Main Street volunteers have worked so hard to create,” said Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, Chairman of the Illinois Main Street Advisory Council. “This conference will bring together motivated people from across the United States to share ideas, communicate successful strategies and help promote technology as a tool to enhance historic downtown districts across the country.”

Illinois Main Street and the National Trust for Historic Preservation will co-host the National Main Streets Conference, which will take place March 1-4, 2009 at the Palmer House Hilton hotel in Chicago. Attendees will engage in more than 60 educational sessions, workshops, social networking events, and local and regional tours.

The conference theme, “Becoming Main Street 2.0” will equip professionals and volunteers involved in preservation-based economic development and revitalization with the technological tools necessary to succeed in the 21st century. Workshops will explore the many different ways to use technology to manage revitalization programs by engaging constituents, developing social networking on Main Street, recruiting volunteers, generating e-commerce and monitoring financial records.

"We expect record crowds at the National Main Streets Conference this year because from coast to coast, main streets matter to people,” said Doug Loescher, Director of the National Trust Main Street Center.

“Chicago provides the ideal meeting point for Main Street professionals from across the country to take community revitalization to a new level by leveraging emerging technologies to engage residents and their business sectors. With our strong partnership with Illinois Main Street, we are excited to showcase outstanding success stories from across the state."

Loescher announced that Chicago would host the 2009 Main Streets Conference during the closing session of the April 2008 conference in Philadelphia, which drew more than 1,600 attendees. Illinois Main Street staff, local executive directors and volunteers built excitement for the 2009 Chicago conference with a trade show booth featuring the sights, sounds and smells of “Sweet Home Chicago.”

Illinois Main Street also invited the Philadelphia crowd to Chicago with a video themed after the famous Blues Brothers movie. The clip follows Jake and Elwood as they embark on a 761-mile trip from Philadelphia to Chicago, passing through Main Street towns like Alton, Springfield and Batavia along the way. Watch the video at Illinois.MainStreet.org.

Illinois Main Street represents one of the state’s most effective public-private partnerships for economic development and community renewal. Since its inception, designated communities have reported net gains of more than 1,600 new downtown businesses and created more than 6,000 new full- and part-time jobs. The Main Street program has spurred the reinvestment of more than $576 million in Main Street downtowns.

Illinois is one of 40 states participating in the National Main Street program, administered through the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Lt. Governor’s Office administers the Illinois Main Street program, now the fourth largest in the nation, with architectural assistance from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Upcoming Events on Main Street

Several upcoming events are planned for Main Street.

13 Fridays Lunchtime Concert Series – the new downtown Dixon tradition kicks-off on June 6 with Robbie Leblanc. Come downtown for free music from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. each Friday throughout the summer. Look for the complete list of bands in the coming weeks.

Progressive Restaurant Walk – The Restaurant Walk will be held on Saturday, June 7 beginning at 5:30 p.m. There are only 52 tickets available for this event, which features a tour of downtown eateries and drinkeries. Each stop on the tour is a different course of the meal – from cocktails to appetizers to the main course to desert. Enjoy this great way to experience downtown Dixon. Cost is $35 per person or $60 per couple.

GOLF OUTING – Thursday, June 12 will be the First Annual Main Street Golf Outing presented by Fifth Third Bank. The outing is at Timber Creek Golf Course in Dixon. Details are in the attached flyer. Many of the sponsorships have already been taken but a few $100 hole sponsorships and $50 program sponsorships remain. We also have foursomes still available and the evening dinner reception that will feature Cuban foods and salsa dancers for entertainment.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

First Annual Main Street Golf Outing is June 12

The Dixon Main Street is planning its First Annual Golf Outing Presented by Fifth Third Bank for June 12 at Timber Creek Golf Club. The outing will have a shotgun start at 1 p.m. and lunch will be served at noon. The event will be a scramble-style competition, with the winning team being immortalized with a plaque at the golf club. Foursomes are $240 or $65 for individual golfers.

The event is co-chaired by Kris Kline of Greensfield Investment Group and Josh Johnson, golf pro at Timber Creek. Dixon Main Street is honored to have new Dixon Police Chief Dan Langloss as the Honorary Chair of the event, too. The event is held to help fund the variety of programs and events that Dixon Main Street offers throughout the year, including the Scarecrow Festival, Christmas Walk, Founders’ Day and much more.

"We are certainly excited about the 1st Annual Main Street Golf Outing and are working hard to ensure that the tournament offers a fun-filled day at Timber Creek Country Club. Our goal is to create a tournament that offers something for all skill levels and build upon what become a wonderful annual event to support our Dixon Main Street organization,” said Kline.

After the golfing, the event also will feature a dinner reception and silent auction at 6 p.m.. The dinner will be themed “Havanna Nights,” with Cuban food and music featured at the event. The dinner includes jerk-spiced chicken, chipotle-cheddar potatoes and much more. Dinner tickets can be purchased separate from the golf outing and cost $25 per person or $45 per couple.

“The generosity of Fifth Third Bank to be our presenting sponsor is just magnificent. The anticipation for this event has been building during the past few weeks, and we already have several sponsorships and foursomes taken,” said Josh Albrecht, Dixon Main Street executive director.

For more information about the golf outing, call 815-288-2308.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

285-EATS update

Thank you for calling 285-EATS, downtown Dixon’s dinning hotline sponsored by Treins Jewelry and Dixon Main Street.

Carebear’s has 16 flavors of Cedar Crest Ice Cream now available. Stop in and find out which one is your favorite. Also, don’t forget Mother's Day, so stock up on our fine chocolates and other candy as a great gift for this special occasion.

Salamandra is now open on Sundays for breakfast from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. And don’t forget to stop by for a daily lunch special. On Monday it’s Beef Soup, Tuesday is Pork Tacos, Wednesday is Fish Tacos and a buffet, Thursday is Avocado Burritos, Friday is Fish Tacos and Tropical Shrimp.

This week’s specials will surely hit the spot at Books on First. Monday is Mint Mocha Latte, Tuesday is Hazelnut Latte, Wednesday is White Chocolate/Caramel Latte, Thursday is Mocha Almond Latte, Friday is Vanilla Latte and for the weekend, the special is Chocolate Raspberry Latte. Don’t forget to check out the expanded kid’s section.

At Snow White Bakery, there is a special lunch each day of the week, so stop in and see what's cooking.

At Quizno’s, you can try the toasted gourmet bread bowls or flatbread Sammies for a quick lunch or dinner. The Sammies are just $2 each and you can chose from the Sonoma Turkey, the Italiano, the Alpine Chicken and the Bistro Steak Melt.

In 2008 Alley Loop is great. In their smoke-free atmosphere, enjoy $4.50 daily specials.
Monday is the Turkey Caesar Wrap
Tuesday is the new Mama Mia – an open faced sandwich on chiabatta bread with Italian sausage and sauce and cheese.
Wednesday is egg salad
Thursday is the new Cha Cha Chili Burger
Friday is the their famous Tuna salad sandwich

They deliver at Touch of Thai, so if you can get out for lunch, have it delivered. Call 288-8499. The daily lunch special is $5.95 for an entrée and appetizer.

Baker Street is a must stop for soup, sandwiches or coffee.Baker Street now offers fine dining by reservation only on Friday nights. Stop in and ask for details.

Fern’s Café has daily specials for breakfast and lunch.
Spurgeon’s Bay has outstanding sweet potato fries.
Fung Ming has a variety of Cantonese-style dishes.
The Dixon Dog House has daily specials. Try their Chicago-style hot dogs or Italian Beef.
And Stop in at Mama Cimino’s new location downtown. Daily lunch specials are available. And every Tuesday is Taco Tuesday!

Cinco de Mayo to be held May 3

The second annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta will be held on Saturday, May 3 from 12 p.m. – 9 p.m. in downtown Dixon. During the celebration, First Street will be closed between Galena Ave. and Hennepin Ave. After a very successful first year in 2007, Salamandra Restaurant agreed to help continue the tradition for the city of Dixon by helping to present the fiesta again in 2008 with co-sponsor Dixon Main Street.

“Dixon Main Street is excited to co-sponsor the Second Annual Cinco de Mayo celebration again this year with Salamandra,” Executive Director Josh Albrecht said. “Last year was a huge success, and it is great for our community to celebrate the cultural diversity of our city.”

This year’s event features plenty of entertainment, including Mariachi Juvenil San Francisco, Ballet Folkloric Imagen Mexicana and Ballet Folkloric Ay! Jalisco. There also will be piñatas and games for kids.

And to top it off, a variety of Mexican food will be featured, including 20 different salsas created by salsa master and Salamandra owner Juana Ayala. An outdoor beer garden will be featured, along with a variety of specialty margaritas.

For more information about the Cinco de Mayo fiesta, call 815-285-0874.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Home Show this weekend

Dixon Main Street will host its 2008 House and Home Show from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on April 18 and April 19 at Kitzman’s Lumber, 411 W. 1st Street, Dixon. The event is sponsored by Kitzman’s Lumber, Sherwin-Williams and Hvarre Painting. The event is free and open to the public.

“This event is perfect for Main Street because there is nothing like it in Dixon,” Mitch Tucker, Sherwin Williams Market Manager and Main Street Board Member, said. “Plus, many people don’t realize how many businesses in the downtown provide services for home owners.”

The two-day event will feature booths by area painters, contractors, businesses, realtors, landscapers and other service professionals. The community will get the chance to learn more about the services and products these professionals provide.

“This is the first time that Dixon Main Street has held an event like this, and we couldn’t be more excited,” Josh Albrecht, Dixon Main Street executive director, said. “There is no better time to hold a House and Home Show than in the early spring as people begin to work in their gardens and plan for home improvement projects.”

Monday, March 31, 2008

Main Street Honors Volunteers at Martini Night

Dixon Main Street hosted its annual volunteer recognition night on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at the Post House Ballroom. More than 140 people turned out for the event, which featured an amazing show by mentalist Christopher Carter and music by The Real Live Band. The evening also featured our annual awards ceremony for our outstanding volunteers. This year’s honorees were:

Spirit Award: Melissa Glessner
Rookie of the Year: Mitch Tucker
Behind the Scenes Award: Joni Ehnen and Bill Ost
Visionary Award: Judy Brantley
Creativity Award: Melissa Mehrens
Leadership Award: Joan Roth
Volunteer of the Year: R.J. Gabaldon

An auction was held to help raise funds for Main Street events throughout the year. The presenting sponsorship for the first Main Street golf outing was auctioned off and 5/3 Bank graciously stepped up to the plate for that sponsorship. The first annual Dixon Main Street Golf Outing Presented by 5/3 Bank will be held on June 12 at Timber Creek Golf Course.

Monday, March 17, 2008

First Annual Founders' Day Celebration!

The Dixon Main Street and the Loveland Community House and Historical Museum will host the first annual Founders' Day / Father John Day from 6:30 p.m – 10 p.m. on Friday, April 11 at the Loveland Museum. The celebration falls on the same day (April 11, 1830) that John Dixon, the namesake and founder of the city of Dixon, settled near what is now the corner of First Street and Peoria Avenue in downtown Dixon.

“Our community’s history begins in our downtown. Father John settled on the banks of the Rock River and the city grew up around his settlement,” Josh Albrecht, executive director of Dixon Main Street said. “Honoring the man who gave birth to our downtown and our city seemed like a marvelous way for Dixon Main Street to promote our history.”

Partnering with Main Street for the Father John Day festivities will be the Loveland Community House and Museum, which houses numerous artifacts that belong to Father John Dixon and other settlers. Sponsors for the event include the The Telegraph, WIXN, Carebear’s Popcorn, Treats and More, The Good Book and the John Deere Historical Site.

“The volunteers that dedicate their time to the Loveland Museum are walking encyclopedias on the history of Dixon,” said Albrecht. “They were a great choice to help bring our community’s history alive.”

The Father John Day event will be held at the Loveland House and Museum, 513 West Second Street, Dixon, and will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a social hour and free tours of the Loveland Museum. Carebear’s will provide free popcorn and ice cream. Melodious Thunk will perform jazz music and Rick Trahan, the John Deere Blacksmith will be on hand to talk about the John Deere site. At 7:30 p.m. the featured program about John Dixon’s life presented by Loveland volunteers and local relatives of John Dixon will begin. The presentations will be about Dixon’s acts of heroism, family tragedy, his wife, why he wasn’t a rich man, why he didn’t join a church and his relationship with the Indians. After the program, the museum will remain open for tours and volunteers will be on hand to talk about Dixon and the Loveland Museum.

“Many towns have founders, but in most cases their relatives didn’t remain in the area,” Loveland Museum curator Fran Swarbrick said. “Dixon is lucky to have had a great founder whose family is still active in the community today.”

Monday, March 10, 2008

RJ Gabaldon named 2007 Ambassador of the Year

Dixon Main Street Board Member RJ Gabaldon was selected as the 2007 Dixon Chamber Ambassador of the year for 2007. The Dixon Chamber Ambassadors club is a group of Dixon Chamber members who handle different functions on behalf of the chamber. They serve as a welcoming committee for new Dixon Chamber members by facilitating a formal ribbon cutting at their place of business and also assist business owners whom host Chamber business after business parties by helping with their raffles & the hosting of their guests. The Ambassadors are very involved with offering time and resources with most non for profit activities and serve as the face of the Dixon Chamber from a goodwill standpoint with the residents and businesses of Dixon. RJ has been an instrumental part of the Ambassadors through all of his hard work and dedication to the organization. He has been a member since September, 2006. Congratulations RJ!!

Volunteer Recognition Night!

Dixon Main Street will host its annual volunteer recognition night on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at the Post House Ballroom. This year’s theme is Black & White Martini Night and the evening will include cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, entertainment and an auction. As part of the theme, those attending are encouraged to wear something black or white, ranging from business casual to black tie.

For our main entertainment, Main Street will host Christopher Carter. Carter, a mentalist, has performed for sold out audiences across the nation. The classy evening will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres until 7 p.m. After the awards ceremony at 7 p.m., Carter will take the stage with his amazing show. To wrap up the evening of fun, Robbie LeBlanc and his band, The Real Live Show will play music from the ’80s and ’90s.

The evening also will include an auction with a new twist, as Main Street will auction off the Headline Sponsorship Spot and a foursome of golf to the first ever Dixon Main Street Golf Outing that will be held on June 12. Other items to be auctioned off include skybox tickets to a United Center event (you’ll have to attend to find out what event) donated by 5/3 Mortgage, a beautiful hand crafted book case from Freight House Kitchen and Bath (will it match your décor—come and see!), desserts, drink trays and many more surprises.

Ticket prices have been set at $30 per person or $250 per corporate table of 8. Space is limited to 160 people / 20 tables. Pre-selling of tickets has already begun. Please contact the Dixon Main Street office to secure your spot at what is rumored to be the must attend event this spring. For more information, call 815-288-2308.

285-Eats Update for March 10

Thank you for calling 285-EATS, downtown Dixon’s dinning hotline sponsored by Treins Jewelry and Dixon Main Street.

Carebear’s has 16 flavors of Cedar Crest Ice Cream now available. Stop in and find out which one is your favorite. Also, don’t forget that March 23 is Easter, so stock up on our fine chocolates and other candy as a great gift for this special occasion. And you can get 10 percent off their new Hawaiian Products line of lotions and candles.

Salamandra is now open on Sundays for breakfast from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. And don’t forget to stop by for a daily lunch special. On Monday it’s Beef Soup, Tuesday is Pork Tacos, Wednesday is Fish Tacos and a buffet, Thursday is Avocado Burritos, Friday is Fish Tacos and Tropical Shrimp.

This week’s specials will surely hit the spot at Books on First. Monday is Mint Mocha Latte, Tuesday is Hazelnut Latte, Wednesday is White Chocolate/Caramel Latte, Thursday is Mocha Almond Latte, Friday is Vanilla Latte and for the weekend, the special is Chocolate Raspberry Latte. Don’t forget to check out the expanded kid’s section.

At Snow White Bakery, there is a special lunch each day this week, so come and try something new. Everyday there is a soup special. On Tuesday, try the Beef Bourguignon (a beef stew with noodles), on Wednesday try the spinach lasagna, on Thursday try the chicken alfredo, on Friday try the shrimp sauted with rice.

At Quizno’s, you can try the toasted gourmet bread bowls or flatbread Sammies for a quick lunch or dinner. The Sammies are just $2 each and you can chose from the Sonoma Turkey, the Italiano, the Alpine Chicken and the Bistro Steak Melt.

In 2008 Alley Loop is great. In their smoke-free atmosphere, enjoy $4.50 daily specials.
Monday is the Turkey Caesar Wrap
Tuesday is the new Mama Mia – an open faced sandwich on chiabatta bread with Italian sausage and sauce and cheese.
Wednesday is egg salad
Thursday is the new Cha Cha Chili Burger
Friday is the their famous Tuna salad sandwich

They deliver at Touch of Thai, so if you can get out for lunch, have it delivered. Call 288-8499. The daily lunch special is $5.95 for an entrée and appetizer.

Baker Street is a must stop for soup, sandwiches or coffee.
Fern’s Café has daily specials for breakfast and lunch.
Spurgeon’s Bay has outstanding sweet potato fries.
Fung Ming has a variety of Cantonese-style dishes.
The Dixon Dog House has daily specials. Try their Chicago-style hot dogs or Italian Beef.
And Stop in at Mama Cimino’s new location downtown. Daily lunch specials are available. And every Tuesday is Taco Tuesday!

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

285-PUBS Update

Thank you for calling 285-PUBS, presented by Venier’s Jewelry and Dixon Main Street.

There’s always something going on in downtown Dixon, so stop on down for drink specials and live entertainment at one of our fine establishments.

The Stables has DJ music every Thursday night.

Zeros is great for watching your favorite sports

Rhyno’s has Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night drink specials.

Spurgeon’s Bay has live music every Saturday night and tasty sweet potato fries.

Wilson’s Tap has all your lotto and packaged liquor needs. Or stay for a game of pool.

For daily free wine tastings and both local and international wines, stop in at Of the Prairie.

Alley Loop is great for pool or darts and great tacos for dinner on Thursdays.

285-EATS update Feb. 25 - March 2

Thank you for calling 285-EATS, downtown Dixon’s dinning hotline sponsored by Treins Jewelry and Dixon Main Street.

Carebear’s has 16 different flavors of ice cream to try and plenty of popcorn, chocolate and other treats for kids and adults alike. Candy and popcorn make great treats and gifts for any occasion.

Salamandra is now open on Sundays for breakfast from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. And don’t forget to stop by for a daily lunch special. On Monday it’s Beef Soup, Tuesday is Pork Tacos, Wednesday is Fish Tacos and a buffet, Thursday is Avocado Burritos, Friday is Fish Tacos and Tropical Shrimp.

This week’s specials will surely hit the spot at Books on First. Monday is Mint Mocha Latte, Tuesday is Hazelnut Latte, Wednesday is White Chocolate/Caramel Latte, Thursday is Mocha Almond Latte, Friday is Vanilla Latte and for the weekend, the special is Chocolate Raspberry Latte. Don’t forget to check out the expanded kid’s section.

At Snow White Bakery, there is a special lunch each day this week, so come and try something new. Everyday there is a soup special. On Tuesday, try the Beef Bourguignon (a beef stew with noodles), on Wednesday try the spinach lasagna, on Thursday try the chicken alfredo, on Friday try the shrimp sauted with rice.

At Quizno’s, you can try the toasted gourmet bread bowls or flatbread Sammies for a quick lunch or dinner. The Sammies are just $2 each and you can chose from the Sonoma Turkey, the Italiano, the Alpine Chicken and the Bistro Steak Melt.

In 2008 Alley Loop is great. In their smoke-free atmosphere, enjoy $4.50 daily specials.
Monday is the Turkey Caesar Wrap
Tuesday is the new Mama Mia – an open faced sandwich on chiabatta bread with Italian sausage and sauce and cheese.
Wednesday is egg salad
Thursday is the new Cha Cha Chili Burger
Friday is the their famous Tuna salad sandwich

They deliver at Touch of Thai, so if you can get out for lunch, have it delivered. Call 288-8499. The daily lunch special is $5.95 for an entrée and appetizer.

Baker Street is a must stop for soup, sandwiches or coffee.
Fern’s Café has daily specials for breakfast and lunch.
Spurgeon’s Bay has outstanding sweet potato fries.
Fung Ming has a variety of Cantonese-style dishes.
The Dixon Dog House has daily specials. Try their Chicago-style hot dogs or Italian Beef.
And Stop in at Mama Cimino’s new location downtown. Daily lunch specials are available. And every Tuesday is Taco Tuesday!

Monday, February 18, 2008

285-EATS Update Feb. 18-24

Thank you for calling 285-EATS, downtown Dixon’s dinning hotline sponsored by Treins Jewelry and Dixon Main Street.

There’s no better time to stop in at Books on First to warm up with a fresh cup of coffee. This week’s specials will surely hit the spot. Monday is Mint Mocha Latte, Tuesday is Hazelnut Latte, Wednesday is White Chocolate/Caramel Latte, Thursday is Mocha Almond Latte, Friday is Vanilla Latte and for the weekend, the special is Chocolate Raspberry Latte. Don’t forget to check out the expanded kid’s section.

Carebear’s has plenty of popcorn, chocolate and other treats for kids and adults alike. Candy and popcorn make great treats and gifts for any occasion. And don’t forget about Carebear’s line of gourmet ice cream!

Salamandra is now open on Sundays for breakfast from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. And don’t forget to stop by for a daily lunch special. On Monday it’s Beef Soup, Tuesday is Pork Tacos, Wednesday is Fish Tacos and a buffet, Thursday is Avocado Burritos, Friday is Fish Tacos and Tropical Shrimp.

At Quizno’s, you can try the toasted gourmet bread bowls or flatbread Sammies for a quick lunch or dinner. The Sammies are just $2 each and you can chose from the Sonoma Turkey, the Italiano, the Alpine Chicken and the Bistro Steak Melt.

At Snow White Bakery, there is a special lunch each day this week, so come and try something new. There are daily specials for sandwiches and soups. And for your next special event, think about Snow White’s catering options.

In 2008 Alley Loop is great. In their smoke-free atmosphere, enjoy $4.50 daily specials.
Monday is the Turkey Caesar Wrap
Tuesday is the new Mama Mia – an open faced sandwich on chiabatta bread with Italian sausage and sauce and cheese.
Wednesday is egg salad
Thursday is the new Cha Cha Chili Burger
Friday is the their famous Tuna salad sandwich

They deliver at Touch of Thai, so if you can get out for lunch, have it delivered. Call 288-8499. The daily lunch special is $5.95 for an entrée and appetizer.

Baker Street is a must stop for soup, sandwiches or coffee.
Fern’s Café has daily specials for breakfast and lunch.
Spurgeon’s Bay has outstanding sweet potato fries.
Fung Ming has a variety of Cantonese-style dishes.
The Dixon Dog House has daily specials. Try their Chicago-style hot dogs or Italian Beef.
And Stop in at Mama Cimino’s new location downtown. Daily lunch specials are available. And every Tuesday is Taco Tuesday!

House and Home Show Coming Soon

Dixon Main Street will host its 2008 House and Home Show from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on April 18 and April 19 at Kitzman’s Lumber, 411 W. 1st Street, Dixon. The event is sponsored by Kitzman’s Lumber, Sherwin-Williams, Hvarre Painting, and Burke Realty. The event is free and open to the public.

“This event is perfect for Main Street because there is nothing like it in Dixon,” Mitch Tucker, Sherwin Williams Market Manager and Main Street Board Member, said. “Plus, many people don’t realize how many businesses in the downtown provide services for home owners.”

The two-day event will feature booths by area painters, contractors, businesses, realtors, landscapers and other service professionals. The community will get the chance to learn more about the services and products these professionals provide. Booth spaces are still available and cost $100. To reserve a space, call the Dixon Main Street office at 815-288-2308.

“This is the first time that Dixon Main Street has held an event like this, and we couldn’t be more excited,” Josh Albrecht, Dixon Main Street executive director, said. “There is no better time to hold a House and Home show than in the early spring as people begin to work in their gardens and plan for home improvement projects.”

For more information about the 2008 Dixon Main Street House and Home Show, go online to www.dixonil.com/mainstreet.

Monday, February 11, 2008

285-EATS for Feb. 11-17

Thank you for calling 285-EATS, downtown Dixon’s dinning hotline sponsored by Treins Jewelry.

There’s no better time to stop in at Books on First to warm up with a fresh cup of coffee. This week’s specials will surely hit the spot. Monday, is Mocha Raspberry, Tuesday is Hazelnut, Wednesday is White Chocolate with Caramel, Thursday is Vanilla, Friday is Mocha Almond and for the weekend the special is Mocha Carmel. Don’t forget to check out the expanded kid’s section.

Carebear’s is running a Valentine’s Special on their Fine Chocolates. Get 10 percent off any pre-boxed or custom-boxed chocolate through Feb. 14. They are also featuring a new Hawaiian Product Line that includes candles, Lotions and Lip Balms. Take 10 percent off any purchase from the Hawaiian Product Line through Feb. 16.

Salamandra is now open on Sundays for breakfast from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. And don’t forget to stop by for a daily lunch special. On Monday it’s Beef Soup, Tuesday is Pork Tacos, Wednesday is Fish Tacos and a buffet, Thursday is Avocado Burritos, Friday is Fish Tacos and Tropical Shrimp.

At Quizno’s, you can try the toasted gourmet bread bowls or flatbread Sammies for a quick lunch or dinner. The Sammies are just $2 each and you can chose from the Sonoma Turkey, the Italiano, the Alpine Chicken and the Bistro Steak Melt.

At Snow White Bakery, there is a special lunch each day this week, so come and try something new. There are daily specials for sandwiches and soups. And if you haven’t tried their Chicken Salad you are really missing out on a downtown favorite.

In 2008 Alley Loop is great. In their smoke-free atmosphere, enjoy $4.50 daily specials.
Monday is the Turkey Caesar Wrap
Tuesday is the new Mama Mia – an open faced sandwich on chiabatta bread with Italian sausage and sauce and cheese.
Wednesday is egg salad
Thursday is the new Cha Cha Chili Burger
Friday is the their famous Tuna salad sandwich

They deliver at Touch of Thai, so if you can get out for lunch, have it delivered. Call 288-8499. The daily lunch special is $5.95 for an entrée and appetizer.

Baker Street is a must stop for soup or a sandwich.
Fern’s Café has daily specials for breakfast and lunch.
Spurgeon’s Bay has several giant salads to choose from.
Fung Ming has a variety of Cantonese-style dishes.
The Dixon Dog House has daily specials. Try their Chicago-style hot dogs or Italian Beef.
And Stop in at Mama Cimino’s new location downtown. Daily lunch specials are available. And every Tuesday is Taco Tuesday!

Monday, February 4, 2008

Jumping into 2008

Our mission statement is simple: To foster a spirit of community teamwork and to strengthen, revitalize, and broaden the economic base of the community area, while improving the appearance of the downtown area, and promoting and marketing Dixon as a vibrant place to visit, work, shop, play and live. This mission is ongoing, but the successes have been bountiful. From the Scarecrow Festival to the Christmas Walk to the Reagan 5K to the new House and Home Show, our events help to foster pride in our community.

Below you will find some of Dixon Main Street’s highlights from 2007.
> The 285-Eats and 285-Pubs numbers generated a lot of interest for downtown restaurants and pubs. With just a quick phone call, residents can find out about food specials and events that are going on.
> The new outdoor dining ordinance was created and supported by Dixon Main Street to provide more options for restaurant owners and consumers.
> Concerts in the Square was held each Friday in the summer and was a wonderful shot in the arm showcasing just how quaint and sophisticated Downtown Dixon is. Seeing the buzz downtown, with the music, the pretty landscape of our summer streets and the restaurants all filled. It was inspiring!
> Scarecrow Fest had record attendance. The addition of the restaurant walk was so successful that several more are to be held this year.
> The first-ever Saturday Christmas Walk was held, and it was a very big success.
> The Lunch and Learn program is a wonderful way to spend a lunch hour and a nice social hour as well.
> With the help of the City, Phase 1 of the Way Finding signs became a reality! The signs have been on the Workplan for a number of years. This year, the Design Committee finalized the report and submitted it to the City. With City funds and personnel, the signs were installed this summer. Phase 2 will be presented to the City in February 2008.
> We held a downtown cleanup. About 20 volunteers gathered, in the rain, to fill an entire dumpster.
> The P.RI.D.E. Award – Private Reinvestment In Downtown Excellence, is given to a Main Street business that has revitalized their property. They are given an award and public recognition.

And for 2008 we already have new events and projects planned as we continue our traditional events and programs.
> Dixon Fresh Facade Incentive Program.
> 2008 Dixon Main Street Golf Outing in June.
> A market analysis of the downtown.
> The House and Home Show in April.
> A new website: www.dixonil.com/mainstreet
> A new historical Dixon brochure.
> Fourth Grade Local History and Architectural Program.

We are able to accomplish all of this and so much more through the generous funding from the city of Dixon and public and private sponsorships.