Monday Moment from Main Street -- March 19

A great St. Patrick's Day weekend in downtown Dixon! Thanks to Ryan Marshall, Judy Brantley, Jeff Rumph, and Laura Bock for helping with the guest bartending at The Stables on Friday night!

And, a big thanks to the Shamrock Club for organizing such a wonderful event for the city of Dixon this past Saturday as the parade made its way through the downtown. Beautiful weather made it event better for the annual St. Patrick's Day festivities.

Also, if you happen to go by the DMS office, check out our Post-it Note Arch in the window created by our Promotion Committee. And if your business thinks they can make a Post-it Note creation that can top it, we would love to see it!

Now on to the DMS Events and Updates ...
March 21 -- Lunch and Learn this Wednesday at Noon at the Post House Ballroom. The special presentation this month will be by Dixon Public School's Superintendent Michael Juenger. Cost is $3 and includes lunch by Fern's Cafe. This month's program is sponsored by Midland States Bank.

April 3 -- Shop Talk at Books on First from 5- 6 p.m. Join area merchants in this informal get-together to talk about issues effecting local businesses. A great networking opportunity to learn from your peers. Free refreshments thanks to Books on First and C&N Supply!

April 11 -- The 5th Annual Founders' Day celebration on April 11 at the Dixon Historic Center. This year, the program will feature a look at the Shaw Family, B.F. Shaw and the founding of the Telegraph newspaper. The event also will feature the naming of this year's Langan Award winner for Excellence in Local History, and the PRIDE Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. The evening will begin at 5 p.m. with a soup and sandwich supper catered by Fern's Cafe. Dinner is a $10 donation with proceeds going toward the John Dixon statue project. The presentations begin at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free for the program.

April 27-28 -- The City-Wide Garage Sales are back, sponsored by The Telegraph and Sauk Valley Properties. Cost is $20 to list your sale, which includes the map and the 15 word listing. This year, the map will be distributed at area businesses and through The Telegraph.

April 28 -- Art With Flavor at The Crystal Cork Wine Shoppe in downtown Dixon at 7 p.m. on April 28. The event will be a unique evening focused on highlighting great food and great art, all the while raising funds for Shining Star, Dixon Main Street, and the Dixon Riverfront. Tickets for the event will be $100 per person. Attendees will not only have great dinner and drinks, but each guest will receive a $100 auction voucher for the night.With only 48 tickets available, early reservations are encouraged. Reservations can be made by calling Dixon Main Street at 288-2308, The Crystal Cork at 285-3496, or Trein's Jewelry at 284-6626.

Art-Cycle!!!
Second Saturdays and Dixon Main Street are coming together for a tandem Public Art Project for the May and June Second Saturdays events. The project will feature a variety of one-of-a-kind, artistically designed bikes scattered throughout the downtown. The bikes will be on display for a month from May 12 to June 9, and then they will be auctioned off during the June SS Street Fair. Proceeds from the auction will go to support Second Saturdays!

We have the bikes thanks to Green River Adventure Sports, now we need the artists! If you or a your group, business, or organization would like to create one of our Art Bikes, just call 815-288-2308 and we will get your a bike ASAP. Cost is $20 to enter. Prizes will be awarded to First, Second, Third and a special category for the Sweetest Ride. Deadline to sign-up and get your bike is April 30.

A few quick notes from around the community. . .
March 24 -- Ken Nelson Auto's 26th Annual Customer Appreciation Breakfast 7-11a.m.
March 24 -- Rotary Club Shrimp Boil and Chili Bowl
March 30 -- LCCOA/Post House Ballroom Prom at the ballroom from 6-12 a.m. Cost is $10 per person. There will be appetizers and a cash bar. Music by Acoustic Circus.
March 31 -- Kiwanis Clubs of Dixon Annual Pancake and Sausage Day from 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the High School Cafeteria. Donation is $6 for adults and $3 for kids.
April 10 - Dixon Riverfront and Lee County Council on Aging will host a luncheon with Dr. Rifaqat Khan on "Enhancing the Quality of Life after 50" from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the Post House Ballroom. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. For more info, call Kay at 973-0931.
April 20 - The Expressions Art Sale and Reception is the first of two major fundraisers for the Sinnissippi Foundation, starting April 10, when art and silent auction items go on display at The Next Picture Show gallery, 113 West 1st Street in Dixon. The event concludes with an evening reception on Friday April 20 at The Next Picture Show from 6 to 9 pm.
May 19 -- Eastman School of Dance Recital at the Dixon High School

Downtown Business News Bits --
Wildflower Picks is having some special Easter activities, give Staci a call at 677-7591 for details.
Frameworks is celebrating their 20th Anniversary this month!
Red Carpet Copy Center and Butcher Block Antiques are in their new home at 420 W. First Street.

Founders Day 2012 is set for April 11 at the Dixon Historic Center

Dixon Main Street will host the 5th Annual Founders’ Day on Wednesday, April 11 at the Dixon Historic Center. The celebration falls on the same day (April 11, 1830) that John Dixon, the namesake and founder of the city of Dixon, settled with his wife Rebecca and their children near what is now the corner of First Street and Peoria Avenue in downtown Dixon.

“Founders Day has become a wonderful tradition in the city to highlight the accomplishments of our city founders and the great wealth of local history in our community,” Josh Albrecht, executive director of Dixon Main Street said.

This year, the program will highlight the Shaw Family and the beginnings of the Telegraph newspaper. Local historian Greg Langan will give the presentation on B.F. Shaw and Tom Shaw will give a presentation on his family's roots in Dixon and the newspaper.

The evening also feature the naming of the Langan Award winner for Lifetime Achievement in Local History Award to honor local historians for their work in preserving the local heritage.

"Last year we surprised Greg Langan with the award for all of his efforts over the years," Albrecht said. "Our committee was unanimous on who should receive it this year."

The Main Street Design Committee also will honor the Brantley family with the PRIDE Award (Private Reinvestment in Downtown Excellence). The award is given to local business and building owners who reinvest in their downtown buildings and they do it with an eye toward the historical nature of the building and the district. Kris Brantley has renovated several building in the downtown including AVP Digital Studios on River Street and recently has done work on the Mini Mall. Eric and Judy Brantley have continued their renovations on the Kearny Building that houses The Crystal Cork Wine Shoppe, as they recently added a banquet room in the basement, and Linda Brantley has continually restored the Trein's Jewelry building throughout the years.

"We are blessed to have a whole family that sees the value in historic preservation," Albrecht said. "One thank you, and really, one award is not enough. They deserve a thousand thank yous for the investment they have made in our downtown."

And back again this year will be the Soup and Sandwich dinner catered by Fern's Cafe. The dinner will be served from 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. and is a $10 donation. Proceeds from the dinner will go to support the John Dixon Statue Project. Following the dinner, the awards and program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free for those only wishing to attend the program. During the evening, the Historic Center exhibits will be open for the public to view.

Event Timeline
5-6:30 p.m. -- Soup and Sandwich Dinner served. Cost is $10. Free admission to the Historic Center exhibits.
6:30 -- Free presentation on the Shaw Family and the Telegraph

City-Wide Garage Sales April 27-28, 2012

Weekly updates with a Fleadh and more!

This Saturday will be a big one in downtown Dixon!

The Irish Family Fleadh presented by Dixon Main Street and the Lee County Irish Heritage Society will be a fun family-friendly event at the Historic Dixon Theatre at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 10. It will feature music by The Matt Stedman Band, a Chicago-based band that will showcase a variety of traditional Irish songs, a magic show by Jeremy the Amazer, and special performances from the Eastman School of Dance, who will give a preview of their spring recital. Tickets will be on sale soon through the Dixon Theatre at www.dixontheatre.com or by calling DMS. Prices are $10 for adults, $4 for kids and seniors. A $2 discount is applied when ordering online. Tickets will be available at the door.

Also, on Saturday night the Second Saturdays Art Happenings group has a full slate of events. Get the scoop at www.second-saturdays.com or https://www.facebook.com/events/398121146870385/

Now on to the DMS Events and Updates ...
March 6 -- Shop Talk at Books on First from 5- 6 p.m. Join area merchants in this informal get-together to talk about issues effecting local businesses. A great networking opportunity to learn from your peers. Last month we had a record crowd with more than 20 in attendance. In March, the Topic Du Jour will be Adding Spring to your Step! Free refreshments thanks to Books on First and C&N Supply!

March 11 -- The United States Air Force Band will present a FREE concert at the Historic Dixon Theatre on Sunday, March 11 at 2 p.m. The concert features their Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble. The event is co-sponsored by the City of Dixon, Dixon Tourism and Dixon Main Street. Pick up your free tickets at City Hall, Dixon Tourism Office, Dixon Main Street office or The Telegraph. Tickets will also be available at the Theatre box office.

March 21-- Lunch and Learn at the Post House Ballroom at Noon. Our special presentation this month will be by Dixon Public Schools Superintendent Michael Juenger. Cost is $3 and includes lunch catered by Fern's Cafe. Sponsored by Midland States Bank.

April 11 -- The 5th Annual Founders' Day celebration on April 11 at the Dixon Historic Center. This year, the program will feature a look at the Shaw Family, B.F. Shaw and the founding of the Telegraph newspaper. The event also will feature the naming of this year's Langan Award winner for Excellence in Local History, and the PRIDE Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. The evening will begin at 5 p.m. with a soup and sandwich supper catered by Fern's Cafe. Dinner is a $10 donation with proceeds going toward the John Dixon statue project. The presentations begin at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free for the program.


DMS Save the Dates
April 11 -- Founders Day
April 27-28 -- Community-Wide Garage Sales
May 16 -- Lunch and Learn
May 24 -- 5th Annual DMS Golf Outing presented by Sauk Valley Bank
June 1 -- Musical Fridays presented by Community State Bank begins
Aug. 7-12 -- Reagan Trail Days presented by Midland States Bank
Sept. 29 -- Scarecrow Festival presented by Hicks Insurance


A few quick notes from around the community. . .
March 10 -- Art for Art's Sake Fundraiser for the Next Picture Show at Sauk Valley College. Includes live art, auctions, music, hors d'oeurves and much more. Tickets are $35 per person. For details, call 285-4924.
March 17 -- Shamrock Club's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.
March 18 -- The American Roots/Celtic Soul duo, Switchback, will be returning to Dixon for their 7th annual Irish Music concert at the Dixon High School Auditorium on March 18 at 4pm. Tickets are $10 for anyone 13 and over. The Kosier Studio of Dance Irish Dancers will be performing.
March 24 -- Ken Nelson Auto's 26th Annual Customer Appreciation Breakfast 7-11a.m.
March 24 -- Rotary Club Shrimp Boil and Chili Bowl
March 30 -- LCCOA/Post House Ballroom Prom. Music by Acoustic Circus.
March 31 -- Kiwanis Clubs of Dixon Annual Pancake and Sausage Day from 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the High School Cafeteria. Donation is $6 for adults and $3 for kids.
April 20 - The Expressions Art Sale and Reception is the first of two major fundraisers for the Sinnissippi Foundation (a 501c3 charitable organization) and will take place starting April 10, when art and silent auction items go on display at The Next Picture Show gallery, 113 West 1st Street in Dixon. The event concludes with an evening reception on Friday April 20 at The Next Picture Show from 6 to 9 pm.