In anticipation of Winter Walk 2017 and the entire holiday season, the NDDC considered how it might contribute to the festivities in a new way. Conversation turned toward the amenities in Bridge Square and the acknowledgement that the tree lighting array could be better. The call went out for contributions and the call was answered.
As can be seen in the accompanying photos, every tree and lamp post in Bridge Square is now adorned with lights and the cumulative effect is stunning!
In addition to the new lights in Bridge Square, the NDDC is sponsoring the Tree Lighting Ceremony for Winter Walk 2017. Please join us at 5pm in Bridge Square for a brief ceremony followed by the Whoville Christmas Song sing-a-long from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.
It’s time again for the annual celebration of our loyal townsfolk who defeated the James Gang back on September 7, 1876. New this year is a Craft Beverage Festival at Armory Square, featuring beer, cider and cocktails from Imminent Brewing, Tanzenwald Brewing, Keepsake Cidery, Chapel Brewing and Loon Liquors. Other highlights include the Northfield Rotary Club Jesse James Bike Tour on the 9th (free beer or root beer at the After Pedal Party) and the Northfield Shares 5K Run/Walk on the 10th. Check out all of the fun including re-enactments, carnival, parade, rodeo and more at djjd.org.
Photo credit: Nick Gerhardt, Northfield News
J. Grundy’s Rueb ‘N’ Stein Farewell Party Sept 16
The Rueb will celebrate the end of an era with an all day party, capped off by a performance from members of The Big Wu starting at 9 pm. Joe Grundhoefer is looking forward to enjoying some time off after 36 years of restaurant ownership. He wants to invite all of his former employees and loyal customers to attend the celebration. A local business partnership, Freetime Restaurants LLC, will begin a major remodel this fall and plan to open a new rustic, upscale casual restaurant in the summer of 2018. The new restaurant will have something for everyone: unique menu with locally sourced ingredients, outdoor seating, a bar/lounge and live music. The last day of business for the Rueb will be September 17th.
Business is Thriving in Downtown Northfield
Anniversaries and Goodbyes
Last month we celebrated with local businesses as Mainstream Boutique had a 2-year anniversary, Paper Petalum had their 30th and The Rare Pair marked 40 years downtown. Also in August, after a 7-year run, Studio Elements closed its door at 16 Bridge Square. Thanks to Jill Enestvedt for her terrific efforts and fine shop. At the end of July, Mike Moyers closed Mike’s Bicycle Shop after a 25-year run on Grastvedt Lane. We want to thank Mike for being the go-to bike shop, not just in Northfield, but Rice County, for so many years and wish him well in his well-deserved retirement. Mike’s son Stu will be relocating the shop to Dundas and opening soon on County Road 1.
Hello and Welcome
Opening this month at 16 Bridge Square, new Naturopathic Practice Fine Fettle will bring health and wellness goods to the former Studio Elements space. Northfield Hospital & Clinics just announced plans to open an Express Care Clinic with convenient evening and weekend hours inside Sterling Pharmacy in early 2018.
There’s always something interesting happening in Downtown Northfield! Join us August 17th at 7pm on Bridge Square for the 2017 Sidewalk Poetry Capstone Celebration. The event is open to the public and will bring poetry lovers and sidewalk poets together to hear the poems read aloud, to meet the winning poets, and to hear music byBonnie and the Clydes. Thanks to the Northfield Senior Center volunteers, the popcorn wagon will be open for business, serving delicious popcorn and cold drinks.
Bring your lawn chairs, relax and enjoy the music and poetry of the night. A large map of the locations of the 2017 winning poems will be shared and the winning poems from all seven years of the contest will be on display.
In 2011, Northfield launched its annual Sidewalk Poetry Project. In the seven years of the project, 66 poems – the creations of 46 local poets — have been selected for imprinting in over 200 locations across the community. Each one of the winning poems, imprinted into the concrete of our city sidewalks, is remarkable on its own; collectively, they offer a sense of the spirit of our community. Chosen from among 156 poems submitted for judging, ten winning poems will be celebrated in 2017.
Sidewalk Poetry is a partnership with the Friends and Foundation of the Northfield Public Library, the Northfield Public Library and the City of Northfield, and has been supported by the efforts of hundreds of volunteers. This activity receives major funding from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) through the arts and culture heritage fund, as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008. Additional funding is provided by the Friends and Foundation of the Northfield Public Library.
For more information, contact Bonnie Jean Flom, chair of Northfield’sArts and Culture Commission at bjflom@gmail.com.
Greetings from Downtown Northfield! Thanks to everyone who came out to make our first ever Downtown Northfield Taste Tour food crawl such a big success! On Thursday, June 15, the sun was shining, the food was amazing and we sold more than 3000 tickets in just two hours. Eleven downtown restaurants participated in the inaugural event and the variety of offerings was terrific.
The national anthem kicked off the Community Band concert
Everyone enjoyed the free Northfield Community Band concert afterwards in Bridge Square. Next year, we’re hoping to make the event longer and add the breweries to the tour. Save the date for June 14th, 2018!
America’s Main Streets Contest
Congratulations to DeLand, Florida, the winner in the “America’s Main Street” contest!
Deland, Florida supporters with a $25,000 check!
242 Main Streets in 48 states were nominated for the title, and more than 300,000 votes were cast. Because of your votes, Downtown Northfield made it into the Top 25 main streets in the nation. It is the people that make our downtown the central heart of our community–thank you and stay tuned: they’ll do it again in 2018!!
Taste of Northfield, a summertime tradition in Downtown Northfield for many years will be reborn this coming June 15. Renamed “Downtown Northfield Taste Tour”, the event will be held from 5-7pm in a number of eateries and watering holes. Taste Tour is a walking food and drink crawl from one end of Division/Water Streets to the other. Tickets will be available at Bridge Square beginning at 4:45pm. A list of participating restaurants will be published soon. Added bonus: Northfield Community Band concert in Bridge Square at 7pm!
There’s always something interesting happening in Downtown Northfield! Join us August 17th at 7pm on Bridge Square for the 2017 Sidewalk Poetry Capstone Celebration. The event is open to the public and will bring poetry lovers and sidewalk poets together to hear the poems read aloud, to meet the winning poets, and to hear music by Bonnie and the Clydes. Thanks to the
