Fall Brings More Concerts, Plays and Fun Things to Do Downtown
September marks the official opening of the "arts season". And with 4 local theater groups, the Peace Center, the Greenville Symphony, the Greenville Art Museum and Bi-Lo Center all located in Downtown Greenville, there's plenty of performances and shows to choose from. Listed below is a sampling of fall events and programs all taking place in Downtown Greenville. For a more complete listing of upcoming arts events, visit the Metropolitan Arts Council website www.greenvillearts.com.
New this fall
Moonlight
Classic Movies
Watch your favorite
classic movies under the stars, running for three weeks in September. The
movies are free and so is the popcorn (while supplies last). Click here
for more details
Downtown's Most Popular Annual Event Returns
The annual Greenville News Fall for Greenville - A Taste of our Town - will take place in downtown Greenville October 10-12. This year's event features 40 restaurants from around the city offering festival guests samples of a wide variety of cuisine. From custard to crab cakes, you’ll find something to tempt your taste buds when strolling down restaurant row. For more information, contact hodgec@greatergreenville.com
Race in the 19th annual Michelin Cycling Classic, Oct. 11-12
The Michelin Classic Bicycle Race is the oldest and largest race in the Carolinas. Saturday’s highlight is the professional race that evening which will showcase professional racers. For more information, call 864-298-0392 or email rich@hincapiesports.com.
Downtown Parking News
Free Weekend Parking
in Richardson Street Garage
Take
advantage
of the City's special promotion -- free parking in the Richardson
Street Garage Friday night through Sunday night
each week, except during special events.
Note: There will be no free parking in the Richardson Street Garage on October 10 -12 during Fall for Greenville.
On Street
Parking
In response to a request from the Downtown Business
Association, on street parking on Main, from Court St. to College St., has
been extended from one hour to two hours, allowing visitors more time
to shop, eat, and enjoy downtown.
News
from the DBA
by DBA
President, Brad Halter
The Downtown Business Association (DBA)
is comprised of 100+ retailers, restaurants, businesses and residents
primarily from the Central Business District. Our purpose is to
facilitate communication about our issues and concerns to the City of
Greenville and also promote the business interests of our membership.
Each year, the DBA holds a number of General Membership Meetings to
provide networking opportunities and to discuss timely issues affecting
downtown Greenville. We are in the process of creating an email
newsletter based on our monthly Director's Meetings to inform our
membership about upcoming events that may affect their businesses.
If you are not a current member, please contact Jane Greer at 232-8301
or greer233@aol.com and she can
further explain the benefits and low cost of DBA membership.
A Warm Welcome to New
Downtown Businesses
Bistro at West End
Coffee Street Bakery 12 E. Coffee Street
Jules Antiques and Interiors 612 S. Main Street
O P Taylors
Orbitech Wireless
Postcard from Paris 2 633 S. Main Street
Restaurant
"O"
Venti 20 N. Main Street
Pardon the
Inconvenience
as We Grow
Downtown construction and revitalization projects often require sidewalk and lane closures. For your safety, we ask that you stay clear of construction sites and follow posted detours, whether you're traveling by car or on foot.
We appreciate your
cooperation!
For the visual arts fan
Art
in the Park Governor’s School
Grounds
exhibition
of original works by local and regional artists. Art enthusiasts can
also browse through the rows of artists’ booths offering a variety of
work for sale. Seminars of interest to artists and art lovers are
scheduled throughout the two-day festival. Call Upstate Visual Arts at
232-4433
Continuing this fall
Weekly events
are still going strong. Don't miss the chance to attend
these popular events before they break for the winter season:
The Saturday Market Saturday mornings, 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. East Court Street between Main and Fall Streets The Saturday Market features fresh produce, local dairy and coffees, breakfast foods and entertainment.
Metropolitan
Arts Council's Downtown Alive
Main Street Jazz Fridays, 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. April 3 - September 25. Main Street, Hyatt Regency Plaza . Hear the extraordinary sounds produced by local, regional and national jazz musicians
New Saturday Market Mural
A new mural was installed on East Court Street that
carries the theme of The Saturday Market - a tasty event that features
fresh produce, cheeses, flowers and much more each Saturday morning from
7 – 12:00
The mural hangs across the top of Connolly's Pub
located at
All services and materials for the 60’ x 51’ mural
project were generously donated by supportive businesses. The creative
artwork for the banner, as well as all the artwork for the Saturday
Market branding campaign, was donated by the creative bunch at Brains on
Fire. The printing and materials were provided by TPM.
It was installed by Fairway Outdoor Advertising.
“The mural adds a fun and festive touch to the
Saturday Market and the downtown neighborhood,’ says Saturday Market
Co-chair and downtown resident Susan Reynolds. “Everyone involved in
the Market appreciates the time and talents that went into the creation
and installation of the mural.”
Since its opening on May 2003, the Market has drawn
diverse crowds, many of whom have become regular visitors each week.
While most Saturday shoppers come to buy products from the 20+ vendors,
others are drawn to the cooking demonstrations, breakfast omelets cooked
to order, live entertainment, and a children’s activity area sponsored
by the Imagine Nation, the Upstate Children’s Museum.
Other supporters of the Saturday Market include
Carolina First, The Greenville News, Coca Cola, and Soby’s Restaurant.
The Saturday Market was initiated by the City of
An Award Winning Downtown
You've pr
obably heard
by now, but we just can't help but brag that Greenville
was honored with the 2003 Great American Main Street Award for its
successful efforts on revitalizing the downtown area through historic
preservation.
The award was presented by the National Trust for Historic Preservation at National Town Meting on Main Street in Cincinnati, Ohio. Click here to read more.
Also, congratulations to Gene and Barbara Berger of Horizon Records, winners of the 2003 "Revitalize and Win an Award" Program, Commercial Division presented by the Greater Greenville Association of Realtors. The winning property is the new Horizon Records and Blue Z cafe located at 2-A West Stone Avenue.
New "Hot Spots"
Come to Downtown
A number of new "hot spots" are popping up downtown, thanks to Gorilla Networks, Inc., a wireless internet company that has installed and activated a free wireless network throughout downtown Greenville. Now, all you need is a laptop and a wireless (WI-FI) card to access the internet "for free" at popular gathering points along Main Street -- The Hyatt Regency Plaza, Piazza Bergamo, and Court Square. Current plans include expansion along Main, with hot spot areas to be extended to the West End within the next few months.
Downtown visitors will be able to identify active wireless hot spot areas by looking for signs and decals imprinted with the hot spot logo. This new logo was designed to coordinate with the downtown branding program, using the colors and graphic design concepts used in the kiosks and wayfinding signs.
Gorilla Networks is able to provide free service because of a
business sponsorship program which offers businesses the chance to buy
advertising space on the wireless downtown landing page. Anyone who
logs on at a wireless hot spot is automatically redirected to the
landing page that features sponsors and information on things to do
downtown. The landing page can also be viewed by going to www.wirelessdowntown.com
.
Businesses interested in learning more, should contact Joe Milam,
Gorilla Networks, at 864-449-0998 or by e-mailing sales@gorillanetworks.com
Downtown
Development:
New Residential and Commercial Underway
Poinsett
Corners The
building will be a mixed-use development with limited commercial space
and 85 residential units
wrapping around a 300-space parking garage.
This project offers a variety of homes, from lofts to
townhomes to flats, with prices ranging from $110,000 to $250,000.
Poinsett Corners is under construction
at the
intersection of
The
"Bookends" This
mixed-use development is under construction on the sides of the new 1,000
space parking facility. Units can
be designed to meet any need or any price range.
The development will occur at the new Spring Street Garage and
will front both
Wachovia
Place This mixed-use project will include 24 new and affordable apartments
designed for
young professionals who prefer an urban lifestyle.
Facing 
Washington Streets, significant
features will include nine-foot ceilings, ceiling fans, casement
windows, balconies overlooking the street or the courtyard, beautiful
lighting packages, and stone floors in the kitchen and bathrooms.This project will also have a parking deck.
For more information, please contact Jim
Dulin at 704-358-1000 or check the website: www.wachoviaplace.com.
For more information on downtown development and other economic development opportunities, call 467-4401 or email cityinfo@greatergreenville.com.