Blog Archives
First Friday WOW! - November 06, 2008 - This First Friday is turning out to be one of our best yet! Gather up your friends and come enjoy your new downtown. We've got live music in eight places on Friday including big shows at the Sportscenter and the Seasons or you can stop in a number of place places like the Depot, Plaza Socievole Winery, Kana Winery, Cascade Wine Shop or Masset Winery and enjoy some live music and good wine or other ...
Halloween Fun in Downtown - October 30, 2008 - Halloween Fun in Downtown * The Yakima Sportscenter will hold a festive party featuring live music from "Sliver" who plays cover music from the 70s, 80s and 90s. There is a $5 cover. A costume contest will be held between 11:00 p.m. and midnight with the following prizes: 1st - $50 cash, $50 gift certificate, 2nd - $25 cash, $25 gift certificate, 3rd - $15 cash, $15 gift certificate. * Plaza ...
Fall Fun at Garden Girl and Buhrmaster Baking Company - October 16, 2008 - Once again, downtown Yakima has some one of a kind happenings going on this weekend. Your friends at Garden Girl will offer a "frightfully good time" on Friday from 11 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. with an open house and "treats with no tricks". Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. features fun for the whole family with their plant a pumpkin event which allows you to pick a quality pumpkin, hollow it ...
The Seasons Fall Music Festival - October 09, 2008 - This Friday, the Seasons Performance Hall kicks off their 3rd Annual Fall Music Festival with a performance by saxophonist Eric Alexander. The music festival will feature a wide variety of music ranging from classical to jazz to Latin over the next nine evenings and wraps up with a performance by Grammy nominee the Tierney Sutton Band on Saturday the 18th. Yes, you read that correctly, there will ...
A Big Weekend Downtown - September 30, 2008 - You are invited to downtown Yakima for what will be one of the biggest weekends of the year. It all kicks off Friday night with Downtown First Fridays which coincides with the opening of the Capitol Theatre's 2008-2009 Best of Broadway Series which features the East Village Opera Company. I've got some simple advice for you, come downtown early and make a night out of it. Before the show, pop into ...
Fresh Hop Ale Festival and Beer Dinners - September 26, 2008 - Fresh Hop Ale Festival and Beer Dinners Authentic, one of a kind, those terms alone are what make the downtown experience special. You can't recreate it at the Valley Mall or you can't take what's special in Yakima and make it work in Wenatchee. Something that is certainly authentic to Yakima is our hop history and the certain smell that fills the air this time of year in the valley during hop ...
First Friday, It's The Fashionable Thing To Do - September 04, 2008 - This Friday, join us in downtown Yakima as we prove once again that First Friday is the fashionable thing to do. The evening starts with the Season to Change Fashion Show being held on Front Street. This is a ticketed event, but your price of admission not only goes to help finish a homeless youth home just south of downtown, but you'll also get a show full of fall fashions from Garden ...
Summer Ender this Thursday, August 28th - August 25, 2008 - think Willie Nelson said it best in one of his classic songs when he said, ''gee ain't it funny how time slips away''. It's hard to believe that summer is slowly slipping away, but we can't let it go without a big celebration downtown. Join the Capitol Theatre, the Seasons and the Committee For Downtown Yakima this coming Thursday, August 28th for the 2nd Annual Summer Ender. And do we have a ...
Gilbert Cellars Grand Opening 8.8.08! - August 07, 2008 - Losing longtime downtown business Corday's to retirement could be seen as a blow to downtown revilization efforts. But when it's almost instantly replaced with a hip new wine bar and tasting room, you begin to see there is a certain direction that downtown is headed: one of a gathering place and one of high demand for good quality space. Gilbert Cellars, a comfortable and relaxing tasting room on ...
Yakima Folklife Festival comes Downtown on July 11 and July 12 - July 01, 2008 - Looking for a marathon musical experience? Come to Downtown Yakima on the for the 26 th Annual Yakima Folklife Festival on the evenings of Friday July 11 Friday July 12. Downtown live music venues for the festival are Santiagos, Masset Winery, Yakima Sportscenter, Greystone Restaurant, Bob's Keg and Cork, Burhmaster Bakery and the Depot Restaurant. That is seven, count them, seven places to ...
Downtown Ideas for Dad - June 12, 2008 - This Sunday belongs to the Dads of the world and downtown is your place to give your dad a special thanks for all he does. To start, you may want begin your Sunday with a trip to the Yakima Farmers' Market to have a bite to eat, visit with friends or bring home some fresh produce. If you want to make a special picnic for dad, I suggest dropping into Essecia or Burhmaster Bakery and bringing home ...
Live Music at Nine Venues this First Friday - June 05, 2008 - Ah, the feel of an alive downtown! Nine, count em nine, venues will have live music this Friday Night (June 6) as part of Downtown First Fridays. Gather up your friends and put the walking shoes on and jump place to place enjoying the new feel of your downtown. New this month is Santiagos (111 East Yakima Avenue) as a music venue. Owner Jar Aarcand has had a vision of the sound of music flowing ...
Taj Mahal at the Seasons - May 29, 2008 - Stop what you are doing right this second and head over to the Seasons and buy your ticket for tomorrow's (Friday, May 30th) Taj Mahal concert. This is one you won't want to miss! Taj is a music legend who is destined for the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame (somehow Madonna has beat him). Taj is celebrating his 40th anniversary in the music business and just like fine wine, just gets better with age. ...
You Thought It Would Never Come! - May 15, 2008 - Well, we made it! The weather that Yakima is internationally famous for is at our doorsteps and it's time to soak up the rays and spend time with friends. To me, a glass of wine or a pint of beer and good food just taste better when you are sitting outside and enjoying the comfortable weather. There is no better place to soak it up than Downtown Yakima as we've had a little explosion of outside ...
10th Anniversary Farmers's Market Begins Sunday - May 09, 2008 - The Yakima Farmers' Market kicks off this Sunday in front of the Capitol Theatre on South 3rd Street. This year, the market celebrates its 10th anniversary and many changes are being put into place to make this the best market yet. The Market has partnered with the Central Washington Agriculture Museum who will be doing a number of displays of vintage farm machinery used right here in the Yakima ...
Downtown First Fridays Return May 2nd - May 01, 2008 - Come on out this Friday, May 2nd and enjoy Downtown First Fridays. This month, there are a number of exciting things happening downtown. You could begin your night at Red Gallery at 5:00 p.m. with a special opening of artwork by Heritage University Students. Then you could head to Burhmaster Bakery and join in on their seasonal beer tasting before going to dinner at one of downtown's fine ...
The Seasons Spring Music Celebration - April 21, 2008 - The Seasons Spring Music Celebration is just another reason to celebrate the new life and energy spring brings to the Yakima Valley. The music festival features a wide variety of music styles and feels and features five concerts over the next two weekends. Music lovers can purchase tickets for each concert or buy a five show pass and enjoy each show. The first show on April 24th features Linda ...
Downtown Establishments In The Making - April 17, 2008 - On Monday of this week, I ate a nice piece of carrot cake to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the opening of Essencia Bakery. Looking back where our downtown was five years ago, I bet people thought they were nuts to open downtown as the downtown economy was losing steam at the time. To me, Essencia is a downtown hero and now an establishment and I couldn't imagine a morning without an Americano ...
Final Yakima Symphony Concert of the 2007- 2008 Season on April 12 - April 10, 2008 - This Saturday, April 12th, will be your last chance to enjoy the Yakima Symphony for the 2007 - 2008 season. To have a symphony is such a small market is simply an amazing accomplishment and this show won't dissapoint. Please join the Yakima Symphony Orchestra for the final performance of the 2007-2008 season and enjoy two one act operas. The Seattle Opera Young Artists will be here in force - 14 ...
Downtown First Fridays - April 03, 2008 - Please join us this coming Friday, April 4th, to celebrate downtown Yakima's newest event: Downtown First Fridays. First Fridays will take place on the first Friday of the month all year long. The goal is to showcase all the great activities, attractions, stores and happenings going on in your downtown. Many stores will be open until 8:00 p.m. and many even later. This month, you will have your ...
A Must Do Downtown Experience - Burhmaster Bakery Brewers Dinner - March 20, 2008 - This past Friday, I attended a beer dinner featuring the Rogue Brewery at the Burhmaster Baking Company in Track 29. The dinner was six courses and featured seven different beers ranging from a Seahorse Pale Ale paired with Spanish Tortilla De Patatas to a Chipolte Ale paired with Cumin Fried Chicken with a Chipolte Dipping Sauce to a dessert combination of Chocolate Stout paired with a scoop of ...
Love the City You're In - March 13, 2008 - This is my official sign-off blog, though I'm planning on being a guest blogger if Sean will let me. My family and I are moving to the Chicago area and will be pulling out in a moving van in just a few weeks. As I've run errands the last few days I've had a number of moments where I realize I'm holding my breath—looking at the sun bathing the hills, seeing the peak of Mt. Adams as I round the ...
Spring Downtown - March 06, 2008 - I'm always ready for whichever season is on the cusp. After what has felt like a long, cold, overcast winter, the sun is shining, the bulbs are popping, and the birds have decided it's time to return. It may not quite be time to eat outside, but it is certainly time to break hibernation and get of the house. Here's a few things to get you moving: *A fabulous array of bulbs @ Garden Girl on ...
Town Hall Lecture Series: Jim Whittaker - February 28, 2008 - The Town Hall Lecture Series was born from creative minds at Allied Arts in the 1970's. City Council lent the Arts organization the funds to kick off the series and to attain their mission of ''bringing the world to Yakima's downtown doorstep.'' This year's series has included Ellen Burstyn, Salman Rushdie, and on March 5th, Jim Whittaker will take the stage at the Capitol Theatre to speak about ...
Downtown Profile: Le Chateau - February 21, 2008 - New Owner Roger Wilson has been working hard to restore the beautiful historic building he bought last summer and he's opening the doors this Friday and Saturday for the public to view the progress. Formerly the YWCA and now rechristened Le Chateau, the historic structure was designed by architect John Maloney and was built in 1935. For years the amazing brick ballroom and another smaller lounge ...
Downtown Profile: Plaza Socievole Winery - February 12, 2008 - Rita Jorgensen and Bryan Eglet are the proud owners of what is soon to be downtown's newest bistro & winery. Plaza Socievole Winery will occupy the historic spot in the base of the Larson Building, home to Dunbar Jewelers for many years. The renovation has included pulling up the carpet and restoring the original marble floors, refinishing the beautiful wood trim, painting with vibrant Tuscan- ...
Downtown Profile: Cafe Melange - February 07, 2008 - Lisa Rembold has been at home at Cafe Melange for eleven years, spending ten years as the restaurant's manager and the last year as its owner. Lisa loves the business and has been particularly happy to hear that long-time regulars of the 24 year old restaurant are enjoying the food and ambiance even more than they have in prior years. Not only does Cafe Melange offer gourmet homemade pastas and ...
Downtown Profile: Lenette Roehl - January 31, 2008 - Garden Girl Lenette Roehl opened her shop on Front Street one year ago and she absolutely loves where she's at. On Saturday she'll celebrate her 1st Birthday with an open house complete with cake and presents (1-4 pm). Everyone is invited to come and have a treat and enjoy the gorgeous array of spring plants and gifts that Lenette has chosen. The store is dotted with small hyacinth plants, ...
A Happy Hour (or 2) Downtown - January 24, 2008 - Since one of the most exciting things about a thriving downtown is experiencing the hustle and bustle of people, we are very grateful to the many downtown shop and restaurant owners who work hard to make their businesses places where you can gather and enjoy yourself. And what's more fun than the iconic ''happy hour'' idea? Grab a pal after work, relax and get a deal on delicious things to eat ...
The Extra Mile - January 17, 2008 -
Downtown businesses are standing out these days in some rather extraordinary ways. Here are a few of my favorite highlights: *To give people a warm, relaxing place to hang out until the late evening, Masset Winery is now open until 11 pm on Fridays & Saturdays. After an event at The Capitol or The Seasons you can stay downtown and spend some time in the winery reclining by the fire or meandering ...