Blog Archives
Watch for Upcoming Lively Entertainment this Friday - March 02, 2010 - This Friday, March 5 th is First Friday, and downtown Yakima will be hopping with discounted drinks, and special entertainment and shopping offerings. Tequila's restaurant, for example, will offer $1 Margaritas. Also, the Sports Center will offer live entertainment with no cover starting at 9:00PM. Their featured band this week will be by Brokin Road and Katy Reichlin . In addition, Tim's Downtown ...
It's Not Too Late To Get A Valentines Date! - February 05, 2010 - Calling all the single ladies and gentlemen! On February 12, at 7:30pm the Committee for Downtown Yakima's Events Committee will hold its first Speed Dating event at Le Chateau (15 N. Naches Ave). The cost for this event is $20 if you pre-register and $25 at the door - registration includes 2 drink scrips. You must be 21 to participate. For applications, please call Jamie Lee at 225.2485 or send ...
Mayor Micah Cawley to Speak at Downtown Business Roundtable Breakfast -- Yakima's new Mayor will discuss his views on issues that will affect both the downtown area and the community as a whole - January 20, 2010 - Yakima's new Mayor, Micah Cawley will be the featured speaker at the next Downtown Business Roundtable Breakfast. Mayor Cawley will talk about issues facing Yakima as a whole, and about issues facing downtown Yakima in particular. The Downtown Business Roundtable Breakfasts are held each month. They give downtown property owners, merchants, residents, employees and other downtown stakeholders an ...
5th Annual Rockin' New Years Eve to Return to Millennium Plaza - December 21, 2009 -
The Committee for Downtown Yakima presents the 5th Annual Rockin' New Years Eve event in the Millennium Plaza in front of the Capitol Theatre.
The Rockin' New Years Eve event is from 8-1am, and features a kids craft tent, food vendors, and live music - Sophia Tilly 8-8:30; Alex Wilson 8:40-9:40; Shipley 10-1. There are fireworks shot off the top of the Capitol Theatre at midnight. This is a ...
Santiago's Wins First Annual Orchid Award - November 11, 2009 -
Santiago's Gourmet Mexican Restaurant has won the 2009 Orchid Award for the best private landscape presentation of the spring and summer season.
The Orchid Award was established as part of Yakima's "Downtown Blooming/Downtown Booming" program. This program is designed and intended to encourage private businesses and other private parties to voluntarily place attractive downtown landscaping, ...
Downtown Restaurants, Wineries, and Tasting Rooms Declare Downtown Yakima a "Corkage Free Zone" - October 06, 2009 -
Restaurants, Wineries, and Tasting Rooms declared Downtown Yakima a Corkage Free Zone.
Downtown Restaurants will waive corkage fees when wine is purchased at one of the Downtown Wineries or Tasting Rooms (Gilbert Cellars, Kana Winery, Tim's Downtown Tasting Room, Plaza Socievole, Donitelia Winery, and Stems).
Corkage fees are fees charged by restaurants to customers who bring their own bottles ...
Santiago's is the First Stop for the Chamber's Business After Hours - July 08, 2009 -
Mark your calendars for the Downtown Yakima Business After Hours Passport Tour on July 21, from 5:30 - 7:30.
Santiago's Restaurant (111 E. Yakima Avenue) will be the first stop on the Downtown Tour, where Chamber Members and guests will register and receive a passport, your entree to participating downtown businesses where you will enjoy entertainment, hors d'oeuvres, beverages, door ...
Downtown Blooming, Downtown Booming - June 24, 2009 -
The Committee for Downtown Yakima is implementing a new plan called "Downtown Blooming, Downtown Booming." The Program will have three components.
CDY will ask all downtown merchants and property owners to purchase colorful flowers and decorations in front of their stores and buildings.
Then, CDY will provide free consulting to the downtown businesses: such as, types of flowers to be planted and ...
June Has Quite The Line Up For First Friday - June 04, 2009 -
Every month, I look forward to First Friday because there are always so many choices and this month is no exception!
For June's First Friday, the Red Gallery and Simon Gallery have opening art shows with receptions at their respective galleries. Stem's is hosting a Yakima Red Cross fundraiser at the Hilton Garden Inn, and the Little Soapmaker is celebrating it's fifth year downtown!
Then there ...
Memorial Day kicks off summer downtown - May 28, 2009 -
I love Memorial Day because it always seems to be the summer kick-off! Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, the Ambassadors put up the Flower Baskets and started planting landscape throughout town.
This year, the Ambassadors put up approximately 325 flower baskets throughout the district, which is more than Seattle and Portland have in their downtowns!
This coming week, landscaping was ...
The weather has taken a turn for the better - May 18, 2009 -
Since the weather has taken a turn for the better, I've started searching for ways to occupy myself and keep cool this summer season. At first, I thought it's just too hot to do anything, but the more I searched, the more reasons I had to head downtown!
Outdoor Seating: Yes, it may be hot outside, but there's nothing better than sitting outside enjoying an ice-cold beverage. Whether you enjoy ...
The 11th Annual Yakima Farmers Market - May 13, 2009 -
The Yakima Farmers Market has opened! There's nothing that says “Summer” more than fresh produce, fun foods, and a community coming together for a farmers market!
The Yakima Farmers Market is in it's 11th year downtown. The Market is open from 9am – 2pm every Sunday from May until October. The Market is in the Millennium Plaza, right in front of the Capitol Theatre.
So what does the Farmers ...
April Showers... - April 15, 2009 -
…Bring May flowers. I'm pretending that I didn't see the snow yesterday. Nor, did I see the rain. I am just repeating what will have to be my mantra for April, “April showers bring May flowers.”
I'm sure you've seen the flowers start to pop up downtown. Some of the flower pots have started receiving winter pansies, and the rest of the pots have been prepped for when the warm weather hits!
So ...
Want more information? - March 18, 2009 -
Do you know anyone who is interested in learning more about downtown, but doesn't receive our weekly e-newsletters? Could it be you? Every week, I send out an e-newsletter that highlights the events that are going on in Downtown Yakima.
If you would be interested in learning more about what is going on in downtown, then I suggest that you to sign up for the e-newsletter, by sending me an email ...
Our Downtown - March 12, 2009 -
Now that the weather is beginning to change, I am noticing more and more people downtown. To many, the idea of coming out to enjoy downtown used to be an unattainable dream, to some, it still is. So you may be asking yourself, “What is there to do downtown?”
To begin, our downtown streets are now cleaner and safer than ever before. Our Ambassadors are on the streets 5 days a week, picking up ...
"Art Walk Downtown" - January 29, 2009 -
Our friends at the Red Gallery, Larson Gallery, and Allied Arts have put together a pamphlet titled, “Art Walk Downtown” in order educate people where they can find original fine art downtown. They are encouraging locals and tourist alike, to explore downtown business that feature artists from the Yakima Valley and celebrate the growing arts community in Yakima.
“Art Walk Downtown” has a map of ...
A New Side of Yakima - January 22, 2009 -
I've been living in Yakima for about 6 weeks now and finally had my first out-of-town visitor. When my best friend decided to come and visit, she told me not to worry about planning anything, that we could just hang out in my apartment and spend time catching up. Don't plan anything? Just stay at home? Then I realized that she hadn't been to Yakima for a while, and had no idea of the side of ...
The Lofts - January 13, 2009 - The Lofts downtown at 17 North 3rd Street open this weekend for an Open House! Located in the heart of revitalized downtown Yakima, it is within walking distance of many of Yakima's favorite attractions. The building has been transformed into 27 one and two bedroom luxury condominiums. There are eleven different floor plans ranging from 930 - 1650 square feet, and each condo comes with a patio or ...
Blue Note 7 Performance - January 05, 2009 - Blue Note 7 presents Blue Note Records 70 th Anniversary Celebration. Led by pianist, Bill Charlap, the group will tour worldwide celebrating blues musicians like Bud Powell, Herbie Hancock, and Lee Morgan, just to name a few. The all-star septet comprising pianist, musical director, and current Blue Note recording artist Bill Charlap with trumpeter Nicholas Payton, tenor saxophonist Ravi ...
First Friday - Get in the Christmas Spirit - December 04, 2008 - Gather up all your friends and come downtown this Friday night for a holiday edition of Downtown First Friday. Downtown merchants have packed a serious amount of fun into one night that is a perfect way to get in the holiday spirit. This First Friday you will find live music in nine locations, wine tasting opportunities, unique shopping opportunities and best of all, you can cruise around downtown ...
Thanksgiving in Wine Country - Downtown! - November 26, 2008 - Got friends in town this weekend? Why not show them the new look of downtown with some shopping at some of our locally owned stores or have a great meal at one of our fine restaurants. Even better, you can celebrate ''Thanksgiving in Wine Country'' right here in Downtown Yakima with special occasions at Kana Winery, Plaza Socievole, Masset Winery, Gilbert Cellars or Donatelia Winery. The ...
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 ...