Dining and Playing in Downtown Decatur

A 10-day dining discount program kicks off as Downtown Decatur’s monthly celebration gets underway on Friday. Set for August 15, 2014, this month’s 3^rd Friday will feature special offerings at local restaurants in addition to its usual line-up of great music and family-friendly activities.

Beginning at 5 p.m., blocks of both Bank Street and Second Avenue will be closed for the 3^rd Friday monthly celebration and festivalgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and enjoy a relaxing evening of music, food, and fun.

For the third year, the Alabama Tourism Department is coordinating a statewide Restaurant Week and during 3^rd Friday, many of the downtown restaurants will be showcasing their delicious cuisine. Set for August 15-24, 2014, Alabama Restaurant Week is a 10-day promotion designed to increase traffic to locally owned eateries by offering prix fixe lunch and dinner at a set price. For more details and a list of participating restaurants, visit www.alabamarestaurantweek.com.

At 5:30 p.m., Rising Sun Lodge #29 will dedicate their historical marker in a ceremony in Founder’s Park at the Old State Bank. Speakers and guests will include Sen. Arthur Orr, Mayor Don Kyle, Grand Master Lane Weatherbee and John Allison from the Morgan County Archives. Immediately following the dedication, the Lodge will host an Open House with tours and refreshments at their location on the corner of Bank Street and Walnut Street.

Music fires up at 6 p.m. with Toy Shop slated to perform on the Bank Street Main Stage. Additional musicians scheduled to perform throughout the evening include Nitrate City by Tallulah’s, Wes Woodard by Bank Street Green Food Court, the Morgan County Dulcimer Association on Bank Street, Eddie Miller and Jurassic Groove by The Antique Basket, Shawn Ferguson and Kevin Teague in Casa Grande Park, Laura Kee by Downtown Dawgs, Clarence Root “The Chordsman” by the Art School green space, and Mike Roberts by Waggin’ Tails located on Johnston Street.

Live music can also be found inside of downtown restaurants. From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Simp McGhee’s will host J.C. Carter, and from 8:30 to midnight, Old Electric will be performing at Moe’s Original Bar-B-Que.

The Point Mallard Ducks Junior Ice Hockey Team will have free snow cones (in the team’s colors), free face painting for children and teens, and free Duck beak whistle necklaces (while supplies last). Festivalgoers can learn more about the new team and how to purchase tickets in front of Decatur Engravers on Bank Street.

Along Second Avenue, classic cars and vintage beauties will be on display. There will be a Kids Zone located on Second Avenue by Bank Independent and the Carnegie Visual Arts Center will offer activities and a chalk art contest in the 700 block of Bank Street. The Chalk Art Challenge will let students create works of art with one box of sidewalk chalk per artist. The finished drawings will be judged with the winners receiving gift certificates from downtown stores and restaurants.

In addition to great shopping in locally owned boutiques and shops, festivalgoers can look for one-of-a-kind items and fresh produce in the Vendor Marketplace located in Casa Grande Park on Second Avenue and at The Market on Bank Street. The Morgan County Homebuilders Association will host a Beer Garden in Founder’s Park and High Ridge Spirits will have a moonshine tasting in the Bank Street Food Court where festival goers can also grab a quick bite to eat from Bank Street Green and Downtown Dawgs. Four-legged friends will be treated to a cool water station at the Cottage House.

MCATS will provide transportation between Bank Street and Second Avenue for $1 per person, per ride. Pickup locations are at the Alabama Center for the Arts parking lot on Second Avenue and beside Tammy Eddy Antiques and Interiors on Bank Street.

Participating streets in 3^rd Fridays include 2^nd Avenue, Bank, Market, Moulton, Grant, and Johnston streets. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Admission is free. 3^rd Friday Downtown Decatur is organized by the members of the Downtown Decatur Merchants and Business Association, including Bank Independent, Bank Street Art & Antiques, Beautiful Edge-A Paul Mitchell Focus Salon, Carriage House, Chenault Studios & Bank Street Green, Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority, Decatur Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Decatur Morgan County Farmer’s Market, Ingalls Entertainment, King Insurance Agency, Mellow Mushroom, Memi’s, Progress Bank, Simp McGhee’s Stovall Marks Insurance, The Antique Basket, The Cupboard, and The Paper Chase.

The Downtown Merchants Association wishes to thank the City of Decatur Parks and Recreation Department for the tremendous support they provide to the event as an in-kind sponsor. Presenting sponsor is Budweiser. Diamond Sponsor is Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority. Gold Sponsors include Bank Independent, BP, Decatur/Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, Progress Bank, and Morgan County Commission. Silver Sponsors are Nucor Steel and 3M. Bronze Sponsors are Renasant Bank, Stovall-Marks Insurance, Beautiful Edge-A Paul Mitchell Focus Salon, and King Insurance Agency.

For more information, call Ashley Ashwander at 256.355.8993 or visit 3^rd Friday’s Facebook page for the latest information.

Free Slices of Watermelon and Cooking Demonstrations at the Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market August 16

Free slices of America’s favorite summertime fruit will be given away Saturday, August 16, 2014, during the annual Watermelon Day hosted at the Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market. Along with the juicy treat, festivalgoers can take in cooking tips from a local chef who will be offering cooking demonstrations.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or until supplies last), visitors will have the opportunity to sample many different varieties of locally grown watermelon including seedless, yellow, and red. In addition to the slices of watermelon, free Pepsi-Cola products will be served and there will be an assortment of home-baked goods, flowering plants, and other locally grown fruit and vegetables available for purchase throughout the day.  

Alabama Restaurant Week kicks off the day before and to help celebrate, a chef from a local restaurant participating in the 10-day promotion will be providing cooking demonstrations. Albany Bistro Chef Jake Reed will host demonstrations featuring watermelon. The first demonstration is set for 10 a.m. with the second one following at 11 a.m. Free samples will be provided following both of his demonstrations.

The Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market, located at 211 First Avenue SE in Decatur, is open Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. now through November 8, 2014.

For more information on Watermelon Day, call Manager Burl Slaton at 256.476.5595. For more information on the Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market, visit them online on Facebook or at www.decaturfarmersmarket.org.

Alabama's Dining Celebration Set for August 15-24

Discount dining at ten restaurants in Decatur and Hartselle.

For the third year, the Alabama Tourism Department is coordinating a statewide Restaurant Week, a marketing event designed to increase traffic by offering prix fixe lunch and dinner offering which typically include appetizer, entrée, and dessert at a set price. Ten of Morgan County’s best restaurants will offer special fixed price lunches and dinners during the 10-day promotion set for August 15-24, giving diners the opportunity to enjoy select dishes at a reasonable price point.

There are no coupons or discount books to buy or bring. The Alabama Restaurant Week pricing is fixed at $10, $20, and $30 for dinner and $5, $10, and $15 for lunch. In most cases, the price is per person and does not include tax, tip and drink.

The 10-day promotion kicks off in Decatur on August 15th during Downtown Decatur’s 3^rd Friday monthly celebration which hits the streets beginning at 5 p.m. Following the next day during Watermelon Day at the Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market, there will be special cooking demonstrations from participating Alabama Restaurant Week chefs.

Participating restaurants include Albany Bistro, Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q (both locations), C.F. Penn Hamburgers, Fite’s Waterfront Dining, Simp McGhee’s, Timbuck2, Mellow Mushroom, and The Brick Deli, all located in Decatur, and the Freight House located in Hartselle.

To view a list of this year’s participants with menu options and price, visit www.alabamarestaurantweek.com.

For more information on Alabama Restaurant Week in Decatur, call Melinda Dunn of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 256.350.2028.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Officially Welcomes New Hockey Team to Decatur

Public is invited to talk with staff personnel and team members following the ceremony.

 

The Point Mallard Ducks will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, August 12, 2014, at 10 a.m. to officially welcome and introduce residents to the city’s new junior hockey team. The public is invited to attend the ceremonial ribbon cutting and to meet the Duck’s staff personnel and members of the team.

Families interested in serving as a host home for a team member are encouraged to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony to learn more about the opportunity. Junior hockey ages vary from 16 to 20 years old. Players will live with their billet family for the eight months they are in Decatur playing for the Ducks, from late August through March.

Games get underway on Saturday, September 13, 2014, with an exhibition game against the Nashville Jr. Predators. Admission is free. The home opener is scheduled for September 27^th and plans are underway for family-friendly events and special themed nights.

A special 10-flex season ticket package will be announced during the ribbon cutting ceremony. For those who want in on the action at all 20 games, season tickets are available to purchase. Season ticket holders receive a discount of up to 60%, a photo ID, and a free t-shirt.

Tickets may be purchased at www.pointmallardducks.com or at the gate. Admission for any home game is $12/adult (ages 12-61), $9/child (ages 5-11), $9/senior (62+), $9/military (with ID) and free for children fours old and younger.

For more information, contact, Terri Mashburn at tmashburn@totalpackagehockey.com or call 256.341.4913. Additional information may be obtained from the Point Mallard Ducks’ website at www.pointmallardducks.com or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pointmallardducks or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PM_ducks.

 About the Ducks:

The Point Mallard Ducks, Alabama’s first and only junior A hockey team, is a member of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL), one of six USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior Leagues. The team plays and practices in the Point Mallard Ice Complex located in Decatur, Alabama. For more information, visit www.pointmallardducks.com. 

Shop and Sip Hartselle’s Sweet Tea Saturday is August 9th.

The city of Hartselle is rolling out the welcome mat this Saturday, August 9 for its monthly Sweet Tea Saturday. Locals and visitors are invited to to enjoy a day in Hartselle with family-friendly entertainment and shop for special offers from local merchants while sipping on sweet tea.

Sweet Tea Saturday gets underway at 10 a.m. Hartselle is filled with a variety of restaurants and locally owned merchants and boutiques that will have special offers during the daylong event. While looking for special treasures, event goers can cool off with a complimentary glass of sweet tea provided by Hartselle merchants.

Classic cars will be on display in the new parking lot located across from Van’s Barber Shop. After checking out the vintage beauties, feast on a delicious Ribeye Steak Sandwich from the Morgan County Cattleman’s Association.

Shining Star Studio of Dance, located at 116 Sparkman Street in downtown Hartselle, will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Stop in for some refreshments, tour the studio and learn about dance opportunities in Hartselle.

From 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., the College Street Players will present the characters from the upcoming Rodgers and Hammerstein’s play “Cinderella” at a meet and greet session in the Depot Gazebo. During this time, the group will be performing several musical numbers and everyone is invited to mingle with the characters.

For more information on Sweet Tea Saturday, call Randy Garrison at 256.773.6566 or visit their Facebook page “Sweet Tea Saturday in Hartselle, Alabama” for the latest information.

Spirit of the Roots to collaborate with Brooke Hill Run

On August 9th, the Old State Bank Building in Decatur, AL is going to be buzzing with activity.

Spirit of the Roots will be hosting its first annual music and arts festival with live perfomances of various forms of music, art, dance, and light!  This festival promotes creative space in Decatur, so there will be open areas for attendants to bring their own creative equipment and start performing!

We have reserved 6 city blocks up to the Old State Bank for vendors, performers, food trucks, and, most importantly, pedestrian traffic!  Come celebrate creative expression!

Spirit of the Roots is also excited to be collaborating with the Brooke Hill Ovariance Cancer Foundation!  They will be hosting their annual 5K/1Mile Walk-Run that will end right at the entrance of the Old State Bank.  This institution raises funds towards ovarian cancer research and awareness with amazing success!  If you would like to sign-up to run, follow the link below!
http://www.active.com/decatur-al/running/distance-running-races/brooke-hill-run-for-awareness-2014?int=

We are happy to announce that all proceeds for the Spirit of the Roots Festival will be sent to this foundation, so supporting our cause will also support theirs!
Check out our facebook event!
https://www.facebook.com/events/306248906211299/