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Holiday Parade Photos

November 21, 2009
The holiday season was jump started the weekend before Thanksgiving in Downtown Greenville with our traditions of a storekeepers holiday open house, a church stroll and parade with lighted horse carriages. Thanks to everyone who shopped, strolled, rode the carriage rides, or spectated the parade. This year was a record crowd!

Photos copyright of Harrison Studios.

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Hometown Holiday Weekend

The air is getting colder the holidays are near. A time for celebration something we all hold dear. Join us for our downtown holiday traditions starting Thursday, November 19 with our storekeepers Holiday Open House and downtown Candlelight Church Stroll. Be inspired by the reason for the season and embrace the uniqueness of Greenville's culture with the Hometown Holiday Horse Parade on Saturday, November 21.
On Thursday, November 19, the nine downtown churches open their doors to the public for a Celebration. Roam the lighted streets of downtown or catch the free carriage rides that will be available during the Candlelight Church Stroll from 5-8 pm. Downtown storekeepers will have a festive holiday display unique to their business to signify the welcoming of the giving season and extended store hours.

The holiday spirit continues on Friday with music filling the downtown air as lighted garland glimmers on Broadway. Storekeepers welcome guests until 8 pm with holiday favorites to share. Amazing gifts are located right here in your downtown.

To close the weekend we celebrate with the Hometown Holiday Horse Parade featuring lighted horse drawn carriages. New this year, 4-H Clubs riding in the parade with pre-parade performances by local school choirs. Don’t miss the excitement, merriment, & temptation all forged in this Hometown Holiday Weekend. Come celebrate with us!

This holiday weekend is presented by downtown Greenville businesses and Main Street Greenville with cooperation from the City of Greenville. Visit www.downtowngreenville.org/holiday for a full schedule of events and times.

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My Pot is Overflowing

This month Main Street Greenville would like to recognize Advanced Eyecare for maintaining their adopted flower pot and taking pride in helping to keep Downtown Greenville beautiful.

Main Street Greenville appreciates the efforts in beautifying downtown and maintaining the adopted boxes and pots throughout the growing season. We will be recognizing an adoptee each month for their efforts in maintaining their adopted box or pot.

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Everything's Coming Up (Not) Roses

Well, "something" is coming up, but it's not roses. It's Wave Petunias in Misty Lilac and Blue, as well as Pink and Yellow Lantana. On Saturday, May 16th, businesses, organizations and families came downtown to celebrate beautifying downtown Greenville. With a soggy start, Boy Scouts from Troop 373 began assisting in the unloading and spreading of soil and mulch in the pots and boxes that line Broadway. From 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. people assembled downtown to plant their adopted box or pot organized by the Main Street Greenville Adopt-A-Box Program. This program, similar to others across the nation, brings individuals to the core of the community to participate in maintaining one of Greenville's great assets, the historic downtown. It has allowed groups, businesses and families to "adopt" city right of way boxes or pots and maintain them by planting and weeding throughout the growing season.

Above, Bob and Sheryl Clingen of Canyon Country, California plant their adopted box. The Clingen's are visiting family in Darke County and participated in this years event. We will be recognizing an adoptee each month for their efforts in maintaining their box or pot.

If you would like further information on how to Adopt-A-Box, please call 937-548-4998. There are still several boxes and pots available in need of some TLC. By giving of your time and hard work, a plaque with your name will be placed on the box or pot that you adopt. If you are strolling downtown, please check out all of the blooming beauties!

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A great day to look up!

What a rainy, dreary day in downtown Greenville. Not much fun in going outside but it is the perfect day to look outside the window and look up at the great architecture the downtown holds. Celebrate Preservation Month no matter what it looks like outside.
Remember to pick up your architectural detail brochure at any downtown visitor rack. Happy hunting!!

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Preservation Awareness starts today!

Today is the start of the whole month celebration of Historic Preservation. Downtown Greenville is taking part of the wave with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Activities include an architectural detail hunt through downtown. We hope you blog about your experience. The answers can be found on the Main Street Greenville website. Enjoy our built, green environment!

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Banners Yet Wave

If you travel through downtown Greenville on your way to school or work, it's possible that you have noticed the new spring street banners that are gracing the poles along Broadway. Not only do they shout "SPRING" they also exude creativity. It is my understanding that the newest banners were designed by art students at the Greenville Jr. High. What a wise use of our local resources, and at the same time encouraging and cultivating these young artists. I can't imagine the sense of accomplishment to see your own artwork displayed on the streets of your hometown. Kudos to these kids for getting involved in their communities endeavors, and hats off to Main Street Greenville for inspiring their creativity.

If you haven't noticed the new banners, well, what are you waiting for? It's time to put on your walking shoes, grab a cup of coffee or a smoothie and take a stroll on Broadway. The banners bring a lot of color and unity to the city streets and pull together the entire downtown area. They set the stage for all of the excitement that spring and summer are about to bring to our downtown area. May starts Historic Preservation Month. While you are getting your feet on the street to check out the banners, check out Main Street Greenville's Preservation Activities as well. Bring the family downtown and enjoy some art, some history and some culture. Who knows, some day it just might be your son or daughter's artwork  gracing the downtown poles.

A generous "Thank You" to our Spring Banner Sponsors:

Susie Riegle, Wayne Hospital, Brethren Retirement Community, Law Office of Jason Aslinger, Rogers Deli Mart, Second National Bank

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Local, Green, Fun- Downtown Farmers' Market

A long time staple of Downtown Greenville’s Farmers’ Market, Francis Byers, displays his award winning produce for market customers.

Do you raise vegetables?  Sell crafts?  Have syrup or honey to sell?  Maybe you grow fresh flowers or prefer to sell baked goods?  The Downtown Farmer’s Market is making plans for a late spring opening this year. Vendors are wanted!

As in the past, market days will be on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings at the Courthouse lawn.  This year the first Market will begin Wednesday, June 3, with hours from 2 – 6 PM.  Saturdays are from 8 – 1 PM or both days are until sold out.

Vendors can choose from many options that work the best for your product availability. This year is an option for a  ”communal” table. For those who have little or no time to sell at the market, drop off your produce, a volunteer will tend to the communal table.  This allows you to sell your extra produce and make money.  We have a designated market master to man the table the whole season.

Sponsored by Main Street Greenville and Darke County Farm Bureau, this is the 11th year for the Farmer’s Market. Products should be produced in Ohio or neighboring Indiana counties. An application with further details for vendors is available. Interested vendors should contact Main Street Greenville at 548-4998 or click here for an application. 

 

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A Blinding Romance

The second edition of Dining in the Darke has held on Feb. 13 at Montage Cafe in downtown Greenville.  This experience was a little different than the first at The Bistro Off Broadway.

When the guests arrived we took each party individually to their own table as we introduced them to their surroundings.  Observing this with my own eyes, this interaction allowed for a more private, romantic encounter that was still full of curiosity and amazement.

The menu created by Chef and Owner Aaron Cox and wife Michele consisted of a romaine lettuce salad with strawberries, red onion, walnuts, parmesan cheese tossed with a strawberry vinaigrette.  The next course was a flavorful grilled chicken breast (everyone thought it was beef or pork!) on a bed of spinach fettuccine, topped with sun-dried tomato cream sauce & feta cheese. And for dessert Michele created a chocolate mousse with a "M" made out of chocolate fudge for garnish.  The consistency  of the fudge made everyone think it was carmel.

We at Main Street Greenville had a blast bringing this experience again to Darke County. We were thrilled to see people coming from one hour to two hours away to take in the experience as well.  Stay tuned for a possible Dining in the Darke III!

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A Diverse Experience

Dining in the Darke

Friday, February 13, 2009

Montage Café at 7pm

$40 per person

Advance ticket sales only

Spoil your sweetie the day before Valentine's Day with an experience of sensitivity never experienced before, taking a journey of taste, sound and touch all while in the dark.  In this age of information overload, visual stimulation has reached an all time high. But imagine that you cannot see, that you are abandoning vision in exchange for a new, more stimulating dining experience - this is "Dining in the Darke."

Guests are welcome to arrive at Montage Cafe in dowtown Greenville at 7 pm on Friday, February 13. They will be seated and given a uniquely constructed blindfold called a "Mindfold." Once everyone is in total "darkeness" they will be offered a drink from a select list of wine and beer.  When the 3-course gourmet meal, a menu specially designed by Montage chef/owner Aaron Cox, is brought into the dining room, guests will enjoy an experience of taste, smell, touch and sound they will never forget. So that participants will truly need to use all senses other than sight to determine what it is they are eating, the menu will be revealed at the end of the dinner.

"The board members of Main Street Greenville are excited for the opportunity to bring such an out of the ordinary event to Darke County," says Amber Schmerge, Executive Director. "While doing research on dark dining, we found that it happens in major cities for up to three times the cost we're offering here in Greenville. We're looking forward to an interesting evening," she concluded. The ticket price of $40 a person includes two alcoholic beverages, dinner and dessert.

To reserve your seat, please call Main Street Greenville at 937.548.4998 or purchase tickets at Montage Cafe, 527 S. Broadway, Greenville Mon-Sat. 8 am-4 pm. 

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Snow, Snow, and More Snow!

Well here in western Ohio we have been hit with a gift from Mother Nature.  Whether we see it as a gift or not is up to us.  Kids see it as a gift for the fact that snow days are no school days. Others see it as a pain in the rear.  But the shear beauty of snow really is something everyone should stop and enjoy. 

In downtown Greenville, I am sure numerous downtown businesses are praying for the melting of 12" of powder to speed up. Eight foot mounds occupy every corner of downtown. The above picture however says it all.  As long as a welcoming path hits your destination what does it matter how many feet of snow we have? Take the beauty of it in and have the attitude of sunny skies.  

What's great about a downtown is that it is walkable.  In the winter, if I don't have to drive I am happy.  So downtown allows one to do that.  Get things you need, take in the mounds of snow, help a neighbor and visit with others with the simple task of walking.  Take winter as the time to mingle and uplift one another.  

Soon the 8' mounds will melt away and sunny skies will be all we see, for everyone gets wrapped up in vacations, convertibles, and fairs that there is no time for simple conversation and mingling. What a gift snow is.

The sidewalk is always clear for those who wish to visit downtown.

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