Walking in a Window Wonderland

Win all your gifts this year by entering the Window Wonderland Giveaway!

The annual Window Wonderland Giveaway returns with over $2000 in gifts up for grabs.  At 108 South Main Street (the old Jack Collins Shoe Store) featured gifts from downtown merchants and restaurants will be piled high in the storefront windows, showing off all the amazing downtown shopping options.   For a chance to win the entire window of gifts, customers must visit downtown establishments and find out the value of the featured item and record it on an entry form.  One winning entry form will be drawn at random on December 18.

Largest holiday event in Harrisonburg to take place on December 4th

Holidays on Main Street returns this year, for the first time taking place on the same day as the annual Holiday Parade.  On Friday, December 4, Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance invites the community to Court Square beginning at 4:00pm for live music, carriage rides, hot cocoa, The Grinch and more.  Visit Santa and Mrs. Clause at their house in front of Massanutten Regional Library, visit downtown shops, drop off your food donations for the food drive and participate in the Window Wonderland Giveaway contest!

Rosetta Stone CEO Named Entrepreneur of the Year

Congratulations to Rosetta Stone’s Tom Adams, who was recently named the national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. The CEO and president of the language learning software company headquartered in downtown Harrisonburg was selected by a panel among 400 regional winners. In addition to being honored as the overall national winner, Adams also earned the 2009 title for national winner in the Consumer Products category.

“Tom Adams’ efforts at Rosetta Stone have helped change the way the world learns languages, a critical skill in today’s global economy,” said Ernst & Young CEO and chairman James S. Turley in a press release. “For 23 years, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® awards have recognized the entrepreneurial passion that defines great leaders, and we are proud to add Tom Adams’ name to this distinguished list of business leaders.”

Read more about the award in the Virginia Business Magazine or read the full press release.

Holiday Cheer Bubbles Up With Sparkling Wine Tasting at JWH

Join Joshua Wilton House in a tasting of 10 sparkling wines from around the world, including a blind tasting of a premier Champagne. This will be a fun, casual event to get in the holiday frame of mind. Learn about sparking wine production, taste some fun bubbly and enjoy the company of other sparkling wine fans. There will be some lighter fare offered along with the sparkling wines.

Sunday, December 6, 2009
2 to 4 pm
$40 per person, all-inclusive
Reservations required

Downtown Retail to Open Late to Promote Local Shopping During the Holidays

Downtown retailers invite residents to visit downtown for all of their holiday shopping needs with over 31 retail stores to choose from.  The retailers rallied together during the most recent meeting of Merchants of Historic Downtown Harrisonburg to present a united retail front.

All of the following members will be open until at least 7pm on Fridays to give residents an opportunity to shop downtown after work.

1. Oasis
2. You Made It
3. The Yellow Button
4. Downtown Fine Furniture
5. Polished
6. James McHone Jewelers
7. Laughing Dog
8. On The Turtles Back
9. Wonder
10. Ragtime Fabrics
11. Downtown Wine & Gourmet
12. Shenandoah Bicycle Company

What better way to spend a Friday evening than to stroll through our ever expanding Downtown for Holiday shopping and then enjoy a fine meal with friends and family at one of over 25 unique and locally owned restaurants.

In this down economy shopping locally supports our Historic Downtown Community.  Buying from your neighbors means keeping your money local all while exploring the most unique gifts available.

Veterans Day Events

The annual Veterans Day parade in Harrisonburg has doubled in size since the previous year.  The parade is presented by the Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, Dayton American Legion Post 27, the City of Harrisonburg and James Madison University. The Marching Royal Dukes from James Madison University will march in the parade and then the university will hose a rededication of Memorial Stadium Baseball/Softball Complex, at the former Harrisonburg High School.

It’s a “Matter of the Heart”

The Arts Council of the Valley proudly presents mixed media work by Sam Hunter. The show opens Friday, November 6th from 5-7pm. There will be complimentary appetizers and beverages for the public to enjoy while viewing the challenging work of this candid artist. The variety of mediums and styles not only engages the audience but also reflects the array of issues discussed in these pieces.

“Matters of the Heart” is a series of drawings and garments that discuss the delicate and complex nature of the human health condition. In May 2008, Hunter had a heart attack that disrupted her life and consequently her art. This body of work is an exploration of her heart and her ongoing health concerns. Hunter explains, “These works are about trying to understand and assimilate the new identity that my health has insisted I create.” She chose to design fabric garments, intentionally making them appear wearable. This signifies her ownership of the emotions in response to the heart attack and the resulting quality of life.

Temptations at the Theater

Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance presents the second annual “Temptations at the Theater“ on Wednesday November 11 beginning at 6:30pm.  This fundraising event takes place at Court Square Theater with a dessert and wine reception followed by a modern comedy presented by The Playhouse.

Downtown restaurants provide all reception refreshments, showcasing the talents of local chefs and bakers.  With more than a dozen donating restaurants, the selections range from marbled cheesecake brownies, locally made Warfel’s truffles, Kentucky Derby tartlets and more.  This year’s menu will be enhanced with savory selections such as Indian spiced crackers and smoked salmon Gouda roll with caviar as well as gourmet coffee provided by local roaster, Lucas Roasting, Co.  Downtown Wine & Gourmet will provide wine tastings with full wine service provided by event coordinators during the reception.

Halloween Window Decoration Contest Winners

Downtown merchants decorated walls and windows with goblins, pumpkins and spider webs in preparation for Halloween on the Square.  The regular holiday window contests in downtown Harrisonburg not only add to the festive events, but also help attract customers to the local businesses.

HDR encourages business owners to update their decorations regularly, keep their windows well-lit and participate in seasonal contests such as this one. Bright and exciting windows are a great way to draw attention to a business.

A volunteer panel of judges walked through the historic district Friday afternoon to rate each window and they named the following winners:

1^st Place: Blue Ridge Florist

2^nd Place: Wonder

3^rd Place: Laughing Dog

Runners Up: Granny Longlegs, Ragtime Fabrics

Favorite Interactive Window (special last-minute category): Water Street Cafe

“The atmosphere with all of the decorated windows definitely kicks off the festivities for the Halloween weekend” said judge, Erica Kann.  Parents and trick-or-treaters are invited downtown on Halloween to see all decorated windows and trick-or-treat from 10am to 2pm.

Halloween event details available at 540-432-8935 or www.DowntownHarrisonburg.org.

FC2 Downtown Grocery Store Announces Site Location and Primary Financing

Friendly City Food Co-Op just sent an email to its members announcing a location for the downtown grocery store and that primary financing has been secured. Read the entire message and see a photo of the future site below: