Downtown Dominates DNR “Best of the Valley” Awards

Once again, Daily News-Record readers have shown their overwhelming support of downtown Harrisonburg shops, restaurants and other businesses with their votes in the annual “Best of the Valley” survey. Running away with the most honors is Clementine with EIGHT awards, including best renovation and best place to be seen. Harrisonburg Farmers’ Market made its first appearance on the list as the best place to take visitors, likely aided by its new location under the Turner pavilion constructed since the last poll.

Some favorites, like the Little Grill Collective, James McHone Jewelry, and Jess’ Quick Lunch, retained their titles as best vegetarian/breakfast, jeweler, and cheap eats, respectively, while the Artful Dodger showed its expanding versatility by winning the best dancing and best karaoke titles. Downtown services also got a shout out on this year’s list, with the Studio winning best salon and the Beauty Spa taking best day spa. Congratulations to other downtown businesses listed below – 16 in total!

Similar to last year, downtown as a whole won both accolades and criticism, with voters choosing downtown revitalization as the best use of taxpayer money and listing downtown among their favorite part of Harrisonburg, while displaying a lack of fondness for our new blue and yellow wayfinding signs as their least favorite part about the ‘burg.

DNR’s “Best of the Valley” Winners: Downtown Highlights

Cheap Eats
Jess’ Quick Lunch

Vegetarian
The Little Grill Collective

French fries
Dave’s

Late-night eats
Dave’s

Coffee
Shank’s

Drink specials
Clementine Café

Best atmosphere
Clementine Café

Place to take your family
Clementine Café

Place to be seen
Clementine Café

Place to sit and read
Earth and Tea Café

Outdoor dining
Dave’s

Place to blow your diet
Kline’s Dairy Bar

Place to take a date
Clementine Café

Downtown restaurant
Clementine Café

Best appetizers
Clementine Café

Best breakfast
The Little Grill Collective

Salon
The Studio

Day Spa
The Beauty Spa

Wine shop
Downtown Wine & Gourmet

Jeweler
James McHone

Best dancing
Artful Dodger

Best entertainment value
Court Square Theater

Best cheap date
Kline’s Dairy Bar

Karaoke
Artful Dodger

Museum
Harrisonburg Children’s Museum

Best place to take visitors
Harrisonburg Farmer’s Market

Best renovation
Clementine Café

Best use of taxpayer money
Downtown revitalization

Best way to spend a Saturday morning
Farmer’s market (Dayton, Shenandoah and Harrisonburg)

Best place to propose
Joshua Wilton House

Just Released: All Urban Exchange Condos to be Leased, Not Sold

On Scott Rogers’ blog today, it was announced that all the condos at the Urban Exchange will be leased, not sold.

The reason, it is stated, is that while tenants have been signing up at the rate of 5 to 6 new leases per week, buyers have been more hesitant to commit until the condos are complete. Coupled with the fact that construction in the East Wing (for lease) began two months earlier than the West Wing (for sale), 75% of the units for lease were reserved as of last week vs. 15% of the units for sale. This means that pretty soon, the developers would have to start turning away people interested in leasing while the for sale wing of the building remained available.

Read the full release here.

Also mentioned is the interesting possibility of future downtown housing projects from the same group of developers, who are also responsible for the City Exchange rehabilitation project.  According to the release, the next two projects will be much smaller than the UE, between 15-25 units, and will offer opportunities for people to become downtown condo owners. If you are interested in joining a focus group to discuss the projects, visit this link.

HDR Members Pay Member Price for Statewide Downtown Housing Workshops

The Virginia Downtown Development Association and Virginia Main Street have chosen Harrisonburg as the site for their annual workshop, “Downtown Housing: Options & Opportunities.”

VMS will be hosting “Lessons for a Livable Downtown” on Wednesday, May 27, with VDDA hosting “Downtown Housing: Options & Opportunities” on Thursday, May 28, 2009. Both events will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Cally’s Restaurant & Brewing Co. banquet room. Additional events include a Wednesday evening microbrewery sampling (small additional fee), tour of downtown Harrisonburg and welcome reception with cash bar.

AIA/CES learning units can be earned for the programs, and Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance members qualify for a reduced member rate of $75 for the VDDA workshop (cost is $110 for both VDDA and VMS workshops).

For more information on registering for the workshops, call 434-238-0986 or email admin@downtownvirginia.org.

For information on becoming an HDR member, see the “Get Involved Downtown” box in the right column.

Time to Get Your Renaissance On!

Posted by Lisa N. Ha

Renaissance Night is nearly upon us, HDR’s annual fundraiser held at Dave’s Downtown Taverna. Back when I used to work for the Renaissance and was in charge of organizing both the live and silent auction, invitations, event program, and handling the books, I valued this time of year as an opportunity to use up my flexible spending account on treatment for my ulcers and Renaissance Night-induced panic attacks. Then the night would arrive, people would come dressed in adorable themed outfits or fancy fancies, and I would relax and enjoy knowing that all my hard work had resulted in a good time for all and lots of money raised for downtown. The open bar helped. And my hair always grew back.

This year, I no longer work for HDR and I am marking the occasion by spending week in Hawaii. BUT, that doesn’t mean that YOU shouldn’t come out on Saturday night to enjoy the fruits of the current staffs’ labor. Program manager Jessica Chase has been working diligently to prepare a good party. Here are some of the items that will be up for grabs during the live and silent auctions:

• a 1920’s diamond ring from James McHone Jewelry
• a week stay in the Outer Banks in a 10-person beach house
• a B&B stay in Costa Rica
• dinner for 10 at Dave’s Downtown Taverna
• a solid oak shaker-style jewelry box from Downtown Fine Furniture Company
• a life-sized talking Elvis doll (I’m not kidding!)

You can find the whole list of items online at www.downtownharrisonburg.org, but the best thing to do is buy a ticket and come out in person to support downtown revitalization. It’s what The King would want you to do.

Glen’s Fair Price Hosts Picture University Starting May 13

Former Daily News-Record photographers, James Madison University alums, area businesspeople and downtown’s own Gary Stiteler, owner of Glen’s Fair Price Store on North Main Street, have teamed up to offer Picture University, a series of six workshops to start you on a fun and amazing journey in taking photographs you’ll love. The first session is Wednesday, May 13. All classes will be held at 6:30pm at Glen’s with the exception of the June 10 class. Cost is $30 for one or $80 for three.

May 13 – Intro to Digital Photography with Frank Mashman and Gary Stiteler

May 20 – Digital Enhancements and Photoshop Elements with Ra’Shaun Stovall

May 27 – Storytelling Through Photographs with Allen B. Litten

June 3 – Sports Photography with Cathy Kushner

June 10 – Portraiture with Rodney Good. Class location TBA.

Visit pictureuniversity.com for bios of the artists and registration information.

Downtown Fine Furniture Wins “Best New Exhibit”

A belated congratulations to Downtown Fine Furniture Company, which won the “Best New Exhibit” award at last month’s Home and Garden Show hosted by the Shenandoah Valley Builders Association. Store owners Brandon and Laura Amstutz worked with Clymer Interiors to set up a home-like atmosphere with dining room, living room and office furniture.

Downtown Fine Furniture Company offers solid hardwood furniture handcrafted by skilled master craftsmen. They are located at 20 N. Main Street across from Court Square, next door to the Harrisonburg Children’s Museum.

Harrisonburg Historian Donates Scrapbook Collection to Downtown Library

There are few people more valuable to downtown as Bob Sullivan. A former city planning director and resident of the Old Town Historic District, Bob is often one of the first people we go to when we want to know the background of a downtown building or event. His two-hour walking tour beginning at the Municipal Building and ending with ice cream at Kline’s was always a popular draw at Valley 4th and our downtown walking tour series. Every time I  participated, I learned something new about our town.

Though he can no longer provide tours due to health reasons, Bob has continued to play a vital role as our unofficial city historian. Recently, he donated 37 of his scrapbooks with news headlines from the 1960s to 2001 to the Massanutten Regional Library, as printed in today’s Daily News-Record. According to the paper, after the scrapbooks are indexed, they will be available for public viewing on request at the downtown library on Main Street.

Eddie on Volunteers (May 2009)

Q: How involved are volunteers with HDR and downtown revitalization?

A: Although HDR has a dedicated staff, the support and time of volunteers are essential to the success of the revitalization effort. In March of this year, Virginia Main Street recognized the more than 45,000 hours of time given over the last five years by volunteers serving on committees, helping with events, and assisting with special projects. This is a very impressive figure and clearly demonstrates the level of commitment from our community.

For example, on April 11, 14 people gave their Saturday morning to refurbish planters, clean sidewalk medalions, remove graffiti and man a display table for Blacks Run/Downtown Cleanup Day.

A special thanks goes out to Melanie Woodard, Rodney Williams, Stacy Turner, Charlie Strickler, Leigh Osborne, Oksana Naunenko, Troy Milliken, Steve Knickrehm, Don Kidd, Tom Clayton, Jessica Chase, Bucky Berry and Becky Bartells for volunteering for this project. I wish to thank not only each of you, but all of our committed volunteers for what you do to make downtown a vibrant and attractive city center.

Want to help?

Volunteers are needed for the following events:

• Court and Market Days Festival – June 6
• Fridays on the Square – every Friday beginning June 5
• Valley 4th – July 4

New Photos from Urban Exchange

View the latest photos of the Urban Exchange at http://www.liveue.com/index_construction.php?date=20090503. Includes construction photos and even a few interior shots. According the the Urban Exchange website, all of the studio units and most of the 1-bedroom and lofts are already reserved.

Downtown Trivia Question of the Month

Answer the following question for a chance to win a downtown gift certificate! Winner will be chosen among all correct answers.

Including the current court house, how many court houses have stood on Court Square?

E-mail Jessica Chase at jchase@harrisonburgva.gov with your response!

The current Rockingham County Court House is not the first to sit on Court Square. How many have there been?