Shopping Small Makes a Big Impact

June 17-21 is National Small Business Week, so here is your official reminder of why you should shop small now and in the future.

1. Within the Downtown area of Middletown, approximately 95 per cent of businesses are considered small businesses, meaning they employ fewer than 50 people. In fact, about 60 per cent of the businesses in this area employ fewer than five people. That means that small business success is absolutely critical to the economy of downtown Middletown. By shopping at big retailers and chain dining establishments, you are taking money away from your own town and sending it elsewhere where your own economy will not benefit from it.
2. Locally owned businesses support local causes. Not only is shopping and dining locally important to the economy, these businesses care about the things that you care about – causes that are important to your own neighborhood and area. Supporting businesses locally supports these causes too.
3. Let’s face it, businesses have power over local decision making. When those business owners do not live locally, they may not make the same decision you would as a resident of a certain town. By supporting local businesses, you support their power in decision making, thereby improving the chances that such decisions will be relevant to those who live in the communities affected by these decisions.
4. Jobs! We all know how important jobs are, and we all know how increasingly difficult it is becoming to find a job. Small businesses support the economy by hiring locally and providing wages for local people.
5. Supporting small business also encourages entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship is what this country was founded upon. Innovation and entrepreneurship leads to prosperity for a nation and community, and improves the chances for families to move out of low-wage jobs and into the middle class.
6. Small business also helps more small businesses, like the shop that sells locally made jewelry and candles or the restaurant the uses locally made cheeses, rather than purchasing from other big corporations.
7. Small business is good for the environment by encouraging sustainable, walkable town centers, reduce urban sprawl, limit automobile use and sell items that require less transportation for deliveries.
8. Small business supports diversity of products. When entering a small shop, you never know what creativity you’ll find. You may discover a new toy, a unique scent, a tantalizing flavor or unusual design. Allowing diversity in business by allowing small business to thrive encourages this diversity.

10 Reasons to Visit Your Local Farmer's Markets

It is summer and summer means Farmer's Markets are back. Here are 10 reasons to shop your local farmer's markets this summer.

1. It's local. Buying from local farms means supporting the local economy. You'll be helping support local families who grow and produce fresh foods.
2. It's fresh. There is nothing like the fresh factor of a farmer's market. The produce and other foods you find at a farmer's market are just picked, eggs are just laid, and breads and other foods are just baked. The freshness at these markets can't be beat.
3. Carbon. Everyone's talking about their carbon footprint and shopping at these markets is a great way to lower yours. By buying locally grown and made products, you reduce the transportation cost of these items and lower your carbon footprint.
4. Variety. When shopping at farmer's markets you'll be more apt to try new produce, and you'll also find varieties of produce that you'd never see at a grocery store. Try a new variety of tomato or some fancy radishes. You never know what new delicacy you'll discover.
5. In season. One of the benefits of the food being fresh is also finding food that is in season. Plus, eating in season foods is actually really good for you!
6. It's interesting. Walking through a farmer's market is always an interesting experience. You'll meet new people, learn new things and discover a whole different world.
7. It's fun for kids. Kids usually really enjoy farmer's markets because there is so much to see, learn and discover. Plus, it's very educational for them to learn about seasonally grown foods and where their food comes from.
8. Fresh air. Shopping in fresh air markets is another fun feature. It's just very different than walking through a supermarket produce section where it's very climate-controlled and all the vegetables have just been sprayed. 
9. Meet the farmers. It's a neat experience to meet the actual people who grew the food you're eating. It puts a face to your food and gives you the chance to meet some real salt of the earth individuals. 
10. It's healthy. As if eating vegetables wasn't healthy enough, you'll also find healthier vegetables that aren't sprayed with toxic pesticides and are grown organically a lot of the time. It's a double win for your health. And if you're going to eat healthy, you might as well maximize the benefits - otherwise just binge on chocolate. Kidding - just kidding!

Middletown Farmer's Markets

Middletown Farmer's Market
South Green on Old Church Street
Hours are July-October;  Tuesday & Thursday, 8:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
Accepts WIC, SFMNP.

NEAT Farmer's Market
At Main and Liberty in Middletown, CT
June 14th-October; Fridays from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Double dollars program for WIC, SNAP, FMNP, and Senior Vouchers

Wanna Live Downtown?

Over the past several years Downtown Middletown has been becoming a a greater and cooler place to work and dine and play and live. Now, Downtown is exploring new possibilities in living downtown as part of the Come Home Downtown project, for which the original Amato's building was chosen. A community meeting is scheduled for June 11, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Community Health Center.

We would love local businesses, building owners, and anyone interested in this process to come out and join the discussion. We hope you can come.Your input is key to a successful downtown Middletown. 

Come Home to Downtown is a program that seeks to boost downtown living, improve walkability, bring new life to mostly vacant historic properties and help teach building owners ways to finance real estate upgrades. Come hear how the original Amato’s Toys building was selected as a model to show how it can be renovated to include apartments upstairs and retail downstairs, and learn how you can influence downtown’s design. 

RSVP to Middletown Downtown Business District (DBD)
860-347-1424 or quentin@downtownmiddletown.com

For more information, see the Middletown Press article about this:
http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2013/06/04/news/doc51a7dbe566028817988850.txt

Think Before You Park

Bad Things Happen to Good People. And even if your motives are completely innocent when you park in Metro Square’s free lot and run down the street to dine before you catch a flick, you just might not find your car when you return. Don’t worry, it was not stolen – just towed. That’s because this free lot is ONLY for patrons of Metro Square businesses and if you appear to walk off the property, you’re putting yourself at risk of a towing. So, be wise and not just good. Don’t park in Metro Square’s lot unless you are walking directly into one of those businesses and have no intent to leave the square.

For more details, see these past articles on this matter.

From the Patch: http://middletown-ct.patch.com/groups/business-news/p/metro-square-parking

From the Middletown Press: http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2013/04/23/news/doc5176df647935e792944902.txt 

Does Main Street Middletown Have Personality?

Every town has a character all its own, a personality, so to speak. Its personality might be preppy pearls, or it could be farm and country, or perhaps even nautical. And that gets me thinking about the character of Middletown. Middletown is such a special city, and perhaps it’s easy to take for granted all that it really offers, and not even see that it has such a big personality.

Middletown has one of the widest Main Streets in Connecticut, and was even named Most Romantic Main Street in 2011. The street itself is dotted by planters and trees, and features some beautiful architecture. It has a spectacular view of the bridge and the river, and even has access to Harbor Park.

In downtown, you’ll find an eclectic array of restaurants from around the world, including award-winning eateries, vegetarian options, quaint coffee shops and a world-class chocolatier. It is home to upscale jewelry and interior design shops, and small shops featuring local artisans. There are museums for kids and adults, art galleries, theaters, dance studios, and live music.

With an appeal to international-minded individuals, foodies, hippies, knitters, artists, parents, children, and health nuts alike, perhaps the personality is a sort of inclusivity, a broad-mindedness, an openness – like the extra wide main street itself.

What do you think Main Street’s Personality is?

Middletown, An Arts Destination

When you think of arts, you might think of New York or Chicago, or around here, probably the Goodspeed Opera House, but Downtown Middletown is challenging you to change the way you think. Middletown is so chock full of artistic expression that you really must give it some serious consideration.

The Buttonwood Tree features comedy, improv and live music on a regular basis, and when I say regular basis, I mean all the time. Just about any day of the week, there is something going on there, whether its a poetry reading, a band, or karaoke, there are arts to explore at the Buttonwood Tree. Some of these events are performances from musicians or artists from around the country while others are locals, and still more are arts you can participate in. Readings, potlucks for poets, and laughter yoga are just some of the things on their calendar of events and all are worth checking into further.

Oddfellows Playhouse is another incredible asset to the city of Middletown. Just up the road from Main Street, this little theater features plays and musicals all the time and its youth theater group is a terrific way for kids to gain more exposure to performing arts. Oddfellows even offers a circus camp for kids starting at age 8, with instruction in an assortment of circus-like performance arts. Want to learn to juggle or walk on stilts? This is your place. Just want to see a quality show, Oddfellows, again, is the place to be.

The Green Street Arts Center is an initiative of Wesleyan University that provides arts instruction including an afterschool program for middle school and high school students, and private lessons in the arts. They offer classes in integrative arts, songwriting, African drumming, dance movement, hip hop dance, capoeira, Latin dance, clowning, breakdancing, tap dance, environmental art, fashion, art and science, experiments, observation to imagination, poetics of rap, American sign language, improvisational theater, digital photography, animation, and more. Private lessons can range from learning to playing an instrument or dancing  to digital animation or recording and almost everything in between.

And of course, there is Vinnie's Jump and Jive which has taken a desire for community and fitness and thrown in dance to create something very special - a cool community place where you can take dance lessons at affordable prices as an adult! With their social dances, hip hop classes, ballroom dances and even classes for parents with their preschoolers, Vinnie's offers a very accepting arts environment.

Of course, Wesleyan University is a great place for arts. Check out The Davison Art Center, the Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery, the Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies, and Wesleyan Potters for example, but don't forget the theatrical performances, recitals, solos, concerts, cultural dance performances and so much more.

If you're interested in buying art and seeing what other artists have on display, Middletown features several places to do that as well. Forbidden City Bistro, Its Only Natural restaurant, Klekolo World Coffee, Sweet Harmony Cafe, Tavern at the Armory all display works of art for sale.

Coffee shops and restaurants around Downtown also often feature live bands as well. For live music check out Us Restaurant, Klekolo, Sweet Harmony, Mezzo Grille, Tuscany, La Boca, and New England Emporium.

Middletown even has a web site that calendars all its arts programs and events in one place. Check it out at www.arts2go.org.

So when you're looking to broaden your cultural horizons, engage personally with the arts, or just catch a show, think Middletown! You just can't miss.

A Table with a View

Deck Dining at It's Only Natural Restaurant

After being cooped up for months or bundled up in so many layers, there is something really exciting about sipping a coffee at an outside café table, or enjoying a meal under the sun or stars. It makes good food that much better! 

Right now, this is the perfect time of year to indulge in this Springtime experience. Spring is here and Main Street is coming alive with outdoor dining options. While some haven’t opened just yet, here are a few that are already seating patrons outside, or that will be very soon.

Check out these restaurants for some great outdoor dining and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine:

• ColdStone Creamery – While you may enjoy mixing cookies or candy or fruit with your ice cream, there is no denying that licking that cold treat while people watching on Main Street takes it up another notch.
• Forbidden City Bistro (opening in May) – as the weather continues to warm, you can look forward to getting a table outside as you partake of some incredible Asian fare at this award winning Middletown restaurant.
• It's Only Natural Restaurant – It is only natural that you’d like to satisfy your vegan tastebuds while embracing some sunshine and a breeze as well. Check out their fabulous patio!
• Klekolo – Sipping coffee at an outdoor café table is so very European, check out Klekolo and feel as chic as the French.
• Tavern at the Armory – Their lovely outdoor seating area is open again, and there is no time like the present to stop in with a friend for lunch or dinner – or even brunch – and enjoy the gorgeous weather we’re having.
• Tuscany Grill – another great choice for outside dining is Tuscany Grill. Enjoy some delicious Italian cuisine and get a taste of the Continental lifestyle.
• Tschudin Chocolates – Yes, you can even enjoy some delectable desserts and chocolate outdoors and make everyone else very jealous.