Downtown Beautification

In the wee hours of the past week, sidewalks on Main Street and side streets between Rose and Alder, from 4^th to Palouse, received their first concentrated power washing since their installation 18 years ago. Only 2^nd Avenue remains, and the cleaning will be completed early - very, very early - on Monday morning.

As the week has progressed, we have received some complaints from our merchants - when 18 years of grime get sprayed off the sidewalks, some of the backsplash ends up on their windows and store fronts! Unfortunately, this effort came as a surprise to too many of the downtown merchants. Elio and Jennifer could have done a much better job letting everyone know this was happening, and they promise to do better in the future.

This cleaning is the first step in Downtown Beautification Project; the cleaning of our downtown sidewalks, repainting of the fixtures, and the hanging and maintenance of blooming flower baskets on light poles.  The flower baskets will be hung off 60 downtown light poles on Main Street between 4^th and Palouse Streets and 2^nd Street from Rose to Poplar. 

This coordinated effort between City of Walla Walla and the Downtown Foundation will use a combination of volunteers, City staff, and professional painters selected through a competitive bidding process. The Downtown Foundation staff has already conducted a physical count of all fixtures to be painted, including 112 light poles, 23 benches, 32 trash cans, and 23 bike racks.

Electrical issues in 18 trees have been repaired by City staff. Senske, the company hired to maintain the downtown tree lights, will rewrap lights on approximately 2/3 of our downtown street trees.  Fixture painting will occur in April, and flower baskets are scheduled to be hung the first week of May.

The Downtown Beautification Committee has been meeting since December of last year.  Members include Elio Agostini, Executive Director for the Downtown Foundation, Craig Sivley, Director of Public Works, Jim Dumont, Director of Parks & Recreation, Kim Lyonnais, Director of Development Services, and Jennifer Northam, Events & PR Manager for the Downtown Foundation.  Early discussion of the project included three sets of banners to be installed with the flower baskets, but that element has been postponed to help reduce costs.  Agostini and Dumont presented the Downtown Beautification Project to City Council members during two separate work sessions this month. City Manager Nabiel Shawa has expressed his strong support of the project.

Kirkman House Remembers Women's Suffrage

Join Kirkman House this Saturday, March 6 at 2 P.M. for an historical reenactment of the famous/infamous suffrage march - a non-violent protest method employed by women of the National Woman's Party.

In honor of the centennial of Washington suffrage and National Women's History month, this rally will highlight the struggles faced by women as they strove for equal protection under the law.  Kirkman House hope to remind us all that equal rights should not be taken for granted, that we continue to fight to this day for equality among all our nation's citizens.

Pro- and anti- suffragists (yes, we want both sides represented!) will gather at Kirkman House Museum at 2 P.M. for cookies and coffee.  At 2:30 we will march through downtown Walla Walla to the courthouse for a brief rally with living history presenters.

What's Up

Downtown

Open Mic @ Walla Walla Village Winery 107 S. 3^rd, Thursday nights 7-10 pm. Hosted by Blue Mt. Spanish Sound. Come in for some great wine and fun. Play what's in your heart! Call 876-1444 after 4pm.

Live @ Sapolil , 15 E Main, Friday, Feb New!  Every Friday, Piano Bar Happy Hours,4-7pm,  enjoy Carolyn Mildenberger (formerly of Hamley's Steak House) tickling the ivories of Sapolil's grand piano.  Sapolil Cellars Wine by the glass (or bottle) Friday, March 5^th, 8-11pm The Bachmann Sextet, a talented group of Whitman Jazz students, come together under Bassist Matt Bachmann's leadership.  No Cover.

Stephenson Cellars- 15 S Spokane, Sat., March 6^th, 7-10pm, Bluestone Jazz will be performing.  Come on by and enjoy a glass of wine, by the glass or bottle!

Red Monkey Downtown Lounge, 25 W Alder St., You can check out the newly expanded full menu at the new website... www.redmonkeylounge.com. Join them on Tuesday nights, 8pm for "ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A MONKEY"?  It's LIVE TRIVIA with 97 Rock's Adam Lambert as MC.  Wednesday nights 7-11pm, OPEN MIC MONKEY JAM, 20 minute sessions, performing musicians receive food discounts & contests with different themes. Call 876-1444/ Jesse to save your slot.  Beehive Cut & Color Bar @ the Red Monkey , 25 W Alder St. , Sat. March 6^th, 7pm- The Beehive Cut & Color Bar presents Cut & Color Couture .....a collaboration of hair works.  (Hair style fashion show!) No cover charge. 

Vintage Cellars- 10 N 2^nd, Monday nights, Open Mic, 7-11pm.  For more information call 529-9340.

Walla Walla Wine Works- 31 East Main, Music Wednesdays with New Vibe, New Vino!  March 10^{th, 7}-9pm- Blue Mtn Spanish Sound.  Spend your "mid-week" sipping some wine and enjoying some great music. No cover. 

Graze - 5 S Colville, Through March 13^th, Graze is giving up 10% of its afternoon sales to the Daily Market Cooperative

Between 3-7pm.  This is John and Becca's way of showing support for local farms. The Daily Market Cooperative is located at 508 E Mainstreet- go to www.dailymarket.coop for more information.

NEW-Telander Studio Gallery, 229 E Alder, is proud to host an exhibition of the original & inspiring paintings of students of the Telander Art School. Students of all ages & backgrounds are displaying their oils, acrylics, pastels & watercolors depicting landscapes, still life & the figure. Sign-up for classes starting March 15^th are being accepted now.  Contact: Todd Telander, 540-0068 or todd@toddtelander.com

Studio Opal- 535 S Spokane, New hours: Thursday- Saturday 10- 5:30, Sunday 12-4.  New items arriving and fantastic savings up to 80% on select items to make room for the spring collections. 

Willow- 2 East Rose Street, Exhibit-"Saving daylight + Beauty is a Rare  Thing= Jim German + Claire Johnston" running Feb 11^th - March 29^th.