Alton Main Street Newsletter July 2024
Director’s Note ~
We would like to offer a warm welcome back to My Just Desserts, and send a hearty thank you to Markus Boyd for choosing to invest in our Downtown and revive one of Alton’s most beloved restaurants. Visit them at 31 E. Broadway soon and make sure to order dessert first!
Join us for “Weeds and Wine Wednesday” on July 3rd from 5-6pm to work on the garden beds on Broadway from Market to Easton. Every 1st Wed of the month, we pull weeds and afterwards treat our volunteers to a beverage of their choice. Likewise, join us for “Trash and Treats Tuesdays” on the 3rd Tuesday of every month from 10-11am. On July 16th we will pick up litter on Broadway from Easton to Henry, and afterwards we treat everyone to a bakery item. To receive updates on times & locations, join the Alton Main Street Gardening Group on Facebook !
~ Sara McGibany, Executive Director
Join Audubon at a special event for the fireworks display!
Join the Audubon Center at Riverlands for a special evening of appreciation, community, and friends. “An Ahhh-dubon Evening” will take place on Wed, July 3rd from 6pm – 9:30pm. Enjoy an exclusive view of the Alton fireworks from the comfort and beauty of the grounds located at 301 Riverlands Way in West Alton, MO. Bring a picnic, chairs, and friends. Yard games, local food vendors, and kids activities will be on-site. Local musician Gus Page will be there to perform! This event is $10 for adults and free for children, register in advance at www.riverlands.audubon.org/events
Learn about upcoming programs at Riverlands!
Make sure to check out “Tiny Worlds: Summer Bug Series” at the Riverlands Audubon Center, as well! Three sessions remain on July 6th, August 24th, and September 14th. Experience the magical world of bugs! If you’ve ever wondered: Why do mosquitoes exist? Why is this spider in my house? or How do bugs even work!? then this program is for you! Come travel the deep channels of insect knowledge and collect bug stamps in your passport as you learn to traverse this world. This series is for all ages – you are never too old or young to experience the wonder of the natural world! Come give bugs a chance and expand your knowledge, creativity, and wonder! Bonus optional 30-minute Nature walk with Naturalist Devan at the end of each program. There are lots of organisms that we can identify by the sounds they make: birds, frogs and our singing insects! Come test your ears and learn a new skill while also learning about our two periodical cicada broods that emerged this year and answer this question: What is so special about a cicada’s wing? The events are free to attend, but advance registration is required at: www.riverlands.audubon.org/events
Fireworks on the Mississippi
Fireworks on the Mississippi at the Riverfront Amphitheater will be held on Wed, July 3rd from 5-10pm. You’ll enjoy live music, food trucks and of course some of the best fire works in the area at this free event!
9:30PM – Fireworks Begin
Food Trucks: Pig on a Wing, Quick Bite Frozen Treats, Red Apron, Load It Your Way, Kona Ice, Heaterz Chicken, Concessions by City of Alton, Beverages Provided by Robert “Chick” Fritz Inc.
Night Market happens every Thursday through the end of July
Night Market is ongoing from 7-10pm every Thursday through the end of July. Get a jump start on your weekends at this fun event held inside Jacoby Arts Center and in the neighboring pocket park connecting with FLOCK Food Truck Park, bringing the 600 block of Broadway to life! Shop for art and handmade wares as well as vintage and hip thrift items. Delicious food from Big Boys Q will be available for purchase, and the JAC bar will be flowing!
LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE:
July 4 – Red White and Floyd
(Pink Floyd Tribute)
July 11 – The Grand Arson
July 18 – Olive
July 25 – HOOKiE
RSVP for our Facebook events here: www.facebook.com/NightMarketAlton/events
Alton Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market
Alton Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market 8am-Noon happening every Saturday at the corner of Landmarks Blvd. & Henry St.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES:
7/6 – Jacoby Arts Center Art Playground
7/13 – Urban Chicken Workshop
7/20 – Artist demos: Kooliverse Day & Weaving with Patty Baird
7/27 – Christmas in July
Gensis Wealth Management Group
Genesis Wealth Management Group invites you to preserve family harmony and protect your legacy by discovering the benefits of enhanced planning. Learn how William Kinkel, Investment Advisor Representative, can help you transfer assets efficiently and reduce taxes.
Join him for a workshop on Thursday, July 11th at 6pm at 307 Henry Street, Suite 311 (in the Honke building) There is no fee to attend, but reservations are limited. Register by scanning the QR code above or calling 618-368-6800!
Genesis Wealth Management Group, LLC is a registered investment advisor in the state of Illinois.
Jacoby Arts Center
JAC invites the public to join us this summer for our last two months of on-site programming! You can check out the final weeks of Interior Views by Jeffrey Sass in the Simmons, Hanly, Conroy Main Gallery until July 11th or enjoy our last exhibition for the 2024 season, The Best of Missouri Hands, until the end of August. Summer Art Camps are still registering at www.jacobyartscenter.org/summercamp and there’s plenty of room available for your young creative! There’s also stained glass classes, Kids Art Club, clay classes, a comedy show on July 20th, and of course Night Market on Broadway Thursdays through the end of July. Check it all out on our socials @jacobyarts!
Honeybee Vintage
Buzz on in for our summer clearance in the Beetique! 25% off ALL clothing, accessories, books and toys for babies and kids. Also, check out our 20+ vintage dealers, artists and creatives in one marketplace. One-of-a kind finds and new arrivals daily! Open Mon-Sat 9-5 and Sun 12-5. Shop online at www.honeybeevintagealton.com with free local pickup and follow us @honeybeevintagealton.
Alton Odyssey Tours
Photo caption: Sean Williams reveals the clandestine life of a rum runner along the Mississippi River
Our Prohibition Tour returns for its second season as Henchman Ivan Chiles (aka Kerry Miller) sneaks guests through Alton in a brightly colored shuttle bus. Rum runners, flappers, hotel maids and even a respectable brewmaster are all waiting to tell their side of the story. Vintage Voices and Alton Odyssey Tours partnered to bring characters of the Roaring Twenties to life. Based on documented accounts of Alton during Prohibition, it’s no wonder this area was “Wetter than the Mississippi.” Specially crafted cocktails of the era will be served Sat, July 13 at 3pm. For reservations visit AltonOdysseyTours.com
River Bend Yoga
What’s more fun than practicing yoga alone? Practicing with one of your people. Join us on Sat, July 27th at 4pm for Partner Yoga, a unique seventy-five minute class, beginning with breath and stretching to warm up, leading into some key poses. Partner work is fun and enhances our connection to ourselves and others. Change up the traditional solitary practice of yoga with a friend, or come alone and make a new one. Wear comfortable clothing and be ready to have a good time! All levels welcome. CLICK HERE to register!
Senior Services Plus
Activities this month include a Chestnut Health Systems info table and free Bingo on 7/9, an energy efficiency presentation with Ameren on 7/10, an ICASH Unclaimed Property info table and free Bingo on 7/23, and free & confidential Anxiety and Depression Screenings with OSF St. Anthony’s on 7/25.
Call 618-465-3298 ext. 123 to schedule your appointment.
OSF Saint Anthony’s
Join us for a free workshop series exploring crucial issues impacting the mental health of tots, tweens, teens and families. Hear from healthcare professionals while connecting with other parents & caregivers and discovering resources and support available to you. To register, please call 618-474-6240
Sierra Club Piasa Palisades Group
Community members are welcome to attend the Urban Farm Tour on Sunday, June 30 from 10am-3pm. Our Urban Farm Tour is an exciting opportunity for neighbors to connect and discover how others are turning their yards and empty lots into thriving, edible gardens and sustainable farms. As you explore the diverse and vibrant exhibits, you’ll see an array of fresh produce, herbs, flowers, and even backyard chickens.
Registrants will receive a map of the self-guided tour upon registration, and the tour will feature 7 urban gardens, farms, and community gardens. Tourists will be greeted by a guide at each location to answer questions about the farm. Register here to get a map!
We welcome Precious Diamond Boutique to 415A Ridge Street!
Owner Sparkle Sims is a dedicated professional with a diverse background in modeling and entrepreneurship, balancing her career with her role as a devoted wife and mother of five. As an entrepreneur, she founded Abundant Vision Ministries, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive support to those in need, and established Precious Diamond Boutique LLC, leveraging her passion for fashion into a successful business. She specializes in handmade jewelry, sunglasses, clothing, belts, handbags, purses, and accessories.
Sparkle is also a certified, licensed, and bonded Public Notary, adept at handling legal matters with precision. Additionally, her Life Coaching Certification underscores her commitment to assisting individuals in achieving holistic well-being across various dimensions of life. Call 618-208-7756 for more info, or stop by 415A Ridge Street today!