Director's Note~

Join us on Tuesday, February 18th from 5:30-7pm at iMerge Community Center (200 W. 3rd) for our quarterly What’s Up Downtown information exchange, and learn the latest news on developments in Downtown Alton, including business updates, real estate transactions & details of upcoming events. CLICK HERE to learn about our featured speakers and RSVP for the event!

We highly suggest being there in person, but if you're schedule doesn't allow you to attend we’re excited to be working with Riverbender.com to live stream these quarterly events and record them for future viewing to keep everyone in the know. We've also set the dates for the remainder of the year so that everyone can mark their calendars; we hope to see you there (same time & place) on May 20th, August 19th, and November 18th.

Our 2025 Partner and Sponsor Drive is underway, and we would greatly appreciate the support of downtown businesses as well as companies outside of the district who recognize the vast benefits of having a thriving downtown! Find full details and a link to send dues via PayPal at: www.DowntownAlton.com/Partner.

~ Sara McGibany, Executive Director

Ice Jam at the Dam!

Enjoy winter along the Mississippi River by attending Ice Jam at the Dam at the Melvin Price Locks and Dam and National Great Rivers Museum on Saturday, February 15th from 10am-2pm! This winter-themed festival promotes outdoor recreation and features live-music from Chris Cahill, tours of the locks and dam, warm food and beverage vendors, campfires, educational booths, movies, and more! Most activities will be outdoors along the dam promenade to fully embrace the spirit of winter, but there will be campfires and heaters to keep you warm. Shed your hat and mittens when you head into the museum to chill out in the theatre for a winter movie or stroll through the glacial gallery for the Winter on the River photography contest. For more info, check out the Meeting of the Rivers Foundation website at www.mtrf.org.

Winter Activities at Audubon Center at Riverlands

We have two weekends left for our Birds of Winter series at Riverlands! Join us Saturday, February 1st for Eagle Saturday, featuring live eagle presentations, guided hikes, and s’mores by the campfire overlooking the Ellis Bay. On Sunday, February 2 & 9, we’ll have Self-Guided activities - diy crafts, educational presentations, and guests are welcome to observe swans, eagles, and other wildlife right from our warm, cozy center. Each day we’ll have local vendors joining us + our Nature Store is stocked with unique gifts for the bird nerd or nature lover in your life!  

You also won’t want to miss Eagle Days with Missouri Department of Conservation on Saturday, February 8, from 9am-3pm. This FREE event will include Eagle Presentations (9:15, 10:00, 11:30, 12:15, 1:45, 2:30) and Eagle Meet and Greets (10:45, 1:00). An annual favorite for visitors is to hop inside the life size bald eagle nest replica for one-of-a-kind selfies or pose as an eagle in the giant eagle wingspan banner.  Partner organizations will feature staffed educational tables for participants to interact with and learn from.  Dam-it Joe's will also be on site to offer barbeque for sale. For more details, visit Riverlands.Audubon.org/Events

Ice Skating at The Loading Dock

The Loading Dock’s ice rink is open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through February 23rd. Experience the charm of The Loading Dock’s Winter Wonderland, featuring ice skating, s’mores, and a full menu & bar—perfect for both children and adults. An All Day Skate Pass is $10.50, and Skate Rental is only $5! Looking to celebrate a special occasion? Our Party Package includes skating for up to 15 guests, along with pizza, soda, and s’mores served in a cozy, heated party tent. To make your reservation or for more information, please contact 618.556.7951 or loadingdock@gtec.com.

Swap Seeds with the Sierra Club

Sierra Club Illinois’ Three Rivers Project to host 2 Winter Seed Swaps in Downtown Alton! The Alton YWCA Seed Swap is Sunday, February 16 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm. Register here. The Downtown Alton location of the Hayner Library Seed Swap is Saturday, March 8 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm. Register for that one here. If sharing self-collected seeds, please label the homegrown seeds with the common or species name, year, and your name. If you are sharing commercial seed packets, there is no need to label the packets. No seeds? No problem! We've got plenty to share.

Hayner Library

Reimagining Places of the Past: Historic Preservation Lecture Series The Hayner Public Library District is partnering with Alton Area Landmarks Association on a winter lecture series. AALA is dedicated to educating, promoting, and saving the architectural heritage of the Alton area.

On Saturday, February 15th at 10am they will offer Saving the Best of Southwest Illinois: HeartLands Conservancy at the Hayner Genealogy & Local History Library, 401 State Street. Laura Lyon, VP of HeartLands Conservancy, has decades of experience in community planning, urban design, and conservation planning. Laura leads The Mounds – America’s First Cities, the effort to elevate and create the Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture National Historical Park or National Monument. Laura has a Master of Architecture degree from Washington University St. Louis. She and her husband also have an architecture firm, Studio Archaeos. They moved to Alton in 2012 to restore a house in Christian Hill. As a steward of distinctive and dynamic places of ecological, cultural, and community value, HeartLands Conservancy is southern Illinois’ largest conservation nonprofit. For over 30 years, the organization has been an advocate for the protection of important places and the solutions that balance conservation strategies with economic sustainability and human well-being. Laura and her team will bring us up to date on their ongoing watershed planning and conservation projects. Please register at 1-800-613-3163.

Mark your calendar for Arches, Mounds, Domes and Bucky Fuller with Benjamin Lowder on Saturday, March 15th at 10am!

New Frontiers Home & Garden Furnishings

New Frontiers Home & Garden Furnishings is celebrating 47 years in business with their biggest sale of the year! All furniture and accessories storewide are on sale, and financing is available. If you haven’t been in lately, you need to check them out; New Frontiers always has the latest styles! They are a full line furniture store offering fully customizable upholstery. New Frontiers also manufacturers western red cedar garden furniture and greenhouses in three sizes. Located at 101 W. 3rd St. in Downtown Alton. For more information visit FrontierFurnishings.com or call 618–465–8868.

Senior Services Plus

If you’re looking for friends or potential romance, attend SSP’s Speed Connections on Friday, February 7th at 2pm. This event is designed for adults 55+ to create new connections in a safe and controlled environment. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on our website or at SSP’s front desk.

For heart health, attend the Wellness Center’s Healthy Living for Older Adults Workshop on Friday, February 28th. Speaker, Cardiologist Dr. Sumit Tiwari, from SIHF Healthcare, will give tips on managing cholesterol, safe and effective exercises, and heart-friendly dietary habits. Free to attend, no membership required.

SAVE THE DATE-- SSP’s annual fundraising Gala will take place Thursday, June 12th, 2025. Details to come!

Germania Brew Haus

Exciting news! Germania Brew Haus is opening its fifth location, and its first on the Missouri side, in the newly built Emerson Tower in Clayton, MO. They've grown from their cherished roots in Alton, IL, and couldn't have done it without your support. They look forward to bringing their craft coffee and sense of community to St. Louis. Share your love of Germania with your Missouri/St. Louis coffee-loving friends. Cheers to new beginnings and more craft coffee adventures!

YWCA of SW Illinois

The YWCA of Southwestern Illinois is proud to honor the inspirational Josephine Marley Beckwith, a 2002 Women of Distinction and local civil rights leader, through a scholarship initiative. Two $1,000 renewable scholarships will be awarded to high school senior women within the YWCA’s service area who demonstrate leadership and a sustained commitment to improving their community. Submit applications by Friday, February 7th. To obtain an application, please contact your high school guidance counselor, visit YwcaSwIl.org or contact 618-465-7774 / info@ywcaswil.com.

Honeybee Vintage

Will you "BeeMine?" Please join Honeybee Vintage for our Galentine's Party on Thursday evening, February 13th from 5-8pm. Enjoy 10% off storewide, and a FREE honey-sweetened chocolate truffle for each guest. Bring a friend! BOGO days in our children's Bee-tique! Buy One, Get One free on premium resale children's clothing and shoes. We have big plans for that space and need to make room… buzz down to the shop to take advantage of this sale!

OSF Saint Anthony's

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, abundant evidence shows that medications reduce opioid use related symptoms, and they reduce the risk of infectious disease transmission as well as criminal behavior associated with drug use. Additionally, these medications also increase the likelihood that a person will remain in treatment, which itself is associated with lower risk of overdose mortality, reduced risk of infectious disease transmission, reduced criminal justice involvement, and greater likelihood of employment.

That’s why we will offer a “Lunch & Learn” on Wednesday, February 12th from 11:30am-1pm in our Perpetual Help Center to provide an informative session on how medication can assist in recovery from addiction when other options haven’t been successful. The session is free with lunch provided, but registration is required HERE.

OSF Saint Anthony’s Psychological Services department continued its focused efforts in expanding resources in addressing the mental health and well-being of residents in the Riverbend region. More information on Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) can be obtained by calling the OSF Saint Anthony’s Psychological Services department at (618) 474-6240. Most insurances are accepted including Medicaid and Medicare.

Genesis Wealth Management

Earn a higher yield on your idle cash with Genesis Wealth Management Group! Altruist, the custodian that Genesis Wealth Management uses, just launched a new Cash Account with an impressive 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY). It also gives access to up to $1 million dollars in FDIC insurance for individual cash accounts and up to $2 million for joint cash accounts through their partner banks. A high yield cash account could be a good option for emergency savings, short term goals, or an upcoming large purchase, earning 9x the national average. You can ACH transfer your money to your bank or same day to another Altruist brokerage account when it’s needed. To learn more, please contact Bill Kinkel at 618- 258-4372, bill@genesisfg.com, or visit the office at 307 Henry Street, Alton IL. 62002 today!

Welcome to our 2025 Board of Directors!

Introducing Alton Main Street’s 2025 Board of Directors:


President - Chris Miller
Vice President - Penny Schmidt
Secretary - Bailey Shaw
Treasurer - Markus Boyd
Promotions Committee- Julia Frazier, Teri McGinnis, Maggie O'Brien & Josh Dawdy
Design Committee- Christine Favilla, Jacob Goble & Lisa DeMarco
Team Building Committee- Kitty Mertz & Megan Van Deusen
Economic Vitality Committee- Cody Hinkle, Yvette Paris, Hope Mader & John Gajewski
Organization Committee- Sasha Bassett & Lauren Pattan
Finance Committee- Sheila Curry


Thank you for your service, everyone! Learn more about our BOD at DowntownAlton.com

Local Business Owner Profile- Markus Boyd

When Markus Boyd purchased the building that housed the recently shuttered My Just Deserts his plans were to rent the space out.  But all that changed and the popular lunch restaurant reopened under his watch last June.

Boyd has kept all the menu items that people have loved over the years but you can expect some surprises. You’ll still find favorites such as the chicken salad and home-made pies that are listed daily on the colorful chalk blackboard. But take note, there is now BBQ on Saturdays and Sundays.

Mr. Boyd has a professional background as an independent real estate broker but has had some help in his new endeavor. His son Brandon went to culinary school. His daughter Tierra is currently in law school but has let it be known that after she has practiced law for 10 years she intends to change careers and become a pastry chef.  On top of that restaurant manager Michelle Clark and Markus share the same birthday so it was just meant to be.

Boyd says he loves the river views and the walkability  of the Broadway location and is already thinking about the future with a plan to make the buildings 2nd floor an event space.

My Just Desserts is located at 31 E. Broadway in downtown Alton and is open for lunch Wednesdays through Sundays from 11AM until 3PM.  One long time tradition at MJD’s hasn’t changed, although lunch service ends each day at 3:00 you can continue to order dessert until 4:00. During Lent, fish will be on the menu including for supper 4pm to 7pm.

After my visit with Markus, I left the restaurant with a to-go bag of their homemade chocolate chip cookies. Delicious.

Written by Steve Potter