Alton Main Street Newsletter January 2025

Director's Note~

Friends of Alton Main Street

As the year wraps up, we're excited to launch our new campaign, Friends of Alton Main Street, supporting our 501(c)(3) charity.

A vibrant downtown speaks volumes about a community. Your support helps us strengthen Alton’s downtown which benefits the entire Riverbend region. By becoming a "Friend of Alton Main Street," you’ll help us build on the progress we've made and bring new opportunities to our historic downtown.

Your tax-deductible donation supports:

• Public art and pocket parks,
• Free festivals and cultural events,
• Locally-owned businesses and historic buildings.
• Everything that gives Alton its unique charm!

Our historic downtown is growing, and we need your help to keep the momentum going and create a thriving, vibrant district!

Click here to donate!

Or we welcome your check or money order by mail, made payable to Friends of Alton Main Street at:

Friends of Alton Main Street
200 W. 3rd Street - Suite 512
Alton, IL 62002

It's a Wrap!

The 2025 Alton Main Street Appreciation Party

On Thursday, January 9th from 5-7pm Alton Main Street will be hosting their year end appreciation party at The Old Bakery Beer Company at 400 Landmarks Blvd. Partners, sponsors and volunteers are invited to meet our Board of Directors, check out photos from 2024 projects, and learn about ways to get involved. We will give a brief presentation around 6:00, but the rest of the evening is about making connections, enjoying the company of other Downtown enthusiasts & getting excited for 2025. Complimentary appetizer & dessert buffet, cash bar. For info on how to become a 2025 partner click HERE or for information on volunteering in 2025 click HERE.

Eyez On Miles Augmented Reality Unveiling Party

Join Alton Main Street at the augmented reality unveiling party for the Eyez on Milez mural! On Saturday, January 11th from 2-4pm enjoy refreshments and a celebration of this incredible work of public art at Hiram’s Bar, and see Peat “Eyez” Wollaeger’s mural come to life through the Artivive app. The portrait of Miles Davis on the wall will perform So What from the Kind of Blue album as part of a video that commemorates our hometown hero. The augmented reality will be live through the end of 2026. RSVP for the party on the Facebook event page HERE.

Celebrate NYE at FLOCK

Are you looking for a fun NYE party that the whole family will enjoy? Join Flock Food Truck Park for their 3rd Annual “NOON Year’s Eve” celebration for all ages! The event will take place on Dec 31st from 11am-2pm with a balloon drop at Noon and a brunch menu at Byrdies food truck.

Hike with the Sierra Club to Ring in the New Year

Get a jump on your New Years resolution to get more exercise while also enjoying the great outdoors by joining the Sierra Club for their Annual New Year's Day hike at Pere Marquette State Park! You can choose to either meet the group for breakfast at the Lodge at 8:30am, or meet in the lobby at 10am to join the hike. To register, please visit the Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Facebook Page HERE.

American Oddities Museum

Looking for something unusual to do with family or friends in town for the holidays? Bring them to the American Oddities Museum, located in the Mineral Springs Hotel at 301 East Broadway! They've just added brand new exhibits on Alton history, circus and carnival sideshows, funeral relics, true crime, medical quackery, haunted dolls, and much more -- plus, they're expanding their usual weekend hours for the holiday season: December 26th-29th and January 2nd-5th the museum will be open from Noon-5pm. Find out more on their website at www.americanhauntingsink.com.

Audubon Center at Riverlands

Bows for Birds

Each winter, participants of Bows for Birds are invited to visit 12 park locations in the STL region to find a “Bow for Birds” station at each. Using a map, search for trees with bows where clues lead you to find a specific bird species. A painted wooden bird cutout will mark the spot. Participants post a photo with the identified bird and submit their scavenger hunt sheets to the Audubon Center at Riverlands. Entries are entered into a raffle for local prizes, with winners announced in mid-February! Click HERE for a digital submission form and map!

Birds of Winter

Birds of Winter celebrates winter birds at Riverlands, attracting 10,000 visitors. The event highlights Bald Eagles, Trumpeter Swans, and other species, promoting bird conservation and awareness.

EVENTS INCLUDE:
Bows for Birds
(December–February)
Eagle Ice Fest (January 4th)
Eagle Saturdays
(January–February)
Self-Guided Sundays
(January–February)
Eagle Days (February)
The Great Backyard Bird Count
(February)

Find out more about these events and how to get involved at www.riverlands.audubon.org

The Conservatory

We welcome you to Kooliverse Night: music, art, fine cuisine, and vending on the last Saturday of every month. We have a killer lineup on December 28th with Steph Plant and friends from 6-8, Dracula Johnson 8-10, and The Down Bads 10-12. Artisan Asian cuisine pop up by Erick May and artisan creations by Elisabeth
Moulton. Find the Facebook Event Page right HERE!

Bridged LLC

Running a small business means wearing many hats. From payroll processing and bookkeeping to data entry, human resources, and IT support – back office and administrative tasks can take up a significant amount of your time. By outsourcing these needs, your business can streamline processes, reduce operational costs, enhance overall productivity, and lay the groundwork for sustainable growth. Let the Bridged Team take on your back office needs - from a single service to full support - so that you can focus on doing what your business does best. Connect with us today! Hello@BridgedLLC.com or 314-884-0033

River Bend Yoga

Our The next Teacher Training session begins in February! This 200-hr course provides rich training, honoring the traditions and philosophies of yoga with a focus on teaching skills to make yoga accessible for everyone in the community. After graduation, students will meet all of the requirements to be a Yoga Alliance certified instructor. Ready to invest in yourself? Check out RiverbendYoga.net to fill out an application and book an interview to begin your new journey. For more information, please email studio.riverbendyoga@gmail.com or call 618-581-5691. Hope to meet you soon. Namaste.

Senior Services Plus

Need help making a new year’s resolution? SSP can help! Our Wellness Center is offering 10% off Personal Training Packagers during the month of January to all new clients. Achieve your health goals this year with expert guidance tailored just for you! Call 618-465-3298 ext.109 to schedule a consultation. Make a resolution to help others and start by donating blood at SSP Monday, January 27th from 10am-3pm. Make it your goal to stay informed and secure against consumer scams in the new year. AARP presents Consumer Fraud: Perspectives from the Experts on Friday, January 31st from 12 - 1pm. Free lunch provided—call 618-465-3298 ext. 123 to register.

Genesis Wealth Management

Elevate Your 401(k), SIMPLE, or SEP Plan! While many retirement plans rely solely on mutual funds, there’s a smarter alternative. By adding stocks and ETFs, you can unlock strategic advantages. Diversifying your investment options helps your plan to align more closely with individual goals and market dynamics. This expansion not only increases engagement but also maximizes growth potential and gives you greater control over your retirement savings. Ready to elevate your plan? Whether you’re looking to optimize an existing plan or create your first one, contact Bill Kinkel today at (618) 368-2100 or bill@genesisfg.com. Together, you’ll craft a solution that better serves your business and employees, and navigate your retirement plan complexities with clarity, confidence, and care.

Alton Little Theater

Alton Little Theater is starting the year with exciting performances in January & February! Three new playwrights will make their Midwest premieres at ALT: Lenore Skomal’s The Exes (Jan 24–Feb 2), George Bailey’s Front Porch (Feb 14–16), and Donna Latham’s The Haunted Window Lincoln (Feb 21–23). Thomas M. Taylor’s concert, Sing in the New Year, will kick off January 4th. Afterward, meet regional star and our incoming executive director Eric Sykes, who will announce the 92nd season lineup. Tickets are available online at www.altonlittletheater.org or by calling the ALT Box Office at 618-462-3205.

Local Business Owner Profile- Russ Smith

Bossanova Martini Lounge and Restaurant has been a popular destination since it opened in 2004. Owner Russ Smith describes it as an “approachable upscale lounge where you get a taste of the big city in a small town”. Most people know Bossanova as a place for early evening cocktails and delicious dinners but lunch is now an option with a variety of unique sandwiches, upscale appetizers, and fresh takes on salads that you might not find elsewhere.

Russ worked as a photographer for the Alton Telegraph from 1978 to 2002, but in the back of his mind were many fond memories of a little tavern his parents operated for years in the Normandy community in North St. Louis County. Russ had already owned the building at 112 W. 3rd Street in downtown Alton and when the last tenant left he decided to live his dream. Russ recently hired a new chef who he says has great experience and is able to approach the menu with new eyes.

Bossanova is open for dinner and cocktails Monday-Saturday from 4PM to 10PM and lunch is served Wednesday – Saturday from 11AM until 2PM. Russ says he loves that Bossanova is located in the heart of Alton’s Downtown Entertainment District and that he’s excitedly optimistic about the future of downtown.

Written by Steve Potter