Downtown merchants plan varied 2008 activities

An ice sculpture exhibition will start Downtown Racine's year on a high note in January.

More problematic will be Sixth Street's renovation, which begins in March.

Both events, and the year's promotional calendar were unveiled this morning as the Downtown Racine Corporation met with more than three dozen retail merchants at its Downtown Connections meeting, held at Monfort's Fine Arts gallery.

Taking them in order:

Ice Carving: Mary Osterman of Copacetic is organizing Downtown Carves Its Niche, the ice sculpting exhibition, scheduled for Jan. 12. At least 10 300-lb. blocks of ice will be distributed outdoors downtown, to be carved by a traveling team of ice sculptors who work a circuit that previously has included Lake Geneva and Green Bay.

The sculptors will start about 10 a.m. and work until they're done -- using only hand tools -- probably by mid-afternoon. Sculptures will remain on the street until they melt away.

The participating artists are Joe Haas, Bob Lechtenberg, Emily Lechtenberg, Sarah Lephardt, Scott Johnson, Dick Emmerich, John Haas, Bob Langenohl, Andy Haas Schneider and Mike Lechtenberg.

Sixth Street renovation: Devin Sutherland, DRC executive director, said the Sixth Street project will include the replacement of water, sewer and gas mains in 2008, and new pavement and sidewalks in 2009. The project will start on March 3, and the contract requires a 6-day workweek of at least 10 hours per day to make it go as quickly as possible. All work is to be completed by July 3.

The first 60 days will allow work on the 200 and 300 blocks of Sixth; the second phase will work its way west. The intersection of Wisconsin and Sixth Streets will be closed for no more than 10 days, Sutherland said.

DRC also has obtained a $20,000 grant for marketing during the project: for signs indicating which stores are open, for directional signs and for very visible storefront signs -- maybe large feather flags -- for stores to display when they are open.

Merchants are anxious to avoid the kinds of frustration that developed during the Main Street renovation project, when it sometimes seemed that all work stopped while the contractors took their workers and equipment to other jobs. Sutherland said the city "has done a good job of writing its expectations into the contract" this time.

Downtown Events Calendar: Jean Garbo, DRC's marketing director, unveiled the working version of 2008's promotions calendar. From the discussion, it appears at least two dates will change: First Friday in July was initially scheduled for July 4, a date most merchants are closed; and there also were questions about holding the Downtown Holiday Open House on Dec. 6.

So, except for those dates, here's the schedule as Garbo presented it:

Jan. 12, Ice Carving
Feb. 2, Mardi Crawl
Feb. 19, Downtown Gallery Night
March 15, St. Patrick's Day Parade
April 4, First Friday
April 19, Downtown Gallery Night
May 2, First Friday
June through August: Public Art Event
June 6, First Friday
June 6 - Aug. 29, music on the Monument
June 14, Market on the Square
July 12, Market on the Square
July 19, Downtown Gallery Night
July 26, Microcars on the Monument
Aug. 1, First Fridays
Aug. 9, Market on the Square
Sept. 5, First Fridays
Sept. 13, Public Art Auction
Oct. 4, Party on the Pavement
Nov. 8, Downtown Holiday Parade
Nov. 15, Downtown Gallery Night

A couple of details: The St. Patrick's Day Parade will begin at noon, on a new route because of the Sixth Street project. It will run from State and Main to 8th Street, and then head west to Lake. Otherwise, it will be the usual family-friendly event, with dancers and floats and, hopefully, activities at Monument Square at the parade's conclusion.

The Microcar event is new, aimed at owners of truly little cars, like the original Mini Cooper, or perhaps the three-wheeled Isetta and their brethren.

Sutherland also said that Festival of Trees, held this year for the first time at the Masonic Temple was a success in many ways, especially the atmosphere and the location, although "turnout did not meet our expectations." Visitors loved the House, he said, and special events were a sell-out. "It's our goal to go back there again," he said.