Initial First Friday to offer music, fun

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Being heralded as a new beginning for the spruced-up old downtown, the inaugural Greencastle First Friday venture will unfold this week with live entertainment, art exhibits, local business specials and civic awareness.

From May 2, the first Friday of May, the celebration will continue each month through October with a special musical event slated monthly on the north side of the square from 6-9 p.m.

This week's live outdoor entertainment (a hint, by the way: Bring lawnchairs to ensure comfortable seating) will be the Lemon Brothers Band, a Wabash Valley group of pre-teens whose classic rock and country rock musical style "wows the crowd," entertainment organizer David Hunt promises.

But more than that is planned for the inaugural event as organizers like Gail Smith of Almost Home and The Swizzle Stick and Tami Van Rensselaer of the Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center have been sharing their enthusiasm for celebrating the facelift the Stellar Grant has given the downtown with local merchants and other organizations.

Consequently, also taking part in First Friday this week will be:

-- Moore's Bar and Grill, 17 S. Indiana St., which plans a First Friday dinner special (to avoid the construction, use the rear entrance off the Vine Street parking lot).

-- Downtown Café, 2 W. Washington St., which will feature its Weber pretzel burger special throughout the day.

-- Myers Market, 302 E. Washington St., which will offer a day-long brat assortment special (four for $4).

-- Mason Jewelers, 10 W. Washington St., offering free professional cleaning and inspection of jewelry all day until 7 p.m.

-- Starbucks, 2 E. Washington St., offering frappuccino drinks at half-price from 6-9 p.m.

-- Apostrophe Art Space, 25 W. Franklin St., conducting an art show and sale 5-9 p.m., featuring local artists Stu Fabe, Jennifer Herrold, Mary Kertzman, Lance Myers, Barbara South, Barbara Fields-Timm and Lynne Tweedie.

-- Almost Home and The Swizzle Stick, 15 W. Franklin St., with a First Friday Mexican dinner special and a performance by War Radio in The Swizzle beginning at 9 p.m.

-- Dance Workshop, 2 N. Jackson St.,, to offer free classes in kids' fitness, 6-7 p.m; Zumba, 7-8 p.m.; and introductory Yoga, 8-9 p.m.

Those are the participants confirmed as of 5 p.m. Friday. Others are expected to take part as well.

"The idea is to get things rolling and develop a climate and figure out the best entertainment," Smith said in organizing the effort.

As it continues and grows, the First Friday venture will be re-evaluated and undoubtedly tweaked as others get involved.

The First Friday effort, organizers noted, has the support of Main Street Greencastle, the Arts Council, the Chamber of Commerce and the Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center.

To facilitate the live music, spectators and booth possibilities on the square, Franklin Street between Jackson and Indiana (the north side of the courthouse) will be closed from 4:30-10 p.m. The monthly First Friday events are planned to run 6-9 p.m.

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