B. Lime Summer Clearance Sale until August 31st!

B. Lime is making room for new fall items and on sale now are some of their great products. B. Lime’s mission is to impact the choices consumers make everyday and for shoppers to have a profound impact on their planet and on their health. They believe that every one of us can make better choices, from the products we purchase to the way we live our lives. They only carry items from eco-minded companies who demonstrate a commitment to the health and wellness of our planet and its inhabitants.

They carry everything from the practical everyday essential to the upscale eco-fabulous must-have. It’s about helping you ease into a greener lifestyle, and they’ve discovered that most things in your life can be “greenified”. They carry brands like Bambu, Earthlust, BioKleen, Fish Lips Paper Designs, EcoJot, Under the Canopy, LOOP, Simple Shoes, Brand of the Free, West Paw Design, RuMe, Green To Grow, Loveybums, and 100% Pure. You’ll find rain barrels, compost pails, pet accessories, organic cotton tees, sheets and towels, stainless steel water bottles and food containers, bamboo kitchen essentials, baby items, cloth diapers, floor mats, solar gadgets, LED bulbs, laptop bags, reusable grocery bags, journals, notebooks, wrapping paper, jewelry, socks, cleaning products, and cosmetics… the list continues to grow so check in often.

To get to the store, take the Greenhopper Bus, MTD, ride your bike or walk. For drivers: Metered parking is available in front of the store and on Hickory at a reduced rate of .50/hour, and across the street in the lot @ .75/hour. You’ll always find a spot! Downtown also offers FREE parking on WEEKENDS! B. Lime offers customers FREE half-hour parking on TUESDAYS! 

Hurry in as this is the last week of their sale! The following items are 30% off:
ALL Mens and Womens Apparel (tees & tanks)
Select BABY Apparel by Speesees, Pixel, Under the Nile Organics
Socks & Tights
In-stock Simple Sneakers (mens, womens and kids)
ALL jewelry
Solar Oven and Solar Lanterns
Hats
Dog Collars
ALL BOOKS!
Select cleaning items and deck care

Additionally, they will have a 10% off sale on all 100% Pure skin care, lotions, shower gels and cosmetics, and 10% off all Priti nail polishes and polish remover.

Visit their website: www.blimegreen.com

2010 Downtown Festival of the Arts

The Champaign Park District’s 7^th Annual Downtown Festival of the Arts, is August 21^st just in time for students returning to campus. This festival is in the streets of Downtown Champaign and is continuously growing and capturing the cultural atmosphere of Champaign. Along Main, Neil, and Walnut Streets artists will have booths displaying their art for one day. Along with artists selling their wares there are three stages: the main entertainment tent, performing art stage, and a family entertainment stage. This is a great chance to enjoy some late summer outdoor seating and visit your favorite stores and restaurants as well. Or you can pick up lunch or dinner and some drinks and enjoy the stage seating.

Main Entertainment Tent

Date	Time	Performer	Style
Sat., Aug. 21	10:00am – 11:00am	Brainchild	Funk/Reggae
	11:30am – 1:00pm	Marry Harris	Jazz
	1:30pm – 3:00pm	South Fork	Bluegrass
	3:30pm – 4:30pm	Holly Holmes Quartet	Cultural Jazz
	5:00pm – 7:00pm	Doko Benjo	Funk/Jam

Performing Art Stage

Date	Time	Performer	Style
Sat., Aug. 21	10:30-11:30am	Early Music
	12-1pm	Steely Pan	Steel Drums
	1:30-2:30pm	Free Dance Lessons
	3-4pm	Class Act Theatre
	4:30-5:30pm	Trikhala	Belly Dance
	6-7pm	Djibril Camara and Ballet Allah Tantou	African Dance

Family Entertainment Stage

Date	Time	Performer	Style
Sat., Aug. 21	10:30-11:30am	Prairie Dogs
	12-1pm	Andrew Anderson	Magician
	1:30-2:00pm	Parkland Props	DSC’s Music Group
	2:30-3:00pm	Prompting Theatre	DSC’s Theatre Group
	3:15-4pm	Dance Arts	Dance
	4:30-5:30pm	Patricia Hruby-Powell	Storyteller
	6:00-7:00pm	Andrew Anderson	Magician

A quick, informal Facebook/Twitter poll has yielded some results of artists that will taking place this year. Below are links to their blogs, if you are an artist that will be taking part email info@downtownchampaign.com or tweet DTChampaign or Facebook the Champaign Downtown Association.

Participating Artists

Shoshanna Bauer

Jason Bentley

Sarah Coulter – Who will also be demonstrating her loom weaving.

Audra Ziegel

Micro Grid Technology in Downtown Champaign

From recent News-Gazette articles, downtown is slowly hearing about a large scale project being developed that will make Downtown Champaign a leader and an example of smart gird technologies. High-performance infrastructure could become the next major economic driver for Champaign-Urbana. According to Melia Smith, Special Projects Coordinator with One Main Development, “we imagine that if we are successful, companies with these kinds of special needs will flock here.” One Main Development, in partnership with First Busey Corporation, GE, and Ameren is exploring the development of the micro grid.

Currently life on the power grid gives us power when we need it whenever we need it. However, when the power goes out a microgrid helps ensure that uninterrupted power is available to data centers and other high-performance computing facilities in town. Why this is so important is that as Champaign works toward being a competitive center to gain larger economic endeavors we require more power. According to a recent an article in this month’s National Geographic, “The federal government is spending money on the grid-the economic-stimulus package allocated $4.5 billion to smart grid projects and another six billion dollars or so to new transmission lines.”

Smart grid technology is already being employed in Boulder, CO. With sensors to monitor power flow and controls to manage equipment, installation of smart meters that transmit data allows consumers to see how much electricity costs. In the long term this will allow for choice in usage. For example choosing to do high energy activities in the evening when electricity is in less demand. As well, with prior agreement with homeowners, smartgrids can regulate private use with automatic reductions.  

The partners working on this new endeavor will be starting with development in the first phase from M2. Long term goals involve new construction of a stand alone building. It is also the desire of the partners to explore how this grid may be served by renewable energy generation systems. They are exploring the development of a large wind turbine generator project in the county or the possibility to partner with a project currently under construction. Additionally, several rooftops in the urban core may be well-suited for the location of solar photovoltaic panels.

This new development will be of overwhelming benefit to the urban core, local hospitals, and for the future progressive movements towards higher-quality power infrastructure. The partners are beginning conversations with potential customers to outline the needs, opportunities, and limitations of various entities that might be served by this grid. This will be a long term huge benefit to downtown Champaign and all of Champaign County.

Steering Committee Working to Merge Two Downtown Groups

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – JULY 12, 2010

Contact: Jill Guth, JSM Development, CBG Chair 217-359-8058 or 217-778-8305

Trisha Sutton, Cakes on Walnut, CDA Chair, 217-352-2400

Craig Rost, City of Champaign 217-403-8710 or 217- 493-5773

A Steering Committee comprised of representatives from the Campustown Business Group (CBG), the Champaign Downtown Association (CDA), the City of Champaign, and the Champaign Park District have begun meeting to discuss the possibility of merging the CBG and the CDA in order to share administrative resources and work cooperatively in marketing initiatives.

“I think this is awesome. Our resources will go farther and the whole community will benefit.” said CDA President Trisha Bates, owner of Cakes on Walnut. Jill Guth, CBG Chair agreed “In today’s world of limited resources, it only makes sense for the CBG and the CDA to work together. Instead of having two duplicative organizations in the City of Champaign, this new organization can meet the needs of both districts without competing with each other for limited funding and other resources.”

Both organizations offer each other valuable resources. The CDA, a 501 c 3 organization with its lengthy history serving the Downtown, has an active board of directors, dedicated staff and a cadre of volunteers. The CBG also has an active core of volunteers working on cooperative marketing efforts, such as the popular Thirteen Thursdays, among the Campustown retailers. Both organizations work with property owners and retailers to attract customers to their respective areas, usually serving a different customer base. In addition, the groups become involved in issues that impact the success of the retailers located in their geographic areas.

“The timing of this initiative is crucial,” said Deputy City Manager for Development Craig Rost. The City is completing the massive Boneyard Creek Second Street Reach project this year which will open up development opportunities in the “Mid Town” area between Downtown and Campustown, including First Street and East University Avenue. Although no formal group yet exists to support this area, the CDA/CBG merger can accomplish that by including the territory between Campustown and Downtown.

The City of Champaign has been in discussions with the group’s leadership about funding to seed the creation of the organization over a three year time period – with the expectation that the organization would then be self supporting. Rost is enthusiastic about this initiative and the new partnership that will lead it.. “Just as the Boneyard Project has physically connected Campus and Downtown, it’s time for Champaign to work together as one for the benefit of our community and visitors.”

Circles End of Summer Sales

All summer stock is currently 25-75% off!  Circles had intended to end their sale this weekend, but the state of Illinois has graciously implemented a sales tax holiday (less 5%)  from August  6-15 on all clothing, shoes (with a few exception), and school supplies under $100. This is after any sale price that the store is offering, so it could really add up!

On a new note, all of you who were looking for Eileen Fisher all summer……first fall shipment has been received and it looks beautiful. Come and see for yourself before it goes out the door! Also new in the store is Babette, a line from San Francisco that is known for their pleated fabrics. Modern styling, and simple shapes allow you to layer or not depending on your preference!
www.babettesf.com

Circles Boutique
114 North Neil Street
Champaign, IL
359-2195

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