Monthly Archives: April 2012

When it comes to creativity, Lansing Old Town knows no bounds; and that includes finding creative ways to raise money for the Old Town Commercial Association.

In order to raise money for the OTCA’s budget, creative members of the community created a competition in which artists build pieces of art from scrap metal to be displayed and auctioned off at the Festival of the Moon and Sun.

David Such, partner of Such Video in Old Town, proposed the original idea of a scrap metal art competition.

“I lived in Los Angeles for some time with my brothers,” Such said.  “They are sculptors and were into these scrap metal art competitions in L.A.”

Such, who lived on a farm with friends in California, said he thought scrap metal artwork was really interesting.

“The guys really dug it,” Such said. “I thought it might be something that other people would be into.”

Therefore, when Such moved to Lansing Old Town and noticed Friedland Industries, Inc., a recycler of scrap metal, the idea for a scrap metal art competition for Old Town was born.

“When I saw Friedland, I was instantly reminded of my brothers,” Such said.  “I’m on the OTCA executive board, so I’m always looking for ways to raise money for our budget and thought this would be a cool, new idea for the community.”

OTCA Executive Director Louise Gradwohl said the organization’s budget is mostly based on income from annual festivals and events.

“At the start of each year, each of our five committees request money for projects they plan to execute for that year,” Gradwohl said. “The board approves their budget by the necessity of the project and on finances available.”

The OTCA decided to join Scrapfest and the Festival of the Moon and Sun because they already had such a great group associated with the two-day festival.

“Pieces of artwork are displayed in a squared off area outside of the tents during the Festival of the Moon and Sun,” Such said. “Then people bid on each piece and the proceeds go to the OTCA.”

Nearly 70 percent of the OTCA budget comes from the Festival of the Moon and Sun, which includes Scrapfest, according to festival director, Kelsey Maccombs.

People of the community can therefore feel justified about purchasing a piece of unique scrap metal artwork, knowing that all auction proceeds directly support public art, according to Old Town’s Web site.

A portion of the auction proceeds goes back to the artists and a portion goes to the community to support public art projects in Old Town

My experience covering Lansing Old Town has been extremely beneficial as well as challenging.

When I signed up to cover Lansing Old Town, I quickly realized what a great community they truly are. The passion for their town is absolutely amazing.

However, finding a story every week was sometimes a struggle. I figured out that calling or meeting in person was the easiest way to get information from a source. The OTCA was always a great starting place, always eager and excited to share events or happenings in their town.

After writing multiple stories regarding Old Town’s festivals, I can’t wait for summertime! I plan on checking out their festivities and am eager to see the outcome of the OTCA’s hard work.

Lansing Old Town, it’s been fun.

One of the perks of a small area like Old Town is that when you purchase something there you know there is no way someone else is going to have it.  The unique factor is one of the many positive qualities of shopping at Grace Boutique.

Grace is located by other boutiques like October Moon, and Love, Betti is just across the street but Grace has an original flair that sets it apart. For one it is the only place that sells apparel.  Grace has a variety of stylish cocktail dresses, and plethora classy casual outfits. The prices may be a little higher than what you are used to but few can put a price on looking great in quality clothing.

The website explains why owner, Summer Schriner, started Grace. “Heard way too many women despair about having to drive all the way to Detroit to shop for a nice cocktail dress or stylish handbag. Feeling the same way, I decided to do something about it and open a shop myself.”

Grace has this wonderful vibe that makes you feel like you are shopping at a high-end designer shop but is as comfortable as any hometown store. The boutique combines elegance and class and sells a variety of gorgeous clothes.

It is never too early to make plans, especially when it comes to one of the most entertaining weekends Old Town has to offer in the fall. Old Town BluesFest 2012 will be held the weekend of September 21-22 this year.

The festival that started off in 1994 and was originally named OctoberFest. The festival has been an annual celebration since then. By 2003 the festival was becoming more popular, ditched their original name for ‘BluesFest’, and gained enough attention to be sponsored by local radio stations and companies.

A festival which started with bringing in crowds of a couple thousand guests now provides entertainment for up to ten thousand people plus each year.

BluesFest is not solely intended for any specific age fan of blues music. At the festival you’ll be able to find a “Kidz Beat” tent along with a “beverage tent” providing options and fun for all ages.

Even if you are not a die-hard fan of blues music, the festival provides a positive atmosphere in Old Town. The two day event offers not only blues entertainment but great food, vendors, artwork, nightlife and an Old Town experience fit for anyone.

It’s never too early to save the date for an event as intriguing as BluesFest. The festival is a free two day event featuring entertainment performed by national, regional and local artists. The best part about this festival of fun and blues is that it is hosted in Old Town.

Further information about the festival including performance schedules, vendors and contact information can be found on the festivals website, http://www.oldtownbluesfest.com/history

Old Town welcomed a new business to its community this month. Neva Austin owner of Aggie Mae’s Bakery opened her third location in Old Town on Saturday March 10^th.
Neva Austin opened the bakery in 2009 in Eaton Rapids and in Lansing City Market. The bakery and sweet shoppe sell a variety of baked goods.

Neva’s inspiration to open up the bakery came from her love of baking with her mother which started at a young age. In fact the bakery is named after her mother, Aggie Mae. Neva’s mother, Aggie, still visits her daughter’s bakery frequently.

“One of my fondest memories is baking bread with my mom,” said Austin “My mom is the one that taught me how to bake.”

Austin was encouraged to open a location in Old Town because of how impressed she was how the community markets each other so well. She also likes the fact that the community is an art district filled with street stops and galleries.

“We eat with our eyes first,” said Neva Austin “food is an art itself.”

The bakeries new location has not been open for even a week yet, but the employees said they have received a lot of positive feedback.

Sara Kahn was a customer at Aggie Mae’s on Wednesday and said she hadn’t heard of the new bakery, but discovered it while walking down Grand River.

“I ordered the pasta salad,” said Kahn “It is really yummy, and the atmosphere in here is great.”

Aggie Mae’s is located at 317 Grand River in Old Town Lansing.  You can Call the bakery for questions or special orders. (517) 214-2765 or email aggiemaesbakery@gmail.com

The Capital City Film Festival is offering citizens with a Taste and Tour of Old Town wristband

free entrance into one film block of their choice.

Capital City Film Festival is a four day film industry showcase to promote Michigan artists.

The festival takes place in venues across Lansing including Old Town to celebrate filmmakers.

Jonathan Myers, advertising student at Michigan State University is a frequent attendee of festivals in Old Town says he is looking forward to the Capital City Film Festival.
“I am very creative and enjoy the atmosphere Old Town has to offer,” said Myers “I’m pretty excited to see what these Michigan filmmakers are about.”

Taste and Tour of Old Town will be held on Saturday April, 13th, the same weekend as the film festival. The Tour of Old town is to showcase the restaurants and trendy living Old Town has to offer.

Capital City Film Festival is teaming up with Taste and Tour of Old Town by offering a promotion. Those who attend and have their wristband from Taste and Tour of Old Town will be permitted free entrance to one film block of their choice that day.

Laura Ritchie, a twenty something living in East Lansing, plans to attend both Taste and Tour of Old Town and Capital City Film Festival.

“I am always looking for fun things to do on the weekends said, Ritchie “I just recently experienced Old Town for the first time and fell in love. I already had plans to attend the tour of old town and now will see a film at the festival as well due to the promotion.”

Old Town Commercial Association is hosting its fifth annual Taste & Tour of Old Town on Saturday, April 14^th from 12-5pm. Tickets are priced $13 in advance online, $15 the day of, and $5 for children under 12. Tickets will be sold for loft tours only for $5. Tickets can also be purchased at the OTCA office.

Old Town Lansing, the city that never ceases to come up with ideas to improve their community, has introduced a new project that coincides with their fourth annual Scrapfest and Festival of the Moon and the Sun.

The new endeavor, named Scrappy Bike Rack Project, offers the community a chance to get involved, building bike racks for the city of Lansing, along with promoting public art, scrap metal recycling and bicycling.

“The original brainchild of Scrapfest came from David Such, who owns Such Video here in Old Town,” Friedland Industries, Inc. employee, Mike Bass said.

Friedland Industries, Inc is the original recycler located in Lansing’s Old Town.

Friedland separates, cleans, shears, shreds, sorts and bales commodities such as steel, copper, aluminum and all types of paper, which are sent to various mills to be re-melted or re-pulped and made into something new, according to their Web site.

“This will be the fourth annual Scrapfest,” Bass said. “But this is the first Scrappy Bike Rack Project.”

During Scrapfest, artists are permitted one hour to collect up to 500 pounds of scrap metal from Friedland’s scrap yard to use in creating their scrap metal artwork.

“With the bike rack competition, I think it will be a little different,” Bass said. “The teams won’t have to solely use the metal found in the scrap yard because there are certain guidelines they must follow in order for the city to sign off on the racks.”

The idea for Scrappy Bike Rack Project in Lansing’s Old Town was based on the need for bike racks around the city of Lansing.

“We’ve sent out surveys to our community and a major concern was the short supply of places to park and lock bikes,” Julie Powers of Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council said.

The scarcity of bike racks prompted the Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council and the OTCA to begin the process of collaborating Scrapfest, Scrappy Bike Rack Project and the Festival of the Moon and Sun.

“The bike racks will be showcased at the Festival of the Moon and the Sun, alongside the artwork created by the artists competing in Scrapfest,” Powers said. “And the cool thing about scrappy bike’s is that it’s easy to get involved.”

The process of applying to participate in the Scrappy Bike Rack Project is quite simple, as the main requirements are to send in an application showing the design of your safe, durable bike rack along with the names of your team members.

Children are also able to get participate in the Scrappy Bike Rack Project, as long as they have at least two adults on their team.

“I think it’s great to get children involved,” Powers said. “It sends a great message and helps them feel connected with their community.

As winter makes it way out spring is coming in, and bringing the Old Town Farmers market with it. This is the market sixth year at Old Town and like usual the Farmers Market is being held in the parking lot at Sirs Pizza and Café.

The Old Town Commercial Association has posted applications online for those that are interested in participating.  There is limited space for those that are interested, so they are encouraged to submit their applications soon. The market is open on the first Sunday of every month from May to October. For participation there is a fee of 60 dollars for the season, or 10 dollars per month.

There are a variety of guidelines listed with the application that vendors are expected to follow. While there is a plethora of products from home made goods to produce there is one general rule that applies to all. All products need to be made in Michigan.

The market has the advantage of taking place during the first Sunday Gallery Walk. While many may come to see the galleries they will be enticed to stay to see what the Farmers Market is bringing to Old Town this year.

As festival season approaches in Lansing’s Old Town, the new festival director is dedicated and eager to spread the word about the handcrafted Festival of the Moon and Sun.

Kelsey Maccombs, festival director as of January 2012, will offer minor changes in the festivities of the thirteenth annual Festival of the Moon and Sun, taking place June 22 and 23 of this year, with a new take on advertising and entertainment.

The festival, which celebrates the shortest night and longest day of the year with local beverages, food and entertainment will, as always, be raising money for Old Town Commercial Association’s annual budget.

“The Festival of the Sun and Moon, as well as Old Town Oktoberfest, raise about 70 percent of OTCA’s budget,” Maccombs said.

The success of these events determines whether or not OTCA is able to allocate monies for committee projects such as new benches or banners, according to Old Town’s Web site.

Maccombs felt a change needed to be made regarding how to spread the word of the festival, as social media hadn’t been used as heavily in the past.

“I’m passionate about building this event because I know that attendees have a great time and always look forward to coming back,” Maccombs said. “The trick is to just get more and more people aware.”

When it comes to food, beverages and entertainment, Old Town emphasizes the idea that the Festival of the Moon and Sun is completely handcrafted.

“We use Michigan beers and wines, local food vendors (with as many as possible from Old Town) and local talent,” Maccombs said.

This year the OTCA has booked local band, Frontier Ruckus, as their headliner for the Festival of the Sun.

“We are definitely focusing on larger entertainment this year and it’s very exciting to have a popular band from Lansing as our headliner,” Louise Gradwohl, OTCA executive director said.

The festival will be run similar to previous years and will be sponsored by Bells Brewery of Kalamazoo, Mich.

Bells Brewery was not available for contact but has sponsored the festival in previous years and will provide beer for the Friday night festivities.

Under the new director, advertising has become an important element in promoting the festival.

“Nothing is confirmed yet, but we are looking at designing a billboard and using other forms of advertising to help spread the word,” Gradwohl said.

In efforts to save the district money and improve education, Lansing School District is under a new reconfiguration plan that will result in two North Lansing elementary schools to close.

Projected to save the district $2.5 million per year, Interim Superintendent Yvonne Caamal Canul’s plan to help the district will result in the closing of Bingham Elementary and Otto Middle School.

Bingham Elementary principal, Lori Abbott-Smith, confirmed that the school would close this fall.

“We’re one of the schools closing for sure—along with Otto—North side schools will definitely be a little sparse,” Abbott-Smith said.

Abbott-Smith said she is sure that maintenance costs alone for Bingham Elementary will save the district a lot of money.

“Bingham is an older building, and in terms of structure it just isn’t efficient,” Abbott-Smith said, “I mean, we have a second floor and don’t have an elevator.”