KTXS-TV Parade of Lights in Downtown Abilene.

Mark your calendars for the 23rd Annual City Sidewalks on Nov. 29!

You might ask “What is City Sidewalks?” City Sidewalks is the Abilene Downtown Association’s Christmas Open House. It’s the Association’s gift to the City of Abilene and is sure to get you in the holiday spirit. You are invited to discover the charm of “an old-fashioned Christmas” as you shop, dine and play in historic downtown Abilene.

I have my evening nearly planned out. First, I’ll check out the Woodson Handbell Choir at the Abilene Reporter-News and Salt Kreek Bluegrass band at The Center for Contemporary Arts. Then, I kickoff my holiday shopping by purchasing myself a Christmas present (I do this every year). Next, it’s dinner with my husband at Cypress Street Station & Abilene Brewing Company. We love to watch the KTXS-TV Parade of Lights from their large windows. After that, it’s more shopping or maybe the Community Tree Lighting at the Abilene Civic Center.

To plan out your special evening, visit the Downtown Association’s website to view the complete list of restaurants, entertainment and shopping available from 5 to 8 p.m. that evening.

Hope to see you there!

Jessica Jackson of Betty & June prepares for the Fall Trend Show

Over the past week, we’ve had a definite drop in the temperature! It is beginning to feel more like fall across the Big Country. The change in season always inspires me to do a little cleaning and clear out my closet…to make room for more clothes of course! You can count that I’ll be heading down to Betty and June this weekend.

A few entries ago, I wrote about a new boutique in town called “Betty and June.” If you missed it, this shop’s inspiration comes from the grandmothers of owner, Jessica Jackson and her husband. “Betty” was the fashion forward of the two, while “June” was more of a tomboy. Over the past few months, Jackson has successfully lived out her mission to merge the two characters into one central style. This Friday, Jackson and her team will have a chance to show off what they’ve been striving for. Betty and June is hosting a Fall Trend Show in historic downtown! The event will be held at the One-Eighty-One Event Center next to the shop. It will begin at 8 p.m.

You will not only get to see the runway show packed with stylish must-haves for the season, you’ll also get to participate in the “Meet and Greet” with the pros from Glow Beauty Studio and Neal Parker Salon.

Tickets are $35 per person, but all proceeds go toward a great cause – Young Life Abilene. Your ticket also includes hors d’oeuvres, sweet treats and cocktails. Afterwards, the store will be open late so you can stock up on the items from the show. Ninety percent of the prices at the boutique are under $100.

For more information about Betty and June or to find out more about the Fall Trend Show, check out their Facebook page, tweet @shopbettyjune or call 325-672-1522.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Hand stamped luggage tags and shopping bags. Love.

Okay, okay – I fibbed. I don’t actually know either of them personally, but I have been to their boutique.

If you haven’t been shopping in the downtown area lately (tisk, tisk), here’s the scoop: at the beginning of April, the historic downtown area welcomed a super cute new shop called, “Betty & June Boutique.” If you’re anything like me, I get very excited when something new (and locally owned) opens in Abilene. With the buzz surrounding this newbie, I knew I had to get down there – pronto.

Hand-painted mural behind the register. Pictured: Owner, Jessica Jackson.

What’s in a name? Owner, Jessica Jackson, said that the inspiration behind the name “Betty & June” is derived from the grandmothers of both her and her husband (an Air Force pilot). Evidently, “Betty” was the more fashion-forward of the two, while “June” was the tomboy. Her goal? To merge the two into one central style. In my opinion, she’s accomplished it. You can feel the vibe throughout the store.

One of the things that I love most about the boutique is that Betty & June’s stories live on in a hand-painted, black and white mural behind the register. If you go, take notice, dear ones. Oh and P.S. Jessica is known to have chilled champagne or mimosas on hand by the register. Another thing that I adore about the store is that she left the floor “as is” and dressed up the location with colorful furniture and interesting hardware.

Overall, I believe one of the best things about Betty & June is the sheer uniqueness of what they carry.  There are items at the boutique that you simply can’t find elsewhere – especially not in “big box” stores. Betty & June currently carries clothing, handbags, shoes and accessories by brands such as: Havaianas, AG Denim, Seychelles, Judith March and Tolani – just to name a few. The majority are under $100.

Speaking of Tolani, if you saw me at Stephan Pyles’ dinner during the Buffalo Gap Wine & Food Summit, the silky tunic dress I wore was Tolani from Betty & June.

Fun furniture and unique hardware jazz up the space and help display items.

If you’re ever in the Abilene area, stop by and welcome these newcomers. Betty & June is located at 189 Pine St. in historic downtown. They are open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (even later during ArtWalk and B!G Day Downtown). For more information, visit their website or call 325-672-1522. Jessica also does a great job of posting new items to the Betty & June Facebook Page, so be sure to take a look. Can you tell I am anxiously awaiting my next visit?

Are you ready for a B!G DAY DOWNTOWN?

You can jumpstart your day at the Farmer’s Market. They will open at sun up until produce is sold out. Music lovers will enjoy the “Abilene for Japan” benefit concert in Minter Park, Cypress St. and N. 2nd, featuring ten bands. Performances include: Magic Lamp Belly Dancers, 11 a.m.; Blinded By Bears (indie rock), noon; Catclaw Creek (bluegrass), 12:30 p.m.; Joie De Vivre (soul), 1:30 p.m.; Fraid Knot (original), 2 p.m.; Shane Cannedy (blues/rock), 3 p.m.; Smokin’ Blues Primos (blues), 3:30 p.m.; Philip Mahon (classic rock/folk), 4:30 p.m.; Hungry Mother (rock), 5 p.m.; and Kirk House (blues/rock/soul), 6 p.m. The entertainment is free, but donations will be accepted. “Abilene for Japan” also features a silent auction at Cockerell Galleries and Studios and t-shirts “Hope for Japan.” All donations and proceeds benefit Abilene’s own, Global Samaritan Resources.

Downtown merchants will be open offering give-away items, special sales and/or discounted admissions. Frontier Texas! is also hosting a living history day complete with cowboys and cannon fire, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Round out your day with dinner at the Beehive Restaurant & Saloon or Cypress Street Station & Abilene Brewing Company followed by more live music and coffee at Monks Coffee Shop, 7 p.m. to midnight.

For complete details, pick up a flyer at any downtown Abilene business or visit the event website.

Graphic courtesy of the Abilene Downtown Association

The temperatures may not have fallen in Abilene just yet, but in just a few days it will sure start to look a lot like Christmas around here. The City of Abilene will officially kick off the spirit of the season at the 22^nd Annual City Sidewalks, Tuesday (Nov. 30). This is a fun-filled celebration hosted by the Abilene Downtown Association that allows locals and visitors alike to rediscover the charm of a Christmas spent in a historic downtown district.

Beloved activities such as the KTXS Christmas Lights Parade (6:30 p.m.), Community Tree Lighting at the Abilene Civic Center (7:30 p.m.) and Reindeer Game really bring the community together and get everyone into the holiday spirit. The Reindeer Game always draws quite a crowd, even if it gets a little chilly. If you’re in town, you can play too! Just pick up and return the game piece to Monks Coffee Shop, 233 Cypress St. between 5 and 8:30 p.m. You will be sent on a “scavenger hunt” around the downtown area using cleverly written Abilene trivia questions. Then, be sure to turn your game piece back in for a chance to win $200 in Abilene Downtown Dollars out of the batch of correctly completed game pieces. Boy, wouldn’t that take care of several people on your holiday shopping list? Speaking of shopping, all of the boutiques and shops in historic downtown will be open even later on the night of City Sidewalks, so be sure to bring your Christmas lists with you!

Before the parade, come downtown a little bit early to catch some live Christmas music by a local choir or ensemble or enjoy some free goodies by local merchants and vendors. The event officially kicks off at 5:30 p.m. A full listing, schedule and map can be found here, or for more information call 325-676-2556.

Historic Downtown during Downtown Dayz - Photo courtesy of Steve Butman Photography

The Abilene Downtown Association has been busy working on Downtown Dayz, scheduled for Oct. 9, 2010. Downtown Dayz features a wide variety of events, from the Hitchcock movie “The Birds” at the historic Paramount Theatre to shopping discounts at many of downtown’s unique shops. Everyone will want to make sure to attend the concerts in Minter Park, N. 2nd St. and Cypress St.  Four bands will play throughout the day.

“Last April’s Downtown Dayz was well attended, but with the great fall weather the association is hoping for an even bigger crowd on October 9,” said Carolyn Cockerell, president of the Abilene Downtown Association. Cockerell is also looking forward to performing in Minter Park at noon with the Magic Lamp Belly Dancers.

Bill Minter of the Abilene Preservation League will be doing two downtown walking tours. Meet at Minter Park at either 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. After your walking tour, visit the history museum at The Grace or catch the excitement at Frontier Texas! Both are offering discounted admission if you mention “Downtown Dayz.”

Don’t miss out on all the fun! Unique shops, artists, museums and galleries, entertainment and great dining await the entire family. For a complete list of activities, pick up a flyer from almost any downtown shop or restaurant, the Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St., or at the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1101 N. 1st St. You can also find a complete list of activities on the Abilene Downtown Association’s website.

Hope to see you there!

The Loft Inside Under One Roof

As everyone rushes to get ready to go back to school, avoid the crowds at the “big box” stores during tax-free weekend. Shop and dine in historic downtown Abilene this weekend. Items that are tax-free this weekend include clothing and footwear under $100, as well as backpacks for elementary and secondary students. It also includes layaway items and many of these items can be found in our downtown area.

One of my favorite places to browse and shop is Under-One-Roof, located at 244 Pine St. in the former Minter Department Store. Under-One-Roof has over 30 specialty shops in one location, hence the name. From backpacks, shoes, umbrellas, children’s and chic clothing to gifts, you can find something for everyone. Under-One-Roof still offers layaway (like department stores used to) on all purchases for no additional fee.

After shopping, enjoy lunch at The Loft, located on the mezzanine of the store. The Loft offers sandwiches, salads, soup and luscious desserts. My husband’s favorite lunch is the meatloaf sandwich, while I’d recommend the lemon bar for dessert…although you can’t beat the hot brownie either!

Don’t forget all there is to see and do in historic downtown Abilene. If your day permits, stop by Frontier Texas!, 625 N. 1st Street, and tour this high-tech attraction. While inside the visitor’s center, pick up a Downtown Shopping, Dining and Museum Guide. This will help you as you spend the rest of your day discovering historic downtown Abilene with all its charm and family-friendly atmosphere.

I promise, you won’t miss the crowds at the “big box” stores or fast food restaurants around town!

You won't want to miss out on this great summer sale!

The Abilene City Council adopted the SoDA district (south downtown Abilene) master development plan at this week’s council meeting. Many of us are looking forward to seeing the SoDA district evolve into something grand. I hope it is sooner than later. As I told the city council, if we wait to move on this any later, I will be 80 years old before they finish redevelopment!

Just one of the many Beautiful Sites to be seen in Historic Downtown Abilene!

Enjoy the great outdoors, get some exercise, and step into the past with a Historic Downtown Walking tour.

Walk the streets of our more than century-old West Texas town and follow in the footsteps of the builders who made Abilene’s frontier what it is today. Founded in 1881 by the T&P Railway, Abilene has since become the heart of West Texas and is home to 120,000 friendly people.

Oil strikes and lucrative crops led to Abilene’s success in the 1920s — a time when many of the buildings in the Downtown District were being constructed. By taking a Historic Walking Tour, you can enjoy the efforts of Abilene’s downtown revitalization and appreciate those who have taken the time and interest in preserving their community’s heritage.

Pick up a Walking Tour brochure at Frontier Texas!, at 625 N. 1st St., or print one ahead of time from our Web site,  and begin your adventure. You can even add it to a custom travel itinerary.

Begin your journey at Frontier Texas! Thanks to modern technology, it is possible to relive early frontier days. Step back in time to meet the men and women who lived and died on the Texas frontier. Unlike a traditional museum, Frontier Texas! uses first-person narratives rather than collections of artifacts to tell the story of the western Texas frontier, along with lights, cameras, action and big-screen special effects.

Next, walk west down N. 1st St. toward the Texas and Pacific Depot, 1101 N. 1st St. in Everman Park. Built in 1910, this building provided passenger service until 1967. The last passenger train left the depot in March 1967 with only 39 passengers aboard. This building was restored in 1994 to its original 1920s appearance, and currently houses the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Cultural Affairs Council.

Throughout the Historic Downtown Walking Tour, you will also learn interesting facts about staple downtown buildings, such as the Cypress Building, the Wooten, Grissom & Popular Buildings, Abilene Reporter-News, O’Kelley Office Supply, Jordan Taylor Building, T&P Freight Warehouse, Minter Building, Mims Building, Hilton Hotel and much more.
Hear the stories you’ve never heard behind structures, such as the Concrete Overpass, located at 1100 to 1200 Blocks of N. 1st St., the Old Weather Bureau and the Vera Minter Memorial Park.

If you’d prefer a guided historic downtown walking tour with the Abilene Preservation League, attend Downtown Dayz on October 9, 2010. The group usually meets in Abilene’s Minter Park around 11:30 a.m. the day of festivities. For more information on the Historic Downtown Abilene attractions and events, visit www.abilenevisitors.com.