I guess now that I've made it a year, it's time for you to learn a little more about the lady behind the keyboard. Hey - I'm Christa Zickfield, your friendly Old Town Cape Project Manager. Our organizations marketing, social media, events and various other odd jobs are my responsibility. I love downtown and I love Cape Girardeau, so this job seemed like a good fit. Boy was I wrong...

Cape Girardeau is my stomping ground; I've lived here my whole life (actually 28 years, but to those of you gracious individuals who swear it's only been 25 - thank you!). A Cape Public Schools alumni, I'm proud to call myself a Central Tiger. After high school, I thought I wanted to go off to college and do the 'big-city thing' at the University of Kentucky. I moved into my dorm room one Friday evening around 5pm, moved out and was gone by 8am the next morning, and was enrolled in Southeast Missouri State the following Monday. After 3.5 years of projects, papers and exams, I received a little sheet of paper granting me a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with a major in Integrated Marketing Communications - wow. All that hard work for a piece of paper!

Somewhere in the middle of all that, I met the handsome guy that I would one day get the honor of calling my husband, William. We thoroughly enjoy making memories together and can't wait to see what our future holds. Yes, the Zickfield in my last name is relation to the downtown jewelry store. If you stop by, he'll be the good looking salesman ready to chat about cut, color and clarity with you. He is my everything and I am truly blessed to have him as the co-pilot on this crazy journey we call life.

My family ranks right up there at the top as well. I can't even put into words how much I love them. My dad, mom and sister, and the dog - anyone who knows us knows how head-over-heels we are for Harley! This also includes my extended family of aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, my cousins children and second-cousins that we consider first-cousins, their extended families - if you can't tell, we're really close, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

At the very top of my food chain is my relationship with Christ. Someone that I never met loved me so much that he sacrificed his life to save me from my sins - how cool is that?! I can't even begin to fathom where I would be today with this guiding force. As much as I love life and try to be as positive an influence as possible, it isn't always easy; there have been water leaks. However, I know what my future holds because of Jeremiah 29:11 - 'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.' I'm excited to see how the rest of my story will play out.

What are my hobbies? Favorite things? First off, I'm terrible at sports, anything that requires the coordinated use of an object, really. That summer I played softball - phew! I do, however, love attending sporting events with my loved ones and friends. St. Louis Cardinal and Blues games rank up there at the top of the list. It's a dream of mine to attend the Australian Open, preferably before Rodger Federer retires from the game (he's pretty dreamy). I love food, however am terrible at preparing it. Coming from a long line of family cooks, sometimes I'm convinced I look like the mailman. Evening walks with the dog and traveling are additional pastimes I thoroughly enjoy. Also, it's really hard to beat warm towels out of the dryer - seriously, it doesn't take much!

Idiosyncrasies? Well, if you ask my peers I'm sure they have plenty to tell you. I only eat pickles the day after Thanksgiving. Toenails kind of give me the creeps. I'm thoroughly convinced that every time I hear a creak at home, there's some ninja-assasin hiding under the bed waiting for me to hang my foot off and, you know the rest... Typically the inside of my vehicle is impeccably clean, yet I can't seem to get my desk organized.

My love for downtown started blossoming at a young age. My Grandma Kinsey was the long-time seamstress for Hecht's clothing store. Chances are she's altered something for either you or someone you know. My dad has worked downtown at Cape Paint & Glass since, I'm pretty sure, the beginning of time. My uncle used to own a bakery on Main St, My Daddy's Cheesecake, that my cousins and I often frequented, especially on cake decorating days because we were almost always guaranteed a bite of the extra icing or cake scraps! The Christmas Parade of Lights has always been a family tradition that is something I hope to continue with my kids one day. Walks on the railroad tracks, yes on the tracks, and heading to the riverfront to check out the riverboats were typical occurrences. Up until a few months ago, my grandparents owned a farm just on the other side of the river, so trips to and from would often times warrant a detour downtown. Downtown has been a part of my life since before I can remember, and I'm better person because of it.

Each of these roads led me to this juncture in life. So when I mentioned at the beginning that it seemed I had found the right job, but boy was I wrong - I didn't find the right job, I found the perfect opportunity. I get to work downtown amongst some of our area's richest history almost everyday. I get to work for and with some of the coolest entrepreneurs and business-people in the community. I get to represent one of the greatest downtowns in the nation.

I am truly blessed!

Lots of times when people think of 'Old Town Cape' they think of our Executive Director, Marla, and Kevin and Christa, the 'staff'. Little do many people realize though, that we have an arsenal of committees and volunteers who guide our actions, back our opinions and oversee what goes on in and around our 131-block district. At the helm of our organization is Donna Denson - the President of our Board of Directors who oversees one of the greatest downtowns in the nation (what a title!).

Originally from Festus, Mo, Donna came to Cape to attend Southeast Missouri State University. After graduating with a degree in mass communications, she worked in sales at Southwestern Bell (now AT&T) and was then recruited by the Southeast Missourian. A career with this company that began in 1991, she was ecstatic to have the opportunity to work for the local paper. Little did she know that 24 years later she would still be making a difference in and around the community while serving as the Advertising Director for this cornerstone operation.

When figuring out where and what community organizations to be involved in, downtown and Old Town Cape was an obvious choice. In her early days at the Missourian, she worked with several downtown businesses on their marketing (Tipoff magazine, for example), so it was a natural fit to attend the Downtown Merchants Association (DMA) meeting and become involved. 'I still remember our barbecue on the riverfront when the merchants association & Old Town Cape became one,' Donna reminisced. The years have gone by quickly and my has there been a lot of change in our area.

To someone so vested in our area, her response to 'What is your favorite part of downtown?' didn't come as a surprise. 'I don’t know if I can pick a favorite,' she exclaimed! 'I love the riverfront, our shops & restaurants - all that Old Town Cape has to offer.' One specific spot she treasures as a quiet place to sit and decompress is the top of the courthouse steps. The beautiful view of the river and our charming Main Street area, it's just what she needs to rejuvenate and refocus. (We couldn't agree more!)

Downtown isn't perfect; there will always be room for improvement. And if Donna could change just one thing about downtown, it would be to change the opinions of the few cynics who only focus on a couple of empty buildings, some litter or other issue in downtown and don’t see and appreciate the improvements that have been made, over time, in Old Town Cape. 'You can’t truly appreciate how far we’ve come if you haven’t contributed in some way,' she commented. 'Each of us can make a difference. So if you aren’t already, get involved and help us build the future Old Town Cape!'

Donna is proud of the impact Old Town Cape is making in our district and throughout the community.

This organization has created a unified vision for our downtown and works hard every day to make sure Downtown Cape Girardeau is an inviting area for people to live, work and play. While our work is never done, we can all take pride in being designated a Great American Main Street Community. ' How awesome is that!'

Enough business, let's get to know Donna personally. Guys beware, the following sounds like something straight out of a chick-flick. Donna met her husband Phil during college when he moved into the apartment next to her. She literally married the boy next door! Boy moves in next door, notices the pretty neighbor, rustles up enough courage to ask her out and the rest is history. See, we told you it was just like the movies! 'Phil is the love of my life,' she gushed, 'and my best friend.' They have 3 grown daughters and 4 grandchildren who, of course, 'are the cutest, smartest and most-talented kids on the planet!' ;) We're pretty sure every grandma is allowed to make that judgement!

Something about Donna that you may not know is she is one of 8 children in her family. Wow! 'We were poor, it was loud, it was cramped, but it was great!'

Old Town Cape is incredibly fortunate to have Donna on our leadership team, as an involved downtown business woman and a friend. We are confident that downtown is headed in the right direction because of the guidance and support she offers. Organizations say this all the time, but at Old Town Cape we truly believe we have the best support system around!

Summing up her downtown sentiments, 'A thriving and vibrant downtown is healthy for our entire community. The downtown is the heart of Cape and a timeless treasure for us to enjoy – come be a part of it!'

This post was co-written by Donna Denson, Old Town Cape Board of Directors President, and Christa Zickfield, Old Town Cape Project Manager.

This past winter I was excited to find out we were getting an Irish pub. Living in cities for 15 years prior to moving to Cape, I found the “little neighborhood pub” was a staple of urban living. It was where you went to celebrate moments big and small, see your friends, gossip, talk sports, laugh, cry and just be part of the community. So opening night of Katy O’Ferrell’s, I was totally there!

Now I wouldn't say I’m a connoisseur of Irish pubs. I, however, have been to quite a few.  I’ve visited Irish pubs in Chicago, New Jersey, Dallas, Pittsburg, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Seattle, Birmingham (that’s England, not AL), Dublin (yep, as in Ireland) and many other places in between. So how does Katy O’s stack up? Pretty well, I do have to say.

The Food

One quirky thing about an Irish pub is that there is no requirement to serve Irish cuisine. Even in the pubs I’ve been to in Ireland and Great Britain, it is common to find curries, bangers and mash, burgers, etc on the menu. Katy O’Ferrell’s is no different. It's menu touts Irish favorites like boxty and shepherd’s pie alongside a burger, steaks and seafood. (BTW, the Irish dishes are even better than the ones my old Irish Granny used to make!) My favorite is the Reuben with a side of butters carrots. Yeah, I know it’s not Irish, but it still doesn’t make it any less tasty.

The Bar

The success of an Irish pub is its bar, or more appropriately its bar staff. Katy O’s warm and cheerful barkeepers provide excellent service with a smile. From pouring stouts to mixing a mean dirty martini, their drinks are always consistently delicious and served with pride.

Décor and Atmosphere

Let’s face it, Irish pubs in America look a certain way - lowly lit with a massive carved bar, with a random mix of 19th century art and quirky Irish memorabilia. Katy O’Ferrell’s hit a homerun in this department when it chose the old Petit New Orleans as its location. The outside just finished getting a new look with dark olive green and black paint.

Hopefully this little article will convenience you to come downtown and share in the Irish-American tradition of the public house. See you at Katy O's soon!

There are several new businesses popping up in the downtown area. One of these new businesses is a unique fashion boutique, Ophelia, which opened in early June. With its fashion forward designs and vast assortment of clothing, shoes, jewelry and gifts, Ophelia has something to offer for women of all ages. From trendy pieces to basic staples, the store only carries six of each individual item, allowing for new styles to be brought in daily. Ophelia also has a line of all natural bath and body products called KIND, which come from Webster Groves, Missouri.

Ophelia’s original location is in downtown Farmington, Missouri. In June of 2013, Patrice Parson had an opportunity to purchase Ophelia after hearing that it was going out of business. “I decided to start a new adventure into owning a business when the previous owner approached me with the chance to buy the store. I was so excited about the new adventure, but also scared to lose my shopping place so I decided that being a new business owner was a new adventure I was ready for”. Not long after purchasing the Farmington location, Patrice and her husband new that they wanted to expand. Being a Southeast Missouri State University graduate and a former resident of Cape Girardeau, Patrice was very familiar with the Cape Girardeau area. After making several trips to downtown Cape Girardeau and visiting with several downtown business owners, they began to start the search for the perfect building for their new boutique. With the help of Old Town Cape, Patrice and her husband were able to find the perfect location for their second store.

Ophelia is located at 125 North Main Street. For more information about their store, check out their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OpheliaCapeGirardeau.

The blog committee wants to share with you the stories of the volunteers that work behind the scenes of Old Town Cape. This series will allow you to get to know our volunteers, find out how they became involved, learn what their interests are, and discover their goals for both downtown and themselves.

Don Greenwood, a local artist, currently serves on the Board of Directors and Design Committee for Old Town Cape. He is a native of New Orleans, LA but currently resides in downtown Cape with his wife, Roseanna. Greenwood became involved with the organization many years ago and was even the President of the Downtown Merchants Association at one point before Old Town Cape was formed. He has always had a passion for downtown and, therefore, has been involved with organizations that relate to promoting and enhancing the area ever since.

As a committee member, he provides information on the history of downtown, an artist's perspective, and knowledge about the murals - all of which are important to Old Town Cape. One of his goals for downtown Cape is to further promote the arts that are present. Thanks to his first cousin, he is very passionate about art and wants the community to know that there is a variety of talent locally.

Outside of his volunteer work for Old Town Cape, Greenwood is a man of man talents, including illustration, engraving, and performing as a musician. He has illustrated books such as, The Saving of Dogtown by James W. Riley Jr., The Loch Ness Adventure by Walter and Mary Hearnes, and Gordonville Grove by Jerry Ford. He has also created designs for national and international greeting card companies including, Hallmark Cards, American Greetings, Buzza Cardosa, and Charmcraft. Throughout his career he has created art for Walt Disney, Hughes Tool, President Reagan, Versace Fashion Design, Wedgewood China, Crane Paper, Crown Foil, and Murata Kimpaku. When he's not working in the art field, you can find him kayaking on one of the many nearby rivers or lakes with a group of his closest friends.

Don credits his success and knowledge to his wife and family. Coming from a large family, he quickly learned how to communicate well and get along with most everyone. He has no words of advice to share, but instead believes that everyone learns something important from those that they surround themselves with.

You can check out some of his work by visiting the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri galleries, or by taking a stroll past one of the directional kiosks downtown. Like many, I bet you didn't know that the little people and animals on these maps are courtesy of Mr. Greenwood!

This post is written by guest blogger, Kynli Smith, Intern at Old Town Cape.

The blog committee wants to share with you the stories of the volunteers that work behind the scenes at Old Town Cape. This series will allow you to get to know our volunteers, find out how they became involved, learn what their interests are, and discover their goals for both downtown and themselves.

Cory Daniel, Commercial Relationship Manager for Montgomery Bank in Cape Girardeau, is currently serving as president of the Board of Directors for Old Town Cape. He is a native of Jackson, Missouri and currently resides there with his wife, Kristen. Daniel became involved with Old Town Cape a few years ago when he was approached by volunteers to serve on the Board.

"Old Town Cape is a great organization, and I am glad I was asked to be a part of it," said Daniel.

His current role as Board President is to run the meetings, oversee operations and give feedback. A goal of his for downtown Cape are to continue to max the potential of downtown with more businesses, projects and revitalization.

"We have a lot of momentum with the revitalization of downtown happening right now. There is excitement and pride in the businesses and projects happening down here."

When Daniel isn't working at Montgomery Bank of helping Old Town Cape with projects, he spends a lot of his free time outdoors. He is very active in sports and hunting including turkey, deer and duck. The biggest influence in Daniel's life has been his grandparents. They taught him many life lessons that he still uses today.

"They were both just rock solid people. They taught me so much about hard work, honesty and faith."

Some of Daniel's tips for success for people is to remember the Golden Rule: treat people the way you want to be treated. He also encourages people to set goals for themselves that they can strive towards.

"If you are hard working and honest with people, you are going to be successful in whatever you set out to accomplish in life."

Old Town Cape has launched a blog, and you are reading our very first post!

We, your trusty blog committee, have come together to plan and orchestrate this blog of behalf of Old Town Cape for downtown Cape Girardeau. Here you’ll get the scoop on downtown events, downtown shops, downtown life and downtown everything! Plus, we’ll be writing about trends relating to downtown merchandise as well as how-to guides. 

Our goal is to help you enjoy life more by getting downtown! Shop local boutiques. Enjoy a fresh meal at a local restaurant. Take a relaxing walk by the river. Explore the unique history you can only find downtown.
We’ll show you how life is so much better with downtown in it! And if you’re a downtowner, you already know…but we’ll help you find even more downtown pizzazz! Help us spread the downtown buzz on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and beyond, and if you’re interested in contributing, you can get in touch with Nicholle at nichollehinkle@oldtowncape.org.

We hope you enjoy our posts, and we’ll be looking for your feedback!

Cheers,
Your Downtown Blog Committee