As crazy as it is to believe, it has already been almost 10 years since we dedicated the Mississippi River Tales Mural. This landmark attracts people from around the area who are interested in art, the river, our history and heritage, and serves as a landmark for our downtown. A celebration coordinated by the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau and Old Town Cape is set for Thursday, July 30, at 2pm to commemorate the anniversary and celebrate everything it has brought to the community. This event is open to the public, so please plan to join us.

Did you know there are 25 panels that make up this mural? Each section depicts a significant event in Cape Girardeau's history, dating back to 900's when the Native Americans explored our area. To help cover the monumental cost of planning for and creating this masterpiece, sponsorships of each panel were offered to the public. Our community rallied around this effort and all 25 were sponsored.

Jim and Teresa Maurer stepped up to the plate when the sponsorship opportunity presented itself. Their sponsored section depicts a scene from the flood of 1927. Read below to find out why they decided to invest in this project and what the mural means to them.

"We wanted to be a part of it, and the sponsorship of a downtown mural seemed a very fitting opportunity. Apparently the rest of the community agreed because there were only a few panels left by the time we decided to definitely participate. But what a commemoration of an event that shaped our community – The Big Flood of 1927.

"We love the details that helped make up this section. From the flapper dresses and period-specific vehicle, to the marking of the actual water level with the fish swimming at the bottom. It’s such a historic moment of our past that’s beautifully captured, this was the prefect section.

"We often drive down Water Street and observe people studying the panels, and I am again reminded of the unique history - told in the panels on the flood wall - that Cape Girardeau has given us. We have the origins, growth, successes and heartaches of the history of Cape Girardeau told in pictorial fashion all along the flood wall. The wall is a legacy to all the people who have lived, are living and who will be living in Cape Girardeau."

This post was co-written by guest blogger Teresa Maurer and Christa Zickfield, Old Town Cape Project Manager.

April showers bring May flowers - and flooding. Our Mighty Mississippi River is full right now. Flood stage here in downtown is 32 feet. The projected crest, which is the highest level the river is projected to reach, is 43 feet. Unfortunately, for heartland residents this is nothing new.

1937
The flood of 1937 caused $20 million in damage, the equivalent of more than $300 million in today's dollars. Thousands of people were left homeless and displaced for months, some forever. Tent cities, areas of high ground where people congregated to seek shelter, popped up across the area. For the first time since its construction in the early 1930's, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided it was necessary to open the Birds Point Levee and help alleviate flooding pressure along the river. Cleanup throughout the Southeast Missouri area lasted for years and historians refer to this event as one of the greatest natural disasters in the country's history.

 1943
Like the major flood six years prior, the flood of 1943 was huge. The Mississippi crested at 42.4 feet in May of that year; 10.4 feet above flood stage. Just like before, thousands were displaced from their homes, WWII efforts were disrupted and livelihoods were ruined. In response to the widespread devastation, Congress passed the Flood Control Act in 1944 authorizing numerous flood control and water development projects to aid in the management of these efforts down the road.

1993
Crazy events culminated in the Flood of '93 because our area really didn't receive that much rain. Snow melt combined with an excessive amount of rain to the north caused our waters to rise excessively. The river first crept above above flood stage on March 7 and remained above this level for 126 consecutive days. Sandbaggers and pumps worked tirelessly for weeks trying to keep water out of our area. The entire affected area included the states of: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin and Illinois. Approximately fifty flood deaths occurred and damages approached the $15 billion mark.

Our immediate forecast is iffy on the chance of rain. We'll just have to wait and see what Mother Nature decides to pass our way.
Photos courtesy of Chris Shivelbine, Southeast Missourian and UMSL

Nourishing your creative spirit is easy in an area like Downtown Cape Girardeau. Evidenced by the number of art studios, galleries and specialty shops within the 131 blocks of downtown, art is very much alive in the area's culture. One studio exemplifies this and is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Here is a little peak into the creative world at The Artist Studio with Owner/Artist, Judy Barks-Westrich.  Being an artist is more than simply creating pieces, cleaning paint brushes and sharpening pencils; it's about sharing your talents and showing the rest of the world how to be creative. 'Iwanted to share with others some fundamental basics that my profession of teaching had taught me about the visual arts,' commented Judy. This premise is the foundation of The Artist Studio that opened at 38A North Main on March 5, 2005.
A full-time Art instructor at Cape Central High School at the time, she participated in every First Friday with the Arts event, worked Saturdays at the studio and conducted evening workshops. After a 39-year teaching career, she retired from public education in 2011 “to” the studio and simply continued her passion with the arts.
Her space is multifaceted. It's a working studio - walk by the storefront and you can almost always catch Judy in the middle of a masterpiece with paint on her fingers. It's an instructional studio - more than 60 workshops have been held on everything from acrylics, watercolor and printmaking, to weaving and paper making.  It's also a display studio - stop in anytime to peruse and purchase her original creations.
'I remember when I sold my first piece of artwork - it was a handmade paper casting. I almost felt a loss... sounds odd doesn't it? But then, I also felt a compliment and realized that someone liked my work - great feeling for an artist!'
With the exception of large stretched canvases, most of Judy's paintings are created in the studio. Inspiration and stimulation motivate her when surrounded by these beautiful pieces. 'I actually seem to gain positive energy from my art.'
Spontaneity is also key to her creativity, allowing her compositions to evolve over time and through experimentation. Acrylics and latex are her typical 'go-to's' with the palette knife on close standby. 'Texture - I love texture,' she expressed. This signature element is always visible in her works whether it be a subtle addition or an intricate expression of the focal point.  
'I express my style through nonobjective, abstract design. I see ideas everywhere and derive inspiration from personal pleasure.' This concept is truly evident when stepping into her studio. Her abstract landscapes - or 'landshapes' - and abstract florals allow you to see a setting or a beautiful flower in a completely different way than you imagined. 'I create to please myself because I love the creative process! When I feel successful, my art reflects that moment.'
If you'd love to create your own masterpiece but don't know where to start, don't know what to do or think you aren't creative enough, give Judy a call. 'I still get excited and gain energy when I instruct workshops and help others appreciate their talents and the arts,' she added. 'The artwork that is created is always amazing . . .'
   'My requirement for a workshop or special instruction is the desire to take time for creative pleasure. Preconceived talent is not important.' By stressing the creative process, people are able to gain a greater appreciation for being an artist and can understand art as more than strokes on a canvas. All workshops are offered upon request - morning, afternoon or evening.
'No, I have not made a fortune; but, my mission of sharing my knowledge and ability with the arts with others has made for a fantastic 10 years!' Her passion with the arts is still in her heart – for that reason, she feels fortunate!
Another year brings new excitements and unlimited creative potential. 'I invite everyone to visit The Artist Studio – let’s talk art!'

This post was co-written by guest blogger and owner of The Artist Studio, Judy Barks-Westrich, and Old Town Cape Project Manager, Christa Zickfield.

        
        

Do you love downtown?
Are you looking to be involved in a worthwhile organization?
Do you want to know more about some of the changes and updates that happened in 2014?
Are you curious about what’s in store for the 131 blocks of our downtown district for 2015?
Have you asked yourself - what does Old Town Cape really do?
This pretty much includes everyone, right? Make plans to attend our Annual Dinner on Thursday, February 19, at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau.

Social hour kicks off the evening at 6pm in Isle Casino Cape Girardeau’s Event Center, located at 777 N Main, with dinner and the program to follow at 7pm. If you haven’t had the opportunity to dine at the Isle, you’re really missing out. We guarantee Chef Ray and his team will have a delicious dinner ready to tantalize your taste buds while learning more about downtown.

Learning more about downtown - what more is there to know? Main Street, Broadway, Spanish Street, we have a court house, fantastic businesses and there are some good restaurants… Our downtown is so much more! Did you know that in 2014 alone there were 85 net new jobs added just in our 131 downtown blocks? Our organization was instrumental in helping pull together 54 events. Over $6,000,000 was invested by our downtown businesses and investors in building and area improvements. That’s just a portion of the puzzle - RSVP for the dinner today to learn more.

This event also gives our organization the opportunity to honor significant downtown achievements and improvements, as well as those businesses and volunteers that have made a major impact on our area and the organization. This year’s recognitions include: Adaptive Use - highlights the creative utilization of a downtown building, Business in Excellence - spotlights an organization that has gone above and beyond to further the collective efforts of downtown revitalization, Volunteer of the Year - pretty much speaks for itself, and the Charles L. Hutson Visionary Award - shines a light on one volunteer, one of the many, who has made a substantial impact on downtown.

Tickets are $30 each or tables of 8 are available for $240. If you have special dietary needs, please let us know when reserving your spot. Reservations can be made by calling Old Town Cape at (573) 334-8085.

Special 'Thank you's' go out to our Annual Dinner sponsors - First State Community Bank and Isle Casino Cape Girardeau. Without their support, and the support of all of our sponsors, events like these and downtown revitalization wouldn't be possible. 

Old town is your town - come find out about the excitement!

Prior to about four years ago when I began working at Old Town Cape, I had never really shopped downtown Cape or any downtown area for that matter. When I needed to buy something I visited a big box store to find what I needed. However, once I began working downtown, I quickly discovered all of the hidden treasures that I had been missing…not only that, but the service you receive at a small business and the friendships you form are priceless.

After becoming a downtown junkie, I even started to incorporate visits to other downtown areas when planning trips, but it didn’t take too long to realize that something was missing. There were no guides or signage to inform me of the small businesses that each area was home to. Therefore, I had to spend more of my time roaming around looking for businesses and less time actually visiting them. For someone like me who loves shopping, this was a problem.

After returning back to Cape from a trip to a small town in Virginia, I decided that downtown Cape had the same need as other downtown areas because it too had no way for visitors to know what it had to offer. Granted the area does have “wayfinding” signage making it easier to find downtown, but there was no guide available once visitors arrived – or should I say there wasn’t.

After about a year’s worth of establishing guidelines on what information to include for visitors, gathering information on the businesses and attractions, and laying out the design, Old Town Cape launched their Downtown Guide in the summer of 2014. It is a full-color guide, complete with a comprehensive listing of shops, restaurants, personal services, arts and entertainment and more in downtown Cape. If you haven’t checked it out, I encourage you to stop by Old Town Cape, the Cape Girardeau Convention & Visitors Bureau, Isle Casino Cape Girardeau or most of the downtown retailers to see one for yourself – you won’t be disappointed!

Although I no longer work at Old Town Cape, I do still work downtown and enjoy seeing people from all over stroll the area. Now, thanks to the help of many partners, they are able to use the guide to find the small business that carries just what they are looking for.
    
               

This post is written by guest blogger, Nicholle Hinkle, Director of Donor Relations at United Way of Southeast Missouri.

This post is written by guest blogger, Steven Amrhein, Intern at Old Town Cape.

With all of the art popping up in downtown Cape Girardeau lately, it's nice to see some art coming out of Cape Girardeau. No, I don't mean that in negative way like pieces are being removed, but rather in a good way as a local artist was recently recognized and a piece of his was chosen for a festival. The Charleston Dogwood Azalea Festival has been held every year for the past 40 years and in 2015, the festival organizers will use a piece of artwork by Johnny Thurman to identify the event.

What began as an idea at work for Johnny is now going to appear on t-shirts for the festival - how cool! He created a drawing of the state of Missouri with the state flower inside of it using trace paper, prism color ink pens and colored pencils. Because this piece turned out so well, he soon had clients from Illinois, Kentucky and even Arizona asking him to do similar work with their respected states and flowers. One of Johnny's friends took the liberty to post a picture of the original drawing on social media and it got almost immediate attention by one of Johnny's grade school teachers. Now working for the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, the teacher thought the drawing was perfect for the festival and plans are being made to use it!

Johnny has been interested in art since he was a kid. In fact, his 4th grade teacher even called his mom when he was in grade school to tell her that he had an eye for detail and that he could go far with it. This skill probably comes from his background as he grew up with an artistic family where his mom was constantly drawing and his aunts had paintings hung everywhere. He became inspired by his surroundings and grew to love drawing. Recently, he took drawing a step further and began working as a tattoo artist at A Different Drummer where he is able to tailor his love into a more permanent form. His favorite part of the job is having the ability to make suggestions for changes to a tattoo idea and bounce other ideas off of people in order to create the perfect piece.

Johnny has grown from drawing fliers for local bands to using skin as a canvas while still honoring his signature style of pen and ink watercolors. He believes that doors have been opened for him submitting new works due to the festival choosing to use his piece. Of course, this will be in a primitive form if his clients want something original, but they will also have the choice of a hand drawn piece rather than one created using computer software. "You're your own worst critic" is the phrase that Johnny left me with. When you spend twenty-three hours on a pencil project and are only an eighth of the way done, I'd say he's right. He continues to tweak the piece for the festival and explained that it's only done when the artist says that it's done.

This post is written by guest blogger, Kevin Taylor, Development & Resources Coordinator at Old Town Cape.

The recent work on Broadway due to the streetscape project has some wondering why projects like this one are so important to downtown Cape and historic communities in general. Since May is Historic Preservation month, there is no better time than the present to help you understand the science behind the project and how it has made downtown safer and more pedestrian friendly. And, as a result, exciting businesses have been enhanced because the area is now a destination that attracts more visitors.

Some view the change in parking along Broadway and the new crosswalks as a deterring factor, but both of these additions actually encourage drivers to slow down because the street is narrower and there is an increase in pedestrian traffic. As a bonus, the drivers have time to glance at the variety of businesses downtown as they are passing by and will perhaps make a pit stop.

Another feature that makes pedestrians feel safe is the bump-outs on each curb along Broadway. When driving down Broadway and turning onto Main Street, you will notice that the curb protrudes far away from the sidewalk. In the past if you were waiting outside of Renaissance for your significant other to finish her shopping, for example, you may have felt unsafe because the traffic was so close to you. That is no longer an issue because you are now tucked away from the traffic.

All of these features have also allowed Old Town Cape to finally do something that has been in the works for quite some time - bring more art to downtown Cape. In April, the Cape Girardeau Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit was launched with seven pieces placed along Broadway. These sculptures, whether you do or don't love them, have brought many people downtown to take a peek. In fact, The Corner Grocery Store shared with me that they have had an increase in customers due to keeping track of those who stop in while checking out the art. If that doesn't tell you something about the success of the changes along Broadway and downtown in general, I don't know what will!

Creating a safer and more inviting atmosphere is definitely the key to helping businesses be successful and bringing more traffic downtown. Old Town Cape is already a place that people are excited to visit, so everything that we can do to make them feel more welcome will only help the area succeed. I'm confident that the same positive impact will be seen on Main Street in the near future after the upcoming improvements are completed. Then, we'll have a thriving district no matter which street you are on! 

This post is written by guest blogger, Lindsey Lotz, a Historic Preservation student at Southeast Missouri State University.

Did you know that May is National Historic Preservation month? As a student at Southeast Missouri State University studying Historic Preservation, I have long felt that there is a need for a piece that could be displayed in buildings downtown that would provide people who stroll by with information about the history and preservation of the building. So, I decided to take upon a project that would fill this need by creating posters for 120 Broadway, 121 Broadway, 19 North Spanish and 7-19 South Spanish. I chose these four buildings because they each have a varied history and have all served many different functions in the past.

For example, the building located at 120 Broadway is now home to Sweet Designs Boutique, but it originally sat on land owned by Louis Lorimer, who gave it to his daughter in his will. At the start, it was a single family hose, and for sometime it was home to Fred Kage, three time mayor of Cape Girardeau, who purchased it in 1886 for a mere $1,332. In approximately 1930, the house was renovated into a two family apartment and remained in that setup until 1972 when it became an office for SaveWay Oil Company. Local ledged suggests that the house was at one time sold for 300 gallons of whiskey.

Directly across from the former Kage House (120 Broadway) is what used to be Keys Music Store at 121 Broadway. Until recently, information about the architect was unknown, but new information points to J.B. Legg as the architect of the three story red brick building. Legg is famous for his work featured in the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, MO but also for the creation of Academic Hall and the copper dome that has become the symbol of Southeast Missouri State University. Today, the building is owned by Mike Rust and will soon be occupied by a microbrewery and a furniture store.

Built in 1941 by C.A. Juden, the building at 19 North Spanish was at one time an A&P Grocery Store. In fact, it was so large that it actually closed the other two A&P locations in Cape Girardeau at that time. The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company drastically changed the way people shopped back in the day by introducing a new supermarket model. Before the shoppers would go into a grocery store, they would hand their list to a clerk and the clerk would retrieve the items and sometimes would even help the customer carry the groceries home. A&P's vision behind this model was for the store to be fully self-service. Today, Brick Street Gallery Antiques is housed in this building.

7-19 South Spanish is located next to the parking lot that houses the Cape Riverfront Market on Saturday mornings between May and October. The Klostermann Block was built in 1905 by Louis F. Klostermann, a German immigrant who settled in Cape Girardeau after serving in the Civil War, who became a prominent business man with his store known as the "Bee" store. The Klostermann Block was built next to the "Bee" store and was used as a rental space. One of the most stunning features of the building is its pressed metal façade that was created by the Mesker Brother's company in St. Louis. Kelsen Gallery and Celebrations Downtown occupies the space today.

The research that I have done in order to create the posters has taught me so much about the history of downtown Cape. I couldn't have done it without the help of Old Town Cape, the Historic Preservation Commission, the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Dr. Steven Hoffman. Keep an eye out for the posters that will go on display in May!

This post is written by guest blogger, Steven Amrhein, Intern at Old Town Cape.

I'll admit that I like to go out downtown every now and then. My nights usually begin pretty early though because I don't stay up too late. One thing that I've discovered in my senior year of college is that the bars downtown have a lot more to offer than just bottomless pitcher nights - they have music, and a lot of it!

The first band I ever heard perform downtown was Old School Hype, the house cover band for The Library. They play every Thursday night at 8 and normally take breaks during their show to chat with the audience. One night while listening to them play, I decided to strike up a conversation with their guitar player, Caleb, since I too am a guitarist. He told me that the band is pretty busy, playing over 250 shows since they formed in 2010, and have booked an additional 145 show this year! Caleb started playing the guitar when he was just 8 years old, and after a few years of improvement, he got together with his brother, Alex, and decided to start a band. Chris, the drummer, joined the band after meeting Alex through the Southeast Missouri State University music program, while Skyler, the bassist, joined after being introduced by a friend.

My biggest question was why they played so many shows in bars rather than branching out to venues, wineries, etc. Caleb explained that they play downtown so much because they enjoy the atmosphere and they feel right at home. However, the band is willing to contribute their service to local charitable causes by playing benefit shows when asked. "The best thing about playing locally is the decent following that we have. A few die hard fans come to every show and cheer us on," explained Caleb. During one show, Old School Hype rocked so hard that they threw a breaker in the middle of a song and the building's power went out! Their fan base is so great, though, that they kept the show going even when disaster struck.

The last thing Caleb left with me before I headed home for the night, besides to follow them on Facebook for upcoming shows, was a great story about the band's favorite memory of a show downtown. "One night while playing at The Library when 'Gone Girl' was being filmed, a few people from the movie came in while we were playing 'Feel Like Making Love' by Bad Company. Actress Lola Kirke, daughter of Bad Company's drummer, Simon Kirke, was amongst the crowd and danced away. After she returned home from shooting the movie, she sent us autographed pictures of the band and her as well as autographs from her father," said Caleb.

As I was walking down Main Street just about to wrap up my night, I heard hard rock music coming out of Rude Dog. I'm a huge fan of 90s rock and that grunge feel, so I figured I'd pop my head in and listen for a minute with a couple of friends. The band on stage was Seems Legit, one that I had never heard of. I only intended to stay for a few minutes, but the mix of rock, country, and blues kept my interest and I ended up staying until last call.

The band then began tearing down the stage and putting away their instruments, but I had the opportunity to have a quick chat with lead singer, Jason. Beyond my belief, he told me that Seems Legit had only played about 10 shows. I was shocked because their sound was so professional for being a newbie. "We take pride in good, tight sound and try to learn something new at every show," Jason explained.

I thanked Jason for his time and let the band finish packing up their equipment and began heading home. It was the first night since I turned 21 that I had stayed out until closing time, and I couldn't be happier. I met two great bands, made some new friends, and learned from aspiring musicians that one day will be headlining in St. Louis. Sign up for the What's Up Downtown weekly update to find out where Old School Hype and Seems Legit will play downtown next!

"I shop for the store like I'd shop for my home," said Susan Hall, owner of Shoppe La La, a furniture and housewares repurposing and resale studio studio located at 437 Broadway.

Lucky for me, Hall and I must "shop for our homes" in a similar fashion. My husband and I decided to make a stop at Shoppe La La one Saturday, on a whim, while making our occasional jaunt to the downtown area's antique and vintage stores. I'd spent nearly two years searching for larger, more eclectic bedside tables to pair with the mass-produced bedroom group we'd purchased after our wedding.

My new tables were nestled in the studio work area of Hall's shop, one of which has been the perfect height and size for holding a can of Old Town Paints and multiple brushes. After decided to purchase the side tables, Hall and I discussed available colors and finishes. I placed a 50 percent deposit on the tables after deciding on the perfect color, finish and completed price of $100. About two weeks later, the tables graced by bedside and are a perfect fit!

"What's unique about us is not only do I have pieces that are prepared, I have pieces that customers can pick unfinished and be a part of that process," Hall said. "Or, if you have something and you need it remade, or made over, you can bring it in and we'll do that, too."

Other than customers special-ordered pieces, Hall takes an artistic approach to choosing other projects for her studio. "They just kind of talk to me. I don't really do a factory assembly line type of painting," she said. "I look at each piece and as I'm cleaning and base coating it, it tells me what it needs to look like. Something just attracts my eye."

Hall will bring chosen items to the studio if the pieces have great lines or a potentially great purpose. A busy bee, customers will almost always find her and her employee working on a new item or three. Projects include everything from a small set of candleholders to large and detailed buffets and sideboards.

"Most people would think they were beyond repair. We took them, and took away and added to, and made them beautiful and useful again. For me, that's probably what sticks out in my mind. We can take pieces that really have been forgotten, whether it's been damaged or is out of style, and give them new life so people can enjoy them for the next 20 or 30 years," said Hall.

Shoppe La La is also a retail location for Old Town Paints, the type of chalk paint Hall uses to create beautiful "new" pieces. Chalk paint is gaining popularity worldwide, thanks to Pinterest, and its durability and ease of use makes it a great product for painting furniture. "I actually used to use a different chalk paint starting out. I decided not to carry that brand, so I went searching for something that I would like," Hall said. "I contacted several companies, had them send me their paint, tried it out, and Old Town Paints won, hands down."

Hall liked that the Old Town Paints brand had a large selection of colors and was relatively inexpensive. "I don't think it should cost a huge amount of money. You really can get quite a few projects out of one quart. And then it was just a really lucky coincidence that it was called 'Old Town Paints' in Old Town Cape," she said.

After being involved in design and repurposing for 20 years, Hall started concentrating on furniture, originally selling out of her home and then from a booth space. Growth landed her back in Old Town Cape. Hall only sees advantage to operating out of the downtown district. "I think there's a great energy down here. I think there are a tremendous amount of creative people down here. I think it's a mindset - even when customers come down, they know they're going to get something that someone created," Hall said.

If you'd like to learn how to create your own works of art with chalk paint, Hall is offering classes at the studio beginning in January 2014. "The first classes are an intro to chalk paint. You can come with absolutely no prior painting skills. Then, throughout the year I'm going to up the ante," she said. The three-hour classes cost $50 and is hosted at Shoppe La La. Entrants should bring their own small project, and Hall will supply the paint, brushes and other supplies. Course space is limited. Email shoppelala@gmail.com or call 573-803-2744 to sign up. A small fee must be paid to hold your spot in class. Upcoming classes include 1 to 4 p.m. on January 21st, 3 to 6 p.m. on January 25th, and 6 to 9 p.m. on January 31st.

Shoppe La La can be found on Facebook, and operating hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.