Southeast Missouri State University will celebrate its second annual community River Campus Summer Arts Festival this Saturday, June 20. “Seussical” the musical will be capping the day with a performance at 7:30pm. Last year’s festival had a record attendance with more than 1,200. This year’s event will feature live music, dance, visual art displays, theatrical performances, an art walk, magic, hands-on family-friendly art expression activities, museum exhibitions, and Plein Art Painting. The festival is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free and open to all ages.

The music line-up has grown extensively since last year. The entertainment will run continually throughout the day featuring the Suzuki players, magician Rob Huff, Mr. Saxophone, Steve Schaffner, Jazz Trio 440’s, the Jerry Ford Combo and Barefoot on Sunday. Children’s activities will be available all day as well, including face painting and hands on activities in the kids’ art tent. The Avenue of Art competition will be back again with a new special category for creating Dr. Seuss art. Additionally, artists of all ages can participate in creating chalk art, with Craig Thomas composing a piece for the festival. Art booths will include demonstrations and art for sale. Ceramics students will demonstrate their craft, and printmaking students will offer a workshop. Students from the Southeast Department of Art and multiple professional artists will have art booths available. In the southwest parking lot, the Southeast Explorer mobile museum will showcase a United States history exhibit and the River City Rodders will display antique and hot rod cars. Bart Williams of the Southeast Department of Theatre and Dance, will present a stage combat exhibition of Quarterstaff fighting outdoors in the Seminary Quad. The River City Players will perform “Sleuth” by Anthony Shaffer.  There will be numerous dance and theater performances, demonstrations, and workshops throughout the day. See SEMO's website for more information.

The all-day event will close with a performance of “Seussical” the musical at 7:30 p.m. in the Wendy Kurka Rust Flexible Theatre. “Seussical” is a musical comedy based on numerous Dr. Seuss books. The musical is written by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens.  It is a comedy that will be enjoyed by the entire family. Tickets may be purchased by contacting the River Campus Box Office, located in the Cultural Arts Center, 518 S. Fountain St., weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.,  calling (573) 651-2265 or by visiting www.RiverCampusEvents.com. Additional performances will include June 18-19, 25- 27 at 7:30 p.m., 2 p.m. matinees on June 21, 27 and 28, and a special 10 a.m. performance on June 26.  Get tickets now, seats are filling up quickly!

We, at Old Town Cape, are happy to get the opportunity to work with Southeast Missouri State University campuses on events such as this one. It is partnerships like these that help further opportunities for the University and Downtown and offer a variety of activities for the community to take part in.

This post was written by guest blogger, Alyssa Basler, intern at Old Town Cape.

Have you ever been downtown on a First Friday evening? Shops are open, galleries display new and original artwork as part of the Art Walk, signs line the sidewalk and the sound of live music wafts onto the street. People who make it a point to visit downtown during a First Friday with the Arts event will tell you there is great energy in the air.

Local galleries and studios started First Friday with the Arts in 2003 as a way to engage the community with the arts. At the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, we understand the power and importance of the arts as a unifying force. For this reason, as of January 1, 2015, the Arts Council is excited to announce that it has become the coordinator of these monthly events.

To kick off this transition, a downtown-wide Cookie Spree will be held on Friday, February 6^th, from 5–9pm. During the Cookie Spree, participating businesses and galleries will offer different types of cookies at their locations, and guests can receive a stamp on their First Friday Stamp Card for every business they visit. Those who go to 5 or more downtown galleries or shops will become eligible for a ½ price appetizer at The Bar, which was featured in the newly-released film Gone Girl! Stamp cards can be picked up at any of the participating businesses listed below.

If you would like a complete listing of cookies available, make the Arts Council your first stop. We will have delicious chocolate-chunk cookies, courtesy of Chick-Fil-A, as well as handouts for the different types of cookies offered (including several gluten-free options!). We hope you’ll make it a point to visit Downtown Cape Girardeau this Friday, and bring your sweetie. There will be enough sweet treats to go around! 

Participating Businesses and Galleries:
Annie Laurie’s Antiques, Artisan Gifts, The Artist Studio, The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, The Bar, BLack Door Gallery, Brick Street Gallery, Cup N. Cork, DazSpell Creations, Gallery of Inspiration, Lattitudes, The Painted Wren Gallery, Philanthropy, Renaissance, Social’s Café, Somewhere In Time Antiques, The Tangled Yarn, WESTRAY Studio, Yearning for Yarn, Yoga East Healing Arts Studio

Other First Friday Partners:
Old Town Cape, The Library Bar, Something Blue Photography, StevMark Inc. and The Wright Group



This post was written by guest blogger Murielle Gaither, Executive Director of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri.

Did you know downtown Cape Girardeau is home to a gourmet dog boutique?  Mississippi Mutts is a friendly shop on Broadway that provides a place for you to take your dog to enjoy some well-deserved social interaction, to pick up a few toys and some new treats from their delicious bakery, while stocking up on his or her everyday supplies. If you and your dog can use a little help with obedience training, sign up to take part in their training classes.

Sherry Jennings, owner of Mississippi Mutts, says that people take their dogs to downtown Cape more than any other area. She calls our area ‘unique’ because you can take your dog for a walk, or you can take them to get wine or lunch with you. A variety of places downtown are available to explore with your dog. “More and more places are becoming pet friendly,” added Jennings.  She believes the growing dog friendly atmosphere makes downtown a more relaxing place, even for those who do not own dogs. 

Some of the downtown locals even bring their dogs to work. “It’s proven, when you take your dog to work it lowers stress and increases productivity,” Sherry noted. She definitely should know. Have you seen her dog Murphy out-and-about downtown recently? He has become a downtown fixture with enough love to for everyone. Dog-friendly work places are becoming more and more popular in our area. 

One example is Wynn from Cape Paint and Glass. He brings Harley, his golden retriever, to work every day. You’ll see them soaking up some fresh air and getting in some exercise around downtown almost every day during the lunch hour. If you stop in the shop, Harley is one of the first to say hello and welcome you in. ‘Harley has become our official greeter here at the office,’ commented Beverly, the office secretary. ‘He’s definitely brought some life and excitement to the business.’

Another famous downtown dog is Santino. If you haven’t seen Santino working in Sloan + Themis during the day with his owner Claire, you may have seen him wandering around many of our downtown Cape Girardeau shops. ‘People go nuts over him,’ Claire exclaimed! ‘He runs all types of errands downtown and he loves to get positive attention from everyone he comes in contact with.’ The girls at Mississippi Mutts will sometimes even keep him for a while after they are done grooming him to play.

Many downtown businesses have outdoor seating that helps make the area more dog-friendly. You can always see pups outside Cup ‘N’ Cork, Socials, Mediterranean on Broadway or Dynamite Coffee. What better way to relieve stress than a latte or a casual lunch with your best friend?

Another great downtown opportunity for dogs is the Cape Riverfront Market. During the warmer months this outdoor market plays host to local produce and craft vendors, musicians and an array of other specialized suppliers. Some vendors even have healthy dog treats for your furry family members. The casual, fun-for-everyone Market atmosphere is an excellent environment for these four-legged friends, so be sure to bring them along.

This post was written by Hilary Auer, Old Town Cape Intern; Kevin Taylor, Development and Resources Coordinator at Old Town Cape; and Christa Zickfield, Project Manager at Old Town Cape.

Question and Answer time with Happy Slapowitz's Toy Bash organizer, Ryan Eftink

What happened in 2001 that caused you to make a commitment to recruiting toys for kids at Christmas?
We wanted to have a Christmas party with our friends. My good friend, Davey, and I decided we’d make it a toy donation party. If you brought a toy to the party you could participate in the beverages and food that was provided, if not we asked for a cash donation. That first year at our house we had close to 100 people stop by… It was time to get a venue!

How did you come up with the name “Happy Slapowitz’s Toy Bash”?
We wanted something that gave tribute to the people that helped keep the event going. All the patrons of Rude Dog pub have always helped from the beginning and never asked for anything in return. That first year Mark and Todd wrote a check at the end of the night and gave cash from their tip jars to help. Another friend of ours, Nathan, brought several bags of toys to the event and one gentleman donates a bike every year. So I talked with my friends and decided to name it the “Happy Slapowitz’s Toy Bash” in honor of the unselfishness of the patrons of Rude Dog and the owners from that first year.  It is a name that means something to those that know it. 

What is your relation to Smokin’ Brothers?
Smokin Brothers is my family’s company. I have always been in charge of cooking the food for the event with help from a couple of friends. I am not into name recognition, and thought that it would help the cause if a business was named rather than a person. Smokin Brothers is a Seasoning, Sauce and Grill Manufacture Company. Double D Supply is the distributor for Smokin’ Brothers products. They provide all the supplies needed to cook from the seasonings, sauces and wood pellets, to, most importantly, the bbq grills used to cook the food.

What can we expect on this year’s menu?
We are cooking for all 8 bars this year. We’re providing pulled pork, BBQ baked beans, cole slaw and baked potato casserole. Food will be served before the bands take stage, from a 6-8pm, on December 11th.  

How do you buy tickets? What does it take to enter? 
The admission is a new unwrapped toy or a $10 cash donation at the door. ‘Bashers’ will receive a wristband to wear, allowing them to get into all locations for that one donation. If you purchased a t-shirt ahead of time, wear that and you’ll get in free.

What else is happening the evening of the 11th to support Toys for Tots
We’re having raffles for each bar that will be drawn at 12:30 at each location. Only 100 tickets will be sold at each bar for $5 apiece. It will be winner takes all. Each bar will have their own raffle box that will be given away, and the tickets can be purchased only at that bar that is giving that raffle away. The raffle boxes are made up of donations from our awesome sponsors. We’ll post on our FB page what each bar will have in their box.

New this year, we have one big prize to be raffled off. For a $20 entry you can win a Smokin Brothers BBQ grill valued at $900. Or, if you manage to make it to all eight venues and get your grill card punched at each location, you can enter for $10. The grill punch cards will be handed out at all venues, but Bel Air Bar and Grill will be where you can enter for the grill only. If you would like to purchase a chance to win the grill but are unable to attend, head over to Smokin Brothers at 1923 N. Kingshighway and enter there until Thursday, December 11th, at noon. We will be giving the grill away the following day on K103.

So you grew from changing the location from your home to Rude Dog to 8 pubs this year-is this correct?
We started in our home the first year and then quickly realized that it was too large of an event to have there. I’m good friends with the owners of Rude Dog Pub (Mark and Todd) and approached them about helping me out and having it at their location. The event changed from a Saturday night to a Thursday night. Also the free drinks went away, but we kept the food and added entertainment.

I have some good friends in several bands who came to help by donating their time. Jeremy Burford and Mike Renick were key contributors that first year at Rude Dog with their music connection.

That first year is when I got my right hand man on the cooking to start helping me, Kieth Seyer (Jr.).  2011 was the first year we added t-shirts and 2 other bars as well: Pour House & The Library. And this year we have committees helping with everything and we are an official 501C3! We also have had several businesses step forward and donate money and products to be given to the raffles.

We can’t wait for this year’s night - December 11th. 8 bars and 10 bands – don’t miss it!

'Like' our Facebook page to stay up-to-date on the latest Toy Bash information.

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

A little over three years ago (when my parents became empty-nesters), my dad started mentioning this thing called “craft beer.” I had never really heard of it, so I just assumed it was something that my parents were getting into since they didn’t have me around to entertain them anymore - ha! Little did I know at the time that this “craft beer” thing was actually becoming a new trend and thousands of people across the country were jumping on the bandwagon whether through taste-testing the products or brewing their own. How cool is that?

Well, if you’re a craft beer lover like my dad, you’ll be glad to know that United Way of Southeast Missouri is presenting an opportunity for you to taste-test over 60 craft and locally brewed beers right here in downtown Cape! That’s right – Boos & Microbrews will be held in conjunction with Hop Heads of Southeast Missouri and Bluff City Beer Co. on Saturday, October 25 from 2 to 6pm in the parking lot at Broadway & Main. Tickets are only $30 in advance or $35 the day of and can be purchased at United Way of Southeast Missouri, BOLD Marketing or Hubrew. However, you can also purchase tickets online by clicking here.

Your ticket gets you a tasting cup to sample the beers, a voting slip for your favorite beer, the opportunity to enjoy live music by the Jerry Ford Polka Band, entry into the Halloween costume contest, the chance to win raffle prizes, play games and so much more! Food will also be available for purchase from 2 Sides Grillin’.

As if I haven’t already provided enough good reasons to attend Boos & Microbrews, here are the Top 5 Reasons to Drink Craft Beer:

1 – It’s a hot topic. Like I mentioned, craft beer has become a rapidly growing trend in recent years. Craft beer + you drinking it = part of the cool club.

2 – The ingredients in the home-brewed beer will be fresh, carefully selected and of high quality. Our partners don’t brew anything but the best and these beverages are purely one of a kind and can’t be purchased in the store.

3 – Many people are referring to craft beer as the ‘new wine.’ Through the endless choices of flavors and styles of craft beer, there will always be an option to go with any meal…and 2 Sides Grillin will have plenty of options.

4 – The lager louts and bearded stereotypes have been well and truly quashed by the fresh, young and hip crowd that follows the movements of craft beer. Young fellows in trilbies sip pints with grey-haired strangers, women and men stand side-by-side, cups in hand. Welcome to beer equality.

5 – The people behind the craft beer possess an overwhelming degree of passion and love for what they do. It is brewed by local people, for local people, and often targeting a specific local area. Oh, and doing so will benefit your local United Way.

It’s officially Red October! Cardinal baseball postseason is filling the air. Located 100 miles south of St. Louis, it may be hard to find the rowdy, upbeat Cardinal spirit that we, as Cardinal fans, yearn for. Luckily, Downtown Cape Girardeau has many outlets for you to enjoy the games at and partake in the wild Cardinal atmosphere.

Autumn is finally here - let the crisp, cool breeze blow through your hair while taking in the game on the patio at Bel-Air Bar & Grill. Delicious food and drinks round out this venue for a delightful outdoor viewing experience.

Newly opened Katy O’Ferrell’s Publick House provides a casual, cozy environment along with delicious Irish food and a bar for your baseball viewing pleasure.

Looking for a tasty margarita to warm your stomach while taking in our next Cardinal win? Head to El Sol for delicious Mexican fare.

Hotshots has your hot wings and large beers to wash everything down. TV’s line the walls so there’s not a bad seat in the house.

For some romantic flair, head down to Bella Italia. Televisions above the bar provide prime viewing for just about any visitor in the restaurant while sopping up their delectable oil and cheese mixture with a piece of crusty bread.

Pull on your Cardinal gear and make your way to Broadway Biergarten to indulge in their fabulous appetizers and craft beers. The ambiance in this place is pretty close to first-base-line-in-Busch-Stadium quality.

Feel your Cajun roots and enjoy some red beans and rice or a shrimp po’boy while taking in the cardinal game in Broussard’s bar area.

Take in the games at each of these downtown bar destinations, Lodo’s, Last Call, Pour House, Rude Dog, That One Bar and D’Ladiums, for the ultimate party destination.

Cardinal Nation is a family - we love our fantastic team. We love the playoffs. We love the chase for victory. And we love coming together to celebrate. Pick one of these downtown hotspots, bring your team spirit and show our rival fans what it is to be part of Cardinal Nation!

The Corvettes are coming! Clear your calendars and plan to bring your family downtown Tuesday, August 26, for an evening filled with colorful corvettes, festivities and fun!

The Corvette Caravan is a national event bringing Corvette owners from all 50 states, and even a few foreign countries, together to journey to Bowling Green, Ky, to the National Corvette Museum's 20th anniversary celebration. Cape Girardeau was chosen to be the last overnight stop on their journey, and we're extremely excited to host these travelers!

A parade of local corvettes kicks-off the event. Find a spot on Broadway to watch hundreds of local vette owners journey from Capaha Park to Main St at 5:30pm. National caravaners are alated to arrive downtown around 6:30pm. Both groups will showcase their vehicles on Main St and Water St throughout the evening. Music will be provided by Hot Rod Nights, the Cape Girardeau Police Department will have a Fatal Vision Goggles display, as will the Highway Patrol with their Seat Belt Convincer and a Nascar Simulator from Auto Tire & Parts. You don't want to miss this opportunity to see hundreds of corvettes and participate in the festivities in our own backyard. Check out this video to learn more.

If you're a local Corvette owner and wish to participate in the parade, plan to meet at Capaha Park at 5pm on the 26th to receive further instructions.

Close spectator parking may be an issue. Free parking is available at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau from 4 to 9pm. From there, a shuttle will be running to a pick-up/drop-off location at the intersection of Main St and Broadway.

For more information, head over to the Convention & Visitors Bureau's website. We hope you're as excited about the event as we are and look forward to seeing you on the 26th!

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!

With the recent decision to bring the annual Fourth of July fireworks display back to downtown Cape Girardeau, we thought it a pertinent time to discuss the beneficial impacts that events such as this have on the downtown area.  

The list of events taking place downtown during a given period is lofty, and includes the fireworks display, Tunes at Twilight, First Friday, Parade of Lights, and The River Tales Classic Car Show…among many others. These events have the capacity to draw thousands of people (local and regional) into the Old Town Cape area that might not have otherwise visited. When combined with the areas multitude of retail, dining, and entertainment options, it’s an obvious winning situation for downtown merchants of every variety.

A recent study conducted by The Maine Center for Economic Policy examined a cities’ economic impacts when comparing local versus chain stores. The city of Portland, ME that was chosen has a population of just over sixty-six thousand people, which is comparable in nature to the Cape Girardeau and Jackson regional area. They analyzed data collected from 28 locally owned retail businesses, along with corporate filings for a representative national chain. The researchers found,

“That every $100 spent at locally owned businesses contributes an additional $58 to the local economy.  By comparison, $100 spent at a chain store in Portland yields just $33 in local economic impact.”

The study concluded,

“That if residents of the region were to shift 10 percent of their spending from chains to locally owned businesses, it would generate $127 million in additional local economic activity and 874 new jobs.”

Cape Girardeau is obviously not Portland, ME, but even if we were to assume a fraction of the benefits they found, we can come to the conclusion that local spending and events are a winning combination for Cape Girardeau. This is why we as downtown merchants, of every variety, should feel the need to champion events such as our recent fireworks display, while also applauding those who chose to patronize local retailers while in attendance.  Of utmost importance though, is to come to realization that events such as these can come to a close at a moment’s notice without support from the local community. We don’t like to imagine a downtown free from the sounds of an acoustic guitar at Tunes at Twilight, the uproar of a hot rod revving its engine during the car shows, or seeing the first set of Christmas lights parading down Broadway. We certainly hope that everyone in our area feels the same!