Downtown alive with activity

From wine walks, to beer crawls, to family events and live music, the Carson City Downtown Consortium is promoting the capital city business center with events planned through October.

Tammy Westergard, deputy manager of the Carson City Office of Business Development, said between 1,400 and 1,700 people have sauntered through the farmers market, Pop-Up Park for kids, and Green Thumb Alley for gardeners, held every Saturday spanning eight blocks on Curry Street from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

"We are consistently getting between 400 and 500 people per hour in the farmers market," she said. For the first time this Saturday, 28 vendors will be participating.

For those biking to the market, either alone of as part of the park and pedal event Bike the Blue Line, a free booth called Valet Chalet will give people a place to drop off their market finds for pickup after they've completed their shopping.

The increase in downtown activity has also been a boon for local businesses.

"It's been fabulous," said Julie Grady, owner of Due' Sorella on Curry Street. "It's bringing down all types of new people to the area, a lot of young people. My sales have increased three-fold."

Every first Saturday and third Saturday of the month is for the beer and wine aficionados. And each Friday night on Third Street is live music and dancing, with Telegraph Square hosting an outdoor concert four Saturday nights through October.

"As nice as this is for the community, there is a laser-pointed focus of all of this," said Westergard. "When you have a vibrant downtown, residents want to hang out there and the visitors want to hang out there, too. The economic driver of downtown affects the whole town.

"This is not just about downtown, it has a complete ripple effect. When you have a downtown that has a vibrancy people are drawn to it naturally. It's our front door. It's the face of our community. It's who we are."

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.

• Telegraph Square Pop-Up Park

When: Saturday mornings through October

Time: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Where: Telegraph Square

Get ready for tons of family fun, including bounce houses, face painting, karate and dance demonstrations, arts & crafts, story times - even massages for mom and dad!

• Downtown Farmers Market

When: Saturday mornings through October

Time: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Where: Third & Curry streets parking lot

The Third Street Farmers Market is a local growers' market, featuring fresh produce from Nevada Certified Farmers Market growers. In addition to the produce, the market also offers a variety of fresh baked breads and pastries, jams and honeys, house and garden plants, arranged planters. Unique food vendors also are a part of the market, offering prepared foods and beverages

• Green Thumb Alley

When: Saturday mornings through October

Time: 10 a.m.-noon every hour

Where: Curry Street Alley next to Hanifin Antiques

Learn more from master gardeners, Mary MacDonald and Ralph Marrone with best practices on a number of topics from University Nevada, Reno's cooperative extension master, JoAnne Skelly and Greenhouse Garden Center's Dave Ruff.

• Bike the Blue Line - 2.5 Mile Path

When: Saturdays mornings through October

Time: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Where: 900 block of North Curry Street across from the Purple Avocado

Pedal around Carson City's historic Kit Carson Blue Line Trail through Carson City's residential homes district on a beautiful Saturday morning and arrive at the Curry St. Promenade, biking your way to: Farmers Market, Green Thumb Alley, Telegraph Square, Family Pop-up Park and the Brewery Arts Center

Put your bike on JAC and get off at the Old Carson Tahoe Hospital and bike into the Ann & Curry St. Parking lot to start the Blue Line Tour. Or, drive to the Ann St. parking lot and start your bike tour into Carson City's historic district.

• Fridays @ 3rd Street

When: Friday evenings through August

Time: 7-11:30 p.m.

Where: Third Street between Curry and Carson streets

Live music and dancing

• Rockin' the Square Live Music

Time: 7-11 p.m.

Where: Telegraph Square

When: Saturday, Sept. 3, Sept. 20, Oct. 4 and Oct. 11

Live music and dancing

• Downtown Beer Crawl

When: Third Saturday of every month, 1-5 p.m.

Cost: $10 gets you a map of the participating businesses and a taste at each location.

Where: Sign up at D'Vine Wine, HorseShoe Club, Cactus Jacks, Carson Jewelry & Loan and Revelations.

The third Saturday of each month in downtown Carson City. Taste exciting new beers and nosh on delicious snacks for only $10.

• Downtown Wine Walk

When: First Saturday of every month, 1-5 p.m.

Cost: $10

Where: Sign up at the D'Vine Wine, HorseShoe Club, Cactus Jacks, Carson Jewelry & Loan and Revelations.

The first Saturday of every month go for a stroll around downtown Carson City. Purchase a commemorative wine glass and map for $10 and enjoy the wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, art galleries, gift shops, casinos and restaurants.

Source: www.downtowncarsoncity.com