Downtowners Rip- Roarin’ Ribfest
June 13-15 at Bismarck Civic Center
National Ribbers Return for Year Six
The Downtowners are very excited to announce the 6th Annual Downtowners’ Rip-Roarin’ Ribfest June 13-15 at the Bismarck Civic Center Lot D. With what seems like a never ending winter, it will be great to barbecue with our five national “Ribbers” in 2013. This year we are hosting 3 returning Ribbers: Johnson’s BBQ, Howlin’ Coyote, and Porky ‘n Beans. Two new Ribbers have been added to the mix as well: Rasta Joe’s BBQ (a Jamaican Jerk Ribber), and Porky Chicks from Arkansas. In addition to these five BBQ masters, Cloverdale will be serving their famous Russell’s Reserve Ribs in our VIP Tent.
Live music has been booked for all three event days, inflatable games for the kids, vendor booths, and the beer tent will all be back at Ribfest! Kicking off Ribfest week is our 5th Annual Ribfest Road Race June 8 at Sertoma Park. This is a great event for beginners, families, and seasoned runners/walkers. There will be a 5K Walk, 5K Run, and 10K Run for races, as well as a day pass to Ribfest. Following the race, the race awards presentation for the Ribfest Road Races will be at the BisMarket just a few shelters down, Bismarck’s newest farmer’s market, vendor, and entertainment event.
If you are interested in buying VIP tickets for your business or family, or would like to sign up for the Ribfest Road Races, visit www.bismarckribfest.com.
We’d like to thank all of our sponsors and supporters that continue to make this Downtowners’ Association fundraising event possible: Cloverdale Foods, Jerome Distributing and Coors Light, McQuade Distributing and Budweiser, Eide Ford, Titan Machinery, Image Printing, KFYR TV, Armor Interactive, Town Square Media, Dakota Community Bank & Trust, American Bank Center, Tao Interactive, BNC Bank, Starion Financial, Sam’s Club, Kirkwood Bank & Trust, ABC Seamless, MVP, Ferrellgas, Executive Limousine, Bismarck Parks and Rec, Coca-Cola, Kirkwood Mall. If you’d like sponsor information for the 6th Annual Downtowners’ Rip Roarin’ Ribfest, email getit@downtownbismarck.com.
Shaping the Future of Downtown
2nd Public Meeting May 23
Initial Concepts Revealed
In March the public gathered at the Bismarck Civic Center to offer their ideas for the future development of Downtown Bismarck. The first of four public meetings, the group hired to produce the Downtown Master Plan for the city of Bismarck got a chance to hear what the citizens are looking for. Public meeting number two, coming up May 23 at 5:30pm at the Civic Center, will unveil some of the concepts that the consultants heard from the public.
They’re asking the public to join them at this meeting and let them know if they’re on the right track. Topping the list of public ideas was a Green Space/Gathering Space/Plaza located somewhere in the Downtown. To see more results that you, the citizens, came up with visit www.downtownbismarckstudy.com. Please consider joining the Downtowners at the meeting, this chance doesn’t come around often, so let’s make the most of it!
Downtown Bismarck
News & Updates
—STREET CLOSURE NOTICE: Folks are reminded not to park along the parade route for this Friday’s Band Night Parade. The parade starts at 6:30pm on the Capitol Grounds and follows the normal parade route on parts of 5th and 6th Streets. Vehicles will be towed and impounded. Please remind customers and visitors to Downtown Bismarck of this street closure. For more info visit: www.bismarck.org.
— A Creative Outlet (ACO) opened it’s doors for their first event during Downtown Bismarck’s 1st Thursdays. For more information regarding ACO, find them on Facebook.
—Street Sweeping crews from the city of Bismarck have resumed their efforts. Please review the street signs in marked areas for NO PARKING times so the city crews can continue to keep our streets looking good. For the complete schedule visit: www.bismarck.org.
–The Downtown Master Plan continues. The 2nd public input meeting will be held May 23 at 5:30pm at the Bismarck Civic Center. If you’d like to sign up for reminders and updates regarding the plan, visit www.downtownbismarckstudy.com.
–The Cowan Bldg development continues on the corner of 4th and Broadway. The sidewalk in front of the building will be closed during construction (south side of the block). The sidewalk could be open by June.
–Quiet Rail Zones are moving forward at 3rd, 5th and 12th Streets in Downtown Bismarck. Representatives from the Downtowners, City, Federal Railway Administration, BNSF, NDDOT and others conducted the site review Wednesday April 10. Paperwork is continuing and the process is moving along.
– The Bismarck City Commission has approved boundary changes for the Renaissance Zone in Downtown Bismarck. The Renaissance Zone is a state program that promotes revitalization and investment in rehabilitating buildings. Each zone can contain a maximum number of blocks. The Renaissance Zone Authority recommended amending the boundaries to remove 4 blocks that have been finished or inactive and add four blocks that showed interest in the state program. Two large blocks were added south of Main Ave from 12th Street to Airport Road, two additional blocks west of 2nd Street along Bowen Ave were also added. For more information contact Jason Tomanek at the City of Bismarck, 701-355-1849.
–If you are considering a downtown development or renovation of a Downtown building, the CORE Incentive Programs are once again available through the City of Bismarck. The CORE Programs currently active are Façade and Signage Grant, Housing Incentive Grant, Technical Assistance Bank, and Sidewalk Subsurface Infill. The programs are designed to encourage reinvestment, rehabilitation, and new development in the Downtown area. For more information contact the Downtowners or Jason Tomanek at the City of Bismarck at 701-355-1849.
– The Bismarck Parking Authority is offering free evening parking in the 3rd and Main Ramp from 4pm to 2am daily. With all the new activity and nightlife in Downtown Bismarck, the ramps allow the public to enjoy the city center and not have to search for street parking. *How the After Hour Complementary Parking Works: Use the entrance to the 3rd & Main Ramp on 3rd Street. Pull into the ramp and pull a time stamped ticket. The arm will raise and allow the car through to park. When exiting the ramp, simply use the hourly lane and deposit your ticket in the slot, the arm will already be raised to allow the cars to exit. There is no leeway on timing. If you enter at 3:59pm or exit at 2:01am, the customer will be charged the normal hourly rate.
Downtowners’ Association
Member News
Welcome to the newest members of the Downtowners Association:
KITTSON- 117 1/2 N 4th St
DAKOTA SCREEN ARTS- 1013 S 12TH St
You can find all our members information at www.downtownbismarck.com
–Member Basin Electric Co-op announces the Co-op Connections® Discount Program. Basin Electric Power Cooperative invites you to join them in a program to benefit your business: the Co-op Connections discount program. The program provides businesses the opportunity to offer their cooperative employees and their families discounts that drive business to you. In exchange for your participation, they will promote your business and discount offers to their employees at no cost. Best of all, participating business receive free local and national advertising. This program gives your business free exposure to our nearly 2,100 employees in the region, and 34 million-plus cardholders served by Touchstone Energy cooperatives nationwide. You can find more information on the program on their website by going to www.basinelectric.com and clicking Co-op Connections. Participation is easy; just review and complete the participation agreement. They will send participation stickers and post your business information and discount details on their www.connections.coop website. This program will roll-out locally on May 22, 2013. However, you are still welcome to join at any time after this date. Please contact Jeremy Woeste with any questions or comments at 701-557-5746 or jwoeste@bepc.com.
–Member Todaymade has announced a new branch opening in Atlanta. Todaymade is a web design and app development company located along Broadway in Downtown Bismarck. Visit www.todaymade.com for more info.
–Member BAGA has their High School Juried Art Exhibit (May 7-23, 2013). This art exhibit features juried selections from Bismarck Area High Schools and Rural ITV students. This year’s juror is Brian Hushagen, professor of art at Bismarck State College.
-Send all member news and events to Kate@downtownbismarck.com.
What’s Shakin’ Downtown?
Events Downtown
May 10
Band Night Parade
Capitol to Civic Center 6:30pm
701-333-0285
May 10
Bismarck Downtown Art Co-op
Lydia Richez-Bowman Exhibit
222 N 4th St
May 8-12
Dakota Stage Presents
Marcus is Walking
www.dakotastageltd.com
May 16
“Rock of Ages”
Bismarck Civic Center
www.bismarckciviccenter.com
May 17
JA Casino Night
Mandan Eagles Club
www.bismarckmandan.com
May 18
Bis-Man Symphony Presents:
Post-Traumatic Funk Syndrome
www.bismarckmandansymphony.org