Print this story | E-mail story | This story has 18 comments Add your own | iPod friendly
Downtown hosting artists tonight
Published Friday, March 7, 2008
NATCHEZ — Downtown Natchez will be transformed tonight from 5 to 7 into utter sophistication with glowing white lights, balloons, wine, cheese and art.
This is the first of what will become a monthly tradition called First Friday Weekend hosted by the Natchez Downtown Development Association.
Around 30 downtown shops have invited local artists to exhibit their artwork.
These local artists aren’t just painters either. They’re potters, woodcarvers, original furniture makers, dressmakers, make up artists, culinary artists, florist, even authors.
The artists will have their art for sale.
Carrie Lambert, director of Natchez Downtown Development Association, said it was not difficult to match artists to the stores.
Also downtown will be a docent dressed in period costume to greet people downtown, she said.
The stores will offer refreshments as will the trolley. The trolley will be parked on Main Street in front of the Eola Hotel, Lambert said. You can board the trolley and enjoy food and wine.
From 5 to 6 on the steps of Receivable Solutions, there will be karaoke provided by Doc Big Love, Lambert said.
“We’ll have a variety of entertainment after that,” Lambert said.
For 15-minute blocks of time, a different person will come up and entertain until 7.
The artists will have their art for sale.
Lambert said she wants to do this to promote artists and art in Natchez.
“Natchez is a perfect fit for an art colony, so many artists are here we just need to give them an opportunity to show what they have,” she said. “I wanted to find something to promote the arts and the downtown and help support the artists.”
This event is weekend-long and on Saturday there will be a sidewalk sale with merchandise spilling out onto the streets.
Lambert said this is a good opportunity for merchants to unload some of their merchandise and make way for new stock.
On Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. stores will be open and offering discounts to Natchez and Adams County residents. All that is required is a valid form of identification that proves residency.
Lambert said this period of time is perfect for out-of-towners who would like to do some shopping before they leave town and also for Natchez residents who want to go to church and then shop.
With this being the first time to ever pull this off, Lambert said she has only done some local advertisement but in the future, even next month, she plans to do some regional advertising.
“Having a three-day event will eventually bring in tourists,” she said.
As for the community, she said this event is beneficial for everyone to participate in.
“We all need to come together and support each other,” she said.
Lambert said she is excited to for the event.
“It should be a fabulous weekend,” she said. “There’s something for everyone.”
Comments
Posted by ijohnson (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 12:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This should be a wonderful event! I LOVE artists and creative people. I sure hope the weather holds up and doesn't put a damper on it.
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 1:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I do not know what church she goes to, but our church has services that start around 9 a.m. and get out just at noon. The family is ready to eat then, so we are free after one. The event is 10 - 2. I, for one, will not be there Sunday to shop. The tourist can see in this paper that they will not be welcomed with a discount, so why should they bother.
All shop keepers and workers need to keep one thing in mind....Be not so busy making a living that you forget to make a life. God said to work six days and rest the seventh. Do not get sucked into the mentality that the shop owners owe the citizenry every waking moment, late at night and work on Sunday to boot. Close your doors on Sunday and let them whistle "Dixie".
Posted by clambert58 (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 1:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The story states that stores will be open from 10 to 2 offering discounts to Natchez and Adams County Residents - many of the stores will be open after 2 - especially if people show up to shop - but the discounts are from 10 to 2 - so I hope to see you there frog princess.
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 2:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Carrie go to bed -- lol
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 3:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great idea!!!!! Natchez on the move!!!! Especially for the wonderfully talented people to display their works of art. Locally, hand made articles are the best.
Posted by dangyankee (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This sounds great, but I'm wondering if the weather today will put a "damper" on it? Will it still go on if it is raining, windy and cold this evening? Does anyone know?
Bright side: The article says this will be a monthly event, so even if today turns out "icky," we'll get more chances to enjoy it (say whatever else you want to about Natchez, but the weather here is mostly wonderful).
Posted by lrunnels (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't wait!! I love the Art & Soul Festival in the fall, and have wanted to see Natchez do something like this for a while. Best luck to them!!
Posted by itsawounderfullife (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GREAT IDEA, something we all can enjoy if we choose to!!
Posted by youneverknow (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
why not waite to see what kind of turn out they have before
being so negative. Walking and looking is free.
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is this not in the print edition of the paper?
The democrat always claims to support downtown yet will not list this in the tracings or do a story until after the event.
The downtown merchants need a boost - traffic is slow a little help from the Democrat would be helpful.
You say what - most downtown merchants don't have large staffs - many owners work 6 (and 7 days a week) We are often working before the "peaons"(sic) get in and are still working when they leave.
Oh to be a peon again ----
Posted by ijohnson (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
((dangyankee)) needs to get a grip -- must have awaken on the wrong side of the bed or ran out of coffee this morning! A person can't even talk about the weather around here without getting blasted . . . GHEEZZZ!!!
To further clarify my comment posted above (even though it really doesn't warrant it) -- It snowed in my neck of the woods last night. And I understand that it may be moving toward Natchez. I hope it doesn't affect the shoppers if bad weather hits this weekend because I hope the first weekend of this event is extremely successful for the merchants!
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We should all meet and show our faces. We can wear T-shirts with our ND name. Oh that would be a time, I would definately look for my foes.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tis is fantastic ! I will be there with mt great big handsome husband ! A little bad weather never stopped me from having a good time . This is exactly the kind of fun we need in our little city . See ya'll.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't like to think of anyone on here as a foe - just friends I don't always agree with! It's pretty funny that sometimes I totally disagree with someone, I have even been called names by a certain person, but I on other articles we are in complete accord. Guess it's cause we are all imperfect people.
Posted by dangyankee (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ijohnson, who did I blast? I simply asked if anyone knew if this mostly outdoor event still would be held if the weather was "icky." Then I said that, since it will be a monthly event, we would get other chances--and the weather here is mostly wonderful. Again, who did I blast? I'm honestly curious.
Posted by natchezaristocrat (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rain or snow, please get out and support our downtown merchants and Carrie Lambert! She is doing an excellent job of developing and implementing events tourists as well as citizens of Natchez!
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 6:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well it is snowing and sleeting now, so I don't guess I will make it because I'm not suppose to drive at night. I usually do anyway, but not in weather like this. Ya'll have a good time if you go.
Posted by ntzgurlwithclass (anonymous) on March 8, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I really wanted to attend but it was tooooooooooo cold. Did anyone who went enjoy themselves like I had planned to do ?
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)