Old Buildings, New Attitudes

Archive for August, 2009

Downtown Lee’s Summit businesses invite customers to get “warm & fuzzy” as they shop for Fall.  The Fall Open House is Friday, August 28^th through Sunday, August 30^th and businesses will unveil new Fall merchandise and Halloween décor while also helping out those in need.

Customers can sample all their favorite fall treats like cider and pumpkin bread as they shop from store to store.  Want the exclusive on all the Fall specials?  Customers that donate a gently used “warm & fuzzy” item for Lee’s Summit Social Services (like a warm coat or fuzzy socks) will receive a V.I.P. Pass full of discounts and special promotions at participating stores.  Upon donation customers will also receive an entry to register to win a $100 downtown Lee’s Summit shopping spree.  Customers can drop off their items, receive their passes and enter to win at Cameron’s Home Furnishings (26 SE Third Street) throughout the weekend.

For a sampling of new Fall merchandise and Halloween décor, visit the Downtown LS Facebook page for a photo album: www.facebook.com/downtownls.

This event is being presented by Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street’s Promotions Committee.  The mission of this committee is to promote downtown as the center of commerce, culture, and community life for residents and visitors alike.

For more information about this event or other upcoming Downtown Lee’s Summit events, visit www.downtownls.org or call 816-246-6598.

The best all womens’ auction in the Kansas City area is back for its 7th Annual Year! The Piccadilly Gala is a ladies night out and auction benefit for Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street, Inc.  This event is for 450 women only and is always a sell-out.

This formal affair will be held Thursday, October 1st from 6-10 pm at The Pavilion at John Knox Village in Lee’s Summit. The theme for this year is Polynesian Paradise, so start shopping now for the perfect upscale cruise attire. Just remember, this is not a backyard luau…please no Hawaiian shirts or flip flops. This ladies night out will feature an upscale dinner, silent auction and the one-of-a-kind Piccadilly auction. What makes Piccadilly so unique? Last year, for example, two airline tickets to Mexico were auctioned off for only $2!  This year the Grand Prize is a trip to Jamaica sponsored by Summit Travel and Funjet Vacations.  Also available is a stress reduction and natural relaxation trip to Costa Rica sponsored by Dr. Lisa Layne of Holistic Options and Marlene Alley of Infinity Realty.

The ticket sales kick-off cocktail party will take place Thursday, August 27th from 5-8 pm on the back patio of Maxwell’s (301 SE Douglas) in downtown Lee’s Summit.  Tickets are $50 each, or $400 for a table of eight.  After that date, tickets will be available by calling the DLSMS Office at 816-246-6598, or by visiting Cameron’s Home Furnishings, Green Beauty Salon & Day Spa, A Thyme for Everything, or Finishings for Her. Get your tickets early before they are all sold out!  Piccadilly Gala t-shirts are new this year, and can also be purchased the evening of the kick-off.

Sponsors for this year’s event include Lee’s Summit Medical Center, John Knox Village, Summit Travel, Metcalf Bank, Maxwell’s, and PhotoMementos.

Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street, Inc., is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the revitalization of Downtown Lee’s Summit.  For more information, please visit www.downtownls.org.

Lee’s Summit was recently honored with 3 Downtown Revitalization Awards at Missouri Main Street Connection’s Evening of Excellence. The City of Lee’s Summit won Best Downtown Public Improvement Project for its downtown streetscape improvements, and Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street, Inc., won Best Creative Fundraising Event for its Piccadilly Gala.  Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street, Inc., also won the highest honor of the evening, the Greatest Achievement Award, for the best downtown revitalization organization in the state.  The event was held in the Congress Ballroom at the Hilton President Hotel in Downtown Kansas City and capped off Missouri Main Street Connection’s Missouri Downtown Revitalization Conference. 

 

Judges included a staff representative from the National Trust Main Street Center, a field representative from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a State Main Street Director from a neighboring Midwestern state.  Judges chose winners based on the following criteria: quality support materials, accurate documentation and written narrative; information presented was informative and directly meets the criteria described under the award category; achieves substantial impact on the downtown district and/or organization; demonstrates efficient use of available local resources. ie. people, other organizations, partners, in-kind and financial; reinforces and capitalizes on the unique assets of the local community; and overall the nomination is excellent and should be proudly recognized as a top award winner at the Evening of Excellence.

 

Organizations and individuals from 14 Missouri communities were nominated and/or honored in 16 different award categories.  Lee’s Summit had semi-finalists in 3 other categories, including Kurt Pycior of Pycior + Co. for Best Adaptive Re-Use Project for the Hartley Block Redevelopment, Jerry’s Bait Shop for Business Excellence and Steve Tominia of Cameron’s Home Furnishings for Volunteer of the Year.  Lee’s Summit was further showcased at the event as staff from Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street, Inc., participated in the evening’s program by coordinating a mini-Piccadilly auction for the guests.  Kurt Pycior also emceed that portion of the event.

 

Missouri Main Street Connection is the coordinating state program for Main Street communities across the state.  Lee’s Summit is one of only four Nationally-accredited Main Street programs in the state, while over 120 Missouri communities follow some aspect of the Main Street Four-Point™ Approach.

 

For more information about the Missouri Main Street Connection, please visit www.momainstreet.org.  For more information about Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street, Inc., please visit www.downtownls.org.