Cash Mob Today at Echo Trading Co., Main St. Market

The occasional Middletown Cash Mob event is back today at 4:30 PM at Echo Trading Co. located in the Main Street Market complex.

Echo Trading Co. is a green boutique offering unique clothing, footwear, accessories, jewelry and gifts. Bring $20.00 and a friend, support a local business, and pick up some early holiday gifts (or just a little something fun for yourself!).

According to the event website, an afterparty will follow at It's Only Natural Restaurant, located just down the hall in the Main Street Market.

(Info from the Cash Mob event website)

What is a cash mob?

Cash mobs encourage members of a community to make a change and help support a local business. Mobbers typically spend 10-20 dollars at the business being mobbed, which creates an immediate economic stimulus. Not only are cash mobs helping local businesses achieve financial success, they are creating everlasting customers and uniting people of the community.

What type of business is being mobbed?

The Echo Trading Co. is a green boutique specializing in natural fiber clothing, footwear, jewlery and accessories.

Why is this business worthy of a cash mob?

This boutique is sure to please all who love the planet. Time passes quickly while browsing through the store's enchanting and environmentally friendly selection. Echo Trading Co. is an unmatched boutique in the region.

Rules

1. A commitment to spend $20.00 or more on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at 4:30pm.
2. Bring a friend.
3. Spread the good news at work, church, Facebook, and through Twitter.
4. Celebrate your purchases and participation at the cash mob afterparty at ION Restaurant.
5. Meet two new friends.
6. Cast a ballot for the next merchant who should have a Middletown Cash Mob.
7. Have fun!


(image from the Echo Trading Co. Facebook page)

Main Street Market - New Arrivals, Coming Soon, and Tried and True

Just opened - East West Imports... this lovely little shop carries a wide variety of bags, tapestries, decorative wares, candles, gifts and much more.

Coming Soon - New England Emporium Marketplace & Eatery

Still There as always - tried and true:

ECHO Trading - lots of great gift ideas, jewelry, clothing

Fusion Bakery - pure deliciousness!

PBR Gift Shop - African Imports - statues, figurines, art, handbags and more

The Book Bower - quality used books

Tibetan Bazaar - gifts, scarves, bags and more

Busy Week & Spring Around the Corner

Tuesday Jazz at Public Bar & Grill, 337 Main Street, presents the Latin Jazz Collective from 6 - 9:30 p.m. The Quintet, founded in 1997 by saxophonist Bob Paskowitz, features the excellent Nicki Mathis (vocals), Jason Schwartz (bass), Woody Floyd (drums) and one of the finest pianists on the creative music scene, Warren Byrd. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with corned beef & cabbage and a healthy serving of sambas and bossa novas (novae?) For more information, call 343-8850.

CT State Troubadour Lara Herscovitch will appear at The Buttonwood Tree this coming Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. Joining her will be pianist Noah Baerman. On Wednesday, she'll be appearing on EYE editor Ed McKeon's radio show ("Caterwaul") on WWUH-91.3 FM at 8 a.m. and then head down to Middletown to chat with Don DeCesare on "Best of the Valley-Shore", heard at 12:30 p.m.on WMRD-AM 1150 (simulcast on WLIS 1420 AM in Old Saybrook.)

Thursday at 12noon, The Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, welcomes visual artist Amy Ordonez for its "Lunch & Learn" program. Ms. Ordonez, an Older Adult Specialist at Russell, designs jewelry, creates encaustic paintings (hot wax painting) and is a docent at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford. The title of her presentation is "The American Sublime: Manifest Destiny & the Hudson River Valley School" - it's free and open to the public. Bring your bagged lunch and the Library staff will supply beverages and dessert. For more information, call 347-2528, extension 135.

On Saturday, The "One Book, One Middletown" festivities begin with a 3 p.m performance by Oddfellows Playhouse "Instant Circus" in the open ION Market space in Main Street Market. This year's selection, "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen, covers a many diverse topics, from treatment of animals to issues with the elderly. There will be a number of events around town between the 21st and March 30, including discussion groups and films. The EYE will print the entire schedule later this week. For more information, go to http://middletownct.clubwizard.com/OneBook2009.cfm.


Here's Lara Herscovitch in action (she sounds better in person but this will give you an idea of her performances are like):

Connecticut Walks at the Book Bower

From Linda Bower, of the Book Bower:

On Wednesday December 3rd at 5 pm, at the Book Bower in Main Street Market, there will be an opportunity to meet and ask questions of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association staff and volunteers who created the popular Connecticut Walk Book and help maintain the 825-mile Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System. In Middletown, the 58-mile Blue-Blazed Mattabesett Trail starts at the Connecticut River and passes through the Maromas section before heading south through Durham and Guilford. It then continues up Higby and Lamentation Mountains on the west side of Middletown, and across the traprock ridge that separates Middletown from Meriden. The Mattabesett Trail is currently being considered by the U.S. Congress for designation as a National Scenic Trail, along with the Metacomet Trail in Connecticut and the Metacomet/Monadnock Trail in Massachusetts. Combined, these three trails are also known as the MMM Trail. If federal designation is approved by Congress this year, they will become the New England National Scenic Trail.

New bookstore to open in town

From Chris Hagedorn:

I was walking through Main St. Market the other day and found that a new bookstore is opening! It will be run by Linda Bowers, and it's located under the stairs down and to the left if you're coming from Main St. The store will be named The Book Bower, and their e-mail is info@bookbower.com. They're going to have a website, but there's nothing there yet.

Linda's husband was there putting together bookcases, and he said they will be a general interest bookstore and plan to open by August 18. This is something I've been wishing for in Middletown for a long time, so I think this is a very exciting development!!