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)

Around Middletown in 80 Days: Day 1

It's Only Natural
Vegetarian Restaurant

Phileas Fogg begins his journey at one of Middletown's signature restaurants. It's Only Natural Restaurant, lovingly referred to as "ION", has been part of Middletown for over 30 years. ION began as a co-op and has organically grown into a Vegan oasis and the largest art gallery in Middletown.

ION has been voted "Best Vegetarian" by The Hartford Advocate since 1992. Mark Shadle and Renana Magee continue to make ION a destination for vegetarians, vegans and artists
from around CT.

If you haven't been to ION, now is the time to check it out. Phileas is not a strict vegetarian by any means, but the Sweet Potato fries are simply incredible! Make sure to save room – even if you don’t eat all of your veggies, because dessert is a wonderful treat at ION.

Join Phileas for dinner this evening at ION - order the special on the menu - and a portion of the meal will be donated to support Oddfellows Playhouse Scholarship Fund.

http://www.ionrestaurant.com/

Around Middletown in 80 Days

Oddfellows Playhouse kicks off its 35th season with “Around Middletown in 80 Days,” an ongoing event that highlights 80 happenings, locations, and restaurants that make Middletown a great place to live. This celebration of our home town begins on August 25 at It's Only Natural Restaurant and ends on November 13 with the opening of Oddfellows’ Teen Repertory Company production of Around the World in 80 Days.

This event is also a great way to support Oddfellows. Tuesdays from August 25 to November 13 are restaurant nights. Every week a different Middletown restaurant will be featured, and on that night, the featured restaurant will donate a portion of the evening’s proceeds to Oddfellows Playhouse.

“Around Middletown in 80 Days” opens at It’s Only Natural restaurant on August 25. Other featured restaurants are Amici’s (September 1); Typhoon (September 8, 15, and 22); Puerto Vallarta (September 29); Osaka (October 6); O’Rourke’s Diner (October 13); Tavern at the Armory/Inn at Middletown (October 20); Iguanas Ranas Taqueria (October 27); Tuscany Grill (November 3); and Thai Gardens (November 10).

At every event you attend, you will be given a raffle ticket. Prizes will be awarded on November 13 at a drawing during the intermission of opening night of Around the World in 80 Days. The more events you go to, the more raffle tickets you’ll have and the greater your chances of winning. Anyone can participate, and you don’t have to be present at the drawing to win.

To add to the fun, download your very own cut-out of Phileas Fogg, the intrepid English traveler, and take him around Middletown between August 25 and November 13. To share Phileas’ journey around Middletown, take picture of him and upload them to Oddfellows Playhouse Facebook site or email them to 80days@oddfellows.org. Look for Phileas Fogg around Middletown this fall!

Keep track of “Around Middletown in 80 Days” events and happenings by visiting www.oddfellows.org or the Middletown Eye. For more information, call (860) 347-6143.

Oddfellows’ 09-10 season is supported by grants from the CT State Department of Education, The J. Walton Bissell Foundation, Pratt and Whitney-Middletown, The Stare Fund, and the Middletown Commission on the Arts. Advertising for this event was made possible with the generous support of Michael Oliveras.

Middletown Food on CPTV

There's a new show on Connecticut Public Television called Eating CT.

I know, I know, not a very appetizing title (pardon me, but I think you have a bit of the Wilbur Cross Parkway stuck between your teeth), but one of the early episodes features a culinary trip down Middletown's Main Street with show host Jason Hawkins, including stops at O'Rourkes, Luce, Amici's, Tuscany Grill, Vechitto's, Forbiden City, It's Only Natural, and... the Wadsworth Mansion?

The show initially aired last Saturday, and due to CPTV amazing lack of promotion, hardly anyone I know saw it.

It airs again tomorrow, Thursday Nov. 6, at 8 p.m.

H/T to John Elmore.