For worldwide visitors and local residents alike, downtown Rochester offers diverse and independent retail and dining, beautiful outdoor spaces, and a focus on culture in a relaxing, welcoming environment, because civic and corporate resources have combined to ensure a delightful, compelling downtown experience that capitalizes on the area's rich history, metropolitan infrastructure and abundance of local expertise and assets.
Make Downtown Rochester Your Destination for Valentine's Day Weekend!
For a list of Valentine's weekend events, packages and specials, click here!
The Rochester Downtown Alliance is Proud to Present: SocialICE
SocialICE is Downtown Rochester's Ice Bar & Lounge!
Open Valentine's Day Weekend: February 11th-13th
Location: Peace Plaza
Hours: 4:30-8:30pm
Minnesota's longest Ice Bar will feature real ice glasses, ice sculptures, photo packages, live music and MORE!
To view the poster for this event:SocialICE
Entertainment: Live Music will be held in the skyway (streamed out onto the Peace Plaza) every night 6-7:30pm
Thursday, Feb. 11th: Chester Bay (Alternative/Pop)
Friday, Feb. 12th: Brandon Sampson & Dezi-from Six Mile Grove (Americana)
Saturday, Feb.13th: Booker & Hooker (Popular Classic Rock)
Downtown Rochester just got cooler.

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A Chair Affair Collection Downtown
To view a full list of Downtown Rochester chair locations, click here.
Roscoe's Chili Cookoff at Goonie's Comedy Club
A benefit for the Alzheimer's Association
Date: Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
Time: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
To view the event poster and details:ChiliCookoff
Live Music & Nightlife
Sontes
Live Music Friday & Saturday Evenings- 7:30-10:30
February 12th & 13th- Two Mellow
Enjoy jazz from Steve Sawyer on bass and Eric Straubmuller on piano.
For a full listing of upcoming events at Sontes, click here
Kathy's Pub
Live Music on Weekends
Friday 2/19: Jeremiah Nelson & Achilles Heel
For a full listing of upcoming Kathy's Pub Live Music, click here
Redwood Room
Live Music: Every Wednesday and Thursday-Don Van Schaick
Time: Monday-Thursday 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Friday and Saturday: 7-11pm
Sunday: 6pm-9pm
For the Redwood Room's full live music schedule, click here
Michael's Restaurant
Live Music Friday and Saturday Nights at 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Friday, February 12th
Longshot with Mark Walsh -
Classic Acoustic R & B with Sax Leads
Saturday, February 13th
John Steffel Trio -Alternative Rock music from the Past and Present
To view a full list of upcoming entertainment at Michael's Restaurant, click here.
Arts, Theatre & Comedy
Here...Half Blind Exhibit
A collection of black and white photographs by John Gossage. There are 126 photographs in the exhibit. The photos show glimpses of the everyday side of the city.
Location-Rochester Art Center 40 Civic Center Drive SE, Rochester, MN 55904
Dates: Feb. 10-13, 14, 17-21, 24-28, & Mar. 3-7, 2010
Time: 10am-5pm Wed, Fri and Sat.; 10am-9pm Thurs.; Noon-5pm Sunday
Price: Free for Olmsted County residents, otherwise $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, free for children and students
Goonie's Comedy Club Features Justin Leon & Steve Gillespie
SMOOOOTH is the first word that comes to mind when describing Headliner Justin Leon. A surprising choice of words considering this performer definitely has an edge to his persona and act. His meteoric rise in comedy club popularity is not surprising. When you see him perform you know you are seeing a very talented man at the top of his game. Current events, pop culture, his family, his friends, himself, men, women, and children. Nobody is off-limits when he turns a keen eye and creates comedy.
He is a former All-American track star and professional bicyclist. He holds a Masters Degree in Social Policy. He is somewhat confused by the concept of time zones and is fluent in English, but awful with Spanish. Obviously, Steve Gillespie is a complicated man. Currently residing in St. Paul, MN, Steve dominates the Twin Cities comedy scene as he thrills audiences with his somehow darkly innocent view of life. Well, maybe not "dominates" or "thrills", but you get the point. Steve Gillespie: Very Bueno!
Dates: 2/12 & 2/13
Time: 7:30pm and 10:00pm
Tickets: $13 in advance, $15 at the door
For more information visit: http://www.gooniescomedy.com
Thursdays on First & 3rd Information
Dates for 2010: June 10th-Sept. 2nd
**Vendor applications & detailed information will be listed here on our website beginning Feb. 25th
Rochester Downtown Alliance Information:
*Rochester Downtown Alliance Announcement: click here
*RDA's Urban Village Overlay Zone Design Guidelines: click here
*The RDA now has Facebook and Twitter. Click the icons below to follow us!
Interested in renting the Peace Plaza for your special event?
Whether it is for a wedding, performance, fundraiser, or private party, the Peace Plaza is a one of a kind outdoor venue that adds an exciting urban twist to any event or function!
Contact Rochester Downtown Alliance Special Events at (507) 424-5677 today to reserve your date(s)!






