Downtown News & Events
News:
About You
Have you taken it?
Community members and leaders in Rochester continually ask "Who are we as a community?" Learning more about you, and how you define your community, will allow us to enhance a broad base of current services, cultivate talent already present around us, and allow our community to continue to strengthen and grow in the future. It truly starts by learning about you!
We are asking for about 20 minutes of your time. That's how long it will take you to fill out the survey. Your thoughtfulness, and honest perceptions, will help all of us as a community define who we are, what we do best, how we can improve and who we could be in the future.
You are the most important investment Rochester has. Invest 20 minutes now and our future together will be stronger and brighter because of it.
Who are we? We're asking you to provide information to array of questions in this aboutU survey.
For more information, or to take the survey visit: www.aboutu.org.
Thursdays on first & 3rd 2012
Applications and information for the 2012 season of Thursdays on first & 3rd will be posted here on our website on Friday, February 24th by 8am.
The dates for 2012 are: June 7th-Aug. 30th.
Upcoming RDA Events:
SocialICE--Rochester Minnesota's Ice Bar
Location: Peace Plaza Downtown 1st Ave SW & 1st St SW, Rochester, MN 55902
Feb. 9-11, 2012
Time: 4:30-9:00pm Price: Free Admission
Featuring over 200 ft. of ice, SocialICE will be once again the largest outdoor ice bar in the upper Midwest. The layout will expand this year and will include up to eight additional satellite ice bars. All satellite bars will be themed with various beverage distributors and specialty drinks. Enjoy the ambiance of the ice and lighting as you sit in the ice lounge, drink from real ice glasses, and enjoy the live music.
SocialICE will offer live music from 7-8:30 pm each night and a live DJ from 4:30-7pm & 8:30-9:00 pm. All entertainment will perform live in the skyway over the Peace Plaza with music streamed out onto the Plaza for the ice bar attendees to enjoy:
Thursday, February 9th: Spindrift
Multi-genre, live rock entertainment with a breath of musical originality. http://www.spindriftband.com
Friday, February 10th: Shalo Lee and the Rush River Band
A high-energy contemporary country rock band who has opened for numerous national recording acts including Craig Morgan, Diamond Rio, Billy Currington and MORE! http://www.mlcbandcountry.com
Saturday, February 11th: Flash Back
A 70's Tribute Band that will take you back to the age of loud guitars, and funkadelic grooves. http://www.flashbackbandmn.com
Wall of ICE & #SocialICE QR Code Scavenger Hunt
To compliment the icy ambiance, check out the Wall of ICE (new this year), which will feature ice sculptures sponsored by various downtown businesses, and will be located on the east end of the Peace Plaza. A QR code scavenger hunt which will take you throughout the downtown area, will also be taking place in conjunction with the event. The first QR code clue will be located within the “Downtown Rochester MN-The Place to BE” Wall of ICE sculpture on the east end of the Peace Plaza. Those who complete the scavenger hunt will be entered into a drawing to win a NOOK by Barnes & Noble.
The Wall of ICE sculptures and the QR code scavenger hunt can be viewed anytime during the 9th-11th.
Live Ice Carving Event
Location: Peace Plaza, Downtown
Date: Saturday, Feb. 11th
Time: 1-4pm
Don't miss out on this great family-friendly activity during the day Saturday, as part of the SocialICE activities held on the Peace Plaza. Maurie Pearson, one of the ice sculptors of the SocialICE event will be hosting live ice carving demonstrations. Pearson is a nationally acclaimed professional ice sculptor who owns Black River Ice Sculptures based out of La Crosse, WI. Come witness Pearson transform a basic block of ice into beautiful ice sculptures right before your eyes! Be sure to bring the kids in order to participate in an interactive activity involving small heart shaped ice sculptures--just in time for Valentine's Day!
Chester's, Pescara and the Doubletree Hotel will be available on site at their ice bar with hot chocolate, cider and other wonderful warm beverages to keep you warm during this fun event!
Are you cool enough for this “iced out” experience?
Check back here for further details, or visit the facebook event page: 
To view the full SocialICE poster, click here.
SocialICE is part of the 2012 Winterfest activities.
This Week's Downtown Events:
Rochester Area Sports Banquet with Guest Speaker Mark Johnson
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Location: Mayo Civic Center--30 Civic Center Dr. SE
Jan. 30, 2012
Time: 5:30pm Reception; 6:30pm Dinner; 7:30pm Program
Banquet honoring local athletes. Guest speaker: Mark Johnson (1980 "Miracle on Ice" USA Men’s Hockey)
Events at the Rochester Public Library
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Storytime
Price: Free
Jan. 31, 2012
Stories, puppets and films to give you sweet dreams. No registration required. Parents/Caregivers are invited to remain with their children.
Intro to Facebook
Price: Free
Feb. 1, 2012
Time: 5:30 pm
Curious about Facebook? Learn how to setup a free Facebook account and find out what all the fuss is about. Note: you must have an e-mail account you can access from the internet prior to the class in order to setup a Facebook account.
Parent-Child 3 to 5 Year-Old Story Time
Price: Free
Feb. 1, 2012
Stories, rhymes, and puppets for children 3 to 5 years of age and their parents or care providers. Adults are asked to remain with their chidlren during story time.
Family Film Program: One Zillion Valentines and Boxes for Katje
Price: Free
Feb. 4, 2012
Time: 10:30 am
One Zillion Valentines: Two enterprising friends prove that Valentine's Day is for everyon by making, giving away, and selling one zillion special valentines!
Boxes for Katje: A young Dutch girl receives an unexpected package from America filled with much needed supplies. This happy surprise sets off a wonderful chain of events for all the people in her village. The film is based on the heartwarming picture book by Candace Fleming.
Fuel Rochester's Brainiac Trivia Night
Feb. 3, 2012
Price: $10/person or $60/team of 8
Brainiac is a fundraiser for Rochester's WinterFest hosted by Fuel Rochester, an initiative of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce. The event is a team trivia challenge attracting more than 250 guests. The event includes 10 rounds of trivia with 10 questions each. The winning team will be named 2012 Brainiac Champions and receive a traveling trophy and bragging rights amongst Rochester's self-proclaimed know-it-alls.
We are now taking registrations for our 2nd annual Brainiac Trivia Challenge. You can register as an individual ($10 for Fuel members, $15 for non-Fuel members) or you can register a team of up to 8 people ($60 for Fuel members, $100 for non-Fuel members).
Register
Fuel Rochester's Brainiac Trivia Night, benefits WinterFest.
Townsend Flea Market
Location: Mayo Civic Center
Date: Feb. 5, 2012
UMR Connects: Keeping Minnesota Strong
Every Tuesday at 7:00 pm
Location: 4th Floor of UMR
January Theme: Healthcare
January 31 ~ Complementary and Integrative Medicine: What You May or May Not Know
This presentation will provide an overview of common complementary alternative medicine (CAM) practices, current CAM services, research happening in this arena at Mayo Clinic, and resources available for further exploration and utilization.
February 7 ~
Learn why nanotechnology is projected to be a $1 trillion dollar industry by the end of this year.
Full details about these events, and topics for future months can be found at:
http://www.r.umn.edu/academics/programs/cepd/umrconnects/index.htm
Events at the American Legion
Location:
Texas Hold 'Em
Dates: Feb. 2, 9, 16, 2012
Price: Free
Play cards! Grab a burger and fries from the kitchen beforehand. Kitchen open 4-8pm.
Bingo
Feb. 11, & Mar. 10, & Apr. 14, & May. 12, & Jun. 9, 2012
Price: $1.00 for Bingo sheet
Bring your ink stamp and play for prizes. Grab something from the kitchen before you play. Check out the menu.
Dooley's Pub Bar Bingo
Location: Dooley's Pub & Restaurant 255 1st Ave. SW, Rochester, MN 55902
Time: Tuesday & Wednesday Nights @ 8pm
Dooley’s will have Bar Bingo every Tuesday Night from 8:00pm to close. Great prizes with lots of fun. Late night happy hour will also be going on so you can enjoy some tasty beverages while you play!
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