10 Highlights from the Past Year on College Hill

Perfect Way to Ring in 2019:  10 Highlights from the Past Year on College Hill

1. Oktoberfest on the Hill

Held right after Mohair Pear’s Outdoor Indie Fair: Pear Fair the College Hill Partnership hosted our College Hill Oktoberfest event.  With the help of our volunteers, sponsors, and the Marketing and Promotions Committee, we were able to put on our 3^rd Annual Oktoberfest.  With yard games, Chad’s Pizza sponsored beard contest, SingleSpeed Brews, and La Calle food selection our Third Annual Oktoberfest was a hit.  We look forward to continuing this event in September of 2019.

2. The Opening of Greenhouse Kitchen & The Shakery Smoothie Bar

The College Hill Partnership is always excited to see new businesses fill the storefronts of College Street and West 23^rd Street.  We were excited to see Greenhouse Kitchen open in March of this year at 917 West 23^rd Street.  When you head into Greenhouse kitchen you can expect great service from a wonderful staff, fresh locally grown foods, and clean eating dishes.  Whether you choose a wrap, salad, or soup you know you are getting wholesome ingredients that can be customized for any preference or diet.  Check out all their protein-filled, gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options.  For more details head over to their website.

In addition to Greenhouse Kitchen, we were excited to see the opening of The Shakery Smoothie Bar in May at 2125 College Street.  Locally owned by a 22-year-old entrepreneur, The Shakery offers smoothies, yogurt bowls, and protein iced coffees.  Their open layout lets you see how your smoothie is built and customized to fit your needs.  Order from their amazing menu or customize your own smoothie or bowl.  Check them out after your workout for the perfect post-workout meal or snack.  For more details check them out on Facebook.

3. Welcome Week Panther Block Pawty

The College Hill Partnership can’t wait to see new students start out their college careers at what we believe is the best University (yeah we might be a bit bias).  We were fortunate to share our welcome week event the Panther Block Pawty with UNI now, and Community Main Street.  We believe putting our best foot forward and showing new UNI students that Cedar Falls has plenty to offer besides class and studying.  The Hill hosted our first King of the Hill Pizza Contest having the over 500 new UNI students rank pizzas from Chad’s Pizza, Kwik Star, Dominoes, and $5 Pizza to see who would come out on top.  We were honored to give the trophy out to Chad’s Pizza after such a close contest.  Hungry for pizza?  Well, the Hill has you covered.  Check out one of the following places for a hot slice today!  Details in the links below.

Chad’s Pizza

Kwik Star

Dominos

The Other Place

4. Opening Day College Hill Farmers’ Market & Homecoming Week Panther Theme CHFM

In collaboration with the College Hill Farmers’ Market and the City of Cedar Falls, we worked to close College Street down for three farmers’ markets this summer.  By closing the street we had the small parking lot just North of Octopus open.  Having this open provides more parking for College Hill during the market.  It also provides a larger space for the market to increase their number of vendors.  We had wonderful turnouts for our Kids Day, the Homecoming Panther Themed market (complete with TC Panther), and our Opening Day Farmers’ Markets.

Kick-off Market

Our kick-off market was great as we were also abel to partner with our local Americorp divison.  In cooperation with Americorps, we were also able to support rainwater sustainability efforts.  We were able to do this by hosting the creation and auction of several rain barrels.  These barrels were purchased by local residents and installed at their homes by Americorp workers.

We’d Love your Feedback:

We would love to hear your feedback if you attended these street markets or any College Hill Farmers Markets as we are always looking to improve the ease of use, atmosphere, and selection at the farmers’ market.  We hope to continue the tradition of closing College Street for special farmers’ market during the CHFM season.  Remember the College Hill Farmers’ Market runs from June to October each year.  You can find more details about the CHFM on their Facebook page.

5. Holiday Tree Lighting & Business Window Decorating

We love the Holiday Season, don’t you?  We had a great holiday season this year with many of the College Hill Businesses partaking in our annual window decorating contest.  A close contest again this year with the top slot taken by Sub City on the Hill.  We also want to thank the owners of Sub City, JoDee and Ken Neptune for helping us with our amazing Christmas Tree.  They picked up and delivered our beautiful tree in the patio of Milkbox Bakery and Sharky’s Funhouse just in time for our volunteers to decorate it with lights.

We hosted our tree lighting on December 1^st at 7 pm with beautiful music from several members of the CFHS Choir.  We had special events hosted by Milkbox Bakery and Sharky’s Funhouse prior to the lighting.  Head over to Sub City on the Hill the current home of the traveling trophy for best window design, which has moved from Copyworks (winner of last year’s contest).

6. Planning Sessions for Pettersen Plaza & Seerley Park

Pettersen Plaza

Do you know where Seerley Park is located, bet you do.   But do you know where Pettersen Plaza is?  Well if you have been to Kwik Star, Jimmy John’s, or The Hydrant you aren’t far.  There is a small paved pocket park located between The Hydrant and Jimmy John’s building on College Street.  There is a College Hill kiosk, a few trees, some cement benches, and a whole lot of sun in the summer months.  This is Pettersen Plaza, named after longtime Hill staple and advocate for the Arts, Hugh Pettersen. Over the past year a small but mighty group of art enthusiasts, Hugh friends, and the CHP got together to see how this space could be improved in order to make it more usable to the public.  Currently, the committee is reviewing designs and preparing to put them in front of the City Council for approval.

Seerley Park

As for Seerley Park, the CHP hosted a successful public forum at the Hearst Center for the Arts.  We had folks reflect on our public surveys, and questionnaires and develop a formal strategic plan for upgrades to Seerley Park.  If you would like to be involved in either project please contact us via email to join a committee.

7. Annual Neighborhood Picnic in Seerley Park

Dating back to the days of the College Hill Neighborhood Association our Annual Neighborhood Picnic is one of our longest running traditions.  This year held in Seerley Park with music, games, and great food we celebrated the neighborhood with our annual picnic.  We are hoping we will encourage more neighbors to come attend in the upcoming years.  Picnic is held towards end of Summer or early Fall.

8. Hill-ebration of Thanks

Another old event with a new twist.  The Hill-ebration of Thanks was a great success offering College Hill Businesses a chance to show their gratitude to their customers.  Offering discounts, promotions, and live music each business showed their appreciation to all their customers by offering something special to them for one day only.  On April 21^st, Sidecar Coffee, The Razor’s Edge, Mohair Pear, The Library, Sharky’s, Octopus, Subcity, Chad’s Pizza, Balance Hot Yoga, and Limited Edition Comics all participated in the event.  There is always so much to be grateful for especially in a community like ours.  We can’t wait until our next customer appreciation event on the Hill.

9. 12 Days of Hill-iday Cheer

The College Hill Partnership wanted to try something new this Holiday season and reward Hill customers with special deals from their favorite College Hill Businesses.  So, we did a play on the 12 Days of Christmas and hosted our 12 Days of Hill-iday Cheer.  Each day from December 3^rd through the 14^th businesses offered one special event or promotion.  Ten businesses participated and gave away everything from 15% off your purchase to discounts on College Hill Gift Certificates.  We want to thank the following College Hill businesses for making this event possible:

The Shakery Smoothie Bar

Sub City on the Hill

Milkbox Bakery

Copyworks

Third Eye Tattoo

Chad’s Pizza

Balance Hot Yoga

College Hill Partnership

The Other Place on College Hill

Hill Street News and Tobacco

10. 40^th Anniversary of College Hill Arts Festival

One of the highlights of every summer is the College Hill Arts Festival.  Bringing in artists from all over the country the College Hill Arts Festival is not the only staple of the summer on College Hill but a renowned event throughout the Midwest.  We enjoyed meeting new guests, amazing artists, and seeing old friends come by our booth at the Arts Festival.  We look forward to the 41^st year of the College Hill Arts Festival this coming summer.

Thank you

2018 was a great year and we have big plans for 2019.  The College Hill Partnership is hoping you will join us in 2019 whether it be attending an event, enjoying one of the public spaces, serving on a committee, running for office as a board member, or heading up to the Hill to eat, shop, and play. Thank you all for a great year we look forward to 2019 and the years to come.