The role of arts and music in setting forth an electric atmosphere in Downtown Appleton received significant recognition as part honors that were bestowed this week.
Appleton Downtown Inc. held its annual awards celebration on Tuesday at the Red Lion Paper Valley Hotel.
Artist Chad Brady received the 2019 Bernie Pearlman Downtown Award. Brady’s murals can be found throughout Appleton with notable examples adding color and personality to the downtown. They include his Mile of Music piece and “With a Little Help From My Friends,” which is painted in the alley aside the History Museum at the Castle.
Casting On, a College Avenue yarn store, received the 2019 Rising Star Award recognizing their role as a creative draw downtown and gathering space for lovers of the fiber arts.
Steve Demcak and Kathy Dreyer were presented the 2019 Downtown Volunteer of the Year Award. Steve and Kathy are each long-time volunteers with the Heid Music Summer Concert Series.
The 2019 Dreamers and Doers Award was presented to Jones Park & the Fox Cities Exhibition Center. The park re-opened in time for Mile of Music this year and its amphitheater became an immediate favorite among festival venues.
Winners also included:
Dr. Jekylls, which received the Walter Kalata Landmark Award. It’s operated continuously since the end of prohibition and with its fifth generation of owners.
Mondo! Wine Bar & Retail, which received the 2019 Downtown Renovation Award. They made the near 100-year-old storefront their own after the space had been vacant for eight years.
BConnected, LLC, which received the 2019 President’s Award. The creative firm worked with numerous downtown businesses and had a direct impact on sharing news about activities, live music and arts and culture to the community.
Shear Chaos Hair Parlour, which was named 2019 Downtown Business of the Year.
