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College Hill Partnership

Welcome to the official blog of College Hill Partnership! Follow along to stay up-to-date with the latest from College Hill!

Annual College Hill Tree Lighting 2018

November 24, 2018 / 0 80

Annual College Hill Tree Lighting 2018

Join us for our annual tree Holiday tree lighting. Meet us in Sharky’s & Milkbox patio for music and a tree lighting.  A big thanks to JoDee from Subcity in helping us get the perfect tree for this Holiday Season.  We are excited to have some Cedar Falls students sing some holiday carols for us prior to lighting the tree.  Make sure you bundle up and bring a friend. Tree will be lit a 7pm stay tuned for exciting events to follow at your favorite College Hill establishments.
  • Head over to Sharky's to warm up before the lighting for Eggnog and Hot Chocolate
  • Head into Milkbox for a festive holiday celebration after the lighting And don’t forget to join us Dec 3-14th for our 12 Days of Hill-iday Cheer. Each day one College Hill business will be hosting a special event, promo, or special just for you during this holiday season. Thanks to the participating businesses: The Shakery, Mohair Pear, Copyworks, Subcity, The OP on College Hill, College Hill Partnership, Hill Street News and Tobacco, Balance Hot Yoga, Chad's Pizza
 

Open Forum: Seerley Park Improvements

November 5, 2018 / 0 136

Open Forum: Seerley Park Improvements

  The College Hill Partnership invites you to an open Public Forum to discuss and share ideas about how to improve Seerley Park.  Please join us in the McElroy Room at the Cedar Falls Hearst Center (304 W. Seerley Blvd), on Saturday November 17th at Noon.  Bring your ideas, concerns and questions regarding the park.   Some ideas people have mentioned to improve Seerley Park through our survey are:
  • Little Free Library
  • Regular Live Music
  • Drinking Fountain
  • Public Art
  • Restrooms
  • Moving Shelter
  • Better shelter that can be used for multi-purposes
  • Summer events (Dancing/physical activity, movies, music)
  • Tell us what you want to see happen with Seerley Park in the comments
  If you are unable to attend and would still like to voice your opinion please consider filling out our Neighborhood Services Survey HERE, or email our Executive Director at collegehillpartnership@gmail.com.  We hope to see you there!

College Hill Gift Certificates

October 11, 2018 / 0 287

College Hill Gift Certificates

Did you know that the Hill has gift certificates? copyworks cedar falls Created by the College Hill Partnership, College Hill gift certificates can be purchased by cash or check at Copyworks on the top of the Hill (2227 College Street) and can be used at over 30 locations on the Hill.  These gift certificates are perfect for holiday gifts, birthdays or even for the avid UNI fan.  The gift certificates come in increments of $20.  They are great for anyone who spends a lot of time near the Hill.  Pick up your College Hill gift certificates today.   Not accepted at the following locations: The Dragon’s Cave, Wild Hair Salon, Insomnia Cookies, Third Eye Tattoo, Domino’s, Asian Tuna

8th Annual Pear Fair on College Hill in Cedar Falls

September 13, 2018 / 0 191

8th Annual Pear Fair – On College Hill in Cedar Falls, Iowa

The Pear Fair is a curated showcase of the very best in local and regional handmade craft and design. Founded by Mohair Pear in the spring of 2010, we wanted to introduce our customers to the artists who make the handmade gifts we carry along with new and unique crafters and artists from Iowa and the Midwest each year. The eight annual Pear Fair open air indie craft fair will be held Saturday, September 15th, from 11:00am to 5:00pm, on the corner of 22nd and College Streets, in "Cedar Falls Municipal Lot G," right next door to Octopus. For more information check out The Pear Fair Website. or on Instagram!  

2018 Vendors

CRAFTY SATURDAY Sewn baby items like shoes, bibs, burp cloths, blankets, and handcrafted jewelry and home decor. 2 year vendor, Dubuque, Iowa.   HARLAN'S EMPORIUM OF THE CURIOUS & BIZARRE Jenna and Cori, the creators of Harlan's Emporium of the Curious and the Bizarre, have been making jewelry for 9 years. They travel throughout the Midwest sharing our aesthetic. The approach to their work is informed by a deep love for and appreciation of the Victorian era, a fascination with steampunk, and a devotion to whimsy and curiosity. They love to experiment with new designs. Everything they create is a one of a kind unique piece.   SMALL FOX STUDIOS Small Fox's functional pottery incorporates whimsical imagery, pattern, and color to amuse and delight the user. They incorporate flowing lines, candy colors, and texture elements into my ceramic service ware, encouraging exploration through use. The characters that star in the work dwell within fanciful floral landscapes, which activate the form and provide a sense of movement and place.   SUNSET SKATE Is a Cedar Falls company, run by John Potter who makes handcrafted old school style skateboards, longboards, wall art, and misc. woodworking crafts. Most are built from recycled lumber or locally grown lumber. Location: Cedar Falls, IA Materials: New Materials, Natural or Found Materials, Upcycled, Recycled, or Repurposed Facebook   TRADEMARK LETTERPRESS Trademark Letterpress Co. is a new brand design studio and letterpress company in Waterloo, Iowa. They design and print letterpress greeting cards, stationery, and paper merchandise which are printed on 100% cotton paper with the use of a vintage 1963 Heidelberg or 1887 Golding Pearl platen letterpress printing press.   WHOA NELLI At Whoa Nelli they create home cleaners and skincare products that perform beautifully for people who want goods they can feel good about.   EVERLEE CREATIVE Handwoven wall hangings, woven home decor, fiber art jewelry.   THREE WITCHES & MAGPIE ALCHEMY AND ARTS Psychic readings using Lenormand cards and pendulums. Intuitive readings, totem animals, and handmade gemstone jewelry. First year vendor, Cedar Falls, Iowa.   THE VELVET THUNDER SHOP The Velvet Thunder shop is a jewelry, crystal, and art shop run mostly online from Evansdale, IA by Christy. Starting in 2016 The Velvet Thunder Shop has made crystal jewelry including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, keychains, and more. Christy also sells other arts and crafts such as hair pieces, makeup/pencil bags, clothing, paintings, drawings, and photography prints. We also sell crystals for display, new and old collectors, and altars.   BOHO GYPSY GAL JEWELRY Handcrafted necklaces, bracelets, earrings with a boho flair.   PRAIRIE CLOTH COMPANY Prairie Cloth Company specializes in hand made, eco-friendly items for your home! It all started with a decision to cloth diaper our daughter. From there they started making us all sorts of reusable items: wool dryer balls, cloth napkins & unpaper towels.   ZHANNA'S JEWELS Zhanna's Jewels has been creating, upcycling, repurposing and reimagining jewelry and curiosties since around 2013. Come see the latest creations...crowns, wands, treasure boxes and who knows what else.   SQUIDDIE ARTS As a native CedarFallopian and veteran Pear Fairer, Kimberly makes fun stuff! She creates sock & yarn creatures. She also handbuilds and throws a variety of ceramic creations that are whimsical & functional. This year she is adding wearables!   JUST BUZZIN ART Original mixed media paintings and screen printing by Jared Breyfogle' from Parkersburg IA.   ULTRATERRETRIAL Ultraterrestrial is a small shop run by Becca Kacanda out of Milwaukee, WI specializing in colorful and unique decorative vinyl stickers, pinback buttons, greeting cards, and patches. She is inspired by the 80s, mysticism, music videos, cartoons, textile design, and folk art from around the world. Materials: New Location: Dubuque, IA Etsy: etsy.com/shop/ultraterrestrial Instagram: @ultra_terrestrial   NO COAST PAPER CO. No Coast Paper Co., Madison WI., offers a variety of greeting cards for every occasion but has a prominent focus on humor, minimalism, feminism and the lgbtq community. Materials: New Location: Madison, WI Website: nocoastpaperco.com/ Etsy: etsy.com/shop/nocoastpaperco Instagram: @nocoastpaperco Facebook: facebook.com/nocoastpaperco/   NICOLE & DIME DESIGNS From Des Moines, IA Nicole & Dime Designs specializes in creating hand-made, one of a kind, statement jewelry.   VANEZZAWITHTWOZZS VanezzaWithTwoZZs brings a fantastic mix of vintage + modern to freshen up your jewelry collection. Her handmade creations are derived with vintage pieces & new metals. Styles both old & new come together in every piece to provide a unique look for years of enjoyment. Materials: New, Thrifted, and Vintage Location: Des Moines, IA Years as a Pear Fair Vendor: 1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanezzawithtwozzs/ Instagram: @vanezzawithtwozzs   QUICKSILVER DESIGNS Everyday jewelry handmade in Ames, Iowa. Pieces are made with sterling silver and electroformed copper.
Quicksilver Designs offers affordable handmade jewelry for any occasion. From sleek sterling silver pieces to copper and raw stone jewelry, find your next go-to accessory! Materials: New, Natural, Found Location: Ames, IA Instagram: @byquicksilverdesigns Facebook: facebook.com/QuicksilverMakesThings
  PALOMA Rose Montalvo is a Milwaukee based creative whose thoughtfully-designed Paloma bags and wallets are hand crafted from upcycled leather and vintage textiles. Paloma is inspired in large part by nature, her Iowan roots and Mexican heritage.   ECHO JEWELRY & GIFTS Hand-painted glass pendants, graphic design bubble necklaces, upcycled jewelry and gifts using game pieces, dice, comic books, metal gears, pressed flowers and more.   OH MY HEAVENS Astrophotography framed, matted, and metal.   TOASTLESS Toastless specializes in unique handmade gifts. Started in 2014 by Cecelia Hotzler, Toastless is your place to find something a little different. From paintings to tooth ornaments, there's something for everyone and every occasion. Instagram: @Toastless Facebook: www.facebook.com/toastless Etsy Shop: www.toastless.etsy.com   MIDCOAST DESIGN Women's accessories: turbans, wire headbands, and scarves.   MOM & DOTS Hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind children’s apparel, toys and quilts from Cedar Rapids.   PIPPA MOON STUDIO Alternative process photography, mixed media, painted photos, from Cedar Falls.   ARMFUL OF WOOL Naturally hand dyed yarn for busy hands and full hearts. Natural dyes on 100% American grown and milled fibers including Alpaca, Merino and Domestic wool. Establishing a dye garden on a corner of our organic farm in Waverly.   MARY LOUISE TEXTILES Mary Louise Textiles started as an avenue in her studio practice to make wall hangings, rugs, embroideries and clothing. She believes that there should not be such a strict delineation between fine art and craft, as they are one in the same. Art should be accessible to everybody, and the creation of textiles goes back to our essential human nature.   FLOURISH Flourish means to grow in a healthy way, especially in the result of a particularly favorable environment. This is exactly what Esther & Dee want their works to encourage you to do. They will have some beautiful handmade plant holders, frames and so on created by Dee and also some watercolor prints, stickers, and signs created by Esther.   WILDSKY STUDIO Wildsky Studio is currently making collage and mixed media works, that incorporate painting into the pieces. They use materials found from nature as embellishments, and all collage items are found as well. Wildsky Studio is out of Cedar Falls.   KETTLE ART Wood Figures- paintings   ARCTIC SUMMER HANDMADE A past Pear Fair vendor, Arctic Summer's handmade work includes Hemp bracelets, anklets, and necklaces; knit baby, kids and adult hats; knit scarves, headbands and reusable grocery totes.   ELAMENTS Elaments offers an assortment of semiprecious pendants, keychains, necklace chains, and more. You can choose from an inventory of pre-made items, or she can give you a card reading and choose special items just for you based on the reading. Simple, beautiful items, handcrafted with love and a touch of magic.   KESALI CREATIONS Nature-inspired jewellery and dreamcatchers. Hand carved mushrooms, feathers, samaras, acorns, and more.   TECHNO LUMNIA Stickers, art prints/posters, buttons, original painting, Techno Lumina Starter Kits   LA CALLE LATIN AMERICAN FOOD TRUCK  
MILKBOX BAKERY
  Make sure you stick around the Hill until 6:30pm-9pm for the College Hill Partnership’s Oktoberfest.  Several SingleSpeed Brews will be on tap, Chad’s Pizza is sponsoring a beard contest, La Calle will have an Oktoberfest Special, and there will be yard games and music.  #HeadtotheHill for OKTOBERFEST 2018.

College Hill Farmers Market Update

September 11, 2018 / 0 393

College Hill Farmers Market Update

The College Hill Farmers Market is open every Thursday from 4-6 pm located at 2205 College Street in Cedar Falls Iowa.     Special "Street Markets" happening at the #CHFM on September 20th (Kids and Pets Day) and October 18th (Homecoming week)     The market features a wide range of local vendors providing quality products including seasonal produce, homemade baked goods, arts/crafts, honey, healthy snacks, fresh meats, popcorn, and more.     Various payments including EBT and FMNP vouchers are accepted. For updates like/follow us on Facebook at College Hill Farmers Market and Instagram/Twitter (Collegehillfm)   Details on Kids and Pets Day “Street Market” #HeadToTheHill on September 20th for a special event you don't want to miss! College Street will be blocked off for this special market.   For Kids and Pets Day, we encourage you to bring your pets and the entire family as there will be something for everyone to enjoy!   Kids can participate in multiple activities including face painting from the Cedar Falls Hearst Center. There will be pets from the Cedar Bend Humane Society visiting the market. Customers can also enjoy music and hot foods from La Calle.   Vendor Spotlight Did you know The College Hill Farmers Market features fresh meats? This year we have non-GMO, pastured raised boiler chickens from Solstice Farm.     Solstice Farm is owned and operated by Mark and Theresa Westbrock based out of Waverly, Iowa.     Offering whole chickens, legs, wings, breast, thighs and freshly laid eggs throughout the season. There are plenty to choose from when shopping with Solstice Farm.   For updates on products available be sure to check out their Facebook Page by clicking the link provided below. Vist them  on Facebook.  (Info from CHFM NEWS LETTER)

The Beauty of Seerley Boulevard, Cedar Falls Iowa

June 19, 2018 / 0 380

The Beauty of Seerley Boulevard, Cedar Falls Iowa

Guest Blogger: Sabine Martin

Each May, Seerley Boulevard offers a breathtaking view of vibrant pink blossoms five blocks long, from Olive Street to Clay Street, but, these iconic crabapple trees have not always been part of the landscape.   In the first decades of the 1900s, Cedar Falls looked very different from what it is now. A trolley system ran through Cedar Falls streets as the main public transportation. The tracks ran south from downtown on Main, west on Seerley to campus, north on College Street, east on 18th Street and north on Walnut Street. The trolley service ended in Cedar Falls in 1941, and it was replaced by buses.   On Seerley Boulevard, which was called 24th Street before it was renamed in 1943 after UNI’s second president, what used to be trolley tracks left a median strip in the middle. But city officials were not quite sure what to do with it. In 1948, the median strip was narrowed to make lanes on Seerley wider for buses.   In 1954, there were petitions to widen Seerley even more and “hard surface the grassy strip between Olive and Walnut” for more parking, according to the Waterloo Daily Courier on March 7, 1954.   But two citizens objected to paving over the boulevard’s grassy strip, and instead suggested that the city widen the street four more feet on each side for parking. That idea won, and the grassy median strips remained.   By the early 1960s, flowering crabapple trees were added to the grassy median, creating a stunning display each springtime. According to a Waterloo Courier story from 2008, “The project wasn’t the easiest to do, as they had to dig down through old cinders from the rail line.”   Norm and Mimi Zischke have lived on Seerley Boulevard for 53 years and are very familiar with the crabapple trees. “They were much prettier when we first moved here in 1965 because they were fuller and in their prime of life. The bloom was more profuse,” Norm said. “There were street lights all along Seerley Boulevard with a big cast iron base and a globe that was enchanting. You would come home at night, and Seerley Boulevard would welcome you.”   The old street lights are gone, but the flowering crabapples still remain. “The crabapple trees are about at the end of their life. They have been trimming them for a long time. I think that they are beautiful for one, maximum two weeks, but then the other 50 weeks they look awful,” Zischke said.   Nevertheless the city of Cedar Falls is still maintaining the crabapple tree tradition.   “The city prunes the trees as necessary and will replace them if they die,” said Mark Ripplinger, Director of Municipal Operations and Programs of Cedar Falls.   (Map Courtesy of Cedar Falls Historical Society)        

Comedy & Cookies on College Hill: Guest Blogger Matty J

June 18, 2018 / 0 293

Comedy and Cookies on College Hill

Guest Blogger: Matty J

Hey College Hill! It’s your Local Stand Up Comic Matty J I’m going to be a guide on the amazing choices of food and live stand up comedy that College Hill brings to you monthly. Our first featured comic this month is Liberty Belle Who can be seen at the Octopus, Chads Pizza, and The Library. She’s been heavily involved in the comedy scene for over Two years Liberty Belle not only does stand up comedy but she produces her own shows and is responsible for almost all internet flyers for local shows. Insomnia cookies... Cedar Falls very own Local Comic Liberty Belle Telephoned a delivery Order from Insomnia cookies... Wait did you just say they Deliver Cookies!!?! Amazing Right? She reported that “the ordering was superb, staff fantastic on phone and take care of business. Obviously not the best cookies in the world because they’re not your Grandma’s but good cookies. Highly recommend white chocolate macadamia cookie. Almost better the second day. The moose track ice cream was a surprise. Super good. Creamy, not too hard, not to soft. Get the quart, you won’t regret it.” Catch Liberty Belle June 22nd at the The Library on the Hill in Cedar Falls @9pm Featuring southwestern Iowa comic Tiffany Buehneman.    

College Hill Farmers Market 2018 Season KICK OFF

June 5, 2018 / 0 1014

Join us for Opening Day of the College Hill

Farmers Market on Thursday, June 7th from 4-6pm.  

 

Vendors at the market will offer seasonal produce, fresh herbs, flowers, healthy snacks, fresh bread and much more. Enjoy live music from Octopus Lounge, purchase hot foods from LaCalle, support the rain barrel art project (From 3pm-8pm on College Street from West 22nd Street to West 23rd) hosted by Americorps, enjoy face painting from the Hearst Center and more . This special market event will take place on College Street.

Various payments including EBT and FMNP vouchers are accepted. For updates about the College Hill Farmers Market like/follow them on Facebook at College Hill Farmers Market and Instagram/Twitter (@Collegehillfm)Want to express your creative side, for a good cause? Volunteer to paint a rain barrel!

DETAILS on Rain Barrel Painting:

AmeriCorps is hosting a rain barrel auction in June, but we want more than a boring, blue, barrel, blech! We're looking for artists to volunteer their time to paint a rain barrel to make it unique and decorative! During the first College Hill Farmer's Market, with speakers, La Calle, face painting, activity booths, and cornhole games! Watch artists paint the barrels live, along all of College Hill. Homeowners will bid on the painted rain barrels during the week of College Hill Arts Festival (June 11th - June 17th), and the proceeds will go towards paying for barrels, converter kits, and helping AmeriCorps fund more conservation programming. For more info head over to the AmeriCorps Event on Facebook

 

40th Anniversary of College Hill Arts Festival — June 15-16th

May 15, 2018 / 0 487

40th Annual College Hill Arts Festival

Head to the Hill for the 40th Anniversary of the College Hill Arts Festival on the corner of College Street and West 23rd Street in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  June 15th and 16th view artwork from 75 Artists.  Artists come from far and wide to display their ceramics, fibers, glassware, graphics, jewelry, paintings,  sculptures, and more.  Special performances on Saturday by Eulenspiegel Puppets and new preforming artists including a Mariachi band. To Celebrate the anniversary the College Hill Arts Festival will be holding two drawings for multiple $40 gift certificates. June 15th 5pm: Drawing for fifteen $40 gift certificates June 16th 12pm: Drawing for twenty-five $40 gift certificates Local favorite La Calle Food Truck will be present along with many other local food vendors, and community clubs serving delicous foods.  Make a day out of heading up to the Hill and enjoy everything from a cup of Sidecar Coffee in the morning to all of the night life College Hill has to offer. Check out the amazing selection of beers at our local bars such as Octopus, The Library, and Social House.  Want to rest your feet?  Take a break and grab something to eat in the newly rennovated Other Place or grab a smoothie to go at the NEW Smoothie Bar, The Shakery. (Art Work by Gary Kelley) For more information including all artists attending please head to the College Hill Arts Festival's Website. We hope to see you at the 40th Annual College Hill Arts Fesvial June 15th-16th. Times for CHAF: June 15th 12-8 pm June 16th: 10-5 pm