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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 11, 2005 Music adds oomph to the downtown Lunchtime concerts at Medford’s Vogel Plaza are just one activity the Heart of Medford Association has planned for summer By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune The Heart of Medford Association is pumping some lifeblood into downtown, starting with a string quartet in Vogel Plaza during a recent lunch hour. "Love it. I love it," said Jo Beckman, owner of Vogel Plaza Cafe. Her employee Yvonne Weidman agreed. "We need a little life down here," she said, adding that customers came in and bought drinks and food and went outside to listen. The Thursday brown-bag musical performances, which will continue through the summer, are just one of several activities the HMA plans for downtown. Joyce Loyd, manager of the organization that supports downtown businesses, said she’s also pulling together an artists and farmers market to be held Saturdays. Advertisement Once details are ironed out, the market will be held along Bartlett Street from Middleford Alley to Eighth Street. The cross streets will remain open, but Bartlett will close to vehicles during market hours, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Loyd said she modeled the Thursday program after McMinnville’s brown bag series, which has been running for 12 years. "It brings probably two to three hundred people" every week, said Patti Webb, manager of the McMinnville Downtown Association. She said there’s nothing like hundreds of people hanging around downtown listening to music to attract prospective businesses. Webb said the lunchtime music crowd is what caught the attention of the McMenamin brothers, who have established more than 50 pubs, restaurants and hotels in Oregon and Washington. The brothers renovated what is now McMenamins Hotel Oregon in McMinnville. "It’s what we call an image promotion," Webb said. Loyd said Medford’s first brown bag performance in Vogel Plaza was a success, with about 20 to 25 people enjoying the music. Bev Power, customer-service specialist with the Medford Parks and Recreation Department, said she’s glad there’s an organization bringing live music to downtown. Power, who schedules events in the plaza, said the parks department used to sponsor concerts in Alba Park several years ago. "We wanted to bring back the concerts in Alba Park. We just couldn’t get it together," she said. Here is the schedule for the free Brown Bag Lunch series from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays in Vogel Plaza: July 14 — The Rebels, a string quartet. July 21 — Jaxon Williams, classical guitar, jazz and movie theme songs. July 28 — Joe Diehl, guitar. Aug. 4 — Talia Rose, harp. Aug. 11 — Elena Mendoza Band. Aug. 18 — Bella De Capo, string quartet from North and South Medford high schools. Aug. 25 — Oregon Conservatory of Performing Arts, preview of "Fame" being performed at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater that weekend. Reach reporter Meg Landersat 776-4481 or e-mail Music adds oomph to the downtown ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s