UP  – To downtown development.

It is exciting to see two new businesses choose to locate in downtown Albert Lea.

Prairie Wind Coffee, in the lower level of the Jacobson Apartments building, opened in June. The establishment gives local residents a place to gather with a down-to-earth hometown feel. It has also been fun to see people sitting at the tables outside the business.

Construction is still under way at The 112 on Broadway in the former location of Great Grains Market & Cafe. Work has been done to revamp the inside of the building, and the exterior facade is all new. Its Facebook page says the bar and grill is slated to open soon.

Both of these restaurants have people talking.

 

UP – To former football players and local businesses who revamped Hammer Field. 

More than two months of construction at Hammer Field will culminate this week with the dedication of the Jim Gustafson Field during halftime at the Tigers’ Thursday football game against Waseca. Take time to look at the new entrance to the field, in which alumni and businesses are honored for their donations to the project. There is also an updated scoreboard.

After Thursday, the entire complex will be known as Hammer Field Complex.

 

UP – To everyone who attended the Big Island BBQ.

This family-friendly event on Friday and Saturday at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds offered up food, fun, music and delicious barbecue. The grill masters were serving up their best, vying for spots in the 2013 World Brisket Championship and the Great American BBQ in Kansas City, Mo. Perhaps even better — it’s also the major fundraiser for an even bigger community event: the annual Big Island Rendezvous in October. Your attendance shows your support of both of these fine events, and it helps grow them each year.