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President & Editor May Event Calendar
Jesse Witham
Managing Director 08
Dylan Collins Drink of the Month
Art Director
Ryan Strong 10
Downtown Beat Gets to Know
Director of Sales Account Executives
Ray Cook Rebekah Hay
Lacey Collins 12
The Downtown Loft Scene
Contributing Writers Photography
Ken Morrow Eyeworks Photography
Jason Monroe ClubMugs.com 19
YourPictureGuy.com The Place To Be
Copy Editor
Todd Gummerman
20
Downtown Theaters
Want to advertise? Have an idea for a story?
Contact us today!
22
Downtown Beat Magazine Top 5 Bars
509 West Olive – Suite 207
417-225-8822 24
downtownbeat@gmail.com The Business Beat
www.downtownbeat.com
28
Party Pics

Downtown Beat is a monthly publication that is available free of charge and distribut-
ed to over 200 locations in Springfield. The content of this magazine is property of the
respective authors and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher.

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 MAY EVENT
01 ............................................................................... Pride Classic Concert / Juanita K. Hammons Hall
02 ........................................................ Ozarks Regional Air Guitar Championship / The Outland / 9pm
03 ...............................................................................................................................................................
04 ............................................................. First Friday Artwalk / Downtown Art Galleries / 6pm-10pm
.................................................. Ryan Strong & Jeremy Larson @ BluSkies - Monarch Art Factory / 7pm
05 ................................................................................................................ Artsfest 2007 / Walnut Street
06 ...............................................................................................................................................................
07 ................................................................................ College Night @ Big Whiskey’s / 9pm-Midnight
08 ...............................................................................................................................................................
09 ................................................................. The Umbrellas and Abracadabra’s @ The Belmonte / 8pm
10 .................................................................................................... College Night @ ICON / 9pm-Close
11 ...................................................................................... Ozark Mountain Daredevils / Gillioz Theatre
12 ............................................................................. 2007 May Ball / Historical Vandivort Centre / 7pm
13 ...............................................................................................................................................................
14 ...............................................................................................................................................................
15 ...............................................................................................................................................................
16 ...............................................................................................................................................................
17 ........................................................................................ Snowball Effect / The Skinny Improv / 8pm
18 ....................................................................... 7th Annual Wine Auction & Gala / Newberry Building
19 ...................................................................................................... Painting Exhibition On The Square
20 ...............................................................................................................................................................
21 ........................................................................................................ DJ Lush @ Harpo’s / 10pm-Close
22 ...............................................................................................................................................................
23 ...............................................................................................................................................................
24 .................................................................................................... College Night @ ICON / 9pm-Close
25 ...............................................................................................................................................................
26 .......................................................................................... The Ten Spot / The Skinny Improv / 10pm
27 ...............................................................................................................................................................
28 ................................................................................ College Night @ Big Whiskey’s / 9pm-Midnight
29 ...............................................................................................................................................................
30 ...............................................................................................................................................................
31 ...............................................................................................................................................................

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 S
o who are you guys, and what exactly
do you do?
We are Absolutely Fresh USA… The
United States branch of the Dutch house
music promotional company. We throw events, par-
ties, and DJ at local nightclubs.
How and when did you get started?
We actually met at a poker table in Albuquerque,
NM. Tyler had lost everything to me while operat-
ing under the alias “Tex Memphis,” and the rest is
history…
Explain the appeal of house/electronic music,
and why you’ve chosen to promote this genre…
House music is very fun and energetic. We have
always liked it and have realized the potential by
traveling around Europe and central Mexico. The
music is easy to dance to and easy to anticipate, so
there is never any confusion on the dance floor.
So where do you DJ at during the week and
where can we go to find out about your big
events?
We DJ every Wednesday night at The Boogie, and
in the near future we will also be at Tonic Ul-
tralounge every weekend. All of our special events
can be found on absolutelyfresh.com.
We’ve been to a couple Absolutely Fresh parties
in the past… The lighting and sound is always
amazing! Do you set that up yourselves also?
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Yes, we rent the lighting, but nothing is automated.
We have to control each lighting effect from the DJ
booth and change it manually throughout the night.
What do you think of the downtown music scene
in Springfield? What are some things that could
make it better?
The music scene is definitely growing in Spring-
field. We like to see new talent coming through here
and we are doing our part by bringing in DJ talent
from other cities and even other countries. We
would really like to see bigger events being thrown
downtown.
What about downtown nightlife in general?
What else would you like to see?
We would like to see the nightlife crowd recognize
the bands and DJ’s as artists, and not just juke-
boxes.
Thanks for your time guys, it’s been great! Last
question… What does someone have to do if
they want to book Absolutely Fresh for an event
of their own?
Well, first of all you have to know that we showcase
a very Dutch, very dirty style of house music. That
is what we play at all of our events and that is what
we have to most fun doing. When we have fun, so
does our audience! We can be reached through
email at info@absolutelyfresh.com.
Don’t forget to check out Absolutely Fresh every
Wednesday night at The Boogie in downtown
Springfield!
 L
oft apartments and new businesses are pop-
ping up in buildings that have long been va-
cant all over downtown and on Commercial
Street. City leaders have long talked about
and planned for an urban revitalization
and historical preservation of the two districts. It is
unfolding before our very eyes, and Springfield area
residents should be proud. Most cities of similar size
and resources only talk about such things. They may
make some meager progress, but our community’s
leaders are getting it done with style and vitality.
City Councilwoman Mary Collette recently stated
in a telephone interview that the entire council is in-
tensely aware that getting people to move into these
neighborhoods to live is critical. Whether you speak
to the Urban Districts Alliance, the Watershed Com-
mittee of the Ozarks or one of the many proprietors
of downtown businesses, you will know that there is
a deep commitment to the residential revitalization
of downtown and Commercial Street.
The Loft Lifestyle
Living within walking distance of restaurants, night-
clubs, art galleries, ballparks and other recreational
facilities is critical to attracting a new demographic
to the urban lifestyle. The loft movement came to
Springfield in the mid-1990s when downtown loft
pioneer Scott Murray renovated 318-320 Park Cen-
tral West into loft conversions. His brother, Jason
Murray, completed his first loft-building project in
2001, after acquiring his first downtown commercial
building in 2000 to accommodate his import/export
business, Artifacts, Ltd. In the mid-1990s, the urban
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districts of Springfield were approved for federal and
state financial participation in the form of reduced
interest loans and tax incentives for historic preser-
vation of certain buildings and neighborhoods. This
infusion of investment capital and financial incen-
Rental rates for loft apart-
ments in downtown Spring-
field range anywhere from
$500 to $2,000 per month...
tives has energized and facilitated a rapid expansion
of the loft market as well as commercial activity
downtown and on Commercial Street. Correspond-
ingly, the city government has committed substantial
resources to the efforts. According to Rusty Worley,
Executive Director of the Urban Districts Alliance,
the real key to the financial success story was the
state tax credits for historic preservation authorized
and administered by the Missouri Department of
Natural Resources.
In July of 2006, Matt Miller Companies LLC en-
tered the Springfield loft market when they opened
Founders Park Lofts at 331 East Water Street. The
formation of Miller’s Blue Block Lofts company
marked the first large-scale commercial real estate
developer to take an ownership stake in the Spring-
field loft scene. It also brought the first major loft
building with a true industrial style to the consum-
ers. Miller bills Founders Park Lofts as the hippest
lofts in Springfield. Each apartment is very unique,
and the location is spectacular.
DOWNTOWNBEAT / 13
 Throughout the late 1990s and up to today, several
small investors and developers have gotten into the
game. Downtown and Commercial Street are both
dotted with buildings containing 1 to 4 loft apart-
ments, with many investors who own just one, two,
...designer features such
as custom cabinetry, high-
end appliances, fireplaces,
Jacuzzis, high-grade coun-
tertops and tile.
or three such buildings. One landlord/investor is Bob
McCroskey, a long-time patron of the realtor com-
munity in Springfield. McCroskey’s buildings are
mostly located on Campbell Street just southwest
of the Square. His commercial spaces are occupied
by businesses such as Marco’s Pizzeria, Fashioned
by Jaye, and Vintage Vice. Above those spaces are
some very nice luxury lofts. These buildings date
back to the mid-to-late nineteenth century and are an
important part of Springfield’s rich history. The lofts
are impeccably preserved and renovated and have
extremely convenient access to the heart and soul of
downtown Springfield.
As far as locations go, there are lofts scattered all
throughout downtown and Commercial Street. There
are major buildings such as Founders Park, Stove
Works, Artifacts, and Olive Place that are easy to
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find and identify. However, there are also many great
lofts that are located in remote places and above retail
spaces that most people don’t even know exist. When
looking for a loft of your own, it may be a good idea
to contact a real estate agent and have them do the
searching for you. There is a good chance that an
agent will find properties that you would have never
found on your own.
Finding something in your budget is not a matter of
choice or preference, but of necessity. Rental rates
and residential property values are very subjective.
The rule in real estate is that a particular property is
worth what a prospective buyer or renter will pay for
it today. Rental rates for loft apartments in downtown
Springfield range anywhere from $500 to $2,000 per
month, but the majority are priced within the $700 to
$1,000 price range. There are also many luxury lofts
being built in the downtown area. Luxury lofts are
built with designer features such as custom cabinetry,
high-end appliances, fireplaces, Jacuzzis, high-grade
countertops and tile.
The loft movement is definitely alive and well in
downtown Springfield. It grows bigger and stronger
with each passing day and is making the historic parts
of town vibrant and beautiful again. The arts and
culture scenes are thriving and for every business that
closes its doors, three more take its place. The down-
town community is edgy, trendy, tech-savvy, and
culturally diverse. More and more people are starting
to make the loft conversion because they, too, want to
be in the middle of it all.
DOWNTOWNBEAT / 15
 Ask An Agent with the developers of the Emerald building which
was formerly Jerry’s Antiques on South Avenue, which
is being renovated as a green building. It will be leed
We caught up with down- certified and energy efficient.
town real estate agent
Michelle Cantrell to get
her opinion on the center What else would you like to see downtown, and
city real estate market. what could be done to attract more people to the
Michelle has been a suc- loft lifestyle?
cessful residential and
commercial agent with I would love to see new businesses downtown. I at-
Carol Jones Realtors for a tended a condo conference in San Diego last year
number of years, and has and one element that they described that made condo
worked with many down- building successful was that they be built in areas that
town developers. were within walking distance to nice restaurants, art
galleries, ball fields, etc. Downtown Springfield fit
that description exactly. With great restaurants like
What do you think of the current loft scene down- Bijans, Flame, and the art galleries that participate in
town, and what could be done to make it better? First Friday Artwalk, and now the Cardinals Stadium
downtown, we just need more businesses downtown to
There are several buildings downtown that have been make it complete.
renovated for lofts that are for rent, and those proj-
ects have been very successful. This past year there
have been more developers interested in renovating
buildings for condos, which will be for sale rather I worked with the first owner
than rent. I worked with the first owner of the Heers of the Heers building that
building that was planning to sell condos and we had
all of them reserved within the first 2 weeks, which was planning to sell con-
showed us there is a strong interest in buying down- dos and we had all of them
town. In my opinion the loft scene would be better if
more projects were completed so that inventory would reserved within the first 2
be available for sale. weeks...

Tell us a little bit about some projects you are cur- Thanks Michelle. You’ve given us some great insight!
rently working on… We are really looking forward to seeing your new
projects completed. It sounds like you are helping the
I am working with several developers downtown revitalization of downtown Springfield in a very posi-
who are looking at developing new buildings as well tive way!
as renovating old. One building on South Avenue
will have eight high-end condos for sale by summer.
Another project will be a new building with starting
prices in the $140s-150M range. I am also working

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 Monday
Harpo’s – Dirt cheap draws and Music by DJ Lush
Big Whiskey’s – Great deals on pints and Starburst
shots

Tuesday
Trolley’s - Domestic and Beer Bucket deals til’
midnight

Wednesday
Ernie Biggs – Mug Night and Coors Light special

Thursday
Icon Nightclub - Coors Light special and cheap
wells all night long

Friday
The Boogie – Insane Pint Specials
Harpo’s – High Life Pitchers

Cheap
Saturday
Drink The Boogie - Domestic bottles and well specials
Spots
7 Days Sunday
Springfield Brewing Company - Pizza & Pitcher or
of the Wings & Pitcher
Week! We can’t give the exact prices on these amaz-
ing drink specials, but trust us, they are definitely
worth checking out... We wouldn’t steer you
wrong when it comes to cheap booze!

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 ntil now, The Moxie has been the only downtown movie theater in Springfield.
The recent opening of the Dive In Theater, located underneath Riad’s on the
square, has just changed that. So what’s the difference? Downtown Beat went
to both locations in search of that answer and found out that both theaters offer their own
unique experience…

Films Food
Second run movies, and favorite flicks with Many great food choices from candy to
widespread appeal. taquitos, and over 22 varieties of beer.

Seating Price
A very relaxed atmosphere featuring comfy $5 admission, $1-$4 for food/drinks, and
couches, bean bags, and tables with chairs. beer specials throughout the schedule.
They’re also adding a row of 100 year old
theater seats! Hours
Friday and Saturday showings at 7:30pm &
Screen 10pm.
120” main projection screen, two 50” flat
screens, and a 42” flat screen at the bar.

Films the Springfield Brewing Company. Plus, the

Independent, Foreign, documentaries, and
local films.
Seating
An intimate auditorium that seats 75 people
and features vintage chairs from The Land-
er’s Theater.
Screen
Most films are shown in 35mm format on the
large projection screen (20 ft wide x 9 ft tall).
popcorn flavors are the best in town!
Price
$8 for adults and $6.50 for students and
seniors. Matinees and all Monday shows are
only $5.
Hours – Open 7 days per week with evening
shows and the occasional afternoon mati-
nee.

Food
The Cinebar offers a wide selection of wine,
soda, locally made snacks, and beer from

The bottom line... both theaters are very unique in their own way, and offer an excellent
movie-going experience. The Moxie definitely caters to independent and foreign film lovers,
while the Dive In Theatre offers mainstream favorites such as Talladega Nights, Snatch, and
Animal House. Be sure to catch a flick at both places and see for yourself why these two
venues are such a great asset to our downtown culture!
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 This Chicago style dueling piano bar is a favorite among downtowners of all ages. Thursday
is usually a college crowd featuring a DJ and dance music. Saturday draws a slightly older
crowd and is the definitely the best night to see the dueling piano show. Get there early if
you want to find a table!

Who will like it? – Live music fans

Springfield’s only Vegas-style nightclub is extremely popular for dancing or just being seen.
Icon features a VIP lounge upstairs, weekly drink specials, and two nightly performances by
The Cadence Drum Show. The doors open at 9pm and the place is usually packed wall to
wall by 11:30.

Who will like it? – Anyone who loves to dance

With over different 30 beers on tap, this English style pub is perfect for hardcore beer drink-
ers. The bartenders are excellent and will most likely call you by name by the third or fourth
time you come in. The food is pretty good too, so be sure to make Patton Alley a regular
stop.

Who will like it? – Beer Lovers

The Red Room Lounge is a great place to meet friends for a drink anytime of the day. The
relaxing, low-light atmosphere makes for an excellent date location as well. They also offer
a $3 half-pound burger and fries special every weekday from 4pm-6pm.

Who will like it? – Trendy adults of any age

There is no better place downtown for college students than this South Street favorite. The
Boogie features the high-energy house music of Absolutely Fresh, and some of the cheapest
drinks in town. Be sure to ask the bartender for a “Boogie Bowl” and share it with a couple
friends!

Who will like it? – College students

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 A
rchitectural Instincts is a new down-
town interior décor and home furnish- Who:
ings store that was opened this March Maggie and Daryl King
by Maggie and Daryl King. Maggie
and Daryl have lived all over the world and have
developed a keen eye for architectural details and What:
exquisite designs with an international touch. Custom building supplier & Interior
décor
Architectural Instincts offers many luxury prod-
ucts at wholesale prices including custom doors,
fountains, vases, sinks, and the largest copper se- When:
lection in the Springfield area. Some of their many Monday – Friday: 10am-6pm
varieties of stone include marble, granite, onyx, Saturday: 10am-2pm
cantera, travertine, and rojo florito. A vast majority
of the products found in the store are hand-carved
and can be customized in a number of ways. Where:
509 West Olive - Suite 103
Whether you are a major builder looking to buy Downtown Springfield
wholesale for your next sub-division, or a family 417-865-5577
looking for the best products to furnish your dream
home, Architectural Instincts is a great place to
check out!

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