Thursday, May 29, 2014
IF YOU GO
What: Festival on Phelps
Where: North Phelps Street, between Commerce and West Federal streets, downtown Youngstown
When: Saturday, from noon to 6 p.m.
Schedule of bands
12:15 to 12:45 p.m.: Susan Wojnar
1 to 1:10 p.m.: Oakland Center for the Arts
1:30 to 2 p.m.: Tullsen Brothers
2:20 to 3 p.m.: Shiloh Hawkins
3:15 to 3:45 p.m.: Bernadette
4 to 4:30 p.m.: Jimmy Mulidore
4:45 to 5:30 p.m.: About Jess
5:40 to 6 p.m.: Baker
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
Phelps Street is only three blocks long, but it’s one of the most interesting thoroughfares in the resurgent downtown area.
Especially the block between West Commerce and West Federal streets. The narrow, one-way street is framed by tall buildings, giving it an intimate yet urban flavor.
Lined with small stores in downtown’s heyday, all three blocks of Phelps have seen a rebirth in recent years and boast some of the more interesting spots in the city.
A festival this Saturday will celebrate the street.
From noon to 6 p.m., craft and food vendors will showcase their wares on the entire length of the street. The block between Commerce and Federal will be closed to vehicular traffic, as will the block of West Federal Street between North Phelps and Central Square.
A full schedule of musical acts will entertain on a stage at the family-friendly event, while stores will demonstrate their goods and services.
North Phelps Street is the home of One Hot Cookie (cookies, ice cream, coffee), Lost Pages used, vintage book store, Pig Iron Press publishing house, Suzie’s Dogs and Drafts (with its open-air front wall), Youngstown Nation (a shop offering art, books and memorabilia from the city), V2 restaurant (with renovated apartments on the upper floors), Friends Roastery coffee shop, Touch the Moon Candy Saloon and Greyland Gallery. There is also an entrance to the food court of the 20 Federal Place building.
The Wick Building, a cornerstone of the block, is being renovated into apartments and a hotel. The work site will be mostly cleared for the festival.
Most of these Phelps Street businesses will participate in Saturday’s festival with demonstrations or information.
Oh Wow! Children’s Center, just around the corner on West Federal Street, also will participate.
All proceeds from Festival on Phelps will go toward the Rich Center for Autism at Youngstown State University. Admission is free.
The festival also will feature vendors selling handmade soaps, jewelry, clothing, art, essential oils, baked goods and other items, according to Kristen DeToro, festival spokesperson. The group Grow Youngstown will offer community-supported agriculture shares, while Trees Please will sell native plants.
The Mahoning Valley Historical Society will have a table set up with information about the history of the street.
One highlight will be the Junk Parade, sponsored by Greyland Gallery, corner of South Phelps and West Boardman streets.
Children and festivalgoers can stop at Greyland at 1 p.m. to create hats — or whatever they can imagine — out of materials collected by the gallery and Habitat for Humanity Restore.
At 2 p.m., the participants will march the length of Phelps Street, each wearing or walking with their junk creation, according to Melanie Rae Buonavolonta of Greyland.
“We will incorporate some junk drums and march all the way to One Hot Cookie, where we’ll all decorate cookies,” she said.
“The junk parade is a representation of what is happening, and can happen, in downtown, as we will be making things out of the stuff people have discarded and left behind and using those things to express bounty, our lively spirits and our creative minds,” said Buonavolonta. “Our goal is to highlight the wonderful businesses on Phelps Street.”
Participating businesses will all have small workshops, demonstrations or performances scheduled at their storefronts according to the following schedule:
1 p.m.: Greyland Gallery (making hats for Junk Parade).
2 p.m.: Junk Parade (begins at Greyland).
2:30 p.m.: One Hot Cookie (cookie decorating).
3 p.m.: Suzie’s Dogs and Drafts.
3:30 p.m.: Youngstown Nation.
4 p.m.: Friends Roastery.
4:30 p.m.: Oh Wow! Children’s Center.
5 p.m.: Touch the Moon Candy Saloon.