Some unknown sage said this: "If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, I know I can achieve it."
Whoever said this could well have been thinking of the annual Art, Heart & Stroll Festival on April 24 in Historic Old Mandeville sponsored by the Old Mandeville Business Association.
There will be plenty of fun and enlightenment for the inquiring mind to conceive on that day with some of our area's best artists displaying their talent in front of businesses along Girod Street. Not only can the senses be exalted by this beautiful art, but much of it can be purchased by discriminating visitors and taken home.
There is more: at 4 pm those with believing hearts will be competing for honors and prizes when a 4-mile run starts at Varsity Sports on Claiborne Street and winds through Historic Old Mandeville ending up back at Varsity for the awarding of prizes and gifts to all participants.
Ryan Green, managing partner of Varsity, is in charge of the race and there is still time to register to run in it by dropping by the exciting sporting goods store in the heart of Historic Old Mandeville. But runners beware: the pre-registration at a $20 fee ends on April 16th and that fee includes a commemorative champagne flute for the last event of the day.
That event is a more leisurely champagne stroll beginning at 5:30 pm at Maxein's Coffee House on Girod Street just off the lakefront. Those strolling will leave with a flute of champagne and get refills of free champagne at various participating businesses along the way until the stroll ends at Good Earth Market & Cafe on Girod Street just off U.S. 190.
You can print out registration forms for the 4-mile race online at www.varsityrunning.com or www.15thstreetflyers.org and they can be mailed with a check marked AHS for Art, Heart & Stroll to Varsity Sports, 2021 Claiborne St., Mandeville, La. 70448. But if you miss the deadline for early registration, and your heart tells you to achieve a 4-mile run through spring blooming Historic Old Mandeville, on April 24 you can register beginning at 3 pm on that day at Varsity for $24. Prizes will be awarded in 10 categories for male and female competitors.
As mystic Carlos Castaneda said, "...It is important to choose a path that has heart."
OMBA, on April 24th, gives you three distinctive paths with heart; visiting the varied and vibrant businesses along Girod Street viewing beautiful art; running 4-miles because you want to achieve it; or strolling while sipping champagne.
The collectible flutes can be purchased on April 24 at Maxein's or in advance at Varsity Sports, Das Schulerhaus, Whitney Bank on Marigny Avenue, Vianne's Tea Salon @ Cafe and Good Earth. If strolling on, the pre-stroll cost for the flute at these locations is $10 and $15 on the day of the stroll.
OMBA board member Terri Fogarty, who is organizing the stroll, said the cost for running and strolling is $25 on the day of the race and $20 if you register early for the race.
Restaurants, or other businesses in Historic Old Mandeville that want to become designated champagne stroll stops can call Fogarty at (985) 630-3511 to sign up.
She said artists participating thus far include Austin Calamari, Mary Stephens Powe, Kerrie Jones, Kelly Landrum Hammill, Rita Maduell, Andre Maduell, Sissy Coghlan, Brits Higgins, Abby Sands Miller and Evan Waller. Miller, a photographer, is the featured April artist whose work is displayed at Mandeville City Hall.
"Feed the seed at the bottom of your heart to bring forth a flower,'' said philosopher Shigenori Kameoka. Come down to Historic Old Mandeville on April 24 to see how the flower of the heart becomes striking and collectible art at the inspired hands of our regional artists.
But there is one final element for Art, Heart & Stroll: The joy of music. There will be lots of it on the streets during the event with Les Ensembles playing at Vianne's; The Outsiders on the front porch of OMBA member Ed Greene's Pontchartrain guest house at the corner of Girod and Monroe streets and NOLA Express entertaining the champagne strollers as they arrive for the finish at Good Earth.
Santa Claus Is Coming
Well, it is not December of course, but old St. Nick is coming on July 17th for the annual OMBA sponsored Christmas In July sales event among several participating merchants in Historic Old Mandeville.
Much more detail will be forthcoming, but this event features open hours with refreshments, door prizes, discounts and summer specials for early Christmas season shopping.
There are already unconfirmed rumors that Santa in summer attire may even make an appearance. Watch out for a possible Surfin' Santa.
Not To Be Repetitive
It is not a broken record. It is a serious matter. For all who have not yet renewed their 2010 membership in OMBA, time is of the essence. Your dues are a major source of funding for your OMBA permitting us to put on events to draw visitors and locals to your shops to purchase your goods. We also publish the beautiful visitor's guide brochure promoting your business and distribute it. Carol Self, our membership vice president, is hard at work rounding up the tardy. You got a renewal letter along with a brochure. Your dues helped finance production of that brochure. Renew now. It is urgent.
Hard Working For Old Mandeville
Our dynamic OMBA vice president for economic development, Ryan Green, recently journeyed to Baton Rouge to meet with that city's development director to get ideas and seek assistance to find ways to enhance the economic sustainability and growth of Historic Old Mandeville. Good work Ryan.
A nod of deep appreciation to member Ed Greene who has been working tirelessly to create a new and more vibrant website for OMBA. Our new web address is www.oldmandevillebiz.com. Check it out. Ed is still building it for OMBA so if you don't find it the first time, keep checking. You will be glad you did.