Movie in the Park event draws large, enthusiastic crowds to beautiful Galt Gardens Park

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The Movie in the Park event drew large, enthusiastic crowds over the Labour Day Weekend. The Downtown BRZ has sponsored movies in Galt Gardens Park for the past four summers. Movies in the park continues to be popular with families from Lethbridge and throughout southern Alberta. Over 800 people took in the shows over the two evenings. Even the brief rain on Saturday didn't discourage event attendees.

The classic Spielberg hit, 'Jurassic Park', was shown on Friday, while the Pixar/Disney summer blockbuster 'UP' was featured on Saturday. The Movie in the Park crew brought in some exciting pre-show entertainment that included a local fire spinner troupe, magic show, hoola-hoop contest and a WII Guitar Hero tent.

This free, community event definitely helps to showcase all that beautiful Galt Gardens has to offer. The Rotary Centennial Plaza was in full operation and the colorful water display attracted a lot of attention during both evenings. The BRZ offered up tasty and affordable 50 cent bags of popcorn that were sold out of the newly constructed pergola food servery area.

Many thanks go out to local media and City of Lethbridge staff for their promotion and assistance in making the event such a huge success.

The Labour Day Weekend Movies in the Park event was a smash hit and we're looking forward to the next showing during the Bright Lights Festival and Midnight Madness event on November 20, 2009.

For more information on Movie in the Park, contact the BRZ office at 403 - 327-9002 or visit their site at www.movieinthepark.ca.

Zim's Place offers up art, bagels, coffee and borscht ... the perfect combination!

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NOTE: Zim's Place has closed for business. Although they were on 6th Street for a relatively short period of time, Les made a lot of friends within our downtown community. They will be missed.

Les takes us on a tour of his warm and cozy artisan cafe that recently opened on Festival Square (6th Street) in beautiful downtown Lethbridge. Zim's Place was inspired by his passion for healthy food, coffee and art. It's a welcome addition to 'our downtown' and has definitely helped to enhance our unique and special 'coffee culture'.

Although Les leaves the art to his wife (Donna Jean) and daughter (Gianne), his talent is displayed in the kitchen, where he cooks up a daily pot of delicious borscht. He constantly plays around with different blends of traditional borscht ingredients which makes each visit to Zim's Place a tasty surprise. Combine a bowl of borscht with a cappuccino and a European-style bagel and you have the perfect 'place' to sit and relax after a long day of shopping or work.

Besides the art of his talented wife and daughter, Zim's Place also features landscapes and figurative art from a variety of local and regional artists and artisan's.

Zim's Place will be participating in the upcoming Allied Arts Council's ARTWALK. Artwalk is a free, self-guided tour of arts venues and entertainment in Lethbridge. It takes place on September 18-19 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Zim's Place is located at 313 - 6th Street South. For more information, call 403 - 942-2277 or email Les at zimfam@telus.net.

Tompkins Jewellers ... providing exceptional service and a wide selection of expertly crafted jewellery & giftware

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Lisa takes us on a tour of her bright and inviting store in downtown Lethbridge. Tompkins Jewellers has earned a solid reputation for exceptional customer service, product knowledge and a wide selection of fine jewellery and exclusive giftware.

Tompkins Jewellers is a second generation family business that was established in 1983. It was originally located in the old El Rancho Hotel and Convention Centre on Mayor Magrath Drive.

They pride themselves as being the home for the largest selection of Korite Ammolite jewellery and Ammonite fossils in southern Alberta. Ammolite, the fossilized gemstone, displays a rich variety of brilliant colors and textures. They work closely with the owners of the Korite Ammolite mine that is located about 25 minutes outside of Lethbridge. The mine is one of only two commercial Ammolite mines in the world. Exclusive tours can be arranged through Tompkins Jewellers. This one-of-a-kind tour is a great way to learn about Alberta history, geography, geology, gemmology and palentology.

Lisa and her knowledgeable staff provide a number of services including custom designed jewellery from concept, to design, to production of the final piece. Customers can arrange for an appointment to meet with one of their designers and discuss a variety of concepts and options. Their state-of-the-art equipment can produce amazing 3-dimensional renderings of their customers designs. Once the design is approved, a wax model is produced. The wax model is used to create a one-of-a-kind fine jewellery piece that will sparkle and delight for generations to come.

Besides their wide selection of fine jewellery, Tompkins has a number of exclusive lines of giftware such as the highly collectable Thomas Sabo Charm Club Collection and Sid Dickens Memory Blocks. Check out their great selection of popular Steelx and inspirational jewellery.

Tompkins Jewellers also serves as a downtown gallery for paintings and prints by well-known local artist, Karen Brownlee. Each year, the store takes part in the popular Allied Arts Council's ArtWalk. Karen is usually on hand to paint and talk with visitors during store hours.

For more information, call 403 - 327-3119. Tompkins Jewellers is located at 326 - 7th Street South. Visit them online at www.tompkinsjewellers.com (watch for their upcoming online shop).

Farmer's Market opens in Downtown Lethbridge for the 2009 season!

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The much-anticipated Downtown Farmer's Market opened today to huge crowds of loyal customers. The downtown market was developed through a partnership between the Downtown BRZ, Exhibition Park and the City of Lethbridge. 2009 marks the 4th year that the Farmer's Market has been in downtown Lethbridge.

The market has been a welcomed addition to the downtown experience. Business owners, employees and residents from neighbouring areas such as London Road look forward to the start of the Downtown Farmer's Market.

The market takes place every Wednesday, July 8 to August 26 from noon until 5:00 p.m. It's located on Festival Square between 3rd and 4th Avenue on 6th Street South.

For more information, call the Business Revitalization Zone office at 327-9002.

Create anything, remember everything with Embellished Memories scrapbooking

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Kari Fraser talks with us about what makes Embellished Memories, southern Alberta's scrapbooking destination location.

Whether you're someone who's been scrapbooking for years or just a curious beginner, Embellished Memories is a one-stop center for ideas, products, classes and workshops. Her knowledgeable staff is dedicated to bringing the finest quality scrapbooks and creative supplies to their customers.

The scrapbooks created by their loyal customers are truly a labour of love because of all the time, thought and effort that goes into assembling them. By rescuing photos from shoeboxes, drawers and storage trunks, scrapbookers help to preserve precious memories and creatively tell stories for future generations to enjoy.

Their customers are a big part of their success. Seasoned scrapbookers regulary contribute to their blog and are always available to assist those that are just learning about the hobby.

Embellished Memories offers a wide selection of paper, stamps, die cuts, embellishments, page-layout kits, monthly kits, pre-made gifts, fun classes, crops and much, much more.

Visit their website at www.embellishedmemories.ca or blog for frequent store updates, layout/project samples, upcoming classes, inspiration and more!

Embellished Memories is located at 309 - 6th Street South - Phone 403 388-4010.

Experience the flavours of Europe at The Cup 'n Saucer in Downtown Lethbridge

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NOTE: The Cup 'n Saucer has closed for business.

Sarah talks to us about the inspiration behind The Cup 'n Saucer and why she and her partners have brought a taste of Europe to downtown Lethbridge. Sarah and Marga decided to open their restaurant because they wanted to have a place where they could go for a nice coffee in a proper cup and saucer and enjoy some of the comfort foods and treats that they miss from their native countries of England and The Netherlands.

Marga is passionate about cooking while Sarah enjoys meeting and pampering their customers. Their extensive menu includes a wide-variety of dishes - full English breakfast which includes bacon, eggs, sausage, black pudding, mushrooms, tomatoes and beans; full Canadian breakfast which includes bacon, eggs, sausage, hashbrowns and toast; Dutch pancakes served with either syrup, cheese, meat or veggies; steak and kidney pies; chicken and mushroom pies; Dutch kebab (shoarma); fish and chips with mushy peas or coleslaw; fresh pastries and much, much more.

Besides their extensive menu and exceptional service, The Cup 'n Saucer also puts together a number of special events for their loyal customers. They host English pub-style quiz nights where customers are invited to put together teams for an evening of fun and laughs. Every six weeks they also put on a full British-style Sunday dinner. Tickets are sold in advance for a full-course meal comprised of roast beef, roasted or mashed potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, vegetables, gravy and desert - apple crumble with custard, coffee and chocolate mints ... now that's a meal!

However, if you're just looking for a place to go after a bit of shopping, you can relax and visit over The Cup & Saucer's wide selection of coffee and tea. They offer locally roasted coffee provided by Cuppers, as well as imported Italian coffee by Lavazza. If you're too busy to leave the office, they also offer a catering and delivery service that includes a selection of sandwiches, wraps, salads, sweets and beverages. After work, The Cup 'n Saucer is a great place to sit back and unwind over a bottle of European beer or a glass of wine.

So, if you're looking for a great little restaurant with lots of charm, character and excellent food, make sure to check out The Cup 'n Saucer at 309 - 7 Street South - Phone 403 317-7797.

Check out their full menu at www.thecupnsaucer.ca.

The Penny Coffee House ... a legacy of great coffee, fresh-baked goods & even better service

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Eileen Abbott talks to us about why her business is much more than 'just a coffee shop'. The Penny Coffee House has become a downtown Lethbridge institution. With many locals, it's top-of-mind when it comes to selecting a meeting spot. The 'Penny', as it's known by to their clientele, is well-known for its superior, locally roasted and French pressed coffee and even better customer service.

The 'Penny' was the first cappuccino bar established in Lethbridge. Although the interior was renovated a short-time ago, in order to enhance the seating area and food prep stations, it has successfully maintained the relaxing and friendly atmosphere that has made it such a popular downtown Lethbridge meeting spot.

Eileen and her staff have developed a unique rapport with their customers, many of whom are considered friends. "They will help out if we are busy, assist in making coffee in the morning or even ring themselves through the till on a quiet day." Many customers come in more than once a day with some even running their business through the 'Penny' by bringing clients in for meetings or consultations. Meetings are aided by the wireless internet service that is also provided to her customers.

With one full-time and one part-time baker on staff, customers are always treated to daily fresh-baked goods. On Saturday's they feature delectable sausage rolls that are quickly sold-out to a lucky few that choose to start there weekend with a visit to the 'Penny'.

The 'Penny' also caters to the health conscious by offering daily homemade vegetarian soups and gluten-free breads and wraps.

In order to make the 'Penny' experience even more unique, Eileen utilizes her space as a gallery to showcase art from the U of L's Student Art Society. The art rotates on a bi-monthly basis with the majority of the pieces available via a silent auction.

The Penny Coffee House is located on historic Round Street (331 - 5th Street South). For more information, contact Eileen at 403 - 320-5282.