urbanMSP

http://www.startribune.com/local/minnea ... 66471.html

Holidazzle to be replaced with Christmas marketplace

The Holidazzle parade marched down Nicollet Mall for the last time in December, but the holiday celebration will return as a European-style marketplace.

Steve Cramer, Downtown Council president, said Friday that the council hopes to reinvent Holidazzle as a shopping, eating and entertainment experience centered on Peavey Plaza.

[...]

I had this idea!

Um , maybe they should also think about renovating the plaza now ???

Saw the idea of a holiday market coming. Personally - I liked the idea of the Holidazzle Parade and agree that it's too bad the city can't do both, at least have the parade 1 night as a final hurrah. Still - like the idea of a market too - hopefully they can get Peavey renovated and open the sunken pool area for ice-skating again with lots of lights on the trees, glogg, etc. Make it really festive - choirs, etc.

During the days of the Holidazzle, the malls/stores downtown should have offered deals before/after the parade to keep people downtown and shopping instead of simply offering a free heated seat by spending $100=+ dollars somewhere.

http://www.holidazzle.com/news_article/ ... _id=234208

More news on the Holiday Market. Looks like it's basically a tiny pop up fair with German beer

An unlimited season pass for the Minneapolis Holiday Market can be purchasaed at the gate for between $3-6.

I see they're not backing down on making it unsuccessful.

http://www.holidazzle.com/news_article/ ... _id=234208

More news on the Holiday Market. Looks like it's basically a tiny pop up fair with German beer

the carousel is a great idea and i can see this drawing families.

http://www.journalmpls.com/news-feed/ho ... ollet-mall

Nice fence

Boy they made sure that the chain link fence was prominent in this rendering... If they were smart they would try to get a sponsor so that it was free... the pay to enter thing is so UN-Minnesotan! It just rubs people the wrong way. For christ sakes it is the holiday... let the children see Santa...

Isn't the assumption that the entrance fee is in part to keep undesirables from loitering around?

I think it's 1st to help cover the costs of the whole production, with keeping loiterers out being a 2nd.

Isn't the fencing a requirement given that they are serving alcohol?

Isn't the assumption that the entrance fee is in part to keep undesirables from loitering around?

so it's a seasonal pass, one time fee. in that case i don't have too much issue with it then.

http://www.holidazzle.com/news_article/ ... ferrer_id=

Good progress and good to know there will be free events. Also glad that they're going with a one time charge for the entire time the event is going on.

$3/weekeday, $6/weekends? I still am not a fan of paying a fee, especially since the city paid a bunch of money to go towards this and then you will likely be spending money on drinks, foods, etc. once in. I think they should've designed a commemorative pin that you purchase that gets in you like a season pass. I know it would be an added expense to make, but makes more sense to me...at least you get something. How are they going to track that you've already paid when you go back a second, third time, etc.? So if you go for the first time during the week and pay $3 then you have to spend another $3 when you go back on that first weekend?

they'll probably give people some sort of proof of admission. season pass or whatever. it looks pretty cool. ryan companies is coordinating the construction. seems as if there will enough free things to bring people down. so that reindeer pen will be right on the mall, not in the fenced off market area it appears.

chicago's chirstmas market is free admission.
http://www.christkindlmarket.com/about-us/

How are they going to track that you've already paid when you go back a second, third time, etc.?

I hate to be an optimist, but don't you think the organizers would have thought of this?

I had a general question. Didn't assume they didn't have a plan. Thinking I am going to stop posting/responding on this site. It's an ok site to check into once in a while to find some real information about projects but most of the time people have snarky remarks about other's posts. Also seems like there are "certain" people who post all the time who are the only ones others respond to. Typical MN clicky.

I agree that this site can get snarky at times (me included) but I don't think Didier's response was really that big of a deal. Anyway, I hope you stay. The more people who leave because they don't like snark, the more snarky and insular this site will get.

That trend should tell us something.

I guess I don't really understand why that post would make you leave this site.