Hit the Bricks singing new tune – music, more shops

Published 12:00 am Sunday, September 7, 2008

By Pamela Hitchins

phitchins@vicksburgpost.com

Downtown shoppers can Hit the Bricks to a different tune this time around as live street music will be added to the Vicksburg regular.

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Along six blocks of Washington Street, musicians will entertain shoppers from 5:30 until 8 Thursday evening, and participating businesses will stay open after hours.

“It’s an opportunity to show off to the Vicksburg people what we offer downtown,” said Bobbie Marascalco, owner of Peterson’s Art and Antiques and one of the event’s founders. “Couples come together. We like to get the men to come along, too. There’s food and entertainment. It’s a fun event for everyone.”

Besides adding music, the event will include some businesses off Washington Street that are part of Vicksburg’s Main Street program, which promotes downtown and is sponsoring Thursday’s event. Main Street Executive Director Rosalie Theobald calls it, “Hit the Bricks and Adjoining Streets for Open House Night.”

“If you see a balloon tied to a lamp post or column, you can know that business is staying open that night,” Theobald said. “Nothing’s going to change from before. It’s the same fun concept. All we’re doing is adding more businesses to what’s already been there over the years.”

Street musicians — both individuals and groups — will perform on each block from 900 to 1500 Washington Street. River 101 is expected to do a broadcast from the event, Theobald said.

One of the performers is guitarist and vocalist Clay Koestler, who will stroll the 1100 block of Washington Street, near Lorelei Books. Lorelei’s lineup for the evening includes Mississippi author Sylvia Higginbotham signing her collection of recipes, remedies and recollections, “Mama Said…”

Vicksburg Farmers’ Market vendors will also be available in the 1100 block, Theobald said.

Besides music, many merchants will offer hors d’oeuvres and beverages, door prizes and special deals, she added, along with a drawing for a $100 downtown merchant gift certificate.

Hit the Bricks began in 2001 when Marascalco and two other downtown shop owners got together to promote the historic area for shopping and, “to let people know we had some new stores downtown,” she said.

The after-hours event gives people who work until 5 an opportunity to come downtown, Theobald said. “They don’t have to buy anything. Just come out for a fun time — come to visit, to get reacquainted with downtown and see what’s new in the stores for fall.”