By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — The last Uptown Olean Music & Art Walk of the season was held Friday afternoon and early evening at sites along North Union and West State streets.
Sunny skies and warm weather prevailed. It didn’t seem like fall if you discounted the tiny leaves dropping from ornamental trees.
Four sites on North Union and the Tri-County Arts Council on North Union Street participated with visual artists and musical artists.
Beat City Music held an open mic event outside their store, Joe Gilroy performed outside Christie’s Boutique, Mega Davis and John Tomerlin performed outside the Tri-County Arts Council, Scott Warner played guitar and sang outside Color It Creative and Jan Rhody and Moses Howden played outside The Eatery.
The music and art is designed to bring more people downtown. Music performed on the sidewalk on a Friday afternoon and early evening is designed to provide a vibe that this is a nice place to be.
It’s also designed to get you to give a second look to a business you may have overlooked.
Outside Color It Creative, 124 N. Union St., Scott Warner strummed a folk guitar and sang. His black goldendoodle Sheamus, sat at his feet.
Tony Costa, the “mayor of Westons Mills,” who now lives in Olean, interrupted his afternoon walk to stop and talk while Warner played.
Inside Color It Creative, a unique gift shop opened earlier this year by Caroline Austin, said the Music & Art Walk has succeeded in bringing people downtown, which was the objective.
Austin is part of a group of downtown business owners who are trying to bring increased attention to downtown stores.
Her store and other North Union Street merchants are participating in the Trick or Treat event Saturday, Oct. 25 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., followed by costume judging in front of the Municipal Building.
The group of merchants are looking for more events to bring people downtown, and are looking at a possible food drive next month with the Olean Food Pantry.
Austin said the merchants thanked Alderwoman Sonya McCall for helping to publicize the Uptown Music and Art Walks this year.
“The merchants group is getting ready to put a Facebook page together to help promote their stores,” Austin said.
St. Bonaventure University marketing students have also offered their services to local businesses, Austin said.
Austin’s daughters, Taylor Rice and Amanda Cherry are also working at the gift shop.
