First performances of the ‘Taking it to the Streets’ concert series
May 14 - The Good Hooks
May 21 - Noah Witherspoon
May 27 - X-Toads
May 28 - The Funsters
A downtown concert series is being planned for two of Middletown's newly established Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area establishments now that warmer springtime weather is nearing.
Jay Moorman, one of the co-owners of Murphy’s Landing Seafood & Steakhouse, said a DJ and bands will liven up downtown Middletown with a portion of Broad Street closed in front of the restaurant and the Canal House Bar & Grille between Central Avenue and the Reynolds Avenue alley. The “Taking it to the Streets” series will be on Friday and Saturday nights from May to September. He also said that Yingling beer will be sponsoring the concerts and that city has provided a assistance.
“This is going to give exposure to downtown and improve Middletown’s image at night,” Moorman said. “I’ve promised the city this would be something it could be proud of.”
Middletown’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, called a DORA, was the first in Ohio.
Moorman said he believes downtown Middletown is much safer than going to the Over the Rhine district in Cincinnati.
“We haven’t had any problems” since the DORA went into effect, said David VanArsdale, the city’s public safety director. He said that signs have been posted in the downtown areas and he expects to see a lot more activity as the weather warms up.
The DORA district allows patrons of several establishments in the half-mile section of downtown to purchase alcoholic beverages in specially marked plastic containers and consume them outside from 6 p.m. to midnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Those times can be adjusted with the approval of the police chief and Middletown City Council for special events. Anyone consuming alcoholic beverages not purchased from the licensed establishments could be cited for open container violations, and city officials have said public intoxication laws would be enforced.
Middletown's new DORA district went into effect on New Year's eve and so far, according to city officials and Moorman, there have been no problems. In addition to Murphy's Landing, other locations include the Canal House, American Legion Post 218, At the Square, and Forest Hills Country Club.
“A lot of people are surprised when they see what has been going on in downtown Middletown,” Moorman said. “A lot of them say, ‘I didn’t know this was here.’”
He believes people will enjoy coming downtown if they know they can enjoy music, a beverage and food outside.
Bob Fairchild, one of Moorman's business partners, said they want to make downtown Middletown the focal point and that the DORA district will help bring more energy into the revitalization of downtown and its budding entertainment district.
“We want ‘Taking it to the Streets’ to promote local businesses and merchants,” Fairchild said. “Jay and I are working with other people to collaborate with other Middletown businesses in the music and entertainment areas. We hope that everyone has a good time because that’s our intent.”
Fairchild said there will be a variety of music performed including soul, jazz, country and rock and roll.
“We’re trying to do this first class,” Moorman said. “I look at it as being a party at my house and that it will be clean, safe and everyone having a good time.”
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