New Buffalo Business Association

The 2016 schedule of events for New Buffalo was rolled out today and a call for vendors, music, food, and volunteers has started for all the major events.

The New Buffalo Business Association has been working hard on the 2016 schedule to offer a diverse event calendar for our community, visitors, and participants. With a growing community population, tourists visiting our area (both second home-owners and day trippers), and annual events that stretch our season into the holidays, the New Buffalo area continues to prove its popularity as a destination for many each year. Our events and schedule includes smaller one-day events to large weekend festivals – there is something for everyone.

• Feb 6th – Bev’s Ball – Journeyman Distillery, 6:30pm ~ Celebrate the Second Season with the NBBA with a “Roaring 20’s Speakeasy” Gala. Dinner, Drinks, Dancing to live music and a huge silent auction. $85 per person
• May 28th – Sept 3rd – Saturday Nights Alive ~ each Saturday, live music from 6-8pm at the corner of Whittaker/Merchant St. Schedule TBA
• June 2nd – Sept 8th – Merchant Street Market – corner of N. Whittaker and Merchant St. The corner of Whittaker and Merchant St comes alive each week with produce, vendors, food, music, and interactive activities to liven up downtown New Buffalo.
• June – Oct 1st, Wednesday of each month – New Buffalo Classic Car Cruise-IN ~ Returning for its second year, the Classic Car Cruise-In has quickly become an iconic event for people that own, love, enjoy classic cars. Free, family friendly and causal environment.
• June 25th & 26th – 5th Annual New Buffalo ARTigras Art & Craft Fest ~ Downtown ~ 5th Annual ART & Craft Market in downtown, includes Art & Craft Exhibitors/Demos, kids section, “Chalk the Walk” and live music on Merchant and Thompson Street in downtown New Buffalo.
• June 29th – July 4th – Independence Celebration Week ~ Beach and Lions Park – Weds – Fri – Daily Surf Demos at the beach by Third Coast Surf and Sand Sculpture Demos, Sat, 2nd – 8-11am – Big Smiles 5K run at Lions Park, Sat, 2nd –Movies at the Beach @Dusk, Sun, 3rd–7-12pm – Music, Food and Fireworks at Lions Park
• August 12th – 14th – 32nd Annual New Buffalo Ship and Shore Festival ~ Downtown ~ Celebrate over 30 years of the New Buffalo Ship & Shore Festival. The event is a 3 days festival of music, wine/beer tent, marketplace, kids activities, contests, lighted boat parade, fireworks, pancake breakfast, 5k run and more. All along the lakefront and downtown New Buffalo.
• October 8th, Saturday – 11th Annual Harvest & Wine Fest ~ Lions Park ~ In it’s 11th year, Harvest & Wine has grown from just a few hundred people to over 7,000 in attendance for this one day festival of music, wine/tasting and shopping with our fabulous vendors, Columbus Day weekend at our lakefront park.
• November 25-26 – Christmas on Whittaker – various location in and around New Buffalo, including Santa visits, parade, cocoa, caroling, tree lighting and more. schedule TBA
• Late November – Early December – Kris Kringle Markets ~ Please call 312-965-9114 regarding interest, dates and locations
• The Refabulous Girls Market ~ The market pops-up several times per year at different retail locations in New Buffalo and surrounding areas. If you are a woman-owned, hand crafted up-cycle company, please call 312-965-9114 regarding interest, dates and locations. All markets are indoors, $10 per event

For applications and information on our events, please contact events@newbuffalo.org for details.

​The New Buffalo Business Association announced the Board of Directors for 2016

Ric Heath – President

Migs Murray – Vice President

Karen Gear – Treasurer

Emma Brewster – Secretary

Jan Vallone – Board Members

Katie Maroney – Board Member

Karen Poff – Board Member

Lisa Gawron – Board Member

The board will be working hard on the 2016 budget and the 55 days of events for 2016.

Spring is here! Celebrate by sending a beautiful arrangement or learn to decorate cakes for upcoming events.

• Income Tax Day is April 15th. Do you know a friend who lost their pay? Get them a special Tax Day Bouquet! And if you were one of the lucky individuals to receive a refund, then celebrate your joy by buying yourself something with your excess cash!
• Administrative Professionals Day is on the 22nd of April! Come in and get some flowers for your amazing secretary, assistant, or receptionist before time runs out!
• The winners for our March Drawing were Debbie Benjamin, Lora Sillman and Terri Hawkins. Congratulations, and enjoy your spring flowers! The April Drawing has started for a $25 gift card! Stop in today and enter, maybe YOU’LL win!
• Wilton Cake Decorating Classes are coming back to City Flowers on April 27th. They will be Monday evenings from 6:30 – 8:30pm. Call 269-469-0405 to reserve your spot today!

To order or check out City Flowers, please visit www.cityflowersnewbuffalo.com

​The NBBA Holiday party was a wonderful evening of networking, cheer and warm wishes for a great holiday season at the New Buffalo Yacht Club on December 11th. In spite of all the celebration NBBA business was conducted and our 2015 Board was elected by our members. The 2015 Board is made up of business owners in New Buffalo; Migs Murray (co-owner, Murray Real Estate), Juli Westergren (co-owner, Year Round, LLC), Ric Heath (owner, Heath & Co), Emma Brewster (co-owner, David’s Deli), Jan Vallone (owner, PJ’s), Mark Trail (owner, Lake Country INN), and Katie Maroney (owner, Equilibrium). The 2015 board will meet in early January to elect the new officers for the year, names will be announced when confirmed.

iRock Jazz Fest has set the date for it’s next date, May 29th & 30th, Memorial Weekend. The event will include; 14 different venues, 56 musicians, 28 live performances. More information can be found on their website irockjazz.com/festival in upcoming months.

Posted in the Harbor Country News, December 5, 2014

NEW BUFFALO — Richard Ruby, 84, a Chicago native and long-time resident of New Buffalo, passed away Tuesday, December 2, 2014, from complications suffered from a stroke in September. Up until his illness, Richard had been working at his New Buffalo law office and teaching at Roosevelt University, two professions that he practiced for over 30 years. Besides his professions, his true passions were his family, friends, music, books, theater, lively conversation and his dogs.

Richard attended the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and owned a car dealership at 72nd & Stony Island for close to 40 years with his late brother, Robert. Chicago residents became quite familiar with their dealership’s catchy and clever advertising jingle, “Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby Chevrolet.”

At age 45, he also decided to enter the legal profession, getting a degree from John Marshall Law School in 1978. His friendly bigger-than-life picture highlighting his law practice can be seen on numerous billboards in the New Buffalo and Michigan City areas. He was a member of the Chicago Bar Association, as well as associations in Michigan and Indiana.

In 2002, Richard renewed his love for musical theater, which started in high school and college. He performed in various summer performances at the Dunes Theater including the Pirates of Penzance, Jekyl & Hyde, La Cage Aux Folles and the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Born in Chicago’s Grant Hospital on November, 9, 1930, to Irving and Adelaide (Stern) Ruby, Richard was preceded in death by his parents and two siblings, Robert and Miriam.

Richard was the proud father of five children, Ron, Donna, Joe, Dan and Noah (Thatcher); and a doting grandfather to his four grandchildren, Taylor, Emily, Matthew and Michael. He was a loving uncle, cousin, and friend to many and as an animal lover, a “dog father” to Minnie, Kendra, Diva, Mason and Casper.

A memorial and life celebration service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, December 11, at the Bodhi Spiritual Center, 2746 N Magnolia Ave., Chicago, IL 60614. Funeral services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be sent to Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605, in honor of Richard Ruby.

If you love New Buffalo, save the evening of November 19, 2014 for a unique opportunity to help create a vision of your hometown’s future.

Peter Kageyama, an internationally-known urban strategist and author of “For the Love of Cities,” will lead a workshop to encourage residents and leaders to embrace their relationship with the New Buffalo area and create a common vision for the area’s future.

The workshop, called “For the Love of New Buffalo,” will take place from 6 pm to 9 pm at New Buffalo Area High School at 1112 E. Clay Street. The evening will focus on things people love about New Buffalo area and the process of creating a “lovable community” that makes people feel engaged in a relationship with their hometown. Studies have found that passionate and loyal citizens who feel an emotional attachment to their communities create a strong environment for economic growth and sense of well-being.

Whether your love is for the beach and lake, the schools, the shops, the restaurants, the environment, or the artistic opportunities, this workshop will help New Buffalo continue to grow by encouraging energy and enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and sustainable economic opportunities and helping to empower collaborative relationships between the area’s organizations, residents and business community.

The workshop is being presented by the New Buffalo Downtown Development Authority, through a grant from the Pokagon Fund.

The workshop is free, but space is limited. If you would like to attend, please RSVP at info@newbuffaloDDA.org before Nov 18th.

​The 2014 Harvest & Wine Fest is almost here!

Read more in Shore Magazine:

http://www.nwitimes.com/niche/shore/new-buffalo-business-association-presents-the-harvest-and-wine-festival/article_17104d98-b076-56ac-a56a-7d8026453b17.html

​Join the NBBA as we host a membership meeting at Casey’s Bar & Grill, Thursday, September 25th. We will start at 6pm with announcements and several updates from Barry Griffin, Board President of the NBBA, including new members, 2014/2015 events schedule, and other additions to our membership benefits. Robert Kemper, of the DDA, will also be joining us to give a quick update on the city’s plans and outlook. Stay afterwards and network with fellow members, appetizers will be served ~ cash bar

Please RSVP to Cathi Rogers at membership@newbuffalo.org by Sept 24th.