Karen Jacobs has a vivid picture of how Bel Air’s Arts & Entertainment District and its retail and professional services community will one day fit together. Karen owns Tiny Toes at 4 N. Main St. and is the newly elected president of the Bel Air Downtown Alliance.
“Start walking down Main St. from Preston’s and Two Sisters,” she says. “People will discover more art galleries, shops, street art and unique places to eat. Swing around to Bond Street, up past the Bel Air Bakery, Whitehouse Trading Co. and Courtland Hardware. Top off your day of shopping, walking and snacking with a drop-in visit to the Harford Council Art Gallery.
On weekends and during special events, says Karen, she dreams of a Bel Air where arts festival meets farmer’s market with live music with space for impromptu dancing, craft demonstrations and walker friendly paths. To top it all, Karen also wouldn’t mind seeing all of this wrapped up in twinkling white lights.
“This is good for every kind of business. All of a sudden, you have crowds of people congregated on the street, lingering in front of your store. Right now, people tend to come to Bel Air with a specific destination in mind. They shop a particular store or meet a lawyer and go home. When arts & entertainment mix with businesses, people will come to Bel Air when they have nothing to do and then stay. Everyone profits.”
Watch Tiny Toes website and Facebook page to see details about the store’s upcoming artist events for families. Follow the Bel Air Downtown Alliance as it promotes the arts in a unique way during each of its 2013 regular and signature events: The NEW Chocolate & Art Walk (February 22), Chocolate & Candy Festival (March 2), First Fridays, Summer Outdoor Movies, BBQ Bash and the Bel Air Downtown Music Fest (October). www.downtownbelair.com. Use the Alliance’s Facebook page to get regular updates.
