[NATSND]: *fire crackling*
[NATSND]: *people chattering*
As temperatures drop back into the twenties, it’s once again time to bundle up and stay warm. Downtown Evanston, a non-profit devoted to helping Evanston’s business district, held their first “S’mores on the Square” event on Saturday to keep Evanstonians warm—in both their hearts and in their hands.
A week before the event, I interviewed Downtown Evanston’s executive director, Andy Vick, who laid out his plans to ensure a smooth s’mores distribution.
ANDY VICK: “We’ll put out four fire pits on the Downtown Plaza, and then we’re going to be providing free s’mores kits for people and that’ll include the chocolate and the marshmallow and the graham cracker and put some other little goodies in a little bag.”
Like the majority of Downtown Evanston programming, S’mores on the Square is a free event—intended to draw as many Evanstonians into the heart of the city as possible.
VICK: “We want to make sure that everyone can participate but we just want to be as inclusive and inviting as we possibly can and hopefully create programs that really resonate with people”
But just because the event is free doesn’t mean that downtown Evanston doesn’t profit. Events like these are designed to draw people downtown and—hopefully—keep them there.
VICK: “It’s pretty much just a come and enjoy downtown and have a sweet treat, and ultimately the hidden agenda is if you haven’t been downtown, this is an excuse to come downtown. Maybe you’ll make it a night out. Right? So you go to dinner with your family and have some s’mores afterwards, or if you don’t happen to go out for dinner that night, maybe you’ll realize that there are lots of different restaurants in downtown Evanston and you’ll come back another night.”
Beyond giving Evanston businesses a profit bump, such events help foster a sense of community from Howard Street to Roslyn Place.
VICK: “The whole idea is to create community, create a sense of place, Downtown Evanston, and ultimately to expose people to downtown and encourage them to come back.”
With all of this in mind, I went to check out the event for myself and hear what Evanstonians had to say. I arrived at Fountain Square around 6pm, and although the energy of the early crowd had dissipated, the music was bumping and I found plenty of happy Evanstonians to chat with.
[Music in, fade to half for quote]
Events like this highlight the personal quality of the Evanston community, Walker, an Evanston resident and dad of two boys, said.
WALKER: “The community is great. Events like this are special and unique and it’s fun to come out.”
Virtually everyone I talked to had something similar to say. Johnathan Karcz and Michalea Halikias, two residents of Evanston’s downtown, agreed that events like these help bring the community together.
JOHNATHAN KAREZ: “I think it’s great that they organize that, like, get the local community around here. It’s very nice.”
MICHELEA HALIKIAS: “I feel like Evanston, in general, has a really large sense of community, like more so than anywhere I’ve lived so it’s really cool to have these, like, events that bring people together.”
Events like these also help bring Northwestern students into the broader community. Michelea’s sister, Marelena Halikias, a Northwestern grad student, was grateful for events like these to get her out of the Northwestern bubble.
MARELENA HALIKIES: “Because I’m a grad student I feel like, sometimes I feel like I’m only involved with Northwestern people. So it’s cool to do stuff with the Evanston community too.”
S’mores on the Square not only brought the community together, but it generated interest for more Downtown Evanston programming. Many of the people I talked to expressed plans to come out for Thursday night’s “Love Local Chocolate Crawl” – a night of free and discounted chocolate and treats at participating Evanston businesses.
MICHELEA HALIKIAS: It actually caused me to follow Downtown Evanston on Instagram after and just see like what else they’re doing. I’m going to participate in the chocolate crawl next week.
WALKER: If there’s chocolate involved…
S’mores on the Square is happening again on Saturday, March 9th from five to seven—so if you’re in for a night of conversation, warm fires, and a sweet treat, head on down to Fountain Square in downtown Evanston. But don’t take it from me—Keigan, 13 year old and avowed chocoholic, has a message for you.
KEIGAN: “Really good. You should come.”
To register for the next S’mores night or the chocolate crawl on Thursday, head to downtown Evanston dot org slash downtown dash events.
For WNUR News, I’m Gabby Shell.
[NATSND]: *fire crackling*
Sound Effect from Pixabay: Generic Crowd Background Noise
Sound Effect from Pixabay: Lit Fireplace
Music: “She’s Gone,” Bob Marley and the Wailers
