August 30 edition - Reading Downtown Improvement District

Destination:
Downtown Reading!
I S S U E
The Reading Downtown
Improvement District office is
located at 645 Penn Street,
3 5
A U G U S T
3 0 ,
2 0 1 6
See Soulful Singer-Songwriter
Marc Broussard For Free Sept. 7
Suite 505.
Office hours: Monday-Friday,
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Office number: 610-3766424
DID Ambassadors number:
484-955-0315 (Please call
this number directly for escort assistance to vehicles,
trash and leaf removal, graffiti removal, and public nuisance issues.)
DID You Know?
Marc Broussard has had a
strong and steady output of
music since launching his
solo career in 2002. So far
he has five studio albums
under his belt, as well as
one live album and three
EPs. He also released a
Christmas album that came
out last year.
He has a new studio album - SOS – Save Our Soul II –
Soul On A Mission – scheduled to go on sale September 30, with 50 percent of
the profits going to charity,
according to his website,
www.marcbroussard.com.
Right now he’s in the midst
of a tour that has him crisscrossing the country.
Unless you’ve heard Marc Broussard’s music, you can’t fully grasp the soulfulness
that possesses this man. But fortunately you’ll be able to hear and see Broussard in
person when he appears for a free outdoor concert on Wednesday, September 7 in
downtown Reading.
The show, part of the Downtown Alive concert series, kicks off at 5 p.m. in the 500
block of Penn Street. (Check the accompanying article in this newsletter for details
about free parking, food and refreshments available for sale, etc., on the day of the
concert.) Opening for Broussard will be local performers Caroline Reese and the
Drifting Fifth.
Broussard’s Facebook page describes him as having “a unique gift of channeling the
multiple spirits of classic R&B and soul into contemporary terms…That gift has been
a matter of common knowledge since 2002, when Broussard released his debut album, Momentary Setback, which he recorded and released independently at age 20.
Nor was it a secret before then, going back to those lucky witnesses who heard him
belt ‘Johnny B. Goode’ onstage at age 5 while sitting in with his father's band. Pretty
much throughout his life, Broussard has been tapped as a talent to watch.”
Broussard is the son of Ted Broussard, an acclaimed Louisiana Hall of Fame guitarist and former member of The Boogie Kings. Raised in Carencro, Louisiana, he was
surrounded by numerous musical influences that helped shape his soulful style.
His touring credentials include sharing the stage with the likes of Dave Matthews
Band, Willie Nelson, Maroon 5, O.A.R., and Bonnie Raitt, among others. And he has
collaborated on songs with artists such as LeAnn Rimes and Sara Bareilles.
Lucy Cortez Joins Board Of Directors of
Reading Downtown Improvement District
Lucy Cortez, a longtime Reading resident who is actively involved in the community, has
joined the board of directors of the Reading Downtown Improvement District. Lucy is Vice
President of Community Lending in Berks County for Community First Fund.
Lucy also serves as board president for the Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater
Berks and board vice president for the Pennsylvania Home Lending Collaborative. Additionally, she is a member of
the Reading Main Street Business Opportunity Committee and Greater Reading Chamber Women2Women Latina
Initiative Committee.
Lucy has more than 30 years of experience in banking. She previously worked for Meridian Bank and the Pennsylvania Department of Banking.
Community First Fund is a non-profit economic development organization serving the low income communities of central and eastern Pennsylvania. It provides loan capital to businesses, real estate developers, and community support
organizations throughout the region.
Where to Park & Eat at the Marc Broussard Concert
The Reading Parking Authority is offering free parking for all of the Downtown Alive concerts in the Fourth and Cherry
garage after 4 p.m. on the days of the shows. You can also park in any other garage or on the street and pay the normal parking fees. Meters aren't enforced after 6 p.m. More parking information is available at www.readingparking.com/
find-parking/garages.
Beer and a variety of foods can be purchased from stands and food trucks in the 500 block of Penn Street. And, of
course, several downtown restaurants will be open before, during, and after the show.
On the day of the concert, the 500 block of Penn Street will be closed to normal traffic between 6:30 a.m. and 11 p.m.
to accommodate setup of the stage and other concert-related functions.
Reading Downtown Improvement District and SMG-managed Santander Arena are staging this year’s concert series.
As in the first year, Berks County Community Foundation is providing funding for the concerts. In addition, the Berks
County Convention Center Authority is offering financial support. Presenting sponsor this year is Weidenhammer.
Other concert series sponsors include Savage “61” Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, and
Penn State Health St. Joseph.
For additional details about the concert series, go to www.downtownalivereading.com.
The Reading Downtown Improvement District is focused on creating a vital, productive
and commercially active environment in downtown Reading. DID provides cleaning,
security, and marketing services for a specially designated commercial district in the
city, and also sponsors several events and activities throughout the year, including MidDay Cafes, Reading Holiday Parade, Downtown Alive outdoor concert series, and
Reading Fire + Ice Fest. DID continually strives to make downtown Reading a cleaner,
safer, and more inviting place to live, work, and visit. You can learn more about us on
our website at: www.downtownreading.com.