Midtown Village to host free Harvest Jam with craft beer, live music

Since opening in 2007, across McFarland Boulevard from University Mall, Midtown Village has emphasized its non-indoorness by holding events on its central rectangular green-space, which includes a fountain, picnic tables, and a children's playground: Summer Nights with movies on a portable big screen, live music and pop-up shops, school re-opening parties, Puppy Palooza, Mistletoe and Mimosas last December, and more, such as this Friday's fall festival Harvest Jam.

Harvest Jam, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday on the Midtown green, will feature live music from local alt-rock band Poseidon, craft-beer samplings of 16 flavors provided by Adams Beverages, pop-up shops including art, food and more. It's free to attend, though there's a $5 charge to sample the beers. Included in that price will be a souvenir 5-ounce tasting glass. Funds raised will benefit Child Abuse Prevention Services of Tuscaloosa.

It's a signature event for Crawford Square Real Estate Advisors, which landed the contract for full-service property management and leasing at Midtown late last year. Its affiliate, Wicker Park Capital Management (WPCM), joined with Lone Star Funds to buy the 344,000-square-foot center for an undisclosed amount.

Birmingham-based CSREA operates 33 such properties covering more than 10 million square feet across six Southeastern states, such as The Shoppes at East Chase in Montgomery, Riverchase Promenade in Birmingham, Lane Parke at Mountain Brook, The Grove at Hoover, with others in Alabama, and in Atlanta, Asheville, N.C., Chattanooga and elsewhere. CSREA is also involved in ongoing development of The Bend in Tuscaloosa, a mixed-use development on Rice Mine Loop.

"We do this same (Harvest Jam) event at our property in Montgomery, and in Knoxville (Tennessee, Pinnacle at Turkey Creek)," said Hollyann Luker, marketing member for CSREA.

"Typically, one side of the green will be the beer tasting, the other side will be all my vendors, over 20 different ranging from art to homemade dog biscuits. We'll have a photo booth, CBDivine from Montgomery, some homemade jewelry, macaroons, a cookie vendor, handmade soaps, a coffee vendor, gourmet bread pudding and cheesecakes, and cigars," from Delightful Cookies & Treats, Blind Dog Biscuit, Ivory LeShore’s Gourmet Bread Pudding and Cheesecake, Cutter’s Cigars, Coro’s Art and others.

Adams Beverages of Tuscaloosa will supply the 16 different craft-beer flavors. The $5 donation to CAPS offers unlimited sampling, and the five-ounce glass.

Midtown will also host All is Bright from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 11, a holiday-themed event with Christmas lighting and decor, a snow machine, vendors, a DJ, possibly a preview of Tuscaloosa Community Dancer's "The Nutcracker," and a visit from Santa Claus. The probable last big Midtown event of the year will be a showing of the 2003 comedy "Elf" on the big screen.

CSREA has recently been repainting the center, added new soft seating in addition to the hard-metal benches, and bolstered lighting so it's not so dark at night, Luker said.

"For events, we're also getting temporary lighting out there, too," she said. They're working on adding temporary seating for Harvest Jam, though with the unpredictable fall weather, families may wish to bring blankets, and folding chairs.

"Basically, we're trying to revamp the entire shopping center, make it where everyone goes to shop," Luker said. "We're trying to bring events, all free, for families and students to come out to. The community needs more activities throughout the year. And we're updating the entire place; it really needed it."

Midtown currently holds about 40 retailers, including national chains such as Barnes and Noble, Ulta, Lululemon, Best Buy, Planet Fitness, Chuck E. Cheese, Party City, Fab'rik, American Eagle, Aerie, Game Stop and Old Navy, locals such as Az Well, Alumni Hall, Vintage Cotton, Torrid and others. Its food vendors include Panera Bread, Yogurt Mountain, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Buffalo's Cafe, Juicy Crab, Chipotle, LongHorn Steakhouse, Tropical Smoothie, Wingstop, Fuku Ramen, Peach Pit, Edible Arrangements, Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe, Kobe Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar, Blaze Pizza, Metro Diner and more. Adjacent to the retail is a 244-unit condo complex. For more, see www.midtownvillagetuscaloosa.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Midtown Village to host free Harvest Jam with craft beer, live music