Sara Sundquist and Anna Blasco from Healthy Shasta, join Viva Downtown on the Downtown Discussion podcast to discuss Bike Month and Downtown Community Walking maps.

The month of May is Bike Month, learn how to participate in local biking events during the month: Information Here at Love to Ride Shasta County: https://www.lovetoride.net/shasta

Healthy Shasta has partnered with Viva Downtown, the City of Redding, Visit Redding, the Redding Cultural District, Shasta Historical Society, and local artist Tyler Brown Cifu Shuster to design four community walking maps in Downtown.

The four maps feature: A mural walk, historic structure walk, Calaboose Creek walk, and trails that connect to Downtown. This program is made possible by the California Upstate Creative Corp grant. Check out the maps here: https://www.vivadowntownredding.org/maps/historical

Healthy Shasta partners with the community to promote healthy eating and physically active lifestyles through environmental, policy, and organizational change. https://healthyshasta.org/

The Downtown Discussion podcast highlights the people who enhance Downtown Redding through social, cultural, and economic development.

Adam Yount, the business owner of AREA 151, joins Viva Downtown on the Downtown Discussion Podcast. Area 151, a full immersion virtual reality gaming experience based business. Learn about the Adam's process for developing Area 151, through renovations of a former office space, to how VR is transforming the way people experience immersion gaming and team building. Yount is a lifelong resident of Redding and has been proud to see the momentum and development of Downtown Redding.

Area 151 develops their games internally and creates team based games fun for the whole family, friends and business groups.

Learn more about AREA 151 here: https://www.area151vr.com/
AREA 151
1518 Market Street
Redding, CA 96001
530-395-9746
virtualbattlearena@area151vr.com

Hours: Closed Monday and Tuesday, but we are open Wednesday- Sunday 10am-7pm. closed on four Major holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Labor day)

Sharon Brisolara, of Inquiry that Matters, joins Blake Fisher on the Downtown Discussion Podcast to discuss Women's History Month and International Women's Day.

In coordination with Women's History Month, Viva Downtown and Sharon Brisolara will host presentations and open mic poetry programs that highlight and celebrate Women leadership and contributions. This programming is part of the Upstate California Creative Corp grant.

Participate and attend the programs at the IOOF HALL 1445 Market Street: UPSTAIRS Ballroom located in the California Street Alley.

Women's History Month Programming:

• Women in Faith Leadership: Wednesday March 13th, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Women Leaders on Navigating Negativity and Working for Positive Solutions: Tuesday, March 19th, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Society of Women Engineers: Thursday, March 21st, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Open Mic Poetry: March 20, 2024:

Todd Jones joins Blake Fisher on the Downtown Discussion Podcast to discuss his new roll as the Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce President and CEO.

The Downtown Discussion Podcast highlights people who enhance Downtown Redding through social, cultural and economic development.

The podcast is edited by Jacob Akana.

John Truitt from Viva Downtown, an Accredited Main Street America organization, joins us on the Downtown Discussion Podcast to talk about positive development though art; civic engagement through art; and Upstate Creative Corps projects.

John discusses upcoming arts projects and how Downtown Redding creatives are actively engaging people to make a healthy, resilient and vibrant community.

Learn more about Upstate Creative Corp here: https://www.upstatecreativecorps.org/

New Downtown Discussion Podcast: The Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO Jake Mangas, joins us on the downtown discussion for an exit interview. Jake has recently been hired as the new president of Mercy Foundation North and will begin his role in January of 2024.

For the last eight years, Jake has navigated the Redding Chamber of Commerce. In this discussion, Jake shares why the Chamber became an early adopter of Downtown Redding revitalization efforts, the values of small businesses that make up a strong chamber, and his appreciation for everyone involved in establishing a vibrant community at the Chamber of Commerce and in Redding.

Jake was our first interview for the Downtown Discussion, we are thankful at Viva Downtown to have worked with Jake and the incredible Chamber of Commerce staff on multiple projects and events. We wish him, and the Chamber of Commerce, a Happy New Year and Cheers to new beginnings.

Podcast produced and edited by Jacob Akana

Happy Holidays from the Viva Downtown Downtown Discussion! Jim Calhoun of Redding Electric Utility joins us on the podcast to kick off the Holiday Season.

Jim Calhoun has been an arborist for close to 45 years, and began his career with Asplundh Tree Expert Company in Trinity County. In 2003 Calhoun took on the roll of planning, harvesting, and lighting the tree as the supervising arborist for the City of Redding, Redding Electric Utility. This is the 104th year of the annual Downtown Tree Lighting and will be located in the original location on the interseciton of Market and Yuba Street.

Jim shares the process, history and the hard work that goes into making this Downtown tradition possible each year. We would like to thank all of the partners who make this tradition possible: Sierra Pacific Industries, Headrick Logging, Dura Crane, Cal Trans, California Highway Patrol, and the City of Redding.

This years tree was harvested 2 miles past Lake McCumber in Shingletown.
Over 1500 lights have been decorated on the 72 ft White Fir Tree.
It takes a crew of 7 REU workers to harvest and install the tree in Downtown.

The Tree Lighting lands on December 1, 2023, Downtown Redding's First Friday.
Sip, Shop and Support Downtown Busineses.
First Friday is from 5 p.m. - to when businesses close.
The Tree lights up right at 7 p.m.

We are excited to partner once again with Kool April Nites and the Shasta Classic Car Club for a presentation of lighted decorated classic cars and the Enterprise High School Music Departments Victorian Carolers and Band performing under the tree.

There are many Holiday events happening in the Redding Cultural District, check out Visit Redding's compresive list of Holiday activities that are fun for the whole family: https://visitredding.com/redding-holiday-events-guide/

Leah Sullivan and Hallie Hawkins, the new business owners of The Post Office Saloon, join Viva Downtown on the Downtown Discussion. The Post Office Saloon opened in 1976, in the Burton Building of the Downtown Mall. Over the years you may have experienced the Post Office through their staple menu nights like the Wednesday night spaghetti dinner, Thursday night prime rib dinner, or the incredibly fun Saturday Brunch with all you can eat breakfast and bottomless mimosas.

While the business itself has experienced significant Downtown developments surrounding the location the Post Office saloon still remains charming timeless look since it first opened.

Leah and Hallie, with years of dedication to the service industry, have since taken on The Post Office. Learn about the interior improvements to the restaurant, why they invest in Downtown Redding, and how they are preserving the Post Office brand and interior while updating the service.

The Post Office Saloon
1636 Market Street
(530) 605-1271

Hours:
Monday: 11AM-3PM
Tuesday: 11AM–8PM
Wednesday: 11AM–8PM
Thursday: 11AM–8 PM
Friday: 11AM–9PM
Saturday: 9AM–9PM ***
Sunday: 10AM-5PM
*** Saturdays: All you can eat brunch and all you can drink mimosas - $40 per person ***
https://www.postofficesaloon.com/

The Downtown Discussion Podcast is where we highlight the people who enchance Downtown Redding through social, cultural and economic development.