BRAS BUSTING RECORDS

many venues call for one of these

on madison street across from the downtown bloomington garage

downtown business wardrobes niche market

local retailers are loading in the goods for holiday

BRAS BUSTING RECORDS

BY ANTHONY SALUTO

Bedtime Boutique’s sexy nature may feel threatening, but their sales prove otherwise. In the last year the lingerie store has increased its inventory by 30% which assisted in a 35% increase in sales. In addition to the expanding inventory, the actual store was remodeled and now features 3000 sq. ft. of floor space. Also, unlike many downtown businesses, private parking is available for the convenience of customers. Bedtime Boutique opened their doors in 1985 and continues to offer a wide variety of products including plus sizes and bras with 17 different cup sizes up to size 54L. While their customers may be a broad range of ages, the oldest customer is 95 years old and the youngest is 10 years old. In May 2005, Oprah Winfrey spoke on her talk show of many women wearing the wrong bra size. Oprah’s worldwide influence, and millions of viewers each day, prompted women to immediately purchase new bras after being fitted for the correct size. This inadvertent publicity helped Bedtime Boutique move from selling 20 bras a week to 20 bras a day.

editing Jeni Nussbaum
photography copyrighted, anthony saluto , usage and or prints, gosaluto@bellsouth.net
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advertising information: gosaluto@bellsouth.net
Copyright 2007 Anthony Saluto Productions P.O. Box 3425 Bloomington il. 61702
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tunes they are a changing

Kevin Larson, left, marc zion, center, vince donohue, right

stock up on some brew for a fun evening at the bob dylan concert

arena magic evenings pack the house

lined up for caps, t shirts, and anything dylan

Bob Dylan concert


BY ANTHONY SALUTO
The atmosphere was calm much of the time and when the harmonica kicked in, often the crowd took to cheer. I arrived by just after 7 and found a guy who had an extra ticket and bought it for $20. going over for a few shots with my camera I was told I could take my camera in by the guy at the front door. So about a half hour into it I then was asked to remove my camera. Which I did. Having tried to reach the promoter, jamusa for a press pass I was notified Dylan doesn’t allow photography.

There were many empty seats through out the arena, which is great too, you can spread out some or even relocate easily into an area you prefer. Not being a music expert I thought the sound was awesome. For the first time I didn’t have pounding ear drums for two hours after the concert like I did with Reo Speedwagon and a few others. It was so peaceful I almost nodded off in my chair at 10:30 and decided to take off before the stampede for the exits started.

After a long afternoon doing a photo shoot I'm ready for a sandwich. The pulled pork was top notch. I had it with a plastic bottle beer. i don’t like the plastic bottle beers, but see their practicality.

One thing I noticed sitting a few rows from the front on a far curved area in the layout. Many people were loosing their step next too my row of seats. It seemed to be very dark and though the usher was often shinning a light on the area in anticipation of repeat slips, many still did almost have serious falls in the dark. I felt like a spotter and was conscious of protecting myself from a faller at the same time.
I think some of black slip proofing was laid out different on the step most people were slipping on. So watch your step.

By the time I returned my camera to the studio and got some dinner, I was basically just seeing Dylan. The guys I photographed with the beer cases tell me some of them had seen 42 Dylan concerts. They were total fans. Offering some very highly recommended Dylan web sites for those that want to know everything Dylan. Try, www.boblinks.com , or www.expectingrain.com . If you had brain freeze and forgot to go, or otherwise were preoccupied, Dylan will be playing in Chicago for three nights. The Chicago Theatre will be hosting his act, whether tickets are available I haven’t heard. Looks like the November and December calendars are empty for performances, and I haven’t seen a schedule for 08. The Chicago Theatre looks like your last chance to be a live performance fan.

The shirt and cap concessions were packed before the concert and I opted for a t shirt and cap, that cost me $65. I figured I saved a few bucks on the ticket so having a few mementos of the occasion wouldn’t be a bad idea at all. Everyone seemed to love the concert and downtown bloomington was a lively and accommodating as can be.

Don and Connie Taylor enjoyed the concert up close. Don says, "we made direct eye contact through binoculars, and he almost waved at us." Connie adds, "making out the words on just a few, was the mumbling we've all grown to expect." Connie adds, "we love how Dylan keeps reinventing his own music". "Like Tangled up in Blue" adds Don.

photography copyrighted, anthony saluto , usage and or prints, gosaluto@bellsouth.net
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Copyright 2007 Anthony Saluto Productions P.O. Box 3425 Bloomington il. 61702
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DAN SLAGELL OF REMAX CHOICE

DAN SLAGELL HEADS UP REMAX CHOICE ... BILL BRADY IS FOCUSED ON GOV. IN 2010

Dan Slagell of Remax Choice, danslagell@realtorschoice.net

This house is on the market currently around 440k ... sweet family home

what mortgage crisis

By Anthony Saluto
Industry experts are monitoring 1 million homes headed for foreclosure. A great deal of which are tied into securities and are bought and sold by investors.
Dan Slagell, of Remax Choice has been realigning his duties. Dan will be assuming the running of the real-estate company as Bill Brady is solidly focused on running for governor in 2010. Dan has been a spark on the real-estate scene since leaving his banking career many years ago. http://www.realtorschoice.net/
Although the real estate game has become increasingly advanced, Dan is still a traditional business man working with what he knows well, simplicity.

For road trips Dan likes to check out the CDs at Circuit City and stock up on some new tunes for the drive. “I bought Bruce Springsteen’s new one, I bought Dave Matthews Band, and I bought Paul McCartney,” says Dan, and adding his selections are a good sign of his age.
When traveling, Dan often checks weather websites for destination conditions before packing. However, he is not dependant on the web for most resources. “I don’t use the internet a whole lot,” says Dan. Dan still reads the paper the old fashioned way foremost to internet options. He mostly uses the internet for directional reasons such as Mapquest.com.
Using Google some and with a few transactions with Amazon and eBay, Dan mostly uses the computer for real-estate related web sites and business matters such as e-mailing and keeping track of investments on various financial sites.
Dan graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Business Economics Agricultural.
Tony: Dan, what do you think of the Marriott project in uptown Normal?

Dan: What I know, or think I understand is that it is private money. Private money has a way of making things work better in general, historically, than public money. I think it’s going to be a good thing.

Tony: How is the so-called mortgage crisis affecting the average resident in the twin cities market with all this news on Countrywide and the likes?

Dan: It has very little effect so far. Countrywide has been in the national spotlight because they’re huge. They have scaled back on making marginal loans because of too many defaults. . If someone defaults here in Bloomington, and we’re getting people because of the overall scheme of things a bit more, not catastrophic or anything, but we’re getting more people to say I can’t make my mortgage, or I want to sell my house but I’m upside down…upside down for any kind of correction. And our correction has been very minimal…less than 10% marketwise from last year. Last year we had an increase, this year it will go down.

Tony: So we had little effect on our mortgages here?

Dan: If anyone has a problem we say call your lender and talk to them and see if you can get any kind of concession, being even to a point where we had a discussion or 2 about a short sale. Which just means you’re my banker, I’m your customer, I say I have a $212,000 mortgage and my place is worth 200 and by the time I get done selling, I’m going to have 185 for you. And the bank would say we would clear your mortgage if you get the 185 even though you owe me 212. That’s what’s happening in Florida and Las Vegas and Arizona.

Tony: So the banks are entering a lets make a deal phase?

Dan: If your bank is no longer in existence, there is no one to deal with. That is the problem. The federal government can’t solve the immediate problem. People get their mortgages from all over, you could have a mortgage that was done and then sold to someone else.

Tony: What percentages of mortgages are sold online?

Dan: Hopefully, none. You can get mortgages from most any place in the past. I would say that your standard lending originators are hurting because there isn’t as much volume. So a lot of people are out looking for new jobs. Some people are brokering mortgages out of their house, the problem is they get to the closing and there’s no money; that is not a good thing. So I try to encourage people not to use that kind of business, because that kind of operation is like a shadow in my opinion.

Tony: So using your local banker in face to face meetings is the best way to shop for a mortgage in these conditions?

Dan: Everything’s negotiable. If online can give you a better rate there is usually a reason for that. We can negotiate with the local guys and local lenders and get you just about as good a rate and we know there’s going to be money at the closing. Because you do want to close on this or we wouldn’t be sitting here.

Tony: Do you see that changing?

Dan: I would say that it has an effect indirectly on people in Bloomington-Normal because we are such an economic universe that we live in. The only direct impact that we have…I read somewhere that over 200 financial institutions have closed, shut down. Some of those weren’t the huge names, but recognizable names.

Tony: What kinds of problems are happening with new construction?

Dan: They are priced too high. And supply and demand as you well know is a factor in pricing. We have just less the 50 home builders and most of them are in trouble. Some of them are in very deep problems, but not all of them. Nationally there is a crisis problem; locally it is not a crisis. New construction is down 37% in the last 2 years.

Tony: Would you include subcontractors in the plight locally?

Dan: If builders are down, then subcontractors are down as well. Most subcontractors can go out and do some remodeling work. They can adapt by becoming a little more diverse.

Tony: In quality new construction, what are homes costing on a price per square foot basis?

Dan: It is so diverse with finishing and lot costs it is really hard to peg that number. It is a moving target, but it is coming down. $150 and even less would be a figure. If you have a ton of money and you want to hire all the best guys in town the price could go to $185 per square foot. Right now pre-owned homes have an advantage because they are already landscaped, have drapes, etc. Existing homes are selling better than new construction.

Tony: where is some of the most expensive land in the twin cities?

Dan: Veterans Parkway is what we call the ‘lake front’. Basically you’re talking $20 - $25 per square foot land on Veterans. There was a big push for an auto mall. They needed 6 out of the 8 or 9 to move into it, but they couldn’t get 6th one to go in on the deal. If that would have happened there would have been a lot more Veterans property on the market.

After graduating from U of I, Dan went into management for Stokley-Van Camp, which along with beans, processed many other vegetables, but mostly sweet corn, peas, lima beans, and kidney beans. With 3 years under his belt at Stokley-Van Camp, he joined Busey Bank in Urbana, IL, specializing in asset management within the trust department primarily focusing on farming. Dan then bought and flipped a bank in Heyworth within a two year period. At the time, he was on the same golf team with Dave Weaver in an event that could be a career-changing experience. “I got to know Dave and he said what are you doing and I said nothing and he said why don’t you come work for me, because I had a brokers license from the banking days,” Dan explains. From there, Dan was running things within 3 years. Dan can be reached via danslagell@realtorschoice.net

editing, jeni nussbaum

photography copyrighted, anthony saluto , usage and or prints, gosaluto@bellsouth.net
news tips, downtown trivia, gosaluto@bellsoth.net
advertising information: gosaluto@bellsouth.net
Copyright 2007 Anthony Saluto Productions P.O. Box 3425 Bloomington il. 61702
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One of the reasons Google is already around the fourth most valuable company in the U.S. The Google ads around stroll the hills border are randomly placed there by Google. I would assume their computers are analyzing our content and placing the most appropriate available advertiser’s ads ever changing. With many thousands of click troughs, eventually commission checks are determined and mailed directly to the hosting site. Thank You Very Much!

a beautiful time to learn

students embrace fall at isu campus

isu campus quad

by jeni nussbaum

In the middle of the sprawling uptown Normal area, there’s a school often passed with little appreciation. Illinois State University is known for its well kept buildings and beautiful quad, which is only magnified by the fall season. ISU’s lush campus is beginning to transform with the changing weather, and for many it is a time to look forward to.

isu campus quad

Leslie Ringger, a former ISU student reflects on her experiences on campus during the fall. “As an art major, I spent many hours in the studio and when it turned fall outside it became more bearable to constantly be on campus. It was nice to be able to take breaks outside in the crisp, refreshing weather…and our campus is beautiful in the fall.” Each sidewalk and path is quickly being covered by falling leaves and the familiar throngs of squirrels are busier than usual. Students willingly take advantage of the campuses vast, outside areas by playing sports, which is mostly Frisbee, studying and simply sunbathing.

isu quad

With summer’s heat becoming a distant memory, students and professors alike can only hope the cooler weather lasts. Although the fall season does mean winter’s wrath is nearing, the colorful, year-round beauty of ISU’s campus is worth the drop in temperature

photography copyrighted, anthony saluto , usage and or prints, gosaluto@bellsouth.net
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downtown trivia, gosaluto@bellsoth.net
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information: gosaluto@bellsouth.net
Copyright 2007 Anthony Saluto Productions P.O. Box 3425 Bloomington il.
61702
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hit the mall, grab a pile of resort wear, 1 800 airtran

winter spectaculars

soon watching your step may be your best survival plan

downtown looking east from my 5th floor studio

salt shelter stock pile to bail us out of our mobility problems we seem to encounter periodically

photography copyrighted, anthony saluto , usage and or prints, gosaluto@bellsouth.net
news tips, downtown trivia, gosaluto@bellsoth.net
advertising information: gosaluto@bellsouth.net
Copyright 2007 Anthony Saluto Productions P.O. Box 3425 Bloomington il. 61702
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PLEASE CLICK OUR GOOGLE ADS
One of the reasons Google is already around the fourth most valuable company in the U.S. The Google ads around stroll the hills border are randomly placed there by Google. I would assume their computers are analyzing our content and placing the most appropriate available advertiser’s ads ever changing. With many thousands of click troughs, eventually commission checks are determined and mailed directly to the hosting site. Thank You Very Much!

anthony saluto productions re-launches trivia tees

each bag has 115 tees .. each with trivia questions and answers, printed directly on them. in promotion quantity branding is available on one side.

http://www.golfteetrivia.com/ debuts in 6 million catalogs

I dusted off an old friend this summer. Golf tee trivia, a product I had sold to 10 thousand stores 20 years ago. Over the past few years I started to scout for a new package concept. Deciding on the burlap bag sample with a few friends as a focus group.

With the help of 2 of my assistants over the summer we tracked down numerous old customers, internet e-tailers, a few giant chains, and some media outlets. Then we sent out some fresh samples of the new package.

A large mail-order house is featuring the new package in six million catalogs this holiday. I have no idea how many they can sell.


I would welcome any local retailers that would like to stock the product, please contact me at, gosaluto@bellsouth.net


photography copyrighted, anthony saluto , usage and or prints, gosaluto@bellsouth.net
news tips, downtown trivia, gosaluto@bellsoth.net
advertising information: gosaluto@bellsouth.net
Copyright 2007 Anthony Saluto Productions P.O. Box 3425 Bloomington il. 61702
Subscribe to this blog at the bottom.


PLEASE CLICK OUR GOOGLE ADS
One of the reasons Google is already around the fourth most valuable company in the U.S. The Google ads around stroll the hills border are randomly placed there by Google. I would assume their computers are analyzing our content and placing the most appropriate available advertiser’s ads ever changing. With many thousands of click troughs, eventually commission checks are determined and mailed directly to the hosting site. Thank You Very Much!

i'm not telling the secret

http://www.commongroundgrocery.com/



by anthony saluto



the sandwich i heard so much about from don, inspired me to track one down for a photo shoot. around 7 pm i do some shots, and decide i am ready for a bite and was absolutely amazed. the sandwich may be the most perfect level of moist that a sandwich could possibly be. the bread was delicious in in texture and taste. this particular version was without tomato's.



if you've been looking for reason to stop in common grounds, this is a good one.



I’m not telling the secret!

dvd review ...by anthony saluto

I am doing a DVD review on “The Secret”. I see it everywhere. In book form, CD form, abridged editions probably, online as a download maybe, but it’s a book and seeing it presented as a DVD was one more level of packaging I normally don’t see. On the flip side, the descriptions reads, “You’re holding in your hand a great secret of the universe”, in big bold letters. The cast is represented, in this documentary-style film, through continual commentary and consisting of leading scientists, authors, and philosophers. These experts all claim to agree on the theory covered in the work. They discuss the slam-dunk for achieving anything from money, home, spouse, life, and all the dreams you could possibly want your life to be. I related personally to much of the presentation and have seen the theory used in my day to day business and personal relations. This is a feel-good and motivational DVD. I’m glad I popped $35 for it at our local Barnes and Noble, and i may pass it on.


editing, maggie saluto borkholder

By Anthony Saluto

With the historic walls of downtown boasting vibrant works of art, more colorful displays of talent are expected to be done. A wall painting was done in the alley on the side of Studio 222 by Marty Klopfenstein two summers ago with a poem provided by John Firefly, a local street poet, to add to its unique style. Alley art, as it is being referred to by downtowns Jeff Woodard, will most likely become more popular amongst regular visitors of the downtown area.
“The whole thing is that it was just an idea to bring attention to these older buildings…we focus on the facade and keeping up the front of the buildings, but it’s also, I think, important to keep up and take care of the backsides of the buildings too,” said Jeff Woodard, Director of Marketing and Public Affairs at the McLean County Museum of History.
This particular mural took about two days to complete and is the first of its kind downtown by Marty Klopfenstein. Other murals will be done in the future with the permission of building owners.
“The idea is that we would have four or five around the downtown area; not a great deal of them,” said Woodard.
Klopfenstein has done several murals in the area and recently finished one at a residence, featuring a cornfield. He has been a downtowner for about 4 years and is also a musician.
“I would love to do more exterior murals, commercial too, the work at South Beach Tanning in Normal was done by me as well,” said Klopfenstein. If I may suggest his cell phone is the best way to each this artist, phone, 287-8872 Other recognizable murals downtown include the wall of faces done by Mark Blumenshine along Monroe St. Some of the faces include Abraham Lincoln, Adlai Stevenson and others who were influential to Illinois history

editing, jeni nussbaum

photography, by anthony saluto, prints or usage, gosaluto@bellsouth.net

editing, maggie saluto borkholder

way past ordinary

healthy is in

By anthony saluto

For healthy alternatives to your routine lunch, Common Ground, a natural food grocery store in downtown Bloomington, offers sandwiches, side dishes and drinks. According to Don, a local downtowner, they have “the best sandwiches for lunch.”
Other sandwiches featured at Common Ground include the chick peas sandwich and the tofu egg salad sandwich, which are all “totally organic food”. A favorite of Don’s however is the avocado, tomato and sprout sandwich. “These things are fantastic,” says Don. This natural food store also has drinks and sides to complete your lunch. Don pairs his favorite sandwich with soy yogurt and a pomegranate blueberry juice.
Common Ground, located at 516 N. Main St, has a wide range of products other than organic food such as household cleaning products, nutritional supplements and books. They are dedicated to providing minimally-processed food with no preservatives or artificial coloring.


Editing, Jeni Nussbaum

downtown bloomington horse drawn carriage during special event. anthony saluto file photo

start new traditions

by jeni nussbaum

Trick or treating, horse drawn carriages, and festive window displays are all anticipated this holiday season in Downtown Bloomington. With Halloween nearing, the Downtown Bloomington Association has been busy planning their annual Trick or Treat event. Participating businesses in the area open their doors to costumed children and families. These businesses will be identified by colorful balloons as a friendly place to stop, explore and of course load up on candy. The event will be Friday, October 26 from 5-7 pm.
The “Once Upon A Time” winter festival is also approaching quickly and will be held Friday, November 30 and Saturday, December 1. The features this year will include horse drawn carriages, the Jaycees parade, St. Nicholas at the museum and live window vignettes. The “Once Upon A Holiday” winter festival has become an annual tradition for many local families and draws in thousands of visitors each year. The event is also a great way to get downtown businesses recognized with most offering special deals and discounts. The Downtown Bloomington Association is dedicated to drawing attention to the historic heart of the city. The Trick or Treat event and “Once Upon A Holiday” winter festival are sure to attract new and experienced visitors to the unique area and provide fun, entertainment and plenty of excitement