Downtown serving up dinner dash

Mid-Missouri residents will get to sample some of the best cuisine downtown Jefferson City has to offer next week.

Organizers said they hope the Downtown Dinner Dash will bring more traffic downtown before a light event schedule in April.

The Downtown Dinner Dash will run 6-9 p.m. March 22.

Participants will eat one course at each of the three restaurants they select when purchasing tickets.

Bones in the Alley, The Grand Cafe, Madison's Cafe and Root Cellar will participate in the event. Gumbo Bottoms Ale House also will pair a beer with dishes made by Rebel Tacos.

At 9 p.m., an after party with coffee and dessert will be held at the Elizabeth Rozier Gallery at 101 Jefferson St.

Downtown Association President Crystal Tellman said, as always, organizers hope the event will drive more traffic to other businesses downtown.

"There's people walking downtown," Tellman said. "They have it specifically during the legislators' spring break, so it gives people a reason to go into places they wouldn't otherwise."

So far about 140 tickets have been sold. Organizers expect about 175 people to attend the event.

Tickets cost $50 and can be purchased by Saturday at participating restaurants and at downtownjeffersoncity.com/purchase-tickets.

Few events will be held by the Downtown Association in April as the group prepares for activity to pick up during the spring, Tellman said. The annual Hidden Spaces, Secret Places tour scheduled May 6 will give residents a tour of spaces in and around downtown in need of renovation or repair. Tickets for that event cost $5.

Porch Fest, a separate event scheduled May 6, will be held at the same time. Several bands will play music on porches in neighborhoods throughout Jefferson City. Tellman hopes both events will attract people to each other.