Cities IG - 10-26-24

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi everyone, and welcome to Living in Leclair. This is
a periodic segment of knowledge is power, made possible through
the generosity of Rob Caine in City's Insurance Group. I'm
Wayene Wally. I'm currently the president of the Leclair Tourism
Board and your host of Living in Leclair, where I
like to talk about what's going on in Leclair. So, wow,
here we are in fall. Boy, we had a couple
of very chilly nights recently, frost warnings, freeze warnings, all

(00:23):
that coming up with to let you know, hey, it
is fall. We're into October. We're toward the end of October.
And so what comes up at the end of October, Oh,
my gosh, Halloween. And what does Halloween mean? That means
the Saturday prior to Halloween. This year it's October twenty sixth.
It will be the Witches Walk in downtown Leclair starting
at the Civic Center with all sorts of activities for kids.

(00:46):
And we're going to learn more about the Witches Walk
from Sarah Sampson, the owner of Bamboo Baby, who also
is the organizer of the Witches Walk. Well, Sarah, thank
you for joining us on Living in Leclair today. Tell
us more about the witches walking with people can expect
to have happen on Saturday.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
Sure, the Witch's Walk is a great daytime trick or
treating event that kids can come and walk around to
all of the Leclaire shops and get little treats and candies.

Speaker 3 (01:19):
We also have an.

Speaker 2 (01:20):
Area where we do trunks all by the Leclair Civic Center,
and inside the Civic Center is a costume contest if
they wish to participate in that. But there's games, and
there's our fabulous balloon guy who's always a hit, and
it's just a really fun, really a truly hometown fun event.

Speaker 1 (01:43):
Yeah. I know, before there used to be a whole
parade up and down the main street, but we've gotten
away from that just because it's too hard to organize
a lot of little kids to wait, yeah, trick or treating,
so we just let it go now kind of a
little bit of a free for all. But it's still
a lot of fun to see all the costumes. People
are awfully creative.

Speaker 2 (02:00):
Oh my gosh, we have seen some really good ones
over the years, so yes, and that's what's always fun,
kind of being inside when they do enter the contest
because Matt. We've seen some that they are just putting
all their time and efforts in it, so it's very cool.

Speaker 1 (02:13):
Yeah, it seems to be. This is also a great
event for parents because it's almost a dress rehearsal for
actual Halloween, and it gives the kids a chance to actually,
we're in the costumes more than once.

Speaker 2 (02:22):
You know, you gotta exactly, you gotta get your money's worth.

Speaker 3 (02:28):
That sure.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
Well, I know I've seen different things throughout the years.
Do any costumes resonate still in your mind where you went, Wow,
that was unbelievable.

Speaker 2 (02:36):
There's a few one that really There was a guy
who took such detail to his costume, and if I'm
remembering correctly, it was an alien versus predator esque. Gosh,

(02:59):
it was an amazing costume and I mean he had
skin on.

Speaker 3 (03:03):
It was wild.

Speaker 2 (03:05):
It was amazing and he made the whole thing it
was and he clearly was the winner because it was
just like it was so cute but then or cool.
But there was some really cute ones that I love.
The There was a claw machine, Yes, so you probably
remember that one because there was this little baby in
there and I think he was like a little lion

(03:26):
and then they made the wagon a claw machine, and
I've seen lots of creative ones with wagons, so babies
can be part of it, but they make the whole
thing really cool.

Speaker 1 (03:40):
Do you have to register to enter the contest or
is it just simply just come down to the Civic
Center and Saturday by whatever hour or what hours is
the actual contest.

Speaker 4 (03:48):
Yeah or treating.

Speaker 2 (03:49):
Yeah, so it's all going on at the same time,
but specifically the costume contest is for the first hour
of the event, so they just come in. We used
to have it arranged where they could preregister, but it's
just kind of easy enough to just walk in. They
do have to register their information, which is just simple name,

(04:09):
contact information, and then we take pictures now, which we
started doing that a couple of years ago so that
there wouldn't need to be waiting around for the winners.
So you just have to keep yourself available for that
day and we cut it off.

Speaker 3 (04:27):
I think it's at one o'clock.

Speaker 2 (04:28):
Results will be in before then, so if you haven't
heard by one o'clock, you can leave the Claire or whatever.
I've had people say, oh, we'll come back down, so
but yes, there.

Speaker 1 (04:39):
Is uh, well, what can people win, what type of
prizes are there?

Speaker 3 (04:42):
You know, it's a collaboration.

Speaker 2 (04:44):
You know, this is of course a community event, so
keeping it just that is wonderful. And there's lots of
generous business owners who have donated gift cards, chamber books,
fun toys, so it's just really like a on little
goody basket that they're getting.

Speaker 3 (05:03):
That's exciting.

Speaker 1 (05:04):
Yeah, now, how did you get involved with the Witches Walk?
I know there's been different people involved over the years
because it's been in Leclair for gosh, for us decades.

Speaker 2 (05:13):
And it's always been especially since having kids, it's always
been a favorite event for my kids.

Speaker 3 (05:19):
They ask about it every year.

Speaker 2 (05:21):
And when the previous organizers were going to step away,
they were looking for someone else to you know, step
in the shoes, and so that's when.

Speaker 3 (05:36):
I decided to do it, with of course help.

Speaker 1 (05:40):
Doing that. Yeah, you know, we keep talking about what
goes on in Leclair and all the different events we have,
but the only way these happen is if there is
I always say, one champion, somebody that's going to take
that event and make sure it happens. Yes, if you
don't have that one person, that's the instigator, it may
not happen, So thank you for doing this with the way,
which is why, because it really is a fun event.

(06:01):
It's a great time to come to Leclair. And again,
does it start at ten thirty then in ten.

Speaker 2 (06:07):
Thirty to twelve thirty, Yes, yep, we've shortened it by
an hour. From just some feedback, it's definitely been quite
a turnout every year. Weather is always a factor, and
knock on wood, we've had wonderful weather and just today
I looked ahead and it's going to be a seventy

(06:29):
six degree day, so we're going to have an amazing
turnout again and so yeah, we've it'll be packed with
lots of fun kids.

Speaker 1 (06:38):
Yeah, thats thaking. I didn't realize. I think I saw
in the news yesterday where they were asking when was
the first trace snowfall in the Quad Cities in twenty
twenty three, and they had all these different dates in
October and it turned out to be October thirty first,
actually Halloween you had traceable snow.

Speaker 3 (06:56):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (06:56):
So yeah, it's nice to see seventy degree weather coming
up for this event and we'll see how it goes
the rest of the way. Yeah, So Sarah why we're talking.
Tell me a little bit about Bamboo Baby as well.
Now this is your shop. I don't know how many
years now it's been. It's got to be at least
five or six. Oh yeah, I've got a different location. Now,
you're right on the main drag on Cody Road. How

(07:17):
did you get started in this?

Speaker 2 (07:19):
So we've been open six and a half years, and
that always doesn't seem real because it just just it
kind of has flown by.

Speaker 3 (07:28):
But we really started by the love.

Speaker 1 (07:32):
Of the town.

Speaker 2 (07:33):
And you know, I think with the perfect storm of
having my own kids and being a part of that,
it was something that we always were drawn to.

Speaker 3 (07:44):
And so that's just kind of how it all started off.

Speaker 2 (07:47):
I didn't have any sort of knowledge other than what
my kids loved, and that's how it's grown.

Speaker 1 (07:54):
Where were you first located.

Speaker 2 (07:56):
We were here still in the clare, but we were
just across the street and the across from Green Tree,
but it is shared with the American Family.

Speaker 4 (08:08):
Building.

Speaker 3 (08:09):
Yeah, the house there, Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1 (08:11):
And then the opportunity came to come on here. This
address now is.

Speaker 3 (08:14):
Two seventeen North Cody Road.

Speaker 1 (08:17):
Okay. And if people want to learn more about Bamboo Baby,
is there a website they go to or what?

Speaker 2 (08:21):
Yeah, yeah, I'm on Facebook, I am on Instagram, and
we do have a website that is shoppable, so we ship.

Speaker 3 (08:31):
We've shipped all over the place before.

Speaker 1 (08:33):
And for you, yeah, this part is fulfillment to me
to have a website.

Speaker 2 (08:38):
Yeah, exactly, you know, it's it's just that, but yeah,
I do do our best.

Speaker 1 (08:43):
How would you describe Bamboo Baby or if somebody were
asking Bamboo Baby, what in the heck is that?

Speaker 2 (08:48):
I know I'm going to go based off of what
others have said. There's everything in here. We have clothing,
we have toys, we have games. And the other thing
is is we are so much more than just babies.
And I kind of jokingly say it's way more than
just babies. So you know you're going to find things
in here for of course babies, Yes, we do babies, toddlers, kids.

(09:14):
I have a fourth grader myself and he enjoys things here.
So there's lots of games and toys in that age groom,
but great family things too, and we do even offer
some fun grandparent gifts, parent gifts, so we do have
a bit of everything.

Speaker 1 (09:37):
Focus group.

Speaker 3 (09:39):
I know it's very.

Speaker 1 (09:40):
You may find things somewhere or hear about it, and
then you're go, no, I better look into that.

Speaker 2 (09:44):
My favorite thing is when I get a new toy catalog,
I will put it down in front of my kids
and I listen to what they talk about when they're
looking through it, and I really do they help me
a lot.

Speaker 1 (09:55):
So, yeah, the surprising thing I find, you know, full discolos.
My wife and I own Anhattie's fansl Emporium as a
gift shop also in the player. We cater to all
different age groups or whatever. But when Donna started that store,
it was more like for friends to come in and
shop and just laugh and have fun.

Speaker 3 (10:11):
Ye because they's.

Speaker 1 (10:12):
Sarcastic stuff and all that. Then we thought, well, we'd
like to have retro candy and retro toys and things
that grandparents could buy for the grandkids. Yeah, and then
all of a sudden, now we have all these kids
coming in that say it's their favorite store. Yes, not unintentional,
completely unintentional, but kids know where they want to go
and they know where to find stuff.

Speaker 3 (10:29):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (10:30):
I've just had a mom come in and her daughter
told her to come here to buy a birthday presents
for her classmates that she's got a birthday party and
they're older kids, they're fourth graders. Yeah, so yeah, it's
definitely a lot of fun to see that growth in.

Speaker 1 (10:47):
Well, great, we're into the you know, October, November, December,
it's the busy time of year for all the shops
in downtown Leclair. You know we've had well we have
Autumn market days, now, we've got the Witches Walk. Then
it's going to be small Business Saturday. Then it's going
to be Christmas and Mclair, so.

Speaker 3 (11:02):
Lot, and then we get this is the break of January.

Speaker 2 (11:05):
Yes, but yes, we have a lot to look forward
to until then.

Speaker 1 (11:10):
Yeah, Christmas and Mclair is always a great time. And
so just a reminder to everybody that you have all
these great shops downtown. If you come in and check
things out, the pricing you'll be surprised is either comparable
or better than you can find online or ear in
the big box stores. So come on down to the Claire, Yes,
and be sure and come in and see Bamboo Baby

(11:30):
and Sarah. Thank you for joining us today and best
to look on the rest of the season, you too.

Speaker 3 (11:35):
Thank you so much.

Speaker 1 (11:37):
Now while you're downtown and joining the Witches Walk in Leclair.
Don't forget to check out some of the new shops
that have come into town. One such is owned by
Penny Smith, and it's called Crafted QC. That's right on
one O two North Cody Road, if I remember right.
And so Penny, thank you for joining us. Tell us
a little bit about what Crafted QC is and what
brought you to Leclaire.

Speaker 5 (11:58):
Well, Kraft QC Star started in Davenport, downtown Davenport with
Mary Talbert, and the whole concept has been the majority
of what disnet store is locally made, so it's local artists, quality, handmade.
She had an amazing model of business there and due
to just health reasons and there was the flood at
the same time she decided to retire that someone else

(12:21):
bought the business.

Speaker 4 (12:22):
I worked for her.

Speaker 5 (12:24):
So for two years I was working for her in
a couple different locations and then she decided she had
to move on and I moved out of the area
and asked me to take it over, and immediately I
wanted to move it to Leclaire. I worked at Bella
down the road for over three years. We're still friends
and I knew kind of just what Leclair was all
about and I wanted to be a part of it.

Speaker 4 (12:44):
So two months after owning.

Speaker 5 (12:45):
Crafted, amazing location that where we're at here came open
and I just grabbed it.

Speaker 4 (12:52):
Had to make that.

Speaker 5 (12:53):
Negotiated that opportunity for myself and I literally moved in
within a week. So that is still the concept here.
I'm bringing in more artists and makers, everything from chocolate
to the prints and to magnets to we have local
author books in store. We have things that are on trend,

(13:13):
like blind data with a book, jewelry, things for your hair.
I mean, there's so many different variety of things. There
should usually be something for everybody here.

Speaker 1 (13:22):
Well, now, if people are crafters or they're making things,
how would they contact you? And is it tough for
somebody to become a vendor with you.

Speaker 5 (13:30):
No, it's just a matter of do I have something
that's similar already with an existing vendor. Just at this
point I need to make a form so that you
can send them pictures.

Speaker 4 (13:39):
But right now it's just Penny at CRAFTIQC dot com.

Speaker 5 (13:42):
Just send some pictures your Instagram and Facebook. Just take
a look to see how it compares to what's earning
in store.

Speaker 4 (13:49):
But I'm always open to the idea of something new
coming in.

Speaker 5 (13:52):
Like I said, I just added hand done chocolate that
just started today.

Speaker 4 (13:56):
We have a home baker from mclayer here that's going
to start a bring her things in. I'm open to
new ideas all the time.

Speaker 1 (14:03):
Okay, kay deal, Yeah, I'm looking around and just seeing
all these different things. What's it feel like to be
the owner of a shop versus working in a shop?

Speaker 5 (14:12):
Well, I've worked at a lot of different retail establishments
for friends, and I have to say, probably the best
way I can spend my day, you know, twelve hour day,
weeks or days without making a time some days.

Speaker 4 (14:24):
But it's all worth it because.

Speaker 5 (14:26):
In this situation, it was an established business that already
had a fan based But I feel really strongly as
an artist myself to be able to help other makers
have another place to have their things. People come in
and they don't necessarily realize it's all local. So they
walk in and I tell them majority of what's in
store is locally made, and they're surprised and excited. And

(14:49):
because we have such a large variety, I mean, we
have a whole car wall and that's local.

Speaker 4 (14:53):
Graphic designers.

Speaker 5 (14:55):
I mean, you wouldn't guess just from walking in that
it's necessarily all locally made. I but that gives me
excitement every day to just help support the other local makers.

Speaker 1 (15:05):
Now are you originally from this area then or yes?

Speaker 5 (15:09):
Well, I was born in the Chicago area, but my
family moved here when I was in first grade. My husband,
my father actually lived in Princeton for years. So I
used to go through Leclair before it was this shopping theory,
you know, back when there.

Speaker 4 (15:21):
Wasn't much of anything be said as you went through.

Speaker 5 (15:25):
But then I left the area for several years and
moved back about twenty four years ago. Leclaire was just
coming around to what it is now. And I just
love that if people call it Little Glena all the time.
It's such a neat destination to shop and eat. I'd
love to see all the diverse just all the opportunity
for different businesses to succeed here.

Speaker 4 (15:46):
It's really fun to see.

Speaker 1 (15:48):
Yeah, it really is. And I know there's been turnover
in different places, but that's the cycle of shops, and
it's going to happen. People are going to retire, people
are going to move on, different things are going to
happen and then new people come in and it makes
for a wonderful shopping experience because you can come to
the claar and you never know what you're gonna find.
Yeah's for sure.

Speaker 4 (16:06):
Oh my gosh, that's for sure.

Speaker 5 (16:07):
And it's really a matter of people come here on
purpose to see what's in store and what's what's offered.
So they see an open sign, they're going in. I mean,
that's the awesome part. And when I opened last Saturday,
a lot of people did know about Kraft AQUC from
other locations, but there's a very large majority of what
was coming in the door had no idea, but they
just walked in because the door was open, and they're

(16:28):
here to shop and that's fun.

Speaker 4 (16:29):
That's fun too.

Speaker 1 (16:30):
Yeah, exactly. Being right on the main drag on Cody
Road will be a help with that, yeah for sure.
And just so people know where Crafty QC is, it
used to be Dirty Water Music. Also, you had another business,
Chan and June was in here briefly. But this is
the spot where you can either come up the steps
in front off of Cody Road, but don't forget there's
a ramp on the side of the building and it

(16:51):
makes it very easy to come in if the If stairs.

Speaker 4 (16:53):
Aren't your thing, yep, for your there's a indicap access.

Speaker 5 (16:57):
And then all those moms with strollers, yeah, stroller very
thriller friendly around here.

Speaker 1 (17:02):
Now dirty watering music style also use the back cary
well that will you have access to that and be
able to do outdoor things as well.

Speaker 4 (17:08):
Yes, I do have access to the backyard.

Speaker 5 (17:10):
One of the things I think I see doing next
year as the weather gets back, you know where people
can be outside well when other activities are happening, having
some vendors back there so some you know, they'll be
able to set their tent up and have some space
back there to try that. And then my husband actually
is the bass player of road rockers, so we're already
thinking of how to what event we should do, you know,
do that with with at the same time.

Speaker 4 (17:33):
In the back is it's all set up with lots
of plug ins for rand so yeah, you'll have to
have something going on during the next year.

Speaker 1 (17:39):
Oh, very very good. Wepending Welcome to Leclair. Best of
luck with Crafty QC and everybody. If you want to
check it out, it's available if you're coming in for
the Witches Walk, check it out. If you're coming in
for any of the other events. Remember their small business
Saturday coming up. All their small businesses and Leclair look
forward to that weekend. It's a wonderful day to come
out and shop to find great deals and great stuff.

(18:01):
And then also Christmas and Leclair is another wonderful event.
So Penny, I think you've opened at the right time
here in Leclair. Just remember January is a whole tough yeah,
but enjoy it ine that, yeah, but certainly certainly enjoy
October November, December, and welcome to LaClair.

Speaker 4 (18:16):
Thank you very much, as it.

Speaker 1 (18:17):
Say, so you have it. A little bit more information
about the Witches Walk that is on October twenty sixth Saturday,
starting at ten thirty down at the Civic Center. Come
on out and check out the kids and their costumes
and if you are getting dressed up, come get judged
to have some fun. And also I want to thank
Penny for joining us today with Crafted QC. It's a

(18:39):
new business that's in Leclair, so there are plenty of
reasons to come down down and check things out. Now.
The thing is, you know we're getting into the holiday season,
we'll be coming up with Christmas and Leclair with all
sorts of things going on downtown. But again, you can
support your downtown businesses that are always looking for the
locals to come and see what we've got. And as
you walk through a lot of the different stores downtown,

(19:02):
you'll find that some of the prices are even better
than the big boxes. Some of the prices are better
than what you can get online. So why not come
downtown and at least check it out, see what people have,
see what's going on, and take it from there. And
the other reason to come downtown right now is to
check out all the painted buffaloes. Yes, that's right, we've

(19:22):
got a stampede going on in Leclair. There are I
believe eighteen different buffaloes. Not all are painted yet, not
all are decorated, but most are. There is a contest
going on. You need to go to visit Leclair dot
com or check out the Leclair, Iowa Facebook page where
you can find out about the event. That's the Buffalo Stampede.
There's a great sweep stakes going on where you go

(19:45):
and take your picture with different buffaloes, post them on
your Facebook page, Instagram, whatever social media you want to,
and there will be a process for you to then
be entered in this contest which has a great, great
sweepstakes prize. It's value you'd at possibly as much as
a thousand dollars in fun things from the different shops

(20:06):
down down in Leclair, along with you know, gift cards,
all sorts of different things. It's well worth it. Plus
all the buffaloes are pretty amazing. Different people have been
extremely creative. You need to check these buffaloes out. I
mean Happy Joe's it's buffer Roni with a pepperoni pizza
on top. And Hattie's has buffalo bob Ross including a

(20:29):
little afro wig and happy little trees and clouds painted
around it. You've got the Potter's House buffalo that uses
lots of different pieces of pottery on it. You've got
the one at a Wide River Winery that has painted
more green with vines and with grapes. You've got Buffetini
up at Stevenson's up on the hill where it looks

(20:51):
like a normal buffalo, but then you've got a little
Martini painted on the side. You've got a buffalo at
the Civic Center. You've got a buffalo down at the
Buffalo Bill Mum as well. They all have different backstories.
This all started thanks to Rob Danielson who was with Bella,
but he had this idea and he went out and

(21:11):
got all these buffaloes, brought him back from Indiana for
everybody to make it a reasonable price. So these concrete buffaloes,
all the different shop owners that wanted them now have them,
and people have been putting in the time and effort
to paint them to make them. Another reason to just
come downtown and have some fun, take some pictures, take
some unique pictures you can put on social media. It's

(21:32):
just something else again to do in Leclair that's different
from most other places. And so come on down, join
the stampede, check out the buffaloes, and get entered in
this sweepstakes. So that's again a lot going on. Appreciate
you listening. This is living in Leclair.