CityScene December 2011

I’ll

• Tickets to the New Albany Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Spectacular, Dec. 18 at the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts.

• Tickets to Columbus Children’s Theatre’s production of Aladdin, Jan. 8 at the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts.

• Free passes to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to check out Wildlights through the end of the year.

• Passes to check out Franklin Park Conservatory’s Holidays at the Conservatory exhibit.

every Friday!

Columbus, OH 43211 800.686.6124 www.ohiohistory.org

Central Ohio holiday tradition comes alive once again with the tales of Charles Dickens and a few of his iconic characters. Join us for two weekends full of crafts, caroling, cooking, shopping and more!

For advance tickets, call 800.686.1541, or visit www.ohiohistorystore.com

Adults: $12, $10 OHS members Youth (6-12): $9, $7 OHS members Free parking

Ohio Historical Society OhioHistory

cityscene magazine

781 Northwest Blvd., Suite 202 Columbus, Ohio 43212

614-572-1240 • Fax 614-572-1241 www.cityscenecolumbus.com

Charles L. Stein

Chief Executive Officer

Kathleen K. Gill President

Dave Prosser

Chief Creative Officer

Christa Smothers Creative Director

Garth Bishop Editor

Gail Martineau, Duane St. Clair

Contributing Editors

Lisa Aurand, Tyler Davis, Carla D’Errico, Phil Heit, Michael McEwan, Lauren Novelli

Contributing Writers

Gianna Barrett, Pam Henricks, Molly Pensyl, Emily Steel

Advertising Sales

Lynn Leitch Controller

Circulation 614-572-1240

Luxury Living is sponsored by

Robert A. Webb

President, Bob Webb

Scott & Shelley Shively

Principals, Truberry Group

The Publishing Group Ltd. also publishes Dublin Life, Healthy New Albany Magazine, Pickerington Magazine, Westerville Magazine and Tri-Village Magazine.

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CityScene is published in January, March, April, May, July, August, September, November and December. For advertising information, call 614572-1240.

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Photo: Will Shively

Didn’t You Know?

Learn new things about old holiday traditions in local performing arts

By Garth Bishop

You’re familiar with the signature holiday season productions by central Ohio performing arts organizations. You’ve probably seen most of them at least once. But until you’ve looked closely, you haven’t seen all there is to see. Even the most traditional holiday show can surprise you.

Grand Granny

She may not have the moves of Clara, Herr Drosselmeyer or the title character, but one particular character in BalletMet’s The Nutcracker worth keeping an eye on is the graceless grandma.

This year, Granny will be played by dancers Adrienne Benz, Jessica Brown and Emily Gotschall in BalletMet’s traditional holiday production, slated for Dec. 9-24 at the Ohio Theatre. Benz is stepping into the awkward Granny ensemble – a fat suit underneath a huge dress and wig – for the second time this year, and though the character is fun to portray, it’s no mean feat, Benz says.

“I think the most challenging thing, physically, is the posture of Granny – she has to be a little bit older, and when you’re acting that way, you have to hunch over a little bit and take smaller steps,” she says. “(And) we don’t just walk around the party scene – we have little dances that we have to do and little tricks that we have to perform.”

Dancing as Granny means striking a balance between clumsy and graceful, Benz says, but she plays an important role, interacting with Drosselmeyer and keeping the children confined during the party scene.

“It’s not an easy task to take on Granny,” she says.

Know?

Whip it Good

You might not recognize Jack Jenny’s name, but you can definitely pick him out of a crowd thanks to a distinctive sound effect.

Jenny, a music professor at Otterbein University, is a percussionist for the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. During the symphony’s annual Holiday Pops show – this year scheduled for Dec. 2-4 at the Ohio Theatre – Jenny plays all manner of instruments.

“I run around doing different things – xylophone, bells, bass drum, cymbals,” he says.

He is also responsible for an instrument that consists of two polymer boards hinged together. It’s not much to look at, but it’s definitely something to hear – it provides the distinctive whip crack during Sleigh Ride.

Jenny has been with the symphony for 34 years and has played a wide variety of instruments, but the whip crack is among his favorites for the timing of it and for the crowd reactions it elicits.

“It gets a reaction, often because the guest conductor figured it out and cued me exactly right – or sometimes because the guest conductor is so totally clueless when the whip crack comes out, and everybody gets a kick out of that, too,” Jenny says.

Photo by Will Shively

A Friend of Music

A lifetime of musical experience has led Jonathan Butler to be part of an annual jazz tradition in Columbus.

Butler provides vocals, piano, guitar, drums and percussion for the Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour, which arrives in Columbus Dec. 3 at the Palace Theatre. South Africa native Butler has been working with saxophone virtuoso Koz for more than a decade, but his whole life has been spent in the music business.

“Everything I’ve learned, I’ve learned it through music,” Butler says.

The Christmas show’s great music and high production values make it engaging for the audience, but to Butler, the most important part is the message and spirit of Christmas. His favorite song to perform is Sweet Little Jesus Boy, an old spiritual song.

“To me, Christmas is about Christ, and not just eating and drinking,” says Butler. cs

Garth Bishop is editor of CityScene Magazine Feedback welcome at gbishop@pubgroupltd.com.

Babies Sitter

If you’ve been to Shadowbox Live’s Holiday Hoopla before, you definitely remember the Santa Babies, a trio of seasonal divas – but what about the fourth one in the background?

That’s Daphne, the Santa Babies’ keyboard player and music arranger, portrayed by Jennifer Hahn in Holiday Hoopla 20, which runs through Dec. 30. Though she does not stand center stage, Daphne plays a crucial role in the success of the Santa Babies – Dixie (Julie Klein), Dolly (Stacie Boord) and Dorothy (Stephanie Shull) – and enjoys the occasional opportunity to remind them of that fact.

“They need to be put in their place once in a while, because they would be nothing without Daphne,” Hahn says.

As the Babies’ musical accompaniment, Daphne makes big contributions to their repertoire, which this year includes a parody of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody titled Santanian Rhapsody and a variation of We Are the World that features cameos from several other Holiday Hoopla characters. And as usual, Daphne gets a moment to shine when she is forced to endure a musical number she detests.

“The one that Daphne hates this year – because she always has one that she’s not thrilled with – is a parody of YMCA, except it’s XMAS,” says Hahn.

Glassed Christmas

Add a hand-blown glass ornament to your holiday decor

By Tyler Davis

Your Christmas tree is unique to you and your family – so why not adorn it with an ornament unique to you and your family?

Newark-based community art studio

The Works is offering patrons who stop by on Saturdays in December the opportunity to learn the art of ornament-making from a professional glassblower. Even a rank amateur can learn from instructor and glassworker Larry Tuber how to craft a holiday ornament whose sparkle will catch the eye of anyone who glances at your tree.

Participants can be involved in as much or as little of the creation process as they desire. Pick up, blow and mold the glass yourself, or sit back and watch as one of the studio’s skilled glassworkers creates an ornament of your choosing.

The process entails taking 1,500-2,000 degree molten glass from the furnace, dipping in a blowpipe to gather the glass and rolling the glass in wood blocks, rails and specialized pads to get the desired

shape. A reheating furnace can be used to go back and apply colors, inflate the piece and create designs.

The studio offers glassblowing workshops throughout the year, and patrons have crafted everything from ornaments and jewelry to vases and drinking glasses.

“There’s something cool about drinking out of a glass you made yourself,” says Tuber.

Workshops are for ages 9 and up and cost $25 per ornament. They run from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 3, 10 and 17. No appointment is required.

More information can be found online at www.atthe works.org.

The Works isn’t the only show in town when it comes to custom-made glass ornaments. Grandview Heightsbased Glass Axis also offers workshops throughout December.

Classes cost $29 per ornament and are offered 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 3 and 17, 6-9 p.m. Dec. 6 and 20, and 1-4 p.m. Dec. 18. There will also be ornament-making workshops during Glass Axis’ Holiday Sale, slated for noon-7 p.m. Dec. 9 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 10 and 11.

Franklin Park Conservatory does not have ornament-making classes, but it does take custom orders for ornaments to be made in its Hot Shop. They cost $34 each and must be ordered by Dec. 4.

Find further information at www.glass axis.org and www.fpconservatory.org. cs

The Works instructor and glassworker Larry Tuber works on a glass bulb.

Sarah Vaughn, former artist in residency at the Works, gives a glass-blowing demonstration to visiting students.

With Dr. Phil Heit

More than a Heartfelt

Exercise’s benefits extend beyond the heart

The ding on my computer indicating the arrival of another e-mail beckons my attention. I have another speaking request, one of many I have been receiving from corporations in and around the central Ohio area.

It begins: “Dear Dr. Phil.” (Please note: Do not confuse me with the guy on TV who uses my moniker. I’ve been “Dr. Phil” longer. And besides, our hairlines differ, albeit not by a large margin)

ability to motivate people to exercise and we would like you to give our associates a presentation on the importance of exercise and health. Wellness is a priority for our company and we would like you to help us motivate our associates to adopt healthful behaviors. After all, healthy employees are more productive than unhealthy ones.”

Fast-forward two months as I gaze at my audience at a lunch ‘n learn presentation. The person introducing me tells the audience I will speak about the importance of exercise, especially as it relates to heart health. After all, don’t most people associate the benefits of exercise primarily with the prevention of heart disease?

In this talk, as well as in most others, I walk a different path. The impact of exercise on health extends much beyond the heart.

Exercise and ancer

The beneficial effects of exercise on a variety of cancers are compelling. According to the National Cancer Institute, studies conducted in the United States as well as around the world have found that people who increase their physical activity – whether in intensity, duration or frequency – reduce their risk of colon cancer by as much as 40 percent when compared to those who remain physically inactive. For those who exercise at a low intensity, research indicates that there is a reduced risk of developing colon cancer as well. Most researchers and experts theorize that the reduction in colon cancer risk is due to the idea that exercise increases the speed at which material moves through the colon. This reduces the exposure

cancer-causing substances have on this body part. Further, people who have had colon cancer and who exercise may reduce the risk of the cancer recurring.

Over the course of more than 60 studies conducted in the United States, the data indicates clearly that women who are physically active significantly reduce their risk of developing breast cancer when compared to women who are inactive. Some studies also indicate the more frequent and intense the woman’s exercise, the greater the benefit. Most studies suggest that 30 to 60 minutes per day of moderate exercise is related to a reduced risk of developing breast cancer.

For those women who have had breast cancer, exercise is shown to reduce its recurrence. While the reasons are not completely understood, it is believed that exercise improves the functioning of the immune system and helps a woman maintain a healthful weight, thereby avoiding excess fat. Excess fat deposit in the body is associated with increased cancer risk.

Many studies also indicate that the risk of prostate cancer is reduced with regular physical activity. In addition to reducing the risk of developing prostate cancer, physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from prostate cancer. In a 2011 study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, men who exercised vigorously for three hours per week had a 61 percent lower risk of prostate cancerspecific death when compared with men who exercised for less than one hour per week. Now that’s significant!

Exercise and Mental Health

Let’s face it. As we age, our mental acuity begins to wane. But not all need be doom and gloom.

Researchers have shown that a program of regular exercise, especially aerobic ex-

ercise, can reduce the risk of memory loss. Exercise has also been shown to reduce the severity of Alzheimer’s disease as well as delay the need for placement in nursing homes.

For people who may be mildly depressed, studies indicate that regular exercise can be as effective as medication in alleviating symptoms. Not only is exercise important in relieving symptoms of depression in adults, but studies also show that adolescents who participate in sports feel better about themselves when compared to their peers who do not engage in physical activity.

Exercise and Diabetes

The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. It constitutes approximately 90 percent of all cases of diabetes. It is often referred to as a “lifestyle disease” because it is most common in people who have little physical activity and are overweight.

Since this disease is created through lifestyle choices, it can be prevented via lifestyle choices. According to the American Diabetes Association, engaging in a program of planned physical activity will not only prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes, but also effectively treat this condition if it is present.

Don’t just associate physical activity with cardiovascular health. Physical activity can treat or prevent many different kinds of health conditions.

And I mean that from the bottom of my heart. cs

Dr. Phil Heit is Professor Emeritus of Physical Activity and Educational Services at The Ohio State University.

• Brent C. Behrens, M.D.

• Scott C. Blair, M.D.

• Christopher S. George, M.D.

• Andrew V. Grainger, M.D.

• Joseph K. Hofmeister, M.D.

• Peter Kourlas, M.D.

• J. Philip Kuebler, M.D.

• Jane M. Leiby, M.D.

• Nse Ntukidem, M.D.

• Thomas J. Sweeney, M.D.

I’ll Be Home for Wigilia

Tradition is on the Christmas menu at Dublin household

By Garth Bishop

There’s no Christmas turkey or fig pudding at this holiday dinner – just a healthy helping of tradition and togetherness.

And butter. Lots and lots of butter.

For Christmas Eve every year, the Dublin household of Dave McKee and Sandra Puskarcik brings together family and friends for Wigilia (VEE-uh; literally, “vigil”) – a Polish Catholic dinner with a huge amount of history.

“It’s a bit of an art and a bit of a science,” Sandra says.

Dave, vice president of Worthingtonbased Priority Mortage Corp., and Sandra, community relations director for the city of Dublin, have three children: sons Ryan and Kyle, and daughter Kristen.

The Polish tradition comes from Sandra’s side of the family. She grew up in Campbell, a suburb of Polish-heavy Youngstown, and has been faithfully observing Wigilia her entire life.

Though she gets help from her mother and sister, Sandra is head honcho in the kitchen when it comes to cooking Christmas dinner and has been for 25 years. Getting everything ready to eat for an average of 18 people each year is an all-day affair.

“The oven’s a mess after,” Sandra says.

Custom calls for an odd number of courses – typically seven, nine or 11 – and an even number of people at the dining room table. The latter is particularly important – according to tradition, if an odd number of people are seated, one of them may not make it to next Christmas. However, tradition calls for an extra place setting every year to indicate that the table is open to others.

Christmas Eve is considered a day of fasting in the Catholic tradition, so no

meat may be served at dinner. That means a lot of fish, a lot of vegetables, a lot of mushrooms and an impressive amount of butter, sour cream and cottage cheese for flavor.

“I probably have already used three pounds of butter today,” Sandra says as she prepares the food.

Though . tradition calls for the three fish dishes at the table to be herring, pike and trout, the family has substituted shrimp and salmon for the latter two in the interest of health. But beyond that, there is precious little room for change at the dinner table.

“My dad is 92, and if he sat down at the table, it would be exactly what he expected it to be,” says Sandra.

The meal begins at dusk, when the first star is visible in the Eastern sky, and everyone must be seated at the table before the food is brought out. It always begins with the reading of two pages from a book on the tradition of Wigilia.

The reading is followed by oplatki, Communion-style wafers with honey for dipping. The people at the table pass around the dish, each breaking off

From top: Soup with mushrooms, potatoes, parsley, celery, onions and barley; baked salmon with garlic pepper; opekance (balls of baked bread cooked with butter and cottage cheese)

Wigilia

a piece and offering well wishes to their fellow diners.

When the table is finally set, it is covered with nine different dining options: • Soup with mushrooms, potatoes, parsley, celery, onions and barley;

Sandra Puskarcik

•Baked salmon with garlic pepper;

•Opekance (oh-pah-KUN-suh), balls of baked bread cooked with butter and cottage cheese;

•Baked sauerkraut with onions, mushrooms and peas, with butter, flour and a Polish version of a roux added later;

•Shrimp with rice in butter and heavy cream;

•Pickled herring with sour cream and horseradish sauce, with red onions and parsley on top;

•A plate of prunes;

•Pierogies, dumplings of unleavened dough stuffed with potato, sauerkraut or prunes; and

•Pastries, including clothespin cookies, kiffles (walnut

horn cookies), kolachis (koh-LAH-cheez, nut rolls), pecan tarts and brownies.

The opekance may be Sandra’s favorite dish, as it’s something she typically has only once a year.

Serving as the table’s centerpiece is a miniature Christmas manger scene with real straw for the manger. While Sandra prepares Christmas dinner, Dave, Ryan

My dad is 92, and if he sat down at the table, it would be exactly what he expected it to be.

• SANDRA PUSKARCIK

”

From top: Shrimp with rice in butter and heavy cream; pickled herring with sour cream and horseradish sauce; pierogies, dumplings of unleavened dough stuffed with potato, sauerkraut or prunes

Opposite bottom: Pastries, including clothespin cookies, kiffles, kolachis, pecan tarts and brownies

and Kyle are responsible for finding straw for the table.

After dinner, the whole family pitches in to clean up the kitchen. Then it’s off to midnight Mass. After Mass, the family arrives back at the house – with the Christmas Eve fast officially over – to chow down on ham, kielbasa, rye bread and cwikla (CHEE-kwah), a dish of beets and cabbage.

And even though that makes for a late night, everyone is up early on Christmas morning to open presents. cs

Garth Bishop is editor of CityScene Magazine. Feedback welcome at gbishop@pubgroupltd.com.

Caring Around the Calendar

Helping the less fortunate need not be limited to the holidays

By Garth Bishop

Working for the betterment of the less fortunate is a staple of the holiday season.

The spirit of giving that seeps in around Thanksgiving pervades the season, prompting many people to seek out opportunities to give back before the holidays hit in December.

But need is not limited to one month out of the year. Need exists around the clock and across the calendar. And the organizations that make it their mission to help those in need – like these – are always on the hunt for more donors and

volunteers to help them continue that mission.

Winter

The end of the holidays isn’t the end of winter, and there are many people in Columbus who still need help after the Christmas lights come down.

The Columbus Federation of Settlements oversees six settlement houses throughout the city, all with the goal of improving their neighborhoods with programs ranging from senior transportation and family support services to child care and outpatient counseling. Those wanting to help can do so in a multitude of ways – assisting around the settlement houses’ officers, helping to organize fundraisers, providing transportation, donating money or winter clothing, and much more.

“You name it, we have a whole gamut of different things that they could do,” says Allen Huff, chairman of the federation’s board and president and CEO of Neighborhood House Inc., one of the six houses.

Volunteers may also offer to share their skills with the houses and their

Sorting, inspecting and

reclaimed food items are important volunteer duties at the Mid-Ohio Food Bank.

clients by teaching classes on anything that might be useful – parenting, budgeting, even industrious use of coupons to save money.

“Sometimes, people have skills that they don’t even know they have,” Huff says.

Each house has a call center, and those interested in helping out can call up and find out how. A list of participating houses can be found at www.cfsettlements.org. Background checks will be required for anyone who will be working with young people.

spring

Looking to do more for the hungry than just donate some cans of food? Head down south to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank to take a more hands-on role in the process.

The food bank’s headquarters is located in Grove City. Across central and eastern Ohio, more than 500 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, after-school programs and senior housing sites receive food from the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.

A lot of the items the food bank dishes out to those sites come from food reclaim – items grocery stores have removed from their shelves, but that are still potentially good. Sorting and inspecting these items to ensure they are still OK to eat is a key volunteer duty, as is packaging them.

“The last thing we want to do with any of this food is hang on to it,” says Liz Garrabrant, manager of the volunteer services program.

The average volunteer shift is two to three hours, but a volunteer can stay all day if he or she so desires. Signing up is as easy as calling the volunteer department at 614-317-9703 or logging onto the volunteer signup website, www.mofb.volunteer hub.com.

packaging

“You don’t have to make a huge commitment to come and give us a hand,” Garrabrant says.

The food bank also accepts donations. Monetary donations can be arranged via the food bank website, www.midohio foodbank.org, or by calling its development department at 614-274-7770. Food donations can be arranged at pe-

House of Japan

riodic food drives or by participating in the Operation Feed program, which runs March through June and offers many opportunities to help, all detailed on the food bank website.

summer

All it takes is a skill and a willingness to help to improve a woman’s life or make a child’s day at Amethyst Inc.

Amethyst, with offices located in downtown Columbus, assists women who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, as well as their children, and helps them transition back into society. During the summer, Amethyst puts on programs for the children it’s helping, including a camp at the Buckeye Ranch – the children get to have fun, and their mothers can focus on treatment without having to worry about whether their children are taken care of.

Flaming onion volcano, shrimp tails flying, table-side cooking, and chefs performing tricks are just some of the unique experiences you’ll have while dining at the House of Japan.

Hibachi Steakhouse & Sushi Bar

Volunteers for Neighborhood House Inc., one of the settlement houses overseen by the Columbus Federation of Settlements, assist with a neighborhood cleanup.

Amethyst Inc.’s summer carnival utilizes volunteers to entertain the children of the women the organization serves.

“There’s need all year round, because when the women and children come to us, they are completely homeless and we have to provide … everything,” says Nanon Morrison, development director for Amethyst.

The most important thing a volunteer at Amethyst can do is lend a skill. Some volunteers help with children’s activities, some work on landscaping or beautification projects over the summer; there’s even a group that puts on a quarterly cooking class.

“We’ve had people volunteer to do yoga, reiki and arts and crafts; I had someone come from the Limited Brands, and she helped the children design the T-shirts that they had for summer camp last year,” Morrison says. “If someone has a skill or a talent and wants to talk to me, I can help figure out a way.”

Signing up can be as simple as calling Morrison at 614-242-1284 and figuring out a way to help. Volunteers will be given a packet to read, and background checks are in order for anyone who will be working with children.

Fall

When fall rolls around, LifeCare Alliance and its list of 15,000 clients are thankful for the efforts of some 6,700 active volunteers.

“They were nice enough to give us 130,000 hours last year,” says LifeCare President and CEO Chuck Gehring.

The most common way to help LifeCare Alliance is to be part of its Mealson-Wheels program, though many other opportunities are available. The process is simple: After signup, volunteers go through a 30-minute training session in a regional location. Then, on the chosen day, they pick up their meals and route sheet at a nearby location and deliver the meals to the assigned houses, checking to make sure the recipients are doing all right. The delivery process only takes about 90 minutes, Gehring says.

“We have people who do this one day a year, and we have people who do this one day a week,” he says.

Training is required for most volunteer duties, and some – including Meals-on-Wheels, for which volunteers go into clients’ homes – necessitate background checks. Donations are also useful to the organization, be they cash, nonperishable food, pet food or personal care items like shampoo.

Signup information can be found by calling 614-444-6325 or visiting www.life carealliance.org. cs

Garth Bishop is editor of CityScene Magazine. Feedback welcome at gbishop@ pubgroupltd.com.

Volunteers Unite

Like the local assistance organizations, the United Way is open year-round for the benefit of the less fortunate, and its local arm, the United Way of Central Ohio, offers plenty of ways to help.

The organization will set up prospective volunteers with various community programs, including LifeCare Alliance’s Meals-on-Wheels program; shelf-stocking and customer assistance at ReStore, a discount home improvement store run by Habitat for Humanity; and serving meals to the homeless at the YWCA Family Center.

Monetary donations are also encouraged. Though donors can give to specific arms of the United Way’s operations, they are generally advised to give to the Community Impact Fund so their contribution can be routed to the areas in which it is most needed.

Donation and volunteering information can be found at www.liveunitedcentral ohio.org. A new online tool helps connect users directly to different types of volunteering opportunities. Some volunteering gigs, particularly those that deal with children, require background checks.

Girl Scouts help make deliveries for LifeCare Alliance.

profile

Anyone casually familiar with the smattering of older homes along Africa Road in southern Delaware County might be inclined to think that an entirely new home has popped up in place an old one. That’s not what happened, though. Not quite.

continued on page 26

Complete overhaul of 1955-era house snags major awards

Unrecognizable

Of course, we happen to think is a BIG DEAL .

SWITCH CALL or order ONLINE today. .

O Come All Ye Forgetful

Need a present in a snap?

Let

For the Home

1One Good Turn

Hunt down the perfect gift and support local crafters and artists by dropping into the Market at Serendip in Powell. These unique crafts by woodturner Jim Burrowes are just the tip of the iceberg. www.market atserendip.com

2This Chair Rocks

Help your little one – or a friend’s little one – spruce up the room with furniture from My Own Room, a children’s furniture store located near Grandview Heights. This rocking chair ought to keep any kid happy. $69. www.myownroom furniture.com

3Light Up the Lights

Help a friend turn a light switch into a work of art with a custom switch plate from local artist Leah Reynolds. You can find the switch plates on Reynolds’ Etsy site and at Open Door Art Studio in Grandview Heights. $10-12. www.etsy. com/people/leahreynolds

4Un Petit Antiquité

Bring a loved one a special gift from Paris – Paris Flea Market in Powell, that is. The shop offers a wide variety of antiques and accessories for the home. www. aparisfleamarket.blogspot.com

Photo by Jerry Anthony

Luxury Living

For a Sweet Tooth

1A Taste of History

Invite a friend or loved one to hop in your DeLorean and take a trip back in time with a candy capsule from Emlolly Candy in Worthington. Each candy capsule is filled with era-appropriate candy for a specific decade gone by – the 1940s through the 1990s. $14.50-$22.50. www. emlollycandy.com

2Big Macs

They’re not your traditional Christmas cookies, but the multicolored macarons from Pistacia Vera in German Village –available in 12 different flavors – will be appreciated by any gift-giver from Santa on down. Pick up a gift set with one of each flavor of the light nut meringue cookies. $15. www.pistaciavera.com

3Tiny Treats

The cupcakes may be small, but the taste is big at Bakery Gingham, with locations in German Village and the Short North.

Two dozen mini cupcakes – with flavors ranging from Keylime and Apple Strudel to Mutant Turtle and LL Cool Cake – are sure to sweeten anyone’s holiday. www. bakerygingham.com

For a Good Cause

4Kenyan Compassion

Help fight world hunger with a gift from World Vision , a company whose proceeds go to fight famine in Africa. These Zakale (literally, “reuse”) wire-and-bead ornaments are made by struggling Kenyan artisans. $150. www.worldvisiongifts.org

5Still Surviving

Human trafficking is a serious problem in the world, and you can help survivors of human trafficking and slavery by buy ing jewelry from Made by Survivors Flame That Can Never Be Extinguished Necklace – $28 in copper and brass on leather cord, $50 in sterling silver on a silver chain – is part of the Hand-Wrought collection, made by Indian survivors. www. madebysurvivors.com

6I Can Has Kitteh Pillow?

Help a cat owner and a home less cat with a Custom Cats gift from The Digital Gryphon LLC Products include cards, pillows, mouse pads, magnets and jour nals, all bearing the submitted image of a beloved pet, and 50 percent of proceeds go to the Cat Welfare Association, a Clinton ville shelter for homeless cats. www.digitalgryphon.net

Luxury Living

For the Wine Enthusiast

1Plum Delicious

Help someone keep warm in the cold of winter with a bottle of Wintertide plum wine from Wyandotte Winery, located in the Gahanna area. The winery has plenty of other gift options as well, from custom gift baskets to wine cakes, and will also make custom labels for any wine bottle on request. $12.99. www.wyandottewinery.com

2Fifteen Miles to the…

A bottle of Love Shack Sangria from Hidden Lakes Winery in Canal Win -

chester can help any friend or loved one pretend they’re in a warm, tropical locale, even if it’s still the dead of winter here in Columbus. $14.99. www.hidden lakeswinery.com

3I Know Why the Caged Wine Zings

For a wine with great fragrance, depth and character – without breaking the bank – consider giving this Harris Merlot from Nickel and Nickel (49.99), available at the Wine Guy Wine Shop. The store – with locations in Pickerington, Gahanna and New Albany – will be happy to help you accompany the gift with this Cork Cage ($24.99), available in three sizes. www. thewineguywineshop.com

4No Wine Before its Time

Worthington-based House Wine has the perfect bottle for anyone from the casual drinker to the connoisseur. The Scherrer Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley is hand-crafted by Fred Scherrer, who never releases a wine until it is ready to drink. $39.99. www. housewine.biz

For Everyone Else

5Oil Be Seeing You

If you know someone who prefers to do his or her own cooking, some oils, spices, pestos or other ingredients from The Oilerie in Grandview Heights might just fit the bill. All of the company’s olive oils, which come straight from Italy, are poured fresh for each customer. www. oilerie.com

6Hanging Around

Know someone who’s always in the mood for adventure? Check out Cloud 9 Living and find that person a unique adventure around central Ohio – like this tandem hang gliding session with a certified instructor 2,500 feet in the air. $180. www.cloud9living.com

7In Vera Veritas

Vera Bradley is always a favorite when it comes to gifts, and Accent on Image – located at Polaris Fashion Place – has a sizable selection of options. Take a look around and find the perfect accessory for her. www.accentonimagepolaris. com v

Polaris Fashion Place Columbus, OH 43240 614.846.1729

Next to Accent on Image

Free Gift With Purchase

December 5th–25th

Receive a free PANDORA holiday ornament (a $30 US retail value) with your purchase of $125 or more of PANDORA jewelry.*

*Good while supplies last, limit one per customer.

Santa Trains

Take a ride with Santa Claus!

The jolly old elf and his helper will board at the depot and share the ride with you. During the trip, Santa will visit individually with each child and Santa's elf will have a special candy treat for all of the children on board. The train is heated and decorated for the holiday.

DATES:

Every Saturday and Sunday for four weeks starting Thanksgiving weekend. Two round trip trains depart each day at 11 a.m. and 2 pm. Advance reservations recommended.

Order Tickets online at www.hvsry.org or by leaving a message at 800-967-7834.

PRICES

Adult $16

Senior (60+) $14; Child (3-12) $12 (Under 3 yrs. old ride free but must sit on guardian's lap.)

Luxury Living

The two-story home of Guy and Nancy Klosterman near the Lakes Golf and Country Club is, technically, a remodeled 1955-era house they bought two years ago. You can’t tell by looking that any of the original home remains, but there’s much more of it than meets the eye.

The finished product is anything but a vintage home. It has all the eye appeal and features of a 21st century design, making the house attractive and dedicated to very comfortable living.

Guy, who co-owns Sunbury-based Davidson Builders with Scott Davidson, got the home for a deal in an estate sale. It’s on a welllandscaped, five-acre lot backing to Alum Creek and is solidly built with a geothermal, in-floor heating system – a modern advance for the era in which it was installed.

profile

Nancy and Davidson shared ideas with Jim Wright of Residential Design Solutions, whose first try at plans was “just about perfect,” Guy says.

By Duane St. Clair

continued from page 19

Gone is the box-like second floor section, replaced by a new roof structure. The result is a wide-gable roof over the central part of the house, with smaller gables and matching rooflines topping other sections. Additional features include cultured stone on the exterior and main and secondary porches, both with tapered posts. These features add to Guy’s vision of a “craftsman” appearance that incorporates a distinct roof, shake shingles and stone.

The builders decided that, economically, it made more sense to do an extensive remodel of the concrete block home with a concrete slab floor than to tear it down and build new. They chose to take it on “because that’s what we do,” says Guy. He,

It was a complicated project that involved, among other things, several weeks of demolition, mostly by Guy and Scott, including removal of the roof and some parts of exterior walls. The rebuild entailed adding two rows of blocks to the existing walls to allow nine-foot first-floor ceilings after roof trusses were installed, and building a door and window wall across an opening in the U-shaped home to enclose what would become the great room.

Guy and Nancy Klosterman

Photo by Wes Kroninger

Those were somewhat easier tasks. The job of using jackhammers to dig up old plumbing was a decidedly tougher and more time-consuming job, Scott says, because they didn’t want to destroy geothermal heating tubes also embedded in the concrete floor.

Some of that work was necessary because the kitchen and dining room spaces were to be switched. More was to expose thick footings for support posts in the upper floors. And more was needed to uncover aged water and cast-iron pipes so they could be replaced.

The foundation for the outside walls also had to be beefed up to support the new roof trusses and a heavier load. Further,

to improve energy efficiency, holes in the concrete block walls were filled with foam insulation.

Inside, on the first floor, drywall was installed over a four-inch layer of insulation. The result in the all-electric home is that air conditioning is seldom needed and winter heating is an economical combination of the in-floor thermal energy and two heating units that serve the upstairs and the older extension of the house.

All the exterior work – including removing flagstones that had been on some outsides walls and putting up new stonework – was done without destroying any of the well-established, well-planned landscaping the original owner had installed after

Above: A cathedral ceiling, a wood-burning fireplace and widepaned window doors underneath rounded windows are some of the new great room features.

Opposite page, left: Cultured stone and tapered posts define the new porches.

Opposite page, right: A wide-gable roof over the central part of the house and smaller gables with matching rooflines have replaced the box-like second floor section of the original house.

Luxury Living

he built the home. The flagstones were used for a front walk, and some salvaged material was donated to Habitat for Humanity.

The update also included installing larger, more energy-efficient windows to replace the smaller, undesirable originals – some of which were as high as eye level –

that don’t meet today’s building standards. That meant taking down part of a block wall at the rear of the new first-floor master suite to allow a window and door wall. A walk-in closet was constructed and a large master bath built.

Other window replacements required enlarging existing openings by sawing the block walls, another labor-intensive effort. The relocated kitchen and dining room received new windows.

The great room has a cathedral ceiling and a new stone chimney with a woodburning fireplace in the middle of the rear wall with wide-paned window doors on both sides and rounded windows above each, all allowing a nice view of the spacious yard. The attractive kitchen, accessible from the great room through an opening that spans its entire width, features a nine-foot island with stool seating, all energy-efficient stainless appliances and custom cabinetry enhanced by attractive granite countertops.

An eye-catching stairway on one wall has wood railings and wrought-iron spindles, and leads to a large second-floor opening overlooking the great room. The stairway installation covers the generator for the in-floor heating system. The laundry room is on the other side of the wall along the stairs, and a half bath is along the short hall to the master suite.

Off to one side of the upstairs is a family entertainment room featuring a view of the rear yard from a large window. To the other side are two bedrooms, each with impressive windows, and a Jack and Jill bath. Another half bath is off the hall. Both bedrooms have sloped ceilings, but with far more clearance under the new trusses.

A former in-law suite down the hall from the great room is now, after some renovation, Guy’s home office. The transition included window work and the addition of a wall of shelves and storage cabinets. Another front entry and a foyer outside the office were added as well.

It was an ambitious project that was finished just in time for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s Tour of Remodeled Homes in October 2010. The Klostermans – including their daughter, Courtney, a high school junior – finished moving in late the night before the tour. Scott and Guy both chuckle as they describe the last-minute work, such as placing furniture and hanging pictures.

But the hard work paid off. The entry was named Best Whole House Remodeling and Best of Show, and the company garnered Contractor of the Year honors from NARI of Central Ohio, the tour sponsor, as well.

Residential Design’s effort was honored by the Building Industry Association of Central Ohio as best exterior architectural design in 2010 and won the American Institute of Building Design’s first place national American Residential Design Award for exterior design. v

Duane St. Clair is a contributing editor. Feedback welcome at gbishop@pubgroup ltd.com.

Top: The kitchen and dining room spaces were switched entirely, with new windows being installed in both.

Middle: A second-floor family entertainment room offers a view of the yard.

Bottom: Part of a block wall was taken down to accommodate a window and door wall in the first-floor master suite.

Each of the second-floor bedrooms has a Jack and Jill bath.

Above: Energy-efficient stainless appliances, custom cabinetry and granite countertops surround the nine-foot island with stool seating in the new kitchen. Below: New shelves and storage cabinets helped transform a former in-law suite into Guy’s office. Bottom: The sloped ceilings in the new bedrooms still offer more clearance than the old ones, thanks to the new roof trusses.

Drunken Desserts

in the spirit

Local restaurants add special sauce to their dessert menus

By Gail Martineau

Beer, wine and liquor aren’t just for drinking.

For ages, chefs and restaurateurs have realized the benefits of whipping up lavish sweet concoctions with alcohol. The spirits help improve a tasty treat’s flavor in two important ways: alcohol evaporation and molecular bonding.

More specifically – and less scientifically – alcohol helps to enhance the overall taste of the dish by concentrating flavors,

One of its bestsellers is the Irish Cream Torte, which features a fluffy chocolate cake smothered in Bailey’s Irish Cream-flavored buttercream frosting. The bakery also uses liqueurs like Frangelico, Kahlua and amaretto to enhance its cheesecakes.

Le Chocoholique in the Short North has an overwhelming array of chocolates and chocolate desserts, and sizable chunk of its menu is inspired by favorite spirits. Owner Monica Barr loves to play with flavors until she gets the right mix. “It’s trial and error,” she says. Some of the chocolatier’s favorites include the Margarita Cocktail, the Limoncello Espresso, the Absinthe Truffle and the Maker’s Mark Cocktail Cup. Barr comes up with new flavors all the time, especially for special occasions, such as a recent Crown Royal Whisky event.

Larry MacDonald, executive chef at Cap City Fine Diner in Grandview Heights,

and the alcohol’s evaporation carries aromas to our noses and taste buds.

A number of local restaurants have learned the science of cooking with alcohol and have turned this knowledge into some extremely appealing fare.

The Suisse Shop Bakery off Polaris Parkway knows flavor. With dozens of varieties of tortes, cupcakes, cakes and cheesecakes, the bakery – open in central Ohio for 29 years, eight of them in the Polaris area – knows what to do with liquor.

knows he doesn’t have to look far for new piquancy in his creations. The restaurant’s Warm Banana Bread Pudding features a caramelized banana in bourbon sauce, made simply of butter, sugar, water, eggs and, of course, bourbon. The favorite has been on the menu for almost 10 years, says MacDonald. “I look for different flavors,” he says. “You look out into the bar, and flavors are all over.”

A heavy stout might not be the first ingredient you’d guess is in a light, airy dessert like a mousse, but Darla Loflin, executive chef at Barley’s Smokehouse near Grandview, knows the secret. The

Le Chocoholique

Cap City Fine Diner

Barley’s Smokehouse

Liven up your holiday party with Watershed cocktails

If you seek a Yuletide libation that will grab the attention of any holiday guests you may have, look to Watershed Distillery for your key ingredients.

The Grandview Heights company currently offers two signature liquors: gin and vodka. The former is available for $27.90, and the latter for $24.60, at a broad assortment of local liquor stores. Pick up a bottle or two and make your holiday gathering a memorable one.

What Up Doc?

• 1½ oz. Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur

• 1½ oz. Watershed gin

• 1 oz. carrot juice

• Basil

In a mixing glass, muddle basil, then add ingredients and ice. Hard shake. Double strain into V-stem glass. Garnish with a small basil leaf.

Gingerbread Martini

• 1 oz. Watershed vodka

• 1 oz. Irish cream liqueur

• ½ oz. gingerbread syrup

• 1 oz. vanilla ice milk

• Caramel

• Mint

• Gingerbread crumbs (optional)

Line bottom of a martini glass with caramel and rim with gingerbread crumbs, if desired. Add vodka, Irish cream, gingerbread syrup and ice milk to cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until shaker begins to frost, then strain into glass. Garnish with mint.

restaurant/brewery’s Chocolate Stout

Mousse is whipped to perfection with a bit of the in-house Pint O’ Joe Stout. The coffee flavor helps intensify the chocolate in the mousse, which leaves you with the distinctive tang of hops, Loflin says. “It gives something normal, like mousse, a new twist.” v

Gail Martineau is a contributing editor. Feedback welcome at gbishop@pubgroupltd.com.

available homes

LUXURY CONDOS IN TARTAN WEST – Our luxury condominiums in Tartan West offer a variety of floor plans with flexible space for a home office, media room, or extra bedrooms. Visit our decorated models and see what life can be like in this resort community. Tartan West is off Hyland Croy north of Dublin Jerome High School. Dublin Schools. Call Judy Fox: 614-402-0787.

2012 PARADE OF HOMES – New Olentangy Schools location, fabulous opportunity for you to be a part of show home and participate in discounts available for parade builders. Call Scott at 614-890-5588 for this one-of-a-kind opportunity.

NEWMODELING – Finished Basements. Remodeled Kitchens and Baths. Room Additions.

When a renovation isn’t quite complete, think Truberry Group. With more than 20 years designing and building luxury homes, we offer the quality and attention to detail that only a top custom builder can bring to your remodeling project.

Call today to schedule a planning meeting with our in-house architects: 614-207-1574 or 614-890-5588.

VILLAGE AT THE BLUFFS – 999 Bluff Crest Drive. Exquisite condo in gated community. First floor master with Sitting room. Lots of hardwood flooring. Sunroom off the breakfast area. $443,400. Call Neil Rogers: 614-619-8777.

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STONEBRIDGE

Visit our new model.

open floor plan. Lots of hardwood flooring.

PARK PLACE VILLAGE AT NORTH ORANGE, Visit our model. Condos starting in the $280,000s. Call Adam Langley: 740-548-1900.

CROSSING,

High ceilings,

Kitchen has cherry cabinets with granite tops. Finished lower level. Homes starting at $399,900. Call Rick Tossey: 614-876-5577.

TARTAN FIELDS – Open floor plan, Cherry cabinets in kitchen with granite tops, lots of hardwood flooring. Finished lower level located on a wooded lot, cul de sac street. Mid $600,000s. Call Neil Rogers: 614-619-8777.

Mug Shot

Local sportscaster turns his passion for sports into a charitable product

By Gail Martineau

Twenty years ago, Columbus sportscaster Doug Lessells invited the creator of a local product called Team Mug to appear on his NBC-4 show.

The product, a mug in the shape of a helmet, faced some struggles – distribution problems and a high price point – and didn’t end up making it in the market.

But Lessells never forgot about Team Mug, and it eventually became the impetus behind HelmetMug, his latest project.

“I loved the product; I always had. But it didn’t make it back then,” Lessells says. “I always kept it in the back of my mind.”

Three years ago, Lessells looked into the Team Mug patent and found it was about to expire. He purchased the patent and, since then, has been working to reinvent the time-honored practice of having a cool drink during a football game.

“There is every kind of can and bottle cooler and mug out there, but literally, before this, there was nothing that was both a mug and a can and bottle cooler,” he says.

Lessells – who lives in Hilliard with his wife, Marie, and 6-year-old daughter, Isabella – has improved the look of the HelmetMug recently with the addition of plastic bracket facemasks and padding with team logos, and he wants it to be far more than just a drinking mug. Currently, the company sells mugs with logos from 11 colleges, including The Ohio State University, and 13 NFL teams, including the Browns and Bengals.

“I sacrificed all forms of yard work and home improvement projects for research and development – watching football games,” he says. “It was a sacrifice, but I’d do it again.”

Though he jokes about his product, Lessells is very serious about what HelmetMug can do – and is doing – for local organizations.

He donates five free mugs and the rest at manufacturing cost to any organization that asks to sell them for fundraising purposes. Donating the mugs for organizations to sell raises exponentially more money than just writing checks to the charities, he says.

“I knew I was going to donate 10 percent of the profits to charity,” says Lessells, who recently got back into sports reporting with WSYX-6’s Football Fever OSU pre- and post-game shows. “If we sell 10,000 mugs, we are going to write a $5,000 check to some charity. And then I started thinking, what if we took those 10,000 mugs and provided them to a charity to sell? Those same mugs could generate $50,000 in revenue.”

That’s exactly what he’s hoping happens with BuckeyeThon, Ohio

State University’s student philanthropy program that benefits the hematology/ oncology department at Nationwide Children’s Hospital with the goal of ending childhood cancer. HelmetMug is selling 1,000 mugs to the organization to resell and raise money.

Penn State’s student philanthropy program is planning to partner with HelmetMug next year to do a similar fundraiser, and Lessells and his company already have donated to local organizations like the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research, the DRIVEN Foundation After-School Program, St. Stephen’s Community House and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

“With 5,000 to 10,000 mugs each year with 50 colleges, you could raise half a million for charity,” Lessells says. “That is the big picture where we would like to be.”

For more information or to purchase a HelmetMug, visit www.helmetmug.com or visit a local Giant Eagle or Kroger store or Buckeye Corner, the Buckeye Room, College Traditions, Conrad’s or Station 88 at the Ohio Union. cs

Gail Martineau is a contributing editor. Feedback welcome at gbishop@pubgroupltd.com.

West for the Stressed

Escape the tension of the holidays at West Virginia resorts

By Carla D’Errico

Winter brings woe for many of us. Cooped up in the house because of negative-degree temperatures and that formidable four-letter “S”-word, we dread that tomorrow’s forecast will be the same.

A change of scenery can do us wonders –witness the tendency for so many Ohioans to travel to warmer climes when the mercury starts dropping. But there’s no need to cross so many state lines to achieve a respite from winter’s ravages. Just a few hours away, West Virginia resorts promise relaxation during those chillier months.

Kick Back

Cruise into luxury at the Greenbrier Resort, located in southeastern West Virginia about five hours from Columbus. The 231-yearold resort has much to see and do.

The bunker tours are a must-see. They were used as a planned relocation spot for Congress during the Cold War in the event of nuclear fallout. For 30 years, the bunkers were kept a secret, until a

The Jolly Old Elf, along with Mrs. Claus, always makes an appearance at the Greenbrier’s Gingerbread Ball.

Stonewall Resort

1992 Washington Post article spilled the beans. Tours are offered daily.

December is a happening month at the Greenbrier, and the week of Christmas is the heart of it – starting with the Christmas tree tours and lighting Dec. 23. On Christmas Eve is the Gingerbread Ball, hosted by Santa and Mrs. Claus, where you can be serenaded by the Sugar Plums jazz band, raise your glass for the Wassail Toast and end the evening singing your heart out caroling. Children ages 3-12 can help make the centerpiece at a workshop earlier in the day. Christmas Day offers a ballroom dance instructional workshop earlier in the day – useful training for the evening’s Tea Dance.

New Year’s is not without its own activities. On Dec. 30, let your diva out with a mini makeover and fashion show. New Year’s Eve will be highlighted a gala in Colonial Hall with music provided by the Ray Caddell Orchestra, and youngsters need not be left out – they get the “Big Night” dinner and party.

The Greenbrier’s class and comfort extend to its dining options. Most of its restaurants offer quality dining in a casual atmosphere (no jeans or sweats, though). But if you feel like getting dressed up, you

can be the belle of the ball at the Main Dining Room in the evenings as it transforms to a ballroom setting.

Bring the Kids

Bring the whole family to marvel at Oglebay Resort’s over-the-top holiday offerings. The resort is located in northern West Virginia, only about two hours from Columbus.

The Winter Festival of Lights, running through Jan. 8, has been an Oglebay staple since 1985. The light display, one of the nation’s largest, covers 300 acres on a sixmile drive.

Something new can be found each year among the 75 larger-than-life displays, which range from a 60-foottall poinsettia wreath and candles to a depiction of sledders being chased by a massive snowball. And if those don’t get your group’s jaws dropping, maybe the Cinderella display, which took two years to complete, will do the job.

The Good Zoo is a major draw for the little ones yearround, but during the festival, it widens even more young eyes with its Lighting and Music Extravaganza, taking place nightly on the lower level patio. The kids can catch an hourly laser show in the evenings at Benendum Theatre, marvel at the model train exhibit or ride the historic C.P. Huntington train. And don’t forget the animals – creatures from across the globe can be spotted throughout the zoo’s 30 acres. An indoor Discovery Lab offers hands-on acThe 60-foot-tall poinsettia wreath with candles is one of the highlights of Oglebay’s Winter Festival of Lights display.

Bottom: Oglebay Resort

The Greenbrier’s 70’-by-140’ ice skating rink provides one of its most popular wintertime activities.

DECEMBER 9–24

Tickets Start at $20

BALLETMET.ORG

tivities, and zoo camps for ages 3-11 run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

West Virginia is famous for its glass, and 3,000 stunning pieces of it are on brilliant display at Oglebay’s Glass Museum – one of two museums at the resort. Watch the glassblowers work their magic live or try your hand in a oneon-one workshop.

Shoppers can entertain themselves in Oglebay’s eight specialty shops, including the crowd-pleasing Gourmet in the Gardens candy store.

“There are a multitude of year-round recreational opportunities, so there is something for every member of the family to enjoy,” says Caren Noyer, Oglebay marketing director. “Our staff takes pride in making each guest feel welcome, and our hope is that every family will create special memories.”

Just for Two

wall Jackson Lake in central West Virginia, about four hours from Columbus.

Stonewall Resort is full of enjoyment opportunities for you and that special someone. The resort is situated on StoneZebras are among the many interesting animals at Oglebay’s Good Zoo.

Even in the wintertime, the Adirondack-style lodge offers opportunities to appreciate the peace of nature, including 16plus miles of trails. The resort is both easily accessible and secluded, offering the best of both worlds for couples.

“Stonewall has so much to offer,” says resort spokesman Bryan Brown. “You’d think you were in the middle of nowhere. You hear the sounds of nature. That’s why I prefer it.”

The resort’s Mtn. Laurel Spa doles out a huge variety of relaxing treatments – massages, aromatherapy, hot stone treatments, foot and hand massages, wraps,

BALLETMET DANCER ANDREW BRADER

Design: Peebles Creative Group Photography: Will Shively

Stonewall Resort’s main lobby offers ample opportunity for relaxation.

body scrubs, facials, manicures, pedicures and microdermabrasion treatments. And for visiting couples, it offers a series of side-by-side massages; patrons can come up with their own packages, or book the Naturally Close (apple honey scrub and aromatherapy massage) or Getaway Bliss for Two (herbal aromatherapy bath, foot massage with a cup of herbal tea and sideby-side massages) packages.

If you’re not opposed to a little social interaction, the Activity Plaza inside the Roanoke Building has arcade games, a Wii station, a TV, mini golf, a snack bar and an 18-foot climbing wall.

Stonewall’s unique culinary program will let you and your special someone choose from a variety of dining experiences. The resort’s New Appalachian Cuisine incorporates traditional West Virginian foods and ingredients passed down in local recipes over decades into world dishes –from stone-ground grits to mountain berry barbecue pork.

On New Year’s Eve, a packaged party for adults will provide entertainment. It begins with fine dining at Stillwaters Res taurant, and continues with a party at TJ Muskies Lounge or light jazz in the Grand Hall. cs

Carla D’Errico is a contributing writer. Feed back welcome at gbishop@pubgroupltd.com.

Save the Date!

creative Vacations

Travel show

Jan. 15, noon-4 p.m.

Dublin Embassy Suites, 5100 Upper Metro Pl.

Local travel company Creative Vacations presents its seventh annual travel show. Attendees will have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with representatives of 32 different travel organizations – 16 cruise companies, 13 land-based companies, two tourism boards and one travel insurance company. The show will also feature the popular On Stage Alaska travel presentation by Holland America. www. creativevacations.com

The Forum at Knightsbridge is honored to be a longstanding and respected member of the Columbus community. We offer an uncompromising, high standard of living with all the warmth and hospitality of home, right here on our beautifully landscaped campus.

Experience the lifestyle you deserve…don’t wait a moment longer! Call for lunch and a tour to see why life at The Forum is better than ever!

This page: Apassionata

Opposite bottom: Phoenix

Opposite right: She

Cracked Glass

Violent crime inspires glassworker’s new project

By Lisa Aurand

The glass starts as liquid fire, pure potential, ready to be sculpted by the hand of master artist Jason Antol.

As a college student, Antol, a Westerville native, was drawn to the beauty and limitless nature of glass as he worked in the Columbus College of Art and Design’s glass blowing studio.

“Glass is an amazing thing,” Antol says. “When you work with glass in its molten state, it’s a pure liquid medium. It can literally be anything that you can imagine, and subsequently, the only limitation is your imagination and technical knowledge.”

Antol, 32, went to art school to study oil painting. He was hired in the glass studio as a technician because he had metalworking experience, but once he started with glass, he never looked back.

“Looking at every other traditional artistic medium … there’s limitations. There are limitations to how big you can make things, or whether they’re transparent or opaque,” Antol says. “Every other medium has these stopping points, and glass is the only material that can be anything.”

A few years ago, Antol operated Jason Antol Studios and the Lewis Kay Gallery in the Short North. Nowadays, he operates out

of his New Albany home studio, working on his current project, a series of masks.

“In the last few months, I have started a series that’s … probably the most personal work I’ve ever made. I’m making masks –essentially portraits in glass. Faces,” Antol says. “Back in 2010, I was a victim of violent crime and had to have a lot of reconstructive surgery as a result.”

His new pieces are a reassessment of the idea of self. Their creation has been cathartic for Antol, a pacifist and vegetarian who has “never been in a fight in (his) life.” Following the violence, Antol was forced to take a hard look at his beliefs.

“Being the subject of senseless violent crime is a rather jarring experience, to say the least,” Antol says. “Out of that, issues of social justice and right behavior came to my mind. I’m hoping that this will open people’s eyes to the awareness of the need for change. Lots of bad things happen to good people.”

Days and nights . spent in his studio –

Jason Antol

sometimes alongside his 11-year-old son, Mathias – have been his therapy.

“When I make glass, I look into my own experiences and at myself,” he says. “In the wake of everything I’ve gone through, doing this work has really opened up an opportunity to examine … the changes I’ve gone through personally, artistically and spiritually. I’m hoping as a result of seeing (the masks) and the story behind them, people who have gone through similar things will know they’re not alone.”

Antol hopes to debut his new series at the Buyers Market of American Craft, which is scheduled for Feb. 18-20 in Philadelphia.

Though he doesn’t have any pieces on display at local galleries, Antol is represented at more than 40 galleries internationally. Closer to home, he volunteers and teaches at Newark art studio The Works.

He also offers private instruction. A single father, Antol has been enjoying teaching Mathias the art of glassblowing.

“A big driving motivation behind this whole entrepreneurial spirit is so I can raise my son teaching by example,” Antol says. “If you want something bad enough, you can get it, and he certainly responds well to that.”

Fans can find the artist on his Jason Antol Studios Facebook page. cs

Lisa Aurand is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@pubgroupltd.com.

Below: Intimacy

Top left: Autumn Rhythm

Bottom left: Black Dragon

Gallery Exhibits

High Road Gallery: Nifty Gifts For Under Fifty, original and hand-crafted art by local artists, through Dec. 3. www.highroadgallery.com

Capital University Schumacher Gallery: Crossroads: Mixed Media Works by Casey Bradley through Dec. 9. www.capital.edu

Miller Gallery, Otterbein University Art and Communication Building: The Distance from Oneself by Shelley Given, featuring pinhole photography and digital imaging, through Dec. 9. www.otterbein.edu

Fisher Gallery, Otterbein University Roush Hall: Cover Stories: The Art of the Book Jacket through Dec. 9. www.otterbein.edu

Dublin Arts Council Gallery: Oh Rats!, ceramic sculptures by Juliellen Byrne, through Dec. 16. www.dublinarts.org.

Gallery 202: The art of photographers Gary Gardiner and Eliot Lewis, recycle artist Renee Kropat, acrylic painter Teresa Wilhiot, and studio fabric artist Carol Whitt through Dec. 17. www.gallery 202online.com

Art Access Gallery: Landscapes by Perry Brown through Dec. 30. www.art accessgallery.com.

Wexner Center for the Arts: Peonies by Diana Thater through Dec. 30. www.wexarts.org

Decorative Arts Center of Ohio: Once Upon a Page, award-winning children’s

Below:

book illustrations from the Mazza Museum at the University of Findlay, through Dec. 31. www.decartsohio.org

Ursus Art Space: Power of Two, featuring mixed media by Don Keifer and Connie Layne, through Dec. 31. www.ursus artspace.com

Dublin Arts Council Gallery

Above: Art Access Gallery

Decorative Arts Center of Ohio

{onview}

Muse Gallery: Gifts of Vision – featuring small works, primarily by Levent Isik –from Dec. 1-31. www.amusegallery.com

Ohio Art League: Thumb Box, small works by league members artists, from Dec. 1-31. www.oal.org

Brandt-Roberts Galleries: Color and Form, featuring oil paintings by Yan Sun and sculptures by Mike Tizzano, . from Dec. 1-31. www. brandtroberts galleries.com

Studios on High Gallery

Studios on High Gallery: Be Original … Give Original Art, an all member exhibition, from Dec. 1-31. www.studioson high.com

Hammond Harkins Galleries: Small and Wonderful, an annual exhibition by gallery artists, opening Dec. 2. www.hammond harkins.com.

Sandwich, and Tragic Stitches – from Dec. 3-31. www.rivetart.com

Keny Galleries: The Art of Collage and Assemblage: Edmund Kuehn, Louise Captein and Tamara Jaeger from Dec. 9-Jan. 13. www.kenygalleries.com

Hayley Gallery: Joy/Enjoy, the art of Laurie Clements, from Dec. 10-Jan. 20. www. hayleygallery.com

Schnormeier Gallery at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University: The Ohio Art League’s Riffe

Rivet Gallery: Stuff This – Bon Voyage! – featuring the work of Amanda Louise Spade, Lana Crooks, Follow the White Rabbit, Monster Factory, Love and a

Brandt-Roberts Galleries

Gallery

Columbus Museum of Art

Annual Fall Juried Exhibition through Jan. 7. www.oal.org

Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery: Artful Teaching: Work by College and University Painting Faculty through Jan. 8. www. riffegallery.org

Frank Museum of Art, Otterbein University: Poetic Visions: Ink Paintings by C.Y. Woo through Jan. 20. www. otterbein.edu

Columbus Museum of Art: Caravaggio: Behold the Man! The Impact of a Revolutionary Realist, featuring the work of Michelangelo

Merisi de Caravaggio, through Feb. 5. Selections from the Hill Collection of American Walking Sticks through April 1. Monet to Matisse: Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Sirak Collection – featur-

ing works by Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Paul Klee, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Chaim Soutine and Henri Matisse, among others – through May 13. Columbus Views – featuring works by George Bellows, Emerson Burkhart, Edmund Kuehn, Robert Chadeayne and others – through spring 2012. www.columbusmuseum.org

More....

For additional gallery events, go to www.cityscenecolumbus.com.

Ohio Art League

Hammond Harkins Galleries

Hayley Gallery

Picks&Previews

CityScene spotlights what to watch, what to watch for and what not to miss!

Shadowbox Live presents

Holiday Hoopla 20

Through Dec. 30

Shadowbox Live, 503 S. Front St. Shadowbox’s annual Christmas show, featuring its usual blend of rock ‘n roll and sketch comedy, returns for its 20th year. www.shadowboxlive.org

children’s activities, holiday-themed classes and special programs will also be part of the celebration. www.fpcon servatory.org

Helen Welch: Home for the Holidays

Dec. 1-4

Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St.

The Columbus Jazz Orchestra brings in critically acclaimed vocalist Helen Welch for its holiday tradition. Welch will join forces with Byron Stripling to perform classic holiday hits in a jazz style. www.jazz artsgroup.org

Holidays at the Conservatory

Through Dec. 31

Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St.

For the holidays, the Franklin Park Conservatory will display a plethora of seasonal plants, as well as a gingerbread display and model train. A gingerbread competition,

Zoom: Family Film Festival

Dec. 1-4

Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St.

This film festival for all ages also offers children’s activities, a breakfast bar, a pajama party and an ice cream social by Jeni’s. www.wexarts.org

Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons

Dec. 9, 8 p.m. Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St. Following Jersey Boys’ stop in Columbus over the summer, the subject of the hit musical brings to Columbus the act that has made it famous for more than five decades.

www.capa.com

Columbus Symphony Orchestra presents Holiday Pops

Dec. 2-4

Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St.

Ronald J. Jenkins conducts the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in beloved holiday songs. www.columbussymphony.com

Holiday Art Sale

Dec. 3, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Loann Crane Center, Columbus College of Art and Design, 60 Cleveland Ave.

Purchase art from more than 100 students artists. Admission fees go toward student scholarships, and art sale proceeds go directly to the student artists. “First choice” admission runs from 9-10:30 a.m. www.ccad.edu

Dave Koz and Friends

Christmas Tour 2011

Dec. 3, 8 p.m.

Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.

Dave Koz is joined by trumpeter Rick Braun, singer and multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Butler, and saxophonist Candy Dulfer for the 14th anniversary of this holiday tour. www.capa.com

Holiday Hoopla 20

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

CityMusic Sunday Series: Miro String Quartet

Dec. 4, 2 p.m.

Via Vecchia Winery, 485 S. Front St.

The Miro String Quartet has been internationally recognized and has collaborated with many famous artists. www.city musiccolumbus.org

Judy Collins: Home for the Holidays

Dec. 5, 8 p.m.

Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St.

Judy Collins presents her brand of interpretive folk songs and contemporary themes for this holiday performance. www. capa.com

Giƒt Certificates

CAPA gift certificates make great holiday gifts. Purchase one today–redeemable for any performance in our downtown theatres!

capa.com | 614-469-0939 Ohio Theatre Ticket Office

Thurber Birthday Gala

Dec. 8, 6-9 p.m.

The Westin Columbus, 310 S. High St.

To celebrate what would have been the 117th birthday of James Thurber, the Thurber House is bringing in 2010 Thurber Prize for American Humor winner Steve Hely, author of How I Became a Famous Author and a writer for 30 Rock and The Office. www.thurberhouse.org

Judy Collins

Joy! Home is Where the Hearth Is

Dec. 9-11

King Avenue United Methodist Church, 299 King Ave.

The Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus presents its 11th annual holiday show. Dec. 11’s performance is at the Lord of Life Lutheran Church. www.cgmc.com

CATCO-Phoenix presents The Hobbit

Dec. 9-11

Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Ave.

This fast-paced, one-hour version of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic adventure story is

sure to keep the kids entertained. www. catco.org

BalletMet presents The Nutcracker

Dec. 9-24

Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St. BalletMet prepares to outdo itself again with its annual production of the Christmas classic. www.balletmet.org

ProMusica presents Seasonal Surprises

Dec. 10-11

Pontifical College Josephinum, 7625 N. High St.; Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St.

Traditional holiday songs are reworked to a contemporary beat. www.promusica columbus.org

Mamma Mia!

Dec. 13-18

Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.

This comedic musical, utilizing the songs of ABBA, follows a soon-to-bebride and her quest to find out the identity of her father. www. mamma-mia.com

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Dec. 18, 3 and 7:30 p.m.

Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd.

Enjoy the internationally known TransSiberian Orchestra and its distinctive brand of rocking holiday favorites. www. nationwidearena.com

New Albany Symphony Orchestra presents Holiday Spectacular

Dec. 18, 3 p.m.

Jeanne B. McCoy Center for the Arts, 100 W. Dublin-Granville Rd., New Albany

Featuring music from The Polar Express and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, this concert is one for all ages. A can collection will be set up to benefit the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. www.newalbanysymphony.com

Harlem Globetrotters

Dec. 29, 2 and 7 p.m.

Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd.

The world-renowned basketball showoffs bring their act to Columbus. www. nationwidearena.com

First Night Columbus

Dec. 31, 5 p.m.

Downtown Columbus

Enjoy more than 40 live performances, a children’s festival and a variety of handson activities in central Ohio’s award-winning New Year’s Eve event. www.firstnight columbus.com

More....

For a comprehensive list of other happenings around Columbus, check out www.cityscenecolumbus.com.

Mamma Mia!

The Art(s) of Giving

Local arts organizations appreciate your patronage

By Lauren Novelli

Alot of work goes into making your favorite symphony concert, dance performance or gallery exhibit great. But it’s your support that keeps the artists on the stages and in the galleries.

Columbus is full of thriving and beneficial arts organizations that rely on patron donations for their survival. Many of these organizations offer simple ways to donate, and the impact is astounding.

An easy way to support the performing arts is by donating to the annual fund for CAPA, which provides administrative services for numerous central Ohio arts outlets, including Opera Columbus, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and CATCO-Phoenix. CAPA also oversees the Ohio, Palace and Southern theaters, and you can directly support them by donating to CAPA’s endowment fund.

Patrons can also contribute directly to the arts organizations CAPA oversees. The symphony, for instance, accepts donations via its website, www.columbussymphony.com, or its development office, 614-221-5249. Volunteering for symphony programs like the Women’s Association of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra or the cadre of Picnic with the Pops volunteers is another option for support.

BalletMet is another local arts organization whose success is bolstered by support from the community. In addition to its performances, the award-winning dance company works to support the community through its Dance Academy, dance education programs and its KidTix program, which provides free performance tickets to children identified through local social service agencies. Donations make a big difference to these programs.

“As part of our mission, we are committed to giving back to the people of Columbus through free and low-cost performances and programs for schools, offering scholarships to deserving dance students, and providing thousands of performance tickets to social service agencies for their clients,” says BalletMet Development Director Pam Bishop.

Donate to BalletMet online at www.balletmet.org, send a check to the company at 322 Mount Vernon Ave. or call 614-586-8670 for more information.

If the visual arts are more your thing, you might consider supporting the Columbus Museum of Art by becoming a member – or, if you’re already a member, by buying a membership for someone else as a gift. Other donationready support arms for the museum include its endowment, annual fund and capital campaign, and the institution also welcomes gifts of art.

Museum officials point to the recent renovation and the new Center for Creativity as areas where donations made a huge difference. Find information at www.columbusmuseum. org or call 614-629-0344

“Donors and members are truly the heart of the museum,” says museum Marketing and Public Relations Manager Nancy Colvin.

The Greater Columbus Arts Council also has an annual fund for its operations, but it offers two other methods for contributing to the development of the arts in central Ohio. GCAC’s Hanley Arts Fund allows for donations that go directly to individual artists, and its Artists-in-Schools and Art in the House programs help further arts education for central Ohio residents. Visit www.gcac.org or call 614-224-2606 to learn more.

The Ohio Arts Council does not have a direct donation mechanism, but encourages would-be donors to consider donating directly to individual artists – such as through GCAC’s program.

“In that way, their donations will have an immediate impact on the recipient,” says Amy McKay, public information officer for the Ohio Arts Council. cs

Lauren Novelli is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@pubgroupltd.com.

With Michael McEwan

The Painter’s Eye

Featuring Portrait of Michiel de Wael by Frans Hals

For the most part, every collection starts in someone’s home. But it isn’t often that a home becomes a museum.

The Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati is one such place. I think it is one of the most comfortable and inviting museums I have been to.

As the year closes, one often reflects on the past and ponders the future. I would like to propose that you take time to engage a real masterwork – in this case, Frans Hals’ Portrait of Michiel de Wael.

Here is indisputably one of our greatest painters and a master of the brush. The greatness of the “Old Masters” was not just their fluency with a brush, but what they could achieve with limited materials. The vast range of colors painters have today dwarfs the color choices of the 17th Century.

Using a somewhat more somber palette than usual, Hals utilizes a clever arrangement of shapes and placement of light and darks to pull us into this painting. Notice how your eye jumps from the white collar to the deftly realized head and right hand with glove in the lower left of the picture. Only the top of de Wael’s left hand is visible. But try removing this vital block of light from the design, and the rest of the painting seems unbalanced.

Dark masses predominate, some edges sharp, while others melt like smoke into the background and Michiel de Wael looks ready to step toward the viewer.

The Taft Museum is a wonderful place for a holiday visit this year. cs

Artist Michael McEwan serves as Artist-in-Residence at Capital University, where he also teaches painting and drawing classes.