cheer.
Discover all that’s merry and bright in Ohio this season!
The Holiday Lights Trail displays showstoppers throughout the state that will add festive warmth to your family’s winter nights.
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus
The Annual Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage plans runs through December 7, 2022. During this time, you can make changes to your Medicare coverage for January 1, 2023. If you’re not sure where to start when shopping for a plan, this guide can help.
Medicare Advantage plans, including those from Medical Mutual, offer a variety of coverage options, some with premiums starting as low as $0 per month. Think about the healthcare services you use most often and any medical procedures you’re planning for the upcoming year. Then, compare plans to find out what you’ll pay for those services.
MedMutual Advantage® plans offer:
monthly premiums
primary care visits
specialist visits*
As you’re comparing Medicare plans based on coverage and costs, you may also want to consider their quality ratings. Every year, Medicare evaluates plans and awards a Star rating based on how well they keep members healthy and ensure they get the care they need. Medicare rated Medical Mutual’s Medicare Advantage PPO and HMO plans 5 out of 5 stars for 2023.
Many Medicare Advantage plans include Part D prescription drug coverage. Review the plan’s formulary for a list of covered drugs and what they’ll cost. It’s also a good idea to take a look at the plan’s pharmacy network to ensure you’ll be able to conveniently fill your prescriptions.
Medicare Advantage plans from Medical Mutual come with $0 copays for many prescription drugs, and the pharmacy network includes many major retailers, as well as mail order options for additional savings.
Medicare Advantage plans have networks of providers, and many plans require you to get all of your care from providers who are part of their network. Medicare Advantage plans from Medical Mutual offer access to one of the largest networks in Ohio and up to $2,500 in health coverage when you travel outside the state.
MedMutual Advantage® plans include access to:
Akron: Akron General (part of the Cleveland Clinic Health System)
Summa Health
Cincinnati:
The Christ Hospital Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Healthcare
TriHealth
University of Cincinnati Medical Center
West Chester Hospital
Cleveland: Cleveland Clinic
Lake Health System (part of the University Hospitals Health System)
MetroHealth
Southwest General Health Center
University Hospitals
Columbus: Mount Carmel Health System OhioHealth
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Dayton: Kettering Health
Toledo:
McLaren St. Luke’s Hospital
Mercy St. Anne Hospital
Mercy St. Charles Hospital
Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center
University of Toledo Medical Center
And more!
Medicare Advantage plans often include extra benefits to help you manage chronic health conditions, maintain an active lifestyle or take advantage of additional savings. Medical Mutual offers a variety of extra benefits and wellness programs at no additional cost to help keep you healthy and active. These benefits include:
New! On select plans, MedMutual MyChoice™ allows you to choose extra benefits that work best for you. Choose from:
Extra dental coverage
OR
A flex card to pay for vision and hearing expenses, over-the-counter items, transportation and meal delivery
SilverSneakers® fitness membership with access to more than 17,000 fitness center locations
WW® (Weight Watchers Reimagined) membership discount
Programs to help you manage chronic health conditions, quit smoking and transition home after a hospital stay
Whether you have questions about a claim, want help enrolling in a plan or need assistance finding a doctor, it helps to talk to someone. For more than 85 years, Medical Mutual’s customer service representatives have been based right here in Ohio. In addition, Medical Mutual has earned a 5-Star Customer Service rating from Medicare five years in a row,** showing that every customer concern is handled with the attention and care it deserves.
*Available in Cuyahoga, Lake, Medina, Portage, Stark and Summit counties. ** Medicare customer service star ratings 2019-2023. Medicare.gov.
Benefit amounts vary by region and plan type. MedMutual Advantage plans are HMO and PPO plans offered by Medical Mutual of Ohio with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in a MedMutual Advantage plan depends on contract renewal. Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. SilverSneakers is a registered trademark of Tivity Health, Inc. Other providers are available in our network. ©2022 Medical Mutual of Ohio. Medical Mutual is a registered trademark of Medical Mutual of Ohio.
Does the plan offer highly-rated, locally based CUSTOMER SERVICE?
We honor five places that make life in Ohio special — Athens, Bellefontaine, Kent, Perrysburg and Versailles.
John A. Roebling designed an iconic Ohio River crossing that is both a work of art and a monument to engineering.
These places and events embody the spirit of the season and bring their communities together.
Firefighter Seth Robinson crafts with leather, and Paul Laurence Dunbar’s home tells the story of the poet.
“Holiday Pops” returns to Cincinnati, and the Columbus Museum of Art celebrates Maurice Sendak.
Chapman’s Eat Market brings the globe to Columbus, and Fifth Street Brewpub serves its Dayton neighborhood.
Get advice on selecting toys that are safe for kids, and learn the benefits of taking time to express gratitude.
Future President Rutherford B. Hayes married Lucy Webb at her mother’s Cincinnati home in December 1852.
ON THE COVER: Our 2022–23 Best Hometowns issue features five different subscriber covers. Michelle Waters photographed Athens. Matt Shiffler photographed Bellefontaine. Kevin Kopanski photographed Kent. Casey Rearick photographed Perrysburg, Matthew Allen photographed Versailles. Gabe Leidy photographed our newsstand cover featuring the A Christmas Story House & Museum.
Ohio Eats: From pastries to cookies and schnecken to sfogliatelle, we talk ed with the people behind nine classic Ohio bakeries to discover which treats you won’t want to miss during the holidays. Whether you’re looking for Old World flavors or local favorites that have been delighting customers for years, you’ll find them at these spots ohiomagazine.com/holidaybakeries
from the archive: The 1930s were the age of the celebrity bank robber, and Alvin “Creepy” Karpis was identified as Public Enemy Number One. In November 1935, Karpis and his crew robbed a mail car in Garrettsville, Ohio, scoring a bunch of cash. Then, they made a daring escape by both car and airplane ohiomagazine.com/ trainheist
Find great gifts for everyone on your list.
check out our newsletters: Are you receiving our email newsletters? Learn about fun experiences throughout the state, get great food and drink ideas or plan for your next weekend getaway. Sign up by visiting ohiomagazine.com/newsletterswho to follow
Stay up to date on all the great arts events happening across the state, from orchestra concerts to exhibitions.
This shop empowers women — from the makers to the shoppers. We love their uplifting posts, body positivity and fun shenanigans.
Frequent Ohio Magazine contributor
Vince Guerrieri’s book, Weird Moments in Cleveland Sports, is out this month. It examines the city’s unique brand of sports woe.
“Like most great works of literature or scholarship, this grew out of a Twitter discussion of all the goofy stuff that happened in Cleveland sports,” Guerrieri says.
Akron, p. 26
Archbold, p. 76 Athens, p. 36
Bellefontaine, p. 10, 40
Belmont, p. 5 Cambridge, p. 76 Cincinnati, p. 10, 68 Cleveland, p. 6, 10 Columbus, p. 14, 25, 93
Coshocton, p. 76 Dayton, p. 7, 27 Kent, p. 48
Medina, p. 77
Nelsonville, p. 10
Perrysburg, p. 54
Steubenville, p. 78 Sylvania, p. 10
Versailles, p. 62
Yellow Springs, p. 77 Zoar, p. 78
Great Lakes Publishing supports the use of paper milled from replanted forests as a renewable resource. All paper is purchased from Sustainable Forestry Initiative-certified sources. All publications are printed with vegetable-based inks and responsible recycling is encouraged.
While our instincts might tell us to stay home as temperatures start to drop, wineries across Ohio have created the perfect environments for us to venture into. Cozy up with a glass of wine in front of toasty fireplaces during these first cold months of winter.
The Dalton Union Winery and Brewery in Marysville not only boasts a fireplace with cushioned couches to relax on, but they also have a large tasting space where they host events like karaoke, trivia, and Sunday Funday — complete with live music and food trucks. Want a weekend away? Book their Airbnb, which is located on the winery’s grounds and can host up to 10 guests.
Indian Bear Winery in Walhonding offers a variety of delicious wines off the beaten path. Sharing over 200 acres of beautiful countryside with the Indian Bear Lodge, the winery’s cozy rustic dining room features a striking stone fireplace and views of their vineyard, lake and lodge.
Coming into the holiday season, you can expect to see stockings on the mantle of the fireplace at Old Mason Winery and Vineyard in West Milton. The winery’s quaint yet modern interior provides the ideal backdrop for tasting this family-run business’ wide selection of wines.
Enjoy a romantic date at Paper Moon Vineyards in Vermilion, where you can relax at a table right in front of their beautiful fireplace. As you sit by the fire, take in the rustic décor and indulge in their wine and food selections. You can also catch musical acts at the winery on Fridays and Saturdays. Rock, jazz, and folk musicians have all graced their tasting room stage.
You’ll be shocked at just how cozy a night out can feel when you come sit by these wineries’ fireplaces!
Every fall for nearly a decade, I have worked on our annual issue celebrat ing Ohio’s Best Hometowns. It is a process that starts for our staff each spring, as we ask communities across the state to share what makes the place that they call home special. Submitted by residents and local leaders alike, the nominations we receive each year are teeming with pride.
In a world that can so easily fall into divisiveness and isolation, the collab oration and sense of community found in Ohio’s small towns reflect the best of us. It helps us remember that beyond political affiliations and dividing lines that we too often draw, we have the most in common with the other people who make up our town.
That’s what the communities we celebrate each No vember show us: We have much to gain when we work together. This year, we honor Athens, Bellefontaine, Kent, Perrysburg and Versailles. We found these towns’ stories to be inspiring, and we think you will, too.
During our visits to these communities, we were greeted by local residents and officials who couldn’t wait to share with us their town’s history, popular at tractions and present-day successes. Making these vis its is one of the most rewarding things we do each year. We enjoy getting a glimpse into the daily life of towns across our state and how these places have not only shaped generations of resi dents but are also shaping the one that is growing up there today.
I’ve done a lot of thinking about hometowns this year. In late summer, I moved back to the place where I grew up — streets that are awash in memories of bike rides, long summer afternoons and milestone moments. It is the place that shaped who I was, not only because of my parents, but also because of my neighbors, teachers and the people in our community who believed in making it a great place to grow up and call home.
Hometowns create a sense of belonging, an allegiance that goes beyond nostalgia or familiarity. There is something about the place where we grew up or where we choose to settle that becomes a core part of who we are. It is a warm feeling that rides along on these two words — one that more than one person has greeted me with when seeing me back in town: “Welcome home.”
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The thick, second-growth forest at Barkcamp State Park in Belmont County offers an idea of what Ohio looked like prior to settlement. The state began acquiring land for the park in 1955, and a dam completed in 1963 led to the creation of Barkcamp Lake. The 1,005-acre park has five short hiking trails, an 8-mile multiuse trail and 24 miles of bridle trails. Its unusual name comes from a logging camp that stripped bark from trees and once operated in the area. 65330 Barkcamp Park Rd., Belmont 43718, ohiodnr.gov
Firefighter Seth Robinson turned a passion for leather working into a line of handcrafted products meant to stand the test of time.
Working as a full-time firefighter, Seth Robinson and his cowork ers gravitate to leather products because of their durability. After ordering a work belt and wallet online that quickly start ed to fall apart, Robinson decided to take matters into his own hands and began leather working as a side pursuit.
By 2020, he was selling wallets to friends and family and had a passion for making them. It was therapeutic and different than his demanding job as a firefighter. He liked the controlled nature of the craft.
“I kind of fell in love with it, so it became the thing I do now in my downtime,” says Robinson, who lives in North Olmsted.
As a dad of three children — ages 8, 5 and 4 — he finds the silent time of crafting even more valuable. His business’s name, Three Sons Leather Co., was inspired by his kids, and the smallest wallet in the line is even named after his youngest son, Cole. Rob inson also crafts belts, apparel and bags, in cluding the Marie Crossbody, inspired by the middle name that his wife and mom share.
To make his signature wallets, Robinson uses a die cutter to create the desired shapes. He then cleans the edges, glues the pieces and stitches each up to finish. Although ma chines can quicken this process, he prefers a single piece of thread and handcrafting each, utilizing a saddle-stitch technique.
Intentionality and longevity are at the core of Robinson’s business. He says he has never had someone return a wallet because of poor stitching. (He would fix it for them if they did.) Robinson stands behind his products, knowing customers are spending their hard-earned money on them.
“My business slogan is ‘a legacy worth leaving,’ ” he says. “It ties back to raising boys and kids in a good way, but also … I want to leave a lasting piece.” — Kelly Powell
To learn more, visit threesonsleatherco.com.
Dunbar’s Dayton home tells the story of the poet, who achieved acclaim around the world.
Paul Laurence Dunbar bought his Dayton home after becoming one of the first African American literary figures to achieve inter national acclaim. He purchased the house for his mother in 1904 and lived there with her until he died of tuberculosis two years later. Dunbar had been sick for years prior, but he continued to write and completed his last works in the home.
He wrote 12 books of poetry, as well as four novels and short stories during his 33 years, and his story is shared at the Paul Laurence Dunbar House Historic Site, part of the National Park Service’s Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.
“There was such great injustice, especially during that time, in the United States, yet his writing brought people together,” says Angela Stewart, park ranger at the Paul Laurence Dunbar House and project manager of the Dunbar 150th celebration. “He was unafraid to speak out about the injustices and he did that in his poetry.”
Born from formerly enslaved parents, Dunbar was inspired to write in several forms of dialect, a style for which he is acclaimed today. He was a contemporary of prominent African Americans of his time such as Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglass and inspired Harlem Renaissance writers as well as poet Maya Angelou, who borrowed the last line from his poem “Sympathy” for the title of her 1969 autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
Visitors can take a tour of the home, which has been restored to the era in which Dunbar lived there. A nearby visitor center shows an 18-minute film, and exhibits and artifacts detail the writer’s life, works and relationships.
“He was connected with a lot of different writers who admired his work,” Stewart adds. “There are several books in his house given to him by different prominent writers of that time.”
Denise Cameron219 N. Paul Laurence Dunbar St., Dayton 45402, 937/225-7705, nps.gov/daav
Metal screws were used as early as the 15th century in Europe, but their production was a laborious process. Blacksmiths would forge nails workers would have to file by hand, making a slot in the head and creating the threads.
New machinery and manufactur ing techniques in the 19th centu ry meant fasteners could be mass produced quickly Hardware stores at the turn of the century were tasked with stocking large quantities of metal fittings in an assortment of types and sizes. The American Bolt & Screw Case Co. of Dayton made wooden organizational cabinets that were sold nationwide, but one design radically changed how bolts and screws were accessed.
Patented May 12, 1903, by George W. Chaffin, the octagonal cabinet featured wedge-shaped drawers on each of its faces and rotated around a central axis. Each drawer was stenciled with numbers, corresponding with the measure ments of the screws, bolts and nuts therein. Many cabinets featured decorative elements that belied the mundane nature of the items they held. — Richard “Jeff” Jeffers
Find road trip inspiration, learn about giveaways and events, and connect with the beauty, the adventure and the fun of Ohio.
Writer Paul Daugherty focuses on telling the human stories behind sports. “I wrote about stuff I thought people might relate to.”
Retired Cincinnati Enquirer columnist Paul Daugherty talks about his 34 years covering sports.
Longtime Cincinnati Enquirer colum nist Paul Daugherty didn’t write about sports, not really. He wrote about people. “I’m not all that interested in the games by themselves,” says Daugherty, who cov ered sports in Cincinnati for 34 years be fore retiring over the summer. “I’m not a sports fanatic. It’s the people that play them that interest me.”
During his tenure, Daugherty covered the 1990 Reds World Series, the Olympics, more than 20 Masters tournaments, and two Bengals Super Bowl appearances. But it was his more personal columns that built him a loyal following. He often wrote about his family, including his daughter Jillian, who has Down syndrome and whose story was the crux of his 2015 memoir, An Uncomplicated Life: A Father’s Memoir of His Exceptional Daughter
“I wrote about stuff I thought people might relate to,” he says.
In retirement, Daugherty has resurrected his popular online column, “The Morning Line,” which he now publishes independently on Substack. We caught up with “Doc” to talk with him about his favorite Cincinnati sports moment, being “canceled,” and the plight of Cincin nati fandom. — Michelle Sullivan Hopkins
What was the most memorable sports moment you ever covered?
A: The coolest local thing I ever saw was [Reds center fielder] Eric Davis hitting a home run in the first inning of the first game in the 1990 World Series against the A’s. There was this huge build up about how great Oakland was and how the Reds were just in the way of them winning a championship. [Davis’] home run dented the whole invincibility thing, and the Reds swept the series. I have never been at an event here with that kind of electricity or emotion.
In 2021, you made news for a question you asked Naomi Osaka at a press conference about balancing fame and tennis. Her agent called you “a bully.”
Were you surprised by the fallout?
A: I was canceled. But the ironic thing was, she had no problem answering the question. She gave a thoughtful response, and we learned a little about her, and that’s my job, right?
Cincinnati fans famously have a love-hate relationship with our teams. What have you learned about us over the years?
A: There’s a learned and earned fatalism to the Cincinnati sports fan. I used the Charlie Brown football analogy a million times because it’s absolutely perfect. Fans here are great. All these people say, “I’m never going to another Reds or Bengals game again,” and they go back. Because it’s in their blood. They’ve earned their cynicism through their loyalty, and they still spend their entire sports lives waiting for the other shoe to drop.
To read Paul Daugherty’s “The Morning Line,” visit themorningline.substack.com.
TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA Nov. 19–Dec. 30, Multiple locations
F rom the first sounds of the electric guitar and chorus of strings to the pulsating lasers and synchronized lights, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra rocks audiences straight into the holiday season each year. Renowned for its high-energy rock operas and live shows, the band re turns to six cities across Ohio this month and next to perform its roster of seasonal favorites, like the iconic “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24).” trans-siberian.com
shows and other happenings
Calendar of Events: Your holiday plans start here. Check out our guide to
between
and the end of December.
Dec. 9 –11: Cincinnati cincinnatisymphony.org/pops
The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra welcomes special guests to perform with them on the Music Hall stage each holiday season. In 2021, it was bari tone Michael Preacely, singer and trombone soloist Au brey Logan and the Cincinnati Studio for Dance.
“We invite all sorts of different artists to join us,” says John Morris Russell, conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. “This year, we have a fantastic band — the An nie Moses Band — and they are as unique as the Pops.”
The family of musicians from Oklahoma plays blue grass, gospel, Celtic and rock ’n’ roll music. Operatic tenor Bernard Holcomb will also take the stage, per forming traditional Christmas favorites with the orches tra during the “Holidays Pops” shows, Dec. 9 through 11.
Music Hall, a National Historic Landmark built in 1878 and located in the city’s Over-the-Rhine neighbor hood, further enhances the audience experience. Each year, the venue is elaborately decorated for the Pops’ run of holiday shows.
“It is an extravaganza … It’s as much of a splendid visual feast as it is a musical feast,” Rus sell says.
Concert goers can expect traditional English carols, a “groovy” version of “We Three Kings” and a Cincin nati-centric rendition of “The Twelve Days of Christ mas” among the Pops’ selections. Russell says the annu al concert is an ode to the different ways people mark the holidays.
“It’s also a celebration of the diversity of the Ameri can musical experience,” he adds, “and how that diversity of experience celebrates those things [that] we all have in common: hope, peace, faith, love.” — Kaitlyn Finchler
Nov. 10: Nelsonville Nov. 12: Bellefontaine
Todd Snider is beloved for his live shows intermixed with humor and sto rytelling. With his new “Live: Return of the Storyteller” out now, Snider is taking the stage at Stuart’s Opera House and the Holland Theatre. stuartsopera house.org, theholland theatre.org
In 2020, Joseph and Nancy Keithley gave and promised more than 100 works of art from their personal collection to the Cleveland Museum of Art. This exhibition showcases those pieces, which range from impression ist, postimpressionist and modern European and American paintings to Chinese and contemporary Japanese ceramics. While some of the works the Keithleys acquired built upon the museum’s collection, others bring something new to it. The Keithleys’ collection thoughtfully juxtaposes dif ferent styles to create new harmonies. clevelandart.org
Join the Toledo Jazz Orchestra for selections from the Great American Songbook at the Franciscan Center at Lourdes University. Expect American jazz standards, show tunes and more, with artistic direc tor Alain Trudel on trombone and vocalists Ramona Collins and Kim Buehler. toledo symphony.com
enjoy the holiday magic at stan hywet’s deck the hall.
Explore Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron, OH. Built between 1912 to 1915, the former home of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company co-founder F.A. Seiberling and his wife Gertrude and their family, is 64,500 square feet built in the Tudor Revival style. The largest home in Ohio resides on 70-acres that consist of lush gardens, lagoons, trails, children’s Playgarden, splash pad, conservatory, and other attractions to experience. stanhywet.org | 330-836-5533
relax at cuyahoga valley national park.
Though a short distance from the urban areas of Greater Akron and northeast Ohio, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio’s only) seems worlds away. The CVNP is a refuge for native plants and wildlife, and provides routes of discovery for visitors. The winding Cuyahoga River gives way to deep forests, rolling hills, and open farmlands. Walk or ride the Towpath Trail to follow the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal, or climb aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. conservancyforcvnp.org | 330-657-2909
visit downtown akron.
The holidays are when downtown Akron really shines — with atmosphere, art, shows, food, shopping, and festive activities for everyone. Whether you’re seeking family fun, a romantic night out, exciting live music with friends, or an autumn afternoon shopping for treasures from local artisans, let Downtown Akron Partnership be your guide to everything our neighborhood has to offer. Visit downtownakron.com/guides for an ongoing collection of downtown guides for every taste and need downtownakron.com | 330-374-7676
celebrate the magic of the holiday season in cuyahoga falls.
Enjoy shopping, dining, and ice skating in our historic downtown with views of the Cuyahoga River. For winter adventurers, explore the outdoors and take in the beautiful winter scenery in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Summit Metro Parks. cityofcf.com | 330-971-8000
visitakron-summit.org • 800-245-4254
Cuyahoga Falls
Downtown Akron
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Welcome to the new StayInAkron.com. Your mobile resource for all that is great about hotel & lodging in our destination.
Find, explore and book your adventure, learn about local partner experiences and take part in events.
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Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad –Steven Melvin
The Columbus Museum of Art and The Maurice Sendak Foundation partner for a retrospective of works by the author and artist who gave us Where the Wild Things Are.
By Ilona WestfallAgroup of fanged monsters frolic through the woods alongside a little boy wearing a crown. It is an image that is familiar to, well, pretty much everyone. There’s no denying that the wildly popular children’s book Where the Wild Things Are, by author and artist Maurice Sendak, is a pop-culture icon.
“Wild Things Are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak,” at the Columbus Museum of Art through March 5, is the first retrospective of the artist’s work since his death in 2012. The exhibition includes 150 sketches, storyboards and paintings, ranging from children’s books to design concepts for theater productions.
“It bothered him that people would only know Wild Things when he had such an extraordinary range,” says Jonathan Weinberg, the ex hibition’s guest curator. “I want people to realize that he’s a great artist.”
Weinberg would know. The artist and art historian serves as curator of The Maurice Sendak Foundation, which created the tour ing exhibition with the Columbus Museum of Art. Weinberg had known Sendak since childhood, and he brings a uniquely intimate perspective to the exhibition.
The result is works like preliminary drawings of his better-known children’s books including In the Night Kitchen and the “Nutshell Li brary” series, but also pieces that were particularly important to Sen dak, like a drawing of his dog Jennie that appeared in the book Hig glety Pigglety Pop! Or There Must Be More to Life. The artist wrote the book while Jennie was at the end of her life, and the original drawing was the only piece of Sendak’s art that hung in his own home.
The exhibition also includes concept art and posters Sendak created for theater productions and art for books by other authors, like the “Little Bear” series by Else Holmelund Minarik. There’s also a selection of Sendak’s personal art collection, including pieces by William Blake and Beatrix Potter.
“Maurice loved the history of art, and what made his art for chil dren so unusual was the breadth of its associations with great art of the past,” says Weinberg. “Most kids artists don’t do that.”
Naturally, the show includes a large section devoted to Where the Wild Things Are, including original art for the book and memorabilia.
MAURICE SENDAK, SELF-PORTRAIT, 1950
Despite Sendak’s penchant for the whimsical, his art has universal appeal, transporting viewers of all ages into a world of imagination.
“Often he is taking a story that is supposed to be geared for children and enriching it and thinking about it in such a way that it becomes a great work of art,” says Weinberg. “It really is about more than children.”
480 E. Broad St., Columbus 43215, 614/221-6801, columbusmuseum.org
Masayuki Miyajima: PatternForm-Function/New Variations Masayuki Miyajima returns to this gallery with an exhibition of functional Japanese ceramic artwork: an exploration of material, form, substance and function. The exhibition features handcrafted stoneware and porcelain objects, carved and inlayed with a variety of patterns and imbued with a combination of body, mind and spirit. Dublin Arts Council, 7125 Riverside Dr., Dublin, 614/889–7444. dublinarts.org. Visit website for times and prices
This family-friendly exhibition features original art from picture books in an artistic celebration of Ohio innovations that changed the world. Original artworks are from the University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum, home of the world’s first and most diverse collection of original picture book art. Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, 145 E. Main St., Lancaster, 740/681-1423. decartsohio.org. Wed.–Fri. 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Sat.–Sun. 1–4 p.m. Free
Join 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Balti more as she explores her dream of dancing on TV’s most popular show in this Tony Award-win ning musical comedy phenomenon. Ohio The atre, 55 E. State St., Columbus, 614/469–0939. capa.com. Visit website for times and prices
“Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” opened in Lon don’s West End in 1989 and continues to boast a multitalented cast. Together, they perform more than 20 of his greatest hits, including the timeless classics “That’ll Be The Day,” “Oh Boy,” “Rave On” and “Peggy Sue.” Midland Theatre, 36 N. Park Place, Newark, 740/3455483. midlandtheatre.org. 8 p.m. $50–60
This live show brings more fun, music and Christmas spirit to your favorite scenes from the original animated show. Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang in their journey to uncover the true reason for the sea son. Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St., Colum bus, 614/469-9850. capa.com. 7 p.m. $29–69
Because dates, times and lo cations are subject to change, please call ahead to confirm all details before traveling. For a more complete listing of events, visit ohiomagazine. com/events.
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Stop by the gallery during its open hours to see “The Nexus of Art and Health,” an exhibition showcasing 15 Ohio artists, curated by the Cleveland Clinic Art Program’s curator, Sienna Brown. Image Credit: Andrea LeBlond, “Mole cule” 2019. Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery, 77 S. High St., Columbus, 614/644-9624. riffegallery.org. Tues.–Fri. noon–5 p.m. Free
This collection of contemporary photography features more than 100 projects at multiple venues. The theme challenges the monolithic concept of American identity and highlights the diversity of experiences across the nation. Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St., Co lumbus, 614/221-6801. columbusmuseum.org. Visit website for times and prices
Explore a miniature botanical world as g-scale model trains travel through themed destinations across 1,000 feet of track. Franklin Park Conser vatory & Botanical Gardens, 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus, 614/715–8000. fpconservatory.org. Visit website for times and prices
Enjoy this locally owned and family-run holiday light show that has been in operation since 1999. Alum Creek State Park Campgrounds, 3311 S. Old State Rd., Delaware, 614/412-3499. butchbandosfantasyoflights.com. Sun.–Thur. 5:30–9 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 5:30–10 p.m. $20 per car
Don’t miss the 74th annual holiday lighting of the Licking County Courthouse. Shop the Canal Market District’s Holiday Bazaar, dine at local restaurants and enjoy the arrival of Santa and live music to kick off the Courthouse Lighting. Licking County Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Square, Newark, courthouselighting.com. Beginning at 6 p.m. Free
Load up your vehicle with kids of all ages and enjoy a seasonal drive-thru light display, Christ mas by Candlelight. Marion County Fairgrounds, 220 E. Fairground St., Marion, 740/382-2558. marioncountyfairgrounds.com. Open 6–10 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and the whole week of Christmas. $6 per car
See the extraordinary and promised gift of art from Joseph P. and Nancy F. Keithley. In March 2020, they gave more than 100 works of art to
the museum, which is the largest batch since Leonard C. Hanna Jr.’s contribution in 1958. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland, 216/421-7350. clevelandart.org.
Visit website for times and prices
dance world. Marking the company’s Ohio debut, DANCECleveland is thrilled to present an engagement that promises to be visually strik ing and artistically daring. Mimi Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square, 1511 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, dancecleveland.org. 7:30 p.m. $25–$65
Enjoy the sounds of this award-winning family group, whose musical style has been influenced by many genres, including bluegrass, rhythm and blues, folk, country, contemporary, acoustic and southern gospel. Ohio Star Theater, 1387 Old Route 39, Sugarcreek, 855/344-7547. dhgroup.com/theater. 1 p.m. $44
Revisit the best memories from your childhood. This 14th annual holiday spectacular features breathtaking vignettes and vintage Christmas decor from the 1800s through the 1960s. Arms Family Museum, 648 Wick Ave., Youngstown, 330/743-2589. mahoninghistory.org. Tues.–Sun. noon–4 p.m., Thurs. noon–7 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day); extra open hours on Mon., Dec. 26, noon–4 p.m., and Sat., Dec. 31, noon–7 p.m. Adults $10, seniors $9, children 3–18 $8
Robert Jackson is a contemporary still life artist. His artwork can now be found in galleries and museums coast to coast. Jackson’s work shows comedy and drama through realism in bright colors and an amusing narrative. The subjects within his paintings range from balloon dogs and food to toys and books to other assort ed props. Canton Museum of Art, 1001 Market Ave. N., Canton, 330/453-7666. cantonart.org.
Visit website for times and prices
Experience the legendary show with breathtak ing music — including “Memory,” one of the most beloved songs in musical theater. With new sound design, direction and choreography, the updated show will thrill audiences all over again. Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleve land, 216/771-4444. playhousesquare.org. Visit website for times and prices
Enjoy one unforgettable night, when legends Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins come together for a jam ses sion. Get ready for hits like “Great Balls of Fire” and “Blue Suede Shoes.” E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron, 330/972-7570. uakron.edu/ ej. 7:30 p.m. $20–$35
Electric and thought provoking, Stephen Petronio Company is a postmodern icon in the
Get into the Christmas spirit with Charles Dick ens’ classic tale of a man’s ultimate redemption. A northeast Ohio tradition, see the story unfold in the heart of Cleveland’s Playhouse Square. Mimi Ohio Theatre, 1511 Euclid Ave., Cleve land, 216/771-4444. playhousesquare.org. Visit website for times and prices
Experience the warm atmosphere and delicious food at Hartville Kitchen while enjoying a great concert. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound has broken the gospel music mold. Nicknamed the “Ambassadors of Joy,” the group’s unconven tional approach to communicating the good news with groundbreaking originality has blazed a trail that will go down in gospel music history. Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery, 1015 Edison St. NW, Hartville, 330/877-9353. hartvillekitchen.com/events. 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. & 5:30–8:30 p.m. $57
Enjoy the celebration of 30 years of “The Nutcracker” at this beloved venue. Akron’s favorite holiday show, this treasured classic is packed with elves, a sleigh full of toys and pictures of Santa Claus, as well as dazzling dancers, gorgeous sets and stunning costumes. Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron, 330/253-2488. akroncivic.com.
Visit website for times. $40–$50
include wine tastings, small bites and a souvenir glass. Distillery tours include spirit tastes, a salty snack and a shot glass to take home. Gervasi Vineyard, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton, 330/4971000. gervasivineyard.com. Premium Winery Pairings Tours Saturdays 1:30 & 3 p.m., Distillery Tasting Tours Sundays 2 p.m. Premium Winery Pairings Tour $27, Distillery Tasting Tour $17
Get an insider’s look at Gervasi Vineyard’s stateof-the-art production facilities. Winery tours
Three floors of Christmas wonderland await you at Ohio’s largest Christmas shop. The lights, music and spectacular displays will have you in the holiday spirit from the moment you walk in the door. Tis the Season Christmas Shoppe, 4363 St. Rte. 39, Millersburg, 330-893-3604. tistheseasonchristmas.com. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Free admission
Visit the premier shopping destination located in the hub of eastern Ohio, featuring over 120 specialty shops and restaurants. Located off I-77, it is minutes away from the Canton Pro Football Hall of Fame. Belden Village Mall, 4230 Belden Village St. NW, Canton, 330/492-7779. beldenvillagemall.com. Visit website for times. Free admission
Celebrate the holidays by enjoying dinner with loved ones, listening to traditional carolers, or having lunch with Santa. Visit The Marketplace for unique gift ideas, wine and spirits! Gervasi Vineyard, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton, 330/4971000. gervasivineyard.com. Visit website for holiday events and hours
Get in the holiday state of mind and shop for unique gifts at this show featuring artists and crafters selling their original handmade items. A portion of proceeds benefits local nonprofit, Project Night Night. Strongsville Ehrnfelt Recre ation Center, 18100 Royalton Rd., Strongsville, 440/227-8794. avantgardeshows.com. Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults $3, children under 12 free
Enjoy the beautifully decorated shops of Wayne County this holiday season. Watch Santa arrive in Downtown Wooster on Nov. 18 and you may see him again in Orrville on Nov. 25 for their Home for the Holidays. Wooster’s Downtown Churches Walking Tour is December 2. The Dalton Holidays Festival and Smithville’s Christmas in the Village are both Dec. 3-4.
Slow down this season and enjoy the Holiday Kickoff sale for a whole week. Don’t miss the large discounts across many quality home, building and woodworking products. Keim Home Center, 4465 St. Rte. 557, Millersburg, 330/893-2251. keimhome.com. Visit website for store hours. Free admission
A display of 200 large-as-life nutcrackers depicting figures from entertainment, literature, professions and history are set up throughout the historic downtown along with lights, music, events and a Holiday Market. 159 N. Fourth St., Steubenville, 740/632-8909 or 866/301-1787. steubenvillenutcrackervillage.com. Free
Celebrate the real reason for the season with a parade, caroling and a candle lighting on the town square. Square of Berlin, 330/674-3975. visitberlinohio.org. 5:45–7 p.m. Free
Forget the rush of the big-box stores. Enjoy relaxing shopping in Amish Country at Lehman’s and find gifts for everyone on your list. Lehman’s, 4779 Kidron Rd., Kidron, 800/ 4385346. lehmans.com/events. 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Free
Bring family and friends to Stan Hywet’s “Deck the Hall,” featuring the historic Manor House decorated for the holidays and one million lights throughout the estate. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, 330/3153287. stanhywet.org. Select nights Nov. 25–Dec. 30 from 3–8 p.m. $9–$24
More than 100 decorated Christmas trees from community organizations deck the halls of the museum. The Christmas Tree Festival features Evergreen the talking Christmas tree and tours of the decorated MacDonell House. Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market St., Lima, 419/222-9426. allencountymuseum.org. Wed.–Thur. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. noon–5 p.m. Free museums
Explore this exhibition, which opens the “con servation vault,” giving visitors a glimpse of works of art that mostly have been out of sight in storage for — in some cases — decades. Pieces on display include paintings, sculpture, metalwork, textiles and paper, with a date range from the 1500s to the 1990s. All of them need specialized treatment that will allow them to return to view in improved condition. Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St., Toledo, 419/255-8000. toledomuseum.org. Visit web site for times and prices
Grammy winner and powerhouse vocalist Ledisi joins the Toledo Symphony to pay tribute to the leg endary singer, songwriter and activist Nina Simone. Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle, 2445 Monroe St., Toledo, 419/246-8000. toledosymphony.com. 7 p.m. Visit website for prices
Orchestra Concert: Baroque to Romantic Bear witness to a musical range, from the splendid, elegant and emotional music of the baroque to the dramatic, expressive and stylistic music of the romantic with the University of Findlay Orchetra. Winebrenner Building, 950 N. Main St., Findlay, 419/434-4200. mcpa.org. 3 p.m. Free
This family-favorite drive-thru of Christmas lights and displays returns to Hardin County. Saulsberry Park/ France Lake, 13344 St. Rte. 67 W., Kenton, 419/6752547. 6–9 p.m. $5 per car
During weekends from Thanksgiving to New Years, hop on board NWORRP’s quarter-scale train to be transported to a magical winter wonderland of spar kling lights and festive decorations. Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation, 12505 County Rd. 99, Findlay, 419/423-2995. nworrp.org. Fri.–Sat. 5:30–9 p.m., Sun. 5:30–8:30 p.m. Adults $4, children $3
Examine more than 100 weavings containing sandpainting imagery, commissioned from Navajo weavers by Edwin Kennedy. The majority of the weavings were crafted by Red Rock artists Despah Nez and her daughters Anna Mae Tanner and Alberta Thomas. Kennedy Museum of Art, 100 Ridges Circle, Athens, 740/593-1304. ohio.edu/museum. Visit website for times and prices music + Theater
Under the direction of Rossen Milanov, the Colum bus Symphony Orchestra performs its Inaugural Part
nership Concert, sponsored by the Zanesville Concert Association and the Friends of Secrest Auditorium & Music Hall. Violin soloist Alicia Hui performs with the orchestra. Secrest Auditori um & Music Hall, 334 Shinnick St., Zanesville, 740/454-6851. secrestauditorium.com. 3–5 p.m. Visit website for prices
Perennial favorite singer-songwriter Todd Snider is back in Nelsonville. Enjoy his unique perspec tive on life and lyricism. Stuart’s Opera House, 52 Public Square, Nelsonville, 740/753-1924. stuartsoperahouse.org. 8 p.m. $27–$42
Jam out to the thrilling hard rock of this storied band. Cited as a major influence to Metallica and listed in VH1’s countdown as one of the greatest hard rock bands of all time, Blue Oyster Cult brings its classic sound to southeast Ohio. Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Mariet ta, 740/371-5152. peoplesbanktheatre.com. 8 p.m. $45–$145
Enjoy the spirit of the season at the 31st annual Zanesville Handbell Festival. Live performances are back, with local handbell choirs performing individually and together to form a mass bell choir. Grace UMC, 516 Shinnick St., Zanesville, 740/452-9317. centraltrinityumc.com. 7 p.m. Donations accepted
John Berry’s holiday performances are filled with hit songs, traditional Christmas tunes like his incredible version of “O Holy Night” and a few childhood stories sprinkled in. Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 740/772-2041. majesticchillicothe.net. 7:30 p.m. $25–$55
the train and visiting with each child as the loco motive traverses the Hocking River Valley. Each coach is decorated and heated with Christmas music playing throughout the train. After Santa’s visit, each child receives a special candy cane treat. Hocking Valley Scenic Railway, 33 Canal St., Nelsonville, 740/753-9531. hvsry.org. Visit website for times and prices
Get into the holiday spirit with this festival that kicks off Miami Valley’s winter season. Check out the trees and silent auction items for bidding, enjoy food trucks and spend time with Santa. Kettering American Legion, 5700 Kentshire Dr., Kettering, childrensdayton.org. Visit website for times and prices
Kick off the holiday with a vibrant light display and a grand welcome for Santa. See the entire city park illuminated with holiday splendor and lights galore. Join to flip the switch at the corner of Paint and Water Streets in beautiful Chillicothe. Historic Downtown Chillicothe, shineonchillicothe.org. 6:30 p.m. Free
The Hocking Valley Scenic Railroad’s longest running tradition, experience Santa boarding
Step into Christmas cheer while sipping hot co coa, with sleigh bells ringing from a horse-drawn carriage and the sound of children’s laughter in the air. The largest three-day holiday festival in the tri-state area — with approximately 68,000 attendees every year — includes 27 food ven dors and 76 craft vendors. Main Street, historic downtown Springboro. springborofestivals.org. Fri. 6–10 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun. noon–5 p.m. Visit website for prices
Started by Virginia Kettering in 1972 so all children could enjoy the season regardless of economic means, this beloved festival continues with free community attractions. Enjoy live rein deer, a gingerbread contest, horse-drawn wagon rides and a holiday village. Courthouse Square, Dayton, 937/224-1518. downtowndayton.org. 4–9 p.m. Visit website for prices
This compelling visual experience tells the pow erful and redemptive stories of those impacted by over-sentencing and over-punishment. Their stories are captured in a collection of candid photographs taken by local Cincinnati artist and activist Harriet Kaufman, six short films by Northern Kentucky University students and a curatorial research team from The Ohio State University. National Underground Railroad Free dom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Cincinnati, 513/333-7500. freedomcenter.org. Visit website for times and prices
Surrounded by interactive light displays, the second annual Middletown Holiday Whopla features an ice-skating rink, a beer and wine gar den, food trucks, and Holiday Polar Express train rides, all nestled among specialty shops, bars and restaurants. North Broad Street, Historic Downtown Middletown. holidaywhopla.com. Holiday Whopla Festival Fridays & Saturdays Nov. 25–Dec. 24; Lights Nov. 1–Jan. 31; Ice Rink Nov. 14–Jan. 16. Visit website for dates, times and prices of all activities
Explore this much-anticipated special exhibit in viting visitors to join the epic journey into the sky and beyond, celebrating the power of innovation to make dreams take flight. Design and test fly a supersonic jet, pilot a drone into the eye of a hur ricane to measure nature’s fury, experience flight as a bird, or take an elevator ride to the edge of space. National Museum of the United States Air Force, 1100 Spaatz St., Wright-Patterson AFB, 937/255-3286. nationalmuseum.af.mil. Visit website for times. Free
America’s Epic Treasures featuring Preternatural by Michael Scott Be awed by this immersive exhibition inspired by the beauty of natural landscapes and the
destructive, as well as rejuvenating, nature of the elements. The exhibition includes 32 major works depicting vibrant colors, dynamic textures and the most magical elements of the outdoors. Union Terminal, 1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati, 513/287-7000. cincymuseum.org.
Visit website for times and prices
David Levinthal uses toys to look at quintessen tial American subjects and mass media’s role in mythologizing familiar cultural touchstones. Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton, 937/223-4278. daytonartinstitute.org.
Visit website for times and prices
Experience this collaboration between artists John Edmonds and David Hartt, poet and schol ar Jason Allen-Paisant and organizing curator
Nathaniel M. Stein. The project explores nature and naturalness through overlapping dialogues with history, collections and institutions. Cincin nati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Dr., Cincinnati, 513/721-2787. cincinnatiartmuseum.org.
Visit website for times. Free
In collaboration with Art Bridges, this exhibition is a film installation combining collage, found footage and repurposed materials. The scenes Rose creates serve as the setting for a narrative
tale in which a lonely, rabbit-like pet explores a nearby forest looking for friendship. Springfield Museum of Art, 107 Cliff Park Rd., Springfield, 937/325-4673. springfieldart.net. Visit website for times and prices
In honor of Judy Garland’s 100th birthday, conductor John Morris Russell, the Pops and Michael Feinstein, pianist and vocalist, pay trib ute. Enjoy never-before-seen photos, rare audio recordings and big screen clips while learning about her journey to “Over the Rainbow.” Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Cincinnati, 513/7443344. cincinnatiarts.org. Fri.–Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Visit website for prices
Comprised of some of the best and most experi enced musicians in the business, this six–piece band brings together an authentic replication of Billy Joel’s timeless music. Murphy Theatre, 50 W. Main St., Wilmington, 937/382-3643. themurphytheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. $34–$44
See this 65-acre campus transform into a winter wonderland of sparkle, magic and holiday cheer. This annual event includes the famous Carillon
Tree of Light, candy cane slopes, model train displays, a Christmas cafe, shopping and holiday storytelling in a one-room schoolhouse. Carillon Historical Park, 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton, 937/293-2841. daytonhistory.org. Sun.–Thur. 5:30–9 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 5–10 p.m. Adults $12, senior $10, children 3–17 $8, children under 3 free, members free
Enjoy this charming light display open nightly from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve. The event provides Christmas cheer with its special hub of holiday activity. Smith Park, 500 Tytus Ave., Middletown, lightupmiddletown.org. 6–10 p.m. Cash donations accepted
Filipino American artist Gina Osterloh’s studio-based practice uses photography, film, performance and drawing. By making parallels between the performative spaces of photog raphy and identity, Osterloh’s work directs us to see how much cannot be known by looking. Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St.,
Columbus, 614/221-6801. columbusmuseum. org. Visit website for times and prices
Enjoy this re-imagined, heartwarming classic. The family-friendly show features a dazzling score with well-known hits including the title song, “White Christmas.” See one of your favorite holiday films come to life on stage. Short North Stage, 1187 N. High St., Columbus, 614/725-4042. shortnorthstage.org. Visit web site for times and prices
Join the Columbus Symphony for its grand holi day tradition: a spectacular show perfect for the entire family. Tony DeSare joins for a jazzy take on some winter classics. Ohio Theatre, 55 E. State St., Columbus, 614/469-0939. capa.com. Visit website for times and prices
Be moved by Andrea Bocelli’s uplifting album “Believe,” a poignant collection of songs. Cel ebrate the power of music to soothe the soul, and enjoy a tasteful selection of arias, crossover hits, love songs and holiday tunes. Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., Columbus, 614/469-0939. columbussymphony.com. 8 p.m. Visit website for prices
Treat the whole family to this enchanting story perfect for ballet and theatre lovers of all ages. The classic holiday favorite bursts with mo ments of laughter, delight and magic. Ohio The atre, 55 E. State St., Columbus, 614/469-0939. capa.com. Visit website for times and prices
The story of America then told by America now, see the smash hit musical that’s made a major impact on culture, politics and education. State Theatre, 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216/7714444. playhousesquare.org. Visit website for times and prices
Based on the classic holiday movie and staged as a live radio broadcast, this performance is the perfect way to celebrate the Christmas season. Enjoy the beautiful story of inspiration and determination as it is brought to life in front of your very eyes. Ohio Star Theater, 1387 Old Rte. 39, Sugarcreek, 855/344-7547. dhgroup.com/ theater. 4 p.m. $28
Celebrate a joyful Christmas with these gospel legends at the beautifully restored Holland Theatre in downtown Bellefontaine. Holland Theatre, 127 E. Columbus Ave., Bellefontaine, 937/592-9002. thehollandtheatre.org. 7:30 p.m.
Adults $40-$60, youth 17 and under $5
Dive into the 44th season of the Central Ohio Symphony with guest artists Lisa Jelle, flute fac ulty at Capital University, Kia–Hui Tan, violinist, and Mark Rudoff, cellist from Ohio State Univer sity. Gray Chapel, 24 E. Winter St., Delaware, 740/362-1799. centralohiosymphony.org.
2 & 4:30 p.m. Visit website for prices
Laugh out loud as Buddy the Elf journeys to New York City to find his birth father and help New York remember the true meaning of Christ mas. This modern-day classic inspires everyone to embrace their inner elf. Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St., Columbus, 614/469-9850. capa.com.
Visit website for times and prices
Get in the Christmas spirit with this senso ry-friendly performance featuring the New Alba ny Symphony Chorus and soloist Kim Hopcraft. Songs include “Sleigh Ride” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” McCoy Center for the Arts, 100 E. Dublin Granville Rd., New Albany, 614/245-4701. mccoycenter.org. 11:30 a.m. $9
See the beloved TV classic on stage, packed to the brim with classic characters like Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice and Yukon Cornelius. The story reminds audiences what makes you different makes you special. Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleve land, 216/771-4444. playhousesquare.org.
Visit website for times and prices
Spend an evening with Jim Brickman, a multi ple-Grammy-nominated songwriter and piano sensation. The annual tour promises to make spirits bright with a joyous concert full of his popular songs, including “The Gift” and “Angel Eyes.” Hanna Theatre, 2067 E. 14th St., Cleve land, 216/241-6000. playhousesquare.org. Sat. 2 & 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Visit website for prices
Discover a winter wonderland experience at the Hartville MarketPlace, where you can enjoy a fun-filled evening with Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides, ice carvings, delicious treats and much more. Hartville MarketPlace & Flea Market, 1289 Edison St. NW, Hartville, 330/8779860. experiencehartville.com/events. 5–9 p.m. Free admission
Experience a delightful market modeled after European Christmas markets — warm and un der cover. Enjoy food, drink, gifts, live music and a raffle. Mulberry Creek Herb Farm, 3312 Bogart Rd., Huron, 419/433-6126. mulberrycreek.com. Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. noon–4 p.m. Visit website for prices
Watch as Fremont transforms into Times Square to ring in the new year. Restaurants and businesses throughout downtown offer live entertainment, food, drinks and promotions. Downtown Fremont, downtownfremontohio. org. 8 p.m.–midnight. Free
Experience the sights and sounds that Joseph and Mary may have experienced on the journey to Bethlehem. Start at the Walnut Creek Men nonite Church for a map and more information. The journey ends with a live Nativity scene. Walnut Creek Mennonite Church, 2619 County Rd. 144, Sugarcreek, 330/893-4200. cometowalnutcreekohio.com. 4–8 p.m. Free
Wylie the Walleye was born in 1997 and made of paper mache. Today, thousands brave the cold every year awaiting him to drop as a new year begins. Port Clinton is known as the “Wall eye Capital of the World.” See the new LED-lit, 20-foot, 600-pound walleye, with a spectacular fireworks show to follow. Downtown Port Clinton, 419/734-4386. shoresandislands.com. 9 p.m.–midnight. Free
Listen to the dramatic arias and rousing cho ruses of arguably the “greatest love story ever told,” conducted by Alain Trudel. Rosary Cathe dral, 2535 Collinwood Blvd., Toledo, 419/2468000. toledosymphony.com. 4 p.m. $44
Find the recipe for the perfect holiday at Lehman’s. Meet Santa, Mrs. Claus and their reindeer. Enjoy family-fun activities and shop for everyone on your list. Lehman’s, 4779 Kidron Rd., Kidron, 800/ 438-5346. lehmans.com/ events. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Free
Experience the many flavors of Christmas with the Lima Symphony Orchestra’s annual holiday concert. Veterans Memorial Civic & Convention
Center, #7 Town Square, Lima, 419/222-5701. limasymphony.com. 7:30 p.m. Adults $30
Dance the night away with Marielle Kraft, a Nashville-based indie-pop singer-songwriter dedicated to true detail, raw emotion and poignant word choices. The young artist’s songwriting abilities wow audiences — with no signs of slowing down. Marathon Center for Performing Arts, 200 W. Main Cross St., Findlay, 419/423-2787. mcpa.org. 7:30 p.m. $15–$50
Stroll through the beautifully decorated campus. Join the Hull family as they celebrate Christmas in the 1890s, sit by the fire in the Crawford Log House, sip hot cider and enjoy seasonal goodies. Children can enjoy crafts, games and a visit from Father Christmas. Hancock Histor ical Museum, 422 W. Sandusky St., Findlay, 419/423-4433. hancockhistoricalmuseum.org. Sat. 5–8 p.m., Sun. 1–4 p.m. $1
Celebrate the season while watching Santa arrive with a boatload of trees. Plus, get your own Christmas tree or donate a tree to a family in need. National Museum of the Great Lakes dock and museum interior, 1701 Front St., To ledo, 419/214-5000, nmgl.org. 1–4 p.m., Santa arrives at 1 p.m. The Christmas Tree Ship arrival and meet & greet with Santa are free. Museum admission is separate but free for those who purchase or donate a tree or donate toward a gift card. For more information on purchasing a tree, making a donation or museum admission, visit nmgl.org
A little sugar, a lot of fun! Downtown Defiance’s Cookie Crumble is sure to make your Christmas a sweet one. For more event information, check out visitdefianceohio.com. 325 Clinton St., Defi ance, 419/782-0739, visitdefianceohio.com. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. $15 per ticket
Make holiday memories by touring parts of the historic Hayes Home on four evenings, and discover the holiday traditions of President Rutherford and First Lady Lucy Hayes. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Spiegel Grove, Fremont, 419/332-2081. rbhayes.org. Tour times every 30 min. from 5–8 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday. Tickets for adult nonmembers $18, children 6–18 $10, 5 and under free. Hayes Presidential members adults $15, children $8, 5 and under free
This annual concert returns with a myriad of old ies and Phil Dirt and the Dozers’ Christmas favorites. Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chill icothe, 740/772-2041. majesticchillicothe.net. 7:30 p.m. $20–$22
This North Carolina native launched to new heights with three back-to-back No. 1 hits from his album “Seasons Change.” McCreery released his fifth studio album, “Same Truck,” in 2021, cowriting many of the songs on the country compilation. Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 740/371-5152. peoplesbanktheatre.com. 8 p.m. $59–$164
Bring the kids for this annual pajama matinee that the young and young-at-heart are sure to love. Come dressed in Christmas sleepwear and enjoy this classic holiday film on the big screen. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for an extra special guest appearance. Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 740/3715152. peoplesbanktheatre.com. 3 p.m. Adults $8, children $5
Celebrate the spirit of the season as Adena Mansion and Gardens transforms with deco rations evoking 19th-century yuletide splendor sure to put you in the holiday spirit. Step inside the visitors center to enjoy festive live entertain ment and refreshments. Adena Mansion & Gardens, 847 Adena Rd., Chillicothe, 740/7721500. adenamansion.com. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults $10, children $5
Visit 10 architecturally significant historic homes dating from 1804 to 1907 that are decorated for the holidays in downtown Chillicothe. Tickets are available on Eventbrite or by contacting reepterressa@yahoo.com. Find Chillicothe Christmas Tour of Homes on Facebook for more details. Historic Downtown Chillicothe, 740/253-1067. Sat. 4–8 p.m., Sun. 1–5 p.m. Advance ticket $20, at the door $25
Experience a downtown walk through the Dickens scenes by candlelight or bring your favorite lantern. Hear stories about the Victorian vignettes and perhaps some behind-the-scenes stories. Dress warmly and wear comfortable walking shoes. Dickens Victorian Village, Wheeling Avenue, Cambridge, 740/421-4956. dickensvictorianvillage.com. 6–7 p.m. Free
Follow Jesus’ final weeks of life as seen through the eyes of Judas. The legendary score includes songs like “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” and “Gethesmane.” Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati, 513/621-2787. cincinnatiarts.org. Visit website for times and prices
Deck the halls with this spectacular holi day-themed performance as the Queen City’s Music Hall is transformed into a winter won derland. Be comforted by beloved classics as the Pops are joined by the Annie Moses Band, a group that made its mark during previous per formances. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Cincinnati, 513/744-3344. cincinnatiarts.org. Fri. 11 a.m. & 7:30 p.m., Sat. 2 & 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 & 7 p.m. Visit website for prices
This holiday favorite returns with carriage rides, visits with Santa, entertainment, shopping, food, caroling, holiday lights, the daylight and candlelight horse-drawn carriage parades and more. Downtown Lebanon, 513/932-1100. lebanonchamber.org. Christmas festival 10 a.m.–8 p.m., carriage parades at 1 & 7 p.m. Free
Chef B.J. Lieberman’s Chapman’s Eat Market brings comfort food inspired by international cuisines to Columbus’ German Village neighborhood.
Within months of fully opening, Chap man’s Eat Market in Columbus quickly became one of the city’s hottest tickets. When reservations are released each month, they are snatched up online.
Chef and owner B.J. Lieberman carries expert ex perience from cooking with Sean Brock at Husk in Charleston and for Aaron Silverman’s Rose’s Restau rant Group in Washington, D.C. He and his wife, Bronwyn Haines, moved to Columbus to be closer to family and to start the restaurant. “Chapman’s” comes from Haines’ grandmother’s maiden name; her fami ly once ran Chapman’s Poultry Market on Indianola Avenue in Columbus.
Taste of Akron: Author Judy Orr James’ food book includes recipes that offer a flavor of the city, including the popular sauerkraut ball.
Fifth Street Brewpub: This neighborhood gathering spot in Dayton operates as a co-op and offers a lineup of beers that can only be enjoyed at its cozy taproom.
Just as Lieberman, Haines and the team use their shared histories as the building blocks for the restaurant, the eatery itself brings to life a bit of Columbus history. It’s located in the original Max & Erma’s restau rant in German Village. The space has been given a loving makeover, with muted pas tels, vintage wallpaper and an eclectic mix of photos and knick-knacks on the shelves. Haines had a hand in the decor, including bits of family history.
“All the plants are mine,” she jokes.
The restaurant’s menu, which is executed day to day by head chef Wes Grubbs, is just as kitschy and inviting as the decor. Beverage director Seth Laufman designs the cocktails with the same sense of fun and thoughtful ness. Diners are also well advised not to miss the house-made ice creams from sous chef Justin Singer. The creamy and decadent con coctions rotate seasonally and are available as a trio for dessert or packaged in pints to go.
“We do international eclectic comfort food in an elevated way,” Lieberman says. “What inspires us is our staff, their travel, their background, their culture, what excites
them. I thought it’d be cool if we turned the menu over to them, something personal to them, something their grandmother made.”
The menu changes regularly, but it con sistently marries a Midwestern sense of comfort with international inspiration. It draws on the culinary team’s travels, from former sous chef Matt Larkin’s time in Vietnam to Lieberman’s and Haines’ hon eymoon in Chiang Mai, Thailand. A quick look at past offerings reveals everything from classic wings to General Tso’s cauli flower and Vietnamese cơm tấm to lamb Bolognese.
One of the staples on the restaurant’s menu is khao soi, an Asian dish built around chicken and shrimp in a yellow curry with crispy noodles, fava leaves, herbs, banana, chiles and peanuts.
“It’s a love letter to Chiang Mai,” Lieber man says. “That dish is just such a visceral experience to have in Thailand. We do our best to translate that.” — Nicholas Dekker
739 S. Third St., Columbus 43206, 614/444-0917, eatchapmans.com
Judy Orr James’ food book includes recipes that offer a flavor of the city, including the popular sauerkraut ball.
Judy Orr James remembers the first place she ate a sauerkraut ball.
“I was a little kid and my family would go to the Brown Derby,” says the Akron native. “After my parents would order their cocktails and we would order our Shirley Temples, we were allowed to go into the bar and get a plate full of sauerkraut balls.”
Food memories inspired James’ book Akron Family Recipes. The result is a brief history of each of Akron’s most prominent ethnic and cultural groups, such as African Americans, Italians and Hungarians, and each chapter includes recipes from the com munity it highlights. But there’s one food that seems to unite Akron: the sauerkraut ball.
Today, Akron restaurants still tout the cocktail-party staple on their menus, and you can find ready-to-eat varieties like Bunny B at local grocery stores.
“Everybody thought they were invented in Akron, but I’m almost certain they were started in Cleveland at a restaurant called Gruber’s in the 1940s,” says James. “My research indicates that at least two chefs who worked at Gruber’s made their way down to Akron once Gruber’s closed.”
James felt it was important to honor that part of Akron’s identity in the book and included six different sauerkraut ball recipes.
“It doesn’t really fit with the rest of the book,” she says. “But I knew people would be interested.”
— Kim Schneider
To learn more, visit arcadiapublishing.com.
This neighborhood gathering spot in Dayton operates as a co-op and offers a lineup of beers that can only be enjoyed at its cozy taproom.
St. Anne’s Hill is a small neighbor hood on the east side of downtown Dayton, and while it might not seem like much of a hill, its slight elevation kept it above the floodwaters that devastated the city in 1913. That protected the area’s archi tecture, and the neighborhood has many of Dayton’s oldest homes and buildings. One of them houses Fifth Street Brewpub, one of the nation’s only co-op-owned breweries.
Fifth Street Brewpub owes its existence in part to its storied structure, which was built in 1856. The building was at risk of demo lition until members of the neighborhood banded together to save it and open a brew pub. The effort celebrated its 10th anniversa ry in summer 2022, and there are now more than 3,000 co-op members.
That community involvement was entic ing for the brewpub’s brewmaster and gener al manager Jon Naghski, who moved to Day ton in 2021 after many years as head brewer at a Goose Island brewpub in Chicago.
“I knew this was heavily supported by the neighborhood, being started by folks within walking distance,” says Naghski. “But I am continually surprised by the love and atten tion and care they give to their small neigh borhood pub.”
Fifth Street Brewpub doesn’t package or distribute its beer, so the brews Naghski labors over are all consumed in the small, cozy taproom or on the comfy patio. Classics like Icebreaker IPA and Ramona Brown Ale share space on the tap list with experiments like Waxed Wings Hazy IPA and Pulp & Peel, a rotating line of fruited sours. Naghski’s favorite is St. Anne’s Pils, a lager he creat ed shortly after his arrival. Thoughtful wine and cocktail lists have options for those who don’t drink beer. The brewpub also offers a food menu with hearty options like the Chevre Burger or the Salmon B.E.L.T. sand wich, as well as dinner salads and appetizers.
The brewpub has fostered the atmo sphere of a true neighborhood gathering place, with regulars outnumbering newcom ers at any given time, while still maintaining a welcoming atmosphere for everyone.
“That speaks to us being not just a brew ery,” says Naghski, “but to the co-op being rooted in the neighborhood.”
— David Nilsen
1600 E. Fifth St., Dayton 45403, 937/443-0919, fifthstreetbrewpub.com
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Discover all that’s merry and bright in Ohio this season!
The Holiday Lights Trail displays showstoppers throughout the state that will add festive warmth to your family’s winter nights.
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus
Buy toys that ensure kids can learn, grow and have fun without hazards.
Children are dreaming up their holiday wish lists, and the store aisles are stocked with tempting toys for kids of all ages. But even when toys pass U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission stan dards, other factors should be considered.
Small magnets and batteries can be par ticularly dangerous to children, according to Dr. Sampurna Shakya, a pediatrician at Ashtabula County Medical Center.
“Lithium batteries, when swallowed, the electricity gets in contact with your stomach and can cause irreversible harm or a rupture of the intestine,” he says.
Buying safe toys also isn’t just about the age range printed on the box.
“Choose toys based on their develop mental stage,” Shakya advises.
Here are other recommendations for selecting toys that are safe for the kids this holiday season. — Kristen Hampshire
Clean Up. For babies especially, “everything goes into their mouths,” Shakya says. Whether a toy is a hand-me-down or new, wash it. Be careful of choking hazards, too. If a toy can fit inside an empty toilet paper tube, it’s too small for babies and toddlers.
Play Along. For toddlers and preschoolers, select toys you can enjoy together. “They are learning motor and language skills, so toys like balls, blocks, trains, cars, dolls ... puzzles and games build a rapport between you and your child,” Shakya says.
Create Safe Toy Spaces. For siblings of different ages and stages, keep toys too small for the younger ones out of reach and create a dedicated space for play. “Be sure they are replaced back into their storage spaces to avoid the risk of a toddler or baby ingesting them,” Shakya says.
We admit the highest percentage of Ohioans of any medical school in the state.
Life is not easy. Taking time to note the positives and being grateful for them goes a long way.
Challenges of life can be a struggle and worries about what each day will bring can make it even worse. That is why it is important to make sure that the struggles we encounter don’t eclipse the good that is happening around us as well.
“If all we ever focus on is the stress, it is more difficult to find meaning and purpose in our lives,” says Arianna Galligher, a licensed independent social worker and associate di rector of STAR Trauma Recovery Center at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. She is also director of the center’s Gabbe Health & Well-Being Program.
“Practicing gratitude does not mean you only have to focus on the positive,” she adds, calling this “toxic positivity.” But striking a balance is healthy and can help you recenter,
identify your values and approach problems with confidence. Gratitude is powerful. “Exploring what you are grateful for does not cancel out the things that are stressful,” Galligher adds. “We need to allow space for the bad and good to be present and real.”
Robert Emmons of University of Cali fornia, Davis and Michael McCullough of University of Miami conducted a study that asked a group of participants to write a few sentences about things they were grateful for throughout the week for 10 weeks. This group was more optimistic, exercised more and had fewer doctor visits than a separate group asked to document their daily irritations.
“Setting aside time to really focus on the good stuff can help you find your footing through times of stress,” Galligher says. “The first step is to be intentional when some thing good happens, and to really notice it and acknowledge it.”
Here are some strategies for focusing on the positive that will do your mind and body good. — KH
You don’t need a major milestone to feel grateful. A sunny day, the smell of coffee brewing or a text from a dear friend can be
reasons to be grateful. It’s the little stuff that’s big. “It can just be the everyday moments,” Galligher says.
Like any habit, schedule the time to take a gratitude break and be consistent. “Centering the practice around a structured and engag ing activity can also be helpful — like a mov ing meditation or journaling, writing down thoughts,” Galligher says. Mobile phone apps are available that offer guided meditations.
“I have a bulletin board in my office where I post thank-you notes or little visual represen tations of things that bring me joy and help me remember the good things,” Galligher says.
Carving out time with family or friends to share what you are grateful for develops a network of support. “When we share with others the things we are grateful for, it crys talizes that reality and helps us find clarity about what brings meaning and value to our lives,” Galligher says.
From its humble beginning, the hospital has continued to be an essential cornerstone in Darke County. As a rural, independent, acute care hospital in southwestern Ohio, we’ve been recognized as a CMS 5-star rated hospital for three consecutive years. We are also a regional orthopedic destination, and healthcare provider of inpatient and outpatient services.
As we celebrate our 100th anniversary, we continue to focus on our past while building a strong foundation for our future. Visit WayneHealthCare.org to learn about our rich history, community involvement, programs, partnerships and opportunities to join the Wayne HealthCare family!
$500 gift card giveaway to Destination Outlets can be used at any store on property! From Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming to Philly Pretzel Factory to Gizmo’s ToyLab, there’s something for everyone!
Enter giveaway by 11-25-22.
Explore the scenic Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum via art cart with a one-day pass. Next you’ll explore the world’s largest indoor train display, EnterTRAINment Junction, with tickets for four. Your weekend getaway includes a complimentary, relaxing one-night stay at the Holiday Inn Cincinnati North at Centre Park.
• Two night stay for two in a Hocking Hills cabin.
• Breakfast and dinner for two.
• Serenity Salt Cave for two.
• Welcome basket.
by these Official Rules and the decision of the Sponsor in conducting the contest. By entering the contest, winner agrees to waive any and all claims against the Sponsor, its parent, employees and representatives for a personal injury or loss that occur from the participation in this contest or from the receipt or use of any prize. Sponsor, its parent, employees and representatives, are not responsible for incorrect, inaccurate transcription or loss of entry information for any reason whatsoever. By entering, entrants acknowledge compliance with these Official Rules including all eligibility requirements.
HOW TO ENTER: Sweepstakes begin on November 1, 2022, and end on December, 2022 (“Sweepstakes Period”). There are multiple ways to enter this contest. Each person can enter both ways for additional chances of winning.1) Fill out the Reader Response card
and return or at ohiomagazine.com/win to receive 2 entries. Only one Reader Response form can be submitted per person. 2) Follow @OhioMagazine on Instagram and tag a friend in the comments section. Each individual friend comment and tag will receive an entry.
HOW TO WIN: At the end of the Sweepstakes Period, winner will be drawn at random from all eligible entries received.
PRIZES AND ODDS: One
Located in the heart of southwestern Ohio, Destination Outlets has holiday deals from premium outlet shops and designer brands in fashion, apparel, housewares and more, with loads of food and entertainment choices on the way — make our destination yours! 8000 Factory Shops Blvd. • Jeffersonville 43128 • 800-213-9083 • destinationoutlets.com
For over 95 years, Esther Price Candies has used the highest-quality ingredients you’ve come to expect. Give the priceless gift this holiday season with Esther Price Candies assorted chocolates. Visit any of our locations in the Dayton or Cincinnati areas or select Kroger locations in Columbus and participating Krogers in Indiana, shop online or give us a call to place an order. Voted Ohio’s Best Chocolate three years in a row. 800-782-0326 • estherprice.com
Centrally located between Cleveland and Amish Country, shopping at Experience Hartville ranges from the Hartville MarketPlace & Flea Market boutiques, antiques and eclectic mix of retail to The Shops at Hartville Kitchen’s curated collection of fashion, home decor, jewelry and toys to the Hartville Hardware’s Christmas Shop, which offers 8,000-squarefeet of Christmas magic. 1015 Edison St. NW • Hartville 44632 • 330-877-9353 • experiencehartville.com/events
As a one-of-a-kind destination in a unique area, we welcome those who seek to be inspired. Explore our uniquely styled room displays including cozy corners, kitchen and table, laundry and bath, garden and greenery, home decor, and more during your visit. 3239 OH-3 9 • Millersburg 44 654 • 330-893-2701 • visitthepeddler.com
STILLHOUSE MAPLE SYRUP: T he perfect holiday gift! Our locally sourced pure maple syrup is the distilled essence of the tree, a virgin syrup, with the wild delicacy of flavor of blossoms and fresh cut maple wood. When aged in our used Rye whiskey barrels, it soaks up the flavors of the spirit and wood and turns into something decadent and delicious ! 7095 Staley Road • New Carlisle 45344 • 937-846-1443 • indiancreekdistillery.com
Slow down this holiday season with a trip to Keim Home Center and experience the destination and trusted source for all your home, building, and woodworking needs. During our Holiday Kickoff Sale, November 21-26, 2022, you can enjoy sale prices and focus on the true meaning of the holiday season. 4465 OH-557 • Millersburg 44654 • 330-893-2251 • keimlumber.com
Lehman’s has the recipe for the perfect gift. Give a gift that will last for generations to come like our striped stoneware. Shop our candle or soap making kits to gift your loved ones a handmade gift. From toys to the practical and the pretty, Lehman’s is your one-stop-holiday-shop. Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. 4779 Kidron Road • Kidron, 44618 • 800-438-5346 • lehmans.com
Ohio University students on the Hockhocking Adena BikewayMICHELLE WATERS MICHELLE WATERS By Hallie Rybka
TThe burst of color inside Passion Works Studio immediately evokes a cheerful spirit, made only more so by the pleasant greetings from artists at work. Vibrant paintings cover the walls, and var ious sizes of Passion Flowers are displayed throughout the space.
The colorful, three-dimensional metal flowers are the signature of this collaborative community arts center that is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023. The works are made using upcycled aluminum printing plates from the Athens Messenger that are first cleaned and painted by women who are in active recovery from ad diction. Then, the artists at Passion Works add their own creative flair before the petal shapes are cut out and assem bled — each made in the same color palette and shape, yet completely individual.
“Each one celebrates the spirit of the makers,” says Passion Works Studio founder and executive director Patty Mitchell. “We’ve made over 35,000 of those flowers.”
The nonprofit studio provides independence and cre ative employment opportunities for people with develop mental differences, with a core group of 32 working artists and 10 additional staff members. In addition to crafting the flowers, sculptural pieces and murals, Passion Works Stu dio is deeply integrated into the Athens community, from decorating the Nelsonville Music Festival to working with students at Ohio University.
“At Passion Works, we say all the time we want to make visible the spirit of Athens,” Mitchell says. “Whether it’s music or visual art or dance, there’s a space to do it here.”
That spirit means encouragement and mentoring rather than competition. That’s especially true in the arts, which are intrinsic to the local culture. This easygoing town in the
foothills of the Appalachian Mountains fosters a creative spirit, and a vibrant community of musicians, artists and makers call it home.
Since it was established in 1804, Ohio University has shaped Athens. With an enrollment of about 19,000, which is reflected in the city’s population of nearly 24,000, there is a strong connection between campus and community.
Among the benefits for locals is access to the college’s performing arts series and the Kennedy Museum of Art. Events throughout the year, such as the Athens Interna tional Film + Video Festival, Ohio Brew Week and the Athens Community Arts & Music Festival, bring residents and students together. The city’s Uptown area offers live music, and a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area runs from May through August.
E S T H O M E T O W N S
This college town in southeast Ohio thrives with a welcoming atmosphere, appreciation of the arts and inspiring community collaboration.Passion Works Studio in downtown Athens (above) is known for the Passion Flower — a vibrant, upcycled piece of art.
“It’s been pretty intentional with making sure we are recognizing and embracing each other,” says Mayor Steve Patterson.
A number of recent municipal projects have improved life in the city. One example is the Richland Avenue Pedes trian Passageway. The $3 million project, which was made possible through joint financing and cooperation between the city and university, elevated the road to create a safer passage for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross Richland Avenue, a vital gateway into Athens that passes through the west side of campus.
“It completely deconflicts it, so traffic can continue to roll up town on Richland Avenue, and pedestrian traffic doesn’t have to worry about trying to cross over a busy city artery,” Patterson explains.
The ongoing construction of the Baileys Trail System is an exciting development for Athens County, with 31 miles already open. Once complete, it will offer 88 miles of premier mountain-bike trails. The Hockhocking Adena Bikeway, which stretches from Athens to Nelsonville, pro vides 22 miles of flat, paved trails.
Another big project coming to fruition is Marietta’s Memorial Healthcare System’s construction of a four-story emergency room hospital, which will bring 160 additional jobs to the area. While Ohio University is still the top em ployer in the city of Athens, others include Quidel Corpo ration (a manufacturer of diagnostic healthcare products), OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital, Athens City School Dis trict, Kroger, Walmart and even Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery, which employs 110.
After opening its original Uptown brewpub in 2005 (originally known as O’Hooley’s), Jackie O’s added the adjacent Public House restaurant in 2009. In 2013, the Taproom and Brewery opened, massively expanding pro duction and distribution. (The brewery is a recognizable presence on the Ohio craft beer scene.)
In 2010, Jackie O’s founder and president Art Oestrike bought a farm to grow some of the produce used at his businesses. The farm’s offerings range from asparagus, leafy greens and tomatoes to peaches, pears and pawpaws. As the home of the Athens County Area Beekeepers Association, the farm also has 12 honey-producing hives.
“All our food is made from scratch, and we utilize local providers as much as possible,” Oestrike explains. “It’s a lifestyle. We’ve been doing it for more than 10 years.”
The brewery’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond food, as well. There are 298 solar panels on the roof of the taproom, providing about 40% of the business’s electricity demands. This fall, Jackie O’s made the switch from using recycled plastic rings for its six-packs to a new option that is biodegradable and compostable.
Embracing sustainability and the local-foods move ment is a way of life in Athens. There is unwavering com munity support for the Athens Farmers Market, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Natural, organic and regionally produced goods can be found at the city’s independent grocers, The Farmacy and Kindred Market
(Clockwise from top left); Downtown Athens’ Court Street; beer-tap handles at Jackie O’s; bartender making a cocktail at West End Ciderhouse; local honey for sale at Athens Bread Co.; art on display at the Dairy Barn Arts Center; a burger from Little Fish Brewing Co.
(where a board next to the door reads, “We are currently stocking 671 local products and counting”).
A favorite eatery for residents and students alike, Casa Nueva has focused on fresh, seasonal ingredients from local purveyors in its Mexican-inspired fare since 1985. Village Bakery & Cafe is a pioneer in green business prac tices. Fluff Bakery supports local farmers, businesses and nonprofits. Athens Bread Co. adopts sustainable baking practices, reduces waste and donates extra loaves and pas tries to Athens Food Rescue. And that’s just a sampling of the altruistic spirit found in this beloved small town.
“We support local at all turns as much as possible, be cause we are all here together,” says Oestrike. “Athens feels very strongly about supporting our neighbors.”
Bellefontaine’s Logan County Courthouse was built in 1870.
Ben Stahler’s father worked the soda fountain at Powell’s Pharmacy along South Main Street during the late 1930s and early ’40s. It was where he took an interest in becoming a pharmacist, going on to study at Ohio Northern University and returning home after his military service in the Navy to become a partner at the business where he worked as a teen.
Stahler, a jovial guy who spent a career as a pharmacist himself before becoming mayor of Bellefontaine in 2014, points out the building that housed Powell’s Pharmacy while offering a walking tour of downtown.
It was in this building during the 1880s that inventor George Bartholomew had a laboratory in the back of what was then called Butler Drug Store. There, he perfected his idea of mixing clay, sand and marl as a way to pave city streets. He started with an 8-foot -strip where horses were hitched. When that proved durable, local officials paved the block around the courthouse using Bartholomew’s
process, creating the nation’s first concrete road. More than 50 percent of downtown’s Court Avenue remains original to this day.
“As you’re walking right down the center, that is the concrete that they poured by hand and took brooms and pounded down in 1893,” Stahler says.
A statue of Bartholomew and an arch bearing the words “Oldest Concrete Street in America” pay tribute to the innovation born in Bellefontaine. It is just one of the ways that history is celebrated here. Most of the buildings throughout downtown are the same ones that were stand ing a century ago, and the Logan County Courthouse towers over the intersection of Main Street and Columbus Avenue as it has since 1870.
Founded in 1820, Bellefontaine grew as it became a transportation hub. Two railroad lines passed through town, and trains stopped at the local roundhouse during their journeys. The Logan County History Center in Bellefontaine helps tell the story of the city’s rise, from horse-drawn-carriages to a town that now plays a role in making automobiles.
The city is home to a wealth of downtown businesses that have opened within the past decade thanks to redevelopment.
E S T H O M E T O W N SMATT SHIFFLER ATHENS BELLEFONTAINE KENT PERRYSBURG VERSAILLES
This city located 60 miles northwest of Columbus is experiencing a downtown revival that is shining a light on historic properties while reinventing them for a new generation.
Over the last ten years, Downtown Bellefontaine has become a bestin-state destination featuring awardwinning restaurants and shops. In Ohio’s Most Loveable Downtown, find America’s Shortest Street, First Concrete Street, and more exciting destinations.
Axe Ventura is Bellefontaine’s Premier Axe Throwing Venue. Axe Ventura hits the bullseye, featuring one on one coaching, leagues, tournaments, and a full-service pro shop.
Brewfontaine has been voted #1 Beer Bar in Ohio for 4 straight years. Brewfontaine offers craft beer, handcrafted cocktails, and a unique menu in a family-friendly setting.
Dodds Wealth Advisors is a familyowned business that’s been guiding residents of Logan County and the surrounding area to financial peace of mind and confidence since 1979.
Don’s Downtown Diner is home to Ohio’s Best Burger, delicious milkshakes, gyros, and more. Check out this small-town diner for award-
winning food during your next visit to Bellefontaine.
Flying Pepper Cantina is known for fresh local foods that are prepped inhouse and expertly prepared. Featuring tequila flights too!
Four Acre Clothing Co. started as a traveling vendor, and quickly became a local hotspot at their brick & mortar. They provide hand-printed expressive apparel and unique gifts that tell a story for any occasion.
Glitter & Grit at the Opera features a curated collection of rustic glam
vintage and USA made home decor, tees, soy candles & goat milk soaps & more.
Visit the Holland Theatre for worldclass music and drama in downtown Bellefontaine! Built in 1931, the beautifully restored theater features windmills, Dutch-style building facades, and a sky ceiling with twinkling stars.
Enjoy the best wings, burgers, and steaks at locally owned and awardwinning Iron City Sports Bar. This fullservice restaurant/sports bar has been recognized not only for its delicious
menu and cold drink selection but also for its local philanthropic efforts donating over $150,000 to local causes since its opening in 2017.
Logan County Historical Society promotes local and American history through exhibits in our 1906 Orr Mansion, Logan County Museum, and Logan County Transportation Museum.
Celebrating 60 years! Mad River Mountain is proud to be the largest ski area in the state of Ohio. We offer a full breadth of on-snow challenges, ranging from gentle beginner areas to stepper
pitches and a terrain park. For those seeking an additional snowy thrill, check out the bubly tubing park (also the largest in the state). Experience an adrenaline rush that is both familyfriendly and exhilarating at the same time.
Maze Hearing believes better hearing leads to a better life. A communityoriented private audiology practice that focuses on a strong patient-provider relationship based on honesty, integrity, and value to deliver the best approach making sure you don’t miss precious moments in your life.
My Camping Store is Logan County’s largest selection of RV parts, accessories, and novelties. My Camping Store is open all year long. Great summers start here.
Putt & Play Golf Course offers Family Fun with our Authentic 18 Hole Miniature Golf course and Virtual Reality Booths. We also have Laser tag in WarZone 209, Play golf on one of our 3 Golf simulators with over 150,000 courses, or hone your skills in our pistol Shooting Simulator.
Revival Design Collective is a design team of storytellers, problem solvers and dream makers — Revival collaborates with entrepreneurs to develop engaging architecture, brands, and environments.
Roundhouse Depot Brewing was the first and only brewery in Bellefontaine. Honoring the heritage of the railroad in Bellefontaine and producing highquality craft beer.
Rustic Boutique is a locally owned boutique with an eclectic vibe. We offer women’s, men’s, children’s clothing,
gifts, shoes, accessories, and local handmade items.
At Six Hundred Downtown we strive in the art and craft of pizza, creating unique specialty pizza options made with in house dough cooked on our brick ovens.
Small Nation + BUILD Cowork + Space is a high-tech coworking and collaborative work community designed to inspire, connect, and enable small businesses and entrepreneurs in small towns.
My Camping Store
Revival Design Collective
Rustic Boutique
Putt & Play Golf Course
Roundhouse Depot Brewing
Six Hundred Downtown
When visiting Downtown Bellefontaine, be sure to stop into the heart of the community at Sweet Aromas Coffee
The Artsy Hatter & Co. invites you to come enjoy a cup of complimentary coffee at the “house of art”! A consignment art gallery that is Veteran and community oriented, offering PreK and adult art/craft groups.
Visit The Syndicate for an amazing brunch featuring mimosa flights or enjoy dinner and a show with a busy events calendar. They also cater!
Unboxed boutique features women’s clothing in sizes small through 3X, with additional options sizes 4X to 6X. Shop unboxedboutique.com or Bellefontaine and Tipp City locations.
Undertone Beauty Bar, the place to go for a unique salon experience. Undertone is a full-service salon with a one-of-a-kind culture.
Located 60 miles northwest of Columbus, the city of more than 14,000 residents has solid public schools, and the region is home to a large base of manufacturing jobs. (Honda East Liberty and Honda Transmission Manufac turing are both located in Logan County.) The city’s Mary Rutan Hospital employs 750 people as well.
The area’s natural features draw travelers year-round. Indian Lake and Ohio Caverns are both within 20 miles of Bellefontaine, and Mad River Mountain in nearby Zanes field is a popular skiing area.
The biggest news about Bellefontaine these days, though, is the rebirth of its once-ailing downtown, where 80 percent of first-floor spaces sat unoccupied a little more than a decade ago. The challenge faced then is starkly illustrated by a series of before-and-after photographs dis played at the offices of Small Nation, a Bellefontaine com pany Jason Duff founded in 2011 to help spur downtown’s revitalization. Small Nation works with local officials to bring historic buildings back from decline and fill them with businesses.
“About 15 years ago, like a lot of Ohio towns, we lost our department stores. Pharmacies got purchased up by the big boxes,” Duff says of Bellefontaine. “A group of us who grew up in tiny little towns … all descended here — working with the mayor and other leaders — and we started purchasing historic buildings.”
Like a lot of good ideas, it all started with pizza. Small Nation’s first purchase was two storefronts along South Main Street, with the idea that a restaurant would be the best use for the space. It became the home of Six Hun dred Downtown, where owner and five-time World Pizza Champion Brittany Saxton serves up creatively construct ed, handcrafted pies in a variety of styles that are baked in a brick oven at — you guessed it — 600 degrees.
Brewfontaine, which curates 16 taps of great craft beer and serves tasty gastropub fare, opened soon after in a space once occupied by a beloved local diner. Owners Adam Rammel, Jeremy Fitzpatrick and Brian Wall also operate a restaurant next door called The Syndicate — a dinner, brunch and happy hour spot.
Downtown now has seven restaurants, from the Japa nese sushi and steakhouse Kiyomi to the authentic Mex ican restaurant Flying Pepper Cantina. The food was the fuel that brought people back to the city center. Retail and service businesses followed.
The Fun Company sells interesting and educational toys and supplies, while Four Acre Clothing Co. stocks trendy T-shirt designs. Around the corner, Old Mint An tiques offers four levels of vintage items to explore. There are boutiques and salons, a yoga studio and a 24-hour gym, coffee shops and a coworking space. (Some of the busi nesses started in Small Nation’s retail incubator on South Main Street, which helps entrepreneurs launch their idea.)
“There’s a cool energy,” says Mayor Stahler. “More than half of the business owners in our downtown are under 40 … these are young entrepreneurs taking a chance.”
Small Nation’s success has transformed downtown,
The Holland Theatre was built downtown in 1931 and is the only Dutch-style atmospheric theater in the United States.
changing not only how visitors view Bellefontaine, but also what residents think of the place they call home. A spacious, two-bedroom Airbnb known as The Loft Above sits over Native Coffee Co. on Columbus Avenue, and nearly three dozen apartments have already been created downtown.
Two new projects underway promise to add to the city’s vibrancy. One is Rainbow Row Bellefontaine. The soon-to-be-renewed and colorful quintet of historic build ings along Chillicothe Avenue sat in ruin until Small Na tion took the project on to help create five storefronts with seven Airbnbs above them.
The other project is Bellefontaine’s Historic Opera Block property. The three-floored building runs along a block of Court Avenue before turning the corner and heading down South Main Street. Its charm was unmistak able even through years of decay.
Between mid-summer and early fall, facade and interior work began to transform the landmark that welcomed a range of vaudeville performers, composer John Philip Sousa and magician Harry Houdini more than a century ago. It is being remade into 13 first-floor storefronts with office-suite rentals on the second and third levels.
For Duff, the work Small Nation does is not only about reviving historic properties, but also renewing the web of small businesses that add to the fabric of community life.
“It’s the experiences we were gifted and had growing up. It was the business owners that provided the support and donations to fund the local sports teams. It was the chance to have high school and college jobs,” he says. “Now more than ever, we value the towns and communities that have great quality of life and experiences.”
(Clockwise from top left): The Fun Company; Native Coffee Co.; Logan County History Center’s Transportation Museum; one of downtown Bellefontaine’s wayfinding signs
Riveredge Park in downtown Kent is popular with families.
Aweekday morning in downtown Kent is anything but sleepy inside Over Easy at the Depot.
Students and residents alike dig into morning favorites alongside railroad tracks that locomotives still frequent.
The restaurant space is full of ex posed brick, railroad relics and color ful chalkboard signs. Periodically, diners feel the rumble of a train passing by.
Built in 1875 as the Atlantic & Great Western Co. Rail road Depot and used for nearly a century, the Tuscan Revival-style structure was almost demolished before the Kent Historical Society purchased it in 1975. The place has been home to a few different restaurants over the last 40 years. The railroad-themed Pufferbelly Ltd. opened in 1981 and operated until the end of 2016. The upscale Ital ian restaurant Trento Ristorante followed in 2017, while Over Easy at the Depot arrived in late 2021.
The historic train station sits along Franklin Avenue, a brick-lined street that is also home to Ray’s Place (a pub that has become a landmark of its own over the years), as well as the hip, Mexican-inspired eatery Taco Tontos. Most of downtown Kent is arranged around Franklin, Water and Main streets, and it’s about a half-mile walk from one end of it to the other.
“Our whole downtown is like that: easy,” says Heather Malarcik, executive director of Main Street Kent, an or ganization that focuses on downtown beautification and revitalization. “It’s walkable.”
The relationship between college and community is strong here, thanks to a downtown design that connects campus and city, innovative collaborations and new development. By Kelly PowellATHENS BELLEFONTAINE KENT PERRYSBURG VERSAILLES
The city of over 28,000 full-time residents was in corporated as a village in 1867 but reaches back to 1805 when Joseph Haymaker established his gristmill in the Ohio wilderness that surrounded a stretch of the Cuyahoga River. Kent State University was founded in 1910 and today has more than 25,000 students, which effectively doubles the city’s population between late Au gust and the middle of May.
Kent State University is the city’s largest employer with approximately 3,860 employees. Davey Tree Expert Co. is the city’s largest private employer. John Davey, who began studying trees while working at Rock Cemetery in Kent and taught others how to care for them, started the business in 1880. It is still headquartered in Kent and has more than 11,000 employees nationwide.
The university and city have long been joined together, but in 2013, that connection between campus and com munity was made stronger when local officials unveiled the Lester A. Lefton Esplanade. The pedestrian walkway extends across the Kent State University campus to the edge of downtown.
“The Esplanade, that connection, and even the look of downtown is all intended to be very seamless with campus,” says Kent city manager Dave Ruller. “It’s all meant to really emphasize the college-town feeling, flavor, personality.”
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Over Easy at the Depot opened in Kent’s historic train depot in 2021. It is popular with both full-time residents and Kent State University students.
A pocket of downtown known as Acorn Alley opened its first building in 2009 and a second building in 2011. Construction of the esplanade followed. Acorn Alley sits about a two-minute walk from the end of the pathway. Its name is a nod to the city’s unique and beloved black squirrels (brought to the university in 1961 from Ontario, Canada, as part of an attempt to save the species from ex tinction) that have become an unofficial mascot of Kent State students. Acorn Alley’s assortment of small busi nesses includes student favorites such as The Fruit Stand and Twisted Meltz.
During winter 2021, the city, university, Kent State Hotel and Conference Center, Kent Area Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Kent collaborated to create
Kent Skates, an outdoor ice-skating rink along East Erie Street that was free and open to the public.
“It just exceeded every expectation,” says Dana Law less-Andric, associate vice president at the Office of Uni versity Engagement & Outreach. “We’re really just [do ing] whatever we need to do … to take care of each other, to uplift. I really feel like that’s the spirit.”
Such collaboration can be found throughout Kent. The Haymaker Farmers Market, under market manager Andrew Rome, sets up at the edge of Franklin Avenue every Saturday from April through November. In 2020, mayor Jerry Fiala and city manager Dave Ruller requested Franklin Avenue be blocked off as a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, complete with picnic tables that have turned the well-known street into a public gathering place seven days a week from noon to 11 p.m. On summer evenings, the district is populated with students and res idents alike, often enjoying food and drinks from Zephyr Pub, Taco Tontos and Ray’s Place. (Although the weath er may not cooperate for outdoor seating year-round, DORA laws are in effect 365 days a year.)
Other new additions to the college town include Bell Tower Brewing, which opened in the former First Con gregational Church of Kent, and Battleground Taproom and Mexican Kitchen, an authentic Mexican restaurant in the city’s historic South End.
“Vibrant cities, vibrant downtowns are great for com
merce,” explains Michelle Hartman, interim executive director of the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce, “but they’re even better for a sense of community, and we have that here.”
Despite the changes that have occurred downtown over the years, those who last set foot in Kent a genera tion ago will still see names they recognize. Woodsy’s Mu sic has been selling instruments and offering lessons since 1972, while the Venice Cafe has been open since 1941. In 2002, a 642-seat theater built in 1927 was remade as the Kent Stage, which offers a slate of live performances by national touring acts.
“We definitely looked at the preservation piece of it first,” Hartman says of downtown. “We’ve blended the best of the old with the best of the new [and] brought them together.”
That mix is perhaps best encapsulated in Kent’s Mill District, a section of downtown that surrounds the histor ic Star of the West Flour Mill, established on North Water Street in 1879. The area, which is under ongoing revital ization efforts, is home to Scribbles Coffee Co. and Bent Tree Coffee Roasters as well as Kent Cycle and North Water Brewing Co.
“It feels ‘small town,’ it feels like your hometown, even when you’re a student,” Ruller says of Kent. “And that’s the goal. We’re always trying to strive to be a welcoming city, a friendly city.”
E S T H O M E T O W N SATHENS BELLEFONTAINE KENT PERRYSBURG VERSAILLES
Ayoung couple at the monarch station watches in awe as a butterfly — fresh with damp, beautiful orange-and-black wings — emerges from its cocoon. A few feet away in the organic community gar den, an older woman picks tomatoes from her plot. In the kids garden, the sound of a little girl plinking away on the large outdoor xylophone fills the air.
This is a typical Saturday afternoon at the 577 Founda tion. Since 1989, this nonprofit green space has provided a place for children to play, adults to grow food and everyone to enjoy nature. Classes are offered, too, ranging from pot tery and painting to cooking and yoga.
The Perrysburg community and its neighbors find a welcoming place to gather here, and that has long been its purpose. Philanthropist Virginia Secor Stranahan owned the property and preserved it as a conservation easement so it would always remain a green space for the public to enjoy while learning and being creative.
“It’s one of the best-kept secrets, but it’s a secret you want to tell everyone so they don’t miss out,” says Jodi Haney, a retired Bowling Green State University profes sor who has been taking classes at 577 Foundation and leading workshops for other teachers there for nearly 20 years. “It’s really a grassroots feeling … It’s kind of a learn ing commons.”
For Perrysburg, the 577 Foundation is one of many gathering places that provide community belonging and pride. There are also the city parks that keep expanding to offer diverse activities, from an all-inclusive playground
that brings kids of different abilities together to outdoor sculptures to bike paths to free kayak rentals for residents.
The city also has a vibrant and cohesive historic down town, with restaurants such as Swig, coffee shops like Mad die & Bella Coffee Roasters, and unique boutiques from Angel 101 to Alice-Louise Press. Downtown is filled with people, especially during events like the weekly Thursday farmers markets that take place May through October and draw locals and visitors alike. Not far from downtown, there is Levis Commons shopping center and its surround ing shopping areas, where families can enjoy a night out or a movie and pick up groceries and essentials.
The community rallies around Perrysburg Schools, which are one of the reasons people move to the city, ac cording to Mayor Tom Mackin.
E S T H O M E T O W N SRACHAEL JIROUSEK
This northwest Ohio town built on history continues to thrive with its inviting shopping districts, outstanding schools and family-friendly environment. By Kristina SmithA community garden is just one of the offerings at the 577 Foundation, a nonprofit green space that caters to all ages. ATHENS BELLEFONTAINE KENT PERRYSBURG VERSAILLES
“It has a lot of that quality of being a small town but still vibrant and growing,” he says of Perrysburg. “I think the downtown was really a significant part of that. You have homes that give a sense of community and a sense of his tory and also some new opportunities for young couples and young families.”
Perrysburg was founded in 1816, three years after Fort Meigs was built on the orders of the government atop a hill overlooking the Maumee River rapids during the War of 1812. The fort was the site of two sieges where the Ameri cans repelled the British and their allies, and it is a popular
Businesses along downtown’s Louisiana Avenue (left); the walkways at Riverside Park (below left); Fort Meigs (below) Commodore Perry statue (right)
historic landmark that welcomes around 30,000 visitors each year, according to John Thompson, the fort’s manager of historic programs.
The city itself is named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, a hero of the Battle of Lake Erie that was fought near Put-in-Bay during the War of 1812. A statue of Perry stands prominently at Hood Park along the edge of down town, overlooking the Maumee River.
The historic houses along the river on Front Street and the surrounding neighborhood are beautifully maintained and show different eras of architecture. Many bear a histor ical marker showing the year they were built: 1840, 1863, 1910 and so on.
Even some of the park and street names, such as the main downtown street of Louisiana Avenue and Orleans Park, have historical connections to the city’s roots. At one time, Perrysburg was a thriving river port that locals believed would become the New Orleans of the north, says
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Christine Best, executive director of the Perrysburg Con vention & Visitors Bureau.
“It’s in everything we do,” Best says of the city’s heritage. “The history is just rich everywhere you go. There’s a defi nite pride to it.”
Over the years, Perrysburg has become home to med ical facilities run by two major hospital chains: Mercy Health – Perrysburg Hospital, which is a full-service hos pital, and ProMedica, which operates doctors’ offices and is building a new facility to offer more services. In addition to being good employers, they provide quality health care and have become a place people both in and outside of the city rely on, Mackin adds.
First Solar, which is one of the largest solar panel mak ers in the world, and Owens Illinois, which makes glass containers, have become some of the city’s largest job em ployers. In addition to being a draw for new residents, the school district also is a major employer.
“They set high academic standards and deliver on that,” Mackin says. “They’re also really good at recognizing and being on the cutting edge of special needs for both teachers and students as education has changed in the last 20 years.”
Mackin knows that firsthand. One of the biggest rea sons he and his family moved to Perrysburg in 1990 was so his kids could attend Perrysburg Schools. Since then, the city’s population has doubled to about 25,000 people. Businesses like Owens Illinois helped attract more com
Perrysburg’s downtown is filled with shops and restaurants (top). It also hosts a seasonal farmers market (above).
panies to the area. Makin adds that community members and organizations work well together to accomplish goals, such as raising $8,000 to build the all-inclusive playground at Rotary Community Park, forming a historic district and creating community events.
“People saw us as a vibrant, successful community, and they wanted to be a part of it,” he says of the city’s growth. “The catalyst was a strong sense of community. People were invested in making it succeed.”
Versailles’ town square is located right outside its historic village hall.
TThe village of Versailles has had a hotel in the center of town since Isaac Marker built his Golden Eagle House there in 1865. A little more than a decade later, the town hall that still stands today rose across the street. The hotel changed names over the years but continuously welcomed travelers. When a fire swept through the village in 1901, destroying six busi ness blocks and 38 homes, the hotel was promptly rebuilt.
From then, it operated for decades, getting a remodel in 1976 and then again when the Renaissance Corp. (a subsidiary of the local Midmark Corp.) purchased the historic property in 1992. The Inn at Versailles opened the following year with 23 suites and rooms, two banquet ar eas and a new lobby. Michael Anthony’s at the Inn, which operated on the hotel’s first floor, became a favorite local restaurant. But in the fall of 2019, fire struck again.
The hotel was a complete loss, claiming not only one of the village of 2,600 residents’ most storied properties but also a place to gather, be it for a wedding reception or an anniversary dinner at the restaurant.
Midmark, a company that makes medical, dental and veterinary products and moved to the village in 1969, decided to rebuild the property bigger and better than it was before. In the spring of 2022, the elegant and modern Hotel Versailles opened its doors.
“There was a debate,” recalls Mayor Jeff Subler. “Some people wanted them to take the shell [of the old hotel] and rebuild it. But at the end of the day, you still had a shell that was 100 years old. So, they went ahead and made the
decision to take it down all the way and rebuild — add another floor, add rooms.”
Silas Creative Kitchen, led by executive chef Aaron Allen, is now housed on the main level. It serves an ev er-changing lineup of dishes with ingredients sourced from the hotel’s own Sycamore Bridge Farms, located 3 miles away, and a web of other local producers and purveyors.
The hotel’s beautifully appointed rooms and suites are outfitted with plush robes, an iPad for customers to use during their stay and an affordably priced mini bar packed with local favorites, from Mikesell’s potato chips to Esther Price chocolates to regional craft beers.
E S T H O M E T O W N S
This rural village of 2,600 residents offers great schools, a welcoming small-town feel and a longtime local company that helps make the community an inviting place to call home.Hotel Versailles opened in 2022. The rebuilt hotel stands on the site of the former Inn at Versailles, which was lost to fire.
Midmark is the village’s largest employer, with 1,050 workers in the Versailles area, and it supports the town in a variety of ways, including its stewardship of the village’s landmark hotel. The way Midmark president and CEO Jon Wells sees it though, the village has been an equally vital component to the company’s success.
“We feel that Midmark is what it is because of Ver sailles,” he says. “The people here are special. In this area, this region, there’s a very strong work ethic.”
Weavers Eggs, another of Versailles’ large employers, was founded in 1929 and remains a family-run business to this day. The village was once known as the Poultry Capi tal of the Midwest due to its chicken and egg production, a fact that has been celebrated each summer since 1951 during the annual Poultry Days Festival.
In 2022, a record-setting 35,600 World Famous Chick en dinners were sold during the event’s three-day run. (The perennial success of the Poultry Days Festival led to the creation of a new amphitheater at Heritage Park, a gathering spot owned by the organization that operates the festival.)
“The festival is a tribute to the past,” Subler says. “Poultry and the poultry-trucking industry, that’s what built this town.”
Versailles, which is pronounced “Ver-sales,” was originally founded as Jacksonville in 1819, but in 1837 the locals decided to rename the city after Versailles, France, but with a distinctly Ohio pronunciation. Located in Darke County, which is situated
Versailles’ United Methodist Church on Wood Street; the village’s post office; Versailles’ K–12 public school; statue outside the high school football stadium
northwest of Dayton and touches the Indiana border, Versailles sits within a vast agricultural swath of southwest Ohio. Drive outside of town and you’ll pass mile after mile of farm fields. The county seat of Greenville is a 20-minute drive away, and Interstate 75 runs through Sidney about 20 miles to the east. In short, the village is quiet and tucked away and seems like an idyllic place to grow up.
The history of Versailles as well as the patch work of tiny nearby communities — places with names like Russia and Yorkshire — are preserved at the Versailles Area Historical Soci ety, which has a museum that covers local mil itary service, high school sports, the Versailles’ fire of 1901 and world-famous sharpshooter Annie Oakley.
Oakley was born in the Darke County vil lage of North Star, and she and her husband, Frank Butler, are interred at Brock Cemetery just north of Versailles. Her famous quote “aim at a high mark and you’ll hit it” is painted on the side of a large white barn in the county along with an image of Oakley raising her rifle toward the sky.
Striving for a goal and succeeding is part of life here, particularly when it comes to the local public school system. The high school football team was Division V state champs in 2022, and a long list of sports successes from over the years are displayed on the welcome signs that visitors pass on the way into town. Even more impressive is that the high school finished as one of the top 100 in the state in U.S. News and World Report’s 2022 rankings and has long had a standard of excellence beyond sports.
Every student in the district, from kindergar teners to high school seniors, attend the same school — a large and modern facility built be side the local public library and not far from Heritage Park. Aaron Moran is the district’s su perintendent and has been since 2012. He grew up in Versailles and graduated from the local high school in 1989. After leaving the area for a while, he returned 10 years ago for the oppor tunity to lead his hometown school system. For him, that means helping students step outside their comfort zones, push themselves and see what is possible when they work toward a goal.
“I say this to our staff ‘We want them to be more than what they think they can be.’ Too often we put our own caps on ourselves: I’m not good enough, not tall enough, not smart enough,” Moran says. “But by continuing to work on it all the time, you’re going to surprise yourself. You’re going to be farther than you thought you would be.”
In 1856, inventor John A. Roebling began work on an Ohio River crossing that he envisioned as both a work of art and a monument to engineering. That bridge, which now bears his name, connects the cities of Cincinnati and Covington, Kentucky, to this day.
By Vince Guerrieri
The cost of such a structure would run into the hundreds of thou sands of dollars — an almost incomprehensible sum at a time when $10 was the average monthly wage in Hamilton County. Also, the river was a major transportation route. Ferries crossed back and forth between Ohio and Kentucky regularly, and larger boats navigated down the Ohio River, carrying goods westward throughout the growing nation. How could a bridge of that length be built without multiple pylons, impeding those shipping lanes?
A Prussian immigrant had the answer.
John A. Roebling had come to the United States as a young man and distinguished himself as an engineer and inventor. He was at the forefront of a new type of construction. He received a patent for the assembly of metal cables in his factory outside Pittsburgh, and he’d secure those cables on a tower in the middle of the river. The cables would hang in a parabola, and the roadbed of the bridge would be suspended from them, with the cables’ tensile strength keeping the bridge in place. It was an ambitious plan, but if it worked, it would be more than an engineering triumph.
“As one of the great thoroughfares of the country, and spanning one of the great rivers of the West, this bridge, when constructed, will possess great claims as a national monument,” Roebling wrote in an 1846 report detailing his plan. “As a splendid work of art and as a remarkable specimen of modern engineering, it will stand unrivalled upon this continent. Its gigantic features will speak loudly in favor of the energy, enterprise and wealth of the community, which will boast of its possession.”
It would be another decade before Roebling could start work on the project — and then another decade beyond that before its com pletion, as the project was delayed by a financial crisis and then the Civil War. But ultimately, the bridge proved to be even more useful than Roebling could have imagined, and every bit the monument he claimed it would be.
waterways, canals were dug. Roebling’s first job was on the Sandy & Beaver Canal, an ambitious project that would go from Tuscarawas County in Ohio to Glasgow, Pennsylvania. When the canals were supplanted by railroads, Roebling started surveying routes for train tracks through the mountains of Pennsylvania.
While in Pennsylvania, Roebling watched the steam-powered funicular railways, with stout ropes pulling two counterbalanced cars, one going up as another went down, carrying people or goods. He realized metal wire could be bundled into cables and, in 1841, started a company to do just that. He received a patent for a machine to manufacture “wire ropes” the following year as Roebling’s cable was used in an inclined railway. It wasn’t long after that he found a new use for them.
In 1845, a new aqueduct crossed the Allegheny River in Pitts burgh, and the following year, a new bridge spanned the Monon gahela River at Smithfield Street. Roebling also built suspension bridges in the Philadelphia area, as well as a span across the Niagara River that was strong enough to carry trains.
In 1846, the state of Kentucky chartered a company to build a bridge from Covington to Cincinnati. In 1849, the state of Ohio incorporated a similar company. But ferry operators held enough power to ensure that the bridge would not connect with any existing road on either side (an act not just of pettiness, but close to sabotage, since the street grids of Covington and Cincinnati lined up exactly). And as the nation inched toward a reckoning involving slavery, the bridge company’s charter decreed that no slave shall be allowed to pass over the bridge without their master or written permission, and that the bridge company would be responsible for any financial loss es that could result from escaped slaves.
JOHN ROEBLING WAS born June 12, 1806, in Thuringia, a region of Prussia, an independent kingdom that later became part of Germany. He was educated as an engineer in Berlin and came to the United States when he was 25 years old. He settled in Saxonburg, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh, at the time still a frontier town formed at the confluence of three rivers. It was a natural site for him to develop his skills.
The fastest and most popular means of travel at the time was on water. The young country’s largest cities sprouted up near waterways, either along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico, or on the rivers that crisscrossed the country. And where there were no
CONSTRUCTION STARTED IN 1856. Beams were encased in concrete and sunk into the riverbed. Soon, towers started to emerge from the water. But on Aug. 24, 1857, the New York branch of the Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Co. failed. Grain prices and consumer prices were already falling, and railroads had overextend ed. Transactions were suddenly scrutinized, and thanks to the new telegraph, word spread of financial problems, leading to the Panic of 1857. Credit dried up, and construction on the bridge halted.
War loomed, and finally, in 1861, it came. People on both sides of the river wondered if the bridge would be completed at all, or if Ken tucky would follow the lead of other Southern states and attempt to secede. Ultimately, Kentucky stayed in the Union, and in 1862, Col. John Morgan led an incursion throughout the Bluegrass State. Covington prepared for defense, but Morgan ultimately fell back
As the 19th century reached its midpoint, the idea of a bridge crossing the Ohio River from Cincinnati to Covington, Kentucky, seemed as fantastic as the idea a century later of rockets going to the moon.
to Tennessee. Later that summer, a Confederate army marched into Kentucky and took Lexington, with sights on not just Covington, but Cincinnati. Soon, reinforce ments came to the Queen City, and a pontoon bridge was built into Covington for Union troops to fortify the city. Suddenly, the need for a bridge seemed more apparent than ever.
In 1863, construction resumed. Roebling was pleased to find that the towers remained as sturdy as ever, even five years after work had stopped. Shortly after the war ended in 1865, the first cable was strung between the two towers, and the bridge’s completion was all but assured.
The bridge was the longest span in the world when it opened to foot traffic on Dec. 1, 1866. The next day, it was estimated that at least 75,000 people — almost one-half of Cincinnati’s population in the 1860 census — crossed the bridge. Because the Ohio River froze, making it impassible by ferry, the bridge opened to other traffic ahead of schedule, a month later.
“It is scarcely deemed necessary to say to you that the bridge is a complete success,” Cincinnati and Covington
Bridge Co. president Amos Shinkle wrote in his annual report in 1867.
The bridge from Cincinnati to Covington would not be Roebling’s most famous work, but it would be the last completed in his lifetime.
In 1867, the New York General Assembly chartered a company to build a bridge across the East River, linking New York City with Brooklyn (then a separate city — the third largest in the country, in fact; it would not be come a borough of New York City until 1898). It would be longer than the Cincinnati-Covington Bridge, and more complicated. The East River is a tidal strait, with rising and falling tides. The currents were more power ful there than in the Ohio River and even changed the direction of the East River’s flow throughout the day. Of course, John Roebling was hired for the job.
ROEBLING STARTED SURVEYING the Brooklyn project in 1869. On June 28, he was taking measurements at the Fulton Ferry Landing, when a
Modern photo of the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, which reopened to vehicular traffic in 2022 after undergoing repairs
docking tugboat crushed his foot against the piling. He was taken home and seen by a doctor, but Roebling had no faith in medicine. He was back at work the next day.
“You are inviting certain death for yourself,” a doctor told him. Within three days, Roebling was unable to eat or speak. His wound had become infected, and lockjaw — a disease related to tetanus — had set in.
Even as he got worse, Roebling continued to give or ders, writing them instead of speaking. But his handwrit ing got less legible as the bacterial infection progressed through his body, and his mental acuity started to fade. On July 22, 1869, Roebling died. His son Washington, also a trained engineer, took over the project, which took its toll on him as well. Spending too much time underground during construction, he fell ill. There was too much nitrogen in his blood, and he got what’s now known as decompression sickness (divers call it the bends). He survived but had to watch construction from his apartment.
The Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883 to even greater fanfare than the Ohio River bridge, which it surpassed as the longest in the world. It was heralded as a testament to John and Washington Roebling, and cable suspension bridges became a hallmark of American construction,
from the Verrazano Narrows in New York to the San Francisco Bay in California. And John Roebling was honored nationwide as the man who made it possible.
In 1908, a statue was dedicated to him in Trenton. Another statue was placed in Covington, Kentucky, in 1988, six years after the Covington-Cincinnati Bridge was renamed the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. The bridge closed in 2021 for a $4.5 million renovation, reopening to traffic in April 2022.
Historical markers commemorate Roebling in Cin cinnati and Kentucky, as well as Saxonburg, Pennsylva nia, and Trenton, New Jersey, where his cable factory was. In unveiling the Trenton statue, New Jersey Gov. Edward C. Stokes said the honors were superfluous.
“His works are his monuments,” Stokes said. “In the East the memorial of his genius links together the divid ed sections of the metropolis of our country and looks down upon the commerce of the world. In the North it spans Niagara’s mighty cataracts and makes a pathway between two nations. In the West, his early home, the waters of the Ohio and other streams are crossed by suspended highways fashioned by his talent and skill. So long as these shall stand or the principle of their con struction be observed, his fame is secure.”
John A. Roebling (left); illustrated title page to sheet music for Henry Mayer’s “Suspension Bridge Grand March,” which celebrated the opening of the landmark (right)
At these scheduled presentations in this year’s Best Hometown communities
Nov. 4: Bellefontaine Holland Theatre–5 PM Downtown Bellefontaine Partnership Logan County Visitors Bureau Small Nation
Nov. 10: Kent Tree City Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony–6 PM
Destination Kent CVB Kent State University Kent State University Hotel & Conference Center
Nov. 11: Versailles
Versailles Hometown Christmas Celebration–6:30 PM
Darke County CVB Hotel Versailles Wayne HealthCare
Dec. 2: Athens Tree Lighting–6–8 PM Holzer Health System Ohio University
Feb. 7: Perrysburg City Council Meeting–6:30 PM Perrysburg Area CVB The Towne Center at Levis Commons
From a volunteer effort that illuminates downtown Cambridge to a museum on Medina’s Public Square dedicated to Christmas memories, these places and events embody the spirit of the season.
Cambridge’s Dickens Victorian Village is made possible each year through the generosity of its many volunteers.
You don’t need to be visited by the ghosts of Christmas to get wrapped up in the giv ing spirit. While Ebeneezer Scrooge woke up feeling charitable near the end of Charles Dick ens’ “A Christmas Carol” after a harrowing adven ture, you can just head to Cambridge between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 to get in on the good feeling.
Started in 2006, the annual, free-of-charge Dickens Victorian Village transforms the Guern sey County seat into a slice of Dickensian life with 92 scenes featuring carolers, Father Christmas, Tiny Tim and even Scrooge himself. The 180 life-sized mannequins, which are made by hand and dressed up in vintage attire, are set up along Wheeling Avenue, Cambridge’s main street. And it’s all possible because of nearly 1,000 hours of volunteer service each year.
“Some of us work on assembling the manne quins, some of us work on marketing,” says Julie Davey, president of the board of directors for Dick ens Victorian Village. “It’s really heartwarming.”
The idea came from local artist and men’s clothing store owner Bob Ley and his late wife Sue, who was a teacher. The pair wanted to cre ate something special that would bring people to Cambridge for the holidays. Sue, who had been an English major, took one look at the town’s Vic torian-esque architecture and thought the world of Dickens would be a perfect fit. Bob created the first of the mannequins.
“He then went out into the community and found a mass of volunteers,” Davey says.
The town has carried on, with new people chipping in each year and additional aspects being added, such as a nightly light show that turns the county courthouse into an awe-inspiring spectacle set to Christmas music. Tea services and horseand-carriage rides, which both require a ticket pur chase, were added over the years as well.
In another display of local generosity, Dick ens Victorian Village has a welcome center thanks to donations. It houses a Curiosity Shoppe with gifts and an Imagination Station where people can dress up in Victorian-era garb for photos.
“It’s a definite feel-good for me and some of the other volunteers who put in so much time during the year,” Davey says, “to see how everything has evolved, and how it’s appreciated by visitors from all over.”
— Jason Brill
647 Wheeling Ave., Cambridge 43725, 740/421-4956, dickensvictorianvillage.com
THAT GLITTERING SMALL TOWN typically found inside a snow globe comes to life during Historic Roscoe Village’s Christmas Candlelighting Ceremony. The annual tradition has been a holiday highpoint here since 1968.
Located along the route of the Ohio & Erie Canal, the restored town recalls a bygone era. Around 1,000 people turn out each weekend to partake in the collective Christmas spirit, from hearing strolling carolers to visiting with Santa.
That togetherness shines brightest during the candle-lighting ceremony, where a dif ferent group from the community is honored each year. (Last year it was local teachers This year, it’s outstanding students.) After the singing of “Silent Night” and the reading of a Christmas story, the honorees begin the ceremony by lighting their candles. Slowly, each person in the crowd lights their candle until there’s a sea of flickering lights.
“When you have close to 1,000 people singing and lighting candles, it gives you goosebumps,” says Angel Underwood, Historic Roscoe Village’s marketing and group sales manager
Attendees can enjoy holiday treats like roasted chestnuts, mulled cider and ginger cookies made each year by local businesses. The whole experience adds up to a festive occasion that has dazzled generations of families. 600 N. Whitewoman St., Coshocton 43812, 740/622-7644, roscoevillage.com — Kim Schneider
SAUDER VILLAGE TELLS THE STORY of Ohio, from frontier days to the dawn of cars and movie theaters. The latter is illustrated by the living-history destination’s 1920s Main Street, a vividly re-created city block that offers a flavor of what life was like a century ago.
For the holidays, Sauder Village offers a ticketed 1920s Holiday on Main Street eve ning event, during which families can take in the sights and sounds of the season, from classic window displays to carolers to the 20-foot Christmas tree outside the train depot. (A separate, 21-and-older “Making Spirits Bright” event is set for Dec. 2.)
“We start with what could be interesting for people or what they might not know about Christmas in the 1920s,” explains Sheri Friesner, director of the historic village at Sauder Village. “Not just what they were doing in the homes but what could be happen ing in different shops in a typical 1920s small town.”
The inviting blast-to-the-past also offers the chance to watch a holiday film from the 1920s in the theater and see how the street’s hardware store, bank and other locations would have been decorated during the era. 22611 St. Rte. 2, Archbold 43502, 419/4462541, saudervillage.org — Kaitlyn Finchler
Mark Klaus’ incredible Castle Noel in the heart of downtown Medina holds within it a lifetime of Christmas memories, no matter your age.
Mark Klaus’ personal Christmas memories run deep. He remembers hearing stories about how his paternal grandfather would use wallpaper scraps to build Christmas villages for his father and his siblings because they didn’t have enough money for presents. He thinks back to going to a Peninsula tree farm with his dad to pick out a 16-footer that barely fit in their Seven Hills house. He recalls his dad jingling all the way, decorating that home inside and out and inviting friends, family and neighbors over to give them a holiday they would remember. And he’s always nostalgic for the idea of sitting around and watching the same movies each year.
“Christmas movies are a part of our American tradition,” says Klaus. “Other movies come and go, but Christmas movies you line up and watch every single year — they’re a part of celebrating.”
Over the years, Klaus’ lifelong love of Christmas — even in the face of the tragedy of losing his moth er on Christmas Eve when he was 16 — has resulted in a huge collection of movie props, over a thousand toys from decades past, decorative department store window displays from New York City and more. Castle Noel, the downtown Medina wonderland-meets-museum he started in 2013 with his wife Dana, has halls (and rooms) decked with almost all of it. Visitors can explore the spot’s 40,000 square feet as part of a guided tour, which requires a reservation and ends with a scoot down the slide like the one seen in “A Christmas Story.”
Klaus, who bears a striking resemblance to the other Claus, simply loves helping people create new memories or become nostalgic for old ones. Castle Noel is home to holiday movie props, such as the sleigh from Jim Carrey’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Cousin Eddie’s RV from “National Lam poon’s Christmas Vacation” and an animatronic reindeer from 1985’s “Santa Claus: The Movie.” Once, he spotted a young woman standing in front of that reindeer with a tear in her eye. Turns out, her mother had passed away recently, and they always watched that movie together each Christmas.
“ ‘Somehow, I feel closer to her standing by all this stuff,’ ” Klaus recalls her saying. “I went into my office where I have the original casting [mold for the reindeer], and I said, ‘Why don’t we hold this, and we’ll take a picture for your mom.’ ... So many things like that have happened here.” — JB
WHEN FAMILIES ARRIVE at his farm near Yellow Springs to cut their own Christmas tree, Ben Young immediately recognizes repeat customers.
“I can always tell our regulars because the kids want to get their hot cocoa before they get their tree,” he says.
Complimentary cocoa, of course, is hardly the reason that locals make it a tradition to kick off their holiday celebrations with a visit to the cut-and-carry farm that Young’s father Carl started with his wife Dorothy in 1985.
“Folks enjoy the entire experi ence,” he says, “of coming here with their children or grandchildren and having everyone take part in choosing and cutting down a tree, putting it on a sled, and dragging it back to their car.”
The 30-acre Christmas tree farm has 26,000 pine, spruce and fir trees, and about 1,800 of them will be big enough to brighten homes this holiday season. Young supplies handsaws and tub-style sleds and uses a machine to shake off dead needles.
The farm also offers fresh wreaths naturally decorated with pine cones, and its cheery gift shop carries ornaments and stocking stuffers. The adventure of getting a Christmas tree the old-fashioned way is so popular that Young uses an advance reservation system so that families don’t have to wait in long lines. And since its selection sells quickly, the farm is open only from Friday through Sunday on two select weekends during the holiday season.
“The demand for our trees,” says Young, “is growing faster than the trees themselves.”
4968 U.S. Route 68 N., Yellow Springs 45387, 937/708-6828, youngschristmastreefarm.com
— Damaine Vonada
THE TINY TUSCARAWAS County village of Zoar has a little more than 160 residents, but the community founded by German separatists in 1817 as a Utopian Christian settle ment is rich in history. Homes and buildings throughout the village offer a feel of what it would have been like to live in that community, which lasted up until the end of the 19th century.
During the holidays, travelers can explore the village by way of guided tours while also learning about the traditions of the those who once lived here. The two-day Christmas at Zoar event highlights that history while embracing the spirit of the season.
“For Christmas, we switch our tours [to share information] about how different Christmas traditions originated,” says Tammi Shrum, historic sites director at Historic Zoar Village and the nearby Fort Laurens Museum in Bolivar.
During Christmas in Zoar, visi tors can shop at the museum store, grab a pastry from the bakery, browse the juried craft show and enjoy the tree-lighting ceremony.
Residents take part in a porch-dec orating contest that has long been a tradition in the village. Even those who visit outside the days of the event can enjoy the holiday cheer.
“Christmas at Zoar is a oneweekend event,” Shrum says, “but at the village we really make sure there is something magical for the duration of the holiday season.”
198 Main St., Zoar 44697, 330/8743011, historiczoarvillage.com KF
Created as way to bring people back downtown, the Steubenville Nutcracker Village is an example of how the holidays can inspire change. T
he magic of the Christmas season and its bright, multicolored lights can illuminate often-over looked areas. That’s what Therese Fedoryka sees when she looks at Steubenville Nutcracker Village. The event, which runs Nov. 22 through Jan. 7, features 200 life-size, hand-carved nut crackers lining the streets of Steubenville in Jefferson County.
Fedoryka’s father, Mark Nelson, helped start the free event in 2015 to inspire residents to take pride in their downtown. Nelson, who owns Nelson Fine Art & Gifts, which crafts religious gifts, tables, chairs and more out of wood, thought nutcrackers would be a fun way to pique people’s interests and tie into the German heritage of Steubenville.
“The name of the town honors Baron von Steuben,” explains Fedoryka, who serves as event coordi nator and nutcracker designer, “but also a lot of German immigrants settled in Steubenville.”
The nutcrackers, which include The Wizard of Oz’s Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Dorothy, Steubenville native Dean Martin, and even Baron von Steuben himself, are so intricate and detailed, you’d swear they were built in Santa’s workshop. But Fedoryka’s brother-in-law, Brodie Stutz man, crafts all of them.
“It’s a labor of love,” says Fedoryka, noting that this year’s new nutcrackers include Glinda the Good Witch, Belle from Beauty and the Beast and Mr. and Mrs. Coal Miner, honoring Steubenville’s coal-mining heritage. For his day job, Stutzman is a mold-maker and does gold leaf and filigree work. But when he has time during the year, he works on the nutcrackers while he’s waiting for a mold to dry.
Fedoryka says the nutcrackers have also delivered on the idea of helping rejuvenate downtown. In the last five years, about 30 buildings have been purchased, many by local investors, and are in various states of restoration. A new cigar shop, brewery and pizza spot are all in the works. Fedoryka’s family business has been part of the investment too. Since 2015, Nelson Fine Art & Gifts has purchased a half dozen buildings and started three businesses downtown, including a gift shop where miniaturized ver sions of all 200 nutcrackers are sold.
“It’s a perfect example of showing that something that’s perceived as ugly … can be transformed magically,” Fedoryka says, “and the perfect time of year for that magic transformation is Christmas time. Then, for the rest of the year, they kind of see that thing in a new light.”
— JB
155 N. Fourth St., Steubenville 43952, 740/282-5334, steubenvillenutcrackervillage.com
SANTA: COURTESY OF CHRISTMAS AT ZOAR; NUTCRACKER: COURTESY OF STEUBENVLLE NUTCRACKER VILLAGECreate new family traditions this season at these cities across Ohio that offer plenty of holiday cheer. Here are 12 experiences to put on your wishlist. By Elise von Gunten
GERVASI VINEYARD CANTON, OHIO
3946 Broadway Grove City, OH 614-991-0338 plumrunwinery.com
Located in Grove City’s historic Town Center, we offer many varieties of red, white, and fruit wines, house-made ciders, craft beers & cocktails, and a full service food menu. Perfect for the holidays, we have gift cards, custom gift baskets, complete gift shop, and space for private events. Support local this holiday season!
Fill Your Glass on the Three Rivers Wine Trail!
1700 55th St. NE Canton, OH 330-497-1000 gervasivineyard.com
This winter, escape to Gervasi Vineyard and experience the beauty of a unique, Tuscan-inspired winery resort. Three distinct restaurants offer casual and upscale cuisine paired with award-winning wines and spirits. Retreat to a luxurious suite and enjoy the comforts of heated floors, plush linens and a cozy fireplace. A complimentary continental breakfast is delivered each morning of your stay.
432 North Whitewoman Street Coshocton, OH 740-622-4877 threeriverswinetrailohio.com
Enjoy the wide-open spaces of the Appalachian foothills and explore the eclectic mix of eight unique wineries and a craft brewery, all within a short drive of one another in beautiful Coshocton County. It's the perfect romantic getaway or girlsʼ weekend adventure.
111 West Main Street Marblehead, OH 419-967-5344 redferninn.com
Located in the historic Marblehead Schoolhouse just steps from Lake Erie and down the street from the Marblehead Lighthouse, the Red Fern Inn is the perfect getaway. Guests have access to complimentary bicycles, a private lounge and several fire pits. We’re open year-round, with live music and special events April-October.
4573 Route 307 East Geneva, OH 440-415-0661 laurellovineyards.com
Celebrating our 20th anniversary, Laurello Vineyards is a familyowned winery providing handcrafted, award-winning wines and specially prepared foods as well as beer on tap. Laurello’s offers premium, vinifera wines in addition to unique blends and delicious ice wines. We invite you to stop by to experience our boutique winery.
5585 State Route 307 Geneva, Ohio 440-466-8466 ferrantewinery.com
Family-owned winery in the heart of the Grand River Valley. State-ofthe-art winemaking facility, tasting room, full-service Italian ristorante, live weekend entertainment. Open year round.
Book your holiday party with us! Gift cards, wine baskets and holiday wines now available.
10036 Rittman Road Wadsworth, OH 330-331-7383 thewhitetimbers.com
White Timbers is a new uniquely tranquil winery, vineyard and event center located at 10036 Rittman Road, Wadsworth, Ohio in Medina County. Find us online at thewhitetimbers.com and on Facebook and Instagram. Email: whitetimberswinery@gmail.com. Join us for a “Sip and a Sunset”!
West Front Street, Suite G Napoleon, OH
(9463)
16982 CR-M2 Napoleon, OH 419-758-3442 leisuretimewinery.com
As our name implies, Leisure Time Winery is the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely afternoon or evening. Tucked into the peaceful countryside of Napoleon, Ohio, we offer a little something for everyone. We proudly craft an assortment of wines, including several fruit options.
978 Catawba Avenue Put-In-Bay, OH 419-285-2811
heinemanswinery.com
The Lumberyard Winery & Supply is situated along the scenic Maumee River in a historic lumberyard in Napoleon, Ohio. With a combined 40 years of winemaking experience, our winemakers are producing a variety of wines. Come in and enjoy an appetizer with your favorite wine or try something new in a tasting or flight.
Celebrating 134 years of family traditions, Heineman’s is the oldest family-owned and -operated winery in Ohio. This award-winning winery is also home to the world’s largest known Celestite geode and offers combined tours of the winery and Crystal Cave. Visit the tasting room featuring wines made on-site, while enjoying a fresh-cut cheese plate. Check our website for hours. Online ordering 24/7 to 38 states!
9050 West Old Lincoln Way Wooster, OH 330-804-9463
lincolnwayvineyards.com
Find Your Wine Time® with us. Come sit in the tasting room, on the patio, picnic area or our event space, relax and enjoy our wine, hard cider, fruit wine slushies and more. Check out our website or Like us on Facebook to see our food truck and entertainment schedule.
Gore Orphanage Road
OH
Vermilion Valley Vineyards produces excellent quality wines with a classic, old-world European style on its 15 acres. This beautiful estate winery offers a tasting room, live music, and an extensive wine menu throughout the year. Come enjoy our outdoor space which overlooks our vineyard and 1.5-acre pond.
Northridge Road Findlay,
• Relaxing environment
• Extensive wine menu
• Full lunch and dinner menu
• Located off I-75 on Northridge Road
• Tuesday–Thursday 11:30am–9pm
• Friday–Saturday 11:30am–10pm
Offering a large selection of wines produced from 100% estate grown grapes, The Winerie is an estate winery and the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing night out, a special weekend date night while enjoying live music on select nights.
Hayes Avenue
Since 1946, the Duke Energy Trains have been a cherished part of Cincinnati’s holiday season. Stop by the Cincinnati Museum Center to see it transformed into the North Pole during the annual Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains (Nov. 11–Jan. 2). Over 1,000 feet of model railroad run throughout the historic train sta tion, as 50 miniature locomotives chug past scenes of crowded city streets, rail yards and homes. Visitors can also take in Brickopolis, a metropolis built with Legos that depicts a colorful cityscape featuring favorite charac ters. Holiday Junction also includes a visit from Santa and a scavenger hunt.
Head north from the riverfront to expe rience one of the city’s illuminating annual traditions. Featuring more than 4 million individual LED bulbs, the PNC Festival of Lights (Nov. 18–Jan. 8) at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden brightens each holiday season. Activities begin each day at
November 19 - December 31
The PNC Festival of Lights
illuminates the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden each holiday season. A “Happy Zoo Year” celebration takes place on New Year’s Eve.
4 p.m. and the evening attractions include stations to roast s’mores, black-light pup pet performances, the North Polar Express Train, a fairy search inside Fiona’s Fairyland, Santa’s Village and life-size animal lanterns displayed throughout the zoo. Wildlife en
thusiasts can step inside multiple heated buildings to see their favorite animals, and a “Happy Zoo Year” celebration takes place on New Year’s Eve.
Krohn Conservatory’s “Celestial Hol iday” (Nov. 5–Jan. 8) began in 1982 as an
Our calendar is packed with special events and concerts. Visit youngstownlive.com for a complete list of holiday happenings.
Ohio State Fair entry by landscape architect Paul Busse. The creative mashup of his pas sions for architecture, gardens and trains has become a beloved and annually anticipated tradition for residents throughout Greater Cincinnati. The annual event at the con servatory, which is located in Cincinnati’s Eden Park in the Mount Adams neighbor hood, features an array of colorful poinset tias, garden railways, botanical architecture and mini versions of Cincinnati landmarks. Busse’s Applied Imagination team and local artisans craft the displays that visitors see during this holiday-season favorite.
Cincinnati Museum Center
1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati 45203 513/287-7000, cincymuseum.org/ holiday-junction
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati 45220 513/281-4700, cincinnatizoo.org
Krohn Conservatory
1501 Eden Park Dr., Cincinnati 45202 513/421-4086, cincinnati-oh.gov
Carillon Historical Park, the home of Dayton History, transforms into a holiday wonderland during “A Carillon Christmas.”
Enjoy lights, shopping for gifts made by local artisans and delicious seasonal treats.
The 65 acres of holiday cheer span mod el-train displays, rides on the Midnight Ex press miniature train and the centerpiece of the event: the 200-foot-tall Carillon Tree of Light, descending from the top of the histor ic Deeds Carillon.
History is part of the experience as well. A station inside Newcom Tavern — Day ton’s oldest standing structure — invites the little ones to write letters to Santa, while costumed interpreters at the Morris & Het zel Bakery offer demonstrations on historic hearth cooking. Visitors can even pick up a snack of gingerbread cookies and a cone of roasted chestnuts. Nov. 22–Dec. 30; 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton 45409, 937/293-2841, carillonchristmas.org
The 200-foot-tall Carillon Tree of Light is the centerpiece of Dayton History’s “A Carillon Christmas” event.
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No matter your age or the time of year, Grove City, Ohio has it all. Spice up your holiday season with a variety of adventurous options, from brisk outdoor hikes, cozy arts & crafts experiences, unique locally owned boutiques, and delicious food — we’ve got all you’ll need to have an exciting and fulfilling holiday season.
Just a short drive from Columbus, Ohio, Grove City is an unexpected nature’s paradise. We have 8 community parks in Grove City alone, 2 of them metro parks that display the beautiful and diverse nature that Ohio has to offer. Stop to stretch your legs at Fryer Park. This 110-acre educational and recreational park is an entire destination in itself. It contains a preserved wooded area for bird watching or nature walks, a one mile recreational trail for walking or biking, and a sledding hill — perfect for those snowy holiday days.
If it’s holiday shopping you’re looking for, Grove City has over a dozen unique boutiques to choose from. Check out Country Hearth Primitives for holiday decor and unique upcycled antiques from local vendors, all packaged in a quaint shop with four floors for you to browse for the perfect gift. If creating handmade gifts is more your style, check out Coffee Break Pottery to create your own kiln fired work of art, or head down to The Chandler to pour your own candle to cozy up the homes of your loved ones. Don’t forget to check out Grove City Guide & Gear while visiting for Grove City themed gifts and goods from small local vendors for some hidden gems you may not have known existed!
If you’re on the hunt for stocking stuffers, Strawser’s Ice Cream, Pop, & Candy Shop is the perfect stop in the Historical Town Center. They have any candy you could name, even some you probably haven’t seen since your own childhood. Talk about nostalgic! And speaking of nostalgia, they have over 100 flavors of bottled soda and can create any kind of Ice Cream Float your heart desires! Once you’ve worked up an appetite during your shopping adventures, stop by Planks, a saloon inspired restaurants that exists inside of a building that’s been around since the 1850s!
Make it an overnight stay at one of our 18 hotels so you don’t miss out any of our adventures. If you’re staying longer than a day, it’s a great time to make a dent in our Pizza Trek! Get rewarded for trying local pizza; order from five local shops and earn a free Grove City Pizza Trek tee.
With lights that dance along to holiday hits and a decorated 85-foot Norway spruce greeting guests in the Main Plaza, Toledo Zoo & Aquarium’s “Lights Before Christ mas” dazzles visitors each holiday season. The more than 1 million lights and over 200 illuminated displays depicting animals are just the start of what has made this event a hit since 1986. (Zoo workers begin the five-month process of setting up in June, and it’s clear why.) The side of the zoo that features the attraction’s historic buildings
offers a Yuletide Food & Spirits tent, where visitors can grab freshly prepared seasonal sandwiches, soups, appetizers and desserts. Holiday cocktails and seasonal beers are available for the grown-ups.
Thursday nights during the month of December feature ice-carving demonstra tions, but every evening of “Lights Before Christmas” is full of holiday sights, sounds and activities, from the Holly Jolly Express Train to the amphitheater ice slide to carol ers strolling the grounds. Nov. 18–Dec. 31; 2 Hippo Way, Toledo 43609, 419/385-5721, toledozoo.org/lights
Toledo Zoo & Aquarium’s “Lights Before Christmas” features more than 1 million lights, over 200 illuminated displays and fun for the entire family.
Experience a unique Tuscan-inspired winery resort featuring tastings and pairings, boutique shopping, 48 luxury suites, a coffeehouse/cocktail lounge, and exceptional cuisine at three distinct restaurants. Open 7 days a week.
Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of redemp tion comes to life on the Mimi Ohio Theatre stage as Great Lakes Theater presents its production of “A Christmas Carol” (Nov. 25–Dec. 23). George Freeman, who adapt ed and originally directed this version of the classic, frames the story as one told from mother to child. The exceptional set design, wardrobe and special effects honed over the past three decades deliver an immersive ex perience for audiences that has made the production a holiday tradition.
“It’s a story that stays relevant forever,” says Great Lakes Theater artistic director Sara Bruner. “It always resonates with audi ences, every single year.”
From Playhouse Square, head east to Cleveland’s University Circle neighborhood and its collection of cultural institutions. The Cleveland Botanical Garden’s annual holiday event (Nov. 19–Dec. 31) features thousands of lights inside and outside, il luminated trails and a 16-foot tree deco
rated by local artisans. For 2022, the out door gardens are decorated to reflect the history and people of Cleveland’s historic neighborhoods. When it’s time to warm up, head inside to explore the biomes depicting Madagascar and Costa Rica. Kids can enjoy slides, crafts and music in a play garden dec orated to feel like the North Pole.
Next, embrace holiday magic and a film favorite at the A Christmas Story House & Museum in the city’s Tremont neighbor hood. (This residential home and street are where exterior scenes for the classic 1983 movie were filmed.) Brian Jones, who as sembled and sold leg lamps like the ones in the movie, bought the home after it went up for sale on eBay in 2004. From there, he renovated the home to match what it looked like on screen and began offering tours. A gift shop across the street is filled with souvenirs and memorabilia, ranging from pink bunny suits to the movie’s famous leg lamp.
Great Lakes Theater
11511 Euclid Ave., Cleveland 44115 216/241-6000, greatlakestheater.org
Cleveland Botanical Garden
11030 East Blvd., Cleveland 44106 216/721-1600, holdenfg.org
A Christmas Story House & Museum 3159 W. 11th St., Cleveland 44109 216/298-4919, achristmasstoryhouse.com
Immerse yourself in lights and horticultural displays at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ “Holiday Blooms” and “Conservatory Aglow” (Nov. 19–Jan. 8). Take in hundreds of vibrant poinsettias and explore the Franklin Park grounds at “Holiday Blooms” during the day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.). Evening brings a separate ticketed outdoor-lights experience with “Conserva tory Aglow” (5–9 p.m.). (The interior por tions of the conservatory open during the day are also open during the evening event.) The glowing Rainbow Tunnel is a perenni al favorite, as are the illuminated topiaries
(From opposite page left): “Holiday Pops,” Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens’ “Conservatory Aglow” and BalletMet’s “The Nutcracker”
displayed throughout the grounds. Don’t forget to stop by the gift shop and, of course, the cafe for treats.
From there, head to the Ohio Theatre in the city’s Uptown District to hear the holi day sounds of the Columbus Symphony’s annual “Holiday Pops” performances (Dec. 2–4). These shows have become a seasonal favorite in Columbus for the symphony’s jazzy takes on holiday classics. The ambi ance of the Ohio Theatre, with its 21-foot chandelier and Spanish-Baroque architec ture, adds to the experience. After the show, be sure to take a few photos. You may even catch a visit from Santa if you’re attending one of the two matinees.
For another classic holiday show at the Ohio Theatre, get dressed up and experi ence the beauty of BalletMet’s performance of Gerard Charles’ rendition of the holi day favorite “The Nutcracker” (Dec. 8–24). Charles unveiled his take on the tale on Bal letMet’s stage in 2004 while serving as the company’s artistic director. This version of
“The Nutcracker” marries the most iconic and beloved aspects of previous versions with innovations that include vibrant cos tumes, comedic details and slight changes to Tchaikovsky’s overtures.
“I really appreciate how unique Ballet Met’s ‘Nutcracker’ is, especially in pacing of the story, the humor and showing the joy of dance,” says Edwaard Liang, BalletMet’s ar tistic director. He says his favorite moment is at the end when the Nutcracker bows to Clara. “It’s so simple, yet it makes me teary every time.”
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
1777 E. Broad St., Columbus 43203 614/715-8000, fpconservatory.org
Columbus Symphony
39 E. State St., Columbus 43215 614/469-0939, columbussymphony.com
BalletMet
39 E. State St., Columbus 43215 614/469-0939, balletmet.org
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens’ annual “Deck the Hall” celebration features more than a million lights set against the backdrop of the former estate of The Goodyear Tire & Rub ber Co. co-founder F.A. Seiberling and his family, who resided here for 40 years. Each year, the 65-room home is decorated around a particular theme, alternating between modern and traditional presentations.
This year’s traditional theme, “Gracious Gatherings,” focuses on a return to togeth erness during the holidays. Visitors touring the home can take in the variety of decora tions, from exquisite pieces from the Seiber ling family’s era to a room of childlike imag ination filled with stuffed animals, gnomes and Santa Claus.
After seeing the home, walk the estate’s grounds filled with dazzling light displays and visit the play garden, transformed for the occasion into Gingerbread Land. Don’t for get to stop by the carriage house courtyard to buy hot cocoa and cookies. Nov. 25–27, Dec. 1–4, 8–23, 26–30; 714 N. Portage Path, Akron 44303, 330/315-3287, stanhywet.org
Our capital city offers a full slate of holiday happenings. When it comes to spending time with family and friends this season, these destinations are a good place to start. By Macy Kile
Kick off the holiday season at one of Ohio’s top shopping, dining and entertainment destinations. Located 10 miles from the heart of Co lumbus, Easton Town Center offers not only an indoor and outdoor shopping experience, but it also hosts fun events to get you into the holiday spirit throughout the season.
Gather with friends and family on Nov. 18 for Easton’s Grand Il lumination from 6 to 9 p.m. Every light is simultaneously illuminated at 7 p.m., including the 50-foot holiday tree. (Following the Grand Illumination, the tree puts on a light show synchronized to music.)
“There’s a store for everyone here,” says Meredith Leighton, senior manager of brand experience at Easton. “Plus, the magic of the lights and trees makes it a great spot for the holidays.”
Take a romantic Cinderella-style carriage ride to view the lights or swing by the Central Park Fountain and its 30-foot tree that shines each evening. Meet up with family and friends at one of the on-site restaurants and bars, including Pins Mechanical Co. (an adult “bar cade”), or grab a group of pals and hop on a pedal wagon to enjoy fresh air and a winter beverage. Food options range from family favor ites like The Cheesecake Factory to dining experiences such as Mitch ell’s Ocean Club, which serves seafood, steaks and great cocktails.
Plan your visit to Columbus’ Short North Arts District during its big gest gallery hop of the year. The Short North Holiday Hop, an all-day event on Dec. 3, hosts live music, performance art, visual art and more.
“Art galleries and other businesses feature new exhibitions and local art through open houses,” says Betsy Pandora, executive director of the Short North Alliance. “People get to mill around to different
galleries to get accustomed to the neighbor hood. It’s a great way to welcome people who are new to the community.”
The district is home to art galleries, lo cally owned shops and great restaurants. Businesses participating in the Short North Holiday Hop include District Art & Apparel, which features original artwork, prints and startup apparel and fashion brands; and Sean Christopher Gallery Ohio, which features works by emerging Ohio artists.
Columbus’ Short North Arts District is home to art galleries, restaurants and shops (above). Wildlights returns to the Columbus Zoo each holiday season (left).
After strolling with friends and family, check out some of the Short North’s great spots for food, from breakfast to bars and night life. Visit Native Cold Pressed, which serves cold-pressed juice; make a reservation at The Guild House, a fine dining restaurant featuring locally grown ingredients; or grab a margarita and upscale Mexican fare at El Segundo.
Join the city of Columbus at the Ohio Statehouse Dec. 1 for the an nual Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting. The tree lighting commenc es at 5:30 p.m. in the atrium and is immediately followed by a cele
expand the celebration.
Tired of the same old holiday season? Then celebrate in Columbus—there are so many reasons! From classic traditions to faraway flavors, your crew will find plenty to discover and savor. So book your trip now, and don’t delay, because Columbus is where you can holiday your way. Learn more at ExperienceColumbus.com/Holidays.
bration in which attendees can visit activity tables, get their photo taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus and enjoy the merriment of the holidays at the historic Ohio Statehouse.
Grab a complimentary cookie and vis it various rooms at the Statehouse to view live acts, including dance performances co ordinated by OhioDance, music groups and more. Begin working on your holiday shop ping list with a stop at the Statehouse muse um shop to find Ohio-centric gift ideas.
Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo hosts a dazzling light display each year. Beginning at 5 p.m. every day from Nov. 18 to Jan. 1, millions of lights strung throughout the zoo are illuminated for a stunning show. Lights are synchronized to holiday tunes, and the variety of displays include the 42-foot Spar kling Spruce and Conservation Lake.
“Make sure to stop and see the reindeer exhibit. They were the first animal that start ed the zoo 95 years ago,” says Jeff Glorioso, director of events and promotions at the zoo.
After taking in the lights and animal ex hibits, be sure to visit the S’mores Experi ence, where you can huddle around and roast your own s’more.
For those looking for a taste of history, good gifts and great food, a visit to the city’s German Village neighborhood is in order. Schmidt’s Sausage Haus has been part of the community since 1886, growing from a former butcher and horse’s stable to one of the city’s favorite landmark eateries, offering traditional German cuisine such as bratwurst and schnitzel and delicious desserts.
One of Schmidt’s signature items is its jumbo cream puff, a pastry filled with whipped filling that weighs in at half a pound. The November special flavor, pumpkin, has a pumpkin-flavored whipped filling, a dol lop of whipped cream and a candy pumpkin garnish. December brings the pfeffernusse, inspired by a traditional German cookie with flavors of nutmeg, molasses and cinnamon and covered in powdered sugar.
The Book Loft of German Village is an other neighborhood favorite. This 32-room bookstore is the perfect place to get lost in the excitement of holiday shopping. Find
a gift for everyone in the family with thou sands of books of all genres, as well as fun gifts such as literary-themed ornaments, novelty socks and the largest collection of jigsaw puzzles in the Midwest.
Plan your visit around German Village’s event of the season, Village Lights. The an nual celebration happens the first Sunday in December (Dec. 4 this year) from 5 to 9 p.m. The entire neighborhood participates with extended business hours and specials. Fol low the luminarias to view the lights and bask in the magic of live musicians.
“People meander down the brick streets listening to live music,” says Rachel Lewellen, communications and engagement coordina tor for the German Village Society. “It’s a walking-only event ... like a Christmas mar ket outside with tents and plenty to do.”
Easton Town Center
160 Easton Town Center, Columbus 43219 614/337-2200, eastontowncenter.com
1 Capital Square, Columbus 43215 614/752-9777, ohiostatehouse.org
Short North Arts District shortnorth.org
Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo 4850 W. Powell Rd., Powell 43065 614/645-3400, columbuszoo.org
2022 WAS A MONUMENTAL YEAR FOR US HERE AT EASTON TOWN CENTER.
We welcomed brick-and-mortar stores of some of the most recognizable brands in the world, like Gucci and
We asked some of our most reliable stylists from brands around Easton about the trendiest colors, patterns, fabrics, silhouettes, and accessories for winter. 90s/Y2K styles are making a significant comeback in every single department. Don’t be afraid to take a step outside your comfort zone and add some of these throwback trends to your closet!
What are the top trends you’re seeing for the winter season? Booties are extremely popular for winter. We’re also seeing full stockings being worn with dresses, giving a textured, layered look. Women are wearing our bamboo-style bags to elevate looks and a cross-body strap to give more versatility to the outfit.
What colors, fabrics, and patterns are trending? We’re seeing earth tones – black, brown, burnt orange – with jewel tones – emerald greens and purples – showing up in accessories. Women are also gravitating toward suede.
There’s a growing trend in grommets and jewels that can attach to a bag to add a different dimension to the look.
What are the top trends you’re seeing for Winter 2022?
We’re ready to celebrate with Glitz Pumps, Velvet and Shine. Hyper textural accessories are a big trend with our brands.
Are there any hot colors, fabrics or patterns that will be trending this winter? Shades of green and pops of pink are big this season. Sherpa, velvet, and vegan reign king in fabrics. We’re also loving nods of varsity striping and fair aisle in fabrics that pop up in sweaters.
What’s your must-have accessory for the winter?
Hyper-textured bags
Must-have accessory: The “Perfect Black Bag.” A small, versatile handbag that has a black strap for daytime wear, and offers a heavy gold or silver chain that gives a more dressed-up look.
Must-have basic: A pair of boots to dress up or down. That perfect black or brown pair can go with anything!
What are the five items you need in your closet this winter?
1. Pair of boots you can dress up or down
2. Cross body bag you can take from day into night
Fresh pair of sunglasses
A trendy sock or stocking that stands out from your outfit
5. A blazer that can be worn casually over a sweatshirt, or a blouse or dress for a more elevated look
What’s your must-have basic piece for the winter? A great pair of jeans – straight legs and bootcuts.
What are the five things you need in your closet?
Anything velvet
Shearling bag
Glitzy pump
Fair Isle sweater
Vegan leather bottom
THIS WINTER, WE’VE GOT OUR EYE ON NEW TRENDS, COLOR PALETTES, SEASONAL STAPLES, AND COZY CLASSICS.
What are the top trends you’re seeing for Winter 2022? Of course we have some returning winter trends like bomber jackets and black and white. But we’re now seeing the denim on denim trend coming back, as well as oversized suiting, sweater vests, wide-leg cargo pants, platform shoes, and over-the-knee boots. Are there any hot colors, fabrics or patterns that will be trending this winter? Look out for leather and faux leather in unexpected colors and styles, metallics, feathers and embellishments, and always animal prints.
What are the top trends you’re seeing for Winter 2022?
Shearling is one of our top trends for fall and winter of 2022 at Coach. Bold yet earth tones with bags and clothing.
Are there any hot colors, fabrics or patterns that will be trending this winter? Colorwise, we’re specifically seeing dark turquoise, rich berry colors, cherry reds, and warm blue tones. As I mentioned, we’re seeing shearling as a top fabric, and houndstooth is a popular pattern.
What are the top trends you’re seeing for the winter season?
I’m seeing a lot of baggy jeans, oversized suiting, and loose sweat sets. And there’s a strong Y2K vibe showing up in mid-rise and lowrise denim, plaid skirts, and bomber jackets.
What colors, fabrics, and patterns are trending this season?
A lot of bold hues like bright pinks, golden yellows, and amazon greens. Leather is still going strong, along with tweed and big, bold floral patterns.
Must-have accessory: A shoe with a thick sole. Think a casual sneaker, thigh high boot, or platform heel.
What are the top trends you’re seeing for the winter season?
All kinds of denim – wide leg, flare leg, angled slits – and shackets are popular this season. Long maxi dresses and colorful pleated pant suits too. Equestrian wraps to effortlessly throw over the shoulders for a more sophisticated look. I’m also seeing 80s-inspired glamor boots, leather sneakers, and fringe detail on jackets, dresses, and sweaters.
What colors, fabrics, and patterns are trending? Bold colors, like bright pink, greens, and all shades of purple, plus the usual black and neutral colors. We also have lots of leather coming in this year: pants, skirts, dresses, and jackets. Genuine leather and vegan leather are equally popular. For holiday parties and more elevated
Must-have accessory: A pair of statement boots
Must-have basic: A stylish (but functional) winter coat
What are the five things you need in your closet?
On-trend jeans
Cashmere sweater
Leather or faux leather jacket
Sweater dress
Over-the-knee boots
Must-have accessory: Gloves
Must-have basic: Snow boots
What are the five things you need in your closet?
1. A great pair of fuzzy boots
2. Oversized sweater
Leather pants
A handbag with a pop of color
A warm, fuzzy hat
Must-have basic: A sherpa denim trucker jacket. Depending on the wash, it can be dressed up or down, making it a versatile piece.
What are the five things you need in your closet?
1. Baggy jeans
2. Mid-wash denim jacket
Oversized cardigan
Slouchy bag
Trench coat
occasions, you’ll find luxurious velvets, sheer gowns, and feathertrimmed sequin tops.
Must-have accessory: A scarf – cashmere, fur, or handmade wool felt with silk.
Must-have basic: A great coat or jacket. It can be shearling, leather, wool, cashmere, or fur – whatever suits your lifestyle.
What are the five things you need in your closet?
Black dress
Leather vest
Colorful pantsuit
Well-fitting pair of jeans
Fluffy sweater
From the fashionista, to the foodie, to the fun-seeker, to the no-frills family member, we have the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Here are some of our favorites.
When it’s time to start working through your holiday list, these destinations make for great day trips and weekend excursions.
Licking County may be known for its history and wideopen green spaces, but its eclectic and unusual shop ping takes center stage during the holiday season. Even the most challenging and discerning person on your shopping list will be delighted with something from any of the county’s galleries, apparel stores or specialty locations.
Cornell Clothing Company on Newark’s Courthouse Square is an official Woolrich retailer and is stocked from floor to ceiling with a large selection and wide variety of sweaters and winter wear. Newark’s Gallery of Dreams or Granville’s Green Velvet offers one-of-a-kind gifts and clothing ready for gift giving.
Art lovers will be thankful for original pieces from any of Granville’s premier galleries. You’ll find James Young Fine Art and Art@43023 on historic Broadway. The Work’s Gear Shop in Newark is a glass lover’s dream. The Gear Shop’s shelves overflow with hand-blown glass creations ranging from classic and timely to fun and whimsical.
For funky and funny gifts, the folks at Recreation Gift Company never disappoint. The selection of unique greeting cards and gifts is perfect for every sense of humor. From new titles to rare and vintage finds, books abound at Newark’s Kix Mix Bookstore and Granville’s Readers’ Garden. And don’t forget to end with chocolate! Visit Goumas Candyland in Newark, Granville and Heath to make your holidays brighter and sweeter. For more information, visit explorelc.org.
Whether you’re looking to treat yourself or knock out your holiday shopping, Findlay is the place to go! Unique, small shops dot Findlay and Hancock County, allowing you to pick up a meaningful gift, the perfect outfit, an accent for your home, or just something fun. See where you’ll be shopping at VisitFindlay.com
Burlwick & Co. 405 S. Main St.
Catch a final glimpse of Autumn’s grand show as the Hills transition to the tranquility of winter. Discover the softer side of the holidays while shopping for one-of-a-kind holiday gifts during the 8th Annual Hocking Hills Holiday Treasure Hunt November 1 through December 12. Hunt for treasures in shops and galleries, collect six different Treasure Hunt stickers and enter to win one of more than 25 prizes and a Grand Prize Getaway for 4. Download your Treasure Map at ExploreHockingHills.com
And after a day of Hunting revel in your treasures while relaxing in a cozy cabin surrounded by the serenity only Mother Nature can deliver. Explore the Hocking Hills, Ohio’s Natural Crown Jewels.
Click or call for Free Visitor’s Guide | 1-800-Hocking | ExploreHockingHills.com
Experience Hartville comes alive with merry-filled shop ping and special events during the holidays. The 200acre campus is easy to navigate, spanning Hartville Kitchen, Hartville Hardware and Hartville MarketPlace & Flea Market.
You’ll find something for everyone on your list at the Hartville MarketPlace. Featuring 3 acres of indoor shop ping and a diverse selection of vendors, the MarketPlace offers a mix of old and new items, including antiques, books, clothing, collectibles, home decor, specialty products (including furniture from Amish Furniture of Ohio) and more. Visit during WinterFest on Dec. 9 for a fun-filled evening with horse-drawn carriage rides, ice carvings, seasonal treats and photos with Santa.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Hartville Hardware spans 305,000 square feet, making it the largest inde pendent hardware store in the nation. Whether you’re looking for a great deal on tools, a smoking hot grill, seasonal decor, or just want to stroll the Idea House for project inspiration, there’s always a reason to visit. Stop by the Christmas Open House on Nov. 4 and 5 for every thing you’ll need to create the Christmas of your dreams! Get the perfect photo with Santa and add an element of surprise to your holiday shopping with scratch-off sav ings during the Christmas Shop Open House.
Stroll through boutiques filled with specialty brands and collections covering 25,000 square feet at The Shops at Hartville Kitchen. Head upstairs to the Chil dren’s Shop for unique finds, including books, clothes and stuffed animals. Kids can embark on a Santa Scav enger Hunt and complete the quest to be entered to win a toy-filled prize basket.
When you’re ready for a break, visit Hartville Kitch en Restaurant & Bakery, where generations of families have gathered for homestyle comfort food and a show. For more information, visit experiencehartville.com.
Find the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday list at Experience Hartville.
Whether you’re looking to treat yourself or knock out your holiday shopping, Findlay is the place to go! Unique, small shops dot Findlay and Hancock County, allowing you to pick up a meaningful gift, the perfect outfit, an accent for your home, or just something fun. See where you’ll be shopping at VisitFindlay.com
Downtown Findlay is home to a variety of local favorites perfect for holiday shopping and supporting Small Busi ness Saturday. Start at Elida Candle Co., which specializes in natural, pure-soy candles made in-house. The shop’s beautifully designed products range from room sprays to candle-making supplies, and 5 percent of profits are donated to local charities.
Another woman-owned shop, Guitar Ranch carries guitars, ukuleles and amps, while also offering repairs and lessons. If you’re looking for a bicycle and its accesso ries, GT Wheels Bicycle Shop and Stout Cyclery both have you covered. Stout Cyclery also offers biking apparel for cycling enthusiasts. For the little ones in your life, stop by Smarty Pants Findlay. The specialty toy shop is an empo rium of toys, games, puzzles, books and crafts, all with an educational spin. Interactive gifts for all ages can also be found at Post Board Gaming.
Downtown Findlay offers an array of boutiques spe cializing in clothing, accessories and gifts, from The Urban Market to River + Road to RooBarb Studios. Head over to Burlwick & Co. for a wide selection of elegant home goods, from rugs and furniture to decorative accents.
Whether a treat for yourself or someone special, you’ll find relaxation at Journey Salon & Day Spa, Journey Gifts and Light & Lovely Fair Trade Boutique. For more informa tion, go to visitfindlay.com.
River + Road and Elida Candle Co. (opposite page) are two of the many destinations in downtown Findlay.
Lehman’s (above) offers an array of gift ideas.
Lehman’s has the recipe for the perfect holiday. Located in Kidron, the expansive store offers a wealth of gift ideas for everyone on your list, from outdoors enthusiasts to kitchen aficionados.
Lehman’s Christmas Store can help you make the sea son extra merry with specially chosen gift assortments. Browse Lehman’s assortment of old-fashioned stocking stuffers, from cozy accessories to board games, as well as the selection of USA-made and nonelectric toys. Discover the tools and supplies you need to create handcrafted gifts, such as cookies, candies and soap. Be sure to shop
early and order in advance to avoid delays in getting the perfect gifts delivered to your door.
You’ll also love shopping in-store all throughout the month of December. Find great gifts and seasonal decor, from ornaments and window candles to festive books and hand towels. There may be no better gift than a Lehman’s exclusive product, made just for Lehman’s by skilled, meticulous craftsmen and perfect for those hardto-buy-for loved ones.
Don’t miss the great holiday events. Families can en joy pictures with Santa throughout November and De cember, and school choirs and bands bring the holly jolly spirit of the season. The annual Old-Fashioned Christmas returns on Dec. 3 with demonstrations, live music and pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus in an old-fashioned sleigh. For more information, visit lehmans.com.
We’ve got everything you need for the holidays at Liberty Center. We just need your spirit! Whether you’re searching for the perfect gift or a fun-filled event — the holidays are here. What will you make
Scan the QR code for a full list of events!
Kick off the holidays this season with an uncommon ex perience at Keim Home Center, nestled in the rolling hills of Charm, Ohio. Keim has become the trusted source for your home, building and woodworking needs, and it is a one-of-a kind shopping destination for both locals and visitors alike.
During the Holiday Kickoff Sale from Nov. 21 to 26, you can enjoy sale prices the entire week (except on Thanksgiving Day), so you can focus on the true meaning of the holiday season. Celebrate with sales on all in-stock and regularly priced items within many departments. In addition to the sale, visitors can earn gift cards for pur chases on qualifying brands.
The 125,000-square-foot showroom has more than 64,000 items in stock and access to special order items from many quality brands. You’ll find products ranging from appliances and paint, to power tools and hardware, to an unmatched selection of domestic and exotic woods.
Located in the countryside of Holmes County, Keim is a fourth-generation family business dedicated to caring for your project like they care for their own. For more information about Keim and the Holiday Kickoff Sale, visit keimhome.com.
Keim Home Center is a trusted source for your home, building and woodworking needs, and it is a one-of-a kind shopping destination.
Holmes County is known for its beautiful landscapes and Amish Country destinations. The quaint town of Berlin is home to many unique shopping experiences, from an tiques stores to gift shops to small-town boutiques.
A former dairy barn, the Berlin Village Gift Barn is an amazing space featuring beautiful home decor, accent furniture, kitchenware and more. Just across the parking lot, the Gardens at Country Gatherings carries a variety of plants as well as decorations, pots, supplies and fun ideas such as creating your own fairy garden.
Step into Kaufman’s Kountry Accents and you’ll be met with a warm atmosphere filled with rustic farm house decorations and greenery. Studio 4 Designs is a hidden gem off the main street in town that carries oneof-a-kind and vintage items. From antique typewriters and cameras to retro photographs, you’ll find many ways to enhance your decor. While you’re in the area, don’t miss the Berlin Antique Mall and Berlin Craft Mall. These large destinations are filled with furniture, decor, books, clothing, pottery and more.
Craving a snack? Fuel up on great salads, smoothies and more at Ginger House Coffee. MainStreet Fudge & Popcorn Co. offers ice cream, cream sodas, taffy, popcorn and fudge. Grab something to enjoy during your trip or take a taste of Amish Country home to your family. For more information, go to visitamishcountry.com.
This holiday season, head for the hills — the Hocking Hills. From Nov. 1 to Dec. 12, go hunting for one-ofa-kind gifts during the Hocking Hills Holiday Treasure Hunt. Collect stickers from six participating shops and be entered to win one of more than 25 prizes. You may even be the winner of the grand prize, a Hocking Hills getaway for four.
This is the time of year the Hocking Hills pauses to en joy the splendor of the change of seasons. The beautiful fall colors give way to the magic of winter’s beauty. As the temperature drops, the Hills take on a fresh personal ity. Waterfalls freeze in suspended animation. Cave walls sport ice beards. Owls, eagles and hawks are easy to spot in the leafless trees. Mother Nature takes a deep breath and prepares for the soft season.
Cozy cabins and lodges provide the perfect getaway. Outfitted with all the comforts of home and tucked into the trees, you can relax in front of a blazing fire or soak up the night sky from the private hot tub.
Indulge in a day at the spa. Watch nature from inside a woodland sauna pod. Spend a cleansing hour or two in a tranquil salt cave. Enjoy classic comfort food at locally owned eateries. Imbibe at local breweries, wineries and distilleries, many of which offer live entertainment on weekends. Begin your Hocking Hills holiday getaway at explorehockinghills.com.
Butler County favorites include Sara’s House in Hamilton (above) and Liberty Center (above right). With shopping, nature and lodging, Hocking Hills is a great destination (opposite page).
One of Butler County’s most popular shopping attrac tions, Liberty Center is home to more than 90 diverse stores and restaurants. The multiuse center in Liberty Township brings the community together with an ex pansive range of shopping, activities and entertainment options.
Downtown Hamilton offers unique experiences for the whole family, with boutique shops, dining, night life and great events year-round, such as the Holly Jolly Hamilton season. Visit boutiques such as Fleurish Home and Sara’s House to update your decor and wardrobe.
Pour your own candle at Petals & Wicks, find the perfect bath bombs at LahVdah and discover more great shops throughout town.
Frontgate Outlet Center in West Chester features modern and fashionable home and garden decor. Also located in West Chester, Karma in the Kitchen is an artis anal chocolate shop offering perfectly sweet gifts.
Continue your holiday shopping in Uptown Oxford. Head to Juniper and Leeli + Lou for clothing, accessories and jewelry. Spots like BikeWise help the adventurers get outdoors, The Apple Tree carries gifts from brands like Lily Pulitzer and Vera Bradley, and The Wild Berry has grown from a leather shop to also offering incense, jewelry and more specialty items. For more information about the places mentioned and other destinations, visit travelbutlercounty.com. ●
Create new holiday dining and shopping memories with your family at Experience Hartville, centrally located between Cleveland and Amish Country. Plan your visit at ExperienceHartville.com/ohiomag.
On Dec. 30, 1852, the future president and first lady were wed in a simple ceremony at the home of the bride’s mother in Cincinnati.
Rutherford B. Hayes was on a trip back to his home town of Delaware, Ohio, when he first made the acquaintance of Miss Lucy Webb on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University in 1850. A chance encounter with Webb while serving as a groomsman that same year helped bring the two together. Five years after leaving the White House, Hayes shared the story of that day with a woman who took notice of the gold ring on his hand.
The article in the Jan. 7, 1886, edition of the Fremont Democratic Messenger reported that the former president replied, “Mrs. Hayes secured me with that.”
“We were bridesmaid and groomsman together at a wedding and when the cake was cut that ring was in my slice, and when I found it, of course I gave it to the brides maid Miss Lucy Webb,” the former president reportedly said. “When after a time she promised to marry me, she gave me back the ring and I have always worn it since.”
The couple married two years later, on Dec. 30, 1852, during a small ceremony attended by family and friends at the home of Webb’s mother in Cincinnati. In a Dec. 15, 1852, letter to his uncle Sardis Birchard, Hayes shared that the wedding date had been set.
“The day is fixed, if nothing occurs to change our plans, on Thursday the 30th, two weeks from tomorrow,” the letter reads. “Whether we are to have an evening or morn ing wedding, whether we are to run away to hide for a few days, or to hide at home, are unsettled questions.”
Hayes added that the event was to be a simple wed ding, with “no extensive wedding arrangements, probably no tickets of invitation.”
Birchard made the trip to Cincinnati for his nephew’s wedding, joining Hayes’ older sister Fanny Platt and her 9-year-old daughter Laura, Lucy’s mother and two brothers as well as about 30 friends for the ceremony. Although Hayes’ mother, Sophia, was not able to travel to Cincinnati for the event, Ari Hoogenboom’s book Rutherford B. Hayes: Warrior and President notes that she shared her approval of her soon-to-be daughter-in-law with her son, telling him, “Your choice is mine, I shall welcome her to my heart as a beloved daughter.”
Eliza Davis, a friend of Lucy during their school years, was also in attendance. Her account of the event was
detailed in Emily Apt Geer’s book First Lady: The Life of Lucy Webb Hayes.
“The ‘radiant’ bride wore a white-figured satin dress, sim ply tailored with a full skirt pleated to a fitted bodice,” the book notes. “A floor-length veil, fastened with orange blossoms, accented the glistening blackness of her hair and slimness of her figure.”
Geer wrote that the day concluded when the couple boarded the 5 p.m. train for Columbus, where Hayes, “hoped to combine appearances before the Ohio Supreme Court with a pleasant honeymoon. Thus began 36 years of an exceptionally happy marriage.” — Nathan Havenner
Catch a final glimpse of Autumn’s grand show as the Hills transition to the tranquility of winter. Discover the softer side of the holidays while shopping for one-of-a-kind holiday gifts during the 8th Annual Hocking Hills Holiday Treasure Hunt November 1 through December 12. Hunt for treasures in shops and galleries, collect six different Treasure Hunt stickers and enter to win one of more than 25 prizes and a Grand Prize Getaway for 4. Download your Treasure Map at ExploreHockingHills.com
And after a day of Hunting revel in your treasures while relaxing in a cozy cabin surrounded by the serenity only Mother Nature can deliver. Explore the Hocking Hills, Ohio’s Natural Crown Jewels.
Click or call for Free Visitor’s Guide | 1-800-Hocking | ExploreHockingHills.com
