Happy Holidays!
The holidays bring a flurry of activity to the Czech Village-New Bohemia Main Street District. People are hurrying from store to store to find one-of-a-kind gifts for those special people on their list. Events abound to help get you and your loved ones into the spirit and share a bit of quality time together. And nothing can beat the sense of whimsy and wonder you get when walking down the sidewalk past old buildings and store windows decorated for the season, lights twinkling from the garland-wrapped street lamps, and the sound of carols escaping from the shops as patrons go in and out. Or how about a warm cup of Joe or hot cocoa from your favorite coffee shop to warm the soul? We have prepared this Holiday Guide to help walk you through the fantastic events coming up this season, to share a few stories of the rich culture and history that make up this community, and maybe even to give you some shopping ideas or introduce you to a few new small businesses.
Enjoy! Jennifer Pruden, Executive Director
See What's Inside
Thank you to all those who support the Czech VillageNew Bohemia Main Street District Whether you conduct business in the District, frequent any one of the unique shops, take a class at one of several workshop locations, visit the museums and galleries, or dine at one of our many fabulous eateries, we want to thank you. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to attend a community event, visit our websites, like our posts on Facebook, or make a pitstop while bicycling or walking the Cedar Trail. Thank you for helping us grow, helping us make new friends, and helping us keep our businesses alive.
We are very grateful.
Please take a moment to view our message of thanks.
Czech Village-New Bohemia Main Street District The Czech Village New Bohemia Main Street District is a dynamic arts and culture venue that provides interesting, authentic, and enriching experiences. Established in 2009, it provides a variety of shopping, dining, arts, and cultural entertainment opportunities that can only be found here.
Since 2009:
99
NEW BUSINESSES
403 NEW JOBS
$44.4 MILLION INVESTMENTS IN REHAB & NEW CONSTRUCTION
Support Local on Small Business Saturday! November 26, 2016
Small Business Saturday
Deck the District
Svaty Mikulas
Kwanzaa
UPCOMING EVENTS
Window Wonderland
Old World Market
A Verry Cherry Holiday
Holiday Market
Holiday fun for the whole family Come to the Cherry Building Saturday, Dec. 3, for A Verry Cherry Holiday! From 10 to 4, take a tour of the historic building, buy a book from the book sale in the basement, and visit the businesses that call this beautiful building home. Feel free to browse the shops and learn more about this popular arts and culture center in New Bohemia.
Kick off the holidays with Deck the District Dec. 2 4! The fun begins Friday, Dec. 2 with a visit from Svaty Mikulas and the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Czech Village at 6:30 pm! Then come back to the District Saturday for the Old World Christmas Market at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. A cookie walk, music, face painting, and crafts are just a few of the activities planned. Other activities include wagon rides, music, crafts, great deals in the gift shop, and free admission to the galleries!
Shuttles will run to both sides of the river Saturday from 105 and Sunday, 103 Shuttle stops include Sokol Park, NewBo City Market, Cherry Building, and the African AmericanMuseum.
Deck the District Events
The African American Museum is celebrating Kwanzaa! Join them Saturday, Dec. 3 to learn more about this special holiday! A Black Santa exhibit, a Make & Take craft, and other activities are planned. Visit the NewBo City Market during Deck the District to take part in more holiday fun! A movie will be shown Friday night, followed by a tree sale and a visit from Santa on Saturday, and holiday music on Sunday!
Svaty Mikulas in Czech Village Join us for a Reception and Tree Lighting Ceremony Friday, Dec. 2 at 6:30 pm The evening begins with a visit from Svaty Mikulas (St Nicholas) Andel (the angel) and Cert (the devil) at the Artisan's Sanctuary, 45 16th Ave. SW. There will be a short presentation on the Czech and Slovak Christmas traditions, followed by carols, cocoa and cookies, before a candlelight walk to the Kosek Bandstand to light the official Czech Village Christmas tree.
Svaty Mikulas, better known as St. Nicholas here in the United States, visits all the children on Dec. 5, and asks them if they have been good or bad. The angel hands out candy to the good boys and girls, and the devil threatens to take them away if they have been bad. It's all in fun, of course. Image from kidsinprague.com.
Holiday Baking Just like in the United States, people in the Czech Republic have their favorites when it comes to holiday baking. Christmas Crescent Cookies, or Vanocni Rohlicky, is one favorite that has been handed down for generations. (Recipe taken from the Czech and Slovak Heritage Cookbook, available in the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library for $25.)
Christmas Crescent Cookies 4 Cups of Flour 1 lb. Margarine (not Butter) 1 lb Creamed Cheese Prepared Filling Allow margarine and creamed cheese to warm to room temperature. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream the margarine and creamed cheese together until mixed thoroughly. Add the flour a little at a time with a mixer until smooth. Form the dough into balls the size of walnuts and place on a cookie sheet and refrigerate until well chilled. Using powdered sugar to keep the dough from sticking, roll the balls flat, spread a thin layer of prepared filling, and then roll up in the shape of crescents. (Like you would a crescent roll.) Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 810 minutes.
Most ornaments have symbolic meaning: Corn symbolizes prosperity and fertility. A tradition in many families is that whoever first finds a glass pickle hidden on a tree is the first to open a present. Walnuts are the traditional "fruit" of the Christmas season in central Europe. Fruits once unattainable at Christmas time became decorative symbols on a Christmas tree. Today, fruit is a symbolic gift from St. Nicolas (Svaty Mikulas), whose feast day is Dec.
6
. The
pineapple symbolizes friendship and hospitality. Houses and churches are symbols of village life. Collectors try to assemble an entire village using ornaments of different houses and churches. Farm animals are traditional symbols of everyday village life. Birds are symbols of joy and cheerfulness; swans are noted for gracefulness, while owls symbolize wisdom. Other favorite glass ornaments include clowns, carousels, and circus animals. In the past, the circus was the main entertainment
Ornaments Hold Special Meaning in Czech & Slovak Cultures
for the people. Joy and excitement came from watching exotic animals and clowns. The artisans wanted to replicate the same joyous spirit by designing ornaments representing circus life.
(Taken from Czech & Slovak Wit & Wisdom, compiled by Pat Martin) The Christmas tree represents a symbolic ladder to the heavens. Ornaments are hung equal to their symbolic position in life. Vegetables and fruit, closest to earth, hang on the lower third of the tree. Houses, churches, and animals go in the middle area. Birds and angels hang on the top third, symbolizing closeness to heaven.
This pickle ornament, as well as many others,
Taught by wandering Venetian tradesmen, Bohemia glassblowers first created glass ornaments to decorate fir trees in celebration of the winter solstice. Early Christians adapted this custom from the Dark Ages to the celebration of the birth of Christ. The glassblowers became famous for their beautiful Christmas ornaments and have been using the same forms for over
1 000 ,
years.
can be found at the museum gift shop.
African American Museum of Iowa 55 12th Ave SE Kwanzaa Activities Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 am to 8 pm
Kwanzaa The African American Museum of Iowa is celebrating the holiday season with a small exhibit, which explores the history of Saint Nicholas.
The museum will host holiday craft tables for children to learn about the seven principles of Kwanzaa: Unity, Self Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith.
The Jolly Old Saint Nick we know today is based on a real Catholic bishop. Saint Nicholas, revered for his generosity to children and the poor, was granted sainthood after his death in 343 AD. Born in presentday Turkey, some sources claim the real Saint Nicholas was a darkskinned Moor.
Children will start by making their own Mkeka, or placemat, a symbol of tradition and history that the Kwanzaa table is built on. They will also make ears of corn, or Muhindi, for themselves and siblings, symbolic of our children and our future which they embody.
Over the years, many cultures established the tradition of gift giving on Saint Nicholas Day in December. In 1823, Clement Clark Moore’s “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” forever transformed Saint Nicholas into the plump, jolly whitebearded Santa Claus we know today.
A traditional Kwanzaa table will be on display in the lobby along with a micro exhibit of black Santas.
Kwanzaa Events The exhibit will be on display until 1/2/2017.
The name Kwanzaa, comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanzaa,” or first fruits. Kwanzaa is modeled after traditional African harvest festivals and celebrated in the seven days between Christmas and New Year's Day. The primary focus of the holiday celebrates the Nguzo Saba, or seven principles: Unity, SelfDetermination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. The Kinara and the seven candles symbolize ancestry and the earth, while the woven mat the arrangement is placed on represents tradition. Each night, as one of the seven candles is lit, participants drink from the Kikombe cha Umoja, symbolizing unity.
The Verry Cherry Holiday has been a tradition of the artists and entrepreneurs in the Cherry Building since 2000 to showcase their works and invite the public to visit their working spaces.
A Verry Cherry Holiday open house and studio tour will be held Saturday, Dec.3, from 10 am to 4 pm at the Cherry Building, 329 10th Ave. SE.
Believe in the Magic! Schedule of Events
This year, a Verry Cherry Art Show will be featured on the first floor. The sensational Five Season Jazz Trio will be onhand to perform holiday music. The Ceramics Center will have a “walk in workshop” where the public is welcome to try their hand at making ceramics and/or fusedglass artworks, and the Friends of the Library will have a book sale in the basement. The Cherry Building is located at 329 Tenth Ave. SE, but you are welcome to access the building from the 11th Ave. entrance (on the north side of the NewBo City Market). The wheelchair accessible ramp is on the 11th Avenue entrance.
The district will be transformed to capture the whimsy and wonder of the holiday season, with businesses showing off their creative side through captivating window displays.
Visitors to the Czech Village/New Bohemia Main Street District can experience the spirit of the holidays during Deck the District, with an abundance of events, shopping and more. Main Street’s “Window Wonderland” kicks off the festivities, with businesses decked out for the holidays beginning Nov. 26, Small Business Saturday.
Visit our Business Directory for a complete list of businesses in the Czech Village-New Bohemia Main Street District.
Business Directory
This event is a partnership with business owners, with the goal to create a place where visitors come to celebrate our vibrant district and support the local economy.
Old Christmas World Market Experience the magic of the Christmas season at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, 1400 Inspiration Place SW, during the 7th annual Old World Christmas Market Dec. 3rd & 4th! Shop for specialty imports and handmade gifts by select artisans, stop for seasonal treats, see live music and dance performances, and enjoy free family activities all weekend. Admission to museum exhibition galleries is free all weekend! The Museum Guild will hold its 18th Annual Cookie Walk beginning at 9:30 am on Saturday. Then head outside for a Wagon ride from 10 am to 5 pm. Crafts and other activities will be held throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. Click the button for the complete schedule of events!
Old World Market Events
Ornament sale: Buy 3, get 1 free, Continues until Christmas Jewelry sale: All jewelry is 25% off during the 7th Annual Old World Christmas Market weekend – excludes garnets and moldavites
#GivingTuesday is November 29 Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their endofyear giving. Join us in celebrating the behindthescenes work our organization does throughout the year to make this a great district. Watch for #MainStWorking4U on Facebook @CedarRapidsMainStreet or Twitter @CVNBMainStreet. On Giving Tuesday we hope you will consider making a gift to our organization. The first $1,000 raised will be matched through a generous donation from David & Lijun Chadima (owners of the Cherry Building). Visit crmainstreet.org/donate to make your contribution.
Still not sure what to get that special person on your Christmas list? Look no more! Main Street Swag is here! Choose from disc golf drivers or Main Street shot glasses. Get them now before they're gone! SHOP NOW
Main Street Shops Offer Something Different by Cindy Petersen, Program Assistant I was recently asked to go out and find the most unique gift in the Czech VillageNew Bohemia District for the upcoming holiday season. This was no easy task, because what I found was that every store I went into was unique in itself. Create Exchange: 98 16th Ave. SW; This business sells craft supplies, but it is also an outlet for small businesses. You'll find upcycled art, handblown glass and jewelry, handmade items, and much more! Czech Cottage: 100 16th Ave. SW; The Cottage is filled with items purchased in the Czech Republic by owner, Bob Schaffer. Gift ideas include crystal, nesting dolls, ornaments, and more. White Lion Treasures: 87 16th Ave SW; The handmade artwork and cool knickknacks aren't the only reasons to visit this shop; you might want to check out the 8foot giraffe that sits in the back of the store. Forget Me Not Antiques: 77 16th Ave SW; Crocks, home furnishings, rugs, and antiques (including a handcarved bench from New York) are all part of this shop's wide selection. NewBo Shops at 208: 208 12th Ave SE; Several entrepreneurs make up this quaint shop. Treasures you''ll find here include colored wine bottle lights, string art, and handmade jewelry.
Great American Popcorn: 1121 3rd St SE; This shop offers unique flavors of popcorn, as well as an awesome selection of carbonated soft drinks; a great gift for the person on your list who loves to snack! (And ice cream to enjoy while you decide!) Next Page Books: 1105 3rd St SE; Books and much more! Stuffed animals, notecards, and bracelets, add to the creative style of this cozy shop. The plush animals are characters in popular books, so kids can cuddle their bears, puppies, and kittens, while reading stories about them. MudLOVE bracelets provide one week of clean water to Africa for every sale. RAYGUN: 1028 3rd St SE; Known mostly for funny tshirt slogans, has a display of bottle koozies that are not only fun, but fashionable. Made to look like little sweaters, these koozies are also machine washable. Other items at RAYGUN include drinking glasses with the slogan “Cedar Rapids; Breathe it in,” as well as heartshaped sunglasses. Come and explore our shops this holiday seaon. Most often, you don’t know what you’re looking for until you find it.
Find what you're looking for in the Main Street District
MudLOVE Bands Available at Next Page Books
Sweater Mittens Available at the Create Exchange
Decorated Goose Eggs Available at Czech Cottage
Jacket Purses Available at the Create Exchange
Nesting Dolls Available at Czech Cottage
I Love CR Ornaments Available at the Create Exchange
D it Doll Available at NewBo Shops at 208
String Art Available at NewBo Shops at 208
CR Drinking Glasses Available at RAYGUN
Crocks Available at Forget Me Not Antiques & Gifts Gnomes & Mushrooms Available at White Lion Treasures
HandPainted Birdhouses Available at White Lion Treasures
Koozies Available at RAYGUN
Holiday Market, Dec. 2 4 NewBo City Market joins in the holiday fun during Deck the District with a showing of the movie classic, "The Miracle on 34th Street," a visit from Santa Claus, Christmas music, and much more! The Market will set up three Christmas trees on the north end of Rotary Hall in front of the garage door (so they will be visible from outside the Market.
Mixed Media Christmas CardMaking at The Market, Dec. 2 at 6 pm: NewBo mixed media artist Russ Fagle will lead this fun workshop with tons of great supplies to make impactful and sure to be treasured handmade cards all materials and envelopes included! The cost of the class is $30.
The trees are intended to be a backdrop for photos – family pictures or simple holiday selfies. There will be chairs and benches for kids and families to take a picture while visiting New Bohemia. Santa Claus will be at the market to visit children Saturday afternoon! Fresh cut Christmas trees will be for sale outside the Market all weekend long!. Proceeds from the sale support Midwest Military Outreach. Children’s Book Reading: Friday at 5:30 pm: Local author Kurt Wagner will read aloud, “The Mouse Who Stirred at Christmas,” his selfpublished holiday story, inside Rotary Hall. The book will be for sale by the author following the reading.
NewBo Café with the CR Washington High School Choirs, Sunday, Dec. 4, at 1 pm. The holiday Classic, “The Miracle on 34th Street,” will be shown Friday, Dec. 2, at 6 pm: The original 1944 film stars Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle, who fills in for an intoxicated Santa in Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day parade. When Kringle surprises customers and employees by claiming he really is Santa Claus, it leads to a court case to determine his mental health and, more importantly, his authenticity.
Artisans’ Holiday Market, Saturday and Sunday: Join us, every weekend in December for The Holiday Market, a place to shop local and find something for everyone on your list! We'll have local vendors with handmade and homegrown items.
Market Events
Nov 25 Holiday Market @ NewBo City Market Friday Night Flicks Home Alone @ NewBo City Market Irish Christmas in America @ CSPS Hall
Nov 26
Small Business Saturday @ CVNB Main Street District Holiday Market @ NewBo City Market @ CSPS Hall The Pines
Dec 2-4
Deck the District
Dec 4
@ CVNB Main Street District
Celtic Christmas@ Lion Bridge Brewing Co
Dec 9
More Holiday
happenings Czech Village-NewBo
Click for Calendar of Events
Dec 16 Friday Night Flicks - Jingle All The Way @ NewBo City Market Mixed Media Art Gift Making @ NewBo City Market
Dec 17 Family Film - Three Nuts for Cinderella @ NewBo City Market
Dec 18
Friday Night FlicksRudolph the @ NewBo City Market Red-Nosed Reindeer
NewBo Cafe - Ben Schmidt & Richard Wagor @ NewBo City Market
Dec 10
Friday Night Flicks - A Christmas Story@ NewBo City Market
Reindeer Day
@ National Czech & Slovak Museum
Dec 23
Dec 14
Dec 30
Bobbin Lace Making Demo
Friday Night Flicks - While You Were Sleeping @ NewBo City Market
@ National Czech & Slovak Museum
From all of us at CVNB Main Street, Happy Holidays
And a Wonderful New Year! 101 16th Avenue SW Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404 crmainstreet@gmail.com (319) 4329785 crmainstreet.org