2013
Holiday Gift Guide
2013 Gift Guide * 1
2 * 2013 Gift Guide
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1209 E. TIPTON ST. • 812- 372-5270 • 800-264-4187 2013 Gift Guide * 3
ADVERTISER INDEX Acra Automotive Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Dave’s Farm Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Midway Winnelson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Ahlemeyer Farms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Dermatology Physicians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Monster Hardscapes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Alternatives for Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Dreyer & Reinbold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Myers Funeral Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Ark Book and Gift. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Dreyer Honda South. . . . . . . . . . . . Inside front cover
New Japan Restaurant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Bear Hardware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Esther Price Chocolates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Nichols Body Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Bevers Home Health Boutique. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Ethereal Day Spa & Salon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Nugent Sand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Bishopp’s Appliances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
First Assembly of God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Power House Brewing Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Bob Poynter GM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Fisher’s Flower Basket. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Red Lips Spatique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Bryan Bowman Chrysler Dodge Jeep . . . . . . . . . . 73
The Fitted Foot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Renner Honda. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Boyer Machine & Tool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
4th Sister Vintage Store. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
The Republic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Bradbury’s Waterin’ Hole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
GNC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Shabby Sheep & Ewe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Brown County Winter Art and Craft . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Hamilton Center Ice Arena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Simmons Winery & 450 North Brewing Co.. . . . . 72
Brown County Clocks and Collectibles . . . . . . . . . 17
Handzz & Strandzz Salon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Simply Pottery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Brown County Playhouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Hilliard Lyons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Southern Indiana OB/GYN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Buffalo Wild Wings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Hills O’ Brown Vacation Rentals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Small Engines of Seymour. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Bush’s Market. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Indiana Masonic Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Smith’s Row . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Chateau de Pique. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Innovations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Sterling Garage Doors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Clancy’s Tool & Party Rental. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Jacobi Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Stillframes Photography & Imaging. . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Clifty Creek Golf Course. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Johnson-Witkemper Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Story Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Coca-Cola Bottling Co.. . . . . . . . . . Inside back cover
Keepsake Village of Columbus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Tenn Oaks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Columbus Cycling & Fitness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Kidscommons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Teresa’s Dog Grooming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Columbus First Assembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Lockett’s Ladies Shop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
That Special Touch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Columbus Gold and Diamond. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Luecke Audio Video Appliances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Tom Pickett’s Music Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Columbus Parks and Recreation Department . . 97
Madeline’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Vascular Partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Columbus Visitors Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Madison Area Visitors Bureau events. . . . . . . . . . . 55
Viewpoint Books. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
The Commons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Mann’s Harley-Davidson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Village Florist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Cornett’s Corner Cafe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Matlock Plumbing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Voelz BodyShop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Country Chevrolet Buick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back cover
Metabolic Research Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Yes Cinema. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Darlage Custom Meats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Mhart Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Zeller Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
4 * 2013 Gift Guide
2013 Gift Guide * 5
CONTENTS
Celebrations page 8
Decor page 50
Gifts page 62
Tech Gifts page 84
Comments should be sent to Doug Showalter, The Republic, 333 Second St., Columbus, IN 47201 or call 812-379-5625 or dshowalter@therepublic.com. Advertising information: Call 812-379-5652. ©2013 by Home News Enterprises. All rights reserved. Reproduction of stories, photographs and advertisements without permission is prohibited. Stock images provided by © Thinkstock.
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**The “Payment as low as” amount for an item is an estimate of the required minimum monthly payment for that item. The amount of subsequent minimum monthly payments will very and will depend on various factors affecting your balance, such as (a) the timing and amount of your payment , (b) the interest rate on your account , (c) whether any fees or other charges are added to your account.You are always free to pay more than the minimum monthly payment. Please see dealer for more details.
6 * 2013 Gift Guide
Price Good Through 12/04/13
Take a break while shopping over the holidays... Dine in for lunch or dinner & enjoy our famous Columbus Tenderloin & Mile High Fish Sandwich.
Carry-out Beer on Sundays!
Gift cards are available. Enjoy our selection of Winter Beers! 322 4th Street 375-8800 www.powerhousebrewingco.com
Viewpoint Has Unique Games For All Ages!
Washington Street www.viewpointbooks.com |-
309 Washington St.
Designer Dresses • Tuxedos Accessories and More
Tuesday - Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PM Sunday: 1 PM to 5 PM • Closed Monday
812.378.3046 www.kidscommons.org
(812) 375-2223 544 Washington Street Columbus, IN 47201 www.specialtouchbride.com
Celebrate Creativity this Christmas
Pieces for All Ages Great for Group/ Gift Certificates Available! And All Price Ranges. Family Outings.
(812) 372 - 1825
808 3rd St., Columbus, Indiana 42701 Hours: Mon: Closed; Tues: 10a - 6p Wed-Thur: 10a - 8p; Fri-Sat: 10a - 9p; Sun: 12p-5p
l Annuahips ers Memb ember
New bMer Special
Novem
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Parents kidscommons field trips make great teacher gifts!
2013 Gift Guide * 7
celebrations 8 * 2013 Gift Guide
Columbus calendar of events December
1
Columbus Symphony Orchestra, “Musical Interpretations & Borrowings.” 3:30 p.m., Columbus North High School auditorium. Information: columbusinsymphonyorchestra.org.
6
First Friday for Families “A Christmas Carol.” 6 p.m., The Commons. Celebrate the holiday season with the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s version of Dickens’ classic, “A Christmas Carol.” Free. Information: 812-3762539; caac@artsincolumbus.org.
7 8
25th annual Festival of Lights Parade. 6 p.m., downtown Columbus. Free. Information: 812-390-6912; columbuslights@gmail.com.
photo by Andrew Laker
Santa Claus waves from aboard a sparkling float as the Festival of Lights Parade comes to a close.
Mom & Me for Tea. 1 p.m., Donner Center. Mothers with daughters ages 3 to 8, $22/pair, registration deadline Dec. 4 or until maximum enrollment has been met. This holiday party will include tea, punch, sandwiches, sweets, crafts, games and surprises. All children should wear their holiday best for the fashion show. Moms, please bring a written description of your daughter’s outfit for our master of ceremonies to read. Information: www.columbusparksandrec. com or 376-2680.
8
Adventures in Christmas Worship. 6 p.m., First Christian Church, 531 Fifth St. Free. Featuring music and worship, including FCC Jazz Band, Kid.nect Worship team, Moyer Brothers, Family Worship Band, Worship Choir and some international Christmas jamming. Information: 379-4491 or www.fccoc.org.
10
Little Chefs Sweet Christmas Treats. For ages 6 to 10, 4:30 to 5:45 p.m., Donner Center. $14, registration deadline Dec. 6. Learn to make a variety of fun Christmas goodies. You’ll get to sample some and have some to share with family and friends. Information: www.columbusparksandrec.com or 3762680.
13
Santa’s Workshop. 6:30 to 8 p.m., Donner Center, $1 per person. Handson Christmas crafts, games, prizes and snacks. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Information: www.columbusparksandrec.com or 3762680.
14
“The Nutcracker.” Presented by Dancers Studio Inc. 1 and 6 p.m., Erne Auditorium, Columbus North High School. Tickets are $9 and $14 in advance for students and adults respectively, and $10 and $14 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at kidscommons and Donner Center.
The Republic file photo
The Christmas tree in front of City Hall will light up downtown Columbus.
15
Columbus Indiana Philharmonic “Celebrate the Holidays.” 3 and 7 p.m., Erne Auditorium, Columbus North High School. Share the spirit with family and friends as the Philharmonic Orchestra and Columbus Indiana Children’s Choir perform holiday classics and new songs celebrating this joyous time of year. Admission: $10 to $35. Information/tickets: 812-376-2638, ext. 110 or tickets@thecip.org.
31
Yes Comedy Showcase with Mike Armstrong. 7 and 9:30 p.m., Yes Cinema, 328 Jackson St. Rated PG. Admission: $20 advance/$25 door. Information: 812-378-0377.
2013 Gift Guide * 9
Listen for the sound of Christmas music By Barney Quick
T
he arts community in Columbus will once again add various forms of sparkle to the city’s holiday season atmosphere. Performances appealing to all ages and a variety of cultures will make for a lively December.
Dancers Studio will once again present its perennial favorite, “The Nutcracker.” A noteworthy feature of this year’s performance is that a student, Jacqueline Hodek, will play the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy. “I’ve done that once or twice before,” says director Alma Wiley. The skill required usually necessitates portrayal by a professional, but Wiley is sufficiently impressed with Hodek’s ability to give her the opportunity. Mariel Greenlee and Tim June of the Indianapolis company Dance Kaleidoscope will perform the Arabian Dance as a duet. “Tim is also going to be the Cavalier for the Sugar Plum Fairy,” says Wiley.
says, “as well as selections from ‘The Nutcracker.’ There will also be some carol medleys. The CSO concert is free to the public. The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic will host former Columbus residents Neil Jones and Lisa Beutler-Jones as guest vocalists at its Christmas concert to be held Dec. 15 at Erne Auditorium. They have extensive experience, ranging from cruise ship performances to appearances with orchestras such as the Cincinnati Pops and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. They both have master’s degrees from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. The matinee performance will be at 3 p.m., and the evening show will take
There will be two shows, both on Dec. 14, a matinee at 1 p.m. and an evening show at 6 p.m. Erne Auditorium at North High School is the venue. Tickets are $9 and $14 in advance for students and adults respectively, and $10 and $14 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at kidscommons and Donner Center.
the republic file photo
Columbus Symphony Orchestra interim director Hao-An Henry Cheng will conduct that group’s Christmas concert Dec. 1. Erne Auditorium is the hall for this event as well. The pre-show, a recital by Laura Andrews and her violin students, begins at 3 p.m. “Parts of the program were already selected,” says Cheng, “and parts are new. We’re mixing and matching.” Columbus Indiana Philharmonic Music Director David Bowden leads musicians during a holiday performance.
photo by Bob Anderson/Stillframes Photography
There will be three pieces that, while differing from each other, are named “Sleigh Ride.” One is the well-known Leroy Anderson tune. The others are by Delius and Tchaikovsky. “We’ll also do Anderson’s ‘Christmas Festival,’” Chang
The Bon Bons perform during Dancers Studio’s production of “The Nutcracker.”
10 * 2013 Gift Guide
place at 7. Music director David Bowden is particularly excited about the couple’s rendition of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” They will also perform “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire),” and they will team with the Columbus Children’s Choir for “Night of Silence.” The Children’s Choir will also perform a Dave Brubeck composition called “God’s Love Made Visible,” as well as Franck’s “Panis Angelicus (Bread of the Angels).” Bowden says, “I like supporting people in our community, and our pianist Jill Friedersdorf has written a great setting for ‘Watchman Tell Us of the Night.’ Indianapolis Children’s Choir associate director Ruth Dwyer has a choral series published by the prestigious Hal Leonard house. ‘Watchman’ will be released in that series internationally with an orchestral accompaniment. That’s a major coup. We will be doing the world premiere.” Bowden is also excited to present Alfred Reed’s “Russian Christmas Music.” He describes it as a “huge orchestral blowout.” The show will open with Wasson’s “Festival Fanfare for Christmas” and close with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Tickets range in price for students from $5 to $15, for adults from $10 to $35, and for seniors from $10 to $30, depending on choice of seating zone in the auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the philharmonic’s office at 315 Franklin St. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at tickets@thecip.org. The Columbus City Band will present its annual free Christmas concert at 2 p.m. Dec. 8 at The Commons. A portion aimed at youngsters will include a swing arrangement of “The Chipmunk Song,” Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel Overture” and Victor Herbert’s “March of the Toys.” The program will also include a selection of familiar carol settings, Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” an Appalachian folk tune titled “Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head,” and a German waltz titled “Schneewalzer.” “It’s a nice little German waltz,” says director Steve McGrew. “You can actually visualize it snowing.” The band will close with “White Christmas.” First Christian Church is excited about its entry in this year’s holiday music happenings. “Adventures in Christmas Worship” will include a wide array of genres and ensembles, including two family groups, the FCC Jazz Band, the Legacy Children’s Choir, the worship choir and according to worship minister Dan Wallace, “some international Christmas jamming.” Wallace says that attendance goes far beyond those in the church’s own congregation. “There’s going to be something for everybody in this community,” he assures.
Hilliard Lyons 436 Washington Street Columbus IN 47201 812-372-7892
“Adventures” will be presented for free at 6 p.m. Dec. 8 in the church’s sanctuary.
2013 Gift Guide * 11
Make sure your holidays don’t go to the dogs
is possible for them to consume the tinsel to the point of blocking their intestines. Dr. Tyson Hall, of Hope Veterinary Clinic, says he has cared for cats in this situation and surgery was required to remove the tinsel.
By Jenni L. Muncie-Sujan
A
mid all the positive experiences of the holiday season, no one wants to end up in the veterinary clinic for an emergency surgery on the family pet. Local animal experts share common ways that your furry friends can be harmed in the flurry of Christmas decorations, extravagant dinners, traveling, entertaining guests and cold temperatures.
Christmas decorations Exactly as they are designed to do, many holiday decorations attract attention. Pets are not excluded from the allure of a shiny glass bulb or a long strand of tinsel. Dr. Cary Cooper, owner of Eastside Veterinary Hospital, says it is common for cats to be attracted to Christmas tinsel because it looks like a toy to them. It
12 * 2013 Gift Guide
Cooper also suggests that, with the extra wires used for lighting up the home, animals who chew on the cords can get electrical burns. Jane Irwin, shelter director at the Bartholomew County Humane Society, says pet owners should be aware of decorating with glass ornaments which “can be easily knocked down by a happy tail.” She offers the advice of one of her clients, who decorates for his pets as he would for a 3-year-old child. Poinsettias are poisonous if they are eaten, causing an upset stomach or diarrhea, according to Cooper, who also warns that stepping on pine needles can cause boils in the paws of animals.
Dangers of ‘people’ food Most people know that chocolate is a dangerous food for dogs, but Cooper says that table food, in general, can be hazardous to a pet. The three dangers are over-consumption, inability to digest
properly (such as poultry bones that splinter in the intestinal system) and foods that are poisonous. Adding to the list, Irwin names alcohol, candy (that can harm teeth), ginger, some nuts and raw eggs in eggnog. She says pets can be susceptible to salmonella just like humans, and the result can be fatal. “We have had them get into the trash after meals and eat a bunch of bones,” says Hall. He says some seasonings and ingredients that are harmless to humans can be toxic to pets. Fried or spicy foods can cause pancreatitis, and he names garlic, onions, raisins, grapes and artificial sweeteners as other dangers.
Traveling and hosting “It’s a big season for boarding pets when people go out of town, so you want them to be up on vaccinations because they will be around other pets,” says Cooper, adding that most kennels will require that upon boarding.
an animal, such as preventive medications, the expense of daily care and history of health problems for specific breeds. “Puppies can be pretty destructive. You need to be able to deal with those types of problems to train them. It’s a lot to think about.” Irwin usually discourages giving a pet as a gift unless it is from a parent to a child. She suggests that a holiday is not the best time to introduce a new pet into the home. A few days before or after is best, giving the family opportunity to focus on the pet instead of the festivities. “It’s a chaotic situation. You have to remember the pet doesn’t know it’s a holiday.” Hall warns that giving a pet can cause resentment toward the animal if the recipient has not fully considered the adjustment of lifestyle. “Make sure that person is
When entertaining people in your home, Cooper warns, some pets may present behavioral problems or become destructive. In this case, especially if the pet is new or shy, Irwin says owners should be watching for signs that the pet is overwhelmed. It can be removed from the crowd and placed in the safety and quiet of another room.
at a point in their life where
Cold weather
Irwin has several families who
For dogs large enough to endure the outside weather, Cooper says, owners should check that the water in the pets’ bowls is not frozen. Good cold weather shelter consists of a place to get out of the wind and snow. “The smaller the pet, the more dangerous it can be,” he warns. “Little guys can’t
come out and pick a pet as a
handle the cold very well.” Outside, a pet can get frost bite or damage its paws by stepping on too much salt. Cooper also warns of the dangers of antifreeze, which tastes sweet to a pet that may lick it off the ground. The antifreeze crystallizes internally and can be lethal. Cooper suggests that drivers honk their horns before starting the engine of their vehicles, to scare away cats that find a warm spot under the hood.
Pets as gifts “Sometimes springing a pet on someone as a gift isn’t the right
they can have a dog or cat in their life,” Hall says. “Certain breeds you would not want to get if you have children. A lot of people think an older couple needs a dog, but if they like to travel, that might be another story because they don’t want that responsibility.” At the Bartholomew County Humane Society,
holiday gift, making arrangements to pick up the pet after Christmas. In lieu of giving the actual animal on Christmas day, a stuffed animal and picture of the actual pet are wrapped up as the present. “So the kids have something to look forward to, they have something to open, and they have the picture to know what is coming home to them.” Irwin also suggests gift certificates in the situation where the recipient has expressed a desire for a new pet. “The people using the certificate still need to meet the adoption requirements. ... That way, we know that this truly is the pet that they want.” Another option to include animals in the gift-giving process is to donate money to animal organizations in the honor or memory of someone. “You still have that animal connection,” says Irwin. “You’re
thing to do if they aren’t prepared to take care of it,” says Cooper.
still doing a lot of good in helping an animal, and it is a wonder-
He lists the many things that must be done to properly care for
ful way to honor the loved one.”
2013 Gift Guide * 13
Brown County calendar of events November
23
— Thanksgiving Open House. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pioneer Village, Old School Lane. Admission: donations accepted.
23
-Dec. 14 — Create it with Gingerbread Log Cabin Competition and Exhibit. Brown County Inn. Contestants combine their culinary skills with architectural design to create extraordinary works of art. The Create it with Gingerbread Log Cabin Competition will take place on Nov. 23. Gingerbread Log Cabin Display will be available Nov. 24 to Dec. 14. Display open daily 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; awards ceremony 6 to 7 p.m. Nov. 23. Free admission.
29
— Visitors Center Holiday Open House. 2 to 6 p.m., Brown County Visitors Center, Van Buren and Main streets. Join the Visitors Center as it welcomes Santa and kicks off the holiday season. Free hot chocolate and cookies.
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-30 — Winter Art and Craft Fair. Seasons Lodge and Conference Center. Fine local and regional arts and crafts. Weaving, glass, pottery, jewelry, fine art, fiber art, quilting, knitting, photography, woodcarving, gourds, baskets and more. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Admission: $1.
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-30; Dec. 5-8, 12-15 — “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The family holiday classic brought to the stage by professional company Two Pigs Productions. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 p.m. Sundays, Brown County Playhouse Performing Arts Center. For ticket information: www.browncountyplayhouse.org.
December A
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14 * 2013 Gift Guide
7
— Steele’s Country Christmas. T.C. Steele State Historic Site. Go back in time to the early 1920s, when the Steeles celebrated the holidays at the House of the Singing Winds, inviting neighbors and friends into their home. St. Nicholas will visit the Large Studio, where children and families can have their photographs taken with him. Noon to 4 p.m. Admission: $5 per adult; $3 per child (ages 5-12); children 4 and younger are free.
Brown County Democrat file photos
Nashville locals and visitors gather on the courthouse lawn for the annual Christmas season kickoff in late November. Santa arrives to greet children, and the Little Nashville Express train and horse-drawn carriage give Christmas light tours. Santa, Mrs. Claus and their elves chat with Nashville visitors during the holiday kickoff at the Visitors Center downtown.
7
— Reindeer Romp. An 8K run/5K run/walk in beautiful Brown County State Park. Brought to you by Brown County YMCA; all proceeds go to the Y financial assistance program. Race starts at 1 p.m. at the Nature Center. Admission: state park gate fee. Information: www.browncountyymca.org.
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— Christmas Concert Presented by the Brown County Community Band. A festive Christmas concert presented as a gift to Brown County in appreciation for all the support given to the band. 7 to 8:30 p.m., Brown County High School auditorium. Free. Information: 812-988-7419.
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— Charlene Marsh Studio and Gallery Holiday Open House. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 4013 Lanam Ridge Road, Nashville. Free. Visit the studio and gallery, decked out in holiday finery, of Brown County plein air painter Charlene Marsh and enjoy new oil paintings; organic, “living foods” refreshments; the beauty of winter; and Christmas cheer.
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— Christmas Bird Count. 8 a.m., Brown County State Park Nature Center. Admission: park admission.
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— Christmas Music Sing-Along. Listen to beautiful voices and guitar, but don’t be shy about singing out loud to your favorite holiday tunes. BC beer and wine sold in the auditorium. 7:30 p.m., Brown County Playhouse Performing Arts Center. Admission: $12.
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— New Year’s Eve – Music and Mayhem. Ring in the New Year with Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band. Opening will be the Indiana Boys. 7:30 p.m., Brown County Playhouse Performing Arts Center. Admission $22.50. Information: 812-988-6555.
2013 Gift Guide * 15
3 1 20 BROWN COUNTY
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The Do’s and Don’ts of Working With a Caterer Hiring a caterer can take much of the stress – and the mess – out of throwing a party. Here are five tips to help you pick the right professional and have the event of your dreams. Don’t ... call a caterer before you’ve decided your budget. Figure out how much you can spend before calling potential catering companies. “You shouldn’t assume that having a smaller budget means you can’t afford a particular caterer,” says Rachel Hollis, a Los Angeles-based party planner. “In many cases, companies that throw large formal events are also happy to help with a backyard barbecue or a child’s birthday party.” Do ... establish what’s most important to you. Even if you have a sky-high budget, you’ll have to make decisions about where to allot your money, says Katherine Hilboldt Farrell, president and cofounder of Katherine’s Catering in Ann Arbor, Mich. “Whether your priority is a show-stopping main meal, a fantastic bar or really nice linens, your caterer should know – before she begins working on
2013
a proposal for you,” Farrell says. Don’t ... make your decision solely based on the proposal. A quote may come in slightly higher than your budget – but that’s because a quality caterer offers all options and details all expenses (including things like linens, state and local taxes, and gratuity) in advance. “It’s better to have everything included up front than be surprised with costs and items that weren’t in the initial workup,” says Farrell. Do ... go with your gut. Yes, recommendations help, but when it comes to finding the perfect fit, “personality is key,” says Farrell. “There’s so much trust involved in the catering relationship. You want to work with a catering representative who’s enthusiastic about your event and who feels right for you.” Don’t ... stress. Your caterer will meet with you multiple times before the day of your event to plan every detail. So when the party’s finally in full swing, don’t hover or check in. Instead, go enjoy yourself – that’s the reason you hired a professional.
— CTW Features
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18 * 2013 Gift Guide
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Head Count
Anticipating a crowd? Use these meal-planning tips from the pros to ensure your next shindig is as successful as it is delicious By Camille Noe Pagán n CTW Features
F
eeding yourself and your family is a cinch. Cooking for a large group? That’s another story. Whether you’re hosting a formal dinner party or having a backyard get-together, it can be tricky to figure out how much to buy and make. “You want to make sure no one leaves hungry, but you don’t end up with a fridge full of food,” says Susan Wyler, a registered dietitian and author of “Cooking for a Crowd” (Rodale, 2005). Fortunately, a few tricks of the trade will keep your guests happy – and keep you cool and collected. Here’s your stepby-step guide to a memorable, stress-free soiree.
Before you hit the grocery store, pick a theme Is your event formal? Casual? In-between? What time will it start? “If it’s at a meal time, guests will expect to have their bellies filled. If it’s at 11 or 3, they’ll snack lightly, so you’ll need to purchase far less food,” says Rachel Hollis, a Los Angeles-based party planner who’s worked with the likes of Al Gore and Jennifer Love Hewitt. When in doubt, center your event around a type of cuisine – Wyler likes Italian, Mexican and Mediterranean – or choose a theme like picnic, luau
or barbecue. Research shows that people care more
Don’t forget drinks
about presentation than food, so use good plates
When budget is a concern, invest in the bar instead of fancy food items, because people expect ample drinks at a party, says Brett Galley of Hollywood POP, an event-planning firm with offices in New York and Greenwich, Conn.
and glasses, put on music and your party will be a hit.
Start with the main dish First things first: Pick a protein-based main
gna, plan on 4 to 5 ounces per person.
Rule of thumb: Whether you’re serving alcohol or virgin beverages, plan on three drinks per person. When stocking a bar, “Vodka tends to be the most popular spirit,” says Galley. White wine is typically more popular than red; when your crowd skews young, expect beer to go quickly. Above all, “Choose your selection and quantity based on the season, holiday, temperature and state of the economy,” advises Galley. “Beer is better if [the weather is] hot, brown spirits and red wine if it’s cold, and plentiful drinks during a recession.”
Choose simple side dishes
Consider donating your leftovers
course. For groups over six, Wyler favors bigger cuts of meat that can be sliced in advance, like filet of beef or boneless pork roasts. Other foolproof main courses include chili, risotto and lasagna. Rule of thumb: ¼ pound of meat is a generous serving for most lunch and dinner parties; if you’re serving a rich protein, like sausage or prosciutto, you can easily cut back to 1/8 pound – especially for a buffet-style meal. For other main dishes, like lasa-
Instead of offering a cornucopia of options, opt for two to three appetizers and two to three side dishes to accompany the main course – for example, a cheese plate and/or mini meatballs, and a green salad and a potato salad tossed with oil and vinegar. “Guests are grateful for whatever you offer, and it’s more impressive to offer a handful of really great items,” says Hollis. (The more items you offer, the more likely you are to spread your budget thin, she adds.) Unless a dessert bar is part of your plan, a single option is sufficient, says Wyler. Rule of thumb: Four “bites” – small appetizer portions – per guest per hour before the main meal. For side dishes, opt for 1 to 2 ounces of salad, rice or beans, and 3 ounces of pasta or potatoes. For desserts, count on one slice or item (such as a cookie), and roughly 4 ounces of mousse or ice cream per guest.
Even the best party planners can end up with too many leftovers. “If this happens, consider giving the rest to a soup kitchen or food pantry,” advises Heather Bell-Pellegrino, president of A Perfect Plan, a Westchester, N.Y.-based event planning firm. “Many will take perishable food as well as nonperishables, and some will even pick it up for you.” To find a local food bank, visit feedingamerica.org.
What to say when asked, ‘Can I bring something?’ Chances are, many of your invited guests will ask what they can bring. “Most people don’t mean this, so the best answer is, ‘Just yourselves,’” says Ellie Rand, a New Orleans-based public relations consultant and frequent entertainer. If they insist, request something for the bar, or a small sweet treat, says Rand.
2013 Gift Guide * 19
Johnson County calendar of events Dec. 10: Santa’s Storytime at Johnson County Public Library, Franklin branch, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. and 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. Visit the library for a special Christmas storytime with a visit from Santa. Information: www.jcplin.org.
Nov. 23: Greenwood-a-Glow, 4 to 8 p.m. at Greenwood Public Library, Old Town Greenwood and other downtown sites. Carriage rides, puppet shows, crafts and pictures with Santa ($2 each). Nov. 25: Deck the Halls Part 1, ornament making workshop for Grades K to 5 at Greenwood
Dec. 13, 14 and 15: “White Christmas” at the Historic Artcraft Theatre, 57 N. Main St., Franklin. Show times are 2 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5 for adults; $4 for military, students and over 55; $3 for 12 and under. Information/tickets: 317-736-6823, www. historicartcrafttheatre.org.
Public Library, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Register: 317-8855036. Nov: 29-30: “Elf” at the Historic Artcraft Theatre, 57 N. Main St. Franklin. Show times are 2 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $5 for adults; $4 for military, students and over 55; $3 for 12 and under. Information/tickets: 317-7366823, www.historicartcrafttheatre.org. Nov. 30: Saturday Family Fun: Holiday Shopping and Wrapping Fun at Johnson County Public Library, Clark Pleasant branch, 2 to 3 p.m. Make holiday gift wrap and shop in the “Santa Shop.” Information: www.jcplin.org. Dec. 1: Joyful Sound handbell choir will perform at 6 p.m. at Nineveh Christian Church, 1261 E. Road 775S. Information: www.joyfulsound.info. Dec 2: Dec-A-Tree contest at the Johnson County Museum of History, 135 N. Main St., Franklin. Vote for your favorite Christmas tree among 15 trees decorated by nonprofit groups through Dec. 28. 317-346-4500, www.johnsoncountymuseum.org. Dec. 4: Create your own holiday fascinator hat at the Edinburgh Wright-Hageman Public Library, 5:30 p.m. Milliner Susan Freese will teach the basics of making fascinators, and participants will complete two hats by the end of the two-hour class. Registration is required, and a $12 fee is due at time of registration. Information/register: 812526-5487. Dec. 6, 7 and 8: “A Christmas Story” at the Historic Artcraft Theatre, 57 N. Main St., Franklin. Show times are 2 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5 for adults; $4 for military, students and over 55; $3 for 12 and under. Information/tickets: 317-736-6823, www. historicartcrafttheatre.org. Dec. 7: The Franklin Chamber of Commerce’s Downtown Holiday Lighting, presented by the Daily Journal. Festivities run from 9 a.m. to 7:30
20 * 2013 Gift Guide
Get in the holiday spirit by watching “Elf” at Artcraft Theatre. p.m. Concerts, contests, movies and visits with Santa. Dec. 7: Holiday Choral Concert, 7 p.m. at Custer Theatre in Old Main, Franklin College. Free. Dec. 7: Visit with Santa at the Johnson County Museum of History, 135 N. Main St., Franklin, 2 to 4:30 p.m. during Downtown Holiday Lighting festivities. Free 4-by-6 photo, holiday craft project, games and activities. 317-346-4500, www.johnsoncountymuseum.org. Dec. 7: The Greenwood Community Band will perform its annual Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. in the Greenwood High School auditorium. Admission is free. Dec. 8: Holiday Choral Concert, 2 p.m. at Custer Theatre in Old Main, Franklin College. Free. Dec. 8: The Chordlighters barbershop quartet will perform a Christmas concert at 3 p.m. at Franklin Community High School with the Franklin High School choral groups as special guests. Tickets are $15 adults; $10 students; $10 groups of 10 or more; $35 family. Information: www.chordlighters. org or 317-882-5187. Dec. 10: Holiday Ornament Workshop at Johnson County Public Library, Franklin branch for teens/adults, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Make glittery tree ornaments and paper snowflakes to take home. Register: www.jcplin.org.
Dec. 14: Breakfast with Santa at the Greenwood Community Center, 100 Surina Way, 9 a.m. Children must be accompanied by a paid adult. Seating is limited; register by Dec. 10. Cost: $4 Greenwood residents; $5 nonresidents (children under 3 free). Information: 317-881-8527. Dec. 14: Breakfast with Santa at Franklin Cultural Arts and Recreation Center, 396 Branigin Blvd., 9 to 11 a.m. Each child will receive a picture with Santa. Registration required: 317-346-1198. Dec. 14: Visit with Santa at the Johnson County Museum of History, 135 N. Main St., Franklin, noon to 3 p.m. Photos for $5, free holiday craft project. 317-346-4500, www.johnsoncountymuseum.org. Dec. 14: Edinburgh Holiday of Lights festival. Food, carolers, shopping, golf cart parade, decorated homes and businesses in downtown Edinburgh. Dec. 20: Joyful Sound handbell choir will perform at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 99 W. Main St., Greenwood. Information: www.joyfulsound.info. Dec. 20, 21 and 22: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” at the Historic Artcraft Theatre, 57 N. Main St., Franklin. Show times are 2 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5 for adults; $4 for military, students and over 55; $3 for 12 and under. Information/tickets: 317-736-6823, www.historicartcrafttheatre.org. Dec. 21: Johnson County Museum of History holiday open house, 1 to 3 p.m. Holiday treats and punch served, and the Voices of Franklin choir will perform holiday classics. Free admission. 317-3464500, www.johnsoncountymuseum.org.
Foods foster prosperity and luck
Associated Press
J
ustin Kimbro isn’t sure if eating pork, blackeyed peas and greens on New Year’s Day will change his luck in the coming year. But he’ll eat them just in case. “I’ve never not eaten it,” said Kimbro, of Murray, Ky. “I don’t like to take chances.” In parts of the South, those foods are supposed to bring good luck and prosperity. Many cultures have special New Year’s foods, from lettuce in China to lentils in Italy. “We don’t have that many rituals left. People get excited about doing the same thing year after year,” said Mitchell Davis, vice president of the James Beard Foundation in New York, a group devoted to America’s culinary heritage. Betty Hakes, who was raised in a Cuban neighborhood in Miami, grew up eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve. “As a child, I never questioned why you did that,” said Hakes, who now lives in Cincinnati. It wasn’t until she moved away from home that she realized it was not a common practice and began wondering about its history. She later learned that the tradition started in Spain, where some people make a wish each time they bite into the grape. Others believe the grapes represent the months of the year, and that a sour grape signals an unlucky month.
Associated Press photos
Above: Pork and sauerkraut suggest good fortune in the future. Right: Rice pilaf with herbs suggests abundance because it expands when cooked.
“There have always been lots and lots of food superstitions,” said New York-based food historian Francine Segan. “People love to keep tradition. It’s something they do even if they forget what the tradition was.” New Year’s foods typically have properties that suggest good fortune, said Tina Ujlaki, executive food editor for Food & Wine magazine. Beans or leafy vegetables are favorites because they resemble coins and dollar bills, she said. “Even cultures that don’t have green money have adopted the association of green and cash,” Ujlaki said. Pork also is popular, she said, because it’s said that pigs root forward and no one wants to dwell on the past. Some cultures shy away from chicken because no one wants to scratch for their meals or their livelihood. And foods that expand during cooking, such as rice or noodles, also appear in many of the meals because they suggest abundance, Ujlaki said. “Everyone wants only good things going forward,” she said. “All of these foods encourage that.”
2013 Gift Guide * 21
Beyond the wish list
Help your children think of others this holiday season By Jenni L. Muncie-Sujan
10 things to do with your children to help them learn the true spirit of the season
F
or each person, the realization arrives at different ages, through different events: that warm understanding that the world can be a better place if each individual willingly contributes something of value. Every open heart can find expression of this unity through gifts of love, time, skills or funds. Often, we see the best of humankind during the Christmas holiday.
2 3
Help organize a shopping opportunity
During the holiday season, with an influx in donations and shoppers, Sans Souci, a thrift shop in Columbus, offers a volunteer opportunity where families can help sort, shelve, hang and organize new merchandise to move the gently used donations out to the shopping floor. Contact: Sheryl Adams at Sheryl@sanssouci. org or 812-314-2932
Hold a family gathering
Read a holiday book or watch a holiday movie together, followed with a discussion of themes such as sharing, strength of family, contentment, kindness, love of humanity and gratitude. Suggestions: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss (book and movie), “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens (book and movie), “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry (book), “Gifts of the Heart” by Patricia Polacco (book), “The Lost Christmas Gift” by Andrew Beckham (nonfiction book)
To facilitate an understanding of the true meaning of the Christmas holiday for an entire family, this short list of ideas serves as a starting point. Parents can make plans this season to demonstrate, in a local setting, actions that shine brighter than twinkling lights and have an impact that endures much longer than the frenzy of unwrapping presents.
1 4
The Republic photos
Lt. Alan Sladek and Lt. Jodi Sladek of the Columbus Salvation Army are looking for bell ringers for their annual Red Kettle campaign.
Take cheer to the elderly
Help conduct holiday activities at a local nursing home or independent living facility. Suggestion: Facilitate a Christmas cardmaking event at Parkside Court Contact: Courtney Bell, enrichment coordinator, 812-378-9795
22 * 2013 Gift Guide
Volunteer with Salvation Army Salvation Army offers two ways to help others during the Christmas season. Participate in the Angel Tree Program by selecting a child’s name from the tree at Fair Oaks Mall and purchase a gift for that specific child. Families can also volunteer to ring a bell at the Red Kettle donation sites Nov. 16 through Dec. 24, in time slots from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Contact: Lt. Jodi Sladik at 372-7118
5 6 7 8 9 10
Help distribute gifts
The Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund accepts donations of toys at multiple locations, but volunteers are also needed for sorting and distribution of the gifts. Contact: Mark Ziegler at mziegler@cheerfund. com
Delivering food, clothing and toys for the Firemen’s Cheer Fund is a holiday tradition for some Columbus families.
Send a box of cheer with Operation Christmas Child Through the international organization Samaritan’s Purse, local churches participate in Operation Christmas Child. This simple shoebox-sized gift is easy to fill, and the package goes directly to a child in one of 130 countries around the world. Contact: Melissa Reardon at Sandy Hook United Methodist Church at 812-372-8495 Learn more about the organization: www. samaritanspurse.org
Go caroling as a family
Columbus Regional Hospital has opportunities for groups or families to carol throughout the facility, especially during the week of Christmas. Contact: Volunteer office at 812-376-5305 or through the Community Involvement tab at www.crh.org.
Serve at a Christmas dinner
Volunteer at Love Chapel
The local Love Chapel food pantry has many roles to be filled during the holidays. Families can serve together stocking shelves, helping people shop and socializing with people as they wait in line. Contact: volunteerassistant@ columbuslovechapel.com or 812-372-9421
Call a local church to help with a free community Christmas dinner or participate in a holiday service project. Suggestion: St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Christmas dinner places volunteers in several service areas: set-up, serving, hosting, hospitality and clean-up. Contact: Trish Meier at trishmeier0329@ yahoo.com
For families who want more options
The Volunteer Action Center at United Way of Bartholomew County is a place to register to volunteer wherever needed. Angie Huebel, director of the VAC, can be reached at 812314-2706 or ahuebel@uwbarthco.org.
2013 Gift Guide * 23
Jackson County calendar of events November
M
onth-long — Mixed media/Members Christmas Show on display at Southern
Indiana Center for the Arts, 2001 N. Ewing St., Seymour. Call 812-522-2278.
23
— Crothersville FFA Chapter Annual Craft Show, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Crothersville main
and auxiliary gymnasiums. Call Linda Maxie at 812793-2051 or email lmaxie@crothk12.org.
23
— First-grade art classes with Kay Fox at Southern Indiana Center for the Arts, 2001
N. Ewing St., Seymour, 10 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 2 p.m. Sail boats drawing/painting, butterflies, cupcake still life. Call 812-522-2278.
photos by Aaron Piper
23
Passengers wait for a ride on the Little Smilin’ Choo Choo during the Downtown Seymour Christmas celebration. Top left: Santa’s helper, Angel Emma, holds the reins of Noel, the reindeer. Top right: People gather around the Christmas tree at One Chamber Square.
— Hearts Desire, Picket Fence, See More Antiques and Switchin’ It Up, all located in
Seymour, will offer Christmas Open Houses. Hours vary at each store.
27
— Sertoma benefit concert for Christmas Miracle, 6 p.m., Pewter Hall, Brownstown.
Tickets must be purchased in advance at Pewter Hall, Brooklyn Pizza or from Sertoma Club members. Call Pewter Hall at 812-358-0919.
27
— Cameron’s Benefit Dance, 6 p.m., Celebrations at the Seymour Outlet Center.
Live music provided by the Marlinaires, dancing, 50/50, silent auction. All proceeds benefit the Cameron Spray heart transplant fund. For tickets, call Barb at 812-525-6337.
Secure his dreams...
28
— Girls Inc. of Jackson County, fourth annual 8K Run and 5K Walk Turkey Trot
begins at 7:30 a.m. at Girls Inc., Seymour. Register at www.signmeup.com or www.crossroadsofindiana. com. Call 812-522-2798.
30
— Holiday Craft Show, Trinity Lutheran High School, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 812-445-
3357.
Insurance, LLc
30
— Fourth annual Christmas Open House at Hoosier Heartland Alpacas, Seymour.
Meet alpacas, see demonstrations, buy gifts. 2500 N. County Road 1000W, Seymour. Call 812-445-7874 or visit www.hoosierheartlandalpacas.com.
24 * 2013 Gift Guide
December
M
onth-long — Mixed media/Members Christmas Show on display at Southern Indiana Center for the Arts, 2001 N. Ewing St., Seymour. Call 812-522-2278.
2
— Downtown Seymour Christmas, sponsored by Seymour Main Street, 5 to 7 p.m. Santa will be on hand to light up the downtown. Vendors and entertainment.
6
, 7, 13, 14 — Jackson County Community Theatre’s production of “A Tuna Christmas,” at 7:30 p.m., Royal-Off-the-Square Theatre, Brownstown. Tickets $8 and $6, available at Family Drug and Bevers Family Pharmacy. Call 812-358JCCT.
7
— Bring Christmas to the Animals event at Humane Society of Jackson County, Freeman Field, Seymour. Visitors can shop in the pet boutique and donate goods. Call 812-522-5200.
7
— Medora Christmas Festival, held in downtown Medora. Vendors, entertainment, parade and food are available. Call Sharon Bowers at 812966-8887 or visit Medora Christmas Festival on Facebook.
7
— Christmas Cookie Walk at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 605 S. Walnut St., Seymour, begins at 9 a.m. Many varieties of homemade cookies available. Call 812-522-5498.
Seymour Tribune file photo
Lutheran Central School choir members sing Christmas songs during the annual Hometown Christmas Celebration at Jackson County Courthouse in Brownstown.
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7
— Christmas at Batar, 6:30 p.m., at Café Batar, 12649 E. U.S. 50, Seymour. Food, drinks and music. $25 per person. Call 812-522-8617.
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9
— Brownstown Hometown Christmas, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Jackson County Courthouse. Refreshments; Santa will be on hand. Call 812-3582930 or email secretary@brownstownchamber.org.
11
— Nature Time for preschool children, 9:30 to 11 a.m., Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, Seymour. Call 812-522-4352.
14
— Snowflake Christmas Bazaar, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Brownstown United Methodist Church, 110 North Poplar St., Brownstown. Call 812-358-2924.
15
— Norman Station Conservation Club Bluegrass Jams, 1 to 5 p.m., Norman Station Conservation Club, 12157 W. County Road 450N, Norman. Call 812-834-5184.
21
— Jackson County Community Theatre and Brownstown Fund for the Arts will present the vintage movie “Christmas Vacation,” 6:30 p.m., Royal-Off-the-Square Theatre. Call 812-358-JCCT.
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COLUMBUS 376-7992 SEYMOUR 445-3491 2013 Gift Guide * 25
Little things make Christmas special
We asked readers to share their special holiday memories and traditions. Maybe you will find something below that strikes a chord with your family. Thank you to all who responded. The names of all contributors were entered in a drawing for a $50 gift card. Congratulations to the winner, Cathy Zehr.
Photo by Doug Showalter
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Randy and Cathy Zehr with the glass tree ornaments they’ve purchased during holiday visits to Nashville over the last nine years.
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would like to share a Zehr family holiday tradition that we started in 2004. It is a simple event that can be adopted by others. The Zehr family in Columbus consists of just my husband, Randy, and me. Our extended family is located in northwest Indiana, Chicago and central Illinois. Nine years ago, Randy and I realized that we needed to start our own family holiday tradition that reflected our life in Columbus and the surrounding community. Our holiday tradition starts with a trip to Nashville for lunch. Then we purchase a glass Christmas tree ornament from the Lawrence Family Glass Blowers store. Each ornament is hand blown and unique ... just like the wonderful Columbus community we live in. Last year I shattered one of my glass ornaments, and it broke my heart. I believe our simple glass ornament tradition is a reflection of life ... precious and fragile. I want to keep this in mind as I decorate the Christmas tree with our new 2013 ornament. Life is here today, but can be gone tomorrow. This holiday season I need to treat family and friends the same way I would a glass ornament ... with loving, tender care. Cathy Zehr, Columbus
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hen I was a little girl my favorite thing to put on our Christmas tree was a string of popcorn. That string of popcorn was created by my mother when she was 10 years old in 1916. When my parents died in 1964, I became the owner of that string of popcorn. It is still my favorite thing to put on my Christmas tree. When I am gone each one of my four children will inherit a piece of that string of popcorn. Hopefully it will be one of their favorite things. Martha Myers, Columbus
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his is the best and most meaningful Christmas gift I ever received: My Grandma Ruth raised me when I was a little girl, and she and I were very close. When she died, I felt like I had lost my best friend. I had a picture of my Grandma Ruth when she was a teenager back in the ’20s. Over the years it had gotten torn. When my son was a teenager he noticed this and knew what this meant to me. He had a part-time job and was making some money and got an idea. One year for Christmas I was shocked to open my gift to find my grandmother’s picture completely restored. He had taken it to get it restored. It also had a beautiful old oval frame that was a little damaged, and he had sanded it down and painted it gold. When he had it restored he had them add glass to the frame, and it was now more beautiful than ever. I have hung this picture in every home I have lived in, and it will forever be my favorite Christmas present. My son could not have given me anything more meaningful. I was so proud of my son for being so thoughtful. I thought to myself that I must have done something right. Then I realized this was Grandma Ruth’s way of letting me know she was here. She raised me and I raised my son by the same principles. I think she would have a smile on her face right now. Linda Croddy, Columbus
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hen thinking of Christmas traditions, lots of things come to mind. However, something very simple tends to stand out to me every year. Biscuits and gravy. Yes, that’s correct, simple biscuits and gravy. I have lots of fond memories growing up at Christmas, but the one constant was getting up and going to Grandma’s house for biscuits and gravy before returning home to open Christmas gifts. After Grandma passed away and left no one to make them, it kind of fell to the side for several years. I then decided to restart it 16 years ago. Over the years we have extended the invite to include family friends as well as our family. Everyone came in droves with the same dress code (meaning PJs were fine) and no expectations of staying any longer than it took for you to eat and socialize during the meal. In keeping with Grandma’s tradition, everyone would return to their homes with a belly full of fried potatoes and biscuits and gravy. Some years bad weather would result in maybe three people, while other years it might reach 30. Being a Columbus firefighter has caused me to miss a few years because of being on duty. On those years the guys I work with get to enjoy the fixings. A few years ago I remarried and our family grew. My oldest kids now have their own children also, so we have cut it back to just our family. One thing is for sure, a new generation is now enjoying a tradition that was started by their great-great-grandma, and one day hopefully they will be the ones in the kitchen fixing the biscuits and gravy. Jim Miller, Columbus
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family tradition that we have goes back to when my mom was a child in Gary. Her parents would take her and her four siblings to Chicago to eat
Submitted photo
Submitted photo
Julie Brinksneader, along with her daughter, Kylie Brinksneader, and her parents, Max and Martha Hotz, at the Walnut Room in Macy’s in downtown Chicago. and look at all the holiday decorations. This tradition has been carried down from the generation of my mom’s childhood, to my parents taking me and my brother to Chicago, and now we take my 2-year-old daughter. We eat at the Walnut Room in Macy’s (formerly Marshall Field’s) on State Street in downtown Chicago. Every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas it has a 45-foot-tall Christmas tree that you can sit next to and have a meal. We always go for lunch and have “Frosty the snowman” ice cream for dessert. While we eat next to the giant tree, a “princess” walks around and sprinkles us with fairy dust so we can make a wish. There is usually a theme to the tree. Past themes include Cinderella, Paddington Bear, the Nutcracker, etc. Macy’s also decorates its outside windows to tell a story. After lunch we always walk around downtown Chicago to see the decorations, ice skating rink and other festivities. I always remember going every year when I was a kid, and now I’m passing it on to my daughter, who loved it last year even as a baby. Julie Brinksneader, Columbus
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ur family tradition started when our four sons were all little and needed a bedtime story to calm down before bed. On Dec.1, a small table-top Christmas tree appears decorated and with 25 colorful presents underneath. Each night a different child gets to select and open one of the gifts. Surprisingly, every night the present turns out to be a holiday story for the family to share before bed. The shrinking pile helps count the days until Christmas, and many stories have become family favorites. Over the years, we have collected tales about Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa to share, the idea being that we will have enough books to send each son a set of 25 holiday stories when they begin their own families. The boys have grown, and I thought they had moved past this tradition until last year when I left the books in the attic and was confronted by upset young men. I guess even “Pooh’s Merry Christmas” has a place in a teenager’s celebration when it has always been part of all their holidays. Amy Schnapp-Brunnemer, Columbus
Standing, from left, are Kyle Smith, Eric Roush, Grandpa Bob Roush, Ryan Smith and David Roush. Seated, Julie Roush and Michelle Smith, holding Matthew Roush.
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n 1982 in Kendallville, Grandpa Bob Roush dressed in a Santa outfit (with IU hat), dressed his seven grandchildren in red T-shirts, played his guitar and led them in singing Christmas carols for the entertainment of the rest of the family. Priceless! Peg Roush (Grandma), Columbus
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ne of the Christmases that I remember every year is the Christmas of 1962. I was in the Army, stationed in France. I did not have enough time with my unit to go home for Christmas, so I had to stay on base. Ed Patoka, a good friend I had gone to engineers school with at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., lived off post with his wife. Ed invited me and another one of his friends from the school to their apartment off the base. I don’t remember what we had for the meal, but being with friends that day was something special. It was the first and only time that I didn’t get to be home for Christmas. The following Christmas I was stationed at Fort Eustis, Va. I had my car and was able to get a few days leave to go home. I was able to go home for Thanksgiving also. Ed and I keep in touch via email and sometimes on the phone. We have been to their home in Wisconsin, and they have been down to see us. Jim Willis, Columbus
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have lived in Columbus all my life. The holidays were always very special. We lived on a farm in Ogilville. When the cold wind started to blow and the snowflakes started to fall, we would put on our rubber boots and mittens and Dad would grab the saw and away we would go. Dad always drove the tractor and pulled the wagon down the cow path. Mom would have the decorations and hot chocolate ready for us. As I grew up, all six of us kids and Mom and Dad would jump into the station wagon and drive to town to see all of the glowing lights and all of the Christmas scenes in the windows. As time passed I had a son of my own. My sister and her kids, my son and I would always go to Zaharako’s to see all of the old Christmas decorations and wait to see if we would hear the old organ play. The kids always had their special children’s table where they sat eating ice cream.
see memories on page 28 2013 Gift Guide * 27
memories, continued
Submitted photo
Now I am a grandma, and our traditions are still the same. I love gathering with my family having Christmas dinner and watching all the children unwrap their presents. Our family is very blessed. We all still live in Columbus after all these years. I’m glad my grandchildren are able to enjoy the holiday from the same area where I grew up, so they build their own special holiday memories. Debra Deyo, Columbus
Photo by Doug Showalter
Joanna and Jason Tucker visit Nashville every fall to purchase a glass ornament, such as this reindeer.
Hank Winter holds the papier-mache Santa he’s had since 1940.
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y dad ran the Taystee Bread route 19 out of Lafayette from 1939 until the fall of 1944. It was a couple of days before Christmas, in 1940, when a grocer on his bread route offered Dad two cases of papier-mâché Santas. The Santa figures were made in Germany and were filled with hard candy. After a bit of bargaining they struck a deal. The final cost was 60 cents a case. A few good customers on the bread route and two boys received a great 5-cent Christmas gift. I still have my Santa and display it every year at Christmas. It now rests in a curio cabinet next to a small Christmas tree ornament that was on my first Christmas tree and the 79 that have followed. Hank Winter, Columbus
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ine years ago, my husband, Jason, and I started a tradition of visiting Nashville every fall and purchasing a hand-blown glass ornament from Lawrence Family Glass Blowers. We’d usually spend a good hour just looking, pointing out the ones we liked, then debating on what ornament we would take home that year. Each purchase was followed by additional shopping (usually early holiday shopping) and sometimes lunch or dinner at a local eatery. Most of the ornaments we chose were ones that caught our interest, something unique and different, but a few hold a special significance to us. For ex-
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ample, our first ornament was an ice skating couple, representing our marriage. In the past, we have always purchased ornaments that were finished and on display at the store. This year was a little different, as we chose to special order an ornament. We recently purchased our first home and desired a houseshaped ornament that resembled our own home. The Lawrence family was so accommodating with our wishes and simply asked for a photograph from which they could base their design. We cannot wait to see the finished product in a few short weeks. We hope to continue this tradition in the years to come and are excited to one day have a tree full of unique, hand-blown glass ornaments. Joanna and Jason Tucker, Hope
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ne of the things that I remember most about Christmas when I was growing up is that my mom always made my sister and me pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve. I can see the different designs and prints of some of my favorites as I write about it now. A few years ago my mom got a picture of my sister and me made into a larger print as a Christmas Eve surprise. I realized, as an adult, this was such a special memory from my childhood. It really melted my heart because I am now a mother myself. My daughter, Lily, and my son, Leo, are now 13 and 12, and yes, they have matched in some way, every Christmas Eve. Times have changed, and I am not the seamstress that my mother was. But every year, I have made sure that they have had new, holiday style, matching pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve. Last year, I had to come to the hard realization that they were getting older. Did that stop me? I bought boys buffalo plaid sleep pants and black thermal shirts. Oh, the picture in front of the Christmas tree on Christmas morning is a classic. I wonder if my children will have fond memories of Christmas Eve pajamas and dress their children in matching sleepwear. I also wonder if they will be like me and begin doing it “for the kids,” but end up making lasting memories and great pictures to cherish always. The years pass so fast. Juli Nichols-Shelp, Columbus
Kwanzaa is celebration of African culture By Carol Dingledy
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he celebration of Kwanzaa — a name taken from the Swahili “Matunda Ya Kwanza,” meaning first fruits — is a seven-day ceremony that begins on Dec. 26 and ends on New Year’s Day. Unlike the other major December holidays of Hanukkah and Christmas, Kwanzaa is not a religious celebration but a cultural one. Maulana Karenga, professor of Africana Studies at California State University in Long Beach, created Kwanzaa in 1966 to help preserve and promote African-American culture. It is based on the traditional ancient African harvest festivals.
What
Kwanzaa promotes seven principles: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith).
Columbus Kwanzaa celebration
The celebration ceremony takes place at home on seven consecutive nights, with one principle examined each night When as its corresponding black, red or green 6 p.m. Dec. 14 candle is lighted in the holder or Kinara. The black candle, representing unity, is in the center and is the first candle lighted, Where with the three red candles representing Second Baptist Church struggles (self-determination, collective 1325 10th St. work and responsibility, and cooperative economics) to the left and the three green ones representing hope (purpose, creativity and faith) to the right. Decorations for Kwanzaa focus on items representing African heritage — African baskets, characteristic cloth patterns, hand-carved statues, masks, woven mats and so on. A Bendera, or flag, of black, red and green is often used, and those colors are incorporated into other decorations, too. A typical Kwanzaa table arrangement would include a Kinara and candles, Unity cup, woven mat, bowl of fresh fruit and ears of dried corn. Often a poster showing the
seven principles and their symbols is also displayed. While Kwanzaa is primarily an African holiday created to preserve African heritage, anyone can participate just as they do with St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras or Cinco de Mayo, although Kwanzaa is more introspection than party. The seven principles are guidelines that can apply regardless of religious affiliation. It is an African-American custom, but one with meaning for other ethnicities and cultures, too. Each year, Columbus hosts a public Kwanzaa event. Everyone is invited to the local ceremony, this year scheduled for Dec. 14 at Second Baptist Church, 1325 10th St. Paulette Roberts, who is organizing this year’s celebration, explained that for the public observance, the seven principles are examined all in one night, with 10 to 15 minutes devoted to each one. Youths from the Columbus Enrichment Program at Second Baptist Church make presentations on each of the seven principles. They light the candles and recite the meaning of what each one signifies. Each youth also receives gifts, as do children in their home celebrations. One of the gifts must be a book, emphasizing the value of learning. Another must be something that symbolizes African heritage to reinforce a commitment to African history. Home celebrations of Kwanzaa include meals of foods representative of the heritage for that family, and the public observance features a community meal with a variety of dishes made by the parents of the Columbus Enrichment Program youths. Typically, Roberts said, the public meal features soups, jambalaya, stew, rice dishes, a fruit drink, fresh fruit and fresh vegetable dishes and dessert — often sweet potato or pecan pie, pound cake or spice cake. “Kwanzaa represents joy, happiness, love, hope and participation in life,” Roberts said. “It is a great celebration.” For more information about Kwanzaa: www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org. Traditional items such as the Kinara, flag and Unity cup, plus other Kwanzaa-related items, may be purchased through the site.
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Indianapolis calendar of events Until Jan. 5: Jingle Rails, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art in White River State Park, 500 W. Washington St., 317-636-WEST, www.eiteljorg.org. Enter a locomotive wonderland, a network of trestles, bridges and tunnels with chugging trains and detailed replicas of national treasures, all made of natural materials like twigs, moss and nuts and wrapped in holiday trimming. Watch seven trains wind past the local treasures of downtown Indianapolis, including the Eiteljorg Museum, Monument Circle and Union Station and Lucas Oil Stadium. The trains then head through the national parks of the American West, passing legendary sites. Until Dec. 24: Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” Indiana Repertory Theatre, 140 W. Washington St., (317) 635-5252, www.irtlive.com. Magic happens on a snow-covered stage. The family’s favorite holiday tradition comes gift-wrapped with fresh IRT surprises. The classic story of greed and redemption comes to life with Scrooge, Cratchit and, of course, Tiny Tim. Until Dec. 15: “White Christmas,” Footlite Musicals, 1847 N. Alabama St., 317-926-6630, www.footlite.org. Based on the beloved film, this heartwarming musical adaptation features 17 Irving Berlin songs. Veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters en route to their
(317) 872-9664, www.beefandboards. com. A singing, dancing family tradition. Nov. 29: Circle of Lights Tree Lighting, 6 to 8 p.m., Soldiers & Sailors Monument/Monument Circle, Indianapolis, (317) 237-2222, www.qc-indy. com. The 50th annual event features festive acts from around the state. Santa will be on hand to usher in the holiday season and flip on the lights. After the lighting, visitors will enjoy fireworks, as well as downtown’s holiday centerpiece, complete with 4,784 lights and 52 garland strands used to create the 242-foot display. The magic continues with toy soldiers and peppermint sticks encircling the monument. The display will remain up until Jan. 6.
Submitted photo
Circle of Lights draws large crowds to Monument Circle each holiday season. Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil’s former army commander. Nov. 23-Dec. 31: “Celebration Crossing,” all day at the Indiana State Museum in White River State Park, 650 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, 232-1637, www.indianamuseum.org. Visit with Santa, see L.S. Ayres’ Christmas window display, ride the Santa Claus Express, participate in holiday and winter themed activities. Nov. 29 through Dec. 23: A Beef and Boards Christmas, 9301 Michigan Road, Indianapolis,
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Dec. 7 to Dec. 20: “A Christmas Carol,” Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, 9301 Michigan Road. From the pages of Dickens comes this musical adapta-
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Dec. 6 to Dec. 23: Duke Energy Yuletide Celebration with Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle, 317-639-4300, www.indianapolissymphony. org. Five-time Grammy award-winning vocalist Sandi Patty will share the stage with guest artists The von Trapps, the four great-grandchildren of Captain and Maria von Trapp made famous by “The Sound of Music.” Dec. 6 to Dec. 22: “The Little Town of Christmas,” Buck Creek Players, 11150 Southeastern Ave., 317-862-2270, www.buckcreekplayers.com. Visit “The Little Town of Christmas” in December as Buck Creek Players presents Pat Cook’s comedy package of 12 yuletide sketches for the holiday season.
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Nov. 29 to Dec. 30: Christmas at the Zoo, Indianapolis Zoo in White River State Park, 1200 W. Washington St., 317-630-2001, www.indyzoo. com. Sip a hot beverage, visit the animals and enjoy exhibits and special activities throughout the zoo, which is covered with holiday lights. Special dolphin shows and keepers chats help put a wild spin on this most wonderful time of the year. You can also decorate cookies, write letters to Santa, listen to carolers and warm up at the campfire.
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tion of the Yuletide classic with traditional carols. Experience the transformation of the crotchety Scrooge into someone who understands the true meaning of kindness and love, accomplished with the help of three spirits from the past, present and future. This one-hour show is performed without intermission. Dec. 8: symFUNy Sunday: Duke Energy Yuletide Celebration, 2 p.m., Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle, 317-639-4300, www. indianapolissymphony.org. Spark the imagination of your wigglers and gigglers as they explore a lifelong relationship with music during these one-hour, family-friendly concerts. Make sure to arrive early for each concert and enjoy a fun and interactive carnival of pre-concert activities. Dec. 11 to 14: “The Broadway Boys: Hark! The Cabaret!” at the Columbia Club, 121 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, 7:30 p.m. 317-2751169, www.thecabaret.org. Join us for a joyful and inspirational holiday evening with a collection of some of the hottest male voices working on the New York stage. The Broadway Boys add elements of pop, funk and gospel to traditional holiday songs and inspirational show tunes. Tickets: $35, $45, $55.
Dec. 16: “Messiah” Sing-Along, 7:30 p.m., Indiana Landmarks, 1201 Central Ave., 317-9409607. The ICO, Encore Vocal Arts and you will perform beloved selections from Handel’s “Messiah.” Grab your score and experience the newest holiday tradition in Indianapolis. Tickets: $30, adult; $12, student. Festival seating. Group rates available. Dec. 16: The Von Trapps, 7:30 p.m., Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle, 317-6394300, www.indianapolissymphony.org. “The Sound of Music” captured the hearts of millions when the beloved film debuted in 1965. Now, the von Trapps’ family legacy is born anew with Captain von Trapp’s great-grandchildren, Sofia, Melanie, Amanda and Justin. The ISO does not appear during this performance.
formingarts.org. A Christmas Celebration — The Symphony Tour will showcase the voices of Celtic Woman in a reverent yet dynamic live music experience accompanied by the instrumentals of a full symphony orchestra. Tickets: $15 to $153. Dec. 21: Handel’s “Messiah,” 8 p.m., Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University, 4602 Sunset Ave., 317-639-4300, www.indianapolissymphony. org, with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Indianapolis Symphonic Choir. Dec. 27: A Candlelight Evening on Delaware Street, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, 1230 N. Delaware St.,317-6311888. A fundraising event of historic house tours and elegant dining. Begin your evening with a tour
Dec. 19: Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration, 7:30 p.m., The Center for the Performing Arts, 355 W. City Center Dr., Carmel,317-843-3800, www.thecenterfortheper-
of the Harrison home, then visit other locations on this walking tour of the historic mansions on Delaware Street. Cost: $80 per person; $75 members. Reservations required.
Dec. 12: Trans-Siberian Orchestra, 3 and 7:30 p.m., Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis. Tickets: $33.50 to $70. Trans-Siberian Orchestra will celebrate its first 15 years of touring with an encore and final performance of its multi-platinum rock opera, “The Lost Christmas Eve.” Dec. 13: Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour 2013, 8 p.m., The Center for the Performing Arts, 355 W. City Center Drive, Carmel, 317-843-3800, www.thecenterfortheperformingarts.org. In a career that spans 20 years and a dozen albums, saxophonist Dave Koz has established himself as one of the most prominent figures in contemporary music. Featuring Oleta Adams, Jonathan Butler and Keiko Matsu. Dec. 13 to 15: Handel’s “Messiah,” Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, 418 E. 34th St., Indianapolis,317-940-9607. Tickets: $30, adult; $12, student. Festival seating. Group rates available. Dec. 14: LIVE: Family Christmas at the President’s Home, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, 1230 N. Delaware St., 317-631-1888. Christmas tour of the Harrison family home. Tours on the hour and half-hour. Tickets: $11, member adults; $14, adults; $6, students (ages 5 to 17).
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Not Home for the Holidays Can’t cook? No space? Home isn’t the only place to host a memorable holiday party By Anne Burkley n CTW Features
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emember the party you had where your brother burst through the door dressed like an elf? How about when your neighbor flawlessly belted out “Deck the Halls?” No? Probably because you were busy making sure everyone else was having a good time. From planning to cooking to cleaning, hosting is a lot of work. This year, consider treating your family and friends to a holiday shindig at a local venue. Here’s what you need to know to host a festive get-together outside the home.
Pick a date
And best wishes for a healthy heart this holiday season
The holidays are a busy time for everyone. Be mindful of the date that you choose, says Nicole Aloni, a Seattle-based chef, restaurateur and caterer, and author of “Secrets from a Caterer’s Kitchen: The Indispensable Guide for Planning a Party” (HP Trade, 2001). Hosting a party during a popular holiday production, for example, may create a conflict. Select a date early in December, suggests Aloni. “Be the first really great holiday party on people’s social calendar.” If you decide to have a party later in the season with short notice, you will have to play with times and dates. Host a cocktail party with light hors d’oeuvres early in the evening to allow friends and family to drop by on their way to other events; likewise, a dessert party late in the evening allows folks to drop by on their way home from other festivities.
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Your party starts with the invitation. “The invite sets the tone for the party, so it should be special,” says Maya Kalman, founder and CEO of New York City’s Swank Productions. Special doesn’t have to be expensive. Send do-it-yourself invites with a candy cane, small ornament, or a jingle bell. “When you put something like that in an envelope or a box with your invitation, it just makes it so much more festive and so much more exciting,” she says.
A holiday feast What image evokes the essence of holiday celebration more than a beautiful table filled with delicious food and surrounded by family and friends? Unfortunately, most people don’t have a table that seats more than eight comfortably.
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“Probably the biggest advantage to hosting a dinner party outside the home is that you can have more people,” says Aloni. “It really allows you to throw the kind of party you aspire to but may not be capable of having.” When searching for a venue, a favorite restaurant is a good place to start, but keep in mind that you are looking for something much different than a restaurant experience. A great venue will have a private room and a staff that will work with you to create a special meal and a few signature drinks, and will provide service exclusively for your party. There are many ways to make a large dinner party at an outside venue seem cozier. Eating at one long, beautifully decorated table is ideal. It’s festive and everyone sits together. Ask that dinner be served family style so that guests can share the food. Also, if you are known for a certain dish at your holiday parties, ask the planner if you can incorporate it in the menu. Most are more than happy to serve a special side dish or dessert, says Aloni, though expect a cutting or serving fee. Bar service isn’t necessary, but a few great drinks are a must. “Nothing gets people in a giddier, happier mood than being greeted by a waiter with a drink,” says Kalman. Start your guests with a warm beverage, such as mulled wine or spiked cider.
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A cocktail party is a great way to host a larger group. “It typically takes fewer staff and less expensive food to do a cocktail party,” says Aloni. All you need is a great space, a couple of stylish cocktails and a few well-chosen hors d’oeuvres for a festive get-together.
Nontraditional: Think beyond hotels and restaurants when searching for a venue. Historic homes, museums, theaters and even zoos offer rooms that make a fun and festive backdrop for a holiday party.
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A full bar isn’t necessary and hosts can save money by skipping wine and champagne altogether. Aloni suggests serving two signature drinks, a couple of beers (look for seasonal craft brews), mineral water and a non-alcohol drink.
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Nontraditional: Dinner doesn’t have to be the star of your holiday meal. Brunch and lunch are cost-effective alternatives that fit into most people’s schedules — even if it’s a last-minute get-together.
When choosing food, think bite size. Small servings that are beautifully presented are on trend and functional. Cocktail food should fit cleanly into the mouth, not drip, and not require guests to sit. For parties in the afternoon or late evening, a dessert-only party is a fun (and delicious) alternative to traditional cocktail fare.
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*$0 down, 0% A.P.R. financing for up to 36 months on purchases of new Kubota RTV X Series equipment is available to qualified purchasers from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory through 12/31/2013. Example: A 36-month monthly installment repayment term at 0% A.P.R. requires 36 payments of $27.78 per $1,000 financed. 0% A.P.R. interest is available to customers if no dealer documentation preparation fee is charged. Dealer charge for document preparation fee shall be in accordance with state laws. Inclusion of ineligible equipment may result in a higher blended A.P.R. Not available for Rental, National Accounts or Governmental customers. 0% A.P.R. and low-rate financing may not be available with customer instant rebate offers. Financing is available through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A., 3401 Del Amo Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503; subject to credit approval. Some exceptions apply. Offer expires 12/31/2013. See us for details on these and other low-rate options or go to www.kubota.com for more information.
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2013 Gift Guide * 33
There’s No Place Like Home Daphne Oz, co-host of ABC’s food and talk show ‘The Chew,’ has come out with her second lifestyle cookbook, where she explains how to host fun, stress-free parties at the holidays – or any time of year By Anne E. Stein n CTW Features
Q: What are your top tips for making holiday meal hosting stress-free? A: The biggest thing that stresses people out is thinking that everything needs to be piping hot when guests arrive. Figure out what foods can be served hot, cold or room temperature. One of first things I learned doing “The Chew” is the battle strategy. Chef Mario Batali has the entire day planned in 15-minute intervals – what goes in and when. Have a hot something to greet your guests – I love chestnut soup in little espresso cups around the holidays. Then I have cold salad sitting on the table, so guests aren’t waiting forever to eat. I’ll serve a warm entrée – stews and braises are favorites in the fall and winter – and have side dishes that are good lukewarm, such as corn pudding. I also set the table the night before – that saves time the next day. I try to limit sit-down dinners to no more than 12. And not every holiday
34 * 2013 Gift Guide
meal has to be a big sit-down affair; I think people prefer a buffet table. William Morrow
I
n her first book, “The Dorm Room Diet” (William Morrow, 2010), certified chef and integrative nutritionist Daphne Oz helped college students tackle dorm living. In her second book, “Relish: An Adventure in Food, Style, and Everyday Fun” (William Morrow, 2013), the daughter of author and TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz shares her tips on delicious, healthy eating and how to relish and celebrate food, style and life.
Q: How do you put your guests at ease? A: Guests want to feel taken care of, but it also helps if you give them ways to feel at home. I let them fix their own drinks or greet new guests and take coats – something that puts them in the mentality of being at home. I like to make my signature cocktails or drinks, especially mulled wine in the winter, and let them help themselves.
Q: Let’s talk table decorations. How do you make your holiday tables special? A: Around the holidays I love pinecones, branches, and other ways of bringing the outside indoors. I do lots of candles and fragrances – a combination of spicy candles with cinnamon in the kitchen, for example. The world around you is so beautiful around the holidays – I love a little shine and shimmer, like a bowl or cylinder of Christmas balls, or I put balls in glass votives. For decorations the big thing is not to go overboard. Do a bowl of pinecones and glitter them up with spray paint. Rethink traditional decorations and bring in as much nature as possible.
Q: You’re a guest at a holiday meal. What are some perfect hostess gifts? A: I’m known for bringing a gift basket with a few simple things that feel personalized and mean something to me and my host. I’ll get a small galvanized bucket and fill it with immune-boosting vitamins, or some new favorite natural cosmetics. Luxury candles are nice, too. You can bring wine or food but don’t expect your host to put those out; they might not go with the meal being served.
Q: Someone brings her favorite holiday red Jell-O dish and it just doesn’t match your meal. What do you do? A: You put your pretty hostess smile on and kindly put it in your kitchen. You’re under no obligation to leave it out with the food you worked so hard to present. If it’s your motherin-law’s dish, maybe it’s not worth the headache, but if it’s your friend and her raspberry crumble bars don’t fit, it’s your party and you can do what you want.
Q: Have you ever had a holiday cooking disaster? A: We always celebrate the big cooking holidays at my grandparents’ house, and if there was ever a disaster, my mom or my grandmother would have pretended it was part of the plan! I can think of just one thing that happened; I grew up primarily vegetarian, but we always served a turkey for guests. One year we went shopping late and couldn’t find a turkey anywhere in the state of Pennsylvania, so we served chicken. No one minded because the food was delicious and they were there to see friends and family. My biggest tip to people who don’t host a lot is that you can plan for perfection all you want, but you just need to put on your party dress and lipstick and commit to being a guest at your own party. If you’re stressed out, that’s the cue your guests will pick up on. If you focus on love and sharing and your guests, they won’t notice that anything’s gone wrong.
Daphne Oz’s Chestnut Soup Serves 2-4 3 cups chopped chestnuts (canned or fresh), peeled 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 medium leek or 2 shallots (white and lightgreen parts only) rinsed and finely chopped ½ cup white wine ½ cup finely chopped celery ½ cup finely chopped carrot
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for serving 8 ounces (1 cup) light rum 1. In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, vanilla, sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon over mediumlow heat, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar and being careful not to burn the milk. When the milk is scalded (there will be a thin skin on the sides of the pan), after about 5 minutes, remove from the heat and allow to cool to drinking temperature.
¼ cup milk
2. To drink warm, divide the milk mixture into 4 heat-proof mugs and add 2 ounces (¼ cup) of the rum to each. To serve cold, fill 4 tall glasses with ice, add the rum, and top with the milk mixture, swirling to combine. Serve with freshly grated nutmeg and a dash of cinnamon.
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Spiced Winter Wine
½ cup finely chopped onion 1½ tablespoons chopped fresh thyme plus more for garnish 6 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
Kosher salt to taste 4 sprigs thyme 2 bay leaves 4 sprigs fresh parsley Cheesecloth Make a bouquet garni by wrapping thyme, bay leaves and parsley in cheesecloth. Melt butter and sauté leek, carrots, onions, and celery until translucent, covering to soften, approximately 15 minutes. Deglaze the pan with wine. Transfer to a large saucepan or soup pot (4-quart) and add vegetable or low-sodium chicken broth, bouquet garni, and cover; simmer for 25 minutes. Remove bouquet garni. Add cooked chestnuts and cover, allowing to soften for 10 minutes.
Serves 6 In the winter, I crave spice, sweetness, and the warmth of mulled red wine or cider. While it cooks on the stove, this sends a delicious, holiday aroma throughout the house – and of course, gives guests a warming drink to help themselves to as they arrive. I love to serve it in a mug with a cinnamon stick garnish. For those of you looking to skip the alcohol, apple cider works great in place of wine in this recipe. If you use cider and want to put the alcohol back in, serve the mugs with a shot of bourbon. ¼ cup pure maple syrup 8 cinnamon sticks One 1-inch piece fresh peeled ginger, sliced into 4 rounds 6 cloves ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Stir in milk, salt, and pepper.
10 cardamom pods
Allow to cool before pureeing in a blender in
1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise and scraped
small batches and strain through a cheesecloth to
Zest and juice from 1 orange
remove any shells or large pieces.
1 lemon, sliced into rounds
Reheat pureed soup over medium heat before serving with a garnish of fresh thyme.
Milk Punch Serves 4 It’s a delicious drink for any holiday entertaining – especially over Christmas as a lighter (and egg-free) alternative to eggnog, but with some of the same familiar, warming holiday spice flavors. It can also be made with dairy free milk, like almond or coconut, if anyone in the family is interested in a vegan option. 3 cups whole milk 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract 2 tablespoons sugar ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, plus more for serving
Serving South-Central Indiana For all of your kitchen and bathroom needs.
Two 750 ml bottles red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec or Chianti work well) or apple cider 1. In a large saucepan, combine the syrup, 2 of the cinnamon sticks, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom pods, vanilla bean, and orange zest and juice. Heat over medium heat to boiling, then immediately turn off the heat, cover, and set aside 10 minutes to steep. Add the lemon rounds and steep 2 minutes more. Add the wine and heat over medium-low heat until simmering, taking care not to boil. 2. Strain and divide among 6 heat-proof mugs and garnish each with a cinnamon stick. I love to serve these on a tray decorated with a sprinkling of cardamom pods — the aroma is intoxicating.
We are located on Highway 31 one mile south of the junction of Highway 50 and Highway 31. 4329 North Highway 31 Seymour, IN 47274 We are open Monday thru Friday 7 am to 5 pm Saturday 7 am to Noon
Please stop in our showroom or call us at 812-522-5199 to let us help you with your next project. 2013 Gift Guide * 35
Say Cheesecake
photo courtesy Mark Ferri
Always a crowd-pleaser, the modern cheesecake knows no bounds. Find out why it’s one of the hottest desserts for 2013 and try a few new twists on a classic By Bev Bennett n CTW Features
W
hat do you notice with that first bite of cheesecake? Is it the velvety texture? The rich flavor, with just the right amount of sweetness? Or maybe it’s not the sensory thrill, but the familiarity that makes cheesecake so pleasurable. “It’s a great comfort food. You feel good when you’re eating cheesecake,” says Alan Rosen, of the third generation to run New York’s famed Junior’s restaurants founded by his grandfather. Whatever drives your taste buds, cheesecake satisfies them. No wonder this ageless dessert is a trend, both in its traditional versions and tempting updates, for this season’s holiday entertaining. Of course, cheese is the base, but the specific ingredients vary, baking experts say.
The original cheesecake had a zwieback crust and cottage cheese filling, according to one authority on Jewish cooking. “That was the German cheesecake,” says Joan Nathan, author of “Quiche, Kugels and Couscous: My Search for Jewish Cooking in France (Alfred A. Knopf, 2010).
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The French too, have their cheesecake. “It’s made with farmers cheese, not cottage cheese and has no crust,” says Nathan, of Washington, D.C. This cheesecake is notable because it “tastes clearly of its delicate component parts,” according to Nathan. But the cheesecake you’re probably familiar with is the New York version, a tribute to cream: heavy cream. “We use 40 percent heavy cream. It’s cream cheese, fresh eggs, sugar, heavy cream and vanilla,” says Rosen, co-author with Beth Allen of “Junior’s Cheesecake Cookbook” (The Taunton Press, 2007).
Cheesy Inspirations 1. Cheesecake pops: Scoop out balls of cheesecake, roll in chopped chocolate and nuts and place on a tray. Insert stick holders and freeze until firm. 2. Cheesecake cupcakes: Bake the recipe in a cupcake tin, adjusting the baking time accordingly.
However, whatever your preference, delicate or dense, it’s the quality that matters.
3. Surprise cheesecake layer cake: Cut a 9-inch carrot cake widthwise in half. Gently top bottom half with a layer of cheesecake. Cover with remaining cake. Frost with cream cheese frosting.
“If you use a good combination of ingredients, you can add new flavors. Bananas. Peanut butter,” Rosen says.
4. Cheesecake fondue. Cut cheesecake into bite-size pieces and freeze. Dip into chocolate fondue to serve.
This holiday season, let your guests choose their own cheesecake delights and create fond memories with delicious cheesecakes or tarts for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas.
5. Chopped cheesecake: Arrange a platter of cubed cheesecake. Add bowls of chopped nuts, chopped chocolate, butterscotch sauce and fruit and let guests help themselves.
As Rosen says: “What can be bad?”
one package at a time, scraping down the bowl after each one. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat in the remaining 1 cup sugar, then the vanilla. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after adding each one. Beat in the cream just until completely blended. Be careful not to over-mix. 4. Spread half the cheese filling in tree pan. Using a teaspoon, drop the strawberry purée in small spoonfuls on top of the batter, pushing it down slightly as you go. Using a thin, pointed knife, cut through the batter a few times in a “figure 8” design, just until red swirls appear (don’t mix in the purée completely or the whole cake will turn pink and you’ll lose the swirls). Gently and carefully, spread the remaining cheese filling on top.
Junior’s Christmas Tree Cheesecake [From “Junior’s Cheesecake Cookbook” (The Taunton Press, 2007) by Alan Rosen and Beth Allen; photo courtesy Mark Ferri] 8 ounces dry-pack frozen whole strawberries (unsweetened, not in syrup), thawed and drained well (about 1 cup) ¼ cup plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese (use only full fat), at room temperature 1 1⁄3 cups sugar 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 2 extra-large eggs ¾ cup heavy or whipping cream 1 cup small red and green coated chocolate candies, such as M&Ms Assorted holiday round candies for ornaments, about 1-inch in diameter (such as round peppermint swirls) 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter the bottom and sides of an 8-cup treeshaped pan. Completely line the inside of the pan with aluminum foil, using two pieces and crisscrossing them. Press the foil gently into all of its branches and curves so the baked cake will have all of the details of the mold. Don’t tear the foil; if you do, start over with new foil. Coat the foil well with softened butter. Leave a 3-inch overhang of foil (this makes it easy to remove the cake after baking and freezing). There’s no need to wrap the outside of the pan. 2. Pulse the thawed strawberries in a food processor until smooth (you need ¾ cup of purée). Stir in 1 teaspoon of the cornstarch and set aside. It will thicken slightly as it stands. 3. Put one package of the cream cheese, 1⁄3 cup of the sugar, and the remaining ¼ cup cornstarch in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low until creamy, about 3 minutes, scraping the bowl down a few times. Blend in the remaining cream cheese,
5. Place in a large shallow pan containing hot water that comes about halfway up the sides of the tree pan. Bake until the edges are light golden brown and the top is slightly golden tan, about 1 hour. Remove the cake from the water bath, transfer to a wire rack, and let cool for 2 hours (just walk away — don’t move it). Leave the cake in the pan, cover it loosely with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until it’s cold, at least 4 hours. Transfer to the freezer until frozen solid, preferably overnight or at least 4 hours. If you’re not serving the cake the same day, leave it in the freezer. 6. To remove the cake from the pan, turn it upside down onto a cake plate or a platter without a rim. If the cake does not release easily from the pan, place it on a burner over low heat for about 10 seconds, just long enough to melt the butter greasing the pan (use potholders). Gently peel away the foil. 7. To decorate, make the garlands with small red candies and fill in the trunk of the tree with some small green candies. Hang larger round candy ornaments on its branches. Refrigerate until ready to serve (it will take about 2 hours to thaw in the refrigerator). Slice with a sharp straight-edge knife, not a serrated one. Cover and refrigerate any leftover cake or wrap and freeze for up to 1 month. The Junior’s Way To decorate the tree, use red and green coated chocolate candies for the trunk of the tree and the garlands. Have fun hanging other decorative candy ornaments on its branches. Makes one tree-shaped cheesecake (about 15 x 12 inches)
Marbled Pumpkin Gingersnap Tart [Adapted from “The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook” by Deb Perelman, (Alfred A. Knopf, 2012)] Crust
4 ounces gingersnap cookies (about 16 cookies), coarsely broken 3 ounces graham crackers (5½ graham cracker sheets, each 2½-by-4 7/8 inches) 4 tablespoons (½ stick) salted butter, melted Cheesecake batter 4 ounces cream cheese, well softened 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 large egg yolk Pumpkin batter 1 large egg 1 large egg white 1¼ cups (about half to three-fourths of a 15-ounce can) pumpkin puree ¼ cup granulated sugar ¼ cup brown sugar ½ teaspoon salt ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground ginger ¼ teaspoon ground cloves Few fresh gratings of nutmeg 1 cup heavy cream Make crust. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Remove any children sensitive to loud noises from the premises and finely grind the gingersnaps and graham crackers in a food processor (yielding 1½ cups). Add melted butter and process until cookiecrumb mixture is moistened. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Place pan on rimmed baking sheet. Make cheesecake batter. Mix together cream cheese, sugar and egg yolk in a small bowl until smooth. Make pumpkin batter. Beat the egg and egg white lightly in a large bowl. Whisk in the pumpkin, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg. Gradually whisk in the cream. Assemble the tart. Pour the pumpkin batter into the gingersnap-graham crust. Dollop the cheesecake batter over the pumpkin batter, then marble the two together decoratively with a knife. Try not to pierce the bottom crust. Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees F and bake for another 30 to 40 minutes or until a knife or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. To serve, cool the tart completely on a rack or in the fridge, if you prefer it cold. Serve immediately and refrigerate any leftovers. Theoretically, it keeps for several days, but the crumb crust will get a little soft on the bottom after day one. Makes 1 (9-inch) tart, serving 8.
2013 Gift Guide * 37
Pass the Gluten-Free/Paleo/ Vegan/Diabetic-Friendly Stuffing
Food allergies and dietary restrictions do not mean that everyone cannot enjoy the beloved holiday classics. Try these takes of some old – and soon-to-be – favorites By Bev Bennett n CTW Features
Y
ou’re hosting a holiday feast and anticipate preparing a mouth-watering spread. But along with your special bread stuffing and your fabulous apple pie, you’re concerned with making appropriate dishes for your aunt with diabetes, your cousin who cannot tolerate gluten, your best friend who follows a vegan diet or her Paleo-diet spouse. Guests who must avoid gluten or manage their diabetes may present the greatest recipe challenges, but you can help by keeping track of ingredients and offering easy food alternatives to safeguard their health. For gluten-free diners, substitute cornstarch for flour as a thickener, says Mary Kay Sharrett, registered dietitian, Celiac Disease Center, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. Check processed food labels for wheat. For example, canned cream soup and canned fried onions, ingredients in the classic green bean casserole, may include flour. Make a delicious stuffing using gluten-free corn bread or wild rice. You also can buy gluten-free bread for stuffing. “That might be a safer option than baking yourself,” says Sharrett. People with diabetes should be making their own decisions about what to eat, says Jennifer Stack, registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator.
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They’re deciding what their diet budget is for carbohydrates and saturated fat. But you also can make some easy switches to lighten carbohydrates and fat, says Stack, an associate professor of the Culinary Institute of America and author of the CIA cookbook, “The Diabetes-Friendly Kitchen” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012). For instance, when making bread stuffing, increase the proportion of vegetables and decrease the bread. Add lots of celery to the stuffing, which “will add flavor and hardly anything in the way of carbs,” Stack says. The fat in au gratin vegetable dishes can be trimmed by using whole milk instead of cream and switching to a reduced-fat version for half the cheese. If your recipe calls for “carb-intense” dried cranberries, use frozen raspberries instead. “You’ll get the red color,” Stack says. Greek yogurt is a good alternative to sour cream on baked potatoes. “It’s higher in protein and more diabetes-friendly,” says Stack. Rethink the pie for guests with diabetes or who must avoid gluten. “The crust adds a lot of carbohydrates and calories,” says Stack. She recommends making a crisp or crumble. Prepare a topping with oats, which are available gluten-free, and walnuts.
Check the Stress Having guests with dietary needs is becoming more common, but it doesn’t have to stress you. Relax, says Susan Crowther, cook and author of Brattleboro, Vt. Focus on the pleasure of having loved ones at your table. “They’ll be grateful that they’re coming into your home,” she says. You can also do things to make the celebratory meal easier. Say yes when people offer to bring a dish. You’re not only saving yourself time, you’re helping your guests as well. “It gives them peace of mind. They’ll have one dish they can eat,” says Crowther, author of “The No Recipe Cookbook” (Skyhorse Publishing, 2013). Re-set your attitude if diet requests are beginning to annoy you. “Remember this person is choosing to take care of his health. He’s not trying to drive you crazy,” she says. To keep perspective tell yourself “it’s just one meal. They’ll live, you’ll live.”
Thanksgiving Dinner Menu • Roast Turkey • Cornbread, Mushroom and Sausage Stuffing • Roasted Broccoli with Toasted Breadcrumb Topping • Sweet Potato Panna Cotta with Toasted Pecans and Cranberry Coulis
DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO
YOU
• Chunky Apple and Cranberry Sauce Cornbread, Mushroom and Sausage Stuffing
and mushrooms. Cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sau-
1 (5-inch square) piece of cornbread, cut into ½-inch cubes, about 4 cups
raw, stirring occasionally, 5 to 10 minutes. Add salt, pepper, sage
1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large celery rib, chopped 1 small red onion, chopped (1 cup) 4 cups sliced shiitake mushroom caps 8 ounces raw Italian pork sausage ¼ teaspoon salt
sage, breaking up with a spoon. Cook until sausage is no longer and broth. Stir well. Add toasted cornbread. Stir gently. 3. Spoon into shallow casserole 10 inches in diameter. Reduce oven temperature to 375. Heat 15 to 20 minutes. Makes 6 servings. Gluten-free: Use GF cornbread mix. Check sausage ingredient list. Vegan: Make cornbread from a mix, eliminating dairy and
¼ teaspoon pepper
eggs. Use soy-based sausage instead of pork and vegetable broth
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
instead of chicken broth.
½ cup chicken broth 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place cornbread cubes on baking sheet. Toast in oven for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove; set aside. 2. Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add celery, onion
Diabetic-friendly: Increase the vegetables; decrease the cornbread and substitute chicken- or turkey-based sausage. Paleo: Skip the cornbread. Prepare the vegetables, adding nitrite- and gluten-free sausage. Eliminate or use modest amount of
WE ASSEMBLE ALL OF OUR
BIKES & FITNESS EQUIPMENT
iodized sea salt.
Roasted Broccoli with Toasted Breadcrumb Topping 1½ pounds broccoli, cut into thin stalks Olive oil cooking spray 3/8 teaspoon salt ¼ cup breadcrumbs
We Carry A Complete Line of
3 tablespoons shredded fontina and Parmesan cheese combination
Fitness Equipment
¼ teaspoon pepper ¼ teaspoon crushed dried thyme 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place broccoli on baking sheet. Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle on salt. Roast 20 minutes or until half tender. Remove. Flip broccoli over. 2. Mix together breadcrumbs, cheese, pepper and thyme in a bowl. Evenly sprinkle over broccoli. Return broccoli to oven until just tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove. Makes 6 servings. Gluten-free: Use gluten-free breadcrumbs. Vegan: Either use vegan cheese substitute or eliminate cheese. Diabetic-friendly: No changes Paleo: Lightly drizzle broccoli with olive oil. Season with thyme and pepper. Roast.
833 16th Street Columbus, IN
812-372-7486 2013 Gift Guide * 39
Thanksgiving Dinner Menu, continued Sweet Potato Panna Cotta with Toasted Pecans and Cranberry Coulis (Adapted from “The Diabetes-Friendly Kitchen,” Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012). 1½ teaspoons gelatin 2 tablespoons water 1¹⁄3 cups Ricotta-Yogurt Cream Dessert Base (follows) Confectioners’ sugar ¾ cup Cranberry Coulis (follows) 6 tablespoons chopped pecans, toasted 1. Mix the gelatin in water and allow to sit for 5 minutes until it starts gelling. 2. Melt the gelatin in a double boiler and add the ricotta-yogurt cream. Allow to steep for 15 minutes. 3. Coat 6 small molds with cooking spray and a dusting of confectioners’ sugar. Fill the molds with the cream mixture and chill until set. 4. Pool 2 tablespoons cranberry coulis on 6 serving plates. Briefly soak the molds in hot water and invert over the coulis. 5. Garnish each serving with 1 tablespoon chopped pecans. Makes 6 servings
Cranberry Coulis Makes ¾ cup 2 cups fresh cranberries ¹⁄3 cup sugar-free vanilla-flavored syrup ½ teaspoon orange zest 2 tablespoons sucralose–brown sugar blend ¼ cup fresh orange juice
flavored syrup, maple extract and sucralose-brown sugar blend.
2/3 cup agave syrup
Vegan: Serve strawberry-flavored soy yogurt and fresh strawberry parfait layered with pecans.
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Diabetic-friendly: No changes
1. Bring all the ingredients to a simmer and cook until the cranberries have popped and the sauce has thickened slightly. Strain the sauce.
Paleo: Prepare baked pears instead, adding dried dates for sweetness, along with chopped walnuts if desired.
2. Allow the coulis to cool before serving with the panna cotta.
Ricotta-Yogurt Cream Dessert Base
Gluten-free: Check ingredient label for vanilla-
Chunky Apple and Cranberry Sauce 3 large apples, cored, peeled and diced 2 cups fresh cranberries ¼ cup pure maple syrup ¼ cup apple juice 2 tablespoons sugar ¼ teaspoon cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon salt
40 * 2013 Gift Guide
1 cup mashed, cooked sweet potato 1 teaspoon maple extract 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ¼ teaspoon ground allspice Combine ingredients in blender or food processor. Puree until smooth. Use 1½ cups in the dessert;
1¼ cups part-skim ricotta cheese
remainder may be refrigerated, covered, for a few
¾ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
days.
Gluten-free: No changes.
1. Place apples, cranberries, maple syrup, apple juice, sugar, cinnamon and salt in medium pot. Bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover pot and cook for 30 to 40 minutes or until fruit is tender and liquid mostly evaporated.
Diabetic-friendly: Decrease the maple syrup, increase the apple juice and use sugar substitutesugar blend in place of sugar, if desired.
2. Check occasionally and stir. If sauce seems dry before fruit is done, add a little more apple juice.
Paleo: Serve a baked apple, filling the core with chopped nuts
Makes 6 servings.
Vegan: Use raw sugar.
Christmas Dinner Menu • Baked Ham or Standing Rib Roast • Roasted Butternut Squash Soup • Roasted Potatoes with Rosemary • Roasted Beet, Orange, Spinach and Walnut Salad • Pear and Pecan Crisp
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup (From Junior’s Home Cooking by Alan Rosen and Beth Allen, The Taunton Press, 2013) 1 large butternut squash (about 4 pounds) 1 extra-large Spanish onion, coarsely chopped ¼ cup olive oil 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more to taste 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste ½ teaspoon ground ginger 1 quart (4 cups) chicken broth or stock (homemade or store-bought) 1½ tablespoons maple syrup, plus more to taste One 5-inch vanilla bean or a splash of pure vanilla extract 1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Peel and cut the squash into 1-inch cubes, then spread with the on-
ion in a large roasting pan in a single layer. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with the salt, pepper, and ginger. Roast, uncovered, for 45 minutes, or until fork-tender, stirring occasionally to avoid burning. 2. Transfer to a large soup pot. Add the broth, maple syrup, and vanilla bean. Stir over medium-high heat just until the soup comes to a full boil. 3. Remove the vanilla bean. Carefully transfer the hot mixture to a food processor or blender and process for about 1 minute. (You may need to do this in batches.) Taste the soup and add more salt, pepper, and maple syrup if you wish. 4. Ladle the soup into individual bowls and garnish as you like (see The Junior’s Way). Let any leftover soup cool to room temperature. Refrigerate, tightly covered, and enjoy within 2 days. Do not freeze this soup.
The Junior’s Way Garnish the bowls of soup simply, by scattering some diagonally sliced scallion greens on top. Or get a little fancier. Mix some sour cream with a bit of heavy cream, plus a drop or two of water. Put the mixture in a squeeze bottle or use a grapefruit spoon, and make a few white dots on the surface of the soup. Swirl the dots with a toothpick, creating your own unique design. Gluten-free: Use pure maple syrup. Vegan: switch to vegetable broth. Omit dairy garnishes. Diabetic-friendly: Reduce maple syrup. Use low-fat sour cream for garnish. Paleo: Omit maple syrup and dairy garnishes. Eliminate or use modest amount of iodized sea salt.
Makes 6 servings.
2013 Gift Guide * 41
Christmas Dinner Menu, continued Roasted Potatoes with Rosemary 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 pounds assorted small heirloom potatoes, sliced 1/3-inch thick ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 6 (1-inch long) sprigs fresh rosemary Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Heat butter and oil in 10-inch diameter heavy skillet until butter melts. Remove from heat. Add sliced potatoes, salt, pepper and rosemary. Stir. Place skillet in oven and roast for 40 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Serves 6. Gluten-free: No changes Vegan: Use vegetable margarine Diabetic-friendly: Choose a modest serving with less butter and oil Paleo: Switch to sweet potatoes, brushed with a little organic, grass-fed clarified butter and olive oil. Eliminate or use modest amount of iodized sea salt.
Party 9-1-1! How do you know if a party is going well or horribly wrong? Entertaining expert Susan Spungen tells you how to right a sinking ship and how to stop worrying and enjoy your fiesta By Lisa Iannucci n CTW Features
A
long with the holidays come many parties, but unfortunately, parties don’t always go the way you hope
they will. We asked Susan Spungen, founding food editor at Martha Stewart Living and author of “What’s a Hostess to Do?” (Artisan, 2013) to count down the top five things that will most likely go wrong at your party and what you can do to fix them. And since we all want to know if our party is a success, there are five signs that your party was a hit.
42 * 2013 Gift Guide
What went wrong? • I’m not ready! “The biggest thing that can go wrong is that you plan to do too much and run out of time,” Spungen says. “You start with an overly ambitious wish list of what you want to have at your party.” Fix: Spungen says that cooking takes time, so keep the party simple so you have enough time to do what you want to do. • Too much to cook! “Again, simplify what you are cooking,” Spungen says.
“Less can be more. A few beautiful, wellconceived and well-prepared dishes will go over big. Choose a menu with dishes that can be prepared ahead of time, leaving only the simplest tasks, like heating a dish, cooking pasta or rice, or dressing a salad for last minute.” • Not enough people showed up! “It’s hard to have a good party if not enough people show up and some people might leave if there aren’t enough guests,” Spungen says. Fix: Over-invite. “If not enough people show up, have a last-minute impromptu party,” she says. “There are always neighbors sitting around waiting to be invited to something.” • We’re running out of food and drink! “When you’re out of things to eat and drink, people start to leave, so you don’t want that to happen,” Spungen says. Fix: “Have staples in your kitchen so you can whip up something simple or, if you’re desperate, you can always order takeout, such as pizza.”
• My guests aren’t mingling! “If your guests aren’t mingling the way you want them to, it’s up to you as a hostess to start conversations. Fix: “Find people who have something in common and give them a conversation starter and then leave,” she says. “The role of the hostess is to get people together.” If they don’t know each other, it’s your responsibility to try to get them to learn more about one another.
It’s a success! Here are five signs that your party is a success: • Everyone is having a good time and nobody is noticing anything else. “Your guests are laughing, drinking, eating and enjoying themselves,” Spungen says. “Most of the time, that happens even if you do mess up. Usually everything turns out OK anyway. The single most important thing is that people are having fun.” • You had a good turnout. “Right before you think, ‘What if nobody comes?’ your guests show up,” Spungen says. “People will
Roasted Beet, Orange, Spinach and Walnut Salad 2 large beets, washed, trimmed, cut into 6 wedges each
spinach and walnuts. Combine orange juice, curry powder, salt, pepper and paprika in small bowl. Stir well. Add oil, white wine vinegar and balsamic vinegar. Pour over salad just before serving. Toss gently but well.
1 pint vanilla ice cream, optional 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine pears, granulated sugar, ginger and ¼ cup pecans in deep-dish pie plate. Stir gently to mix.
Olive oil cooking spray
Serves 6.
1 large seedless orange, peeled, cut into bite-size
Gluten-free: No changes
medium bowl. Work in butter with fingertips until mixture
Vegan: No changes
is crumbly. Stir in remaining ¼ cup pecans. Sprinkle flour
Diabetic-friendly: No changes
mixture evenly over pears. Bake for 30 minutes, until juices
pieces 6 cups baby spinach ½ cup walnuts
Paleo: If preferred, prepare curry powder from scratch using Paleo-friendly spices. Eliminate or use modest amount of iodized sea salt.
¼ cup orange juice ¼ teaspoon curry powder ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper
Pear and Pecan Crisp
1/8 teaspoon paprika
3 large ripe pears, quartered, cored and cut into thin crosswise slices (peeling isn’t necessary)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped crystallized ginger
1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place beet wedges
½ cup coarsely chopped glazed pecans, divided
2. Combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in
bubble up and pears are tender. Serve warm with a dollop of ice cream if desired. Makes 6 servings. Gluten-free: Skip the flour topping. Combine glutenfree oats, plain pecans, brown sugar and cinnamon. Work in enough butter for crumbly topping. Vegan: Skip the ice cream. Use vegetable margarine and raw sugar instead of granulated sugar. Use plain pecans, if desired. Diabetic-friendly: Use plain pecans; halve the flour
on baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Lightly spray
½ cup flour
topping ingredients. Use sucralose-sugar blend if desired.
beets. Roast until fork tender, 40 to 50 minutes. Remove,
1/3 cup brown sugar
Offer low-sugar, low-fat frozen vanilla ice cream.
cool, peel and dice. This can be done a day in advance; re-
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
frigerate.
1/8 teaspoon salt
grass-fed clarified butter and sprinkle on plain pecans. Bake
¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, in slivers
until pears are fork tender; check after 15 minutes.
2. Combine beets and orange in a large salad bowl. Add
Paleo: Skip topping. Brush pear slices with organic,
always drop off and [you] would rather have it too crowded than to not have enough people. About 15 percent of the guest list typically doesn’t show up.” • Guests ask you for a recipe. “Often people ask how you made the food, or they Instagram photos of the food at the party,” Spungen says. “That’s a good sign!” • Guests send thank you notes the next day. Susan Spungen
“When you get emails
the next day, people can’t wait to tell you that they had a really good time and they want to keep that good feeling going,” she says. • Guests want to know when the next party is. “They want to come back to the party because they liked the energy,” Spungen says. “If they had a lot of fun, they’ll ask if they can bring a friend to share the good times.”
Artisan
Food editor and author Susan Spungen suggests choosing a menu where most dishes can be prepared ahead of time, such as sliced meats and cheeses, crudites and baked goods.
2013 Gift Guide * 43
Raise the Bar How to please every guest without breaking the party budget – and tips to keep the drinks flowing without spending all your time mixing, shaking and pouring Champagne Punch
By Marla R. Miller n CTW Features
’T
is the season to gather family and friends, raise a glass and toast to gratitude, merriment, good cheer and a happy and healthy New Year. The months of November and December tend to be a whirlwind with parties galore. Perhaps it’s your year to host the family for Thanksgiving, or you love throwing an annual New Year’s Eve celebration. Whether you’re a pro at DIY parties or having friends and family over to your new apartment for the first time, preparation is key so you are not frazzled while everyone else is chilling and celebrating, says A.J. Rathbun, author of “Champagne Cocktails: 50 Cork-Popping Concoctions and Scintillating Sparklers” (Harvard Common Press, 2013). There’s no need to be overwhelmed by – or break the bank for – the towering beer, wine and liquor options on the market today. Rathbun recommends selecting a couple of signature drinks or an interesting punch. That way, you cut down on ingredients, cost and your stress levels. Then you can hint at the theme, menu and drinks in the invitation to build hype for your party, Rathbun says.
44 * 2013 Gift Guide
“It’s like a present in a punch bowl,” he says. “Drum up excitement from the beginning. And always make everyone try the signature drink.”
If you are planning a smaller, or more intimate dinner party and want a nice dinner drink, serve a heavier drink in a smaller glass, that way guests don’t
Self-service punch also helps with traffic flow and frees up the host to mingle, says Paul Abercrombie, author of “Organic, Shaken and Stirred: Hip Highballs, Modern Martinis, and other Totally Green Cocktails” (Harvard Common Press, 2009).
drink too much, says Kate LaCroix, formerly in res-
“Unless you have a bartender, the host is going to get stuck mixing individual drinks,” he says. “There’s something communal about [punch]. It forces people to mingle, and they usually end up hanging around the punch bowl.”
from the drinks to the menu, so you can also enjoy
Abercrombie, another fan of punches, says there are many tasty, easy-to-make recipes out there. Not the sweet, syrupy kind, or the garbage can and bathtub concoctions you remember from college. Liquors such as whiskey, brandy and rum are great for punches and cold winter days. Abercrombie’s Perfect Whiskey Punch includes dry vermouth, orange bitters and fresh pineapple. Rathbun’s Football Punch includes dark rum balanced with apple flavors – a great pick for a Thanksgiving or New Year’s Day party when many people watch football.
taurant public relations who now has a special event brokerage business called The Kollective and does lots of DIY entertaining. Another tip: Keep things as simple as possible, the festivities. If your drinks call for fruit or other garnishments, have enough sliced and ready for how many batches of punch you plan to serve. Have cheese, veggies and other appetizers available for easy restock. “Proper prior planning prevents poor performance,” Rathbun says. “Plan ahead and do the things you can do ahead.” You don’t want to be slicing, chopping, cooking or slinging drinks all night, or send people home too buzzed to drive. Beyond having taxi numbers handy – and even a spare room ready – it’s best to avoid an open bar so your guests make it home safely, Rathbun says.
Here’s to you
Try these drinks at your next party to toast friends, family and the year that was Football Punch
5. Ladle into punch glasses or festive goblets. Try to ensure that every guest gets a slice of fruit and a smile.
Recipe © 2013 by A.J. Rathbun and used by permission of The Harvard Common Press
Simple Syrup
Are you ready for some Football Punch? Now, beerheads, don’t get up in arms (I readily down a cold beer, especially on hot days), but I believe that the traditional beer-football duo is, well, a bit dull (please don’t tackle me yet) when done over and over. Football fanatics, make your pigskin bash stand out from packed crowds, and trust me — you’ll score with this punch bowl of glory. See, now aren’t you glad you didn’t tackle me? Serves 10
2½ cups water 3 cups sugar 1. Add the water and sugar to a medium-size saucepan. Stirring occasionally, bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat. Lower the heat a bit, keeping the mixture at a low boil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 2. Turn off the heat, and let the syrup cool completely in the pan. Store in a clean, air-tight container in the refrigerator.
Ice cubes One 750-milliliter bottle dark rum 16 ounces apple juice
Makes 4½ cups (36 ounces)
10 ounces sweet vermouth
Perfect Whiskey Punch
5 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice 5 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice Two 25.4-ounce bottles chilled sparkling apple cider 2 apples, cored and sliced 1. Fill a large punch bowl halfway full with ice cubes. Add the rum, apple juice, vermouth, lemon juice, and orange juice. Stir with a pennant from your team of choice. 2. Add the sparkling apple cider, but in a sustained drive, not in a sprint (meaning, slow and steady wins this game), and the apple slices. Stir well. Serve in punch glasses, mugs, or little plastic footballs.
Champagne Punch Recipe © 2013 by A.J. Rathbun and used by permission of The Harvard Common Press There are, I would venture to estimate, as many variations on Champagne Punch as there are punch makers (which, according to the last census, was 3,456,987). Even you have the liberty to adjust the below recipe to taste and call it your very own. Remember that every punch lacks a, well, punch, if it isn’t ladled from a sparkling crystal, or fauxcrystal, punch bowl. This rule is tripled whenever Champagne is involved, as the big bubbly C looks lovely in a classy twinkling bowl, with fruit bobbing on the surface and a sizeable block of ice drifting in the center. The Champagne Punch below bumps
Football Punch any block party (even if it’s at a block of apartments) from mundane to glamorous with a single dip of the ladle (as long as it’s followed by further dipping, of course, unless it’s a very large ladle). Serves 10 Ice (in block form if possible; if not, large chunks) 6 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice 4 ounces Simple Syrup (see below) 2 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
Recipe © 2013 by Paul Abercrombie and used by permission of The Harvard Common Press This drink takes a classic punch recipe — we’re talking 1817 classic — and gives it a gustatory goosing with the addition of dry vermouth and orange bitters. But what makes this punch, well, perfect is the addition of pineapple syrup, made from fresh pineapples and cane syrup. Serves 10. 20 ounces rye whiskey 10 ounces dry vermouth 5 ounces pineapple-infused simple syrup (see below)
2 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice
20 dashes of orange bitters
6 ounces white rum
10 thin slices orange
6 ounces dark rum
Pineapple chunks from the simple syrup
One 750-milliliter bottle chilled Champagne Orange, lime, and lemon slices for garnish 1. Add the ice to a large punch bowl. If using chunks (as opposed to a large block of ice), fill the bowl just under halfway. 2. Add the orange juice, simple syrup, lime juice, and lemon juice. With a large spoon or ladle, stir 10 times. 3. Add the light and dark rums. Stir 10 more times. 4. Add the Champagne, but not too quickly. Enjoy the moment. Add a goodly amount of orange, lime, and lemon slices. Stir, but only once.
Combine the rye, vermouth, simple syrup, and bitters in a punch bowl and stir. Add the orange slices and pineapple chunks. Serve in ice cube-filled double old-fashioned glasses, making sure to include an orange slice and piece of pineapple in each drink.
Pineapple-infused simple syrup Combine several small chunks of peeled pineapple with six ounces simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, dissolved) and let infuse overnight in the refrigerator. Strain and store in an airtight container. The syrup will keep in the refrigerator for up to a month.
2013 Gift Guide * 45
Drinks, continued
A Party-Planner’s Guide to Buying the Right Amount of Alcohol
Joyeux D’rouge Recipe © 2013 by Kate LaCroix I love this drink. It is a twist on the French 75 with its citrus
When it comes to figuring how much booze to buy, consider this:
notes, gin and sparkling wine. I like the way the bitters-soaked sugar cube tones down the
n Assume an average of 3 to 4 drinks per person. Don’t buy bottom of the barrel spirits. Go for a good, reasonably priced bottle, says A.J. Rathbun, author of “Champagne Cocktails: 50 Cork-Popping Concoctions and Scintillating Sparklers” (Harvard Common Press, 2013).
sweetness of the blood orange. It’s refreshing, seasonal and goes well under the mistletoe. ½ ounce gin 1½ to 2 ounces of chilled cava or something brut A bitters-soaked sugar cube Squeeze and strain half of a blood orange (or entire orange if it is small) into shaker. Add ½ ounce of gin (a not too floral or perfumed gin works best) and shake with ice. Place bitters-soaked sugar cube in bottom of coupe, pour gin and orange mixture over cube and fill glass with cava. Serves one, but it can be made in giant batches.
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n You know your friends and family – and which ones drink, and how much. Buy enough ingredients for the drink recipe times 2 or 3 based on the number of guests, then plan for an extra batch or two. You don’t want tons leftover, but you also want to make sure you don’t run out. n Punch gets diluted and tends not to be as strong as an individual cocktail, says Paul Abercrombie, author of “Organic, Shaken and Stirred: Hip Highballs, Modern Martinis, and other Totally Green Cocktails” (Harvard Common Press, 2009). But that’s a good thing. The goal is to keep the drinks flowing – and the party going – for several hours. You don’t want everyone snockered by 7:30 or 8 p.m. n Plan, prep and make the punch (if possible), fruit slices, and garnishes ahead of time. n Remember you need to stock plenty of ice. Think selfserve. Select a couple of signature drinks and serve them punch-bowl style. n Resist becoming the bartender. Keep your bar closed and, after the drinks are flowing, don’t let your friends in the liquor cabinet. Stash your bottles if you have to. n It may be slightly tacky, but you can always add BYOB to the invitation for your finicky guests. n Keep a few bottles of white or red wine and maybe some champagne on hand in case you need reserves or for an intimate dinner party. There always seem to be a few party guests who shun alcohol, but will have a glass of wine. Also, have plenty of water and non-alcoholic options for your non-drinking guests.
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n Remember to be a responsible party host and don’t over-serve your friends and family. Offer to call them a taxi, line up designated drivers or be ready if anyone too drunk to drive needs to stay. Nothing puts a damper on the holiday spirit like a fender bender or DUI.
Party like it’s 1922 Looking for a fun-yet-classy party theme? The enormous popularity of ‘Downton Abbey’ and the resurrection of ‘Gatsby’ have made the Roaring ’20s cool again By Darci Smith n CTW Features
H
Adams Media
The spread at this ‘Downton Abbey’ themed party included cucumber finger sandwiches and blueberry scones. Hosts Jenny and Justin Smith decorated sugar cookies as dresses and teacups for their ‘Downton Abbey’-inspired party.
Myers Funeral Service
osting a Downton Abbey-themed party may seem like a difficult undertaking without the help of Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes.
But Texans Jenny Smith and her husband, Justin, paid homage to the popular PBS series about the aristocratic Crawley family and their sprawling estate with a “Downton Abbey” costume party. “Our family and friends are all big fans of the show, and we decided it would be a fun way to celebrate watching the Oscars,” Jenny Smith says.
Wishing you the joy of family, the
happiness of friends and a holiday season filled with cherished memories.
She turned to Pinterest for inspiration, using a board to collect and sort ideas. “I created handmade garlands, invitations and a painted backdrop of the mansion for our photo booth,” she says. “Everyone picked a character from the show and dressed up as them. It was very involved.” Smith developed the menu by perusing “The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook” (Adams Media, 2012) as well as researching recipes from the era, and then asked family members to each create one aspect of the meal. Guests noshed on blueberry scones, cucumber finger sandwiches, olives and shepherd’s pie. They also had sugar cookies cut in the shapes of dresses, teacups and other period items and decorated to complement the TV show. The costume contest was one of the most popular points of the evening, with the winner in wacky, repurposed clothing, receiving the “Downton Cup” filled with chocolate gold coins. In all of the excitement, Smith says, her biggest challenge was to be flexible and relaxed before and during the theme party. “If you want to make it rigidly perfect you’ll probably either spend way too much or will be disappointed,” she says.
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Make it Personal Every host and hostess wants to throw a party that shows off a flair for the creative. Try these oh-so-2013 ideas to put your stamp on the invitations, decorations, menus, events and gift bags to make your party one to remember By Darci Swisher n CTW Features
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he holidays are the perfect time to gather with family and friends and take advantage of the festive mood that settles in from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. Nearly one-third of Americans host a holiday party, according to a 2011 survey by Ask Your Target Market, a market research firm. How many host a successful one depends on those personal touches, from the decorations to the dessert, that make an evening memorable. “During the holidays, our imaginations run wild,” says Kelly Lee-Creel, co-author with her sister, Rebecca Söder, of “Handmade Hostess” (C&T Publishing/Stash Books, 2013). “We long to capture that holiday spirit we enjoyed as children.” The sisters like to focus their efforts on one big, over-the-top element. “Maybe it’s a beautiful finale of a dessert – something like a powdered sugar-dusted Yule log – or an imaginative tabletop display that captures everyone’s imagination,” she says.
A theme is one way to add a personal touch to a holiday party. While not every get-together has a dedicated theme, Lee-Creel personally finds it’s what motivates her to get off the couch and to the craft store. “Having a theme can be a wonderful launching pad for your ideas,” she says. “It also makes for a great conversation starter with your guests who will enjoy seeing a little bit of your personality on display. But for those who feel a theme is “too much,” Lee-Creel advises choosing a simple color palette – just two or three colors that work together to enhance the decor. “Having a consistent color scheme stretches your decorations a bit further, giving them more visual impact,” she says. Lee-Creel expects to see a lot of 1920s and ’30sinspired parties this holiday season, a la “Downton Abbey” and “The Great Gatsby.” “Think glam,
Once that’s decided, they’re able to hone in on personal details, such as favors and place cards. Those “little touches that show you care,” Lee-Creel notes.
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48 * 2013 Gift Guide
sparkle and fringe,” she says. “Pinterest has such widespread appeal now, I think we’ll see even more DIY and DIY-inspired, touches – homemade ornaments, garlands and crafts.” Jennifer Shea includes a “Truly Terrific Theme Generator” for those needing theme help in her book, “Trophy Cupcakes and Party” (Sasquatch Books, 2013) named for her successful cupcake shops in Seattle. It should come as no surprise that dessert is the highlight of any holiday gathering she throws. “I love to serve desserts that follow the theme of my party,” she says. For the 2013 holidays, she imagines a candy cane-themed party with red and white stripes blanketing the party space, peppermint cocoa and cocktails with candy canes for swizzle sticks. “And of course, a dessert such as Chocolate Candy Cane cupcakes helps tie it all together,” she adds. For other dessert ideas, Shea suggests incorporating favorite sweets and flavors of the season. Standard pumpkin pie can be given new life through pumpkin pie cupcakes, or a table of miniature pumpkin desserts. Eggnog lovers might serve an eggnog-infused dessert, or even swap eggnog for milk
in a vanilla cake and add nutmeg and cinnamon, she adds. “If you love a specific holiday movie, watch it again to see if they serve a specific dessert you could recreate,” Shea says. She points out that desserts have been a part of celebrations for thousands of years and, when flour and sugar were sparse, were highly coveted. Since they’re now served toward the end of the party, desserts are oftentimes what people remember most, she notes. “I always say even if the rest of your party is pretty simple, serve a show-stopping dessert and your guests will be ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ about your party for weeks to come,” Shea says. Not that desserts have to be elaborate. Simple desserts, like cookies, cupcakes and popcorn bars, can still look over the top when placed on the festive cake stand or in the right serving dish, she says. “To me, homemade desserts are the best thing in the world,” Shea says. “If they don’t look perfect but are delicious and made with love, then that’s all that matters.” In their book, Lee-Creel and Söder point out
A showstopping dessert will have your guests ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ for weeks to come, says cupcake shop owner and author Jennifer Shea. that the “only good reason to do any of this – the decorating and celebrating, baking and making – is because you want to, and doing it yourself will give you immense satisfaction.” “It is so easy to get caught up in trying to impress others that we lose sight of ‘why,’” Lee-Creel says. “The important thing is to do it from the heart.”
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Glitz and Glam
Sometimes for the holidays, you just want everything to sparkle. These homemade crafts dress up your table or tree By Alyssa Karas n CTW Features
C
an you create Christmas glamour with what you have on hand? Of course! These four bloggers share some of their favorite glamorous crafts — and their surprising origins from empty wine bottles, old CDs, freezer paper and some chicken wire.
Snowy Wine Bottles With three wine bottles, a little ingenuity and not much time, Tracie Stoll created one of the most popular projects on her blog “Cleverly Inspired,” Cleverlyinspired.com. “I literally did that in about 30 minutes,” says Stoll, who lives in Prospect, Ky. “I was having some girlfriends over for the holidays, and I wanted something pretty.” Stoll used items she had on hand to create a sparkly, snow-covered centerpiece. “I like to make treasures from trash,” she says. Stoll gathered three empty wine bottles of varying heights from her recycling bin and sprayed them with white primer. After the bottles dried, she sprayed them with adhesive and then rolled them in Epsom salts.
Photo courtesy of Tracie Stoll
“I thought it was kind of cool because it made it look like snow,” she says. To complete the look, she placed the bottles on a tray and added a few sparkly sprays, some silver ornaments and votive candles.
2013 Gift Guide * 51
Glitz and Glam, continued
Christmas Light Orbs Jacinda Boneau’s kids inspired (or pressured) her into creating these easy Christmas Light Orbs when they wanted a little more color in the family’s outdoor holiday display. “We live in Texas, where you can imagine there are some pretty impressive Christmas light displays,” says Boneau of Dallas, who runs the blog “Pretty Prudent,” Prudentbaby.com with Jaime Morrison Curtis. “My typical style of covering everything with white, non-blinking lights wasn’t enough. So I had to step it up a little,” she says. Boneau came up with a quick project. She estimates two or three orbs can be made in a half hour. To make the orbs, cut a large square of chicken wire, and bend opposite ends together and secure. Repeat with the remaining two ends and form a sphere. “It doesn’t have to be exact,” Boneau says. “It’s pretty forgiving.” Wrap a string of lights around the sphere, tucking the plug underneath the wire and back up so they’re able to hang. Photo courtesy of Jacinda Boneau
Recycled CD Ornaments
Boneau hung them on her patio using an iron rod and decided to keep them up year-round. “They’re a unique touch,” says Boneau, whose book with Curtis, “Pretty Prudent Home,” will be published by Abrams in the fall of 2014. “They have a bit of mystery to them. When it’s night and the lights are off, you can’t really see how they’re hanging.”
If you’re looking to easily add a touch of sparkle to your tree, try making an ornament out of old CDs or DVDs, like Natalie Pirveysian, who shares her ideas on her blog “Crème de la Craft,” Cremedelacraft.com. This craft is great for making with kids or family: “I think with holidays especially, it makes it more personal,” says Perveysian, who lives in Los Angeles. “When you have family over and people are asking about your decorations ... it just makes everything a little more special.” For the project, you’ll need a clear glass ornament, old CDs, a glue gun, ribbon and some heavy-duty scissors. “It’s made of items people have around the house,” Pirveysian says. “If you’re itching to do a craft project, you can reach into your drawers or your craft closet.” Begin by cutting the CDs into small pieces with a good pair of scissors. “They don’t have to be the same shape or size, like mosaic glass you find,” she says. Put a small dot of glue on the CD piece and attach it to the ornament, making sure the shiny side is facing out. Continue until the ornament is covered, leaving a bit of space between each piece, and wiping away extra glue as you go along. Then put a ribbon inside the ornament and close it. “The CDs give it a shiny element, which is why I gravitated to them,” she says. “It adds a little bit of shine to your home, to your tree, and it adds a little bit of color as well.” Photo courtesy of Natalie Pirveysian
52 * 2013 Gift Guide
Glitzy Gift Wrap Here’s a craft that pulls double-duty. “A gift that’s wrapped really pretty makes it so much more fun and enticing to open,” says Carolyn Garris, who shares her ideas on her blog “homework,” Carolynshomework.blogspot.com. “I’m all about gift bags too, but when something is wrapped beautifully it looks so nice on the table or under the tree. While you’re waiting to open it, it adds to the decor too.” Each year, Garris chooses a theme and uses what she has on hand to create custom wrapping. Her glitter tags and boxes, for example, were easily made by using a foam pouncer (or any other round object), dipping it in glue or Mod Podge and then dabbing it onto gift boxes and tags. Finish by covering in glitter. For her black-and-white theme, Garris added splashes of gold to her gift wrap for added holiday cheer. “I really did use things I had on hand,” she says. “I used copy paper, freezer paper, and then all sorts of ribbons and sticks and leaves. Just whatever I had, mixed and matched.” Garris wrapped her gifts in plain paper, and then used heavy paper or crepe paper as ribbons. To embellish the wrapping, she used organza, sequins and fake flowers, which she spray-painted gold.
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Garris
2013 Gift Guide * 53
Tree-Trimming Traditions While the cast of characters and décor may change year-to-year, the traditions rarely do. These designers and celebrities share their favorite decorating stories By Alexandra Gallucci n CTW Features
Photo by Victoria Pearson
Barbara Barry “The best thing about the holidays is getting to use a lot of red. I love how it makes everything so cheery. A favorite for small tables or large are silver beakers of pine bough, red tulips, white freesias and holly. They look wonderful down the center of the table interspersed with low votives. Sparkling and festive.”
Barbara Barry
Los Angeles-based interior and furniture designer
Suzanne Alexander
On-air host, Great American Country, country music radio network, Nashville
Suzanne Alexander “I’ve got a bit of an addiction when it comes to holiday décor. My overall theme is a Western Christmas, complete with Santas with cowboy hats. Our living room Christmas tree goes up by Thanksgiving. I decorate it with ornaments from places I’ve visited, and 90 percent of them are made
from wood. I also put up one in my bedroom and one in the sunroom (renamed the Christmas Room during the holidays), which stands 14 feet high.”
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Gift Certificates Available! 643 Washington St | 372-0477 | Mon–Fri 10am – 6pm | Sat 9am – 3pm 54 * 2013 Gift Guide
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Timothy Corrigan “I spend every Christmas at my home in the French countryside, the Chateau du Grand-Lucé. Topiary trees and wreaths festooned with red velvet ribbon greet visitors. The Christmas tree is decorated with heirloom ornaments that have been given to me by family and friends over the years. I also like to add antique ornaments and decorative objects I may find throughout my flea market hunts.”
Suzanne Kasler
Atlanta-based interior designer
Timothy Corrigan Interior designer with offices in Los Angeles and Paris
Laura Day
Photo by Eric Piasecki
New York City-based interior designer and founder of online magazine “Laura Day Living”
Laura Day “My family has two trees: We have a fun tree for the kids, with homemade decorations and strung popcorn. They have so much fun creating for it and decorating it
with us. The more serious tree tends to be monochrome with little white lights and a white owl on top. I do find it much easier to keep the tree looking beautiful if you keep the scheme simple. Most importantly you, your family and friends have to love it.”
Suzanne Kasler “I love decorating for the holidays. It’s a way to transform your house into a whole different look for an entire month. I always start with a concept, then pick and choose from my collection of holiday ornaments. I like to use things from my Christmas collec-
tion for Ballard Designs. … It was inspired by antique ornaments I’ve collected in muted colors. It pairs beautifully with my “Twelve Days of Christmas” collection from Christopher Radko. I have such wonderful memories associated with each Christmas, it is fun to recall them as we begin to decorate for the season and celebrate with family and friends.”
Celebrate the Holidays in
Merry Madison
November 29 & 30 December 6 & 7
Handel’s Messiah Nov. 24, 2pm Hanover College
A Very Merry Madison Christmas Parade Dec. 7, 10am
Light Up Madison Nov. 29, 5:30pm Broadway
Santa Express Train Ride & Santa’s Workshop Dec. 7, 10am-2pm
Nights Before Christmas Home Tour Nov. 29 & 30, Dec. 6 &7 Great Cookie Caper Nov. 29 & 30, Dec. 6 &7 Madison Visitor’s Center
Nouveau Noëlle Dec. 14 & 15, 11am-5pm Indiana Wine Trail
Dashing Through the Snow Dinner Theater Dec. 5-7, 6pm Madison Elks Lodge
Spirit of Christmas Past Dec. 14, 2-4pm Lanier Mansion
Sugarplum Celebration Dec. 14, 12-2pm Lanthier Winery
get the details by phone 800-559-2956 or online at visitmadison.org 2013 Gift Guide * 55
Guest Room Rescue Can you find the bed underneath all that clutter? Organizing experts give tips on how to reclaim your guest rooms BY Lindsey Romain n CTW Features
I
take everything out, but to take out
part of the room that can be incor-
the things that you know have other
porated into the decoration scheme.
places to go,” says Jennifer Snyder, a
Craft projects and wall hangings are
holiday-themed towels: The dreaded
professional organizer and founder of
perfect buried treasures that can be
guest bedroom, holder of all things
the Waco, Texas-based company Neat
re-purposed for visitors.
leftover and misplaced.
As a Pin Organizing Experts. “Then,
t’s there, at the end of the hall, tauntingly filled with boxed ornaments, folded tablecloths and
With the holidays approaching and guests arriving, it’s time to clean it out. Where to start? “The first step is not to necessarily
56 * 2013 Gift Guide
“A lot of times, the things that we
you’re left with the things that live
accumulate are our passion,” Snyder
there.”
says. “You’re adding an element of
By “things that live there,” Snyder means the items that were originally
yourself. Even half-finished craft projects are endearing in their own right.”
So leave those personal items in the guest room — as long as you don’t have tools or equipment lying around. Snyder also suggests breaking the room into “zones” as an organizational aid. “Ask yourself, ‘Where would I look for it?’ Then put items in logical order according to that,” she says. “Assign a purpose to everything, even the closets, the drawers and under the bed.” She suggests drawing a map of where things go, if that helps. For future reference, this all might be easier if the guest room never got too cluttered in the first place. Jodie Watson, who has been called “L.A.’s Most Innovative Organizer” and is the founder of the professional organizing company Supreme Organization, suggests actually using the guest room for something during the year. “It can double as an office, or a craft or exercise room,” she says. That
alternative use provides a reason to stop clutter at the door.
“Assign a purpose to everything: even the closets, the drawers and under the bed.”
No matter how you end up using the room, Watson says to keep it “guest-ready” 24/7 by making sure the bed is made, the floors and surfaces are clear and that there is space in the closets and drawers. “Just be sure that what you keep in there doesn’t exceed the limits of the storage space available,” she advises. If you do leave items in drawers, make sure there’s nothing confidential. “When people come into your house, they open cabinets, they open drawers,” Snyder says. “We all do it, so be careful what you keep in there. Don’t store anything you wouldn’t want someone to look at.” And what about all of those holiday decorations that gather dust in boxes under the bed? Jane Carroo, a certified professional organizer and
— Jennifer Snyder, Neat As a Pin Organizing Experts
“Consider having a wreath in the room and decorating it seasonally so that you’re working off of one piece,” says Jane Carroo, a certified professional organizer and founder of Clutter Coach Co. founder of Clutter Coach Co., says to first and foremost get rid of things you no longer use. Give the stray items to friends or donate them to charity. If there are important personal
items that don’t have a place elsewhere in the house, try turning them into holiday crafts. “Consider having a wreath in the room and decorating it seasonally so
that you’re working off of one piece,” Carroo says. She also suggests making homemade disposable items like Thanksgiving napkin rings. Watson recommends re-using tucked away holiday cards by cutting them out, putting them on cardstock and turning them into new cards. If it’s clothing that’s taking up space in the room, Snyder has some simple advice: “If you’re saving it for when you lose weight or whatever, you’re just going to buy new clothes anyway. Let them go.”
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Dedicated, professional people serving your company out & return. P.O. Box 192, Hope, IN 812-546-5010 • Fax 812-546-0404 • 1-800-457-7441 2013 Gift Guide * 57
Too many cooks in the kitchen Prepare your kitchen for the invasion of guest chefs. Clean, organize and stock the shelves for stress-free, heavyduty cooking and baking this holiday season BY Rachel Stark n CTW Features
T
here’s no place like home kitchens for the holidays. Or that’s what it seems, at least, when guests congregate in the heart of the home to chat, snack and offer the host or hostess a helping hand. A crowded kitchen with a few extra cooks calls for extra preparation and organization. What it doesn’t call for, says Philadelphia-area chef Tony Clark, is extra stress. “It’s the holidays and it’s more than just cooking,” Clark says. “You really want to make sure everyone’s enjoying themselves.”
Keep It Simple A chef of 35 years and currently on syndicated TV shows “The Chef’s Kitchen” and “Rock Star Kitchen,” Clark is used to group cooking. With four sisters and five children, cooking is a family affair when they all gather for a holiday meal. “It’s much more fun when everyone’s involved,” he says. Clark’s relatives typically stick to tradition with familiar, family recipes. He purchases all the ingredients and completes any complicated cooking tasks before the guests arrive. “I try to make it easy, and never do anything too stressful,” he says. Plus, a bottle of wine is at the ready, opened when the cooking begins.
Do Your Homework Jess Dang, founder of Cook Smarts, an online resource aimed at educating and inspiring home cooks, says she creates a spreadsheet to get organized before hosting people for the holidays. “Whenever I’m doing a large event, I find it really helpful to share a Google spreadsheet, where all the different meals are listed,” Dang says. “It lays things out nicely for folks to know what they’ll be responsible for. It also shows you took the time to think about it and plan.”
The Good Guest People should also consider their cooking methods. If much of the meal will require the oven, they’ll need to plan accordingly. Oven rack inserts can help maximize space and save time.
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Space Planning A cramped kitchen can be an obstacle to any group cooking experience. Those who are short on counter space can make their mealtime easier with a few simple tweaks.
counters by placing items on a dining table or a desk, or turning another room or the garage into a baking area with a card table and toaster oven.
The easiest way to add counter space is to purchase a portable kitchen island or cart. The bonus is that it’ll add visual appeal along with extra storage — but it is a relatively big purchase, so do so only if you plan to use it throughout the year.
Tony Clark, a Philadelphia-area chef, says he likes to use the outdoor grill year-round. When preparing a big meal, that’s one less piece that needs the oven.
People should also look outside the kitchen and use other spaces, says Jess Dang, founder of Cook Smarts, an online cooking resource. She suggests clearing clutter from
The keys to working in a tight space, Clark says, are to keep the area clean and embrace simplicity. “Don’t overdo it,” he says. “People get stressed while cooking, but it’s not about that. You want to make sure you’re happy when you’re cooking the meal.”
One advantage of having many cooks in the kitchen? They bring an array of skills and specialties. Dang recommends hosts be mindful of this, playing up their guests’ strengths. Let the aunt who loves baking bring her mean cheesecake and give the cocktail-expert cousin bar duty. Anyone who is cooking-averse can help with cleanup.
To make more room in the kitchen, hosts can
Instead, she suggests people embrace the mindset
get creative by assigning guests to different stations
of working together as a community. Aside from
throughout the home. Two sisters could catch up
making a dish or helping with cleanup, guests could
while chopping vegetables at the dining room table,
contribute by bringing serving utensils, cutting
for instance, while the kids snap green beans out-
boards or knives. “Have a list and just tell guests
side.
what to do. People like to give; it makes them feel
Susie Crowther, a Vermont-based chef, teacher
important.”
“I think it all comes down to knowing what people are good at,” Dang says.
and author of “The No Recipe Cookbook” (Skyhorse Publishing, 2013), says people should feel
gether over the holidays should focus on the process
Make a Plan
comfortable asking for and accepting help. “I think
rather than the product. “The keys are to have fun,
It’s important to make room for a deluge of food. Clean and strategically arrange your refrigerator and pantry ahead of time, Dang suggests.
nowadays, we don’t want to ask for help,” she says.
be together and be open to the outcome,” she says.
“Throw that paradigm away. This is not the time for
“You might ruin the dish, but you’ll have a great
the one-woman (or man) show.”
story at the dinner table.”
Most of all, Crowther says, people cooking to-
Change of Pace Whether your personal style is funky, classic, rustic or luxurious, sometimes you just want something different to show your guests for the holidays. These tips will either dress up or tone down your décor vibes without losing a sense of festivity
DRESS IT UP
CTW FEATURES
KEEP IT CHILL
Create a beautiful glassware display with what you have on hand. Collins glasses can serve as candle holders and upside-down martini glasses can elevate a display. A cake pedestal can serve the same purpose.
Use your cooking tools as part of the food display to emphasize your homemade dishes. A nice wooden cutting board can display charcuterie and cheese. Show off your cast iron skillet – but don’t forget a trivet!
Bring out your best serveware. That serving plate your in-laws gave you years ago has gone unused for far too long. Even if you don’t have food to put on it, use the platters for extra napkins, candles or décor.
Leave treats and appetizers all around the home. Your guests can pick at food and candies no matter where they sit down. That way, they won’t linger near the dining table or in the kitchen while you’re preparing the meal.
Use a spare platter to create a formal-looking wet bar. Set out every bottle of booze, mixer and garnish you have and put some ice in a bucket. Hang some twinkly lights nearby and set out all your cocktail glasses so they’ll sparkle.
Skip the green and red and try a more modern combination, like teal and orange; black, white and gold; or different shades of blue. If you can’t give up those classic colors, splash in some lime green for a more playful look.
Craft themed place cards for your guests. They’re easy and inexpensive to make, but thoughtful and personalized. Bonus points for attaching a small trinket that your guests can take home to remember the night!
Include some DIY food items. Bake the cookies and cupcakes and set up a decorating station with extra frosting and sprinkles. You’ll give your guests something fun to do and ensure picky eaters are satisfied.
Add luxurious touches to your guest rooms. Something as simple as a pillow mint, holiday candles (with matches) or a towel warmer in the bathroom will show your thoughtfulness to your guests.
Burlap is your friend. It’s easy to work with and automatically gives everything a rustic feel. Wrap burlap around gifts and silverware, or use it as a tree skirt or tablecloth. Plus, it’s neutral so it will match with your existing color palette.
2013 Gift Guide * 59
Prep the Halls! Decking the halls simply isn’t enough when guests are staying over. Give your home a once-over and make these essential repairs — because nothing’s Grinchier than a stopped-up toilet or broken garbage disposal By Dan Rafter n CTW Features
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uests will jam your home during the holiday season, many of them staying for a week or longer. You don’t want your furnace to conk out. And you certainly don’t want your toilets to go on the fritz. Fortunately, you can take steps before guests arrive to make sure that your home is both functional and comfortable for the holidays.
Home Remedies Luckily, some of the most important fixes you can tackle are those that you can do yourself. Lynda Lyday, a contractor, carpenter and home improvement author who splits her time between New York City and St. Petersburg, Fla., recommends that homeowners fix all the squeaky hinges, loose doorknobs and stiff cabinet doors in their homes. “You know that one doorknob, the one that — if you pull it too hard — will pop off? When you have guests, they will almost certainly pull it too hard,” Lyday says. “Remember, your home doesn’t come with an owner’s manual. Your guests don’t know the tricks you use every day.” Lyday tells the story of the time when she put up a pair of guests in her Manhattan apartment while she traveled to Knoxville, Tenn., to shoot a TV show. When Lyday returned, the pull chains for her lights were snapped and the handles for her toilets were broken. Her guests didn’t do this on purpose. They just didn’t know that the pull chains and the handles were old and needed to be treated with extra care. “Everyone wants their guests to feel at home. You don’t want your guests to feel like they are
60 * 2013 Gift Guide
It’s time to repair that loose cabinet door or slightly off-kilter kitchen drawer. “Your guests don’t know the tricks you use every day,” says Lynda Lyday, home improvement expert.
breaking your home,” Lyday says. “So make sure to fix everything that you’ve been ignoring.” So if the front of your kitchen cabinet is always falling off its hinges, fix it before your guests show up. Homeowners should also repair loose bricks in the walkways leading to their homes and any loose steps leading to their front porch. Otherwise, a guest could turn an ankle or fall down the front steps — not a good way to start the holiday season. Think, too, about making sure the garbage disposal, which will get an intense workout during the holidays, is working properly. You don’t want it clogging as you’re preparing a big holiday meal. Then there’s plumbing. Paul Abrams, spokesman at the Cincinnati headquarters of Roto-Rooter, recommends that homeowners do a quick check of their drains before guests arrive. Maybe a shower drain or sink drain is slow. Homeowners can probably unclog isolated drains on their own. But if several drains are slow or if homeowners hear a gurgling sound bubbling up from their drains, that might lead to more intensive repairs.
Hiring Help If several drains are malfunctioning, Abrams recommends that homeowners hire a licensed plumber. There might be a clog in a large branch line or even in the home’s main sewer line. This is not something to ignore, and not something that most homeowners can repair on their own. “Maybe the drains are still working, but once you get guests and you have more people showering and flushing the toilets, you put more strain on your plumbing,” Abrams says. “Once that happens, these smaller symptoms suddenly blossom into fullblown plumbing problems. That’s the last thing you want when it’s time to put the holiday dinner on the table.” Abrams recommends, too, that homeowners address plumbing issues long before holiday guests arrive. Some plumbing companies and contractors charge more to resolve emergency issues on a holiday. They might also be busier. If your toilets conk out on Christmas morning, you might spend a fortune and wait hours for a fix. There are other big jobs that contractors should tackle before guests arrive. The most important is scheduling a furnace tune-up, especially if you did
Small upgrades like sturdy new hangers or a luxurious new showerhead are thoughtful ways to improve your guests’ holiday stay. not get the recommended one at the start of the cold season.
Time to Buy There are also smaller items that you can buy to make your guests comfortable during the holidays. Lyday recommends that homeowners purchase at least two air purifiers. These can remove dust and odors from a home. One area to upgrade that will please your guests and help your own home is the bathroom. Sabine Schoenberg, a real estate developer, author and owner of home improvement company Sabine’s Home in Greenwich, Conn., recommends that homeowners buy new, more powerful showerheads. She also advises homeowners to replace old toilets or at the least buy a new toilet seat. Even something as small as new, high-quality hangers in the guest room closet can make a difference for holiday visitors, Schoenberg says. The main point? You need to view your residence through the eyes of your upcoming guests. “There are so many areas and small problems in your home that you don’t think about because you see them and live with them every day,” says Mike Sigmund, who, along with his wife, Kathy, owns TruBlue Total House Care in Lexington, Ky. “Now that guests are arriving, you have to look at it from their perspective. You have to resolve the problems that you’ve become used to.”
“Everyone wants their guests to feel at home. You don’t want your guests to feel like they are breaking your home. So make sure to fix everything that you’ve been ignoring.” — Lynda Lyday, contractor, carpenter and home improvement author
5 Questions to Ask Before You Hire You need a plumber, carpenter or electrician to solve your home’s most serious problems. Here are the questions to ask — provided by Paul Abrams of Roto-Rooter and home improvement expert Lynda Lyday — before hiring one of these pros. 1. Are they licensed and insured? If a plumber or electrician causes a serious problem, you want their company — and not you — to foot the new repair bills. 2. How busy are they? You don’t want to hire contractors who have so many jobs that they won’t get to your house for three weeks. 3. Do they charge just for visiting? Some contractors might charge you $40 or more just to come out and look at your problems. 4. Do they have references? You want to work with contractors who aren’t afraid to connect you with past customers. 5. How long will the work take? If you’re having holiday guests, you want a contractor who can get your problems resolved before visitors arrive.
2013 Gift Guide * 61
gifts
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{local GIFTS}
Buying locally supports community and results in uncommon gifts Information compiled by Carol Dingledy
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ooking for unique gifts this year? Not only does shopping in town save time and gas while supporting area businesses, but local retailers offer some very unusual items. Many local enterprises have been part of the community for decades and offer personal service, too. 7K Farms, for example, was started by Chuck and Marie Kleinhenz 35 years ago. Marie traditionally makes up all the holiday baskets herself. Jeff Baker opened Baker’s Fine Gifts and Accessories 30 years ago. Baker’s will not only arrange for shipping, but will provide deluxe gift wrapping for free.
Viewpoint Books 548 Washington St., Columbus 376-0778; www.viewpointbooks.com 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday Of course Viewpoint has books, including those by local authors and about local places. But it also carries an extensive selection of games for all ages and some very unusual puzzles. Double Trouble, for example, is a twolayer puzzle; the abstract-design Baffler series either has no edge pieces or all edge pieces.
Not Just Popcorn has been in business for 25 years. It offers popcorn for every unique taste — 375 flavors of popcorn, in fact. It also can coordinate one-hour tours so customers can see how it all comes together. Whether the hunt is on for the perfect gift for friends or family, adults, children or kids at heart, no need to go on safari — shop locally.
photos by Carol Dingledy
2013 Gift Guide * 63
{local GIFTS} Hoosier Sporting Goods 611 Washington St., Columbus 376-3418; www.hoosiersportinggoods.com 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday Special logos for all area elementary, middle and high schools are available at Hoosier Sporting Goods. “You can come in, pick out a shirt and a logo, and walk out five minutes later with it, complete with your name on it if you want,� said store manager Ben Whitaker. Hoosier also has logos for schools in several surrounding counties and does special orders, too.
Columbus Area Visitors Center 506 Fifth St., Columbus 378-2622; www.columbus.in.us 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; also open noon to 5 p.m. Sundays through November The Visitors Center is chock-full of unique items featuring Columbus, including water bottles, magnets, playing cards, cups, totes and more. The center also features handmade items, jewelry, artwork and a number of glass items, such as this distinctive hummingbird feeder.
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{local GIFTS}
Baker’s Fine Gifts and Accessories 433 Washington St., Columbus 372-9635; also on Facebook 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; also open noon to 4 p.m. Sunday after Thanksgiving through December Whether it’s wine (the Corkcicle) or beer (the Chillsner) that needs to keep its cool, Baker’s offers the solution with just two of the distinctive items carried at the store. From wooden sleds to wooden bowls, handmade jewelry to the popular Clipa purse holder, Baker’s is the place to find gifts that aren’t available everywhere else.
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{local GIFTS} 7K Farms 3155 W. County Road 650N Taylorsville 526-2651, 800-842-6341; www.7kfarms.com 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday Family-owned and run 7K Farms not only assembles standard gift sets such as the popular Country Charm basket or 7K Sampler, but it can create a custom basket or cheese set reflecting a customer’s unique tastes. With 3,500 items to choose from, it’s easy to surprise someone with a one-of-a-kind gift.
Not Just Popcorn 116 E. Main Cross St. Edinburgh 526-8256, 800-231-5689; www.notjustpopcorn.com 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday From October through Christmas, Not Just Popcorn pops around 500 pounds of popcorn each day. The most popular items are the various size tins that can be refilled — forever — at a discount. The sampler box of 10 different flavors is another favorite. From apple to watermelon, including dill pickle, there’s something for just about every individual.
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Hot gifts for good cooks By Bev Bennett n CTW Features
I
f your companion is glued to chef shows on television, a cooking implement, especially if it’s used in the program, may be the perfect holiday gift.
Here are several new kitchen products that are either supported by or used by chefs along with cookbooks to further the home chef’s skills.
It’s easy to find presents that are chef-inspired thanks to the surging interest in all things chef.
Buddy Valastro, star of TLC’s television series “Cake Boss,” collaborated on a new line of bakeware with the Cake Boss name.
“The chef influence is important,” says Debra Mednick, executive director and home industry analyst for the NPD Group in Port Washington, N.Y. A culinary professional’s stamp of approval may be good for sales, according to Mednick, and it may be just what the recipient needs as a confidence builder.
Cake Boss
fondant products are available at larger chain craft stores and mass-merchandise stores. Those fondant garnishes would look lovely topping the mouth-watering cakes from the baking book “The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook” by Tom Douglas and Shelley Lance (William Morrow, 2012).
The line goes beyond bakeware to include Cake Boss four-piece sets of fondant presses in various shapes, including Christmas, dinosaur and work truck themes.
The aspiring chef uses the same gizmo as the television chef and may become a better cook.
For the baker who wants a professional finish to cakes, there’s the Cake Boss 10-piece fondant/gum paste modeling kit with tools for adding veins to leaves and other intricate touches.
You benefit, too, when you’re invited for meals that are delicious and daring.
The fondant presses have a suggested retail price of $9.99 each, the modeling kit, $19.99. The
Tempting recipes from the famous Seattle bakery include cornmeal rosemary cake with lemon glaze, carrot cupcakes with brown sugar cream cheese frosting and Piedmontese hazelnut cake.
iSi Gourmet Whip Plus Savoring foam, the light essence of flavor, once meant making a reservation at an expensive, experimental restaurant. Now the at-home chef can indulge in frothy adventures, turning purees, soups and sauces into foams with the iSi Gourmet Whip Plus hand-held dispenser that operates on nitrousoxide chargers (sold separately). The Whip Plus can be used with either hot or cold ingredients and includes straight, tulip and star tips for creative foam shapes. It’s available as halfpints or pints at fine cookware stores. As the companion book to the Whip Plus, add the “Explore New Taste” by iSi North America. The company, which makes kitchen utensils for both the home and professional cook, produced a limited edition cookbook featuring ideas and recipes from chefs and mixologists around the world. Your chef can read about the importance of density and texture and whip up uni toast with avocado and grapefruit foam. The book will be available on Jan. 1 and has a suggested retail price of $49.
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Ace of Cakes Cake Decorating Air Brush, $129.99 iSi Gourmet Whip Plus; $149.99
slicer. This new model from Microplane makes julienne cuts easy with adjustments for 1/32-, 1/16- and 1/8-inch thick slices. The slicer is distinguished by an extremely sharp blade that slices through everything from potatoes for a gratin to limes for a cocktail. The adjustable slicer is available at cookware stores and has a suggested retail price of $29.95.
Marshmallow Collection from Chicago Metallic Cooking isn’t just about meal preparation; it’s also about having fun. Imagine the pleasure of turning out homemade marshmallows. A new line for marshmallow fans from Chicago Metallic includes pans with collapsible walls in either 8-inch square or 9-by-13-inch sizes. There’s also a cutting wheel, which can double for sticky pizza toppings and a Crush & Coat set of bowls and a pestle for hand-grinding marshmallow toppings.
Duff Goldman by Gartner Studios Airbrush Machine Help your favorite baker become the Cezanne of cupcakes. Unleash the kitchen artist to airbrush swaths of pearl, metallic, pastel or deep colors onto unbaked or finished cakes, cookies and similar desserts. The lightweight air compressor, named for the star of the Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes,” features adjustable air pressure, airbrush and hose. Airbrush colors are sold separately. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $129.99. Find the airbrush machine at larger chain craft stores.
If julienne sliced vegetables inspire your chef to more adventurous cooking, give her “New American Table” by Marcus Samuelsson (Wiley, 2009). Inviting dishes in this accessible and attractive cookbook from the well-known restaurateur and television personality include cabbage-tomato relish, almond chicken with avocado salsa and radish salad or cabbage slaw (with sardines, yogurt and almonds).
Mojito, Cosmopolitan and Margarita R-Evolution kits Remember those chemistry sets from childhood?
The pans have a suggested retail price of $11.99 for the smaller and $14.99 for the larger. The cutting wheel has a suggested price of $9.99, and the bowl set $19.99, at cookware stores.
The adult version – the culinary one – allows a mixologist the same pleasure of experimentation, applying concepts in molecular gastronomy to add foam to a margarita or fill a cosmopolitan with bubbles you eat with a spoon.
Homemade marshmallows are great for constructing elaborate cakes, such as those in “Extreme Cakeovers” by Rick and Sasha Reichart (Clarkson Potter, 2013).
The kits include sachets of food additives, molecular gastronomy tools and a step-by-step recipe booklet for a suggested retail price of $29.95.
It’s DIY cake decorating gone wild when your baker turns pound cake into fries, green fruit rollups into “lettuce” and ice cream cones and marshmallows into train smokestacks.
Microplane Adjustable Slicer with Julienne Blade Cutting thin, even slices of vegetables or fruits can be unnerving unless you have a high-quality
For more information visit the website at: www. molecule-r.com. If your gift recipient still doesn’t know what to imbibe, Zach Golden has the answers in an irreverent collection of drink recipes, “What the F*@# Should I Drink” (Running Press, 2013). Cocktail recipes range from the familiar classic daiquiri to the uncommon Italian Job. But watch the language, which is saltier than a margarita.
If you’d like to add a book to the gift package, try “Vintage Cakes: Timeless Recipes for Cupcakes, Flips, Rolls, Layer, Angel, Bundt, Chiffon, and Icebox Cakes for Today’s Sweet Tooth” by Julie Richardson (Ten Speed Press, 2012). An airbrush glaze is just a lot of air without the cake as foundation. Simple, old-fashioned cakes provide an excellent surface. The chef artist can bake a Harvey Wallbanger cake and gild it with a gold sheen.
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G
iving is a personal affair, and knowing the exact right thing to buy is a challenge. “I do like to let gifts speak for me,” says Chicagobased shopping and couponing expert Jill Cataldo. “I can wander around a store or mall and come home empty-handed, or I can walk in and spot something within a few minutes. It’s all about knowing the interests of the person you love.” Someone’s hobby can be your guide. “My husband once delighted me with a book that he found at a used book sale about a subject I’m passionate about,” Cataldo says. “The condition of the book didn’t matter to me. The fact that he saw it and thought of me did.” Here are some top gifts for all kinds:
THE OUTDOORSY TYPE STERIPEN ULTRA; $99 A rechargeable, UV water purifier that makes water safe to drink in 45 seconds – a digital smiley means you’re good to guzzle. Perfect for hiking, camping and traveling.
What to Get Everyone On Your List Give to one, give to all with these unique items for the many different types of people on your list By Matthew M. F. Miller n CTW Features 70 * 2013 Gift Guide
HANDPRESSO WILD HYBRID OUTDOOR ESPRESSO SET; $199 Going without and roughing it are a lot easier with a good cup of coffee. Bring your own grounds and use the vacuumpump espresso maker to brew anywhere. Comes in a leather case with four unbreakable cups, a thermoinsulated flask and two napkins.
THE MUSICIAN WHIPPING + POST GUITAR PICK CARD CASE; $40 Guitar players can’t be bothered with wallets when they have rock and roll on their minds. This handy case holds all of your important cards (credit card, license, etc.) and a guitar pick. ETON RUGGED RUKUS ALL-TERRAIN PORTABLE SOLAR WIRELESS SOUND SYSTEM; $130 A solar panel on top to charge the 8-hour battery when outdoors. Connect wirelessly to any Bluetooth device. And for the clumsy sort (musicians can be rough on their gear), it’s drop-proof from a height of 3.3 feet.
THE PAMPERER PERSONALIZED BATH CADDY BY RED ENVELOPE; $50 Made of natural wood, this caddy has a built-in wine glass holder, book support and even a spot for the soap. Can be monogrammed at no extra cost. BURT’S BEES HAND REPAIR KIT; $13 To combat the toll winter takes on the skin, this set comes with Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream, Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Crème and Shea Butter Hand Repair Cream to get even the driest hands through the holidays – and beyond.
THE COFFEE/TEA LOVER BODUM BISTRO ELECTRIC POUROVER; $350 Fill the 40-ounce water tank, add coffee grounds and flip a switch to make pour-over coffee in a snap. The titaniumplated filters never need to be replaced, and coffee is brewed directly into a portable, sealable jug that stays hot for hours.
THERMOS NISSAN TEA TUMBLER WITH INFUSER, 14 OUNCES; $23 Loose-leaf tea on the go is no longer a challenge. This mug comes with a removable mesh infuser for steeping hot tea and a deep-welled lid to prevent spills.
THE BEAUTY URBAN DECAY ANARCHY AND SHATTERED FACE CASES; $44 One case for the whole face. Includes two blushes, five eye shadows, a highlighter, an exclusive Super Saturated High Gloss Lip Color and a 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil. Each case features two fullsize mirrors inside.
2013 Gift Guide * 71
What to Get Everyone, continued OLAY PRO-X MICRODERMABRASION PLUS ADVANCED CLEANSING SYSTEM; $40 An at-home exfoliating kit with separate foam head and polisher. There are two cleansing settings for daily use, which Olay claims is seven times better than face scrub alone.
THE DIY-ER WORX SEMI-AUTOMATIC DRIVER; $50 Yeah, it looks pretty rad, but it also stores 6 bits in easy-load cartridges and has an off-set head to make driving in corners a snap.
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THE SWEET TOOTH DUM-DUMS HOLIDAY POPS; $2.49 Suckers are for gifts in 2013 with the classic pops updated version. Flavors include Merry Cherry, Sugar Plum, Hot Chocolate, Sugar Cookie, Apple Cider, Gingerbread, Green Apple Grinch and Polar Punch.
GOOD KARMAL HOLIDAY GIFT BOX Available only at www. goodkarmal.com; $29 for box of 10. Good, hand-made caramels are things of beauty, and these luscious nuggets of velvety smooth butter will make you the hero of any candy lover in your life. Bonus? A portion of every purchase goes to environmental charities.
STANLEY TOOLS TLM99 LASER DISTANCE MEASURER; $89 Tape is a thing of the past. Measure up to 100 feet without hassle, with an accuracy of +/- 3/32-inch.
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The gift-giver’s guide to local shopping
Buying from local merchants isn’t just the feel-good story of your shopping year. It’s a great way to make gifts more special while supporting the people and businesses that help make your town great By Jessica Royer Ocken n CTW Features
T
he Internet is always there, lurking. It couldn’t be easier to click a few buttons and have life’s essentials arrive at your door. These days, local businesses don’t just compete with big boxes and department stores, they compete with everything on the World Wide
Wishing you and your family a very happy holiday season!
Happy fromHolidays
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But choosing gifts for people – selecting something perfectly matched to personality and preferences, that adequately conveys your love and appreciation for them – can be trickier than making sure another case of paper towels arrives before the last one runs out. Heidi Butzine, founder of ShopLocal.us and author of “Shop Local: A Practical, Pain-Free Guide to Shopping With a Purpose” (Simplex Publishing, 2012), suggests you ask yourself “What are your goals for this purchase? Do you just want something as cheap as you can get it?” If we’re not careful, holiday shopping becomes merely one more task to be completed at our desks – another workload piled on top of everything else we have to do at this busy time of year. So why not try something different? Step away from the screen and make shopping an experience this year, and a pleasant experience at that. “It feels good to get out of your office, away from the computer,” Butzine says. “Take a break and engage with people at a local store.”
3471 Market St. • Columbus, IN (812) 376-8868 • www.voelzbodyshop.com
74 * 2013 Gift Guide
The benefits of this approach are not just for you. You’ll also be supporting your community, as well as delighting those on your gift list. When it comes to shopping locally, there’s plenty of reward to go around.
For your community … Shopping at local stores is “the gift that keeps on giving,” says Bill Brunelle, executive director of Independent We Stand, an organization launched in 2011 to educate consumers and businesses about the economic benefits of buying locally. When you purchase something at a locally owned business, more of your money stays in the community, he explains. It’s not going out of town to a big-box corporate office. Store owners based in the community are also more likely to hire local accountants and marketing firms, as well as source more of the products they sell locally. “It’s really a multiplier effect,” he says. “The money keeps recirculating.” Why is that important? Think about how local stores contribute to the fabric of your community, suggests Kathleen McHugh, president of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA). The toy store in town might be where parents bring their kids for a craft class, or where they know they can pick up a lastminute gift that will be wrapped for them, or where they go when the baseball team needs a sponsor. Independent stores’ distinctive presence gives your city character and makes it a special place to live.
“The guy across the counter may be a second-generation employee, and he’s been on the school board,” Brunelle says. “He’s got a true vested interest in the community.”
present. “That’s priceless – there’s no
try to look at your shopping as a fun,
guessing!”
meaningful opportunity,” Butzine
For your recipient …
creative, open-ended playthings. “It’s
Plus, you can select from more
says. It can make you feel good to find
than just the latest mass-produced
something you know a person on your
toys and games. You’ll get a range of
list will love. Try to enjoy the process rather
America has become a bit of a “throwaway society,” Brunelle says. “Once something doesn’t work, it goes in the landfill, and you get what you pay for sometimes.” But the holidays are the perfect time to break out of this mode. “When you’re looking for a gift that will make someone feel good, buy something unique, something they don’t have in big boxes or national chains.”
not about what the toy does, but what
than making it a mad dash to buy
the child does with this toy,” McHugh
stuff. Try the “Shop Local Loop,” she
says. “If a kid can find a million ways
suggests. Work your way through the
to play with the same toy, you’ve hit
neighborhood stores in a 1- to 5-mile
the jackpot.”
radius of where you live.
When you take the time to find something special, you’re giving the person some of yourself, Butzine notes. Perhaps the gift will represent where you live. Butzine lives on the ocean, so she sometimes chooses artwork or a photo of the beach for landlocked friends. “Your gift can remind them of you or provide an escape,” she says. “Gift giving is so individualized. You just need to stop and think.”
may have cutting-edge tunes by inde-
In the same way, the bookseller
You’ll likely be rewarded with un-
in town may suggest local or regional
usual and offbeat gift options, as well
authors you haven’t heard of, the local
as more knowledgeable employees
boutique may have clothing or jewelry
and perhaps even the store owner in
by designers you might otherwise miss,
person. “I like to touch everything,”
and the music store down the street pendent artists, plus a great selection of vintage vinyl, these experts say.
McHugh says. “When you shop in person you get it right the first time. There’s no being surprised and having to return things.”
For yourself …
This heightened level of customer
“The holidays get so stressful, but
see local on page 76
Host your next event at
The Commons!
If you’re shopping locally, you don’t have to think alone. “You can go into a local toy store and talk to someone who’s really well trained in child development,” McHugh says. Just give them the child’s age, and you can likely walk out with the perfect
Local Shopping Resources www.IndependentWeStand.org This site includes a database of independent businesses as well as research and information about the benefits of shopping locally. www.YourNeighborhoodToyStore.org Powered by the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association, this site includes a store locator, resources for parents, interviews with inventors and retailers, and picks for the best toys of the year. ShopLocal.us Managed by Heidi Butzine, this site offers a nationwide database for finding independent retailers in your zip code. www.indiebound.org Started by members of the American Booksellers Association, this website is a resource for locating independent bookstores (and more) around the country. And don’t worry, these guys can load eBooks on your tablet just like the big retailers can.
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www.thecommonscolumbus.com 2013 Gift Guide * 75
local continued from page 75 service can help when buying for someone you don’t know so well: grandparents who aren’t as in touch with what kids are doing at a certain age, people who don’t have kids but want to wow their nieces and nephews, you with that one enigmatic sister-in-law. “When you show up with the best gift, you win the day,” McHugh says. Shopping locally can even help you conquer the most difficult holiday gift list challenge of all: the co-worker. Choose a gift card for an area restaurant, Butzine suggests. Then you’re giving something you know will be convenient, as well as supporting a local business, and you and the recipient could even go there together. And for the person who doesn’t need any more stuff, a donation to a local charity – in your area or theirs –
may be just the thing. “That’s a nice way of getting around the idea that a gift must be something tangible,” Butzine says. Finally, once you’ve found that perfect item – the chocolates made by a local confectioner, the sweater from a family that’s been knitting for generations, a toy that will entertain for hours – be sure you share your experience with the recipient, too. Rather than just slapping a tag on the package, add a card that tells the gift’s story: who made it, why you chose it, how you found it. “A personal note saying how much fun you had picking out their gift lets them know the thoughtfulness involved,” Butzine says. “It lets them know this is heartfelt.” After all, that is the goal of holiday gift giving.
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76 * 2013 Gift Guide
Getting a good price in your neighborhood
B
ill Brunelle, executive director of Independent We Stand, says it’s a “common misconception” that local retailers are more expensive than national chain stores or websites.
“I think most retailers in locally owned businesses understand that they have to compete on price,” he says. However, they also know they have to deliver superior customer service – even after the sale – which may not be the case for sellers far removed from their patrons. While there are added costs for bricks-and-mortar businesses, such as rent on the store and staff salaries, that may be reflected in the price of their wares, this also means you’re dealing with people who care about what they’re selling, notes Kathleen McHugh, president of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association. They’ve made a personal investment. And local advocate Heidi Butzine adds that small business owners often have more flexibility in terms of pricing because they’re not beholden to a corporate policy. While you always want to be respectful – we’re not haggling here, folks – she sees no problem with inquiring about an item’s price when you’ve seen it somewhere else for less. Interested in buying a camera, she recently went to a local camera store, and while they couldn’t completely match the price she’d seen online, they did give her a discount after she mentioned it. They also offered her a free photography class, as well as pointing out that they’d be there as a resource for her if she needed help with the item or needed any accessories for it. She decided these “value adds” were worth it and made her purchase locally. “Open a dialogue with the manager or owner, and perhaps they’ll work with you,” she says. “The worst they can say is no.”
f
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Burn, Smell, Love Matthew M. F. Miller n CTW Features
C
andles truly are the gifts that keep on giving. According to the National Candle Association, America’s love for waxing poetic burns bright: $2 billion is spent annually on candles and they are used in seven out of 10 households. Versatile and inexpensive, they are a wonderful gift option for moms, grandmas, teachers, hostesses and more. These new scents provide fragrant options for anyone on your list.
SLATKIN AND CO. PRICES: 4-ounce mini candles, $10; 6-ounce Mason jar candle, $12.50; 14.5-ounce 3-wick candle, $20 CHAMPAGNE TOAST, BLACK TIE AND PARTY DRESS
YANKEE CANDLE PRICES: Samplers votive, $1.99; small jar, $10.99; medium jar, $24.99; large jar, $27.99 VANILLA CHAI, PUMPKIN WREATH AND SALTED CARAMEL
VIRGINIA CANDLE CO. WOODWICK CANDLES PRICES: small jar, $9.99; medium jar, $18.99; large jar, $24.99 APPLE CRISP, CRANAPPLE PUNCH AND CAMPFIRE MARSHMALLOW
2013 Gift Guide * 77
Toy Land, Toy Land … Tablet, Game and Joy Land This year, look for tech, nostalgia and popular brands to sell big By Lindsey Romain n CTW Features
I
nnovation. Building skills. Out-of-the-box thinking. This year, toys trends are more about stretching the mind than providing temporary entertainment – or finding new ways to do both. “This is the year of toys powered by kids’ imaginations,” says Marianne Szymanski, the founder and president of Toy Tips Inc., an international child development research group. Billy Lagor, senior vice president of U.S. marketing at Hasbro, agrees: “This year it’s all about customization, and the merging of digital and faceto-face play, along with new ways to play with classic favorites.” Meaning, in simple terms: tablets, robots and building toys with a million little pieces are all the rage.
Tech Bytes Tablets were a big deal last year, but in 2013 the “tablet market has exploded,” according to Laurie Schacht, co-publisher of Toy Insider, also known as the “Toy Insider Mom.” The VTech Inno Tab 3S ($99.99, ages 3 to 9) and the XO Learning Tablet ($149, ages 4 to 14) are two popular tablets for kids, as is the Disney Creativity Studio – Smart Stylus ($50), which works
Vtech inno tab 3S; $99.99
First builder’s billy beats dancing piano; $39.99
in conjuncture with the Disney Creativity Studio iPad app ($4 in the Apple Store). It’s a nice treat for kids with iPad-owning parents who aren’t afraid to let them handle the device.
the game to get started. When the game is off, they can play with the Angry Birds toys, which they can set up and strategically knock down, just like in the game.
That technology crossover – using something new, like a stylus, to “renovate” an existing product, like an iPad – is a big trend in the toy world right now. The Telepods line is a “digital gaming platform for the mobile generation,” Lagor says. With the Angry Birds Star Wars II app, kids can “teleport” physical Angry Birds toys into the app and use them within. They just have to tap the Telepods icon in
Disney Interactive’s Disney Infinity and Skylanders Swap Force (both $74.99 for a starter pack) use that same concept – mixing physical toys with a virtual world – and are both expected to be big hits, according to Schacht.
Nostalgia Rules For parents perturbed by the thought of glitzy teleporting tech, fear not – classic toys like Cabbage Patch dolls, Smurfs, Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs are big again this year. “Parents and grandparents love to share the toys they remember and adored growing up with their kids and grandkids,” Schacht says of this trend. Updates on classics are also making rounds. Lagor makes note of Monopoly Empire, a new spin on everyone’s favorite money-hungry board game. In Empire ($19.99, ages 8 and up), properties are replaced with popular brand names of entities kids will recognize, like McDonald’s, Xbox and Coke. Twister, the dotted arm-tangling game, also has an update: Dance Rave ($34.99, ages 8 to 14),
78 * 2013 Gift Guide
which hooks up to an MP3 player and comes with movable Twister spots that get players dancing.
Big Name, Big Money
k’nex thunderbolt strike, $119
Kids are also suckers for anything recognizable to them, which is why toys based on popular movies, TV shows and pre-existing brands are some of this year’s most anticipated. Sofia the First, Talking Sofia and Animal Friends ($39.99, ages 3 and up) should be a big hit with little girls, as should anything Doc McStuffins-related. McStuffins toys, also based on a hit Disney show, were some of the top sellers last year. This year, the Doc McStuffins Get Better Check-Up Center ($79.99, ages 3 and up) should be a hot gift. As for movies, the minions from “Despicable Me 2” were the breakout characters of the year – and that should translate to the toy world, too, like with the Talking Minion doll ($39.99, ages 4 to 12).
Can We Fix It? If a kid can build it, a kid will want it this year. VTech’s Go! Go! Smart Wheels Construction Playset ($34.99, ages 1 to 3) lets little ones assemble a puzzle-like race course. First Builder’s Billy Beats Dancing Piano ($39.99, ages 1 to 5) is both musical and builder-friendly – he even holds other First Builders blocks under his red hat. For slightly older kids, K’NEX Thunderbolt Strike ($119, ages and up) comes with 850 pieces and over 17 feet of connectors.
At the End of the Day Even with all the gadgets and intricacies in toys this year, the biggest name of the season is … the Rainbow Loom? Yes, the Rainbow Loom. The colorful braceletmaking kit, invented by a Michigan man named Choon Ng for his daughters, took off earlier this year. The Loom is available only in specialty stores and runs for $14.99, and “while it may not remain as hot as we head into the holidays, it will remain a great and inexpensive gift for kids of all ages,” according to Schacht. “Kids have become crafty, more imaginative and are now interested in making their own designs,” says Szymanski of the trend. Regardless of what your kid is yearning for – from techiest of the tech to the simplest bracelet maker – Schacht says to remember that they’re the ones you should be listening to. “It’s all about what your kids love,” Schacht explains. “Understanding how they play, and what they like best will help ensure a great choice for a toy that is played with and enjoyed many times over.”
talking minion doll; $39.99
Disney creativity studio - smart stylus; $50
Small Engines of Seymour, Inc.
726 East Tipton Street, Seymour • 812-522-4777
2013 Gift Guide * 79
Read – and Play – All About It Matthew M. F. Miller n CTW Features
G
etting lost in a book is a magical experience for young and old alike, and everyone has wished at one point or another that their favorite character could jump off the page. Today, words on a page are just the beginning of the story. Bring to life the magical worlds of your child’s favorite book series with these fun, innovative toys.
Clifford the Big Red Dog n Zoobies Story Time Pal; $30 n Bubble Science Kit; $20 n Be a Good Friend Game; $24 n Twisterz Toys Clifford Category Matcher; $13
Pinkalicious n Pinkalicious 14-inch Washables Cloth Doll by Madame Alexander; $40 n Pinkalicious Girls Bike, available in 12, 14 and 16 inches; $100 n Pinkalicious It’s Party Time for Nintendo DS; $20 n Cupcake Party Game; $15
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus n Scholastic Storybook Treasures Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus DVD; $15 n Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus Game; $20 n Out of Print Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus Baby Onesie; $21 n Pigeon Soft Toy 11.5 inches by Yottoy; $28
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Fancy Nancy n Fancy Nancy 18-inch Cloth Doll by Madame Alexander; $55 n KidKraft Fancy Nancy Dollhouse; $160 n Fancy Nancy Tea Party Time for Nintendo DS; $30 n Fabulous Fashionista Game; $21
n Diary of a Wimpy Kid 1, 2 & 3 DVD Set; $40 n Funko Diary of a Wimpy Kid Holiday Action Figure; $14 n Pressman 200 piece Diary of a Wimpy Kid Pal Size Floor Puzzle; $15 n Scrabble Diary of a Wimpy Kid; $30
Hunger Games n NECA Hunger Games Backpack; $45
Christmas Cookies, Pies, Breads, Homemade Noodles Try Our New Eclairs and Cream Horns.
2034 17th St. Columbus • 372-pies(7437) 80 * 2013 Gift Guide
n Barbie Collector Hunger Games Katniss Everdeen Doll; $30 n The Hunger Games JabberJay Card Game; $9 n The Hunger Games Mockingjay Fire Laptop Decal; $10
Get Your Holiday Game On Matthew M. F. Miller n CTW Features
G
ame night just got a lot more creative. Classic board games are still popular go-to gifts. Now, game makers are combining concepts, appealing to TV lovers and going out on a limb to provide more personalized new editions for your favorite game lover’s collection. Here are a few recent titles to get the party started this holiday season.
TV LOVERS GEORGE R. R. MARTIN’S A GAME OF THRONES: THE BOARD GAME; 2ND ED.; $60 King Baratheon is dead and the Iron Throne is up for grabs. Play as your favorite character and battle for supremacy as you negotiate alliances with your opponents and build armies. 3-6 PLAYERS, AGES 14+ DUCK DYNASTY REDNECK WISDOM PARTY GAME; $17 Guess the missing word in quotes from Willie, Phil, Uncle Si, Jase and the rest of your favorite characters. Try to fool other players with clever answers – everyone has to spot the genuine quotes from the fakes. 2-12 PLAYERS, AGES 10+ YAHTZEE: DOCTOR WHO 50TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTOR’S EDITION; $25 Shake the five custom dice featuring Doctor Who villains in the TARDIS and play the game by the original rules. It’s a fun-looking gift that’s perfect for the sci-fi-loving game buff on your list. 1 OR MORE PLAYERS, AGES 8+
CLASSICS, REVISED CANDY LAND DISNEY PRINCESS EDITION; $20 Play as Belle, Snow White, Cinderella or Aurora, and travel through scenes from “Tangled,” “Princess & the Frog” and “The Little Mermaid.” First princess to dance at the Candy Land ball wins. 2-4 PLAYERS, AGES 3+ TRIVIAL PURSUIT PARTY; $22 Every question offers players a chance at a pie piece. Perfect for fast, fun group play. Players can ask other players for help, and if the question is answered correctly they both get a pie piece. Collect six silver pie pieces
to win, which means you can stick to your subject of choice and still win the game. 3-6 PLAYERS, AGES 16+ CHUTES AND LADDERS: SUPER HERO SQUAD EDITION; $25 Play as Hulk, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Thor, Captain America or Iron Man as you climb and slip through an amped-up version of the original game. 2-4 PLAYERS, AGES 3+
OFF THE BEATEN PATH THE SNEAKY SNACKY SQUIRREL GAME; $22 Spin the spinner and be the first one to collect every color of acorn and place it into your log using only a rascally pair of “Squirrel Squeezers.” 2-4 PLAYERS, AGES 3+ QWIRKLE; $35 Match different colored tiles and shapes (108 wooden blocks are included), score points – highest score wins. It’s simple and addictive, and was the winner of Parent’s Choice Gold Award and the Mensa National Competition. 2-4 PLAYERS, AGES 6+ QUARANTINE; $30 Each player owns his or her own hospital. Patients line up outside and players have to fix their ailments ASAP – especially before an outbreak of the “Graysles” that will cause entire hospital wards to be shutdown and under quarantine. 2-4 PLAYERS, AGES 12+ CATAN EXPLORERS & PIRATES: EXPANSION GAME; $50 Fans of the crazy-popular Settlers of Catan board game will adore this expansion set, which includes five new scenarios and three new missions. Hit the high seas and confront pirates, seek spices and fish for “Victory Points.” 3-4 PLAYERS, AGES 12+
“Hearty Greetings to you as well as our Heartiest Thanks!” Joe Miller • Larry Calfee • Keith Jones • Shawn Swope Mike Burns • Tim Swain • Ron Mills • Tim Beinke • Bob Hult
AUTOMOTIVE GROUP Visit www.ACRAAUTO.com ... Then
Call 812.378.1000 • 888.356.2272 2820 N. National Rd. (U.S. 31) Columbus, IN
2013 Gift Guide * 81
Run-der the Tree Matthew M. F. Miller n CTW Features
P
ractical gifts don’t have to be boring. Neither do gifts that promote yearround fitness. Whether you have an avid athlete or New Year’s resolution junkie on your list, running gear is an adrenaline-fueled gift that will be used and abused for months to come. Check out the latest, trendiest gear that attempts to defy the laws of physics and turn even the average runner into a superhero. Do gifts get any better than that? No. No, they don’t.
Shoes Adidas Running Springblade Shoe, available in men’s and women’s; $180 Multiple “energy blades” decorate the bottom of the shoe, providing extra inches of height, impact absorption and extra bounce in your step. Nike Free Flyknit+, available in men’s and women’s; $160 Incredibly lightweight and flexible, this breathable, knitted shoe fits more like a sock than a traditional sneaker.
82 * 2013 Gift Guide
Reebok ATV 19+; $140 This spacey looking shoe has 19 “podular lugs” lining the bottom of the sneaker, designed to make all-terrain running a comfortable ride.
New Balance 1260v3; $145 This seamless (there are literally no sew-welded seams), soft-density foam cushioned shoe is quite the looker, too. Available in many unique, flashy color combinations.
Apparel Asics Lite-Show Favorite Running Top; $44-$48 depending on style The entire Lite-Show line features a reflective thread on all seams, which bounces light rays back at the source to make runners more visible.
Give the Good Stuff! Stop In And See Our Newly Remodeled Sales Floor!
New Balance Windblocker Tight Women’s Bottoms; $90 Eco-friendly coffee grinds compose the NB Heat technology that claims to provide a twodegree skin surface temperature increase. They are also flexible and reflective. Under Armour Men’s Alter Ego Compression Shirt; $45-$60 Runners often feel like superheroes, but now they can look one, too. Choose from Iron Man, Batman, Superman, Spider-Man and Hulk.
Gadgets Sennheiser Adidas PMX 685i Sports headphones; $80 Headphones that are comfortable, sound good and stay in place? Yes, and they’re also sweat/water resistant and fit under your bike helmet on cross-training days. TomTom Runner GPS Watch; $170 Provides outdoor and indoor tracking, and even works on treadmills. Vibrations alert runners to their progress even when music is playing. Adjustable for all wrist sizes and very durable. Jawbone Up; $130 The latest competitor to the Nike Fuelband, Up tracks your movement, sleeping and eating patterns. Attach photos of your food for easy meal tracking and get morning feedback about how long you were in a deep sleep. Reebok Women’s inShape Fitness Monitor; $80 Simple, no-frills tracking device that is worn like a watch and tracks running speed, heart rate, distance and calories burned, and also works as a pedometer.
812.522.5123
n Street 1255 West TipC to on Seymour’s west side)
(Highway 50, just west of
Jay
EO.com
DIOVID www.LUECKEAU
2013 Gift Guide * 83
tech gifts 84 * 2013 Gift Guide
Eye Candy for Their Ears
For music aficionados with unapologetic design tastes, give them some new audio gear that looks just as great as it sounds By Greg Scoblete n CTW Features
U
nlike Victorian-era children, great audio gear is designed to be seen and heard. From home theater systems that will accent any living room aesthetic to portable systems to amplify an iPhone, the latest audio tech looks great and sounds better.
For the Home Theater enthusiast The TV still holds pride of place in most living rooms, and these home theater speakers will give couch potatoes even more incentive to stay put.
Jamo 360 S-35-HCS Polk Nue Era
The name may not roll off the tongue, but the sound is sure to rattle ears. This 5.1-channel surround sound system pumps 125 watts of power through its speakers and uses the company’s Omnipolar acoustical dispersion technology so listeners don’t have to be situated directly in front of the speaker for an optimal performance. The orb-like speakers have a moveable base, allowing them to place them on a shelf or mount them on a wall, and are available in black or white.
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Merry Christmas From the Residents and Staff of the Indiana Masonic Home, Inc.
Join Us Saturday, December 7 to Kick off the Holiday Season! (Call for Reservations) 5 PM: Holiday Party with food, refreshments, caroling and more 6 PM: Lighting of the Masonic Home Circle 7 PM: Lighting of the Franklin Courthouse
Call Rhonda Johnson Today For a Personal Tour! (317) 736-6141 or (888) 464-6077 690 State Street - Franklin, Indiana
Medical Center Now Open to the Public! 2013 Gift Guide * 85
Eye Candy for Their Ears, continued Vizio 2.1 Home Theater Vizio’s angular 2.1-channel soundbar is easy on the eyes and the budget. Its wireless subwoofer can be placed anywhere that’s convenient — up to 60 feet from the bar (provided it’s in the soundbar’s line of sight). The soundbar can decode both Dolby Digital DTS Surround audio from two digital inputs (one RCA, one optical). It also features Bluetooth for wirelessly streaming audio from mobile devices alongside a USB port and 3.5mm jack. It’s available in 38-, 40- and 42-inch sizes.
Vizio 2.1 Home Theater
Jamo 360 S-35-HCS
For the Mobile Music Fanatic
The doctors and staff of
Dermatology Physicians, Inc. wish you a blessed Christmas.
Whether its headphones for their daily commute or portable Bluetooth speakers for bumping backyard barbecues, this is the audio gear for those who need their music to go.
Polk Nue Era Don’t let them dangle the same-old white ear buds from their ears. Polk’s Nue Era in-ear headphones are encased in a stylish resin in “tortoise” or black finishes. The headphones feature a dynamic balance driver for a cleaner, less distorted audio experience. The 48-inch cord has a 3-button control and built-in microphone for voice calls. The headphones ship with three pairs of silicone ear tips, two pairs of 3-flange silicone ear tips, and two pairs of memoryfoam tips so they can find the fit that is right for them.
G-Project G-Boom The G-Boom portable Bluetooth speaker accomplishes something that its boxier brethren often fail to: It blends form with function in a design that’s actually built to be
360 C. Plaza Drive Columbus 812-376-9686
Dr. Jack R. Scherer, Michael Sheehan, MD, FAAD MD, FAAD
Laura Burdick, MD, FAAD
dermatologyphysiciansinc.com G-Project G-Boom
86 * 2013 Gift Guide
carried, with a convenient grip, rugged housing and protective rubber base so it can be picked up and plunked down at will. It boasts two speakers with four drivers and three equalizer presets to offer a range of bass options. Its internal rechargeable battery can pump out tunes for up to six hours. Besides Bluetooth, it can be connected to external sources via a 3.5mm jack. Stelle Audio Pillar Samsung DA-E750
Samsung DA-E750 They’ll get a vintage stereo look with modern capabilities in Samsung’s DA-E750. This powered speaker features two speakers with a glass-fiber midrange driver, a subwoofer and a vacuum tube preamp with a 100-watt amplifier to ensure tunes radiate throughout the room. It offers a builtin 30-pin dock in the rear for connecting iPods or older iPhones, but it also features AirPlay capabilities to play from Apple audio sources wirelessly (iPhone 5 and newer). A second dedicated 5-pin dock is compatible with Samsung Galaxy devices. It’s also Bluetooth-enabled for wireless streaming.
Stelle Audio Pillar The Pillar cuts a striking figure in the bland world of boxcar Bluetooth speakers. At up to 15 hours it has one of the longest battery lives of any Bluetooth speaker. It’s powered by a pair of 1.5-inch acoustic drivers and a 3-inch subwoofer. There’s also a built-in mic, so it can be used as a speakerphone. The Pillar features a 50-foot wireless range for streaming from phones and tablets, or use the 3.5mm jack to plug in peripherals directly.
Mobile Music at Home Bridging the world of high-fidelity home audio gear with the mobile phones and computers our tunes are stored on, these systems will wring the best sound possible from your digital music files.
Sonos PlayBar You won’t find a more versatile soundbar for music and movies. Connect the PlayBar to a router and it can stream music wirelessly from computers and tablets. Connect it to a TV via a single optical cable and it will play any source that’s also connected to the TV (no more switching inputs on either your TV or receiver). If they already have other Sonos wireless speakers in the home and the Sonos wireless bridge, the PlayBar can sync wirelessly with them, too, for all-over-the-house streaming. It’s all controlled via free apps for Android and iOS devices and free desktop software for Macs and PCs.
Eggscessories make PERFECT Sonos PlayBar
Stocking Stuffers! 2801 Central Avenue
Like Us On Facebook
812.372.1324 • bradburys.com Monday - Friday 10 -6, Saturday 9-4
2013 Gift Guide * 87
Mass communication Smartphones, just like us, are far from cookie-cutter. Here’s a guide to the latest devices and how to match them up with everyone on your list who’s looking for an upgrade By Timothy R. Schulte CTW Features
The Best Battery Phone Droid Maxx The Maxx’s 3500mh battery provides up to 48 hours of usage – an eternity in the smartphone world. A 5-inch high-def display, 10-megaxpixel camera, 1.7GHz dual-core processor and 32GB of memory means its no slouch when it comes to everything else they’ve come to rely on from their smartphone. $299.99 with two-year contract, Verizon
The Best Slim Phone Droid Ultra
The Best Phones for the Person with a Bad Grip If you know someone — and we all do — whose phone’s most prominent feature is a cracked display, look to the latest lineup of Droid devices for their next phone. Each phone feature a Kevlar fiber unibody design with a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass display and a water-repellent nano-coating, none of which will help them hang onto their phone better but certainly will make it tougher to crack, scratch or drown. Here’s a closer look at each:
Nokia Lumia 1020
Just 7.18mm thick and 4.94 ounces, the Droid Ultra is the device for the person who likes to travel light. What it lacks in bulk, it makes up for in blazing speed, thanks to a 1.7GHz dual-core processor and 2GB of RAM. And with a 5-inch HD display, the Ultra looks good from any angle.
doesn’t have the eternal battery life of the Maxx, but it comes in at a much more attractive price point, making it a great entry Droid for someone who’s just looking to step up their smartphone game. $99.99 with two-year contract, Verizon.
The Best Camera Phone Nokia Lumia 1020 The Nokia Lumia 1020 is unrivaled in the smartphone-camera world. It features a 41MP camera sensor, Optical Image Stabilization and a super high-resolution zoom. Pure View Technology also provides great performance in low-light settings. It’s basically a high-end camera with a Windows smartphone built in — not the other way around. $199.99 with two-year contract, AT&T
Presents the Presents the
$199.99 with two-year contract, Verizon
The Droid for Not a Lot of Dough Droid Mini The Mini packs the same guts as the Ultra – 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 16GB memory, 2GB RAM, 10MP camera – but in a slightly smaller, slightly thicker package. And, no, it
Perfect Gifts! Perfect Gifts! ConferenCe Center
ConferenCe Center
GiftCertificates Certificates •• Catering Gift Catering events • Private Parties events vents • Private Parties Conferences & More Conferences & More
812.378.4YeS
812.378.4YeS www.yescinema.org 812.378.0377
328 Jackson St. • Columbus www.yescinema.org
www.yescinema.org 328 Jackson St. Columbus
328 Jackson St. • Columbus
NewJapan R E S TAU R A N T
Very Sushi /Sashimi,
Japanese Noodles, Tempura, Teriyaki Steak, Chicken & Fish, Sukiyaki and more!
88 * 2013 Gift Guide
TRADITIONAL
Japanese Cuisine
372-1128
3820 25th St. • Columbus • NewJapanSushi.com
Open Lunch & Dinner — Closed Monday Gift Certificates Available!
Serigraphs Custom Framing Mirrors
Galaxy Gear
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
The Best HUGE Phone Samsung Galaxy Note 3 There’s a reason LeBron James promotes Samsung’s Galaxy Note – it’s the device an NBA star’s hands will dwarf the least. With a mammoth 5.7-inch, 1080p Full HD display and the guts to back it up – 2.3GHz quad-core processor, 3GB RAM – the Galaxy Note 3 is as close as it gets to a tablet while still functioning
as a phone. The S Pen stylus lets them handwrite notes and edit photos in new versions of the S Note and Easy Clip apps, but the accessory that will turn the most heads is the new Galaxy Gear smartwatch.
Galaxy Gear Galaxy Gear works in tandem with the Galaxy Note 3 via Bluetooth to run a multitude of apps directly on the device’s 1.63-inch, 320x320 Super AMOLED display. A built-in pedometer and fitness apps like RunTracker and MyFitnessPal aim to help track workouts and diet, and a built-in 1.9MP camera will integrate
The
Reason For The Season
with lifestyle apps like Evernote and Vivino Wine Scanner, in addition to storing shots on the 4GB of onboard memory. Galaxy Note 3: $299.99 with two-year contract, AT&T Galaxy Gear: $299.99
All Your
Holiday Party
Rental Needs.
Linens • Dishware • Flatware Tables & Chairs • Table Skirting Chafing Dishes Clancy’s Champagne Glasses Tool Rental & Sales Corner of State St. & Repp Dr. (next to Kirby Risk) n Cla cy’s Columbus & North Vernon • 372-7385
TOOL & PARTY RENTAL TOOL RENTAL
& SALES
Annual Guys 'N' Dolls 2 evening
Call us to place a cemetery Christmas arrangement for you!
FISHER’S FLOWER BASKET
662 N Gladstone, Columbus
(812) 372-6688
www.fishersflowerbasket.com
• Grave Blankets • Stone Saddles • Cemetery Wreaths • Flag Cases
Wed., Dec. 4th 5-8 and Fri., Dec. 13 5-8
TOOL RENTAL
& SALES
Our FREE Holiday Event features: ✴Warm spiced cider and other holiday treats ✴A meet & greet with our outstanding stylists, nail tech and barber ✴Info about cuts, color shades, glosses and other beauty techniques and products especially for you/her.
Keep your tan going or get bronzed in our new Skin-Safe Organic Spray Tan Booth $15 Register for our Holiday Gift Baskets.
Handzz & Strandzz Salon (Clover Center) • 375-2960 2013 Gift Guide * 89
Elevate their photo game It’s time to put down the smartphone and give Instagram a break. These next-level digital cameras will take their photography to the next level By Greg Scoblete n CTW Features
T
here’s a cliche in photography circles: The best camera is the one you have with you. For many of us, that’s our smartphone.
Canon EOS Rebel SL1
For everyday use, smartphones are tough to beat. They have full-featured cameras, large, high-resolution displays and fun apps for editing and sharing photos. In fact, sales of pointand-shoot cameras have been declining for the past five years, dropping off more than 25 percent just from June 2012 to May 2013 alone, according to The NPD Group’s Retail Tracking Service. (A point-and-shoot can’t Instagram your dinner, after all.)
Nikon D3200 HDSLR
But for all the notable advancements in smartphone photography, they still can’t deliver the image quality and range of features you’ll find in an interchangeable lens camera, sales of which actually increased 5 percent during the same one-year period, according to NPD. For the photo addict in your life, one of these advanced-yet-approachable shooters — with features like blurred backgrounds, rapid-fire burst modes and lens options no app can mimic — will help take their photos to the next level.
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 One of the biggest knocks on digital SLRs is that they’re too bulky to conveniently take anywhere. Now, Canon’s EOS Rebel SL1 ($749.99 with 18-55mm lens) won’t slip into a pair of skinny jeans, but it’s the lightest and smallest dSLR on the market (as of midSeptember), making it a great starter camera for first time dSLR owners. This 18-megapixel Rebel can record full 1080p high-def movies and uses a new autofocus system to maintain crisp video and stills no matter how quickly a subject is darting across the lens. Shots will be framed through a 3-inch touchscreen display or an optical viewfinder, and user will enjoy a burst mode of up to four frames per second. Three “special scene modes” — kids, food and
90 * 2013 Gift Guide
Sony Alpha a3000
candlelight — quickly optimize the SL1’s settings to get the ideal shot.
Nikon D3200 HDSLR With a 24MP sensor and 4fps burst mode, Nikon’s D3200 ($699 with 18-55mm lens) is a suburban soccer mom’s (or dad’s) sideline companion. The camera includes a Guide Mode that offers on-screen advice and sample images to walk the user through the ins-and-
outs of the D3200’s feature set. In addition to the standard manual controls, six scene modes help optimize images in a range of environments. The D3200 offers a 3-inch display and 1080p HD video recording, including an option to record 720p video at 60fps to better capture fast-moving subjects, such as that budding superstar athlete.
Sony Alpha a3000 Sony’s Alpha a3000 has an eye-catching price — just $399.99 for both the camera and an 18-55mm lens. It features a 20MP CMOS sensor and is capable of bursting at 4fps for an unlimited number of images. It can record 1080p HD video in the AVCHD format at 24 or 60fps. Shooters get a 3-inch display, 15 picture-effect modes and an Auto Object Framing mode that will automatically save two versions of an image: one original and one a tight crop focused more closely on the subject, allowing the user to choose his favorite.
Olympus Pen E-PL5 The Pen ($599.99 with a 14-42mm lens) is the most customizable interchangeable-lens camera of the bunch. Users can slide off the front grip for a sleeker look, in addition to customizing the “My Set” button on the top mode dial for instant access to their favorite shooting settings. The 16MP E-PL5 boasts a 3-inch tilting touchscreen LCD, 1080i HD video and six bracketing modes that capture multiple images with subtle changes to settings like exposure, ISO and white balance, so shooters can compare effects and select the image they like best.
There also are 23 scene modes to choose from. The E-PL5 comes in black, white or silver.
Samsung NX2000 SMART Camera Just because they’re stepping up from smartphone photography doesn’t mean they have to ditch wireless connectivity. Samsung’s 20MP NX2000 ($649.99 for the body, 20-50mm lens and external flash) offers built-in Wi-Fi with an autoshare function that automatically sends images from the camera to their phone for emailing or posting to social networks. Users also can upload photos to social networks and cloud storage services and email them directly from the camera when you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network. Further, installing the free Samsung Smart Camera app on their phone (Android and iOS) can turn it into a remote control for the camera. Other features include a 3.7-inch touchscreen display, 1080p HD video recording and a burst mode of 8fps. The NX2000 comes in white, pink or black.
The Nokia Lumia 1020: The Camera with a Phone Complex Not all smartphone cameras are created equal. Nokia’s Lumia 1020 is equal parts phone and camera, with a 41-megapixel image sensor — that’s right, 41 megapixels, higher than any of those advanced cameras we’ve just mentioned — and optical image stabilization. It’s loaded with camera-friendly features, including a real mechanical shutter and Xenon flash. The 1020 can use its high-res sensor in helpful ways, including a dual-record function that captures two images at once: It snaps a high-resolution photo for your archives and print-
Olympus Pen E-PL5
Happy Holidays
Teresa’s Dog Grooming 1629 Southpark Court, Columbus, IN 47201 • 812-375-0620
Samsung NX2000 SMART Camera
ing needs, plus a low-res version that’s easier to email and post to social networks. The Lumia 1020 is an outlier in another way: In a world of iPhones and Android devices, it runs on the Windows Phone 8 operating system. Price: $299 with two-year contract from AT&T.
Looking for Esther Price Chocolates? Once you’ve tried Esther Price Chocolates...
You won’t want anything else! We carry Esther Price Chocolates year round. If you need a special order, just call us and we will get it within a few days. Drop in during our office hours and grab someone a special gift!
Call TSL Bookkeeping today!
812.372.7877
2333 Cottage Avenue • Columbus
Be ready when • 24hp to 80hp • Cabs available with Heater & A/C • Hydrostatic Steering • Differential Lock & Wet Disc Brakes • Hand and Foot Throttles • Synchronized Transmission • 12 Forward & 12 Reverse • 4 Year Limited Warranty
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DAVE’S FARM SERVICE, LLC
50 N. Eisenhower Dr., Edinburgh, IN | 812-526-5504 | Toll Free: 1-866-778-5504
www.davesfarmservice.com 2013 Gift Guide * 91
Mario & Luigi & Link & DK & Wario All their Nintendo friends are back this holiday season in a huge lineup of new titles Mario & Luigi Dream Team — 3DS — $39.99
The twin plumbers embark on another rescue adventure in this RPG, which takes place both in the real world and inside Luigi’s dreams.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds — 3DS — Price TBD
This new storyline is set in the same world from the Super Nintendo’s “The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.”
Mario Party Island Tour — 3DS — Price TBD
The four-player gaming extravaganza makes its debut on the 3DS.
Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze — Wii U — Price TBD
DK and company work to take back Donkey Kong Island, which has been seized by Vikings.
Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games — Wii U — Price TBD
Mario and Sonic and all their friends compete in events at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
92 * 2013 Gift Guide
New Super Luigi U — Wii U — $29.99/$19.99 (download)
Finally, Luigi gets his own starring role in more than 80 new levels set in the world of “New Super Mario Bros. U.” In addition to the standalone disc, the game is available as a download expansion for owners of “New Super Mario Bros. U.”
Game & Wario — Wii U — $39.99
Dubbed “GamePad Pandemonium,” all the games in this latest title in the “WarioWare” franchise are played exclusively on the Wii U GamePad.
Super Mario 3D World — Wii U — Price TBD
Up to four players can play as Mario, Luigi, Peach or Toad in the first four-player Mario game set in a 3D environment.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD — Wii U — Price TBD
The classic GameCube title gets a 1080p update for the Wii U.
Gifts for the Vintage Gamer
A retro gaming console is a must gift for the old-school gaming aficionado Sega Genesis Classic Game Console — $69.99
Atari Flashback 4 Game Console — $59.99
If their Genesis games went missing, this console has 80 builtin games ready to go — and, of course, plays original Genesis cartridges (if they ever happen to find them).
This retro take on the classic Atari 2600 has 75 built-in games — yes, including Pong.
SNES/NES RetroN 2 Gaming Console — $44.99
This two-in-one system plays back games for the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
Thank you to everyone for another great year! We’re proud to be a part of this great community!
Simply Install The Best
This Holiday Season! The Best!
Sterling
GARAGE DOORS
authorized distributor
1080 S. Gladstone Ave. Columbus, IN 47201 812-379-9581 www.boyermachine.com
Columbus 812.376.9868 Parts • Garage Doors • Openers
We repair all MakeS & ModelS
Corner of State St. & Behren Ct.
2013 Gift Guide * 93
Wii U: All Deluxe Nintendo’s flagship system gets a new Zelda edition — and a price drop
I
f someone in your household has been clamoring for a Nintendo Wii U, the time to buy could not get much better. Nintendo recently slashed $50 off the price of the Wii U Deluxe Set, which is now $299.99. The Deluxe Set of the GamePad-controlled console features 32GB on-board flash memory and comes packaged with the “NintendoLand” game. (Nintendo is phasing out the “basic” console, which had just 8GB of memory and did not come packaged with a game.) Nintendo also is releasing a new limited-edition Wii U Deluxe bundle with “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD.” The Zelda bundle, also $299.99, includes a special GamePad adorned with gold let-
Gold Diamond
Columbus
Invitation to
INNOVATIONS A Full Service Salon
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C hristmas!
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Mon–Fri 10 AM – 5 PM | Sat 10 AM – 4 PM National Rd. | Across from CVS | 812-372-6530
“Award Winning”
DARLAGE CUSTOM MEATS
Give a gift of Beauty! Gift Certificates Available
379-2208 • www.getinnovations.com
Happy Holiday from the Residents and Staff at Keepsake Village of Columbus
Stop In For The Best GIFT CERTIFICATES PORK • BEEF
T-BONES • RIBEYES • FILETS • GROUND BEEF PORK BURGERS • BEEF FREEZER BUNDLES
FULL RETAIL MEAT CASE MEAT SMOKING AVAILABLE
5974 E. Schleter Rd., Seymour • 522-1635 • Just off Highway 50 94 * 2013 Gift Guide
CALL FOR A COMPLIMENTARY LUNCH OR TOUR!
A Premier Memory Care Community
2564 Foxpointe Drive • Columbus, IN 47203 812-372-0950 • www.keepsakeofcolumbus.com A Capital Senior Living Community
FAC#10680
tering and symbols from the game; a digital download of “Hyrule Historia,” a book chronicling “The Legend of Zelda” series; and a digital download of the new high-def update of “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker,” originally published in 2003 for the Nintendo GameCube.
Nintendo 3DS 2DS The popular handheld gets a flat ‘upgrade’ Nintendo’s newest 3DS device is missing one big thing: 3D. But it’s still a 3DS at heart. The new 2DS handheld, as the name suggests, features only 2D graphics. However, the device, which comes in a new slate form (versus the 3DS’ clamshell), is compatible with the entire library of 3DS games and keeps many of the main features of Nintendo’s popular line of portable systems: dual screens, gameplay controls and touchscreen features. Designed as an affordable entry into the 3DS line, the $129.99 2DS is available in blue and red; matching carrying cases are $12.99.
Skate with Santa
Do Crafts & Have Loads of Fun!
Saturday, November 30, 2013 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. $7.50 admission (includes skates & crafts)
ENJOY DAILY WINE TASTINGS OF OUR
pardieck winery & vineyard
handcrafted beer
Brewing Our Own Beer! Book Your Holiday Party With Us! 812-522-9296 • 6361 N. Co Rd 760 E., Seymour, Indiana
chateaudepique.com Check our website for upcoming events!
Tuesday & Thursday 1:00-2:30 p.m. Friday 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
(Session times subject to change for special events.)
Hamilton Center Ice Arena 2501 Lincoln Park Drive • Columbus, IN (812) 376-2686 www.columbusparksandrec.com
24 DIFFERENT VARIETIES
12000 E 225 N • Hope • 372-6031
2014 Golf PASS
Fall & Winter Public Skating Hours
Holiday Cheer
2013 Gift Guide * 95
The amazing Technicolor smartphone Finally, phones gets more fun with the candy-colored Moto X and iPhone 5C By Timothy R. Schulte n CTW Features
B
lack. White. Navy or red, perhaps. Smartphones historically have been more about function than they have fashion. Heck, fun even. But then came the Moto X and the iPhone 5C.
Moto X The Moto X sounds similar to some of the Droid devices we mentioned: an Android smartphone with 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 2GB RAM, 10MP camera. But where the aforementioned Droids all share similar aesthetic, the Moto X, Motorola’s first big device since Google took over the mobiledevice maker, comes in more than 500 varieties. Using the MotoMaker, AT&T customers can select from 18 back colors, two different front colors and seven accent colors, in either 16GB or 32GB models ($199.99 and $299.99, respectively, with two-year contract). The Moto X, which features a 4.7-inch HD display, comes in two color options, woven black or woven white, on Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon.
Wear PINK This Holiday Season Large Selection of Pink Ribbon Items: Jewelry • T-Shirts • Blankets Sweatshirts & More!
Located in the Cancer Center 200 S. Pine Seymour, IN 812-523-5231 Hours: M–F 9am–5pm
Buy $25 Get a blazing bonus $5-$100 Sausage, Tenderloins, Ribs & More (The Other White Meat)
Dillman Farm Products & Ahlemeyer Farms Bakery 7301 E. 25th St. • Columbus, IN 47203 • (812)379-9077 Winter Hours Starting in December Mon. - Fri. 8-5:30 pm & Sat. 8-4 pm
96 * 2013 Gift Guide
O OM PR INS BEG 25th NOV.
2035 W. JONATHAN MOORE PIKE • 812.375.1770
iPhone 5C Apple’s iPhone has maintained such a stark look in its lifetime that it actually was a big deal when the company introduced a white iPhone in 2011 – and it was just white. So, that the new iPhone 5C comes in five colors – green, blue, yellow, pink and, yes, white, all with a black front – certainly is cause for excitement. Unlike Apple’s line of colorful anodized aluminum iPods, the new 5C achieves its color in a steel-reinforced plastic frame (which doubles as the antenna). The 5C replaces the straight-up iPhone 5, keeping its A6 processor and 8MP iSight camera, but knocks $100 off the price tag. New 5C cases — in the same five colors plus black — add some fun, in addition to protection, to the phone. 16GB — $99 with two-year contract from AT&T, Sprint and Verizon 32GB — $199 with two-year contract from AT&T, Sprint and Verizon
Parks and Recreation gift certificates make a GREAT gift or stocking stuffer! Purchase your gift certificates for any Parks & Rec activity, birthday party rental, aquatics season pass...and more!
GIFT CERTIFICATES
Stop by Donner Center to purchase yours today!
Facials, Manicures & Pedicures
Don’t forget: Donner Center is the perfect place for your holiday gathering. Call to reserve your date today!
Full hair services, spray tans and massages. Don’t know what to get? Let her decide with a Gift Certificate! 1260 Jackson St., Columbus, Indiana Phone 812-376-9194 • afhinc@att.net
Give the Gift of Health
Christmas Open House Saturday, November 23rd Refreshments and Door Prizes
Eastbrook Plaza, Columbus
376-9548 Seasonal Hours
Mon–Thurs 10–7, Fri 10–8, Sat 10–6
3029 25th, Columbus
372-7578
1517 E. Tipton, Seymour
524-0714
Christmas Blessings to Al ! 2013 Gift Guide * 97
H AV E A VERY
IN A
Honda Accord
TOURING
Right on the Corner!
98 * 2013 Gift Guide
RENNER Honda
US 31, Columbus • (812) 372-1561 • (800) 467-8450 www.rennerhonda.net Right on the Price! Right here in Columbus!
2013 Gift Guide * 99
Merry Christmas TO YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES.
May your Christmas be filled with love, laughter, family & friends. Wishing you happiness and prosperity in the new year!
Brayson Bennett Caden Graham
Bryan Bennett and the entire sta at Country Chevrolet-Buick would like to wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Averie Graham
Blainey Bennett
Rylee Graham
Reece Graham
Braelyn Bennett
We will be closed December 23rd, 24th, and 25th so our employees can spend time with their families during the holiday.
Chevrolet • Buick
100 * 2013 Gift Guide
1845 N. State | North Vernon 376.3786 | 346.8721