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KLEIBER KLEIBER TRACTOR TRACTOR && EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT, INC. INC. 1701 1701 WW Travis Travis Street Street P.O. P.O. BoxBox 299 299 La La Grange, Grange, TXTX 78945 78945 979-968-3187 979-968-3187 www.kleibertractor.com www.kleibertractor.com

Welcome to Fayette County’s

Eat. Shop. Play. There are many places to eat, many places to shop and many places to create lasting memories with your family and friends in Fayette and surrounding counties. The Fayette County Record has teamed up with our advertisers to offer you a way to increase your spending power all while shopping at these local advertisers. Participation is easy. Whenever you make a purchase at any of the advertisers in this publication, keep the receipts and bring them into The Fayette County Record for verification. For every $20 spent, you receive a punch in the card. (See sample on this page.) For every $100 spent, you will receive an entry in the Eat. Shop. Play. and Win! contest.

Lost or stolen cards will not be replaced. Qualifying purchases totaling $20 per punch can only be verified and validated at The Fayette County Record, located at 127 S. Washington St., La Grange, open MondayFriday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Receipts must be original and must be punched along with the punchcard. The receipt must show the business name and must be dated from November 19 - December 20, 2021. Limit 25 completed punch cards ($2,500) per receipt may be received You always WIN when you shop with during the contest period. the Fayette County Record Advertisers, but now you can win even more! Win up to a $300 Gift Certificate to any advertiser in the Fayette County Eat. Shop. Play. Holiday Shopping Guide.

The Fayette County Record contest rules apply. Visit or call the Record office for details.

The more you spend, the more chances you have to win.

To enter, each card must include five punches and should then be dropped off at The Fayette County Record office or the La Grange Main Street & Visitors Bureau office as an entry to win one of three gift certificates for $300, $200, and $100 that can then be spent at any of the advertising businesses in the Eat. Shop. Play. and Win! magazine.

Three lucky shoppers will have extra dollars to spend on gifts (or themselves) this Christmas season as The Fayette County Record presents Eat. Shop. Play. and Win!

Advertisers receiving these gift certificates may then redeem these certificates toward advertising dollars at The Fayette County Record.

This promotion is a Christmas shopping contest. The contest will run during the Christmas shopping season beginning Friday, November 19, 2021 and ending Monday, December 20, 2021. Three names will be drawn on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 for a $300, $200, and $100 gift certificate to any of the participating merchants.

Eat. Shop. Play. and Win! is a contest to promote local businesses and encourage shopping with advertisers in The Fayette County Record. Employees of The Fayette County Record are not eligible to win.

Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 3

TABLE of CONTENTS Features A

TO OPPORTUNITY SEASON-LONG

Kreische Brewery.......................................................................6

and Win!

The Benefits of In Person Holiday Shopping..............10

Christmas at Tejas Bringing the Family Together One of a Kind Santa Museum Lukas Bakery A Local Treasure

Monument Hill Kreische Brewery & State Historic Sites

S INSIDE!

EXCLUSIVE COUPON

Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill is featured on the cover of this year’s Eat. Shop. Play.

LukasBakery...............................................................................12 ATejasChristmas......................................................................16 Shop Locally................................................................................18 Classic Holiday Films Families Can Enjoy Together..20 Columbus’ Santa Museum..................................................22 The Most Popular Gift 25 Years Ago...........................24 Toy Buying Tips When Shopping For Kids.................26

Staff & Contributors PUBLISHER

Regina B. Keilers

EDITOR

Jeff Wick

DIGITAL EDITOR

PARTICIPANT support local businesses

Check out our Exclusive Coupons Pages 27 & 28 4 | Eat. Shop. Play. 2021

Andy Behlen

OFFICE

LouAnn Adcox Amanda Gifford

ADVERTISING Becky Weise Jackie Daniels

ACCOUNTING

Theresia Karstedt Nonnie Barton

PRODUCTION

John Castaneda - Newspaper Lindsey Fojtik - Special Sections

CIRCULATION JoAnn Mueller George Kana Jesse Montez Nicol Krenek

ADVERTISER INDEX

The following advertisers are participating in this year’s EAT. SHOP. PLAY. and your dollars can make you eligible for gift cards that can be redeemed at these businesses at a later date.

Bubela Real Estate......................................................31 Columbus Chamber of Commerce..................32 D&D Ace Hardware................................................30 Diggs Real Estate.........................................................21 The Fayette County Record.................................23 Gardenia Animal Shelter.........................................25 Hatfield Dental Clinic...............................................25 Kleiber Tractor................................................................2 Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill...................9 Latte Café.....................................................................30 La Grange Eye Care...................................................31 La Grange Ford...........................................................30 LePetite.........................................................................30 Lukas Bakery.................................................................15 Murphy’s Steakhouse................................................21 Tejas Camp & Retreat ..............................................19 The UPS Store..............................................................21 Weikel’s............................................................................21

p. 127 S. Washington St. | P.O. Box 400 La Grange, Texas 78945 Ph: 979.968.3155 | Fx: 979.968.6767 Email: editor@fayettecountyrecord.com www.FayetteCountyRecord.com The Fayette County Record is published every Tuesday and Friday, except the publication immediately following Christmas by Fayette County Record, Inc. serving Fayette County since 1922. The Fayette County Record is locally owned and operated by the Barton family since 1976. (USPS 188-440)

Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 5

Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill Plan New Additions to Trail of Lights 2021 A staple in the community since the late 1990s, Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill’s Trail of Lights is La Grange’s very own Christmas extravaganza. Throughout the years, the event has grown from an Early German Christmas-themed program to a 10-night festival complete with children’s activities and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. This year, the event will feature five nights of traditional activities, including live music, refreshments, family activities, visits with Santa, and more. Then, during the week of Christmas, guests can enjoy five “encore” nights by simply walking the trail to enjoy the lights with their family and friends.

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New activities this year include historical interpretation at the Kreische House. Costumed volunteers and staff will share how Christmas traditions beloved by German immigrants greatly influenced the traditions many of us enjoy today. Dr. Marsha Hendrix, the sites manager, shares, “The first group of German immigrants to arrive in Indianola in December of 1844 decorated an oak tree to serve as their Christmas tree.” In this spirit, guests will have the opportunity to string popcorn and add ornaments to the tree in the Kreische House. At the smokehouse, volunteers will share samples of wassail and lebkuchen, a German cookie similar to gingerbread, while discussing the other tasty holiday dishes enjoyed by early German immigrants. Another new feature this year will be an expanded trail. It will allow guests to walk along the bluff to enjoy the city lights of La Grange. From there, they will enter the woods to finally step out onto the brewery overlook and view the brewery ruins glowing below them. “The trail expansion and some electrical upgrades have been made possible by a generous grant from Wal-Mart and our Gold level sponsor, Fayette Memorial Funeral Home,” explains the Friends Board President, Katy Beauford. A large tent will provide shelter for holiday revelers while they enjoy live music, cookies, popcorn, and hot chocolate. Family games such as giant Jenga and bean bag toss will entertain all ages. At the Visitor Center, children can make a Victorian ornament and take photos with Santa. The event’s planners hope that the happy holiday canines in the “dog park” will prove to be a new favorite. And yes, well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome to join their human family members as they stroll through the Trail of Lights.

Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 7

Stringing lights and creating light displays throughout the grounds of the historic sites takes over a month of preparation and work. “The Rotary Club of La Grange and the La Grange Noon Lions Club have become incredibly important partners in setting up and taking down Trail of Lights decorations,” says assistant site manager, Gavin Miculka. The Friends of Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill members and board also donate their time generously to making the grounds a magical place during December. “The enthusiastic assistance of these organizations has helped the staff expand and add to the lights, which means those who attend the event as a beloved family tradition can enjoy new displays,” Miculka added. “The individual who really ensures it all comes together is maintenance staff member, Kenneth Coleman,” points out Hendrix. Coleman has been coordinating and setting up Trail of Lights for almost 15 years. He is the one who figures out how to get power to everything and ensures the breakers don’t trip. The staff and volunteers love working with Coleman because his holiday spirit is contagious. Trail of Lights will span ten nights this holiday season: December 4th, 10th-11th, and 17th -23rd. The first five nights will feature traditional activities, including

entertainment, refreshments, family activities, visits with Santa, and more. The last five nights feature streamlined programming where guests can stroll among the lights, enjoying one another’s company. Tickets and additional details on Trail of Lights 2021 can be found at www.friendsofkreischebrewery.org.

Background

Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill State Historic Sites are two of the 34 historic sites operated by the Texas Historical Commission. Kreische Brewery tells the real story of master stonemason and German immigrant, Heinrich Kreische and his family, who built a large home and one of the first commercial breweries in Texas. Monument Hill tells the story of the men who died during the Dawson Massacre of September 1842 and the ill-fated Mier expedition of November 1842, also known as the “black bean” incident. The sites also include recreational opportunities for hiking and picnicking. For more information visit www.visitkreischebrewery.com.

8 | Eat. Shop. Play. 2021

Trail of Lights Kreische Brewery & MonuMent hill State HiStoric SiteS La GranGe, tX

5:30-8:00pM traditional nights

encore nights

dec. 4 , 10 -11 , and 17 -18 FamiLy Fun • HoLiday HiStory th

dec. 19th-23rd LiGHtS onLy

Information and Advance Tickets at friendsofkreischebrewery.org/trailoflights or call 979-968-5658 The Friends of

Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill State Historic Sites

The benefits of in person The 2020 holiday season was unlike any other. The COVID-19 pandemic was still affecting daily life across the globe over the final months of 2020, prompting many families and individuals to alter holiday traditions they’d embraced for decades. That included how people shop. Many people avoided in person holiday shopping in 2020. However, the successful rollout of various COVID-19 vaccines has made in person shopping safe again. That’s good news for local businesses and great news for shoppers, who may have forgotten just how much they can benefit from shopping in person. In person shopping is convenient.

Much is made of the convenience of online shopping. And it’s undeniable that the ability to shop at all hours of the day and night is convenient. However, in person shopping, especially when shopping for others, is much more convenient than shoppers may realize. When shopping in person, shoppers can get a feel for an item, size it up and even inspect its quality prior to purchasing it. That can save shoppers from that disappointing feeling of receiving an item in the mail only to realize it’s poorly made or oddly sized and therefore unlikely to fit its eventual recipient. In person shopping isn’t all about shipping.

Shipping speed is a significant factor for online shoppers, and that may affect just which gift they give come the holiday season. According to a Dotcom report titled “How Fast Delivery and Quality Packaging Drives Customer Loyalty,” 87 percent of shoppers surveyed indicated shipping was a key factor when deciding whether to shop with an e-commerce brand again. That’s an

10 | Eat. Shop. Play. 2021

important consideration, as shoppers may be more inclined to buy an item from a retailer simply because of their shipping speed capabilities and not because of the quality of the item and whether or not it’s what they want to give to their loved one. Shopping in person removes shipping from the equation, ensuring gift givers will give a gift they truly want to give and not just the one that will arrive on time. In person shopping allows for more accessible browsing.

Within minutes of entering a store and walking around, shoppers may see a handful of gifts that will ultimately be great for various people on their lists, even if they had no idea what to get prior to entering. That ability to browse is more difficult when shopping online, especially when buying from online retailers with massive inventories of a range of products. Such sites often require visitors to pick a category to streamline their searches. That’s not always easy or enjoyable for shoppers who cherish the opportunity to uncover hidden gems or more unique gifts that aren’t available all over the internet.

holiday shopping In person shopping gets shoppers out of the house.

Since the onset of the pandemic, people have spent more time than ever within the confines of their homes. The 2021 holiday shopping season provides a great opportunity to get out of the house and disconnect from devices. Shoppers can even do so alongside friends and family members they weren’t able to see last holiday season.

Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 11

Baker, Larry Faldyn with his daughter, Jaime Smith, her husband, Steven, and their two daughters, Ella and Tabitha.

Lukas Bakery - A Local Treasure

Rise and Shine For 74 years Lukas Bakery has been helping folks rise and shine in the morning. Since November 1947, the little bakery on the courthouse square in La Grange has been churning out kolaches, pig-in-the-blankets and other baked goodies to help customers get their day started in the tastiest way possible.

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Today, baker Larry Faldyn keeps the tradition alive, arriving at the bakery every morning by 1 a.m. (though if there are lots of advance orders he will sometimes get there as early as 11 p.m.) The doors open to customers Monday through Friday at 5 a.m. and they stay open until 1 p.m. though if you wait that long, most of their treats will be sold out daily.

Here’s how it all began: Raymond Lukas came to Texas from Arkansas during the latter part of WWII to bake bread for German prisoners of war at Camp Swift in Bastrop. He also baked the occasional wedding cake for a friend.

Carol Faldyn alw ays decorated the bakery ’s window for Ch ristmas

At one wedding for which he had made and decorated the cake, he heard a woman in front of him say, “I’d like to marry the man who made that cake.” A fellow guest said, “Well, turn around, he’s standing in back of you.” Her name was Lucille Kurio from Giddings and it wasn’t long before she and Ray Lukas were engaged and then married. Their picture still hangs on the wall at the bakery. Raymond Lukas began working at a bakery on the square owned by Stanley Davis. On November 10, 1947, he and Lucille took out a loan and bought the business from Davis. Lukas came from a family of bakers in Little Rock famous for their fruitcakes, which were distributed nationwide. It didn’t take him long to learn to bake local treats called kolache and klobasniky (pigs in a blanket). Soon Lukas baked goods were common in Fayette, Lee and Milam counties. Ray baked from scratch and used no preservatives. He baked bread and kolaches for the Bon Ton Restaurant in La Grange and Frank’s Restaurant in Schulenburg.

lding a Larry Faldyn ho laches ko tray of fresh

In 1973, apprentice baker Larry Faldyn married the Lukas’ adopted daughter Carol. When Ray Lukas died in 1978, Larry and Carol took over the business and ran it together for 48 years before her death on March 14, 2020. Larry makes everything from scratch, with many of the recipes a combination of Carol’s dad’s recipes and Larry’s Czech grandmother’s recipes. Every day they have a wide variety of kolaches. “The Czech people really like prune, apricot and poppy seed,” Carol said years ago. “The German people seem to go more to the cottage cheese.”

Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 13

All the fruit, apples, apricots, peaches, pitted prunes are cooked in a big copper bowl. Nothing is bought in a bucket.

Holiday cookie s ready for Sant a.

The pig-in-the-blankets are from Larry’s own recipe, using Eckermann’s meat from nearby Shelby, wrapped in fresh made bread baked that morning. They always have a large selection of cookies as well, colorful sugar cookies decorated to match whatever holiday is closest, and chewy coconut macaroons and unique cherry nut cookies that people have come from out of state just to re-order. Another unique item of the bakery is their fruit cakes, made only during the holiday season. Their fruitcake recipe got its start at Carol’s great grandparent’s bakery, and was their specialty. The cakes have large amounts of cherry/ pineapple fruit mix, pecans, golden raisins, dates and almond and rum flavor. They are given an apricot glaze. (One thing their cakes don’t have is the tropical fruit called citron, common in many recipes.) A flyer posted every year by Carol on the glass counter by the fruitcakes that said: Our fruitcakes are wonderfully made from the finest ingredients and can turn the fruitcake “hater” into the most ardent fruitcake “lover”! There are no preservatives or citron in our cakes. A great tradition, having a slice with a cup of coffee or cocoa while listening to Christmas music will get you “in the mood” for the season! They make fabulous gifts for the difficult-to-buy-for person.” Larry hasn’t gotten tired of getting to the bakery at 1 a.m. He’s 69 now, and plans to keep running it until he’s at least 70, at which point he’d love to sell it to someone who would like to keep it going as a bakery – and he’d even be willing to train them. New this year, the bakery takes credit cards and will ship fruitcakes.

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Lukas Bakery rs, Raymond de un fo kas. and Lucille Lu

Traditional kolac hes

Shipping fruit cakes & cookies around the US!

Lukas Bakery

Since 1947

Pigs-in-the-Blanket Danishs Kolaches Honey Buns Cream Puffs

Baked with LOVE

Made fresh daily from scratch

For 74 years, Lukas Bakery has been helping people rise and shine. Family owned and operated and are the perfect little sweet spot located on the courthouse square in La Grange, Texas. Come in and grab a taste of the good life. Lukas Bakery 135 N. Main in La Grange Monday-Friday 5 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Closed on Sunday ORDERS BY PHONE ONLY: (979) 968-3052 Now accepting credit cards

Cinnamon Rolls Apple Strudels Brownies Cookies

Bring your family and experience Tejas Camp and Retreat for Christmas. Activities will include: Christmas Light Tunnel, Bounce Houses, Tower/Zip Line, Child Zip Line and much more.

From Christmas Lights to Christmas Moments Christmas at Tejas is about bringing the Family Together

Tejas formally invites you to Christmas at Tejas! For 10 years, we have enjoyed bringing you Lights of Tejas, but even before COVID we were looking to bring you and your family something a little different for the holiday season. In the last few years at Lights of Tejas we were thrilled to see so many families come visit from all over Texas. But we would then watch as the family split up at the door, going in separate directions, to fit in all the festivities in one night. It’s great to have an

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event which so many people love and plan for in advance. In a lot of ways we wouldn’t have it any other way! What we don’t love is a family event where the family is split up the whole night to enjoy all their favorite things. Changing the format a little to Christmas at Tejas allows us to provide all the festivities, and your favorite things from Lights of Tejas, but with smaller lines! Our Evening Only events still have all those events you know

and love - tons of Christmas lights, crate stacking, bounce houses, hot cocoa, hay rides, s’mores, and campfires with everything else you remember just fewer dates and less people. The goal is that the whole family gets to enjoy the night together. We wanted to add that personal touch to our Christmas event, to create a space for memories and moments that you can have together as a family during the rush of the holiday season. A space to stop, take in some time together that wasn’t about things but spending time together and catching up before schedules get busy again. So, what do you need to know? Tickets are ONLY available online. We only have 3 nights open to the public on December 1012th, with limited tickets. So grab your ticket now - they will sell out fast! Our pricing has changed as we have worked hard to create a more tailored experience for your family. Our VIP pricing is an all-inclusive cost including dinner, hot cocoa, s’mores kit, and a craft. When you pay up front for you and the family, you get to enjoy the evening without bringing out your wallet again once you get here!

Father and Son getting ready to go down the Zip Lin e.

in Skyline Swing

action.

When COVID hit, it gave us the opportunity to reassess just how to provide you with the best experience at Christmas, and provide a safer environment. As we all rebuild and refocus on our priorities, we at Tejas are looking to provide opportunities for families to have more time together, especially at Christmas. We can’t wait to see you! For those that want to stay the night, we are offering overnight stays from December 17th-21st! These overnight stays are designed for you and the family to stay on our property and get EVEN MORE of the Christmas at Tejas experience. This includes everything that our individual evenings have planned as well as a birthday party for Jesus along with an omelet and waffle bar the following morning. Private Events are available outside of our public events.

Crate Stacking is one of our campwide favo rites. Stop by for a chance to see how many crates yo u can stack!

Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 17

on Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday What better ways to celebrate the diversity, uniqueness and creativity of independent, local businesses than by supporting them during the busiest shopping season of the year? Plaid Friday was conceptualized in Oakland, Calif., several years ago in an effort to encourage holiday shoppers to slow down and shop locally at small businesses rather than partake in the frenzy of the traditional Black Friday rush at big box retailers. Similarly, Small Business Saturday® was founded by American Express in 2010 as a community-centric day to support local businesses. Small Business Saturday was the catalyst for the generalized Shop Small® movement, which encourages consumers to patronize small businesses. Local businesses are at the heart of their communities. In a 2015 survey by the Urban and Land Institute, researchers found that more than half of respondents said they wanted a neighborhood where they wouldn’t need a car very often. More than 40 percent specifically noted the desirability of local shopping and entertaining as main features. A neighborhood with a Main Street or thriving local shopping hub can be a big

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draw. Consumers make these neighborhoods a reality. Every time they grab a coffee from a local café, purchase a piece of artwork from a neighborhood artist or dine at a family-run restaurant, shoppers are supporting local business owners and strengthening their communities. Here are some ways to make shopping small a priority this holiday season. ✔ Take inventory of Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday sales by keeping up on local social media. Build holiday shopping lists around the offerings at local businesses. ✔ Dine out at local restaurants or shop smaller food merchants. ✔ Visit a local tree farm. When decorating for the holidays, support the farm or local nursery that grows Christmas trees and makes their own wreaths and garlands. ✔ Keep your money in your community at a local bank or credit union rather than a large national bank. Local banks may have special promotions to boost savings for holiday gifting. The holiday season is the perfect time to support small, local businesses.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: MYTEJAS.ORG/CHRISTMAS

Classic holiday films families can enjoy TOGETHER The holiday season is steeped in tradition. Few traditions may elicit more collective belly laughs than holiday movie night, a tradition in millions of households across the globe. Families can consider these classic holiday films as they plan family movie night this holiday season. “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947): This classic is centered around a man named “Kris Kringle” (Edmund Gwenn) who claims to be the real Santa Claus after a successful stint as a department store Santa in midtown Manhattan. A trial to determine if Mr. Kringle is telling the truth soon follows. This version of the tale has earned a 96 percent rating on the popular film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. “A Christmas Story” (1983): Though it airs all day long on Christmas on the cable television network TBS, families can get a head-start on that marathon and watch the film uninterrupted whenever they choose. Families can laugh together as 9-year-old Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) hopes to unwrap his official Red Ryder BB gun on Christmas morning. The film, which boasts an 89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, includes a memorable performance by Darren McGavin, who plays Ralphie’s father. “Babes In Toyland” (1934): Also known as “March of the Wooden Soldiers,” this nearly century-old classic stars the legendary comedy duo Laurel and Hardy as two helpful tenants living in Mother Peep’s shoe in Toyland. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (1967): An animated version of the Dr. Seuss classic, this film has entertained scores of

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children since it was first released more than 50 years ago. “Holiday Inn” (1942): Hollywood legends Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire star in this classic that is perhaps most remembered for introducing the Irving Berlin class “White Christmas” to the masses. The film boasts a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has something for fans of song, dance and romance. “Arthur Christmas” (2011): Not all Christmas films date back to the 20th century. This animated tale tells the story of Arthur (voiced by James McAvoy), Santa’s youngest son who is thrust into the Christmas Eve business of delivering presents when his father fails to deliver a present to one child out of the hundreds of millions of kids on his list. “A Christmas Carol” (1951): Many holiday season celebrants cannot imagine letting a season go by without watching at least one adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. The 1951 version is widely considered the most faithful to Dickens’ 1843 novella that recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge. Alastair Sim stars as Scrooge, and many consider his performance the best of any actor to take a turn as the notorious 19th century miser.

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Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 21

Santa Museum in Columbus is

One of a Kind

The Santa Claus Museum in Columbus, Texas is one of only two Santa museums in the country and is the ONLY Santa Museum in the South! The museum features more than 3,000 Santas from all over the world. From bowls and baskets, figurines to felt ornaments, and kitsch to classic, you will be amazed at the wide variety of Santas on display. This one-of-a-kind museum is open from 11 am to 4 pm the first three Fridays and Saturdays in December. To visit any other time of the year, contact the Columbus Chamber of Commerce to schedule an appointment. For more information, visit santamuseum.org or call them at 979-732-8385. Columbus is a quick drive from Houston, Austin and San Antonio, and offers a variety of unique shopping destinations filled with clothing, home décor, antiques, and more. And bring your appetite. Whether pining for a sweet treat or something a bit heartier, Columbus restaurants and specialty food shops will satisfy any craving you may have. And when you need a place to wind down after a busy day of shopping and sightseeing, visit the local sports bar or brewery for a cold drink.

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The most popular gift It’s easy for adults to experience a little nostalgia when holiday shopping for their children. The holiday season has long been considered a special time of year, and much of that magic can be traced to the joy kids feel when unwrapping gifts from mom, dad and, of course, Santa Claus. Many parents who now have youngsters at home grew up in the 1990s. When such moms and dads are shopping for holiday gifts this season, they might wonder what was the must-have item for them back when they anxiously awaited the arrival of Christmas morning? According to Insider. com, who worked in conjunction with the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, 1996 was the year of “Tickle Me Elmo.” This ticklish toy was the most sought-after item of the 1996 holiday season, and it was so popular that retailers experienced shortages. Those shortages led to some surprising sales on the secondary market, with figures that will undoubtedly drop some jaws even now, a quarter century after the Tickle Me Elmo craze erupted. Though the Tickle Me Elmo doll retailed for around $30 in 1996, some parents intent on getting their youngsters the most in-demand gift that

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year reportedly spent more than $1,000 on a single doll. To put that latter figure into perspective, data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis indicates that the average price of a new car in 1996 was $18,525. And according to Yahoo! Finance, drivers in the market for a used car in 1996 could have purchased a 1986 four-door Oldsmobile for just over $2,600.

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Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 25

Toy buying tips when

shopping for kids Shopping for gifts for kids makes many shoppers nostalgic for their own childhoods. Few adults can forget the joy of finding the perfect gift under the tree on Christmas morning. Recreating that magic for a youngster can be as joyous for gift givers as it is for kids. That’s especially so when shoppers make it a point to give safe, age-appropriate gifts. Whether shopping for their own children or their grandkids, nieces or nephews, shoppers can keep these tips in mind to ensure they give toys that are as safe as they are fun. Speak to Mom and Dad first. When buying for a grandchild, niece or nephew, shoppers should first ask Mom or Dad for suggestions. Parents will know which types of toys their children like, and they’ll also know the child’s level of maturity. Some kids may not be mature enough to play with otherwise age-appropriate toys, while others may be mature beyond their years and enjoy more complex toys than their age would suggest. Parents will know what makes a good toy and what doesn’t. Learn what to look for on labels. Toy labels are great sources of information, but shoppers must know what to look for. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that toy labels include information about ageappropriateness (i.e., “Ages 3 & Up”) as well as directions regarding how to use the toy. If the instructions seem a bit complex for the child the item will be for, look for something else. Children’s toy labels also include additional information that consumers may not be familiar

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with. For example, toys labeled “ASTM F963” meet the latest safety standards from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. An “ASTM D4236” label indicates the materials associated with the art toy have been reviewed and deemed safe by a toxicologist. More information about toy label requirements can be found at cpsc.gov. The AAP advises that electric toys should only be given to kids if they include the UL label. That means the toy has been certified by the global safety certification company UL, LLC. Avoid certain features. The AAP notes that toys that are loud, shoot objects into the air or contain small pieces pose a threat to children. Especially loud toys can damage children’s hearing, while projectiles can increase the risk of eye injuries or choking. Toys with small pieces also pose a choking risk to young children who may try to put the pieces into their mouths. Err on the side of caution. Consumers who are uncertain about the safety of a given toy, even after reading its label, should err on the side of caution and only give toys they’re confident won’t pose a safety risk. Even toys that may seem safe could be dangerous to kids who might otherwise seem old enough. For example, the AAP advises against giving kids under 12 hobby kits and chemistry sets. That’s because such kits may contain dangerous chemicals that even pre-adolescents are not old enough to handle safely. Shoppers must consider a host of factors when looking for safe toys for kids this holiday season.

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LEARN MORE AT WWW.BUBELATEXAS.COM OR CALL US AT 979-221-6679 Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 31