2014
Holiday Guide Great gift ideas and more
2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 1
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2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 3
ADVERTISER INDEX Alternatives for Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Cummings Lighting and Design . . . . . . . . . . 71
Lutheran Community Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Ark Book and Gift. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Darlage Custom Meats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Madeline’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Baker’s Fine Gifts and Accessories. . . . . . . . . 88
Daves Farm Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Madison Area Con/Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . 56
Bear Wallow Distillery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Dermatology Physicians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Mann’s Harley-Davidson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Bevers Home Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Dreyer and Reinbold. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Matlock Plumbing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Bishopp’s Appliances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Dreyer Honda South. . . . . . . inside front cover
Mhart Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Bob Poynter GM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Ethereal Day Spa and Salon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Michelle’s Renaissance Beauty Salon. . . . . . 49
Bowman Auto Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Fisher’s Flower Basket. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Midway Winnelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Boyer Machine and Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Fitted Foot, The. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Monster Hardscapes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Brads Home Furnishings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Fletcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Music and Mayhem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Brown County Playhouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
GNC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Myers Funeral Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Brown County Winter Art and Craft . . . . . . . 18
Good Used Furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Nashville Fudge Kitchen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Bush’s Market. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Got Rocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Power House Brewing Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Chateau De Pique. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Hamilton Center Ice Arena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Renner Honda. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Christmas in the Village. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Heritage Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Simply Pottery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Clifty Creek Golf Course. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Hilliard Lyons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Skooters Family Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Coca-Cola. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . inside back cover
Hoosier Harvest Cookbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Small Engines of Seymour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Cole, The. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Innovations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Sterling Garage Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Columbus Parks and Recreation. . . . . . . . . . . 73
J Bowman Hearing Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Stillframes Photography and Imaging. . . . . 69
Columbus ChemDry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Jacobi Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Story Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Columbus Cycling and Fitness. . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Johnson-Witkemper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
That Special Touch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Columbus Visitors Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Keepsake Village. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Tom Pickett’s Music Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Commons, The. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
kidscommons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
TSL Payroll/Bargains and More. . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Country Chevrolet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . back cover
Lockett’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Viewpoint Books. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Culver’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Luecke Audio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Yes Cinema. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
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2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 5
CONTENTS
Celebrations page 8
Decor page 48
Gifts page 60
Tech Gifts page 76
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. ©2014 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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6 * 2014 HOLIDAY Guide
Price Good Through 12/03/14
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 And All Price Ranges. Family Outings. Available!
(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
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Parents kidscommons field trips make great teacher gifts!
2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 7
celebrations
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Columbus calendar of events Dec. 2-30: Little Explorers (Activities are geared toward preschool aged children, but everyone is welcome) Kidscommons, 309 Washington St. Free with museum admission. Tuesday sessions at 11 a.m.; Friday sessions at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 2 and 5 – Celebrate Hanukkah with books, a handprint menorah and the dreidel game. Dec. 9 and 12 – We will read Christmas books, make a tree ornament and play Christmas bingo. Dec. 16 and 19 – It’s a Christmas Surprise activity – just like opening presents is! Dec. 23 and 26 - It’s time to learn about Kwanzaa with fun books and an activity that teaches the seven principles. Dec. 30 - Children will make noise makers and hats to bring in the New Year. Dec. 5: Old National Bank’s First Fridays for Families presents “The Night Before Christmas.” ArtReach Theatre brings this holiday tale to First Fridays. Free. 6 p.m., The Commons, 300 Washington St. Information: www.artsincolumbus.org. Dec. 6: 26th annual Festival of Lights Parade, Washington Street, downtown Columbus. The parade features floats, animal units and walking groups from local corporations, businesses and community groups. Fireworks follow when Santa passes City Hall. Free. Information: 812-390-6912 or columbuslights@gmail.com.
Dec. 20: “The Nutcracker.” Presented by Dancers Studio Inc. 1 and 6 p.m., Columbus North High School auditorium. Advance tickets are $10 for students ($12 at the door) and $15 for adults ($17 at the door) and are available at Dancers Studio, kidscommons and Donner Center. Information: 376-8080.
Dec. 12: Santa’s Workshop. 6:30 to 8 p.m., Donner Center. $1 per person. Hands-on Christmas crafts, games, prizes and snacks. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Dec. 21: All Aboard: Holiday Fun with The Polar Express! Kidscommons, 309 Washington St. Designed for children ages 2-10. Session1: 1-3 p.m.; Session 2: 4-6 p.m. Registration deadline is Dec. 18 and pre-registration is required. Early registration is encouraged, availability is limited. Payment is due at time of registration. Cost: $6 child/$3 adult; to register: 378-3046 or e-mail educator@kidscommons.org. Come in your pajamas ready for a make-believe train ride to the North Pole, complete with hot chocolate, holiday crafts and a jingly surprise. Listen to a reading of the well-loved Christmas story, “The Polar Express.” Participate in museum-wide activity stations while learning interesting locomotive facts and enjoying model trains.
Dec. 12: Dance Indiana’s Holiday Dance. 7 to 10 p.m., The Commons, 300 Washington St. Ballroom dance music will be provided by The Sound of Dreams. Light appetizers will be included and a cash bar available. Information: 812-350-5545, tewsjudy@gmail.com. Dec. 13: Saturday Sampler: Holidays Around the World. 11 a.m. to noon, Haw Creek Heritage Arts Center, 111 Aiken St., Hope. We will learn how different cultures celebrate a variety of winter holidays and will make a special craft or two. Saturday Samplers are free monthly family friendly workshops catered toward small children. Information: 812-372-3541, arediker@ bartholomewhistory.org. Dec. 14: The Columbus City Band Christmas concert. Free, 2 p.m. at The Commons. Director Steve McGrew and the band will play a wide variety of selections, including “Schneewalzer” (Snow Waltz) by Austrian composer Thomas Koschat, “Sleepers Awake” from Bach’s Cantata 140, and “Christmas Bells Are Ringing,” a collage of Christmas tunes involving bells. Dec. 14: Columbus Indiana Philharmonic: A Community Christmas Gathering. The philharmonic, directed by David Bowden, presents a Christmas concert featuring the Columbus Indiana Children’s Choir. 3 and 7 p.m., Columbus North High School auditorium, 1400 25th St. Information: 812-376-2638, ext. 111, chrisg@thecip.org.
Dec. 21: Adventures in Christmas Worship. 6 p.m., First Christian Church, 531 Fifth St. Admission is free. Performing acts include the FCC Jazz Band, the ALIVE worship team, the Moyer Brothers, the Family Worship Band, the Worship Choir, Ministers 7, the Legacy Children’s Choir, and Columbus Canadian Brass. Information: dwallace@fccoc.org. Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Celebration, Kidscommons, 309 Washington St. Celebrate the start of 2015. The party starts at noon and will have a countdown with an explosive finale. Throughout the day you can create party decorations in the kids-at-art studio and make resolutions for the New Year. Free with museum admission. Dec. 31: Yes Comedy Showcase with Mike Armstrong. 7 and 9:30 p.m., Yes Cinema, 328 Jackson St. Admission: $20 advance/$25 door. Information: 812-378-0377.
photo by Bob Anderson/Stillframes Photography
Dec. 7: Mom & Me for Tea. 1 p.m., Donner Center. $22/ pair (registration deadline Dec. 3 or until maximum enrollment has been met). This holiday party for mothers with daughters ages 3 to 8 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.
Dec. 9: Little Chefs Sweet Christmas Treats. 4:30 to 5:45 p.m., Donner Center. For ages 6 to 10; class sizes are limited. Learn to make a variety of Christmas goodies. You’ll get to sample some and have some to share with family and friends. $14, registration deadline Dec. 5, minimum of 8).
The Bon Bons perform during Dancers Studio’s production of “The Nutcracker.”
2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 9
The Republic file photos
Left: Bowls of chili are served during the annual Firemen’s Cheer Fund Chili Cook-off. Opposite page top left: A trailer of gifts is loaded at the United Way warehouse. The Firemen’s Cheer Fund delivered gifts to about 1,300 children last year in the Bartholomew County area. Opposite page top right: Katelynn Pendleton picks out a pair of jeans with Sgt. Brandon Slate during Shop With a Cop.
Volunteers
ensure every child has a merry Christmas
E
By Jennifer Willhite
very holiday season, several area individuals and organizations work together to help make the season brighter for families in need. Since the late 1990s, Columbus-area holiday assistance programs have become more centralized to streamline the registration process, allowing families to make a single call rather than contacting or visiting multiple organizations for holiday help. Having all the programs under the single umbrella of United Way of Bartholomew County has also helped to avoid duplicate registrations, says Alicia McCreary, director of United Way of Bartholomew County 2-1-1. There are a dozen programs offered through the holiday assistance program, McCreary says. Among them are Angel Tree (Salvation Army), Angels of Love (Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center), Firemen’s Cheer Fund and Shop with a Cop. “Each year we have grown a little bit in the capacities of what we can do, because of all the great community members who pitch in to help,” she says. Now, all the organizations share a single database, McCreary says. Most of the registrations come by phone via the holiday assistance helpline, but there are still some organizations that take paper applications. “Those organizations then feed us the information by email so all the names get entered in the database,” she says. “That way if an individual has
10 * 2014 HOLIDAY Guide
called one of the other organizations, such as LCNFC, and then they call us maybe later, we can see they’ve already been registered.” Each year, an estimated 1,800 families register for assistance, and that includes about 3,000 children, McCreary says. The majority of the programs offer assistance to children up to 18 years old. “It’s important for parents and guardians to realize if they don’t have the means to provide gifts for their children and it’s something they want to do, there are resources out there,” says Angie Huebel, director of the United Way of Bartholomew County Volunteer Action Center. The holiday assistance program is very much like other Volunteer Action Center programs, such as the backpack program for schoolchildren. The idea is to offer everyone an equal playing field, she says. “At the holiday time when kids are talking about Christmas and Santa, we want all the kids to be able to talk about it,” Huebel says. “And when they come back from holiday break, they can say, ‘I got the fire truck ...’ or ‘I got …,’ and they’re not sitting there thinking, ‘I got nothing.’” Registration for holiday assistance is open through Dec. 5. Once that deadline passes, if children have not been helped, they are placed on a wait list. Those on the wait list who have not been matched with a resource to receive holiday assistance are referred to the Volunteer Action Center, Huebel
If you need assistance this holiday season, contact United Way 2-1-1 at 376-6666 or 211. Calls are answered 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday through Dec. 5. If you would like to volunteer this holiday season, contact Alicia McCreary at 376-0011 or Angie Huebel at 314-2706.
says. At that point, the organization reaches out to the public to ask them to “adopt” the child or the child’s family. Each program has its own guidelines, and assistance is dependent on for what the family may qualify, McCreary says. When a parent or guardian calls, he is asked a series of screening questions to determine which program may best suit his situation. Families who qualify for more than one program are given the option to choose which they would like to participate in, she says. If the families are unfamiliar with what programs are available, they receive basic information to help them decide which will work best. Sometimes individuals may feel uncomfortable reaching out for help, she says. But those who ask for assistance or who are considering it shouldn’t feel as if they will be judged. “That’s not what we are about,” she says. “Everyone needs help at some point in their life. And I think that is the big thing people need to understand.” All information collected during the registration process remains confidential, she says. “A lot of people can make their day-to-day bills, but it isn’t in their budget to buy Christmas,” McCreary says. “That is something extra. So if there weren’t these types of programs, a lot of kids would go without.” Individuals and organizations in the community who wish to help with holiday assistance programs may do so in a number of ways. “We make it as broad as they want or really hone in on what they’re looking for,” she says. “Whether they wish to give a monetary donation, take the family shopping or help anonymously, it is up to the individual.” Even if people are unable to help monetarily, they may volunteer their time answering phones for the holiday assistance helpline or even helping serve meals, such as the annual Christmas dinner sponsored by St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and LCNFC. Some organizations, such as the Firemen’s Cheer Fund, also take donations of gently used toys. Making annual donations to the organization is a tradition in the McCreary household, she says. “Every year I make my children clean out their toys,” she says. “Even if you don’t have a lot, there’s always something you can give. “If we all come together and give a little, then we have a lot at the end,” she says. “We can make families feel whole, ease the pressure parents put on themselves during the holiday season, and we can put a smile on a child’s face.”
2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 11
Johnson County calendar of events Franklin The Franklin Holiday Lighting and Winter Market will be conducted Dec. 6 in downtown Franklin. Schedule of events: 2 p.m. “A Christmas Story” at the Historic Artcraft Theatre, 57 N. Main St. 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. 2-3:30 p.m., Franklin College 2014 Holiday Choral Concert at Old Main Clarence E. & Inez R. Custer Theatre 2-4 p.m. Visit with Santa at the Johnson County Museum of History, 135 N. Main St. Photos for $5, free holiday craft project. 317-346-4500, www. johnsoncountymuseum.org. 2 and 7:30 p.m. “A Christmas Story” at the Historic Artcraft Theatre, 57 N. Main St. 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.
Greenwood Greenwood’s annual holiday celebration, GreenwoodA-Glow, will be conducted from 3 to 8 p.m. Nov. 22. Most of the events take place at the Greenwood Public Library and various downtown spots. At the library, guests can ride in a horse-drawn wagon and visit with Santa. A photographer will be on hand to take pictures, which can be purchased for $2. The library will also host a puppet show, crafts for kids and a coloring area. The Greenwood High School Jazz Band will perform at the city building. Although Greenwood’s 60-foot, blue spruce Christmas tree died over the summer, the city will still have the tree lighting ceremony. A new 14foot tree has been planted at Madison and Main streets and will serve as the centerpiece of the downtown celebration.
2014 area events Nov. 4: Christmas Open House & Kickapoo Preschool Holiday Program, 6-9 p.m. at Franklin Cultural Arts and Recreation Center, 396 Branigin Blvd. Preschoolers will present their holiday program, followed by a Franklin Community Band performance, visits with Santa and refreshments. Nov. 22: Greenwood-A-Glow, downtown Greenwood, Greenwood Public Library, 3-8 p.m. Carriage rides, puppet shows, crafts and pictures with Santa.
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Nov. 30: Joyful Sound, a community hand bell choir, will perform at 6 p.m. at Nineveh Christian Church, 1261 E. 775, Nineveh. Dec. 1: DIY Character Ornaments, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Johnson County Public Library, Franklin branch. Make ornaments for your tree, including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Elmo, Despicable Me Minions and more. Dec. 1: Holiday Customs Around The World, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Johnson County Public Library, Clark-Pleasant Branch. Welcome exchange students who are studying at Whiteland Community High School this year and share holiday customs like the Rockefeller Christmas Tree in New York City, some from Japan and others. Dec. 2: Mr. Noobie’s Favorite Gadgets for the Holidays, 6:30-8 p.m. at Johnson County Public Library, Franklin branch. Dec. 4: Mr. Noobie’s Favorite Gadgets for the Holidays, 6:30-8 p.m. at Johnson County Public Library, Trafalgar branch. Dec. 5: Teen Friday Movie Film Fest, “Muppet Christmas Carol,” 3-5 p.m. at Greenwood Public Library, 310 S Meridian St., Greenwood. 317-8811953, www.greenwoodlibrary.us. Dec. 5-7: “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 and 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. 6: Greater Greenwood Community Band Christmas Concert, 7-8 p.m., at Greenwood High School. Admission is a canned food item. Dec. 6: Saturday Family Fun, Pete the Cat Celebrates St. Nicholas Day, 2-3 p.m. at Johnson County Public Library, Clark Pleasant branch. Learn about holiday customs around the world. Bring a shoe to fill with goodies.
under. Information/tickets: 317-736-6823, www. historicartcrafttheatre.org. Dec. 13: Edinburgh Holiday of Lights, 5-9 p.m. Carriage rides, carolers, food, shopping, decorations in the downtown area. Dec. 13: Visit with Santa at the Johnson County Museum of History, 135 N. Main St., Franklin, noon3 p.m. Photos for $5, free holiday craft project. 317346-4500, www.johnsoncountymuseum.org. Dec. 13: Breakfast With Santa at Franklin Cultural Arts and Recreation Center, 396 Branigin Blvd., 9-11 a.m. Each child will receive a picture with Santa. Registration required: 317-346-1198. Dec. 15: Joyful Sound, a community hand bell choir, will perform at 7 p.m. at Crestwood Village, 8813 Madison Ave., Indianapolis. Dec. 15: Silly Safaris and the Reindeer Reserve at Johnson County Public Library, Trafalgar branch, 6:30-8 p.m. See a live reindeer and other animals from the North Pole. Dec. 16: Silly Safaris and the Reindeer Reserve at Johnson County Public Library, Franklin branch, 6:30-7:30 p.m. See a live reindeer and other animals from the North Pole. Dec. 19: Teen Friday Movie Film Fest, “Elf,” 3-5 p.m. at Greenwood Public Library, 310 S. Meridian St., Greenwood. 317-881-1953, www. greenwoodlibrary.us. Dec. 19: Joyful Sound, a community hand bell choir, will perform at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 99 W. Main St., Greenwood. Dec. 20: Johnson County Museum of History holiday open house, 1-3 p.m. Holiday treats and punch served. Free admission. 317-346-4500, www. johnsoncountymuseum.org. Dec. 22: Fireside Christmas Cheer, 7-7:30 p.m. at Johnson County Public Library, Trafalgar branch. Enjoy Christmas family stories and relax by our fireplace. Pajamas optional.
Dec. 10: Trim a Tree at Johnson County Public Library, Franklin branch, 6-8 p.m. Make Christmas tree ornaments for the tree in the children’s department. Make a few ornaments to take home for your tree.
Dec. 31: Countdown to Noon Party at Johnson County Public Library, Franklin branch, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Celebrate the new year early with stories, songs, a countdown and fun craft. Register: www.jcplin.org.
Dec. 12: Teen Friday Movie Film Fest, “Arthur Christmas,” 3-5 p.m. at Greenwood Public Library, 310 S Meridian St., Greenwood. 317-881-1953, www. greenwoodlibrary.us.
Dec. 31: Countdown to Noon Party at Johnson County Public Library, Clark-Pleasant branch, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Celebrate the new year early with stories, songs, a countdown and fun craft. Register: www.jcplin.org.
Dec. 12-14: “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the Historic Artcraft Theatre, 57 N. Main St., Franklin. Show times are 2 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5 for adults; $4 for military, students and over 55; $3 for 12 and
Dec. 31: Happy Noon Year at Johnson County Public Library, Trafalgar branch, 11:15 a.m.-noon. Celebrate the new year early with stories, songs, a countdown and fun craft. Register: www.jcplin.org.
Jackson County calendar of events Nov. 22: Quilters Holiday Extravaganza, tickets: $5; 25-30 favorite quilt shops, antiques vendors and others showing gifts, projects, fabrics, patterns, etc. Register to win a handmade Christmas quilt. Celebrations Event Center, Shops at Seymour Outlet Center, 812-216-2225, www.celebrations21.com. Nov. 22: SEPAC 19th annual Holiday Art and Craft Show, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., American Legion Annex, 812-445-3815. Nov. 22: Crothersville FFA Chapter Annual Craft Show, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., benefits Crothersville toy drive, Crothersville Community Schools, 812-793-2051. Nov. 26: Sertoma Benefit Concert. Enjoy music while helping Sertoma Christmas Miracle, Pewter Hall, Brownstown, 812-358-0919, www.pewterhall.com. Nov. 27: 8K Run, 5K Walk Turkey Trot. Get your run on before Thanksgiving festivities begin, Girls Inc., 812-5222798, www.girlsinjackson.org. Nov. 29: Hoosier Heartland Alpacas fifth annual Christmas Open House. Meet alpacas, see demonstrations, buy gifts and visit the country store, Hoosier Heartland Alpacas, 812-445-7874 www. hoosierheartlandalpacas.com. Nov. 29: Holiday Craft Show, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Trinity Lutheran High School, 812-445-3357.
Top: Hundreds of people gathered to see the lighting of the Christmas tree during the Downtown Seymour Christmas event. Bottom left: Deb Bedwell talks to children about being the Christmas Angel and reads “The Night Before Christmas” to visitors. Bottom right: Santa Claus is part of the annual Hometown Christmas Celebration at the Jackson County Courthouse.
Dec. 5-6-7: “A Charlie Brown Christmas” by Jackson County Community Theatre. Performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Matinee performance on Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. Matinee performance on Dec. 7 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets available beforehand and at the door. The Royal Off-The-Square Theatre is at 121 W. Walnut S. in Brownstown, 812-358-5228. Dec. 6: Bring Christmas to the Animals. Bring goodies to the animals, help provide for homeless animals, Humane Society of Jackson County, 812-522-5200, www.jchumane.org.
Dec. 6: Christmas Cookie Walk at Immanuel Lutheran Church, begins at 9 a.m. and offers a variety of homemade cookies. Immanuel Lutheran Church, 605 S. Walnut St., Seymour, 812-522-5498. Dec. 6: Medora Christmas Festival. Vendors, entertainment, food, parade, visits with Santa. Downtown Medora, 812-966-8887, www.facebook.com/ MedoraChristmasFestival. Dec. 8: Brownstown Hometown Christmas. Santa will be on hand, refreshments, entertainment, Jackson County Courthouse, 812-358-2930. Dec. 9: Old-Fashioned Christmas. Enjoy carols and refreshments and tour the grounds. Held at the Jackson County History Center, 105 N. Sugar St., 812-358-2118 or 812-358-1745. Dec. 10: Nature Time for Preschoolers. Children can learn about wildlife, 9:30 to 11 a.m., Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, 812-522-4352, www.fws.gov/ refuge/muscatatuck. Dec. 12-13: “A Charlie Brown Christmas” by Jackson County Community Theatre. Performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets available beforehand and at the door. On Dec. 13 matinee show time at 4 p.m. Dec. 13: Christmas Candlelight Dinner at Cafe Batar. Event begins at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy a four-course dinner and relax while listening to live organ music playing holiday tunes. Limited seating. $25 per person. Call to register, Café Batar, 12649 E. U.S. 50, Seymour, 812-522-8617, cafebatar.blogspot.com. Dec. 13: Snowflake Christmas Bazaar, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Brownstown United Methodist Church, 812-358-2924. Dec. 21: Norman Station Conservation Club monthly bluegrass Jamboree, 1 p.m. Enjoy bluegrass music and fellowship, Norman Station Conservation Club, 12157 W. County Road 450N, Norman, 812-834-5184.
2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 13
Sounds of Christmas always ring in the city
T By Barney Quick
File photo
David Bowden conducts the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic during a holiday concert.
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he city’s arts organizations will once again add their unique brands of sparkle to the holiday season this year. The lineup includes new offerings, as well as traditions that concert-goers have come to expect. The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic is calling this year’s concert “A Community Christmas Gathering.” Dec. 14 is the date, and, as usual, there will be a matinee performance at 3 p.m. and an evening presentation at 7 at Columbus North High School auditorium. Executive Director Margaret Powers says there are “a few really cool things going on at that one.” The preparatory choir, for singers in Grades 1 through 3, is a new development for the philharmonic. That choir will sing some numbers with the descant choir (Grades 4 through 6) as well as the Franklin preparatory choir. Each year, the most recently graduated winner of the Anna Newell Brown Award for Vocal Excellence, a scholarship for high school students, returns and is featured at the Christmas concert. This year that’s Brian Pierson, a Ball State University freshman whose background includes membership in the Columbus Indiana Children’s Choir. Local civic leader Sherry Stark will narrate one of the pieces, to be announced. Several of the pieces will be arranged by Daniel Powers, a viola player with the orchestra. Margaret Powers (no relation) characterizes his arrangements as “fabulous.” A traditional favorite of the philharmonic’s audience is the carol singalong, which will be part of the program once again. Ticket prices range from $10 to $35 and are available at the philharmonic’s website or offices. On Dec. 20, the Columbus North auditorium will host Dancers
Studio’s presentation of “The Nutcracker,” which has been its holidayseason offering for many years. The matinee performance will be at 1 p.m., and the evening performance will be at 6 p.m. Advance tickets are $10 for students ($12 at the door) and $15 for adults ($17 at the door) and are available at Dancers Studio, kidscommons and Donner Center. Caroline Euker will be in the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy this year. She has been with the Missouri Contemporary Ballet for four years. Other credentials include performances with the Milwaukee Ballet and the David Taylor Dance Theater. Brian Grant, currently with the Dayton Ballet and formerly with the Louisville Ballet, will partner with her in the role of the Cavalier. Stuart Coleman of Dance Kaleidoscope will appear as well. Susannah Lipinski will once again design the costumes. Artistic Director Alma Wiley describes her work as “fantastic.” The Columbus City Band presents its annual free Christmas concert at 2 p.m. Dec. 14 at The Commons. Director Steve McGrew assures everyone of a “wide variety of selections.” These include “Schneewalzer” (Snow Waltz) by Austrian composer Thomas Koschat, “Sleepers Awake” from Bach’s Cantata 140, and “Christmas Bells Are Ringing,” a collage of Christmas tunes involving bells. “Nightmare Before Christmas” by the offbeat film-and-televisionscore composer Danny Elfman, is also on the bill, as is “Irving Berlin’s Christmas,” which consists of the overture music from the films “Holiday Inn” and “White Christmas.” McGrew says this is one of the band’s most popular concerts. “We always have a crowd in the range of 700 to 750, so I think we’ll pack the place.” Harry Pray, president of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, reports that that organization will not be presenting an explicitly Christmas concert this year, as it is auditioning candidates for its conductor position and wishes to keep the playing field level. First Christian Church will present “Adventures in Christmas Worship” at 6 p.m. Dec. 21. Admission is free. Performing acts include the FCC Jazz Band, the ALIVE worship team, the Moyer Brothers, the Family Worship Band, the Worship Choir, Ministers 7, the Legacy Children’s Choir and Columbus Canadian Brass. As usual, there’s plenty of variety and enchantment on tap this holiday season in Columbus.
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Brown County calendar of events Nov. 22-30 and Dec. 1-6: Create it with Gingerbread Log Cabin Competition. This competition offers the opportunity to showcase one’s artistic and imaginative ability. Participants build a structure of gingerbread logs and decorate with edible materials. See their creations in this free exhibit. Brown County Inn, 51 E. State Road 46, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, createitwithgingerbread.com.
Nov. 28-29: Brown County Winter Art and Craft Fair. Sponsored by the Brown County Craft Guild, this is a 45-booth juried event with a wide array of artists and craftspeople from Brown County and the surrounding area. Seasons Lodge Conference Center, 560 E. State Road 46, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Nov. 28: Visitors Center Holiday Open House. Join the Visitors Center as it welcomes Santa and kicks off the holiday season. Free hot chocolate and cookies from noon to 6 p.m. Visitors Center, Van Buren and Main streets, free, browncounty.com.
Nov. 29 and Dec. 13: “Believe, a Brown County Christmas.” Enjoy a one-of-kind holiday show featuring popular seasonal music from the best of the Great American Songbook. Out of the Ordinary restaurant, 61 S. Van Buren St., 7 p.m., outoftheo.com.
Nov. 28-30 and Dec. 4-7, 11-14: “A Tuna Christmas.” In this comedy, a sequel to “Greater Tuna,” it’s Christmas in the third-smallest town in Texas. Brown County Playhouse Performing Arts Center, Van Buren Street, 7:30 p.m. all shows except Sunday 2 p.m. matinees, $20, or $19 for students, seniors and military, $28 or $27 for Friday night dinner theater, browncountyplayhouse.org.
Dec. 1-25: Santa’s Zip N Sip. Santa is at eXplore Brown County to zip line with families and find out who’s been good. EXplore Brown County at Valley Branch Retreat, Valley Branch Road, $25-$80, explorebrowncounty.com.
Children and accompanying adults can follow provided maps on a tour of various shops around Nashville from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, filling each child’s stocking with all kinds of treats, ornaments and tokens. Afterward, they can settle in for a special screening of “The Polar Express” at the Brown County Playhouse downtown. Stuff a Stocking: $10 per child; $12 after Nov. 30.
Dec. 5-6: Christmas in the Village. The two-day celebration will involve family-friendly events with treats for the kids and a two-evening event just for adults.
IN
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Dec. 5-6: Holiday Nibbles and Nogs. Adults 21 and older also can make the rounds at participating venues, each of which will be serving wine, beer, appetizers or desserts to merrymakers from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $20 per person; $25 after Nov. 30. Tickets: browncountygives.org/bcgives/christmas-in-the-village or at the Brown County Playhouse on Van Buren Street in Nashville. Participating businesses also will validate the tickets of attendees for both the family and adultonly events, and the tickets can be entered into drawings for prizes. Proceeds from ticket sales will go toward the Brown County Community Foundation, which sponsors
scholarships and grants that benefit local residents and nonprofits.
The menu includes turkey, ham, beef and Christmas goose. Story Inn, State Road 135 South and Elkinsville Road, Fridays and Sundays 5 to 8 p.m., Saturdays 5 to 9 p.m., storyinn.com.
Dec. 5: Santa Train. Kids of all ages are invited to climb aboard and visit St. Nick on his express train. Jackson Township Fire Department, Helmsburg Road, Helmsburg, 8:30 p.m., line to see Santa closes at 9:30 p.m., free, inrd. com/documents/2014_Santa_Train.pdf.
Dec. 13: Brown County Craft Gallery Holiday Open House. Meet artists and watch demonstrations; shop for handcrafted ornaments and cards as well as gifts made by 30 area artisans. Brown County Craft Gallery, 58 E Main St., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., free.
Dec. 6: Reindeer Romp. The 15th annual Reindeer Romp is an 8K run or 5K run/walk in Brown County State Park. All proceeds go to the Brown County YMCA’s financial assistance program. Brown County State Park Nature Center, 1 p.m. race start, $15 to $20 plus $5 gate fee, browncountyymca.org/events/reindeer-romp. Dec. 6: 37th annual Children’s Christmas Fund Auction. Join locals and visitors bidding on items to help clothe local children for Christmas. Out of the Ordinary restaurant, 61 S. Van Buren St., time TBA. Dec. 6: Christmas Light Parade. Enjoy a variety of floats traveling through the village of Nashville. Hot chocolate and cookies also will be offered at various sites. Residents and visitors are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the parade. Donation sites will be located throughout the village or give your toy to a float representative in the parade. Donated toys will be dropped off at the local Salvation Army for distribution to needy Brown County families. Downtown Nashville, 6 p.m., free.
Brown County Democrat file photo
Santa, Mrs. Claus and their elves chat with Nashville visitors during the holiday kickoff at the Visitors Center downtown. Dec. 6-7: Breakfast with Santa. Enjoy a hearty breakfast while kids visit with Santa. Harvest Dining Room at the Brown County Inn, 8 to 11 a.m., browncountyinn.com. Dec. 12-14 and 20-21: Story Inn Victorian Candlelight Christmas Dinner. Story was founded at the height of the reign of England’s Queen Victoria. Each year, the inn offers a special holiday dinner to mark this time in history. The old General Store building is lighted with candles and oil lamps, staff don authentic Victorian costumes, and musicians play live traditional Christmas tunes.
Wishing you & your family every happiness this holiday season. We really appreciate your business & support!
Dec. 13-14: Christmas Open House and Weekend Exhibition. The Charlene Marsh Studio and Gallery will feature recently completed, fall, plein air oil paintings. The studio and gallery will be decked out in holiday finery, and organic refreshments will be served. 4013 Lanam Ridge Road, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., free. Dec. 14: Christmas Bird Count. Help report on bird species seen in the state park. Novice and expert birders welcome. Brown County State Park Nature Center, 8 a.m., free with park gate fee. Dec. 19: Christmas Music Sing-Along. Listen to beautiful voices and guitar, but don’t be shy about singing out loud to your favorite holiday tunes. Brown County beer and wine sold in the auditorium. Brown County Playhouse Performing Arts Center, Van Buren Street, 7:30 p.m., $12, browncountyplayhouse.org. See late-breaking winter events on the Brown County Visitors Center calendar at browncounty.com.
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Christmas Eve services are the heart of traditional celebrations By Jennifer Willhite
R
egardless of denomination, area churches say tradition and family are the heart of Christmas Eve services. “Even though we are a society that is all about change, we find that people want the tradition of the Christmas Eve service on Christmas Eve,” says Justin White, senior minister with First Christian Church. “We’ve tried, in the past, some more modern, creative approaches outside the box, and people don’t like it. They want the traditional Christmas Eve hymns, devotion and candlelight service.” Each year, First Christian’s Christmas Eve services at 5 and 7 p.m. draw an estimated 750 attendees between the two. As with any service held that evening, attendance is generally dependent upon the weather, says Christie Farrell, early childhood coordinator for First Christian Church. “It’s such a family night,” White says. “We consider that even in planning the length of the service. Obviously, we want to celebrate the spiritual aspect of it, but we also understand the practical side that families want to be together.” The hour-long services are intended to be very familyfriendly, White says. So often, churches segregate parents and children during worship services for programming reasons, which is understandable, he says. But the services on Dec. 24 are one of the few times the entire church family can be together, and that is important. White says the Christmas Eve service is the first time during the month of December that everyone can relax. It is something he says he has even joked about at the beginning of the service. “We can exhale,” he says. “The shopping is over; the parties are over. So now it’s time to enjoy Christmas and just breathe.” The church starts fresh each year when planning its holiday services, White says. The service is generally planned around a theme. “One year we will focus on light, such as Jesus as light of the world,” White says. “We will think about the light of the star and the angels and how it all works together. Another year we may focus on the gifts that were presented. Or even the songs and scriptures of Christmas.” Some area churches have found offering multiple services is more convenient for parishioners. Such is the case with St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, which is offering four Christmas Eve services this year, according to Millie Harmon, liturgy coordinator. The church’s popular 4 p.m. children’s Christmas Mass easily brings in more than 1,000 parishioners, Harmon says. In years past, the 4 p.m. Mass was bilingual, but this year there will be a second separate Mass at 6:30 p.m. for the HispanicLatino community, she says. Additional Masses will be held at 9 p.m. and midnight, with a 10 a.m. service following on Christmas morning. “We have a tradition of collecting gifts for newborns at
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the 4 p.m. Mass,” she says. “The Father invites anyone who has brought a gift for a newborn to come up to the altar, and the children, dressed up as little angels, are holding baskets to receive the gifts that they then take over to the Nativity.” Another seasonal ritual is the marking of the church doors with blessed chalk, Harmon says, which takes place on Epiphany – 12 days after Christmas. “We also invite people to take home a piece of blessed chalk and a prayer to bless their doors,” she says. “It’s just a neat tradition.” The church doesn’t stray from tradition when it comes to the core of the Christmas Eve services, but it has mixed things up a bit by offering a pre-Mass concert at each service, she says. “People normally come early to get a good seat,” Harmon says. “We saw that as a time of reflection and prayer and assisted that with music, which draws you into prayer.” Joyce Crowder, minister of music at First Baptist Church, says Christmas Eve services are a perfect time for reflection. “These kinds of services are bonding opportunities, as well as worship opportunities,” she says. This year, First Baptist’s hour-long Christmas Eve service will be part of the church’s Year of Jubilee celebration to honor its 50th year at its current location. “It is biblical in the sense that during the 50th year they would not plant or harvest,” she says. “They would celebrate the gifts of God, and things would go back to a
state of celebration and dormancy, so they could revitalize, renew and refresh.” First Baptist’s evening service usually draws more than 200 worshipers, she says. “We almost always have people calling the day before or day of asking if we’re going to have a service,” Crowder says. “So we always have guests who are looking for a place to worship on Christmas Eve.” The Christmas Eve service often holds a little something different for parishioners each year, she says, with a focus on musicals some years or more reflective services other years. The 7 p.m. service always offers songs, Scripture, a message and prayers, she says, and concludes with a candlelight service. Like many churches, First Baptist lights a candle of the Advent wreath each Sunday leading up to Christmas. Then, on Christmas Eve, the Christ candle is lighted, and it’s from that candle that all the parishioners light their candles, Crowder says. “Our church family would be disappointed if we didn’t have the candlelight service,” she says. Crowder says she tries to involve as many different generations as she can when planning the programming for the Christmas Eve service each year. “I think there’s something very magical and special about that night,” she says. “And I think worshipping with church family is the most important part.” No matter the medium, whether it’s Scripture, singing or prayer, the holiday message remains the same, she says. “There is something unique about the Christmas Eve service itself,” she says. “It goes back to not only the fact that we’re celebrating Jesus’ birth, but that we’re celebrating the salvation he brings.”
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Months of planning result in parade that lights up downtown
T By Barney Quick
he Festival of Lights Parade is on track to enchant Columbus once again this year. The event, which takes place along a downtown route at 6 p.m. Dec. 6, is a train of floats so long that, according to parade committee coordinator Joyce Lucke, the last floats are just leaving the staging area as the first ones are returning. It’s well-attended, too. “It’s usually three or four people deep along Washington Street,” she says. “We often tell people that Brown Street between Third and Fifth is also a good place to set up for viewing, although crowds have been growing there as well. Even Jackson Street is starting to fill up.” She says she starts getting phone calls from people inquiring about details from as far away as South Bend and Louisville by early November. “These are people
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with some kind of tie to our community,” she notes. “People from Indianapolis come every year. The year when Tony Stewart appeared impressed a number of people who have been back.” Smaller groups within the committee of seven meet informally year-round. Shortly after each parade, they confer with the police department about what went well and what could be improved upon. Lucke researches parades around the nation to discern logistical and safety issues that ought to be considered. For instance, she discovered that candy thrown to children from floats resulted in some injuries and fatalities. That led to the Festival of Lights committee instituting a policy whereby candy would be directly handed out by people walking alongside the floats. From early in the year through the end of August, the main activity consists of outreach. “We get businesses involved, invite groups to enter floats and
solicit sponsorships.” Funding comes from such sponsorships, as well as float entry fees. Some businesses and groups donate in-kind services. Those early months in the year are a time of cultivating relationships. The committee recommends to businesses that, if they plan to do anything special for the holiday season, they coordinate it with the parade. The parade is a private-sector event. “A lot of people think the city of Columbus puts it on,” says Lucke. “It doesn’t. We have a federal ID number, but it’s totally private. For instance, the mayor took flak last year when a big snow, followed by bitter cold, caused us to cancel it, but it wasn’t her decision. We have a weather policy that basically follows that of the school corporation. We have a lot of kids in the parade, and we don’t want them exposed to harsh weather for all those hours.” This will be the 24th year for staging the parade. Lucke, who has been on the committee since 2009, says, “As I understand it, it was originally part of a much larger festival that included a dance, an auction and lights in Mill Race Park. The parade is
the aspect that has survived. People from the parks department stayed involved because they believed in it.” In late August, “we put the finishing touches on the entry packet we send out. We want to give those entering floats as much time as possible to think about design, construction, their own fundraising and enlisting their own volunteers.” Through the fall, the committee meets every two weeks. They work from checklists and target dates and discuss any issues that might arise. “The last two weeks of November, we have to figure out the size of each unit and where to put it,” says Lucke. “It’s a big puzzle. We merge the smaller units coming out of the Cummins COB parking lot with the larger ones coming out of Mill Race Park. Questions arise such as when they
should come across Lindsey Street. It’s a real choreographed dance.” She recalls some noteworthy entries during her time on the committee. “I’d say the heaviest float we’ve ever had was when Cummins had one showing off its newest and largest-ever engine. In 2012, a church had a fairly large float decked out as Noah’s Ark, with live animals such as llamas and donkeys walking alongside. There’s a family that has a sleigh every year, with varying members playing the Grinch from the Dr. Seuss story, and the Grinch expressing some particular theme.” She sees the parade as characteristic of the city’s civic spirit. “None of us currently on the committee go back to the beginning, but there are people in Columbus who step forward if something is in peril of being lost. That’s our legacy.”
Opposite page top: The combined band of Northside and Central middle schools marches south on Washington Street. Opposite page bottom: Scott Kanehl rides a unicycle around the Bicycle Station float. Right: Santa Claus waves to the crowd. Bottom left: Siblings Lucy and Max Wilson watch a group of colorful bicyclists with their mother, Melissa Wilson. Bottom right: A Columbus Township fire engine turns onto Third Street.
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Indianapolis calendar of events Nov. 13-Dec. 24: Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” Indiana Repertory Theatre, 140 W. Washington St. Nov. 21-Dec. 14: “White Christmas,” Footlite Musicals, 1847 N. Alabama St. A new production based on the beloved film, this musical adaptation features 17 Irving Berlin songs. Information: 317926-6630; www.footlite.org. Nov. 22-Jan. 18: “Jingle Rails — The Western Rail Adventure,” Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art in White River State Park, 500 W. Washington St. 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. Information: 317-636-9378; www.eiteljorg.org. Nov. 26: Celtic Thunder Symphony Tour, 7:30 p.m., The Center for the Performing Arts, 355 W. City Center Drive, Carmel. This will be the first symphony tour for Celtic Thunder, who will depart from their traditional and critically acclaimed large set productions to perform songs from their 2013 album “Christmas Voices.” Holiday favorites and their signature hits will be featured. Information: 317-843-3800; www.TheCenterPresents.org. Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Brunch Buffet, 1881 Grille at Marten House Hotel and Lilly Conference Center, 11 a.m., 1801 W. 86th St. Cost: $23.95, adults; $11.47, children (ages 6-10). Reservations required. Carryout order forms available online. Information: 317-415-5240; www.1881grille.com. Nov. 28: Circle of Lights, 6 to 8 p.m., Monument Circle, downtown Indianapolis. Annual lighting of the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Live television broadcast, musical entertainment, lighting at 7:45 p.m. with fireworks to follow. Nov. 28-Jan. 4: Christmas at the Zoo, Indianapolis Zoo in White River State Park, 1200 W. Washington St. Featuring Santa’s Workshop, cookie decorating, holiday lights, carolers, a find the mistletoe challenge, Santa’s Sweet Shop, holiday photo ops, carousel rides, 4-D theater, unique shopping. Cost: Included with regular admission and free for members. Information: 317-630-2001; www. indianapoliszoo.com. Nov. 28-Jan. 4: Conner Prairie Interactive History Park, 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers. Stroll through a wonderland of icing, gumdrops and sprinkles atop gingerbread creations; visit the Gingerbread Man and Victorian-era Santa Claus. Craft a holiday decoration to take home, enjoy a theatrical presentation, play with 19th-century toys and explore Discovery Station. Head outdoors to 1836 Prairietown where costumed residents need your help preparing for the holidays. Information: 800-966-1836; www.connerprairie.org.
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Submitted photo
Circle of Lights draws large crowds to Monument Circle each holiday season. Nov. 28-Dec. 23: A Beef & Boards Christmas, Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, 9301 Michigan Road. The season is celebrated through song and story in this original production that has become a tradition for many families for more than 20 years. Information: 317-872-9664; www. beefandboards.com. Dec. 2-12: Prairie Holiday and Gingerbread Jamboree, Conner Prairie Interactive History Park, 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers. Information: 317776-6000; www.connerprairie.org. Dec. 5-20: Dinner with Santa, Conner Prairie Interactive History Park, 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers. Enjoy dinner, visit with Santa and participate in holiday activities. Cost: $18.95$21.95, adults; $9.95-$11.95, youths 2-12. Dinner seatings at 5:30 and 7:30 pm. Reservations required. Information: 317-776-6000; www.connerprairie.org. Dec. 5-20: Conner Prairie by Candlelight, 6:30 p.m., Conner Prairie Interactive History Park, 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers. This familyfriendly, 90-minute guided tour takes you back more than 175 years ago to Prairietown, where it’s the
night before Christmas. Meet a variety of characters in their homes and help them with holiday preparations. This program is ideal for guests who prefer a more structured program in the evening hours. Recommended for ages 7-plus. Cost: $13$16, adults; $11-$14 , youths 2-12. Group pricing ($15, adults; $12, youths) available for groups of 15 or more. Reservations required. Information: 317776-6000; www.connerprairie.org. Dec. 5: Big Band Holidays — Jazz at Lincoln Center, 8 p.m., The Center for the Performing Arts, 355 W. City Center Drive, Carmel. Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra is composed of 15 of jazz music’s leading soloists under the leadership of musical director and trumpet virtuoso Wynton Marsalis. Information: 317-660-3373; www. thecenterfortheperformingarts.org. Dec. 6: Peanut Butter & Jam — Wind and String Ensemble, 10:30 a.m., The Center for the Performing Arts, 355 W. City Center Drive, Carmel. Explore musical genres alongside your children. Purchase of a child’s ticket includes free admission for two adults, and tickets are $10. The
experience includes music, touch and play time with musical instruments and an artist Q&A. These events are under an hour and are specially geared for ages 1 to 7. Features holiday sounds of the season with members of the Hendricks Symphonic Society. Information: 317-660-3373; www. thecenterfortheperformingarts.org. Dec. 6-22: “A Christmas Carol,” Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, 9301 Michigan Road. One-hour adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, enhanced with holiday carols. Information: 317-872-9664; www.beefandboards.com. Dec. 7: St. Nikolaus Fest, The Athenaeum Foundation Inc., 407 E. Michigan St. Information: 317-636-0396; www.athenaeumfoundation.com. Dec. 7: Jingle Jam with Train, The 1975, Mary Lambert, Jake Miller, Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum, 1202 E. 38th St. Information: 317-9277622. Tickets: Livenation.com, $30-$59.50. Dec. 7: SymFUNy Sunday: Duke Energy Yuletide Celebration, 2 p.m., Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle. One-hour, family-friendly concerts. Includes an interactive carnival of preconcert activities. Information: 317-262-1100 or 317-639-4300; www.indianapolissymphony.org. Dec. 10-13: A Swingin’ Christmas, The Cabaret at the Columbia Club, 121 Monument Circle. Featuring Birdland regulars Jim Caruso, Klea Blackhurst and Billy Stritch as they host an evening reminiscent of your favorite holiday TV special with swingin’ arrangements of “It’s The Holiday Season,” “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” and other favorites. Tickets: $25-$55. Information: 317-2751169; www.thecabaret.org.
photo courtesy of Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art
The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art offers “Jingle Rails — The Western Rail Adventure” during the holiday season. Dec. 21: Santa Hustle Indy 5K and Half Marathon, 9 a.m., downtown Indianapolis. Every participant will receive a sweatshirt and Santa hat. Jingle all the way through the course with candy and cookies,
music, Christmas images and more. Information: www.santahustle.com/indianapolis. Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve on Georgia Street, downtown Indianapolis.
Dec. 13: Family Christmas at the President’s Home, Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, 1230 N. Delaware St. Set in 1888, President Harrison, some of the family from Ohio and the household staff will be home for the holidays, talking about the excitement of Christmas Day, wrapping presents, chatting about the upcoming move to Washington and whether or not there will be a Christmas tree in the White House, and offering their holiday wishes to you. Tours on the hour and half-hour. Information: 317-631-1888; http://bhpsite.org. Dec. 14: Trans-Siberian Orchestra – The Christmas Attic, 7:30 p.m., Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. In this new show, the narrative begins on Christmas Eve, when a young girl’s curiosity leads her to a night of mischief and magic. Tickets: $37.50-$57.50. Information: 317-917-2500; BankersLifeFieldhouse.com. Dec. 14: Dave Koz & Friends – Christmas Tour, 7 p.m., The Center for the Performing Arts, 355 W. City Center Drive, Carmel. MultiGrammy Award nominee and saxophonist Dave Koz presents his high-energy holiday tour, which celebrates its 17th anniversary this year. Information: 317-660-3373 or 317-843-3800; www. thecenterfortheperformingarts.org. Dec. 16-21: “Elf The Musical.” Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St. The hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole, where he thinks he’s an elf. Information: 317-231-0000.
now available at
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toys Children’s excitement remains constant as
they wish for evolve
E
By Jennifer Willhite
very holiday season there is that one hot toy that stirs a ruckus or creates controversy. But what does it take for a toy to stick around and become a classic? From the Barbie doll to building blocks and board games, there are certain categories that make a toy enduring, says Thomas P. Hustad, professor emeritus of marketing with the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington. It takes play value and versatility to give a toy staying power, he says. According to a survey conducted by the National Retail Federation, several National Toy Hall of Fame inductees made the top 10 toy list for the 2013 holiday season, including the Barbie doll (1998), Legos (1998), the bicycle (2000) and Hot Wheels (2011). The NRF also reports that interspersed with these classics are more nontraditional toys, including video games, Xbox and the iPad.
It is technology that is driving that shift for more experiential toys, Hustad says. And a pivotal part of that evolution is versatility. In recent decades, a toy’s adaptability can mean the difference between its being a passing fad and a classic. Take, for instance, the Tickle Me Elmo plush toy, which debuted in 1996. Heavy marketing and Elmo’s appeal to parents and children are what helped fuel the craze, Hustad says. When you would press on Elmo’s stomach he’d giggle, shake and laugh – a highly predictable response. And it is that predictability that made the toy’s wear-out factor overshadow its novelty. “As time moves on, Elmo continues to be on the market, and it does more now,” he says. “It is far less predictable and has many more variations, so in that sense it has improved.” Versatility, today, translates to how a toy can be extended into related types of activities and its ability to be physically reshaped, Hustad says. Decades ago, when toy robots first hit the market
Hot Wheels
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Doh Vinci
they, like Elmo, were predictable. Today, toy robots allow children more leeway for interaction, he says. And it is that reciprocal quality that makes today’s electronic toys more experiential and appealing. “They (robots) got your attention at first, then got boring and sat on a shelf,” Hustad says. “There’s a big distinction between doing something in a formalistic way with no flexibility for repeat versus something where a child can intervene and reshape the action.” Technology’s role may also likely shift from the flashing lights, noise and programmability to things that favor experimentation and creative expression, Hustad says. Since the 1950s, Hasbro’s Play-Doh has been the go-to craft toy synonymous with creativity. Technology has enabled the evolution of America’s favorite, non-toxic molding compound to its latest incarnation, Doh Vinci. Unlike its predecessor, Doh Vinci is more malleable and durable and is advertised to not crack. It will harden overnight to create lasting 3-D art. “It’s a matter of taking classics and making sure they conform to contemporary standards for safety, clean-up space or any number of things that may evolve,” Hustad says. Even the most enduring of toys, like simple blocks, are evolving with the times. “Never underestimate the power of blocks and basic things,” he says. “They are easy to pick up, stack and stay in place without having pieces that can be lost, scattered or take up too much space. And they can be used in so many ways, such as structural engineering, imagination and promote the realization of images.” There are certain characteristics of building blocks that will continue to appear in different combinations in the future, Hustad says. That is part of their appeal. LeapFrog interactive learning toys, such as its Letter Factory Phonics and Shapes and Sharing Picnic Basket, are prime examples of how toy designers are adapting traditional foundations, like blocks, and marrying them with modern, experiential technologies. As he has found with his own granddaughter, Hustad says board games are still interesting for children even if it’s along the lines of fascination. “I guess part of the appeal is it’s a little bit like the video game world. But it’s more a physical reality manifestation.” What makes traditional board games cumbersome is when you have 100-piece play sets, which require sorting, rearrangement and gathering, he says. There’s a shift as well to embrace more experiential consumption than physical product consumption. One area of crossover that is contributing to the popularity of the experiential is role play, including toys and objects that enhance and drive imagination, Hustad says. “As I look around, the whole issue of costuming and accessories for kids is no longer just at Halloween,” he says. “Whether it is tied to a film, such as ‘Frozen,’ or it’s independent, the whole role play thing has grown and emphasizes experience, involvement and education, which have become more elevated over past years.” Advertising and wish lists are also changing the playing field of fad versus classic, he says. The primary medium was once TV advertising, and now it is open to so many other kinds of things. Traditionally, children wrote their wish lists for Santa. Today, a few clicks of the mouse and voila! Not only is the list complete, but it can be sent instantly to family members’ inboxes and even Santa’s at the North Pole via websites, like Santa’s Online Wishlist. “I think that is a big shift,” Hustad says. “Because the decision maker now is becoming centralized on the parent as a representative of the child, the child himself and then the parent as a censor of what they allow the child to do.”
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Trends
Hot, Hotter, Hottest
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The holidays are the perfect time to warm up guests with inspired, creative fare. Here, three recipes to try this season that are sure to have everyone talking. By Bev Bennett CTW Features Predictable isn’t the word you want to use when describing your holiday fare. This year, commit to serving buzzworthy dishes that will have everyone talking – and reaching for seconds. Here’s what you’ll want to have on your menus to reflect the hot, hotter and hottest trends.
Hot Chocolate Flights
Flights allow you to compare a series of like beverages or foods in small portions. Translate the concept to hot chocolate for a holiday indulgence. The challenge is deciding how to showcase the differences. For the liquid you can choose milk, which allows chocolate flavors to stand out, or cream, which adds richness. Then there’s the question of chocolates. Do you put Swiss chocolate against Belgian or bittersweet with semisweet? And what should be the proportion of chocolate to liquid? Fortunately you can sip your way to the answers. “Here is the thing about hot chocolate. If you want more chocolaty taste, add more chocolate. If you want more creaminess, add half-and-half,” says Eliza Ward, owner of Seattle-based ChefShop. “I use half-and-half because I like my hot cocoa very creamy,” Ward says. The true secret for great hot chocolate is to make it in advance. “Chocolate loves to rest,” says Michael Turback, author of “Hot Chocolate” (Ten Speed Press, 2005). In fact, hot chocolate that’s prepared and served immediately tastes different from that made in advance and reheated, Turback says. That’s a great advantage for holiday entertaining. Drinking chocolates made in advance can be refrigerated for up to three days, according to the hot chocolate expert. But upon reheat, the hot chocolate should be hot enough to require a spoon for the
initial sips. “You want it hot and want it to stay hot as long as possible,” Turback says. For a tasty comparison, buy three of the same brand chocolate bars, one in 56 percent cacao, one 70 percent and one 85 percent – the number refers to the percentage of ingredients by weight in the bar that come from the cocoa bean. Make the following recipe three times, once with each chocolate, but switch to half-and-half from milk if you prefer.
Hot Chocolate 1 cup whole milk 1 teaspoon confectioners’ sugar 1 3.5-ounce chocolate bar, broken into small pieces Heat milk to a simmer in a heavy-bottom pot. Stir in confectioners’ sugar. Add chocolate, a small amount at a time, stirring after each addition, until melted. Let cool about 10 minutes. Pour into a microwave-safe container. Cover. Label with the type of chocolate used. Refrigerate until ready to heat and serve. Makes four 1/3-cup flight-sized servings.
Waffles
If you’re waffling over what to serve as an entree, you’re on the right track. This honeycombed bread, a breakfast staple, has a new life, especially in sweet-and-savory pairings, such as chicken and waffles or waffles and short ribs. Why waffles? The versatility makes waffles a match for all flavors, from sweet to spicy to savory. “The possibilities are endless,” writes Lee Brian Schrager, author of “Fried & True: More than 50 Recipes for America’s Best Fried Chicken and Sides” (Clarkson Potter, 2014) in an email. The origins of the popular chicken and waffles are traced back to the Wells Supper Club in Harlem, New York, according to Schrager. “The club became a late-night stop for jazz musicians who would come in after their gigs. It was too late for dinner and too early to serve breakfast, and the fried chicken and waffles combination was created as a compromise,” writes Schrager. Intrigued? If your guests are early enough for brunch, try this rich spin on bread pudding with waffles and bacon.
Waffle and Bacon Pudding Waffle and Bacon Pudding 4 eggs 2¼ cups milk 1/3 cup maple syrup ¼ teaspoon salt 6 waffles (about 5 inches in diameter), toasted, torn into 1-inch pieces 6 slices thick bacon, fried until crisp, cut into bite-size pieces
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Beat eggs, milk, maple syrup and salt together in a large bowl. Gently stir in waffles and bacon. Pour into generously buttered 8-inch square glass baking dish. Cover lightly with aluminum foil. Bake in preheated 325 degree oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil. Bake 30 to 40 minutes longer or until pudding is firm and knife inserted in center comes out clean. Makes 6 servings.
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Trends continued
Hot and Spicy The heat isn’t letting up, according to Maeve Webster, a culinary trend watcher. “Even though heat is a trend that has been going on for a long time, there’s no end in ways in which you can impart heat in a dish,” says Webster, senior director at Datassential, a Chicago consulting and research company that focuses on all aspects of the food industry. What will the heat wave lead to? “Both hot-sweet and even hotter,” Webster says. If hot-sweet flavors appeal to you, you’ll want pimento cheese on your entertaining menu. This classic Southern spread “is something people have always made at home,” says Perre Coleman Magness, author of “Pimento Cheese: The
Cookbook” (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2014). The concoction of cheddar cheese and pimento peppers started as a sandwich spread and now is making its way into “fancy restaurants all over the country.” And no wonder. There’s no end to the dishes you can make with a pimento cheese base, says Magness, who offers a few suggestions for the holidays. • Scoop out cherry tomatoes and fill with pimento cheese. • Spread it on toasted bread and top with leftover turkey. • Cut thick bacon into 2½-inch slices. Bake until crisp and serve in place of crackers with a dollop of pimento cheese. Here’s her pimento cheese recipe from the cookbook.
Thank you to everyone for another great year! We’re proud to be a part of this great community!
PC’s Pimento Cheese
From Pimento Cheese: The Cookbook by Perre Coleman Magness. Text copyright © 2014 by the author and photographs copyright © 2014 by Jennifer Davick and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Griffin, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press, LLC.
1 cup pecan halves 1 2-ounce jar chopped pimentos with liquid 2 teaspoons garlic salt Dash of cayenne pepper or a shot of hot sauce 8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese 8 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese 1 cup mayonnaise, more or less
1080 S. Gladstone Ave. Columbus, IN 47201 812-379-9581 www.boyermachine.com
Place the pecans and pimentos with their liquid, garlic salt and cayenne to taste in a food processor fitted with the metal blade and pulse a few times to chop the nuts and blend the pimentos; do not let the mixture turn into a paste. Remove the metal blade and fit the processor with the grating disk. Grate the cheeses. Turn the mixture into a bowl, scraping down the sides of the processor bowl well. Add the mayonnaise, a little at a time and stir to blend until you reach the desired consistency. The pimento cheese will keep, refrigerated, in an airtight container for one week. Makes about 3½ cups.
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10 Ways to De-Stress Thanksgiving What, you? Worry? Nah. The big meal is a piece of cake by employing a few time- and sanitysaving tricks and shortcuts By Bev Bennett CTW Features You can have a memorable Thanksgiving meal with delicious food, a beautiful table and appreciative guests, but with a fraction of the usual work. If you pare your to-do list to emphasize the season’s bounty and at the same time streamline food preparation, you’ll enjoy the celebration as much as your guests do. “For Thanksgiving it’s being together that counts. Not all this other stuff,” says Patricia L. Mote, author of “Great Menus: Seasonal Recipes for Entertaining” (Dicmar Publishing, 2011). Here are 10 things you can do to make your Thanksgiving feast fun and effortless.
1. Accept Offers (And That Means All Of ’Em) Say yes when people offer to bring food, especially if they’re doing so to accommodate their own diets, says Mote, who’s based in Annapolis, Maryland.
2. Assign Your Serving Dishes Set out serving pieces a day in advance and label each dish with the food that goes in it. That way you’re not wondering what to serve the salad in at the last minute. A labeled bowl also will be a reminder that you left the cranberry sauce in a container in the back of the refrigerator.
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De-Stress Thanksgiving continued 3. Decorate with Food What better way to celebrate the season’s harvest then to display a fresh bounty of fruits, vegetables and herbs? Swiss chard, pears and apples combine for a centerpiece that’s both natural and pretty, says Kerry Dunnington, a Baltimore caterer and cookbook author. “Lots of fruit going down the table looks festive, adds Mote, who suggests turning the decorations into fruit salad for the next day’s breakfast.
4. Save a Step with Fresh-Cut Veggies Let a supermarket salad bar be your source for chopped, fresh vegetables. Stock up on chopped onions, carrots and mushrooms that will be the base of many of your holiday dishes – stuffing and soups, to name a few.
5. Embrace the 5-Ingredient Recipe Your guests won’t know or care how elaborate your recipes are, so put an ingredient limit on the dishes you’re making. Seasonings don’t count.
6. Get Back to Flavor Basics You can do a lot with salt and pepper. “Salt is my go-to seasoning. It brings out the flavor of anything you add it to,” says Dunnington, who uses specialty salts in “grayish, reddish and blackish” hues.
7. Contrast Textures for Lively Dishes “I love to put crunchy with tender: crunchy almonds with
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tender green beans,” says Dunnington, author of “Tasting the Seasons: Inspired In-Season Cuisine That’s Easy, Healthy, Fresh and Fun” (Artichoke Publishers, 2014). And don’t forget the dried cranberries. “Cranberries and almonds represent autumn colors,” she says.
8. Let Dessert Come Out of Its Shell Have you noticed that people skip the pie crust and eat the filling? That’s because it’s the best part. So, concentrate your efforts on the filling. Replace pumpkin pie with panna cotta, a light and creamy no-crust dessert that doesn’t need baking.
9. Take a Hike Get guests out of the house between the entrée and dessert, says Mote. “Take a walk. Don’t worry about the dishes; they’ll get done,” she says.
10. Use Chinese Restaurantstyle Takeout Boxes to Distribute Leftovers “You don’t want to give people plastic containers or your dishes for leftovers, but you can get takeout boxes from craft stores,” says Mote.
How to be an Awesome Guest Being a perfect guest means your host and companions are thrilled with your presence. You’re charming and considerate and enjoying yourself, all because you do three things.
1. You Respond to Invitations
“If you’re invited to someone’s house and they ask you to RSVP, it’s important to do so,” says Elaine Swann, a San Diegobased lifestyle and etiquette expert. “The host wants to know how many chairs to pull out; how much macaroni and cheese to make,” she says.
2. Entertain Others
Not just the smart adult at your elbow but also your children and those of other guests. “Children who are rude or tired can make it hard on the host family,” Swann says. If you’re going to a Thanksgiving dinner with your children, pack a snack if the meal will be delayed. In addition, bring an ageappropriate game for your children to play. You can also win points with other people’s children. “If you’re going to a party with lots of children, it doesn’t take much to bring crayons and coloring books,” says Swann.
3. Make Sure Your ‘Helpful’ Gesture Actually is Helpful
When you see guests pause during the meal you may assume that’s your cue to clear the table. That’s not necessarily the case. “Nothing drives me crazy like people who jump up to do the dishes during the meal. It breaks the flow of the event,” says Patricia L. Mote, an author in Annapolis, Maryland. Likewise, washing the dishes. “I’m the type of person who prefers to wash her own dishes. I don’t want anyone in the kitchen with me,” says Swann, author of “Let Crazy Be Crazy” (WS Publishing, 2014). Bottom line? “If you offer to clean up and the host declines, don’t push your way into her kitchen,” Swann says.
Buttered Green Beans with Toasted Almonds and Dried Cranberries 1½ pounds green beans 3 tablespoons melted butter ¾ teaspoon salt Several grinds of black pepper ½ cup toasted slivered almonds ½ cup dried cranberries Cook the green beans in boiling salted water until fork-tender. Melt the butter in a small saucepan and add salt and pepper. Stir to mix.
Whitney Wasson
Drain beans and transfer to a bowl. Pour butter mixture over beans and add almonds and cranberries. Toss well. Arrange in a serving dish or, for a unique and festive presentation, arrange on a cake platter. Serves 6
Pumpkin Panna Cotta 2 cups half-and-half 1 package unflavored gelatin 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt ¾ cup chopped honey-roasted walnuts or combination walnuts and dried cranberries Place half-and-half in a large saucepan. Sprinkle in gelatin. Set aside 5 minutes. Meanwhile beat together pumpkin, brown sugar and salt in bowl. Heat gelatin mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally, until gelatin dissolves, about 3 minutes. Add pumpkin mixture and stir gently but well over low-medium heat, until mixture is hot but not bubbling. Remove from heat. Pour into six custard cups. Chill at least 2 hours. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons chopped nuts over each serving. Makes six 2/3-cup servings.
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Going home for the holidays? Share a taste of where you now call home by bringing back some of your favorite local delicacies for the family. By Jessica Royer Ocken CTW Features Not only are the holidays a time to gather and catch up with family, they’re an opportunity to share the best food and drink available. Mom’s not getting out the fancy dishes for nothing, so this season, as you travel to be with your loved ones, why not bring something exceptionally delicious – and something that says you – to grace the holiday table? “There’s no better gift than something unique,” says John-Mark Hack, executive director of the Local Food Association, a national trade organization based in Versailles, Kentucky. “When you buy something that’s produced in a certain area, crafted by people who live there, its uniqueness has a special value.” In some cases, selecting just the right item may be pretty easy – simply think about what you love to eat or drink in the place you call home. Think cheese curds or brats from Wisconsin. Maple syrup from the Northeast. Wine from California or Oregon. Preserves and candy made from amazing Michigan cherries. Or a fantastically frozen gourmet pizza, done Chicago-style or New York-style or in the style of wherever you currently hail from. “In Vermont we have the advantage of being a place people associate with Christmas anyway,” says Helen Fuqua, manager of Apple Mountain, a specialty store in Burlington. “It looks like a Christmas card around here!” Fuqua says starting shortly before Thanksgiving and continuing through the holiday season, jams and jellies, locally made condiments, and of course everything maple – from syrup to hot sauce to popcorn and even maple cotton candy – fly off the shelves and home for the holidays with local residents and college students. No matter where you live, your local community is likely home to farmers, bakers, confectioners and distillers who draw from the ingredients that grow best in your area, as well as the area’s cultural heritage, to create unique and flavorful specialty goods. For example, according to the Brewers Association, an industry group, the majority of Americans live within 10 miles
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From My Home
to Yours
Washington St.
of a local brewery. Translation: It should not be too hard to find a tasty brew – especially one unavailable in your hometown – to bring to your family gathering. Fuqua says at least one of Apple Mountain’s employees stocks up on Heady Topper, an India Pale Ale brewed in nearby Waterbury, before going home to see his family. “You can’t find it anywhere, so it adds to the personal connection,” she says. “And there’s accountability and quality because when you produce and sell something locally, you’re often making it for your neighbors.” So who doesn’t want to be the person who brought home the coolest, most delicious holiday treat of all? “It’s a great way to create long-time memories,” says the LFA’s Hack. However, if you’re flying, the TSA may object to a carry-on full of beers or other delicious liquids, so consider shipping them ahead. If you still need inspiration, seek out a local producer of jams, jellies and preserves, suggests Hack. These are in abundance around holiday time and are bursting with flavors born in your region. (Southwest green chili jelly, anyone? Pickled okra?) Local cheese producers also are present in most communities, so wow your family with a swanky cheese plate featuring cow, goat and even sheep’s milk cheeses from your neck of the woods. And, of course, the other benefit to buying locally produced delicacies for the holidays is the support it offers the community you call home, notes Hack. You’ll likely purchase artisanal treats directly – or almost directly – from the person who created them, and your transaction puts money back into the local economy. So even if you’re not spending the holidays where you live, you can spread a little cheer with your shopping before you go. Bon appetit!
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Hilliard Lyons Tipton Park Plaza 380 Plaza Drive, Suite D Columbus IN 47201 812-372-7892 800-444-7892 2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 35
4 to a
Steps Perfect Holiday Bird A delicious turkey starts at the store, is improved in your kitchen and leaves everyone anxious for leftovers — after the food coma dissipates. Here is our simple guide for making it happen. By Laura Depta CTW Features Thanksgiving is about family, gratitude and, of course, food. The centerpiece of any truly authentic Thanksgiving meal is a succulent, flavorful turkey — but preparing the bird takes more than just a pan and an oven. Here is our simple guide to achieving the perfect Thanksgiving turkey in four easy steps.
1. Buy Before you start shopping for a turkey, consider how many people will be at the table. The average Thanksgiving bird runs about 14 to 16 pounds, but a 12-pounder could work for smaller groups. To guarantee the right size, order the turkey from a market or butcher one to two weeks in advance and pick it up on Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving. When it comes to the turkey itself, fresh is best. Fresh birds are slightly more expensive than frozen ones, but
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they tend to be juicer. Sarah Stegner, co-chef and co-owner of the Prairie Grass Café in Northbrook, Illinois, believes in buying only the freshest ingredients and locally whenever possible. “Look for a bird that’s hormone-free, antibiotic-free and maybe free range,” Stegner says. “And if you can’t find it from a local source, you can still go and ask for these things from your butcher shop.”
2. Brine There are different ways to prepare a Thanksgiving turkey for roasting – but the goal always is to make sure the breast meat doesn’t dry out. “Typically, turkey breast meat is dry because the white meat is done before the dark meat is finished, and so it’s drying out the white meat,” says Diane Morgan, author of “The New Thanksgiving Table” (Chronicle Books, 2009). Brining, or pre-soaking the turkey in a liquid-salt solution, helps to keep that breast meat moist and the turkey flavorful. According to Morgan, the key to brine is the salt. Salt can have different weights depending on the brand, and following the recipe precisely is critical. “If you put a half cup of Morton’s iodized salt in a measuring cup and weighed it, it’s heavier than a half cup of Diamond kosher salt because it’s a flakier salt,” Morgan says. “So you’re actually getting a different proportion of salt to water.” She brines her turkeys in food-safe oven roasting bags and double bags for protection. From here her steps are as follows: 1. On Tuesday, remove the giblets and neck. Put the turkey inside the bags, pour the wet brine over, tie it up and leave covered in the refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours. 2. Wednesday night, take the turkey out of the bags, rinse it off, pat it dry and then leave uncovered in the refrigerator overnight. This will allow the bird to air dry and encourage a crisper skin on the finished product. 3. If using a kosher turkey, keep in mind that these birds have already been soaked in salt water to meet kosher standards, so brining is not necessary. Also,
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Holiday Bird continued beware of brining a frozen turkey. Many brands are already brined, so make sure to read the packaging before getting started.
3. Cook
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When the turkey is brined and ready to go, it’s time for the oven. Rick Rodgers, a cooking teacher and author of “Thanksgiving 101” (William Morrow Cookbooks, 2007), uses a standard roasting pan and rack for the turkey, but he does suggest investing in something “heavy duty.” Before placing the bird in the oven, Rodgers ties the wings down across the breast with a piece of string to hold them in place. He also loosely ties the end of the drumsticks together so the turkey will look compact. When it comes to the actual roasting, Rodgers says, “I like 325 degrees throughout the entire period [of 3-4 hours]. It helps keep the turkey from shrinking too much, and you don’t have to worry about it not browning enough.” Rodgers roasts his turkeys breast up for the duration but covers the breast with foil to slow down the cooking in that area. With about an hour left, he removes the foil to let the skin brown.
4. Carve Once the turkey is out of the oven, Drew McLachlan, a chef and director of retail development at 121 Restaurant Group in North Salem, New York, advises letting it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before carving. Use that time to finish prepping your other side dishes, McLachlan adds. To carve the bird, use a sharp slicing knife with a thin blade. Place the turkey on a large cutting board with a moat – or a dip around the outside – so the excess juices will be retained. “When it’s time to carve, first remove the legs and thighs in one piece,” says McLachlan. “Then separate the thigh from the drumstick and carve the meat off the thigh if wanted.” From there, McLachlan’s strategy is to cut down the keel bone – the hard ridge that runs between the breasts at the top of the bird – and remove one side of the breast, and then the other. Once each breast is removed, slice it into thick cross sections. McLachlan says this encourages the meat to retain more moisture. “The breast slices may be a bit untraditional,” he adds, “But the taste is better!” At the end of the day, remember that Thanksgiving is more about family than about turkey. Try not to feel too much pressure and take this advice from Rodgers: “If you’re a beginning cook, remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Whoever taught you to make a turkey, they did not learn how to make it overnight. You learn as you go along. Take notes.”
Diane Morgan’s Juniper Brine From “The Thanksgiving Table” (Chronicle Books, 2001) 2/3 cup kosher salt 2/3 cup sugar 5 fresh sage leaves 4 sprigs fresh thyme 2 bay leaves 6 whole cloves 1 teaspoon juniper berries, crushed ½ teaspoon black peppercorns, crushed 2 teaspoons whole allspice berries, crushed Put all the ingredients in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan. Add 8 cups of water and stir to combine. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until the salt and sugar have dissolved. Boil for 3 minutes, then remove from the heat. Add 4 cups of ice-cold water, stir and set aside to cool. Then proceed with the directions for Brined Turkey.
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Pie
Good
Old-Fashioned
Handmade, with a lard crust and a whole lotta love: Why the humble pie will be the best thing you eat all season By Ben Larrison CTW Features Pie and the holidays: They go together like pie and ice cream, or pie and coffee, or pie and a dollop of whipped cream ... is anybody else getting hungry? But why pie, exactly? Why not cake, or brownies, or any of the other delicious options that might typically adorn our dessert plates after a celebratory meal? For some, the attraction
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may simply be nostalgia, but many say it comes down to one simple truth: Pies are made with love. “There’s something very hospitable and warming and memory creating about pie,” says Michael Ciapciak, owner of Bang Pie & Biscuits in Chicago. “You don’t really cook pie from a box. … There’s something about pie that makes people very excited.” Because it involves a bit more labor than other desserts, pie can seem daunting to many bakers. But if you take advantage of a few simple tricks, your pie just may be the star of the meal. So what does it take to make a top-notch pie? As it turns out, experts say one of the most important factors also is the toughest to master: the crust. Just about every pie crust is going to feature some combination of the same ingredients: flour; water; salt; and either butter, lard or shortening (or perhaps, a combination of two of those three). Some recipes also may include a little sugar, but for the most part, the big decision comes down to your choice of fat. Lard has had a resurgence lately, becoming the go-to in some pie-making circles, with its ability to provide a wonderfully flaky texture. Still, many pie aficionados will say that a good, high-quality butter is your best bet if you’re aiming for the most delicious result. “In a nutshell, lard provides the beautiful flaky texture, while butter provides the lovely flavor,” says Ciapciak, who uses a lard-butter mixture in his pie crusts at Bang Bang. “We use a perfect balance of both.” Looking for some additional pie crust tips? Emily Elsen, owner/founder of Four & Twenty Blackbirds in Brooklyn, recommends making pie crusts by hand with a pastry blender, as opposed to using an electric
machine that may overwork the dough. Other tips for a tasty crust include keeping your butter cold, adding your water just one or two tablespoons at a time, and letting the dough rest in the refrigerator for at least an hour before rolling it out. “You want it to be flaky and kind of shaggy, but not too blended to a smooth consistency,” she says. “Don’t be afraid to try (making your own crust),” Elsen adds. “It’s fun, it’s not that difficult, ultimately, and you can say you did it. People appreciate the efforts of homemade pies.” Not surprisingly, the quality of the ingredients in your pie can make a big difference, too. Elsen recommends using fresh, high-fat butter and good unbleached flour. And if you are making a fruit pie – be it apple, blueberry, pear, peach or other – try to source your fruit from somewhere local, and whenever possible, buy fruit that is in season. “If you’re baking a fruit pie, using just truly ripe local produce will really make a difference,” says Adrienne Kane, author of “United States of Pie” (Ecco, 2012). “And if you are making an apple pie, making sure that they are apples that one wants to really eat, not just bake with. The same goes for peaches and berries and what not.” So if you’re thinking about enjoying some pie this holiday season – and there’s a good chance you are – it’s a perfect time to try your hand at your own. It may be a challenge, but Kane says people shouldn’t let that faze them. “Relax, take a deep breath, and realize that it’s just dessert,” says Kane. “Even if the crust is torn or the pie is too juicy or if it doesn’t thicken properly, it’s still going to be delicious, and people are still going to be happy to enjoy a home-baked pie.”
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Callie’s Classic Buttermilk Biscuits 2 cups self-rising flour (White Lily preferred), plus more for dusting 5 tablespoons butter: 4 tablespoons cut in small cubes, at room temperature, and 1 tablespoon melted ¼ cup cream cheese, at room temperature ¾ cup whole buttermilk (may substitute low-fat buttermilk) Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Make sure the oven rack is in the middle position. Measure the flour into a large bowl. Incorporate the cubed butter, then the cream cheese into the flour, using your fingers to “cut in” the butter and cheese until the mixture resembles cottage cheese. It will be chunky with some loose flour. Make a well in the center. Pour in the buttermilk and, using your hands or a small rubber spatula, mix the flour into the buttermilk. The dough will be wet and messy. Sprinkle flour on top of the dough. Run a rubber spatula around the inside of the bowl, creating a separation between the dough and the bowl. Sprinkle a bit more flour in this crease. Flour a work surface or flexible baking mat very well. With force, dump the dough from the bowl onto the surface. Flour the top of the dough and the rolling pin. Roll out the dough to ½-inch thickness into an oval shape. (No kneading is necessary; the less you mess with the dough, the better.)
Bring on the Biscuits
Looking for the perfect side for your holiday meal – or tomorrow’s breakfast? Look no further than biscuits. Long a staple of the South, biscuits have become a national craze in recent years. “A biscuit suggests comfort food,” says Michael Ciapciak, owner of Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits in Chicago. “It suggests memories and things like that. If I said ‘toast,’ it’s not going to resonate the way ‘biscuit’ does.” For those looking to impress with their biscuits, Carrie Morey, owner of Callie’s Charleston Biscuits in Charleston, South Carolina, recommends making them by hand – not with a mixer – and using White Lily flour, if it’s available. Most of all, says Morey, “If you’re going to go to the trouble to make [biscuits], you should make them in bulk, because it does make a mess, they’re gobbled up quickly, and they freeze beautifully.” So don’t hesitate to double – or triple – the recipe.
Flour a 2-inch round metal biscuit cutter or biscuit glass. Start from the edge of the rolled-out dough and cut straight through the dough with the cutter, trying to maximize the number of biscuits cut from this first roll out. Roll out the excess dough after the biscuits are cut and cut more biscuits. As long as the dough stays wet inside, you can use as much flour on the outside as you need to handle the dough. Place the biscuits on a baking sheet with sides lined with parchment paper, or in a cast-iron skillet or a baking pan, with the biscuit sides touching. (It does not matter what size pan or skillet you use as long as the pan has a lip or sides and the biscuits are touching. If you are using a cast iron skillet, no parchment paper is necessary. Brush the tops with the melted butter. Place the pan in the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 450 degrees. Bake 16 to 18 minutes, until light brown on top (or as dark as you prefer), rotating the pan once while baking. Makes about 10 2-inch biscuits From “Callie’s Biscuits and Southern Traditions: Heirloom Recipes from Our Family Kitchen” (Atria Books, 2013) by Carrie Morey — CTW Features
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How to Throw a Gingerbread House Building Party
It’s a holiday tradition, so why haven’t you ever hosted one? It’s a lot easier than you think By Marla R. Miller CTW Features What’s not to love about a gingerbread house building party? Festive and fun, it’s a party filled with candy and other sweet treats, plus guests get the chance to create their own unique, take-home holiday keepsake. A gingerbread party appeals to kids and adults, so you can invite parents to accompany their children or plan one as a way to celebrate the holidays with neighbors and your children’s friends. This theme party is a great way to gather family and friends for the holidays, do a short activity for the kids, and even make it a contest for the creative and competitive guests in the crowd – complete with photos and bragging rights until next year. Best of all, busy parents and budget party planners can pull off the soiree with minimal time and expense, says Andressa Hara, owner of Twinkle Twinkle Little Party, an event planning and design company based in Boise, Idaho.
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Gingerbread House Building Party continued It’s easy to throw together an impressive party with Christmas decorations you already have. “If you would like to throw a small party at home, get a little table, add milk and cookies and cupcakes and you’d be covered,” Hara says. She has hosted her own parties for the last few years, along with organizing them for clients. She says they’re a fun idea for kids. “It actually engages them and keeps them busy, and parents can talk,” Hara says. “I wanted a holiday party that would give the kids something to do rather than run around or just eat sweets.”
Building the Party Basics
Photo: Renee Nicole Design + Photography Concept/Styling: Andressa Hara, Twinkle Twinkle Little Party
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Like any great party, it’s good to start with a theme, then build decorations and activities around it. Hara likes to base her décor on printable templates for things like take-home coloring books, cupcake toppers and wrappers, bottle labels and treat bag labels. “I usually start with my printables and come up with a color palette, an invitation,” she says. “I design a label. They can dress up their drinks, buy regular bottles and wrap them with the Christmas or gingerbread printable.” Along with traditional red-and-green decorations, a Candy Land or Santa’s workshop theme fits with this type of party, says Samantha Antes, owner of Confetti Events, a Washington, D.C.-based party planning company that counts children’s parties among its specialties. “Lots of your decorations can be homemade and made to look like you are in an enchanted forest of candy,” she says. Antes suggests placing big bowls or vases full of different candy around the room. “It looks amazing and it’s double purpose,” she says. “The kids can eat it or use it for their houses and for decorations.” For the actual building process, Antes recommends setting up four to eight stations for partygoers to move around and build their houses in stages. All the “helpers” can dress as Santa’s elves and create a workshop atmosphere. “Put your house together at one, make your roof and add decorations at another,” Antes says. “Play a game; give the kids a break. You can’t just have the focus be on one thing. It can go way too fast or it will take way too long and they will lose interest.” The hostess should plan time for snacks, a reading of “The Gingerbread Man” or other Christmas stories and a few ageappropriate games – or drinks for the adults. This type of party is best suited for ages 6 to 12 and up if they plan to build and decorate on their own. “For older kids, make it into a fun contest and they will really put their effort into it,” Antes says. “With younger kids, it’s just for fun, and older kids like to make it really detailed.” Unless you are a party pro or have a lot of free time, Hara says it’s easier to skip baking the gingerbread pieces from scratch and buy kits from a local store. What makes the party fun is to keep the rules loose and let attendees use some ingenuity and imagination to craft a colorful, candy-coated house they can display during the holiday season. It’s a good way to get people in the spirit and get them excited, Antes says. “A gingerbread house can be as holiday and Christmas-y as you make it,” she says. “No matter how much you celebrate Christmas, it’s a great way to get anyone in the holiday spirit, and they probably won’t go to more than one a year.”
The 4 Gingerbread Party Plan 1
2
3
Get Guests in Order
This party is good for all ages, but it works best for a group of kids age 6 to 12. Think get-to-know your neighbors and their kids, a gathering of extended family members or friends and their children, for school, church and scout groups, or a party for your children’s friends who are close in age. The older kids can build their own, while the younger kids can stick to helping bake and decorate gingerbread man cookies or decorating preassembled houses. The holidays are busy, so send out invitations two or three weeks in advance and plan the party anytime after Thanksgiving through mid-December.
Set the Scene
Decorations and desserts can be simple or elaborate – handmade, store-bought or made by a professional designer and baker. Ideas for an easy but festive dessert table include Christmas cupcakes, iced or gingerbread cookies, candy canes and holiday candy, milk, punch, hot cocoa and other refreshments. Dipped pretzels, cookies, marshmallows, cake balls, cake pops or other homemade candies add a little extra to the party.
Building Supplies
You can make your own gingerbread pieces or buy a kit from a local store. Be sure to buy early before they sell out or give guests enough time to buy their own, and make sure to mention if they need to bring their own on the invitation. Graham crackers also are an easy substitute for smaller-scale houses.
Special Touches
Include gingerbread man- or house-shaped cookies, candy cane-, snowman- or other Christmas-themed cake pops and tops, personalized aprons and labels, decorating stations, photo opportunities with their completed house, and a goody bag big enough to take it home. Keep the party about two hours. Plan time for snacks, stories and the house building activity. — CTW Features
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Myers-Reed Chapel Blood Drive
December 15th 2 pm - 7 pm
We will be collecting non-perishable food items for the Love Chapel. Every donor will also receive a Collectible Colts Football!
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2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 45
Give the Good Stuff!
A Season for Cider Hard apple beverages are all the rage right now. Here’s what to know about the crisp – or dry or sweet – drinks you can try By Ben Larrison CTW Features
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Every holiday has its iconic meals: Thanksgiving has turkey, Christmas has ham and Hanukkah has latkes. But just what are we to drink during these celebrations? Well, this year, a nice hard cider just may be the perfect fit. Long a favorite in Europe, cider’s popularity in the U.S. has soared in recent years, aided by a booming artisanal cider movement. Like wine, cider comes in a wide variety of styles and flavor profiles, and since it’s a “harvest beverage” cider seems all the more appropriate around the holidays. “Now that we have all these choices with cider, and so many that are quite elegant ... it just seems like a perfect fit for me for the holidays,” says Sherrye Wyatt, executive director of the Northwest Cider Association. “I think that they go hand in hand.” Though hard apple drinks are now seen as a major up-and-comer in the alcoholic beverage industry, their history in the U.S. actually is fairly significant. For many of the country’s early settlers, cider was the preferred alternative to an oft-contaminated water supply. Though its popularity waned following Prohibition, the drink has enjoyed resurgence in the past decade, steadily popping up in homes and bars across the country. Today’s American cider scene resembles the early days of the craft beer movement, with a plethora of small, specialized cider
Try a Cider Cocktail
Looking to wow your holiday guests with a killer cocktail that captures the spirit of the season? Cider may be your perfect answer. “Cider drinks well on its own, it pairs great with food, and it lends itself well to cocktails,” says David Sipes, cider maker at Angry Orchard. “It just has this versatility around it.” So for those of you who are looking to get adventurous with your cocktails this holiday season, here is a cider-based recipe courtesy of Virtue Cider and Cristiana DeLucca, mixologist at Bangers & Lace in Chicago.
Kessinger’s Kiss Egg white ¾ ounce lemon juice ¾ ounce grenadine 1 ounce Laird’s Bonded Apple Brandy ¼ ounce Firelit Spirits Coffee Liqueur 2 ounces Virtue Mitten Cider Nutmeg Combine the egg white, lemon juice, grenadine, apple brandy and coffee liqueur in a Boston shaker glass or cocktail shaker with ice. Give it a nice, long shake (your arms may get tired). Pour into a glass with ice. Top with the cider and grate on some fresh nutmeg. — CTW Features makers offering entries in an industry that is otherwise dominated by a few household brands. “There’s ranges in quality of cider, just as there are in every other industry,” says Tim Larsen, co-owner of Snowdrift Cider Co. in Wenatchee, Washington. “So if [people] prefer artisanal wines or craft beers, then they’re going to enjoy a more artisanal cider. If they enjoy a domestic product, like PBR, or if they enjoy a Mike’s Hard Lemonade, then there are going to be a lot of mass-produced things out there for their palate.” When it comes to your holiday feast, there is almost certainly a satisfying cider to complement your meal. Tieton Cider Works, in Tieton, Washington, even puts together a “menu” of cider pairings around the holiday season. (For recipes, visit tietonciderworks.com/tieton/pairings) Sharon Campbell, co-owner and creative director for Tieton Cider Works, says that for a big turkey dinner, people should actually consider basing their pairings around the side dishes, since turkey is versatile enough to pair well with most ciders. A dry cider, she says, can go well with butternut squash or savory bread pudding, while sweeter ciders work nicely with potatoes. As for Campbell’s personal Thanksgiving favorite? “We do a (sweeter) cherry cider, and I take that every Thanksgiving,” Campbell says. “And I have to say, it was like the perfect Thanksgiving cider. It went with the sweet potatoes, and it went with the dressing, it went with the savory bread pudding. It went with everything.” So if you are new to the world of cider, the holidays may be the perfect time to give it a try. “Apple season is late summer into the fall, so it makes sense that people think of cider as something that evokes a feeling of the holidays and the nostalgia that goes along with them,” says Greg Hall, former Goose Island brewmaster and founder of Virtue Cider. “Cider goes great with food, and the holidays bring great feasts, so we’re happy to be a part of people’s tradition.”
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decor
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The Scents of the
Season
From evergreens to spices, here’s how to fill your home with a festive aroma By Laura Depta CTW Features Holiday decorating isn’t just about making a home look beautiful – it’s about filling the space with holiday treats and trimmings that appeal to all five senses. If scent is the strongest sense tied to memory, then certainly a home overflowing with warm, festive aromas will help make the holiday season especially memorable. A traditional, live Christmas tree is a great place to start. Bert Cregg, associate professor in the department of forestry at Michigan
continued
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Scents continued State University, says that scent is one of the primary reasons why people choose to purchase live Christmas trees. “The tree is part of the overall experience,” says Cregg, a prominent researcher of Christmas tree systems. “I think three factors – the tradition, the experience and then, of course, the scent – if you’re talking about why people have a real tree instead of a fake tree.” Tree popularity depends somewhat on what part of the United States consumers live in, but in terms of the most aromatic, there are a few sure-fire home runs. “Fraser fir certainly has a very pleasant scent,” says Cregg. “But balsam fir is – in terms of scent – probably at the top of the list. Balsam fir has what most people would describe as a Christmas tree scent.” Cregg also recommends noble fir for consumers in the northwestern United States and concolor fir for those who appreciate a more unique look. “Concolor fir can have a very bluish
color to it,” says Cregg. “But the unique thing about concolor fir is that it has a very pronounced scent – a very pleasant scent – and it reminds most people of a citrus-y smell.” With any tree, Cregg stipulates that the key to retaining scent is retaining needles, and the ways to do that are to buy the tree as fresh as possible and to make sure it stays hydrated. “You just want to keep the water to them,” says Cregg. “And the fact that they’re going through a lot of water is a good thing. That means that the tree is functioning and it’s keeping those needles fresh, going to keep the scent going.” In addition to a beautiful tree, all that holiday cooking will certainly fill any home with delicious smells. Beatrice Ojakangas, author of “The Great Holiday Baking Book” (University of Minnesota Press, 2001), recommends baking yeast breads or anything with sweet spices – cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg –
Peppernuts
Try this recipe to add a pleasant (and tasty) holiday aroma to your home From: The Great Holiday Baking Book (University of Minnesota Press, 2001) by Beatrice Ojakangas 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature 1 cup packed brown sugar 1 egg 1 cup ground toasted filberts or almonds 2½ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon freshly ground cardamom ½ teaspoon cinnamon
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½ teaspoon ground cloves ½ teaspoon ground allspice ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar add the egg and nuts. In another bowl mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, allspice and nutmeg. Blend the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture to make a stiff dough. (At this point you can wrap the dough and refrigerate it to develop the flavor, for up to a week.) Cut off portions of the dough and roll each between your hands and a lightly floured board to make slim ropes about ½ inch thick. Cut into ½ inch pieces and place on baking sheet. Bake 8 minutes or until light brown and dry. Remove from the oven and cool on the baking sheet. Serve them piled in a basket or large bowl.
to really saturate the air with those warm holiday fragrances. “Those are the things that people notice if they step in the door and you’ve been baking,” says Ojakangas. “You bake with certain spices through the holiday season, and that kind of decorates the air.” In terms of cooking, she recommends a roast. “Whenever you’re cooking, you’re going to put aromas into the air, and that’s a good thing,” says Ojakangas. “But the ones that end up being particularly holiday I think are the sweet spices, and I do things like rub them into roasts.” If the needles on a real tree or the nuances of baking aren’t particularly preferable, don’t worry. There are always alternative ways to keep a home smelling wonderful. If a tree is simply too big or too much hassle, consider purchasing a real wreath as a more manageable option. The Yankee Candle Co. offers its classic jarred candles both in balsam fir and Christmas cookie scents, and candles have the added benefit of looking beautiful, too. Diffusing pure essential oils like clove or cinnamon is another way to get that same aromatic effect.
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How to shine a light on the classroommade projects kids bring home this time of year By Jessica Royer Ocken CTW Features Decorating for the holidays is a special activity for many families, and excitement mounts as box after box appears from storage. But with an array of school-age artists in the mix, things can get tricky. “I love to transform the house, but I usually feel a bit overwhelmed trying to find room for all of our decorations,” confesses mother of three Tina Jacobs, an artist and illustrator who operates Tina Jacobs Designs in St. Louis. “While our collection of standard holiday/party décor rarely expands, the children’s collections of art and crafts grow each year.” But this is a challenge worth tackling, say Jacobs, who is echoed by other art pros and moms. Not only do kids’ creations add whimsy to holiday décor, displaying them sends an important message to budding artists. “I absolutely love children’s art and think it is important to display it in a beautiful way in your home,” says Lauren Hufnagl, a Pennsylvania-based mom of two who blogs about children’s design at ALovelyLark.com. “Not only does this show your children that their creations are valuable to you, it is also very beautiful and can really add life to any space.” Worthy goals, for certain, but when the glittery pictures and tiny sculptures are piling up, what’s the best way to give each its due?
Mix ’n’ Match on the Tree
Made with Love, Displayed with Love 52 * 2014 HOLIDAY Guide
“Around the holidays, I use the decorations my kids made just like decorations I’ve purchased at the store,” says Cathy MacArthur, a mom for 30 years and nine-year veteran art teacher in public and private New Jersey schools. Over the years she’s kept a box of each child’s handmade crafts, and although she sent the boxes with her older kids when they left home, she kept the Christmas ornaments, marked carefully with their names, the date of creation and the teacher who helped. “My tree is a hodgepodge of handmade and purchased ornaments,” she says. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way!”
Put the Spotlight on Kid-Made Creations However, items other than ornaments require further imagination. Jacobs reserves mantel space in her home for holiday canvases her children have painted, “and they look brilliant with candles or Christmas lights illuminating them.” She also likes to display ceramics and handmade trinkets on her buffet and sofa table, because this puts them right at kids’ eye level. “Their art comes to life when surrounded by the rest of our standard decorations,” she says. “We all have memories associated with each piece too, so many sentimental conversations come up during these times.” Jacobs has framed some of her kids’ favorite holiday creations over the years, and she swaps some of her home’s usual wall hangings for these pieces during the season. “In our house we have framed children’s art hanging right next to old Italian oil paintings. In my eyes they all hold the same precious value.”
Get Creative You also might consider hanging arty offerings from a wire or curtain rod, clipped onto a sheet of chicken wire with clothespins or tacked up around a doorway as you do with holiday cards. Hufnagl has compiled an assortment of options for displaying children’s art – holiday and otherwise – on her blog, ALovelyLark.com (search “children’s art”). And finally, when you’re physically out of home gallery space, consider virtual storage for these treasures. The Artkive app ($4.99, iOS) not only keeps a shareable catalog of kids’ creations, it offers an easy interface for printing custom hardcover books that just need a coffee table to sit on. (Kendall’s Kindergarten Creations, anyone? A Holiday Retrospective from the Gardner Family?) Or visit www.artsonia.com, the world’s largest kids’ art museum, to create an online gallery presence for your munchkins’ masterpieces.
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Real vs. Fake When to go with the real deal for your holiday décor and when to opt for some artificial assistance
54 * 2014 HOLIDAY Guide
By Jill Jaracz CTW Features The most wonderful time of the year can be the most beautiful time of the year in your home. Yet transforming your rooms into magical holiday wonderlands can be stressful, as every year the hunt is on for the perfect real tree or wreath. Do you have to shop for a new tree every year, or can you create inspirational memories with fake greenery? “It’s about traditions,” says Kade Laws, owner of Kade Laws Interior Design in Magnolia Springs, Alabama, when talking about what makes real decorations, including trees, wreaths and garlands, so special when decorating for the holidays. Adds Christine Haught of Christine Haught, Ltd. Interior Design in Shaker Heights, Ohio: “We all can harken back to a time as a child or teenager where you say, ‘This is Christmas for me.” Barbara Izzo, owner of Nesting Interiors in Milford, Connecticut, is a proponent of using live elements when decorating for the holidays. “You’re bringing the outdoors in,” she says. “There’s just something about real. You just can’t fool the eye.” Izzo says she’s decorated homes with beautiful fake Christmas trees and garland, but you can always tell when the tree is fake. “It’s undeniable,” she says, noting that ornaments hang differently when dangling off a real Christmas tree. However, artificial decorations have their place, too, and can make up some of the downsides that real décor has, including the mess of needles, dealing with allergies and potential fire hazards. Other not-so-fun elements of using real décor is that pets can attack or mark on trees, and you may find unwanted bugs or rodents hiding in them. “Fake options have come a long way as far as the look, and some even offer a reasonable facsimile as far as the scent,” says Sarah Goodman, a freelance designer in Minneapolis. One attractive element of buying fake is that you don’t have to shell out cash year after year to purchase the essential elements like trees, wreaths and garland. Over time, if you store them properly and can get years of use out of them, you’ll save money by investing in artificial decorations. “You can spend $300 on a tree and fake garland and do that once. You wrap it and have it
forever. You’re not reinventing the wheel,” Laws says. Fake also can be a time saver. “If kept dry and in proper storage, the decorations should only require being unpacked, maybe dusted and fluffed and be ready to enjoy,” adds Goodman. Still, when buying artificial décor, don’t automatically go for the lowest price tag. “If you’re going to buy fake, you’ve got to buy the best,” Izzo says. Many designers believe you don’t have to be a hard-line realist or solely an artificial aficionado. Mixing the two also can be a great option. “Fake with small amounts of real is the way to go in terms of cost and budget,” Haught says. She recommends mixing in real greenery on fake garlands to create a more realistic look and also get that magical holiday smell that real pine trees and branches provide. Weaving together real and fake garland and branches also can create an illusion of fullness that you can’t get by using just one or the other. “When you
just glance, it looks completely real. You can’t quite tell because it’s mixed in so well,” Laws says. With some design elements like fruit, it pays to be careful with whether or not you opt to go real or fake. “There’s nothing worse than something that looks like a plastic apple,” says Laws. Instead, Laws recommends putting real fruit such as cherries, red pears and citrus into a tall clear vase and submerging them in water. Artificial fruit can have its place though. “[If you get] fake fruit, get some that is not too plastic or obvious, then make it artsy,” says Haught, suggesting mixing it with mercury glass balls so it doesn’t look so fake. Whatever your choice in type of holiday décor, to keep it memorable, Haught says it’s important to change it. “Every year when you take out your décor, don’t do the same thing. Keep on freshening it, mixing it, giving it new life. That’s what’s going to keep it interesting.”
continued
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2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 55
Trees continued
Know Your Tree
Spruce
Pines, firs and spruces all are conifers, and all will look great in your home. Still, every decorator should know the provenance of their Christmas tree. Here is how to tell the difference (hint: go straight to the needle).
Spruce trees’ needles are sharply pointed, square and easily can be rolled between your fingers. Spruce needles also are attached to small, woody, stalk-like projections that remain on the branch after the needles are shed. Compared to pine cones, spruce cones have thinner, more flexible scales.
Pines The needles on pine trees are attached to the branches in clusters of two, three or five needles. Red pines have two-needle clusters; yellow pines have three-needle clusters; white pines have fiveneedle clusters. The needles on firs and spruces are attached to the branches individually. Cones on pine trees have scales that are woody and rigid.
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Firs Fir needles are soft, flat and cannot easily be rolled between your fingers. Firs also do not have the small projections that spruce trees do and, thus, have smoother bark. Where cones on pines and spruces hang from branches, cones on fir trees are upright and smoother in texture. Source: Iowa State University Forestry Extension; Michigan State University Extension
Getting the Hang of the Holidays
Try one of these high-flying acts to add some festive glamour to your holiday home By Alice Oglethorpe CTW Features During any other time of year, stringing up random items around the home looks odd and haphazard. But around the holidays, hanging ornaments, mistletoe, wreaths, bells and more from the ceiling can be an easy way to give a home a glamorous and festive feel.
courtesy of Melanie Collette
Easy Does It
The easiest project is to take something that is already hanging and add holiday items to it. That’s how Barbara Matson did it. “I’m not one to break the bank when I decorate for the holidays,” says Matson, who lives just outside Vancouver and blogs on home décor at MarkovaDesign.com. “I have a gorgeous crystal chandelier over my dining room table and decided to hang some [Christmas] balls from it with pretty ribbon.” Matson made sure to keep the balls high enough so they wouldn’t interfere with people dining or candles on the table. “I also hung crystals from an iron chandelier in my kitchen, strung up a glittery sign that says Noel in front of a mirror and hung wreaths in front of my windows,” she says.
Get Your Craft On
Jessica Sykes, a crafter in New Port Richey, Florida, literally turned things on end when she made a wreath to hang from her ceiling. “I wanted to use some of the vertical space in my home, so I bought the largest foam wreath ring I could find in a craft store, wrapped it in faux garland and sprayed it with flocking paint to give it the look of being frosted with snow,” she says. “I then tied it in three different places with cording and hung it from a hook on the ceiling.” Once it was in place, Sykes decorated the wreath with different ornaments. “You don’t have to make it all yourself,” she says. “You could get a real wreath or a faux one that was already made. And I did just silver ornaments, but you could combine them with gold and green ones as well.”
courtesy of Jessica Sykes
Inspirations for Small Spaces
Hanging decorations help make the most of a tight spot, such as doorways or nooks. Melanie Collette, a crafter blogger in Mesa, Arizona, found large bells for a low price and bought some to hang over a small bar area in the kitchen. “I had seen ornaments on ribbons hanging in windows, but I wanted something a little more substantial in my home,” says Collette, who blogs at CraftyCupboard.net. She took a white three-quarter-inch dowel rod that was six feet long and wrapped it with red tape so it looked like a striped candy cane. “I screwed some hooks into the ceiling and tied ribbon to the rod and hung it on the hooks. Then I used ribbon to hang the bells from the rod along with snowflakes, stars and glitter balls,” she says. “Everyone compliments me when they see it.”
2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 57
By Ben Larrison CTW Features
T
here’s no time like the holidays. They are a time of family, tradition and celebration – and of a very particular aesthetic. Wherever you live, from the Northeast to the Southwest, every household has that certain idea of what the holiday home looks like. And whether that’s a snow-covered lawn and a grand Christmas tree, a menorah shimmering on the windowsill or a palm tree adorned in multicolored lights, it just wouldn’t be the holidays without our favorite decorations. Of course, for all the more secular traditions of our seasonal celebrations, there also are plenty of holiday decorations rooted in religious traditions. And while the origins of these religious items are fixed in history, a number of designers have begun producing modern takes on traditional pieces, giving people a new way to celebrate their faith with some added flair. Perhaps the most recognizable religious décor from the holiday season is the Nativity scene. Sometimes called the manger scene, the Nativity scene depicts the birth of Jesus and often features a wide array of other characters and figures surrounding the baby Jesus. It has become a fixture, in various forms and styles, in many holiday living rooms. “Obviously, throughout history, there’s a lot of passion behind that scene,” says Rich Roat, co-founder of House Industries, a Yorklyn, Delaware, design firm. “It’s one of the first things I remember: My grandmother setting up her Nativity set. I think it’s something that’s pretty ingrained in the Latin world.” Alessi, the Italy-based housewares and design company, for years has produced a line of whimsical Christmas figures and ornaments. These items are a great way for families to spread traditions from one generation to the next, says Paolo Cravedi, managing director of Alessi USA. “Every year, in the tradition of the Nativity scene, we keep adding new figurines and new characters,” Cravedi says. “I think that’s a way you can have something that is very respectful of the tradition, and of the religious traditions, but also have a very modern and unique take. Because you can see a lot of these Nativity scenes … that are passed down from generation to generation, and they are (often) very expensive. So we think this is a very modern way to do it.” Nativity scene designs have evolved over the centuries to reflect the changes in trends and styles of the day, and modern Nativity scenes are no exception. Roat’s House Industries produces a Nativity scene based on wood-panel illustrations by famed American designer Alexander Girard. The scenes’ pieces are screen-printed by hand on locally sourced wood and, says Roat, were inspired by a visit to an exhibition on the late artist at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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How to Celebrate with Faith and Fun
From handed-down heirlooms to modern, whimsical designs, faith-focused décor items are some of the most cherished, unique items of the season. Here’s why we love them. “It was just a really cool piece that was really pretty, and that a lot of people could relate to – and, plus, we loved it,” Roat says. “And regardless of any religious (connection), it was just a really cool piece that we felt needed to see the light of day.” The same sort of attitude toward religious décor as an artistic statement also has taken hold in the world of Judaica – specifically, Hanukkahrelated items like the menorah, a seven- or ninebranched candelabra used to celebrate the holiday.
Laurie Gross, lead creative designer at Laurie Gross Studios in Santa Barbara, California, says that while her Judaica designs are very modern, they all are inspired by an interest in “uplifting the objects that we use for Jewish purposes.” “The work that I do primarily comes out of my Jewish tradition,” Gross says. “I would say it’s an expression of my Jewish soul. So I have an interest in creating beautiful ritual objects.” Gross says her first menorah design, an elegant glass sculpture, was inspired by an eastern
Jonathan Adler (2); House Industries
European menorah from the 1800s that she had seen in a book, giving the piece a quality that embraces the menorah’s historical tradition. “Today, there are people who have menorah collections, or dreidel collections when it comes to Hanukkah, so I think there is a bit more of an awareness of having these objects in our homes as a way to signify our homes,” says Gross. “So I think it’s about identity, and I think it’s also about celebration at a time of year when everyone else is celebrating, too.”
Modern home décor and housewares company Jonathan Adler has featured uniquely designed Hanukkah items, including ceramic menorahs in fun designs, such as elephants, dachshunds and people (reversible with a young face on one side, an older face on the other). The African heritage festival Kwanzaa boasts several distinct traditional items, including the kinara candleholder and the unity cup, that have become an important part of any celebration. Whatever holiday you are celebrating, tradition-
inspired décor has come to represent more than just religion or history. It’s also an artistic symbol of the season, and designers recognize the weight these items carry. “It’s something that we would never take lightly, because of how important they are,” Cravedi says. “And it’s a particular moment in life for everybody, the holidays, when families get together. Whether it’s a religious connotation, or if it’s just family getting together, it’s a very important moment for people.”
For Your Support...Columbus 27th Anniversary
at Johnson-Witkemper, Inc.
43rd Anniversary at Marvin Johnson & Associates, Inc.
305 Washington Street, Columbus, Indiana
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Local and family owned, Johnson-Witkemper Insurance wants to invite you to call us for the best in service and competitive insurance programs. Whether it be for Auto, Home, Business, Life or Health Insurance, we promise to do our best for you. 2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 59
gifts
60 * 2014 HOLIDAY Guide
How to Give
the Best Gifts Ever
Some gifts they want, and some gifts they want to return. Here’s how to be sure to give a great one.
By Marla R. Miller CTW Features There are great gifts, and there are notso-great gifts, and luckily for you, we know just what they are. If gift-giving gives you anxiety, here’s a bit of good news: 70 percent of people polled in an online survey last year said they were happy with most of their gifts, with very few claiming to have returned or re-gifted a majority of the presents they received. That said, cash remains king, with iPads, clothing, cars, vacations and jewelry ranking among the best gifts by respondents of a survey of more than 6,500 online buyers via Bizrate Insights. Socks and a sweater topped the list as worst presents – so, unless you have written or verbal confirmation that those wool or cotton items are desired, set them down and slowly step back. In general, spouses and significant others did the best at selecting gifts, with women dropping hints and making lists to make sure they got what they wanted. Parents ranked No. 1 as gift givers, according to Millennials, but at the same time, both Gen Y (the Millennials) and Gen X were the hardest to please. Nearly half of respondents in those groups returned at least one gift. They also were most likely to resell gifts on eBay. For that very reason – the anxiety of pleasing – holiday shopping is usually met with indecision and procrastination. It’s hard to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list and stay within budget. Some best bets from the 2013 holiday were tablets and TVs, along with electric toothbrushes and athletic shoes, according to market research by The NPD Group. But there are many thoughtful gift ideas to consider beyond the latest technology and national retailers, says Lisa Emmons, a personal shopper, professional stylist and owner of Posh Image Consulting in the Tampa Bay, Florida, area. You can shop from local artists and boutiques for unique jewelry, clothing and gourmet food, or buy a spa package or gift certificates to a professional sporting event, play or concert. As small business owners, she and her husband made their own wine to give to clients last Christmas. Champagne or wine with chocolates for pairing, or gift cards for wine making or beer brewing courses are good for busy professionals, couples, singles and clients, Emmons says. Other ideas for couples are things they can do together in their area that will help them reconnect, depending on their hobbies and interests. Emmons suggests spa treatments, dinner, dancing lessons, theater tickets, cooking classes or an outdoor event they can enjoy together. Busy moms may enjoy books, a massage or other pampering treatment, a package to their favorite spa, or a luxury clutch, fashion scarf or shoes.
continued 2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 61
Best continued Makeup and skin care gift sets and gift cards for Sephora, Victoria’s Secret and other luxury brands are safe bets for women. Ideas for men include tickets to a game, sporting good items, fashion scarf or dress shoes, cologne, devices, personal accessories and tools. Seniors were the most enthusiastic about the gifts they received, according to the survey of online shoppers. Good gifts for grandparents are books, movie tickets or theater shows, dinner gift cards, dancing lessons or home improvement cards – or something they need or want but wouldn’t buy themselves. Teens are often the hardest to buy for, but gift certificates for the movies or a concert, any technology they are into or accessories are a change of pace from clothes, Emmons says. “You really need to know what they like because teens are very difficult to shop for,” she says. “Actually gift cards may be a great option so they can pick out what they want. If not, always get a gift receipt.” As children are more technologically savvy than ever before and into electronics at earlier ages, parents are under a lot of pressure to deliver on their
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(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
62 * 2014 HOLIDAY Guide
2015 Golf PASS
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children’s wish lists. Nearly 45 percent of people planned to buy toys as gifts last year, according to National Retail Federation’s 2013 holiday consumer survey. Children continue to ask for classic toys – Barbie, LEGO – but they also want hightech gifts like tablets/iPads and game consoles like Xbox One and PlayStation 4, according to NRF’s 2013 Top Toys survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics. For the first time last year, iPads were among the most popular gifts for both girls and boys, with demand among young girls being slightly higher, according to the survey. People who are too busy to shop may find it easier to hire a personal shopper. They usually meet with clients in person, via phone or over the Internet and go over questions about the person they are shopping for. Emmons, like other personal shoppers, and several websites offer virtual shopping services. She recommends people make sure they are certified and have a website and social media pages since it does involve divulging financial information. “We find out as much as we can about the individual and what they like, their personality and lifestyle,” she says. “It helps to know a little about them because you want to get something they actually enjoy. I really get to know my clients. Even if it is virtual, there’s a series of questions we go through.”
Holiday Cheer
Enjoy Daily WinE anD BEEr tastings pardieck winery & vineyard
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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!
FEED THE HORSES IN THE WINTER AND CLEAN OUT THE BARN WITH THE BRANSON 2400H • 4 wheel drive • Power steering • Hand and foot throttle • 24 HP • Hydrostatic with high and low • Mid mount PTO for bellymower
DAVE’S FARM SERVICE, LLC
50 N. Eisenhower Dr., Edinburgh, IN | 812-526-5504 | Toll Free: 1-866-778-5504
www.davesfarmservice.com
2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 63
By Rachel Graf CTW Features Great stories – be they on a screen or in a book – all have a clear beginning, middle and end. But just because the storyline concludes doesn’t mean that children necessarily have to say goodbye to their favorite characters. Sales of licensed toys – toys that incorporate characters from popular movies, books or television series – accounted for nearly 30 percent of total brick-and-mortar toy dollar sales in 2013, according to a recent report by the NPD Group, a 3 percent increase over the previous year. The popularity is due in part to children’s desire to interact with these fictional characters and immerse themselves in their world. “The toys are really a great way for kids to engage with the characters and role play or even just play out favorite scenes from the movie,” said Laurie Leahey, senior editor of consumer site TTPM, which reviews toys and other kid-focused products. “It’s all about letting them re-enact the movie and immerse themselves in that world.” Overall, licensed toy sales reached $5.3 billion last year, according to the NPD Group report. In 2013, boys accounted for more
The Right Cast of
Characters The toys from their favorite books, movies and TV shows are the easiest gifts to give – and the ones they’re most excited to receive. Here’s why licensed toys are the best bets for Christmas morning.
Doc McStuffins Talking and Singing Doll ($25), Backpack ($23)
64 * 2014 HOLIDAY Guide
“‘Frozen”: Sven Plush ($20), Elsa & Anna Classic Dolls ($17), Olaf Plush ($40) toys than girls did, with boys ages 3 to 11 making up 44 percent of all licensed dollar sales, whereas girls ages 3 to 11 comprised only 26 percent of sales. The numbers might be more equal this year, following the sweeping success of Disney’s animated film “Frozen.” Currently, it is one of the top-selling licenses of 2014. Marvel licenses – “The Avengers,” “Guardians of the Galaxy” – tend to be successful, as well, but their popularity plateaus after the second or third movie because there are only so many versions of masked and caped characters with which children can play. Other popular lines include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Wars and Disney’s Doc McStuffins and Dora the Explorer. These character toys are so successful because they typically target a wide audience and are fun for the whole family.
“Star Wars was always very good at being able to create an experience that appeals to all ages,” said Richard Gottlieb, CEO of Global Toy Experts, a toy industry consultancy in New York. “So I think that’s a real key – that the family together really enjoy it, that it’s cross-generational.” “Frozen” certainly meets the criteria of reaching multiple maturity levels, says Gottlieb, as do items from “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Marvel’s latest box-office smash. These stories incorporate “winks” at an older audience that children usually do not understand. Such winks help pull in parents and older siblings to what might otherwise seem like an overly childish story. A successful movie or television show or book, however, is not always enough of a reason for toy stores to stock the latest, greatest licensed toys. Small, independent toy stores that carefully choose which
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Guardians of the Galaxy Battle FX Star-Lord ($20), left. Groot, center, and Gamora figures come as part of GOTG action figure 2-packs ($10).
thecommonscolumbus.com 2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 65
Characters continued toys they carry put a heavy emphasis on a toy’s play value, says Kathleen McHugh, president of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association. “If the child can’t do anything with it, then [the specialty toy stores] wouldn’t even consider having it,” McHugh says. TTPM publishes reviews, videos and live price updates for toys, and they rank items on their repeat play value, Leahey says. Toys with a high play value are items that kids can play with for hours at a time. These products tend to be open-ended and promote fun, creative play. “Parents don’t want to spend money if their kid’s just going to throw it in the toy box and never see it again,” Leahey says. “We also look at things like is it something that’s interesting for kids to play with and does it really help them interact with the character in a fun way.” For this reason dolls, action figures and costumes or accessories that promote role play are especially popular. “Frozen” has had
Clockwise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Movie Assault Van ($30), Stretch ‘n’ Shout Leo ($23), Turtle Sub Underwater Stealth Shell ($21), Basic Movie Roleplay Leo ($18)
A Tree For A Life
Full hair services, spray tans and massages.
Nicholas McGuire, for his Senior Project, and the Bartholomew County 4H Fairgrounds will plant 50 trees around the perimeter of the Fairgounds to represent a family member of anyone who would like to purchase a memorial tree.
Don’t know what to get? Let her decide with a Gift Certificate!
$200 - 1 tree with plaque $150 - 1 tree without plaque
GIFT CERTIFICATES
Facials, Manicures & Pedicures
1260 Jackson St., Columbus, Indiana Phone 812-376-9194 • afhinc@att.net
To purchase a tree for your lost loved one contact Nick McGuire 812-379-4753
Fisher’s Flower Basket
662 N Gladstone Ave, Columbus, IN 47201 (812) 372-6688 fishersflowers@sbcglobal.net
66 * 2014 HOLIDAY Guide
“Star Wars”: From left, Chewbacca Plush ($20), Rebels Stormtrooper Blaster ($22), Inquisitor Lightsaber ($30), Black Series Speeder Bike ($50), Black Series Yoda ($11), Inquisitor TIE ($40), Black Series Luke Skywalker ($23)
such success with its licensed toys because of the wide appeal of both the movie and its soundtrack. Although many factors contribute to a certain license’s success, such as its breadth of appeal, variety of toy types and a bit of luck, the storyline likely has some influence as well. “Frozen” is one of the first Disney movies in which the story’s heroine does not rely on an external force to save her. Anna has no fairy godmother or prince to rescue her at the end of the movie. Instead, with her selfless act of sisterly love she saves her own life. Young girls who have seen the movie sing along to the movie’s soundtrack with such expression and emotion that Gottlieb thinks this might be an indication that the young audience has been moved by the movie’s plot line. “This is all about being able to do it yourself and that the power’s in you, and I think that those that make intellectual property would be wise to pay attention to that,” Gottlieb says. “It wasn’t just that she was strange and she learned to use her powers. It was really about self-empowerment.”
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Skate with Santa
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Gift Certificates Available Visit our pro shop for skating and hockey supplies, Rent a private party for your group or organization! (Session times subject to change for special events.)
Hamilton Center Ice Arena 2501 Lincoln Park Drive • Columbus, IN (812) 376-2686 www.columbusparksandrec.com
2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 67
Mariah Carey “Me. I Am Mariah … The Elusive Chanteuse” (Island Records, 2014)
Weezer “Everything Will Be Alright In The End” (Universal Republic, 2014)
Eminem “Shady XV” (Aftermath Records, 2014)
Tori Amos “Unrepentant Geraldines” (Mercury Classics, 2014)
Beck “Morning Phase” (Capitol, 2014)
Martina McBride “Everlasting” (Vinyl Recordings, 2014)
Natalie Merchant “Natalie Merchant” (Nonesuch, 2014)
Counting Crows
I Still Love the ’90s! 10 hot new albums from some of the decade’s top artists Don’t look now, but the ’90s were officially so long ago that they are now considered retro cool. And anybody who came of age in that decade will be happy to tell you it was the best of times – especially when it came to the music. For those on your list feeling nostalgic, these new releases from iconic ’90s acts will offer the two best gifts money can buy: music and feeling like a kid again. —Matthew M. F. Miller
68 * 2014 HOLIDAY Guide
“Somewhere Under Wonderland” (Capitol, 2014)
Tim McGraw “Sundown Heaven Town” (Big Machine, 2014)
Foo Fighters “Sonic Highways” (RCA, 2014)
2014 CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER “Locomotive,” written and illustrated by Brian Floca (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, $18)
All That Glitters Is Gold These books are sure to please the child on your list, and they have the bling to prove it
I
t’s OK to judge a kids book by its cover. When you see that shiny medal badge on the cover signifying the title is a winner or honoree of the Newbery Medal (tops in children’s literature) or the Caldecott Medal (best in picture books), you know it’s going to be good. Here are the distinguished books for 2014:
2014 NEWBERY MEDAL WINNER “Flora & Ulysses: The Animated Adventures,”
2014 CALDECOTT HONOR BOOKS “Journey,” written and illustrated by Aaron Becker (Candlewick Press $16) “Flora and the Flamingo,” written and illustrated by Molly Idle (Chronicle Books, $17) “Mr. Wuffles!” written and illustrated by David Wiesner (Clarion Books $18) — CTW Features
by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick Press, $18)
2014 NEWBERY HONOR BOOKS “Doll Bones,” by Holly Black (Margaret K. McElderry Books, $18) “The Year of Billy Miller,” by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books, $17) “One Came Home,” by Amy Timberlake (Alfred A. Knopf, $7) “Paperboy,” by Vince Vawter (Delacorte Press, $17)
NEWBERY MEDAL WINNER, #TBT Edition
Serigraphs Custom Framing Mirrors
“The Giver,” by Lois Lowry (Laurel-Leaf Press, $10) 1994 Newbery Medal Winner, now a major motion picture 2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 69
Gifts That Feed Their Passion The perfect food-focused presents for the person who lives in the kitchen By Jill Jaracz CTW Features The holidays are a special time for foodies. From elaborate holiday meals to elegant cocktail parties to extensive holiday desserts, this is a time where foodies can shine. It’s only natural to give the friend who’s basically a celebrity chef – at least in their own kitchen – a gift they can use year-round for their next culinary creation. The first trick to buying a gift for the food lover is to know how well they know their way around the kitchen. “Most people come in [to our store] trying to find the perfect kitchen gadget, which is easy for the budding chef but not as easy for the experienced cook,” says Linwood Bradley, lead merchant at Southern Season, a housewares mecca with locations in North and South Carolina and Virginia. Bradley suggests getting the budding chef a trendy gadget or a practical kitchen tool. “Also, many budding chefs are using less-thangreat knives, so a knife upgrade is always appreciated.” But what if the foodie friend has all the tools covered? “Here’s the thing most people forget: foodie equals entertainer,” says Bradley. “Generally, people who love food love to entertain, so I guide the gift giver to that side.” With that in mind, here are some gift ideas that can help your foodie friends not just with their holiday masterpieces but also with their culinary creations all year long.
Gefu Spirelli Spiral Slicer ($30) This tool makes creating julienne vegetables a breeze. It works with firm vegetables such as carrots, squash, zucchini and cucumbers, and is perfect for slicing veggies for stir-fries and pasta.
Chef’n MixQuick ($30) Chef ’n is a company that’s “always coming up with improvements in the kitchen,” says Jim Hill, owner of KitchenWares by Blackstones in Boston, who cites the Chef ’n strawberry huller as a perennial big seller. The MixQuick hand is a manual hand mixer that comes with interchangeable blades: a single or double-wire whisk, a frother and a universal mixer. “It’s better than, quite different and more functional than any mixer we’ve seen,” says Hill.
Vacu Vin Coconut Opener ($12) Coconut water has become one of the hot beverages of the last couple of years. This tool now allows you to get your own supply directly from the coconut. “It also halves a coconut quickly so you can get to the meat easily,” says Liz Songer, buyer at The Chopping Block, a cooking school and housewares store in Chicago.
Shucker Paddy Oyster Knife ($20) Seafood lovers can have a devil of a time getting oysters open, but Songer says this tool makes it easy to shuck them. “This distinctively
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shaped oyster knife, designed by the world’s fastest oyster shucker, makes it easy to pop open oysters with less pressure than traditional knives,” she says.
Prepara Evak Food Storage Containers These award-winning glass and stainless steel storage containers (prices vary) are perfect for the friend who has a lot of specialty ingredients on hand. The container has a twin-valve system that releases air as you push down the lid, which keeps the food fresher for a longer period of time. “It’s perfect for storing coffee, tea, dried fruits, granola, herbs, et cetera,” says Songer.
Slate Serving Trays Slate boards are perfect for serving cheeses, charcuterie platters or other hors d’oeuvres. With a piece of chalk your friend can label each item to make a beautiful display.
All-Clad Copper-Core Cookware For the high-end gift, check out cookware manufacturer AllClad’s line of stainless-covered copper cookware (from $140). These pots have “all the wonderful benefits of copper cookware, but with a regular stainless steel cooking surface,” says Hill. The copper promotes better conductivity, while the stainless steel is easier to clean.
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Then & Now
Favorites 5 big-name Hollywood titles get modern-day updates
One of Hollywood’s most prolific abilities – for good or ill – is taking a beloved title or franchise and jolting it back to life in a new shape or form. Here are five that got a makeover in 2014.
“GODZILLA”
The King of the Monsters has spent decades terrorizing the world in movies, books and video games, the most recent of which is the 2014 Warner Bros. blockbuster featuring Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”). Just as impressive is Ishiro Honda’s 1954 original monster movie, which got a high-def restoration from the Criterion Collection in 2012.
1954: “Godzilla”
(The Criterion Collection) Blu-ray — $40 DVD — $30
2014: “Godzilla”
(Warner Bros.) 3D Blu-ray + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital — $45 Blu-ray + DVD + Digital — $36 DVD — $29
“COSMOS”
The late astrophysicist Carl Sagan presented the original guide to the universe, 1980’s 13-part docu-series “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage.” In 2014, the astrophysicist and Sagan protégé Neil deGrasse Tyson took command of the “Ship of the Imagination” and presented “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey,” a follow-up and update to the original.
“Cosmos: A Personal Voyage” (Cosmos Studios, 1980) 7-disc DVD — $100
2014: “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey” (20th Century Fox, 2014) 4-disc Blu-ray — $60 4-disc DVD — $50
“ROSEMARY’S BABY”
Roman Polanski’s 1968 horror classic, starring Mia Farrow as the titular Rosemary, is just as frightening today as it was 45 years ago. And like “Godzilla,” it recently got a high-def restoration from Criterion. This year saw the adaptation of the Ira Levin novel for the small screen in a four-hour miniseries starring Zoe Saldana.
1968: “Rosemary’s Baby” (The Criterion Collection) Blu-ray — $40 DVD — $30
2014: “Rosemary’s Baby”
(Lionsgate) Blu-ray + Digital/DVD + Digital — $20
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“TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES”
“ROBOCOP”
Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael. Splinter. Shredder. April O’Neil. And, of course, pizza! What else is there to really say about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? The new reboot of the franchise, 2014’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” uses motion-capture technology for the most lifelike Turtles action yet. But if you’re feeling nostalgic for some vintage Cowabunga, look no further than the original 1990s trilogy that is, well, less technologically advanced but just as fun.
1990s: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”/ “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II”/ “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III”
Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 sci-fi classic about a cyborg Detroit police officer (Peter Weller) got a reboot in 2014 with Joel Kinnaman (TV’s “The Killing”) filling the armored suit.
1987: “Robocop” (Fox Searchlight) Blu-ray/DVD — $15
2014: “Robocop”
(MGM) Blu-ray + DVD + Digital — $40 DVD — $30
Triple Feature Blu-ray — $25
2014: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” 3D Blu-ray + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital — $55 Blu-ray + DVD + Digital — $40 DVD — $30
— CTW Features
Give the gift of FUN this holiday!
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IN & OUT SATURDAY Make up, nail polish & blow out hair. Ready for the evening.
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The 8 Best
Let’s face it: No one’s letting go. Here are the top items to give the ‘Frozen’ fan in your household. By Matthew M. F. Miller CTW Features For any parent grown weary of hearing the inescapable songs from the Disney megahit “Frozen,” well … you might be in for a long holiday season. In 2013, the unanticipated and extreme fandom of the film’s viewers led to a massive rush on tie-in merchandise, which concurrently left many shoppers frustrated with the lack of inventory and even more kids disappointed that Santa forgot to pack Anna and Elsa in his sleigh. With a re-release of the movie as a Sing-Along Edition ($20, DVD), the rush on “Frozen” toys and accessories, most of which play the film’s songs, is likely to rival last year. Thankfully there are a lot more buying options this go-around, but if you want to snag the most-wanted “Frozen” swag in 2014, the tactic remains the same: Buy early and buy often to avoid the insanity that is likely to ensue. If you see something your kid wants, do not – I repeat – do not let it go.
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KidTrax Disney Frozen 6V Scooter
Ages 2 to 5 (max weight: 50 pounds), $140 It’s pretty much everything a young “Frozen” fan could want under the Christmas tree. It lights up; it plays three songs; it’s outrageously sparkly; and it zooms around at a whopping 2.5 mph. And lest you’re worried about dropping a fortune on batteries, the scooter’s 6V battery is rechargeable.
Gifts for 2014
Hide and Hug Olaf
All Ages, $27 Love “Elf on the Shelf?” Love “Frozen?” Why not have the best of both worlds? Box set includes a brand new Olaf story and plush Olaf doll. Following the hide-and-seek theme of the book, parents can hide Olaf for kids to find and receive one of the snowman’s signature warm hugs.
Stride Rite Frozen Boots and Shoes
Frozen Crystal Kingdom Vanity
Available in toddler and kids sizes, around $50 Sisters Anna and Elsa are featured prominently on these rainbowsparkled, suede boots with a fluffy lining. Boots feature a side zip, flexible sole and decorative bow. The Velcro-fastened shoes feature purple sparkles and pink flowers, and they light up as kids walk, skip and dance, presumably while singing “Let It Go.”
Ages 3 and up, $70 Standing just over 3 feet, the mirror can change its reflection from Anna to Elsa at the push of a button while playing “For the First Time in Forever.” It includes a brush, a necklace and Elsa hair-braid extension. Do not be fooled by the picture on the box: Elsa’s tiara and dress are not included.
Olaf Snow Cone Maker
Ages 8 to 11, $25 A clever take on the film’s snowy sidekick, just insert ice cubes and flavored syrup into Olaf and out pops flavored ice from his belly. Included are two Olaf cups, one flavor bottle, one scoop and two sugar-free flavor packets.
Snow Glow Elsa Doll
Ages 3 and up, $35 Touch Elsa’s “magical” snowflake necklace to hear her say 15 iconic lines from the movie as her dress lights up. And just when you thought you might escape “Let It Go” – just raise her arms and the song plays while her necklace puts on a mini-light show.
Frozen Cool Tunes Sing-Along Boombox
Ages 3 and up, $35 The whole family can sing along to the preloaded tunes from the movie via the built-in microphone and speakers. Or jack-in your MP3 player to sing along to one of the billions of other songs in existence that are not from this movie.
Frozen Finger Puppet Set
Ages 2 and up, $15 Re-enact every scene from the movie with these 3½-inch plush puppets with padded finger sockets, satin gowns and faux fur accents. Also, they are beyond adorable.
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tech gifts
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3 Tips for Kid-Tech Success How to make sure their first gadget is fun, safe and appropriate By Ben Larrison CTW Features This holiday season, when your family gathers around the table to enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal, there’s a better-than-good chance a few people will be staring not at the food, but a screen. Tech gadgets are now ubiquitous in American society, finding a place everywhere from the classroom, to the office, to the dinner table (how else are you going to Instagram that magnificent feast?). So it’s hardly a surprise that many parents will turn to the tech world for gifts this holiday season. Whether it’s a new smartphone, tablet, gaming system or something else entirely, tech gifts are all but certain to be a big hit with kids of all ages. But just as with all gifts, there’s a right way to introduce your kids to the newest tech gadgets, and then there’s the other way to do it. With that in mind, here are three tips to make sure your gadget gift goes over great:
1. Don’t Tech Too Young
Yes, it’s tempting to turn to new technology as a go-to holiday gift for anyone on your list. But just because you can get someone a tech gift doesn’t mean you should — at least, not until they’re old enough to be ready for it. “The necessity for our kids to become computer literate and fluent with the
technology is absolutely true, but it doesn’t need to happen as early as we often feel that it does,” says Katharine Heintz, a media scholar and lecturer at Santa Clara University. There’s no real baseline age for when a child should be introduced to certain technology. But chances are, many experts say, there’s no need to rush to gadget gifting. Jim Taylor, author of “Raising Generation Tech: Preparing Your Children for a MediaFueled World,” says parents should wait as long as possible before introducing their children to things like smartphones. “The earlier kids are exposed to technology, the more hooked they’ll be on technology,” says Taylor.
2. Set Ground Rules
As with any new toy or privilege (think “getting your driver’s license”), getting a new tech gadget should come with its own set of rules and stipulations. If not, things could easily spiral out of control. A Kaiser Family Foundation study found that, on average, kids between the ages of 8 and 18 spend an average of 7.5 hours a day in front of a TV, smartphone, computer or other non-schoolrelated screens. As such, it’s the parents’ responsibility to determine how and when the new electronics can be used. “Set expectations about its use,” Taylor says. “So say ‘Only X number of texts a day.’
And set limits at home, such as ‘No technology during homework or during dinner,’ (and) having disconnect time. Basically, the goal is to help children develop a healthy relationship with technology.” What’s more, parents have to remember that their kids are watching them, and it’s important to set a good example with their own tech gear. “We can’t be pulling out our phones and texting when we should be having a conversation with our children, just as we don’t want them doing that to us,” Heintz says. “We have to remember that as the adult, it’s our responsibility. We don’t get to do what we always want to do.” Parental controls also are a useful tool in the effort to ensure responsible usage. Most smartphones and laptops come with either built-in controls or easy-to-download apps that can help parents control how and when their child uses his new gadget, and what it’s used for.
3. Do Your Research
You may want to just buy your son or daughter the hot new smartphone, laptop game system or tablet as a holiday surprise, but be sure to do your research first. And not just for specs and price, but also to make sure the gift will fit into your household and not distract from other priorities. — CTW Features
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New Bundles of Fun
NINTENDO 2DS — $130
Nintendo’s entry-level handheld is available in three new colorways this season –Crimson Red, Electric Blue and Sea Green. Bonus: It comes with a code to download “Mario Kart 7” from the Nintendo eShop.
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The hottest gaming systems are getting colorful updates and coming packaged with the latest must-play game. Keep an eye out for these upgraded consoles this holiday season
NINTENDO WII U — $300 Super Mario 3D World Deluxe Set/Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Set
The new Wii U Deluxe Sets come with the 32GB console and two games – “Nintendoland” and whichever game the set’s title implies: “Super Mario 3D World” or “Mario Kart 8.” (The Mario Kart system is exclusive to Walmart stores.)
NINTENDO 3DS XL – $200
Yoshi Edition
The special green edition, released alongside the “Yoshi’s New Island” game ($40), is adorned with a picture of the dino on the front and Yoshi eggs on the back.
Super Smash Bros. Edition
Red and blue versions of the handheld were released in honor of the “Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS” game, featuring a dozen of the game’s characters on its cover.
NES Edition
PLAYSTATION 4 Limited Edition Glacier White System ($450)
The PS4 gets an arctic makeover in this bundle that comes packaged with the new first-person shooter game “Destiny.” The bundle (40GB) also includes a DualShock4 wireless controller, wired mono headset, HDMI cable and 30-day trial for PlayStation Plus. Not looking for a bundled game? The classic jet black system ($400) also is available
XBOX ONE
The Xbox One (starting at $400) is available on its own or bundled with an additional game and/or Kinect, Xbox’s motion-sensing system. The Special Edition Sunset Overdrive Bundles ($400) is the only one that features a Cirrus White console and wireless controller. The “Sunset Overdrive” game comes as a download. — CTW Features
Modeled after the classic controller from the original Nintendo Entertainment System, this version of the 3DS XL is exclusive to GameStop stores.
Persona Q Edition
In honor of the new roleplaying game “Persona Q: Shadows of the Labyrinth” ($50), this version of the 3DS (exclusive to GameStop) will feature the game’s Grimoire styling on the front character art on the back.
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Forget apps. These days, the only thing you have to worry about your smartphone not doing is fitting in your pocket. Here’s your guide, by screen size, to some of the best phones Bigger almost always was better — except when it came to cellphones. Throughout the ’90s and aughts, our mobile phones rapidly diminished in size. Then came the smartphone. Now we’re doing more than ever on our phones. Capturing and sharing crystal-clear photos and high-def video, then streaming our favorite TV shows and movies. And no one wants to do any of that with a tiny screen. Thankfully, the smartphone makers are making sure that is not a problem. Our ever-increasing smartphone demands have given way to ever increasing screen sizes. Here’s a guide to some of the best – and, yes, biggest – on the market to make sure you find the one that fits your hand – and into your pocket – perfectly.
Apple iPhone 6
Too Big? Too Little? Just Right
4.7 inches Apple iPhone 6 Plus 5.5 inches When Apple introduced its newest iPhones in September, the big news was that they were, well, big. The iPhone 6 display jumped to 4.7 inches, up from 4 inches on the previous two iPhones. The screen on 6 Plus – target market: people with huge hands! – stretches to 5.5 inches, just slightly smaller than iPad Mini (7.9 inches). But it’s not all about the big. The new iPhones are slimmer than previous models and feature a newer, faster A8 chip and faster LTE wireless connectivity. The 8MP iSight camera also features a new technology called Focus Pixels, which provides improved and faster autofocus. iPhone 6 16GB — $199 64GB — $299 128GB — $399 iPhone 6 Plus 16GB — $299 64 GB — $399 128GB — $499
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5.5” 4.7”
Motorola Moto X — 5.2 inches Motorola Moto G — 5 inches
From the outside, you might have a hard time telling apart the Moto X and Moto G. Both feature big, brilliant high-def displays. Both run the latest version of Android, 4.4 KitKat. And both are extremely customizable. The X lets you choose from 25 back finishes and 10 metallic trim options for the whiteor black-faced device. Meanwhile, the G can be swapped in or out of candy-colored shells and flipshelled cases to suit the user’s mood. Inside, the X is more performancebased, with double the processing power and memory, but the G has the freedom of being able to be purchased off-contract.
5.2”
Moto X (16GB) — $100 Moto G (16GB) – $180 (no contract)
iPhone 5S/5C 4 inches
The iPhone 5S and 5C just might be a parent’s best friend this holiday season. The intro of the new iPhones means that these two 2013 models get a price drop heading into the holiday season, making it easier to put that iPhone into the hands of the teen or tween who’s been begging for their next – or first – phone. And because the screen is just 4 inches, it should make for a Goldilocks fit in their young hands. iPhone 5S 16GB — $99 32GB — $149
5”
iPhone 5C 8GB — Free
4”
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Google/LG Nexus 5 — 4.95 inches
The Nexus 5 takes the Google flagship phone to new heights – literally. The 5’s screen is nearly a quarter-inch bigger than its predecessor (both made by LG), yet it also slims down by nearly half a millimeter. It’s got the guts you’d expect from a Google phone – 2.26GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM – and of course runs the latest version of Google’s Android operating system (4.4). One of the coolest features, though, is the Optical Image Stabilizer on the 8MP camera, so even if your hands are shaky, you’ll be sure to snap the perfect Instagram. 16GB – $350 32 GB — $400
4.95”
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 — 5.7 inches Samsung Galaxy S5 — 5.1 inches Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini — 4.5 inches Like the current lineup on iPhones, Samsung has its own Goldilocks line of Galaxy devices. On the big end – the Note 4, with its sweeping 5.7-inch Quad HD screen (1140x2560). All those pixels are there for a reason – its 16MP camera (with Optical Image Stabilization) is capable of recording and playing back 4K video. But if you’re not sure just what you’d need all that screen real estate for – it comes with a built-in S Pen stylus – you may be better off with one of the “smaller” Galaxy S devices. In the middle, with a 5.1-inch display, is the Samsung Galaxy S5, which features many of the same features of the Note 4 (2.5GHz processor, 16MP camera), in a more hand-friendly size. Last, and least only in screen expanse, is the Galaxy S5 Mini whose 4.5-inch display is just barely less than that of the iPhone 6. The S5 Mini isn’t as tricked out, spec-wise, as its larger siblings, but it still offers plenty of performance – 1.4GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 8MP camera – without the pocket-busting form. Galaxy Note 4 — $300 Galaxy S5 (16GB) — $200 Galaxy S5 Mini (16GB) — Price TK — CTW Features
Give the Gift of Health
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372-7578
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1517 E. Tipton, Seymour
524-0714
4.5”
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5.1”
Throne of Games Christmas is coming, and the best way to put a smile on a gamer’s face is by giving them one of the most lauded games of the year (or preordering them the most anticipated games of next year). Your guide: The Game Critics’ Award Winners from the 2014 E3 Expo. Ready Player One?
Best Original Game “No Man’s Sky” (Hello Games for PlayStation 4) PlayStation 4 – Price/Release TBD Best Handheld/Mobile Game “Super Smash Bros.” (Sora/NamcoBandai/Nintendo) 3DS – $40 Best PC Game “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege” (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft) PC/PlayStation 4/Xbox One – $60 (2015) Best Role Playing Game “Dragon Age: Inquisition” (BioWare/EA) PC/PlayStation 4/Xbox One – $70 PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 $60
Best of Show
Best Action/ Adventure Game “Batman: Arkham Knight” (Rocksteady/WBIE) PC/PlayStation 4/Xbox One – $60 (2015)
Best Console Game Best Action Game Best Online Multiplayer “Evolve” (Turtle Rock/2K Games) PC/PlayStation 4/Xbox One – $60 (2015)
Best Sports Game “NHL 15” (EA Canada/EA Sports for PS3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One) PlayStation 3/PlayStation 4/Xbox 360/Xbox One – $60 Best Strategy Game “Civilization: Beyond Earth” (Firaxis/2K Games) PC – $50 Best Social/Casual/Family Game “Mario Maker” (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo) Wii U – Price/Release TBD — CTW Features
Best Fighting Game “Super Smash Bros.” (Sora/NamcoBandai/Nintendo) Wii U – $60 Best Racing Game “The Crew” (Ivory Tower/ Reflections/Ubisoft for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) PC/PlayStation 4, Xbox One – $60 2014 HOLIDAY Guide * 83
New Tech, Vintage Style This holiday season, give a tech gift that looks more yesteryear than futuristic
Ion Cassette Adapter Bluetooth – $30
Know someone still driving a car with a tape deck? This is the gift for them. The Ion Cassette Adapter goes into the tape deck then streams digital music from their phone or other digital device that plays back through the car’s speakers. No cords or cigarette-lighter plug-ins necessary.
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Ion Archive LP — $160
Ion has long been a leader in analog-to-digital USB turntables, and the Archive is no exception. The allin-one turntable connects to your home computer via USB to convert coveted vinyl sound to digital files you can take with you on the go. Simply want to listen to records with no fuss? The Archive has built-in speakers for playing back all your favorite wax tracks.
Linksys WRT1900AC – $300
In the nascent days of Wi-Fi, there was a good chance your first wireless router was the Linksys WRT54G. The blue/black router, which sort of looks like a “Space Invaders” character with its antennae, went on to become the best-selling router of all time. Linksys resurrected the design style for its new WRT1900AC router, which features the latest wireless technology (802.11ac) and a slew of high-performance specs for the next generation networking.
Polaroid Socialmatic – $300
Polaroid invented the social camera with its classic Instamatic cameras, but the new Socialmatic truly brings the concept to life. The 5-inch square camera – yes, with its curved edges it looks like an app icon – has builtin Wi-Fi and runs Android software to instantly share photos to apps like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest via its 4.5-inch LCD touchscreen. Being a Polaroid, it also prints 2-by-3 photos on Polaroid ZINK paper ($15/30pack) for sharing photos the old-fashioned way.
Jensen JTA-410 Portable Turntable — $120
You can play digital music anywhere, so why not analog music? The Jensen JTA-410 solves that problem. The suitcase-style turntable simply clasps shut and goes where you go. The three-speed (33/45/78) turntable can plug in or run on C batteries, and if you get tired of switching out LPs, there is an auxiliary jack so you can plug in a digital music source. — CTW Features
Crosley 24-inch Retro HDTV — $230
Who’d have ever thought you could watch your favorite high-def shows on one of those old-fashioned TV sets with knobs and wood paneling? Crosley, that’s who. The longtime radio company continues its foray into vintage-inspired electronics with this LED TV that offers full 1080p HD in packaging that looks straight out of “Leave It To Beaver.”
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By Greg Scoblete CTW Features
Head-to-Toe
Tech This year, give them a gadget they can work into their wardrobe
Several years ago, owning a smartphone was a sure sign of your advanced geekery (we say that lovingly). Today, smart tech has leapt from your pocket to your person with a new class of gadget that you wear.
THE SMART WATCH
A smart watch can pair with your smartphone (using Bluetooth) to send text messages, email alerts, Facebook updates and more right to your wrist. They also can function as mini remotes, controlling the music or video playback on your phone. Like a smartphone, smart watches run apps and have sensors like accelerometers and gyroscopes to monitor your movement. They also have unique sensors that can track your heart rate, body temperature and more. Did we mention they also tell time?
Motorola Moto 360 $250
The Moto sports a classic look that belies its contemporary brains. Using Android Wear, Google’s wearable operating system, the Moto 360 can display text and email alerts from your phone. You also can ask it for directions, get weather reports, play songs or simply let it track your heartbeat. It pairs with Android phones running the Jelly Bean 4.3 operating system, or higher, via Bluetooth. The battery will last all day with “mixed use,” and a wireless charging dock is bundled with this waterresistant watch.
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HEAD AND TOE
LG G Watch $229
LG’s G Watch features a 1.6-inch display and is powered by a 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor. It runs Android Wear, so it can handle many of the same tasks as the Moto 360, but it’s a bit cheaper at $229 and offers boxier styling. Like the 360, expect a day’s worth of battery, and you’ll need an Android phone running at least the 4.3 operating system to pair it with.
Google Glass
Glasses have been a geek fashion statement since, well, forever. Google has cranked the geekiness to 11 with Glass, an eye-worn computer that overlays electronic information like maps and texts into your field of view. It has a camera, too, for snapping point-of-view stills and video. Glass is available through Google’s online Play Store for $1,500 with a selection of designer frames.
Pebble Watch Standard – $150, ‘Steele’ — $250
Unlike its competitors, the Pebble watch works with both Apple and Android phones. It also has a much longer battery life – between five to seven days – than other watches because it uses an e-ink screen. The downside: the screen won’t be as sharp as other smart watches. The Pebble is water resistant, offers changeable straps and will set you back just $150 ($250 for the sleek “Steele” version).
Smart Socks
That’s right. Sensoria Fitness makes a pair of $149 smart socks with an electronic anklet and textile sensors that pair with the anklet to track your steps and measure how your foot lands on the ground. A mobile apple helps you track your running or walking goals and will also give you pointers on how to improve your stride.
Apple Watch
The most anticipated smart watch of them all, the Apple Watch, won’t be available until early 2015, so Apple fans on your wish list will need to settle for a $350 gift card or an IOU. The Watch may be worth the wait, though. It promises super accurate time keeping, vibrating messages, a heart rate sensor, activity tracker and more.
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Head-to-Toe Tech continued Jawbone Up 24 $149
There’s no visible display on Jawbone’s Up – all the health data it harvests from you is sent directly to your phone. It has an amazing two-week battery life and quickly recharges via USB. A free app helps you track the calorie content of what you’re eating with a Food Score to measure your prospective food choices. Another neat feature: If you own a Nest Learning Thermostat, it can work with your Up 24 to learn when you’re awake and when you’re asleep to adjust your home’s temperature accordingly.
Lumo Lift $99
While many fitness trackers cling to your wrist, the Lumo Lift is wrapped around your back to measure your posture in addition to your steps, how you’re sleeping and for how long you’ve been lounging on the couch. Vibrations remind you to get up and go or sit up straight.
GOOD USED FURNITURE We Buy & Sell Something for Everyone!
Find a timeless gift for the holidays!
23rd & California • Columbus • (812) 376-0733 Open Weekdays 10am-6pm Saturday 10am-2pm Closed Sunday & Wednesday
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Looking for Esther Price Chocolates? Once you’ve tried Esther Price Chocolates...
You won’t want anything else! Fine Gifts & Accessories
The Pickle Ornment
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.
On Christmas Eve, the Pickle ornament was hidden among the green boughs on the tree. The child who found the pickle ornament would receive an extra gift from St. Nicholas.
Call Bargains & More today!
433 Washington Street 372-9635 | Mon. Fri., 10:00-5:30, Sat. 10-4 & Sun. 12-4
2333 Cottage Avenue • Columbus
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Drop in during our office hours and grab someone a special gift!
812.375.1930
THE FITNESS TRACKER For the fitness buffs on your list, a fitness tracker will help them count calories, measure their daily activity and keep tabs on their sleep – or lack thereof – and send this data to a mobile device with easy-to-read charts so they can benchmark their progress – or lack thereof. Worn around the wrist or clipped to a pocket, the fitness tracker can also be something of a fashion statement.
Garmin Vivosmart $169
Garmin’s Vivosmart has a few smart-watch features, like the ability to receive text, email or call alerts from Androids or iPhones, but it’s built for fitness. It can track your steps, distance, calories burned, time you’ve been exercising and your heart rate. It will send you “time to move” alerts if it senses you’ve been inactive for too long. The battery will last for seven days, and you can use it as an alarm clock if you prefer a gentle vibration on your wrist to the dream-shattering blare of your phone’s alarm. — CTW Features
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–Th 8am–4pm
During the Holiday Season more than ever, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our progress possible. And in this spirit we say, simply but sincerely Thank You and Best Wishes for the Holiday Season and a Happy New Year From all of us at
A
division of
n u g e n t s A n d / A g g r e g At e s
The Place Where Santa Gets His Coal! 1-812-379-4327
3128 N. National Rd. Columbus, IN
www.nugentsand.com North State Road 11 • 812-372-7508 • 7:00-5:00 Mon.-Fri. • 7:00-12:00 Saturday www.jbowmanhearing.com
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IN A
Honda CR-V
AWD EX
Prance on over to Renner Honda and keep the jingle in your pockets. Right on the Corner!
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RENNER Honda US 31, Columbus • (812) 372-1561 • (800) 467-8450 www.rennerhonda.net Right on the Price! Right here in Columbus!
1334 Washington Street, Columbus
812.376.3381
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Merry Christmas TO YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES.
Wishing you the warmth of home, the love of family, and the company of good friends. Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Bryan Bennett and the entire staff at Country Chevrolet-Buick would like to wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
We will be closed December 24th and 25th so our employees can spend time with their families during the holiday.
Chevrolet • Buick
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1845 N. State | North Vernon 376.3786 | 346.8721