13 minute read
THE JOY OF
How The Schnells CELEBRATE
By Abbey and David Schnell of Abnaki Trail
Celebrating Halloween had previously been a family tradition on Abbey’s side of the family for 15+ years. Growing up we were always excited to see what costumes the adults would pick to wear and who would win the costume competition. As everyone got older and busier the Halloween party eventually came to an end and everyone did their own things as time went on.
We were previously looking at old pictures and loved hearing our older relatives talk about how much they enjoyed and missed it, so we wondered “well why not start it back up again?” As of the past year in 2021 we decided we wanted to bring back the fun tradition of dressing up, playing games, and enjoying each other’s company. We love any excuse to get together with family and thought it would be the perfect time to make it happen again. Halloween allows you to bring out your inner child no matter how old you are. It gives you an excuse to buy all the spooky decorations, dress up, play fun games, and eat all the treats.
We are looking forward to hosting another Halloween party this year and hoping to continue the tradition as the years go on.
and The Bakers HALLOWEEN
By Dan & Misty Baker of Tillamook Trail
As the leaves begin to turn and a chill returns to the evening hours, fall returns to Ohio bringing with it the favorite holiday season for the Baker family, Halloween!
What could be more fun than dressing up in a new costume and celebrating with friends and family over sweet treats, themed foods, and creative cocktails? Each year Dan, Misty, Kaia, and Braden Baker transform the interior of their house into a Halloween celebration. Thoughts of this year’s costume choices begin to invade in late August, as retailers start to display their newest selections for the season. Once choices are made, (and remade!), we slowly transform the house, room by room, into our own personal nightmare.
Each year, we will find a creative project to create something new. Last year we made severed heads on spikes to decorate our kitchen! From the scary and macabre, to the funny and outrageous, we add to the décor every year creating our own “haunted house” and capping off the season with a gathering of friends to celebrate the scary! It’s all in fun and brings our family together to enjoy the spooky season with a lot of laughs. We will usually make trips to King’s Island and Cedar Point for their haunted seasons and have done Disney World several times as well. Seeing the creative decorations in the neighborhoods surrounding us is also a favorite past-time. Trick-orTreat night is such a joy to see everyone proudly parading in their costumes and the smiles as they fill their bags with candy. Oh, and the kids have fun, too!
Party on a Truck arrived right on time for an 8-year-old birthday party gathering on a rainy Sunday morning in Shawnee. Normally the weather might cause a stressful condition, but in this case it didn’t matter! The look on Evan’s face as the video game truck pulled up was priceless, while he exclaimed, “This is for ME?!” This birthday boy wished for something very cool that his friends hadn’t seen before and boy did he get it!
Parents dropped off their kids and each guest was given an all-access VIP lanyard to enter the truck. They immediately began choosing the games they wanted to play, while Game Coach and Owner, Joy, helped everyone get started. Favorite games inside the truck were Minecraft and Fortnite, while the Wii and Switches on the outside of the truck invited the kids to play the ever-popular Mario Kart or get down and boogie with Just Dance! Eli Young said, “It was really good fun! It had all the gaming consoles hooked up to big screen TVs and all the games that you could want! I liked playing on the Switch most!” His brother, Oliver agreed that “it was cool! It had a lot of stuff: Xbox, Nintendo and lots of cool stuff! I liked the Nintendo because me and my brother got to play Mario Kart and Smash on a big TV.” Every guest was happily occupied in the truck which meant last-minute preparations for the party afterwards were easily completed. More importantly, parents were able to chat uninterrupted while the kids were entertained. At this party the kids were inspired to raid the birthday boy’s costume closet and returned to the truck in various Minecraft and Fortnite costumes! Owen Schumm dressed up as a Minecraft Creeper and said he “loved it and it was nice!” Emmy Davis liked that “it had so many games and enough controllers so everyone can play together.”
If you are looking to “spice-up” a traditional birthday party or any type of event, Party on a Truck, is a great idea that gives the attendees an experience to remember. It is also extremely adaptable to a wide range of ages, which makes this a unique option for parties. Even adults wanted to get in on the games and had fun!
Owen Ellis loved it so much he wants it for his birthday. His brother, Austin, shared that he loved playing Mortal Kombat with his brother and friends. After the party James Dwyer stated, “the best part of the party was definitely the video game truck!”
An Interview with Party on a Truck, Owner, Joy James
Some images courtesy of TheAyers.com
Why and how did you get into this business?
A friend of mine was renting a video game truck from a company in Michigan and asked if I would go and view it with her before she paid her money. I went and saw how awesome it was and I asked why she traveled all that way to rent and she stated we didn’t have one in the area. I knew it would be great for Toledo and the surrounding areas, so I did my research and figured out how to get one asap!
How many years have you been doing this? Tell us a little bit about yourself :
It will be four years in December!
What is your favorite part about doing parties?
My favorite part about doing the parties is pulling up and seeing the excitement on the faces of the kids AND adults, when they are looking in the truck to see what games they are going to play. I meet so many people and they always greet me with a smile because I’m providing them with a fun service!
What other services do you offer?
We offer a mobile video game experience out of our truck with a variety of game systems and multiple TVs. We also offer other services such as movie nights, karaoke, and tournaments. In addition to the game truck we started offering a photo booth mirror that we can bring out to your event, along with props to make it super fun and engaging. You’ll receive prints either physically or through text as keepsakes!
What kind of events have you done?
The main type of events that we’ve done have been birthday parties, but we’ve done community engagement events, festivals, family reunions, weddings, after-proms, after school programs, graduation parties, school incentive events, bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate events, post sports game celebrations, and we can serve almost any situation. I was born and raised in Toledo Ohio, I graduated from Jesup W. Scott, and then went on to complete my bachelor’s degree in finance and master’s in business administration at the University of Toledo. I have an extensive background in finance (yes, I’m a numbers girl), but I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit! As a child I wanted to own a daycare because I loved being around kids and having fun with them. But as I got older, I realized owning a daycare was not all fun and games. So, what better way to run my own business and do what I love at the same time than by running a mobile video game business! I get to have fun at all times, while giving myself the freedom to spend as much time as I can with my little guy Manuel (my son) and my very supportive family!
Party on a Truck Toledo is willing to travel to Lima for your event! If two events are booked in one day, Joy will waive the travel fee.
Summer Patio Parties!
by Tara Reynolds Bales
Lima truly is the place to be! Many locals realized this during the summer while enjoying a variety of patio parties around town. The vibe at these three venues was relaxed, fun, and a spot where friends and family spent their time laughing, singing, and creating memories! New connections were also made which truly strengthens the sense of community!
19 HAWTHORNE’S PATIO PARTY
The Patio Party at 19 Hawthorne on Thursday nights throughout the summer highlighted local musicians and local food trucks. Guests were invited to grab a seat on the back patio of the venue or bring their own lawn chair and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The backdrop surrounding Hawthorne 19’s patio is definitely photo-worthy! As you sit on the patio you feel transported to a destination far away that vacations are made of! Drink specials were also available. Mark your 2023 calendars now for April-September when their patio parties return.
“The Patio Parties at 19 Hawthorne have created a small community of people who enjoy local live music and great food in a beautiful setting. It has been fun to watch new friendships form and memories being made! Join us!” - Chad Hughes, Manager and
Creative Director of 19 Hawthorne Wedding and Event Venue, 1000 Fetter Road, Lima
CURTAIN CALL SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
The Veteran’s Memorial Civic and Convention Center in downtown Lima presented a Curtain Call Summer Concert Series with free live music, specialty cocktails and featured food trucks on Thursday evenings from 5-7 on the Happy Daz Patio at 7 Town Square.
Alison Hedges, a local music teacher at Elmwood School, went to hear a friend play one evening and found the atmosphere to be very welcoming. “I enjoyed listening to the music and I was even able to take my two boys with me. Lima has great music talent! This is a hidden gem in Lima with a big city feel,” according to Alison.
Bubba Scott Nunnery of Mills Road was one of the performers during the Curtain Call Summer Concert Series. “As a transplant to Lima I can’t count how many times I’ve said, ‘I wish there was more to do!’ Now in the summer, this is what I do…and I look forward to it all year. I think the partnership between local businesses, the arts community and the Civic Center can’t be overstated; it’s what makes this incredibly simple event so special.”
Dana Babani’s husband, Keno, from Indianbrook, was also one of the musicians that rocked the stage this summer. Dana said, “We look forward to the Curtain Call events each summer. The patio is the perfect outdoor venue and it’s a fun evening out with friends or family. Hearing all the local artists is a bonus as well!”
The Curtain Call events ended in August, but they are hosting an encore performance on the Happy Daz Patio on Wednesday, October 5th from 6-8pm for ONE MORE CONCERT! Keno will be the artist that evening and there will be a VIP Bourbon Tasting experience. The featured cocktail of the night will be the Harvest Apple Bourbon Cocktail, so mark your calendars now for a wonderful night out!
OLD BARN’S PATIO TIME
It’s PATIO TIME! During the summer, guests at the Old Barn Out Back were invited to enjoy drinks, appetizers, and dinner outside on the beautiful patio under the quaint rows of string lights. As we move into colder weather, outside heaters are provided, or the entertainment can be moved indoors. They also offer specialty buffets but their full service menu and bar are always available! Music entertainment is offered on Friday and Saturday nights and Old Barn is one of the few venues that runs their live music schedule throughout the month of October, so it isn’t too late to join the party!
“On nice nights, there is nothing better than the patio with live music, the lights, and all the firepits! The atmosphere is fantas-
tic!” – Pete Williams, Owner, Old Barn, 3175 West Elm St, Lima
You are also encouraged to bring your dog to Pups on the Patio on Wednesday nights, while the weather is still nice.
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