Uptown Westerville is a Place for Midnight Madness

Legend has it that the last Friday of each October, Uptown Westerville Merchants, become spellbound by Halloween, creating an enchanting evening filled with tantalizing treats, horse-drawn haywagon rides, surprising special effects & features, and one-night-only Halloween deals.

It’s a night when super heroes, princesses, monsters, faeries, lions, and stormtroopers stroll throughout Uptown Westerville among the shopkeepers, citizens, scarecrows & jack-o-lanterns.

Midnight Madness showcases Uptown Westerville Merchants -- it’s a fun opportunity to browse and buy. This is the night to shop your favorite haunts and dare to venture where you’ve never been before!

Check out It's All In The Name's Haunted Brickwalk, Amish Originals Furniture Co.'s Haunted Hallway, Edward Jones Investment's Talking Pirate, Heart's Content's storefront window and more if... you... dare....

You never know what you’ll find...

So mark your calendars for the Westerville Uptown Merchants Association’s Annual Big Boo on October 31st from 7 p.m. til the bewitching hour of Midnight...

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Safe, Fun Trick or Treating!

Take advantage of U.U.T.O. (Uptown Ultimate Treat Optimization): Westerville’s Beggar’s Night is tonight, October 31st, from 6 p.m. til 8 p.m.

Trick-or-Treat in your neighborhood and then have big fun haunting for treats from the Uptown merchants for even more Beggar’s bounty...

Remember, too, to stop by Edward Jones Investments at 39 N. State St. to pick up your Costume Contest entry form!

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Haywagon Rides

Big Boo fun for kids of all ages!

Tonight during Midnight Madness, take a horse-drawn trip, not only through Uptown Westerville but through one of the oldest neighborhoods in Westerville, past “the Old Vine Street School” (Emerson).

Haywagons will roll from 7 p.m. til 9 p.m. from Rotary Park at N. State & E. Home.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for The Community Pumpkin Display!

Be a part of a new Uptown tradition!

On October 31st, drop your carved and decorated pumpkin off (or bring more than one!) in the parking lot next to Morgan’s Treasure (12 W. Main, from noon to 4, and then 7 to 8:30 p.m.).

It costs nothing to enter and... there are prizes! First Place is a $25 Uptown Gift Card!

Click here for details!

Click here, check out our inspiration in Keene, New Hampshire.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Scarecrows!

A Perennial Uptown Favorite!

Sponsored by Gallery 202 (38 N. State), Uptown merchants go creative with a scarecrow decorating contest. The prize? A blue ribbon, bragging rights, and lots of community pride! Check out the Uptown Merchant Scarecrows and vote online for your favorite.

For more information: http://www.gallery202online.com/

Click here to see the rogue’s gallery of scarecrows past.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Monsters, Ghosts, Princesses, Celebrities, Pirates, and Prizes

Be a part of inaugurating a new Midnight Madness tradition!

Dig this: There are Prizes from McDonald's and a Costume Parade at City Hall!

So, dress up in your Halloween best & enter our Madness costume contest (it’s free!).

Judging takes place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with winners announced at 9 p.m. at City Hall right before the Costume Parade! Just look for the great pumpkin!!

To join in, follow these instructions...

Pick up your Judges' Tally at Edward Jones Investments, 39 N. State, and see if you can dig up all four Costume Judging Stations planted throughout Uptown Westerville at...

▪ Brown Tax Accounting at 18 W. College

▪ It's All In The Name, down the Haunted Brickwalk at 20-K S. State

▪ Westerville Bike Shop at 29 W. Main

▪ Meza at 48 N. State

Collect scores from all four Judges and return to Edward Jones Investments at 39 N. State to drop off your completed Judges' Tally by 8:30 p.m.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Halloween Fun!

Tonight, October 31st be prepared to haunt Uptown Westerville... if... you... dare...

Tons of fun activities for everyone! Here's some highlight features for tonight's Big Boo!

▪ Visit the courtyard in front of City Hall for special Halloween surprises including goody bags, orange drink, sweet tea, cookies & coupons from McDonald's and... a special Big Boo visit from 7 p.m. til 9 p.m. from... Ronald McDonald!!

▪ Great Read-Alouds for young ghosts & goblins on an All Hallow's Eve... visit the Westerville Public Library's Reading Swing located at Amish Originals Furniture Co., 38 N. State.

▪ Kid-Favorite Westerville Puppet Posse will present a 15-minute show every half hour from 7 p.m. til 11 p.m. at the City Hall fountain courtyard.

▪ Check out Charlie Chaplin films running throughout the evening at Gallery 202, 38 N. State, Upstairs.

▪ No costumes here! The real Westerville Fire Division will be at Union Savings Bank, 44 S. State, next to Hanby School, with real fire trucks and real firefighters!

▪ Authors Mary Ann DiBattista and Sandra Finn will be signing their book, The Puddinhead Story, from 7 p.m. til 8:30 pm at Sample N Gift, 21 N. State, and 9 p.m. til 10:30 pm at Hey Diddle Diddle, 38 N. State.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for The Uptown Gift Card

Tonight, to celebrate Midnight Madness, the Westerville Uptown Merchants Assocation is unveiling a new Uptown Westerville feature: The Uptown Gift Card.

Utter madness? Not at all! It's the Perfect Gift Anytime!

Create fond memories, set new traditions... give the gift of an Uptown Westerville shopping experience.

Starting October 31st, The Uptown Gift Card will be accepted and available for purchase at a host of select Uptown businesses:

▪ A Gal Named Cinda Lou, 20 N. State

▪ Amish Originals Furniture Co., 8 & 38 N. State

▪ Captivating Canines, 31 N. State

▪ Deja Vu, 11 N. State

▪ Flowers by Doris, 30 E. College

▪ Gallery 202, 38 N. State, Upstairs

▪ It's All In The Name, 20-K S. State

▪ Java Central, 20 S. State

▪ Joe's Service Automobile Repair, 80 N. State

▪ Lola Belle Boutique, 46 N. State

▪ Meza, 48 N. State

▪ Morgan's Treasure, 12 W. Main

▪ Outside Envy, 15 N. State

▪ Ruth Reed Antiques, 23 E. College

▪ Serendipity Ice Cream & Coffee House, 33 E. College

▪ Westerville Bike Shop, 29 W. Main

The Uptown Gift Card -- the perfect gift anytime.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for People

This is week 26 of the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market -- the last market of the 2008 Season! What a wonderful season it's been -- truly a place for people!

Stop by the market today for pie, jams, autumn harvest produce, and certainly pumpkins!

This year's market was a place for wonderful artisan foods and produce but, most importantly, it was also such a wonderful place for people. Children could pick out their own apple or taste new foods, families and friends could visit the market together, shoppers could interact with market vendors, colleagues left their offices for a few minutes to shop together, old friends met up, and the market was certainly a favorite destination for dog walks! A true gathering place in our community.

Uptown Westerville's farmers' market was even mentioned as part of the appeal of Westerville, when Money magazine ranked Westerville as 2008's number 5 most affordable place to live.

This week, Sue's Kitchen is open with pie and cinnamon rolls, Jane Varley will have jam, and look for Bird's Haven Farms, Northridge Organic, Flying J, and Carousel Watergardens for delicious autumn foods.

We know you are planning to enter a pumpkin in this Friday's Community Pumpkin Display at Midnight Madness -- pick up your pumpkin today at the market!

The Westerville Uptown Merchants Association is proud to present the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market. Special thanks to association members Amish Originals Furniture Co., Dairy Queen, Brickstreet Communications, DJ's Feed Store, the City of Westerville, and Church of the Messiah for their special support this market season.

Thank you to Westerville -- our community -- for the fabulous support!

See you at today's market!!

Pictured: The sun sets on Bird's Haven Farms pumpkins.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Fall Farmer's Market Favorites

Today is the next to last Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market for 2008 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at N. State and E. Home.

We aren't slicing fresh tomatoes for the table or grilling corn from the market right now, but market produce vendors still have plenty of fall flavors for your table like butternut squash, sweet potatoes, onions, red skin potatoes, apples, sweet and hot peppers, green beans, garlic, and turnips.

Check out the market selection of fall favorites like Indian corn, gourds, pumpkins, bittersweet, wheat, and of course, pumpkins!

This week will be the last week of the season for Arjay Gourmet Foods and Rohini's Chutneys -- now is the time to stop by, see Rohini, and stock up! Brace yourself -- no pie this week... Sue Renner of Sue's Kitchen will not be at this week's market, but will be at next week's market. So, plan for pie on October 29th!

Next week, on October 31st, the Westerville Uptown Merchants Association is presenting Midnight Madness from 7 p.m. to midnight. This year's event features a Community Pumpkin Display with Uptown Gift Cards for first, second, and third prizes. Pick a pumpkin at the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market this week or next and enter! (Drop your pumpkin entry off on October 31st at the parking lot on W. Main, just west of N. State, between Morgan's Treasure (12 W. Main) and the Visitors Bureau (20 W. Main) from noon to 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)

See you at today's market!

Uptown Westerville is a Place for The Uptown Gift Card

The Westerville Uptown Merchants Association is proud to announce a new Uptown Westerville shopping option, launching October 31st: It's The Uptown Gift Card.

The Perfect Gift Anytime.

The Uptown Gift Card is a stored-value gift card, so you set the amount.

Present someone with an Uptown Gift Card and you're giving them a memorable moment... an afternoon with good friends... a family outing... a keepsake purchase... a great story... all from a trip to Uptown Westerville.

An Uptown Gift Card is a gift from any or all of these 16 select Uptown Westerville merchants.

▪ A Gal Named Cinda Lou, 20 N. State
▪ Amish Originals Furniture Co., 8 & 38 N. State
▪ Captivating Canines, 31 N. State
▪ Deja Vu, 11 N. State
▪ Flowers by Doris, 30 E. College
▪ Gallery 202, 38 N. State, Upstairs
▪ It's All In The Name, 20-K S. State
▪ Java Central, 20 S. State
▪ Joe's Service Automobile Repair, 80 N. State
▪ Lola Belle Boutique, 46 N. State
▪ Meza, 48 N. State
▪ Morgan's Treasure, 12 W. Main
▪ Outside Envy, 15 N. State
▪ Ruth Reed Antiques, 23 E. College
▪ Serendipity Ice Cream & Coffee House, 33 E. College
▪ Westerville Bike Shop, 29 W. Main

The Uptown Gift Card is the perfect gift for businesses looking for special gifts and incentives for your staff and clients.

If you'd like to know more, visit www.uptowngiftcard.com.

Look for our ad in the October 15th Westerville News and Public Opinion!

Uptown Westerville is a Place to Celebrate Otterbein's Homecoming

This Saturday, October 18th is not just Otterbein's Homecoming, it's a community day.

Westerville residents are invited to join Otterbein on this fun day.

Homecoming activities include a 2k Fun Walk/Run (to benefit St. Jude's), a homecoming parade, an Otterbein Tailgating event that includes a Columbus Zoo petting zoo, a kids chemistry lab, photos with the Otterbein Cardinal mascot, lunch, inflatables and more (kids under 5 are free), tour the new residence hall and renovated science building, free admission to Otterbein v. Wilmington football game (Cards are looking good this season!) and Otterbein v. Heidelberg womens soccer game, a gala concert celebrating 150 years of Otterbein choirs, Otterbein College Theatre's Smokey Joe's Cafe.

Click here for more details. Everlasting Otterbein Pride! Go Cards!

Uptown Westerville is a Place for an Otterbein Uptown Pennant Weekend

This weekend, October 17th, 18th and 19th is Otterbein College Homecoming Weekend.

This weekend is also an Otterbein Uptown Pennant Weekend in Uptown Westerville!

On October 17th, 18th, and 19th Shop Uptown Westerville and look for Otterbein pennants in the windows of Uptown Westerville, flash your Otterbein student, alum, faculty, or staff ID and you get a deal!

Look for Otterbein pennants and deals at these Uptown Merchants:

Dining, Drink, Desserts
Dairy Queen, 84 S. State
The Dog Joint, 59 S. State
Graeter's Ice Cream, 1 N. State
Java Central, 20 S. State
Michael's Pizza, 15 E. College
Pasquale's Pizza & Pasta, 14 N. State
Pizza Primo, 10 E. Main
Serendipity Ice Cream & Coffee House, 33 E. College

Shops & Services
A Gal Named Cinda Lou, 20 N. State
Amish Originals, 8 & 38 N. State
Atattooed, 16 S. State
Captivating Canines, 31 N. State
Checkerberries, 8 E. Main
Colonial Music, 43 N. State
Deja Vu, 11 N. State
DJ's Feed Store, 41 N. State
Embroidery Deluxe, 39 W. Main
Encircle, 30 & 34 N. State
Five Star Staffing, 133 S. State
Flowers by Doris, 30 E. College
Gallery 202, 38 N. State, Upstairs
Heart's Content, 9 N. State
Hey Diddle Diddle, 38 N. State
It's All In The Name, 20-K S. State
Lola Belle, 46 N. State
Meza, 48 N. State
Morgan's Treasure, 12 W. Main
My Cousin's Closet, 16 E. College
Old Skool Skate Shop, 11 E. College
Outside Envy, 15 N. State
Pizza Primo, 10 E. Main
Ruth Reed Antiques, 21 E. College
Sample 'n' Gift, 23 N. State
The Sullivan Co., 130 Graphic Way
Union Savings Bank, 44 S. State
Uptown Cigar Co., 33 N. State
Westerville Antiques, 2 N. State

Offers vary and are at the discretion of each business. Regular business hours apply.

This is the third of three Otterbein Uptown Pennant Weekends each year. Otterbein Uptown Pennant Weekends also include New Student Weekend and GraduationAlumni Weekend.

Everlasting Otterbein Pride! Go Cardinals!

Uptown Westerville is a Place to Hang Around for Halloween

While the Westerville Uptown Merchants Association's annual Midnight Madness event is not until October 31st, a little madness is already hanging in the air in Uptown Westerville, as Uptown Merchants get in the spirit of the season!

Check out the Midnight Madness lamppost banners between Park Street and Home Street and you'll see the artistic bent of many Uptown Westerville merchants! Energized and inspired by Gallery 202's Renee Kropat, the Midnight Madness banners were conjured up by A Gal Named Cinda Lou, Brickstreet Communications & NorthStar Pet Services, Edward Jones Investments, Embroidery Deluxe, Gallery 202, It's All In The Name, Morgan's Treasure, and Outside Envy.

Click here to check out the Boo Gallery on flickr.com -- see if you can figure out where these banners suspend along State Street uptown.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Pumpkins

Uptown Westerville is a great resource for buying local for autumn decor and Halloween pumpkins.

▪ The Uptown Westerville Farmers Market vendors have fresh-from-the-field varieties of pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, corn stalks, and bittersweet for purchase. Kids love to pick out their own mini-pumpkins at Bird's Haven Farms. The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market is Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at N. State and E. Home through October 29th.

▪ Outside Envy, 15 N. State, art for the garden, deck & patio. Stop by and visit Kriss Rogers and check out not only her unique gifts and garden features & accents, but pick out a choice pumpkin.

▪ Boy Scout Troop 560 Annual Pumpkin Patch at S. State and E. Walnut. Hours are: Sundays 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday thru Thursday 4 p.m. thru 8 p.m., Friday 4 p.m. thru 9 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m. thru 9 p.m.

Pick up your pumpkins for the Midnight Madness Community Pumpkin Display on October 31st Uptown!


Pictured: Boy Scouts Troop 560 Pumpkin Patch

Uptown Westerville is a Place for The Community Pumpkin Display

The Westerville Uptown Merchants Association is getting ready for the annual Uptown Big Boo -- Midnight Madness™!

The 2008 Midnight Madness event will be full of fun and suprises, starting with...

The Community Pumpkin Display

In 2007, one of WUMA's members saw a great story in Country Living magazine about Keene, New Hampshire -- a town that calls out to all citizens each October to decorate a pumpkin for a community display. It's gotten to the point in Keene that the display is a 3-story tower of pumpkins! One person even proposed at the event, carving "Marry Me" in a series of individual pumpkins! While we don't know if we'll ever get to a 3-story tower (although that would be cool!), uptown merchants thought that this was a great idea for Westerville, and anyone in our community, from baby to senior, can participate.

So, join in on October 31st!

There are Prizes for the top 3 decorated pumpkins:

First Prize is a $25 Uptown Gift Card.
Second Prize is a $15 Uptown Gift Card.
Third Prize is a $10 Uptown Gift Card.

To Contribute, it's simple...

• Decorate and/or Carve Your Pumpkin. Multiple entries Welcome!
• Drop your Halloween "Cucurbita maxima* Creation" off on October 31st to the parking lot between Morgan's Treasure (12 W. Main) and the WVCB (20 W. Main) between Noon and 4 p.m. and between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
• You need not be present to win, just your pumpkin.

For more information, contact Bill Morgan at Morgan's Treasure info@morganstreasure.com
614.882.4401 for more information.

Pick Your Pumpkin Uptown!
• Visit the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. through October 29th at N. State and E. Home
• Outside Envy, 15 N. State
• Boy Scouts Troop 560 Pumpkin Patch at S. State and E. Walnut

See you at Midnight Madness on October 31st!


*Cucurbita maxima is science-talk for pumpkin.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for the Flavors of Fall

It is hard to believe that we are in the last 4 weeks of the 2008 season of the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market located at N. State and E. Home in the Church of the Messiah parking lot for 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. each Wednesday.

With its amazing and unique artisan foods, fresh produce (organic, chemical-free & conventional options), and friendly atmosphere, the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market is a place to meet the growers and artisans, taste new foods, buy favorite foods, get new ideas, and just set the crazy of the real world aside for a few minutes each week.

For kids, the market is a great after-school stop -- kids love the maple-sugar candy lollipops from Pleiades Maple Products, and, no kidding -- they love Rohini's chutneys! Malabar Acres is a kid-friendly favorite -- kids can pick out and purchase a crisp, sweet fresh-from-the-orchard apple for just 50 cents.

The market is ever changing and we welcome Emma Stout of Osage Lane Creamery and her delicious goat's milk feta cheese.

To check out the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market directory, just click here.

While, you're at the market, take a walk through Uptown Westerville and Shop Uptown Westerville -- highly recommended exercise!

See you at the market!

Pictured: Fresh bittersweet from Bird's Haven Farms.

Uptown Westerville is a Place to be in Motion

Fusion Fitness & Wellness is now open in its new location at 43 E. College Avenue.

Fusion features personal training, pilates, yoga -- including yin, vinyasa, gentle, hatha, prenatal, ashtanga primary series -- infused strength & cardio, and BOSU.

Ask about their Beach Bottom classes!

To visit Fusion online, click here.

To contact Fusion call 614.895.3406 or email info@fusionfitnessandwellness.com

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Best of Weddings

Bridal Best Wishes to Paula Fracasso and Flowers by Doris, 30 E. College, for being named for the second year in a row -- a 2008 Editor's Pick -- to The Knot's Best of Weddings -- an "insider's guide" to the best wedding pros in the country.

Contact Paula today at 614.882.0351 or sales@flowersbydorisinc.com.




Image: The Knot Best of Weddings 2008, The Knot Publishing.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Earth-Friendly

Ever heard of bagasse? Bagasse is what's left of sugar cane after the cane juice is extracted. As a matter of fact, bagasse is 70% of a cane plant. And, bagasse can become... paper! "Sweet paper" as a matter of fact.

So, send sweet wishes to your favorite people with a new line of greeting cards at Outside Envy, 15 N. State.

Tree-Free greeting cards are so beautiful, they are suitable for framing, and can carry simple sentiments to those you love.

Outside Envy also features Kitras Art Glass made entirely of... recycled glass. Beautiful.

Visit Outside Envy and be Earth-Friendly and Tree-Free!

And, Tree-Free Holiday Cards on the way...

Outside Envy

Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ▪ Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. ▪ Closed Mondays

614.895.3689 ▪ outside.envy@sbcglobal.net.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Autumn Outdoor Shopping

It's October 1st and we now have 5 Uptown Westerville Farmers' Markets left for this season!

The market welcomes Amherst Greenhouse and their beautiful potted mums -- just $5 a pot and a new goat cheese vendor today.

At the market, we are still seeing the last of summer's vegetable crops along with the first of the autumn produce. Apple varieties abound, by the way, and anyone can buy a single, orchard-fresh apple from Malabar Acres for just 50 cents.

The market continues to be a great place to meet your friends, bring your kids, walk your dogs, and shop for delicious artisan and fresh foods.

Click here for the Farmers' Market Directory.

Click here to take the Weekly Market Photo Tour on flickr.

The Westerville Uptown Merchants Association encourages you to come uptown on Wednesday afternoons to shop and, then, pick up the ingredients for tonight's dinner at the market!

See you at the market!

The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market is at N. State and E. Home Streets each Wednesday, in the Church of the Messiah parking lot, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. through October 29th. Free lot and on-street parking available in the market vicinity and Uptown.