Uptown Westerville is a Place to be Home for the Holidays

This Saturday's Home for the Holidays event is in the news! Check out Jennifer Nesbitt's article in ThisWeek Community Newspapers Westerville.

Uptown event kicks off holiday season

Tuesday, November 24, 2009 12:50 PM

By JENNIFER NESBITT
ThisWeek Staff Writer

The Westerville Uptown Merchants Association is hosting an all-day lineup of holiday events Nov. 28.

Home for the Holidays will run in Uptown from noon to 8 p.m. and will include Santa clowns, face painting, warmed nuts and kettle corn, and strolling carolers in period costumes. Santa Claus will be wandering through Uptown from noon to 4 p.m.

There will be carriage rides through Uptown from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., with carriages departing from the corner of North State and East Home streets.

Many Uptown businesses also will have holiday events going on throughout the day, including an ice sculptor on the patio of Jimmy V's Grill & Pub, 1 S. State St., from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.; a holiday wine-tasting at Meza, 48 N. State St.; a secret Santa gift shop for children upstairs at Gallery 202, 38 N. State St., from noon to 4 p.m.; cookie decorating at A Gal Named Cinda Lou, 20 N. State St.; silhouettes by Anne B. Wildman at It's All In The Name, 13 E. College Ave.; and live music at Java Central, 20 S. State St., from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

During the Home for the Holiday events, children also can drop off letters to Santa at It's All In The Name, 13 E. College Ave.

The Church of the Messiah, 51 N. State St. will have its chapel open throughout the day.

Also during Home for the Holidays, many Uptown businesses will be revealing their holiday window displays. Many businesses also will be displaying holiday wares, including decorations, accessories, home accents and cards.

Hoover Gardens will have a special Uptown location, allowing shoppers to purchase fresh garlands and wreaths.

Leading up to the Nov. 28 event, 14 Uptown businesses are displaying specially decorated holiday wreaths. Uptown patrons are able to purchase raffle tickets for their favorite wreaths in the stores for $1.

All of the money raised will go to the Uptown Westerville Farmers Market and the Westerville Area Resources Ministry's Fresh Green program. The program provides clients of WARM's food pantry with vouchers that can be redeemed for fresh produce at the summer farmers markets.

Raffle tickets will be drawn at 7 p.m. Nov. 28 at each wreath location.

jnesbitt@thisweeknews.com

To read Jennifer Nesbitt's article online, click here.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Gratitude

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. Melody Beattie

The Members of the Westerville Uptown Merchants Association Wish You a Safe, Happy Thanksgiving Holiday.


A Sue's Kitchen pecan pie from the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market. Photo courtesy of Brickstreet Communications. ©2009 Brickstreet Communications. All rights reserved.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Thanksgiving Special Hours

Westerville Public Library's Thanksgiving Week schedule:

The library is closing on Wednesday, November 25th at 6 p.m. and will reopen on Friday, November 27th at 9 a.m.

So, pick up your Thanksgiving reading, music, or videos by tomorrow night at 6!!

Uptown Westerville is a Place to Honor and Enjoy the Holidays

From the City of Westerville:

HOLIDAY BENEFIT CONCERT TO FUND HONOR FLIGHT

Concert featuring regional artists set for Sunday, December 27th

WESTERVILLE, OH – The Westerville Community, including the City, schools, citizens, businesses, service clubs and others, will host a Holiday Concert to benefit Honor Flight Columbus on Sunday December 27, 2009 at 2 p.m. at Cowan Hall at Otterbein College.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the next (2010) community-sponsored “Honor Flight,” a program honoring veterans of World War II with a guided tour of the National World War II monument in Washington, D.C. WCMH-TV anchor Cabot Rea will host and perform in the variety show featuring Columbus’ own Otoniel “Tony” Gonzaga, a world-renowned tenor who has graced both American and European stages. Gonzaga will perform popular hits of the WW II era and holiday favorites. Granville piano prodigy, six-year-old Gavin George, also appears on the program. In addition, The Continental Band will play favorite swing music from the era of “The Greatest Generation.”

General admission tickets are $20; $10 for senior citizens (65 and older) and students (12 and younger).

As with all Honor Flight activities, WW II veterans are admitted free of charge.

For information and tickets call or contact: 614.918.3888 or westervillehonorflight@gmail.com.

Tickets may also be purchased at the Westerville Municipal Building (614.901.6411 or christa.dickey@westerville.org).

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Meza Gifts

Meza, 48 N. State, is the perfect stop for wines and pantry ingredients for your Thanksgiving table.

Tatjana and Jason Brown tell us to stop by Meza over the holidays for wines, food, and gifts:

We are officially in full swing of the holiday season!!Join us this Friday night, November 27 for a little "Black Friday Unwind" tasting! 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. $8 for 4 wines that are sure to help you relax and unwind after a busy day of shopping and after all that turkey!

Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day

Meza will be closed on Christmas Day - Friday December 25th as well as on New Year's Day - Friday January 1st.

Private Holiday Wine Tasting

We are booking up quickly for private holiday tastings! E mail us at vinomeza@gmail.com or call us at 614.259.3101 during business hours for information about how you can host your own private wine tasting! Perfect way to take the stress out of planning a holiday get together! We provide a great selection of wines, a casual and fun atmosphere, and food can be provided by Cardone's Italian Restaurant on Main for a small additional per person fee. So let us do the planning - you just show up and enjoy!

Home for the Holidays

Looking for a great way to enjoy the start to the holiday season with your friends and family? Come to Uptown Westerville on Saturday, November 28th from 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. for shopping, sleigh rides, food and of course.....$1 wine tasting at Meza! Taste 4 wines for $1 per tasting!

Meza Gift Boxes

Meza features a creative selection of affordable, thoughtful gift boxes for the holidays -- choose from a selection of ready-designed gift boxes, or customize your own.

Click here to learn more.

To place a gift order, send us an email at mezagiftorders@gmail.com or call us at 614.264.7244.

Just give us your full name, phone number, and your order specifications and we will get back to you within one business day.

And, give a shopping trip to Meza! Meza sells and accepts The Uptown Gift Card.

Image by Andrew Plant photography, Courtesy of Meza

Uptown Westerville is a Place for the Festival of Wreaths

Like this wreath? It was designed and made by Amish Originals Furniture Co, 8 & 38 N. State, is on display at Amish Originals 8 N. State location, and it can be yours!

Amish Originals is one of 14 Uptown Westerville merchants participating in the Home for the Holidays Festival of Wreaths.

Participating merchants:

▪ Outside Envy, 15 N. State

▪ Morgan's Treasure, 12 W. Main

▪ Uptown Cigar Co., 33 N. State

▪ Meza, 48 N. State

▪ Gallery 202, 38 N. State, Upstairs

▪ Hey Diddle Diddle, 38 N. State

▪ A Gal Named Cinda Lou, 20 N. State
▪ Amish Originals Furniture Co., 8 N. State
▪ Uptown Strings, 18 N. State

▪ Westerville Antiques, 2 N. State
▪ Ruth Reed Antiques, 23 E. College
▪ Serendipity, 33 E. College

▪ It's All In The Name, 13 E. College

▪ Java Central, 20 S. State

Stop by Amish Originals (or the other 13 merchants) to purchase a $1 "wreath wraffle ticket" for a chance to win your favorite wreath. All monies collected for the "wreath wraffle" will be donated directly to the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market and WARM Fresh Green Program.

There's no limit to the number of tickets you can purchase. Raffle ticket winners will be drawn November 28th at 7:00 p.m. at each merchant wreath location, you need not be present to win.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Holiday Wines

Here is the latest from Tatjana and Jason Brown at Meza, 48 N. State:

This fall has thus far been nothing but a whirlwind!

We cannot believe it is almost Thanksgiving! That being said we want to give you a quick update on what we have been up to, on what holiday events are coming down the pipeline and what wines we think would make a great addition to your Thanksgiving table!

We are working on gearing up for the holidays......booking private tastings, hosting tastings, etc.... but we had a great oppertunity this weekend to take some time out to visit Jason's family in Virginia with our dear friends and we were able to take advantage of being down there and visit some wonderful local wineries. Our first stop was of course Jefferson Vineyards - this is where we were married in 2007.

It was gorgeous weather so the tasting room was bustling but we were able to snag a bottle of their 2008 Viognier and get a seat out on the patio to enjoy it!

We also had the pleasure of visiting Blenheim Vineyards - a beautiful winery owned by Dave Mathews! We were a bit surprised by the tie in (although he is from the Charlottesville area) so we thought we would give it a try.

The wines were well-priced and very enjoyable for casual, everyday enjoyment. We loved their Viognier, and enjoyed the Star Label Chardonnay as well as the King Family Merot.

The winery building was striking. It was a gorgeous A frame with a copper roof and beautiful windows overlooking the vineyard.

We also made a stop for a wine flight at the Kluge Estate winery shop. All I can say is that this place was nothing less than picturesque.

Tip for those travelling to this area: a tasting "pass" can be purchased at Kluge for only $10 and is good for tastings at 3 different wineries! A great way to see and experience what this area has to offer!So look for some of these wonderful Virginia wines to grace our shelves over the next few months. The area has special meaning to us, and the wines that we have tasted were memorable. In other words - you will love them too!

Coming Up at Meza:

Beajoulais Noveau is Here! This is a wonderful wine to serve for Thanksgiving with turkey and all the trimmings! This wine made from the Gamay grape, is food friendly, fruitful and meant to be drank young. It had quite a following and an ellusive presence since it is only released the third Thursday of September each year and in limited quantity.

Now aside from the rat race, what makes this wine so popular?! Beajolais Noveau is about as close to a white wine in style as a red wine can get. It is easy to drink, fruity, and meant to be served slightly chilled at about 55 degrees. Delicious with turkey, casseroles or mashed potatoes - a great wine to snatch up for Thanksgiving!

Home for the Holidays

Looking for a great way to enjoy the start to the holiday season with your friends and family? Come to Uptown Westerville on Saturday November 28, from 12 - 8 pm for shopping, carriage rides, food and of course.....$1 wine tasting at Meza! Taste 4 wines for $1 per tasting!

Private Parties

GREAT FOR THE HOLIDAYS! We are booking private wine tasting parties at Meza for November and December currently and spots are filling up quickly!If you are looking for a casual venue for a holiday gathering of friends, family or co workers, you are looking in the right place! Meza is the perfect place to host a casual wine tasting party for all sorts of groups! So if you are interested in booking a private tasting event simply e mail us at vinomeza@gmail.com or call us at 614 259 3101 for details!

Meza Holiday Wine Tasting Schedule

December 2009

Interesting Italians Wine Tasting: Friday, December 4 (6:30 - 9:00 pm) Looking for some off the beaten path Italian wines that are budget friendly and delicious? Love Barbera and want to try Ripasso? Stop by and taste some interesting Italian wines and get some ideas for traditional Italian food and wine pairing.

Cost is $10/person for 5 wines and light tapas!

Chocolate and Wine Tasting: Friday, December 11 (6:30 - 9:00 pm) What is more festive, more decadent, than chocolate and wine? Treat yourself to something special! We will be pouring wines that pair back to chocolates from a wonderful local chocolate producer - The Chocolate Octopus!

Cost is $10/person for 5 wines and chocolates

Champagne and Sparkling Tasting: Friday, December 18 (6:30 - 9:00 pm)Let's close out 2009 with a bang! We will pop some corks and taste some Champagnes and sparkling wines that will be perfect for your holiday celebrations!

Cost is $12/person for 5 wines and light tapas!

Great Thanksgiving Wines @ Meza

(Remember to stock up for Thanksgiving - you can Mix and Match a case and receive 10% off!)

Michele Chiarlo Barbera d'Asti 'L'Orme' - $13.99 This medium bodied, ruby red wine is bone dry and bursting with strawberry flavors. Wonderful option for turkey!

JL Wolf Gewurztraminer - $12.99 Slightly drier in style this is the perfect wine to serve with all the classic Thanksgiving sides and spices such as sweet potatoes or roasted root vegetables.

Abadia Retuerta Rivola Was $16.99 / Now $14.99 Medium bodied with a beautiful prescence of fruit and silky smooth tannins. Serve with lamb or any heartier casseroles or stews.

Check out our blog this weekend more wine pairings tips and ideas for your holiday celebrations!

Uptown Westerville is a Place to Check Out Books

Need some cool book gift ideas for the holidays???

Check out the Westerville Public Library on Facebook! Click here.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Giving

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. ~George Bernard Shaw

Help your Neighbor!

Westerville Caring & Sharing:

Check out the City of Westerville facebook page and you'll learn about an opportunity to enjoy a good meal and help Westerville Caring & Sharing on Wednesday, December 2nd:

Eat out for a good cause. Westerville Caring & Sharing will receive 20% of your purchase at Max & Erma's, Westerville, 790 N. State at Maxtown (with presentation of a special coupon). Applies to lunch, dinner and carry-out on Wednesday, December 2. Westerville Caring & Sharing is an all-volunteer program working now to serve families, children and senior citizens during the holiday season.

Click here to download or print the special Westerville Caring and Sharing coupon.

Westerville Caring and Sharing helps folks & families in the Westerville School District 365 days a year with everything from everyday needs like blue jeans and school supplies to toys for kids on the holidays. This vital organization welcomes your support including donations, gift cards, and new and gently-used clothing (this is a good time of year for coats) and home furnishings. To learn more about contributing money, gift cards, or new or used items to Caring & Sharing, contact Marge Day Lewis or Bobbie Nelson at 614.470.4320 or P.O. Box 970, Westerville, OH, 43086.

Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM):

WARM Westerville (the Westerville Area Resource Ministry) offers a much needed hand-up for people and families in need in the greater Westerville area. From job training to personal growth to day-to-day needs, WARM is there to offer empowerment opportunities.

▪ Adopt a WARM family for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas.

For more information, contact WARM at info@warmwesterville.org or call 614.899.0196

The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market teams up with WARM for the WARM Fresh Green Program. With WARM Fresh Green everyone in the greater Westerville area has the opportunity to benefit from Ohio Proud healthy foods throughout the growing season. Fresh Green participants bring vouchers provided by WARM to the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market throughout the market season for fresh produce, foods, and fruit bearing garden plants.

Market vendor participation is entirely optional and every eligible market vendor accepts the Fresh Green vouchers.

The WARM Fresh Green Program is entirely funded by donations.

Join in with the Uptown Westerville Merchants Association's Home for the Holidays Festival of Wreaths this week as we look forward to November 28th's Home for the Holidays.
14 Uptown Merchants are displaying a custom-made and designed wreath available for "wraffle" to benefit WARM Fresh Green. Purchase a $1 "wreath wraffle ticket" for a chance to win your favorite wreath! No limit on "wraffle" ticket purchases. All "wreath wraffle ticket" money collected goes directly to the WARM Fresh Green Program.

The wreath winners will be drawn by each participating merchant during Home for the Holidays at 7 p.m. on November 28th.

Thank you for your support!! Happy Holidays!

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Project Lifesaver

Westerville Division of Police recently introduced Project Lifesaver, a rapid response program utilizing a personalized bracelet and tracking device that allows officers to quickly locate and return people with Alzheimer’s or autism if they wander from home or their care.

Westerville News and Public Opinion recently explain the program in an article by Bret Liebendorfer:

'Lifesaver' tech to help track missing with Alzheimer's, autism

* $4,500 grant will pay for equipment that successfully concludes most hunts for the missing within 30 minutes.

By BRET LIEBENDORFER

Published: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 4:37 PM EST

Westerville police have been using a high-tech game of hide and seek to train for searches involving those with diminished capacities.Thanks to a $4,500 grant from the Franklin County Department of Aging, the department will soon have Project Lifesaver, a system that tracks a person with Alzheimer's or autism by a personal transmitter if they wander off.

"Without Project Lifesaver, it's a labor-intensive search that takes a lot of time and sometimes the results aren't what we want," said Lt. Tracey Myers adding that most searches with Project Lifesaver end within 30 minutes.First used in 1999 for those lost in the wilderness, by the Search and Rescue Company of Chesapeake Sheriff's Office in Virginia, it soon was learned that the technology, now used in most states, could be used to find those with diminished capacities.

Statistics Myers presented to local media on Friday, Nov. 13 during a demonstration stated that 59 percent of the 5.2 million in the country with Alzheimer's disease wander off, with the majority of those doing so repeatedly. With baby boomers aging the number of people with Alzheimer's is projected to increase to 15 million by 2030.

Another group likely to benefit are those with autism, which includes students at Oakstone Academy, a school for autistic children that moved to Westerville in 2007 at 939 S. State St., the former site of the Westerville Athletic Club.Julie Sharp, a teacher at the school with two autistic sons, said the school used similar tracking technology for students on a field trip to New York City.

"It made me feel a level of comfortability," Sharp said. "It gave us an added measure of security."One of her sons is a prototypical candidate for Project Lifesaver, she said, because of his tendency to run away from his caregivers and become lost.The technology includes a band worn by users that is about the size of a watch and broadcasts on a known frequency. The personal transmitter emits a unique radio frequency instead of GPS technology, which requires a large battery and can be affected by weather.

Myers said the technology is similar to that used to track animals but is not demeaning because of the assistance it provides in locating individuals who could suffer injury or death. Also, most individuals outfitted with the equipment, which can be worn on the ankle, are unaware of its significance.

Training so far has been conducted with the help of the Ross County Sheriff's Office at Sharon Woods Park, Hoff Woods Park and in Uptown, and the entire Westerville Division of Police will be trained on the new equipment.

Due to Project Lifesaver's 1-mile effective range, the division wants recipients to have a full-time caregiver, so police are notified quickly when participants turn up missing.For more information on the program, contact Westerville Police Communications Service Aid Jennifer Kennedy at 614-901-6860

To read this article online, click here.

Uptown Westerville is a Place to Wander from the Beaten Path for Gift Ideas

During your holiday shopping, keep these off-the-beaten-path Uptown Westerville gift resources in mind:

Westerville Public Library Friends of the Library Shoppe. 126 S. State, with reading-related gifts for all ages and gently-used soft & hard-cover books.

Hours:
Tuesday: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Wednesday: Noon-8 p.m.
Thursday: 1-4 p.m.
Friday: Noon-3 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Otterbein College Book Store, in the Campus Center, 100 W. Home, features Otterbein Spirit, Greek Gear, Gift Cards and more.

Hours:
Thanksgiving Week:
Monday and Tuesday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Winter Break
Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for a Cozy Bedroom

Amish Originals Furniture Co. November 2009 eNews is now online.

Bedroom Furniture & Features.

The Importance of Sleep and Sanctuary.

Amish Originals Amish-made Mattresses & Box Springs.

WARM and Westerville Caring & Sharing.

Stop by Amish Originals and check out their Holiday gift selection (many items $30 and under) and really offbeat, fun, and elegant holiday decorations and accents.

Miriam's Journal and more. Visit the Amish Originals Furniture Co. blog.

If you'd like to receive regular emails from Amish Originals, great -- just email Amish Originals at customerservice@amishoriginals.com

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Cigar Box Savings

Uptown Cigar Company, 33 N. State, has a special sale today only (November 21st) from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 15% off all boxes and buy a box of cigars and Roy and Mike will include a $10 gift card!

And, Uptown Cigar Co. is open every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Save the Date! On Sunday, December 6th, stop by Uptown Cigar from 3 p.m to 5 p.m. and meet Roy and Mike's special guest, Santa Claus! Perfect fun for kids of all ages!

(Oh, and no cigar smoking during Santa's visit.)

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Capital Style

The current issue of Capital Style Magazine is featuring a Tour Guide of Uptown Westerville, with select Uptown merchants and merchant features.

Click here to check the tour guide out online.

Check out the Capital Style online Events Calendar. Lots to do this holiday season including Home for the Holidays here in Uptown Westerville on November 28th!

Honorable Uptown mention: Check out Kristy Eckert's article in the November 19th Columbus Dispatch on Holiday Shopping and Events. Click here.

Uptown Westerville is a Place to Be Creative

"I made it just for you!" The Westerville Public Library, 126 S. State, is hosting a Holiday Greeting Card Workshop on November 19th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Meeting Room B.

You can bring your own scrapbooking supplies or take part in some instructor-created designs.

Register by 9 p.m. Monday, November 16th. Click here to sign up!

For questions, contact Mindy Van Houten, 614.882.7277, ext. 186

Uptown Westervile is a Place for Eggs, Bacon, and Pancakes

Breakfast is Served! Uptown!

Check out The Dog Joint's Breakfast Menu, Click Here!

8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Weekdays
8:00 a.m. to Noon Weekends

Uptown Westerville is a Place to be Right on Key

Recommended listening!

Otterbein College Student recitals today starting at 3 p.m. at Riley Auditorium, 170 W. Park. Admission is free.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Otterbein College Holiday Spirit

Otterbein College can add sugar & spice to your holiday season traditions this year with a series of events and features to add to your calendar:

November 14th/1 p.m. to 4 p.m. It's the annual Otterbein College Craft Bazaar all provided by folks in the Otterbein Community at the Otterbein Campus Center, 100 E. Home St.

Stop by the HUGGS event and then pop on over to the campus center!

For your shopping list: The Campus Center Bookstore features a selection of Otterbein spirit merchandise and gift cards for the fan, the student, the fraternity or sorority member, and alum! The bookstore is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

November 13th, 14th, 15th and 20th. Music! Admission is free to small indulgence.

November 13th/8 p.m.: An evening of vocal and instrumental jazz featuring Opus One and the Otterbein College Jazz Ensemble at Church of the Messiah United Methodist, 51 N. State St.

The program will feature music recorded by the Count Basie Orchestra including the famous Ernie Wilkins composition, “Moten Swing.”

Tickets are $5 for adults, and may be purchased at the door beginning 45 minutes prior to the performance. Students are admitted for free. No advance ticket sales. For more information, call 614.823.1508.

November 14th/8 p.m.: The Otterbein College Early Music Ensemble and the Otterbein Vocal Ensemble joins forces to present a program of early American music in Riley Auditorium in the Battelle Fine Arts Center, 170 W. Park St. The concert is free and open to the public.

The program will feature such delightful American musical traditions as the FaSoLa Singing School and Fife and Drum, as well as music from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Songbook. For more information, call 614.823.1508.

November 15th/7 p.m. A choral concert featuring Camerata, Otterbein Singers and Women’s Chorale at Church of the Messiah United Methodist, 51 N. State St. The concert is free and open to the public.

The program will feature a variety of choral works, including music of the Christmas and Advent season. The three choral ensembles involve over 100 Otterbein College students from the Department of Music and across the campus. For more information, call 614.823.1508.

November 20th/8 p.m. The Otterbein Wind Ensemble will present its autumn quarter concert in the Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St.

The ensemble will be performing works by the French composers Darius Milhaud and Gabriel Fauré. The performance is free and open to the public. For more information, call 614.823.1508.

November 20th/5:15 p.m. Stop by Towers Hall at College and Grove to enjoy the Otterbein Tree Lighting. The Towers Hall tree is holiday card perfect, year after year, throughout the season.

After the Tree Lighting, walk over to the Campus Center, 100 W. Home, for a Thanksgiving Dinner Event at 6:oo p.m. to meet and greet with Otterbein President Kathy Krendl, visit with Santa in Lounge, enjoy community service activities for children and enjoy holiday characters from the Generations Performing Arts Center’s Christmas Show. Pay at the door: $10 general, $4 for ages 4-10, free for age 3 or younger. (Dinner included with meal plan for Otterbein students.) Please RSVP for dinner by Monday, Nov. 16, contact 614.823.1571 or treelighting@otterbein.edu.

Still enjoying an evening on campus? Finish the evening with the free wind ensemble concert at Cowan.

December 7th/4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sarah’s Corner at the Courtright Memorial Library (at W. Main & S. Grove) presents J. Patrick Lewis, children’s poet and former professor. Books written by J. Patrick Lewis will be available for sale and refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public.

Anytime you're headed to Otterbein Campus, Uptown Westerville is just steps to the east with great holiday shopping and hometown dinner, drink & desserts!

Uptown Westerville is a Place to Honor our Veterans

11.11.09 Veteran's Day.

The members of the Westerville Uptown Merchants Association say thank you to all those who serve.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Uptown Westerville is a Place for an Evening of Elegance

The Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce 23rd annual Evening of Elegance, is this Friday, November 13, 6:00pm at Villa Milano.

The theme of this black tie (optional) event is Masquerade Ball.

Enjoy a night of festivities including great food, live and silent auctions and much more.

Individual tickets are $65 or a table of 10 for $650.

Contact the Chamber at 614.882.8917.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for the Holiday Season

Look for the Holiday Gift Guide in the center of the November-December 2009 issue of Westerville Magazine featuring Westerville Uptown Merchants Association members...

▪ A Gal Named Cinda Lou, 20 N. State
▪ Amish Originals Furnitue Co., 8 & 38 N. State
▪ Captivating Canines, 31 N. State
▪ Deja Vu, 11 N. State
▪ Encircle, 30 & 34 N. State
▪ Meza, 48 N. State
▪ Morgan's Treasure, 12 W. Main
▪ Outside Envy, 15 N. State
▪ Uptown Cigar Co., 33 N. State
▪ The Old Bag of Nails Pub, 24 -26 N. State
▪ Serendipity, 33 E. College
▪ The Westerville Visitors and Convention Bureau

Get the lowdown on Holiday shopping and community activties in Westerville!

Click here for a downloadable WUMA Uptown Westerville Shopping Map. (PDF)

Big Ticket Uptown Westerville Dates:

▪ November 28th. Noon to 8 p.m. The Westerville Uptown Merchants Association presents... Home for the Holidays.

▪ December 1st, 5th, 6th. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the 1st/1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the 5th & 6th, Hanby Christmas Open House celebrates the holidays at the home of the composer of the classic children's holiday song Up On the House Top, Benjamin Hanby (who was pretty much the Bono of his day, by the way) at Hanby House, 160 W. Main.

Hot cider and cookies. Free entertainment from guest performers.

Dec. 1: M.E.E.K. quartet (7:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m.)
Dec. 5: Dennis and Lily Davenport, piano & recorder (1:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.)
Pat Clous, strings and Betty Meabon, piano (2:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
Dec. 6: Katie Maskell, cellist (1:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.)
Amie Gale, harpist (2:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.)

▪ December 4th - 7 p.m. The City of Westerville Tree Lighting Ceremony in the city hall courtyard, 21 N. State. Coming Uptown for the tree lighting? Come up early, get a good parking spot, and Shop Uptown Westerville! Come Uptown early to shop and have dinner, drink, and dessert!

▪ December 6th - 1 p.m. Sertoma/Jaycees Rudolph 5k Run and Christmas Children's Parade. The run precedes the parade starts at Heatherdown and State and heads North through Uptown Westerville. For more info about the run, click here. To participate in the Parade contact Chris Shaheen, 614.371.7199.

▪ December 7th - 11th. Snowflake Castle at the Westerville Senior Center, call for schedule 614.901.6560, 310 W. Main St. Admission: $2 per child. Preschoolers and Kindergarteners can enjoy a movie, puppet show, toy trains, face painting, gift shop and a visit with Santa!

Sounds of the Season, Part 1: Throughout November and December... Check the Westerville Public Library Events Calendar for their free Music in the Atrium series. (Scroll down to Online Service and look for Events.)

Sounds of the Season, Part 2: December 13th. 7 p.m. Westerville Symphony Sounds of the Season at Riley Auditorium at Battelle Arts Center at Otterbein College, 170 W. Park. Purchase tickets ($20.00 adults, $15.00 seniors, $8.00 students) online or in person at Raisin Rack, 2545 Schrock Rd.

Uptown Westerville is a Place for HUGGS

A unique holiday shopping experience for a good cause!

This Saturday, November 14th, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. stop by Robert Frost Elementary, 270 N. Spring Rd.... It's the annual HUGGS for the Holidays event:

▪ Craft Show

▪ Silent Auction

▪ Tree, Wreath & Poinsettia Sale

The annual HUGGS (Half-Units Gathering & Giving Support) holiday event benefits the Westerville Police Division Officer Down Fund that provides social activities and emotional & financial support to members of the WPD and their families. HUGGS also provides financial assistance to the families of fallen officers from throughout Central Ohio.

100% of the proceeds from the Silent Auction go directly to the Officer Down Fund. The other proceeds are divided between the Officer Down Fund, the Scholarship Fund and the General Fund.

To learn more about HUGGS, click here.

Uptown Westerville is a Place to Save Some Green

Stop by Outside Envy, 15 N. State, this weekend, November 14th and 15th for the annual Friends & Family Sale (did you get your email with the special coupon?) and on November 14th only a Gold Buy-Back Event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (a great way to maybe pick up some extra holiday cash!)

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Beautiful Lace

Welcome new Westerville Uptown Merchants Association member and new Uptown Westerville business Bella Laccio Bridal, 46 N. State, 614.735.1135, beautifullace@bellalacciobridal.com.

Owner Jen Romey is an Otterbein College alum (Class of 2005) and is looking forward to opening her new business in Uptown Westerville.

Bella Laccio will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and by appointment on weekends.

Jen is currently painting and working on the store interior, and is looking at an opening date in early December, so keep checking the shop and the website!

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Falling Leaves

Never just one!! Trying to figure out your next leaf pick up date?

Check out the City of Westerville leaf collection webpage, click here.

(Scroll down for alpha street listing to determine your zone.)

Uptown Westerville is a Place for Ghostly Gratitude

The Westerville Uptown Merchants Association is sending out a Gigantic Thank You to Westerville for making Midnight Madness absolutely, memorably Spooktacular!

With the moon peeking out from behind the clouds and temperatures in the 70's, ghosts, goblins, creatures, princesses, and super heroes filled the sidewalks along State Street. The night air was filled with energy, fun, and laughter.

The Black Catwalk Costume Contest was a tremendous display of imaginative and inspired Halloween costumes from Edward Scissorhands to Pirates to Cowgirls to Dorothy, the Tinman, the Lion, the Scarecrow, and Witch from a magical place called Oz! What tremendous seasonal spirit!! Thanks to our judges, City Manager Dave Collinsworth, City Council Member Kathy Cocuzzi, and City Community Affairs Coordinator Christa Dickey -- they had a tough job.

The Uptown Merchants welcomed Madness visitors with sales, treats, music, special fun, and Mad features.

Kids made their own personal slime at Mad Science and met police officers and fire fighters from Westerville Police and Fire Divisions.

The rhythmic sound of hoof-beats on brick echoed in the air as friends and families enjoyed horse-drawn hay wagon rides on a warm, autumn eve.

The Westerville Public Library Reader mesmerized listeners with kid-perfect Halloween tales.

Madness guests could eat, drink, and be scary at Dairy Queen, The Dog Joint, Java Central, Serendipity, Jimmy Vs, Graeter's, Pasquale's, The Old Bag of Nails Pub, Pizza Primo, Heavenly Cup, and The Sertoma Brat Wagon.

Halloween music filled the air thanks to Tim Bullock of Edward Jones Investments. R U Bound entertained at Uptown Strings. And, Madness guests enjoyed the musical stylings of Dave McKay.

Kids and Grown-ups had a great time checking out their look in the carnival mirrors in Rotary Park.

The Pumpkin Drop was a smashing success and thanks to Woody Johnson of 92.3 WCOL-FM's Woody and the Wake Up Call for hosting!

The Midnight Madness Classic Chiller movie, Psycho, ended the evening with a bit of chill and thrill.

Now, 2009's Midnight Madness has become part of Uptown Westerville's legend and lore. Thanks much for a great 2009 Midnight Madness, Westerville! We hope you had big fun!


Photo courtesy of Tim Bullock.