November 19, 2014 at 4:29 p.m.
Downtown Rhinelander preparing for Holiday Open House
Downtown Rhinelander preparing for Holiday Open House
By Kayla Thomason-
"When the hunters (go into the woods) the women (need) something to do, so that's when they started having these bazaars and things on that day," said Maggie Steffen, executive director of Downtown Rhinelander, Inc.
Downtown Rhinelander will be busy with more than just sales.
Forth Floral will host a demonstration on how to create bows. Ruth Hempel, owner of Forth Floral, will share tips on how to make poofy bows with lots of loops for packages or wreathes.
There will be classes at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Nov. 21. The sessions are free and will last 10 to 15 minutes. People are welcome to take their time practicing.
Hempel said she is always getting requests for ribbon-making classes.
"I hope that whoever thinks (the ribbon-making classes are) interesting and wants to learn, I hope they plan to attend," Hempel said. "We always have really, really beautiful displays so if somebody wants to get in the holiday spirit they should plan to make us one of their stops."
Elsewhere in downtown Rhinelander, Big Daddy's will host a free wine tasting from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 21.
Big Daddy's has expanded its wine selection and the tasting is a great way to see what the tavern has to offer.
"Because I'm expanding my wine offerings and (customers) don't know, they don't realize what we offer so this is a way to jump-start it if you will," said Aaron Schultz, owner of Big Daddy's.
There will be white zinfandel, moscato, pinot grigio, chardonnay, Sutter Home cabernet, Blackstone cabernet, Folie A Deux and a red blend called Menage à Trois -- which is a combination of cabernet, zinfandel and merlot.
"The wine selections and the wine menu are pretty self-explanatory, when (customers) stop down to look at them we'll have those out on the bar so they can see what they're trying and what the price point is and what the glass is," he said.
People will be able to sample approximately 1 ounce of whichever wines they'd like to taste.
When people come in, if they will be trying all the wines, they will start with the whites first and make their way to the red Folie A Deux last.
Big Daddy's has also expanded its pizza offerings to include ultra-thin flat bread crust and gluten-free crust which will also be available for sampling.
Schultz said the chicken ranch pizza would go well with white wine, and red sauces would go well with red wine.
To round out the afternoon, shoppers can stop by Frasier's Kitchen for a soup demonstration featuring butternut squash soup.
"It's very easy, it just takes a little bit of elbow grease to cut up the squash is all," said Nancy Frasier, co-owner of Frasier's Kitchen.
She loves to cook and is looking forward to demonstrating this easy and versatile soup.
She may be making a minestrone soup as well, but that hasn't been confirmed.
The demonstration will begin at 3 p.m. and it will take around an hour to 90 minutes. Cost is $15 per person.
Frasier said butternut squash soup is delicious by itself but can also be altered for vegans or can include vegetables and/or chicken if the cook prefers.
"It you're really paying attention to your nutrition you could do a huge pan of roasted vegetables in the oven and then add that to the soup," Frasier said.
The audience will be able to watch the blend process.
"It's just so fun to see the soup become this beautiful golden, creamy soup," Frasier said.
To round out the weekend, there will be entertainment, carolers and more.
"You can spend all day (in) downtown Rhinelander, get your gift ideas," Steffen said. "They can come all day and there is something to do down here."
Businesses will stay open late all day Saturday. Some stores will also have late hours on Sunday.
Here is the schedule for Nov. 22.
8 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Tea Forte Tea Sampling - Northern Coffee Haus
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Free Hand Treatments - Dubl Digits
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Handmade Ornaments & Wreaths Sales - Trigs Green Space
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.: PomPom Palooza - Imaginuity
10 a.m.: Hands-On Bow Making Workshop - Forth Floral
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Craft and Home Based Business Show - Hext Theater
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Make & Take Greeting Cards - Old School
11 a.m.: Bra Fitting Workshop - Lund & Taylor Bridal Gallerie
Noon to 5 p.m.: Free Gift Wrapping - Lund & Taylor Bridal Gallerie
1 p.m. : Bra Fitting Workshop - Lund & Taylor Bridal Gallerie
2 p.m.: Hands-On Bow Making Workshop - Forth Floral
2 to 5 p.m.: Complimentary Wine Tasting - Big Daddy's
3 p.m.: *Homemade Soup Cooking Demo - Frasier's Kitchens
3 p.m.: Holiday Fashion Show - Lund & Taylor Bridal Gallerie
3 to 7 p.m.: Complimentary Hors d' oeuvres - Rhinelander Café & Pub
4 p.m.: Rhinelander Community Band - Hext Theater
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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