November 24, 2014 at 3:09 p.m.
DRI kicks off holiday season with open house
DRI kicks off holiday season with open house
By Kayla Thomason-
Many shops had sales, refreshments and activities for shoppers. Guests learned everything from how to make poofy bows to how to cook butternut squash soup.
Ginny Bell came into town to visit friends. This was her first time attending the holiday open house. She said she enjoyed the craft shows and boutiques.
She also attended the butternut squash soup demonstration at Fraiser's Kitchens.
Bell said the recipe was similar to what she makes.
"(The open house) was great, we (also) went to the craft fair at the middle school which was wonderful, a lot of things there," Bell said.
Lund and Taylor Bridal Gallerie had bra fittings and a Christmas fashion show featuring beautiful dresses.
"It was beautiful," Nancy Gehrig said. "(The) holiday dresses are fantastic here. (Mary Taylor, owner of Lund and Taylor) has a lot of great (dresses) for the people in the community to come in and check out."
Gehrig also visited Forth Floral for the ribbon session - which she thought was "awesome."
Like many others, she also visited the Nativity of Our Lord and the James Williams Middle School bazaars which were not part of the downtown Rhinelander event.
She was shopping for Christmas gifts for friends and family.
Gehrig took her granddaughter, Reese Gehrig, to visit the shops and to see "The Beauty and the Beast" musical at Rhinelander High School.
"(The open house is) fun," Reese said. "I liked the Forth Floral (ribbon demonstration) and (Lund and Taylor's Christmas fashion show)."
The open house offered guests an opportunity to discover stores they didn't know existed.
"I enjoyed downtown because a lot of those shops I didn't even know they were here because we don't get down that much," said Janet Turney.
She discovered Shabby Cottage, Latitudes and Northern Coffee Haus, where the band "The Thorn Brothers" played for the crowd.
As she made her way through the downtown area, Turney found a few Christmas gifts for family members.
"It was nice that they had this downtown," she said.
This was Turney's first time participating in the open house. Others shoppers said they make the open house an annual tradition.
"Oh I love it. Every year I love it," Dot Reis said. "I love the spirit."
Reis has been attending for the past four or five years and this time she came with a friend.
"My granddaughter, Emma, loves cupcakes so everything I get for her has something to do with cupcakes," Reis said.
She purchased a cupcake-shaped soap from Bath and Body Creations - Inspired by Jan. She said she likes hand-crafted items.
Susan McDougall and her daughter went to Dubl Digits and several other shops.
McDougall thought the free hand massage sounded wonderful.
"This is a wonderful event for women especially because most of our husbands are out hunting," she said.
Needless to say the day was a success for customers and the shops.
"I think everyone should come downtown and enjoy everything they are offering to us," Gehrig said. "It's great, this year was awesome."
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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