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Insider tips for visiting Ohio's herb capital.
Every year, the staff members of the Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) puts together their top local picks for holiday gift giving. With so many wonderful local business, it’s difficult to narrow down! Did your favorite shop make the list?
Laurie Jadwin, Executive Director I love The Great Gift & Paper Co. for unique items that really stand out. They have everything from jewelry to hand towels to home décor, and offer an array of Gahanna-specific items including mugs, pillows and more. I found some beautiful decorations for Thanksgiving there and now can’t wait to go back to do some holiday gift shopping for family and friends on my list! Be Social Dress Boutique at Creekside also is on my list to visit for some holiday shopping. Not only do they have stunning dresses that are perfect for holiday parties, but they also have beautiful every day fashions along with jewelry and accessories that are very affordable. (I hope my daughters and niece aren’t reading this….) Mary Symkowiak, Communications & Tourism Manager Pam’s Market Popcorn was my favorite go-to for stocking stuffers last year--so it’s definitely a repeat this year! I’m addicted to all their flavors, especially the Chicago Style popcorn. The guys in my family are big popcorn lovers, so Pam’s Popcorn is a huge hit around our house anytime. I’m also going to Buckeye Candy Company this year for more stocking stuffers. I love all of their bulk candy, and their Harry Potter items are so fun! To treat my sisters to some relaxing goodies this year, I’ll be visiting The Ohio Herb Education Center on Mill St. I love the Ohio made goods that include gourmet honey, teas, soaps and herbal body care items and more. The knowledgeable staff members at the Center are always so wonderful at suggesting ideas, too. Susan Peters, Community Partnership Manager I will be heading to Thrive Massage & Wellness this year for gifts. I’ve noticed they have Ohio made products on consignment. They have the cutest reusable tea bags in the shapes of animals, leaves and more--as well as the most adorable soap dishes. They have even bundled some items together to create gift packages! I thought of my sister-in-law first when I saw their hand-made pottery and dishes. I actually went into the shop right before our Holiday Lights Celebration and I just knew I had to shop there for Christmas. And, of course, you can give the gift of a massage too! It’s just such a nice place for keeping you well, inside and out. Becky Whittington, Events Administrator I’ll be shopping at Expressions Floral Design Studio this year! They have the cutest decorations, gift baskets, pots and vases, and of course flowers. I love picking up some stems to decorate my table for the holidays. You can’t walk by the shop without going in because their window is beautifully decorated. You’re compelled to go in. I have a large family and we do a Secret Santa gift exchange each year so I like to shop local! My family appreciates that because they don’t live here anymore and I like to give them a piece of their hometown. Braeden Chicase, Social Media Assistant I have a few people on my list that love to sweat it out, so I was thrilled to hear that Oak Studio Fitness sells class passes! I love that Oak Studio has four different types of yoga classes (slow flow, power yoga, sculpt yoga and vinyasa yoga) and they have an awesome bootcamp class too. They have drop-in rates as well as 5, 10 and 20 class passes you can choose from. You can even get a 2-week new member unlimited pass for only $22. Another great option is doing a class pass at Namaste in Love Yoga Studio! They also have drop-in rates as well as 5, 10 and 20 class passes that you can choose from, or a 2-week new member unlimited pass for just $32. With several different types of yoga classes to choose from, it’s perfect for the yogi in your life! ##### Don’t forget to post pictures using the hashtag #UniquelyGahanna on social media for a chance to be featured on Visit Gahanna’s social media channels and website! ~Post by Braeden Chicase, Visit Gahanna Social Media Assistant
Sponsored by Fresh Thyme Gahanna
Calling all aspiring bakers … Do you think you can build the ultimate gingerbread house? It’s time to put your skills to the test and cook up some creativity! Design your entry for Visit Gahanna’s 6th Annual Holiday Lights Gingerbread House Contest, presented by Fresh Thyme Gahanna! Entries do not have to be made of gingerbread but they DO have to be made of edible materials. Use your imagination and put your own personal spin on your holiday building!
Entries ares accepted now through Wednesday, December 19, 2018.
“This is the 6th year that we have presented the Holiday Lights Gingerbread House Contest, and the Contest continues to grow each year.” says Laurie Jadwin, Executive Director of the Gahanna CVB. “The Contest has become an annual tradition for some families in Gahanna and around Central Ohio. Each year, we continue to see some of the same faces come through the door, beaming with pride as they carry in their creations. We now look forward to seeing them as much as we look forward to seeing their culinary entries.” Here are the rules of the game:
The contest is open to any individual, group, or business
Be creative! Build from whatever materials you like but make sure to include edible treats
Each entry must be secured to a sturdy base that is no larger than 20”x 20”. Entrants should ensure that all decorations are secured and the houses are presented on a sturdy base
Youth competitors may be supervised by an adult; however, all construction and decorating must be completed by the individual or group entering the house into the contest
Limit one entry per person or group
Are you game? Here’s how you enter:
Complete the ENTRY FORM
Build your house per the guidelines outlined above
Drop off your entry and the attached completed form at the Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau (Visit Gahanna) office, 167 Mill Street, Gahanna, OH 43230.(Visit Gahanna will transport the entries to Fresh Thyme for display. Visit Gahanna will use reasonable care when moving the entries and will not be responsible for any damage to houses sustained in transit.)
Entries will be accepted through Wednesday, December 19, 2018. (The earlier your entry is submitted, the greater your chance to receive votes!)
Entries will be displayed at Fresh Thyme, 1125 N. Hamilton Road, through Saturday, December 22.
Voting and Prize Categories:
A photo of each entry will be taken and posted on Visit Gahanna’s Facebook page. Winners will be determined by the number of “likes” each entry receives. By submitting your entry, you consent to the use of your image and likeness (and the image and likeness of your entry) by Visit Gahanna and Fresh Thyme for marketing and promotional purposes.
Voting on Facebook will run through 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, December 22, 2018.
Awards will be issued based upon the total number of “likes” received: Grand Prize, Second Place and Third Place. Winners will be contacted by email on Sunday, December 23, 2018.
Entries may picked up on Sunday, December 23 and Monday, December 24 at Fresh Thyme during operating business hours. Any entry not retrieved by close of business on December 24 will not be returned.
“Visit Gahanna is especially excited to be teaming with Fresh Thyme Gahanna for this year’s Contest. They truly have embraced the spirit of the Contest and will be offering wonderful prizes to our contest winners. If you need some ideas for your entry, their staff is prepared to offer some suggestions of edible items in the store that you have never even thought to use for decorations.” says Laurie Jadwin.
Questions? Contact the Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau (614) 418-9114 or email info@visitgahanna.com.
If you’re like us, we can hardly WAIT to kick off the Holiday season! And for team #VisitGahanna--and anyone who wants to join us—we’re throwing a BIG Holiday Lights Celebration this Sunday, November 18 from 3-6:30 pm in Gahanna’s Creekside District (117 Mill St.) to welcome the season!
Best of all, the event is FREE and offers more than 100 family fun activities for all ages. We’ve pulled out all the stops and included a new Kringle Market and Kringle Zoo, live entertainment, camel rides, pony rides, reindeer, a game truck, ice carving demos, a Calliope, a live nativity, Santa arriving by Firetruck and FIREWORKS! There will also be an endless variety of hands-on crafts and interactive fun. Did we mention that it’s all free? That’s right. Visit Gahanna (the Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau) works hard to find sponsors and community partners to help support this event so that visitors can focus on family fun and making great memories together!
Here are a few things you should know before you attend the Gahanna Holiday Lights Celebration this Sunday:
Looking for the perfect spot to host your family gathering or holiday party? Don’t sweat it! Gahanna, Ohio has some beautiful and unique event venues that offer the perfect setting for every occasion, big or small. But don’t delay, these event spaces book up quickly this time of year!
For larger or more formal parties, check out some of Gahanna’s designated banquet centers that can accommodate larger groups.
La Navona La Navona is a 10,000-square-foot venue featuring rustic décor, with several patio spaces for outdoor wedding ceremonies and a large built-in bar. Your guests will be captivated by their made-from-scratch menus, their industry-leading standards and attention to every detail.
Creekside Conference & Event Center The 9,000-sq.-ft. facility offers a perfect setting for corporate meetings and special events. Two executive boardrooms and a stunning 6,000-sq.-ft. plaza ballroom can accommodate up to 450 guests. Chandeliers, exquisite flooring, a beautifully appointed reception space, inviting lounge areas and a marble fireplace add stylish décor. With views that overlook Gahanna’s lovely Creekside Park and District, your guests will feel like they are attending a VIP soiree.
The Olde Gahanna Sanctuary The Olde Gahanna Sanctuary is a charming place to hold a meeting, reception or special event. The historic facility, located in a restored church built in 1875, offers breathtaking stained glass windows, woodwork and more. Rental space includes the banquet and community rooms — offering accommodations for up to 250 guests.
Jefferson Country Club Jefferson Golf & Country Club's spacious Clubhouse offers private banquet space designed to accommodate up to 350 guests. The beautiful facility hosts a variety of special events including social gatherings, weddings, golf outings, business meetings and more.
If you’re looking for more unique, “non-traditional” locations, or want a space that’s more intimate, check out some of our other locations in town:
Ohio Herb Education Center For a smaller gathering, The Ohio Herb Education Center offers a charming Victorian era setting idea for family gatherings, bridal or wedding showers. The Nafzger-Miller house, home to the Herb Center, is listed among the National Register of Historical Places, with the earliest part of the house dating to 1855.
The Golf Depot Perched on a hill that is the highest point in Franklin County, the outstanding view of the Columbus skyline is one of the most unique features of this facility. Two meeting rooms and Barry's Grill (with catering available), make the Golf Depot ideal for events.
Jorgensen Farms This breathtaking privately owned farm is a popular wedding and event destination--where events are hosted year-round in the beautiful Historic Barn and at the modern Oak Grove. Gahanna Municipal Golf Clubhouse This lovely facility overlooks Creekside Park and the Gahanna Municipal Golf Course. Tables and chairs are available for up to 100 people. The facility offers an affordable meeting space ideal for meetings, family reunions, team banquets, wedding receptions, parties, etc.
Wyandotte Winery The tasting room and wine shop can hold groups of up to 35 people and the Informal Space can hold up to 80 people. Your group can enjoy a wine tasting, wines by the glass or bottle, and you can even book a tour of the winemaking facility. The Wyandotte team can even include customized wine bottles with private labels designed just for your group!
Barn at Rocky Fork Creek With a warm inviting atmosphere, attentive hospitality and several fabulous menu options, The Barn offers three private dining areas. The Loft and The Three Seasons Room can accommodate up to 40 guests and The Black Falls Room can accommodate up to 10 guests.
Barrel & Boar This local-favorite restaurant is known for their scratch kitchen in a modern/rustic setting. Barrel & Boar Creekside has private event spaces to accommodate 25 to 75 guests. Price is determined by number of guests, menu, day of the week and time of the day.
101 Beer Kitchen Locally and family owned, this local hot spot specializes in seasonal, handcrafted food with a carefully curated draft & bottle list our gastropub. Add to it an awesome kids menu & the whole family is happy! Portions of the restaurant can be reserved for groups. Noble Cut Distillery Gahanna's new distillery serves as a unique space to hold any event. Stop in and check it out or take a tour of distillery offered Thursday through Saturday! Kindred Brewing Kindred's Tasting Room and Barrel House serves as a community gathering place and the home of their barrel-aged wild and sour ale program, and their space offers a unique space to hold any event. Kindred can accommodate parties of up to 180 people. They have an in-house food trailer or caterers that will work with you to create a special event for all of your needs and occasions.
For a full list of meeting & group spaces, check out our listing on our website: https://visitgahanna.com/plan/Meetings-Groups Happy holidays!
Gahanna, Ohio is gaining a new, fit neighbor! Oak Studio will open its doors this Thursday, November 8, welcoming the community with open arms. We had the privilege of chatting with Holly and Jenny Oak, sisters and owners of Oak Studio, to talk about what sets their studio apart from other fitness studios and what drove their passion to quit their jobs and follow their dreams.
What are your names and the name of your business? We are Jenny and Holly Oak—the two sisters behind Oak Studio! We are located at 1370 Cherry Bottom Rd. in Gahanna.
What is your background? Holly: I was a lawyer for the past 5 years. During that time, I took yoga classes while practicing law. I have an athletic background since I’ve been an avid runner and was even a rower in college. I’ve lived in Gahanna for the past 5 years and I’m a certified yoga instructor.
Jenny: I was an IT Project Manager for 7 years and lived in Madison, Wisconsin, although I hardly ever “lived” there, since I was constantly traveling for work. I moved to Columbus about a year ago and I’m also a certified yoga instructor.
What inspired the opening of your studio? We were chatting one day about getting a little burned out in our professional careers and not feeling fulfilled. We were always thinking about the next fitness class we were going to take, so we thought-- why not do something you’re passionate about? We identified the need to have a fitness studio with yoga, strength and cardio all under one roof because we’ve held several studio memberships for different types of workouts. We’re both runners and ran the Columbus marathon and several half-marathons so we love cardio--but we also love yoga. We just wished we had all our memberships under one roof! We wanted a space where you can get all of this at one place, and we saw there was a void in Columbus for a studio that included all aspects of fitness.
And since we were going to different studios, we never formed a connection to people at these studios. We wanted a sense of community--somewhere where you can go and feel welcomed and supported. I don’t think either of us would have done this alone, so we knew we had to do it together!
Can you describe your studio? It’s a 2,400 square foot space that we designed to be light and energizing for you to de-stress, connect to others and get an amazing workout. We have plenty of seating with cubbies and coat racks. We also have free coffee and tea! We want this to be a place where people hang out and enjoy a sense of belonging.
One unique aspect is that we have marked spaces on our floor where the corners of your yoga mat fit just right—so there’s always room for you, no matter what time you arrive. We also have bathrooms and showers in case you need to clean up to go to work or an event after class.
What kinds of classes do you offer? Our tagline explains the categories of our classes. Fit. Bend. Sculpt. The “fit” is our boot camp classes, “bend” is for yoga, and sculpt is yoga with weights. On our website, we have a “Layer” tab to help people who are not sure what type of class to take. This tab allows you to hover over the categories to see what best you connect with!
All classes are beginner friendly, and our instructors are trained to modify each workout to accommodate different skill levels. We have a description of each class on our website so you know what to expect. For instance, if you’re a beginner, you may want to do a slow flow yoga class rather than power yoga at first.
If you’re completely new to yoga, we are offering a FREE 45-minute class once a month to allow people to get familiar with poses before going to an actual class.
How did you pick Gahanna as home for your business? We both live in Gahanna. We brainstormed other spaces and felt the downtown area was saturated. We also wanted a place that was welcoming and inviting--something we would want since our target demographic is people like us; those in their mid-twenties to forties that like a variety of workouts. As we were looking at spaces, we fell in love with our current space, and we felt that Gahanna is under served. There are other studios here, but not one that offers exactly this. It’s just what we were looking for, and it’s close to home for us which is a big plus!
What sets Oak Studio apart from other Yoga Studios? Other than the diversity of classes we offer [Fit. Bend. Sculpt], we put customer experience first and foremost. We know people feel vulnerable going into a new fitness studio, so we want to make it as supportive as possible.
Anything else you’d like people to know about Oak Studio? I think people will find our prices to be affordable, which is intentional. Our open house is Thursday, November 8 and we’re offering FREE classes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday while spots are open. We also have a new client special which is two weeks of unlimited classes for $22! We have class package offerings as well that you can find here.
Where can people find Oak Studio online? Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oakstudiofit/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oakstudiofit/ Our website: https://oakstudiofit.com/
* * * Don’t forget to post pictures using the hashtag #UniquelyGahanna on social media for a chance to be featured on Visit Gahanna’s social media channels and website! ~Post by Braeden Chicase, Visit Gahanna Social Media Assistant
Copyright © 2014 Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau. All rights reserved. 167 Mill St. Gahanna, Ohio 43230. 614/418-9114. 866/424-2662