Amish Country Blog

I took a much needed break this weekend.  I stayed at the Staybridge Suites, and it was a wonderful experience.

The front desk attendants were friendly, and helpful.

I enjoyed the room layout.  I had a full kitchen, with a full fridge.  That was a convenient since I didn’t want to leave the room that weekend.  I had two flat screen TV’s in my suite–one in the common room and one in the bedroom, both flat screens.  The rooms was quite, I couldn’t hear any outside noise although the property is by a major road.

For breakfast, there were lots of choices, from hot items to fruit and cereal.  They didn’t have hot tea, but I muddled through without it.  It was a good way to start my day.

I had the pool to myself for most of the weekend.  Because this property is new, most travelers don’t know to stay here yet, and I got to take advantage of lots of pool time.  The property also has a theater room, and a workout room, neither of which I used.  There is also on site guest laundry facilities.

So when you want a good place to stay, check out Staybridge Suites.  I’m sure you’ll enjoy the property.

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

Members of the Maple Leaf Quilt Guild, Heartland Quilters, Artful Quilters, New Paris Puzzler Quilt Guild, Happy Hoosier Homemakers, Zion Extension Club, and Pie Gabba Sew are organized to welcome over 1,000 quilters into Elkhart County on National Quilting Day, Saturday, March 20, 2010 at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds in Goshen.  Purdue Extension Services Educator, Mary Ann Lienhart-Cross remarks, “The rich heritage of quilting and hospitality make Elkhart County an ideal location to host this 20th anniversary event”.

“The Gathering of Quilters” features a quilt block exchange, a quilt exhibit and show, local demonstrations with product sales, and vendors offering quilt supplies, products, fabrics, notions and kits. Guest speaker, Brenda Papadakis, an expert in applique and Civil War era quilts and designs and the author of the 1996 “Dear Jane” book is the keynote speaker. In her famous book which started the “Dear Jane” quilt craze, Papadakis has lovingly recreated the two hundred twenty-five patterns from the celebrated Jane A. Blakely Stickle 1863 quilt. Brenda will lead a keynote session drawing attendees into the historical context of Jane’s achievement and connecting her to quilting
lives today.

Contact Diana Bennett at 574.642.4194 for information.

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

The Elkhart County Historical Museum invites girls to bring their American Girl Doll to the museum and learn together what life was like for children growing up in the 1970s.  On Saturday, Februrary 27th the museum will host “The Groovy ‘70s: Featuring American Girl Julie!”

The program will focus on some of the things that helped define the ‘70s.  One example is the environmentalist movement which made great strides in the 1970s.  1970 marked the first celebration of Earth Day and the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1972. “In recognition of the environmentalist movement, the girls will be making kites just like Julie did in her book Julie and the Eagles,” says Oestreich.  “Julie made and sold the kites to try and raise money to save endangered bald eagles.”

Girls will also be making projects featuring some of the fads of the 1970s. “Two of the more famous fads are lava lamps and pet rocks,” says Oestreich.  “So each girl will get to make a lava lamp and pet rock to take home.”  Other fads included roller skating, homemade ribbon barrettes, and pong.  In addition, many girls in the seventies read Judy Blume books and watched Little House on the Prairie.

Girls are welcome to come dressed in seventies inspired attire.  For girls this means bell-bottomed pants, platform shoes, turtle neck shirts, and flower prints.  Hair for girls switched from long and straight in the first part of the decade to more loose and feathery like the hair of Charlie’s Angel Farrah Fawcet in the latter part of the seventies.

Several American Girl related prizes will be awarded to participants including a grand prize of the Julie doll.  Additionally there will be prizes of American Girl story books, activity books, and clothing.  If anyone is interested in donating items to allow for more girls to go home with prizes please contact the museum.

While the bringing of an American Girl Doll to the program is encouraged it is not required.  Everyone is welcome to attend the program whether or not they have a doll.

The cost to attend “The Groovy ‘70s: Featuring American Girl Julie!” is $3/girl. Participants may choose from a morning session from 10:00 to 12:00 or an afternoon session from 1:30 to 3:30. Pre-registration is required.  To register or for more information, please contact Rebecca Oestreich at 574-848-4322 or Rebecca@elkhartcountyparks.org.

Rebecca Oestreich Elkhart County Historical Museum

I love watching the Olympics, and the ice skating competitions are my favorite.  After that I love watching speed skating.  It’s amazing how much talent these athletes have in working a thin little blade against ice. After every jump, spin and dance I wonder how they stay upright.   Then, I want to go out and try these moves myself.

In Elkhart, we have a great facility for working on all your ice skating dreams.  The NIBCO Water and Ice Park is open through March.  It is a beautiful facility on the Elkhart River.   It has a rink, but the best part of the rink is the ice path that goes out of the rink.  I love this feature.  It makes me feel like I’m a great skater…There are no sides to hold onto on this path.  I feel like an Olympic Skater after completing it and not falling down!

I hope when you visit the NIBCO Water and Ice Park you enjoy your moments on the ice.

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

The snow if falling in Amish Country, and we’re suppose to have 6 to 12 inches by tomorrow night.  The weather man says the snow isn’t so bad, but the blowing and drifting that will follow will make traveling difficult.

The Visitor’s Center is also off Exit 92.   We can update you on current road conditions and make recommendations where to stay and eat.  There are lots of hotels and restaurants in the immediate vicinity.  It makes the decision to stop much easier.

For your safety, here are tips from AAA on winter weather driving to make the next couple days of driving that much easier for you.

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite times of the year–roses and chocolate, chocolate and food, food and a night out, a night out and no toddler.  What a great way to spend a day.  And the best part is that your significant other usually has to say yes to your ideas for fear of ruining the day.  The Valentine’s package at the Das Dutchmen Essenhaus has all my requirements met, and it is a great place to be when the weather is cold outside.

You can have a wonderful dinner of prime rib, prosciutto wrapped chicken breast, or their famous family-style dinner.   The Mike Vaszari Ensemble will be there to play dinner music–get up and dance if you feel the urge.  A chocolate fondue fountain and a dessert buffet are also on the menu.  Each female guest receives a long stemmed rose- which is great if your partner has forgotten to get you flowers.  Then spend the night in the Essenhaus Inn.  I love that they have thought of everything on my list, and I don’t have to drive more than 20 minutes to get there.  This year, they are even offering massages!

The next day, you can walk over to the bakery and take home some of the best doughnuts you’ve ever tasted.  I think this is a great way to spend Valentine’s Day, and I hope to see you there.

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

Eyedart studio gallery invites art lovers and art haters to see an unorthodox exhibit in downtown Goshen. Regardless of ones interest or indifference to art, the exhibit is worth the visit. “Contemporary American and Italian Artists on Paper”, featuring forty-two works by twenty-one artists from Italy and the United States, offers a rare chance to view art created by internationally-renowned, master-status artists. After an eight-week pause in Goshen, the traveling exhibit will voyage to galleries in Milan and Rome, Italy.

The exhibit is the brainchild of Scott L. Hatt, artist and curator from the Spurious Fugitive in South Bend, Indiana, and David Lester Learn. David spent over fifteen years living and traveling in Italy, cultivating relationships with some of the most respectable artists and galleries in the country. Upon returning to South Bend in 2009, Hatt and Learn began collaborating to bring their American and Italian artist-associates together.

While it may seem that Midwestern and Italian artists could not be more disparate, Hatt and Learn saw more connections than divisions between the two groups. “In the twenty-first century, artists around the world are dealing with the impact of globalization on media, art, and technology,” says Hatt. “The exhibit exploits these similarities.”

As a reflection of common issues with which contemporary artists grapple, Hatt established a few basic rules of symmetry: all of the pieces had to be created on paper, trimmed to the same size, matted and framed uniformly. Not shockingly, each artist’s piece stretches the boundaries of their same-sized frames. Stitches, string, photography, paint, pencil, ink, crayons, cardboard, and wax found their way into the works.

Another commonality within this group is a willingness to collaborate without reservation. “The Italian gallery owners with whom we worked were very generous; choosing artists with major art careers in Europe and the U.S.,” said Hatt. “For example, they invited Nini’ Santoro, who generously created two pieces for the show.” Santoro, whose name is less familiar in Northern Indiana, is well known in art history books and in major art hubs throughout the world. Many museums around the world house his work including the Museum of Modern Art in New York.  “Two other Italian artists with advanced careers are Aldo Bertolini and Marisa Facchinetti, both of whom have a concurrent show at the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco, California.”

“On the American side,” continued Hatt, “The show features some heavy-hitters including Fred Stonehouse, Adam Benjamin Fung, and Timothy Vermeulen. Stonehouse, a Milwaukee native, has shown his work all over the globe. The Zolla/Liberman Gallery, in Chicago, represents Fung. With both the Americans and Italians, we’re achieving the Spurious Fugitive’s goal of bringing art to our community that wouldn’t otherwise be shown in Northern Indiana.”

So go to Eyedart and enjoy this great show.  Let us know what you thought of it, and leave us a comment.

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

Goshen’s 3rd Annual Ice Carving and Chili Competition kicks off the New Year, on January 1 and 2. The popular First Fridays event, Fire and Ice Festival, will give revelers one last holiday fling!

Members of the Michiana Ice Carvers Association (MICA) will carve 700-pound blocks of ice in front of downtown stores on Friday from 5 – 9 p.m. Watch these sculptures take form while you shop downtown businesses offering holiday specials.

The Friday ice sculpture carving is sponsored by area businesses

Then the celebration continues on Saturday, January 2, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

To keep everyone warm and fed, the Chili Fire Competition will also be going on Saturday. Free tastings are available, but tickets required – only 500 will be available. Pick tickets up at the Fire & Ice Festival Headquarters located in the lobby of the Goshen Theater, 216 South Main Street. Tasters can vote for their favorite soup at the Headquarters. The winner will be announced on West Washington Street on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Chili competition coordinator, Darin Short said competitors in this annual tradition invite everyone to taste their special brand of chili. Participating restaurants:

Constant Spring (219 South Main Street)
El Duranguenze (113 West Washington Street)
Electric Brew (136 South Main Street)
Kelly Jae’s Cafe (133 South Main Street)
Maple City Market (314 South Main Street)
Mattern’s Butcher Shop & Corner Deli (201 South Main Street)
Olympia Candy Kitchen (136 North Main Street)
The Window (233 South Main Street)
Tony’s Famous Grill (103 North Fifth Street)

Ice Sculpture Competition on Washington and Main Streets

Contestants test their skills with elaborate competition pieces. With more time to sculpt, and larger blocks of ice, the artists have time to make truly amazing sculptures. Judges will review award cash prizes to the top three contestants.

Sponsors for the competition piece are:

Best Western Hotel
Bill’s Heating, Inc.
Goshen City Republican Committee
Goshen College
Judd Family Dentistry
Mennonite Mutual Aid
Middlebury Electric, Inc.
Salon J
Spohn Ballroom
Troyer Foods

Whether you go on Friday or Saturday, or you enjoy both days, Goshen’s 3rd Annual Fire and Ice Festival will be a crowd pleasing event.

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

Amish Country is a great place to celebrate Christmas, and for those wanting a worship service for Chirstmas Eve, here is a small list of what is available in our area.

ELKHART

Bethel United Methodist Church,1200 N. Michigan St., Christmas Eve service of Scripture, carols, solos and a choir presentation will be at 7 p.m. 574.264-3455.

Grace Lutheran Church, 831 W. Marion St., offers two festival worship services on Christmas Eve at 7 and 11 p.m. Pre-service music will begin 15 minutes prior to both services. 574.294.1951

Hillcrest United Methodist Church, 4206 E. Bristol St., will have a candlelight Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. 574.264.3240.

St. John’s United Church of Christ, 2701 E. Bristol St., will have a candlelight service on Christmas Eve, “From Joy to the World to Joy in My Heart,” at 8 p.m. 574.264.4640.

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 405 W. Beardsley Ave., will have Christmas Eve candlelight services at 7 and 10:30 p.m. Christmas Eve. “Emmanuel: The Birth of God’s Presence” will be the service’s theme. 574.293.0482.

Christmas Eve Masses at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1405 N. Main St., include a 4 p.m. children’s Mass, a 6 and 10 p.m. Mass. Christmas caroling starts at 9:30 p.m. On Christmas Day, Masses will take place at 8 and 10 a.m. 574.262.1505

At St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, a children’s Mass takes place at 4 p.m., Christmas Eve, followed by Mass in Spanish at 7 p.m. and the Vigil Mass of Christmas at 10:10 p.m., which includes prelude music and the office of readings and will be conducted in English, Spanish and Latin. Christmas Day Masses will be at 8:30 a.m. in English and 10 a.m. in a trilingual format. 574.293.8231

On Christmas Eve, Trinity Lutheran Church will have a “Lessons and Carols” Eucharist at 11 a.m., worship for children followed by “A Birthday Party for Jesus” at 4 p.m. and a candlelight Eucharist at 10 p.m. at the south campus. The north campus at 30888 C.R. 6 will hold “A Candlelight Christmas” at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, celebrate 10 a.m. Eucharist at the south campus, 400 West Blvd. S. 574.522.1491

Trinity United Methodist Church, 2715 E. Jackson Blvd.,  offers a 5 p.m. children and family service, a 7 p.m. Night of Hope Service and a 9 p.m. candlelight communion and message. No services on Christmas Day. 574.294.7602.

GOSHEN

The annual Christmas Eve service of lessons and carols will be at 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve at College Mennonite Church, 1900 S. Main St. This service will feature the reading of the Christmas story interspersed with congregational carol singing and anthems presented by the adult and youth choirs. The service will conclude with a traditional candle lighting service.  574.535-7262 / CollegeMennonite.org.

The candlelight Christmas Eve worship service at First Presbyterian Church, 215 E. Lincoln Ave., begins with an organ concert at 7:40 p.m. Christmas Eve, followed by a church service at 8 p.m. 574.533.7845.

Crossroads Community Church, 57415 Alpha Dr., will conduct Christmas Eve Services at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. 574.875.4479

A Christmas Eve service will take place at 7:30 p.m. at St. James Episcopal Church, 105 S. Sixth St. 574.533.4984.

At St. John the Evangelist, 117 W. Monroe St., Christmas Eve services include a family Mass at 5 p.m. in English,7 p.m. in Spanish and a midnight Mass in English at 10:30 p.m. On Christmas Day, Masses will take place at 9:30 a.m. and noon. 574.295.1725

MIDDLEBURY

First Mennonite Church of Middlebury, 203 E. Lawrence St., will conduct a Christmas Eve service at 8 p.m. 574.825.5135.

On Christmas Eve, First United Methodist Church, 301 S. Main St., will serve communion in the sanctuary from 6 to 6 :45 p.m. A candlelight service of lessons and carols begins at 7 p.m. 574.825.2585.

NAPPANEE

Nappanee Missionary Church, 70417 S.R. 19, has scheduled a 6 p.m. Christmas Eve service in the worship center and a 7 p.m. Connection service. 574.773.7773.

There’s a unique shopping experience in Nappanee this Friday. It is their Christmas Country Trail and 8 stores will be open from 6pm to Midnight.

The eight businesses participating are:

Little Nook Bookstore
Rentown Variety Store
Stettas Discount
Inkredible Art Stamps
Pine Hill Discount
Nappanee Country Store
Nappanee Bicycle Store

What a great way to experience Nappanee, enjoying the small hometown feel of Christmas, and then buying unique Christmas presents along the way. I hope this turns into an annual event, and that more businesses are willing to participate.

Click here for the map of the businesses. Let me know what you bought, and if you enjoyed your experience if you go.

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist