Ho! Ho! Holidays!

Open Houses and Xmas Sales In Athens and Beyond

originally published November 29, 2006

It's that time of year again, folks. Holiday happenings and sales are going on all over town. Here is just a sampling of some of the cool things coming up in the next couple weeks. Sales are listed by general location and chronologically, so you can hit as many as possible in one weekend. So, get out there, experience what our community has to offer for the Holidays, and remember - buy local!

Get Some Christmas Cheer, Y'all!

The annual downtown Parade of Lights is Thursday, Nov. 30, beginning at 7 p.m. Floats, bands and more will parade down Pulaski and Clayton streets in front of throngs of Athenians and Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will make an appearance at the end of the parade. This night also marks the lighting of the City Hall Christmas Tree and the Downtown Open House. Select downtown retailers will have special holiday deals and extended hours. Flagpole is cosponsoring a float again this year! Come check us out! Call 706-613-3580 for more details, or visit www.accleisureservices.com.

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia is having a Holiday Open House on Sunday, Dec. 3, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The free family event features puppet shows (at 2:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.), photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and a craft fair featuring local artists who have items for sale in the Gift Shop. The Joan Mann Dancers, the Georgia Children’s Chorus and the Classic City Band will provide entertainment. The State Botanical Garden is located at 2085 S. Milledge Ave. and this event takes place in the Visitor Center & Conservatory. For more info, call 706-542-6014 or see www.uga.edu/botgarden.

The recently-constructed Oak Grove neighborhood, off Jefferson Highway, is offering a new family event called Holiday Lights at Oak Grove. On Saturday, Dec. 9 and Sunday, Dec. 10, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., you can visit Santa in the pavilion, enjoy holiday treats baked by Marti’s at Mid-day, and listen to Holiday harp music performed by Carrie Scruggs. Oak Grove is located five miles north of downtown Athens, 2.7 miles past the bypass. Check out www.oakgroveathens.com or call 706-207-9441.

Don't forget the Holiday Tour of Lights this year. This guided bus tour of some Athens' holiday lights begins at the Athens Welcome Center on Dec. 14–17 at 7 p.m. Enjoy holiday refreshments and music, and then take a ride to the mansions of Milledge Avenue, through historic Downtown and through the Holiday Lights display at Sandy Creek Park (see below). Classic City Tours is running this thing, so call 706-208-8687 for reservations.

The House Museums of Athens have been adorned with period holiday decorations for your enjoyment. On Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., take a tour and sample holiday refreshments at the Church-Waddel-Brumby House at 280 E. Dougherty St. and in the Ware-Lyndon House (adjacent to the Lyndon House Arts Center) at 293 Hoyt St. See www.athenswelcomecenter.com or call 706-353-1820 for more info.

And it's time once again, for Sandy Creek Park's "Holiday Lights" celebration. Get into the spirit of the season as you drive through spectacular artistic displays of Christmas lights for one low price per vehicle. Open every night between now and New Year's, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Call for cost and more info, 706-613-3631 or 706-369-9732.

Open Houses and Sales in Athens

Margo Newmark Rosenbaum is holding an Open Studio and Sale at the Leathers Building, 675 Pulaski St., on Thursday, Nov. 30, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Margo will have paintings and drawings, along with work by Mary Engel, Shane Gorla and Ouida Williams. Call 706-548-7730 directions.

Native America Gallery is calling its open house this year a “Snow-Sational Holiday Celebration.” On Saturday Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Gallery will offer a gift with purchase (the gift this year is a clay chimnea, or Southwestern fire pot). There will be free carriage rides; reservations in person are required on the day of the open house. Refreshments will be served, including piping hot Navajo fry bread, and there'll be doorprizes, too. The gallery has new items for the holidays and new jewelry. Native America Gallery is located at 195 E. Clayton St., 706-548-8425.

Espresso Royale Cafe (ERC) and 283 Bar are hosting a Holiday Artist Market and Open House on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 283 Bar and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at ERC. There will be homemade goods, such as scarves, purses, ornaments, ceramics, jewelry and greeting cards made by local artists. Look for photographs by Aaron Britton, paintings by Marlowe Hill and ceramics by Craig Whitehouse. 283 Bar will offer special holiday cocktails; ERC will have gift baskets and specials. ERC and 283 Bar are located on the corner of Broad Street and Jackson Street in downtown Athens. Call 706-208-1283 for more info.

Sarah Pattison will have an Art Sale on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring cards and original framed art. The sale will take place at 159 Jackson St. Contact the artist at shpattison@earthlink.net, 706-410-0250.

Chatham Murray’s annual Art Sale will be on Saturday, Dec. 2, beginning at 11 a.m. Murray will have paintings for sale, as well as giclee prints. This year’s show features room interiors, a few figure paintings, animal cut-outs, still-lifes and florals. The sale will be at the artist’s home at 120 Barrow St., between Pulaski Street and Barber Street. See www.chathammurray.com for more of Chatham's work.

The Merchants on Baxter (MOB) will host the Baxter Corridor (BaCo) Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3. Merchants and businesses will be offering special holiday savings and refreshments. Among the participating businesses are Blockader Homebrew Supply, Healthy Gourmet, Elements Art Supply, Athens Seafood Company, Georgia Cycle Sports, Red Dress Boutique, Orange Farmers Market, Atlantis Hydroponics, American Classic Tattoo, Always Always Flowers, Fooks Foods and, of course, the ACC Police Department. Contact Elements at 706-546-1310 for more info.

The Holiday Benevolence Market will be held at the First Baptist Church on Pulaski Street, on Sunday, Dec. 3, from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. Agency representatives will be available to talk to the public about making a donation as a symbolic gift in the name of a friend or family member. The perfect gift for someone who has everything can help someone in our community who is in need during this holiday season. Email marybu@charter.net for more.

The Athens Holiday Market at Big City Cafe will take place Thursday, Dec. 7 and Friday, Dec. 8 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Forty-five local venders will offer artisan-made gift items, including pottery, paintings, folk art, soaps, toys, hats, jewelry, lamps, sculptures, glass, pet portraits, and much more. There will be live music and seasonal treats from Big City Cafe on the outdoor patio “under the stars and twinkling trees.” Participating artists include Peter Loose, Jamie Voivedich, R. Wood, Ann Hamilton, Pattiy Torno, Jimmy Straehla, Chris Hubbard, Susan Staley, Carey Valentine, Red Mule Grits, Jeff Owens, Chris Purcell, Emily Martin, Stephanie Astrolos-Jones, Andrea Trombetta, Lynn Louise Larson and Rainmaker Pottery. Big City Cafe is located at 393 Finley St., 706-543-1187.

For your shopping convenience, the folks at the Woodhill Retreat Center have moved their annual Holiday Art Sale into Athens this year. More specifically, the wide selection of art, from paintings to jewelry to ceramics, by local artists, including Barbara Odil and many more, will be on offer at the Lyndon House Arts Center on Thursday, Dec. 7 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 8, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. For more info on this unique artists' enclave, call 706-546-5601 or visit www.woodhillretreat.org.

Flat Penny Folk Art Gallery will host a Holiday Open House on Thursday, Dec. 7, from 7 to 9 p.m. The gallery will be featuring the work of a variety of artists, including many local and regional folk artists. There will be art of all sizes and price ranges, from stocking-stuffers to mantelpieces. Refreshments will be served. The gallery is also holding a Pottery Sale/ Open House on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. Refreshments will be served during the pottery sale, and featured pottery will be 10 percent off. Flat Penny is located in the Leathers Building at 675 Pulaski St. Suite 1600. Visit the website at www.flatpennyfolk.com or call 706-552-0750.

R. Wood Pottery Studio will have its Holiday Studio Sale on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This pottery sale features one-of-a-kind plates, as well as color-saturated, everyday dinnerware made by local artists in the studio, located at 450 Georgia Dr. Learn more about the artists on the website at www.rwoodstudio.com or call toll-free, 888-817-9663.

Soup Studios Annual Holiday Art Sale will be Saturday, Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., at 2140 S. Lumpkin St. You'll find hand-made hats, scarves, bags, pots, ornaments and more. This year, Jamie Voivedich of Soup Studios will be joined by Atlanta artist  Angela  Nichols, with her pillows, purses, totes and prints. See www.soupstudios.com or www.gubstuff.com or call 706-340-1973.

Also downtown on the second weekend in December, Frontier will be hosting its annual Holiday Open House. Enjoy refreshments while you browse the delightful trinkets and eclectic gifts on Sunday, Dec. 10 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Intermittent live music from local performers. Frontier is at 193 E. Clayton St., 706-369-8079.

Flicker Theatre & Bar is hosting a Holiday Art Market, Monday, Dec. 11–Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 4 p.m. to close. You'll find work by Jeff Owens, Matt Blanks, Edwyna Arey (her "Blue Donkeys" series), Jill Carnes, Lou Kregel, Andy Cherewick, Chris Purcell, Moxie art collective and more. Located at 263 W. Washington St., 706-546-0039.

The 9th Annual Holiday Sale is going on now in The Gallery @ Good Dirt, and will continue through Dec. 23. Included in this year’s Holiday Sale is work by Bill Buckner, Annette Gates, Carter Gillies, Nancy Green, Ron Meyers, David Morgan, Andy Nasisse, Jim Peckham and Rob Sutherland. Good Dirt is also offering Holiday Workshops: Ceramic Gingerbread Villages, Holiday Ornaments in Clay, Fused Glass Ornaments, Milk and Cookies for Santa, and Holiday Pottery for Kids. Good Dirt and The Gallery @ Good Dirt are located at 510B N. Thomas Street. See www.gooddirt.net or call 706-355-3161.

What's Up in Farmington and Watkinsville?

Winterhawk Pottery hosts a Holiday Market and Open House, Friday, Dec. 1 through Sunday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Southeastern Native American burial and temple mounds inspire the pieces created at Winterhawk Pottery, which is located 1011 Salem Rd. in Watkinsville. Visit www.winterhawkpottery.com or 706-310-1744 for directions.

Dewitt Smith has new glazes and forms for his functional ware, such as coffee mugs, casseroles, pitchers, vases and more at his Annual Sale. His studio at 71 Jackson St. in Watkinsville will be open Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3, beginning 8 a.m. See more of his work at www.dewittpottery.com or call 706-769-5361.

Geoff Pickett at Farmington Pottery recently spent four days stoking two wood kilns around the clock, with the help of neighboring potters, to prepare for the upcoming Holiday Sale at the studio. On Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3, Farmington Pottery is holding the annual December Open House Pottery Sale, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You will also find a variety of herbal soaps, lotions, lip balms and bath products by Lisa Pickett. Farmington Pottery is located at 1171 Freeman Creek Rd. in Farmington. Find directions online at www.pickettpottery.com or call 706-769-8100.

The artists of Wolf Creek Pottery have titled their holiday sale "4 Potters, 5 Dogs, and 2 Gates.” On Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nancy Green, Jenn Graff, Vanessa Grubbs and Brooke Cassady will sell their wares at Green’s home at 1500 Tappan Spur Rd. in Watkinsville. There will be a gatekeeper Saturday morning. See more of their work at www.vanessagrubbs.com/art/main.php or www.brookecassady.com or call 706-769-5659.

Chappelle Gallery in Historic Haygood House is hosting its 6th Annual Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Work from over 65 local and national contemporary artists will be on view in the historic home at 25 South Main St. in Watkinsville. Refreshments will be served. Call the Gallery at 706-310-0985.

Georgia Originals is having its 2nd Annual Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Georgia Originals, where everything is made in Georgia, will have work by 40 contemporary craft artists, including pottery, glass, fiber, wood, food, music, photography and paintings. Refreshments will be served. Georgia Originals in located in Town Center, 2 South Main St. in Watkinsville. Call 706-301-0030.

For 36 years, Happy Valley has been hosting an annual Holiday Open House and Sale. This year’s sale continues Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The artists involved in this weekend’s sale are Jerry and Kathy Chappelle, Loretta Eby, Jeff Jackson, Kathy Adams, Carol Van Sant,  Sandra Emerson and Susan Norton. There will be demonstrations as well, at 1210 Carson Graves Rd. in Watkinsville. Call 706-769-5922.

JB & Friends Pottery and Art Show and Sale is an annual event hosted by Jeff Bishoff. This year’s Show and Sale will be held on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 3, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., at 1790 Salem Rd. in Farmington. Participating artists are Jeff Bishoff, Shelia Bradley, Mike DeBerry, Carter Gillies, Ann Hamlin, Barbara Odil, Jim Peckham, Michael Pierce, Rebecca Wood and Keen Zero. There will everything from functional pottery to sculpture, jewelry, paintings, mobiles and spirit dolls. Call for directions, 706-769-8401.

The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation's (OCAF) 12th annual juried Holiday Market will be Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be 70 booths supplied by regional artists, with pottery, paintings, fiber art, stained and fused glass, jewelry, sculpture, photography and woodwork. Admission is $3 for adults over 16, kids are free. In addition to the Holiday Market, original work by 30 regional artists will be available Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the gift shop. The OCAF Center is located at 34 School St. in Watkinsville. See www.ocaf.com or call 706-769-4565.

Town Center Fine Art (TCFA) will host a Winter Reception Group Show on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. While this event differs from a holiday sale or market, TCFA should not to be missed (especially if you’re already in the neighborhood). With a diverse selection of paintings from artists across the nation, TCFA is a welcome addition to the area. This group show includes work by Ana Anest, Munroe d'Antignac, Jonathan Espalin, Michael Fowler, Christy Green, Tracy Jefferies, Bruce Knecht, Rob Peterson, Michael Shetterly, Charles Warnock, Deanna Wood and Chris Wyrick. The gallery is located in the Town Center Complex in downtown Watkinsville at the intersection of Barnett Shoals and Main Street.  TCFA is upstairs facing 1st Street, Suite 210.  Normal gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and by appointment.  Visit www.towncenterfineart.net or call 706-769-1644.

Sales in Comer, Danielsville and Winder

In the second weekend of their Holiday activities, the folks at Bendzunas Glass will host an Open House, Friday, Dec. 1 through Sunday, Dec. 3, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in conjunction with Blue Bell Gallery's open house (see below). Bendzunas Glass Studio and Gallery is located at 89 W. South Ave, in Comer, about 15 miles from downtown Athens on Highway 72. Visit www.bendzunasglass.com or call 706-783-5869.

Blue Bell Gallery, also in downtown Comer across the railroad tracks from Bendzunas Glass, will host a Holiday Open House Exhibition, Studio Tour and Sale, Friday, Dec. 1 through Sunday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be an artists’ reception on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. There will be live entertainment, refreshments, door prizes and sweets by Saving Grace. There will also be pot-throwing demonstrations, as well as works from over 30 local artists. In conjunction with Bendzunas' Glass holiday open house (see above). Blue Bell Gallery is located at 89 E North Ave. Suite 1. Call 706-783-4665 for directions.

Danielsville will also be abuzz with myriad merry opportunities to find the perfect present. Potter David Morgan’s Annual Holiday Sale will include his well-loved mix of stoneware, wood- and gas-fired bowls, and functional pottery of all shapes and sizes. The sale will be at 3747 Old Wildcat Bridge Rd., Danielsville, on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 3, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Call for more info, 706-795-3418.

The Georgia Piedmont Arts Center in Winder hosts its annual Festival of Lights, which features a silent auction of Christmas trees decorated for the occasion by local Winder businesses. Hot cider and snacks, pet pictures with Santa, pet adoptions, live entertainment and holiday market. All proceeds benefit the Georgia Piedmont Arts Center, Pawing at Your Heart and Pup & Cat Co. GPAC, 105 E. Athens St. in Winder on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Call for directions, 770-855-3340.

Pat McCaffrey and Larry Hamilton of Swampware Pottery will be home on Saturday, Dec. 9 if you want to drop by. Just be sure to call first since this is not a formal open house. Alongside McCaffrey’s whimsy-infused redware pottery, there will also be a selection of stained and fused glass art by Hamilton, as well as fused diachronic glass jewelry created by both of the artists. The address is 64 Yeargin Ct., Winterville. Call 706-742-5734.

Beth Sale & Margaret Moore