Shopping and singing in downtown VW

This past weekend, my sister was visiting from Paoli, Indiana, for Thanksgiving. Looking for something to do on Friday, I said, “Let’s go downtown Van Wert and do some shopping!”  This is something I would not have suggested for many years.

Although it was lightly raining, we parked downtown and walked all around, frequenting numerous shops. Now I know some of you are thinking this kind of activity disappeared from Van Wert decades ago. Well, I’m here to say it has returned!

We walked from store to store, taking in the new menswear shop TAG on Washington Street. We then proceeded to Mod Boutique on West Main and then to Truly D’vine for some goodies to keep our energy up. We then crossed the street to South Washington and did some window shopping at Francis Furniture before entering their next door neighbor: Once I Was.

This is a cute little shop worth experiencing. Remember the old vanilla peanut clusters we used to get at the dime store? Well there are some worth tasting at Once I Was. We then crossed the street and entered Touches of Time. This was a mistake, because we spent way too much time there. What a walk through time!  If you haven’t been completely through all three floors of this antique mall we used to call Montgomery Ward, then you need to!

We wanted to continue on down to Mengerink’s Source for Sports (the old JC Penney store) and see their wonderful collection of OSU Buckeye gifts and then on to Corner Treasures (the old Derry Drugs), but we ran out of time. Corner Treasures just opened up and I need to visit their new store.

Now that I have taken you on a walk with me through downtown Van Wert, I say all this to encourage you to do this Friday afternoon and evening. This Friday, December 4, will be the community Christmas tree and gazebo lighting ceremony in Fountain Park. Music will be provided by Van Wert’s own “Merry Gentlemen.” This quartet of young men consists of a teacher, an insurance agent, an executive secretary, and a program manager. Matthew Alessandrini, Eric Hurless, Seth Baker, and Adam Ries are the four singers who continue to bring holiday cheer each Christmas season. There will be refreshments, music, and, of course, the lights of the season to behold.

Then, come across the street to First United Methodist Church and enjoy beautiful choral music provided by the Women’s Chorus and A Cappella Choir of Bowling Green State University at 7 p.m.  The sanctuary is all decked out in holiday cheer and is waiting for you to relax and take it all in while enjoying glorious choral music.

At the end, nearly 100 university singers will join their voices in a big Christmas finale just for our Van Wert audience. Two local singers will be part of the 100 voices on stage: Carissa Miglin and Jacob Hoverman.

What a night for everyone to enjoy!  It will certainly put everyone in the holiday spirit.  Coming into the church reminds me of the scene from the movie Home Alone, where Macaulay Culkin enters the big cathedral in downtown Manhattan and sits beside an old man and listens to the glorious voices of a choir singing.

Well, this isn’t Manhattan, New York, but it is downtown Van Wert, and we have a lot to offer. Check it out this Friday evening. You’ll be glad you did.

FINÉ.