Experience Downtown Fond du Lac

November 2010 | www.fdlreporter.com 1

Home for the Holidays

Dreams Come True at As You Wish

Upcoming Events in Downtown Fond du Lac

Normal business hours at Cujak’s Wine Market and Bar are Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Although normally closed on Sundays and Mondays, Cujak’s will be open on certain Mondays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the holidays — Nov. 22, Dec 13 and Dec 20.

For more information, visit www.cujakswinemarket.com, or call (920) 922-2499. You can request an e-mailed newsletter for updates.

Top: Sara Cujak, owner of Cujak’s Wine Market and Bar, 47 N. Main St., Fond du Lac, taps a self-serve keg of balsamic vinegar in the store. Along with wines, Cujak’s sells extra virgin olive oils and vinegars from all over the world, wine accessories and customized baskets that can be filled and presented for any occasion.

The Reporter photos by Patrick Flood

When Sara Cujak opened her Wine Market and Bar in downtown Fond du Lac in 2006, she envisioned a multitude of activities and shop selections centering on wine.

Two years later, she moved the business a couple of blocks north to expand her offerings. Her newest location at 47 N. Main St. has become a good fit for her dream business — Cujak’s Wine Market and Bar.

Stocked with a number of hand-selected wines ranging from $5 to $100 a bottle, the market also sells extra virgin olive oils and vinegars from all over the world, wine accessories and customized gift baskets that can be filled and presented for any occasion.

The new location also created the right space for adding a wine bar — one that could be utilized to create camaraderie

and wine sampling in a variety of ways.

Although her prior career was in teaching out-of-state, Cujak sensed something different in her future. A career switch sent her sailing into wine country — literally, when she decided to open a wine-related business.

Wine education

“This is what I got excited about. You don’t start a business unless you are excited about it,” she said. “I had other ideas, but none got me excited.

“I grew up with wine. My father taught me how to make it. I also worked in fine dining where we had to take classes and know how to pair wine with food. I used to attend a lot of wine-tasting events and, ultimately, I’ve become the wine expert among my friends.”

Cujak’s goals for her business are to offer great wine without the huge price tag, provide a great selection for all

Dorothy Bliskey Special to The Reporter

at Cujak’s Wine Market and Bar

palates and promote wine education.

The ability to teach remains with her, but now it’s in the form of wine education. She educates customers one-on-one in casual conversations as well as in classes she teaches at her shop once a month.

Her knowledge of wine is also spread through her Wine of the Month Club, which has more than 60 members, and at private wine tastings she orchestrates at area events and in private homes. The private tastings have become quite popular and require a two-week notice.

“They can select the wines or I can choose for them, depending on their palate and price range,” Cujak said.

Members in the Wine of the Month Club taste and learn about wines and receive benefits such as discounts and gifts.

“Once a year, I do a blind tasting for members,” Cujak said. “They really enjoy doing it, and they vote on their favorite wine for the following month.”

Wine Bar

The Wine Bar is open any time Cujak’s is open for business. An attractive glass-topped bar with wine corks embedded beneath the glass graces the front of the shop. It’s the perfect spot to take a break with friends and try some wine.

Customers at the Wine Bar can purchase a glass of wine, a flight of

wines or sample the “wine of the moment.” A bottle of wine can be purchased and sipped at the bar, with a small corkage fee added. A cheese platter is also available for purchase with the wines.

Dining is a possibility at Cujak’s Wine Market and Bar, even though food isn’t prepared there.

“We invite customers to enjoy wine in our establishment along with a meal they have purchased at a nearby business we partner with such as Fond du Lac Seafood and Joe’s Fox Hut,” Cujak said. “We can get pretty busy with that, so be sure to call us for reservations. We can seat about 15 people.”

With the holidays fast approaching, a few highlights include holiday specials starting Nov. 22 and free wine tastings on Saturdays, Dec. 4 through 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Extended hours for the holiday season will find Cujak’s open Thanksgiving Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“We are open for last-minute wine needs for your Thanksgiving dinner,” Cujak said.

New on the horizon are free wine tastings starting in January every Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. The tastings will feature new wines in stock. Customers will get free samples of the two feature wines and a discount when purchasing them.

Options are endless

November 2010 | www.fdlreporter.com2

ExPERiEncE DoWnToWn FonD Du lac is published by The Reporter, Fond du Lac. Contents of this section are published for The Reporter. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical,

photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior consent of The Reporter. For more information, contact Michael Mentzer, managing editor, at 920-907-7910 or e-mail [email protected].

General Manager/Executive Editor: RichaRD RoEsgEn

Managing Editor: MichaEl MEnTzER | Contributing Writer: DoRoThy BliskEy

Photography: PaTRick FlooD & JusTin connahER | Graphic Artist: hEaThER nohR

Advertising Director: JoE BEMBnisTER | Advertising Manager: JEn MEMMEl

Circulation Manager: gREg FyviE | Regional Ad Production Center Manager: Tina TWEEDalE

Dorothy Bliskey | Special to The Reporter

A name you’ve trusted since 1922.

Making the list,checking it twice...

Jewelry

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(920) 921-2475 105 N. Main St., Fond du LacOpen: Mon-Thurs 8am - 5pm; Fri. 8am; Sat 9am - Noon

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Fine Antiques to CollectiblesContinuous Changing Merchandise

Located inHistoric Downtown District

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Hours at As You Wish are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The store is closed Sunday and Monday.

For more information, call As You Wish at (920) 926-0510 or e-mail Kathy Gieschen at [email protected]. More information is also available online at www.asyouwishwi.com.

Kathy Gieschen likes to think of her downtown shop, As You Wish, 117 S. Main St., as a boutique for fine paper, stationery and custom designed invitations.

She opened the shop 11 years ago after ending a career as a graphic designer in a corporate setting. As You Wish is her dream come true.

“I’ve always loved paper, art and designing things, so this type of business is a perfect match for me,” Gieschen said. “It became my creative outlet and allowed me to bring some wonderful, new, up and coming products to the town where I live. I wanted my store to be different, and the name implies that you get what you want at As You Wish because we design it especially for you with your input and ideas.”

Gieschen, who has a college degree in art and communications, creates personalized designs for customers on any type of invitation, announcement or personal greeting cards. In addition, she carries top-quality pre-designed invitations and stationery.

“In the beginning, I thought my store would be mainly retail, but I learned that people really wanted my custom design and printing services,” she said. “My background has come in very handy.”

sample books

When entering the store, customers will see a dozen or more sample books filled with pre-designed invitations and announcements. Adjacent display boards known as InScribe Boards hang from the wall and open like pages in a book to give customers additional options for pre-designed invitations and companion pieces such as Thank You’s, reply cards and place cards.

“I got this line in because I was backlogged with doing personal designing for customers,” she said. “I needed help with a quality pre-designed line.”

A signature component of her shop is the array of special papers and envelopes, along with boutique-style

cards and stationery. Unique greeting cards that pop up into three-dimensional scenes are popular. Christmas cards that mail flat but pop up to form a delicate paper snow globe can become the gift, offering a decorative holiday touch.

“We are currently working on personal and corporate holiday cards and invitations, said Gieschen, noting that holiday photo cards are popular.

“Just bring your photo in or e-mail it, and we’ll design your card,” she said.

A select gift line also has a boutique look and feel. Women of all ages are drawn to the fancy and decorative gift boxes, unique purse hangers, candles, beautifully designed wallet clutches and working women’s lunch bags that have the look of a designer purse.

For children, there are books, unusual baby gifts, kids’ party supplies and the popular Japanese puzzle erasers.

gift wrapping

Gift wrapping is free for anything purchased at As You Wish.

“We also invite people to bring in gifts from elsewhere to be custom wrapped by us,” said Gieschen. “It’s a nice idea for those gifts that warrant a bit more special wrapping and presentation.”

A fee is charged for wrapping gifts that are brought in to the store.

Customers come from quite a distance.

“Many of my bridal customers will make the trip from Chicago and Milwaukee to have us design and print all their wedding stationery,” Gieschen said. “Because I prefer to work with couples myself, they get a level of service that I would expect if I were in their shoes.”

The inventory in Gieschen’s shop stems mostly from gift and stationery shows she attends in New York City, Chicago and Seattle.

“Our niche, and what brings people in, are the beautiful and amazing papers we carry from around the world,” she said.

The downtown is a location she prefers as well. “It’s charming,” she said.

As You Wish, 117 S. Main St., Fond du Lac, sells fine paper, stationery and custom designed invitations. In addition, the shop offers fancy and decorative gift boxes, unique purse hangers, candles, wallet clutches and working women’s lunch bags.

The Reporter photos by Patrick Flood

Dreams come true at

As You Wish

November 2010 | www.fdlreporter.com 3

For more information on what’s happening in downtown Fond du Lac, call 920.921.9500 or log on to www.downtownfdl.com

1 - Beadalotta

2 - Botanicals

3 - The Clothes Line

4 - Fond du Lac Antique Mall

5 - Fox Valley Savings Bank

6 - Gallery and Frame Shop

7 - Jacks Team Sports

8 - Kitz and Pfeil

9 - Krail Jewelry

10 - Lillian’s

11 - Ramada Plaza Hotel

12 - Trinkets and Treasures

13 - The Wood Sampler

14 - Woods Floral and Gifts

Our “advertising hot spots” displays the locations of our valued advertisers in this special section. You can easily find their locations on the map and then find their ads within these pages to find the great specials and deals that they have to offer you!

sunday, november 21Harry Potter PartyFDL Public Library , McLane Meeting Room. 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Free. The last HP movie starts in the theaters on November 19. Do you remember characters from the past? How about all of the horcruxes? 6th - 12th graders are invited to an all HP afternoon at the Fond du Lac Public Library. Trivia, games, snacks and prizes. No registration required.

Wednesday, november 24Windhover Wednesday featuring The Honey MoonersWindhover Center for the Arts, Windhover Center Cafe Gallery. 11:30 - 1:30 pm . Free Admission . Windhover Center patrons can enjoy some of the area’s finest music and enjoy fantastic cuisine served up by Fond du Latte. Free Admission!

sunday, november 28Aromas of Thanksgiving - A Spicy Turkey Harvest CraftChildrens Museum of Fond du Lac , 51 Sheboygan Street. 10am - 4pm . FREE with paid admission . Trot on over to the museum

to decorate your turkey with all the smells of Thanksgiving. Along with paid admission children can shake, paint and sprinkle spices all over their cut out turkey, then take it home to display and spread holiday aromas!

Wednesday, December 1Windhover Wednesday featuring Joe & JaniceWindhover Center for the Arts , Windhover Center Cafe Gallery. 11:30 - 1:30 pm . Free Admission . Holiday Sing -a- Long! Windhover Center patrons can enjoy some of the area’s finest music and enjoy fantastic cuisine served up by Fond du Latte. Free Admission!

saturday, December 4Home for the HolidaysDowntown Fond du Lac Partnership. 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Activities start at 8 a.m. with Breakfast with Santa. Starting at 10 a.m. carriage rides, Santa’s reindeer corral, and carolers. 11:00 will kick off the Downtown Chili Crawl. Festivities will continue throughout the day.

Downtown Chili CrawlGallery & Frame Shop. 11 am - 2 pm . Purchase your ticket at the Ramada ($10) .

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Save the Date!

Breakfast with SantaSaturday Dec. 4

Something Special in the “Heart of the City”

Let the Ramada help withyour holiday entertaining!

Book your holiday partiesearly whether it’s for acorporate party or familyget-together

• Seating up to 300

• Great Food,Restaurant & Lounge

• Private Bar

Ask about our Gift Certificate &Incentives for your holiday gift giving

1 North Main St., Fond du Lacwww.ramadafdl.com

920.923.3000

Two Seatings -8:00am and 9:30am

Served in theCrystal Ballroom

Children $7, Adults $9Children under 3FREE with Adult

Breakfast buffet includeseggs, French toast sticks,smiley hash browns,sausage, juice & cereal.

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•Deck the Halls! •

Mon.-Thurs. 8-5:30 • Friday 8-5 • Sat. 8-3 • Sunday 12-3

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920 906 963233 S. Main St.

Downtown Fond du Lac

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Nov. 26, 27 & 28Fri. & Sat. 8am - 5:30pm • Sun. 12noon - 3pm

20%off all Fall andChristmas wreaths and Swags

Free Ornament with Purchase!Enter to Win $500 Gift Card with Purchase!

Do the downtown Chili Crawl and vote your favorite chili. Cost includes a FREE t-shirt. Stop in and samples Brian’s homemade chili, made with home grown ingredients. yum yum.

Christmas Around the World: See Santa!Childrens Museum of Fond du Lac , 51 Sheboygan Street. FREE with paid admission . Santa will be visiting the Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac as a part of Christmas Around the World sponsored by Citizen’s First Credit Union!

Holiday Parade of LightsDowntown Fond du Lac Partnership. 4 p.m. Parade Theme – “May your Christmas wishes come true”

Tuesday, December 7Big Band TuesdayWindhover Center for the Arts , Windhover Center Great Hall. 7:30 - 10 pm . Free Admission . A night of Big Band music featuring Lighthouse Big Band! Free admission. Cash bar. Concessions for purchase to benefit Fondy Music Parents.

Wednesday, December 8Windhover Wednesday featuring Jana HollandWindhover Center for the Arts , Windhover Center Cafe Gallery. 11:30 - 1:30 pm . Free Admission . Holiday Songs! Windhover Center patrons can enjoy some of the area’s finest music and enjoy fantastic cuisine served up by Fond du Latte. Free Admission!

saturday, December 11Wine Class

Cujak’s Wine Market & Wine Bar, LLC. 6 pm to 7.30 pm . $10 . Come and learn something about wine. The class starts off learning about some aspect of the wine making process or wine skills. It then moves on to tasting three wines. We learn what aromas and tastes you may get from the wine. We also learn about the winery. Those wines are then on sale for that night only.

Christmas Around the World: Decorate a FREE Ornament!Childrens Museum of Fond du Lac , 51 Sheboygan Street. FREE with paid admission . Come and decorate an ornament at the Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac as a part of Christmas Around the World sponsored by Citizen’s First Credit Union.

Wednesday, December 15Windhover Wednesday featuring Doc & The Jazz BoxWindhover Center for the Arts , Windhover Center Cafe Gallery. 11:30 - 1:30 pm . Free Admission . Holiday Jazz! Windhover Center patrons can enjoy some of the area’s finest music and enjoy fantastic cuisine served up by Fond du Latte. Free Admission!

saturday, December 18Christmas Around the World: Enjoy FREE Cookie Decorating!Childrens Museum of Fond du Lac, 51 Sheboygan Street. FREE with paid admission . Come and decorate your very own cookie at the Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac as a part of Christmas Around the World sponsored by Citizen’s First Credit Union!

November 2010 | www.fdlreporter.com4

Black Friday Frenzy is Back!

Kick OffYour Holiday

Shopping Fun At Lillians!

Grand Opening Sept 9th - 12thGrand Forks, ND - 12 S. 3r d Street

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�www.lilliansshoppe.comNov. 26 Black Friday, 10am-6pm, Great $10 deals!Dec. 4 Sat 10-5Dec. 18 Sat 10-5Dec 9-12 Thurs 9-8, Fri & Sat 9-5 & Sun 11-4

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Select items ONLY $10 while supplies last...• Cardigans in all the fun colors...$10 BUCKS!• Faux fur neck mufflers...$10 BUCKS! (department store prices are $38+)

• Funky stretch rings...$10 BUCKS! They scream “GET IN EARLY!”

FROM HIGH GLOSS LIPSTICK TO HIPSTER APPEAL,LILLIANS CAN MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON SING AND SIZZLE!THIS SEASON’S HOTTEST ACCESSORIES $20 AND UNDER!Think Stocking Stuffers...The new ION Bud & Pod watches, fun card cubbies, leather glovescable knit jockey hats, cuff bracelets, and SCARVES everywhere!FIND NEW BIG BUDDHA®AND OTHER HOLIDAY HANDBAG DESIGNS,FAUX LEATHER JACKETS, CHUNKY CABLE KNIT SWEATERS, CARDIGANVESTS, PONCHOS WRAPS. Wear them with your favorite pair ofdenim or leggins!

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40 E. First St. • 923-8263OPEN: Mon.-Fri. 8-8; Sat. 8-5; Sun. 9-2

40 E. First Street (FDL Store Only)Coupon expires December 3, 2010 or while supply lasts.

• LED bulbs for 80%-90% energy savings• 20-year/100,000-hour lifespan• Choose multi colored, white or warm white• Indoor/outdoor usageT 749 426, 083, 126 174 B12 While supplies last.

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36 N. Main St. • Fond du Lac922.6780 • woodsfloral.com

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Santa’s Elves arehere tohelpfill your

Christmas list

47 S.Main Street,DowntownFondduLac

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•ScentedWax•Collectibles•Webkinz•HolidayDecor&More!

Holiday hours (effective 11/26/10)

Mon,Wed, Fri: 9:30 – 7:00pmTues, Thurs, Sat: 9:30 – 5pm

Open Sun: 10 – 3

Gallery &Frame Shop

94 S. MAIN ST | FONDDU LAC | 921-1144

Custom Framing Since 1975

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Mark you calendar – Annual DowntownChili CrawlSaturdayDecember 4th”

New snowmansculptures byTerry Redlin

art framing

www.galleryframe.net

116 SOUTH MAIN ST., DOWNTOWN FOND DU LAC920-926-9663

Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10-4 • Saturday 10-2Or by appointment

Same retail family at thishistoric location since 1916!

• Handcrafted SolidWood Furniture

• Dining & Bedroom Sets• Home Decor & Crafts

• Many Amish Items• Children’s Furniture• Painted Pine Furniture• Curtains & Valances

RealWood, Real Value

Great Gift Ideas!

New items arriving!Custom orders • Free local delivery

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COME IN FOR DEMO DECEMBER!Everyone loves Demo December. Watch how tomake simple projects for the holidays that do notrequire a lot of time or money--free project sheetsare always available for these projects.

We will be offering Free Demonstrations everySaturday for the Month of December! Check ourwebsite,www.beadalotta.com, forweekly updates!

We would also like to give a BIG Thank You to allof our longtime and new customers for supportingus over the last 4 years! Look for AnniversaryCelebration news on our website (that means give-aways!).

Hours: Tues-Friday–11am-5pmand Sat–10am-3pmWI-5001215712

21 E. 2nd Street • Suite 101Downtown Fond du Lac

Parking & Entranceare in the rear

920-322-1885www.beadalotta.com

saturday, December 4 Downtown Fond du lac

For more information on Fond du Lac’s Open House Weekend, visit www.downtownfdl.com

Downtown Fond du Lac will host Home for the Holi-days, a day of holiday entertainment and old-fashioned fun on Saturday, December 4.

Start the day with a great breakfast and photo shoot with the man in red at the Ramada Plaza Hotel Crystal Ballroom. Reserve your spots for either seating, 8 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. Breakfast will include sausage, bacon, fruit, breads, French toast sticks, cheesy scrambled eggs, hash browns, potato casserole, mini quiches and a Christmas cookie. Cost: $7 for children, $9 for adults (inclusive of tax and service charge); children under 3 are free with a paid adult. Space is limited. Call the Ramada for reservations, (920) 923-3000.

After breakfast, head to the Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac, 51 Sheboygan St., where kids can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus from noon to 3 p.m. Kids will be treated to an early Christmas gift, candy canes and hot cocoa. The Children’s Museum Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; admission is $4.25, but there is no charge to visit with Santa

Downtown businesses will welcome shoppers with great sales on unique holiday gift items. To add ambi-ance and fun, shoppers can enjoy free carriage rides, visit live reindeer on Forest Avenue and sing along with carolers from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Warm up with some chili by participating in Downtown Fond du Lac’s second annual Chili Crawl. The crawl will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Buy your crawl pass for $10 at Mid Town Pub, located inside the Ramada at 1 N. Main Street, then stop at the 10 participating businesses to taste and judge their concoctions. Finish

up at Hopper’s Silkscreening and All Star Trophy, 77 N. Main Street, to turn in your votes and receive a Chili Crawl t-shirt. The downtown business with the winning chili will be awarded a prize and will get a year’s worth of bragging rights!

Finish the day by taking in downtown Fond du Lac’s biggest and best parade, the KFIZ Holiday Parade, with step-off time at 4 p.m.

for thehome Holidays