‘Shop local’ for holiday sparkle

By Molly Moser

Traveling, planning and attending parties, and welcoming overnight guests are the hallmark of the holidays, and Guttenberg retailers have stocked their shelves with everything you need to get through the season with a smile. Traveling: Drivers planning a road trip to join loved ones for Christmas or New Year’s should be prepared with a first-aid kit, car jack, ice scrapers, and fresh wiper blades – all of which can be found in just one aisle at Kuempel Hardware in Guttenberg. Kuempel’s also keeps a stock of battery chargers and jumper cables, kitty litter, shovels and tire sealant can help with roadside maintenance.  Traveling with extra winter hats, gloves and scarves in the car is wise, and these can be found at Garments & Goods, Blooming Branches, and Esser’s Clothing Store. To make sure you can call for help if needed, keep a car charger from Guttenberg Electronics in your glove compartment. 

Cooking for a crowd: Sodes Green Acre Café and Country Market supplies local wine, beer, premixed beverages and sparkling juices for entertaining guests with a variety of tastes. Popular holiday drinks include Rumchata, cinnamon, maple, and toasted caramel liqueurs. Sodes will even make an entire holiday meal tailored to your group and ready for pick up at your request. 

Kaffee 1858 caters holiday parties for families and businesses at your location or theirs, and will prepare bulk desserts and baked goods for your holiday meal.

Food and gift certificates can also be purchased at The Dam Bar, Joe’s Pizza or The Stadium.

Clayton Ridge Farm Meat Market also caters and will bake their award-winning pies to order. “We ask for a week’s notice,” say owners Tom and Jane Augustyn. Their market sells locally roasted Big Muddy Coffee, locally produced wine, jam, salsa, and maple syrup, popcorn they grow and caramelize themselves, and locally produced and processed natural pork and beef. Wisconsin cheese, bacon, steaks and sausages are some of the specialties in their cooler. 

Kuempel Hardware has you covered in the kitchen if you’re cooking a big meal. With dishware and silverware, casserole dishes, roasters, large-brew coffee pots, and even extra burners, your guests will be satisfied from breakfast to bedtime. Napkins and paper plates will save someone from doing dishes, and handy gadgets like a sharpening stone, cookie press, meat thermometer and more make cooking for a crowd a breeze. Glass containers are just the thing for storing leftovers, kept fresh with tight-fitting plastic lids. Folding tables and chairs provide extra seating and stow away when the holidays are over. 

Entertaining: A shiny new television or sound system may be just what you need to entertain guests during the holidays – whether you’re watching the ball drop or the big game. Guttenberg Electronics, owned by Carl and Emily Sadewasser, has everything you need to get the picture loud and clear. “We also have SD cards, so you don’t have to miss a moment when the memory card in your camera overfills with holiday fun,” said Emily. 

Garments & Goods offers a variety of beloved board games for keeping kids – and adults – busy during family gatherings. Kuempel’s also has puzzles and games for all ages, sleds, and a football for your New Year’s Day game. Blooming Branches will make a sparkling centerpiece for your dining table or party room, and will make deliveries up to Christmas Eve, weather permitting. 

Functional handmade pottery can become a holiday tradition. Chip-and-dip dishes, wine/ice vases, soup and cracker bowls and peanut towers are sold at Guttenberg Gallery and Creativity Center, where all proceeds support the arts.

Party planning and entertaining guests can be as draining as it is rewarding, so don’t forget to take care of yourself during the holiday season. Licensed Massage Therapist Sadie Hefel can return you to top condition both mentally and physically at Riverside Wellness Center. 

Decorating: Start with the perfect live tree from Murray’s Outdoor Store, then add lights and shimmer with decorations from Kuempel’s, Blooming Branches, and Kann Imports. A memorial from Murray’s may ease the pain of lost loved ones felt especially around the holidays. Kann Imports and Sodes have nativity scenes to suit every style. 

Overnight Guests: Roll out the welcome mat – you’ll find it at Kuempel Hardware. Preparing for overnight guests is a cinch with all the options Guttenberg retailers have to offer. Cleaning supplies from Kuempel’s will help your house shine, while a new shovel and rock salt will keep your guests safe on the sidewalk. Kuempel’s also has space heaters to warm often-unused guest bedrooms. Guest amenities like soap, lotion and scented candles are available at Blooming Branches and Kann Imports. 

Attending a party: Take and bake cookies and entrees from Sodes are the perfect solution to holiday stress and can be taken along to potlucks or served at home. Kuempel Hardware has dessert caddies for transporting sweet treats. 

  “Our minis are very popular and can be used as hostess gifts or stocking stuffers,” said Beth Sadewasser, describing small bottles of alcoholic beverages. Specialty cooking oils, jams, and soup, dip and bread mixes from Blooming Branches also make ideal hostess gifts for holiday entertainers. Blooming Branches and Kuempel Hardware have a supply of holiday cards, and Esser’s Clothing Store sells cologne for the host. 

Looking your best: You won’t have to leave town to find the perfect outfit for holiday events. Esser’s Clothing Store has all the glitz and glamour you need, selling jewelry, bags, watches, heels and boots, as well as tops, ties, belts and dress socks. Shoe polish can add some sparkle to your favorite dress shoes; support your team by wearing their colors during the holiday game. Blooming Branches has sparkling ponchos and scarves, and you may find the perfect top for a sweater party at Garments & Goods. Kann Imports has glittery clutches, jewelry and pocketwatches, and handmade earrings, necklaces and bracelets stock shelves at Guttenberg Gallery. 

Most Guttenberg retailers are open Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, but many close early, so check with individual shops and restaurants to be sure.