Thursday, March 23, 2023

In this week's N4N:

• Message from the Meeting Haus: Executive Director, Sean Kessler
• A Night to Remember: PreTour Host Committee, Marie Logothetis
• A Fond Farewell: Historic Preservationist, Marcus Watson
• Call for Caretakers Nominees
• Calendar of GVS Meeting Haus Events (March- April)
• German Village Community: Announcements & Ads

62nd Haus und Garten Tour

Sean Kessler | Executive Director

We made it! Spring is here! I know, I know… in Ohio we could still have snow for at least another month, but I am so excited about what the arrival of Spring means in German Village. Flowers are starting to pop up – out of the ground and in planters along our streets - and planning is really starting to heat up for this year’s 62nd Haus and Garten Tour and other events. One thing I have learned in my three months at the German Village Society is how passionate the residents and businesses are about the neighborhood. There is so much pride and generosity of time through volunteerism. I am one lucky person to be able to lead GVS and witness the work that goes into each detail that makes German Village unique.

Soon, we will call on even more of you to volunteer for one of our signature events, the Haus and Garten Tour. House volunteers, house captains, Meeting Haus volunteers, bus docents, mail brigade, photography, etc. We will need to fill these positions in the coming months, so keep an eye out for sign-ups. We also have many advertising and sponsorship opportunities, so if you would like to engage in that way, please feel free to contact me – skessler@germanvillage.com.

We are also happy to announce a new partnership that GVS has with German Village Tours, as they will now be providing the tours that historically were booked through the Visitors Center. Please visit our website to book the tour that best suits you, your friends, or your business!

I look forward to seeing many of you walking the bricks as the sun starts to shine more and as we head into Farmer’s Market season - don’t forget to renew your membership or if possible up your membership level! If you don’t know if you have yet, please reach out to Rachel Lewellen and she can give you any information you need – rlewellen@germanvillage.com.

Happy Spring!

-Sean

A Night to Remember

Marie Logothetis | PreTour Host Committee

You might make the case that a Haus und Garten PreTour dinner is the quintessential German Village event—delicious food and good wine in a comfortable, welcoming setting that one shares with friends and neighbors, all in support of a most worthwhile cause. Many years ago, my husband and I first experienced a PreTour dinner as guests at an evening inspired by the film La Dolce Vita and hosted by our neighbors. While one of the enduring memories of that evening was, undoubtedly, the strength of Barb and Ed Elberfeld’s limoncellos, we also remember it fondly as sparking our desire to trade the role of guests for that of hosts.

We have now hosted six PreTour dinners in all, from a culinary Greek odyssey to the Canadian-inspired “Northern Lights Over Schiller Park” to a Cajun and Creole-themed “Midsummer Mardi Gras” celebration. Hosting a PreTour dinner is one of the best ways to be involved and give back to our German Village community. The experience, from start to finish, is perhaps best characterized by a word we so often associate with this neighborhood…fun!

Along the way, you will find the enjoyment of hosting punctuated by a series of rewarding “moments”, the memories of which will last a lifetime. For instance, there will be that moment when your menu comes together, coalescing around that year’s PreTour theme. That exhilaration born of exercising your creativity and the sense of excitement and anticipation of formalizing the experience you have planned for your guests stands as a highlight of the hosting experience. Then, there will be that moment—that “golden hour”—on the evening of PreTour itself. The table is set, the food is ready, the wine and cocktails are chilled and German Village finds itself bathed in the soft glow of a glorious summer sunset. Your guests will begin to arrive. Some you will know, others you will not…but will soon. The evening is off and running. But perhaps most rewarding of all will be a moment a little later that evening. You’ll look around and see people thoroughly enjoying themselves and the food. You’ll draw that particular satisfaction as you see acquaintances and friendships literally form in front of you, all to the background of the clinking of glasses and silverware and the pleasant hum of multiple ongoing conversations and frequent peals of laughter.

At the end of the day, it is this combination of creativity, fun, and friendship joined with a palpable sense of community pride and philanthropic commitment that makes hosting a PreTour dinner such a rewarding experience and one that you and your guests will never forget.

If you are interested in learning more or hosting a Haus und Garten PreTour dinner, please contact this year’s PreTour Chairs Anthony Meyer and Tyler Mason.

A Fond Farewell

Marcus Watson | Historic Preservationist

It is with very mixed emotions that I announce I will be leaving the German Village Society at the end of this month. It is simply because my family needs me back in Texas, and a good job opportunity presented itself. My former supervisor at the City of Dallas Landmarks Commission and Historic Preservation Division has been asked to return as chief of that division after 14 years away, and she has asked me to join her as Senior Planner.

I love German Village, and I will always cherish my time at the German Village Society. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all of our members, neighbors, board members, committee members, partner organizations, and business owners. I know that Sean will be a most effective leader and that Rachel will continue as she has for over a year-and-a-half working tirelessly to keep members informed, engaged, and pleased… and I will miss them both greatly! I will miss you all!

I will keep in touch and stay connected, expecting nothing but wonderful things in GVS’s future!

Caretakers of a Legacy Call for Nominations

The Caretakers of a Legacy is an awards program that is jointly presented by the German Village Society and the German Village Commission. This program honors people, projects, and organizations that contribute to the preservation and enhancement of the historic fabric of German Village.

The Caretakers President’s Award is chosen by the German Village Society and is awarded to a property owner, an individual, an organization, or a business entity in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the historic, architectural, or aesthetic character of German Village and to the community’s way of life. The Board of Trustees is asking for nominations for this award. Please submit your nomination to Marcus Watson by March 31, 2023.

SAVE THE DATE

Public Parking Meeting April 4th, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

After reviewing and discussing the parking concerns of residents and reports from the German Village Parking Committee, the German Village Society Board of Trustees requested that the City of Columbus Division of Mobility and Parking Services conduct a parking study for the German Village and surrounding area.   The purpose of this study is to identify parking challenges, valet/loading zones, and current parking restrictions.  The overall goal of the process is to improve parking conditions for residents, businesses, and visitors.

The Division of Mobility and Parking Services will complete a parking study this summer. A public meeting will be held at the German Village Society Meeting Haus from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM on April 4, 2023. The focus of this meeting is to help the city identify high-demand parking areas, peak demand times of day, and an opportunity to express concerns. The goal is to provide the City with enough information to determine the boundaries and focus areas for the parking study. 

Signs of Spring in German Village!

#1 The German Village Garten Club has started Spring planting in the 3rd Street planters!! Those little pansy faces bring us hope for the sunfilled days ahead. Thank you GV Garten Club! If you want to start dreaming and planning your spring & summer garden be sure to order your plants at www.germanvillagegartenclub.com

Columbus Urban Forestry Master Plan 2022 Progress Report, here

The Garten Club's annual online plant sale is up and running and we are already receiving orders. The plant selection this year is the best it has ever been and includes many new varieties.



We have 11 varieties of tomatoes, 6 kinds of peppers, and 13 different herbs. Our selections include 10 different hanging baskets of which 8 are new this year. We also have 56 varieties of annuals and 20 of them are new for 2023.

As in previous years, you can pick up your plants after 3:00 pm on May 12 (the Friday before GartenMarkt) at the GV Meeting Haus. You will receive an email a few days before the pickup day giving instructions for getting your plants. We sold out of some selections last year, so order soon to get the best selection. All proceeds of this sale benefit community beautification including Frank Fetch Park and the Third Street planters. Shop here.

Your membership sustains the German Village Society and supports our mission of preservation, advocacy, and community.



Thank you for your continued support!