The Short North Arts District has once again become the Short North Pole and you can vote on your favorite window displays, this Saturday, December 5, 2015 during Holiday Hop.
A team of judges will be cruising the district to decide a Judges’ Choice Award of $250. Judges include: Joey Monsoon, artist, Monica Day, NBC4, Jami Goldstein, GCAC, and Joe Baer, Zen Genius.
This is Jami Goldstein’s first time judging the contest and she couldn’t be more excited.
“When it comes to being creative with displays the Short North stores are some of the best in town,” she says. “All year round they give the Short North a unique vibe and during the holidays they help the entire neighborhood feel festive.”
The public is also being asked to participate and decide on the People’s Choice Award, also worth $250. Pick up a ballot at the Holiday Hop Hub at Victorian Gate, and then make sure to return it for your vote to count.
“Window displays are one of our favorite parts of owning stores so the Holiday window is always a big deal for us,” says Josh Quinn, co-owner of Tigertree and Cubshrub. He and his wife Niki have planned moving displays for several years in a row, and this year is no different, with a group of Nutcrackers spreading holiday cheer.
The Tigertree window is a collaboration between the Tigertree team and Niki Quinn’s father, Chris Cagle.
“Our inspirations for the window always start with a 1950’s department store toy display,” says Niki. “I think this year’s window is the most literal take on that that we have done.”
Manager Michelle Parsons suggested the Nutcracker theme, and drew out a plan. Josh made the nutcrackers to scale, cut them out of masonite, and painted them. Staff members helped cut out snowflakes, and Niki put it all together.
“My dad is always in charge of the mechanical part,” she says. “He actually built the motor and the panels that move, and then we just strung things onto them. I think it took dad a few months on and off to get everything working again (after reworking the motor from last year’s penguin race window) and it took us a few weeks to get all the pieces painted and on there.”
What the Rock?! designed a window around Krampus. You would recognize him as the horned, anthropomorphic figure who sometimes accompanies Saint Nicholas during holiday visits to children, punishing the children who misbehave.
“He’s scaring the crap out of those bad little children,” says What the Rock?! co-owner Mike Renner. Artist Bryan Grey worked with Renner and Heather Zielger on the window display.
“We’ve actually wanted to do a Krampus window for the past couple of years, so the timing was just right for us,” continues Renner. “The whole concept of our display is our take on the whole ‘war on Christmas’ debate.”
In addition to Krampus, the What the Rock?! window display also features an upside down tree and pentagram wreaths.
Krampus is having a moment right now, what with this window display, the world premier of an enchanting new musical (and nice version) at Short North Stage, a parade in Clintonville, and a new film.
Voting for your favorite window display is only during Saturday, December 5th’s Holiday Hop, so don’t forget to vote! Winners of each contest will be announced on the Short North Alliance’s social media channels shortly after the conclusion of Holiday Hop.
Holiday Hop runs from 4pm to 10pm throughout the Short North. For more information, visit shortnorth.org/holiday-hop-2015.