Door County Visitor Bureau Releases Annual Door County Winter Guide

• The Door County Visitor Bureau (DCVB) recently released their annual Door County winter guide for 2010-2011.

The handy guide is designed to help Door County visitors understand their winter options from Nov. to Apr. and provide them with event and activity ideas. Sections in the winter guide include a calendar of events along with shopping, attraction, and dining sections that list business names, locations, contact information, and hours of operation. Additionally, information about specific winter activities such as snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are included, as are maps of the county.

The 2010-2011 Door County winter guide is available free of charge at the DCVB’s Welcome Center located at 1015 Green Bay Road (Highway 42-57) in Sturgeon Bay. The DCVB encourages local businesses to pick up a supply to provide their customers; they can deliver guides to businesses that are running low on supply.

For more information and/or to view the brochure visit http://www.DoorCounty.com. To order brochures call 920.743.4456 or 1.800.527.3529.

• First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. This year, Nov. 27th is the first ever Small Business Saturday, a day to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. Small Business Saturday is a national movement to drive shoppers to local merchants across the U.S.

More than a dozen advocacy, public and private organizations have already joined American Express OPEN, the company’s small business unit, in declaring the Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday. Join the movement, spread the word!

For more information visit http://www.smallbusinesssaturday.com/.

• Lori Strantz and Alison Beadell are hosting a holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 4 from 12 – 3 pm at Lori’s Spa Essence located at 3290 Gibraltar Road in Fish Creek.

All are welcome to visit their beautiful wellness center nestled in the woods and learn more about services provided including acupuncture, massage therapy, Spinning® indoor cycling, Stott Pilates®, personal and professional coaching, natural manicures and pedicures, and Chinese herbal medicine. Highlights will include drawings for free services, service demonstrations, holiday shopping, and botanical body product discounts. Delicious refreshments will be provided.

For more information, call 920.868.9493 or visit http://www.lorisspaessence.com or http://www.woodrabbitacu.com.

• True North Real Estate LLC proudly welcomes Broker Associate Tad Gilster. Gilster’s long and distinguished career in Door County real estate makes him an excellent addition to this top-producing firm.

Hailing from the Chicago area, Gilster moved to Door County in 1974 and began his career in real estate the following year. He founded several brokerage firms including The Gilster Company and Door County Horizons. During the course of his brokerage career, he has trained and managed scores of Door County real estate professionals and coordinated and/or marketed over a dozen real estate developments. Gilster has been an active participant in the local, state and national associations and has been recognized as both the Door County and Wisconsin REALTOR of the Year. His personal production exceeds $160,000,000.

In addition to traditional brokerage services, Gilster also maintains a consulting firm, A H Gilster Jr. Real Estate Consulting.

Partner Brian Reinhardt said of Gilster, “We’ve all worked with Tad in one capacity or another over the years and have great respect for his knowledge and experience. We’re thrilled to have him working with us.”

Located in Fish Creek, True North Real Estate was established in 2008 by partners Brian Reinhardt, Jacinda Duffin, Dan Mortier, Kevin Nordahl, and Sara Massey. For more information visit http://www.TrueDoorCounty.com.

• Nov. 8 marked the third major expansion of Door Peninsula Winery and the start of a new business venture in Door County, Door County Distillery. Door County Distillery will be constructed as a significant addition to the Carlsville location.

The construction will include a major remodel of the winery retail, production, and tasting areas as well as an addition of an outdoor, second story dining area for the adjacent Bistro 42. The distillery will be in a new building showcasing classic Door County stone over a round-barn style structure.

Several guests at the groundbreaking ceremony hovered over the designs provided by Dave Valentine, architect.

Bill Chaudoir, executive director of Door County Economic Development Corporation offered opening comments. “It’s exciting to see a small business that we worked with…develop true Door County products with Door County grown ingredients and bring their product to a large market,” said Chaudoir.

Rob Pollman, COO of Door Peninsula and soon to be operating officer of Door County Distillery also addressed guests.

The 6,500 square foot addition and $2,000,000 investment will be completed May of 2011. “We expect to produce vodka and cherry vodka first, followed by other spirits, possibly brandy and gin,” said Paul Santoriello, winemaker and interim distiller overseeing initial product development.

Door Peninsula Wintery is located at 5806 Highway 42 in Carlsville. For more information call 920.743.7431 or visit http://www.dcwine.com.

• The Door County Historical Society (DCHS) has grown to include two major sites, the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse in Peninsula State Park and the Historical Village at the Crossroads in Sturgeon Bay. Reflecting on the past while stepping into the future, the DCHS unveiled new websites that will provide current information on special events, visitor opportunities, and access to historical newsletters and articles.

“In today’s world, communication is critical to success,” said DCHS board president George Evenson. “We are very proud of our new websites, as they will inform the public about our attractions. Our sites offer excellent opportunities to learn about Door County’s rich history and heritage, and unique traditions.”

Visit http://www.doorcountyhistoricalsociety.org for additional information and links to the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse Museum and The Historical Village at the Crossroads websites.

• Just in time for holiday shopping and shipping, Paper Work Plus Office Products is opening Dec. 1 in Sister Bay. Located in the same office building as its predecessor, the Door Reminder, Paper Work Plus is a locally owned and operated office supply store that also serves as a Federal Express pack and ship site, the only one in the Northern Door area. Paper Work Plus will stock office supplies, hand crafted greeting cards, 2010 tax forms, printer ink cartridges, and more.

Paper Work Plus will have an expanding inventory based on customer demands. The business can fulfill individual’s fax, copier, and scanner needs as well as reading any files and/or creating documents from USB or disc drives.

The staff at Paper Work Plus, including Laura Moegenburg and Trisha Krall, have more than 15 years combined experience in the business.

Paper Work Plus is located in the Country Walk Mall in Sister Bay, behind the Piggly Wiggly. Beginning winter hours will be 8 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday.

For more information call 920.854.3322.

• Sister Bay Trading Co. invites the public to join them for their annual Holiday Open House Saturday, Nov. 27 from 10 am to 5 pm.

The store will be bustling with festivities for the whole family, who are welcome to bring pets and children for holiday pictures with Santa from 12 – 3 pm to benefit the Door County Humane Society.

Sister Bay Trading will also start their annual Fill Santa’s Sleigh to benefit Feed My People. Bring in five or more non-perishable food items and receive an additional 10 percent savings that day.

Sister Bay Trading Company is located at 477 South Bay Shore Drive. For more information call 920.854.7382 or visit http://www.sisterbaytrading.com.

• On Friday and Saturday, Nov. 26 and 27, the Settlement Shops of Fish Creek will kick off the holiday season with special Open House events.

The shops will be teeming with activity. Of course Sweetie Pies will be open with kitchen aromas to lure visitors in. Izora’s will offer a selection of beads and supplies, as well as hand-beaded jewelry. New Leaf Acupuncture, a new addition to the shops, will offer gift certificates for treatments and feature products for mind and body. Bianca’s will be open with an array of thoughtful stocking stuffers, and fun stuff.

Great Northern by Design will host its annual Open House with a selection of freshly made holiday wreaths by Robbens Nest. These wreaths are handmade in Door County and feature a variety of boughs. Also, the home interiors shop will have its annual holiday sale with everything 20 – 60 percent off. Complimentary holiday gift-wrapping will be available.

During the Open House, Artful Artisan will feature an array of hand-woven scarves and unusual earrings in sterling, vermeil, as well as 10k and 14k gold.

For more information call 920.868.9222 or 920.868.3788.