Brisk Weather Didn't Deter Winterfest Attendance

I think my fingers might still be thawing. I left Winterfest on The Hill a little more than an hour ago as many vendors were packing up but the ice sculptors were still hard at work.

I enjoyed meeting many new faces today as I poured dozens and dozens of cups of coffee outside the Hill's future coffee shop, Morning Glory at 85 Kercheval Ave. They were gracious enough to allow us to share their space and allow us to promote both businesses: the coffee shop and Grosse Pointe Patch.

As I walked the event, I overheard a lot of talk about Morning Glory. Residents are excited, it would seem, asking when it'll open and what they'll serve. The good news is Patch has just such information, hopefully to be shared with our many new readers.

Among those new readers, two names were drawn to win $25 Visa gift cards. I'll be dropping of the first gift card to Hope Durant Loomis of Grosse Pointe Park this week. Congratulations! I'm still waiting for confirmation from our second winner.

Despite the brisk weather, Winterfest had a great turnout. The miniature golf set up in the middle of Kercheval Avenue seemed to be quite the hit. With 20 golf clubs available for use, there was often a line near the table of kids and parents waiting for someone to finish the nine hole course. 

This was the first year Winterfest did the golf and Farms Parks and Recreation employee Jim O'Connor said they'll definitely do it again. "Everybody loves it," he said. Easily, hundreds of children completed the course throughout the afternoon, O'Connor said, pointing to yet another line building near the table. 

Winterfest volunteer Andy Frahm said attendance seemed good despite the cold weather. Traditionally the coldest of weather keeps residents away, he said.

"Attendance is so weather dependent," Frahm said. "It is pretty cold but we had a pretty good turnout." 

The event also featured a performance by Merry Music Maker in a tent near , face painting, cookie decorations and even a bit of scavenger hunt from the businesses along the corridor. Some playing didn't even know what their potential grand prize might be but were just having fun. 

Crowds gathered around the ice sculpture demonstrations. Lead ice sculptor Jeffrey Wolf, of Finesse Ice Sculptures, worked all afternoon outside the gazebo on the Hill. He carved a policeman with a small child. The sculpture is life-size and something to see. The sculpture was chosen by the Grosse Pointe Farms Public Safety Department, Wolf said. 

There were 58 smaller ice sculptures on display. They remain up until either they melt due to a warm-up or the city removes them. My favorite, of course, is stationed in front of : Tweety Bird atop the Patch logo. I'm a little biased I know. 

Meeting fellow Pointers in mass was fun and introducing them to Patch was even better. Many of you told me you'd be contacting me about stories and organizations to cover in the Pointes. I'll be waiting to hear from you.