The Ultimate Guide to Thanksgiving in Medina, NY

This is a very significant year for us – the holidays are here and we are not stuck in a car driving north for 7 hours. After the last 2 years of staying in Virginia for Thanksgiving, we are once again reunited with family and friends for our very first holiday season back at home.

With that being said, after we published a post about where to go for grub in DC, we decided that we owed our fabulous hometown a similar post. Here is our Ultimate Guide to Thanksgiving in Medina, NY:

Where to Stay: We wholeheartedly disagree that you can’t find chic and historic accommodations in this town. On the contrary; we feel some of the best rooms in our region can be found right here in Medina. Whether you are staying with family and need a night to yourself, or you live here and want a special experience, we highly recommend the Hart House Hotel or the Historic Village Bed and Breakfast. 

For the NIGHT BEFORE:  Face it, Thanksgiving Eve is the biggest party night of the year. Whether you are catching up with old high school friends, or treating your grandmother to a cocktail and a night out (Scott has done this….) Medina has a few nightlife staples. We suggest swinging by O’Brien’s to connect with old friends, the Medina Theatre for a cocktail and vintage ambiance, and the only out-of-town spot on this list: Pony’s in Middleport (formerly Ed’s) for a beer (or several) and a huge mound of chicken fingers. Because let’s face it, you need to warm up your stomach for the real bird the following day.

For Take-Out:  Thanksgiving Eve is also one of the biggest take-out nights of the year. After you have slaved all day readying the feast (or watched my Mom do it, in my case) treat the chef to a night off before the big dance. You have several options, but may we suggest Mark’s Pizzeria, Great Wall Chinese, and Avantis. Oh, and don’t forget that Pony’s offers takeout as well ;)

For the Foodie: Granted, Thanksgiving is all about the leftovers. In our house, we make Thanksgiving Garage Plates for days after the main event. But if you are looking to cleanse your palette a bit and branch out from the typical Thanksgiving fare, we love Zambistro, Mariachi, de Oro, and the Bread Basket (remember to snag a loaf of bread for all your post-Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches!)

Tuna @Zambistro

When You’re Thirsty:  This might be our favorite category – from first thing in the morning to late at night, we feel Medina has some fabulous drink spots. Grab a coffee to get you going at the Shirt Factory Cafe, take your family wine tasting (and then grab a bottle or two to open later!) at Leonard Oakes, and head to 810 Meadworks to sit at the bar and sip something special. I guarantee we will be at all these spots some point this week…

For the Group:  There is only so much Cards for Humanity and Apples to Apples one family can take. But if you want to grab a group and head out on the town, consider painting your own pottery at BrushStrokes Studios (a fabulous Christmas gift idea!), problem solve and team build your way through Into the Enigma, or just let loose and throw some bowling balls around at the Medina Lanes. 

For Small Business Saturday:  We could not be more passionate about giving back and supporting our local businesses. You’ll find us out and about on Saturday satisfying our sweet tooth at Della’s Chocolates, finding a good read at The Book Shoppe, scoping out additions to our renovated bedroom at ellen j. goods, and stocking up on a variety of teas for the cold weather at The English Rose Tea Shoppe.

For the Fashionista: So maybe you packed your bags lightly for this trip home and need to pick up some duds for the weekend. Or, you are Christmas shopping early for the fashion savvy in your family. Either way, we love Daniels (Just What the Doctor Ordered) for men’s clothes, ladies should check out A Lily and a Sparrow or Ashlee’s Place (who is celebrating 25 years! Congrats!), and of course you can’t forget the littlest ones – Blissett’s has the most beautiful collection of children’s clothes.

And last but not least, the pinnacle of the holiday weekend takes place on Saturday with the Old Tyme Christmas on Main Street, Medina.  Pair that with Small Business Saturday and be satisfied knowing how much good is taking place right here in our hometown. The evening will conclude with fireworks at 5:45 before the Parade of Lights at 6:00. Check out the entire schedule here.

There is no doubt that we will bump into many of you throughout the week, but make sure to stop and say hi. And if you can’t find us, just look up – Scott is 6’5 and impossible to miss ;)  We love being home for the holidays, and can’t wait to spend our first official season back in Medina. Be safe, friends, and Happy Thanksgiving!