Christmas has come early for a number of businesses in Skaneateles — and for residents too — thanks to a generous gift by a local downtown building owner.
The Home Again for the Holidays Skaneateles Lake
featuring Victoria & Richard Emprise, a unique shopping event featuring local and national businesses, was very nearly canceled after five weeks of advertising due to an issue with the original location. During a last-minute salvage effort, local real estate owner Deborah Schneider offered use of her building on Genesee Street and the event was saved.
“This is such a time of giving, and that this woman did this is just wonderful,” said Lauren Russo-Duby, owner of Lauren Russo-Duby Event Studio, who is in planning the event. “By helping us she helped many local businesses who otherwise would have lost a lot of money.”
Home Again for the Holidays Skaneateles Lake is a seasonal trunk show — in fact a multitude of trunks shows — that has come to Skaneateles for the Christmas season.
Beginning Monday, Dec. 12, the space at 9 East Genesee St. will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, for shopping of the Victoria & Richard Emprise Trunk Show, the new works of Victoria & Richard MacKenzie-Childs.
This designing couple, creators of the original Victoria & Richard line sold in stories on Rodeo Drive, in Neiman Marcus and in Saks Fifth Avenue, are icons in the realm of home design. Their innately festive and colorful décor, ceramic and textile creations are well-acknowledged as having pushed the elements of decor in new directions.
The Emprise trunk show runs every weekday through Saturday, Dec. 31, with no charge for admission.
Open House weekends at 9 East Genesee St. will be a different, larger event. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10-11 and 17-18, Home Again for the Holidays will feature merchandise from nearly a dozen local and national vendors, including Paris Flea, Scarlet Ribbon, Stella and Dot, Little Black Dress, Macy’s and Chanel.
Floral and greenery decorations will be provided by Bella Flora Florist of Skaneateles and Locust Hill Nursery of Auburn; wine and cheese by Elbridge Wine & Liquor; and holiday treats by Haute Cake Designs of Skaneateles and ICJ cookies of Marcellus.
“Seventy percent of the vendors are all local from Skaneateles, Auburn and Marcellus, the other 30 percent are from around Central New York, and then two corporate venders in Chanel and Macy’s. The event is a coming together of small and big business and it’s found its home in Skaneateles. There is nowhere to buy this merchandise from here to Rochester,” Russo-Duby said.
To help make this a family-friendly event, a childrens’ activity room will be available for kids to make Christmas ornaments. A $1 donation is asked to take the ornaments home, and that money will go to the local Skaneateles charity Todd’s Fund for use in helping children throughout the Central New York region.
“We’re very excited to be able to donate money to Todd’s Fund with this event — it will be kids helping kids,” she said.
Originally, the Home Again for the Holidays Skaneateles Lake event was to be located at the home of Jim and Peggy Spano on West Lake Road. After issues arose about using that location, Russo-Duby spoke with her friend Albert Giannino of Pioneer Management Company, who in turn spoke with Deborah Schneider. Schneider offered the use of her vacant building on East Genesee Street to help.
“We all feel very blessed by her help,” Russo-Duby said.
Richard MacKenzie-Childs, co-owner of Emprise, said he was excited by the new location.
“This will just be a beehive of activity,” he said when he arrived to begin setting up the Emprise merchandise. “I love how it’s like a rabbit warren, and each room is a new discovery.”
The Home Again for the Holidays Skaneateles Lake Open House weekends are $10 at the door, with children 12 and under free.
For more information, visit lrdeventstudio.com or facebook.com/LaurenRussoDubyEventStudio.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Skaneateles Press. He can be reached at [email protected].
