“The Dude”, seen in the photo above, is a case in point.  This witty and comical  planter  is an example of the one-of-a kind items on display. And really, where would you ever find anything like that again?

If you weren’t in Medina today — here’s what you missed:

Filmy pastel tutus for the eternal princess

Popcorn -- one of the traditional smells of summer

This jewelry was a big hit. The crowd was three-deep.

Ceramic wisdom

And the Dixieland Band played on

Art in the Park began 37 years ago with a handful of artists selling their works on the Square. It was sponsored by the Medina County Arts Council and it was an immediate success. Since then, it has evolved into Medina’s premier summer event, attracting artists from across the country and thousands of spectators and shoppers.

Sunday, July 18 was hot, as it is every year for Art in the Park  — although it didn’t rain as it has frequently in the past. The smell of roasting hot dogs permeated the air, (Kiwanis had set up their concession stands), and there was — as always — the delightful anticipation of finding a treasure to purchase from the 130 artists set up in bright white tents that spread throughout the entire park like a Bedouin encampment.

The show, which was juried, was judged this year by Scott Ligon,  professor at the Cleveland Institute of Art and an acclaimed digital artist.

The awards were:

Best of Show: Josh Rush for his oil painting.

Traditional, 1st through 3rd: Kathleen Green (oil painting), Sharon Borror (watercolor) and Doug Lehnhardt (acrylic)

Non-traditional: 1st through 3rd: Leo Charette (photography), Sharon Stolzenberger (painting) and Sandy Kephart (fiber).

Functional: 1st through 3rd: Paul and Debra Bahm (wood), John Smothers (wood) and Elaine Lamb (ceramics).

Non-functional: 1st through 3rd: Bob Pozarski (glass), Joe Leonard (wood) and Richard Ruehle (wood).

Here are some of the sights:

Painted and quilted fabrics were colorful and profuse.

Perennial favorite, Elaine Lamb offered ceramic ware embossed with her distinctive sgraffito trim.

Wood sculptures came in interesting sizes and shapes. This one, designed for a garden, was particularly distinctive.

This very artistic metalwork attracted a great deal of attention.

As did the beautiful stained glass.  There was glass ware of all kinds, from the functional to the wearable.

And of course, there were paintings in great profusion– oil, water color acrylic. Which was, of course, how it all began, 37 years ago.

A view from the north side of the Square.

A few steps from Medina’a Public Square is a popular, Victorian-themed restaurant — Miss Molly’s Tea Room and Gift Shop.  It is pretty, feminine and very, very floral. Roses predominate — they are found on all the teapots and teacups, they spill out of vases and adorn the wallpaper. There are also lace table cloths , heart-shaped sandwiches and Christmas lights all year long.

Miss Molly’s is a very successful restaurant — if you don’t have a reservation for lunch, you may have to wait in the hall and twiddle your thumbs for a long, long time. And it consistently gathers accolades from the local media. (“Best of the Best” from the Medina County Gazette and  Fox 8’s Hot Spot in the Akron/Canton area.)

Here’s what you see here on an average weekday lunch hour.  At a nearby table sit four generations of women: a young woman with her infant daughter, her mother and her grandmother.  At another table, a group of eight animated middle-aged women are gathering, bearing gifts.  It’s clearly someone’s birthday or special occasion.

A few moments later two mothers walk by with four- year old daughters in tow.  The little girls are dressed in ruffly frocks and patent leather shoes — perfect attire for their first Victorian tea.  They will probably be served the “Little Miss Molly” — double-decker peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwiches and pink lemonade.

The food is also very feminine : salads, puff pastries, scones with Devonshire cream and preserves served on pretty plates.  Selection of teas is extensive and everyone gets an individual china teapot.

Here are some Miss Molly’s classics:

Heart-shaped puff pastry with the signature strawberry pretzel salad.

Chicken, tuna and pimento cheese served with love.

The experience doesn’t end there.  The check is paid at the gift shop which is filled with its own temptations.  Buy your very own rose-strewn teapot and some exotic teas to go with it — or original oil paintings, handmade jewelry, books, note cards. The selection is extensive.

Miss Molly’s is a popular place for bridal and baby showers and birthday parties.  Since they are open on Friday evenings, they can also accommodate rehearsal dinners.

The restaurant is  located on 140 W. Washington Street, one block west of Public Square in the former Medina Telephone Exchange building.

Hours are 11:00 – 3:00 Monday-Saturday, 12:00 -4:00 on Sunday and 5:00-8:00 P.M. on Friday.  For more information, go to www.missmollys.net.

Here are suggestions nine through twelve  — the final four from Everything Medina’s list of 12 Wonderful Gifts from Medina Shops.

But there’s still time.  Medina’s  shops offer a wide variety of gifts from the sleek and sophisticated to pioneer era rustic — and everything else in between. Gift certificates are available, as well as pre-Christmas mark-downs.

Shop in an atmosphere of by-gone America.  Enjoy the Victorian ambiance as well as the Christmas decorations.

Here are gift ideas five through eight: