Goldfinch Tap + Eatery returns with holiday themes, more activities to raise Christmas gifts for kids in need

Event returns for second year

MARION — Goldfinch Tap + Eatery is making a list and checking it twice.

Last year, that list included 40 families with about 80 children in need of Christmas gifts. So far this year, the restaurant has already surpassed that number on its Giving Tree, with wish lists for more than 40 families and close to 90 children claimed.

This year, the Uptown Marion restaurant is hoping to help more than“ 100 children in Marion have a happy holiday through its Giving Tree Project. In Marion High School alone, there are 218 families in need.

To help, the restaurant is making a tradition of its annual Christmas theme, now back for its second year — this time with a large array of activities throughout the month around the Giving Tree.

“Our hope is that we make this an annual thing,” said Taylor Cole, special events coordinator for Goldfinch Tap + Eatery. “Not only does the staff love it, but I think the community does too.”

This year’s theme of classic Christmas movies incorporates the 1989 staple “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” and the 2003 film “Elf.”

“We talked about doing classics, and ‘Elf’ is a Christmas classic at this point, so we just one day dreamt it up,” Cole said.

Decor

Starting across from the bar, booths have been turned into an old station wagon driven by Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold, who sits in a cab built-out in front of the row of booths. Over the roof of the car is a bank of wrapped gifts.

Over at the bar, the roof has been covered with Christmas lights, in true Clark Griswold style, “except our lights work,” Cole teased. An oversized tree popping out of the ceiling tile, along with a large inflatable RV that Cousin Eddie would’ve been proud to call home, demonstrate commitment to the theme.

Meander down the dining room to visit Santa’s workshop, discover the Candy Cane Forest and meet Mr. Narwhal from “Elf” — all parts of Buddy the Elf’s journey in the film starring Will Ferrell.

As you continue to pass through the dining room, you’ll find nods to the New York City skyline, paper planes descending from the ceiling for the “mail room” scene in the Empire State Building, and a nod to the “world’s best cup of coffee” in a restaurant a few steps above the film’s greasy spoon diner scene.

The department store scene Buddy extravagantly decorated overnight is also on display on one side of the dining room, where “WELCOME SANTA” is authentically displayed in Lite Brites.

“This theme is both adult and family friendly,” Cole said. “Every adult that walks in makes comments about Griswold, and kiddos love Mr. Narwhal. This year we tried to please all ages.”

Christmas decor will be up through the end of December.

Events

New this year alongside the Giving Tree project is a series of events for family friendly fun throughout the month.

An ugly sweater party on Dec. 10 offers huge bottomless Bloody Mary drinks and a mimosa bar as brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There, patrons can vote on staff sweaters in the ugly sweater contest.

“The staff has a lot of buy-in, this is their favorite month of the year,” Cole said. “The host will be dressing up as elves for pictures with Santa.”

Santa will be available for visits and photos from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 17, with a complimentary bottomless hot cocoa bar.

On Dec. 18, families are invited to wear their jammies to “Pancakes and Pajamas,” where kids can watch the “Polar Express” movie starting at 10 a.m. while eating from a pancake bar with all sorts of toppings.

Building community

All this is done in hopes of building community, the special events coordinator said.

Last year, she hoped the event would help build Uptown Marion into a destination as it underwent massive developments. As the dust settles and their annual Christmas celebration turns into a tradition, she thinks part of the goal has been reached.

“When someone calls to ask if we’ve decorated the restaurant again, that indicates we made a big enough statement last year that we have become a destination. With all the remodeling that (is) happening in Uptown Marion, it’s all going to tie together,” Cole said. “I truly feel Marion is building itself into a staple on the Cedar Rapids map. We’re so excited to be a part of that.”

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