Admiring and Shopping for Glassware in Wheeling

One highlight of my trips has been the Victorian homes tour, most of them complete with West Virginia glassware and china. There is also the glass shop at Oglebay, where one can buy or admire vases that cost ,200 or more. Then there's the Fostoria outlet, where you can buy new items that almost match your antique Fostoria--as long as it isn't too used. There are other glass outlets, a glass museum, and the Oglebay Mansion to tour with its many showcases of antique glass and china.

For antique glass, the shops at the Centre Market are loaded with it, even items that are becoming more difficult to find.

Quick Tips:

If you shop for glass in Wheeling during the holiday season, stay after dark for the Festival of Lights--and I mean STAY in those hills right there at Olgebay, or you'll spend an hour and a half in your car getting back up the hill, what is usually a ten-minute drive. Even if you have to sit in traffic, the lights of Oglebay are worth it. It's a great time to talk to your family.

Since you have to find a good meal while shopping, I've included a few restaurant reviews. River City Ale Works is superb! Stop there on your way downtown to the Centre Market.

If you visit the Fostoria outlet, you may want to have lunch or dinner at TJ's Sports Garden next door.

Best Way To Get Around:

You will surely want your car in Wheeling, unless you can take a bus tour from your community. Many cities nearby offer tours to Wheeling at Christmas and other times of the year. From Pittsburgh, the Gateway Clipper offers a cruise to Wheeling for the Festival of Lights.

River City Ale Works is downtown in the Artisan Center, a historic building. I have been there twice on Sundays and have had no trouble parking on the street within a block. You can look around the Artisan Center first or be seated in a large loft room full of people having a good time.

It's getting difficult to classify restaurants! Even though I have listed this one as "Continental," they have Tex-Mex (great quesadillas!) and wonderful cajun steak. My favorite entree is the Tuscan chicken breast smeared with black bean paste. And although I've paid more than $10 for meals there, I believe there are entrees for $8. I haven't sampled their local brew, but I've been told it is good also. They have many entrees with rice and fresh steamed vegetables, so perhaps I should have categorized this food as "healthy dining."

River City Ale Works, formerly Nail City Brewing Company, was recommended to me by a Wheeling resident who said the city was "fortunate" to have such a wonderful restaurant, and I must agree with her. The service, the happy atmosphere, comfortable booths, loft decor, and great, varied menu combine to make it a fine experience. Wheeling is proud of their brewery. The residents will tell you that.

If you're going to the antique stores at the Centre Market, combine that trip downtown with a lunch or dinner at River City Ale Works. You don't want to walk between them, as they are a distance from the other glassware attractions. They're open late.

You can get anything you want at TJ's. They have an extensive and varied menu that includes breakfasts, sandwiches, and dinners. And whatever you get, you get a lot of it. You seldom see such a big menu selection. There is chicken monterey, chicken parm, all kinds of seafood and beef, Mexican, Italian. You name it; they've got it. It's all good, too, and rather healthy: many entrees with rice and steamed fresh vegetables. Not elegant, but good. TJ's is the place to go.

And everyone goes. It is crowded, but well-managed. Sometimes, a short wait is necessary, but no major time. The service is excellent. There is seating at the bar, at tables, and at elevated booths lining the walls. Of course, there are tv's, lots of tv's. And the decor sports lots of sports. I believe there are pool tables.

I have dined at TJ's three times and look forward to going back. It's a well-established landmark in Wheeling, a bit of local color. I do highly recommend it, not only for the food, but for the atmosphere, comfort, and color. As a sports bar, it can't be beat. Everybody just loves TJ's! There is plenty of parking.

On the same side of town as the Oglebay Resort is the Fostoria outlet. I had inherited some early Fostoria "Americana" that was hardly used, and I wanted to add to the set. I brought home some glasses that look fine with my others, even though they are forty-some years younger. Best part, I'm sure I got a good price. Plus, Fostoria keeps appreciating in value!

The outlet has other glass besides Fostoria, and at Christmas time, when everyone wants to go to Wheeling for the City of Lights display, those people also want to shop for serving pieces. Therefore, they offer a good selection of holiday serveware. The outlet is like a party at that time of year--everyone is there admiring and buying. West Virginians do love their glass! Last trip, I bought an inexpensive cake stand and was happy to see it at Walmart for a few dollars more than I had paid. These cheaper selections are in the back room; those people back there unpacking boxes aren't employees, so walk right in. The Fostoria is out front in the showroom.

I suppose this shop is also a museum, using the term loosely. All the merchandise is new, but the patterns are antique--since the 1930's, I believe. Perhaps this explains why the customers act as though they're on a history tour or at an antique shop. I don't really think of going to the Fostoria Outlet as "shopping," because everyone there is relaxed and happy. Of course, this may be because I know I get to have lunch or dinner next door at T. J.'s Sports Garden. Or, it may be because I've just come from Oglebay, where I usually do tour something. It's a routine we somewhat locals have developed for visiting Wheeling: Oglebay, Fostoria, T.J.'s, Centre Market antique shops, River City Ale Works--in that order. Many of us do it every year the same way. We look forward to it and call it a fun day. At some point during the day, we may fit in another attraction or stay overnight to take in more of Wheeling. If we're behind schedule, good thing the Fostoria Outlet is open until 8:00 p. m.

Driving up into the hills to Oglebay, I always admire the rhododendron and pine woods. Both private homes and businesses on the way to the State Park have an appreciation for the natural beauty of the area, so they keep the setting natural. Once on top of the hill, I can understand why Earl Oglebay wanted to live here and make his farm a showplace and model farm. Oglebay is much more than a glass shop (see "museum" entry), so don't forget to take it all in. Once you park in front of the main building, you're ready to shop or just gaze at Carriage House Glass.

There is a website for the shops: http://www.oglebay-resort.com/oglebay/shops.htm

The glass shop is really larger than it looks in the web picture, and some of the West Virginia glassware displayed there is really beautiful, some expensive, some not. Brands include Blenko, Fenton, and many others, some of the brands sold in department stores, but with a much better selection here. Prices should also be better, but not much, except sale items. The real attraction of the place is the wide selection, all West Virginia-made, and as West Virginians will tell you, "That's what Jackie Kennedy bought." Everyone is tempted and buys something, either elaborate or simple: a china lamp or a candle holder. There's always something for a few bucks or a couple thousand. Be prepared to spend a little time. There are concessions and tables if you get hungry.

Shopping at Carriage House Glass is free, but a glass museum on the basement level of the building requires an admission of a few dollars. I haven't seen it, but I have toured Oglebay Mansion, which is full of antique glass and china. (See museum entry.)

As I explained in an earlier entry, Oglebay is about many themes: history, agriculture, West Virginia glass, antiques, nature, the arts, resort vacations, and more. The Mansion Museum was the home of Earl Oglebay, who studied agricultural methods in order to help himself and others in the area to become self-sufficient. He was a businessman, as well as a gentleman farmer and an important person in the area's history. However, a tour of his home reveals the importance to him of home and family and friends and entertaining.

Many wedding presents, Oglebay and wife's, as well as his daughter's, are displayed behind glass showcases in museum rooms. The wide hallways in the mansion have had showcases built into the walls. All these display a great amount of glass and china, mostly European, some American. Anyone who has spent time looking through antique books would recognize some rare and valuable pieces. All this, plus some glass and china are displayed in their authentic setting among the mansion furniture. Especially at Christmas, the Victorian home is decorated with a design to delight.

Besides glass and china, the museum includes a model railroad, Victorian clothing, and many pictures with explanations that tell the story of a family to whom home was important. It is a self-guided tour with audio in each room. You push the buttons. Just a few exceptions: in the entry room where you pay your admission and in the showcase rooms, attendants have introductions and explanations and are available to answer questions. This is really an excellent tour, so don't he deceived by the admission. The house is huge, lovely, completely furnished with fabulous Victorian furnishings, everything exceptionally polished and sparkling. It's also a very educational tour, where you can learn about everything from early agriculture to entertaining. I have taken this tour twice and will do it again.

To get to the Centre Market area, take Main Street to 21st and turn left for one block. The Centre Market is the historic Market House (built in 1853) that was part of a restoration of downtown Wheeling. It houses antique and specialty shops and restaurants. Also, just across the side street, you will find more antique shops. Ask at the first one you find for directions to more.

At one shop across the street, I saw a great selection of the rose-colored depression glass that I don't see much anymore in this area. Also, good blue willow was displayed, an amazing assortment. I spent some time there and couldn't resist a few items. I believe they will ship items for you if you're traveling or want to send an item as a gift.

The stores in this area close early, 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. That is why we semi-locals arrange our day in Wheeling the way we do. Remember, the Fostoria Outlet is open until 8:00, both restaurants I've reviewed until at least midnight. So, when the antique shops close, it's time to head for River City Ale Works, unless you want to go back to the Fostoria Outlet or spent too much time at Oglebay to shop for Fostoria earlier. (See other "activities" and "dining" entries.)