Say hello to Bedford’s Winter Wonderland & Makers Market. Bringing residents together at the Hudson House to experience a fresh take on holiday traditions reminded us why we fell in love with this community in the first place – the people! Whether they came to shop for a unique gift, grab a snack or just wanted to stroll and mingle, it was community perfection.
With wares from a curated collection of local makers like Odelia Shoes, Radiate Your Energy, J Patole Designs, 5ever Creations, Fly By Customs, We Go Green, Jitz & Giggles, Canvas Creations, Create From The Heart Co., Gourmet Wala and Suubi’s Home Décor, the options seemed endless! Between candles, crystals, shoes, homemade scarves, farmhouse décor, clever gifts and more – there was something for everyone that made it to the nice list.
A curated experience wouldn’t be complete without a little taste of old-world charm.
We’re talking horse-drawn carriage rides with snow in the air, carolers that didn’t break character and of course, delicious treats all around.
And the best gift of all? Celebrating the season as a community. Happy Holidays from our Bedford family to yours.
When we say that Bedford likes to play “out of the box” and has a passion for art, we aren’t kidding. Introducing the newest Bedford tradition, “A Dream Before Halloween” – a new take on the traditional Halloween experience. Light, ambiance and creativity were pivotal in setting the stage for an incredibly different and immersive experience for our lucky guests. And having the gorgeous and expansive Hudson House as the backdrop didn’t hurt. Innovating on the age-old idea of a Halloween party involved a few key steps:
1. Set the Stage
For a surreal effect, opt for an underlying theme that isn’t too obvious, and don’t be afraid to think big. If you go too literal – you’ve stumbled into the expected. Have your theme? Let your imagination play with scale, hover around “What if?” and layer in your theme with sight and sound. Bonus tip: Remember, your party starts with the invitation – let it be a small taste of the experience to come.
For Bedford’s “A Dream Before Halloween 2021,” the theme was a mash-up of Halloween movies – the family-friendly type, as we have lots of littles. The entry experience was an ode to Pirates of the Caribbean. A giant, artistic serpent mixed the Beetlejuice snake with the Madhatter. Bedford’s Sidecar Bar had a Nightmare before Christmas vibe going on with smoking potions. And the music included sprinkles of Beetlejuice, The Shining and so much more. Can you tell we’re Tim Burton fans?
2. Know your Guests
Our residents are interesting and diverse. We have our share of singles and couples without kiddos as well as lots of families, some covering multiple generations. A mixed bag of different groups all playing in the same space is the kind of Halloween that we’re used to. There was something for everyone with face painting, balloon art, smoking signature cocktails and lively entertainment.
3. Add a Bit of Flair
For that little something extra, a bit of unexpected flair goes a long way in making an evening memorable. For us, it was a dash of performance art, but in a big way. A glowing fairy, an LED hoop dancer that also ate fire and a jellyfish stilt walker engaged our guests of all ages.
So, are we ready to go again next year? Absolutely!
Shout outs to:
Photography: @geaninatiraphoto
Live Performances: @firestormtalent
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Bedford Well’s First Member: Leeza from YOGADEN Health SpaThe new Bedford is here. And it’s ready to be loud and go bold. The first element we’re zeroing in on is Bedford Well—a collaboration with local instructors, coaches and fitness entrepreneurs to introduce an entirely new outlook on how community and wellness can cohabitate.
That brings us to our first partner and wellness expert: Leeza Villagomez, the founder, trainer and program director of YOGADEN Health Spa based in Corona. Leeza has traveled the world and will be bringing her calming spirit and far-reaching knowledge of a range of yoga practices, life coaching and more to the Bedford community.
Leeza is a true local—born and raised in Corona. She first became inspired to start practicing yoga when she was 18 years old, and she found that many components, like meditation and focusing on wellness, became an anchor for her in all her later endeavors.
Yoga has been part of her life for nearly 38 years now, and she’s completed an impressive number of teacher training programs and studied many different styles of yoga all over the world and as it’s evolved over time. From teaching in local dance studios and the civic center to becoming a national trainer for YogaFit Worldwide to planting roots and founding YOGADEN in Corona 22 years ago—Leeza is what we would call a yogi extraordinaire.
“It’s truly beneficial in so many ways. You can stay on the light side of it or really dive in deep and get into the science of it.”
Her energy and calmness are astounding, and her true passion for yoga is contagious. She makes yoga accessible to people of all ages and abilities, which is why she’s playing an instrumental role in defining the spaces and programming coming to Bedford.
Stay tuned to learn more about Leeza and all the other inspirational goodness coming to the community as part of Bedford Well. Join the interest list to be the first to know about what’s next for Bedford and be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with the good times to come.