‘Breakfast with the Grinch’ brings beloved character to Bent’s Opera House

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Five-year-old Mazie Phillips of Medina got to meet her idol, the Grinch, at a breakfast brunch this morning at Bent’s Opera House. She spent the morning teasing her favorite character, who tossed candy canes at the children. (Right) Viggo Lubahn, 7, of Erie, Pa. loves the Grinch so much his grandparents Terri and John Lubahn and uncle Nik had to bring him to see the character. Here, he hugs a stuffed Grinch, which every child who attended the breakfast had a chance to win.

MEDINA – The Grinch who stole Christmas captured kids’ hearts when they came to visit him Sunday at Bent’s Opera House.

For the first time, Bent’s hosted brunch with the Grinch, complete with the storybook character and green eggs and ham.

Faye Conley, events coordinator for Bent’s Opera House, said the idea to host the Grinch was a combined brainstorm of the staff.

“Everybody does breakfast with Santa, and we wanted to do something different,” Conley said.

The opera house was filled with tables covered in green cloths and colorful holiday decorations. The stage was ornate with two decorated Christmas trees and a red chair for the Grinch, where he sat and threw candy canes at the children.

The breakfast brunch included mini muffins with green frosting, pancakes, fruit, green eggs and ham, apple pudding casserole, bacon and sausage and more.

Viggo Lubahn, 7, from Erie, Pa., loves the Grinch and when his family saw the breakfast advertised, his grandma Terri Lubahn said she, her husband John and Viggo’s uncle Nik had to bring him. She grew up in Lyndonville and has family there, so she was very familiar with the Medina area. They also came last week for the Parade of Lights and said it was spectacular.

“You must be very proud of your town,” she said.

The Grinch slinks across the stage at Bent’s Opera House while entertaining children at a breakfast brunch Sunday morning.

Mazie Phillips, 5, is also crazy about the Grinch. Her grandma Debbie Fuller, wearing a Grinch shirt, said they have an animated Grinch at home, and Mazie gives it a big hug every day.

“When I saw the breakfast advertised, it was all over it to make sure I got tickets,” she said.

Mazie was more interested in teasing the Grinch than in eating. She was delighted when the Grinch came down into the crowd and interacted with the children.

All the children who came to breakfast were entered in a drawing to win a giant stuffed Grinch.

It’s a sure bet they will have the Grinch back again, Conley said.

The next big event for the Opera House will be a New Year’s Eve celebration with a buffet and live band.