Small Business Saturday is the new Black (Friday). Instead of skipping out early on Thanksgiving with family and friends to sit in line for “deals” that we all know will drift into “Cyber Monday”, “Cyber Monday Extended” and “Last Minute, We Swear This is the Last Chance We’re Giving You to Get a Deal”, make supporting your community a tradition.
Keeping our holiday shopping local is really a win-win; we support our community’s small businesses and in return walk away with unique, high-quality purchases that can’t even be found elsewhere.
Little Loft offers craft supplies, books, and art classes, and is a great place to check out if you happen to know a budding artist! On Saturday, they will be open and ready for little visitors ($15/child or free when you spend $50) to explore and work on winter related crafts. Swing by between 10 am and 6 pm to check out all of the new items!
Not only is Saturday the time to support our local businesses, but it is also the fourth anniversary of Labyrinth Games! Join the party, enjoy some sweet homemade baked goods, and cast your vote at the Staff Cookie Battle. Vote with your change for the very best cookie; all of the change collected will be donated to local teachers’ classroom wish lists! Check out the coolest games, eat sweets, mingle with friends, and support our classrooms? Sounds like a perfect outing to me. Andy Looney, local game designer, will also be at the store playing his Holiday Flux game with visitors.
I personally can’t make it through a shopping trip anywhere without picking up a book along the way. Check out Riverby books on East Capitol Street or Capitol Hill Books on C St SE for some guaranteed good finds. Offering huge selections of used and rare books, you will find unique and meaningful gifts for loved ones.
Whether you are looking for a gift for the family chef, gearing up for more holiday cooking, or updating your kitchen supply, Hill’s Kitchen has almost anything you could possibly need. And on that rare occasion that they don’t have what you need, they will order it for you! Bakeware, cookware, grilling tools, cookie cutters in the shape of every single U.S. state plus DC, gadgets I never even knew existed… if you want it in your kitchen, you need to make this trip.
Animal lovers also have lots of choices, from goods at Howl to the Chief and Metro Mutts to hand cut leather collars and leashes from Jon Wye. Shopping for a musician (aspiring and experienced)? Stop by Music on the Hill where specials include 20% off guitars and ukuleles.
I haven’t been on the Hill THAT long, but even the latest newcomer knows you can’t reference our community and local businesses without mentioning Frager’s. With Thanksgiving in the past (well, it will be come Saturday), ‘tis the season to start searching for those perfect holiday decorations! Visit the Pad at Eastern Market for Christmas Trees 3’ to 7’, Chanukah decorations, ornaments, and lights. The Yard will have Christmas Trees 3’ and taller; look for Fraser Fir and White Pine. The Yard will also offer curbside loading for trees.
Another no brainer, but it needs to be said: do not forget to support our local vendors at Eastern Market! Boasting unique artwork, woodwork, and clothing; there’s no such thing as the person who is impossible to buy for anymore. There really is something for everyone. Grab some hot cider or hot chocolate, and have fun perusing everything our very talented neighbors have made for us to enjoy.
Happy Shopping!