Shop Small This Holiday Season!
By Ellen Putnam
Last Year's Home for the Holidays
Photo Credit: Nancy Clover
The holiday shopping season has officially begun, and Melrose is a great place to get something for everyone on your list, and do some good for the community at the same time. First of all, make sure to check out everything that's happening for Home for the Holidays next weekend (December 5th-7th) - we'll have a map and event guide up soon!
And in the meantime, we’ve got some recommendations for supporting our local businesses on Small Business Saturday (and beyond), supporting our local nonprofits on Giving Tuesday, and showing off your Melrose pride all season long!
On Small Business Saturday (or anytime in December!)...
- Molly’s Bookstore - Books always make good presents, or you can pick out a gift from their extensive selection for kids and adults. Still stumped? Get a gift card!
- Lilah Rose and the Annex - Browse their beautifully curated selection of toys for kids and gifts for adults.
- Buckalew's General Store - Pick up a fun gift, something tasty, or one of their new cookbooks!
- Looking for handmade goods? Pottery, textiles, jewelry, or even a painting? There are lots of options in town!
- Paper and Clay - browse work from many of Melrose’s favorite artists and artisans, including owner and potter Lesley Keegan (those 02176 mugs make great gifts!), mixed-media artist Deb Corbett, jeweler Lorrie DiCesare, North Forest Shop (we heard their Melrose map ornaments are back in stock!) and many more!
- Follow Your Art's annual Winter Artisan Market kicks off on Small Business Saturday and runs through December 19th. See goods from over 40 local artists and makers, all in one place!
- Ellen Rolli/Housse Studio - browse their paintings and fabric art in Cedar Park!
- Alta Ceramics - Want to buy something online for Cyber Monday AND support a Melrose artist? Check out new potter/entrepreneur Allie Karthaus!
- Project Pop-Up on Main Street hosts local entrepreneurs and makers!
- And make sure to check out all of the holiday fairs and artisan markets next weekend at Home for the Holidays!
- The Ride Cafe - Get something for the bike enthusiast - anything from an e-bike or a kids’ scooter to a t-shirt or some fun bike lights!
- Looking for a host gift, or something tasty? Grab a bottle or a few cans of something festive at Buckalew’s, Victoria Hill, Hannah’s, or the reopened Franklin Market. Or pick up some imported English and Irish foods at the Common Market, or delicious Italian goods at Peppino's!
- And there are lots of options for gift certificates - how about a gift certificate for a favorite local restaurant, salon, gym, or even a masseuse? Or a gift card for classes at Follow Your Art, The Kitchen, or any of the local dance or music studios? Or support all of our favorite Melrose businesses with a Shop Melrose Gift Certificate that the recipient can use in any Melrose business!
Home for the Holidays
Photo Credit: Nancy Clover
And on Giving Tuesday...
- The Food Drive - Contribute to hunger relief efforts and reducing food waste at the same time - a win-win!
- Follow Your Art Community Studios - Help Follow Your Art buy the Big Yellow House and support arts programming in Melrose! Donations on Giving Tuesday will be matched up to $5000.
- The Melrose Education Foundation - Support grants to Melrose Public Schools educators and the annual Parent University event. How about making a donation in your child’s teacher’s name?
- The Melrose High School Permanent Scholarship Fund - What better way to celebrate the holidays than helping a high school student pay for college?
- There are several city funds you can contribute to that go directly to families in need: The Emergency Fund (which provides one-time help to families in need, and is currently distributing gift cards to residents who need them); The Elderly and Disabled Taxation Fund (which provides tax relief to those who need it); and The Melrose Veterans' Relief Fund (which provides support to veterans who need it).
- Support our local performing arts with a donation to the Melrose Symphony Orchestra, Polymnia Choral Society, Friends of Melrose Drama, the Melrose Band, or Friends of Melrose Memorial Hall (which supports repairs and improvements to Memorial Hall)
- Friends of the Melrose Public Library - Celebrate the library's reopening by supporting programming and resources!
- SDM Foundation - Support free technology education (and sign up for a free appointment to figure out that confusing feature on your phone, while you’re at it)!
- Melrose Alliance Against Violence - Support violence prevention programs and support for survivors, right here in town.
- Middlesex Baby Cafe - Support free breastfeeding support for new parents that meets weekly, right here in Melrose!
- Or donate to your school’s PTO or one of our sports teams!
Feeling inspired yet? Get out there and support all our wonderful businesses and nonprofits here in Melrose!
(And are you a Melrose-based business, artist, or nonprofit, and I didn't mention you? Drop me a line at editor@themelrosemessenger.org and I'd be happy to add you!)