I’m really enjoying all of the alternative holiday shopping events that we’re seeing in the city these days – many geared towards getting us to shop (and think) local, while staying away from the chains. Gaby DeRose reached out to me last week to tell me about a few of the special surprises that Buffalonians can expect to find at Pearl Street Brewery on Sunday November 20. Following is the lowdown according to Gaby, who is helping to organize the day’s activities:
The first event (from 10:30am-Noon) is a Holiday Brunch featuring Pat Woyshner, owner of Woyshner’s Flower Shop and Woyshner’s Christmas Shoppe (opening in the Lafayette Hotel). For 16 years under three different administrations, Pat worked at the White House as a designer for the Christmas holidays and numerous large events. As the guest speaker, she will be sharing her experiences as a White House designer and decorator as well as offer several tips and tricks of the trade. A portion of the proceeds from this event is being donated to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) research.
The second event (Noon- 6pm) is a Christmas Market, which will occupy three floors of the site and will feature artists, artisans and crafters from throughout Western New York selling an assortment of jewelry, photography, fine art, children’s items, clothing, accessories, gourmet foods, pottery, soaps and lotions, books, handcrafted items and more. We’ve also planned woodcarving demonstrations by the WNY Woodcarvers Association and entertainment provided by area choral groups and music ensembles.
Woyshner’s will also be on hand offering holiday decorating tips and instructions for creating holiday decorations for throughout the home, and Buffalo Heritage will have a table and is planning to do a couple book signings, including Christa Glennie Seychew, who will be signing copies of Nickel City Chef: Buffalo’s Finest Chefs and Ingredients book/DVD from 12:00pm-3:00pm, and Mark Donnelly, author and photographer of The Fine Art of Capturing Buffalo and Frozen Assets: The Beautiful Truth About Western New York’s Fourth Season, who will be signing books from 3:00-6:00pm.