Tomorrow is "Buy Local Saturday".
Buy Local is one way we do have control over our economy. We keep money in our local economy, allowing more money to flow into the cultural and social institutions that create quality of life for all of us.
And its personal. Let me tell you about my neighborhood:
You want something for your pet, or a dog or cat-loving friend? Stop by Dogma (catmantoo) on Fourth Avenue. Alice Liberson owns Dogma. She is passionate about animals. She also supports dozens of local charities. Duke and I love to stop in there and visit. Alice is a licensed vet, and currently practicing veterinary acupuncture.
http://dogmacatmantoo.com/
Just across the street you could talk to Paul Tinkerhess at Fourth Avenue Birkenstock. He has footwear and also a Sleep Shop (mattresses and other items to make sure you get good sleep). He is a local activist and musician. He and his family are a part of First Amendment history. Don't ask me...stop in there and ask Paul about it.
https://www.facebook.com/birkenstock.store?sk=wall
Around the corner from both Alice and Paul is Vicki Honeyman's Heavenly Metal. Vicki had a profound influence on the growth of the Ann Arbor Film Festival some years back. She has remained active in social and artistic causes. She calls Heavenly Metal a "unique boutique". It has apparel, footwear, recycled metal art, and more.
http://www.heavenlymetal.com/
http://www.peoplesfood.coop/
Or you might stop for your coffee in the Kerrytown Market and Shops at Sweetwater, owned by Chris Hutton. Chris serves on the Kerrytown District Association Board, and seems to always be involved in some fundraising activity.
http://www.sweetwaterscafe.com/cafes/kerrytown.php
While in Kerrytown you can visit Mary Cambruzzi on the second floor at Found, a truly unique store...part antique, part collectibles, or Jan and Sharon at Mudpuddles, or Bob at Sparrow Market, or Mike at Monahan's. And especially Mary at Everyday Wine. She is a big part of making An Ann Arbor Wine Cellar (benefit for HARC) a success.
http://foundgallery.com/
http://www.kerrytown.com/mudpuddles/index.htm
http://www.sparrowmarket.com/
http://www.monahansseafood.com/
http://everyday-wines.blogspot.com/
I'm almost afraid to send this out...I don't want to forget Nina Howard at Bellanina or Deanna Relyea at Kerrytown Concert House, or Sherry Knight at Knight's Market, or Don at Kosmo's, or Gene Alloway at Motte and Bailey's
http://www.bellanina.com/
http://www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com/index.php
http://knightsmeatmarket.com/
http://www.kerrytown.com/kosmopolitan/
http://www.mottebooks.com/shop/motte/index.html
See...I have names to all these businesses. When you buy local you are supporting Alice and Vicki and Paul and more than one Mary, and so many others. And they support the community, and their employees are a part of the local community and the local economy. I feel like quoting the "Bank Run" scene from "It's A Wonderful Life".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu2uJWSZkck
So if you survived "Black Friday" (or "Boozy Friday" as we are calling it at the \aut\ BAR), please do not forget to BUY LOCAL.