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Arts & Entertainment News

Shop locally this season with Cincinnati Unchained and Crafty Supermarket

Shop Local Cincy(disclaimer: Jenny works for ArtsWave, one of the sponsors for Crafty Supermarket. However, it’s too cool of an event not to tell you about it. Sorry boutcha.)

For those looking to circulate money inside Cincinnati, get a head start on their holiday shopping, and support independent businesses, this is the weekend to do it. Saturday, November 19th marks the return of the Crafty Supermarket, a craft fair focusing on “indie crafters, designers, artists, DIYers and other unconventional makers who put a lot of value on locally made goods” as well as the 5th annual Cincinnati Unchained shopping event – over 80 businesses all over the region are offering discounts for local shoppers.

“I think shoppers are increasingly looking toward locally owned businesses as a way to avoid the mall rush, get great service, and find unique gifts you can’t find anywhere else,” said Sean Fisher, one of the co-founders of the Cincinnati Unchained event.

From Bellevue to Wyoming and everywhere in between, local businesses and eateries have committed to awesome deals to help shoppers get a head start on gifts for loved ones this year. The Unchained website has a full list of deals and discounts available.

Every dollar spent at a locally-owned business generates approximately three times more economic activity than a dollar spent at a national franchise. By choosing to shop locally-owned for just one day, we can help support the local entrepreneurs in our own neighborhoods who help make Cincinnati unique.

By filling out a Shopper’s Passport – available at the Crafty Supermarket! – shoppers can be entered to win one of seven gift baskets filled with local goodies. The Supermarket, located again at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center, opens at 11 am and goes all day, with DJ’d music, local food, and free gift wrapping by Yelp! Cincinnati.

“Cincinnati cherishes its neighborhoods, and at the center of each of our neighborhoods are small independent businesses,” explained Fisher. “Cincinnati Unchained is a chance to reinvest in our neighborhoods and support our local economy.”

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Arts & Entertainment News

Weekend wrapup

If ever there was a weekend to go out and celebrate Cincinnati’s urban core, this would be the one to do it. Lots of great events happening – check it out!

* Tune-in Park – May 6, 7pm-12am – Far-I-Rome Productions (of the OTR Skate) is presenting a big music event at Burnet Woods and Arlin’s. It’s $5 for access to both venues, and you can catch sets from The Minor Leagues, The Ohms, Buckra, Skeetones, Ford Theatre Reunion (Lexington, KY) and more.

Since Far-I-Rome does it big, we’ve also got art installations (Bunk, Ant Farm Collective and others), food vendors (Habaero, Cafe de Wheels, Toppers Pizza) and of course, beer (Moerlein, Mt. Carmel, Hudepohl). Local beer, food, tunes in an underutilized park space… a great combination!

* Crafty Supermarket – May 7, 11am-6pm – Clifton Cultural Arts Center – Crafty Supermarket is back for round four with over fifty local crafters from seven states with wares and goodies for sale. The first one hundred shoppers in the door get a swag bag. Food will be available from La Terza Coffee, Dojo Gelato, Sweet Peace Bakery, Picnic + Pantry and Fireside Pizza.

There will be screen printing demonstrations and local DJs from ProjectMill spinning tunes. This is the perfect opportunity to get Mom something local for her big day.

* Upstairs Downstairs Historic House Tour – May 7, 1pm-5pm – Cincinnati Preservation Association and Architects Plus will present the annual “Upstairs, Downstairs” Historic House Tour showcasing architecturally significant houses on Grand Vista Avenue in Pleasant Ridge. Advance reservations are required. Tickets are $25.00 for members and $30.00 for guests. Tourgoers will receive an informative program with historic profiles of each house. To make a reservation or receive an invitation, call 513-721-4506 or email to info@cincinnatipreservation.org.

* Ride With Confidence
– May 7, 1pm-2pm- Park + Vine, 1202 Main Street
Learn the law of riding your bike on Ohio’s roadways and strategies for protecting your right to ride as a bicyclist from Steve Magas, Bike Lawyer, 1 p.m.

Steve’s presentation touches on the history of bicycling in America, several criminal cases where motorists were prosecuted for hitting cyclists, and hot button issues impacting cyclists today. Space is limited to 25. $5 suggested donation benefits Queen City Bike. RSVP bikelawyer@aol.com before May 6. For more information about Ohio’s Bike Laws and Steve’s bicycle law practice, visit www.OhioBikeLawyer.com.

Last but not least, don’t forget about the Fourth Anniversary party Saturday, May 7 at Below Zero!

Crafty Supermarket image via Mixie Studio