But with a twist: the first week of December is Buy Local Week in Denver, so I’m going to focus on locally owned businesses. I’ll also be looking for locally made goods. It’s pretty easy to find locally made food or wine (if I stretch “local” to include the Western Slope), but locating clothes made in Denver or Boulder is more difficult.

I’ve already discovered a few great local shops, such as Ahimsa Footwear and Talulah Jones, which I reviewed in this post, but there are plenty more.

And after the food fest that was Thanksgiving in Chattanooga, I’ll be staying away from the chocolate stores (Yeah, sure, Beth, we believe that one, you’re thinking, but my goal is to lose 5 pounds by mid-month, so I can actually fit into most of my pants).

***

I want to express my condolences to the family of the Walmart employee who was trampled. That was truly awful.

I hope that next year, American businesses will do away with the practice of opening so early and staying open so late on Black Friday, and will tone down their sales a little. In recent years, it’s gotten completely out of hand, and I’ve always felt sorry for the employees who have to work such long hours the day after Thanksgiving. I don’t see how any of that does much for stores’ bottom line, even if Black Friday is their most important shopping day.

***

A quote from Denver mayor John Hickenlooper (nickname: Hick) at the Mile High Business Alliance Buy Local Week celebration:

“I’m going to speak in a deep, throaty voice…create a mood that makes people want to buy local.”

The celebration was held at the Appaloosa Grill on December 1. According to the employee I talked to, it’s one of the few locally owned restaurants on the 16th Street Mall in Denver. Most of the others are chains or are owned by big restaurant conglomerates.

Leave A Comment

  1. Mickki December 2, 2008 at 5:26 pm - Reply

    Check out Unity Boutique on Old South Pearl St. and Fancy Tiger Clothing on S. Broadway for locally made clothing and accessories. Be sure to leave reviews on http://www.ColoradoLocalFirst.com, too!

    It was great seeing you yesterday, and good luck hunting those great local goods. 🙂

  2. Beth Partin December 2, 2008 at 5:28 pm - Reply

    Thanks, Mickki, I’ve been meaning to add review there for a while. South Pearl seems to be a pretty interesting neighborhood; I can’t wait to spend some more time there.

    It was good to see you too. It was a really good party.

  3. steph December 3, 2008 at 3:27 pm - Reply

    AHA! you have to lose five pounds you say…I was jealously wondering how you were eating all that lovely chocolate and food without gaining any weight!! 🙂

  4. Beth Partin December 3, 2008 at 4:16 pm - Reply

    It’s not just chocolate, Steph, and the loss of 5 pounds would get me down to 155, which is 10 more than I weighed a year ago! I’ve been indulging in bad eating habits for a long time now, and I’m trying to coax myself back to better eating.

  5. BernardL December 4, 2008 at 11:06 am - Reply

    I’m afraid Black Friday is here to stay. I can’t believe the excitement of running out at five in the morning to begin waiting in lines for the rest of the day. My daughter did it this year when I went over for Thanksgiving. She came back revved up, going look at this, Dad… and this… and this… I knew then my child had been replaced by an alien. 🙂

  6. Beth Partin December 4, 2008 at 2:17 pm - Reply

    Bernard,

    I just wish they’d tone it down a bit, not open until 7 or maybe even 8, and not stay open so late.

    It is fun to shop…way to much fun sometimes.