Be Cool. Shop Local. (last minute!)

We are days away from Christmas and that means it's time to wrap up those Christmas lists and get the gifts for the stragglers on your list! We put together a guide of our favorite local shops and boutiques, complete with hours and locations, to help you on your final holiday shopping push!

These are obviously not even near all of the CLE's small businesses, so feel free to comment with your favorite place you think people should hit up this weekend or send us a message on Facebook or Twitter!

Banyan Tree
Mon-Fri, 11am-9pm
Saturday, 10am-9pm
Sunday, 11am-5pm
2242 Professor Ave., Tremont

City Buddha
Mon-Fri, 11am-9pm
Saturday, 10am-9pm
Sunday, 11am-7pm
1807 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Hts.

Cleveland Christmas Village Pop Up at Crocker Park
Mon-Sat, 10am-9pm
Sunday, 12pm-6pm
Next to Coach in Crocker Park, Westlake

CLE Clothing Co.
Mon-Sat, 11am-9pm
Sunday, 12pm-6pm
342 Euclid Ave. (E. 4th & Euclid), Downtown

Collective Upcycle
Thurs-Sat, 12pm-8pm
Sunday, 10am-4pm
6202 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland

Crafty Goodness
Friday, 1pm-7pm
Saturday, 12pm-6pm
Tuesday, 1pm-5pm
15729 Madison Ave., Lakewood

Deering Vintage
Mon-Sat, 12pm-8pm
1836 W. 25th, Ohio City

Flower Child
Mon-Thurs, 11am-7pm
Fri-Sat, 11am-8pm
Sunday, 11am-5pm
11508 Clifton Blvd., Cleveland

GV Art + Design

Friday, 11am-7pm
Saturday, 11am-5pm
Monday, 11am-7pm
Tuesday, 11am-3pm
17411 Detroit Ave., Lakewood

Lion and Blue
10am-6pm

15106 Detroit Ave., Lakewood

Native-Cleveland
Friday, 1pm-9pm
Saturday, 12pm-8pm
15813 Waterloo Road, Collinwood

One World Shop
Mon-Fri, 10am-7pm
Saturday, 10am-5pm
Sunday, 12pm-5pm
19321 Detroit Rd., Rocky River

Paper Trails
Mon-Wed, 10am-6pm
Thurs, 10am-8pm
Fri-Sat, 10am-5pm
19146 Old Detroit Rd., Rocky River

R/S Boutique & Made in the 216 Holiday Shoppe

Mon-Sat, 11am-8pm
Sunday, 11am-5pm

2078 W. 25th, Ohio City

Salty Not Sweet
Mon-Fri 11am-7pm
Saturday, 10am-7pm
Sunday, 11am-5pm
*Check Salty's Facebook and/or Twitter pages for up to date extended hours!
2074 W. 25th, Ohio City

Star Pop
Tues-Sat, 2pm-9pm
Sunday, 12pm-4pm
15813 Waterloo Rd., Collinwood

Shopping local for the holidays --- the final stretch!

It seems like we've been on the "shop local for the holidays" train for so long, we're still two weeks away from Christmas! Which, depending on how much shopping and/or preparing you have done so far is either a good thing or a not so great thing. Either way, we have two new holiday shopping events for you going on in the CLE this weekend to finish off that list or get you started, better late than never.

Coventry Village Holiday Festival
Saturday, Dec. 14
11am-midnight
Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights
If you've never enjoyed a nice afternoon or evening in Coventry Village, now's your chance to go all out! Attendees receive a special discount card for all the great local businesses in the area PLUS free parking at any public meter located in the garage, lots and street meters! But that's not all...get ready to get your holiday cheer on with music, community caroling, crafting, photos with Coventry Claus and Mr. Jingeling, an Elf movie marathon, AND an Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl! For more info on all the events visit CoventryVillage.org.

Cleveland Bazaar West Show
Saturday, Dec. 14, 10am-9pm
Sunday, Dec. 15, 10am-6pm
78th Street Studios
(1301 West 78th St, Cleveland)
Cleveland Bazaar sponsored last week's event in Ohio City, and this weekend they're getting serious. Browse the 100 vendors on two floors of the 78th Street Studios near Gordon Square - there will surely be some fun stuff to finish off that strictly local Christmas list. Plus if you've ever been to the 78th Street Studios you know it'll be the perfect location for this awesome, artsy craftsy event!

2013 East Side Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Sunday, Dec. 15, 12pm-5:30pm
Terry Macklin Entertainment & Event Centre
(6200 Enterprise Parkway, Solon)
www.avantgardeshows.com
We had a blast at the West Side Avant-Garde show last month, and now you have another chance to get in on the crafty goodness! $3 gets you in the door to browse the over 100 local handmade vendors plus part of the proceeds will benefit the North East Ohio Make A Wish Foundation. On top of all that, you can treat yo self at the on-site concession stand AND full bar!

Holiday Shopping Events - Weekend of Dec. 7

We're 20 days away from Christmas people! We have three festive and FUN events going on around town this weekend that will make your holiday shopping experience one to remember!

Check them out and tell us where you're hitting up on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Cleveland Handmade Market at Tower Press
Saturday, Dec. 7
10am-6pm
Artefino Cafe & Gallery
1900 Superior Ave., Cleveland
(Between E. 18th & E. 21st)
Cleveland Handmade is all about promoting local artists and bringing them to YOU! Their upcoming event is sure not to disappoint, featuring 20 local vendors including one of our very favorites, Ape Made Apparel. Plus enjoy the noms and super chill atmosphere of the Artefino Cafe & Gallery!

Holiday Market in Market Square Park
Saturday, Dec. 7
10am-5pm
Market Square Park, Ohio City
(Corner of W.25th & Lorain, across from the West Side Market)
Crooked River Couture spent Small Business Saturday in Ohio City, and now you can keep the #ShopSmall spirit alive! A part of the Ohio City Holiday Festival, this event is being put on by Cleveland Bazaar along with Ohio City Inc. and R/S Boutique! Browse the vendors in Market Square Park and stay for the many festive activities including carriage rides, Christmas tree sales, AND Great Lakes Christmas Ale!

Downtown River Holiday Walk
Saturday, Dec. 7
11am-4pm
Detroit Rd., Rocky River
(Between Wooster Rd. & Marion Ct.)
The Old River area of Rocky River has always been a great west side spot for holiday shopping. River is going all out for their 2013 Holiday Walk with live music, sleigh rides, food tastings, ice sculptures, and more! The best part is all the specials and deals available at nearly 50 Downtown River businesses. Check out the merchant map below for a complete list!

Made in the 216 Holiday Shoppe & Kickoff Party

Welcome to the biggest shopping week of the year! Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and *ugh* yes, even "Brown Thursday"... We promised to help you avoid the insanity of usual holiday shopping experiences by bringing you awesome local shows, events, and places to get your all your gifts. Small Business Saturday is quite possibly our favorite day of the year, and we'll have a full post on where to go on the 30th later this week...

But first off, you may be asking yourself what to do and where to go on the infamous Black Friday. Unless you really had your eye on that 60" flat screen, we've got the perfect place for you! One of our favorite Ohio City boutiques, Room Service is hosting it's 6th annual Made in the 216 Holiday Shoppe! This month-long event gets started this Friday with a kickoff party that is sure to be a blast...

Made in the 216 Holiday Shoppe Kickoff Party
Friday, November 29, 4pm
R/S Boutique
2078 W. 25th, Ohio City
www.rscleveland.com
Get the holiday shopping season off with a bang! Get a look at all the locally made goodies and giftables available at R/S all month! PLUS yummy noms courtesy of Cleveland Confectionery and drinks including wine, hot toddies, and an exclusive MADE beer on tap! Accompanying the merriment will be DJ Peter Pleasurecruise and then join the crew at the after party at Tremont's Duck Island Club.

Made in the 216 Holiday Shoppe
November 29 - December 24
Monday-Saturdays, 11am-6pm
Sundays, 11am-5pm
R/S Boutique
2078 W. 25th, Ohio City
www.rscleveland.com
This marks the 6th anniversary of the MADE Holiday Shoppe and there's no better time to join in on the fun! Your one stop shop for local Christmas shopping is open 7 days a week, with extended evening hours beginning on December 7. They've got everything from clothing to cards, accessories to home goods, and everything in between!

West Side Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show Review

We warned you! Even though we're still a week away from Thanksgiving, Christmas is creeping its way into our psyche. Thankfully, we eased our way into it the best way we know how - with a good ol' fashioned craft show! The West Side Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show last weekend had vendors and shoppers from all over Northeast Ohio flocking to Rocky River Memorial Hall buying and selling goodies of all sorts. We had a blast on Saturday and are here to show you what we found!

Even though there were two entire huge rooms of vendors, we made purchases at the first three booths we hit! #1 was the hand-sewn originals of Aunt Jeannie's Attic. Brightly colored patterned purses caught our eye, but it was this black wristlet, made from vintage men's suits, that had us sold!

I recognized the nautical pillowcases from Avant-Garde's blog when we came by IndoDesign's booth. Our second stop had even more fun patterned fabric goods but we couldn't help but fall in love with these wooden Christmas trees! So unique, this will definitely be a conversation piece hanging at the house around the holidays. Gives off a beachy vibe even amidst the cold Cleveland November/December temps, thanks especially to the starfish tree topper!

Nestled by a window was the soothing smells of Peripeti Home. Also sold at one of our favorite spots, Salty Not Sweet, these handmade soy candles and wax melts have the most unique yet satisfying scents we've ever come across! Orchard Picnic will be great to have wafting around the house on Thanksgiving and Sherwood Forest was too calming to pass up. These layered fragrances are also available in large tins and crackling wooden wicks.

I'm a sucker for fun and unique jewelry - anything that has a story and makes people ask, "where did you get those?" I could have bought every ring, necklace, pendant, and pair of earrings displayed at Diella Jewelry's booth! Her handmade, handpainted, mixed media pieces are not only to die for, they're very reasonably priced! I picked these sparkly earrings for myself along with a few other Christmas presents that I'll have to keep hidden for now...two words: rhinestones and chevrons.

Last but not least, we have to give it up to Colleen Smith and her amazing mixed media, Cleveland pride art! I would totally be down to furnishing my home with Colleen's large scale collage prints but let's start with what we bought from her at the show... we went with the coolest Cleveland Christmas cards EVER and a Browns inspired ornament! Hard to say if we'll be gifting these or maybe even framing them for decorations at the house!

Needless to say by our fabulous finds, the West Side Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show was a success! If you missed out on the fun, fear not, there's an East Side show coming up in December! More details on that to come...