The snowflake decorations are going up all over the city, which can mean only one thing: pagans are doing weird snow ceremonies it’s Christmas time. And Christmas means shopping, for your loved ones and for office Secret Santas. And sure, you can fight awful crowds at big box stores and end up with PTSD after you punch out a grandmother to get a toy grappling gun for your nephew. But you can also go to Fort Greene and support local businesses in a much more relaxed fashion. Plus, Santa will be there!
This Saturday, November 24, from 10am to 6pm, the Fulton Area Business Alliance and the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership are combining forces to foster community spirit and support small businesses with Small Business Saturday. Participating businesses along Fulton Street and Myrtle Avenue will be having sales, in-store events and offering refreshments to hungry and thirsty shoppers. There’ll be a free trolley running between Myrtle and Fulton, with special guest, Santa Claus handing out candy and leading songs between noon and 4pm. Saturday also kicks off the Shop Small photo contest, in which participants take a picture of their favorite local business and post it on the forthcoming contest page. The winners receive $50 gift cards. And you don’t need to be Annie Leibovitz to win, the winners are selected randomly. So snap away.
The whole day won’t be all about shopping though. There will be a coat drive sponsored by New York Cares, to collect coats for people still struggling in Sandy’s aftermath and New Yorkers who had it rough even before Sandy hit. Santa, charity, quirky small businesses, and you don’t have to wake up at 4am and get trampled. Skip the crowds at Best Buy.