Tis’ the Season to Shop Local

What to do when you live in a small town with few to none big shopping areas and it is gifting season? Why, of course, “Shop Local” in your own town. And Silver City is a perfect example of a small town with a large variety of businesses and holiday events to shop within a few easy driving miles.

Products found in the town include custom tilework, metaphysical art and gifts, southwestern herbs, Mexican artisan products, outdoor gear, pet accessories, antiques, letter-press products, unique tye dyes, fresh ground coffee and so much more. Ziryab’s Body Brew and Kneeling Nun Mercantile create their own artisanal hand-crafted soaps, lotions and potions. If a bicycle is on your wish list visit Gila Hike and Bike, Twin Sisters or Bike Works.

Silver City boasts four privately owned bookstores in historic downtown selling new, used books and by local authors. For your home creators, fabric, sewing notions and handmade items are available at All My Mama’s Junk and Otter Chaos. Otter Chaos hosts a pretty gorgeous selection of yarns, craft items along with giftable treats.

Several shops feature clothing from new to vintage, to redesigned and hand created. Silverado Hats is a haberdashery featuring hundreds of hats for all. Home furnishings? Check out Manzanita Ridge and Home Furniture. Love a good hunt? Go to the Antique Mall, or to the several thrift shops in town for an endless variety of goods that would make great gifts.

The Food Co-op and numerous coffee houses such as Tranquil Buzz and Birdwell’s offer locally made gift items. The Silver City Museum has an amazing gift shop with local history and gift items.

Known as an “Art Destination” Silver City has a variety of art galleries and shops featuring a diverse range of fine art, crafts, and handmade giftable items.  Compared to larger Southwestern cities fine art and craft wares are sold at more affordable prices. “Sante Fe Art at Silver City prices.”

Many accomplished artists have made this region their home and bring fabulous talent with them.  Silver City has galleries with curated month-long exhibits while others host member artists year-round. Paintings, sculpture, fine prints, pottery, hand-made clothing, wood craft, glass, mixed media and jewelry range in a vast whelm of styles and themes.

Along with the many downtown shops you can “Shop Local” at the numerous holiday art events in Silver City and the surrounding area. Early November starts out with the Mimbres Studio Tour where you can visit several Mimbres art studios, see where and how they create, and purchase their hand-made wares. Drop by their preview exhibit on First Friday Nov. 6 at the GCAG Blue Dome Studio at the corner of Texas and Yankie Streets.

The tour is on Saturday Nov. 7 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Silver City Art Association Independent Art Show runs from Nov. 12-29. Member artists will have their work for sale during the exhibition at Light Art Space, 209 West Broadway. Power & Light Press Holiday Market happens on Dec. 3 from 5-9 p.m. The production area is transformed into a fun-filled vendor market with live music and holiday refreshments by Little Toad Creek Brewery.

A favorite annual art event is The Holiday Artisan Market held on the first weekend of December. The Market, which hosts a juried group of diverse artists whose booths are packed full with gift selections, is located at the Grant County Business and Conference Center, 3031 Hwy 180.

Mid-December brings a revived event to Silver City Museum. Once known as “Victorian Christmas” is now called “Tapestry of Traditions, A Celebration of the Seasons,” which encompasses many local multi-cultural seasonal celebrations.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is national “Small Business Saturday.” Downtown merchants offer special discounts, coupons and give-a-ways on this “Shop Small, Shop Local” day. As an example, the Grant County Art Guild raffles off donated artwork. Enter your name on that Saturday, names are drawn and contacted on Sunday, the first winner in gets first choice of the donated artwork.

“Shop Local Saturday” Nov. 28, concludes with the Annual Silver City Lighted Christmas Parade. Join the fun and sign up to have a float in this year’s parade. This year’s theme is “Retro-Christmas.” Applications are due by Wednesday, Nov. 18. For questions or more information, contact Silver City MainStreet Project at (575) 534-1700 or email scmsinfo@silvercitymainstreet.com.

“Give Local” with Silver City Main Street Gift Certificates which can be used throughout the historic downtown businesses and eateries including the Silco Theater. They may be purchased at the Murray Ryan Visitor Center, Gila Hike and Bike or the First American Bank. Main Street gift certificates are available in $5, $10, and $25 denominations.

For further information visitsilvercity.org and silvercityart.com.