AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services
Those of us who enjoy Shopping Local always look forward to welcoming in the holidays by visiting our local retailers on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. This year, we chose to begin our gift shopping on Black Friday and make a day of it, leaving time, of course, for lunch with friends.
Online and print advertisements alerted us to the fact that good deals awaited us at stores throughout Anne Arundel County, Severna Park included. Thus, we first drove through the older part of town where Severna Park Shopping Village is located. We stopped at Savvy Consignment for a quick peek and at Dawson’s Liquors for a bottle of wine. We next drove to Park Plaza to visit several of our longtime favorite shops.
Arriving at about 3 pm, we headed for the north end of the parking lot where Franklin’s Toys is located and parked near the Park Plaza Christmas tree. The wind was blowing rather fiercely as we crossed the lot and entered Side Street Framers & Gift Gallery which was warm and cozy and and lovely with wonderful Christmas gift items displayed throughout.
We were delighted to find shop owner Dawn Wilson getting ready to display a unique piece of art that had just been delivered.
“It’s a Christmas Tree Window featuring this glittering evergreen that’s made from pressed glass and resin by local artisan Sandy Eshelman,” Wilson said.
She noted that, as usual, the shop was filled with many works of art, jewelry, and crafts made by local artists and crafters that Sidestreet Framers carries.
Hand painted Santas, elves and snowmen made from gourds occupied one set of shelves along with hand carved wooden reindeer and tiny glass Christmas trees. There were hundreds of unique holiday gift items to catch the eye of Black Friday shoppers.
Asked if Black Friday visits exceeded expectations, Wilson’s answer was a definite yes.
“We’ve been busy all day here at our Park Plaza shop and at our newer Side Street Framers & Gift Gallery Store on Ritchie Highway in Pasadena,” she said. “We expect tomorrow to be very busy too. The traffic on Small Business Saturdays is always heavier.”
Wilson alerted us to the fact that Park Plaza will host its own “Winter Wonderland” holiday shopping event with holiday music, Santa, Holly the Elf, Polly the Penguin and Rudolph, plus games and more on Saturday, December 13 from 1 to 3 pm.
Moving on, we resisted the urge to stop at Nature Junction for holiday birdseed though the windows were wonderfully decorated and Christmas lights twinkled from within.
We quickly crossed the street, however, to The Cottage which looked more festive than ever this year and was filled with lots of Black Friday shoppers.
Just inside the door, a Nutcracker beckoned us. He was surrounded by baskets of ornaments, red plaid cushions and a variety of gifts which the shoppers ahead of us were examining closely. It probably didn’t hurt that the sign behind the Nutcracker declared “Black Friday prices 20% Off Storewide”.
There were numerous gift items that would set off a family’s holiday table perfectly….
… and snowy ceramics, linens and fashions to appeal to parents while children were drawn to colorful trinkets and toys.
All the clerks helping customers at The Cottage were wearing cute holiday headbands including the girls manning the checkout counter. We complimented them on their festive headgear before asking them if the store had been busy for Black Friday.
“Oh yes, absolutely,” said Emily who is seen on the right in the photo above. “We’ve had a pretty even amount of business throughout the day.
Asked if they’d heard how Black Friday was going at The Cottage in Annapolis, the girls said they hadn’t yet but expected the store was doing well. Since both stores operate as small businesses, they planned to continue the 20% discount storewide throughout Small Business Saturday till 6 pm and hoped to ring up many more sales.
One of our most impressive stops was Homestead Gardens Severna Park where Black Friday sale prices were a predominant feature and the holiday decorations inside, outside and in the greenhouse were gorgeous.
Once past the entrance, one couldn’t help but admire the beautiful display of Christmas China.
And it wasn’t really surprising that many shoppers made a beeline for a forest of lifelike artificial Christmas trees.
One could but stop and stare at this magnificent Arctic vignette featuring a polar bear surrounded by snowy owls and evegreens.
And, was it any wonder that, entering a greenhouse filled with poinsettias, we discovered Santa Claus chilling out with his reindeer.
Naturally, seeing the Homestead Gardens holiday train garden was a must. An even larger display is always present during the holidays at the original Davidsonville Homestead location.
Christmas shopping was front and center a bit earlier on November 21st in Olde Severna Park as the businesses along Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard celebrated Pink Friday a nationwide Shop Small movement that the community began participating in last year.
“Each store exhibited a pink balloon indicating they were offering different specials,” said The Blended Essentials manager, Danielle Bowen. “For us, Pink Friday was a ‘come early to kick off the season’ initiative. But there is more to come. On Thursday, December 18th, from 4:30 to 7 pm, the Olde Severna Park merchants are teaming up with the Life of Joy Foundation to raise awareness about Suicide Prevention. The Life of Joy Band will be appearing in front of our shops, and we’ll be presenting the work of local artists. Attendees making a Life of Joy donation will receive a Spread The Joy Candle.”
Bowen added that The Blended Essentials would be inviting children to come into the shop to make ornaments.
Just a few Christmas event announcements:
Severna Park Community Center will host a Holiday Marketplace on Dec. 7 from 1 to 5 pm
Santa Claus at The Station at 45 W. Early Heights Rd. on December 14 from 9 am to 1 pm with caroling by Bach to Rock, breakfast from Black Market Bakers, gift shopping from local vendors and a chance to sit on Santa’s knee.
Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company’s Santa Runs begin this Saturday, Dec. 6 with the Jolly Old Elf touring neighborhoods throughout Severna Park with lights flashing and sirens heralding his arrival. For a schedule of dates and routes, visit EHVFC at Facebook.
Broadneck Council of Communities meeting to view Severna Park/Arnold Townhouse Development Proposal at Severna Park Library December 9th
A tip from Arnold resident Mary Felter alerted us to the fact that a pre-proposal community meeting is being held by the Broadneck Council of Communities at the Severna Park Library on December 9 at 6 pm to view the proposed Severna Park Golf Driving Range conversion into a 135-unit Townhouse Community. Discussion will focus on how this will effect traffic, runoff, nearby communities and Rt 2. For more information see Broadneck Council of Communities | Facebook.
LATE BREAKING NEWS: TREE LIGHTING AT THE CHAMBER RESCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11 FROM 5 TO 6:30 PM
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.