By Geo Ong
After you’ve immobilised yourself with food this Thanksgiving, you may want to treat your body to a nice stroll around the city to burn some of those extra calories. We all know about Black Friday, but the word is still out on Small Business Saturday.
The good folks at Paper Magazine put it perfectly: Although New York is one of the biggest and most globalized cities in the world, to those of us who live and work here, the Big Apple can actually feel like a small village. I’ve lived here four months and have already felt strong communities among neighbourhoods, and much of that has to do with the presence of and desire for independent businesses.
Paper Magazine compiled a wonderful guide to some wonderful independent businesses to visit on Small Business Saturday. Below are just a few NYC highlights that caught my eye, but do check the entire guide for a complete list of of New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco.
The Greene Grape, Greene Grape Provisions, & Greene Grape Annex
Fort Greene, Brooklyn
I frequent the Greene Grape shops pretty much everyday, and I’d like to think there’s more of a reason than just the fact that I work next door. The Greene Grape is a wonderful wine shop with affordable bottles. Provisions has delicious fresh food and sandwiches. But the kicker is the newest addition to the Greene Grape family: the Annex. Quite possibly the best coffee you’ll find in Brooklyn.
Small Business Saturday offer: A free glass of Gluhwein at the Greene Grape; a free artisanal cheese tasting from 5 to 8pm at Provisions; a free cookie with any purchase at the Annex.
BabyCakes
Lower East Side, Manhattan
Quite possibly the cutest little vegan bakery in New York City. Hey, vegans, were you deprived of dessert on Thanksgiving? Have no fear! BabyCakes is here!
Small Business Saturday offer: 20% off any baked good purchase.
Small Business Saturday is 26 November 2011. Celebrate it with the people that make our communities what they are.
