Tag Archives: York
Boycott Black Friday
Before you head out into the mayhem and madness that is Black Friday, consider skipping it all and waiting until Small Business Saturday to kick off your holiday shopping season. On Saturday, November 26th (and throughout the holiday season), we are asking you to “shop small” and patronize your locally, independently-owned, home-grown, “brick-and-mortar” businesses. The second annual Small Business Saturday is a shopping holiday dedicated to supporting small businesses, created by American Express as a counterpart to Black Friday (which traditionally features deals–and herds of sheeple–at “big box” retail stores).
Why shop locally? Not only are our favorite, most unique shops in the area locally owned and operated, they also employ a wide array of supporting local services from architects, sign makers, contractors, accountants, and insurance brokers to garbage companies, attorneys, and advertising agencies. Local businesses are more likely to use other local businesses, donate more money to non-profit organizations, create more local jobs, preserve economic diversity, and be more present and accountable to the community.
Big-box retail stores like Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Target may employ local people to work behind the counters, but these franchises and chains are all clones whose presence in the community does little to help out the local economy and a lot to clog traffic and hinder the success of smaller businesses. These stores enjoy national or international branding power and major economies of scale. They eliminate the need for local planning and require little in local services like advertising and banking, and the profits earned at large retail chains are not disbursed in our community–they are exported to places like Wall Street.
In the last decade, tens of thousands of our locally owned businesses have closed due to unprecedented competition from those larger chains and franchises. Numerous studies show that if just 10% of retail shopping dollars were shifted to locally-owned, independent businesses, millions of dollars in new economic activity and thousands of new jobs could be created. As our national economy continues to plummet and our citizens continue to protest, something as small as heading to a locally owned and operated supermarket like Shurfine (or a local farmer’s market), supporting non-profits and charity shops in your town, and choosing neighborhoods and artisan events over malls, shopping centers, and Wal-Mart can make a huge difference.
For more information on “going local” movements, check out these sites: http://smallbusinesssaturday.com, www.amiba.net, shiftyourshopping.org, susquehannasbn.org, www.buylocalpa.org/york, www.buylocalcoalition.com, and www.codoyork.com/lifestyle. Stay tuned to Unwound Magazine throughout the holiday season as we profile local businesses and shops to help you in your quest for finding the perfect (home-grown) gift for all the special people in your lives. And remember, don’t go to the mall–SHOP SMALL!
Hoots and Hellmouth
Who: Hoots and Hellmouth, a band from Philly
What: Live music performance
When: Friday, Nov. 25th, 8:00 PM
Where: The Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center
50 North George Street
York, PA 17401
Cost: General admission $14
Take a break after all of that Black Friday madness and come let loose at the Strand! Hoots and Hellmouth will be returning to present a sweet blend of rock, roots, and folk music that’s the perfect detox for the tightly-wound. Don’t be fooled by the acoustic instruments; these guys are all about sweaty, gritty, soulful music-makin’!
Make sure you check out their site: www.hootsandhellmouth.com
York Open-Mic Nights
What: An abundance of open mics to help you unwind all week long
Who: Local musicians, poets, comedians, drinkers, and lovers of all-of-the-above
Where: All over York County
When:
Monday: Glenrock Mill Inn with host Rocky D’andrea
50 Water Street, Glenrock
8:00 p.m.until 11:00 p.m.
All ages welcome; 21+ to sit in bar area
Call (717) 235-5918 for more details
Tuesday: Kerry’s Green
150 Country Club Road, Red Lion
Doors open at 7:00 p.m.; open mic from 8:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
$5 cover charge (drinks on the house); All ages welcome
Call (717) 417-1358 for more details
Maewyn’s Irish Pub and Restaurant with host Dennis McCaughey
110 N. George Street, York
7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.
All ages welcome
Call (717) 718-7800 for more details
Bistro 19 with new guest host every week
19 N. George Street, York
8:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
Ages 21 and up
Call (717) 845-1900 for more details
Wednesday: First Capital Dispensing with host Shane Speal
57 N. Pershing Ave, York
10:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Ages 21 and up
Call (717) 854-1714 for more details
Thursday: The Brickyard Tavern with hosts Jeff Metz Jr. and Sean “Crosby” Gardner
748 S. Albemarle Street, York
8:30 p.m. until 12:30 p.m.
Ages 21 and up
Call (717) 854-8739 for more details
The Depot with host Andrew Naylor
360 W. Cottage Place, York
9:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Ages 21 and up
Call (717) 846-6556 for more details
Victor’s Italian Restaurant with host Scott Platts
554 S. Ogontz Street, York
10:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Ages 21 and up
Call (717) 854-7958 for more details
“Come one, come all!” Experience the flavor of York’s local music scene or contribute a taste of your own. From singers and songwriters to rockers and bluesmen, open mics have something to offer everyone. Bring an instrument (or just your ears) and prepare to do some serious jamming. If you have an affinity for spoken-word art, bring your voice and let it be heard! Come out and showcase your stuff, or just enjoy listening in awe and appreciation to all the talent York has to offer. Go out, grab yourself a beer, and stay for a ball!
First Friday – Jazz in the City
Who: Shops in downtown York, the Strand, etc.
What: First Friday extended hours and specials
When: Nov. 4th, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Where: Downtown York area, jazz performance in studio at Strand-Capitol
Come join downtown York in celebrating this month’s First Friday! Jazz in the City continues at the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, with tickets free for students (with proper ID) and $3 for all others. Also, take advantage of this First Friday with your Holiday Shopping Passport! More information on attending venues can be found here.
Cash Cab’s Ben Bailey at Pullo Center
Who: Comedian Ben Bailey
What: Stand-up comedy performance
When: Nov. 4th, 7:30 PM
Where: Pullo Family Performing Arts Center
Penn State York Campus
1031 Edgecomb Avenue, York
717-505-8900
Tickets are $27.50. Purchase them here.
No need to take that trip to New York City for the one-in-a-million chance of picking the right taxi! Cash Cab host Ben Bailey has left his yellow van and will be performing live this Friday evening at Penn State York. Ben has been hailed as one of the greatest game show hosts on daytime TV, and his standup is sure to keep you laughing all night long. Tickets are going fast, so hurry up and order yours today!
