By Lisa Carolin
Nine years, and the number of participants and patrons just keep on growing. It’s the Wine, Women and Shopping event, which takes place this year on Saturday, Nov. 8, in and around downtown Chelsea.
Hundreds of shoppers and diners will visit local businesses, which will be offering lots of discounts and specials as well as wine tasting in participating restaurants. It’s the unofficial kick off of the holiday season.
“We have more than 30 businesses involved this year,” said Maureen Tobin, who helps organize the event. “The Chelsea business community recognizes how important this event is.”
Tobin says every year new businesses join the activities. This year’s new businesses include the Vintage Barn Boutique on East Middle Street, which sells antique furniture and home decorations, and Chelsea Kidz Stop on North Main Street in the Sylvan Building, which sells toys and kids’ clothing.
Alta Brown, owner of Chelsea Antiques on Main Street, says that her store will re-open in time for the big shopping day.
“I will have snacks, gifts with purchases, a store-wide sale, and belly dancing at 4 p.m.,” said Brown.
The Chelsea Depot Artisans’ market will celebrate its fourth year during Wine, Women and Shopping Day and will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fourteen artisans will be in the historic depot at 125 Jackson St. and will be selling etched and stained glass pieces, pottery, jewelry, journals, handbags, soaps, dolls, stuffed animals and more.
You can find a display by Matthew Millar, owner of Renovatio Woodworks, in the alleyway next to Serendipity books on West Middle Street. Millar repurposes local materials and turns them into functional woodworking art.
Wine, Women and Shopping day is also a time to give back to the community. Volunteers and a truck from the Faith in Action Food Pantry will be at the corner of Middle Street and Main Street accepting non-perishable food items.
Businesses will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and some will stay open until 8 p.m. For more information, click here.
