Events Calendar
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Energy upgrades for Summit, Stark
Welcome to Akron's 'new' neighborhood
Job openings plunged by one-quarter last year
State Farm says it warned NHTSA on Toyota in 2007
Wholesale inventories cut 0.8 percent in December
Toyota recalls 437,000 Priuses, hybrids globally
Most Read Stories
Man robbed at Tallmadge Avenue eatery
Another winter punch heading toward Ohio
Complaints against officer keep coming
Four teens restrain man, take items from his Akron home
Police: Ohio girl dies after fall into snow bank
Region makes way for latest batch of snow; cancellations rise
Cuyahoga Falls residents come home to find burning couch on balcony
Blogs:
First Bell - On Education:
No City of Akron basketball tonight
Pets:
Pet telethon re-airs
The Heldenfiles:
Chipmunks "Squeakquel" on DVD/BD March 30
Akron Zips:
Late surge gives Zips ugly road win
Tribe Matters:
Blogmail response on Hafner
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth's contract terminated
Balanced Ledger:
QB in Browns future: another mock draft
Kent State Sports:
KSU Notes – February 9
Cleveland Cavaliers:
NBA Power Rankings from Around the Internet
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes grab 18 players on signing day
Varsity Letters:
Five local gridders to play in Big33
All Da King's Men:
Palin At The Tea Party Convention
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Republican Pre-Conditions
Akron Law Café:
Law, Love and Chocolate
Car Chase:
Collector Car Hobby Loses One of the Best—Jim Roll
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Decisions Decisions: Credit Cards or Your Mortgage?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
Sound Check:
Talk of the Town – Top entertainment picks for the weekend
HRLite House:
OFCCP Report
Akron Gamer:
Makers of 'Castle Crashers' unveil 'BattleBlock Theater'
See Jane Style:
Do IT this week: Layering
By Paula Schleis
Beacon Journal business writer
POSTED: 12:22 p.m. EST, Nov 20, 2009
When Michelle Sahr was approached about expanding her My Little Red Wagon stores in Stow and Hudson to a third location in Kent, she was skeptical about selling toys in a college town.
Still, being a Kent resident, she was excited about being part of a downtown revitalization project that included a new retail niche called Acorn Alley.
So ''it occurred to me that there are lots of great fun novelty and humorous products sold by many of our own toy manufacturers that would appeal to the college students,'' she said.
The result is Off the Wagon, a new store that sells fun, retro, and quirky gifts that appeal to college students, older kids and adults ''who like a laugh now and then,'' she said.
Her unique inventory also means she won't have to compete with big box toy stores this holiday season.
''After all, you are not likely to find yodeling pickles, big foot action figures, punching nuns and bacon flavored mints at your nearest Walmart,'' she said, not to mention the Killer Bunnies, Smoking Baby, and Plush Swine Flu.
Off the Wagon, at 152 E. Main St. in Kent, is open Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
Nibble before you buy
The Fairlawn Great Harvest Bakery, 3900 Medina Rd., will hold a ''Taste of Great Harvest'' event on Nov. 27-28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Co-owner Kim Hannon said shoppers may sample many of the breads and sweets, as well as jams, peanut butters, dipping oils, pasta salads, and granola.
Seasonal breads and sweets available in time for Thanksgiving this year include whole grain Stuffing Bread, Cranberry Crunch, Great Harvest Rolls, Foccacia Rolls, Pumpkin Pie, and Pumpkin Cream Cheese Logs.
Smelly stuff
Who doesn't need a little pampering?
Daybreak Lavender Farm in Streetsboro specializes in ''hand-made, earth-friendly, ethically sourced soups,'' as well as bath and body products, gourmet and aromatherapy gifts, and a tea collection.
Better still, the entire inventory is 15 percent off in November in honor of the opening of its new 2,700-square-foot flagship location at 9292 Market Square Dr.
The grand opening celebration is officially Nov. 28-29 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Nov. 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Web site: http://www.daybreaklavenderfarm.com/store.
Medina shopping event
Businesses on Medina's historic square district will help kick off the holiday shopping season at this weekend's Candlelight Walk. Festivities — spotlighted by some 1,350 luminaries throughout the district — include a visit from Santa during the Holiday Parade of Lights at 5:30 p.m. today.
Local businesses will also participate in a Holiday Open House from 5 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 10. More than a dozen stores will be open evening hours and have cookies, wine and treats for shoppers.
For more details on all events, visit http://www.mainstreetmedina.com.
Magical night
Downtown Barberton businesses will shine with decorations, many shops will have merchandise deals and restaurants are planning delicious specials for the Barberton Christmas Walk on Nov. 28.
The light displays around Lake Anna will be turned on at 6 p.m., followed by a mini-parade throughout downtown. Visitors may then ride a wagon with Scooby, Elmo or Bob the Builder or the Magical Train to view the lights, visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, Shrek and Fiona and many other costumed favorites.
Childrens crafts and facepainting, a live nativity, ice carvings, dancers, singers and music will also be included. The streets on all four sides of Lake Anna Park will be closed to vehicle traffic so those wishing to drive by the displays may do so another night.
New mailing option
A grand opening celebration is scheduled at The UPS Store at 1220 Bucholzer Blvd. Suite B in Cuyahoga Falls on Nov. 27. Activities planned for the day are Cleveland Cavaliers ticket giveaways and free Krispy Kreme coffee and donuts, owner Jeromy Clark said.
Extended holiday hours are weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Clark offered the following tips to gift-givers:
• Ship as early as possible. Mondays are the busiest shipping days.
• Use a new shipping box and protect gifts by wrapping items separately and using two inches of foam peanuts or bubble cushion on each side.
• Remove batteries from toys and electronics to prevent suspicious noises and leaking or worn-out batteries.
• Use packaging tape, not duct tape or masking tape.
Clark also suggested if you're traveling for the holidays, ship your luggage to your destination and lessen the hassle of dealing with it in transit.
National news
From Beacon Journal national wire reports:
You might check Facebook and Twitter before heading to the mall the day after Thanksgiving.
Hundreds of deals already are being advertised for what's known as Black Friday by retailers as diverse as OfficeMax and Old Navy.
Office supplies chain Staples Inc., for instance, used social media to advertise price cuts of nearly 50 percent for Nov. 27 on certain laptops, GPS devices and computer monitors, and still other merchants are expected to follow suit.
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
HOLIDAY RETAIL NOTEBOOK
To suggest unique local products, stores, events or other news about the Akron area retail scene this holiday season, send Beacon Journal business writer Paula Schleis an e-mail. The address is pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com.
When Michelle Sahr was approached about expanding her My Little Red Wagon stores in Stow and Hudson to a third location in Kent, she was skeptical about selling toys in a college town.
Still, being a Kent resident, she was excited about being part of a downtown revitalization project that included a new retail niche called Acorn Alley.
So ''it occurred to me that there are lots of great fun novelty and humorous products sold by many of our own toy manufacturers that would appeal to the college students,'' she said.
The result is Off the Wagon, a new store that sells fun, retro, and quirky gifts that appeal to college students, older kids and adults ''who like a laugh now and then,'' she said.
Her unique inventory also means she won't have to compete with big box toy stores this holiday season.
''After all, you are not likely to find yodeling pickles, big foot action figures, punching nuns and bacon flavored mints at your nearest Walmart,'' she said, not to mention the Killer Bunnies, Smoking Baby, and Plush Swine Flu.
Off the Wagon, at 152 E. Main St. in Kent, is open Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
Nibble before you buy
The Fairlawn Great Harvest Bakery, 3900 Medina Rd., will hold a ''Taste of Great Harvest'' event on Nov. 27-28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Co-owner Kim Hannon said shoppers may sample many of the breads and sweets, as well as jams, peanut butters, dipping oils, pasta salads, and granola.
Seasonal breads and sweets available in time for Thanksgiving this year include whole grain Stuffing Bread, Cranberry Crunch, Great Harvest Rolls, Foccacia Rolls, Pumpkin Pie, and Pumpkin Cream Cheese Logs.
Smelly stuff
Who doesn't need a little pampering?
Daybreak Lavender Farm in Streetsboro specializes in ''hand-made, earth-friendly, ethically sourced soups,'' as well as bath and body products, gourmet and aromatherapy gifts, and a tea collection.
Better still, the entire inventory is 15 percent off in November in honor of the opening of its new 2,700-square-foot flagship location at 9292 Market Square Dr.
The grand opening celebration is officially Nov. 28-29 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Nov. 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Web site: http://www.daybreaklavenderfarm.com/store.
Medina shopping event
Businesses on Medina's historic square district will help kick off the holiday shopping season at this weekend's Candlelight Walk. Festivities — spotlighted by some 1,350 luminaries throughout the district — include a visit from Santa during the Holiday Parade of Lights at 5:30 p.m. today.
Local businesses will also participate in a Holiday Open House from 5 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 10. More than a dozen stores will be open evening hours and have cookies, wine and treats for shoppers.
For more details on all events, visit http://www.mainstreetmedina.com.
Magical night
Downtown Barberton businesses will shine with decorations, many shops will have merchandise deals and restaurants are planning delicious specials for the Barberton Christmas Walk on Nov. 28.
The light displays around Lake Anna will be turned on at 6 p.m., followed by a mini-parade throughout downtown. Visitors may then ride a wagon with Scooby, Elmo or Bob the Builder or the Magical Train to view the lights, visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, Shrek and Fiona and many other costumed favorites.
Childrens crafts and facepainting, a live nativity, ice carvings, dancers, singers and music will also be included. The streets on all four sides of Lake Anna Park will be closed to vehicle traffic so those wishing to drive by the displays may do so another night.
New mailing option
A grand opening celebration is scheduled at The UPS Store at 1220 Bucholzer Blvd. Suite B in Cuyahoga Falls on Nov. 27. Activities planned for the day are Cleveland Cavaliers ticket giveaways and free Krispy Kreme coffee and donuts, owner Jeromy Clark said.
Extended holiday hours are weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Clark offered the following tips to gift-givers:
• Ship as early as possible. Mondays are the busiest shipping days.
• Use a new shipping box and protect gifts by wrapping items separately and using two inches of foam peanuts or bubble cushion on each side.
• Remove batteries from toys and electronics to prevent suspicious noises and leaking or worn-out batteries.
• Use packaging tape, not duct tape or masking tape.
Clark also suggested if you're traveling for the holidays, ship your luggage to your destination and lessen the hassle of dealing with it in transit.
National news
From Beacon Journal national wire reports:
You might check Facebook and Twitter before heading to the mall the day after Thanksgiving.
Hundreds of deals already are being advertised for what's known as Black Friday by retailers as diverse as OfficeMax and Old Navy.
Office supplies chain Staples Inc., for instance, used social media to advertise price cuts of nearly 50 percent for Nov. 27 on certain laptops, GPS devices and computer monitors, and still other merchants are expected to follow suit.
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
HOLIDAY RETAIL NOTEBOOK
To suggest unique local products, stores, events or other news about the Akron area retail scene this holiday season, send Beacon Journal business writer Paula Schleis an e-mail. The address is pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 12:54 PM, 11/20/2009
Plenty of Flat Cats on the streets of Akron at no cost. We named the one on our street Matt.
