NOW this… by Brenda
NOW this… by Brenda
Last-minute gift ideas
If you’re looking to make a difference in your community this holiday season, step into any small business and #shoplocal. Even just a small percentage of your shopping budget, when shifted from big box store to the independent retailer, will help these local businesses to keep their “Open” signs facing out. And those local shop owners - they appreciate your business 100%.
Here in Ellicottville, we’re fortunate to have such an amazing array of shopping opportunities with a unique blend of products that you’ll be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Along with the #supportsmallbusiness movement, there are a number of community-minded fundraisers, so the idea of making a difference - well - it’s actually fairly easy.
For last minute gift giving ideas, check out the Holiday Marketplace, organized by our local chamber of commerce (@visitellicottville). We’re plugging some of our other top picks around town right here - all which support local businesses or causes. Here we go …
THE GIFT OF GIVING BACK
WILLYGOAT CALENDARS: Willow is one of the coolest dogs we know! And not just because she rides motorcycles and loves to play in the snow at Holiday Valley, but also because she’s helping to save other animals. As a rescue herself, Willow has made it her mission to support her fellow four-legged friends. Each year she launches a new “Adventures of WillyGoat” calendar, with all proceeds donated to Empire Animal Rescue Society (EARS). We have these calendars for sale here at the ellicottvilleNOW / PaNDaGOAT Media office, but if you’re hoping to snag one, you might want to do it soon. Only a few remain! For those down in the Jamestown area, you can get your paws on a WillyGoat calendar at The BioDome Project or at Sunshine Health & Wellness. Shipping is also available; just hit up @willygoat_adventures on IG.
IRISH CHRISTMAS: An annual fundraiser organized by the Rotary Club of Ellicottville and honoring the late Bob McCarthy, Irish Christmas is an evening of “Irish Magic” - pairing handcrafted furniture and other locally donated gifts with a decadent pie or dessert made by one of Ellicottville’s own. All proceeds go to Santa’s Workshop and the Santa Sheriff Program, making Christmas a little brighter for many local families. This year’s Irish Christmas auction will be hosted virtually on Friday, Dec. 17th. Turn the page for event details. If you miss it, you can still donate. Mail a check anytime, payable to Rotary Foundation, PO Box 101, Ellicottville, NY 14731.
STOCKING STUFFERS
LET’S GO BUFFALO: I’ve got a little girl who is absolutely infatuated with the Bills (whether they’re winning … or not winning), so when I stopped into Daff (@daffevl) and discovered the most adorable Buffalo-inspired merch, my debit card was easily persuaded to purchase what I know will be some of her favorite gifts come Christmas morning. Miniature pillow ornaments, earrings, and stickers in various prints - plaid, camo, zebra - plus headbands, scrunchies … “Go where the buffalo roam!” If you have a Bills fan on your gift giving list, you can easily check them off with a quick trip to Daff.
FOR THE GUYS: Don’t you just love when small businesses work together? Hi-Y (Hemp) Farm of Little Valley recently launched a new product called Saving Face Beard Balm, and even more recently, they’ve teamed up with Blue Collar Workwear (@bluecollarworkwear) to offer their beard balm in BCW’s Ellicottville and Olean locations. Inspired by the “do-it-your-own-way” spirit of the farm, this beard loving solution is packed with 2500mg of CBD goodness to support a healthy beard and skin. Its consistency will tame beards of all lengths, and its light scent is appealing to a wide demographic of men. Follow Hi-Y Farm on IG/FB (@hiyfarm) for more about this product and to learn all about Hi-Y Farm’s industrial hemp operations.
DINING PICKS TO KEEP YOU FUELED
CHICKEN WING BURRITO: Don’t forget to recharge the old battery during your #shoplocal adventure. Translation: Pause to enjoy some of the flavors of our town. eNOW menu picks: For the meat lover, Bike and Bean’s Buffalo Chicken Wing Burrito, available on Sundays, is definitely a crowd pleaser and the perfect pairing for Game Day. (Anything smothered in wing sauce is good in my book.)
“THE JACK”: For the non-meat eater, let’s “tac-o-bout” chef Joey’s taco of the week over at the Taqueria. The Jack is a delicious, 100% vegan option filled with shredded jackfruit and seared pineapple, topped with candied red Fresnos, guava BBQ sauce, cilantro and chili flakes. I have yet to experience this colorful creation, but it’s definitely on my “must try” list for this weekend. Taqueria’s new menu items drop this Friday. Keep tabs on their IG page (@ellicottvilletapbottle).
Want to know what we think of The Jack? Follow us on IG (@ellicottvilleNOW) and check our Story regularly. We’ll post up other good eats and #shoplocal product picks as well. #SupportSmallBusiness #HappyHolidays
Brenda Perks is the publisher/designer of ellicottvilleNOW and owner of DesignPerks, a graphic design company affiliated with the local media/marketing agency, PaNDaGOAT Media. You can reach Brenda at brenda@ellicottvillenow.com.
