Ah, the holidays. Family, friends, food, and waiting in interminable lines for electronics that look exactly like your neighbors’ (only bigger). The prospect of waking up early and clawing your way through crowded aisles on Black Friday may already be turning your stomach. If so, consider switching up your routine by shopping local on Friday instead. Who says you can’t do Small Business Saturday twice?
There are many possible paths you could take, but here is one way you could spend the day after Turkey Day, or the day after the day after Turkey Day, if you’re sticking with the convention of Small Business Saturday.
9 a.m. – Breakfast + Champaign Surplus
First of all, sleep in. Waking up before 8 a.m. during the holidays is worse than death. Once you’re ready to rumble, make your way over to downtown Champaign and enliven your spirits with many drams of caffeine and a pastry from Aroma or Pekara. I’m thinking something vaguely seasonal, like a cinnamon bun slathered in frosting or a flaky almond croissant.
Then make your way down Neil Street to Champaign Surplus, which will be offering deals on brands including Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, Sorel boots, and more. Spend some time browsing fleeces, coats, and clothing for your loved ones, and try on a few things for yourself. Perhaps even upgrade your gloves or hat while you’re there so you stay toasty warm during the hours ahead.
What to Get:
- Parkas
- Plaid shirts
- Wool socks
- Freakers (yes, freakers)
- The boots with the fur
Who to Shop for:
- Recent transplants to the Midwest
- Outdoorsy types
- Dads and grandpas
- Gear junkies
10 a.m. – Crossroads Corner Consignment
Head a bit further down Neil to Crossroads Corner Consignment, a vast wilderness of artwork, jewelry, and vintage everything. You’ll want to put in a good hour here to sift through all the items on offer, each of which would make a great one-of-a-kind gift. Black Friday specials will be announced on Thursday; check their Facebook page for more information.
What to Get:
- Unique jewelry
- Majestic furniture
- Christmas ornaments and festive décor
- Candles
- Conversation pieces
Who to Shop for:
- New homeowners
- Close friends
- Hipsters
11 a.m. – Jane Addams Book Shop
Now double back to downtown Champaign for an hour of contemplation in Jane Addams Bookstore (and perhaps a re-up on caffeine as you pass by the downtown coffee shops again). Jane Addams offers room upon room of used books, including rare and local books that you won’t find at big chains. Make sure to check out every level, and consider picking up some holiday cards as well.
What to Get:
- Cookbooks
- Science Fiction
- Charming children’s pop-up books
- Literature and poetry
- Erotica
Who to Shop for:
- Siblings
- Mentees
- Collegiate sorts
12 p.m. – Lunch + Ten Thousand Villages
Now might be a good time to grab a quick bite and a beer around Downtown Champaign at Big Grove or Seven Saints to energize yourself for the afternoon ahead. When you get a chance, though, poke your head into Ten Thousand Villages and pick up some fair trade gifts for your loved ones. They have tons of reasonably priced knickknacks, so this would be a good place to grab stocking stuffers as well.
What to Get:
- Tapestries
- Scarves
- Stationary
- More candles
- Small animal figurines
Who to Shop for:
- Frequent entertainers
- Moms and grandmas
- Domestic goddesses
1 p.m. – Boneyard Tea & Coffee or Walnut Street Tea Company
At this point, you’ve got options. You could head down a couple blocks to Walnut Street Tea Company, or you could make your way down to Chester Street to take a look at what Boneyard Coffee & Tea has to offer. Either way, your goal is to grab some unique roasts and teas so you can cross all the coworkers and acquaintances off your holiday shopping list in one fell swoop. If you head to Walnut Street, you can pick up some chocolates as well, and if you head to Boneyard, you can once again re-up on your own caffeine intake by sampling one of the brews they’ll have on offer.
What to Get:
- Blended roasts
- Herbal teas
- Delicious smelling stocking stuffers
- Premium chocolates (Walnut)
- A cup of coffee for the road (Boneyard)
Who to Shop for:
- Coworkers and acquaintances
- Narcoleptics
- The British
1:30 p.m. – Live Action Games
I’m no gamer, so I’m going out on a limb here, but—in the holiday spirit of putting the desires of friends and family before your own—I recommend that your next stop be Live Action Games on University. Their selection is vast and they are happy to explain the world of games to those of us who don’t like to do fun things with our spare time.
What to Get:
Games, I guess? I really don’t know. But here are some recent arrivals, all ready to be holiday shopped for:
Who to Shop for:
- Gamers
- Brothers
- Youths
At this point, you’re probably hankering to get to Urbana, but since you’re so close by, you should check out the new location of Dandelion and Exile. On Friday, there will be discounts in both stores and free food in the afternoon (plus live music starting at 6 p.m.), and on Saturday there will be more of the same, with live music starting at 3 p.m. Here’s more information about the event, and here’s more information about the new location of these two fine businesses.
What to Get:
- Vinyl
- Local music
- Vintage dresses
- Funky hats
- Carnivalesque accessories
Who to Shop for:
- Music snobs
- Sisters
- The stylish
3:30 p.m. – Fira
It might be tempting to sail right on past campustown, but as long as you’re passing through, why not stop at one of the clothing stores that have cropped up in this part of town in the last year or so? Fira, on Gregory, might be a good place to start, but Apricot Lane and Dear;72 would be good to check out as well.
What to Get:
- Dresses
- Blazers
- Jewelry
- Scarves
- Gift certificates
Who to Shop for:
- Ladyfolk
4:30 p.m. – Champaign Cycle or Neutral Cycle
You’ve finally made it to Urbana, and there are a couple possible directions you could go in. If it’s Saturday, you may want to stop by [co][lab] to check out Neutral Cycle, which is collaborating with Adjacency on a day of pet portraits and bike discounts. Or you may want to head over to Champaign Cycle, which is also offering some great discounts on Saturday, including at least 20% off in-stock bicycles. Either way, I recommend stopping by the recently opened Dancing Dog Eatery and Juicery for a freshly blended juice to keep your energy from flagging as you make your way through your last couple hours of shopping.
What to Get:
- Many, many bicycles
- Bike lights, bike helmets, bike pumps, bike drink holders, etc.
- Clothing (Champaign Cycle)
- Pet portraits (Neutral Cycle + Adjacency event)
Who to Shop for:
- Cyclists
- Environmentalists
- Spouses
5:30 p.m. – Art Mart
There’s still so much more to see and buy, but alas, at 5:30, you’ve reached a good stopping point at Art Mart in the Lincoln Square Mall. If you are one to let no stone go unturned when it comes to finding holiday gifts at local businesses, you may want to peruse the shelves briefly for a few last-minute items, especially edibles, toys, and, most importantly, chocolates (don’t forget to pick up some extra sweets for yourself). But it’s totally understandable if at this point your altruism is fading: your real goal here may instead be picking up some pasta for a quick dinner and a bottle of wine to slurp down as you rest your weary feet and go over your shopping list one more time. As you do, congratulate yourself on getting so much done before December even hits and for keeping it local.
What to Get:
- Fine wines
- Puzzles and stuffed animals
- Beauteous settings for the table
- Obscure kitchen tools
- So much chocolate, so much
Who to Shop for:
- Gourmets
- Tots
- Yourself