This holiday season there are so many reasons not to go to the mall. With all the wonderful, unique shops we have on Main Street, and all the unique locally made creations available to Cape Ann residents and lovers, there is no reason to go across the bridge (unless you’re in Essex or Manchester in which case you have to cross the bridge to get here). Some great, affordable holiday gift ideas include: Joey C.’s This is Gloucester DVD for $20 (which you can order through the blog here https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/order-a-gmg-dvd/); my new complete collection 2012 Dogtown and Babson Boulders calendar ($15), Gloucester’s Finest Kind Calendar (now $15 for the holidays) and Did You Know? Book (now $10 for the holidays), which you can order through my website at www.khanstudiointernational.com or buy at Dogtown Book Shop; a great, unique collection of creative gifts by local artisans at Presents; an incredible collection of beautiful original art, photography, jewelry, pottery, ornaments, cards, calendars and more at the Rocky Neck Art Colony Winter Show at 130 Main Street; beautiful contemporary handmade glass beads and jewelry by Beth Williams, 17 Pleasant Street; wonderful vintage photos and artwork at Fred Bodin Historic Photo; Toodeloos for the kids; Island Art & Hobby for your artsy and crafty family and friends, and so much more, including a plethora of great holiday fairs. Save gas and yourself from the stress of crazy holiday shopping mobs and traffic at the mall, support local Gloucester businesses and artists, enjoy the holidays and shop locally.
E.J. Lefavour
Good Morning Gloucester 
I love shopping local, nice people, some merchants will wrap for you, walking outside, great gifts and taking control of our economy.. Shop, eat, bank local..
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Smart girl, and sweet and a great photographer too!
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Love your title on this one, EJ!
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Thanks Lois. I put malls in the same category as gambling casinos. They are an adventure to go to once or twice, but they are designed to blind you from reality and suck the soul (and money) from you.
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Thanks for the mention, EJ… I am going to be spending what little time I have this time of year to shop right here on Cape Ann and support my community as it has supported me over the years! Downtown Gloucester has our amazing gift certificate extravaganza happening again so come down, shop local and be in the drawing for the more than 40 certificates that will go to one lucky shopper on Dec 10th! We are so lucky to have such a variety of choices to suit every person on our gift lists! Remember – (even AmEx is promoting Small Business Saturday!) – Shop Local!!
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Awesome advice EJ! This is one of the many reasons we moved to Gloucester. I am going to attempt to do as much of my Christmas shopping as possible right here this year. There are so many great shops and artists and you can’t find anything unique at the Mall!
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I agree and wish the malls would go away! For what it’s worth, we did our Christmas shopping in downtown Gloucester in October, finding great hand-knits, pottery, clothing, jewelry, even tea and local books that we know aren’t available out here. I loved the attitude of the merchants who expressed “pride in product” and took extra time to tell me about their sources. Since I feel obligated to shop locally in my own community as well, I guess I’ll do it all over again!
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