There are a lot of wonderful things about the holidays – but shopping sure as hell isn’t one! The malls are crowded and cramped and full of people who will punch you right in the face to steal a latest hot toy – it’s true, we’ve seen it!
For those Cincinnatians still nursing head-wounds from the last holiday season, though, this year was going to be different. This year was going to be … Bazaar.
Yelp’s Totally Bazaar was a mix of shopping, eating, drinking and holiday fun at The American Sign Museum, one of the city’s most hidden of hidden gems. The spot showcases beautiful neon signs from the 1800’s to today, and the bright glow gave a cheerful aura to the entire event!
There were 30 stores, 15 restaurants, alcohol and entertainment – something for everyone at the three hour party.
The food could not be topped as restaurants from all over the area mixed up sweet and savory dishes. There were free eats from local restaurants including Dojo Gelato, The Bistro, Mama Made It, Sweet Peace Bakery, Take the Cake, Roxy's, Yagoot, Mayberry, Taste of Belgium, Keystone Bar & Grill, and Chalk Food + Wine.
Some of the guests favorite eats? Ann L said it best: “Chalk's Butterscotch pudding made with real scotch. Take the Cake's ham sandwich. Roxy's hamburger, OMG. Mama Made It had the best Kettle Corn that I've ever had. The Bistro gave me a phyllo cupped duck – first time for duck – awesome.” Awesome indeed.
Guests then washed it all down with hot coffee from La Terza and Red Tree Gallery as well as cold beer from Goose Island, Kentucky Ale, Two Brothers, Thirsty Dog, Christian Moerlein and hard cider from Crispin!
For those in the mood to grove, Maize Music and The Avenue provided “upbeat music that was the perfect compliment to the brightly lit neon signs,” Maria G glowed. For the social media addicts, topic set up a beautiful neon giant screen for live tweeting, which can still be seen right here! Toys for Tots set up heartwarming donation boxes. Busy little elves at The Freestore Foodbank wrapped presents and Bazaar bought gifts for free and ShutterBooth kept everyone entertained and photogenic.
Even Santa himself made an appearance at the event, handing out Skyline surprises to all the good little yelpers!
It was indeed a Bazaar, so obviously people shopped! Literature lovers found a home at Ohio Book Store and Roebling Point Bookstore. They snagged rare vinyl from Shake It Records and got creative with Artists' Beads and Gracie Sparkles. People picked up funky and classic decorative peices from the Contemporary Arts Center, Park + Vine, MiCA 12/v, Anamedia, Borohio, and Mainly Art Vintage Home Furnishings and dressed up with The Mustard Seed Boutique, Trend Boutique, Chicken Lays An Egg, Alternative Motive, Corwyn Apparel, Designs by Behin, and Toku Baru . They bought children’s gifts at The Spotted Goose and Blue Manatee and picked the perfect pet present at Pet Wants, and perhaps a sweet treat for themselves at Chocolats Latour. They also had the chance to walk the swanky shops on Fairfield Avenue in Bellevue for everything else they could want or need.
If the event was to introduce people to local shopping they hadn’t heard of before and support them (and it was!), then it succeeded, Jackie P declared. “There were a bunch of vendors I had heard of but never stopped into and I can't wait to add them to my list of local places for gift buying.”
But don’t just take our word on the night’s awesomeness, you can read all the reviews right here. You can also check out the other awesome pics by photographers extraordinaire Anna Penny and Thadd Fiala on the Official Yelp Flickr page.
At the end of the night, Zach F summed it up best: “It's heart warming to see so many local business owners and artisans showcased in one location and fully legitimized in Cincinnati around the holiday season when so much focus during the holidays is commercial in nature.”
Not this year my friend, not this year.
Cincinnati Community Manager
