Holiday Shopping: Chronicle Advertisers

A shout-out to local businesses that support our enterprise

We are extremely grateful to the people who advertise with The Chronicle – they are the reason we’re able to do what we do. We hope our readers take note of them, too, especially if you’re a subscriber to our RSS feeds and don’t get to see their ads on our site. You can find our complete list of advertisers here.

Some of them – the Washtenaw Drain Commission, for example, or the Ann Arbor Public Schools – aren’t in the business of selling gifts in the traditional sense. But many are, and we’d encourage you to consider spending some of your holiday dollars in their shops. To that end, here’s a quick roundup of some of the things you’ll find at these local businesses.

Oliebollen: This Ann Arbor business sells its funky, colorful children’s clothing, toys, books, furniture and more online at Oliebollen.com. But on Saturday, they’re opening up their warehouse for a sale – a rare opportunity for local shoppers to browse their wares in person, with deals of up to 80% off. The sale runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 101 Parkland Plaza, off of Jackson Road on the west side of Ann Arbor (in Scio Township, actually). Though you can use your credit card when ordering online, on Saturday they’ll be accepting only checks or cash, so come prepared.

Sunday Artisan Market: From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays, you’ll find a wide range of local artists and artisans selling everything from sweaters, hats and other clothing to jewelry, artwork, handmade baskets, and dozens of other items – check here for more details about the people their work. The market, located in the Farmers Market area in Kerrytown, will only be open through Dec. 21, so you’ve got two more Sundays to take advantage of the eclectic mix of local vendors there. After a winter hiatus, the market will resume in April.

Hazen Schumacher: Known for his popular NPR radio show, “Jazz Revisited,” Hazen Schumacher has written a book with John Stevens called “A Golden Age of Jazz Revisited: 1939-1942″ (read an excerpt of it here). The book includes two CDs with more than 50 recordings of the jazz pieces that Schumacher and Stevens review. It’s for sale online, and on Sunday, Schumacher will be at the Ann Arbor District Library’s downtown building to talk about and play about his favorites – that event runs from 2-3:30 p.m.

Middle Earth: An anchor in the South University district, Middle Earth’s wares reflect its motto: “Harming only the humorless since 1967.” From “holy” water bottles to wasabi gumballs, you’ll find shelves lined with quirky, unique items that you won’t see anywhere else in town. That includes some Ann Arbor T-shirts and totes designed in-house and printed locally at Underground Printing, as well as greeting cards, magnets and pins designed by the store manager, Hope Meadows. The shop is located at 1209 S. University Ave.

Shaman Drum: Karl Pohrt has owned Shaman Drum Bookshop for 28 years, and just this year started transforming it into a nonprofit entity, called the Great Lakes Literary Arts Center. In addition to carrying a large selection of books and magazines, the shop at 311-315 S. State St. regularly hosts author readings, roundtables and other events – many times with local authors. Right now, you can get 20% off of a selection of “staff favorite” books – check out the details here.

State Street Area Association: The shopping district along the State and Liberty corridor is home to many locally owned businesses, from Bivouac, a sporting gear and outdoor wear store, to Van Boven Shoes in Nickels Arcade and Van Boven Menswear around the corner on State. The association’s website provides a list of these shops, with links to their websites. And while you’re online, check out the collection of videos that Bob Dascola has put together showcasing several of the businesses in that area.

Pot & Box: Lisa Waud sells fresh flowers – including Fair Trade roses – potted plants and other items. You’ll find Pot & Box at local farmers markets in the summer, and just recently she set up shop in a nook at Everyday Wines in the Kerrytown Market & Shops. And honestly, you never know where she’ll turn up – The Chronicle ran into her at the annual dinner for Slow Food Huron Valley earlier this week. She and other local vendors were there to highlight their products.

RoosRoast: John Roos roasts coffee and sells it in a variety of ways, including the Farmer’s Market and online. On the shelf you can find it at Sparrow’s Market in Kerrytown. The label on every bag of beans is printed by hand using a block designed and cut by John himself. Current designs include one with “To: _____ From: _____”.