At this point in the holiday season shopping game, the malls are absolutely terrible, stuff ordered off Amazon gets jacked from your doorstep, and you just remembered that one awesome record store closed down a few years ago.
Luckily, this weekend brings a Santa-sack full of independent and locally organized shopping experiences, led by T.T. The Bear’s Place’s annual Rockin Holiday Flea Market and Bloody Mary Bash on Sunday, which combines two of our favorite things: drinking and buying records, vintage clothes, and all sorts of other unique stuff not found at the Natick Collection.
“Aside from the carefully selected array of vendors, mostly this event is about community,” says organizer and T.T.’s bartender Cherryl Hanson-Bull (a.k.a. Helen A. Hanbasket-Bull). “It really has become a gathering of the local rock scene, a chance for everyone to come together near the holidays… have a little christmas “cheer” — Bloody Mary’s — and buy some cool stuff! It’s probably my favorite day of the year. It’s a ton of work, but I’m usually sad when it’s over.”
Among the local independent small business owners selling their handcrafted wares at T.T.’s this Sunday include Angela Zampell at Mode Merr, Shelley Chesson, and Beck Rustic of Bag Lunch Lip Balms. One year someone was selling an old BSA motorcycle. “Literally everyone finds something they love here and leaves happy!,” adds Hanson-Bull. “You can expect to watch me and Tara go through probably 30-plus gallons of our made-from-scratch secret recipe Bloody Mary mix. People can’t get enough! I’m covered in the stuff by the end of the day.”
In addition to the T.T.’s party, there’s also the 11th annual SoWa Holiday Market on Saturday and Sunday, Boston Hassle’s Black Market Xmas Saturday at the Cambridge Elks, ARCH Gallery’s Holiday Bizarre on Saturday, Wrong Brain Holidaze Bizarre Saturday in New Hampshire, Uniun Pop Up Holiday Market both Saturday and Sunday in Somerville, and a Somerville Holiday Art Fair at the Loft on Sunday.
There’s a lot going on, and in no way is this close to a comprehensive list. Check out some flyers below, and shop hard.
