KLUSMIRE: A COZY SoLi CHRISTMAS
Christmas is supposed to be happy, right?
Ho, ho, ho. Tidings of great joy. Merry St. Nick. A holly jolly Christmas. Toss in happy Hanukkah and happy holidays and it’s a veritable mush-fest of giggles and smiles.
In an effort to put some fun back in the season, a cluster of businesses on the south side of Line Street in Bishop is tossing a bit of a party called “A Cozy Christmas, SoLi Style,” on Sunday, Dec. 22 from 3 to 8 p.m.
And what is a “SoLi” you ask. It’s a clever little name tag for the downtown businesses in the “SOuth of LIne District. Get it? Good. You deserve some hot chocolate.
The evening will include more than last-minute shopping (ahem, savvy Christmas shoppers always wait to shop until a few days before Christmas to minimize the commercialized frenzy/ freak out/stress of the shopping season). There will be “yummy holiday treats and drinks” offered by participating businesses. There will also be deals to reward the savvy procrastinators and the, “we forgot to get Aunt Bertha a present” folks making a final present push. You want to dress up and wear goofy stuff or your pajamas out in public? Here’s your chance.
*That or you already attend middle school.
Maybe more important, according to organizers, is the evening will give folks a chance to roam around and enjoy a casual and, yes, fun night on the town. The Cozy Christmas could be considered a relaxing little community party celebrating making it through one more Christmas/Hanukkah season with a smile.
This is the first year for the Cozy Christmas effort, but if it’s deemed a success, it could join the Bishop Christmas lineup.
However, organizers recognize that it’s hard to sustain a holiday tradition. At one time, downtown hosted a Night of Lights that was lit with flaming fire barrels on Main Street’s sidewalks (yes, children, there was a time when no one batted an eye at the prospect of walking past blazing, open fires on the sidewalk in order to get a deal on socks and books.) The Chocolate Art Walk let people stroll around to the downtown’s many “arty” businesses, which was a pretty loose definition, and be served chocolate. Over time those traditions faded away, despite the presence of fire and chocolate, which remains an unsolved mystery.
The annual Christmas Parade is still going strong, but it leads people north to the city park for the big Christmas Tree Lighting and Santa festivities, leaving the SoLi folks sort of abandoned.
So on Dec. 22, SoLi will be in the spotlight.
Participating businesses so far include:
Spellbinder Books, the erstwhile anchor of the district for 50 years, will be offering a discount on books and gifts to anyone appearing in “silly holiday garb.”
The Pupfish Café will provide a musical interlude by hosting a record player party where people can bring in their records to share. Dancing may break out.
Next door, Mammoth Gear Exchange will be open late, and upstairs there will be a chance to roam around in two fairly new businesses. Magick Nature recently moved into a spot in the Root Down Community Hub, which also hosts a number of other businesses. On Sunday, Magick Nature will highlight how to make simmer pots and offer Tarot card readings. Oh, and pajamas, with or without a holiday theme, are encouraged.
Mountain Rambler Brewery, which just celebrated its 10-year anniversary, will also be open for food and drink.
The evening will be a coming out party of sorts for Crearee (formerly Mercado Mexico) which recently reopened after being completely and stylishly remodeled. Next store, the C5 Community Art Studio will be offering kids a free “surprise gift” for visiting. The new, eye-popping Aspen tree mural on the west side of the studio is complete and worth a good long look.
Speaking of looking good, Luxe Salon will be offering steep discounts on select hair care lines
Jon Klusmire of Bishop is taking comfort in his ability to buy gift certificates for the always forgotten Aunt Bertha.
