What About Having Black Friday on Penn Ave?

Every once in a while, I throw out an idea hoping someone else might consider following up on it.

Lots of college kids and others leave town for the holidays, but the diaspora floods into Pittsburgh to share a few days with family. I'm pretty sure the day after Thanksgiving is The Warhol Museum's busiest day.

Too bad for the city, we don't have a great, cool way to share some of the grass roots energy happening in places like Garfield with people who don't know about it. Pittsburgh has more going for it than Station Square, or a walk down Walnut or Carson Street, but often it's hard to show that off in a day or two.

The First Friday Unblurred is already a well known way to experience the alt galleries, stores and performance spaces that have popped up on Penn Ave. My guess is it wouldn't be a big leap to market a "Penn Ave Black Friday" as a night of indie art, craft and shopping.

Something for folks on Penn to think about.

Cash Mob movement taking off in Youngstown, hitting the Touch the Moon Candy Saloon

People all around are catching the Cash Mob trend, linking online and picking a time and place to meet and support a local store or series of stores.

Follow the Youngstown Cash Mob on Facebook

On Twitter @YoungstownCashM

See Defend Youngstown for a good recap of local news and events

Cleveland's Cash Mob Movement shows off it's Awesome DYI Culture

Yes, Cleveland is home to Jimmy Dimora, and a lot of just plainly misguided city leaders.

How, does it survive? Well, Cleveland also has a totally awesome, DYI, and local craft businesses culture. Born in Cleveland and spreading around the country is the cash mob movement, a grass roots way to connect, discover and support local shops.

From the Plain Dealer

An enthusiastic 'cash mob' gathered in front of The Grog Shop concert venue at Coventry Road and Euclid Heights Boulevard to, as organizer Andrew Samtoy said, help "get people back into the habit of supporting their local businesses."

After Samtoy announced the cash mob 'rules' - participants must spend $20 and meet three new people - the crowd of mostly 20 and 30-somethings made their way down the bustling Coventry strip to the night's target business; Big Fun Toy Store.

Owner Steve Presser warmly greeted the surge of new customers, as the mob quickly descended upon the store's seemingly endless supply of vintage memorabilia. Billed as offering "a shopping experience like no other", Big Fun's quirky stock of everything from Troll dolls and KISS refrigerator magnets to Dick Goddard greeting cards and 'Billy Bob'-style teeth produced plenty of smiling faces and a steady stream of purchases.

Pittsburgh Holiday Shopping Tips In Pop City and CBS Local

The other day, CBS Local posted some Pittsburgh area unique shopping ideas, which alone didn't seem long or interesting enough to pass along.

Now Pop City also has a nice list of ideas. Check out all the suggestions.

Pop City: Your all-local guide to great holiday shopping

CBS Local: Guide To Buying Last-Minute Local Gifts

Run Down Of Cleveland's Holiday Pop Up Shops In Freshwater

Freshwater Cleveland posted a big list of amazing looking pop up stores and holiday festivals to buy unique gifts around Cleveland.

A high percentage of these seem to be on the West Side. Ohio City, Gordon Square etc, but there are some in other places, Downtown and Midtown.

Once again, places like The 78th Street Studios and Tower Press buildings are the focus of energy.