Five Cool Places That Deserve Your Money Way More Than Walmart
Last November, incensed by stories of baseless human behavior displayed during the holiday shopping season, I published a quick guide highlighting some local retailers who not only have great stuff, but work hard to stay independent, local, and deserving of your business.
It’s late December, but here’s this year’s installation. Shop local. Stay cool.
Cotton Bureau
https://cottonbureau.com/ • @cottonbureau
From the same creative minds behind the late, great, and much-loved United Pixelworkers, Cotton Bureau has a good thing going: Artists submit a tee-shirt design, and if it’s awesome, it goes on the site. If it’s super-awesome and at least 12 people say, YES, I WANT THAT during a two-week period, they print it on a high-quality teeshirt, sweatshirt, or hoodie. Cotton Bureau is curated by talented, cool people, and I’m glad they call Pittsburgh home.
Update and special offer! New Cotton Bureau customers get 10% off their first purchase with this cool secret code: CBKATED10. Good thru 2/28/15!
strawberryluna
http://www.strawberryluna.com/ • @strawberryluna
Say you were at the Guided By Voices show at Mr. Smalls (I missed it, for shame) and admired the awesome tour poster. You were in the company of greatness, you see, as that GBV print was designed and hand-printed by Pittsburgh’s own strawberryluna. Run by the uber-talented (and ultra humble and nice) Allison and Craig, strawberryluna has created tour posters for bands the world over (just look at their work for Belle and Sebastian!) and beautiful prints fit for every room of the house. Treat yourself or a loved one to some of their art. You won’t regret it.
Pavement
http://pavementpittsburgh.com/ • @ShopPavement
Founded in 2006 by Alissa Martin, Pavement has been one of my favorite stores since Day 1. Smack-dab in Lawrenceville, Pavement started out primarily as a shoe store, then soon branched into dresses, tees, and outerwear. Pavement’s cozy space and eclectic collection (think Prairie Underground threads and wrought-iron Moby-Dick-inspired bookends) make it a great stop on any outing. Take it from me: Nothing looks better on you than supporting a local business.
Sound Cat Records
http://www.soundcatrecords.com/ • Sound Cat on FB
On Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield, in the space formerly occupied by Paul’s CDs, lives the city’s best source for new records and indie music. Different than a trip to Jerry’s, a trip to Sound Cat means that you probably will find what you want, and the experience is less thrift-store-roll-the-dice and more “Great! I was looking for Houses of the Holy on 180-gram vinyl!” Owned by Pittsburgh rock legend Karl Hendricks, Sound Cat is a gem and must-see for any music lover, even if you haven’t fired up your turntable (yet).
Anchor and Anvil Coffee Bar
http://anchoranvilcoffee.com/ • @AnchorAnvil
When I checked out Anchor and Anvil in Ben Avon, I was hooked. Andy’s the proprietor, and in addition to making really awesome coffee, he’s a super-nice guy. The space has a beautiful retro bar, plenty of tables and chairs, and even a few toys for when you stop in with the kids. Check out this Post-Gazette article about the history of the building, then grab a drink, a pound of coffee for home, and enjoy.
Although it’s pretty close to Christmas, these places are open year-round, and trust me, you don’t need a special holiday to treat yourself (or a friend) to any of their fine products.
Have a happy holiday season. 2015 will be cool. I promise.
