Turkey, cider and relocations

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! It’s always been my favorite holiday, as it’s traditionally a time to be with family and stuff our faces. As the years go by, traditions change. This year will be my first not celebrating with family—but I’ll be with friends, and they know good food, so all’s well.

The other thing I’ve always loved about Thanksgiving is the fact that it’s about gratitude, a time to reflect on all of the good people and things in our lives. What irks me is the newish trend of stores opening on Thanksgiving with outlandish sales, forcing employees to work so greedy consumers can flock to their doors instead of staying home and appreciating what they already have.

As has become my annual tradition the past few years, then, I want to give a shout out to the national retailers that have bucked that trend and decided to keep their doors shut till Black Friday: Barnes & Noble, Costco, Guitar Center, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot, Joann Stores, Lowe’s, Petco, PetSmart, Pier 1 Imports, Staples, TJ Maxx and Trader Joe’s. These, at least, are the ones listed by USA Today. I’d bet the majority of mom-and-pop shops stay closed, too.

Stellar cider A relative newbie on the scene, Cellar Door Cider is already knocking it out of the park. Owner Bryan Shaw was recently awarded a gold medal at the U.S. Open Cider Competition for his Grasshopper hopped cider. It also got a judge’s award for most creative name. Congrats! The tasting room is open Saturdays 2-6 p.m. at 11 Commerce Court, Ste. 2.

New digs Nor Cal Brewing Co. is making a move. I’d been wondering what was going on over at the old Winchester Goose space at Eighth and Broadway ever since I got word that The Bank Club had changed course and was looking for a different location. Turns out, Nor Cal Brewing is moving its taproom there. I look forward to checking out the next incarnation.

New ’Do For those who’ve come to enjoy the ambiance and expertise of Cool Kidz Cuts, do not fear—the popular hair salon has not closed. Owner Tammie Harvey tells me she was planning on shuttering the place due to high overhead, but five days before her planned closing date she found a perfect spot to relocate. Look for her and her crew—they specialize in kids’ cuts, but also work with adults—at the newly named Taming Tangles at 1360 Longfellow. Call 897-0123 for an appointment.

More style I was walking downtown the other day and spied activity going on inside of the space underneath Crush. Curious, I popped in and came upon the lovely ladies from Envee Hair Studio & Spa cutting away. Turns out their salon on Second Street was damaged during the same storm that took out Woodstock’s Pizza (which has reopened, by the way, while their new space on Main Street is being fixed up). While it’s being repaired, they’re enjoying the picture windows looking out onto Broadway.