By Raymond Tyler
We all learned from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” that Christmas is not about buying stuff. Today I want to share the idea that when you buy “stuff” from local “stuff producers, everyone wins “Christmas.”
Okay, to be fair, Christmas is not a competition, although I am sure you can wager online how much money will be spent on ornaments, ugly sweaters and eggnog.
I believe that when you spend your hard-earned money with a local person, whether it’s for homemade cookies or specially handcrafted ornaments or a locally based comic book company with heroes and stories set in local cities, money increases in value.
The Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University understands the need and value of local artists to a community. On Dec. 2-3, The Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University curated a wonderful, two-day Holiday Market. The atmosphere was family friendly for couples, kids and a comfort pet or two. The most important and delightful part of shopping at the Holiday Market was meeting the producers and artists.
As a child I loved comic books. I can’t imagine how thrilled I would have been to meet the creators of comic books like the crew from Redonkulous Entertainment. The writers and artists were not just selling their comic book and clothing line, but they were available for questions and tips for their fans.
All along the halls off The Noyes Arts Garage were local vendors selling merchandise that is not available in chain stores such as handmade jewelry. So vendors won when people came out to meet them and learn about the product first hand, and when they made sales.
Gift buyers won by snatching up one-of-a-kind gifts for their one-of-a-kind loved ones. The community won because artists are an important part of any community. When you support a local artist directly, that money will go back into your community. While I love Marvel comics, it’s important to invest in and support Redonkulous because that’s who I would call if I needed someone for a career day in the arts.
Along with all the great vendors, the Holiday Market featured a gingerbread house contest. Atlantic City never looked so sweet. The twist with this contest is that each house (completely edible) had to be based on an Atlantic City building.
All of the entries I saw were sweet and beautiful buildings I knew, including a candy and cake Knife and Fork Inn so real I thought I saw Nucky Johnson walk out the gingerbread house and hail a cab. I was also impressed by the War Memorial made with peppermints.
Here’s a list of the winners of The Gingerbread Contest:
First Place – Sandra Carberry’s Knife and Fork Inn
Second Place – Catherine DiFlorio’s Knife and Fork Inn
Third Place – Lisa Edison’s Atlantic City’s City Hall Clock Tower
The People’s Choice Award – Sandra Carberry’s Knife and Fork Inn
You can see the gingerbread houses throughout the holiday season, including this Friday at 6 p.m. where I will be hosting the annual Noyes Arts Garage Holiday Party.
