Crafty Mart's Mom & Pop Shoppe 2015

5 Reasons You Need to be at Crafty Mart's Mom & Pop Shoppe
by Joanna Wilson

Akron's own Crafty Mart is known for their two annual shows--the holiday show just after Thanksgiving and the spring show, The Mom & Pop Shoppe.  This Saturday, April 25th is The Mom & Pop Shoppe--an event that expands this year to include 75 makers across three venues in downtown.  You may have noticed that we here at Akron Empire like to promote Crafty Mart--we do it every year.  That's because we think it's the funnest days of the year.  We also do it because both Brit and I organize it.  Let me try to convince you that Crafty Mart is the funnest day of the year with the following five reasons.

 (click on image to enlarge)

1.  Supporting local is important.
The impact of shopping local is HUGE.  Crafty Mart compiled some of the statistics that were gathered after the last November show and MBL Design made an infographic.  Read more about Crafty Mart's local financial impact HERE.

Crafty Mart Pop Up Market at Artwalk in April.

2.  Crafty Mart is not your grandma's craft show.
Do you still think a craft show means an old-fashioned church basement filled with moldy leftovers?  I don't mean to bad-mouth church basements but the contemporary local indie-maker and artisan scene is different than that.  It's not only much bigger than that but it's covered in tattoos and knows how to rock out to funky R&B classics (Thanks The Mighty Soul Night!)

3.  What's a party without food and drinks?
All three venues have amazing food and drinks to satisfy your appetite.  While shopping at Musica (51 E. Market St.), you can enjoy the delights of Urban Eats with their specialty wraps, paninis, pizzas, and gelato.  The bar inside Musica will also be open.  At the Akron Art Museum (1 S. High St.), their own iQ-Café will be open with wraps, soups, fresh baked goods, and locally brewed beer. 

And, at Summit Artspace (140 E. Market St.) on the third floor, everyone will find a pop-up café with food from Nuevo Modern Mexican, Stray Dog Cart, Three Sisters Momo, beer from Thirsty Dog, and pop from Norka Beverages.  We'll even have a signature cocktail called the Strawberry Fizzle--featuring Norka's strawberry/cherry soda pop, orange juice, and Watershed Distillery vodka.  You can't get more Akron-centric than that! (Although shopping ends at 5pm on Saturday, the Summit Artspace 3rd floor café will stay open until 6:30pm so everyone can stay and hangout to enjoy the food and drinks longer.)

4.  You can learn to make something for yourself.
Crafty Mart also is offering four Workshop classes where you can learn a valuable skill from a local maker.  This Saturday, you could learn to brew your own Kombucha, make weavings on a loom, build your own air plant terrarium, and concoct a sugar scrub.  Registrations are required.  Click HERE for more info and all the links to sign up.

Crafty Mart Pop Up Market at Artwalk in April.

5.  Crafty Mart is the party of the season.
Not only do you get to shop local and support small business artists and makers but there's a whole other side to it all.  The family-friendly event allows you to explore the three venues surrounded by funky music, eat and drink from local restaurants and beverage makers, and learn a new skill in a workshop.  So invite your sister, your partner, and your children to join us for a day filled with new friends and new opportunities.

Crafty Mart Pop Up Market at Artwalk in April.

Again, Crafty Mart is this Saturday, April 25th, from 10am to 5pm.  It is spread across three venues (Musica, Akron Art Museum, and Summit Artspace) all in downtown Akron.  For more information, see the wesbite: http://www.craftymart.org

For a complete list of vendors and their locations, click HERE.