November 29th is Small Business Saturday!

Before you go off looking for deals, first understand that 

cheap goods are not always the best deal. 

But also, remember to ask yourself this: 

Which stores are most likely to go away if not enough people shop in them? 

Then, ask yourself if you're okay with that. 

Sat, March 1st... An Afternoon of Art: The Works of Judy Munro!

Please join me at The Loft Fine Art Gallery (on Harper in Clinton Township) 

from 1:00 - 4:00pm on Saturday, March 1st 

for An Afternoon of Art (see flyer below for details). 

There will be light refreshments,  good company, and a lot of beautiful artwork 

from a fabulously imaginative local painter! 

The Judy Munro exhibit, "Michigan Landscapes and Urban Impressions", 

will remain on display there through March 7th. 

Judy Munro was employed for many years as the Director of 
Creative Marketing Services for then-local Lionel Train in Chesterfield, MI. 

When her department was moved to New York in 2009, 
she faced a number of decisions. 

Ultimately, she returned to her creative roots 
and jumped headlong into the world of art. 

In her first year as a full-fledged artist she painted 250 works of art. 

The pieces are wondrously enjoyable and her 
compelling style of composition and vivid colors make 

her works very visually engaging. 
I strongly urge you to come by and check them out! 

Here is the flyer for the March 1st event: 

The Gift of Small and Local

Today's Positive Eye On Small & Local: 
What Positive ION is All About

   I posted this on my Positive ION Facebook page in response to being referred to as a "promoter". Being called a "promoter" does not offend me in any way... but it does compel me to clarify my position by giving you an idea of just what I am trying to do and why I'm doing it: 

   "Please permit me to quibble (in a friendly sort of way) with the term 'promoter', as it has been applied to me. I actually consider myself to be more of an advocate. 
I try to assist the inhabitants of the local community by becoming a guide in finding ways to keep the local economy viable... mostly by pointing out local choices as alternatives to major chains.
   "My services in this capacity are not for sale, and I do not ask for a cent for what I do. I am doing this for myself, because I like these little places.
   "To me, being a 'promoter' is to have a professional occupation, whereas I am rather like a kid with a big mouth beating a metal pot with a large spoon.
   "In short, I am sharing those things local which I find attractive, in hopes that others may be attracted, as well. It is my hope that, thereby, said things local are likely to stick around... which would mean that most of the money spent in these small places will likely stay in the local area, rather than wander off to more exotic and far-away places." 

   I believe that what I'm doing and what I'm writing about are very important. I blogged on that last April (you can read the full blog post here), shortly after Maryanne MacLeod of The Macomb Daily had approached me to suggest creating a blog which would showcase those things I had already been tweeting and posting about. Here is some of the reasoning:

   "I have had many a conversation with friends and former co-workers who wish they could leave the state, are planning on leaving the state, or have left the state... because of the local economy. 'There's no jobs. There's no money.' That's what they told me. 
   "So, about ten years ago, I started thinking about it. Where did the money go? Well, all I could do is take a look at where my money was going. It was really kind of obvious, but it didn't quite hit home until I heard my daughter tell a friend in a local store, 'No... don't get those peanuts. Get this kind... this company is in Michigan.' 
   "Amanda was reading the packaging for more than just nutrients and ingredients. Who knew?
   "Of course, we had always bought stuff from cool local places and took pride sending gifts to out-of-state friends and family that were unique to Michigan... but, at that point, we started taking a very serious look at what was manufactured where and which businesses were based here. 
   "A short time later, my dayshift counterpart posted a 'Buy Michigan Now' Grocery Guide in my work area. The cover proclaimed, 'If every Michigan household spent just $10 more of their weekly food budget on Michigan products we would put nearly $40 million a week into our local economy! The Buy Michigan Now Grocery Guide is designed to make that easier by building awareness of Michigan brands and products.'
   "I didn't bother to check the math. We realized, as many of our family, friends, and co-workers did, that we could best help our state, our county, our town, community, and neighborhood by keeping as much of our spending as local as possible."

   So, folks... I hope you find the things about which I write useful or helpful in some way. Please look over all the links I have in my sidebars to local gems and other blogs. 
   And if you should so happen to have a favorite small shop, service, eatery, or event that is local to you, I would sure like to know about it. 
   You may comment about that here, visit my Facebook page, tweet me @MyPositiveION, or eMail me at DrRaumzeit@gmail.com
   I'd love to hear from you!

My Christmas Shopping... Small & Local.

Last year, 99% of my Christmas shopping dollars were spent in businesses that are based, owned, and operated within ten miles of my house. I don't just talk about supporting small, local shops and eateries... I do it.

Help yourself by helping your neighborhood.

Shop small. Shop local. 
This announcement was paid for by absolutely no one.

Small Business Saturday! Shop Local and Shop Small!

Before you go off looking for deals, first understand that 

cheap goods are not always the best deal. 

But also, remember to ask yourself this: 

Which stores are most likely to go away if not enough people shop in them? 

Then, ask yourself if you're okay with that. 

The New Positive ION Facebook Page!

As if this blog, its Twitter presence, the Google+ circle, and Tout account, aren't enough!

Check out the new Positive ION facebook page (I welcome feedback, too)!

What's next... maybe a YouTube channel?

Hmmm...

2nd Annual New Street Urban Fair

    I love art and I love music. I also love Downtown Mount Clemens (I throw that in, in case you didn't already know that). What could be finer than all three of these elements combined?
   Well, if you missed the Made in Michigan Show, a month ago... and if you didn't make the Anton Art Fair, a week or so ago... then I have good news for you!
    Courtesy of Used-on-New Books and Weirdsville Records, in conjunction with the Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority, the 2013 New Street Urban Fair takes place this Saturday (June 15th), from 11am - 9pm.
    I know of at least four scheduled musical guests (with times subject to slight changes, according to Davey Taylor of Weirdsville Records) : Emily Rose at 1:30pm, RattleTrap at 2:30pm, Hatchetmen at 4:00pm, and The Slot Rods at 5:00pm.
    I am not privy to the identities of all the artists that will be having booth spaces along New Street, but I know that a friend of mine and her daughter will be selling their hand-crafted works, and that my good-friend and fellow artist, Bill Bryan will be bringing his fabulous skills to the party!
    Oh, yeah... I nearly forgot! I will also have a spot of my very own at this fair where I will have my artwork and woodwork available!
    Come on down, this Saturday, and have a good time. I know I will!

Brief Highlights

   This doesn't have anything to do with strolling around the shopping district, but I really would love to share how proud I felt when I watched my sister, Lucy, walk across the stage and collect her Associate's Degree in Applied Sciences from Macomb County Community College, last Friday.
   That's the kind of local phenomenon I love to spread around. Congrats, kid!

   Another highlight came on Mother's Day, when I could finally give my mom that uniquely beautiful glass flower that I was able to create with the help of  Philip Yamron and Robin Ochs at PYRO Art Glass, the weekend before. It turned out beautifully... and the smile on her face was really worth it. Being part of the creation process was so much more fulfilling than just going out and buying a knick-knack, since it is a one-of-a-kind gift with a personal touch.

   Tonight is Weirdsville Movie Night. The feature tonight will be Bubba Ho-Tep which, according to Davey Taylor's description should be just my kind of funny. If you've not experienced the Thursday night Weirdsville after-hours fun, you should get it in gear and come on down to 36 New Street in Downrown Mount Clemens at 8:00pm, tonight!

Art Attack

   You might notice that I've been adding links to the websites, Facebook pages, and Twitter accounts of various local people and places to the right-hand sidebar of the blog. Among them is PYRO Art Glass, which is located just north of the Mount Clemens Post Office.
    These guys create some of the most beautiful hand-blown glass works that I've ever had a chance to personally regard... and I've seen a lot of good blown glass!
    They also do their best to get everybody into the act. For instance, this afternoon I have a 3:00pm slot to participate in a special event. They describe it this way: "Saturday, May 4th our glass artists will help you, and/or your special person, make a one of a kind glass flower. The cost is $25 per person and we can accommodate 2 people every half hour.". I couldn't pass that up!
    At last report, there only two time slots left for this pre-Mother's Day flower pull... that means 4 spots for people: 2 at 2:30, and 2 at 7:00. Call the studio to reserve your spot: 586-954-4994!
    I am so lucky that these artists are only a couple miles from me!

   I'm sure there will be some cool arts and crafts at the 2nd Annual "Made in Michigan" Show which will be going on downtown in Mount Clemens Friday, May 10th and Saturday, May 11th, 2013.

   While I am on the subject of local artists... didja know that more than a few quality artists from our general neck of the woods will be having tables set up in the Artist's Alley, May 17th through May 19th, at the Motor City Comicon in Novi?
   I knew that my longtime friend and brother artist, Bill Bryan, would be there as a guest, and I was sure a few artists that belong to the Motor City Sketch Facebook Group were going to have tables (like Jay Fosgitt)... but beyond that, I wasn't sure. So, I struck up a conversation with Kelly O'Hara, who not only draws with the MCS group, but also happens to be a manager at the Rainyday Art Supply & Framing Company (another very cool small business that is not as close as I wish it was, being in Grosse Pointe Woods, as it is... but, as an artist myself, I have patronized the shop more than a few times). She was kind enough let me in on who she knew would be there from the group off the top of her head. The list includes Bruce Gerlach, Anne Garavaglia, Bill Pulkovski, Jason Westlake, and Alex Buechel. I'm sure there is going to be more local talent at the convention than we could come up with.
   You might want to check it out!

   In addition to all this, there is currently an exhibit entitled, "The Portrait" at the Anton Art Center in Mount Clemens, which runs until June 2nd. 
  

"Local" Means "Local to You"

   I live in Clinton Township, several hundred feet north of the Mount Clemens border. The closest concentrated small-business shopping district local to me is Downtown Mount Clemens.
   I can walk there.
   It is (almost literally) in my back yard. It is not so far from me that my visits must be infrequent due to time constraints or limitations on fuel economy. That's why I am able to get to know it so well... and how I manage to stumble over something new to me so delightfully often.
   What I am trying to do, is to get across the notion that what I have here, so close to me, is something that you, wherever you might be located, have near to you, too!
   It may well be that you are already familiar with the little places close by your home... but, if you are not, I think if you would just take the time to bop around and get to know the local shops and eateries in your area, you might find yourself pleasantly surprised!
   Know some little local place where you love to shop, eat, or just visit?
   I'd love to hear about it!