Archives for November 2018

Thanksgiving has come and gone, we have fully entered the holiday season! Last weekend’s Shop Small Saturday was a great kickoff to holiday shopping, and even today as we are wrapping up writing this blog, soft snow is falling and it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Throughout Chaska, the season is coming alive. Our parks are being decorated, stores have been filled with gifts for giving, and it feels like the holidays are finally here! This weekend we’ll be celebrating our annual Hometown Holiday, but we’ll share more about that in a moment. First, let’s continue our journey through downtown…

As we’re wrapping up our holiday adventures here in downtown Chaska, we decided to stop into Carver Junk Company’s Chaska location. They had gifts galore, vintage and vintage-inspired decor, and a great collection of furniture to boot! From great signs for the house to holiday ornaments, pillowcases, casual clothing, handmade gifts, and more, Carver Junk has unique items for everyone on your list. Teacher gifts? Check. Something for your bestie? Check. A gift for a client? Check. And, if you feel like a little holiday DIY, check out one of their workshops and get introduced to chalk painting, calligraphy, stenciling, pallet art, and more! Carver Junk Company is open every Thursday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm, and Sunday 10 am – 4 pm. Join them as you shop local this holiday season… you’ll love them. We did!

– Visit Carver Junk Company, 206 N Chestnut
– facebook.com/CarverJunkCompany/

Our last stop on our holiday adventure was to Michael’s Cycles, Chaska’s own hometown bike shop. With vivid memories of the year I got a new bike for Christmas, exploring this store was a great reminder of how much biking has impacted my own life. When asked what three words they would use to describe the shop, the staff answered with this, “Fun, fun, fun.” Then, with a smile, they added the words family and friendly. All of these words were fitting of our experience there. Michael’s has bikes and gear for every rider, from novice to experienced, casual to competitive, with something for everyone in your family! As they shared, “People come in because we’re local. They come back because their experience exceeded their expectations.” Come on down this Saturday as they’re celebrating Global Fat Tire Day with two rides, one at 8:00 in the morning with eggs, sausage, and juice afterward, or another ride at 1:30 in the afternoon followed by samples from Chaska’s soon to open Schram Haus Brewery.

– Visit Michael’s Cycles, 108 N Chestnut St
– facebook.com/MichaelsCyclesChaskaMN/

It’s time for Hometown Holiday!

Join us this Saturday! Chaska City Square Park will come alive as we celebrate Hometown Holiday together from 1:00-5:00 in the afternoon. There will be horse drawn carriage rides around historic downtown Chaska, and Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the reindeer will be joining us for the perfect holiday photo. There will be a Creation Station to make some winter art, plenty of holiday music and caroling, a live Nativity, bonfires, and the highlight of the day, our tree lighting at 5:00! Plus our downtown shops, businesses, and restaurants will be open with special deals and bargains for shopping, eating and drinking. Kick off your holiday with us this weekend in downtown Chaska, and we’ll help make your season bright this year!

Happy Holidays to all from Downtown Chaska!

The temps are feeling more and more like Christmas. Thanksgiving is just a week away now, and we’ll be gathered shortly to celebrate all we’re grateful for. Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving special will be on soon, the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season.

As we’re thinking ahead toward the most wonderful time of the year, we’re exploring a bit more of all downtown Chaska has to offer. As we wandered through some of the first snowflakes, we came across Urban Patina, the home of authentically crafted home decor and gifts. Owners Crystal and Paul have thoroughly prepped the store for the holidays, filling every nook and cranny with everything from wool ornaments to mugs, candles, home decor, and custom handcrafted furniture. Our favorites are the Urban Patina Snowstorm and Woodsman soy candles! All of their gift options are snuggled into their location off of Chestnut Street, bustling with winter decor and Minnesota-made merchandise. With something for everyone on your list and every corner of your home, Urban Patina is sure to make decorating for the holidays festive and bright!

– Visit Urban Patina, 416 N Chestnut Street
– For hours and to learn more: https://www.facebook.com/UrbanPatina.UP/

Our next stop was Body Expressions, Chaska’s first stop for upscale consignment clothing and dancewear. We got to spend some time with owner Lisa Raser and she shared some of her favorite things about the store. “We’re an upscale women’s clothing consignment shop where you’ll find high-quality, name brand clothing, accessories, and dancewear all less than two years old.” The store is full of finds, with something amazing around every corner. What gets Lisa excited about coming to work each day? “Consignment shopping is fun and environmentally responsible! Every day I get to meet new customers, and every day I get to see new merchandise coming in. It’s always Christmas here, and our merchandise is always changing. If you see it and like it, grab it or it will be gone when you come back next time!”

– Visit Body Expressions, 102 W 5th St.
– For hours and to learn more: https://www.facebook.com/Body-Expressions-Consignment-Clothing-107767789254041/

Our last stop of the day was at Shop 501 & Company. The Snowvember weather has started to get everyone in the holiday spirit with all our local shops preparing for the holidays, and Shop 501 is no exception. If you’re looking for vintage holiday decor, unusual antiques, or gifts for friends and family, this is the spot. With a combined 11 vendors showcasing their best merchandise throughout the store, they will wow you at every turn and help make your home merry and bright. As we walked through the store, we were reminded of Christmas’s past – the tree at grandma’s house, opening up presents as kids, hot cocoa and sledding. The holiday spirit glows brightly here! Stop in and explore their beautiful pieces from yesteryear and original handmade accessories throughout the store.

– Visit Shop 501 & Company, 3235 Chaska Blvd.
– For hours and to learn more: https://www.facebook.com/shop501company/

Downtown Chaska definitely has the holiday spirit! We’ll be back in two weeks with some more downtown small businesses that we can support with our local holiday shopping. That most difficult person on your list? Their gift is here downtown! Just a quick reminder as well to mark your calendars to celebrate with us on December 1st for Hometown Holiday in City Square Park – you won’t want to miss it! See you there!

Soon enough, we’ll be sharing Thanksgiving dinners and waking up to falling snow. The holidays are upon us, and we’ll be getting together with friends and family for parties and celebrations. Whether you’re looking for the perfect host gift or something special to share with a loved one around the Christmas tree, downtown Chaska has the ideal gift for everyone on your list. We decided to explore the local retail scene a bit, and our journey began on Second Street…

The first store we stopped into was Birchwood & Pine. When we asked owner Rachel Zacharias what three words she would use to describe her store, she responded with, “Unique, accessible, and fun.” Walking through the store, her words rang true. Birchwood and Pine is a home decor and gift store filled with one-of-a-kind pieces, where you walk in and immediately feel at home. Rachel’s fifteen plus years in the interior design business shines, and she offers rare items from Canada and Central Europe throughout the shop. What’s the best part of her day? The ooh’s and aah’s she hears as people wander the store, and helping customers create their own version of unique. There’s something here for you… come find it!

– Visit Birchwood & Pine, 113 East 2nd St, Chaska, MN
– For hours and to learn more: www.facebook.com/birchwoodpine/

Our next stop was right across the street at Linda’s Cellar. An occasional store that is open a few weekends each month, Linda was in the process of preparing for the holidays when we walked in, and there is literally something for everyone in this store. Vintage is their niche, and from antiques to repurposed items, industrial to farm, with new gift items mixed in – the variety is fantastic and the prices are amazing. As an occasional shop with 9 vendors inside, things are always changing, and their inventory always feels new and fresh. Linda’s favorite thing about the store? “Our customers have become like friends and family, and I love Chaska. I grew up here, and I love the people!” Looking for that moment that makes you say “Omigosh!”? It’s in Linda’s Cellar!

– Linda’s Cellar, 112 East 2nd St, Chaska, MN
– For hours and to learn more: www.facebook.com/LindasCellar/

Our last stop was at Sixth & Elm. They were ready for the holidays as well, with everything from ornaments to Christmas signs and pillowcases. They bring texture to everything they do, ranging from birch to shiplap to twine. Looking for a custom sign for your home? They do that too, and love working with customers to create something perfect for your home, space, and vision! Sixth & Elm has all things Christmas ready to decorate your home today, helping you fill those blank spaces on your walls, your mantle, and bookshelves! Enjoy their Christmas Sneak Peek on Nov 2-3 from 10-5 and come find that perfect gift for family, friends, or for you!

– Sixth & Elm, 116 E Second Street, Chaska, MN
– For hours and to learn more: www.facebook.com/sixthandelmsimplyhandmade/

As you can already see, there are so many holiday shopping options in downtown Chaska. Keep an eye out for our next blog post in a couple of weeks where we share a few more of the fantastic places to find that perfect gift downtown! And in the meantime, mark your calendars for December 1st at noon, and save the date to join us in City Square Park for our Hometown Holiday celebration. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there with their reindeer, there will be carolers and bonfires, and we’ll light the City Square tree!