By Kyla Skinner
April showers bring May flowers, though with all this rain we’ve already had, flowers will be blooming early, I bet! What’s a better way to welcome spring than by celebrating with our beautiful Farmers Market? Their seventh-year anniversary is Wednesday, April 3, from 3 to 6 p.m. Go buy yourself some flowers (you have my permission!) and support our local growers and small businesses. I love our little Farmers Market. There’s something about being able to relax in the huge fountain with a basket of strawberries and the gorgeous City Hall in the background. Remember when Farmers Market was in the Smart & Final parking lot? Much better now!
And moving on to more earthy goodness, it’s Earth Day. April 22 is a day that is acknowledged globally to learn about and acknowledge the importance of protecting our beautiful home. In honor of this, Charles Paddock Zoo is hosting a Party for the Planet on April 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. At the cost of normal zoo admission, you and your kiddos can experience hands-on interactive workshops, exhibits by environmentally conscious companies and earth-focused adventures for all ages. Say hi to the meerkats for me while you’re there.
It’s that time of year again for the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce’s annual Gala, which will honor the leaders in our community, including Business of the Year and Woman of Influence, which has already been announced as the well-deserving Wendy Lewis of ECHO. The Community Organization and Hispanic Business of the Year will also be honored at this event. I hear it’s going to be a Latin-themed party. You can check to see if tickets are still available to this always sold-out event at atascaderochamber.org.
Since I have this lovely platform, I’d like to give a shoutout to a few new businesses I’m excited to have downtown. I recently ventured out of my little corner shop on a sunny afternoon to check out some of them out. I started across Traffic Way at Dewy Rose Clothing, 5863 Traffic Way, a light-filled space full of new gorgeous clothing for a variety of sizes and ages, candles, accessories, and more. The owners had a successful business in Georgia and have brought their goodness to our downtown. I chatted with their son, Cody, who was running the shop, and I look forward to returning when I have time to try things on.
Next up, I wandered into Kelly Archer Interiors, 6195 El Camino, and was greeted with the intoxicating smell of coffee and comfortable and stylish home decor. Heidi Faber, a local rockstar mama who many of us know, is running the shop for the owners, and I picked out some French Roast whole coffee and some woven tea towels for a friend’s wedding as a gift. They offer interior design services as well as items ready for purchase in the shop.
On my walk back to my shop, I stopped into Golden State Goods, 5880 Traffic Way. Many of you remember the shop full of treasures by the same name years ago, where The Pottery is now. This is the same sign, un-earthed and revived — but with different owners. Amy runs the shop and has filled it with lovely vintage clothing, cards, gifts and just a cool vibe. Snagged a T-shirt for my husband and some pretty cloth napkins. I stopped into Rumor Goods, next door to grab a card for the aforementioned wedding gift and then hoofed it back to my shop before I missed any of you, spectacle wearers!
Happy Spring and get out there and enjoy the sunshine and our spec-tacular downtown!
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