Please keep shopping your local small businesses

In all the madness of the past week, there have been moments of sheer goodness, of people helping people, of heroism and of beauty and inspiration.  Italians are singing the national anthem from their balconies.  The Rotterdam Philharmonic posted a virtual concert of Beethoven's Ninth which is just joyful to watch. The health workers are putting their lives on the line.  

The grocery stores and suppliers are working triple overtime to keep shelves stocked and the goods coming in (toilet paper, anyone?). Walmart is hiring 150,000 people for their stores and warehouses.  That sounds like really good news to me.

In our tiny corner of the world here in Atlanta, the hardest part has been watching our friends and fellow small business owners shut their doors.  We're all worried about our employees, paying rent, paying bills and surviving when there's simply no business.  Thank goodness for e-commerce, virtual interaction and curbside service because that may be the only way our businesses will survive.

So, we're using this blog for a shout-out to our friends and neighbors out there. If you are pent up, bored and have the need to shop, please check out these retailers, restaurants and other services.  And thank you, thank you, thank you! Every sale and every penny will help small businesses right now (and here's a link to our little shopping center full of small businesses that we don't ever want to live without, including yours truly.)

Want something to fluff the house or maybe a small gift to send to a dear one who's far away? Check out these great Atlanta home furnishings stores and gift boutiques:   Erica Reade, Gramercy, BD Jeffries, Coton Colors and Dixon Rye.

Even a new top or summer dress will boost spirits these days (you can always wear them at home or to your Zoom meeting) so shop here online: Range Boutique, Ann Mashburn - and for the guys, don't forget Miller Brothers.

It's been hard seeing our favorite restaurants shut down but at least we can order online for a curbside grab and go.  We're craving Tex Mex, so we'll be clicking on Superica tonight.  We had fancy dinner plans at one of my favorite spots next Saturday night so instead we'll be getting take out from the Lobster Bar.  I think I'll set the table nicely and even do some fancy napkin folding.  Lucy's Market (our old neighbor back in the day) has the best prepared take out yummies. Soups and salads are best from Souper Jenny although the Huff'ingtons would probably like a shoutout for Jinya's ramen.  And we're eternally grateful for our lovely new neighbor, Brack's Kitchen.  Brack and his team are just the nicest people and the restaurant serves fresher than fresh bowls, salads and soups.

Who are your favorite local businesses? Leave us a comment so we can get a shout out to them.

Let's all stand together and support one another as best we can - and flatten that  curve while we're at it.

And just to sum it all up, this popped up on my Instagram today: 

I'm not sure who posted it so if you know, please tell us so we can give credit. What a great photo!

 Ta ta, everyone, and be well.