Shopping Local, Inglewood Edition.
I was recently in Inglewood, one of my favourite neighbourhoods in Calgary. I love seeking out local shops and artisans in my community, and Inglewood offers an abundance. This past week I visited two of my favourites and wanted to share a bit about them.
Plant.
As you enter into this converted garage, you are greeted by the shop's friendly, head-scratch-loving dog. I'd be happy if this were the entire experience, but it does continue. In Plant, you are surrounded by a wide array of lush, gorgeous, you guessed it, plants. I've purchased my share of plants here, ranging in size and type. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. Even after bringing my plants home, I have reached out to have any questions or worries answered.
In addition to their abundance of greenery, Plant sells a variety of housewares such as candles, ceramics, and other knick-knacks. On my most recent visit, I picked up a candle and reed diffuser from P.F. Candle Co. Another favourite purchase was a little wooden Boston Terrier by T-Lab.
Finally, Plant also offers fun workshops, ranging from plant care to various flower and plant arrangement sessions. They've even expanded to a workshop space to accommodate these classes. I attended a workshop at Plant Plant and immediately loved the workshop space and storefront.
So, if you're looking to find your newest plant, add some unique trinkets or scents to your home or try out a new hands-on workshop, be sure to drop by this gem of a local shop. Find more information on their site.
The Next Page.
I have a soft spot for bookstores, which shouldn't come as too much of a shock. The Next Page is a cozy shop that sells both used and new books. Their floor-to-ceiling shelves are filled with various genres and give the feeling of endless reading possibilities. They always have tables through the shop displaying special features, often introducing customers to reads on current topics of interest.
The lower level of The Next Page is where you will find a large selection of used books. Another reason I love this place is that I can take my books to be traded in for store credit or cash. I always struggle with wanting to limit my accruement of books to slow the cluttering of my home, but I also love shopping for and purchasing books. The option of trading in lets me feel good about knowing my books get at minimum a second home, and I get to put that toward my next read!
While visiting this time, I was looking for "An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed" by Helene Tursten, as it is on my reading challenge list. I was directed to this title and its prequel. I purchased both, partly out of pure delight at how adorable they were.
Be sure to check out The Next Page if you're looking for a particular book or if you're just in the mood to peruse your reading possibilities.
Shopping local is always great for your community, and the pandemic has made it even more critical. Find ways to support local artisans and businesses in your area!
January 23, 2022