Vendor Feature: SO Handmade, Grok Enterprises, Kitta, and The Shayski Shop

You can cross a few more hard-to-buy for people off your shopping list! Messy kids (and the parentswho clean up after them)? Gotcha. Vegans with a sweet tooth? Covered. Cat lovers, old and young? Yessiree. Your quirky, quick-witted friend? Check. Meet four more Hullabaloo vendors who can help you out! 

SO Handmade, Woodstock, NY

Sarah uses her experience as a textile designer and sewing enthusiast to design and make stylish and practical products for homes and families. Designed, sewn, embellished, and screen-printed by Sarah herself, her designs are whimsical and stylish, and her products are SO innovative!  Her playmat? Genius! It’s got a hole in the center so all you have to do to clean up is gather the corners and hold it over the Lego container. Need to bring six Matchbox cars wherever you go for instant entertainment? Sarah’s got a rolling pouch with room for six cars and a racetrack on the back! She’s also got handmade fabric books, crayon rolls, beautiful tree skirts, and whimsical fabric ornaments too! With great gifts for so many people (of so many ages), we’re sure Sarah’s first Hullabaloo will be a successful one!

Grok Enterprises, New Paltz, NY

“Grok” is a transitive verb meaning “to understand profoundly and intuitively” that was originally used in the novel “Stranger in a Strange Land.” It’s an appropriate name for Peter and Heidi’s business—because they so completely understand the need for nutritious snacks that taste good. Knowing that celery sticks and carrots just don’t satisfy a sweet tooth, but that the sugary snacks we’re all too quick to grab aren’t doing us any nutritional favors, they created their low-calorie, no-sugar added, energy-boosting snacks from raw natural fruits and nuts, and other yummy superfood ingredients (like natural cacao). The result? Six flavors (Jalapeno Surprise, Chocwork Orange, Nutty Expressor, Bare Fruit, The Tropix, and Verry Bery) that taste a whole lot naughtier than they are!  Grok Bites are vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free too!  Hooked on Grok Bites and afraid you’ll run out? Order a Grok dozen or a Month of Grok Bites (one for each day!); they even offer 3-, 6- month subscriptions—an absolutely perfect gift for vegan, GF or health-conscious friends! This is Peter and Heidi’s first Hullabaloo, so stop by their table and welcome them! 

Kitta, Kingston, NY

Elizabeth’s super cute plush cats are the perfect “little somethings” for all the kids on your holiday gift list. Affordable AND adorable, they’re irresistible to kids and adults alike—need a gift for the “crazy cat lady” at the office? A Secret Santa gift for the kids’ class party? Done and done! There are so many sizes, patterns, and colors (both realistic and fantasy-cat markings—like clouds and camouflage) and you can even buy a kit and stuff your own!  Buy a whole family of Kittas and display them on your mantle during the holidays…or let the kids pick out one for their good behavior while you shop. Kittas are friendly, versatile critters that feel at home just about anywhere…Elizabeth is from right here in Kingston, but this is her first Hullabaloo so be sure to meet her and her “kittas”!

The Shayski Shop, Kingston, NY

By day, Shay is an animator and designer at the American Museum of Natural History. But in his free time, he designs fresh, funny graphics that he prints on super soft t-shirts. His designs are inspired by retro- and pop-culture, cool stuff, geeky things, favorite foods, and portmanteaus (combining two things—like, imagine Chewbacca and Fozzy Bear had a baby, and it’s Shayski’s Chewockawocka character).  Some of his shirts are part inside-joke (like the Murphy Mets mustache shirt only baseball fans will appreciate), part jabs at pop and mainstream culture (his “Kanye East” is incredibly modest), while there are others with wider appeal (what kind of person can’t appreciate a “hell yes” ice cream shirt?!?! Who wouldn’t laugh at the site of an “underwearwolf” in polka dotted panties?!?!) With both men’s and women’s sizes, you’re sure to find the perfect gift for someone with a quirky sense of humor or just an enthusiasm for ice cream. This is Shay’s first Hullabaloo, so please join us in welcoming him! 

Invitation/Sponsor Shout-Out: The Anchor Hosts Our Arty After Party

If you’re anything like us, after the first day of Hullabaloo, you’re going to be a little tired…but too happy and wired from all the excitement to go home!

With that in mind, we’ve got the perfect spot to hang out and wind down after a long and exciting day…The Anchor (744 Broadway, Kingston) is hosting a Hullabaloo After Party after we close on Saturday evening!  Hullabaloo continues on Sunday at 11 a.m., but it’s a long night before morning and we wanted to hang out with our vendors, sponsors, and friends a little longer! It’s even open to the public, so our shoppers are more than welcome to come and hang with their favorite Hullabaloo artists and makers! It’s the perfect place to relax and celebrate a successful first day of Hullabaloo with all your new friends!\

The Anchor will be running a Hullabaloo special for us from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday, with $1 off drafts, $4 well drinks, and a $6 appetizer menu. Their regular menu will be available as well.  They’ve got over 20 American craft brews on tap, awesome grass-fed burgers (with some tasty—and some unusual—toppings), incredible sandwiches and snacks, salads and vegetarian options, and more…all served in a laid back but vibrant cozy space with a lot of character.  Get a look at their menu here: http://theanchorkingston.com/menu/

They also have a great schedule of music, open mic nights, special events, and even burlesque shows lined up to keep you entertained (as well as well-fed) all through the winter.  Sometimes our official Hullabaloo musical genius, DJ Mr. Chips, spins old-school hip-hop there! Check it out here: http://theanchorkingston.com/events/ or like them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theanchorkingston to keep up on things.

No need to RSVP—just take the quick trip up Broadway from the Murphy Center after you wrap up. The Anchor is at the top of Broadway, on your right, just before that weird veer off toward Albany Avenue/the Thruway.  You can park across the street at the Probation Office (we promise it’s ok) but don’t forget to designate a driver if you plan on hanging out long…(or if you’re tempted to try ALL the great beers they have on tap)…and be sure to get a good night’s sleep to be ready for Hullabaloo Day 2!

We want to thank The Anchor for hosting us and hooking us up with these great specials! We’re looking forward to grabbing a burger and a pint and celebrating with you all! Hope to see you there!