The Women of the 400 Block

Rural Intelligence currently has an article by Jamie Larson about the unprecedented concentration of woman-owned businesses on the 400 block of Warren Street: "A Mercantile Matriarchy on a Main Street: The Women of Hudson's 400 Block."

On Saturday, December 14, from 7 to 9 p.m., seven of those businesses--Lillie K. Traders, TK Home and Garden, Kosa, ec.o.sys.tem, Harvey's Counter, Laloon, and Hudson Vintage--are having an open house--a Holiday Soiree. There will be refreshments and demonstrations and music and, of course, shopping! If you believe in making your shopping choices benefit others, you will rejoice to know that 10 percent of the profits from all sales during the Holiday Soiree will go to the Columbia-Greene Domestic Violence Program.

Among the special things happening during the Holiday Soiree are gift wrapping lessons offered all evening at TK Home and Garden by Greg Urra of Kate's Paperie in New York City. Learn to wrap your gifts in a manner as elegant and amazing as the gifts themselves. Harvey's Counter is stocked with the bounty from a recent treasure hunting trip to Buenos Aires--"colorful vintage handmade blankets, handwoven throws, traditional belts, unique one-off jewelry pieces, and artwork by a variety of young and exciting Argentinian artists." For the occasion, Hudson Vintage has a special collection from Brooke Astor's closet. Alluding to the altruistic aspect of the event, Dawn Vennekohl, proprietor of Hudson Vintage, said of Astor, "She was the most philanthropic person. It's like her goodwill just keeps going. I think she would love it."