Some of the Raffle Gifts Ready for Strollers at Today’s East End Stroll.

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 2,499)

The 8th Annual East End Shops Holiday Stroll 2015 is underway now – from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm.  It’s another amazingly mild December day to stroll among the unique shops of the East End of Portland and support local. small businesses while you do some holiday shopping for your family and friends.

Enjoy the sales, snacks and hot drinks on the stroll.  You may just meet Santa who will be strolling the East End neighborhood as well.  Joining the Stroll are food/drink businesses, shops and arts/gallerystudios in the area.  They include Arabia, 9 Commercial Street, Rosemont Market & Bakery, Circa Home and Vintage, Jen Burrall Designs, Urban Dwellings, Fraser Art Studio, and Portland Pottery at 118 Washington Avenue.  There are many others participating as well.

Tonya Kinzer, owner of Circa Home and Vintage, has been working to collect an impressive list of raffle items for those who are fortunate enough to win.  First, a contestant needs to visit the East End locations and answer the trivia questions listed on the back of a handout available at participating businesses. Drop your completed form off at Circa Home at 247B Congress Street.  You need not be present for the drawing. Gift certificates are from some favorite restaurants in the area: Hugo’s, Eventide, Honey Paw, Silly’s and Oxbow Blending & Bottling, 49 Washington Avenue. That’s a partial list.

Support your local businesses on the East End of Portland and enjoy this warmish weather at the same time.

The Stroll is sponsored by Circa Home and Vintage and Elsie Loschiavo of the Vitalius Real Estate Group.