BBAC offers a first look at annual Holiday Shop

BIRMINGHAM — Local restaurants and artists are coming together once again for the 19th year of the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center’s “Shop and Champagne.” Due to the pandemic, this event has been on hiatus for the last two years.

On Nov. 30, ticket buyers will be welcomed into the galleries of the BBAC to be the first to shop in this year’s Holiday Shop. In addition to shopping, guests will also be presented with a strolling dinner and lots of champagne.

A number of local restaurants will be providing small plates as a part of the event’s strolling dinner. To name a few, Cafe ML, Union Joints and Hazel’s will be participating.

Hazel’s, a Birmingham seafood restaurant, has previously participated in Shop and Champagne.

They will be bringing one of their popular soups for guests to taste. Hazel’s owner Beth Hussey said they chose to serve soup because it seems to be an easy thing for guests to grab and take a sip of while they are walking around.

Hussey said she and her business partner and chef, Emmele Herrold, are big supporters of the arts.

“We try to help support things like this as much as we can in the community,” Hussey said.

This year, around 150-200 artists participated in the Holiday Shop, providing a wide range of artisan goods, such as jewelry, clothing, ceramics, children’s items and much more.

The BBAC’s Holiday Shop is a unique way to buy one-of-a-kind gifts for friends and family.

“It is a great opportunity to buy something unique and artisan-made,” President and CEO of the BBAC Annie VanGelderen said. “You won’t be gift-giving a duplicate item anywhere, because these are all artisan-made and not manufactured items. It also helps support the artisan community.”

For those who can’t make it to the Shop and Champagne event but still want to check out the Holiday Shop, it will be open to the public 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and noon-4 p.m. Sundays Dec. 1-20.

“This is a great way to shop in a great environment and support the artisans here, who also had a rough couple of years, while supporting the Art Center,” VanGelderen said.

The regular ticket price for Shop and Champagne is $85, which includes entry to the event and 10% off items in the shop. Patron-level tickets cost $150 apiece, and ticket buyers go home with a special little gift bag at the end of the evening. Proceeds will go towards supporting the BBAC’s ArtAccess, educational programs and its working artists. More information on this event can be found at bbartcenter.org.