Photography & Words by Marissa Oswald

While most shoppers were lining chilly parking lots in front of department stores and Best Buys this Friday, I took my day off to sleep in. But by afternoon, I wandered over to the Arts Garage on Ridge Ave. to check out the Private Label Black Friday Event.

The event brought independent designers and artists together to support local businesses at Black Friday prices. What was even more unique was that everyone that attended, shoppers and vendors alike, were encouraged to promote their brands and images.

But with the DJs, live entertainment and food and drink specials that ran until 2 a.m., you wouldn’t have known networking was going down. The kitchen cooked up soul food favorites like crabfish sandwiches and mac and cheese.

The Arts Garage is a live entertainment and nightlife venue that hosts everything from art installations and book signings to theatrical shows and after parties. I recommend checking out their assortment of daytime cultural and artistic events as well as nightly DJ-hosted parties. A very special venue to Philadelphia once again held a positive, unique event that I’m crossing my fingers to become an annual event.

 Photography & Words by Marissa Oswald