Don’t know Little Amps? Check out their website to learn just why they are Harrisburg’s premier locale for awesome coffee, fresh treats, and rocking tunes. Aaron Carlson, owner of Little Amps, says that, with their coffees having sold previously at the Garden Fresh Market and Deli and the City House, the HoPo isn’t Little Amps first foray into wholesaling. Still, they’re excited to see what comes about from teaming up with Midtown’s favorite craft consignment shop.

What are you waiting for? Why are you still reading this? Go get some coffee!

On a closing note: Please be sure to stop in to Little Amps Coffee Roasters at 1836 Green Street. Order the cortado. Trust me on this.

Dear Friends of the HoPo:
I started this post with the word “metamorphosis” as it is fitting to what is going on at The HodgePodgery.  This year has brought big changes to the company. We started this year out a bit puzzled that holiday sales were not anywhere near our prediction according to the year and months before. We continued to watch in dismay as sales decreased, while  the foot traffic and fans continue to increase. Regardless we moved forward with our growth plans and kept trying to change the tide. Then came Artsfest 2011.  High hopes turned into crushing disappointment when our sales this year were HALF of what we we had in 2010. In commiserating with other retailers and handmade shop owners, we realize we are not alone in this situation.  We watch helplessly as small independent businesses, unable to make ends meet, close their doors. The economy is such that people have not been spending like they had and it has affected us all in many ways.

Believe it or not, last year at this time we were already holding our own as a business and could make our overhead and progressed accordingly. Always the optimist, we increased advertising and business memberships.  As a company we have been continually looking at how to keep on keeping on.   We are working on a kick-butt online shop, and are now turning our focus to classes, shows and markets where we go TO the people. We are preparing for a true HoPo RoadShow.

Now for the sad part. As of October 1st, we will be closing the storefront here in Midtown Harrisburg. Yes, I know.  It breaks our hearts, also. We’ve made so many friends and love our neighborhood, but in order for The HodgePodgery as a business to go on we have to tighten our belts and the biggest expense we have is the overhead to keep the shop running. As awesome as it is, a brick and mortar shop can’t survive on love and fans. It needs cold hard cash to pay the bills.

Remember that word, metamorphosis? Even tho we are closing the physical location, like a butterfly, we are breaking out of our cocoon and GOING MOBILE!  We will set up at fairs, markets, and shows. We are available for classes. We will do private sales and fundraisers.  You will finally be able to shop ONLINE! Please, don’t despair…we aren’t dead, we’re just evolving as something new!

Keep an eye on the website as we add dates and places to our calendar. We plan to frequent area farmers’ markets and special events as well as craft shows.  Our craft show schedule at the moment involves New Cumberland’s Apple Festival Sept 24th, Willow Valley’s Fall Fest Oct 8th and the PA Gift Show at the Farm Show Building Nov 30-Dec4th.

Get in touch for classes, private shows and special events….and get to the shop NOW before everything is packed up and/or gone!

As a very important side note: I do hope that you understand the importance of supporting small business. It is a struggle everyday to keep the bills paid. When you walk through your neighborhood, regularly spend money in the mom and pop shops. Become a true customer. If you don’t spend money in your neighborhood shops, you won’t have neighborhood shops. It is just that simple.
Peace, Love and above all Karma.
~~~Dawn, Jessica, Tara and the HoPo gang

You can start your day in Harrisburg as early as 10 am with the very first monthly FREE Coffee Cupping (read as “mmmm coffee tasting!!”) then stroll upstairs to the Yellow Wall Gallery exhibiting  Matthew Murray’s “Abandoned America” within the incredible used book store and coffee shop The Midtown Scholar.

While you’re right there, check out JM’s Thrift n Vintage and the other shops in the next few blocks, or head across the street to the Broad St Market .

If you didn’t already gorge yourself at market, walk two blocks North to Breads n Spreads for a great lunch or seek out one of our other fabulous indie eateries (for reference, Gallery Blu is several blocks north on the same side of the street)

You can head south to do some shopping here in Midtown (Stopping at the HoPo is a no brainer of course)  then pop in to Café di Luna to warm up with more Coffee, Tea or Hot Chocolate (one can never have enough hot beverages on a cold January Day

Toward late afternoon and evening you’ll be geared up and ready to check out several of our participating galleries’ special events for the first ever 3^rdin the Burg:

POSSIBLE ITINERARY FROM THE HOPO:

Head SOUTH down 3^rd St a few blocks to Susan Schreckengaust’s Arts at 510for mixed media paintings by Susan  Gottleib and Music by 510 Express from 5:10 (of course!) til 7:10. Walk toward the river to 308 N 2^nd St to enjoy wine, music and hors d’oeuvres at Sprama Design’s Sprama Gallery, a collection of music and theater inspired art. Open til 9p. About a block down from there is The ArtHouse Lounge at 217 N 2nd, tucked among the bustling happy hour and nightlife of that which is Harrisburg’s Downtown for”The Best of the West by Piper” 6-9p. Still further south at 21 N Front St is the Art Association of Harrisburg showing “Figuratively Speaking” works with the human form in mind, with music by Hal and Felicity Fox from 5-8. There are scads of indie eateries and pubs open late into the night.

OR FROM THE HoPo:

Head NORTH on 3^rd St. If you missed the 10am coffee cupping you can still visit the Midtown Scholar’s Yellow Wall Gallery, then cross the street and keep heading North up 3rd to take in the Magnificent Minds Project by artists dealing with mental illness at  Christina Heintzelman-Jones’  community minded Gallery Blu at 1633 N 3^rd featuring Music by Jonathan Frazier from 7-9 (you may want to stop at Breads n Spreads for some soup or Vietnamese Garden for some pho to warm yourselves along the way!)  Come back to The HodgePodgery where you can watch a class in progress as Jessica teaches our own special “Charm Class” from 6:30-8:30 offering the Close to Your Heart Charm.  All Close to Your Heart products will be 15% off that day!Finally, you may end your evening at HMAC’s Stage on Herr with an extended Happy Hour from 7-9 and then my Rural Radio presenting A.D. Chandler w/ Work in Progress from 9p til 1 am or so.

SUPPORT LOCAL ARTS!!! 3rd in the Burg Friday January 15th, 2010

by: Dawn

Anyhow, dear readers, it’s been a fabulous week! Soft opening Friday evening when Jess and I were both at the shop just felt “right”, yes, I could technically have sold a few things beforehand, but personally, I really wanted to share that with her. A pair of women were peeking in the windows and like I had been doing the past few days, I invited them in for a sneak preview. Their enthusiasm was just what we hoped for! They were THRILLED when we “allowed” them to make their purchases! They were wonderful! A few minutes later, two more were at the window… I see a trend here.

For those of you who are HodgePodgery-ists and those of you who are considering it, the timing for this is so perfect. About 3 weeks ago, Stage on Herr opened up right behind us. It is an artsy bar with local live music, a fantastic 5-7 Happy Hour, Wed open Mic nights, Indie bands, a “First Saturday” Art Flea Market and FANTASTIC Bloody Marys a la an old school mate of mine, Scott Mitsdarfer. Local art work hangs on the wall. Gary and John (owners extraordinaire) smile and wave as they trek by our windows. I don’t know what they were expecting of Jess and my little shop, but they are embracing us more eagerly as the days go on!

I hope you all can come by this week before everything is sold. It’s just a matter of time, you know. I really think you should come in groups. We’d have loved to have organized a formal open house, but I simply don’t see it happening before Tuesday. I seriously think you should just get a bunch of friends, and just come down for an afternoon.

I love you guys!
~~~Dawn