So what if today''s Black Friday, the kick-off to big box store shopping at deep discounts? Oakland merchants have banded together to invite you to celebrate PLAID Friday--a commitment to shop independent local businesses in Oakland and elsewhere.  Originated by local business folks and gallery owners Kerri Johnson, and Lena Reynoso,   Plaid Friday was created as a way to tie Oakland merchants into the growing shop local movement around the country--and to build awareness of local Oakland and East Bay small businesses.

How do you participate in Plaid Friday? Well, for one thing, wear some plaid. For another, go shopping at the many stories--owned and operated right here in the East Bay---that are part of this year's program.

Local participants--mostly new since last year, but with some from 2009-- include:

ACCI Gallery- Berkeley
1652 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA, 94710
http://www.accigallery.com
510-843-2527

AFROBUDDAH - Oakland
1836, 33rd ave
Oakland, CA, 94601
www.afrobuddah.com
510 579 1439

Art in a Box- Oakland
1167 65th st
Oakland, CA, 94608
www.artinabox.net
510-601-1702

Atomic Garden -Oakland
5453 College Ave.
Oakland, CA, 94618
atomicgardenoakland.com
510.923.0543

Bella Vita- Oakland
5407 College Avenue
Oakland, CA, 94611
www.bellavitahome.com
510-653-1639

Brushstrokes Studio- Berkeley
745 Page Street
Berkeley, CA, 94708
www.brushstrokestudio.com

By Hand- Berkeley
1746 Solano Ave
Berkeley, CA, 94707
www.byhandberkeley.blogspot.com
510. 526. 3212

By Hand- Berkeley
1746 Solano Ave
Berkeley, CA, 94707
www.byhandberkeley.blogspot.com
510. 526. 3212

California Canoe & Kayak- Oakland
409 Water Street
Oakland, CA, 94607
www.calkayak.com
510-893-7833

Children's Fairyland- Oakland
699 Bellevue Ave.
Oakland, CA, 94610
www.fairyland.org
510-452-2259

EndGame Oakland
921 Washington St
Oakland, 94607
http://www.endgameoakland.com/
(510) 465-3637

Farley's East, Oakland
33 Grand Ave
Oakland, CA, 94612
www.farleyscoffee.com
510-835-7898

fiftyseven-thirtythree - Oakland
4125 Piedmont Ave. #9 2nd Floor
Oakland, CA, 94611
www.fiftyseven-thirtythree.com
510-547-5733

Frank Bette Center for the Arts- Alameda
1601 Paru St (corner Lincoln)
Alameda, CA, 94501
www.frankbettecenter.org
510-523-6957

Galleria Scola- Oakland
3646 Grand Ave
Oakland, CA, 94610
www.galleriascola.com
510-451-3525

Green Retirement Plans, Inc. - Oakland
8080 Capwell Drive, Suite 202
Oakland, CA, 94621
www.greenretirementplans.com
(510) 638-6331

Jazzy Crafts- Castro Valley
3325 Castro Valley Blvd
Castro Valley, CA, 94546
www.JazzyCrafts.com
510-583-1422

Local 123 - Berkeley
2049 San Pablo Avenue
Berkeley, CA, 94702
www.local123cafe.com
510-647-5270

Looking Glass Photo- Berkeley
2848 Telegraph Ave
Berkeley, CA, 94705
www.lookingglassphoto.com
510-548-6888

MANNEQUIN MADNESS -Oakland
2020 Dennison St.
Oakland, 94606
WWW.MANNEQUINMADNESS.COM
510 444 0650

Mercury 20 Gallery -Oakland
475 25th St
Oakland, CA, 94612
www.mercurytwenty.com
510-701-4620

Metro Lighting- Berkeley
2240 San Pablo Avenue
Berkeley, CA, 94702
www.metrolighting.com
510-540-0509

moxie deluxe -Alameda
716 lincoln avenue
Alameda, CA, 94501
www.moxiedeluxe.com
510 470 1716

Oaklandish- Oakland
Pleasant Valley & Piedmont Ave
Oakland, CA, 94611
www.oaklandish.com
510-652-7490

Pegasus Books- Oakland
5560 College Avenue
Oakland, CA, 94618
pegasusbookstore.com
(510) 652-6259

Professor Squirrel Shop -Oakland
1167 65th St
Oakland, CA, 94608
www.professorsquirrel.com
510-601-1702

rideSFO- Oakland
1724 Mandela Parkway Suite #2
Oakland, CA, 94607
www.rideSFO.com
510-832-2800

Ruby's Garden - Oakland
5095 Telegraph Ave. Suite C
Oakland, CA, 94609
www.rubysgarden.com
595.5325

Silver Moon Kids-Oakland
3233 Lakeshore Avenue
Oakland, CA, 94610
510-835-2229

Slash Clothing - Berkeley
2840 College Ave
Berkeley, CA, 94705
www.slashdenim.com
510-665-5994

The Berkeley Sauna- Berkeley
1947 Milvia St
Berkeley, CA, 94704
www.berkeleysauna.com
510.845.2341

The Bookmark Bookstore -Oakland
721 Washington St.
Oakland, CA, 94607
www.thebookmarkbookstore.org
510-444-0473

The Compound Gallery- Oakland
1167 65th St
Oakland, CA, 94608
www.thecompoundgallery.com
510-601-1702

The East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse -Oakland
4695 Telegraph Avenue
Oakland, CA, 94609
www.creativereuse.org
510-655-6628

The Layover - music bar & lounge, Oakland
1517 Franklin Street
Oakland, CA, CA
www.oaklandlayover.com
510.834.1517

TOUCH salon & gallery - Oakland
2068 Antioch Court
Oakland, CA, 94611
touchmontclair.com/
5103397000

TRAX Gallery- Berkeley
1812 5th Street
Berkeley, CA, 94710
www.traxgallery.com
510-540-8729

Uhuru Furniture & Collectibles -Oakland
3742 Grand Avenue
Oakland, CA, 94610
http://apedf.org/programs/uhuru-furniture/oakland/
510-763-3342

Urban Legend Cellars- Oakland
621 4th St
Oakland, CA, 94607
www.ulcellars.com
510.545.4356

vo's restaurant - Oakland
59 Grand Avenue
oakland, CA, 94612
vosrestaurant.com
510-465-4600

Wheels of Justice Cyclery - Oakland
2042 Mountain Blvd.
Oakland, CA, 94611
www.wojcyclery.com
510-339-6091

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