{above photo from the Broadway Market}
While people are celebrating Mardi Gras today, I am celebrating Paczki Day. From 7am to 5pm today you can stop at the Broadway Market to pick up these yummy treats. A Polish treat I look forward to every year before the beginning of Lent.
{Just a Blonde in Buffalo photos}
Its the busiest time of the year at the Broadway Market and people from all over Western New York and surrounding areas pay a visit to pick up their traditional polish favorites and more. I usually go on my shopping trip with the family on Good Friday or Holy Saturday. It gets a bit crazy in their, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Below are my top 7 items I pick up every year on my visit. If you haven't been yet and are planning a trip there, enjoy!
-B
The Broadway Market - a staple on the East side of Buffalo. I remember heading to the market often as a child when I lived on Fillmore, now I find myself visiting during the Lenten season and maybe once every other month. I hate when places that have so much potential get a "bad" rep because the area they are located in may not be the greatest. The only thing is, the market is open during daylight hours and is probably safer to visit than some other popular places in town that are open late into the night. I have a lot of childhood memories at the market and I'm looking forward to visiting in the upcoming week for Easter. If you've never been or haven't been in a while you should definitely pay a visit, with vendors like Gridlock Lacquer and Hands and Paws Cookie Treats its bringing a new life back into an historic building.
-B
Yesterday, I featured nail polish remover from EXO Supply Co. so it only makes sense for me to feature nail polish today. Hand mixed, Buffalo themed nail polish to be specific, from Gridlock Lacquer! You may have seen my post back in December on Lisa from Gridlock Lacquer {click here for the post}, but her product is so awesome that I'm featuring her again this week. Not only is business going great for her, she is prepping for the busy Easter season at the Broadway Market and expanding her product to Pittsburgh! If you haven't checked out her nail polish make sure to stop by her stand at the market or online!
-B
Well the first full week of January in WNY has been a very cold one! But that shouldn't come as a surprise to Western New Yorkers. While we move to the weekend I hope everyone enjoys whatever it is they may have planned. Here are a few things that made me smile this past week. -B
{Its just a simple piece of mail, but the way its addressed is what makes it special to me}
{Bringing life back to the Broadway Market during the winter months. I'm hoping to stop by this event next weekend}
{I was finally mentioned in one of my favorite blogs by one of my favorite people. Check it out Forty74}
{Nothing beats reading books on a rainy Saturday and a lit candle by Linwood Candle Co.}
{Reading Business First this week and I love this picture I came across. Main St. in Buffalo during its hayday}
Today I'm featuring a woman who I have followed since she opened her business in 2013. Lisa from Gridlock Lacquer began mixing, combining and creating nail polish with a little Buffalo love and since her business began she has only expanded and is doing bigger and better things. Check out my interview with Lisa below. -B
How did Gridlock Lacquer get started?
It was started when I started noticing how major nail polish and cosmetic labels were re-branding the way products were sold. Instead of "sunset pink" or "mauve" nail polish, the major brands starting naming their polishes things like "I'm Not Really a Waitress" or "Topless & Barefoot" or "It's Raining Men". Women started to buy the products almost as much for the name as they were for the color. I thought it would be fun to bring that idea to a local level and create a collection based on things, events and history of Buffalo.
What is the thing you enjoy the most about owning your own business?
I own the successes and I own the mistakes. If the product is poor, that's on me but if it's great then I know I'm doing something right. It also allows for dreaming much more than a traditional career. I'm only limited by myself and the only people I report to are my customers.
What is one thing you want people to know about you and Gridlock Lacquer, that they may not know?
Gridlock Lacquer is hand mixed! This means hours and hours have been spent blending colors, dropping mixing balls, filling bottles, adding brushes, twisting caps and labeling. It's a labor of love and very time intensive. I love that this is a hand mixed product and that it is made in Buffalo. It's my own tiny contribution to the re-shoring of American manufacturing haha j/k.
Where can they find your product?
-Online at gridlocklacquer.com
-At the Broadway Market on Saturdays from now through Easter
-At a bunch of retail stores in Buffalo, Rochester and Cleveland. The list can be found on the website if you're looking for something in your area. {Click here for the list}
Do you host private parties for those who want to make their own nail polish?
YES and it's so fun! I've only done a couple but people have had a blast and come up with some really creative colors! Eventually I hope to get to a place where I have a location that allows me to host the events myself and then people can just sign up when they'd like to participate instead of needing to assemble a group.
What is one thing you love about Buffalo?
Just one? Buffalo is such an underdog story. Everyone loves to root for the underdog and watch it come out on top.
Any other info you’d like to provide? Upcoming events you’ll be at? Promotions you are doing, etc?
Keep an eye out for coupon codes on social media!
Follow on FB, Instagram {@GridlockLacquer}, Twitter {@GridlockLacquer} . They've got all the updates on location, events, sales and new products. All are listed as: gridlocklacquer
I'll be at the Broadway Market on Saturdays, extra days around Christmas and 2 full weeks before Easter with a fresh set of Spring colors. The market is super fun and a really important piece of Buffalo's history, so stop by!
I stopped by the Broadway Market on Saturday and picked up a bunch of gifts for the holidays, the nail polish makes great stocking stuffers!. Check out some of my photos below. Thank you Lisa for believing in Buffalo and helping keep Buffalo moving forward, in a stylish way!
I love the names!
Other accessories to go with the nail polish, nail decals, soaps, nail polish remover
...Called Buffalo
