SHARE THE GOOD NEWS

Join us in offering congratulations to our own Maria Luisa Whittingham, who later this month will be honored with the Social Justice Award. Presented by Nyack College, the award (one of several to be given out during a Jan. 17 luncheon at the Nyack Seaport) honors her for her activism. Maria, as we know, is all about community, which is evidenced by her work on the boards of local organizations ranging from The Nyack Center to the Art, Craft and Antique Dealers Association to the NAACP. An active chamber member, she is a devoted champion of shopping local, building the Nyack community - and causes ranging from the work of People To People to the Nyack Homeless Project, as well as the arts. Well done!

'TIS THE SEASON'-AND A BUSY WEEK WEEK IN NYACK, NY

Cyber Monday, that day dedicated to online holiday shopping, is officially Dec. 2 - but we are getting a jump on things. From Thanksgiving through Monday, we're making your holiday shopping easier than ever - and helping you save a bit of money along the way. Gift certificates, which can be purchased through our site, will be discounted 15%. That means a $100 gift certificate, for example, will only cost you $85. Stock up and let those you love have the fun of shopping at Maria Luisa Boutique or ML by Maria Luisa. You tell us the amount and the recipient, and we'll take care of the rest. (And go ahead, buy a few for yourself - click away from home and then come in and do your own shopping - holiday or otherwise - in person when you have the time. Clever, no?).

We kick things off this month with our special shopping event to benefit The Nyack Center. This "Evening of Giving and Receiving" will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4. Entry is by a $20 tax-deductible donation to the center (free for Nyack Center Legacy Gala attendees). Participants can shop, sip wine, savor hors d'oeuvres (food generously donated by The Art Cafe) and further enjoy 10% off their purchases (with an additional 10% donated by Maria Luisa to The Nyack Center). And don't forget, it's the perfect time to start or add to your Maria Luisa holiday wish list. Hope to see you there. (And note during the event, ML by Maria Luisa will be open to 7:30 p.m. and Maria Luisa Boutique until 9).

The "First Friday" series has really become a Nyack favorite, with a special spirit filling the air that first Friday of every month as stores stay open later and art-themed events fill the downtown. This month, expect our biggest event yet, as the "Holiday Lights of Nyack" event will be happening simultaneously. From 5:30 to 7 p.m., at Veterans Park Gazebo (at Main and Cedar streets), there will be caroling, children's activities and yes, the annual tree lighting. Be sure to make Maria Luisa part of your evening, too, as we will be hosting the opening of Part II of our exhibition featuring those profiled in the Local Arts Index. We sponsor the column on Nyack News & Views - and hope you enjoy it. Back in October, we had our first group show and it was quite the success. We hope Dec. 6 - from 5 to 8 p.m. in the lower-level gallery space of ML by Maria Luisa (Gifts & Accessories) - will be just as lovely an event. See you there.

Here are 10 ways to maximize your shopping dollars this holiday weekend. 1.Make a list of all who will LOVE and APPRECIATE receiving a Maria Luisa Gift Card. GCards are available from $25 and up. 2.Do the math, and calculate how MUCH you will SAVE by ordering Maria Luisa Gift Cards online between NOW and Dec 2. 3.Now, place your Maria Luisa Gift Cards order. 4.Take advantage of our 15% discount offer and purchase addidional Maria Luisa Gift Card for YOU to use towards your holiday shopping this season. 5.Browse through other items below that are also available for purchase at Maria Luisa and or marialuisaboutique.com and you'll save 15% on your purchase of these now through Dec. 2. 6.Go ahead and share this savings opportunity with your friends and family, you never know, there may be a surprise gift card or two coming you way as a result of your share. 7.And there is FREE SHIPPING storewide at marialuisaboutique now for total purchases of $100.00. Use Code FREESHIP. 8.Come into Maria Luisa and ML by Maria Luisa, leave your WishList for all the items you would love to receive from our shops AND save 10% on your purchase - Here are the details. 9.Register your American Express card for Small Business Saturday-DETAILS... 10.Saturday November 30, shop your local small businesses.

It’s about the need and the giving

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 25, 2013 Nyack, NY EMBRACING THE SPIRIT OF SEASON People to People, Rockland’s largest food pantry, put out the call – turkeys were needed to help the nonprofit meet the local need this Thanksgiving – and veteran Nyack merchant Maria Luisa Whittingham was one of those who answered. Whittingham, whose Maria Luisa Boutique and sister shop ML by Maria Luisa are staples of Nyack’s South Broadway shopping district, was on hand at the Nanuet offices Nov. 25 to donate funds to supply turkeys to 25 needy families.

“This is all happening because of Diane Serratore’s love and passion for the community she serves,” Whittingham said. Whittingham, who has been honored by the Rockland Business Women’s Network as its Woman of the Year, said she felt she needed to step up.

“It’s about the need and the giving,” she said. Whittingham and her shops have long supported charitable efforts in the village, with her customers joining her lead by attending events such as those that support local organizations such as The Nyack Center. This season, Whittingham has already been gathering food donations for People to People while also collecting coats for the Nyack Homeless Project. These efforts will continue in coming weeks, with Whittingham introducing a new philanthropic effort that will offer her customers creative new ways to help local nonprofit organizations as they shop. Details of the new initiative will be revealed in early 2014.

For more information, or to schedule an interview, contact Whittingham at 845-353-4122. Maria Luisa Boutique, 77 S. Broadway, Nyack 845-353-4122 ML by Maria Luisa, 75 S. Broadway, Nyack 845-358-1293 Marialuisaboutique.com FB Maria Luisa Boutique

First Friday@Maria Luisa-December 6 Local Art Index Group Show 2

How did it already become November?

How did it already become November? Wow, the year continues to push on. And this month, the holiday season gets under way in a most unique fashion. For the first time in a very long time, as we're sure you've been hearing, Hanukkah will begin on Thanksgiving. Talk about a lot to prepare for! Well, we know you'll all be looking forward to gatherings filled with family, friends and good food and drink. And often, those gatherings include gifts (which, we admit, we kinda love). As you've hopefully seen, Maria Luisa Boutique and ML by Maria Luisa (Gifts & Accessories) are the ideal, go-to destinations when it comes to shopping for gifts. It might be a scarf or pair of earrings for a relative you'll be seeing after a long time, or a sweet treat for your sister. Maybe you need a hostess gift or a few things for your own home? We've got it covered. And, of course, don't forget our selection of fashion, footwear and all kinds of accessories - wonderfully thoughtful gifts but also great selections for your own holiday dressing needs. We know how busy the holiday season invariably becomes. We've got plenty going on in the shops - read on, both below and in the sidebar, for news and activities we have coming up. We look forward to welcoming you - and helping you select just the right thing, whether it's for yourself, your home or as a special gift. But we do also hope you'll 'book in' some time to simply savor this time of year. Treat yourself to some quiet time - and realize how much we all do have to be thankful for.

HOLIDAY HOURS SOON KICK OFF

Maria Luisa and ML by Maria Luisa (Gifts & Accessories) will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. But the holiday-shopping season kicks into high gear the day after - that day so many refer to as "Black Friday" - when we officially kick off our holiday hours - open daily through Christmas Eve. Check the blog for extended hours, etc. throughout the season.

I WISH...

Maria Luisa has traditionally offered "Wish List" shopping each holiday season. In brief, you come in and create a "wish list" of items you'd sure like to receive as gifts. We keep track of that list, so when your family or friends come by, they can take a look at it - and buy you something they're sure you'll like.

Well, this year, here is how our "Wish List" works. Come into the stores and fill out a Wish List. This will provide your friends, family, coworkers, etc. with a range of gift items to choose from that they know you will love. Holiday shopping will be made easy and thoughtful, and you will be supporting your community and local independent business. You in turn will receive a 10% discount off each item you purchase on the given day, up to the number of items on your Wish List. Example, you add 6 items on your wish list today. You purchase 6 other items today and we will take 10% off each item up to the number of items on your wish list. Additionally, when an item that is on your wish list, the purchaser will receive a 10% discount on those items! There is is one condition, and that is that the items must be purchased by December 17th to receive the purchasing discount. So, start now and spread the great news. For our Trollbead friends we are offering special incentives and bonuses for your holiday purchases. This is also a perfect time to update your Trollbead wish list for the holidays! So, we look forward to seeing you soon and often. Cheers! Maria Luisa

**** Hey Trollbead folks! We are compiling a photo album of Trollbead stories and photos, and would love to include your treasures in it! So bring them in and let us snap a shot!