Ways to Safely Support Local Creatives and Businesses During COVID-19
Wrapping up week six (ish) of social distancing and quarantine measures here in Greeley, we know you may be itching to get out and about. We’re also beginning to see some partial re-opening of select businesses under the state’s new “Safer At Home” guidelines.
We want to encourage you to shop small and shop local, while still following public health guidelines and prioritizing the health and safety of ALL our community members. We’ve put together a local round-up of ways you continue to engage with the arts, support local artists, and shop small businesses and restaurants.
First, a few general guidelines:
Always defer to the latest public health guidelines of our city and state. Here are best practices for businesses and customers to follow under Safer at Home guidelines.
Wear a mask when leaving your house, visiting local businesses, or taking in public art. Research shows that even people with no symptoms can be carriers of COVID-19. Widespread mask usage keeps us all safer and minimizes the risk of spreading the virus.
Use a credit card or no-touch payment method for any transactions instead of cash. Keep our retail and restaurant workers safe by making transactions sanitary and easy.
Maintain 6 foot spacing in retail shops and public spaces. Help our business owners serve you by maintaining social distancing guidelines.
We’ve been so inspired by the ways our local creatives and small businesses are rapidly adapting and innovating the way they’re offering goods and services. Here’s a round-up of how you can support them (and have fun in the process):
Visual Art
Take an online art class. Many galleries and individual artists are offering virtual classes that you can safely join from your own home.
Purchase art online. Many artists and galleries already sell their work online their work through an online store. If you’re unsure of what they’re currently offering, reach out and ask! Nothing brightens up your home like some original artwork.
Create your own public art tour. Our city is blessed with a collection of over 160 pieces of outdoor art! Murals and installations fill our downtown and are easily accessible by foot or bike. Explore our public art collection.
Visit creative gallery shows. Artists are finding creative ways to display new work, from drive-through art shows, to “peek-in” art openings. (Atlas Theater is debuting a show May 8!)
Music and Dance
Attend a live stream concert. As Bandwagon Magazine covered this month, live-streaming might be this era’s Woodstock. Musicians are getting creative with how to play virtual shows, and often finding new audiences along the way. Skip the concert crowds and settle in for a private show from your couch, and use the money you would have spent on parking to tip the band.
Buy music directly from musicians. Streaming is convenient, but purchasing recordings or merchandise directly from musicians puts far more money in their pockets. Check your favorite band’s website for an online store, or browse BandCamp, which cuts the highest sales percentage in the industry straight to artists.
Take an online dance or exercise class. With gyms still closed, there’s no better way to boost your mood and sweat it out than dancing with an expert instructor guiding a virtual class!
Retail
Shop small and local first. Some local retailers are returning to their stores with limited hours and new safety guidelines in place. Check online to confirm hours and policies before visiting in person, and buy local when you can before ordering from big box or online retailers.
Order online for curbside pickup. Many shops are offering customers the convenience of placing an order online and then picking up curbside from the store. This is a perfect option for upcoming Mother’s Day gifts, or any other special occasions!
Buy gift cards. If an in-person visit isn’t in the cards for now, buying a gift card to your favorite shop is a great way to show your support.
Bars and Restaurants
Order curbside or to-go pickup. Many restaurants are now offering great food that you can pick up and take to-go. Skip a night of dishwashing and treat yourself to some delicious eats.
Order delivery with a local company. NoCo Nosh is a locally based delivery service that keeps more money in the pockets of our local restaurant owners than competitor delivery services. Get great food delivered directly to your door!
Get your drinks to go. Many bars and restaurants are now offering to-go beer, wine, and cocktails! And you can never go wrong picking up some cans or bottles of locally made libations at one of our breweries or distilleries.
Take an online cocktail class. Tower 56 is offering weekly cocktail classes through Facebook Live! Pick up your ingredients and join in at home to become a cocktail master.
Fun and Learning
Learn some STEAM skills. Follow along with streaming lessons from the Colorado Model Railroad Museum’s virtual classroom.
Pick up a new book. High Plains Library District is planning to offer curbside pickup of new items starting May 6.
Explore our local parks. Stay local and get outdoors at our beautiful parks and trails. (Wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing is still advised, but there is plenty of space for all of us to enjoy.) See a map of our local parks.
We hope this list gives you some new ideas of how you can keep our creative community and local businesses strong through this time. For an up-to-date listing of what downtown businesses are offering, visit the Greeley Downtown Website. And feel free to email us with any ideas we’ve missed! Stay safe, healthy, and #greeleystrong.