WHILE CHRISTMAS INSPIRES CREATIVITY, and many a reveler discovers satisfying ways to express their inner selves (from ornament crafts to cookie baking), the day after Thanksgiving has shown some interesting flair in recent years. Yes, that's Black Friday, the day when stores put out some of the biggest deals of the year on electronics, home goods, and, well, everything, hoping to catch those early holiday dollars. But that particular Friday now wears many different mantles, depending on your location and interest, and it isn't solely about the big sales anymore. Small businesses are getting into the swing (ahead of Small Business Saturday), and those include the shops of Amador County. In fact, the Gold Country region puts a seasonal spin on the Friday theming each year, by designating November's fourth Friday as...
PLAID FRIDAY: But the retailers of the area's charming shops are going beyond the cute name. If you're bopping about Gold Country on the day after Turkey Day, and you have something plaid on (a skirt, a shirt, a scarf, you name it), you can score a deal at "participating locally owned businesses in Amador City, Jackson, Ione, Sutter Creek — from Shenandoah Valley all the way to Pioneer." The deals go beyond the stores in some spots, with Jackson's Kennedy Gold Mine offering a second ticket to a tour at half off. Celebrating in the hilly, historic area, with plans to stay through Friday? Make sure to pack your plaid (and, even if you forget, now you'll know why people will be out and about in their plaid on Friday, Nov. 25).
