No new news about the building has reached me this week, but if you like the idea of shopping locally and supporting Lowell’s creative side, there are two excellent opportunities today.

Western Ave Studios is open for holiday shopping today and tomorrow from noon to 5 pm. With 245 studios, there’s a little something for everyone.

A newcomer to the scene, Mill #5 on Jackson Street, is easy walking distance from us and has Totally Bazaar II today from noon to 6:00 in addition to their regular stores. They also have a Farm Market from 10:00 to 2:30 on most Sundays, including tomorrow.  And next Saturday is an Other Where Market slanted toward Fantasy, Steampunk, and Sci Fi.  At least some of these events even have live music!  And there’s a stunning, little Art Deco theatre in the complex.

(Incidentally, I’m using Facebook links here since I find the Mill #5 website to be over-ambitious and clunky to use—FB seems more helpful.  The link below is to a Boston Globe article from last year.)

For those unfamiliar with Mill #5, which may be most, they’re located on the 4th floor of one of the old Appleton Mills on the far side of Jackson Street, #250.  They are an up and coming project, kind of artist-studios-meets-mini-mall-meets-Victorian-street, that will probably have a much better shot if they get some better signage and the bridge connecting the Visitor’s Center lot with Appleton Mills gets built. In the meantime, they’re well worth a look-see but the entrance isn’t obvious.  One needs to walk into what looks like a little alley/parking area just to the right of the Cotton House Lofts entrance vestibule and head for the left, rear corner of the parking area where there’s an elevator tucked away.  Oh, and if you’re into imagining what the mills around here looked like in their heyday, Mill #5 has a general store set up in what looks to be virtually unaltered mill offices, complete with tin ceilings, built-in glass front bookcases and more.