The RiffRaff Arts Collective

12/09/2024

🎄✨ Get ready, Princeton! Join us this Tuesday, December 10, at 7:00 p.m. for a magical evening filled with Christmas cheer at the City of Princeton's Christmas parade, Jingle Bell Jubilee! 🎶

🎅From dazzling floats to festive music, downtown will sparkle with the joy of the season. Can’t make it in person? Don’t worry! 🎥 Warm up some cocoa, settle in, and catch the magic live-streamed right here on Facebook with your hosts Joshua Bolden and Candace Vassallo-Wilson!

Let’s make this a holiday memory to treasure—see you there (or online)! ❤️💚

12/07/2024

🎄✨ Did you know Grassroots District BINGO runs all season long? That’s right—you have plenty of time to shop, earn stamps, and WIN a Limited Edition Grassroots District Ornament!

🎄✨How to Play:

1️⃣ Pick up a BINGO card from participating Mercer Street businesses.
2️⃣ Shop local and earn 5 stamps from 5 different businesses with your purchases.
3️⃣ Bring your completed card to The RiffRaff to redeem your FREE Limited Edition ornament (while supplies last).

🎁 Bonus: Completed cards also enter you to WIN a gift basket packed with goodies from some of your favorite Grassroots District shops!

Shop, dine, and explore Mercer Street this holiday season. Let’s celebrate community and keep the holiday magic local! ✨

12/02/2024

As the world keeps spinning, communities in Western NC and throughout our region are still navigating the long road of recovery from Hurricane Helene. Despite the challenges, their resilience continues to shine as they come together, offering strength and support to one another.

Last week, "Soulshine," a star-studded benefit concert at Madison Square Garden, lit up hearts across the globe. We were moved to see our close creative family from Princeton and LEAF Global Arts featured in powerful, heartfelt performances.

Melissa McKinney, Adama K Dembele, and Datrian Johnson delivered an incredibly moving tribute in a place that holds deep meaning for them.

🎥 Watch Grace here: youtu.be/GkUjQLGldMc � 💛

To learn about the LEAF Local Artist Relief Fund, visit theLEAF.org.

We are still collecting Buckets of LOVE 💕 for BeLoved Asheville! Donations can be dropped off at RiffRaff or The Dream Bean , and we’ll be making another delivery mid-month. Thank you for helping us share love and support where it’s needed most!

🙏All of our love and prayers continue to pour out to those in Western NC and the Appalachian region.

11/29/2024

🎨RiffRaff Art Boutique is stocked up with new creations from dozens of talented artists, ready for this special shopping weekend!🖌️

🍫Discover locally crafted bean-to-bar chocolate, hand-forged metal flowers, magical felted creations, fine art and prints, pottery, and so much more. Whether you're treating yourself or shopping for a thoughtful holiday gift, there’s something here for everyone who loves supporting local creativity.

💙 Mercer Street Grassroots District is buzzing with ways to shop small and earn rewards!🛍️

✨There are 2 ways to earn a Limited Edition Grassroots District Ornament:
✨Grab a Holiday Bingo Card from participating businesses, shop around, and collect stamps to Win.
OR
✨Spend $50+ at Mercer Street merchants to Win.
(redeem at the tent in Town Square).

Earn a Grassroots District sticker with EVERY purchase, and enter to WIN a gift basket filled with goodies from some of your favorite local shops! 🎁

✨ Let’s build and grow our creative community together by shopping local and showing love to the amazing artists and makers in our region. Hope to see you this weekend! 🌈💜🍫

11/28/2024

💛 This Thanksgiving, we’re reflecting on the incredible community we’re so grateful to call home--the people who make our neighborhood colorful, creative, and full of life.

🎬 Please enjoy this ode to Mercer Street and the magic of this season. ✨

’Tis the season to support local! Every visit, purchase, and moment spent here helps dreams thrive and keeps our community vibrant. 💙

💛 Happy Thanksgiving from Mercer Street Grassroots District!

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11/27/2024

💛 We’re so grateful to be part of a vibrant community filled with inspired entrepreneurs who are building their dreams and working to make Mercer Street a thriving neighborhood.

Check out this handy map designed by the amazing Christopher Lee Clark. The density of creative businesses in just a few blocks is pretty amazing!

💙 This weekend is Small Business Saturday. As we all know, every dollar spent at a small business supports a dream and strengthens our community. 🛍️

Here's how to join the fun in the Grassroots District:

🎄 Holiday Bingo is Back! 🎄

✨ Grab a Bingo card at The RiffRaff or participating business.
✨ Explore the neighborhood with our handy map (attached!).
✨ Make purchases at 5 different locations in the district.
✨ Bring your stamped Bingo card back to us in Town Square on Saturday or to The RiffRaff anytime 'til Jan. 1, and receive a limited-edition Grassroots District ornament as a thank-you for shopping local.

🎁 More FREE Gifts & Giveaways:
✨ Get a FREE button or sticker with every downtown purchase and be entered to WIN a gift basket filled with goodies from your favorite local merchants.
✨ Spend $50+ at Mercer Street businesses for another way to earn the Limited Edition Ornament!

Let’s celebrate the dreamers, makers, and doers in our community this season. Happy Holidays from all of us at RiffRaff! 🎄✨

11/17/2024

🎶 Attention Friends! 🎶

Monday’s Open Stage Night is happening at The Dream Bean from 7-11 PM! 🎤 ☕

This week, we’re keeping it low-key and acoustic—no drum kit, but still plenty of space for you to share your music or kick back and soak it all in. ✨

There’s no entry fee. Come grab a delicious drink or snack from the coffeehouse menu and flow in music, poetry, creativity and community.🍪☕

See you Monday! 🎵

11/16/2024

We ❤️ our creative neighborhood and the driven entrepreneurs who make the Mercer Street Grassroots District a vibrant, colorful destination! Congratulations to our new neighbors at Bōc-Hord Brewery and Bakehouse on their Grand Opening today! 🥳

Support local, celebrate community, and watch us grow together. 🌱

11/08/2024

11/07/2024

🖤 Twelve years ago, when Mercer Street was a quiet shadow of its former self, a group of dedicated volunteers who LOVE Halloween created Mercer Monster Mash – events for the whole family to help bring it back from the grave! 🪦

And now, look at us. Mercer Street.... it's ALIIIIIIVE! 🧟‍♂️✨

🧛‍♂️ A huge thanks to everyone who went all out with your amazing costumes! To our sponsors, local businesses, artists, production team, and MCs – thank you for making this another spooktacular night to remember.

🎥Shout out to Eric Proffit for capturing the magic. ✨

11/06/2024

✨The mesmerizing Fluidity Performance Troupe has become a cherished fixture at our events, and we’re so grateful for their magical presence! Their next-level artistry and skill bring a sense of wonder and awe to our neighborhood. 📸And once again, Eric Proffit has beautifully captured the enchantment in these photos. Enjoy the magic!✨

10/31/2024

🎃As we gear up for a fantastic Halloween at Mercer Monster Mash, we want to give a huge shout of gratitude to our sponsors who are always there to collaborate and help bring our creative community vision to life!!

🦇 Thank you to our event sponsors--- City of Princeton, Public Works, Princeton PD and Fire Departments, Princeton Community Hospital/WVU Medicine, Conn-Weld Industries, and Martin Dental Associates, as well as Princeton Rescue Squad, and all the amazing businesses in the Mercer Street Grassroots District coming together to treat the kiddos and make an epic Mercer Street Halloween.

🧡 We’re grateful for such fantastic neighbors and everything you bring to our community!

Now... let’s do the Monster Mash! 🕺💀🎶

10/30/2024

🧟‍♀️ Mercer Monster Mash COSTUME CONTEST kicks off at 8 PM at Town Square in the heart of the Grassroots District tomorrow-- Halloween Night!

🧞‍♂️Prizes will be awarded for Adults and Kids categories, with the Top 3 in each category scoring big with gift cards and surprises from local favorites like 80's Toys of Princeton, Daydream Games, Hatter's Bookshop, Mercer Street Bicycle Co-Op and Mercantile, Jimmies Restaurant, Bōc-Hord Brewery and Bakehouse , RiffRaff Art Boutique, The Dream Bean and more!

🧙‍♂️PLUS, there are Top Ten Honorable Mention prizes to spread the love in both categories. ✨

🎃Just SHOW UP right after Trick or Treat on Mercer Street—no registration needed! ☠️So, what will YOU be? Drop your costume ideas in the comments below and come join the fun!

10/28/2024

🎙️ Open Stage Tonight! 7-11pm in The Room Upstairs. 🎶

Did you know our friends at Bōc-Hord Brewery and Bakehouse are now open on Mondays?! 🍻 Start your evening with a delicious dinner at Bōc-Hord, grab a coffee from The Dream Bean , and head our way for Open Stage!

No need to dread Mondays… let’s make them a deliciously creative evening on the town. 🎶

10/27/2024

🧟‍♀️The Mercer Monster Mash is BACK this Thursday--Halloween Night!

Get ready for a spooktacular happening on Mercer Street with Halloween thrills for all ages. Here’s what’s brewing:

~ 🍭 Trick or Treat on Mercer Street
~ 🧛‍♀️ Costume Contest hosted by Doc Atwell & EJ with prizes for Adults and Kids! Top 10 in each category win prizes, with the top 3 scoring something extra big!
~ 🎃 Performance Pumpkin Carving by Shannon Gerasimchik
~ 🔥 Fire Dancing with Fluidity Performance Troupe
~ 👻 Ghost Hunt at Princeton Public Library

PLUS 🎶— New River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will host a Halloween Glow Party at The Monarch on Mercer (801 Mercer Street) with a LIVE DJ to keep the vibes spooky and fun! 🎧💀

🔮 For the Adults: The Gaia Den 🧙🏼 has you covered with:
~ 🕯️ Tarot & Pendulum Readings
~ 🕯️ “Make Your Own Treat Bags” with crystals and other goodies from the Den
~ 🕯️ A limited supply of pre-made Trick or Treat bags to grab and go!

🎤 Afterwards... head at Danny's Bar for Costume Karaoke! This is a seriously fun way to top off your night on the town!

🚧 The street will be closed from Bee Street to 7th for a safe trick-or-treating experience.

🦇Bring the whole family and let’s make this a Halloween night to remember in the Mercer Street Grassroots District! 🎃🍬🕸️

📸Photos by Eric Proffit and Robert Blankenship.

10/25/2024

🌈 We've loved sharing The Dream Bean Coffeehouse with you these past few months and truly appreciate all the love and support! We're just getting started, with more creative programming coming soon, and we want you to stay in the loop.
If you haven’t already, please follow here and on Instagram to catch everything we’ve got brewing! ☕

✨ https://www.facebook.com/dreambeancoffeehouse
✨ https://www.instagram.com/dreambeancoffeehouse

📸 Photos by Robert Blankenship, Eric Proffit and Indie Soul Photography

10/21/2024

Thank you so much to everyone in Princeton and beyond who has brought Buckets of Love and other essential supplies for our drive—you have all gone beyond expectations! 🙏✨ We have a whole U-Haul full of LOVE that we’re preparing to deliver this week directly to BeLoved Asheville, where it will reach the hearts and hands of those most in need. 💙

🎨🧸🖍️While we will continue to collect Buckets of Love, at this point in the recovery, the need on the ground has shifted. Rather than dropping off additional supplies, we are asking that you consider making cash donations directly to trusted organizations like BeLoved Asheville, an extraordinary mutual aid organization that has been serving the Western NC community for 15 years. They were perfectly positioned to step in during this crisis and are doing incredible work, addressing rapidly changing needs every single day. (Donation links in comments.)

We’d also like to share something personal, powerful, and close to our hearts. 💫 One of our own, a core member of our creative family, Kinney McKinney, has written a hauntingly beautiful song about Hurricane Helene. Every download of this song will go directly to support BeLoved Asheville’s efforts.

🚨Trigger Warning: This song is heartbreakingly real, and, as her mom Melissa said, “Listen carefully and only when you are ready for a deep cry.” 🎶 It captures the raw emotion of this devastating event, and through its beauty, we hope it helps to heal, support, and uplift the community.

https://mckinneymusic.bandcamp.com/track/riverside-drive

Please, if you’re able, consider downloading this song or donating directly to BeLoved Asheville. Let’s keep supporting our neighbors in Western NC as they navigate this long road to recovery.

We may be a small ripple in this vast sea of need, but the love we share can bring comfort and hope. 💛🌊 Let's keep the love flowing loving, folks.

track by McKinney