Strolling downtown fun

Retailers from Lisa Confection Connection all the way down to Clarkston Flower Shoppe and in between will offer various drinks, snacks, and discounts on merchandise as the Clarkston Retailers Group celebrates their second annual Strolling Cocktail Party this Saturday, 6-9 p.m.
‘Last year we had an actual menu, but this year we’re just letting everybody handle their own shop individually,? said Peg Roth of the Clarkston Retailers. ‘Whatever they are serving, whatever discounts on merchandise that’s all up to the individual shop owners.?
Different from last year, noted Roth, is Rudy’s Market will host a wine tasting in the store as opposed to the Clarkston Mills Mall.
‘We will serve light refreshments and drinks at the mall,? she said. ‘The entire event is free, but we are asking for donations for the O.A.T. S (Offering Alternative Therapy with Smiles) program.?
Like last year, The Birdfeeder, Clarkston Flower Shoppe, Bonnie & Clyde will have live music. Different this year, they will have a roulette wheel.
‘We will serve hor d’oeuvres and cocktails including B. Nektar Meadery’s from Ferndale,? said owner Shari Shultz.
‘They will pour samples of their award-winning honey wines and mixing up a cocktail called the Real Detroit, made with their Wildberry Pyment, Faygo Rock & Rye and vodka from Valentine Distilling Co.?
Other retailers include Advanced Energy Therapy, Artichoke Interiors, Attuned Mind, Essence on Main, Encore Pilates, Frank & Me, Ironton Cottage & Cabin Furniture & Home D’cor, KH Home, Kinetic Systems, Morgan and Milzow, Nuview Nutrition, Parsonage Events, Real Estate One, Rudy’s Market & Catering, Silver Kiss, Union General, and Village Fashion Boutique.
Roth said they have many retailers participating, twice as many as last year.
‘I think it shows the Clarkston Retailer’s Group has become a much stronger group of people. We are promoting each other, supporting each other and everything that’s been going on downtown at with people lined up to get into Union Woodshop,? Roth said. ‘Our community as a whole is on the map now.?
For more information on the O.A.T.S program, please visit www.oatshrh.org. For Saturday’s event, call Roth at 248-462-3008.