You can embrace the female experience by gathering your beloved girls, getting dressed up, having some drinks and snacks, making crafts and supporting the county’s female entrepreneurs together.
Experience Cortland, or the Cortland County Convention and Visitors Bureau, is hosting the second annual “She Shines” event – an event celebrating female Cortland County entrepreneurs.
“You can sit down, grab a pint, and craft the evening away,” said Candace Rozansky, content creator for Experience Cortland.
“I think there’s a lot of people that go somewhere like Cinch Art Space and purchase something, without really knowing who actually makes it,” Executive Director Michelle Enright said. “Here, you can say ‘Hey, I have your product in my home, it’s nice to put a face to the product.’”
This year, the event goes beyond just shopping – some vendors will have crafts, tastings, workshops or experiences for attendees.
“This group of women has so much to offer the community, each in their own way,” Julia Maslin said. “These are women that believe in this community, want to grow it, and want each other to succeed.”
At Forged from Ashe Studios’ booth, attendees can make a custom candle. At M. Guardens on James’ booth, attendees can create their own succulent garden dishes, owner Maslin said.
Lift a Latte will offer free tastings of protein balls and green tea. At Nipotina Herb Farm’s booth, you can sample some of the teas brewed by owner Cindy Johnson. The herbs she uses are all either grown at or foraged from her Cortland farm, she said.
“By supporting these businesses, we help increase the financial independence for women, which can help close the gender-based income gap,” Johnson said.
“Wherever you have a business or want to start a business, it’s a good place to chat, and be able to network and get you moving in the right direction,” Enright said.
More than 500 people attended the event last year, including visitors from outside the county, Rozansky said.
“I also think, as adult women, we don’t spend enough time just having fun with our friends,” Rozansky said. “This is a really great opportunity to let your hair down, and create something and dance and have a cocktail or beer, have a meal and socialize. With the winter being extra special this year, I think we are all due an evening of good fun.”
Tracy Thompson and Kat Walters of “The High Road” and Monica Ryan of “M3” will perform live music from 6 to 8 p.m. Dee Marie Photography will offer mini-photoshoots.
“She Shines” will also serve as a fundraiser for the Grace Brown House, which was designed to help people leaving abusive relationships get back on their feet.
The event was created with Brave Women FLX, a tourism campaign that celebrates the Finger Lakes’s female trailblazers and women-owned businesses.
Cortland’s female trailblazer being celebrated is Amelia Bloomer of Homer, one of the first women newspaper publishers in America, The Lily, and the person who popularized the undergarment that bears her name.
“It’s nice to have a place to promote and celebrate all of the incredible women entrepreneurs we have in the county,” Enright said. “We have so many, and they’re so creative, and so it’s nice to have a space where we can show them off a little.”
