This weekend, take some time to check out small businesses in your neighborhood. It can be easy to forget about our small, locally owned shops and restaurants during the hustle of the holiday season, and that's why we should all take some time to celebrate Small Business Saturday.

I always think about restaurants during the holidays because you usually want to go out after eating turkey leftovers for two days. I love Vito's (family owned) Italian Restaurant on York Rd. in Hunt Valley.  Their shrimp scampi is my absolute favorite dish.  We think its better than any Italian restaurant we've tried in New York City (where our daughter goes to college). 

There's also a great new men's shoe store in the  "Harbor East" area of downtown Baltimore called "Loafers and Laces" the owners Paul and Debbie Foreman love to talk fashion and they always make you feel right at home. It's nice to see a high class men's store, women usually get all the love!

So this weekend, stop by your favorite locally own shop or restaurant and show them a little love!

photo credit to Flickr: ebmorse