Free summer movies at Briarcliff Village are back! Bring the whole family out to Mulberry Lake every Saturday night at dusk beginning June 1 and ending August 10. Be sure to pack your blankets, lawn chairs and snacks. It’s a great way to celebrate the warm weather and spend quality time together. This year’s films include Monsters Inc, Jurassic Park, Despicable Me, The Hunger Games and more. For a full schedule and more information, visit www.briarclifftrails.com.

It’s that time again. Winter is officially over, and the annual GreenAcres Farmers’ Market is back. Don’t miss an entire summer of fresh produce from local farmers, live music, tastings, and events for the whole family. The Farmers’ Market kicks off May 2 and runs every Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. in the parking lot outside GreenAcres. Watch our website for more information.

It’s time to celebrate spring! Come freshen up your wardrobe with unique and trendy styles from Amelia’s, Finishings for Her, or Design in the City. Refresh your body with services from Eclektica Salon or The Spa at Briarcliff. Brighten your home with décor from Shana Vaughn Designs and Nell Hill’s. All the shops at Briarcliff Village have renewed their inventory and have just what you need to find your Shade of Spring.

Join us for our Spring Open House, April 12-13, and enjoy special offers from participating shops and restaurants. Plus, when you bring in your receipt from any other village merchant, you’ll receive 10% off your bill at Trezo Mare. Spend a day shopping and dining at Briarcliff Village, and celebrate the beginning of spring!

This month Briarcliff Village will say goodbye to one of its largest retailers, Tivol jewelers. Founded in 1910, Tivol opened its third location at Briarcliff in 2006 and enjoyed reasonably good sales until the economy forced them to rethink their overall strategy.

“The truth is that, although we did decent business at this location, the logistics of running a store this size with two other established locations proved to be trying,” says Robert Gerard, G.G., corporate sales manager. According to CEO Cathy Tivol, the iconic local chain is in no danger of closing and will continue to operate from the Plaza and Hawthorne shopping centers. In the meantime, to avoid overstock, the Briarcliff location will liquidate several million dollars’ worth of jewelry from all locations before the end of 2012.

That means, if you want a great deal on jewelry this holiday season, Tivol in Briarcliff Village is the place to go.

Excess merchandise from all locations has been collected into one amazing sale. You can find diamonds, precious and semi-precious gemstones, 18K gold and platinum designer pieces, as well as a collection of fine Swiss timepieces. The entire collection is available for immediate sale during the closing event.

Don’t miss out on your chance to purchase some of Kansas City’s finest quality jewelry at unprecedented sale prices. Tivol in Briarcliff is open Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday noon-5 p.m.

We hear Santa is a big fan of Briarcliff Village. In fact, this year he’s making three trips from the North Pole to see what your kids want for Christmas. Bring the whole family out to meet him on Saturday December 1, 8, or 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Cafe. This is one of our best loved holiday traditions, and a great way to celebrate with your kids. Plus, just like every year, it’s free of charge!

Jolly Old St. Nick will be ready to greet every boy and girl, and listen to their wish list. Don’t forget to dress your little ones in their holiday best, as we’re providing a professional photographer to capture the moment. Your family will leave with a 4×6 keepsake picture in a special frame, commemorating the 2012 Christmas season. Pictures will also be available online, so you can post them on Facebook, or email to your family and friends.

In addition, Sugar Mamma’s Bakery and Cafe will have treat bags for every child, featuring some of their best baked concoctions. You can also visit the Sugar Mamma’s store for a special holiday cupcake or cookie. And be sure to use this convenient time to take care of any shopping you still have left.

We’re always happy to welcome Santa to Briarcliff, and to make this free tradition possible for the members of our community. Happy Holidays to you and your family!

For most big retailers, the day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday–a term so pervasive that even consumers have started using it. Generally, this is the biggest shopping day of the year, when mobs of people attempt to jump-start their holiday shopping and businesses capitalize on foot traffic by offering deep discounts.

But here at Briarcliff, we do things a little differently. As a collection of 100% locally owned merchants, our big shopping day is Small Business Saturday, which falls this year on Nov. 24. Small Business Saturday is a national initiative meant to raise awareness of local retailers. The idea is to encourage shopping not at the big chains, but at boutiques which pump revenue directly into the local economy. By shopping on Small Business Saturday, customers not only show their support for small business owners, but for their local communities.

All of Briarcliff’s retailers and restaurants are proud to be open on Small Business Saturday, and many will have special discounts and deals. Please come support us, and enjoy a peaceful getaway in our Tuscan village–as opposed to a hectic run through the mall. We guarantee you’ll find unique and rare items for your holiday shopping list that you won’t discover anywhere else.

And don’t forget that Small Business Saturday is just the beginning of our holiday season. Your kids can enjoy free photos with Santa at The Cafe three Saturdays in a row: Dec. 1, 8 and 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Our Holiday Open House, always a favorite, lights up the Village on the evening of Dec. 6.

Like us on Facebook for up-to-the-minute announcements about all of our holiday activities.

The City of Fountains is spouting pink water, from the Plaza to Burlington Street. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and Kansas City is going all out.

And rightfully so. After skin cancer, breast cancer is the number one killer of women in America. Over 200,000 cases are diagnosed each year. There is no known cure.

Fortunately, groups like the Susan G. Komen foundation are raising money for breast cancer research every year. And businesses at Briarcliff Village and across the metro are joining forces to help. This month, you can help be part of the cause by shopping and dining at participating stores, and by showing your support to the breast cancer survivors in your life. Here are a few ways:

• Knit for the Girls. Karen Roark of Urban Arts + Crafts is herself a breast cancer survivor. In honor of her personal victory and survivors everywhere, Karen has introduced a new pink yarn which you can knit into a scarf to symbolize breast cancer awareness. For a limited time, 15% of the yarn proceeds will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

• Pink Locks. Support your friends and loved by turning your hair pink! It’s the latest trend among Hollywood stars like Katy Perry and Rachel McAdams. Try extensions, chalking, or semi-permanent highlights. Available throughout the month of October.

• One Martini at a Time. For every martini purchased this month, Trezo Mare will donate $1 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. There’s no better time to enjoy Trezo’s happy hour, ranked one of Kansas City’s best, while contributing to a good cause. Bring your girlfriends and join us by the fire pit, and let’s all toast to finding a cure.

Next week we’re wrapping up our “Fall in Love with Briarcliff” Giveaway. To celebrate, we’re hosting an Open House in honor of all things fall. Stop by Briarcliff Village on Saturday, September 29, and enjoy the best flavors and trends of the season. Plus, take advantage of your last chance to win our grand prize: one of five, $500 Gift Certificates to anywhere in Briarcliff.

As you stroll our Tuscan boutiques, decorated with hay bales and mums, remember to stop and register at every door. (Contest rules allow one entry per merchant per day, so you’ll want to maximize your chances!) And since nothing says autumn in Italy like wine, six of our boutiques will be pouring out samples for your tasting pleasure. Enjoy sauvingnon blanc, zinfandel and some organic varieties. Plus, discover new colors, patterns and trends in both fashion and home decor.

Wine-tasting destinations include SmartFeet, Design in the City, Amelia’s, Land of Paws, Urban Arts + Crafts and Finishings for Her. There’s even a wine-charm demo at Urban Arts + Crafts so you can make something to adorn your glass.

And don’t forget: there’s also a $200 Briarcliff Gift Card drawing, open exclusively to our Facebook fans. So if you really like Briarcliff Village, now’s the time to give us the thumb’s up on the old social network.

The Fall Open House is a free event, and open to the public.