BLACK FRIDAY.The dread of every good and decent human being.

Every year it strikes when we are at our most stuffed, hungover and vulnerable, assaulting our psyches with sad, sordid stories of pensioners getting curb-stomped for Blue Ray players, leaving us with a little bit less faith in our fellow man, woman and otherwise than we had the year before.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Instead of passively bearing witness to the horror that is Black Friday, actively participate in Plaid Friday—the national initiative to support local and independent businesses on November 25th.

JAMAICA PLAIN

CITY FEED — Artisan Cheese and Meats
[672 Centre St., Jamaica Plain. 617.524.1700. @cityfeed. cityfeedandsupply.com]

40 SOUTH STREET —  Damned Fine Dapper Vintage
[40 South St., Jamaica Plain. 617.942.2118. jpknitandstitch.com]

J.P. KNIT AND STITCH — The CVS sign still hangs overhead, but look for the knitted pole (yarn bombing!) outside this shop for the bitchin-est knits around.
[461 Centre St., Jamaica Plain. 617.942.2118. jpknitandstitch.com]

BOING! —  Toys! Toys! Toys!
[667 Jamaica Plain. 617.522.6400. @Boing_JP_Toys. boingtoys.com]

TRES GATOS —  Kill a flock of birds with one stone. Books and records for others, then wine and tapas for yourself.
[470 Centre St., Jamaica Plain. 617.477.4851. @TresGatosJP. tresgatosjp.com]

JP COMICS AND GAMES —  Grandma probably only loves Gin Rummy ‘cuz no one’s introduces her to D&D or Magic. Be the first (and thus her favorite).
[603 Centre St., Jamaica Plain. 617.553.4247. jpcomicsandgames.com]

SALMAGUNDI — Putting the “dashing” back in haberdashery, this place wil make you look like grandpa back when he was bangable. Wait, that didn’t actually make print, did it?
[765 Centre St., Jamaica Plain. 617.522.5047. @salmagundi_hats.  salmagundiboston.com]

ON CENTRE — Indie Nuggets of Gift Goodness
[636 Centre St., Jamaica Plain. 617.522.2255.]

BOOMERANGS — Boomerangs nails the thrift store trifecta—obscure, cheap and having exactly what you never knew you needed.
[716 Centre St., Jamaica Plain. 617.524.5120. @Boomerang. shopboomerangs.org]

WHOLE FOODS — Jk! Jk!

What’s That Little (A) Mean?

Shoppes that are marked with that little bracketed alpha are participating in the brand-spanking new Access program, brought to you by the fine folks behind Spreedia.com and New Brahmin.

As a way to encourage you to keep stickin’ it to the Big Box all year round, this little number will automatically knock 10 percent off of fully priced merch at these fine establishments, as well as getting your name on the list for special promos and events.

Not to mention all the good karma.

A 12-month membership can be yours for $40, and you can pick one up at spnbaccess.com.