Events

We all love the Farmers’ Market downtown, right? Well, Madison’s got a lot of other farmers’ markets around the city. Take the Middleton Farmers’ Market at Greenway Station. An alternative to the Saturday morning downtown market, Middleton’s market is on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The market opens next week on May 8. Find it in the parking area next to Cheeseburger in Paradise.

Another place that’s fast becoming a “lifestyle center” (a la Greenway Station) is Hilldale Shopping Center. Lifestyle centers aim to provide shoppers with an all-encompassing experience: shops, entertainment, dining and access to more basic needs, like grocery stores. What’s great about Hilldale is that it’s got local stores (Fair Indigo, Therese Zache, Jan Byce, Woldenberg’s, etc.) in addition to national chains (Anthropologie, Macy’s, Bath & Body Works, L’Occitane). It’s that valuable mix that draws shoppers in, whether they’re coming to check out a sale at Macy’s (hey, let’s be honest!) or a cool event like this weekend’s Artistic Accessories Show & Sale on May 3–4. According to a show press release, it’s “a show and sale of artistically inspired jewelry, clothing and accessories, unique one of a kind handbags, scarves, textiles, hats and wearable art.” There will be thirty-five-plus exhibitors, including some local artists like Jane Miller (East Side Bags), jeweler Diane Dohm from Dane and Vicky Kusyk Handbags.
Hilldale Artistic Accessories Show & Sale, May 3–4, Hilldale Shopping Center, 702 N. Midvale Blvd. (information: Loretta Dooley, 271-7472).

The Bohemian Bauble always, and I mean always, has stuff going on! This near-south-side gem showcases local artists’ wares in beautiful vignettes and has the friendliest staff. Find bath and body items, jewelry, vintage stuff and much more in this little enclave. This weekend is The Blossom sale on May 2–4. You can’t argue with the entire store being fifteen percent off! Owner Tami Beirne also says there will be a lot of new things for sale, and everyone’s favorite—giveaways.
Also stop by for Gallery Night on May 2 from 5–9 p.m. and get free snacks and drinks and of course, fifteen percent off.
The Blossom Sale May 2–4, 10–4.
The Bohemian Bauble 404 W. Lakeside St. 333-BOHO

One of State Street’s newest shops, Anthology, has declared May as Mom’s Month in the store. From May 1–10, drop in make mom a card for only one dollar. Can’t beat that! Plus, mom loves homemade stuff, right?
Later in the month, drop in to make a button (May 11–16), see a plaster cake demonstration (May 17) or make a comb-bound mini-notebook with stamped pages (May 19–31).
Anthology 218 State St. 204-2644.

One of my favorite stops is Lady Moxie for affordable and gently used clothing. Owner Elizabeth Wewerka always has something special (and new!) for shoppers when they stop in. Speaking of new, Wewerka recently took a trip to California where she met with some fabulous designers that she’s now carrying. Effie’s Heart is a line of comfy cotton items (I like the cute tiered, short sundress) that can be dressed up or down; Melanie Renee features crisp sundresses dressed up in vibrant colors in large exploded (and somewhat retro) prints; Evarize is a line of stretchy knit dresses.
Lady Moxie 6706 Odana Rd. 826-4268. Ladymoxie.com

Who hasn’t been to Dazzle by now? Well if you haven’t been, now is the time to go! The designer-inspired jewelry and accessories boutique just received a large shipment of new items last week. Owner Valerie Martin always is on top of the trends with her items; the last time I was there I spied animal-print items, chunky bangles, lots of metallic items and oversized clutch handbags.
Dazzle 8426 Old Sauk Rd. 826-4455.

Mother’s Day is around the corner, and The Guild has got you covered for gifts. If you’re shopping inept, don’t have a lot of time, or just plain like online shopping better, check out their Mother’s Day Gift Guide on the artfulhome.com website. You can even narrow down your shopping choices even more with tabs like “$250 and under,” “for the jewelry lover,” “for the nature lover” and “more artistic gift ideas.”
theartfulhome.com
theguild.com

Gift Ideas

Looking to shop local or “green” this holiday? I’ve got ideas for you!

Fromagination (click here to read this month’s Genuine Articles on Fromagination) has a tasty array of gift baskets for your giftee. If you’ve got relatives or friends that don’t live here, consider buying local and sending the goods out to them! The shop offers pre-made baskets ranging in price from $35–$100.
Otherwise you can’t go wrong making your own basket and stuffing it with treats like Potter’s Crackers, Door County cherry jam and Hook’s cheddar cheese. Well, Fromagination’s actually got ninety cut-to-order artisan cheeses plus olive oils, mustards, nuts, charcuterie and gift accessories.
Other things you might notice about the downtown shop? The reclaimed wood floors (from a warehouse in Chicago), vintage clocks (courtesy of the State Capitol building) and the store’s gift basket return program—which allows customers to bring in an old gift basket to exchange for another recycled basket, or receive two dollars off a new basket. Per the store’s website, “our store incorporates sustainable, renewable, recycled, recycled vintage and found materials whenever possible.” So not only will you be buying local at Fromagination, you’ll be supporting a green business too.
Fromagination, 12 S. Carroll St. 255-2430. fromagination.com

Want a night at Lombardino’s for four, a hot-air balloon ride or a Packers helmet autographed by Brett Favre (this might be the only time I mention Brett Favre on this blog ☺) at a potential savings? Go to the Wisconsin Partners for SustainAbility’s online auction and bid on these items and more. That Lombardino’s night had a leading bid of two hundred dollars as of press time, but the estimated actual value was three hundred dollars.
Josie Pradella, owner of Terra Source chocolates (which were delicious—we got to taste-test them here) recently stopped by our offices to talk about buying local and encouraged us to visit the auction site. You can even bid on a Terra Source “Box-a-Month” chocolate package.
The organization’s website encourages auction bidders to “Help support local, independently-owned businesses and educational outreach year round, where we live and work and worldwide.”
Bid now, because the auction ends December 16.
Wisconsin Partners for SustainAbility Auction, through Dec. 16. http://auction.wiscpsa.org
Terra Source chocolates, 877-808-9217. terrasourcechocolates.com
Dane Buy Local, danebuylocal.com

The Bohemian Bauble’s annual “Bohemian Bazaar” is this weekend, Dec. 7–9. Um, have I mentioned buying local yet? Stop by this quaint shop to pick up bath and body goods, jewelry, art, and fun decorative goods. Bonus: many of the items are made with recycled or vintage goods, which isn’t too shabby for the environment. I see stuff like iPod cases made out of juice bags, sweater scarves, candles in tins, magazine purses, original photography and more.
Free gift wrapping all weekend, cookies and artists giveaways don’t hurt this event, either.
Bohemian Bauble Bohemian Bazaar, Dec. 7–9, 10a–4p. 404 W. Lakeside St. 333-BOHO. bohobauble.com

Three Orange Doors will be celebrating its second birthday in December by giving to a good cause: Second Harvest Foodbank. Twenty percent of profits between December 7 and 9 will go to the cause.
So get the trifecta shopping here: shopping local, buying green (the shop peddles vintage finds like a mahogany bar back from Tyrol Basin in Mt. Horeb) and donating to a good cause.
Three Orange Doors, 2789 Fitchrona Rd. 848-3336. 3orangedoors.com

Baubles Galore

If you haven’t been to The Bohemian Bauble on West Lakeside Street yet, you might want to check it out this weekend during their Two Year Anniversary sale on June 2nd. Owner Tami Beirne’s jewelry will be fifteen percent off, in addition to “a few other surprises,” according to Beirne. This funky little enclave of a shop is located next door to Lakeside Fibers and the Washington Hotel Coffee Room in a quaint neighborhood right on Monona Bay. Step inside and you’ll find jewelry, paintings, vintage clothing and accessories, crafts, and bath and body products, all made by local artists. It doesn’t hurt that Beirne and her staff is as friendly and warm as their sunny, yellow-painted walls. Two Year Anniversary Sale, June 2nd 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (Regular store hours: Thurs–Sat 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–3 p.m.)
The Bohemian Bauble, 404 W. Lakeside St. 333-2646. bohobauble.com