NEW! Madison Mannequin: Puppy Love

Guest blogger Alexandra Graves is an intern here at Madison Magazine and my eye on the streets for all things chic, eccentric or otherwise inspirational. So check back weekly for the latest “Madison Mannequin!” Lex will be conducting all interviews and providing commentary for this special weekly segment.

Maybe Sophie and Zeke, these three-year-old Yorkshire Terriers, fall outside the realm of “people watching.” But I couldn’t pass them up—they were workin’ it! Owner (or should I say stylist) Dave Heins says the dogs love getting dressed up.

“When they see the clothes, they know they’re going to go [out], so they get excited,” he says. Zeke, right, was getting in touch with his feminine side in a pink and purple striped rugby. Sophie got her diva on in an embellished “A List” blue tee.

So where do the pups get their vast wardrobe? Heins’s brother, a flight attendant, brings the dogs clothes from his travels, so their closet is filled with imports from all over, including Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt.

Holiday Happenings

It’s the Super Bowl of the shopping season: the weekend after Thanksgiving. Hilldale Shopping Center is celebrating by kicking off its sixteenth annual Tree Walk. Each store in Hilldale has the option to partner with a charity and decorate a tree with a theme of their choosing. According to a press release, customers can buy ornaments off of the trees, buy items off of the charity’s “wish list” and place them under the tree, or donate to the charity. All proceeds will of course go to the charity the tree represents.
Hilldale is also hosting a concert series from November 23 through December 24. Every weekend sees different performing groups like the Madison Youth Choirs, Edgewood High School Orchestra, Yahara River Chorus and more.
Hilldale Shopping Center, 702 N. Midvale Blvd. 238-6640. hilldale.com

Want your pick of more than 350 shops? Head downtown and check out some great shopping and holiday cheer. State Street will be decorated with greenery and holiday snowflake lights. Ride the free holiday trolley from November 24 to December 23. The best part? Free stuff! Trolley riders will receive gift bags filled with coupons and information from more than thirty businesses and organizations.
Also check out weekend song and dance as carolers and dancers take to the streets to perform.
Downtown Madison holiday activities: Nov. 24–Dec. 23. Trolleys run Sat. and Sun. noon–4p. Song/dance performances Sat. and Sun. 1–3p. visitdowntownmadison.com

Recently I found out that Dane Buy Local will be selling gift cards this year, good for use at their two hundred-plus members (some members: A Great Gift, Fontana, Eldorado Grill, The Washington Hotel Coffee Room).
Dane Buy Local’s membership roster has steadily gone up in the past few years, and this is the first year the gift cards were introduced. Cards can be purchased in any denomination from $25–$250. The card (basically a VISA gift card) is a great gift and keeps money in our local economy, which is a good thing.
Buy the cards at any of the five Home Savings Bank branches six days a week (Mon.–Fri. 7:30a–5:30p, Sat 8a–12p). 282-6000. danebuylocal.com