Read my shopping content from our December 2007 issue:
Window Shopping: Jet Set in Style
Find out why this 121-year old Madison store is still going strong (hint: it's probably their beautiful leather goods, luggage and more!)
Fabulous Finds: The Simple Shopper
Gotta know what to get now for the holidays? We'll tell you!
Shopping for the Tops
We ask local storeowners what they'd pick up for local celebs.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Gala Photos!
I attended the HospiceCare Butterfly Gala on November 17. What a great cause to support and we had a lot of fun in the process!
Take a look at the photos!
Photos, from top:
Top left: Shayna Miller, associate/style editor, Madison Magazine; Tiffany Thom, marketing director, Madison Magazine; Sarah Andler; Sara Goetz, foundation executive assistant, HospiceCare; Jenn Sweet, special events coordinator, HospiceCare.
Top right: Shayna Miller and Dan Chin, director of public affairs at HospiceCare.
Middle: Jenn Sweet, special events coordinator at HospiceCare and Sarah Andler, senior production designer at Madison Magazine.
Dan Chin and Sarah Andler.
Bottom: Tiffany Thom, Shayna Miller and Dan Chin.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
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
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
This Weekend Only!
Two local businesses are hosting events this weekend for your shopping pleasure, too.
Check out the third annual High Noon Craftacular on November 24–25. Twenty emerging and established artists on the “alternative” craft scene will have their crafts for sale. Items include crocheted hand towels, purses and rugs; baby items; fun kitschy stuff; and handbags, clothing and more. “Recycling artist” Emily Kircher, one of the Craftacular’s featured artists, wrote to me: “In light of recent recalls on imported and mass-produced goods, it makes more sense than ever to shop handmade and local!”
So stop by the sale and buy something unique for a loved one—something they surely won’t find anywhere else!
High Noon Craftacular, Nov. 24–25, 10a–4p, free. High Noon Saloon, 701 E. Washington Ave. http://craftacular.glitterworkshop.com
Dottie Rose will be hosting an OR’iEN trunk show. From what owner Melissa Ernst writes about the designer: “ORi’EN is designed by the fabulous Chicago designer Cyndi Chan. She uses classic silhouettes and shapes with modern details and construction!” From what I saw online, Chan’s items are beautiful (I saw a short and long satin trench coat and a pleated halter dress that were gorgeous) and Ernst writes that Chan’s clothing was recently featured on Oprah and in Lucky. Cool!
Dottie Rose ORi’EN trunk show, Nov. 24, 10a–5p. 1835 Parmenter St. 831-9099.
Check out the third annual High Noon Craftacular on November 24–25. Twenty emerging and established artists on the “alternative” craft scene will have their crafts for sale. Items include crocheted hand towels, purses and rugs; baby items; fun kitschy stuff; and handbags, clothing and more. “Recycling artist” Emily Kircher, one of the Craftacular’s featured artists, wrote to me: “In light of recent recalls on imported and mass-produced goods, it makes more sense than ever to shop handmade and local!”
So stop by the sale and buy something unique for a loved one—something they surely won’t find anywhere else!
High Noon Craftacular, Nov. 24–25, 10a–4p, free. High Noon Saloon, 701 E. Washington Ave. http://craftacular.glitterworkshop.com
Dottie Rose will be hosting an OR’iEN trunk show. From what owner Melissa Ernst writes about the designer: “ORi’EN is designed by the fabulous Chicago designer Cyndi Chan. She uses classic silhouettes and shapes with modern details and construction!” From what I saw online, Chan’s items are beautiful (I saw a short and long satin trench coat and a pleated halter dress that were gorgeous) and Ernst writes that Chan’s clothing was recently featured on Oprah and in Lucky. Cool!
Dottie Rose ORi’EN trunk show, Nov. 24, 10a–5p. 1835 Parmenter St. 831-9099.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Shopping Made Easy
Shop It To Me is like your own personal shopper—online. Shoppers simply fill out basic personal information about themselves and then select the brands and sizes they're looking for. Soon after, shoppers will receive heads-up emails on matches they've selected. Sounds pretty easy to me. Brands include Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Ellen Tracy, Ann Taylor, Christian Dior, and more.
One of the featured retailers on Shop It To Me is Shopbop, right here out of Madison (others include Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, etc.). I have been to Shopbop's website quite a few times (ALL work-related of course) and was very impressed with their extensive and easy-to-navigate site. Shopbop could teach other retailers a lesson or two in how to lay out a website. It's no surprise they're featured on Shop It To Me (well, the clothing doesn't hurt either)!
shopittome
Bop, 222 W. Gorham St. 255-2570. shopbop.com
One of the featured retailers on Shop It To Me is Shopbop, right here out of Madison (others include Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, etc.). I have been to Shopbop's website quite a few times (ALL work-related of course) and was very impressed with their extensive and easy-to-navigate site. Shopbop could teach other retailers a lesson or two in how to lay out a website. It's no surprise they're featured on Shop It To Me (well, the clothing doesn't hurt either)!
shopittome
Bop, 222 W. Gorham St. 255-2570. shopbop.com
Toys!
Barbie was my favorite toy growing up. I know—surprise, surprise. I still like fashion today, and I think I have credit Barbie for that with all of her interchangeable outfits! Mattel, maker of Barbie, is opening a brand-new Mattel Toy Store in Middleton on Monday, November 19. This is Mattel’s seventh toy store (the rest are located in California or Texas).
On Mattel’s website, you can print out some great coupons to start saving on holiday shopping. Since Mattel makes the brands Hot Wheels, Barbie, Matchbox, Tyco and Fisher-Price, you can start stocking up on presents for your favorite little boy or girl.
The Mattel Toy Store, 8400 Fairway Place, Middleton. 836-7200. matteltoystore
On Mattel’s website, you can print out some great coupons to start saving on holiday shopping. Since Mattel makes the brands Hot Wheels, Barbie, Matchbox, Tyco and Fisher-Price, you can start stocking up on presents for your favorite little boy or girl.
The Mattel Toy Store, 8400 Fairway Place, Middleton. 836-7200. matteltoystore
Go Big Red
The downtown University Book Store, known for all things Badger (and, well, textbooks too—you know, those things you use in college?), will be carrying a fair-trade T-shirt. The T-shirt actually looks the same as a regular old standard-issue “Wisconsin” shirt. The difference? This T-shirt is made by companies that pay their workers fair wages, have good working conditions and gender equality, and encourage better environmental practices. According to Wikipedia, “In 2006, fair trade certified sales amounted to approximately $2.3 billion worldwide, a 41 percent year-to-year increase.”
I also noticed that the University Book Store carries an organic cotton T-shirt, too. Looks like Bucky’s jumping on the fair trade/organic bandwagon—hopefully that means there’ll be more of those products to come.
The University Book Store, 711 State St. 257-3584 (downtown).
702 N. Midvale Blvd. 238-8455 (Hilldale). uwbookstore.com
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