Hidden Treasure
Posted on December 31st, 2010 by Alicia McColl
It’s been referred to as the “last five and dime,” does not advertise regularly that anyone can see and has been in St. Louis for as far back as someone around here can remember.
Spicer’s in Ladue is the place to go for just about… well a lot of stuff. There are plenty of toys, including jolly stuffed animals and some popular lines you can find at Toys R Us but there’s also many lesser-known but award-winning brands, such as a miniature sandbox with construction trucks. There’s also greeting cards, puzzles, school supplies and candy. A lot of candy.
A popular draw for the younger set is an entire aisle devoted to baskets of bite-size candy pieces like you found at five and dimes of yesteryear. Reese’s, Jolly
Ranchers, bubble gum, little chocolate baseballs and basketball, Laffy Taffy and tons, tons more. Each small piece is .10 to .25 cents apiece. There are also full-size bars and bags.
It is a perfect place to forage for goodies for a child’s birthday party, holiday gifts, any type of stationary or greeting card and of course candy. Has someone been a good boy or girl lately?
Max Spicer opened the store in 1947 as Spicers 5 & 10 and it has changed ownership since a couple of times but it is still located in Ladue in the Schnuck’s Ladue Crossing shopping center. Store hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m to 6 p.m. and Sundays noon to 5 p.m.
Tags: St. Louis Shopping
Purina Farms Hosts Pet-acular Bazaar
Posted on December 10th, 2010 by Alicia McColl
Santa comes to town for the dogs on Dec. 11-12 at Pet-acular Holiday Bazaar at the Purina Event Center at Purina Farms. Dog lovers can celebrate the holidays and shop with their canine on those two days, which will feature unique crafts,
gifts and stocking stuffers. You can also get your dog’s picture with Santa, and watch the Pro Plan canine performance team in action. The event also features activities for the kids and pet adoptions. The Bazaar runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Your dog must stay on a leash and be up-to-date on all vaccinations. A visible rabies tag is required.
Visit www.purina.com for more info.
Tags: St. Louis Attractions, St. Louis Shopping
New Salon Has Pretty Bows and Lollipops
Posted on October 23rd, 2010 by Alicia McColl
There’s a new salon in town and it’s definately not your mama’s beauty parlor. It’s a place where the toddler to tween set can go and glam it up without booster seats, boring magazines and coffee makers.
Sweet & Sassy has made its debut at West County Center and brings primping and pampering to a whole new level. The Snip-Snap Station, with its purple salon chairs and screens with children’s programming, offers girls and boys
haircuts, up-dos and braiding. A special first haircut for baby includes a hair locket, certificate, lollipop and photo.
Move over to the lime, purple and orange-colored sectionals for a Mini-Mani, Mini-Pedi or combo. Manicures and pedicures include a choice of one nail art and a ring. The Pampered Place also offers mini-facials and makeup applications – including glitter if you want – and instead of stale coffee these customers are likely enjoying one of Sweet & Sassy’s gourmet lollipops.
The Sassy Shoppe includes fashion accessories to compliment your new look plus room decor and bath products.
Spa and Glam Girl celebrations are perfect for birthday parties. Grab your BFFs and choose one of the eight signature party themes such as the Pop Star, Enchanted Princess, Night on the Red Carpet and Designer Diva. There’s also an actual pink Party Girls on the Go limosine for additional star treatment to and from the salon.
Store hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. It is located on the lower level between Macy’s and Nordstrom.
Sweet & Sassy is the brainchild of founder and CEO Dixie Drake-Davis. The Texas-based company has 30 stores nationwide. The West County store is the first to open in Missouri.
Tags: Family Friendly, St. Louis Shopping
A Romp Through Nordstrom Rack
Posted on October 5th, 2010 by Alicia McColl
Walking into Nordstrom Rack is like walking into a giant sale section of a department store. Maybe because that’s exactly what it is. The Rack is Nordstrom’s off-price division and a stroll through won’t disappoint.
The Rack has apparel from their stores and their web site available for 50 to 60 percent off original store prices. You’ll find fashions from Ralph Lauren, Kenneth Cole, Anne Klein, Eileen Fisher and other well-known designers. You may find activewear suits from Juicy Couture for around $40 and women’s Columbia fleece jackets for less than $50 and plenty of them. Women’s Columbia jackets are half off Nordstrom store prices at around $100 each, but there are some such as the Columbia Titanium coat that was under $60.
There are accessories from Kenneth Cole and other manufacturers, brands purchased specifically for The Rack such as a Fashion Ring that sells for $6.97.
Their are rounders of dresses that were once in a Nordstrom store and will be about one-third to half the cost of department-store prices. These racks are clearly labeled, as are all displays within the store, with the price range of items hanging underneath, such as $39.99-$59.99. This could be one of the best features of the store. If you are on a budget, you know exactly where to dive in.
The store is focused on apparel – women’s, men’s and a small childrens section – accessories and shoes. The entire back of the store is devoted to aisles of shoes from Guess, Enzo Angiolini, New Balance, Nine West and others. If you are looking for basic black pumps you may be out of luck but can find a pair of Vaneli flats for $49.99 or Converse sneakers for $39.99.
Will this mean the end of shopping at the mall? Probably not, but we sure are lucky to have one of the 76 Nordstrom Racks here in St. Louis. Who doesn’t love a sale?
Store hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Rack is located at 1585 S. Brentwood Blvd. in Brentwood Square.
Tags: St. Louis Shopping
Support Your Team with Licensed Sports Team Apparel
Posted on September 20th, 2010 by Alicia McColl
Visit St. Louis any time of year and you’ll quickly learn we have some SERIOUS sports fans.
Attend a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game – especially in October – and you will find yourself immersed in what has often been described as a “Sea of Red.” Almost everyone in attendance – usually topping 45,000 in number – will be decked out in some form of Cardinal red. You will see plenty of replica jerseys, with the numbers of both current and former Cardinals players represented, as well as a variety of t-shirts, sweatshirts and jackets.
If you plan on attending a game – or you just want to blend in – the best place to find all your Cardinal gear is at the team’s Hall of Fame Team Store, which is located at Busch Stadium and open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. The store features everything Cardinals, including all the apparel items you can imagine. You can find practically any other Redbird souvenir there as well (would you believe a Cardinals’ pool table?).
The Cardinals Clubhouse Shop has several area locations including Union Station, Galleria Mall, St. Louis Mills, St. Clair Square, Mid Rivers Mall and South County Mall. The shops feature a large selection of merchandise, from novelties to licensed Cardinals team clothing from infant to adult sizes.
You can gear up for the St. Louis Rams and the NFL season – or NASCAR, the NBA, NCAA and just about every other sport – at the Sports Fan-Attic shop at West County, Mid Rivers or Chesterfield Malls. Sports Fan-Attic offers one of the largest selections of officially licensed sports memorabilia in the United States. Fan-A-Mania in the Mills, Chesterfield and St. Clair Square, features items brandishing popular local teams, plus college teams and golf.
Hockey season is also not far off. You can get ready by visiting the Blues Authentic Team Store at Scottrade Center. The store features items from St. Louis’ hockey team. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and during Blues’ home games.
So be a good sport and support your team!
Tags: Downtown St. Louis, St. Louis Shopping
Cash & Carry Boutique Sale is Back!
Posted on January 15th, 2010 by Erin Callier
The rapid heart rate, the darting eyes, the enhanced reflexes . . . no, we’re not talking about an animal ready to pounce in the wild, but we are talking about a creature on the hunt that just may be adorned in leopard print. The creature? A fashionista. 
And at the 2010 Cash & Carry Boutique sale on January 29 & 30, all of her well-honed instincts will be on high alert. Zeroing in on that perfect slingback, rapidly eliminating the unflattering tube top, ready to pounce on that perfect LBD, and snagging bargains faster than a mongoose on a snake.
At St. Louis’ first Cash & Carry Boutique Sale of the new decade, 18 local boutiques will gather in one place, offering designer fashions for women, men and children at 50% to 90% off the original retail prices. This is an opportunity for fashionistas to earn their pinstripes and snag some serious designer duds at unheard of prices. Shop the discounted threads from some of St. Louis’ most popular boutiques, including Ivy Hill, Mary Jane’s, Blush, Pink Magnolia, Wish Shoes, and many others.
To wet your retail whistle, some of the designers available at the Cash & Carry Sale include Ella Moss, Susana Monaco, Ben Sherman, Seychelles, Tulle and Free People.
The sale will take place in the empty retail space next to Crate & Barrel at The Boulevard shopping center in Brentwood. Sale hours are from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30.
The early bird entrance fee on Friday is a suggested $10 and Saturday’s is just $5. Proceeds generated from the entrance fees will benefit the St. John’s Mercy Foundation.
As implied in the name of the sale, all transactions are cash only and final.
Tags: Blush, Cash & Carry Boutique Sale, Ivy Hill Boutique, Mary Jane's, Pink Magnolia, St. Louis On a Budget, St. Louis Shopping, The Boulevard, Wish
Shop Missouri’s Finest for the Holidays
Posted on December 11th, 2009 by Erin Callier
If you’re at a loss for what to get for the peeps on your seemingly endless holiday shopping list, the Missouri Mercantile at the St. Louis Mills Shopping Center is just the spot to achieve that ideal ratio of retail-consciousness (all items at the Mercantile are made locally) and pure delight. 
The Missouri Mercantile is the type of place that when you step in, you know you’ll find at least a little something for every type of person on your list, from the boss to the secret-Santa to your mom & dad or even your pet. The Missouri Mercantile handpicks Missouri-made goods from local artisans, wineries, butchers, bakers and even candlestick-makers.
Shop the finest wines from over a dozen Missouri wineries, food products, divine handmade soaps, artwork, superb gift boxes and other unique items all made in the Show-Me-State. At the Missouri Mercantile, “It’s the thought that counts,” will ring true, but without it’s usual connotation. The items you will find at the Missouri Mercantile are thoughtful in that “I-searched-high-&-low-for-the-perfect-gift- for-you-and-this-truly-is-spot-on kind of way.”
Some shop standouts include the scotch oatmeal cookies from Dad’s Cookie Company in St. Louis and a Seyval Blanc from the Augusta Winery. If you can’t make into the Missouri Mercantile, be sure to shop their online store for your favorite locavore.
For more info on the Missouri Mercantile and to browse online, click here.
Also, while you’re cruising the Mercantile and the rest of the Mills, be sure to release your latent Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the NASCAR Speedpark. Zoom-Zoom!
Tags: Missouri Mercantile, Nascar Speedpark, St. Louis Mills, St. Louis Shopping
A Crafty Approach to Holiday Shopping
Posted on December 4th, 2009 by Erin Callier
As the holiday’s kick into full gear and the shopping malls swell with frenzied shoppers, St. Louis offers many non-mall gift-buying opportunities for those looking for something a little more unique for their equally unique loved ones. 
Over the weekend of Dec. 4-6, St. Louis will host a trifecta of arts & crafts shows that promise a multitude of eclectic, one-of-a-kind finds for everyone on your list. Now, these aren’t your grandmother’s arts & crafts shows, but don’t leave here at home cause she’ll probably find something she likes too! Like last weekends Rock & Roll Craft Show at Third Degree Glass Factory, these shows offer an edgy alternative to this classic concept.
From Dec. 4-6, the Big Ass Indie Art & Craft Show at the Mad Art Gallery will feature St. Louis’ biggest collection of alternative arts and crafts in one spot. Shop handmade clothing, jewelry, toys, housewares, photography and much, much more. Admission is free to this shopping craft-stravaganza. For more information click here.
On Sat. Dec. 5, just a hop and a skip from the Mad Art Gallery in Soulard, Off Broadway will host Artropy, a showcase of jewelry, textiles, photography, mixed-media, glass work, eco-fashions and other handmade goods from hyper-talented local artisans. As one of St. Louis’ hottest indie music venues, Off Broaday will surely not disappoint with this off-beat art show.
Also on Dec. 5, the Cherokee Print League Holiday Sale will take place just down the street from Artopy. An indoor/outdoor celebration off handmade goods, the Cherokee Print League Holiday Sale will feature over 25 artists and printmakers from the tri-state area, offering a spectacular variety charming, wacky, eclectic and gorgeous goods.
Local businesses will feature artists from throughout the Midwest, live music and other festivities, making this one of the more unique holiday shopping experiences around.
Click here to learn more about the event and to get an idea of the goods you may find at this sale.
Tags: Artropy, Big Ass Indie Arts & Craft Show, Cherokee Print League Holiday Sale, Firecracker Press, Mad Art Gallery, Off Broadway, St. Louis Attractions, St. Louis Holidays, St. Louis Shopping
Micro-Pricing at MacroSun International
Posted on November 13th, 2009 by Erin Callier
There’s nothing quite like the words “store-wide sale” to get a shopper’s blood flowing . . . especially this time of year. Add a bit of social and global consciousness into the the mix and we’re sold, or in this case, the intricately woven textile from Indonesia is sold! 
In an effort to make this holiday season as Fair Trade as possible, the Fair-Trade focused folks at MacroSun International in the Loop and Downtown, are discounting every single item at both locations. From now until November 23, the entire MacroSun inventory, which is made up of distinctive handcrafted goods from South Asian artisans, is at least 20% off, and some, slightly damaged and clearance items are even marked down by 70%.
With their newest shipment currently being uncrated, now is the time to shop MacroSun’s warm Himalayan winterwear, Napalese stone and sterling jewelry, vibrant tapestries and antique textiles from India, fine Buddhist and Hindu artwork, tribal carvings, whimsical home decor from Java and much more.
Also, in celebration of this macro-sale, MacroSun’s Loop location is offering free Henna body art on Saturday, Nov. 14 & the 21 from 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
For more information on this fair trade retailer and to shop their online store, visit the MacroSun International Website.
Tags: Downtown St. Louis, MacroSun International, St. Louis Shopping, The Loop
Boutiques . . . They Grow Up So Fast.
Posted on November 11th, 2009 by Erin Callier
Ivy Hill Boutique in the Central West End is one-year-old! And what a fashionable year it has been. The moment owner Hillary Dutcher opened the chic doors at Ivy Hill one year ago, fashionistas have flocked to this sweet shop for show-stopping handbags and accessories, dresses for that special evening, gifts for family and friends, and much more.
On Wednesday, November 11, Ivy Hill will usher in year two with a special anniversary celebration for its shoppers. From 5-7 p.m. Ivy Hill boutiquers will enjoy festive treats and receive 30% off one item in the store.
With tons of new arrivals, including Big Buddha handbags, Viv&Ingrid jewelry, French Connection dresses, Tulle jackets and more, this is a great opportunity to snag that piece you’ve been lusting after or, if you’ve never been to Ivy Hill, discover a new favorite St. Louis boutique.
For a peak inside what’s in store at Ivy Hill and more, visit the Ivy Hill Blog.
Tags: Central West End, Ivy Hill Boutique, St. Louis Shopping