Tag Archives: homewood

In Love With: Bringing Christmas to Birmingham

So I know the economy’s tight when the hardware store in Mountain Brook Plaza is out of canning equipment. The jars and cookers that used to languish under an inch of well-meaning dust are gone. It’s proof that everyone is hunkering down into a bad patch. Which totally stinks when Christmas is just around the corner.

At a time like this, big box stores with their super sales, coupons, and aggressive ad campaigns seem like a boon for stretching Christmas dollars. However, Macy’s and Walmart don’t need your cash as much as many of our homegrown merchants do. This year, more than ever, remember the independent shops that give our city its amazing character. Affordable treats can be found almost everywhere, and each choice makes our Birmingham economy stronger – and keeps our friends and neighbors in business. You won’t face the same ugly mall traffic as at our venerable shopping centers. And hey, now that gas is back to 1993 levels, you have no excuse not to bypass the one-stop stores…

Here’s a rundown of some of the places I’ll be hitting as I shop:

What’s on 2nd and Urban Standard‘s boutique (downtown Birmingham)

Red Rain, At Home, Homewood Toy and Hobby and Collage in Homewood

Atmosphere and Interiors Market in Pepper Place

Jonathan Benton Booksellers (Mountain Brook Village) and The Alabama Booksmith (Homewood)

• The gift shops at the Botanical Gardens and Vulcan Park & Museum

Hanna Antiques close to Lakeview

Village Wine Market in English Village

Tria Market and V. Richards

Happy Holidays, everyone. Be safe and shop smart!

Got plans this weekend? 5.2 – 5.4

Celebrate Hoover Day has been moved to Sunday. But that means you can go to the Noble Street Festival in Anniston instead on Saturday. This festival seems to revolve around watching people go really fast on bikes, bicycles that is. When we say fast, we’re talking 40 mph. That’s scary fast. But the festival does have more to offer. There’s food from area restaurants, a whole day of music, kids’ activities including the McWane Science Center KidZone and more. The music is free and most of the kids’ stuff is too. You’ll have to buy tickets for the food. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The website does say rain or shine so take the umbrellas.

Celebrate Hoover Day? We Love Homewood Day? How do you choose? More after the jump…

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Got plans this weekend? 2.15 – 2.17

Congratulations on surviving Valentine’s Day! Or did you screw up by buying a blender instead of some bling? It’s not too late to make it up to your sweetie. Love can still be in the air.

Tonight try your hand at painting. Jennifer Harwell Art is hosting a Valentine Paint Party complete with heavy hors d’oeuvres catered by Tria paired with a selection of Tria’s finest wines. Two hours (7-9 p.m.) equals two paintings to proudly hang on the walls at home. Call RIGHT NOW 802-7847 because the event sold out last year. Cost is $50 per person. The gallery is located in SoHo Square, Homewood.

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In Love With: Unabashed Femininity

I go a little stir-crazy this time of year, when the holidays have been filed as blurry memories and spring seems like a distant dream. I’m tired of layering bulky sweaters until I look like the StayPuft Marshmallow man, sick of static electricity, and done with the dry skin and splitting hands. The only recourse I’ve discovered is to dose myself well with unabashed femininity and wait it out.The first step is visiting Three Sheets in Homewood. This bastion of domesticity is crammed with lovely bedroom and bathroom things to touch, smell and try out. More often as not, I end up treating myself to a bath oil or fizzy bathbomb, since the beddings are too far out of my price range to do anything but caress. In the early stages of winter-ick, just a short visit, and maybe a Deep Steep lotion, is enough to pry me out of it.

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