Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "boutique"

Frill seeker: the epitome of Midtown fashion

2013-04-15T05:23:35Z

This month’s Second Saturday included a fashion show held at the Spanish Fly Hair Garage’s Fly Fest. The Fly Fest is a special event held every spring highlighting local art and the wonderful hair salon, Spanish Fly Hair Garage, owned by Shannon Martin (who also does styling too). The whole event was a fashion affair. Local bands featured in Karen Wilkinson’s article performed during the event. I especially loved this guitarist’s leather moto jacket from the event.

Before the fashion show, I got my face painted by Jenn Boone of Gypsy Mountain, who drove down from Paradise to support her sister’s salon. She gave me a rainbow eye with faux blue bindis. I am such a sucker for face paint. Face paint is a fun and simple way to give yourself (or a friend) some added personality on a fun night out, especially in an artistic environment like Midtown. Afterward, I had my picture taken by Gideon D. Photography (be sure to check out all the photos, including mine, at www.gideondphotography.com!). I always enjoy coming to Second Saturday in Midtown because of the friendly people and all the free entertainment.

The fashion show featured clothes from local boutiques like Krazy Mary’s Boutique, showcasing the latest trends you find walking the streets of Midtown. I would classify it as grunge chic, or an edgier twist to ’90s fashion. The “Mom pants” from the era become flattering, high-waisted, acid-wash shorts, and denim vests become distressed with patches of trendy fabric. My favorite look of the night featured a white oversized blouse with shimmery red hot pants. This model strutted with attitude showing some of my favorite summer trends: statement necklaces, short shorts and light hair. The weather is already heating up in Sacramento, so head to Krazy Mary’s and Sugar Shack Boutique to get these summer staples!

After the fashion show, I walked up and down J Street with my sister, Taylor. We visited an art show at the Cuilla Brothers Photo Garage that is also an auto body shop. The art show featured many local artists, such as Korpsey, who does illustration and design – some featured on a car in the body shop. I loved the welding works done by Lianna Peters, a student from Sierra College. Lianna Peters always saw art as a hobby, and it wasn’t until college she realized it could be her career. Her best sellers featured at the art show were the bronze-colored roses she spends three to five hours making by hand. I was particularly drawn to her collage piece on a spinning platform, featuring a hummingbird and painted wood. Her eclectic display consisted of welding artwork, paintings and collages.

I always love checking out the local arts in the greater Sacramento area. Midtown is particularly one of my favorite places to check out. I think it’s because it’s the most fashion-forward area of Sacramento. You can always walk around Midtown and see something fresh; I would say a lot of street style in Midtown inspires my personal style. They also showcase local bands, deejays and eateries. I also received a few coupons while walking around to eateries on J Street, and I can’t wait to check them all out when I’m in need of a new food hot spot!

Disclosure: Check out more fashion inspiration and local happenings on my Instagram: @torikobayashi, or my Twitter: @toraaae. I am also write for College Fashionista. Check out my street style articles at http://www.collegefashionista.com/victoriakobayashi.

The Moppet Shoppe – children's boutique comes to Midtown from Elk Grove

2012-11-05T15:50:06Z

Carolee Neronde opened the doors of her children’s clothing boutique, The Moppet Shoppe, Oct. 27 in Midtown, moving to the central city after spending 21 years in Elk Grove.

“I had to leave, because the shopping center I was in was dead,” she said. “It was just me and a scrapbooking place for retail, and I stared out at a parking lot full of cars all day.”

In her new spot at 2524 J St., she has what she’s been looking for – the constant hustle and bustle of foot traffic.

The space previously housed the Upper Playground clothing store, and Neronde said that the first time she saw the place, she knew she had to have it. A month later, her doors were open.

Moppet is Old English for child, and the name was a natural fit for Neronde, who enjoys classic English literature and carries clothes for children – from premature sizes up to age 16.

“It’s a boutique, so we carry higher-end brands,” she said, adding that some of her popular clothing labels include Giggle Moon and Biscotti.

Some of the shoes she said her customers seek out include the brands See Kai Run and Pediped.

One concern with moving to Midtown, she said, is parking. Some of her regular customers told her they wouldn’t shop in the central city because of the parking situation, but others said they’d gladly make the drive – and weren't worried about parking.

“Sacramento doesn’t have a parking problem,” Neronde said. “I never have trouble parking down here.”

The benefits, however, outweigh the perception of parking, Neronde added. Proximity to East Sacramento, constant foot and vehicle traffic and the fact that Midtown is mixed-use – allowing her to operate just yards from residences – are all aspects she sees as positives.

Down the street, at the corner of 25th and J streets, is Birkenstock Midtown. Co-owner Toni Budworth said she is happy to see The Moppet Shoppe move in, and she thinks it will enhance her business.

“We have a lot of the same customers,” Budworth said. “People come to our stores looking for high-quality products and good service.”

Birkenstock Midtown has been open for a decade, and Budworth said she thinks the two stores will complement each other well.

“Most of our customers are women, and a lot of them, like me, are recent grandparents,” she said. “It would make a great women’s outing to go shopping for shoes and pick something up for a grandchild or a child.”

Neronde said she has felt welcomed by the other businesses in the area, and she thinks the Midtown district has a good mix of locally owned shops appreciated by the residents.

“I’m really happy to be here,” she said. “It’s really exciting.”

A Passion for Fashion: Opening of Her Closet in Old Sacramento

2012-08-25T01:25:08Z

Enter Her Closet, and enter a place that has the comfort of your own personal closet. Co-owners Sharie Thompson and Marcell Wilson bring familiarity and coziness to Old Sacramento with their newly opened Her Closet boutique, located at 900 2nd Street.

“When we opened up, I wanted to have a feel of your girlfriend’s closet,” Thompson said of the name. “When you’re going out and you go to your girlfriend’s closet, you always see cute things in there. So, I wanted this to be something similar.”
Open since July 3, Her Closet invites people into a room full of natural lighting and color. Brick walls are painted white, an offset against the wooden floors, and long accessory shelves sit above racks of clothes like the racks of personal closet.

The display table near the entrance is adorned a variety of inventory. A small rack with blue, pink and yellow earrings sit on one end and metallic bangles are on display at the other end. The table also has small evening clutches, some reminiscent of Alexander McQueen’s, with an affordable price tag range of $49 to $69.

“Those are unique purses,” said Thompson. “Until it fades away, we’re going to keep them. A lot of people come in here just for that.”

Along the walls, next to the display table, the bold stripes and bright blue sequins of the silky T-shirts and tank tops catch the eye. Pastel-colored shirts fit for the warm season hang alongside other shirts of vibrant shades of red, blue and yellow.

Near the pink dressing rooms, thick and skinny belts of different colors hang on a pink wall next to wooden bangles and earrings adorned with gold and brass.

“We’re always looking for new pieces, to introduce new pieces to the store,” Wilson said. “Something that has a different feel to it, that’s not just everywhere. You can come into Her Closet and find it here.”

Her Closet provides affordable prices and varied selection of sizes, ranging from size zero to 4X, with new inventory arriving regularly.

“We have the boutique feel but we just don’t want the boutique prices,” said Thompson. “So, we try to keep the prices reasonable where we can have our college students come and shop and then our professional woman come and shop as well.”

Natasha Davis, an employee of Her Closet and best friend to Thompson, also spoke of the store’s prices and how customers buy quality clothing.

“Just because our quality is great doesn’t mean our prices are super, super high,” Davis added. “The way they buy, they pick things that stand out.”

Style and fashion have been a part of Thompson and Wilson’s lives for years.

Originally from Los Angeles, Thompson enjoyed fashion since childhood. Thompson had a keen interest in accessories, which translated into making bracelets.

Wilson, of Sacramento, has always had an interest in fashion. He also began to cut, style and photograph his own clothes starting in ninth grade. Wilson also has an upcoming fashion line in the works called Star Struck.

Their mutual interest in fashion came full circle three months ago. It happened during a bike ride Thompson and Wilson were taking through Old Sacramento one day. Wilson noticed the availability sign in the building. Thompson and Wilson took photos of the building, contacted the owner the following day, and signed for the space three days later.

“We just went out on faith,” Thompson said.

Her Closet is not the only business that Thompson and Wilson are involved. Thompson works for her company, DreamGirls Fine Hair Imports and Salon, as a hairstylist, and Wilson works for the Elk Grove Water Company. Her Closet stemmed from enjoyment instead of necessity for work.

When asked about the reasoning behind opening Her Closet, Thompson said, “This is something we love. This is something that we love to do.”

The store hours are Monday through Friday, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Locally owned: Monica Hall Spa Collection

2012-08-21T13:51:09Z

"Locally Owned” is a regular column highlighting local business owners — the backbone of our community and economy. The column explores the personal stories of the owners and the businesses they built.

With feet rooted in contrasting cultures, Monica Hall’s life pattern has been to tread different paths and seek to find a balance between them. In her newest endeavor, the Monica Hall Spa Collection of organic skin care products, Monica has found the perfect synthesis.

Born in Canada, and half-Native American Cree, Monica was uprooted from her family in the “scoop” of the 1950s and ‘60s, when Native American children were taken from their homes and placed with non-Native American families to ostensibly improve the children’s impoverished lives. The “Indian Adoption Project,” administered by the Child Welfare League, was eventually renounced because of a multitude of detrimental effects on the children, their families and tribal culture.

Monica was adopted by a family in Alaska who later moved to California, where Monica embraced the California lifestyle. She became enamored with the beauty industry, worked as a makeup artist and skin care expert for Chanel and launched brands for luxury retailers Neiman Marcus and I. Magnin.

She also taught in cosmetology schools, mentoring students about skin care and job search skills.

Monica always had a yearning to connect to her biological family, and at age 22 began an arduous search for them. She located them in Canada and was thrilled to find that she had a huge family.

“It felt like I had known them forever,” says Monica.

With her newfound family, she also discovered her Native American heritage. Her great-auntie Terry came to Monica’s Carmichael home and taught her about Cree healing traditions and herbology. Monica soaked up her auntie’s teachings and expanded her knowledge to include essential oils and the mood-changing properties of aromatherapy.

Simultaneously, Monica was becoming established in a new career path in corporate advertising. She enjoyed success in the industry working for Fortune 500 companies.

Monica took time off from her job to raise her son and daughter. During this time, she realized that both her children had skin allergies and other health issues, but weren’t able to take antibiotics or use commercial skin care products for relief. Monica redoubled her natural healing studies and added homeopathy to her arsenal to help them heal. Monica found the tools very powerful, “like magic.”

With her newly acquired knowledge, Monica started making natural products for Christmas gifts. She experimented in her kitchen, making a lip balm that would give true relief. Her husband designed labels for the balm tubes. In the 1990s she ventured into soaps, including Cassia Clove, an all-natural aromatherapy herbal soap of cinnamon and clove.

As both her expertise and customer interest grew, Monica created her own company Plantlife Inc. to be a pioneer in the natural products industry. She served as its CEO and eventually sold the company in 1999.

In 2007 Monica returned to the personal care industry. Drawing on her lifetime of experience, she began creating a line of anti-aging skin products.

While developing her new products, she consulted the Environmental Working Group reports, which analyze cosmetics ingredients, and learned that many personal care products in the U.S. contain carcinogens and other toxins. To ensure that her products were natural and safe, she sought out a eco-friendly chemist, and together they developed all-natural, plant-based products.

Monica says that her anti-aging products address seven signs of skin aging and do so in a formulation that uses only healthy and safe ingredients. Her products are Certified Vegan, organic and sustainable, aromatherapeutic, 100 percent pure and leave a minimal carbon footprint from their production.

Natural products are gaining in popularity. Kline & Company, a consulting and research firm, reports that the market for natural personal care products experienced global double-digit growth during 2005-2010. Between 2009 and 2010, the U.S. market grew by 12 percent.

Monica notes that many “natural” products contain synthetic and petroleum ingredients that “work against the body’s natural rhythms and can actually accelerate aging.” She designed her line to be all-natural, healthy and highly effective.

She feels strongly about educating the public about product safety, and provides extensive background information about all her products. Her blog contains longevity, wellness, beauty and cosmetic safety information.

Her collection includes toners, cleansers, masque, and moisturizers and a TheraDermic delivery system that reaches the basal cell level. Monica says that her bestselling item is “The Organic Face Lift,” a phyto firming masque. The product description says that the masque tightens and firms facial muscles and minimizes fine lines and wrinkles.

The Monica Hall Spa Collection was launched in 2012 and is already drawing international attention. Monica says that she has been contacted by Ed Begley Jr. of the “Living With Ed” TV show, and by the producers of Lifetime’s “Balancing Act” to discuss showcasing her products.

In addition, a new web shopping platform has just launched, backed by the world’s second largest Internet company Rakuten. The platform, called VAULT, describes itself as “the world’s first boutique marketplace” that eliminates the middleman and allows shoppers to interact directly “with the most exclusive, sought-after designers and brands.”

Monica says that her Monica Hall Spa Collection will participate in VAULT. She notes that she is in the process of creating her HD video and storefront for the site. Monica is excited about the venture because the site will have great exposure and will only feature “unbelievable niche brands and cool products that have a story.”

Monica sees her company as becoming a “pre-eminent provider of luxury personal care, longevity and wellness-related products.” As her brand takes off, she will ramp up production and increase her outreach, including appearances on TV networks and at red carpet events at the Grammys and Emmys. She welcomes inquiries from investors.

The many paths that Monica has taken in her life seem to have led her to this unique place of balance, where her interests and expertise in beauty, natural ways, education, business and advertising all converge into the brand that is Monica herself.

Monica Hall Spa Collection products can be purchased at her website or at select spas. Plantlife Inc. body care products are sold at Whole Foods and the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op. In addition, her Facebook page (Monica Hall Spa) contains beauty tips and tricks and information about cosmetic safety.

Racks: Midtown's newest vintage clothing store

2012-08-03T23:04:01Z

In a store window on 24th Street in Midtown, a 1950s-style sewing machine sits in a window next to a mannequin, draped in an ‘80s floral top and a thin leather belt. A collection of miniature cacti sit atop a shelf near the window, and a ‘50s billiards ad hangs from the back wall, reading “Easy Eight’s Pool and Billiards: The Best Racks in Town!”

This will soon be Midtown’s newest vintage clothing store, Racks, which celebrates its grand opening Saturday, at 1822 24th St. Racks joins other boutiques in the area such as Prevues, Sugar Shack, Bows and Arrows, Heart Clothing and Cheap Thrills.

Owner Rachel Fowler, a native of Sacramento, said it took her a while to get to this point, but she's ready.

“I’ve been collecting vintage for years in hope that I can open my own shop,” Fowler said.

Browsing the racks at the boutique, one can find clothes and accessories from almost any decade: black and brown leather cowboy boots sit below the window alongside dainty 1960s era ballet flats, and a 1950s black leather jacket adorns the wall next to plaid shirts from the '90s.

The focus of the store is broadly defined as vintage, but will also include “mid-range, reasonably priced” hard-to-find items and local designer clothing and jewelry, Fowler said. Custom tailoring will also be available.

For Fowler, the opening of Racks has been a dream since for as long as she can remember.

“When I was a kid, I shopped at thrift stores – not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I used to go to all the vintage stores,” Fowler said.

Later, that passion carried her into retail and “mom and pop shops” such as Midtown’s Cheap Thrills, giving her 13 years of experience in vintage fashion.

More recently, she has put on fashion shows in the Sacramento area, designing and orchestrating hair, make-up, and the fashion itself, which was in the style of recycled, “cut and sew,” said Fowler.

“It’s a passion, definitely,” she said.

Fowler said she is a connoisseur of the designs of the ’30s, ’40s, ’50s, and will bring that expertise to bear when choosing items for the store.

“I can just look at a label and tell if it's vintage or not,” she said. “Vintage stuff is built to last.”

Rack's grand opening will be Saturday, from noon to 9 p.m. Store hours will be Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 9 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.

Trumpette brings high-end baby boutique to Midtown Sacramento

2012-07-03T12:34:27Z

Moms and dads, fashionistas and style mavens, get ready: Trumpette is setting the stage to open its newest location this month in the old Sirlin Photography building at 2020 I St. in Midtown.

Although it is best known for baby socks designed to look like little Mary Jane shoes or Converse high-tops, fashon-forward moms may swoon just a little when they see the entire lineup of high-end designer children’s clothing and accessories that Trumpette founder Jon Stevenson has to offer.

“It’s the best for little ones,” Stevenson said. “That’s what we bring to the world.”

Stevenson, 60, opened a Trumpette retail location in Fair Oaks in 2006 and put his wholesale and manufacturing operations in Rancho Cordova. As the company grew, Stevenson said he started branching out with increased wholesale, online retail – which he refers to as “e-tail” – and building his design team.

Last October, Stevenson said he bought the 75-year-old Sirlin building on I Street to relocate the design, marketing and “e-tail” portion of the company into Midtown, and at the same time, he moved the wholesale and manufacturing portion of the company to Reno.

Stevenson said 80 percent of Trumpette’s line is baby socks, including Tumpette’s signature piece: a dozen pairs of socks in an egg crate, called “perfect little dozen.”

Other items offered at Trumpette include specially designed kids’ hoodies and “schlep bags,” which Stevenson described as high-fashion fun diaper bags that don’t fit the mold.

“I’m an old merchandiser from Macy’s, so putting things together, making them stand out – that’s what I do,” Stevenson said.

Stevenson said he was inspired to begin his company because of his experiences with his adopted son, Nicky, when the boy was an infant.

“Everyone kept saying, ‘Oh she’s such a cute little girl!’ and I just got tired of correcting everyone and saying, ‘No, he’s a boy,’ ” Stevenson said.

A fashion merchandiser in San Francisco at the time, Stevenson designed a simple onesie for his son: all white with bold, all-caps black lettering in a crisp Helvetica font that said simply “BOY” in eight languages.

He created another one that said “GIRL” and took them to a trade show in New York where then-vice president of Barney’s New York saw them and fell in love, Stevenson said.

“She told me, ‘I’m going to put you in every Barney’s in America,’ ” Stevenson said.

And she did: Twenty-three Barney’s locations across the United States started carrying Trumpette onesies in 1989. Baby socks and other children’s items soon followed. Trumpette grew into a multi-million dollar company and became a worldwide brand – Stevenson’s socks found their way to the feet of celebrities’ kids in New York and Los Angeles, including star moms such as Beyonce and Kourtney Kardashian.

When reminded that his stores focus the majority of its product line on roughly 10 percent of the baby, Stevenson is unfazed.

“Well, sure,” he said. “But everyone needs socks, so the other 90 percent is glad to have them.”

Trumpette Midtown is expected to open in July, Stevenson said, and the hours will be 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. weekdays, closed weekends.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

‘Gypsy’ a first-of-its-kind shop in Sacramento

2012-05-01T06:09:16Z

It’s like a food truck, but without the food. Gypsy Mobile Boutique is the first of its kind in Sacramento – a clothing store on wheels.

Owner Bridgette Maldonado, 34, said she happened upon the idea in 2006 while in San Diego when two women set up a mobile shop in an Airstream trailer.

“They were selling vintage clothing, and I thought it was a great idea, but I wasn’t ready to do anything like that yet,” she said on Monday.

About a month ago, Maldonado opened her own version, holding an event at Fox and Goose Pub and following up with an appearance at SactoMoFo 4, where her selection of trendy clothing, accessories and handmade jewelry was nearly sold out.

The opening comes at a time when food truck operators are growing in numbers and popularity.

Paul Somerhausen of SactoMoFo said Monday that he thinks the mobile clothing boutique is an interesting concept that adds to the mobile business scene in Sacramento.

“I think because of the economics the way they are that you’re seeing people getting pretty creative,” he said. “That’s fantastic. This is American entrepreneurial spirit.”

He added that operating out of a truck saves on the overhead and long-term loans associated with opening a traditional brick-and-mortar store.

Over the past several months, at least one food truck began operating as a truck because the owners were unable to get a lease on a building and another pair of entrepreneurs are seeking crowd-sourced funding for a startup kombucha bar.

Maldonado said she is able to offer lower prices due to the lack of overhead, with dresses averaging about $50 and women’s tops and bottoms averaging about $30.

A fitting room is part of the truck’s design.

Somerhausen said he isn’t sure if a clothing store will have the same kind of impulse-buy draw that a food truck has, but said Gypsy Mobile Boutique has been well-received by the public.

“At this point, it’s just one truck,” he said. “It will be interesting to see if more show up.”

Lisa Martinez, spokeswoman for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, said she wouldn’t be surprised if more mobile retailers start showing up.

“I think we’ve seen with the food trucks that there’s definitely some interest in bringing more options to people where they are, and I think a mobile food truck or retail truck can help increase some foot traffic temporarily, so it could be a symbiotic relationship with brick-and-mortar businesses.”

While increased foot traffic can be a boon to traditional businesses, Martinez said some restaurateurs are concerned that the mobile vendors will take some of their sales.

With Midtown’s Très Chic Boutique closing soon, Maldonado, a Midtown resident, said she wants to stay away from the territory of other boutiques to keep from stealing their business.

“I want to be a good neighbor and not get too close,” she said. “I’m trying to build relationships with the food trucks so if the food trucks go somewhere, especially with some of the state areas, I can maybe team up with them so customers can have food and shopping on their lunch hour.”

Maldonado said is developing a regular schedule of days when people can visit the truck. For more information, check the truck’s Facebook page.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Christmas gifts under $20

2011-12-21T06:58:43Z

Christmas is a time of giving and receiving, but the former may prove challenging – especially when you need financially friendly ideas. Even when it’s the thought that counts behind a gift, you still need to look like you’ve thought about it, and socks don’t always leave that impression.

To make this Christmas challenge a bit easier, The Sacramento Press looked at local stores in Midtown that have some fun options, each of them under $20.

The Beat

Location: 1700 J St.
Store hours:
Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

The Beat is an independent music store that sells all genres, new and old. Here, a unique gift can be bought for the music lovers on your Christmas list.

Vinyl records
Suggested for: Lovers and collectors of old music.

Price range: $10 - $20
“Vinyl records transcend all age groups,” said Jeff Tyler, 47, manager of The Beat. He said that a vinyl record is perfect for the dad or grandpa who wants to reminisce their yester-years by listening to the soundtracks of their lives. Tyler asked, “Who does not want to relive their childhood?"

For $16.98, a shopper can give the unique gift of Michael Jackson’s “Farewell My Summer Love” vinyl record. It can be framed, or played on the freshly dusted record player.

In the rare vinyl records section, shoppers can find albums by the likes of The Beatles, The Platters, Green Day and Madonna. Tyler also said that there is a resurgence of interest in vinyl records among teenagers this year.

"The parents are going to know what they are,” said Tyler, “because they played them when they were younger. Grandparents will know, and teenagers are learning."

Band poster
Suggested for: Lovers and collectors of new music.

Price range: $15 - $20
These posters are just as collectible and decorative as the vinyl records above. One example is this 30 inch-by-30 inch 3 Doors Down board poster, sold for $20 and perfect for that special someone.

Metro Electronics

Location: 1831 J St.
Store hours:
Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Metro Electronics is the place for electronic parts. Any geeks who wants to build their own computer can find something they need here. There are no widescreen TVs, video games or iPod accessories. Instead, they offer parts for TVs, radios and other electronic devices, and a wide range of do-it-yourself kits for building radios, burglar alarms, LED displays and other doohickeys.

Roulette wheel
Suggested for: Any teen or adult who’s run out of things to solder.

Price: $19.95
For the adults who love soldering and making objects light up, the store carries LED mini kits, including a roulette wheel. Once built, the LED lights randomly light up a number, much like the ball on the real thing. There are other potential gifts like this for the same price, including a “riding Santa,” with lights that flash in a way to animate Santa on his sleigh.

Tyranomech
Suggested for: The people who keep taking your radio apart so they can put it back together.

Price: $16.95
A solder-less mechanical motorized wooden kit, Tyranomech is perfect for teenagers who enjoy challenges outside of Lego products. Builders follow the instructions to piece this wood dinosaur together, so that it can walk (or really wobble) across your table or counter. Batteries are not included, but there’s enough change with your $20 budget to cover that.

The store’s general manager, Bob May, 58, said that this toy is perfect for kids who want to get into basic robotics, because the kit includes real gears and motors. He also admitted to putting some of these together himself, and said they can make adults feel like kids again.

"They are different," May said. “You can say, ‘I built that’ instead of, ‘I bought that.’ ”

If a dinosaur isn’t quite what you need, there’s also an Automech for the same price, which rolls on wood wheels rather than waddles on wood legs.

Trés Chic Boutiqué

Location: 2228 J St.
Store hours:
Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

A fun and friendly apparel store, Trés Chic Boutiqué has been in operation for 18 years. The owner, Susan Tiesing, 53, is proud of the fact that most of the store's special-occasion dresses are one of a kind. If you shop for something here, you won’t have worry about someone finding and wearing the same dress.

“We want our customers to have something unique and individual,” Tiesing said.

Here are some examples of items they have “in stock” now.

Guitar pick earrings
Suggested for: The girl who needs more casual (but stylish) earrings.

Price: $19.99
The funky guitar pick earrings’ fun and playful design goes well with casual denim outfits, Tiesing said. They come in red, blue and purple – but they won’t be in the store for long.

Scarves
Suggested for: Girls who wanna have fun.

Price: $19.99
This lavender scarf is a great gift for style and weather alike. Made from 100 percent pashmina, the silky material can be worn with casual or formal attire.

Fingerless gloves
Suggested for: Girls who wanna have warm hands.

Price: $15
Fingerless gloves with attached mitten are great for anyone caught texting all the time. The gloves’ fingerless tips make it easy to type when needed, and the attached mitten can be used for additional protection against the winter cold.

Vintage-inspired gloves
Suggested for: Sophisticated women, and those who think they’re sophisticated.

Price: $18
These vintage-inspired gloves are perfect for adults, according to Tiesing, because of their muted color, showing sophistication and maturity. The polyester and cotton materials are stretchable, making them comfortable to wear.

The Book Collector

Location: 1008 24th St.
Store hours:
Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

This used book store has more to offer than today’s world will admit. The store carries more than 20,000 used books, which are mostly under $15, making it a great place to find what your bookworm friends and family want. Here’s a perfect example:

“The Adventures of Peter Cottontail” and “The Adventures of Mr. Mocker”
Suggested for: Young readers and read-to-ers.

Price: $5 each
These old and worn books still have enough life in them for kids to read along, making them great Christmas gifts. Store owner Rachel Hansen said adventure stories of personified animals are classics that kids from the ’40s and ’50s enjoyed, and the kids of today will enjoy, too.

"When a parent gives a child a book,” Hansen said, “then it's not just the gift of the book, but the gift of time."

Christmas is a perfect time for these books, she said, because with bedtime stories, parents and their children can spend that special time together reading the books and enjoying each other’s company.

Peradice

Location: 918 24th St.
Store hours:
Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday noon - 4 p.m.

A card and gift store that opened in June, Peradice carries greeting cards, candles and other home goods. Lighthearted and bright, the store has plenty to offer to its customers.

“Doofus and Darling’s Manners for the Modern Man”
Suggested for: Your guy friend who sometimes doesn’t get it or your boyfriend who could learn a thing or two.

Price: $12
A fun book on a funnier subject, this book tells what it really means to be chivalrous in this day and age. Best used as a joke gift rather than as a manual.

Candle tins
Suggested for: Anyone who needs to relax this Christmas. In other words, anyone.

Price: $8
These scented candle tins come with scents like “coconut milk mango” and “tangerine teakwood.” They’re handy items when you need to cover another scent or finally have enough time to take that long, relaxing bath.

Handmade earrings
Suggested for: Moms, sisters, girlfriends, wives and any jewelry-loving female with pierced ears

Price: $18
These earrings were handmade by local Pam Nichols, a friend to the store Peradice, and come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Doilies are included with purchase.

Cuffs

Location: 2523 J St.
Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.,
Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Cuffs is a fun place to find both new and vintage clothing. The store has clothes and accessories for men and women, some clothes are fashionable and cute, and some are downright kinky. Let’s start with the kinky.

Toddland underpants
Suggested for: The one you know will laugh the loudest.

Price: $18
These men’s boxers come in playful prints, from owls to tuxedos. Comfortable, practical, and not a reason to smirk.

Vintage ties
Suggested for: Males who plan to look sharp in their suits.

Price: $12
These ties come in different colors and styles, and all are very classy.

“They all have their own back story,” said Kaitlyn Hester, 21, a clerk at Cuffs. “We just don’t know them.”

Mighty wallets
Suggested for: The one who keeps forgetting to pay you by “losing” his wallet.

Price: $15
Their mighty wallets are named for their strength and eco-friendly impact. Children often try to tear the demo wallet, twisting and wringing and biting, yet the wallet stays intact. It’s small and snugly and fits into your pocket while holding your cash. They come with different designs, from “Star Trek” to red flannel.

Mixed Bag

Location: 2405 K St.
Store hours:
Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

The self-proclaimed “one-stop gift shop” – for kids, at least. Mixed Bag is packed full of fun toys and goofy joke gifts, quite a few of them falling in the $20 price range. Here’s some of the highlights.

FuzzyFriends slippers
Suggested for: Kids who fit them and fiancés who need them.

Price: $19.95
These silly slippers take the form of ladybugs, bumblebees and other cute animals. They’re great for little ones who want both new slippers and new toys, and in this weather, no one needs to have cold feet.

Sock-It-To-Me socks
Suggested for: The one who’s tired of argyle.

Price: $8.50
Yes, we just went there. But these socks can get away with saying, “I thought of you when I saw these.” With patterns from bicycles to mustaches, these socks give a better connotation to “funky.”

Even if you woke up this morning to find that Christmas is creeping up on you, there’s still time to give. Make that Christmas (shopping) list, and don’t forget to check it twice. The only thing better than finding a gift that keeps on giving, is being that gift yourself.

The article is co-written with Ellen Dominguez

Local vegan shop reopens in new location

2011-11-18T01:49:26Z

Never Felt Better Vegan Shop, which reopened Nov. 4 in a new location at 19th and P streets, offers not only vegan food, but a range of products made in what the owners say are ethical methods by local vegans.

“Everything we offer is vegan-friendly,” said Jen Fosnight, co-owner of the store. “Nothing here was tested on animals, and there are no animal products in anything here.”

She said the shop is not just for vegans, but for anyone who wants a wide range of goods.

The boutique offers non-leather belts and wallets, vegan nacho cheese, vegan tamales, other assorted vegan and fair-trade food items, soaps, artwork produced by local vegans and even clothing made locally that promotes animal rights.

Monica Engebretson, 37, is a co-owner of the Puppy Bird clothing line – sold in the store – and worker for Born Free USA, an animal rights nonprofit organization.

“Jen asked me if I wanted to sell my clothing line in her shop, and I’m a vegan, so it seemed like a perfect fit,” Engebretson said.

She added that she and Fosnight met through Sacramento’s craft scene, as Fosnight makes jewelry.

“I like having her shop here because I can go in there and find products that maybe aren’t available or carried in other local stores,” Engebretson said. “There’s lots of local handmade items, so I know I’m not supporting sweatshops and exploitative models of consumerism.”

Engebretson said she gets clothing from secondhand stores and screen prints images of animals with quotations about preserving animal habitat and caring for animals. Oftentimes, she screen prints the images on patches and applies them to the clothes.

“We turn the clothes into a statement,” she said.

She added that seeing a vegan shop in Sacramento is “a sign that Sacramento is growing up and getting hip and getting with the times.”

Fosnight said she became a vegan about eight years ago, and her husband, Shawn Fosnight, has been a vegan for about 22 years.

Together, they decided to open the store about two years ago. Originally in an upstairs location at 24th and K streets, the move to the new location Nov. 4 provided more visibility and translated to increased foot traffic in the store.

“We are definitely not just for vegans,” Shawn Fosnight said. “Anyone can come in here, and a lot of people love the soaps, and even a lot of non-vegans buy the food because it is healthier and locally produced.”

Jeannie Trizzino, 48, is a vegan from Chico who stopped in the store Thursday morning.

“I love it here,” she said. “I can come here and buy whatever is in the store and not have to worry about looking at the labels.”

She added that places such as Trader Joe’s are selling more vegan food, and though it is well-marked, it is often mixed in with non-vegan food.

“Anyone can come in here and poke around,” Trizzino said. “They can see that being vegan isn’t hard, and it’s good for them and for animals.”

Jen Fosnight said that,as the store gains recognition, she wants Never Felt Better Vegan Shop to be a resource for vegans and non-vegans alike who would like to find out more about ethically produced items, local produce and animal rights.

One of the items Shawn Fosnight said many non-vegans come to the shop for is fair-trade chocolate, which like fair-trade coffee is produced in a manner friendly to workers and the environment.

The store is also used as a spot for people to meet up on a variety of topics, Jen Fosnight said. From 6 - 9 p.m. Dec. 10, the store will host a vegan cookie exchange, where people can bring in their favorite vegan cookies and exchange them with others.

From 6 - 9 p.m. Dec. 17, Jen Fosnight said the shop will hold a workshop on how to veganize beauty and makeup practices, including a list of products that don’t include animal products or test on animals, as well as where to get them locally.

Never Felt Better Vegan Shop is located at 1910 P St. and is open from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturdays and noon - 4 p.m. Sundays. For more information on upcoming events, check the company’s website.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Shopping through time, vintage store roundup

2011-09-16T06:14:52Z

Looking for retro prints, vintage dresses, concert tees, tailored suits, fedoras, one-of-a-kind jewelry or even a hand-sewn dress from the 1900s? The search can be satisfied right in the heart of Midtown and downtown Sacramento.

Vintage shops and boutiques pepper the city, and shop owners are constantly on the lookout for interesting, in-style and hard-to-find secondhand or even generations-old pieces to reintroduce to the public.

The Sacramento Press searched the streets of Midtown and downtown to round up some of the vintage stores offering unique, vintage goods and fashions.

Crimson and Clover
1617 16th St.
442-1800

Hours:
Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday noon - 8 p.m.
Sunday 1 - 6 p.m.

Crimson and Clover offers classic, vintage and handmade women’s clothing, jewelry and accessories primarily from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. The store is a hodgepodge of delicate, hand-sewn Victorian gowns and “museum pieces” to party dresses and pieces from the 1970s, store co-owner Kara Perez said.

“It looks like grandma’s house,” Perez added. “There are a lot of little knickknacks – it’s really girly and cute.”

Perez and business partner Nicole Honeyeater hand-make accessories, charms, rings and other jewelry from recycled material such old buttons, studs and unmatched earrings. The clothing is all hand-selected by Perez and Honeyeater. The two owners frequent thrift stores, yard sales and estate sales to find pieces fitting with current trends in clothing.

“We definitely pay attention to craftsmanship and details,” Perez said. “We usually look for something special like pleating or buttons – things that are a little more one-of-a-kind.”

Average prices range from $9 to $40. A typical outfit of a couple pieces and accessories could be put together for about $35 to $45.

Fringe
2409 21st St.
706-0216

Hours:
Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday noon - 4 p.m.
Second Sunday Love the Lot Flea Market 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
or by appointment

Since 2008, Audrey Wells, proprietress of Fringe, has offered a large selection of gently used retro fashions, home and garden decor and antique furniture from as far back as the 18th century. Wells said her shop can be compared to the store Anthropology. The styles are bohemian, modern and industrial with a touch of Chanel, she said.

She carries jewelry made with polished metal and exposed gears and pieces with rusty, heavy and masculine looks right alongside soft and feminine pieces. Women’s and men’s clothing is available, including vintage dresses and gowns, jackets, coats, shoes and cowboy boots. Along with the vintage pieces that Wells finds from foraging estate sales and flea markets, clothing lines such as Love Heals, Tamara Berg and other local designers are carried.

“I think mixing really expensive stuff with really inexpensive stuff is genius,” Wells said. “I think nothing is more brilliant than wearing something that is maybe more expensive because of what it is and then offsetting that with just a $5 thrifted T-shirt.”

Prices range anywhere from $1 for lower-end pieces to $12,000 for highly collectible, rare, vintage antiques made by artists considered to be the “Louis Vuittons of furniture.” Clothing ranges from $5 to $500, with most pieces falling into the $30 to $150 range.

Thunderhorse Vintage
2522 J St.
444-7723

Hours:
Daily noon - 7 p.m.

Thunderhorse Vintage carries unique, handpicked, “rock-and-roll-style” clothing and memorabilia ranging from pins to concert T-shirts and concert jerseys from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Much of the items at the store are music-related, co-owner Marilyn Ayres said.

The store offers kitschy, funky stuff of every era, Ayres said. These include 1980s cartoon toys such as Transformers and He-Man from Masters of the Universe, a 1900s vintage opera coat, authentic German military jackets from the 1950s, motorcycle boots from France and fancy western rodeo ware from the 1950s.

The apparel selection includes sundresses, dresses from the 1930s, leather jackets and accessories such as hats, gloves, purses and sunglasses.

Ayres and her twin sister, Jennifer Ayres, have been collecting since they were 16 years old. The items carried at the store come from around the globe. The two sisters travel often and constantly look for unique items during their trips. They opened the store in January 2009.

“It was our dream since we were 14,” Marilyn Ayres said. “We wanted all of the most unique, hard-to-find collectibles – the rarest of the rare, the cream of crop, the most unique and one-of-a-kind items.”

The average price ranges from $10 to $40 for sundresses, $40 to $80 for 1930s dresses, $40 to $250 for leather jackets and $4 to $10 for many other items around the store.

Ed’s Threads
1125 21st St.
446-8183

Hours:
Tuesday through Wednesday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Walking into Ed’s Threads, jazz music and Frank Sinatra classics fill the air and immediately set the tone for what’s to find in the small Midtown shop.

Focused on “Mad Men” -style looks and tailored, high-quality men’s vintage, Ed’s Threads carries pieces primarily from the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s as well as some from the ‘70s and a few contemporary pieces from higher-end lines such as Armani and Tommy Bahama.

The shop is lined with shelves of men’s shoes, hats, sweaters, cardigans, dress shirts, suits, ties, pants, belts, jewelry and lamps from the 1950s. The walls are decorated with vintage posters, paintings, art and various collectibles.

“It’s like a step back in time,” said Ed Castro, owner of Ed’s Threads.

Castro has been selling vintage clothing for 31 years, and clothing has always been a passion of his, he said.

Castro said he feels the quality of vintage clothing is better – fabrics are more interesting, and the tailoring was more streamlined to the body as opposed to the modern-day styles of over-sized and looser clothing, he explained.

Prices range from $25 for shirts to $125 for suits.

Bows & Arrows
1815 19th St.
822-5668

Hours:
Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Bows & Arrows offers a vintage, handmade and reconstructed selection of a bohemian “glamour-hippie” aesthetic – fit with natural elements such as wood, crystals, tie-dye, leather, turquoise, feathers and agate rock formations. Women’s and some men’s clothing is available.

Store owners Olivia Coelho and Trisha Rhomberg hand-select the items carried in the store. They often reconstruct old pieces to create modern looks, shapes and styles with vintage fabrics and material.

“Things have their own presence and their own energy,” Coelho said. “As long as things are made well, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t continue with their own lives on the planet.”

The store opened at its new location on 19th Street in June after three and a half years at its L Street location. Rhomberg said that the new store has a more finely edited, smaller selection of high-quality vintage pieces from the 1950s to early 1990s. A majority of the items come from the 1970s. Antique lamps, furniture and artwork are also available.

“It’s kind of an extension of our homes,” Rhomberg said. “If Olivia and I lived in a place this big, it would be our closets blown up and put out on display.”

Prices range from $9 to $70. The upper-range items consist of vintage Native American, hand-foraged metals such as silver, turquoise and semi-precious stone jewelry.

Cuffs
2523 J St., suite 101
443-2881

Hours:
Monday through Saturday 11 a.m - 7 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Cuffs carries both new and vintage dresses, tops, shoes, bags, purses, sunglasses, jewelry and accessories for men and women. Store owner Lacadia Olsen said she tries to carry unique items that fit in with current trends. She described the overall style as young, contemporary, modern and hip.

The vintage selection at Cuffs ranges from the ‘50s to the ‘90s, particularly focusing on the ‘60s and late ‘80s to early ‘90s – the era when Olsen was a young teenager discovering fashion, she said. Olsen said she likes to keep the vintage pieces current and wearable.

She currently stocks more printed pieces, such as animal prints and southwestern geometric prints. She gets a lot of her items from shopping and hunting for vintage finds. She orders from wholesalers in Los Angeles and Canada who collect vintage clothing. In addition to vintage pieces, Cuffs carries several lines of clothing: Unif, Ark & Co., Motel, and, in the fall, Jeffrey Campbell will be available.

“I think the important thing about vintage is that you need to mix it with current stuff,” Olsen said. “You can get a vintage dress and throw it together with a new blazer and a new bag.”

The average price range is $18 to $40, with many items under and over those prices as well. Olsen said she tries to keep prices under $100.

Which vintage stores are your favorites? Share your experiences and suggestions in the conversation below.

L Street Goodwill opens its doors

2011-06-24T19:22:03Z

A new “boutique” Goodwill store has opened its doors on L and 16th Streets, offering area shoppers a well organized, eco-friendly retail experience and deals on merchandise like books, lamps, shoes and purses.

Store manager Noelle McCrea said the L Street location is unique in that its stock is handpicked from Goodwill locations across the country. While other Goodwills accept and sell most all donations, a “boutique” Goodwill strives to feature name brands, high-quality and vintage goods.

Clothing is centrally located and sectioned into garment-specific, labeled racks, like: women’s plus size tops, long sleeve knit tops, lingerie, men’s jackets and men’s dress shirts.

The women’s section is stocked with summery skirts and sleeveless blouses in the $5 range, along with vintage Levis cut-off shorts and skirts for $20.

The “Goodwill Fashionista” racks, located on the store’s front left wall, are targeted toward younger, more trend-conscious shoppers and feature an array of knit tops and juniors-sized jeans from brands like American Eagle, DKNY, Gap and Ralph Lauren, priced in the $20 range.
Susan Finnerman, who came out to the opening in search of skirts, said she enjoys shopping at thrift stores that are well organized, noting that the Goodwill’s women’s shoe section is arranged by size, each shelf labeled with a corresponding number.

Mother of eight, Lisa Farnworth, whose youngest son tipped her off to the opening, said that she has tried to teach all of her children to appreciate the money-saving advantage of thrift stores.

Farnworth added that she’s not necessarily a “big green person,” but that recycling clothes makes sense to her.

“If I can (be eco-friendly), I will,” she said

Shopper Charlie Hamdeh, for whom “style is more important than brand name,” was pleased to find a pair of shiny, black leather loafers in a hard-to-come-by size 13, noting that elsewhere the same pair would have cost him a lot more than Goodwill’s $13 price tag.

Tony Coelho was driving by the store and decided to see what its DVD section had to offer.

Coelho said he “loves the surprises he finds in Goodwill,” and appreciates its selection of “classic movies” not always available in movie retailers like Blockbuster.

Having already found a few candles and a striped blouse, Barbara Wood was on the hunt for a Brandy glass amongst the store’s several shelves of glassware.

“Why pay 50 dollars for a glass when you can pay 50 cents,” she said.

The store’s glassware is slightly more expensive than at some other thrift stores, ranging in price from $3-$5, but the selection is sturdier and more attractive than what one might expect to find second-hand.

The shop’s book selection is vast and varied, housed on four curving, wooden shelves towards the back of the store. Hardbacks and softbacks are organized according to genres including: fiction, fantasy, women’s studies, history, cooking and self help.

Atop the bookshelves sit like-new lamps, in a variety of sizes and styles, from bulbous glass bases to sleek, muted shades, priced around $15.

According to Goodwill employee Nick Hammom, the sales team has been at work gathering stock for the 5,000-square-foot space since February. The team visually assessed every CD and DVD, checking them for scratches and misplaced discs before putting them on the sales floor.

The store’s employees gave soft goods donations the same critical treatment, discarding any items with holes, stains and even fuzz balls, Hammon said.

In addition to its supply of quality goods, McCrea said that the shop’s Midtown locale will likely made it a good source of revenue for Goodwill Industries, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide “gainful employment and job training” to under-served communities.

“Everyone knows retail is more pricey in Midtown, so we could capture a higher dollar value here,” McCrea said.

McCrea added that she was “thrilled” with the turnout for the store’s opening.

“Goodwill has a huge following. We’ve seen a lot of familiar faces today, and we hope to create a following in downtown Sacramento,” she said.

Vélo & Vintage bicycle fashion show: photos

2011-05-09T19:34:38Z

The 2nd annual Vélo & Vintage Fashion Show was held at Hot Italian Saturday night in Sacramento. The show is as much about bicycles as fashion. Lorena Beightler of Sac Cycle Chic founded the event to highlight "urban cycling as a smart, stylish and fashionable mode of transport." Kari Shipman of Juniper James organized the event with Beightler.

Models attired in vintage clothing sourced from local boutiques rode a variety of vintage and newer bicycles into the restaurant and onto the runway.

Each of the ten models showed three different looks ranging from "daytime" to "night" and ending with a "crazy" look that included a wild mishmash of styles, smeared makeup, and plenty of attitude.

Tricia Hedahl, Executive Director of Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA), made her runway debut.

Vélo & Vintage is one of the first events of the month for the Sacramento region's “May is Bike Month.” The venue for the show is fitting since Hot Italian is the only restaurant in California awarded with the “Bicycle Friendly Business Award” from the League of American Bicyclists.

Bike Month kicks into high gear as The Bicycle Film Festival hits the Sacramento area later this week. The Savage Sprints series, sponsored by the Sacramento Valley Velodrome Association returns to Hot Italian for one night on Friday, May 13th. And the 2nd stage of The Tour of California rolls into Sacramento next Monday, May 16th, with the pro riders favoring an altogether different kind of cycling fashion.

Beyond Gotham shutting doors

2010-08-21T00:59:58Z

A trendy Midtown boutique called Beyond Gotham is expected to close in mid-September — another victim of the poor economy.

Signs advertising a closing sale have already been taped to the windows of the store, which sells women's clothing and accessories at 1215 18th St.

Located on a popular block in the Handle District, the boutique was going strong until about two years ago. Female customers who would buy new jewelry every time they had Christmas parties, weddings and other special occasions to go to aren't making those purchases now, said an employee.

"Women are the first ones to stop buying for themselves in bad times," she said.

Rebecca Polstra and the store's other owners had originally planned to close the store in mid-August. But the store will remain open longer so more inventory can be sold, said another employee.

Store hours, which have been cut back, are 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sundays.

The owners closed the Beyond Gotham in Citrus Heights in March. The Midtown store originally sold mostly jeans and other clothing. Beyond Gotham then changed the inventory to focus on accessories including glittery rhinestone jewelry, purses, belts and other items.

"She worked very hard to make this a successful boutique," said one employee.

Polstra could not be reached for comment.

Krazy Mary's circles back to East Sac

2010-07-24T01:18:12Z

Krazy Mary's owner Mary Kawano said the store is thriving after its return to her home turf in East Sacramento.

The boutique moved out of Midtown earlier this summer to a store at 3230 Folsom Blvd. — almost right back to the same place where the business opened 10 years ago. The contemporary designer store opened at 3200 Folsom Blvd. in 2000.

The store was the first to carry premium denim and other fashions in the area, she said. The East Sacramento resident said she moved her first store out of her neighborhood and over to 2527 J St. in 2005 after competitors including Dara Denim and Barby K opened in Midtown.

"That's where our market was," Kawano said. "I've always missed East Sac, 'cause that's where I first started."

Kawano was just 26 when she opened her first clothing store in Sacramento. She had sold hair products for a company called Fashion Formulas and managed a hair salon before then. In 2003, Kawano opened a second store, Sugar Shack Boutique, carrying eclectic local designers and affordable, funky clothes targeted to Midtown women at 2425 J St.

Krazy Mary's original competitors, which were a block away on K Street, have since closed. Kawano considered moving back to East Sacramento a year ago, but was afraid to lose business by being closed for a move, she said.

With the current buyer's market, she felt the time was right to return to East Sacramento in early June. The new space is bigger than the last — about 2,250 square feet, while the J Street location was about 1,500 to 1,600.

The new space also gets a lot more natural light and has better parking, she said.

"Now I know why I wanted to move back to East Sac: It's convenient. The parking is great," she said. "We love the location."

A grand opening is expected to be held at the new store in September. The store's hours are Mondays 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesdays - Saturdays 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sundays noon-5 p.m.

Photos by Suzanne Hurt, a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Kevin Best at Bows and Arrows

2010-04-09T07:03:59Z

Saturday, the vintage boutique Bows and Arrows is hosting returning Sacramento native artist Kevin Best. Known for his comic book-influenced pop-art and unorthodox choice of canvas, Best will be showcasing and selling some of his artwork and clothing.

Best currently lives in Los Angeles and commands a style that capitalizes on the current high-speed world. Inspired by tabloid media and harnessing the power of the Internet, he has attempted to upload himself in the public eye, "taking the last six months very seriously to expose my art," Best explained.

Celebrity gossiper Perez Hilton and "Californication" creator Tom Kapinos are two art owners who have caught on to Best's work. He connected with the celebrities through e-mail and Twitter.

Best has contracted other work, creating an 8-foot by 12-foot mural to spruce up the Hermosa Beach office of Circus Boardwear, as well as designing the cover for Flatmancrooked's collection of short stories, "Not About Vampires: An Anthology of New Fiction Concerning Everything Else."

Best got in touch with Bows and Arrows though Bob Macauley, Sacramentan and co-founder of Best Apparel. Macauley consulted the vintage boutique for advice on launching the clothing line, and estimates an "earning of $1,500 since its inception two months ago." Support mostly came from friends, however Saturday night's event will display the full line of men's and women's T-shirts in an attempt to broaden their market.

Best will present two separate collections of work, Celebz and Thrift Store Remix. Celebz is part of his "Versus" series, featuring a mash-up of pop icons set to an electric acid-washed monochromatic backdrop. Thrift Store Remix is a collection of forgotten paintings the artist discovered in various thrift stores and modernized with a pop-art flair.

Best admitted the TSR collection has turned into an interesting hobby, and he is developing a keen eye for bad taste.

"It's like I've become a connoisseur for awful paintings," Best said. "I'm looking for something people don't want to buy."

Examples of the TSR collection included prehistoric raptors hijacking an old covered wagon, a UFO invasion of a Spanish countryside, and the Technodrome, which some might remember from "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," sitting atop Half Dome in a Yosemite landscape.

When asked if he had a favorite, Best replied, "The Matador Vs. Zombie Bull was the first painting in the collection and still the favorite."

The event will be held from 6-9p.m., at Bows and Arrows, 1712 L. St. Best will be available to answer questions. It will also feature musical performances by Slumgum and Electropoetic Coffee (guitarist Ross Hammond and Poet NSAA, a.k.a. Lawrence Dinkins).

More information on Kevin Best and his work can be found at kevinbestart.com

UnitesState Boutique Celebrates Fourth Year In Business

2009-10-01T18:51:35Z

Sacramento has never been known to be a place that is “ahead of the times” in any spectrum of life. As a matter of fact, most travelers come into the city expecting to see people ringing cowbells, and tumble weeds blowing past them on desolate streets. You see, no one acknowledges the rising growth of the urban market, or the fact that Sacramento is now the home of mall conglomerates that sell the "urban" look to suburban teens. They don’t talk about the city's recent sprawl of niche specific boutiques that are only found in major cities around the world. Except if you were around four years ago nurturing the very culture to which the stores are trying to solicit.

Meet Paul and Brandy Brizuela, owners of UnitedState Boutique. Paul and Brandy established the moderate sized boutique back in 2005, with one simple goal in mind: to fill a void in the Sacramento urban culture. Although it sounds easy, getting to that point was not as glamorous. The couple built one of the last DJ/Boutiques in Sacramento that fully support local independent music and DJ culture. And they did it amongst a marriage, three children, two jobs, and monthly bills. There were no gimmicks or tricks to get customers to continue to shop at their store, nor do they have secret "selling drugs to make rent" stories lurking in the past. Paul says they have spent the last four years earning their keep, and doing it the only way they know how: hard work.

"I hear stories all the time about how some of these places got started or keep running, and it amazes me." Paul says. "It was never like that for us. I guess we did it the hard way."

And with the recent fall of vinyl record sales, their path became that much harder. Just two years ago, Paul and Brandy were looking down the barrel of a load gun when it came to numbers and meeting their sales quotas. But instead of doing what others did in the shaky economic times, they decided to do what other boutiques couldn’t: reinvent the wheel by creating a fully functioning lifestyle store in the heart of Midtown Sacramento.

"We reinvented UnitedState as a lifestyle store, and we now carry a broader spectrum of product that you can't get at any other store," Paul says. "Most stores only carry pieces of the culture, but we have designed our store to encompass it all.

Now, four years later, you can see that all the hard work that Paul and Brandy put into the store is paying off. They are celebrating their fourth year in business, and they are enjoying every moment of the growth. UnitedState has managed to accomplish what other boutiques would consider ideal in today's market. Not only are sales steadily increasing, UnitedState has managed to create an expansive brand that holds a dominant position in Fashion, Music, Arts, and Events.

So help them celebrate the fourth year in business this weekend by stopping by the shop and saying congrats!