There were a couple of places one just had to be this weekend. The first was Sprummer, where Edwin McCain and the Blue Dogs entertained to support Winston’s Wish. The weather was perfect, just enough wind to keep a girl glowing instead of sweating and to give her hair that sexy, tousled look, rather than full-on crazy lady. If you didn’t make it this year, you really must go next year. Winston’s Wish puts on one of the most fun and relaxed benefits in town. The bar was open and the food was excellent. Loved the crostini with roast beef and cheese. Loved.

On Saturday, Crafty Feast at Ribs and Rennaissance was de rigeur. And guess who missed it. The Shop Tart. She is ashamed and embarrassed. And seriously bummed. She was tormented by Otis Taylor’s enticing tweets* throughout the event. But a mother has obligations and hers involved a toddler, some soccer thing, a piano recital and the requisite pre-recital haircut. All lovely endeavors, but still. After the recital, she and Mr. Shop Tart invited a few relatives back to the house for wine and hors d’oeuvres on the porch, otherwise known as “Porch Beers.” They had invited friends over around 8, because they knew they would be too tired to go out but still desperate for adult company. Her mother politely asked if they would need to leave when the real friends came over. In fact, they were welcome to stay, because the Shop Tart’s relatives like to party are more charming than most. Porch delicacies included Barefoot Bubbly from Cloud Nine (how did the Shop Tart not know about this cheap treat sooner?), Foss Marai prosecco from Simply Savory, pimento cheese and celery from Rosewood Market, boiled Port Royal shrimp from the Devine Street Pig and chipotle mayo from Rosewood for dipping. And there was beer, but that is Mr. Shop Tart’s department, so use your imagination. The shrimp and mayo were served in one of the Shop Tart’s favorite dishes, this pottery piece from Portfolio.

Two of the ladies there were gushing over Crafty Feast, where they had been earlier in the day. The Shop Tart tried to be polite - she really did - but she was seething with jealousy, especially when Tracie pulled out the fab linens she scored from Fishy Fishy Quilts. Tracie was happy to share her photos (which only made the Shop tart a hair more jealous than she already was!)

The Shop Tart hopes Crafty Feast becomes a long-standing institution, because she promises never to miss it again. To console herself over missing this one, she and Mr. Shop Tart spent the next day organizing their house for the summer. After nearly three years, the baby’s room has been transformed from a catch-all to his actual room. The only thing it still needs is a mattress, which she hopes to obtain today. She cleaned, hung curtains and bolted a bookcase to the wall while Mr. Shop Tart sorted through the big kids’ clothes. She finally hung curtains in the guest room and removed the children’s toys that had drifted into every corner. She also fixed a chair that had been broken for at least two years (and all it took was two screws from the hardware store. Thirty-four cents.) They took loads of things to Goodwill. They even organized the laundry room, which now appears to be double the size it was the day before. Cleaning and organizing can make old space seem brand new, n’est-ce pas? But, um, now that she has all this new space, don’t we think she should get some of those linens from Fishy Fishy Quilts? Really.

In the week ahead…

• Keep your eyes and ears open, because the sale ball is rolling. More and more things you can wear right this second will be going on sale. Wheeee! the Shop Tart loves instant gratification on the cheap. Did that sound dirty?
• Remember that Pout has everything you need to tan safely and easily, from bronzer to tan towels to a full line of St. Tropez self-tanning products. The Shop Tart absolutely loves how quickly the mousse from St. Tropez dries!
• Looking for something delicious this week? Try Terra, where you can enjoy the new tempura-fried quail salad with Manchester Farms Quail, pickled red onion and anjou pear with a bacon vinaigrette. Chef Mike has also added two new entrees. The first is pan-seared grouper with sweet corn, caramelized fennel, fava beans, wild mushrooms and salsa verde. Have you ever tried to make fava beans? It is a total pain. Leave it to the experts. The second new dish is a duo of Fudge Farms pork: grilled heirloom chop, bourbon-braised belly, corn pudding and haricots verts (that’s skinny green beans, y’all) with a bourbon pork jus. And the moules frites (mussels and fries, y’all) have returned. It’s going to be a great summer, y’all!
• Bohemian has new candles from Votivo; they smell delicious, look mad stylish and are made in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
• On Wednesday, head to Finleaf Gallery from 6 to 7:30 pm. Leighton Lord, a local attorney and collector of “Outsider Art,” will give an informative talk and show paintings and objects from his collection. An original Mose Tolliver painting will be available for sale and, even more exciting, peach daquiris and watermelon slices will be served. What a lovely summer treat!
• Starting tonight, the Back Porch is hosting trivia. You think it will be nerdy, but it is loads of fun. Bonus: There are usually cute, smart single guys there who might be worth checking out.
• M Boutique is ready for summer with lots of bright, sheer tops to go with shorts and plenty of summer dresses. To wear to trivia at the Back Porch, to entice cute trivia boys to ask you on a date.
• On Wednesday, Solstice is hosting a Champagne dinner. The six-course menu looks amazing. On June 9th, they’re is hosting another babysitter night. These fill up fast, so call the restaurant for reservations and details.
• In Charlotte Wednesday or Thursday? Petal will be offering 20% off all full-price items.

Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!

* Speaking of Twitter, the Shop Tart twitters and it is so much fun! You should follow her on Twitter, for fascinating bits of wisdom and special sale updates throughout the day.

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