Last week, when the weather was mellow and the mosquitoes were easily dissuaded by a spritz of repellent, the Shop Tart was invited for a drink on the patio at the home of her friends Tracie and Jay. They were joined by Jeffrey Day, arts aficionado and one of the brightest new stars in the local blog pool. Jeffrey was getting ready to head to Spoleto, where he is now, and his updates are a great read, although they might make you insanely jealous if you wish you were there. Anyhow, the conversation was interesting and any evening that ends with the singing of Tammy Wynette is a good one in the Shop Tart’s book.

Tracie, by the way, is one of those people who puts together a fab party with seemingly no effort. First of all, she uses these mad chic linens from Flock Home, with which the Shop Tart has become truly, madly, deeply obsessed. Designer Gina Pericini is a friend of Tracie’s from California. Maybe the secret to being casually hip-as-hell is having the right friends. Or maybe the friends come second. Chicken, egg, chicken, egg. The drink turned into a light dinner and the Shop Tart sipped cava while her hostess chopped, oiled and salted various delicacies for the grill. Did you know that green onions, lightly salted and grilled, taste better than onion rings?

Green onions, green tomatoes, okra, corn on the cob, tuna…all lovely grilled. She also had the famed Palmetto Cheese, both jalapeño and regular for comparison. Food is always a nice conversational piece. People love to share their opinions (which is why so many of them have blogs. Ahem.) Another friend once hosted a pizza tasting party, serving local pies, all cheese and offering pads and pencils for scoring. The Shop Tart doesn’t remember who won, but the party was a hit. On the patio, Tracie laid out a feast - olives, palmetto cheese, strawberries, crackers, vegetables for dipping - divine!

The patio offers a view of the lawn, which is more sculpture garden than lawn and is utterly lovely. Jay Hubbell is an artisan stonemason and sculptor (yes, the Shop Tart had to text Tracie for that description) and his work can be seen in various spots around town. It’s large in scale and the effect of several pieces in one yard is stunning. You know what else is stunning? A guy who can build stylish tomato stakes at the drop of a hint. Love these. Love!

While the tomato stakes are the bomb, you can glimpse a better example of Jay’s work to the left. In fact, while Tracie was preparing dinner and the Shop Tart was watching and sucking down cava sharing charming anecdotes, Jay was giving Jeffrey a guided tour of his work around town.

The evening was lovely, as were the handmade stacks of crackers, Palmetto Cheese, hot sauce and grilled green tomato. Yup. And the Shop Tart thinks we should all follow Tracie’s lead and enjoy a branch or two of something lovely from the yard (or the neighbor’s yard, if they are generous or not home.) So simple, so stylish, n’est-ce pas?

In other news…

• Collect your old gold and head to Unforgettable Fine Jewelry on Thursday from 6 until 8:30 pm for a gold party. You know how it goes: Bring your unwanted gold jewelry to sell for cash or…drumroll…this is where it gets interesting…double the amount in store credit! And…you and the other guests will enjoy complimentary drinks, heavy hors d’oeuvres and live music while you wait for your gold to be valued. Entry is free but space is limited, so call 779-3636 today to r.s.v.p.
• Check out new stuff at Revente from Blue-Q, including eco-stylish water bottles.
• Shop Tart Deal Alert: Ashley Hayes, a certified Pilates instructor with a great reputation, is offering Shop Tart readers an Introductory Pilates session for only $30. This would be a private, one-on-one session with the Pilates machines. That is an incredible deal. if you haven’t tried Pilates, this is your chance. Even one session on the machines will help you bring more to your mat practice. Call 803-800-6726 for your appointment as soon as possible, as she will get booked.
• The Vidalia Casserole from Simply Savory was mouth-wateringly delicious. Call and see what they have in the freezer or just stop by. This is the easiest way to enjoy a home-cooked meal!
• Thursday night, pack up your lawn chairs and head over to Riverbanks Botanical Garden for Rhythm and Blooms. Enjoy live music by the J’ouvert Steel Band, wine and tapas available for purchase, pre-prdered picnic baskets and gorgeous spring weather. Picnics must be ordered from Riverbanks by 5 pm the Tuesday before the show. You can also browse local art while you sip, chat and listen to music. Rhythm and Blooms is the perfect way to kick off your weekend and this is the last one! 6 to 9 pm.
  
• Friday evening, Sprummer is the place to be. Great time, great cause. The Shop Tart and her husband went last year and can’t wait to go back. Edwin McCain and the Blue Dogs are playing, the food will be fabulous and so will the company (ahem.) Get your tickets now.
  
• On Saturday, wake up early and head down to Hyatt Park at the Eau Claire clock tower for the Ribs & Renaissance Festival. According to their Facebook page, “this will not involve people running around in Medieval costumes, but there will be a ribs tasting.” There also will be other types of food, cheap beer, local music, indie movies and - most importantly - Crafty Feast, an independent craft fair. Love Etsy? This is the live version. The festival lasts from 11 am until 8 pm. Enjoy music by American Gun, Magnetic Flowers, The Unawares, Mystic Vibrations and more. Crafty Feast will include fifty-six vendors. Bring some spending money because most of these yummy goods only will be offered in Columbia once. See you there!
• Friday from 6 to 8:30 pm, head to Frame of Mind to “Investigate Mike Krajewski’s DNA.” Enjoy an evening of his art, music and film.

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

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Here’s the secret: Drink less. Just kidding. Do you ever wonder why certain ladies look fab in pictures, even after that third glass of bubbly? Maybe you are one of those ladies, the ones who glow instead of looking greasy. The Shop Tart wants to be like that. She would also like to be one of those ladies who doesn’t feel compelled to put on foundation just to take a jog. And she has a plan. Some parts of the plan are expensive, some not so much.

Let’s begin with the expensive stuff. Later today, she will have her third Laser Genesis treatment, performed by Dr. Brian Hurley at Illumination Med Spa. Laser is a scary word, n’est-ce pas? Laser Genesis is not scary, not one little bit. The Shop Tart is looking forward to seeing the results after six treatments and is hoping her fine lines will diminish, as promised. Looking good so far!

Second, she’s decided to bite the bullet and pay for a series of six facials at Pout with LED light therapy. You see, she has this recurring dry patch on her chin - put down your breakfast burrito before you read on, dear. The funny thing about the dry patch is that it’s also sprinkled with pimples. And it hurts. She’s tried all the obvious things - wiping down the phone, washing her face after brushing her teeth, not picking at it - but it won’t go away entirely. The closest she ever got was when she took a round of antibiotics for acne. Some days of the month it’s worse than others. Ahem. The Shop Tart’s skin guru Shannon recommended LED light therapy, available with any facial at Pout. In Jean Godfrey-June’s book, Free Gift with Purchase: My Improbable Career in Magazines and Makeup, she tells a story about getting something like nine facials in as many days for a magazine article. After nine days, her skin was raw and ugly. At the last spa, desperate to avoid more irritation, she asked if she could skip the facial and just learn about it. They asked if she would be willing to have Georgette Klinger herself perform the treatment. Reluctantly, she agreed. The lovely lady, in her 90’s, was too old to actually do it, but she supervised and instructed the entire time. Miraculously, Godfrey-June left the spa glowing, in a good way. Y’all, Shannon Dangerfield is the Georgette Klinger of Columbia. Or South Carolina. Probably even beyond.

She is the person the Shop Tart goes to with skin emergencies, like the time she had had four hours of sleep and had to go on television. Or the time she got hit in the face with a toasted cheese bagel. Unlike many facials, Shannon’s don’t leave you red and blotchy. On occasion, the Shop Tart has left Pout with no make-up afterwards and gone to the store. When Shannon suggested six facials with LED, the Shop Tart agreed without hesitation. The light therapy should even out her skin tone, possibly lessen hyperpigmentation from sun damage (darn the 80’s and some of the 90’s) and reduce acne. In other words, the therapy should destroy whatever is causing that nasty patch on her chin, which she thinks is really due to age, because she has noticed she’s not alone. It was hard to hand over that credit card, but the Shop Tart is confident that six sessions will change her life. After just one, she can see an improvement. And, by the way, while some skin therapists leave to go call their boyfriends after they apply a facial mask, Shannon sticks around and rubs your feet and hands. Lovely!

So, there are only so many things a non-movie star can do about her skin. What else is there? Plenty. First of all, the Shop Tart finally believes in primer and, just for you, she tried a few. Her favorite for every day under makeup is by Alison Raffaele, Age Response Formula with SPF 15. You can never have too much SPF, n’est-ce pas? She also makes an Acne Response Formula, great for the whole face or just the t-zone. Both primers contain frutta di vita antioxidant complex. Antioxidants are an absolute must with sunscreen; without them, the sunscreen becomes much less effective.

Alison herself visited Pout last May and she is all about a perfectly polished look for skin. The Shop Tart was amazed at what she could do. She totally converted to Alison’s True Concealer that day and has been using it ever since.

Next stop, the Smashbox counter at J Thomas Salon in the Vista. Smashbox is known for their primers and makeup artist Freya always seem to use them to stunning effect on her clients. The Shop Tart noticed the bridesmaids at Freya’s sister Shayna’s wedding looked fresh-faced, even on the dance floor. The Photo Finish and Photo Finish Light (oil-free for those with acne) are great canvasses for makeup, leaving the skin smooth and soft.

But the Shop Tart wondered if there was a way, before her laser and LED treatments were over, to leave the house with no makeup (well, almost no makeup.) Drumroll…there is! She started with sunscreen - active UV Defense by Skinceuticals from Tonic, which goes on smooth and doesn’t leave any grease or white streaks. She followed that with Eyecing by Freeze 24-7 from Pout. This stuff seriously works, y’all. She tried it for an article for Jolie, continued buying it and had the audacity to run out a few weeks ago. She looked very tired and thought she was dying. Until she bought another jar and used it, just once. She will never, ever be without it again. Because of the price, she uses this in the day and another, slightly less expensive cream at night.

She followed that with a little Anise Wrinkle Eraser by Fresh, recently recommended to her by Ashley at Pout. The tube is small, but a little goes a long way in keeping makeup from pooling in laugh lines (fun times, y’all, fun times.) A dab around the eyes won’t hurt, either.

After that, she applied Photo Finish Color Correcting Primer by Smashbox. The Shop Tart chose the green one, designed to correct redness. The apricot one evens skin tone and disguises dark spots and the lavender brightens dull or sallow skin. Given her success with the green one, she can’t wait to try all three.

After the primer, she applied a touch of True Concealer here and there, not enough to count as makeup, m’kay? Now, the no make-up look is lovely, but a pale girl has to have a little color. Really. Otherwise, on her jog, she might be picked up by the paramedics. Or Ghostbusters. In doing her research on primers yesterday, the Shop Tart discovered yet another Smashbox product you have to have: O-Glow. The gel works like Smashbox’s fab O-Plump, reacting to your skin to give you a natural pink glow. Gorgeous!

And, in very exciting news, the Shop Tart is pretty sure she’s found the perfect shade of natural-looking lipstick. A little pink, a little brown, a little fabulous. The picture might not do it justice, but Sheer Daquiri by Wallett from Pout matches her lip color exactly.

So, not counting the O-Glow and lipstick, the only makeup the Shop Tart added before her jog was a swipe of mascara. Just one, swear. And here’s the real miracle of primer: When she returned from her exercise, as sweaty as ever, her face still looked smooth. Wow. Just wow. Primer is the secret. Who knew?

In other news…

• Tomorrow is Champagne Thursday at Cloud Nine Market in the Vista! Join the Shop Tart for a free sip of bubbly from 5 to 6 pm. Cloud Nine will provide snacks from their signature product line and other wines will be available for $4.50 a glass. Rumor has it there will be a giveaway of some sort…
• After Champagne Thursday, head to the J Thomas Salon for Untamed Night. Check out the new Untamed collection from Smashbox and wear animal print to save 10% on all Smashbox Cosmetics (like that fab primer and O-Glow!) You can also enjoy live music, food, drinks and makeovers.
• Lola has a huge selection of spring clothing, reduced 30 to 50%.
• Everything at Kicks is still 25% off. Hooray!
• Belladea has new shipments from Trina turk, French Connection and a new (less expensive) lie they’re carrying, Theme.
• M Boutique has tons of summer tops, recessofabulous at $46 to $88.
• Rosso Trattoria is hosting a $5 drop-in tasting tonight from 5 until 7 pm. Enjoy California wines with a heavy Italian influence. Stick around for dinner!
• Print and present this coupon to receive an extra 10% off your purchase at Weathers, today only.
• Headed to Charleston for the weekend? You must go to this fab pop up shop, opening Thursday and remaining until June 22nd. What is a Pop Up Shop? A temporary shop, of course. In this case, it will house designs from Lindsey Carter (CFW Emerging Designer Competition finalist) of Troubadour and co-founder of Carter Humphrey with Leigh Humphrey, Sterling Kenan and Caroline Ross of Ross Kenan Interiors, Library: Archives of Fashion vintage collection, Harper Poe and Molly Purnell of Proud Mary, custom handbag-creator Julie Wheat, Jenny Thompson of Theodosia Jewelry, artist Kate Long Stevenson and eco-friendly clothing designer Ashley Reid of Clewis Reid. If you’re in town, the grand opening party is Thursday from 4 until 8 pm. On Saturday, May 30th, while you’re in Charleston for Spoleto, expect to spot live mannequins in the window at 501 King Street. You only have a month, so don’t miss it!

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

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The Shop Tart was not a fan of the short-lived Saffron on Devine Street. That’s right; she started a post with a complaint. There’s a first time for everything, n’est-ce pas? She loved Al Amir, Saffron’s predecessor, which is still open in Irmo and will re-open on South Main soon, if it hasn’t already. In fact, whenever her husband has court in Irmo, he brings dinner from Al Amir (Oh, mercy, the labneh!) The Shop Tart is just a little ashamed to admit - just a little, mind you - that she rarely chose Al Amir for dinner out because they didn’t serve alcohol. There was definitely some entertainment value to ordering one’s meal and popping over to next-door Za’s for a drink while it was cooking, but only some. So, it was with great excitement that she waited for the opening of Saffron, which promised a similar menu, plus alcohol. Unfortunately - and there is no nice way to put this - it wasn’t any good. She can’t remember the details, but there were canned pineapples in one of the salads, and not in a good way. Ergo, she continued to get takeout from the far-away Al Amir and eat it at home.

When Tabouli opened, she was suspicious. She heard rumors: Same owner, same menu, different name. She wanted to like it. The interior, especially in the bar, is très chic, like the upscale Mediterranean and Indian restaurants she loves to frequent in bigger cities. A hole-in-the-wall is only entertaining to a point. And, let’s admit it: Just because a place looks yucky doesn’t mean it’s good. Tabouli is beautiful, but she worried the restaurant was too expensive to risk another bad meal. To be fair, she gave Saffron more than one chance. She had several bad meals there. But her friend S. has been urging her to try Tabouli. S. had been there with her family and swore up and down the street it was better. Last night, the Shop Tart scored a last minute sitter and decided to man up and try it.

In a joyous development, S. was right! For starters, the bread is back. Saffron offered bland, dry pita bread from a bag. Tabouli has this, just like Al Amir.

The hummus and baba ghanouj accompanying the bread were thoroughly respectable. S. and the Shop Tart split the baked potato kibbeh, a delicious plate of fried mashed potato stuffed with onions, green peppers, shrimp and scallops and topped with parmesan cheese. The (way cute) Irish bartender Benjamin made a joke about it being an Irish dish, because of the potatoes. It was served with a side of cabbage, so the Shop Tart didn’t get the joke at first. But she does love a cute bartender. Not sure if he’s single, ladies - because the Shop Tart is way too married to contemplate - but he’s on his way to Stanford Law School, so go say hello before he leaves. Did she mention he was also charmingly self-deprecating? *swoon* Alas, he did not want his picture taken, so you’ll have to go see for yourself. And…ahem…back to the kibbeh. Unsurprisingly, it was pretty darn good. Two out of two diners agreed the crispy cabbage made the dish.

Thanks to her oeno-therapist, the Shop Tart enjoyed a great glass of white wine or two. Although her oeno-therapist gave her a phrase for ordering, not all bartenders can interpret. The knowledgeable Benjamin did well; perhaps if he wasn’t going to law school, he could have a future as an oeno-therapist. The fattoush salad at Tabouli, by the way, comes with a bonus - a splash of pomegranate juice. Yummy!

After the first glass of wine, the Shop Tart ordered a second. Her friends, who were not driving, contemplated fancy martinis and ultimately ordered Benjamin’s suggestion, the White Chocolate Martini.

Lo and behold…and this is very exciting, so pay attention…drumroll…wait for it…every Thursday is $3 martini night at Tabouli! Three dollars. The ladies learned this after questioning the bartender about the price of the martini, which involved several kinds of liquor. Have you noticed that some bars haven’t changed their prices to reflect the banishing of mini-bottles? A three-liquor drink no longer has to contain 5.1 ounces of liquor, y’all, so don’t charge us like it does. One of her friends even enjoyed a lovely Jack Daniels martini. There were plenty of choices. This is about a third of the bar.

Next week, after Champagne Thursday at Cloud Nine, who wants to keep the party going at Tabouli with $3 martinis? The Shop Tart does!

In other news…

• Marysia Reeves will be at VanJean today from noon until 7 pm with her lovely swimsuits. The Shop Tart owns one and feels mad glamorous every time she wears it. She’s planning a trip to the Westin Resort at Hilton Head next weekend and might need one more to round out her beach wardrobe. Marysia will also bring her children’s collection, which is ridiculously cute and chic.
• Tomorrow is the last day of Pout’s Chantecaille Rosewater event. With every Rosewater purchase they will refill your used bottle for free or give you a free travel size. Shannon, the Shop Tart’s skin guru, recommends this as a toner as well as a spritz during the day to keep your skin dewy and glowing!
• The Shop Tart’s sister-in-law got a really cool Mothers Day present. Believe it or not, chic dish towels are hard to find. Her husband scored these at Sid & Nancy. Love!
  



• Kicks is offering 25% off everything through tomorrow. The Shop Tart is stalking them because she heard they’ll be getting Matisse and Coconuts sandals soon (great prices, great summer looks) and that they’ll also be getting more shoes by Enigma (ridiculously good prices and mad stylish.)
• Simply Savory’s free wine tasting is this afternoon from 4:30 to 6:30 pm and it’s a special one, because the folks from Good Ole Boys BBQ will be there with samples to go with your wine.
• M Boutique has new cuff-style jeans from Red Engine and Joe’s. As you may or may not have noticed, the Shop Tart is a huge fan of cropped, cuffed jeans. They’re great for warmer weather, because they don’t fit as snugly as her skinny jeans.
• Tomorrow, enjoy a beach bash at Britton’s with the Southern Tide crowd, including founder Allen Stephenson. Come hang out, enjoy some refreshments and get some free Southern Tide gear.
• It’s hip to be smart, smart guys make better boyfriends, and literary boyfriends are way-cute. Three reasons to attend the Michael Chitwood reading at 701 Center for Contemporary Art on Sunday at 2 pm. The other reasons? Michael is a freelance writer and lecturer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. One of his six books of poetry, The Weave Room, tells the story of the life of a textile mill in the voices of people forever affected by a union struggle there. That’s cool for a couple of reasons. The first is that CCA, where the reading will be held, is in Olympia, Columbia’s very own mill village. The second? Textiles, y’all. That’s fashion! The Shop Tart is thrilled to see events like this come to Columbia and hopes you’ll be there.
• Big Wine Saturday, y’all! Cellar on Greene is hosting a free tasting of thirty (yes, thirty) wines from noon until 2 pm. After that, head to the Gourmet Shop from 2 to 5 pm for the Rose Festival. Mr. Shop Tart, half-French and far more sophisticated than his wife, swears by a nice, dry rose. The Shop Tart likes to mock him and refer to it as “Barbie Dream WIne” as she sips such posh concoctions as the Cheer Royale. There will be sixteen wines for tasting (including bubbly!) and the cost is a mere $5. Sounds like a plan - a plan that does not involve driving, m’kay? The weather should be gorgeous. Walk.
• Lula Bloom, a fab maternity store in Aiken, is having a big sale through Saturday. The Shop Tart thinks it’s high time for a little day trip to Aiken - they seem to have a lot going on!

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

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The Shop Tart had a harrowing joyful weekend, caring for her darling children all by herself while her husband rocked out to Morrissey in Myrtle Beach. The Shop Tart considered going, but there is no Westin Hotel in Myrtle Beach. She does love Morrissey. And his new album did not disappoint. She is terribly grateful to her dear friends Kristy and Anthony, who stopped by for a glass of wine on Friday evening to save her from drinking alone with the children, which is neither safe nor in good taste entertain her with adult conversation. Finally, it’s warm enough to have drinks on the porch, which the Shop Tart plans to do, every single night until it gets cold again. Shop Tart Tip: If you want people to just drop by, and you should, always keep a few snacks on hand. Nuts and olives will suffice. Frozen, ready-to-heat treats, like spanakopeta from Cloud Nine, earn bonus points. And cute cocktail napkins, you should definitely have those. The Shop Tart is just a tiny bit embarrassed that she offered the balsamic almonds in the jar, rather than in a pretty silver bowl, and forgot the cute napkins entirely. Oh, well. We all know the wine is the most important part anyway, n’est-ce pas?

Saturday was soccer day, with one match in the morning and one in the afternoon. In between the matches, one of the soccer players had choir and the other one accompanied the Shop Tart, his toddler brother, a friend and her two daughters to Yo Burrito for lunch. The Shop Tart has found Mexican to be an excellent cuisine for children, as chips are usually provided early on in the experience. The toddler loves chips and is blissfully quiet when his mouth is full of them. Saturday night, Mr. Shop Tart returned and the Shop Tart enjoyed a long bath (with the fan on, so she couldn’t hear the children. She knows you understand.)

Don’t we love spring? Every single shop is filled with bright, shiny new things and more boxes are being unpacked every single day. And outside dining (and drinking!) is de rigeur. Lovely!

The week ahead…

• Owner and shoe goddess Jackie Howie of Kicks founded Get in the Pink to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of her shops. On May 9th, Get in the Pink will host three fab events: The Stiletto Sprint (men welcome), a 10K road race and Soirée on the Saluda. All proceeds from the day benefit the American Cancer Society. The Shop Tart will be there to cheer the runners and she will certainly toast them at the soirée that evening! Registration for the events begins March 15th.
  



• Shop Tart Savings Alert: Shop Tart readers get 10% off at Revente and Sid & Nancy when they mention the Shop Tart. Save even more on fab designer treats!
• Shop Tart Savings Alert: Are you totally ready for the Cup? Dress? Check. Shoes? Check. Friends to “watch horses” with? Check. Hat? Oops! 2G’s has Cup hats and they are offering 10% off to anyone who mentions the Shop Tart, so go get one!
• Solstice is having Babysitter Night again tomorrow night. Take the kids and let them be entertained while you enjoy a fab meal in peace, you happy party parents. Just like being at Club Med. Mwah!
• Love your spa treatments? Love to save money so you can have them regularly? Tranquil Moments Day Spa is offering a Spa Club for $49.99 a month. With your membership, you’ll receive one one-hour spa service of your choice each month, along with a 25% discount on additional spa services. And…earn points for each service you enjoy to get even more discounts on future services. Wheeee!
• On Wednesday, head to Granger-Owings for a trunk show featuring Corneliani, Zanella, Robert Talbott and Lorenzo Banfi Shoes. Enjoy a light lunch and refreshments between noon and 2 pm and register to win a Roger Talbott shirt or seven fold tie of your choice.
• M Boutique has a brand new shipment of BCBG, a line known for producing wearable trends, so go get it!
• Save $25 on a color treatment or $10 on a haircut at Urban Nirvana with coupon - email the Shop Tart and she’ll forward you the coupon.
• Weathers is having a Custom Clothing Event starting today and continuing through Saturday. No matter your political persuasion, you must admit our president is an attractive man with great suits. Word has it he favors Hart Schaffner Marx. The event includes Hart Schaffner Marx and Measure Up Custom Shirts. Here’s how it works: Receive 15% off when you order a custom suit, sport coat or pair of slacks or 25% off when you order two custom suits, sport coats or slacks and order three custom made dress shirts and receive the fourth one absolutely free! On Wednesday, representatives from both lines will be in the store to assist you with your choices.
• Did you go to Camp Gravatt? The Shop Tart did, for five glorious days in the summer after second grade. Do you like peanut butter and chocolate? The Shop Tart does. Stop by the Art Shack Gallery and Cafe for a (peanut butter and chocolate) Gravatt Square. All proceeds from the sale of Gravatt Squares will be donated to the Gravatt Scholarship Fund.

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

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The Shop Tart had a lovely weekend - thank you for asking - with Frogmore Stew for fourteen of her dearest friends at her kitchen table. And copious amounts of Champagne and birthday cake, bien sûr! Because it was her birthday, she asked her lady friends to arrive an hour and a half before the gentlemen. She offered aprons and Champagne as soon as they walked in the door and the ladies chopped, chatted and chugged until the guys arrived for dinner. Is it obnoxious of the Shop Tart to say the picture doesn’t do the meal justice? Oh, well. She is what she is, n’est-ce pas?

She turned 28. Again. Her birthday comes at an ideal time, when everything is on sale!

She has a busy week after her birthday…

• AnnaBelle of LaRoque is throwing a party on Thursday to celebrate (and show off!) her fab new space. Stay tuned for details.
• The Super Bowl Sale at Kicks of Lexington, Lola and Lola G is happening on Friday and Saturday, with a preview sale (snacks and sippers included, bien sûr!) on Thursday with a $10 cover charge to benefit Hands of Hospice. The sale will feature 10-, 20- and 30-dollar bins, as well as 50 to 75% off all Fall and Winter shoes. See you there!
• Head to Kicks on Devine Street Thursday evening from 5:30 to 8 pm for a Lia Sophia jewelry show. They are still having a huge sale on fall shoes, 50% off. Look for special mark downs that night only on spring shoes! As for the jewelry, buy one item at full price and get up to two items at half price. Sounds like a plan!
• Sid and Nancy is having a book exchange - Bring a book to the shop and take one home. January is the perfect month to stay in, curled up with a good book.
• Simply Savory’s free wine tasting is happening Friday afternoon from 4:30 to 6:30. This Friday, they’ll host a Grand Opening party for the Deli and Dip. Mayor Bob will attend for ribbon-cutting duties.
• Have you combed your closet for potential spring consignments to take to Revente? The Shop Tart has and is hoping for a few bucks to spend on new looks!
• Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Britton’s is hosting a Yansi Fugel trunk show, with a special appearance by Maggie Silvestri, account executive for Yansi Fugel. Enjoy 10% off special orders and 20% off in-store purchases during the show.
• Mark your calenders: The Devine Street Sidewalk Sale is February 14th. Happy Valentine’s Day to you, lovely!
• Pout is celebrating a fifth birthday, with five days of senses. Today is “Sight,” so select eye products and eye services from esthetician Shannon will be 25% off. Tuesday is “Smell,” with discounts on candles, fragrances and other delightfully smelly things. Wednesday’s theme is “Sound” and you can look for discounts on Stila’s talking pallettes, select glosses (hear the sound of kisses being blown!) and Art of Shaving power razors. Thursday will focus on “Taste,” so head to Pout for a birthday bash with door prizes, goodie bags, discounts galore, tasty snacks and Champagne from 10 am until 7 pm. “Touch” is the theme on Friday. See you there!
• Just the Thing’s winter clearance sale is still on, up to 75% off.
• Both H2 and Tonic Day Spa are offering free microdermabrasion with any one-hour facial through the end of the month. Slough it off, baby, slough it off.
• “Desserts and Designers” is happening at Creative Tile’s Northeast Showroom tomorrow at 5 pm. Chat with designers while you browse tile selections and fantasize about your new kitchen. Solstice will be there with dessert and Max and Prissy will be showing clothing from the shop. Stop by for a glass of wine.
  

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

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• Shop Tart Live!

  The Shop Tart and Kristian Niemi of Rosso talk yams. And crack themselves up.
  
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  The Shop Tart. In a swimsuit. Demonstrating how to clean a blue crab.
  
  Please click here to see it larger.
  
  
  
  

• The Shop Tart Loves...

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Elsewhere on the Shop Tart

  Frequently Asked Questions
  
  South Carolina Designers
  
  Contact the Shop Tart
  
  Who is the Shop Tart?
  
  The Calendar
  
  Exclusive Deals
  
  

• Recent Posts

  • We have two winners!
  • * whimper *
  • Break Fast.
  • Clothes that make you feel impossibly happy.
  • The weekend, what she didn’t eat and what she wore.