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May
11
First of all, the Shop Tart would like to give a shout out to M Vista for accommodating her detox week and not being all eye-rolly about it. The server on the phone when the Shop Tart called to ask if they could steam plain salmon and bok choy for her and her server in the restaurant were as nice as they could be. And the salmon, brown rice and bok choy were delicious, even though they had no sauce, oil or seasoning.
Later that night, the Shop Tart and her husband headed to Trustus to see In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play). It’s about a doctor who uses a…ahem…personal massager to treat patients diagnosed with hysteria in the Victorian age. Anyhow. It’s very good, with solid performance by all the players. (And, yes, the Shop Tart could tell you which ones were the absolute best, but she doesn’t have the heart to imply that someone else is not the best. Which is why she doesn’t do reviews, just recommendations!) The show runs through May 26th and you should totally go. Bonus: Trustus has a cash bar serving wine and beer and they offer free popcorn to go with it. And the popcorn is from Cromer’s.
You are probably asking yourself if the Shop Tart disregarded her detox and went nuts on bubbly and popcorn. (Or maybe the thought didn’t cross your mind.) Well, she is past the half-way point and feeling great, so it’s easy. This is always the time when she tells herself, “Oh, I am so going to eat like this all the time.” We all know that isn’t going to happen. But it’s a lovely thought! She had water. Also, she saved her prescribed afternoon snack, an enormous quantity of blueberries, and smuggled them in in her purse. This is a Shop Tart file photo of blueberries, just in case you don’t know what blueberries look like.
Several of Whitney LeJeune’s paintings are displayed at Trustus right now. The Shop Tart is beginning to think it’s a sign that she keeps seeing them. She thinks it’s a sign because she wants one real bad and needs justification.
The Shop Tart knows better than to take pictures during a show, but she did snap a shot of the set before it started. (Hope that’s legal.)
By the way, the Shop Tart has her fingers crossed that Nickelodeon will show Hysteria, a film about the invention of — you guessed it — the vibrator! As an aside, the film was directed by Tanya Wexler, who just happens to be the wife of one of the Shop Tart’s friends from high school. Small world!
You know what else is cool at Trustus? The 14th Annual Vista Queen of the Night Pageant! The contestant line up this year is pretty impressive. Don’t you want to see these guys vamp it up?
- Actor and former educator Gerald Floyd
- Composer and trend setter Chris Bickel
- Newscaster - ABC Columbia Anderson Burns
- Lawyer, singer, filmmaker and founder of Krewe de Columbia Tom Hall
- Arts writer and arts cheerleader Otis Taylor
- Historian John Sheerer
Seriously, y’all, don’t miss this one. It’s always a great time!
How are you celebrating Mother’s Day? Whether you are a mother, have a mother or just like someone who’s a mother, do head to Finleaf Gallery on Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm to browse beautiful things — and perhaps pick out your own gift or one for a mother you love — and enjoy a sweet party with music, balloons, sidewalk chalk, face painting and light refreshments! Finleaf’s parties always leave the Shop Tart with a smile on her face and a song in her heart. See you there!
By the way, the Shop Tart is running another contest. Women in Philanthropy’s “Power of the Purse” is always a great time. All the coolest ladies in town will be there. Wouldn’t you like to win a free ticket? Enter to win here!
In today’s post…
- M Vista, 701 Lady Street, 255-8878
- Trustus, 520 Lady Street, 254-9732
- Finleaf Gallery, 2323 Devine Street, 254-8327
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
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May
10
Um. We all do, of course. Women in Philanthropy are hosting their 9th Annual Power of the Purse event on Thursday, May 17th. Will you be there? The Shop Tart will. The bags last year were amazing.
This year’s event will be held at the Hall at Senate’s End (300 Senate Street) and there will be food, drinks, fun ladies and a silent auction of all the fab bags! So — did you see this coming? — the Shop Tart has two tickets to give away worth $40 each.
How do you win? Just leave a comment below — any comment — and the Shop Tart will choose two random winners on Wednesday, the day before the event. Ready, set, go!
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
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May
10
The Shop Tart is a moisturizer. She applies sunscreen all over in the morning and fancy lotion at night. Gaye Straza’s Kai body lotion is her latest favorite. It was a gift, and it smells awesome.
“As a child my family would spend summers in Hawaii…There’s nothing like the scent of exotic flowers, and plumeria, pikake, gardenia, and jasmine seemed to grow everywhere. Every time I smell one of those flowers I’m instantly back on the islands surrounded by loved ones”
-kai founder Gaye Straza in Elle, January 2012
“Whoa! You smell awesome! Like a grown-up, but also kind of like Joyful Alternative.”
-one of the Shop Tart’s friends, on a recent beach trip
Do y’all remember Joyful Alternative? That place rocked.
The Shop Tart was so in love with her Kai lotion, which was a gift, that she headed to Urban Nirvana to see what else they had. Hooray!
There was her lotion…and bath bubbles!
And body buffer. Oh, how much lovelier it is to moisturize if one has buffed first.
Perfume…which she couldn’t resist. The little bottle is concentrated perfume oil with a little roller ball. Love!
Then the Shop Tart’s heart skipped a beat. Lo and behold, she saw deodorant, and noticed it was aluminum-free. The Shop Tart uses this miracle product at night before bed, then washes it off in the morning before she gets dressed, because aluminum will stain clothes. True story. She goes aluminum free during the day, and hasn’t had a stained white t-shirt in years. This one smells fantastic and the Shop Tart can’t wait to raise her arms on the dance floor so her lovely scent can waft away.
As usual, Urban Nirvana had loads of other things to catch the Shop Tart’s eye, like this sweet little dish. Use it for rings, change or soap, or a small snack, because who doesn’t love a small snack?
Oh! You know what you need? One of these Papaya wristlet iPhone wallets. So many times, you’ve wanted something to carry just your phone, a credit card and your license. And — you may not have known it — but you wanted a wrist strap, so you wouldn’t lose your wallet. Voilà!
If you need something larger, with a zippered pocket and enough room for a checkbook, they also make a tri-fold wallet. These may be the coolest looking wallets ever, n’est-ce pas?
And pouches! They make fab pouches! Use one as a purse-within-a-purse or on its own as a clutch.
In other extremely cute news, Urban also had some super sweet, toddler-sized stretchy pajamas. There is perhaps nothing sweeter than a wriggly, freshly bathed toddler in stretchy pajamas.
Anyhow, aren’t you glad the Shop Tart has found her grown-up scent? She certainly is. What a relief. Now that she has the deodorant, the perfume oil and the lotion, she’ll start collecting the other things. Up next? Kai body buffer, just in time for summer!
In today’s post…
- Urban Nirvana, 4840 Forest Drive, 727-1010
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
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May
9
The week of Indie Grits, Kristian Niemi of Rosso Trattoria hosted a grilling class, part of the “Make” component of Nickelodeon’s independent film festival. It started at 6:30 and cost $24. Because it started early enough and the price was right, the Shop Tart assumed she would get a cocktail, a sip or two of wine, perhaps a taste or two of a grilled delight and plenty of advice. She reckoned a light dinner at Rosso’s bar after the class would round out her evening. Those wood-fired pizzas were calling her name. Dear reader, she did not get that pizza.
The evening began with an American Harvest Organic Spirit cocktail, sparkling strawberry lemonade that included Kristian’s signature splash of prosecco.
The mood was mellow and Kristian was dropping some serious knowledge.
The Shop Tart’s sister was riveted.
Though she drank the cocktail with enthusiasm, the Shop Tart left her strawberry. She had a plan.
Gioia Bonmartini, co-owner of Barone Fini Winery in Italy, was there with some delightful wine. Cocktails finished, wine was poured. The Barone Fini Valdadige pinot grigio was delightful, crisp and dry, with plenty of interesting fruit. (Available, we hear, at Rosso and Morganelli’s.)
There was also a delightful red, but the Shop Tart just took a communion sip, because red wine does not agree with her. (Yes, this makes her sad, but she soldiers on…) Anyhow, remember that strawberry? And the tiny bit of strawberry lemonade left on the melting ice cubes? The Shop Tart took a splash of that summertastic pinot grigio and mixed up a little Housewife Sangria.
The Shop Tart was learning all kinds of stuff and really getting her 24 dollars’ worth. Guests were served an insanely delicious lamb rib with Rosso’s smoky sweet blackberry glaze. These are on the menu now. By the way, they grill them, smoke them, braise them, then grill them again, just for you. Go order them, as soon as you can.
The grilling chat continued, more wine was poured and the Shop Tart began to wonder if she had mis-read the price. She might have gotten nervous, because she was treating her sister. (She invited her over for dinner, then changed her mind about cooking when she decided to go to Rosso. It was the least she could do.) She decided not to worry about it, because she had had a couple of drinks, the dinner was fantastic and, if it was to cost her a hundred bucks, so be it. Well spent!
And there’s more!
The next dish was a spectacular and enormous prime hangar steak salad with scrumptious little fingerling potatoes, roasted to perfection.
And that’s not all!
After dinner, guests were served a glass of Rosso’s house-made limoncello. Perfect.
And, yes, the whole meal, plus all the excellent advice, was just $24. The Shop Tart felt like she was stealing.
Now, you missed the last grilling class — all about steaks — but watch Rosso’s eblasts and Facebook page for news about upcoming classes. The Shop Tart doesn’t want to miss the seafood edition. She hopes to make it to the chicken and vegetables class, too. As far as she knows, most classes do not include alcohol, but dinner and the class are totes worth $24. And she will so split a bottle of wine with you.
In other news, are you looking for a part-time job? Did you know that Columbia icon Best Mattress — known for creating custom mattresses, that really are the best, right here in Columbia — is hiring? Their store in West Columbia isn’t going anywhere, but they’re opening a second location on Devine Street. If you’re looking for part-time work and love sales, this might be for you. They need someone on Saturdays all day and one or two afternoons during the week. Salespeople make an hourly rate plus commission. Could be the perfect job for you! (And wouldn’t it be so great to walk next door to MoMo’s Bistro for a glass of wine after work? Yes, it would be.)
In today’s post…
- Rosso Trattoria, 4840 Forest Drive, 787-3949
- Best Mattress, 713 Meeting Street, West Columbia, 791-0880
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
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May
8
Look what you can order online now. You heard it here on the Shop Tart first! (Or maybe not, but that segment was fun to make.) Anyhow. Want some DiPrato’s Pimento Cheese? Head to DiPrato’s or just order it online.
Congratulations to DiPrato’s and thanks for helping put Columbia on the map!
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
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