Love the Ville--Bartlesville That Is

Last weekend I had the opportunity to go shop--and spend quite a few dollars more than I intended to--in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. With my mother as my trusty sidekick, we left Claremore about 9:30 Saturday morning and found our way up Highway 75 and over to Bartlesville's downtown district--and that's really what you're shopping in Bartlesville. It isn't just one street, but a conglomeration of streets within about a two block radius with a number of delightful boutiques.

After driving down Johnstone, Dewey, and Frank Phillips streets to figure out the lay of the land, we parked at Dewey and Frank Phillips and began our shopping excursion--and my spending foray--at The Cottage Door and Curbside Closet. These two boutiques are housed within the same space. Curbside Closet, on the left, is a ladies boutique with great upscale clothes--and some pretty good sales racks to boot. There were a couple of shirts, a fringe number and a sequin with an art deco sort of motif number (in the picture below) that may not have made it into my bag, but have definitely made it onto my Christmas list. On the right side of the space is The Cottage Door which contains everything from baby clothes and gifts to women's clothes (including a totally adorbs dress that I wore for Thanksgiving and got a number of compliments on) to a touch of home décor.

With purchases in hand, my mom and I headed toward Frank Phillips Boulevard and Lubella's Boutique. A spacious little shop, Lubella's carries a great line of women's clothes as well as Rustic Cuff--one more item off my daughter's list, now. It even had some really cute dresses for all the OU and OSU fans out there. Just down from Lubella's is a home décor store called the French Nest. Walking through the door was like walking into a crystalized winter wonderland. Every nook and cranny in the front of the store was filled with Christmas figurines, ornaments, floral arrangements, serving pieces, jewelry, candles, and more. The back room housed a clearance space, flowers, and a shelf full of the every popular Annie Sloan chalk paints. It was a delightful store that I could have taken turn after turn through, and that definitely put me in the Christmas spirit.

After leaving the French Nest, we decided it was time to have some lunch. Just down the road was the ever popular Hideaway Pizza, which I am always game for, but wanting something I couldn't necessarily get in Tulsa, we continued on down Frank Phillips Boulevard to the Painted Horse Bar and Grille. I was in love from the moment we walked in the door. A spacious affair with a massive bar in the center and seating both downstairs and upstairs, it had the perfect ambiance for hanging out with family or friends while enjoying a great meal. And a sucker for quirky, creative names, I fell even more in love when I saw the menu. With names for burgers like Fungus aMungus and Cheesus! (take the wheel) and for their Mac and Cheese like The Cluck and Squeal Mac (my meal of choice for the day) and Inner Out House, who wouldn't fall in love. Of course, it helped that the food was just as great as everything else about the place. I can't wait to go back and try the Drunken Mushroom.

With full bellies and doggie bags, we made our way to the first of our last two stops, Sweet P's. Another home décor and more store, Sweet P's sung Christmas from the moment we walked in the door. It is the perfect store to shop this time of year for some Christmas rejuvenation. Greeted by Santas and nutcrackers, we browsed the shelves picking up perfect little items for gifts. Sweet P's had many things to offer from ornaments to figurines and dolls to beauty care to kitchen gifts and gadgets to cards. And about midway through the store, there was a walkway into the other side of the store, which housed a consignment area. Spaciously laid out and decorated, it seemed as much boutique as consignment. There were about three big ticket items in there that I would have loved to have had if I had the room in my home for them--well, okay, I don't think the gazebo was for sale, and it would have been at the top of my list.

Our last stop of the day was around the corner from Sweet P's, a little toy store called Kidz Korner. This was a quaint little store with amazing stuffed pets that would wow the children on any list and selection of preschool products by the likes of Melissa and Doug. While not overly large, the store had a quaintness to it that makes it worth stopping in.

All in all, my mom and I found the downtown district of Bartlesville a lovely place to spend a Saturday. While it is certainly still in the process of being revitalized, there are plenty of stores that are already breathing life back into this district and that have done a wonderful job at restoring these quaint store fronts. So, if your holiday gift list has you seeking items that the mall just won't deliver, get away from the grind, shop small, and try Bartlesville. You may just discover why they say they "Love the Ville."

Fall for Grove

One of the things I love most about living in Oklahoma is spending time up at Grand Lake. My favorite time of year there is autumn. Granted,  I don't have the opportunity to go up there often that time of year, but when I do, I love it. It's crisp, peaceful, and beautiful. If you ever have the chance to go this time of year, you won't be disappointed.

While you're there, make sure you take the time to swing into Grove and take a turn through their downtown area. It's not as large as some of the downtowns or Main Streets that I have been to, but it offers some gems that it would be a shame to miss. Let me walk you through my stroll down Third Street in Grove.

Parking on the edge of the downtown district, the first store I went in was Grove Sports Center, a store with pretty much anything you would need to spending a weekend at the lake. Around the corner, though, was a place I almost passed by because it looked like just a screen printing and embroidery shop. Fortunately, though, it had a rack of adorable clothes for girls out front that caught my eye. As I perused the rack, the owner of Fine Threads came outside and I asked her about the shop, and what I discovered was that it is so much more than just a screen printing and embroidery shop. While certainly they can fix you up with a t-shirt design of your choosing, including bling-y shirts while you wait, they also have the largest selection of bows in the 4-state area, including some made from their own specially made ribbon for the Grove Ridgerunners. In the back of the store is Sassy Pants, which is a children's boutique with some of the most adorable outfits for little girls. Definitely, worth a visit for anyone who has little girl in his or her life.

My next stop on Third Street was a fairly new business (they had only been open for about a month at the time) called the Unique Boutique. Light and spacious, this store was a combination of old and new. There were antiques on consignment, farm tables, dishes (new and antique), and even some eclectic items like a cocktail table made of an old munitions box with legs made of artillery shells. If you enjoy antiquing and shopping for home decor, you definitely want to take a look in this store.

 As I continued on down the block, I found a store, actually gallery, that had caught my eye as I had driven down the street, In the Spirit of Things. Not only is the store full of beautiful pieces of art by the owner/artist in residence, but she offers painting and crafting classes as well. It's a bit like Pinot's Palette meets Plum Craft Crazy (see my blog on Collinsville's Main Street). So, if you're not from Grove but are going to be in the area with your girlfriends, or you live in Grove, you should check it out as a fun night out option. I know it would definitely be on my to-do list if I lived there. But even if you don't have the time to take a class, you should still stop in to see and possibly buy some beautiful art. (The pink Frozen wreath, by the way, came home with me that day--but I'm sure she has made some more since then.)

 Making my way back down the street, I found two stores that caught my interest. The first was Weathered Charm, a home decor store. It was one of those places that I could have easily spent an hour in just smelling candles. But there was so much more to offer than just candles. Everywhere I turned there was a nook or cranny brimming with figurines, pictures, paintings, candles, wreaths, furniture, and more. It was one of those stores that I could walk through several times and find something I had missed with each delightful pass through. And, of course, with so many candles around, it smelled heavenly as well.

Right next door to Weathered Charm was another home decor store, though it really felt as much a gallery as it did a store, and indeed that is the description the owner uses, "The Gallery of Repurposed Design." A mixture of consignment, resale, and repurposed items, Redemption Implements was one of the most fascinating stores I have been in. From the lion bench carved from a tree trunk, to the hand-made Lego tables, to the one-of-a-kind bar they were selling for a friend, to the carousel tiger, to the lamp the owner's husband made out of old tractor parts (which I would have bought in an instant if I had the money to redo my kitchen the way that I want to), I couldn't help but love this store. If you are decorating a lake home, or really any room where you want an eclectic touch, I recommend stopping by Redemption Implements. I doubt you will be disappointed.

With that being the last store to stop in, I made my way back up Third Street. A morning of shopping having made me hungry, I stopped in at GoodFella's Pizza and had a small Mob Boss for lunch. They didn't disappoint, and neither did Grove. So as you're out and about this fall looking for something to do, keep Grove in mind. I think you'll find passing a Saturday in its downtown district a pleasant venture, and with the Christmas season fast approaching, who knows, you may find that perfect gift for that special person on your list as well.

As I wrap this us, I hope you will indulge me in one final sentiment. Writing this has mad me recall a thought I had as I was walking down Third Street. When I first drove down the street to get a feel for the layout of the district, I almost turned around and headed back to the lake because it seemed so barren; but I didn't. I had wanted to visit Grove's downtown for a while, and I decided I wasn't going to give up on it just because my first pass didn't look too appealing. Walking the street, though, gave me a perspective that driving it didn't. I was able to really see what gems it had to offer, and I was glad I didn't skip it. Many of our communities are like Grove, working hard to breathe life back into areas of our towns and cities that had been forgotten about for decades. So they may be a little dusty and appear a little empty, but take the time to get out and see them intimately. You won't regret the choice. If you blow off a bit of the dust, you will see that many of these Main Streets and downtown districts are diamonds in the rough.

A Magical Indulgence

This month I hope you will indulge me as I step out of character and write about my July downtown experience that really isn't so small-business related. You see, in July, I finally got to indulge in a twenty-year dream to go to Disney World, and our last stop was to magical Downtown Disney. If you're in the Orlando area and haven't been to Disney, hopefully, you'll at least check out Downtown Disney, which is free of charge. If you have been to Orlando and to Disney World and Downtown Disney, hopefully, this will connect to some fond memories you made while you were there.

Downtown Disney has something to offer to literally everybody. Want to take in a movie? No problem. Not only is there an AMC Theater as you come in at West Side, but it's a Dine-In Theater. Want something a little more Rock N' Roll? Head over to House of Blues. Want to play around instead of shop? Then checkout Splitsville Luxury Lanes for some bowling or DisneyQuest for some interactive fun.

For me, though, I was there entirely for shopping. In West Side, my family and I hit Something Silver, which had beautiful jewelry in a range of prices from very affordable to expensive. Then it was off to the Candy Cauldron. I mean, who can't resist the old hag from Snow White dipping an apple into some caramel? Not only can you buy iconic sweets like their wide range of rice marshmallow treats, but you can also pick from a vast array of caramel and dipped apples, or even have one custom made. And if window shopping is more your style, they have the perfect window where you can watch the workers make the delectable treats for sale in the store.

From the Candy Cauldron we were off to D Street. This Disney Store was geared more toward the Sci-Fi world with shelves of Star Wars and Stitch products. And they'll get no complaints out of me. I picked up some pretty sweet Star Wars metal models to give out as Christmas gifts.

Once I had my bag of goodies from D Street, we were off to The Landing, where we checked out The Ship's Store. It's a shop connected to The Boathouse, a steak house that also offers cruises in a variety of choices from a steamboat cruise to a cruise in a '57 Chevy (and, yes, on water). The Ship's Store offered an array of nautical and nautical-themed items from clothing to lifesavers that could be personalized. My particular favorite, though, were the rubber ducks. My family and I enjoyed going through them all and seeing the different types of ducks for sale.

After leaving The Ship's Store, we were off to the Marketplace to get some lunch, but we would swing back by The Landing as were leaving Downtown Disney to check out Chapel Hats, which had everything from fedoras and panamas to cloches and steam-punk top hats. At the Marketplace, a bit pressed for time, we decided on lunch at the Earl of Sandwich. We don't have one of these in Oklahoma and, after indulging in their Holiday Turkey sandwich, that makes me a bit sad, because that sandwich inspired by Thanksgiving leftovers and consisting of turkey, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, and mayonnaise was delicious.

 With a full lunch in our bellies, we were ready to head off to the stores the kids--and I--had been waiting to see. The first stop--the Lego Store. We didn't buy anything while we were there, but it is just one of those places where you can stand and stare in awe of the creations. From Snow White scenes to Woody and Buzz to the Loch Ness Monster in the marina, it was amazing, especially for me whose great Lego work of art is a tower.

 Equally as awe-inspiring as The Lego Store was The Magical World of Disney. It was the Disney Store on steroids. It was a huge rambling store that not only offered anything Disney you could imagine, but that also offered magical views of your favorite Disney films. In the children's section was also the ever popular Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique where girls and boys alike could get a head-to-toe makeover in true Disney fashion.

 With our flight time looming near, once we left The World of Disney, we had to make a quick turn through Once Upon a Toy and Disney's Days of Christmas (where I decided I really need a Christmas tree decked out in nothing but high heel ornaments of Disney characters), both well worth the trip in before heading back to our car.

Sadly, we didn't get to stop in all of the shops or get to sample much of the dining at Downtown Disney, but I figure that's okay because it simply means that we'll have to make another trip someday, and now armed with the knowledge of how vast Downtown Disney is and how much it has to offer, I'll be sure to set aside an entire day for it.