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.

Wagoner's Switch District

As an English teacher by day, spring is typically pretty busy for me. However, the end of May I was finally able to find a free weekend to get to the Main Street in Wagoner (once called The Queen of the Prairie), Oklahoma. Like Claremore, Wagoner is a train town and grew up around the depot; as a nod to its history, the Main Street area of Wagoner is quickly becoming known as The Switch District.

Wagoner is an exciting town for many reasons. One, it's historic--it's history and many of it's homes date pre-statehood (living in a house that was built in 1904 myself, I take particular interest in these historic homes), it's a resort town, and it's in the process of revitalizing its Main Street, which also is near and dear to my heart. To aid in its revitalization efforts, Wagoner became a member of the state Main Street program in February of this year.

While it is still in the beginning phases of it's revitalization, Wagoner is still worth a drop in on a Saturday morning and early afternoon. If you're an antique lover, there are a few places that will draw you in. The first stop on the list is Katy Crossing, an antiques and collectibles store owned by Stacy Showman, who also is the director of Wagoner's Main Street program. Her store contains everything from railoroad memorabilia to furniture. One of the aspects I found most engaging, though, is old-fashioned candy counter. In shelves by the register (a regal, antique gold affair itself) there are jars and jars of old fashioned candy that appeal to one's sense of nostalgia as well as one's sweet tooth. Showman's goal is to eventually install an old-fashioned soda fountain to complement the candy shelves and really take her customers back in time.

On down the road from Showman's Katy Crossing is a little store that will catch your eye called Simply Vintage. It is comprised of booths ranging from new items to repurposed items (I especially liked these little purses turned into picture frames) to antiques and collectibles. It's a lovely place to browse and shop and if you get a little tired and need to relax a minute or "wet your whistle" before continuing on your little excursion, order something from Simply Vintage's coffee counter and have a seat at the bistro tables in their front window and watch the world pass by for a moment.

 From there, you can travel just a little bit further up the street to Melinda's Treasures where you can find booths filled with antiques, collectibles and what-nots. Traveling back down Main toward Cherokee, if you turn left at the corner by Katy Crossing, a new little antiques and collectibles store is opening up called The White Elephant. Owner Janice Turney is excited about her little store and I think once it's open antiques and collectibles collectors will be too.

If you're looking for a little gift Wagoner Pharmacy on Main Street has a nice little collection of items ranging from picture frames, sunglasses, and stylish purses to a variety of teas (I couldn't leave without picking up Strawberry Hibiscus tea), and around the corner on Cherokee is Wagoner Flowers and Gifts. In the same way you shouldn't overlook the pharmacy because it says pharmacy, you shouldn't dismiss the flower shop as simply a flower shop. While certainly you can stop in to purchase a surprise bouquet for someone special, the flower shop has a vast variety of gifts to please a wide range of people. They have figurines for your collectors, garden decor for your gardeners, and baby gifts for your friends having babies (or for yourself if you are). Wagoner Flowers and Gifts is one of those stores that I could circle several times and find something new I wanted each time.

 Now with both the pharmacy and the flower shop, you do want to make sure you're there early because they close at noon on Saturday. However, don't be dismayed. You can always shop those stores first and then perhaps have some lunch at the Koffee Kan where I had a delicious chicken apricot panini, or the Boomerang Cafe on Cherokee, and then stop in at the other shops mentioned above. If you want to make a day of your visit to Wagoner, then there is also plenty of history to take in there as well.

On Main Street you will find the Wagoner City Historical Museum, curated by Chris Fultz. All of the items in the museum come from Wagoner residents and represent the city from pre-statehood to well into the 20th century. They have clothing arranged by decade and cases of jewelry, photos, letters, and war memorabilia, as well as antique furniture and equipment. Additionally, if you are a genealogy buff, Fultz has old phone registries at the museum that can help you find your ancestors' homesteads as well as two cemetary registries to help you find your ancestors' burial spots. Of course, if you stop in for a visit and have questions about Wagoner, you won't be disappointed, as Fultz is a true fount of knowledge about the city.

While you're at the museum, pick up a map of the Driving Tour of Wagoner's Historic Buildings and Homes. With fifty-two registered historical sites, you'll have a lovely afternoon familiarizing yourself with the city while taking in some great architecture.

Wagoner is a nice little city, and I doubt you'll be disappointed if you pay it a visit. Of course, one of the things I find exciting about Wagoner is that it is just beginning its revitalization, so there is so much opportunity available there. I can't wait to see what new stores and eateries will pop up next in this great train town.

Collinsville Calling

Collinsville's Main Street has been calling my name for a long time. I've driven down it several times and eyeballed the stores as I drove by with little time to stop and really take a look. Shortly after I had my son, I made the trek there to visit a store they used to have that sold all Thomas the Tank Engine items. I loved it and thought to myself at that point that I needed to get back out to Collinsville to see what they had to offer. But nonetheless, I got busy and that didn't happen. When my daughter was five we went to a birthday party at Parties on Main, a quaint, fun little place to have a party with a variety of options available to fit the needs of the customer. My daughter particularly loved the bathtub full of brightly colored balls and I found it very difficult to drag her out of it. I would have loved to have stayed and browsed the shops that day, but by the end of the party, I had a cranky five year old on my hands so I headed home instead.

So, finally, two years later and after a couple of postponed trips, I found my way westbound on Highway 20 to Collinsville, bound and determined that rain, snow, sleet, or hail, with friends or family or alone, I was going to shop Collinsville. While I may have found myself alone that day, fortunately, it was nice and sunny even if there were a few lingering mounds of snow here and there.

Once I found myself in Collinsville, my first order of business was lunch. I originally had my sight set on El Jalapeno, a delicious little Mexican restaurant whose food my school has catered in on a couple of occasions. But as I entered the downtown area another little place, a bit past El Jalapeno on the opposite side of the road caught my eye: Poppa Dave's. When I pulled up in front of it, there was a sign out front that read "Where Good Friends and Good Food Meet." With a mantra like that, how could I resist. And I'm glad I didn't. Poppa Dave's is a spacious restaurant that cooks up some excellent Gulf food and comfort food and that has a warm air of hospitality that makes you feel like family.

I ordered the gumbo and an appetizer of fried pickles. As I sat enjoying my lunch, it wasn't long before Poppa Dave himself stopped by my table to visit. From him I learned that the delicious bowl of gumbo I was eating was from a 200-year-old recipe and that all of his seafood recipes were his mama's. But Poppa Dave isn't all about just advertising his restaurant. He is a family man who loves to do just what his sign says, bring friends and family together at the table over some good food. He asked about my own family and when he learned I had two children told me I needed to bring them back on Wednesday for their $1 kids menu night. I did him one better, though, I was so impressed with his place and thrilled to see he had frog legs (which my son had been begging me for since he ate some in Hot Springs a couple of years ago) that the following Saturday I brought my family, along with a couple of friends and my husband's cousin, back for dinner. And I have to say that everything that was put on the table that night from the frog legs to the catfish to the gator to the cheddar biscuits was phenomenal.

After a warm, friendly visit with Poppa Dave and after filling my belly, I was ready to take on the Main Street of Collinsville. And I have to say I really like their Main Street. They're different than Claremore in that some of their store fronts are office space and studios, but they also offer some boutiques and antique stores as well as a couple of great gathering places.

My first stop, being the clothes horse that I am, was The Gypsy Rose Boutique (thegypsyroseboutique.com). I was already a little familiar with this women's boutique because I had several friends who have liked her Facebook page and so occasionally I'd see a post with a cute outfit in it. The store did not disappoint. She had a number of items to offer from trendy outfits to cool boots to statement-piece necklaces all in a location with a cool aesthetic. I found a beautiful shirt while I was shopping and have found my mind going back again and again since I left to a plaid jacket that I loved.

 From the Gypsy Rose I made my way to Creme de la Creme Boutique. This boutique featured numerous vendors all with something unique to sell. The store had any number of items women and girls of any age could want. There were booths with beautiful boutique clothes and booths with home decor. One offered supplies and treats for our spoiled four-legged friends. Another had a huge rack cheerleading bows with a range of options for many of the schools in the surrounding areas. There were even delicious looking popcorn treats perfect for a sweet reward for someone special or even as a little snack while shopping.

Not too far down the road from Creme de la Creme was another lovely boutique called Callie's Cache. Callie's offered a wide range of options in clothing in a variety of sizes for a reasonable price. The store was nice and invitingly spread out to allow for an enjoyable experience browsing the racks for clothes.

For budget-minded shoppers, though, on the opposite side of the road was Burd Nest Consignment and Boutique. They offer consignment clothes for women, men, girls, and boys, and everything from sportswear to formals. It looked like a wonderful place to find a gently used prom dress that had only been to one or two proms.

As I made my way out of the Burd Nest, I had time for one last stop and I made my way back across the street to a little store that had caught my eye, Plum Craft Crazy (www.plumcraftcrazy.com). In the front of the shop are pieces of furniture that the owner's husband makes. In the back are several large farm tables that are used for crafting, and along the walls shelves stocked with crafting supplies. The owner, Sharene Smith, offers crafting classes as well as crafting time where people can pay $6 an hour and use her space and her supplies to craft their own creations. I love the concept of her venue and equally love the fact that she is offering a kids crafting camp over springbreak, because I am definitely going to be looking for some fun activities to keep my kids busy that week.

Alack and alas, the afternoons never last forever, but I felt I was able to cover a good portion of Collinsville's Main Street. Perhaps the one thing I didn't get to partake in as much as I would have liked is the food scene. While I love Poppa Dave's and will probably find myself there on many a weekend, I know Collinsville has quite a few restaurants worth visiting. The Silver Dollar has long been a staple of Collinsville, and on more than one occasion I have found myself wanting to try Scoops and Grinds. But since I can't always hit everything in one day, that's a good reason to follow me on Twitter, where I tweet my experiences at Main Street businesses between blogs.

All in all, I enjoyed my afternoon in Collinsville. I look forward to getting back there sooner than later. I think many of you would enjoy it, too. It has plenty to offer from antiques to clothes and jewelry to home decor to party venues to tasty restaurants and cafes. I hope you'll find a day to take it all in yourself.

As usual, before I close, let me take a moment to encourage you to support your local downtown businesses. They are bringing life back to our Main Streets and restoring storefronts that were long forgotten. They're bringing life back to the heart of towns. And, as wonderful as our downtown business owners are, don't forget that there's also another group of people working behind the scenes to revitalize our Main Streets, too; so be sure to support your local Main Street organization as well.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter @TheGirlonMain.

The Shadows of Main Street

Even with this being a fairly new monthly blog, by this point you know how much I love our Main Streets. There is something more than dear--something quintessential--about our Main Streets to our American heritage. They bring back a golden time of community and togetherness. They represent a location where people could come from their neighborhoods or their farms not just to shop but to hear the latest gossip and goings-on of the town. Hence, while I love to shop and this blog is meant to encourage people to support their Main Street businesses, today I want to emphasize that Main Streets represent more than just economic prosperity: they represent quality of life.

Helping to drive and build that quality of life along with that economic prosperity are the shadows of Main Street. I call them shadows because many people within a community may not know that they exist. These shadows are our Main Street organizations, people who serve on a board together to aid in the both the economic growth of our downtown locations and the building of community spirit and quality of life that Main Streets have always embodied. These people volunteer countless hours to ensure that our Main Streets do not die.

While larger cities may have Main Street organizations, these organization are especially vital to our smaller communities where city budgets may be limited in what they can do to develop our downtown areas, and where local governments would be hard-pressed to drum up the volunteers for the kind of events our Main Street organizations put on to bring the residents together in the heart of the community.

When I think about my own community, Claremore, Oklahoma, I would be sad not to have the events that bring out the warm smiles in the townspeople and that bring them into the Main Street shops, and I know my children would be equally so. After all, Claremore offers several to enhance the quality of life downtown.

One of the first events of the year is our St. Patrick's Day Bangers and Mash. While not an all-day event, this lunch event, brings out all ages of people to celebrate the wearing of the green with a lunch of bangers and mash and lively Irish music. The two-hour event culminates in a parade down Main Street.

The people of Claremore love this event so much that I have mingled out there with them in years when the day has been sunny and warm and in years when the day has been cold and blustery--so, blustery, in fact, that it was a wonder the tents stayed up.

Perhaps one of Claremore's most popular events by far, though, is the long-standing Dickens on the Boulevard. Always the Friday and Saturday evenings before Thanksgiving, this event brings people out in droves. And why not? Where else can you have your picture taken with Santa Claus, visit the mysterious upper floors of our downtown buildings, learn a little bit of town history, see a living nativity, witness a shootout, drink some sarsaparilla in a saloon, take a carriage ride to the Belvidere Mansion, and dance the Virginia Reel, all while dressed in Victorian costume?


My children live for Dickens on the Boulevard. They start getting excited about it from the time I attend my first planning meeting for it. By the time the event actually rolls around, they already have their evening mapped out. And they're not the only ones. Every November, I will get phone calls and texts from people confirming the dates for Dickens because their families have attended it every year and they don't want to miss it.

See, it's these types of events that Main Street organizations hold that help to bring the spirit of community to our downtown areas.

But Main Streets are more than that, too. They are also that behind-the-scenes support group for our merchants, because ultimately, without our merchants, there is no downtown. While these events bolster our sense of community, they also bring people into the stores. But Main Street organizations also help to facilitate communication and collaboration among merchants, too. Some even promote events that directly bring money into downtown stores. Claremore, for instance, hosts a cash mob. Every two months, 50 members of the community convene at the Chamber of Commerce building, where our Main Street office is located, draw the name of a downtown store and descend upon it en masse. When the members sign up for cash mob, they agree to participate for a year and to spend at least $20 at each location. It's wonderful. Not only do the stores take in a minimum of $1,000, but the people shopping have a great time as well, browsing the store, sharing their finds with one another, and making great memories.

So, Girl on Main, this is all well and good, but why are you telling us about this? Why aren't you doing a blog about stores on another Main Street? Well, the main reason is that when I moved to Claremore ten years ago, there was precious little on our Main Street, and I have come to realize that had it not been for the hard work and effort of a particular group of people, I would not have been able to write my second blog entry. Certainly, Claremore has wonderful merchants who are starting to take the reigns and create their own draws to the downtown area, but those merchants probably wouldn't be there if it hadn't been for the growth initiated by Claremore Main Street. The same can be said of many communities, especially the small ones.

Sadly, these efforts go unnoticed, or there comes a point where some people feel like the service these organizations offer can be absorbed by other organizations. Perhaps in larger cities with the types of budgets it takes to completely overhaul a downtown district to revitalize it, this is true. But in our smaller communities, our Main Street organizations are vital, and these vital organizations are non-profits, which means they rely upon the financial support of others to do their jobs.

As a supporter and shopper of our downtown businesses, and somebody who does not want to see them wane as they did several decades ago, I thought it right to take a moment to bring this to light, to encourage you not only to support your downtown businesses, but also to support the shadows of Main Street that help to grow the economic development of these communities as well as develop the quality of life downtown. Obviously, attending events helps to support these organization, but so do your donations. Imagine, in the same way that 50 members of the Claremore community can help a local business bring in $1,000 in one night, if members of a community of 3,000 each donated $10 to their local Main Street organization, that organization would be able to add $30,000 to its budget, and think of how that could be invested back into the community.

If your local Main Street organization doesn't have a donation link on their website, you can certainly contact them or send them a check. So if you enjoy your downtown district as much as I do mine, and you want to see those areas continue to thrive and grow, please, show them your support.

Love,
The Girl on Main

 

P.S. You can now officially follow me on Twitter @TheGirlonMain.

Main Street Broken Arrow

This chilly November morning found me on a rapidly growing Main Street for an enjoyable day with my mother and a friend. Broken Arrow's Main Street has undergone some serious revitalization over the past six months. Starting on June 10, Broken Arrow started refurbishing and restoring their Main Street one block at a time, and the result is amazing. In addition to some loyal Main Street business owners, whom Broken Arrow can probably thank for helping to initiate the transformation, their Main Street now has some new attractions that make it a hopping spot from morning to night. In fact one shop owner said that where before she would lock up her store at 5:30 in the evening and be one of the few people still in the area, now she can return to her shop in the evening to grab something she forgot and find the street lined with cars.

A lovely aspect about Broken Arrow's Main Street is that there's a little something for all of your needs from clothes to body care to decor to kitchen and pantry items to chocolate (which as a independent chocolatier for Dove Chocolate Discoveries I am all over) to great eats and entertainment.

Their Main Street has a couple of traditional stores with vendor booths--one where you can find antiques and resale and one where you can find new, boutique items. On the Corner was our first stop this morning. Owner, Ashley Colston, is a friendly and knowledgeable host. She has a beautiful store

 full of boutique items from need-to-have Broken Arrow gear, if you live in Tiger country, to baby clothes and nursery items to jewelry and blingy hats to scarves and gloves. All in all it's the type of shop a girl, no matter how young or old, is going to love--and it's probably a good thing my seven-year-old daughter wasn't with me or I may not have had any money to spend in any other shops after that one.

Southern Magnolia represents what I traditionally think of as vendor booths. They have over 37 vendors selling largely resale, antiques, and hand-crafted items. It's a store where you could spend a significant amount of time looking at all the merchandise in every nook and cranny, and this time of year it's even more spectacular as many of the booths are decked out in Christmas splendor. It's a wonderful place to find that one-of-a-kind piece you have been looking for. Beyond it's merchandise, though, Southern Magnolia offers another feature that has helped to keep Main Street busy past 5:30 and even on Sundays. On the second floor, spanning the front of the building is the Rose Room, an event room that is available for bridal showers, baby showers, birthday parties, company gatherings, and more for a reasonable $99 for four hours. In addition to this, they have a beautiful milk glass collection that can be rented for your hosting needs. Definitely wonderful extras that keep the place busy morning, day, and night.

In addition to these stores offering a variety of merchandise for a variety of needs, there are also several home decor and personal care boutiques. The first one we stopped at today was Hollow Tree Gifts. Not only were we treated to an array of great giftables but we had an enjoyable time visiting with JoAnne, who has owned her business for more than thirty years. Her little shop is very quaint and organized by line to make it easier for customers to find their favorite products. I have to confess that most of my time was spent smelling all of the delectable soy candles she had for sell. I even had to come home with a Black Spice Rum and a Pumpkin Spice Ale drizzle for my Scentsy. Equally "scentsational" are her glycerin soaps that she cuts into individual sized bars each day when she opens her shop. Each block has a different design and a different scent and is perfect for a stocking stuffer or a gift.

Nearly two blocks down and on the other side of the road from Hollow Tree Gifts is another great gift shop that I almost missed because I was running out of shopping time. I'm glad I didn't, though, because Bella Vita has a wide array of items to offer as gifts. From home decor and kitchen and dining ware to soup and dip mixes to lotions and soaps to jewelry and accessories, it has a little bit of everything to offer. Like many of the other stores it was decked out for Christmas, and walking into it's back display room was like walking into a Christmas serenity room. There they had a vast array of wintry decor and in a corner peaceful fountains gurgling against the soft Christmas music playing in the background. If I had a room in my house like that one, I would probably never leave it. I would say the store is worth the visit just so you could enjoy the magic of that room, but if you go in there, I guarantee you'll find something you love and just have to have, too.


Of course, when it comes to gifts, we all like the unique, and when we're giving something to help others remember us, we want something that represents who we are. 1907 is a charming boutique that offers both of these great gifting elements. 1907 sells a variety of shirts commemorating the great state of Oklahoma and provides many other stylish gift choices that are made in Oklahoma and, therefore, support Oklahoma artisans. It also offers trendy clothing that, while not made in Oklahoma, is made in the U.S.A. 

The more you read The Girl on Main, the more you will discover that a close second to shopping for me is eating. I love to go to a Main Street and find restaurants thriving and drawing business to the area after normal shopping hours. I have long been a fan of The Main Street Tavern and follow them on Facebook. The ambiance is classy yet intimate and the food is delicious. While I would recommend anything on the menu, I am always drawn again and again to their croque monsieur. With its thick slices of ham and creamy cheese, it is magic to my taste buds. Having been a fan of Main Street Tavern for so long, though, I decided for this trip I might try something new for lunch, so we stopped into McHuston's, a book shop and Irish eatery. While my mom and friend opted for sandwiches, which they found delicious, I couldn't stop in a place touting Irish cuisine and not get shepherd's pie. I have to say that I was not dissatisfied. It was delicious and the perfect lunch for a cold November day.

After lunch, though I didn't have time to hit every store on Main Street in Broken Arrow, before I left I made sure that I did hit one--Nouveau L'Atellier du Chocolat. What seems like ages ago they used to have a store in Tulsa that I had the opportunity to visit once or twice before they moved out to Broken Arrow. For the longest time, I thought they had just closed, so I was thrilled when I stumbled upon them a few years ago on Main Street. Thus, there wasn't any way I was going to leave Broken Arrow without visiting this lovely piece of chocolate heaven. While I didn't indulge in one of their handmade chocolates, I did order a s'more hot chocolate and started a list of items I would have to come back for when it came time to stuff some stockings and to make goodies for friends and family. For Nouveau is not just a great little shop to buy chocolates ready-to-eat; it is also a great shop to by chocolates for tempering and making your own truffles and candies as well.

While it would have been nice to make it into every store Broken Arrow's Main Street had to offer, sadly there is only so much time during the day. But I encourage you to stop in and check them all out the next time you're in the area. You'll find a wealth of merchandise to pique your interest and to bestow upon your friends and family. And with Black Friday and Christmas right around the corner, it's a great time to become familiar with all they have to offer. So be sure this holiday season to invest in your community, support your Main Street organizations, and shop local.

Claremore--Clearly the Place to Be

(Clockwise from top left) Coffee mug bike rack outside of Vintique Charm, train mural outside of Bike-About Bicycle and Repair Shop, fall decor outside of Dorothy's Flowers, the interior of The Grapevine, egg salad sandwich and loaded potato soup from She Brews, the downstairs interior of Boarding House Books, the exterior of Savannah's Boutique, an antique booth inside The Willow Tree.

 Finally, a day arrived when football and cheerleading, as much as I love them, weren't dragging me from one town to another, and I could do something else I love--browse our downtown stores with my seven-year-old daughter.

In Claremore, our downtown or Main Street district is on Will Rogers Boulevard, and since I moved here in 2004 it has evolved tremendously. At the time of my arrival in the community the Main Street was vastly empty save a couple of antique stores, the local favorite Dot's Diner, and Ann's Cleaners.

As I walked down the street today, though, with a crisp autumn chill in the air, I found myself smiling contentedly at the store fronts around me, not just because there are a number of them to choose from, but because they offer such a variety of options. It's easy to come and spend a pleasant Saturday afternoon here in Claremore on our Main Street, and to help you see just how pleasant it is, let me walk you through a day.

First of all, come a little early and enjoy breakfast in one of our Main Street restaurants. For early morning fare, you can find a reasonable and delicious meal at long-established Dot's Cafe or at the 50's-inspired Boom-A-Rang Cafe. Both offer a variety of breakfast items that will leave you satisfied without lightening your wallet so much that you won't be able to enjoy spending some money downtown.

 Once you've satisfied your morning appetite, hit the streets for a great day of shopping. For years, it seems, our Main Streets have been associated with great antiques, and that still remains true for Claremore. If it's antiques you're after, we have a number of stores that will keep you busy looking for the treasures of years past.

Polish Pottery Bowl from booth at Sailor's Antiques

Starting on the west end of the downtown shopping district, browse the stalls of the Hudson-Metcalf Antique Mall. Then cross the street to Sailor Antiques where you'll find antiques, candy, and, one of my personal favorites, Polish pottery. Continuing westward, on the opposite site of the street you will find The Cranberry Merchant, which is one of our long standing antique stores, only changing names with a change in proprietorship within the past couple of years. It's numerous stalls could keep you sifting through antiques and collectible for hours. Back across the street Homeward Bound offers large amount of space for browsing as well, while smaller antique stores like Now and Then Coffee House and Antique Mall and Fat Pants Alley offer smaller, cozier atmospheres for shopping.

After all of that antique shopping, you'll have worked up an appetite, so take a break for lunch; but there's no need to get in your car and drive to a restaurant. Boom-A-Rang is open all day and Dot's is open until 2; or for different fare, try She Brews, a lovely little coffee shop that serves sandwiches, soups, and salads with a lovely inspirational verse on the side. I enjoyed lunch with my daughter there today, and can attest to how delicious their egg salad sandwich and loaded potato soup are. If soups and salads aren't quite what you're after, though, a block down and around the corner, you will find Perry Dogs, where you can load up your hot dog with virtually any topping you can think of. 

 With lunch taken care of, now you can, if you're a woman, indulge you're feminine side, or, if you're a man, buy something special for, or just wait in a comfortable chair for, that special lady in your life. In the past couple of years, several boutiques have popped up on our Main Street. One of these is The District on Main. It offers upscale women's and men's clothing and women's accessories, including brands such as Brighton, Kendra Scott, and Southern Marsh. They also carry a beautiful selection of jewelry as well as trendy picture frames and some home decor. And if you're an evening shopper or like special events, like their Facebook page to stay up-to-date on their monthly Ladies Night Out event and on special fundraisers they do for Safenet Services.

 Another popular boutique to visit is the crisp, minimalist interior of Hillary's Boutique. Here, you'll find on-trend clothing items for teens and women. They offer an eclectic array of dresses, tunics, leggings, and skirts, including cute spirit clothing for supporting your favorite team. And if you find yourself running out of time and can't spend enough time in the store, don't worry, like many of our other clothing boutiques, you can shop Hillary's on-line as well.

Next to Hillary's Boutique is Savannah's, with a warm interior and an eclectic line of boutique style clothing as well. While both stores carry on-trend styles, their product lines differ, so it's definitely worth it to visit both stores.

 In the same block as Hillary's and Savannah's, but tucked away on the corner in the Will Roger's Hotel, is a new boutique you don't want to miss. While proprietor, Danielle, is still accumulating stock, she has trendy tunics, dresses, sweaters, and jackets that would compliment any wardrobe.  Shortly, she should have a selection of children's headbands and scarves, with matching scarves for Moms, with the idea of eventually branching into boutique children's wear as well. Now, if the clothes are great but jewelry's more your thing, then check out her selection of Pink Panache pieces. The only store to carry the line in Claremore, it offers stylish cross necklaces and earrings that are bound to get attention.

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Another recently opened store on Claremore's Main Street is The Burlap Closet. The rustic signage and interior are immediately inviting. Once inside you can find a variety of clothing pieces for tweens, teens, and women, as well as a variety of appealing accessories to complete your new look.

One of the nice things about the clothing boutiques in Claremore's downtown district is that while there are several of them, they all have something different to offer from demographics to styles to price points.

Now, I know that while I'm a fashionista and could spend all day in the clothing boutiques, many of you are looking for something more, and that is what makes Claremore's Main Street worth shopping. It has plenty to offer. If you're looking for a blend of items you could shop stores such as Vintique Charm, the Grapevine, and The Willow Tree. These stores have booths that carry everything from trendy skirts, dresses, and tunics, to statement jewelry pieces, to handcrafted items, to crafted soaps and candles, to re-purposed furniture, to home decor, to antiques.

If you're a reader, though, stroll down to Boarding House books. It has a warm inviting interior that just begs you to stop in and stay a while. It offers a wide selection of current releases as well as an immense selection of used books for you to peruse. Boarding House Books also supports local authors and offers frequent book signings throughout the year.

Next door to Boarding House Books is the Whittaker's other store, the Bike-About. This bike shop offers an array of bicycles and cycling accessories, as well as hosts rides throughout the year. If you like to ride, but maybe not bikes, jaunt on down the street to The Horse of Course, our local equestrian store which offers everything from clothing to tack to grooming supplies.

But if those are a bit too specific or maybe you're just wanting a gift or something to spruce up your home, we still have plenty to offer. The Cozy Cottage lives up to its name with its warm, cozy interior. It's one of those inviting places that makes you want to find a corner and just stay a bit. It offers a vast array of giftables and  home decor, as well as delicious smelling candles. Out West Home Decor also offers an enticing array of home decor and gifts, but with a Western flair.

When it comes to gifts, Claremore continues to offer up a number of choices. Adding to the eclecticness of downtown are Heins Jewelry, Wolf Gallery, and Waterfront Frame and Art, allowing you the opportunity to buy quality jewelry and collectibles or fine art, or to turn a memory into something tangible.

With so many stores to shop and such a variety of offerings, you'll find your day of shopping has just flown by, and quite possibly that you need to come back and finish on another day. So don't you think that, as the weather turns cooler, and our minds turn toward the people on our gift lists, shopping the stores in downtown Claremore would offer a nice selection of original items your friends and family would love and won't receive anywhere else? Take the time to come visit Claremore. We'll be glad to see you and you'll be glad you did.

You can follow many of the Claremore Main Street business on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Also be sure to follow Claremore Main Street on Facebook to keep up with our latest downtown events. If you would like to help your local Main Streets with their revitalization efforts and events, please, feel free to become a friend of your local organization and make a donation. As a non-profit organization, they could always use your assistance.

For on-line shopping check out:
districtonmain.com
www.hillarysboutique.com
southerncoutureboutique.com
savannahsonline.com