IN WATERMELON SUGAR

 

Yes....who doesn't love more shopping? Why yes it was another shop in the same outer Baltimore neighborhood of Hampden. This was my second time in. Leslie who is the fine owner of this store is the doyenne of this shop. The shops name came as a suggestion from a friend of hers who is a fan of Richard Brautigan's novel , In Watermelon Sugar, a novel based on a post-apocalyptic story set in the aftermath of a fallen civilization. The name sounded colorful to her and vague, so it's stuck with her. Now watermelon sugar has now been around for 25 years and specializing in a wide array of items but specializing in bath & body products, room sprays, candles, gourmet foods and delights, homemade woven bags and accessories, Artisan made home accessories ,textiles, jewelry and handmade gift wrappings. The store sort of reminds me of the old Crabtree and Evelyn stores that used to be around. I always love it's friendly atmosphere when we're in and you can't help but come out of the store feeling happy. And every purchase is put in her signature In Watermelon Sugar bag with pink tissue and sticker.

My favorite new line of body and face care. Not sure yet but it may even replace my Chanel skincare I've been using for years. It's a line called McEvoy Ranch, and contains vitamin E , rosemary, clary sage and olive oils. The body cream is amazing, and I mean I use it everywhere, right down to ...yes, even there.

Loved these glass jellyfish.

I loved these! How cool would the four larger birds on the four corners, make for very whimsical towel racks for a bathroom???

OINK OINK!!!

A GOOD MERCHANTILE

If there are two kinds of shops to distract me and get me in the door, they are a good home accents shop and home decor, or a good bath and body toiletries shop. This was a home accents and gift shop called Balston Mercantile, a few weeks ago while in Hampden and it did not disappoint. Do you ever walk into a shop and want to buy everything, literally? Yep, this one is just like that. It's a perfectly curated space with gems, and beauties and curiosities for your home, whether you're looking for something for a housewarming gift or yourself. The shop offers a bit of everything right down to fun and novelty stationary, remember that? Also, a fun offering of fun and cheeky coffee table books. I was immediately sucked into to some of the best smelling candles. Hey, I can't help it, I'm a huge candle whore, but some of the best smelling candles I've smelled since my favorite candle from Henri Bendel...but alas they are closed now. It was fun exploring the place with little doo dads tucked in everywhere.  The best part? Locally owned and better still, by a gay couple, Andrew and Jonathan who were a delight to talk too. The name of the shop is a play on Boston and Balitmore, the place they used to live and now their new home of Balitmore. I'm to the point of now only shopping small and local. It's a great addition to the street of shopping and I wish them well. It was a great shopping experience and attention given at every step of my visit. I did indeed come out with several things...3 candles, a cast iron fox paper weight, and two stationery boxed cards. Not to mention there were a few very hot daddies in their shopping. I bumped into one accidentally. If I had broken it, I wonder if I would have had to pay for it and then brought it home??? Don't worry boys...I'll be back to shop!!! 

More Gay Pride!

END OF AN ERA

A trip to any city, even Philadelphia would not be complete without a visit to a wonderful shopping emporium, especially one of the past. For years since 1876 that would have been John Wanamaker's in Philly. John Wanamaker had been there since it's inception right up to 1998 when it was taken over first by Woodward & Lothrop, followed by Hechts, Lord and Taylor and then bought out by Macys. But the end of an era is now reality for the grande dame as Macy's announced in it's store closings, this flagship is going to be shuttered. Wannamaker's had been open since 1861 in it's original location, before moving to the Market Street location in 1876, so this will mark the first time this cavernous, granite palace, that occupies a whole city block, will have it's doors shut for good. At least till the company that owns the building can figure out what will come of the building. 

When John Wanamaker's first opened on Market Street, it was 13 floors of higher end and luxury collections of clothing, designer boutiques, home furnishings, cosmetics, jewelry and a fine shoe salon. In addition, there was the in-store tailor shop, millinery shop, flower shop, bridal salon, housewares, china, and gift departments and an incredible food hall of all kinds of earthly delights. There wasn't anything this store didn't have. John Wanamaker really was a groundbreaking merchant, though the interior of his store today I'm sure looks quaintly old fashion to visitors today, not use to seeing the grand scale and elegance of the building itself. The building is incredible. Wanamaker designed the emporium to be large, grand and majestic, with a breathtaking center court and of course the crown jewel...the world's largest pipe organ on the balcony with pipes soaring two floors up, and a maze of pipes in addition behind the scenes that soar floors up and all over the building. The sound of the organ in this place sounded amazing, and at times could vibrate the building. The organ has over 28,000 pipes, and is famed for the delicate, orchestra-like beauty of it's tone, as well as it's incredible building vibrating power. It was a must to see if in Philly. He also had a had a huge cast bronze eagle that weighed in a 8 tons and had to have the floor reinforced to house it on the main floor. It often was a meeting place for many to meet in Philly and the phase, "Meet me at the Eagle" was and is still often heard.

While I am NOT a Macy fan and hate the blandness and standardization that Macy's represents in today shopping culture, I will say they did a reasonably good job of keeping the building preserved, and maintaining the elegance of the store and kept many traditions of Wanamaker's alive, unlike what they did to Marshall Fields in Chicago. I have many found memories of the store. Both sets of my great grandparents shopped there upon moving to PA, and then my maternal grandmother used to take me twice yearly to go shopping with her to Wanamaker's and Bonwit Tellers. I used to love it. Wanamaker's was just so mind blowing for a kid. We'd shop, have lunch in the legendary Crystal Tea Room, and then hear the organ. At Christmas it was even more magical, as the store would be bejeweled to the Gods, and I recall loved seeing the monorail train that would go around the whole toy department. Not to mention the spectacle of the Christmas light show, set to music.

 So, the store was always a family tradition. Even still, regular readers will know, I still go to the yearly organ concerts. That will be missed. I have also had several friends who were in visual display there and two other friends, who have been the Head Visual Manger over the whole building, including the current one, who was my boss at Bloomingdales. Needless to say he is heartbroken. Over the last two years he tried to get me to come on board as a visual stylist, but I just didn't have enough trust in Macys...especially since they owned Bloomingdales and gave everyone the ax. Talk about dodging a bullet. But I admit, it would have been incredible to have worked that location, if it had been any other luxury retailor.

Most pictures are mine... and others from the net, from over the years.

While no plans for another tenant, or what will become of the place yet is still up in the air, it has been decided this week that the organ, eagle and center court and architecture will remain, as it is all registered as historic landmarks, thank heavens. I think it would make for a great events space and concert venue for classical and jazz music, or even smaller concerts. Think Austin City Limits. At the end of the month the clan and I will go see off the organ for it's final concert...before it sleeps....at least till the building reopens in a new incarnation. Hopefully the city of Philly won't have to go to long till it hears the organ daily again.

CHRISTMAS PIGEONS!

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention a detail from yesterday's post from the stunning windows at Bergdorf Goodman. Was it Tundra Bunny who mentioned where were the NYC rats??? The windows were an ode to NYC landmarks, and long-standing intuitions and characters. alas, there were no rats. But leave it to Bergdorfs to ALWAYS tie in a lovely little detail, that most passer by miss. The windows are always filled with details. Every peer in, and the more you study it, you will find more awesome little revels and bits of surprise and delight. While not rats, it's the next best thing in NYC....it's pigeons! So let me not forget to mention the dozens of sparkling and bejeweled couture pigeons created by Burke & Pryde. They're sprinkled throughout each window, and no two are the same. Each one is adorned with colorful sequins and unique patterns.

How do I get my mits on one after Christmas? One of those would look amazing in my Christmas tree that features many birds? I also think the Dame's shop kitty that he puts food out for would love the pigeons...although, Priscilla didn't seem to care, but more pissed I was snapping her picture.

And I mentioned that clan member Preston is now working at Bergdorfs..... HUMMMMMMMMM. That may be my in to capturing one of those birds. *evilly rubs hands* Meanwhile he took these amazing photos early before the store opened. I had to share them. Even closed it still looks elegant, but way more haunting. I adored these.

When I worked at Bloomingdales, all those years, I always loved the early mornings before anyone was in. Haunting, peaceful, and something special about it.