Add Comment (0)
Photography by Kirsten Beckerman
Something Borrowed, Something Green
Shawn Nocher formerly arranged gorgeous flowers out of her family kitchen. Now you can visit her sweet shop, The Floral Studio, on Falls Road—attached to Sunnyfield’s. The roomy place features an open work area so you can observe flower arrangements being brought to life, a comfy customer consultation area (for wedding and party planning), and a retail section. Pick up cash-and-carry flowers, pretty pots, vases, planters and more. Shawn’s dedicated business partner is her daughter, Kelly. They specialize in creating weddings and events, carefully considering the mood and personality of the occasion. Note: Shawn’s beautiful primitive boxes and vintage deco pieces are available for rent. Ask about the pair’s “green weddings.”
6305 Falls Road (410) 321-0606
(All Natural) Chesapeake Treats
Owners Nelson Carey (beloved Grand Cru proprietor), Spike and Amy Gjerde bring gourmet organic cooking to the funky arts community of Clipper Mill. Woodberry Kitchen, a warm and elegant restaurant open for dinner starting at 5, every night but Monday, serves up seasonal produce from local growers and organic meats, all with a nod toward sustainable agriculture. The wonderful menu features Chesapeake classics with festive flair, like wild rockfish, oven-roasted oysters, little lamb meatballs, a decadent crab pot, and griddled scallops. The owners really take the menu, the buying, and the food preparation to heart—Spike himself is the chef. So, eat right, right at home—Make a reservation tonight.
2010 Clipper Park Road (410) 464-8000
Fun in a Bag!
One of our top favorite Annapolis boutiques, Lilac Bijoux, now makes a second home in Belvedere Square—Hooray! Owners Fern Elliott and Beth Ingham stock an even fuller array of cute handbags and unique jewelry. Hobo International is a line out of Annapolis with a vintage bag and wallet collection to die for. Handmade Kelim jewelry—brushed sterling silver and matte—is heavenly. Leida Reis jewelry (made by Fern’s talented mother) is clean and wonderfully contemporary. Also find Matt and Nat (a vegan bag line), Betsey Johnson, Hype, and colorful Anteprima “bucket” purses. “We want people to be able to get a lot of things…and have something fun to use every day,” Fern says. Amen. We’re on the way! 524 E. Belvedere Ave. (410) 323-4333
The Truth About Levi’s
Who knew Levi’s offered so many special cuts, styles and sizes for women and men? We love the new Levi’s Store at Towson Town Center for several reasons. One, the staff is knowledgeable and happy to help. Two, the three-way mirror tells the hard truth (Certain Levi’s stores around the country even feature a butt cam for closer video analysis of thy nether region.) Three, the jeans flatter our form. Several of the offerings do anyway. Be sure to try the cool new hybrid with low-rise, narrow-thigh, flare ankle, if you’re curvy and petite; opt for a low-rise skinny leg if you’re tallish. Heck, try them all! Jeans start under $50. Towson Town Center 825 Dulaney Valley Road, #2055 (410) 494-1131
Art of the Hunt
When Michael Finney relocated Yoicks! from Butler to Stevenson, his store size doubled: Suddenly he had room for a painting gallery upstairs. Michael has been collecting sporting art for some time—He buys pieces he has a visceral reaction to. Now you can purchase Michael’s picks from this limited art genre, from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. “Equestrian, field sport, horse racing, fox hunting, cattle, and wildlife shooting scenes,” Michael begins listing his favorite paintings’ themes… He features about 50 paintings at any given time, including rare and beautiful English watercolor scenes. Many paintings are unsigned, and therefore more affordable. At the moment, Michael also shows an Arthur Alfred David work, “Hunt Meet” (1890), and a smaller Thomas Sidney Cooper landscape (19th century).
10437 Shops at Stevenson Village (443) 486-8377
Found: One Great Cup of Coffee
At long last, we can enjoy a delicious cup of hot coffee on the go in Mount Washington! Freda’s Kitchen café and market opened in February—A family business launched by locals Marty and Linda Emmer and their sons Josh and Drew. Situated in the same groovy L-shaped spot where the Mount Washington Market once lived, Freda’s serves a range of coffee drinks using delectable Orinoco beans, yummy baked goods, hot breakfast bagel sandwiches, deli meats, salads and more. The market features dry pastas and specialty ingredients to grab on the way home. Take your snack to go or sit at a front table.
1604 Kelly Avenue (410) 367-7840
Fantasy Football
Wow, Under Armour opened its first-ever retail store in Annapolis last fall! Don’t expect to see a nationwide chain of UA stores cropping up, however; the brand intends to use the store to test campaigns and products and see what works best. What a wild place to visit: Every inch recreates game day. The façade is a cement stadium wall. The sounds of a football game are piped in. You walk through an actual tunnel to reach the retail goods! It’s quite a sensory experience. The sizeable store features men’s and women’s outerwear apparel—Go ahead, pretend you’re in a UA commercial while you try on sporty gear. No one will know.