MY FAVORITE THINGS
Remember when Oprah Winfrey did her first Favorite Things show? Like so many brilliant marketing strategies Oprah did, this was a game changer for the way talk show hosts have moved forward with commercial plugs since. Of course by now most of us realize that the items given as her ‘personal favorites’ were plugs paid for by the companies wishing to promote their brand and their goods. Still brilliant. I miss Oprah’s brain. She was a pioneer and continues to be for me in watching how to blend good business sense with trusting my own personal female intuition. She is the queen of this approach because even though it is ultimately a shrewd marketing strategy, I really believe she comes from a place of sincerity and this is what has made her so real to me over the years. She allows her core values and intuition to be a guide in her business strategy and this has been her platinum card and a great example for my own business model as I have watched and learned from afar.
So I got to thinking about my own business and my own love of connecting and supporting other women especially in business and decided to use my platform of this almost daily writing to mention my own personal favorites. Some favorite things, but mostly favorite places and why. In this world of staying home and shopping online for just about everything, I get the convenience. I myself go that route on many occasions. This time of year though, there is nothing like getting in your car with a girlfriend and heading to some boutique shops to peruse. I hope shopping the good old fashioned way does not become one of those things that ‘used to be.’ If small downtown shopping becomes a thing of the past, empty storefronts will be like the empty malls sooner than later and it is up to our own personal economy to insure they stay a vibrant part of our fabric.
In this divisive political climate that is splattered all over the internet, while we are shopping online, we are also getting slammed with distractions that do not often serve our soul. Going out into actual stores alleviates the constant memes coming at us as we make our way through the stores decorated singing Christmas tunes and serving good old fashioned holiday cheer. If you find yourself making your way into any of my recommendations, let the shop owner know. We are all in this together and supporting each other in business and life is a main driver for how I move and breathe in my life.
I will offer my own hometown since this is where I live and shop often. This is the tip of the iceberg as Bristol alone has so much to offer in shopping and in places to walk and bike and museum. Since I am attempting to be Oprahesque in my favorite things, I will focus today on shopping since it is the holidays.
SHOPPING IN BRISTOL, RI.
Shopping in Bristol is a joy because the streets are set up like a grid. I have so many places I LOVE to walk and shop here, but these are my favorites for this time of year. If you ever have some time to meander try to get to WOOD ST. just to feel its ethnic pulse, there are some amazing Portuguese bakeries and restaurants here and it is often overlooked when people visit. One of my favorite walks when I have the time.
PARKING: Park in the free public parking lot on Thames St. across from the old Robin Rug Factory and walk up Constitution St. (you will pass by my own business, stop in and say hello if you are out and about. In the spring-fall, my gardens are spectacular and I love to show them off to all who stop by. Take a left on to Hope St and cross to the corner. You will come to my first recommendation.
FAVORITE CANDLE OF ALL TIME
EPILOGUES on Hope St. owned by brother and sister, Jeff and Wendy Gladding. A super cool mix of old and new. This is where I buy my candles for personal use and gifts. They are around $35, but let me tell you they last and burn clean and complete. I have never found a candle better than these. They have a lot of different scents like Tomato but my all time favorite is FIR. FIR is only available this time of year.
Cross back over and you will find one of the original and longest lasting stores in Bristol, but first stop in to ANGELINA’S for a cup of fresh hot coffee or tea, owned by another superchick, Lisa, she has already made her mark by refreshing this adorable little coffee shop with her splashy creativity.
THE BEST TIGHTS I HAVE EVER WORN
KATE AND COMPANY also on Hope St. owned by Kate Conlon, she is the matriarch of small boutique shopping and has a beautiful mix of clothing, chocolate, homewares, jewelry and so much more.
If you like to walk and I hope you do, make your way up Hope St headed north and take a right on Church St. Walk to the corner of High and Church and you will come to ROXIES and C+R MERCANTILE and ABUNDANCE COASTAL DESIGNS.
WOMEN’S CONSIGNMENT
ROXIES. I am not much of a second hand clothing shopper, but if you are a lover of all clothes consignment, this is your go to place. Roxie has been in business well before consignment clothing was the trend it is now. She is particular in what she carries and her windows often have items that look almost brand new.
LAST MINUTE DINNER ITEMS
C+R MERCANTILE. My favorite little market for buying last minute dinner items and basic staples like organic eggs, olive oil and local meat. She does not take credit cards so be prepared, but her little store is a gem downtown and I love shopping there. She has some great little trinkets this time of year too and it is worth just walking in and saying hello to familiarize yourself with her goods.
SUPER FUN MOSAIC WORKSHOPS
ABUNDANCE COASTAL DESIGNS. Located in the BYFIELD School building at 220 High St. Maria offers the art workshops in making mosaics with friends that I highly recommend. I am listing her website because it the best place to visit to see all that she has going on. www.abundancecoastaldesigns.com
Make your way down HIGH ST. continuing north to STATE ST. and take a left headed back towards town. Meander down STATE ST. There are some lovely little places to poke your head into and take a right on THAMES ST. again poking into HARBOR BATH AND BODY on your way down THAMES.
BRISTOL YOGA STUDIO across the street from HARBOR BATH AND BODY is a lovely boutique yoga place, peek in there and register your zen for later by making a NEW YEARS RESOLUTION to take a yoga class on an early Saturday am 6:30 am with Jeannie Records or Sunday am at 9:30 with the proprietress herself, Tracy Cooper Ramos.
(If you are looking for another yoga studio too, check out Yoga at Bristol Parks and Recreation at the entrance to Colt State Park founded by Jane Viscolosi, she has a great team of Yogis and though I haven’t made it there yet, Jane and many of the women who work there offering yoga are terrific.)
Make your way along the waterfront to the corner of THAMES ST. and FRANKLIN ST.
BEST EARRINGS EVER
JACKIE’S LOFT. If you need earrings, or fabulous clothing pieces, Jackie’s is my favorite plqce to shop for jewelry and clothing. Every time I venture out to another clothing store, I always make my way back to Jackies. She has excellent taste and a great mix of clothing styles. Leave Jackies and take a right up FRANKLIN ST. and head to my favorite shopping place for not only the items they have, but for their complete understanding of creating a full sensory shopping experience.
BEST BOUTIQUE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE.
GRASMERE. Wife and Husband team Beth and Peter have created a sensory delight with their unique collection of all things home, gifts, jewelry, clothing, garden items and everything in between. You will walk into this stunning store and your feet will start tapping because of the music Peter so lovingly plays, your nose will wake up to the scents of candles and aromatherapy items and your eyes will brighten to all of the beautiful lit displays that will make you want to pull out your wallet and happily contribute to the Bristol economy.
As you leave GRASMERE, head up to HOPE ST. and take a right. When you get to BRADFORD ST. take a right and head to WOOF WOOF if you are a dog loving gift giver. I really miss my Yorkshire, Frankie, especially this time of year as I look around this terrific store to buy goodies for the doggies in my life.
As you head back up to HOPE ST. take a right and stop in at
GORMAN CLOCKS. You may not be in the market for clocks, but this lovely little clock shop may just spark an idea for a family heirloom or a unique wedding gift.
LUNCH. My two favorite places to grab a great bite to eat for lunch are LE CENTRAL, on HOPE ST. is a lovely and delicious French bistro with delicious and healthy lunches. Or AIDANS, an Irish pub back on THAMES ST. back by the parking lot you started in with the best corn beef sandwiches and reubens (and of course beer).
As you leave BRISTOL and head north out of town, do not leave without stopping in GOODING PLAZA and peruse my all time favorite consignment shopping for all things house.
SECOND HELPINGS. Owned by my friend, Mary, the diva of consignment. If you like a great consignment shopping experience, great music in the background, do not leave Bristol without stopping here.
Okay so this is my shameless plug for my all time faves in Bristol. So I don’t make this a 25 page piece I will almost stop here.
If you are in Providence, please go to STOCK on Hope St. if you love all things kitchen. Jan the owner is a wealth of knowledge and I love to shop there for gifts for my foodie friends and for my foodie self.
Happy Holidays to all of you out there and I am so grateful for all of your kindest comments since I started these writings this past February. My soul is constantly singing every morning as I write and share my heart and I have felt your love and support like you can’t even imagine.
