Shen Opens On Court Street: Brooklyn Gets More Beautiful

Beautiful news for Brooklyn! Shen, a new beauty boutique, just opened on Court Street, in the former Ola Baby space. Now no disrespect to the hardworking, always-shlepping (strollers, grocery bags, babies) moms of Brooklyn, but we needed another kids and baby store like Manhattan needs another Starbucks: to say we needed a cosmetics shop is a pretty little understatement.

I stopped by today and learned that Shen is owned by a former Vogue staffer and a former beauty editor, and clearly they know what they're doing, because the bright, airy, welcoming shop stocks hard-to-find beauty products like Melange solid perfumes, Lipstick Queen, Roullier White's Mrs. White's products (Mrs White's Classic Cold Cream is on my must-try list), Becca Cosmetics, Kate Logan skincare, and Lafco Candles.

Shen also has a cute little kid-beauty section in the back, and they'll soon have makeup applications.

Follow Shen on Twitter at @ShenBeauty, and, most importantly, welcome Shen to Brooklyn!

The Total Franklin Street Immersion, Y'all

I am somewhat weirdly excited about what's in store (pun intended!) for me this afternoon. My friend Amy and I, and with any luck our man-friends, will be hitting Greenpoint for the Total Franklin Street Immersion, a come-to-the-neighborhood push that involves a punch card, store discounts, and drink specials.



Drinking and shopping on a sunny Saturday! What could be better? I'm psyched. Read all about it at Brooklyn Based, who planned the whole shebang.



I'm hoping Dalaga has these cute swingy shorts, $58 (with 10 percent off today) and that they look cute on me. (UPDATE: They did, and they do.) I'm also looking for a change purse (didn't find), some new sunglasses (ditto), and maybe a new book at Word (I got Let the Great World Spin and The Girl Who Played With Fire). And it's 30 percent off at Binge enabler Hayden-Harnett (I got a skirt and a dress from their Cheap Thrills Pop-up Shop or whatever it's called for a grand total of $70...cheap thrills indeed!). Wish me luck!

I'm also hoping they don't run out of beer (I only got one mini beer, and even though I filled out my entire card, I didn't get a tote bag of gifts because they ran out.) Free Brooklyn Summer Ale!

See you on Franklin Street! (I'll totally be back.)

Cute New Brooklyn Store Alert! Black Bear Vintage & Handmade

Guys! Yay! Listen, listen! There's a brand-new vintage boutique that just opened in Windsor Terrace. (That's in Brooklyn.) It's called Black Bear, and it's adorable. Now I'm not just writing about it because it's my best friend's store (but it helps). I'm writing about it because it's awesome and it's worth going to Brooklyn for if you don't already live there. (And if you don't live in Brooklyn, you really should). And it's even right off the train! And there's an ice cream place next door! See how easy they make it for you?

Anyway, Black Bear is a brand-new vintage boutique that sells vintage clothes, shoes and accessories at prices that are totally fair and reasonable since someone has actually WORN said clothes before. In other words, it's a great vintage selection at prices that aren't Manhattan's idea of vintage. So most everything's around $20. (!!!)

To prove to you that I'm not making this up, here's what I bought last Sunday on the first day they opened (because I like to stay on top of my vintage):


I got these two tops, a cute little handmade soap (more on that in a second), and a vintage mood ring, and it all came to just under $40.

AND they have super cuters little handmade pillows made by Black Bear's co-owner, Julia. Pillows of dachshunds with cones on their necks! And pillows with centaurs on them. And more locally sourced handmade goods. Like sweet little soaps in the shape of GUINEA PIGS! They're scented (but not like guinea pigs)! Can you even? I'd go on but I'm like braying with excitement and I'm starting to embarrass myself. Oh yeah. And the store, which occupies what used to be an old liquor store, feels like the basement from "That '70s Show." In the good way. (In the no-Ashton-Kutcher way.) And, they buy vintage too! Again, making things easy for you.

Come for the great vintage selection, stay for the bear wearing a party hat in the window.

Black Bear is located at:
469 16th Street @ Prospect Park West
Brooklyn, NY, 11215

Phone: 718.768.0250

Tues - Sun: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

Closed Monday

Black Bear on Facebook.

Seriously.

Jonathan Adler Interviewed By Simon Doonan

Yesterday, on one of my mini, teeny tiny "training" walks for the Avon 3-Day Walk For Breast Cancer, which I'm doing in a few weeks (Wanna sponsor me?), I ended up at the Jonathan Adler store on Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn. Please, just bury me there. It's the greatest store in this entire country. It makes me glad capitalism was created and currency was printed so I can spend it there. And, I'm not bullshitting you -- you can get a ton of great stuff there for under $100.

Anyway, watch this hilarious video (boo won't embed) of Jonathan Adler making pots while Simon Doonan asks him questions and discusses poo and fudge. Love.


my musing #3

Posted using ShareThis

Also, PLEASE to enjoy ALL OF THIS AMAZING Jonathan Adler Barbie stuff!!!!!! I die!