Handlebars here and a few pedals there, led by a red-nose reindeer, fashion Mike's Bikes' witty entry in the 2012 Window Walk Contest.
The shop at 324 N. Euclid carries handsome bike baskets from the Nantucket Bike Basket Co., $35 to $45, and the latest in bikes for tykes, Striders, $95 to $100, for children 18 months to 5 years. As the tag on the pint-sized bike says, "if your child can walk, your child can ride." Looks like fun to me…
Mike's Bikes, (314) 875-0080.
Neighborhood shopowners without windows to decorate–Christiane Danna of Christiane's Handcrafted Jewelry and Jennifer Walker, Jennifer Walker Jewelry at 449 N. Euclid, have draped railings with greens and ribbons, and hung a whimsical Dr. Seuss kind-of-thing made out of paper lanterns and other gizmos, see night shot below.
A small selection of Christiane's lovely silver necklaces is pictured above, some with semi-precious stones. They range in price from $39 to $89.
Christiane's Handcrafted Jewelry, Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10 to 1, Saturday 1 to 4, 449 N. Euclid, (314) 398-0636.
The small sampling of Jennifer Walker's earrings and bracelets shown above are made of silver or gold plating, with stones or enamel, $30 to $110.
Jennifer Walker Jewelry, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8 to 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 9 to 5:30, 449 N. Euclid, (347) 528-3210.
Dawna Sturdivant, proprietor of Borough Vintage, and Jennifer Ingram, The Apparel Doctor, collaborated on decorations for the entry to their shops at 447 N. Euclid.
Dawna suggests dressing up a holiday package with a vintage button (example upper left), $10. Vintage hairpins and hounds-tooth-patterned earrings made from Borough Vintage's large selection of vintage buttons are $10 each. There are some great-looking glittery tops for the holidays at the shop too!
Borough Vintage, Thursday-Saturday 11 to 6, Sunday 12 to 5, 447 N. Euclid, (314) 884-8436.
Cassie's beautiful holiday windows at 316 N. Euclid, above and below.
Cassie's carries Crabtree & Evelyn products (hard-to-find with closing of Crabtree store in Galleria) including a gift package of six assorted hand therapy creams, $29. Customers are buying the set and dividing them up as stocking stuffers or gifts for friends. Pacifica soaps in scents such as Tibetan Gardenia and Lotus Garden are another popular stocking stuffer idea, $5 each.
Cassie's, Monday-Thursday 10:30 to 6, Friday & Saturday 10:30 to 8, Sunday 12 to 5, 316 N. Euclid, (314) 454-1010.
The Flower Shop at the Chase Park Plaza carries a large selection of handmade cardboard Christmas houses, $14 to $95. The smaller houses can be hung on the tree. To add to the seasonal charm, the backs accommodate a little lightbulb. Ornaments and holiday decor are 20% off too!
Hostess aprons are meant to wear, I am sure, only while adding a spring of parsley to your holiday platter, and pretty enough to wear over leggings (if you don't mind the exposure), $82.95. Fake fur aprons will add even more spice, $42.
To preserve a holiday manicure how about a fancy pair of dishwashing gloves with rhinestone and fur, left, $29.99. Or better yet, wear the gloves and have someone else do the dishes!
You might also consider ordering your holiday centerpiece from senior designer Rod Nelson too!
The Flower Shop at The Chase Park Plaza, Tuesday-Saturday 10 to 6, by appt. Sunday & Monday, 212 N. Kingshighway, (314) 633-6910.
Ed King, co-owner of Big Sleep Books with Helen Simpson, admitted they had adopted a "Charlie Brown kind of look" with their Christmas tree. Though it certainly isn't the most stunning entry in this year's Window Walk Contest (see contest info here), it's endearing, and sitting slightly askew against the backdrop of action posters at the entry…you just never know.
Three hot, hot titles Ed suggested I mention are best-selling author Michael Connelly's The Black Box, $21 to $22 (a guesstimate, too much trouble to do the math) after tax (Big Sleep offers 25% off hard covers). Another popular hit is Bruno, Chief of Police, $15, by Martin Walker. "The novel has wine, food, atmosphere and besides, it's a great mystery," Ed said.
Everyone seems to love Scandinavian author Jussi Adler-Olsen's The Keeper of Lost Causes, a Dept. Q Novel, $14.95. Ed has a source for British editions of Scandinavian novels and will be getting the sequel in paperback, long before those other shops do. Sounds mysterious.
Big Sleep Books, 239 N. Euclid, Monday-Thursday 11 to 6, Friday & Saturday 11 to 8, Sunday 12 to 6, (314) 361-6100.