Vintage Vision
When the School bell rings for kindergarten teacher Erica Bentley, she heads straight to Keepers Vintage, her Mt. Vernon thrift store, where she sells curated apparel and accessories. The small space’s racks are efficiently hung with everything from suede miniskirts to sturdy winter coats. If the item isn’t pre-loved, it was designed by a local—like the candles by Knits Soy & Metal or the leather handbags Bentley’s father makes. Keepers is right on trend for the creative professional, “the person who may have a more traditional job but wants their personality to come through,” Bentley says of her customer base. (Savvy strives for such expressive dressing herself.) Oh, and keep an eye out for a growing men’s collection. 245 Read St., [email protected], keepersvintage.etsy.com
From Maryland with love
Show of hands: who else has Berger cookies on their Christmas list for out-of-staters? Baltimore in a Box gift-box company will ship all of your favorite Maryland goodies, from the Berger to the beloved crab chips. If your favorite Maryland fanatic hasn’t left the 13th state, you can always stop in Black Eyed Susan Coffee and Candy Cream and pick them up a Black Eyed Susan Gift Basket & More. Fill it with local coffee, Ravens items and more. Too cold to go out? Cue Shoptiques.com, a website that sells straight from the local indies like Sweet Elizabeth Jane, JG Sassy and Revive and Company.
To send a gift box,baltimoreinabox.com
For more on Black Eyed Susan, blackeyedsusangiftbaskets.com
OM my god
The Mall in Columbia is ever expanding. This past fall, the upscale shopping destination welcomed Fabletics, Kate Hudson’s growing active wear brand for men and women. Since Columbia has a burgeoning yoga community—Haven on the Lake retreat center turns 1 this year—it’s no wonder that Dustin Netral, the vice president of retail operations at Fabletics, suspected that the store would find “a huge following.” Savvy is all for high-end workout wear—you know, for those lounge around-the-house mornings—but she’s not about the high-end price. Happily, most popular Fabletics duds, like the Agon pullover or the Salar capri, ring up at around $50. One of Savvy’s rules to live by: Never break a sweat buying workout clothes. 10300 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, 443-583-3111, fabletics.com
Tree lugger
“Would you like a tasty pulled pork sandwich with that Christmas tree?” Santa asks. Savvy nods—and she isn’t dreaming. Pork N’ Pine, the brainchild of Jason Toraldo, is back at it—celebrating its fifth season—bringing you (and me) a locally grown and freshly cut pine tree, along with a pulled pork sandwich from HarborQue Barbeque and Catering. Best part of all: the deliveryman is St. Nick. This season, Toraldo plans to bring 175 trees to the homes and businesses of Baltimore. For the farther destinations, he uses his truck—if possible, Santa arrives by bike. There’s still time to get in the kookily creative delivery queue for this year, Pork N’ Pine will be selling through Dec. 20. pork-n-pine.com
