Last year, I made it a major goal to become part of the Elite Squad at yelp.com. Yelp is a new-fangled Yellow Pages where you can rate and write reviews of businesses, check their hours, find them on a map, and the like. To become an "elite" member, you write a bunch of reviews, compliment other members, check into businesses, and basically hang out on their site a whole lot.
Part of my plan in gaining Elite status was to promote the Snelby (I named it myself) area at the corner of Snelling Avenue and Selby Avenue in St. Paul, MN. I have no official affliation with any of the businesses there, besides the fact that they are awesome.
First of all, the anchor store of Patina is in the Legacy Rose building that got a major overhaul a few years back and really started turning the area around. The Heritage Rose building next door got its turn at a big time reno soon after the success of the Legacy and now there is nothing but fun.
You can check out all the full reviews on Yelp! in my St. Paul Girlie Walking Tour guide, but I'll do the short story here.
Down the magical alley pictured above, lives a little house where the caretaker for the buildings used to stay. And in that house, there are fantastical clothes and shoes to buy at Allee. The store is great in and of itself, but it's owner also runs Nina's Coffee Cafe in Cathedral Hill, so it gets double points.
Flirt Boutique is a lingerie store that moved to Snelby from good ol' Grand Avenue. They have amazing girl-style underclothes and also carrying really simple and fun earrings. Weird combo, I know. The ladies that work there are very helpful and are great at helping the menfolk get something fancy for their lady.
Need a snack before continuing? Stop in to Two Smart Cookies for one of their delicious chocolate crinkles. *drool.*
Patina, as mentioned many times here, is great for a little brain vacation. It has the funnest junk.
A. Michele is a sassy women's store on Selby that has rockin' clothes, accessories, and strangely, baby stuff.
If you ever need a period dress for a party, head to Lula's Vintage Wear and whoever is working there will help you find a great circle skirt or leisure suit to impress your date with. They carry some quality vintage gear for ladies and men and shoes, belts, necklaces, hats, the whole shebang.
Now I need a coffee.
Gold Card at Starbucks, baby. This location was right down the street from my old workplace, so I know and love it.
The kids are getting restless. Take them to Fire Station 14 down Snelling Avenue to visit with the nicest bunch of firemen in the world. The guys were my next-door neighbors for many years and fed me, entertained me, lent me tools, and installed an air conditioner for me. Good guys. They love kids and showing off their place, so it's a good field trip.
I haven't even crossed Snelling Avenue yet! But in any case, you should head out 94 to the coolest intersection in MN and spend a little time and dough. Then give me a ring and stop by to see me on your way home.
Happy shopping!
