A dream realized: bargains on MDI

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I couldn’t get any smarter.

I decided to take this month’s shopping trip to Mount Desert Island. In the pouring rain.

The narrow streets of MDI’s villages are barely navigable as is, what with the seasonal influx of tank-size Hummers and Range Rovers with out-of-state plates. Add a little precipitation to the mix and it’s downright dangerous. Somehow, my compact car and I made it through unscathed.

Surprisingly, so did my wallet.

I figured it would be hard to find bargains in these tourist towns, where many shopkeepers have three months in which to earn a year’s income. It wasn’t. I found plenty of real bargains (skirts for $25, shirts for $20, jewelry for $3), and a few deals on brand-name clothing (a North Face men’s coat for $90, Miss Sixty jeans for $60 – half of the usual $120). For the sake of time, and sanity, I avoided all shops selling Maine T-shirts, shot glasses, decorative spoons and thimbles.

As usual, my first order of business was lunch. I filled up at Little Notch pizzeria in Southwest Harbor, which can be described in one word: yummy. I had the spicy meatball Parmesan on fresh-baked focaccia and a bottle of Honest Tea. If I were in Bar Harbor, I would’ve stopped at Gringo’s for an inexpensive, fresh burrito with homemade salsas and fillings.

Then I stopped in Under the Dogwood Tree. I have no idea how I had missed it before, as it’s been there for almost a decade, but I’m glad I finally found it. Owner Linda Stanley has assembled a fabulous selection of clothing, greeting cards, gifts and housewares. I loved the wall hooks with initials on them, so there’s no confusing towels or bathrobes ($12.50 each). But what I really wanted was the animal stuff – vintage posters with pooches and kittens on them, a hand-painted sign that reads, “Doggies are a girl’s best friend” ($80), and the set of rare “Orlando the Marmalade Cat” books. If you’re an animal lover, check it out.

The shopgirl there suggested I head up Main to MDI Sportswear. Don’t let the name fool you. Sure, there’s activewear here, but there are also adorably trendy sundresses, tops and ribbon-belt skirts by Free People and Syko. Also check out the cute – and affordable – beaded necklaces.

After that, I hopped in the car and slowly made my way to Northeast Harbor. Amazingly, I found a parking spot on Main Street. But my luck got even better when I ducked into Local Color, a stylish, chic boutique with gorgeous linen jackets, bejeweled Dr. Scholls (love them; hate the price) and my coup, a leather and silver bracelet that cost me a whopping $3. I swear it was the least expensive thing in town.

I was surprised when I went to Fourteen Carrots, a great jewelry store that also carries antique quilts. I wanted a $22 sterling and pearl ring, and who wouldn’t? But they didn’t have my size. Next door, I browsed at the adorable children’s shop Animal Crackers – my parents loved a pair of baby rain boots in the window so much that they tracked the owners down in the winter to order them for my little cousin.

My next stop, inevitably, was The Kimball Shop clothing boutique. So upscale. So classic. So out of my price range. Ditto for The Kimball Shop emporium, which carries all things lovely and well-made. If I had to do it all over again, I would’ve done my bridal registry here. After a drool-fest at Shaw Contemporary Jewelry – I can’t go in there without wanting everything – I went to a favorite Northeast Harbor destination, The Romantic Room. I’ve always loved Lilly Pulitzer, and shop owner Jennifer Richardson shares that love. If you want something pretty, pink or preppy, this is the place. Check out the jewels by M. Flynn, the fabulous ribbon belts and watchbands, or head next door to The Cottage, Richardson’s destination for summery, fun furniture and accessories.

After nearly taking out a few tourists while backing out of my parking space, my Nissan and I set off for Bar Harbor. First stop: Window Panes Bath and Body – the spot for those who love to bubble and soak (and as fabulous as the regular Window Panes shop up the street). That’s me. I like the inflatable bathtub pillows ($16), the towel racks and the polka-dotted shower curtains, but I really wanted the marble-top antique sink at the entry. I didn’t ask, but I’m guessing it wasn’t for sale.

I meandered down to Bark Harbor, wishing I had my dogs with me so they could get treats from the snack bar. I liked the pewter identification tags for dogs and the silver charms for humans. If your dog needs a leash, this is the place to go. Ditto for dog beds. I also really liked the selection of fancy feline food, for ShopCat, and the cute little cat dishes.

I swore I wouldn’t do the tourist thing, but a $20 “Free Martha” T-shirt at Cool As A Moose caught my eye. It was a good thing, but other shops called. Namely Kyle’s Keep, which lured me in with gorgeous jewelry and jackets by Scarborough designer Maralyce Ferree. On my way there, I stopped at Domus Isle, but I got a bit of sensory overload – I remembered it as a more soothing place – so I kept walking.

Soon I headed up Cottage Street, and after briefly considering a box of fresh-cut fries, I tore myself away and popped into Cadillac Mountain Sports’ North Face shop. I was hoping for a deal on a ski parka and I found one – except it was a men’s jacket in charcoal gray for $90, not the women’s in black I had hoped for. Oh, well. Next I wandered up to Eden Rising – a new-age shop with a good selection of yoga literature and silver and gemstone jewelry.

I was starting to tire of the crowds – shopping on a rainy day is not a novel idea in Bar Harbor. I crossed the street and made the loop back. I didn’t get far, however, because I remembered my luck last summer at The Village Emporium. This summer was no different – a strawberry-blossom sundress ($89), the coveted poncho (but that’s another whole column), and the quirkiest bag I’ve seen all summer, covered in a sushi print, for $24.

As I rounded the corner onto Main, Sweet Jumping Jane’s beckoned me. As if the black pants with a hot-pink ribbon belt weren’t reason enough to stop, I noticed the hand-painted sign over the dressing room: “Enter and be beautiful.” Who can argue with that?

I didn’t buy anything, but I’ll be back. After spending way too much time at Leapin’ Lizard – fine handcrafts and amazing jewelry – I crossed the street to my parking spot and noticed another shop I had never visited. Macey’s (can’t go wrong with the name) looked like my kind of place, and it was – designer jeans (Lucky and Miss Sixty for a fraction of regular retail), adorable skirts, inexpensive handbags, a resale room (for now), and T-shirts with attitude. I got a cute but edgy black-and-pink T by Kaity for $22.95. Barganza. And I’m coming back in the fall for the printed velvet blazer by Free People – very “Love Story.”

But next time, I’ll park and take the Island Explorer. Unless it rains. In that case, I’ll stay home.

ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329, or by fax to 941-9476. Tune in to ShopGirl at 5 p.m. Fridays on WLBZ-2.

Destination: Mount Desert Island

Animal Crackers: Main Street, Northeast Harbor, 276-5462

Bark Harbor: 200 Main St., Bar Harbor, 288-0404

Cadillac Mountain Sports: 26 Cottage St., Bar Harbor, 288-4532

Cool As A Moose: 118 Main St., Bar Harbor, 288-3904

The Cottage: Main Street, Northeast Harbor, 276-4005

Domus Isle: 134 Main St., Bar Harbor, 288-5511

Eden Rising: 39 Cottage St., Bar Harbor, 288-1124

Fourteen Carrots: Main Street, Northeast Harbor, 276-5259

Gringo’s: 30 Rodick St., Bar Harbor, 288-2326

The Kimball Shop: Main Street, Northeast Harbor, 276-3300

Kyle’s Keep: 110 Main St., Bar Harbor, 288-2136

Leapin’ Lizard Gallery: 227 Main St., 288-2227

Little Notch: 326 Main St., Southwest Harbor, 244-3357

Local Color: 147 Main St., Northeast Harbor, 276-5544

Macey’s: 240 Main St., Bar Harbor, 288-0968

MDI Sportswear: Main Street, Northeast Harbor, 244-3121

The Romantic Room: Main Street, Northeast Harbor, 276-4005

Shaw Contemporary Jewelry: 100 Main St., Northeast Harbor, 276-5000

Sweet Jumping Jane’s: Main Street, Bar Harbor

Under the Dogwood Tree: 326 Main St., Southwest Harbor, 244-3089

The Village Emporium: 14 Cottage St., Bar Harbor, 288-9584

Window Panes Bath and Body: 228 Main Street, Bar Harbor, 288-2282