ShopMom joins up for retail time in Portland

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Perhaps we weren’t exactly what Sly Stone had in mind, but when it comes to shopping, it’s a family affair.

At least in my family.

For someone who once loathed a visit to the mall, my mother sure has warmed to the idea. So for her birthday, we both took the day off and headed to Portland for some quality retail time, which for Mom generally involves shoes and Chico’s.

Needless to say, we bonded.

Since we started early, our first stop was Standard Baking Co. for croissants and coffee – if you haven’t been here, the bakery in the basement of Sam Hayward’s famed Fore Street restaurant is worth the visit for bread alone.

Once we were properly caffeinated, we headed up Commercial Street to The Resourceful Home, where a window display of Halloween goodies caught my eye. Inside, I checked out a doormat made of recycled flip-flops while Mom pondered old-fashioned milk paint. Next, we popped into Fetch, one of my favorite pet-goods shops. I was looking for a leash for ShopPup and an unbreakable dish for ShopCat. Instead, I got distracted by a hairless dog lounging in the doorway.

A cruise ship as big as the Empire State Building had just disembarked, and what felt like thousands of tourists filled the streets of the Old Port, looking for lobster in all the wrong places. Neither of us likes crowds very much, so we hightailed it up to Fore Street and found solace at Blue Shoe. Oh, how I love this place – the kitten heels, the sassy sneakers, the “She Works Hard for Her Money” pumps – what’s not to love?

Though we didn’t buy anything, our shoe craving had been fed, albeit temporarily. We lingered at the window of Carla’s, a fabulous clothing shop, and then wandered over to Fiachre, a lovely plant-filled spot named for the Celtic patron saint of gardeners. Speaking of gardeners, our next stop was Covent Garden, which is filled with pretty, upscale housewares, toiletries and stationery. I wish I had known about this place when it was wedding-invite time.

Instead, we headed up Exchange Street to visit some of the places I did know about at wedding time – Serendipity, where my mom bought her dress, and Bliss, where I bought my “something blue,” which is a bit unmentionable. In addition to sweet undergarments, Bliss also sells jeans by 7 for All Mankind, gorgeous dresses and trendy yet elegant sweaters, shirts and ponchos. I picked up a silk wrap at Tavecchia, and we drooled over handmade jewelry and fine crafts at Abacus.

Because the crowds were starting to overrun the city, we left for lunch at Joe’s Boathouse at the Spring Point Marina in South Portland, then we swung by Marden’s in Portland, where Mom picked up the best black leather high boots by Nine West for $45.

Despite our past success, it was inevitable that we hit the mall, because Mom had a Chico’s gift card burning a hole in her wallet. After a spell at Victoria’s Secret, a shoe-shopping nightmare at Filene’s (note to hovering clerk: we weren’t going to take the mules and run), and an unsuccessful wedding-gift run to Pottery Barn, we ended up at Chico’s. Mom rejoiced in the velvet tops and luxurious sweaters. I reveled in the jewelry. We came. We bought. We conquered.

But I wasn’t done yet. A few days later, sans Mom, I headed back to Portland to finish what I had started. I parked on Free Street, where my new favorite shop, Wallis Girls Chic Market (named for the ever-stylish Wallis Simpson), has taken up residence. Full of labels you’d expect to find in a larger city, such as Tocca and Trina Turk, Wallis Girls is the place for fashionistas to stock up.

I couldn’t resist the homemade dog treats next door at Bark ‘N Roll (if I had ShopPup with me, I could’ve given her a bath at their self-service dog wash, too). Then, I headed across the street to Papier Gourmet, home of beautiful stationery, journals and writing implements.

But I made my major score of the day at Angela Adams. I had planned to pop in for a notebook, but when I saw the mod lucite-handled pink and maroon handbag that I had coveted for months on the clearance rack, I knew it was meant to be. Originally $120, the bag was on sale for $39.60.

I went back to my car and opened up my new bag to find a change purse and a matching mirror. Then I called Mom. She was so proud.

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, ME 04402-1329, or by fax to: 941-9476. Tune in to ShopGirl at 5 p.m. Fridays on WLBZ-2.

Destination: Portland and environs

Abacus, 44 Exchange St., Portland, 772-4880

Angela Adams, 273 Congress St., Portland, 774-3523

Bark ‘N Roll, 13 Free St., Portland, 780-WOOF, (780-9663)

Bliss, 58 Exchange Street, Portland, 879-7125

Blue Shoe, 434 Fore St. Portland, 772-2583

Carla’s, 414 Fore St., Portland, 879-6306

Chico’s, Maine Mall, South Portland, 772-1836

Covent Garden, 479 Fore St., Portland, 775-3790

Fetch, 195 Commercial St., Portland, 773-5450

Fiachre, 426 Fore St., Portland, 879-2570

Filene’s, Maine Mall, South Portland, 773-3800

Joe’s Boathouse, 1 Spring Point Drive, South Portland, 741-2780

Marden’s, Pine Tree Shopping Center, Portland, 761-4078

Papier Gourmet, 26 Free St., Portland, 871-9722.

Pottery Barn, Maine Mall, South Portland, 775-6261

The Resourceful Home, 111 Commercial St., Portland, 780-1314

Serendipity, 34 Exchange St., Portland, 772-0219

Standard Baking Co., 75 Commercial St., Portland, 773-2112

Tavecchia, 52 Exchange St., Portland, 772-1699

Victoria’s Secret, Maine Mall, South Portland, 773-2779

Wallis Girls Chic Market, 11 Free St., Portland, 780-6732