This week’s shopping and style highlights:
BlackBlue Flash Sale: The heritage-inspired menswear store is hosting a flash sale on all spring arrivals, featuring 20 percent off in-store and online (including free domestic shipping) with the code “SPRINGFLASH17.” Tuesday, May 2-Thursday, May 4 @ BlackBlue, 614 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 651-260-5340, blkblu.com
Minny & Paul Mother’s Day Pop-ups: Curated gift box service Minny & Paul has partnered with Kate Arends Peters of the popular lifestyle blog Wit & Delight for its first guest-curated box, just in time for Mother’s Day.Dubbed “Refresh,” the box is intended both for mothers as well as those looking for a spring rejuvenation. Shop the box ($88) at a series of pop-up events this week. Wednesday, May 3 from 4-8 p.m. @ Tattersall Distilling Company, 1620 Central Ave. NE. #150, Minneapolis; Saturday, May 6 from 8-11 a.m. @ Alchemy Edina, 6729 York Ave. S., Edina; Sunday, May 7 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. @ Hewing Hotel, 300 N. Washington Ave., Minneapolis, and online at minnyandpaul.com. For more Mother’s Day shopping and gift ideas, visit the MnMo Style blog.
Janis Kerman Custom Design Event: Canadian jewelry designer Janis Kerman is making a special appearance at fine jewelry boutique Max’s for a custom design event, in which clients can have her create bespoke jewelry, or bring in their own gems to be refashioned into new pieces with gemstones and precious metals. Reservations are required for the one-on-one custom consultations and can be scheduled by calling the store at 952-922-8364. Thursday, May 4 & Friday, May 5 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Saturday, May 6 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. @ Max’s, 3826 Grand Way, St. Louis Park, stylebymax.com
My Sister 2nd Anniversary & Kid’s Line Launch: Minnesota-based brand My Sister, which sells empowering t-shirts to benefit anti-sex trafficking organizations, is celebrating two years with a party and the launch of its new kid’s line, which feature phrases such as “You’re Not the Boss of Me” and “Feminist.” All day Thursday, receive a free lip balm and a metallic temporary tattoo pack with each purchase. Thursday, May 4 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. @ My Sister, 1616 W. Lake St., Minneapolis, 612-400-1194, mysister.org
Aura Boutique Grand Opening: The former Wuollet Bakery has been transformed into a new storefront selling contemporary women’s fashions from the coasts. Aura Boutique will offer a mix of high-end, on-trend apparel, dresses, and jeans from hard-to-find brands such as Bossa, Joah Brown, Private Party, and Dr. Denim. Opens Friday, May 5 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. @ 2447 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis, auraboutiquempls.com
Frank & Eileen Pop-up: Shop the current spring and summer collections from L.A.-based brand Frank & Eileen, which specializes in button-up shirts and shirt dresses made in California from Italian fabric and inspired by founder Audrey McLoghlin’s Irish heritage. The brand has also recently introduced a Tee Lab line featuring soft, layerable basics. Friday, May 5-Sunday, May 7 @ Grethen House Edina, 4930 France Ave. S., Edina, 952-926-8725, grethenhouse.com
The New North: Contemporary Art from the Upper Midwest and Janelle Gramling: Collected Works”‹ Opening Receptions: Mary Jo Hoffman, creator of the popular STILL blog, has curated an exhibition featuring artists spanning a variety of disciplines, including screen printing, photography, ceramics, woodworking, and painting. Opening in tandem is a new exhibition of the collected works of Milwaukee-based ceramic artist Janelle Gramling. Friday, May 5 from 7-10 p.m. @ Light Grey Art Lab, 118 E. 26th St. #101, Minneapolis, 612-239-2047, lightgreyartlab.com
Golden Rule Turns 2: Golden Rule celebrates its second birthday with two days of events plus bites, bubbles, discounts, and new work from Atelier Collection, Missy Monson, and Rachel Andrzejewski. On Saturday, the modern maker store in Excelsior hosts pop-ups from Neal jewelry, clothing brand Winsome, illustrator 1130 FOREVER, Ashley Mary Art, Green Bee Juicery, florist Kindred Blooms, and San Francisco-based clothing brand Jenny Lemons. And on Sunday, enjoy complimentary espresso drinks from Coffee Cart (from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), discounts, and giveaways. Saturday, May 6 & Sunday, May 7 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. @ Golden Rule, 350 Water St., Excelsior, 612-598-2098, shopgoldenrule.com
Northern Grade: St. Paul: The heritage-inspired, U.S.-made market returns to the Twin Cities with a special spring edition in St. Paul. This year’s lineup features goods spanning men’s and women’s apparel, leather and canvas bags and accessories, home decor and furnishings, skincare, and hand-painted wooden baseball bats from brands including Anywhere Apparel, Concrete Pig, J.W. Hulme Co., and Leatherworks MN, plus craft brews from Bent Paddle Brewing Co. Saturday, May 6 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. & Sunday, May 7 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. @ Red River Kitchen at City House, 258 Walnut St., St. Paul, northerngrade.com
Parc’s 9th Birthday Celebration: Nine years in business is no small feat for an independent retailer. But thanks to its well-curated collection of minimalist pieces that are as stylish as they are affordable, Parc has not only endured, two years ago it added a second location at 50th & France. The store hosts a celebration at its original Northeast location with treats, drinks, giveaways, and 25 percent off both in-store and online at parcboutique.com with the code “NINE.” Saturday, May 6 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. @ Parc NE, 320 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, 612-353-4966.
Flirt Boutique’s 9th Birthday: Another independent retailer celebrating its ninth birthday is the high-end lingerie boutique Flirt, which has been selling the best in European and American luxury unmentionables on the corner of Selby and Snelling since 2009. The store will have birthday cake, pink champagne, and a rare 25 percent off storewide discount to thank its customers. Saturday, May 6 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. @ Flirt Boutique, 177 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul, 651-698-3692, flirt-boutique.com
Atelier957 Mother’s Day Shopping Event: The artsy Grand Avenue boutique is hosting a day of Mother’s Day shopping with pop-up shopping from local chocolatier Mademoiselle Miel and Helen Wang Jewelry, wine, coffee, and snacks. Saturday, May 6 from noon-3 p.m. @ Atelier957, 957 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651-646-0111, atelier957.com
North Loop Spring Fashion Crawl: The shops of the North Loop are hosting a day of in-store events, discounts, specials, refreshments, and giveaways. Events include a fashion show at menswear retailer MartinPatrick3 featuring several local lines and 20 percent off storewide with a ticket purchase (6-9 p.m., $20-$30 @ eventbrite.com), and D.NOLO is offering the chance to win up to 30 percent off purchases (all day Saturday and Sunday). Other participating retailers include Wilson & Willy’s, russell+hazel, Bonobos, Pacifier, and Queen Anna. Visit the Facebook page for additional details. Saturday, May 6 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., North Loop, Minneapolis
Kentucky Derby Day Affair: The Kentucky Derby is always one of the most stylish days of the year. The best place to celebrate it in the Twin Cities is at the Kentucky Derby Day Affair. A highlight will be a “through the decades” fashion show featuring Derby-inspired looks from Mona Williams, MOA Luxury Garage Sale, Autumn’s Vintage, Second Debut, and Stephanie Lake Jewelry, styled by Richard Anderson. The day also includes live polo exhibitions, horse jumping demonstrations, miniature horses (donning custom fascinators from Ruby3 by Anna Lee), dance and cirque performances, a southern-inspired buffet, champagne, and mint juleps. Organized by the same group behind the long-running Polo Classic, Polo for Philanthropy, proceeds from ticket sales, raffles, and silent auction benefit several local nonprofits. Saturday, May 7 from 1-9 p.m. @ Nicollet Island Pavilion, 40 Power St., Minneapolis; tickets are $75-$1,200 @ eventbrite.com
Mill City Farmer’s Market: Opening Weekend: After a winter season indoors, the weekly Mill City Farmer’s Market returns to the streets with more than 120 farmers, food artisans, restaurants, and small businesses, plus cooking demos, live music, kids’ activities, and giftable goods for sale from local potters, woodworkers, jewelers, textile artists, including Indigo & Snow’s hand-dyed home goods and textiles. Saturday, May 6 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. @ Mill City Museum, 704 S. Second St., Minneapolis, millcityfarmersmarket.org
Limited-time promos:
Grethen House Mother’s Day Gift Card Promo: The women’s designer clothing boutique is offering a special gift card offer in honor of Mother’s Day—receive a $20 gift card with the purchase of a $100 gift card. @ Grethen House Edina, 4930 France Ave. S., Edina, 952-926-8725, and Grethen House North Loop, 212 Third Ave. N., Suite 109, Minneapolis, 612-339-5702, grethenhouse.com
Aveda & Juut Retail Sale: Juut Salonspas are offering 20 percent off all Aveda and Juut retail products for three days this weekend. Juut’s downtown Minneapolis location will honor the sale from May 3-5; all other Twin Cities locations will honor it from May 4-6. Visit juut.com for locations
