Columbus Monthly / February 2011 / Audacious Boutique

 Email  Print

Audacious Boutique

BOUTIQUE BUYS For Mary Curran, owner of Audacious Boutique, fashion is a look, not a price, and she operates a store that has a wide selection of purses, scarves, jackets and jewelry that prove her point. By buying directly from manufacturers, she is able to sell fashionable looks, but keep prices low.

You’ll find hundreds of purses here. The Miche Bags are popular because they have interchangeable covers—you can get a new look simply by changing the shell, without emptying the contents of the purse.

There’s also a selection of jewelry. The Chelsea Taylor Beads are popular replicas of Pandora bracelets. You’ll find sterling silver, Swarovski crystals and beads in many colors and styles for interchangeable bracelets priced at $5 to $75. Curran is planning a bead show Feb. 12 for Valentine’s Day. She showed me a pair of Audacious earrings that cost $36 here and are $435 in high-end stores.

Many of the jackets in the shop are reversible and water repellent. UbU jackets run $70 to $150. You’ll also find jeggings, scarves, ruffles and fringe so you can accessorize your outfits.

Audacious Boutique, 4365 W. Dublin-Granville Rd. (in the Shops at River Ridge, between Montgomery Inn and La Scala), 799-8951; audaciousboutique.com. Open Mon-Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun noon-5 pm.

DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, you can find your favorite sweater at the Ugly Sweater Shoppe. An ugly sweater might be defined as a garment boasting large appliqués, knitted cartoon-like figures and/or bad color combinations. It’s often adorned with embellishments such as beading, bells, buttons and sequins, and many are holiday-themed.

According to Ugly Sweater’s Austin Sullivan, prices usually are $12 to $24 for pullovers and cardigans. The company also sells sweats, turtlenecks, vests, ties, hats and jewelry. Each piece is unique and named—you’ll find a “Shriveled Prunes” tie, a plaid “Poncho Via” and “The Tree Stuges” sweater.

You can shop at uglysweatershoppe.com, or visit the warehouse to try them on before purchasing. Most sweaters in the extensive collection are slightly worn, but professionally dry-cleaned, and some are end-of-season buyouts. The company has plans for a showroom.

Ugly Sweater Shoppe warehouse, 5775 Zarley St., New Albany (take Rt. 161 east, then head north on Rt. 62 to the first street on the right), 304-1169; uglysweatershoppe.com. Open Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm; closed Sat-Sun.

YEAR-ROUND PLEASURE OSU sports are seasonal, but the Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens is there throughout the year, providing opportunities to commune with nature. The 60-acre facility features a diverse collection of labeled trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, annuals, roses, wildflowers and seasonal displays. There’s a Chartres Cathedral-style labyrinth, a Forget-Me-Not Garden and more. The gardens are free to visit and open daily.

The arboretum also hosts events throughout the year that are open to the public and provide free information on gardening. At the Chadwick Arboretum Volunteer Day of Education Feb. 5, experts from many aspects of horticulture will be available to advise on your gardening concerns. It begins at 8:30 am and takes place at 116 Howlett Hall, 2001 Fyffe Court.

The Pancake Breakfast and Winter Walk Feb. 26 from 9 to 11 am includes a pancake breakfast at the Ohio 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Dr. After breakfast, take a winter walk among the Colour Columbus Collection of Native Trees and observe wildlife at the four-acre pond. The event is $8, or free for Friends of Chadwick Arboretum. There’s a hill for sledding, so bring your sled if there’s snow.

Mark your calendar for some bargains that will be available just in time for spring planting. The popular Spring Plant Sale, Auction and Garden Fair is May 6 and 7 at the southwest corner of Lane Avenue and Fyffe Road. The sale features trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, vegetables, tropicals, garden art, food and more. Plant experts will be on hand to help with your selections. A plant list will be posted at chadwickarboretum.osu.edu. Information on the plant collections, programs and volunteer opportunities also is available on the site.