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Black Friday was only the beginning. This weekend, holiday shopping in St. Paul really gets a kick start, thanks to a bunch of St. Paul’s finest boutiques. Snag locally-made fashions, accessories, gifts and art for your loved ones while enjoying libations, gifts, prizes, and deals galore. And remember: shopping local is a virtue.

ONGOING THROUGH SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6:

Up Six Holiday Sale

Head to vintage capital of the Twin Cities, St. Paul, for Up Six’s annual holiday sale. Snag 15 percent off all jewelry, 20 percent off all clothing and accessories, and 10 to 50 percent off all furniture and housewares. On Saturday and Sunday, snack on cookies from Bread & Chocolate and hot apple cider. While you’re in the area, check out St. Paul’s other fab vintage shops, many of which are part of the St. Paul Retro Loop. (We recommend Lula’s Vintage Wear and Sophie Joe’s Emporium.) Bonus: You can pre-shop the sale on Monday if you mention hearing about it on l’étoile. (Begins noon Tue. Ends 4 p.m. Sun. 157 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul. 651-917-0470.)

Go Live image by Meghan Sitek

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2:

Home for the Holidays at FiveTwoSix
The holiday edition of St. Paul salon spa and gallery FiveTwoSix’s monthly fashion, art and music soiree offers the usual entertainment and art, as well as tons of great gift ideas. For sale will be original art, sculpture, glass, photography, handmade candles, and a jewelry trunk show by local designers. You can also get your ‘do done or a facial acupressure for free, register for prizes, and enjoy gifts-with-purchase opportunities and refreshments. (5-8 p.m. 526 Selby Ave., St. Paul. 651-222-3839.)

Landmark Center

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3-SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6:

Old-Fashioned Holiday Bazaar and Gift Stroll at Landmark Center
Head to St. Paul’s historic Landmark Center and stroll the marketplace of over 75 exhibits with unique, hand-crafted gift items from Midwest artists in Landmark’s Musser Cortile. Afterward, head out for the gift stroll, featuring neighboring gift shops Sophist-a-Gifts and the Artist Mercantile. Visit all three shops for gifts and prizes. (10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thu. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. $3. 75 5th St. W., St. Paul. 651-292-3230. Artist Mercantile: 24 7th Pl. W., St. paul. 651-222-0053. Sophist-a-Gifts: 406 St. Peter St., St. Paul. 651-291-7948.)

CVA Art Sale

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4-SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6:

CVA Holiday Art Sale at College of Visual Art
CVA’s newly expanded Holiday Art Sale promises to be filled with fresh artwork by CVA students, alumni, faculty and staff for you to peruse and purchase. Your best bet at snatching up the hottest artwork? Friday night’s Preview Party, of course. Artwork and prints from the CVA Art Archives will also be included in a silent auction benefiting the CVA. (Preview party: 5-8 p.m. Fri. $20-25. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. Noon-4 p.m. Sun. 173 Western Ave. N., St. Paul. 651-224-3416.)

DC Ice art at AZ Gallery

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4: Lowertown First Fridays & Handmade Holidays Market Sale at Black Dog Cafe

Over 40 artists team up for the ninth annual Handmade Holidays Market Sale at Lowertown’s Black Dog Cafe, coinciding with Lowertown First Fridays art crawl. Items include jewelry, stained glass, dolls, ornaments, bags, hats, soaps, knits, paintings and more by an eclectic mix of artists. Sip a latte or glass of wine while you shop. (5-9 p.m. Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. 308 Prince St., St. Paul. 651-292-9746.) Snag more one-of-a-kind local art at Lowertown First Fridays studio and gallery crawl, featuring open studios at Jax Building (253 E. 4th St.), Lowertown Lofts Artist’ Cooperative (255 E. Kellogg Blvd.), Northern Warehouse (308 Prince St.), Tilsner Artists’ Cooperative (300 Broadway St.), as well as galleries AZ Gallery (308 Prince St.), Black Dog Cafe (308 Prince St.), and Peach (275 E. 4th St.). (6-9 p.m. Click here for more info.)

Grand Avenue

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5:

The Grand Meander on Grand Avenue
Have an old-world, holiday experience at Grand Avenue’s annual Grand Meander, which invites shoppers and their families to revel in holiday cheer as they walk the expansive avenue. Take advantage of holiday promotions, sip hot cocoa, meet reindeer, sit on Santa’s lap and even see a penguin! You can also swing by the Saint Paul City Ballet studio (Noon-4 p.m. 1680 Grand Ave.) to see the dancers rehearsing for their premiere performance of The Enchanted Toy Shop, featuring living dolls and dancing snowflakes. If your arms get tired from all the shopping bags, you can even hop a ride on an old-school trolley. (8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Grand Avenue. Visit grandave.com for details.)  

The Commodore

MONDAY, DECEMBER 7: First Mondays at The Commodore
The Commodore Hotel, frequented by the likes of F. Scott & Zelda back in the ’20s, provides the delightful art deco backdrop to this monthly art mart. Stock up on handmade holiday gifts by artists and vendors including Lynn Alpert, Vandalia Street Press, Lisa Freeburg, Heinz Brummel and many more. (4-8 p.m. 79 Western Ave. N., St. Paul. 651-222-1751.)

The Kimono Show

Friday, August 7th
Reception 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Through September 5th

Tonight’s festive opening reception at the Artists’ Mercantile is a doozy. Lay eyes on gorgeous Japanese kimonos of all shapes, styles and colors. The opening reception will include an Origami paper folding demo, appetizers from Sakura, Asian-inspired art of all mediums by local artists, and a raffle to win your very own kimono! Don’t miss this vibrant exhibit based on Japanese tradition, and the beauty surrounding it.

The Artists’ Mercantile, 24 West 7th Place, St. Paul

FOR MORE ART EVENTS THIS WEEKEND CLICK HERE

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I’m a tried and true Saint Paul girl. I grew up in Highland Park, went to High School at St. Paul Central, and have worked and played in pretty much every nook and cranny of our fine capitol city. My career as an arts writer, photographer, curator, and general arts instigator has led me through the Twin Cities and beyond. However, the streets of St. Paul are the streets that I will always consider home.

From the bustling shopping mecca that is Grand Avenue to the festive and colorful borough of Saint Paul’s West Side, and from the classic, tree-lined scenery of Summit Avenue to the beautiful architecture of Downtown — Saint Paul is truly a place to live a charmed life. We revel in our gorgeous parks and the rampant bits of lovingly maintained green space that pepper the city from end to end. We are constantly encouraged to learn about and appreciate our rich history, as a city, and as people, with unparalleled cultural and educational resources. Our arts community thrives and flourishes, feeding off its own creative energy and inspiring new artists to join its ranks each day.

Last weekend I fell in love with St. Paul all over again. My evening began at the Fitzgerald Theater, with a dazzling performance by the Classical Ballet Academy and Ballet Minnesota, as part of the Minnesota Dance Festival. Dozens of darling children graced the stage with rousing theatrics and whimsical choreography, followed by a progressive lineup of pre-teens to young adults whose talents seemed to almost trump themselves with each act. Ballet Minnesota finished the night with a mesmerizing performance of La Bayadere, a production filled with glittering ballerinas and brilliant movement. The intimate theater set the backdrop perfectly; it’s no surprise that Ballet Minnesota has pegged the Fitz as its new home.

My night continued at Lowertown’s AZ Gallery, where the College of Visual Arts was holding its annual thesis show, which runs through May 31st. The impressive work by this slew of young emerging artists was inventive and eclectic. I ended up buying a piece of work from 2003 CVA grad D.C. Ice, an AZ Gallery resident artist. Next on the itinerary was a bottle of red wine and some experimental music at the cozy Black Dog Cafe, followed by a late-night burger at Mickey’s Diner.

My experience in Saint Paul last Friday was a lovely and memorable. The kind of night I know can be re-created 1000 different ways this summer — for you, and for me. I want you to use STAYcation as your personal concierge, a resource to inspire you to live that “charmed life” that I previously mentioned. Please come back often, I’m so excited to tell you all the city’s secrets!