Blog | Cool Shops

I’m a huge fan of shopping local and nothing perks me up more than a trip down Main Street in Northport. On the hunt for baby gifts, I recently decided to visit Sophi Blu, a children’s clothing boutique located at 187 Main Street. A cheery pink door and two crafty spring window displays welcomed me as I approached and well, once I stepped inside, owner Jacqui Maggio welcomed me with a huge smile and infectious energy.

Maggio first opened Sophi Blu in the summer of 2009 and has been welcomed with open arms by patrons and business-owners alike in the Northport community. In fact, during my visit, Maggio was chatting up a return customer who was eager to send a few special goodies to her family living overseas.

A former buyer for the children’s department at Saks Fifth Avenue, Maggio has brought a fashion-forward, chic selection of apparel for baby and tots to our happy little suburb. While you’ll find a good selection of basics from U.S. brands such as Zutano, Maggio artfully weaves in pretty dresses, oh-so-cool rocker tees and everything in between from labels around the world such as Catamini (France) and Mayoral (Spain).

“We have a unique inventory, it’s tough to find some of the European labels in local shops,” says Maggio. “Of course, you can find them in New York City, but I make it a little easier, bringing the brands here to Long Island, and at a good price point.”

Case in point? The frilly, fluffy tu-tus I spied in a rainbow of juicy shades. As I ooh and ahh over them, Maggio goes on to explain how items like these are popular with moms booking photo shoots for their children right there in the shop.

“We offer free portrait sessions to customers with photographer Cheryl Lynn of Cheryl Lynn’s Designs,” she explains. “She is great with kids and we set it all up in my studio space in the back. It’s so fun—the moms and kids love it!”

I love the idea too. How fun to shop the day away and then come back to play dress up in front of the camera? For this and many other reasons—including the amazing selection of clothes and accessories both in store and on her website (http://www.sophiblu.com)—I have become a big fan of Sophi Blu.

Sophi Blu is located at 187 Main Street, Northport, NY. 
Phone: (631) 651 – 2950
Open Tuesday – Sunday (Closed Mondays)

Mr. Memorabilia
345 Hillside Avenue, Williston Park
516-513-0758
http://www.mrmemorabilia.org
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During this season of giving and gifting, it was so wonderful to visit Mr. Memorabilia in Williston Park. Yes, the store is chock full of fabulous sports, music, historical and celebrity memorabilia, however, upon meeting the store’s owner, Stuart Kohn, I quickly learned there was so much more to the story. In addition to selling a large collection of autographed photos, signed baseballs and chunks of stadiums that are no longer (I’ll miss you, Shea Stadium!) both in the store and online, Stuart and his dad Harvey, with whom he originally opened the store with, are also heavily involved in fundraising events across Long Island.

As Stuart explained to me, Mr. Memorabilia first began when he and his father organized charity auctions, highlighting the sports and music memorabilia the two so lovingly collected over the years (baseball cards were and still are a passion of Stuart’s). The two gained a strong reputation for their personalized service, careful planning, organizing and overseeing both live and silent auctions for such notable charities at The American Leukemia Society, the American Red Cross and the Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation. During my visit I learned that a collection of unique beverage coasters incorporating pieces of the turf from Shea Stadium, were scooped up by a planner working on one of the charity events—a testament to the quality and wow factor of so many of the items available in the shop and online.

“I like think of myself as a personal shopper,” Stuart said. “I have such a passion for collecting that I thought it would be such a rewarding experience to turn that into a business, especially one that helps to give back into the community.”

And he certainly has. So much so, that Mr. Memorabilia will soon close its doors in Williston Park and Stuart will continue the business in an online capacity, focusing mainly on his online business and organizing charity fundraising events. In the meantime, now through the end of the year you can visit Mr. Memorabilia in person and hopefully find a few unique gifts for the sports and music fans in your life!

When I was first invited to visit wellNEST, a modern-day “wellness” apothecary that recently opened on Main Street in Sag Harbor, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but once I stepped inside, I was so happy to have made the trip.

Dr. Richard Ash of The Ash Center for Comprehensive Medicine in Manhattan and Rachel Paletsky to create a unique shopping destination fueled by a passion for holistic healing and living well.

The shop is filled with items for your home, wardrobe, children and pets—-even cleaning products, all chosen for their eco-friendly qualities. You’ll find familiar brands such as The Laundress laundry products, Le Labo fragrances and perhaps one of the shop’s most beloved brands, Dr. Ash’s Pure Essentials nutraceutical vitamins, which are nestled in a room all their own. While visiting this room, I spent some time reading up on Dr. Ash’s holistic recommendations and look forward to popping by for future lectures hosted at wellNEST.

As a lover of design, just wandering through the shop itself was definitely a treat. The store resides in an historic sea captain’s house that was built in the 1750’s and has been transformed into a modern yet rustic (gorgeous exposed beams) space that’s spacious and filled with light and local artwork. Each room has been meticulously styled, taking inspiration not only from the shop’s seaside location (the driftwood sculptures are amazing) but also by the shop’s message of living healthfully and beautifully inside and out.
wellNest
125 Main Street
Sag Harbor
631-899-4600
http://www.wellnest.us
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