Farewell Noda

We are closing the BLVD at NODA on Tuesday, April 26th. We have enjoyed 5 wonderful and successful years in Noda. Why leave?

There are many reasons but its the cumulative effect that led us to this very difficult decision. Over the last 9 months we saw the bulk of the galleries close, with that the change or shift in crawl traffic. We are at the end of our 5 year lease which brought along much elevated rents. Put those two factors together with a different environment, we felt that retail was not the best business to find success in Noda. So that is why we are leaving.

We are not sure if we are going anywhere else. What we had in Noda was perfect. Great neighborhood with pedestrian traffic, great 'small town' feel, tourist traffic, summertime crowds, and culture that was ripe and amazing. Not sure where we will ever experience this again. We have our eyes open, but so far nothing has sparked our interest.

So, keep in touch with our website www.blvdnoda.com, facebook and twitter. We will be active, especially if something new and wonderful happens.

We loved being part of Noda and will miss it dearly, but at the same time, thrilled that Noda continues to grow in popularity and thrive.

Out of the 'Norm'

I feel like I know and have seen a lot of women who are currently pregnant and expecting this summer. I guess love was in the air this past winter!

I know whenever I go to a baby shower, I never want to be in the 'ordinary' category when getting a gift. Of course I always want to be the one who gets the 'mommy to be' the gift that's trendy, echo friendly and unique. That way you can never go wrong.

The Boulevard once again can solve this dilemma of being ordinary!


There are so many neat things for babies here. Let me show you a few things that I love and that you just couldn't find at a department store.
This ECO Monster onesie is adorable! Not to mention the little felt monster toy that matches... It is sold as a set and it comes in a variety of colors.. not to mention the felt is made from 100% post consumer recycled plastic bottles. Pretty cool!



These Short sleeve/shorts onesies are another one of my favorites. Perfect to get for a summer born baby! I love, love, love the frills and the pockets. Kind of reminds me of a trendy baby romper!






Okay, you cant forget the Mommy! I never want to go to a baby shower without getting the mommy to be a little something special.
These bath salts from Beautorium are perfect for a nice soak in the tub for her to relax. (I think she deserves it!) Not to mention it has all organic ingredients which is ideal for a pregnant woman.

All of these I have mentioned are sure to please any expecting mommy and are a promise to be out of the ordinary. Come check it out, we have so much more to offer!

Happy summer! xoxoxo- shopgirl

Tie Dye is Back

We have a new vendor, Designs by Agi. I say new in that she has only been with the Boulevard at Noda for 2 or 3 months. Her work is half tie dye and half kids clothing with hand crocheted appliqués. Well...her tie dye work is amazing and folks are buying her pieces with zest.

To tell you that tie dyed clothing is cool just might sound a little too weird. Well, I am here to tell you her quality of the dying and the quality of the original garment is why this works. The colors are vivid, the styles are modern and feminine...so its a great new way to bring tie dye back!

Hey Charlotte...Noda ROCKS!

The Boulevard is a hidden gem. I am of course, very biased since I work here. But I hear from just about everyone who walks in that they LOVE our shop...even guys tell us that! So why is it that so many Charlotteans stay away? Is Noda a scary place or are we just too far from the beaten path to take the drive?

Just about every business here in Noda has been featured in the news, front page in various newspapers, magazine articles including all the major travel magazines, awards and the list goes on. With so many businesses in Noda making the news...we still remain 'unvisited' by much of Charlotte.

The visitors bureau told me that Noda was the most requested area of town. So we definitely have a good thing going. So, if you have not visited Noda yet and you live in Charlotte. Make it a priority.

Love this weather! I am still planning all my spring fashions and this week is all about the HAT. Spring hats are fun and feminine and make every outfit 10 times better. The only problem is what is my hat limit? I love my spring palate of natural fibers, bright colors and feminine cuts. So I have selected my top 3 hats for me personally. You will have to come in for your own three.

The first hat is my pretty yet natural girl hat that will be my 'date with hubby' hat. So when we dine al fresco...I am too cute for my sweetie.

The second hat is my 'hanging with the girls' hat. Flirty, fun and a punch of attitude for our hours of giggling and goofing off.

The third hat...this first one will be my Spring statement piece. You will see me at Derby Days in this beauty. I will of course adorn it with flowers, scarves and ribbon to ensure my 'hat win' at Derby Days.

Keeping it Local

I have been more of a cocktails sort of gal but developing a taste for wine as I aged. Now as I enter my third childhood (aka...old age for the young at heart) I am developing a fondness for the boutique beers. But who doesn't' like a beer that you can toss a fruit wedge in??? Tasty and healthy, right?

Found out that in the past couple years a small brewery started our own backyard....Olde Mecklenburg Brewery (OMB). This local brewery produces German style ales and lagers in their 15,000 square foot facility on Southside Drive in S. Charlotte. They are open to the public for beer tastings, but the Boulevard at Noda is going to bring the beer to 36th & N. Davidson. So, this gallery crawl...BLVD at NODA will have its own Biergarten set up for this joyous occasion. Must be 21 to enter and exhibit courteous and gracious behavior so that all enjoy this experience.

Details on our website www.blvdnoda.com

Punxsutawney Phil - you sly devil

Despite the temperatures outside...the Boulevard at Noda is going to get ready for Spring! We put our IT jeans on sale at 30% off and our winter fashions at 70% off because we need to make room for all our spring fashions. We have new dresses, shorts, skirts and tunics coming next month. This works out great since Mr. Punxs said six more weeks of winter and its week three.

I am ready to put away my winter scarves, hats and jackets. I want to see the 'Derby Days' hats come out. I want to look for my next favorite pair of open toe shoes. Not to mention, my legs need to see a little sunlight...not much, just enough so people realize I get my full value of Vitamin D.

So, if you are ready for Spring too....tell that sly devil, the groundhog, that we are going to move on. Because the day we see Spring emerge...I am going to be out dining al fresco and doing it with style!

Get Your Home Ready for Your Holiday Visitors!

Isn't funny, how you are fine with your home all year long, and then its time for the holiday's and guests will arrive soon, and you start to notice that your walls are bare, your couch could use some decorative pillows, and so on... We can help you make your home a little more cozy for you company! First, you can fill any bare wall with original artwork by NoDa local, Mary Digby ($45-$75). Then, throw some decorative pillows on your sofa! Milkweed's throw pillows are printed with local artwork, so not only are they so cute, but they actually can become a conversation piece ($35)! Only one week left until Thanksgiving, so let the shop girls help you get your home ready for all of your visitors!!
XOXO,
Shop Girl

There is no Helping my Hair on a Day Like Today!

I tried this morning to fix my hair, just like every other day. The rain and humidity won though, and I may as well just rolled out of bed without doing anything to my hair and I probably would have looked better. I highly doubt there is a hair product that is made to deal with today's weather, so instead of fighting this uphill battle, you can always have fun and throw on a fabulous looking hat. We have so many fun ones to choose from, and people will only notice the great hat and not the bad hair day! Plus, when it's sunny tomorrow, you will still look so fashionable wearing it!

XOXO,

Shop Girl

Speaking of Holiday Parties... What am I Going to Wear?

Thanks to Suzie and Amy Weiler, from Cool Mom Boutique, we have plenty of choices to help! Whether you want to find a great-fitting pair of jeans, a fun tunic, or a cocktail dress, we have a wonderful selection.
With so many choices, it really is hard to decide on just one outfit, and of course there is one more problem... Cool Mom Boutique also has a great finds for the office and weekend wear as well. So, if you are looking for the perfect holiday party outfit, or just looking to give your wardrobe a winter makeover, I would definitely suggest you check out these hot fashions!
XOXO,
Shop Girl

The Gracious Guest

Look at all of those wonderful holiday parties on your calendar! What fun! It's time to surround yourself with great food, cocktails, and good friends. Just don't forget about the hostess that made it all possible. The hostess that carefully planned the menu and drinks, selected the music, decorated the house, and made it all look effortless. A small token to show your appreciation for all of her hard-work would not go unnoticed. We love Natural Luxe's "Mudlark" recycled note cards and think they make the perfect hostess gift. The 25 note card sets are made with post-consumer content and soy-based ink. They even come in a decorative reusable box with great sayings like, "Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart," - Confucius. $15

XOXO,
Shop Girl

Let the Games Begin!

Its that time of year...we play the game of 'what to get ____'. Its fun for some, but not all feel that way. So, the Blvd at NoDa has come up with a program....called Miracle on 36th Street. Its this simple. Fill out a wish list....then give us your man's name...we call him in for a happy hour with proper happy hour goodies and help him shop off your wish list. Yes...its that easy.


Boulevard Shop Girls have come up with a form that asks questions and helps understand what you like and why. That way when your man comes in to shop for you and your first pick was sold (this is common in a shop with one of a kind pieces of jewelry and pottery) we can steer him to the next best item with confidence you will be equally happy with your pick.



So, ladies...its easy...come in and fill out your wish list and we will do the rest. There...the game is over and won! Score is WIN-WIN

Fido FUN!

Today, we host a trunk show featuring the handmade creations of Lois Touchette. She is the quirky mind behind My Pup Stuff, costumes & clothing for your 4-legged friend. Halloween and Holidays around the corner means photo opportunities abound. Don't miss out on getting your pup the perfect outfit.

From Halloween costumes, dresses and hats to Christmas finery, Lois crafts unique and pretty outfits that are sure to catch everyone's eye. So make sure your pup is the belle of the ball.

Show your Charlotte Pride

Here at the shop, we are all crazy about Charlotte! We love where we live, work, and we love to give local artists an outlet to show off their talent! So, we are very excited about our two newest vendors: Trendy Charlotte and Photo Charlotte. Both Paul, the photographer of Photo Charlotte, and Johnny, the creator of Trendy Charlotte, have the same enthusiasm and pride for Charlotte that we have! If you are just as crazy about Charlotte as we are then you will definitely want to stop by and see our newest selection of Charlotte logo t-shirts and canvas bags, as well as our beautiful Charlotte photography!
XOXO,
Shop Girl

Trunk Show - August 7th

We are having an amazing trunk show, Aug 7th, featuring framed mats by The Stella Collection. I am so excited because she has such whimsical and beautifully designed mats that can really compliment any framed photography or artwork. We are so lucky to have her at The Boulevard, and we know you will love her mats as much as we do. So, don't forget to mark your calendars, Aug 7th, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m!

Woof Wednesday

Sale of the Day!!!
Just a reminder that Wednesday is a great day to stop into the Boulevard to pick up a gift for your pet. Just for today, Meow and Fetch is offering 20% off toys and treats, so you can let your furball know how much you care.
xoxox,
Shop Girl

Cutiepperal Trunk Show

Join us June 19th for Gallery Crawl.  We are featuring Cutiepparel! Cutiepparel, by SeY Design Studio, LLC, designs cute and stylish little girl's clothes.  She is going to have items to purchase during the event or you can custom order your cutie her very own outfit.  With several high-quality fabrics to choose from, we are sure you will find something you will love!

xoxo - shop girl

It is easy being green!

Hey there loyal blog followers! Its a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Tonight would be a perfect night for a stroll and dinner in NoDa. Our newest restaurant The Crepe Cellar is now open and ready for hungry customers! Come by The Boulevard and check out a simple way to "go green" this weekend with a super cute clutch by San Diego Hat Co. (see picture) It is very spacious and a perfect summer color! Check it out for yourself.

-XOXO Shop Girl

Rain, rain, go away...

and it finally has! The sun is out and its a perfect day in NoDa for a late brunch and some afternoon shopping at The Boulevard. We have some great deals going on right now. Of course if you've been reading up on our blog you know about Milkweed clothing and the great prices. Lots of other vendors are having sales to clean out for new spring merchandise, we have jewelry up to 30% off, various pet items on deep discount, and some cute baby wear up to 50% off. If you're not rushing out your door right now to get here before 4:00 (first, shame on you) we will be extending these sales for a limited time. And don't forget about gallery crawl on Friday, April 3rd, The Boulevard will be open late!

-XOXO Shop Girl

Milkweed SALE!

Our Milkweed clothing, a line designed by Allison Wolf, is all on sale! You can find everything from strapless dresses, wrap dresses, comfy pants, and even men's polo shirts. All of the prints and patterns were created by local artists and re-created on the clothing by Allison. The clothes in the Milkweed are very unique and you will be sure to get compliments every time you wear a piece. Stop by one rainy day this week and shop around The Boulevard!

-XOXO Shop Girl