A Moveable Feast

What’s new, who’s where on St. Armands Circle.

By Carol Tisch

Sarasotans are discovering something old and something new every day on St. Armands Circle. Think of it as a moveable feast of serendipity just in time for holiday shopping. Take Binjara Traders, for example. Although the shop’s entire stock was destroyed by smoke damage from a Nov. 13 fire, by Dec. 2 devastated fans were reveling over a new temporary location across the street at 327 John Ringling Blvd. But if you didn’t know where to look, you’d miss this great new Binjara Traders iteration.

Honestly, the jewelry, clothes and even home gifts look so spectacular in at the new store that I asked manager Tracey Coose to explain. She told me the space had been set up by the former tenant like an elegant boutique. It’s more sophisticated than the exotic travel-finds look that I’m used to at Binjara, and tends to glamorize everything. Coose says the boutique is doing so well that owner Cleon Dixon is seriously considering adding it as a permanent location (maybe with a new name) when the fire-damaged store reopens (yes, it is definitely reopening in all its former glory).

Even the Buddhas at Binjara Traders are in love with the jewelry hand-picked by owner Cleon Dixon.

Stop by and pick up some of the great jewelry Dixon personally handpicks in Bali: earrings go for $19.95 to $100—wonderful, inexpensive gifts. And since $50,000 worth of damaged goods wasn’t covered by insurance ($160,000 was), the store could use our support during the holiday season.

Exotic furniture, home accents and clothing outfit the new temporary location for Binjara Traders.

On a happier note, Queens’ Wreath Jewels is back on the Circle. In addition to her new flagship store on Main Street in downtown Sarasota, Tina Little just opened a shop within a shop at The Met Fashion House & Day Spa. The décor is signature Queens’ Wreath: dark wood, leather wing chairs, stained glass. And it’s dripping with beautiful gems, from chocolate (brown) diamonds to Tina’s own designs. Check out her new collection called Pampoo, another great, affordable gift idea. Everything is enamel on silver, with accents of stones like onyx. Love the Pampoo pink swirl ring ($650) and earrings ($895).

The new Queens' Wreath boutique opened at The Met just in time for the holidays.

The holiday spirit is alive and well at The Met.

The new Planet store.

Then there’s Planet, a collection of clothes in a new store appended to and entered through Dream Weaver Collection. Planet is a collection of lifestyle casual clothing by Miami designer-owner Lauren Grossman. It’s has been so successful at Dream Weaver that it’s now a boutique on its own. Grossman’s look is hip and young but ageless, in natural fibers great for Sarasota weather, plus there’s Planet to Go—a wonderful high-tech, wrinkle-free travel line.

The Planet look.

More Planet style.

Planet’s palette is barely there, with colors like sea, fog, putty and lots of white on white. The silhouettes are also soft—and flowing. The shapes are Japanese inspired: loose and away from the body. Together the fabrics and the body styles enhance everyone's figure. Just as exciting, the boutique is merchandised with great-looking accessories, including a line of handbags with a Japanese origami-style treatment of leather by Gal Feldman, whose avant-garde studio in Tel Aviv is turning out incredibly innovative designs.

Finally, we found a gift every holiday party hostess (or guest) will love. Le Macaron, a new patisserie and welcome newcomer to St. Armands Circle, is named for an ancient almond pastry known as Le Macaron. Paris is agog over this once-again chic treat, a trend that did not go unnoticed by one French family who made Sarasota their home three years ago. Rosalie and Bernard Guillem and daughter Audrey Saba Guillem decided that the addictive little cookies would be just as well received on this side of the pond, and recently opened their little café and bakery here. You’ll be hard-pressed to choose a favorite among the 13 flavors, from gingerbread fresh mint to passion chocolate. A box of five is $8.50; 10 go for $16. Plus, they’ve come up with creative gifts like a Macaron Christmas tree.

Bernard Guillem of the new family-owned patisserie, Le Macaron.

Posted: 12/16/2009 9:17:07 AM | 0 comments

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