LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Business Beat |
by Barry Becker |
Ah, Spring! The flowering trees are all in bloom, the ocean is calm and the sky is blue (at least during the week), and theres that extra kick of energy in the air as we all rush to get ready for another season. These are the kind of days we remember with fondness in mid-August when we just want everyone to go home or die, so enjoy them now! Spring also brings the opening of new shops and restaurants to our fair town, so today were going to start taking a peek at some of them. First up is NOAHS LARK (139 Rehoboth Avenue), which opened a week before Easter. Its a re-incarnation of a shop owned years ago by David Ruffo (who also owns Just Looking on Route One) and Jack Foreman on Baltimore Avenue and later at Penny Lane. The store is in the site of the former SGT. PEPPER, which they closed last fall. The idea here, you see, is to have a shop with hundreds of things you cant possibly live without, all with an animal motif. Like Noah, I think David and Jack have every animal kingdom from every continent on board, and if Noah only had this much fun on his cruise! Just walking in the door and being greeted by green glazed cats and wooden carved rabbits and antique framed paintings, I knew they have another hit on their hands. Where to begin?? Well, lets say youre having a dinner party. Make it whimsical with silver-headed animal salt and pepper shakers, a colorful bunny soup tureen, an oversized rooster platter and a variety of animal napkin rings. There are hand painted tea pots and pitchers, mugs and little serving trays, and the most fabulous candle holders I have ever seen. While I was on my tour, UPS delivered another big shipment, and Jack showed me the latest from one of its boxes: a foot-tall red fox with tails and a top hat, holding a lance with a candle holder on top. Theres also a green pig and a boxer. For home accents and decorating, there are animal frames of every shape, color and medium. I think my favorite was the cat-in-a-canoe frame, a chunky wooden piece with a cat rowing a big canoe with two picture slots in it. There are painted mirrors with leaping bunnies; lamps with flying frogs and butterflies and even a stuffed pig; 3-D night lights with 24 kt gold finish; and carved wooden doorstops of beaver, fox and more. There are glorious carved animals (pigs, fish, cats, and dozens more) plain or painted in an arts and crafts motif, to sit on your shelves, hang from your ceiling, and decorate your Christmas tree with. There are a few stuffed animals like bees and giraffes, with happy little faces (and who wouldnt be happy in here?) To accessorize with, there are dog and cat watches, as well as fabulous retro sequin and bead purses. There are some clothing items, and carry-all bags with everything from moose to penguins on them. Up front, there is a showcase with spectacular animal jewelry by an artist named Patrice, made with brass, vintage glass and other materials in pendants, necklaces and bracelets. For kids, or the kid in you, there are colorful foam hand puppets of fleas and grasshoppers, next to the wall of huge foam moving face masks where you can disguise yourself as a shark, alligator, monkey, duck and much more. There is a great line of oversized slippers and animals called Grabbit, which is worth the visit alone. There are delightful wooden carved painted puppets of horses, frogs and pigs. Ive barely covered the highlights, but lets just say you can buy an animal in here to wear, serve from, drink from, decorate with, frame, lighten up with, play with and more. Meanwhile, up Rehoboth Avenue and across from the Shore Inn is another new hot spot, the SHORE HAUS (700 Rehoboth Avenue). Arnold La Spina and Steve Fallon opened this new gem Easter weekend where a lawn mower shop used to be. The locale now is home to a spectacular array of furniture and accessories for your home and yard, whether you live here year round or just have a summer place. Mostly offering mid to mid-high scale priced goods, there is a definite Asian flair to the home decor here, but also a little bit of eclectic-ness so you should be able to find something for many tastes. There are a lot of beautiful heavy wood pieces, from huge gorgeous Manchurian consoles (like chests, or storage closets) to chests of drawers, thick wooden trunks, and rocking chairs. Most of the wood pieces are left natural, while others, particularly the consoles, are painted deep and intense reds. Beautiful bedside stands from India and sleek coffee and end tables would make great additions to any home. Amidst all the furniture are Asian tea sets, bowls, serving platters, and beautiful vases, all accented by tasteful lamps of all sizes and purposes (make sure to check out the alabaster floor lamp next to the bed. Where do you find such glorious things?) There are colorful lacquered bowls in lime greens and deep oranges, bamboo bowls and musical instruments from Vietnam, and everywhere are things for pampering yourself with, from fabulous bath and soap products to body balsams and lotions. I love candles, and the Pacifica line carried here is among the most wonderful I have come across, with Mediterranean citrus and Vanilla Bean with Chai Tea among my favorites. Accent pillows in the bedroom are colorful squares of pink, orange, green and teal. There are deepset wall boxes with beach themes, with sea horses or shells. Outside is their backyard collection, including a stunning Asian round glazed table with little glazed stools, as well as wonderful teak furniture and colorful beach umbrellas for your back yard. They are also getting a bamboo gazebo, and have other things for the perfect garden party. There are beautiful concrete pots for your patio and deck plantings, as well as interesting folk art face pots. A day of shopping like this makes me want to go get a second job so I can afford all these fabulous things. Of course, house warming and birthday presents are always welcome, too, so feel free to shop on my behalf. Im not fussy! In the next issue Ill look at some of the new eateries opening soon. Until then, if you have something youd like covered in Business Beat, call me at the CAMP office at 302-227-5620. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 3, April 9, 1999 |