Get ready to shop! Tremont Art Walk set for Friday, June 13

by Laura DeMarco/Plain Dealer Shop Talk Columnist

Monday June 09, 2008, 4:58 PM

PLAIN DEALER FILE PHOTOBanyan Tree is a Tremont treasure.

First came the art galleries. Then the trendy bars. Then the hip eateries. Now Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood has a new scene: shopping.

Over the last few years, the gentrified near West Side neighborhood has established itself as one of the city's top boutique shopping destinations.

From books to clothes -- and of course, art -- shopping becomes, well, an art form in Tremont.

Friday is your chance to sample sales for yourself.

The monthly second-Friday art walk also finds the area's stores keeping their doors open later. So make time for these hot spots as you browse the art scene (and, of course, leave time for a bite and a drink or two).

Pink's Daily Planner, 2403 Professor Ave.: After several years downtown, designer Stephanie Fralick has moved her funky design-shop/boutique to a restored Tremont house. Though their grand opening isn't scheduled until Thursday, June 19, Pinky's will be open tonight, and it's well worth a stop. Fralick's "modern clothes closet for spirited girls" features her own designs as well as picks from emerging and independent designers from Europe and Asia. (The last time Shop Talk stopped by we picked up some mod vintage Mary Quant.) Call 216-402-2536 or visit www.pinkysdailyplanner.com.

Powter Puff Boutique, 2671 West 14th St.: "Cute" is the key word and this ultra-fun women's boutique (think: romantic-punk doll house) that opened on Tremont's main drag last year. You'll find young and trendy-skewing small-label American and European party dresses, T-shirts, undies, skirts and other "play" clothes, plus an impressive selection of bangles, necklaces and accessories. Call 216-274-1220.

Visible Voice Books, 1023 Kenilworth Ave.: A bibliophile's delight! This literary treasure, in a restored home (with space for poetry readings and special events upstairs), features a tremendous selection or art, literature, pop culture, movie and music books -- not to mention magazines, children's literature and poetry. And of course, coffee and comfy couches to sit back and read. In a few weeks, the shop will begin serving wine on their patio. Take that, Borders! Call 216-961-0084 or www.myspace.com/visiblevoicebooks.

Banyan Tree, 2242 Professor St.: Well-dressed women (and babies) know Banyan Tree is one of Cleveland's clothing treasures. And soon so will everyone, when the gift-store/boutique is featured as a shopping destination in the July issue of Travel & Leisure magazine. You'll find one-of a kind gift items, from glassware and dishes to garden decor, plus designer baby clothes, shoes and toys; and a full room of small-label women's clothing, shoes and accessories. Call 216-241-1209 or www.shopbanyantree.com.

SHOPPING LIST

Shaker Square: The East Side shopping/dining center has announced the schedule for its 2008 Summer Saturday Concert Series. Each weekend, one local act will perform a free show on the south lawn from 6 to 9 p.m. This week's performance is by Cats on Holiday. Visit www.visitshakersquare.com.

Have information on a store or sale you would like us to include in Shop Talk? Send us ane-mail or send a fax to 216-999-6269, attn.: Laura DeMarco

Previous columns online: cleveland.com/columns