The Rake Magazine

File this under drivel: I just got back from a long weekend in NYC, where I spent most of my time fanning the flames of my other life (theater critic/writer). But I made time for a stop at the Tracy Reese store, and even scored a delightful summer frock for a mere thirty-eight dollars!

Also, the hottest accessory in Manhattan right now: baby stroller - the infant isn't necessary.

Before we all go tiptoeing out the backdoors and down the stairwells of the cities' various places of employment, I wanted to note this really happenin' sale: Gh2, the consignment second-cousin to Edina's fabulous Grethen House boutique, has a store full of fifty-percent off summer spiffs, but only for today and tomorrow. If you're lucky, you might score the marked-down Louboutin espadrilles I spied there recently. They've also got some great monster handbags and even a lil' bit of discounted designer - like Comme des Garcons.

Weekend shopping notes: Work and family obligations might've kept me from Gwen Leeds's legendary garage sale on Friday and Saturday, but I did stumble upon a pleasant surprise upon visiting the Lava Lounge yesterday afternoon. I'd stopped in with the boyfriend. (I'm trying to diversify his tastes--there is life beyond Len Druskin, you know.) There, I found a nice selection of modest-priced dresses. And they weren't all funked-out, as I've found their dresses to be ever since turning twenty-six. (The Lounge was a favorite prior to my reaching that ripe, old age.) The current stock tends toward the flirty. I didn't buy the pink 'n gray dress with the wrap-around, bandage bodice. As it happened, I wasn't feeling too hot and just couldn't muster the strength to feel pretty in the thing. But I'm seriously considering a post-work pit-stop this p.m. As for boyfriend: He didn't buy any of the fluorescent muscle shirts, which he found on the clearance rack (and which I quickly nixed).

Check it, it's the 10,000 Arts Art Crawl on Glenwood Avenue - inspired, I like to think, by a lil' article I recently did.

A quick tip: If you, being well-dressed but nevertheless short on coin, were to perform the amazing feat of unearthing designer duds from garage sale racks this weekend, you'd have better luck if you were to position yourself in the vicinity of 60th and France this morning/afternoon/tomorrow. Me, I'm currently stuck in the office - putting the finishing touches on the August issue. But, should I be successful at sneaking out to get my own look-see at this extra-special sale, I'll report back with the finds.