#UnoccupyTheMall, 2017 Edition

It’s the most wonderful time of the year again, where we all run around like decapitated chickens trying to find the perfect gifts for our family and friends.  Don’t know where to start?  Check out these unique and often local gift suggestions from Vanessa, Lisa, and Jessie: Vanessa Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, NY… Continue reading #UnoccupyTheMall, 2017 Edition

FreshTrends Body Jewelry: Nose Rings Galore

In the world of body piercing, I’m on the conservative end — just a couple sets of standard holes in the ears and nostril ring were all I ever wanted.  I got my nosed pierced for five dollars at a mall ear piercing stand when I was seventeen, and that was the beginning and the… Continue reading FreshTrends Body Jewelry: Nose Rings Galore

Women in Business, Part VII: HandHewnFromMe2You

This summer interview series focuses on Connecticut women who work hard to take their talents to the next level.  Wilton artisan Ana Kristina is a perfect example of this.  She’s turned her love of paper crafts and an eye for detail into a full-time business, HandHewnFromMe2You.  In an email interview, she and I talked about… Continue reading Women in Business, Part VII: HandHewnFromMe2You

Thrift Store Shopping Tips and Tricks, Goodwill Edition

My finds: two nice summer dresses, one casual summer dress, one fall dress, one short sleeved shirt, one pair of shorts, sticky notes, a picture frame, a unopened Pack n Play sheet for my friend, and a "leaf tablecloth."

Second-hand shopping has been a hobby of mine since I was a teenager back in ol “Mecca of the Universe” Branford, Connecticut.  My stepmother Gina and I made regular pilgrimages to the Homemaker Thrift Shop to see what treasures we could uncover, chasing the thrill of finding a great pair of jeans for $5 or… Continue reading Thrift Store Shopping Tips and Tricks, Goodwill Edition

Nerdy, Dirty, and Fun: The Suicide Girls Come To New Haven

Photo by Will Ryan.

For the past 15 years, the SuicideGirls website has been offering an alternative and modern update on the classic pin-up, featuring tattooed (and sometimes non-tattooed) women of all shapes and sizes.  These are women who are a bit different from your standard nude model, not only in looks but in their interests as well.  The… Continue reading Nerdy, Dirty, and Fun: The Suicide Girls Come To New Haven

#UnoccupyTheMall with Mad Hatter & Company of Southbury

By Jillian Lyons In June of 2015, Mad Hatter & Company opened its doors to their Southbury location in Bennett Square. This three-room co­operative boutique is home to nine women-run small businesses and several independent brands. It boasts everything from handmade to vintage, home decor, and children’s items as well as indie fashion and accessories.… Continue reading #UnoccupyTheMall with Mad Hatter & Company of Southbury

What’s Not Ta Like? An Interview with Tattoo Artist Joe Capobianco

“Should tattoos always be meaningful?” “Fuck no.” That’s not the answer you might expect from a world-renowned tattoo artist, but Joe Capobianco doesn’t have time for pretension.  Originally from Long Island, Capobianco now owns Hope Gallery Tattoo in New Haven, CT.  In addition to his work there, he has his own line of tattoo ink, he’s… Continue reading What’s Not Ta Like? An Interview with Tattoo Artist Joe Capobianco