She had all but forgotten about the raffle when she received the phone message that she had won over $900 from Capitol Square, including movie passes, gift certificates from restaurants and stores, an art play date, a free class from Arlington Center for the Arts, and a marble coffee table top.

The raffle was held as part of Romancing the Square, a weekend celebration in East Arlington that drew crowds to view art exhibits and sample the offerings of the stores and galleries.

Thrilled with their prizes, Karen says her husband and 8 year old son have been making lots of plans. “My son will bring a friend to Artbeat to make a craft. My husband and I are looking forward to having dinner at Flora and Kathmandu. We love all the shops in this area.”

” I checked out some of the shops at 3rd Thursday last night after  finishing up work. It was a nice night to be walking around outside.  I had a lively conversation with Jay who owns Tall Tree Guild. The wares in his shop are modern, clean, fun and colorful. There are many affordable items for gifts. I like the charming bird wallets, handmade mittens and the tiny, colorful pottery bud vases. They also have some beautiful, innovative hand made furniture. Jay thinks a lot about art, design and color. He just has a passion for those things. I recommend a visit.

I stopped in Art Wear to say hello to the friendly and helpful proprietress. She has a lovely selection of scarves. Her clothes for women are modern basics with some colorful accents here and there. Great for work clothes if you want to be polished but not all buttoned up!

13 Forest was having the opening for their current show, Plenty. The place was packed with friendly people really enjoying the new exhibit. If you have not visited the gallery you will be surprised at all the beautiful, affordable items suitable for gifts. Some of the area’s best artists are represented in the gallery and there is a wide, wide variety of art. Something for everyone.

I am on the Arlington Cultural Council. We are given funds from the state each year to award to artists and arts and culture groups to enrich our lives here in Arlington. It is evident more and more that a healthy arts and cultural environment is a necessary part of the financial well being of a community. We are lucky to have an
enterprising group of proprietors in Capitol Square who understand this and are working hard to provide a quality experience. If we all did even just a little of our holiday shopping there it would go a long way to keeping that experience going.”

-Susan Murie
Arlington Resident

From Boston .com:

“I know what you’re thinking. How can a town bordering such suburban sleepyvilles as Belmont and Lexington be one of the country’s top spots for singles to meet a “sugar daddy or sugar mama’’?

The folks at CNNMoney.com have the scoop. In a recent “best of’’ list, the geniuses who brought you such click-throughs as “Wells Fargo: Good Bank or Bad Bank,’’ spread the word of the country’s top places to meet the rich and single. Arlington, the proud hometown of not-so-funny man Dane Cook and sculptor Cyrus Dallin, lands at No. 10, just behind such lovers’ landmarks as Edgewater, N.J., and Herndon, Va.” Read more

From the article:

Arlington is for lovers?

By Geoff Edgers Read more

Wondering who creates Flora Restaurant’s beautiful flower arrangements and window boxes? Its flora’s very own Melissa Oothout. Melissa’s unique flower arrangements and window box service are available by contacting Melissa’s Flower Farm at www.melissasflowerfarm.com or stop by and visit Melissa at Arlington’s farmer’s market on Wednesdays in Arlington Center. Melissa has also created flower boxes for Artbeat.

These charming plush stars with smiles, pouts, and looks of surprise are the handmade creations of 12 year old Kimberley of Belmont, MA. Kimberley loves to sew, and thinks of her creations as  ”personal pockets of sunshine” to be used as desk brighteners, gifts, car charms and bookmarks – an excellent gift for anyone! available at Artbeat

Recently I visited Claydreams with my Mom to paint some Pottery. I had never done it before and I had a great time. I painted a coffee mug and my Mom painted a bowl. The place was filled with great surfaces to paint and lots of kids and adults having fun. I haven’t picked my piece up yet, so I’m not sure how well it will come out, but that’s not the point! Its all  about having fun, and that’s why it’s great to live in the Capitol square Area of Arlington.