I was sad to see that Sweet Papaya was closing and even sadder to see a Subway was moving into the spot. Belvedere Square is one of my favorite spots but it hasn't fully recovered since losing Bratt Decor, Lilac Bijoux, and maybe even Raw Sugar. I'm not knocking Subway—it just doesn't seem like the right place for it to pop up. There are still so many strong stores at Belvedere—Simply Noted, Nouveau Contemporary Goods, The House Downtown,  Cloud 9—maybe once the economy is officially recovered some new shops will pop up. (And while I'm talking about Belvedere Square—how about some Atwater's love in Southeast Baltimore?) —JED

The Little Shopper and I will be stopping by the Tibi Trunk Show later today (12-8) at Urban Chic. Shop Tibi and receive 15% off, a free Tibi product, a free pair of designer denim (while supplies last), plus food and drink specials after the show at Talara until 11 PM. —JED

This weekend is the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Timonium. It's a great chance to see more than 250 artists from around the county (including 30 locally known talents) showcase their jewelry, photography, pottery, scultpures, glass, home decor, furniture, fibers and weareable, home accessories, plus stuff for the garden. Local artisits participating include:

Elizabeth Shaw (Columbia, MD): Collecting fallen branches of local hardwoods, Elizabeth creates chairs and furniture that embrace the organic shape of her materials. She leaves the knots and imperfections, twigs, and curvature of each branch intact, allowing them to dictate the design for each of her unique pieces.

Jill Stern (Frederick, MD): Jill uses an unexpected canvas for her paintings – clothing and shoes. She adds whimsical flair to basic clothing, using bright colors and her...

I adore these JIBRI dresses K Staton Boutique. They looks like the kind of dresses that make you smile and twirl and want to skip work and spend the day window shopping and drinking bubble tea. This boutique in Hampden specializes in sizes 14-24 and the skirts/dresses here start at $100 and go up to $230. —JED