This past winter I was excited to find out we were getting an Irish pub. Living in cities for 15 years prior to moving to Cape, I found the “little neighborhood pub” was a staple of urban living. It was where you went to celebrate moments big and small, see your friends, gossip, talk sports, laugh, cry and just be part of the community. So opening night of Katy O’Ferrell’s, I was totally there!

Now I wouldn't say I’m a connoisseur of Irish pubs. I, however, have been to quite a few.  I’ve visited Irish pubs in Chicago, New Jersey, Dallas, Pittsburg, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Seattle, Birmingham (that’s England, not AL), Dublin (yep, as in Ireland) and many other places in between. So how does Katy O’s stack up? Pretty well, I do have to say.

The Food

One quirky thing about an Irish pub is that there is no requirement to serve Irish cuisine. Even in the pubs I’ve been to in Ireland and Great Britain, it is common to find curries, bangers and mash, burgers, etc on the menu. Katy O’Ferrell’s is no different. It's menu touts Irish favorites like boxty and shepherd’s pie alongside a burger, steaks and seafood. (BTW, the Irish dishes are even better than the ones my old Irish Granny used to make!) My favorite is the Reuben with a side of butters carrots. Yeah, I know it’s not Irish, but it still doesn’t make it any less tasty.

The Bar

The success of an Irish pub is its bar, or more appropriately its bar staff. Katy O’s warm and cheerful barkeepers provide excellent service with a smile. From pouring stouts to mixing a mean dirty martini, their drinks are always consistently delicious and served with pride.

Décor and Atmosphere

Let’s face it, Irish pubs in America look a certain way - lowly lit with a massive carved bar, with a random mix of 19th century art and quirky Irish memorabilia. Katy O’Ferrell’s hit a homerun in this department when it chose the old Petit New Orleans as its location. The outside just finished getting a new look with dark olive green and black paint.

Hopefully this little article will convenience you to come downtown and share in the Irish-American tradition of the public house. See you at Katy O's soon!

One of the coolest places downtown is a small studio located on Main Street, The Artist Studio. Owner and artist, Judy Barks-Westrich, has designed a simple and elegant gallery that is very down to earth. I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with my friend and neighbor to get the inside scoop on how to bring art into our every day lives.

Claire: Thank you Judy for sitting down with me. So first question: Why did you open The Artist Studio?

Judy: When I was teaching, parents would comment "wish I had art class like this when I was in high school"...thus, in March 2005 I opened The Artist Studio. One of my goals - workshops geared towards adults with little or not training in the arts to experience creative pleasure.

Claire: It is a good point that you can learn to paint or draw at any age. Why do you feel that it is important for people to have art in their lives?

Judy: Art is important for people because it fulfills simple pleasure. Art entertains, enlightens and educated! It also affects your health, mood and emotion. There is no language barrier in art - it is universal. People don't have to necessarily like art; that is the aesthetic taste and the beauty of art because there are so many different styles. But awareness of art gives people visibility into the imagination and it is inspiring.

Claire: One of my favorite things here are your mini abstract paintings. For folks who don't know about them, why do they make such a great gift?

Judy: The minis make a perfect give because of their convenient size, lower price-point and appealing design to young and old. The minis are miniature fine acrylic paintings and they are totally abstract but give the illusion of landscapes - they're colorful, textural and dramatic. Each is beautifully honored with a custom frame just waiting for a new home. They are great accents for anyone's décor! As a gift, the mini may add to one's original fine art collection or actually help them start one.

Claire: So now that folks are inspired how can they get involved in creating art? Can people schedule a workshop or take a class?

Judy: Yes, workshops are available and the best way to get involved is for people to simply talk to me...whether that's by visiting the studio's Facebook page or calling me at 573-450-2816. Appreciations starts with awareness!

Sometimes you just need a little comfort food. As a downtown business owner, I usually have less time to cook and more need for comfort. That's why I was delighted to find The Corner Grocery Store! This small neighborhood grocer serves hot plate lunches, soups, and sandwiches along with snacks and staples. The shop's owners Mary and Robert Gentry are two of my most favorite people in the world.

About a year and a half ago, Mary told me that she was considering doing some dessert items for the store and may start selling them at the newly established Cape Riverfront Market. I thought this was a splendid idea as Mary and Robert are amazing cooks - their lasagna, chicken n' dumplings, potato soup, fried chicken, and, of course, the world's best grilled cheese are unbeatable. So, on the first market day, I was sure to stop by their booth to try her handcrafted Kentucky bourbon balls (which by the way came from an old Gentry only family recipe). The first bite was wow, totally incredible! I ended up buying a four-pack of these little delights and gobbled them down in about 20 minutes.

Mary and Robert didn't just stop at bourbon balls though. Over the next few months, they went on to develop more gourmet chocolate - peanut butter delights, chocolate covered pretzel sticks, peppermint patties, and several others. They even held a candy tasting back in August. I found that these sweet treats were not only great snacks, but the perfect refreshment for parties in store and holiday gifts.

So, if you are looking for a great idea for holiday entertaining, please go see the Gentry's at The Corner Grocery Store to order candy for your party. If you are ordering two dozen or more, please book your order at least a week in advance as each one is made with gourmet craftsmanship.

Photos are courtesy of Arevalo Photography

As women, there is a point in your life when "girls night out" begins to mean something different. For me, it happened in my late 20s when going out with girls meant having a relaxing evening to reconnect with friends, have a glass of wine, and chill out for a little while. This became increasingly important as our lives became more complex - some friends were getting married, having kids, or moving up the corporate ladder. We had to make time for ourselves and just relax with friends just to catch up on each others lives.

While living in Fort Worth and Chicago, my gal-pals and I had endless possibilities - tapas night, an evening of facials and cocktails, cooking classes, charity shopping events, etc. And that is why I created Girls & Pearls Night! Local women can have a glamourous evening and do something to support downtown Cape. Our concept is simple - throw an event where women can have a cupcake and cocktail while shopping for pearls and jewelry with 10% of the sales that evening to benefit Old Town Cape. You needn't be a beader or designer to attend, it's open to everyone. Ladies can shop for themselves or get a head start on the holidays with the gift of a beautiful custom designed pearl bracelet or necklace or vintage earrings. Friends, shopping, cupcakes and cocktails...what more could you ask for!

If you are interested in attending this fun event, please RSVP via our Facebook event where you can also find updates on the event. I look forward to seeing everyone at Sloan + Themis.

Few people have the chance to share what inspires them every day, and learn about what inspires others. Even fewer people have it as their job. Yet, my friend and downtown neighbor, Paula Haas, has built her business on it. Her shop, Somewhere In Time Antiques, started on the idea that anyone can add more elegance and charm to their lives with vintage items.

Somewhere In Time Antiques is a lot like the swanky antique stores I liked to visit in Southern cities like Nashville, Memphis, Atlanta and Oxford. It has all the essentials: well-appointed tables of sparkling Depression glass and vintage china, thick gilt vintage picture frames, assortment of deer antlers, more chanedliers than you can shake a stick at, Downton Abby-esque English country finery, vintage jewelry and a tiny cute K-9 greeter, Atticus. Yet, unlike its metropolitan counterparts, Somewhere In Time Antiques is not stuffy or pretentious. In fact, its owners make these incredible antique treasures accessible and affordable to local shoppers. Each time I walk in, I say "Wow, that display is just like something I saw in Garden & Gun or Traditional Home." To which Paula responds, "Well of course! That is so easy to do!" And you know what, it is.

Paula's dedication to sharing vintage charm stems from her own family. Her love for antiques started with a vintage bowl that she received from her aunt. "My Aunt Martha played an important part in my love of antiques and vintage items by giving me one of her favorite bowls from her kitchen. That special room was the heart of her home and that one bowl led me to collect more items from that same era," Paula explained. She sees this same passion in the new generation of antiquers and vintage collectors. "People are very busy but a little vintage elegance can be very relaxing and can bring focus in their lives." This trend she believes is helped by movies and social media. Often shoppers will come in looking for items they saw online or in the latest period drama. She giggled, "If you watch a movie and catch yourself looking behind the actors to see how a set is decorated, you probably have the same 'addiction' I do." This addiction has made Somewhere In Time Antiques very popular with its followers on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

I once asked Paula how she developed such a cool store. Here's what she said - "My inspiration is found every day that I walk in my shop. I am a firm believer in working hard to make my store a unique shopping experience. My customers inspire me to find that special item they are looking for! I have been in the business since 1998 and opened my own shop in 2010. During that time, I have fine-tuned my purchases so that I look for the best items that will excite my customers to create their own personal decorating inspiration."

If you are looking to be inspired, please stop in to Somewhere In Time Antiques or visit them online via their website or Pinterest page.