Jul 30, 2007

New digs give Artic Poppy Boutique room to bloomBy Leslie BoydADN.com

Even in the middle of summer, when you least desire it, the quaint “cup of tea” kind of coziness inside Artic Poppy Boutique & Gallery Showroom will warm you up and sway you to stay.

Artic Poppy, a little house tucked behind Snow City Cafe on the east side of L Street, is a bit out of the way considering local shoppers’ typical stomping grounds. But after one visit, it’s already set up shop in my conscience, and I’m considering another trip.

Outside, potted flowers line the porch, handmade handbags hang from the mailbox and a bright-red wooden lounge chair is more inviting than any welcome mat. Inside, it’s mostly boutique but also part gift shop. And the feminine function and frills at Artic Poppy come in everything from shoes and handbags to greeting cards, journals and assorted papery.

The boutique originally began as a small space called the Rose Room inside the Artic Rose Gallery across the street. Jana Latham, owner of Artic Rose, was constantly searching for ways to display hand-dyed Shibori scarves, and the idea of offering art in the form of fashion developed.

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