Eco-tique

Stephanie Green couldn't sleep. Space was available a few doors down from her St. Paul shoe shop, Shu Global Footwear, and she was obsessed with what to do with it. Then it came to her -- customers responded so enthusiastically to the eco-friendly shoes at her stores, why not open a boutique for the environmentally savvy shopper? This dress ($169) by EcoSkin is made from bamboo and tencel (recycled soda bottles), the handbag ($179) by Kim White is reversible and made from vintage automotive fabrics, and the Magnolia Magnolia necklace ($55) by local artist Cait Gottschalk is constructed from vintage jewelry. The store is packed with conversation-starting finds. It's just too bad that Green couldn't work her own apropos surname into the store's title.

Taste of Grand Restyled: Speaking of Grand Avenue -- on Thursday, swing by the Kagin Ballroom (1600 Grand Av., St. Paul) for this year's runway show/foodfest featuring treats from the shops along what is probably the state's longest boutique-lined street. Tickets start at $30. See www.grandave.com for details.