It’s like a food truck, but without the food. Gypsy Mobile Boutique is the first of its kind in Sacramento – a clothing store on wheels. Owner Bridgette Maldonado, 34, said she happened upon the idea in 2006 while in San Diego when two women set up a mobile shop in an Airstream trailer. “They were selling vintage clothing, and I thought it was a great idea, but I wasn’t ready to do anything like that yet,” she said on Monday. About a month ago, Maldonado opened her own version, holding an event at Fox and Goose Pub and following up with an appearance at SactoMoFo 4, where her selection of trendy clothing, accessories and handmade jewelry was nearly sold out. The opening comes at a time

Christmas is a time of giving and receiving, but the former may prove challenging – especially when you need financially friendly ideas. Even when it’s the thought that counts behind a gift, you still need to look like you’ve thought about it, and socks don’t always leave that impression. To make this Christmas challenge a bit easier, The Sacramento Press looked at local stores in Midtown that have some fun options, each of them under $20. The Beat Location: 1700 J St. Store hours: Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. The Beat is an independent music store that sells all genres, new and old. Here, a unique gift can be bou

Never Felt Better Vegan Shop, which reopened Nov. 4 in a new location at 19th and P streets, offers not only vegan food, but a range of products made in what the owners say are ethical methods by local vegans. “Everything we offer is vegan-friendly,” said Jen Fosnight, co-owner of the store. “Nothing here was tested on animals, and there are no animal products in anything here.” She said the shop is not just for vegans, but for anyone who wants a wide range of goods. The boutique offers non-leather belts and wallets, vegan nacho cheese, vegan tamales, other assorted vegan and fair-trade food items, soaps, artwork produced by local vegans and even clothing made locally that promotes anim

Looking for retro prints, vintage dresses, concert tees, tailored suits, fedoras, one-of-a-kind jewelry or even a hand-sewn dress from the 1900s? The search can be satisfied right in the heart of Midtown and downtown Sacramento. Vintage shops and boutiques pepper the city, and shop owners are constantly on the lookout for interesting, in-style and hard-to-find secondhand or even generations-old pieces to reintroduce to the public. The Sacramento Press searched the streets of Midtown and downtown to round up some of the vintage stores offering unique, vintage goods and fashions. Crimson and Clover 1617 16th St. 442-1800 Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Friday noon - 8 p.

A new “boutique” Goodwill store has opened its doors on L and 16th Streets, offering area shoppers a well organized, eco-friendly retail experience and deals on merchandise like books, lamps, shoes and purses. Store manager Noelle McCrea said the L Street location is unique in that its stock is handpicked from Goodwill locations across the country. While other Goodwills accept and sell most all donations, a “boutique” Goodwill strives to feature name brands, high-quality and vintage goods. Clothing is centrally located and sectioned into garment-specific, labeled racks, like: women’s plus size tops, long sleeve knit tops, lingerie, men’s jackets and men’s dress shirts. The women’s sect

The 2nd annual Vélo & Vintage Fashion Show was held at Hot Italian Saturday night in Sacramento.  The show is as much about bicycles as fashion. Lorena Beightler of Sac Cycle Chic founded the event to highlight "urban cycling as a smart, stylish and fashionable mode of transport." Kari Shipman of Juniper James organized the event with Beightler. Models attired in vintage clothing sourced from local boutiques rode a variety of vintage and newer bicycles into the restaurant and onto the runway. Each of the ten models showed three different looks ranging from "daytime" to "night" and ending with a "crazy" look that included a wild mishmash of styles, smeared makeup, and plenty of attitude.

A trendy Midtown boutique called Beyond Gotham is expected to close in mid-September — another victim of the poor economy. Signs advertising a closing sale have already been taped to the windows of the store, which sells women's clothing and accessories at 1215 18th St. Located on a popular block in the Handle District, the boutique was going strong until about two years ago. Female customers who would buy new jewelry every time they had Christmas parties, weddings and other special occasions to go to aren't making those purchases now, said an employee. "Women are the first ones to stop buying for themselves in bad times," she said. Rebecca Polstra and the store's other owners had orig

Krazy Mary's owner Mary Kawano said the store is thriving after its return to her home turf in East Sacramento. The boutique moved out of Midtown earlier this summer to a store at 3230 Folsom Blvd. — almost right back to the same place where the business opened 10 years ago. The contemporary designer store opened at 3200 Folsom Blvd. in 2000. The store was the first to carry premium denim and other fashions in the area, she said. The East Sacramento resident said she moved her first store out of her neighborhood and over to 2527 J St. in 2005 after competitors including Dara Denim and Barby K opened in Midtown. "That's where our market was," Kawano said. "I've always missed East Sac, 'c

Saturday, the vintage boutique Bows and Arrows is hosting returning Sacramento native artist Kevin Best. Known for his comic book-influenced pop-art and unorthodox choice of canvas, Best will be showcasing and selling some of his artwork and clothing. Best currently lives in Los Angeles and commands a style that capitalizes on the current high-speed world. Inspired by tabloid media and harnessing the power of the Internet, he has attempted to upload himself in the public eye, "taking the last six months very seriously to expose my art," Best explained. Celebrity gossiper Perez Hilton and "Californication" creator Tom Kapinos are two art owners who have caught on to Best's work. He connec

Sacramento has never been known to be a place that is “ahead of the times” in any spectrum of life. As a matter of fact, most travelers come into the city expecting to see people ringing cowbells, and tumble weeds blowing past them on desolate streets. You see, no one acknowledges the rising growth of the urban market, or the fact that Sacramento is now the home of mall conglomerates that sell the "urban" look to suburban teens. They don’t talk about the city's recent sprawl of niche specific boutiques that are only found in major cities around the world. Except if you were around four years ago nurturing the very culture to which the stores are trying to solicit. Meet Paul and Brandy Bri