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| COME VISIT |
| Clever, located at 2823 Main Street, on the east side of the street between Ashland Avenue and Hill Street in Santa Monica. As you walk by the arched store windows, the electric pulse of color catches your eye. You stop and peer in the doorway. A young woman standing behind the tall oak violet desk smiles at you and welcomes you to her store. Two adorable Yorkies, Bina and Milo, jump around at your feet, excited to see you. There is a feeling of comfort here. A feeling of home. Vintage furniture, pieces over a hundred years old from Germany, Hungary, France, and the Czech Republic, are arranged around a forty-year-old television set, promoting relaxation and conversation. You sit for a moment to pet the dogs and take a little break from the hard work you've put in shopping. If you've arrived around 4 p.m., there will be a hot cup of tea and delicious cookies waiting for you. Above your head, hanging from the ceiling, you notice several dazzling chandeliers, playing with the sunlight. After a brief rest, you get to your feet intrigued by the novetly of the items set out among the rustic furniture. You browse around taking in the vintage china sets, candelabras, purses, shoes and other exotic accessories including lovely neclaces, bracelets and earings designed by Radka Opalka, the store owner. Cool t-shirts with captions such as "Santa Monica Girl (don't hate us because we're beautiful)" and "I don't Go East of the 405 ," as well as humorous books entitled "Even God is Single (so stop giving me a hard time)" add character and a light-hearted feeling to the bright -colored, cheery atmosphere. Up in the patio area, two other shoppers, equally delighted with the unique quality of the store, stand near a large antique model airplane, which appears to be suspended in air, coming in for a landing. You overhear their conversation: "Oh these are cute. You know who would love these?" "Who?" "Natalie." "Oh yeeeeeeeah. She would, wouldn't she? She loves to unleash her wild side." "Yes she does, doesn't she?" "Yeah. It drives Jeff out of his mind". "He likes her wild side?" "Hates it!" You laugh too and continue to mill around the store, looking for something special to show off your wild side. |