Maven Owner Profiled in St. Louis Magazine

The magazine article highlights the downtown Maplewood business's new line of products for men.

Maven owner Kate Bethel was profiled in St. Louis Magazine this month.  The owner of the popular downtown Maplewood business answered seven questions for the magazine article. The Q&A focused primarily on Maven's new line of products for men.  Visit the St. Louis Magazine article to read the profile and learn more about the new products. Are you a regular at Maven? Did you know you can write a review on Patch for other community members to see? Simply click over to the Maven directory listing to share your comments! For more business news on Patch, please see the following articles:

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Video: People in Maplewood Brentwood Share Their New Year's Resolutions

Health, organization and patience are few of the items on local residents' wish lists as they face the new year.

What are your resolutions in the new year? Share them in the comments section!

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Dan Williams

7:20 pm on Sunday, January 1, 2012

thanks Doug you too!!!   more ›

Shop Local: Gifts for Women in Maplewood Brentwood

These local businesses offer a great selection of gifts for women on your holiday shopping list.

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? If you're anything like me, holiday shopping is an activity that is put off until the day before Christmas; what better way to get into the holiday spirit by pushing your way through harried crowds at your local big box store? Nothing beats the rush of navigating through crowded parking lots, waiting in long lines, and rushing through Walmart to snag the last copy of Bridesmaids. I'm kidding, of course. Getting my toes stepped on while trying to find that perfect gift for a loved one is not my idea of a good time at all. So why do I do it every year? The truth is, I'm terrible at holiday shopping. I can never figure out what to buy until the very last minute.  Judging by the volume of panicked …

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Ryan Martin

11:11 am on Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Great addition, Sarah. Kakao chocolates were a nice birthday gift for my mother over the summer.   more ›

Great Escape: A Bubble Bath Away

Hand-crafted soaps and lotions from Maven will ease your body and mind.

There's nothing better at the end of a long day than indulging in a relaxing bath. Add bubbles and you've nearly got a vacation.  When the kids have gone to sleep and you're ready to wind down, hand-made Bath Bombs ($12.50) from Maven, the boutique bath and beauty store in Maplewood, will do the trick. I've tried the Bath Bombs. They come six to a pack, my favorite so far being the Citrus Honeysuckle. Not only do they fizz delightedly in the water, they come in various "flavors" that soothe and moisten your skin. I say flavors because nearly everything in the store looks and sounds edible. Take, for example, the Bubble Biscotti. Interesting choices include Basil Mint and Oatmeal, Milk and Honey ($3.50). The biscottis look like mini-bricks …

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Businesses Hold Open Houses During Christmas Tree Walk

The cold night didn't stop the shoppers and browsers from attending the ninth annual holiday showcase of downtown Maplewood shops.

Families gathered in downtown Maplewood to roam the shops and various open doors along Manchester Road, Sutton Boulevard and Big Bend Boulevard during the ninth annual Maplewood Christmas Tree Walk. Many shops showcased decorated storefronts and several business owners held open houses for the public, where they offered special treats for visiting. Airedale Antics offered hors d'oeuvres to its human visitors and treats to the canine counterparts. Las Palmas gave away free cups of hot punch on the street. Vom Fass offered a wine tasting for the evening, but folks came in to try sips of the vinegars and oils. Maven owner Kate Bethel, who recently moved to a new location on Manchester Road, said the day after is often busier than the …

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Eye on Business

Local Stores Offer Unique Shopping Ideas

Local store owners in Maplewood share some of their thoughts on the holiday shopping season.

As Bilal Ali and his family strolled through Maplewood Tuesday afternoon, there was one thing on their mind: shopping. Venturing beyond their usual forays into malls and shopping centers, the Ali family wanted to get a taste of local St. Louis.  "We're here visiting my wife's family, and we wanted to go shopping where we didn't have to put up with parking lots and huge malls," Ali said.  Downtown Maplewood provided a welcome change of scenery for the family. Ali's wife particularly enjoyed Maven, a store specializing in handmade soaps and bath products. The store has attracted an increasingly larger client base according to Kate Bethel, owner of the specialty soap shop. "Lots of people have come in and specifically said they're looking …

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Maplewood Motherhood: Notes from the Field

Mom Locked in Barbie Battle

Barbie symbolizes the triumph of image over substance, but my girls love her. What am I to do?

I have painted myself into a corner with nail polish and eye shadow. Let me explain. As a child, I was a nature-loving girl growing up in rural Michigan. Now I'm a scientist with three daughters, living in this diverse-funky-happening little community just outside the city line. My 'city' daughters are more savvy and worldly than I ever was. And they love Barbie. I hate Barbie. She makes my blood run cold — from her thick eye shadow and perfect hair, to her unnaturally long skinny spaghetti legs, and skimpy attire. I know she has a 50-year history of entertaining American girls so I should respect her vintage status. I don't. We own zero Barbie dolls. I dread the day my little girls grow up and begin to compare themselves to Barbie dolls (…

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