We love both the luxury of Marie Antoinette and the principles of the Revolution, but we decided to redo our windows in the style of the decadent queen.

Many of us who work here at Toots & Magoo are Francophiles and have lived in a francophone country at one time or another, so we decided to throw a party to celebrate the French national holiday. Our Fête de la Bastille will be next Wednesday, the 14th, from 7-9 pm at the store.

We’ll be making Monacos and Demi Pêches (two popular French ‘beer cocktails’) with lager from local brewery Top of the Hill, and we’ll be eating cake – à la Marie Antoinette – provided by our neighbors at Sugarland Bakery.

Stop by and say hello! In the meantime…check out our favorite Bastille Day items:

The sentiments of the French Revolution are expressed in exquisite letterpressed detail in these cards by Thomas Printers.

These earrings feature the 5, 10, and 20 cent pieces of the former currency of La République Française.

A 1 franc piece makes a lovely charm.

The principles of the Revolution again, here at the top of an antique watercolor featuring a French soldier.

Vive la France!

Last Tuesday evening, we had a reception to celebrate the opening of a special month-long exhibition in an annex gallery right next door to our store. It features the internationally celebrated artist Benjamin Long (UNC ‘67), a variety of other artists, and a new selection from Magoo’s incredible collection of antiques. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit the Women’s Center of Chapel Hill.

Ben Long will be joining us for an informal reception tomorrow evening. He will be in town for several days to paint the portrait of UNC president Erskine Bowles. If you’re in the area, please stop by! The reception begins at 6:30 in our Annex Gallery, 144 East Franklin Street (right next door).

Dale Dixon admires Ben Long drawings

antique sofa with updated linen upholstery, Louis St. Lewis paintings above; Jonathan Robinson pieces center and at left.

Vintage French posters

Toots, Magoo, Louis St. Lewis, Kimberly Kyser

photography by Jonathan Young

Our lovely associates, Elizabeth & Bronwyn, created this romantic window scene for the upcoming Valentine’s Day holiday. Our seated gentlemen is perched on the antique Napoleon Prison of War chair amongst our hand-made rosebud lanterns. The sweetheart dress is made of tissue paper, construction paper, doilies and pink point stitch ribbon. Surrounded by rosebud lanterns and red birch, she sits beneath a ribbon and wine glass chandelier. We hope you’ll stop by the gallery and check out the couple in person!

Photographer Lissa Gotwals took some lovely pics of our store. Check them out and while you’re at it, check her out too. She’s based in Durham.
lissa’s site.

They came and they went. The Russian ballet graced Chapel Hill with its presence and its pirouettes.

For the occasion, we created a precious paper performance of our own!

Congrats to our 2009 NCAA national champs!

Our beloved Tarheels just won the NCAA Basketball Championship. This is our way of showing them some love.

Keep an eye out for these sporty starbursts in our next window!