I read the news story a few days ago, and over the weekend, I saw the going out of business banner on the Bluemound Road store. 

Luckily, for those of us who love home furnishing stores like these and could spend hours wandering the packed aisles, Bed, Bath & Beyond is just up the road in the Fountain Square complex.

Brookfield Square is holding a "celebration" in honor of its renovation from October 16-19.   I was there a few days ago and was generally impressed with the changes.

Thumbs up:  Overall redecoration

The whole mall has a cleaner, bigger look.   The new flooring and new lighting make the mall brighter and seem more open.  There are more seating areas with new armchairs and love seats.

Thumbs up:  renovation of the food court

There is more seating, including banquette seating that partially rims the table areas.  At the time I was there, what looked like a fireplace was not yet completed.

Thumbs down:  counter seating behind banquettes 

Although the addition of counters and bar stools adds more seating, when seated facing the banquettes, I found it a little disconcerting to look up and find a counter seater staring back at me. 

Thumbs up:  new food court vendors 

Steak Escape and Stir Fry 88 to name a few.  (Note:  Stir Fry 88 is different from the new restaurant Stir Crazy, which is not located inside the mall but in a separate building on the north side of Boston Store.)

Thumbs down:  Pushy sample person from Stir Fry 88

Was a little sulky when we turned down the free samples. 

Thumbs down: Parking on the east side of the mall 

With the addition of the new Claim Jumper restaurant, parking on the east side of the mall has become more of a hassle.  I find that parking around Sears is usually the best option. 

Thumbs up:  interactive floor game for kids by the food court

I'm not sure how this works exactly, but there is a machine on the ceiling that projects games on to a special mat on the floor.  Children can make things move in the various games by moving their feet on the floor mat.  (So, you can "kick" balls and other objects.)

...while driving today... 

1. Why are there no Starbucks stores with drive-thrus in Brookfield?

This frustrates me every single time I am in a hurry, don't want to get out of the car because it's so darn cold, and need a shot of caffeine.  (The only drive-thru coffee store that I know of in Brookfield is "That Coffee Place," across the street from the post office .)

2. Why--at holiday time-- do radio stations play that really sad song about the little boy wanting to buy shoes for his dying mother?

Has anyone else listened to the lyrics to this song? 

Call me crazy, but I listen to the radio station that plays Christmas/holiday music beginning on November 1 and I LOVE it.  But, every holiday season, there is this song that comes on, and I just don't get  it.

This guy sings about a poor, little boy who wants to buy shoes for his mother, who doesn't have much time left because she's dying, so that his mom can look good when she gets to heaven.

It doesn't really put me in the holiday spirit. 

The Chocolate Swan was a bakery in Elm Grove, located on Watertown Plank Road, between Elm Grove Rd. and Legion.  Although a different bakery has taken its place, I still miss the Chocolate Swan, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.  So, I was happily surprised to learn that the Chocolate Swan has an online store! 

"Mary," the proprietor of the store, was an elegant, friendly lady (I'm sure she still is).  My mom, brother, and I were devoted fans of her shop.  My mom would often stop in to buy chocolate covered strawberries or our family favorite, the strawberry logcake made with fresh whipped cream.  I loved it so much that I had Mary make my wedding cake.  (She also made my brother's.)  From the looks of her picture gallery on the Chocolate Swan's website, it looks like she still is making delicious and creative desserts.

The shop closed several years ago when the owner decided to move to Las Vegas.  I had heard that she opened a store in the Mandalay Bay hotel, but I only recently discovered the website. 

It appears that there is a limited number of desserts being offered through the online store.  Be sure to read their shipping policy if you decide to order.  There is a phone number listed if you want to call the store directly.

The strawberry logcake, unfortunately, is not one of the options.  Ahh well, the carrot cake was also pretty darn good, as I recall...
 

I love to indulge in a cafe mocha, even though it is bad for my reflux and my tooth enamel.  I justify it by saying that there are studies that say coffee is chock full of antioxidants.  Although I am a fan of Starbucks, I had an opportunity to go to the Elm Grove Perk and Pub (when using this link, scroll down to "Perks and Pubs").  I probably had the smoothest cafe mocha there that I have ever had.

I take my daughter to get her haircut at Whimsikidz, a kids' boutique, in Elm Grove, owned by a Brookfield Central graduate.  Right down the sidewalk is the Elm Grove Perk and Pub.  Both stores are located in the Autumn Grove Plaza complex, slightly east of the intersection of Bluemound and Elm Grove Roads.  Because I was feeling the need for some caffeine this morning, I dropped by the Perk and Pub for the first time.  As the name implies, it is a place for both coffee and something a little harder, the bar opening later in the evening.

The Perk and Pub offers a quieter atmosphere than the Starbucks a little farther west on Bluemound, and the mocha I had didn't have that acidic punch that sometimes a Starbucks one can have.  The Perk and Pub  has several tables, and a small sitting area with a few comfy chairs and toys for the kids.  Although I only had coffee, sweet treats were also available, like cookies and brownies, and there is a food menu.
 

Seen at Grasch's today...

The produce sign says "Gourmet EUROPEAN Seedless Cucumbers". 

The label on the cucumber says "Product of CANADA".

*** 

You might have already seen the advertising on BrookfieldNOW but Grasch Foods is holding its 25th Annual Brat Fest this Saturday, 9-15-07,  from 10 am to 4 pm.  In addition to food, a flyer I got today says that there will be balloon art and face painting for the kids.

Proceeds from each sale are being donated to the Waukesha County Special Olympics for transportation, equipment, and uniforms.
 

My daughter is attending a different school this year. Her new schedule is killing me. Ok, so I'm being a little dramatic, but it's been really busy since school started. So, this blog is about some new stores that I've seen on the fly (mostly as I'm shuttling to different school events).

NEW RESTAURANT

It looks like there will be a new eaterie on the corner of Capitol and Calhoun, but I'm having trouble reading the name of the restaurant on the sign as I drive by. It's either "Bovary" or "Bowary." It says it's coming soon. I haven't heard anything about it though.

If anybody has info on this new place, feel free to put in a comment.

RELAXATION

At the Towne Centre, there is a new store coming soon, called "Massage Envy," located a storefront or two west of the Northstar American Bistro. Now the sign out front is advertising a price of $39.00 for a massage BUT there appears to be a small asterisk by the price.

As I am always driving by, I haven't had a chance to see upclose what kind of conditions are attached to that asterisk. I have heard of this franchise before, but I heard the price was more like $45 to $50, which is still pretty reasonable for a massage.

I thought there was a Massage Envy somewhere in Delafield too. Again, if anyone has ever went to a Massage Envy store, post a comment.

FOR THE LADIES

There is a new upscale lingerie store in the Galleria. Open as of September 4, "Allure," located next to Faye's, also has a second location in Mequon. I haven't been to the Mequon location or the new one in Brookfield yet, but I've heard that Allure carries high-end lingerie brands not found in department stores.

In my last blog, I wrote that I heard that the Oberweis ice cream store closed.  For those who might be concerned about unused subscriptions, balances on frequent buyer cards, or gift cards, a reader posted a comment with more information.  Click here to access my last blog, and then scroll down to the Comment on August 29 by "BrookfieldMomofTwo." 

I heard from a fellow ice cream lover that the Oberweis Ice Cream Store, located in the strip mall just east of the intersection of Moorland and Bluemound, has closed. The kids in my family loved to go there for the free balloons as much as the ice cream. Sorry to see it go. (I haven't heard anything about whether their dairy delivery services are continuing).

But don't despair, ice cream lovers. If you travel south on Moorland to Greenfield and then hang a left, you will find Maggie Moos ice cream store in the Brookfield Marketplace. Maggie Moos can mix your favorite ice cream with other favorite treats, like marshmallows or oreo cookies, similar to the way the Cold Stone Creamery stores do. They even have a few lactose free alternatives.

The staff of Maggie Moos was really great when my daughter's preschool went on a fieldtrip there earlier this summer. (Where were these ice cream field trips when I was growing up?).

Here's the address for Maggie Moos.