Tickled Pink
1827 Parmenter St., Middleton, 608-827-9490,
10 am-6 pm Mon., Wed., Fri., 10 am-8 pm Thurs.,
10 am-5 pm Sat., 11 am-4 pm Sun.
Giddy. Punchy. In the mood for Elvis music and a fruity cocktail. If you can't recall a store that made you feel this way about shopping, then you haven't strolled down Parmenter Street in Middleton and into fab store Tickled Pink, where the whimsy factor is always set to high.
Owner Darin Thomas expects his customers to have fun ' witness his annual pajama party for customers, and the clever themed groupings throughout the store. 'We refer to them as 'worlds',' he says. 'Birthday World, Baby World, Hollywood World.' Tickled Pink is a gift junkie's Shangri-la, showcasing everything from jewelry to home accessories to obscure 'I-don't-know-why-but-I-gotta-have-it' items, like a cheeky retro Elvis clock.
Get your kitsch fix with a Loop NYC tote bearing Warhol's Jackie Kennedy ($32.95). Soothe stress in the tub with a peppermint bath fizz pop on a stick, from Davies Gate ($11.50). Appeal to your 'buy local' sensibilities with a witty Wizard of Oz photo collage by area artist Dawn Kolafa ($34.00). Feel good about the provenance of your 'It' bag with a 'Built in the U.S.A' Harveys Original Seatbeltbag, in magenta ($125). And finally, bring it on home to baby with a mug emblazoned with ' who else ' every kid's favorite 'Sesame Street' character, Elmo ($9.95).
