Dottie Hottie

When you buy flowers, how long do you hope they’ll last?

A few days? Maybe a week if you’re lucky?

Well the Dottie Hottie sits here at her perch in Dot, beholding the flower bouquet she purchased at Cedar Grove Gardens, with the kind assistance of floral genius Janet, and this bouquet is still verdant and quite lovely a whole THREE WEEKS LATER!!!

Alert Michael Pollan.
Tell Martha.
And Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, does she know about these plucky blooms that grow?

LOVE these spider mums!

Thanks, CGG!

Is there a finer name of an establishment on Blue Hill?

The Dottie Hottie noticed this new signage for a barber shop close to Harambee Park and couldn’t get over the cleverness.  What do you all think?  Is this question rhetorical or does it compel you to ask yourself, sincerely, am I getting mine?

Here’s a tip for you Dotties as the Mother of All Holidays approaches:  Coleen’s Flower Shop.

Sure, flowers. How original.  Some chrysanthemums for Mum’s Day. Cliched, dying bunch of weeds.  I know, I know.  You already blew your wad on the Estee Lauder cosmetic set with the free gift faux leather tote.

But roll up with a bouquet like the Dottie Hottie got last week?

And suddenly big things might start happening.  Just wait.  With that kind of good karma surrounding you, I defy any Boston copper to give you a parking ticket. For any lotto ticket to not net you double. For any gum to be found on your shoe.

Check out Coleen’s (whose newest neighbor is Dot Dogs) and get your orders in for Sunday stat!

Coleen’s Flower Shop
Proprietor:  Coleen O’Donnell
912 Dorchester Avenue
Dorchester, MA 02125
617/282.0468
800/644.1581
www.coleensflowershop.com
coleen@coleensflowershop.com

Dottie dog owners, have you recently noticed an improvement in your pup’s morale?  Is Fido trotting more proudly, with a greater sense of belonging?  Did Clancey recently woof that there’s no place like home?

The Dottie Hottie wonders if this heightened happiness could be due to the arrival of our new canine-lovin’ neighbor, Dot Dogs!

Owners George and Jessica Greene, parents to a beloved Puggle, said they kept having to flee to Southie for their doggie treat needs.  Other ‘hoods of Boston have caught on — the South End and JP are host to several shops that cater to canines.  Given the expanse of green space that Dorchester offers, the pup/capita, and the imminent launch of the dog park at Ronan Park, the time was more than ripe to launch Dot Dogs.

The shop is still filling its shelves with goodies for your hot dog, but presently offers puppy pedicures, some great looking leashes, a vast array of chew toys and treats, and bathtubs that owners can “rent” to bathe their dogs.

Stop by and make a new friend with your own best friend in tow.

Dot Dogs
916 Dorchester Ave.
Dorchester, MA 02125
617/288-DOGS (3647)
www.dotdogs.net/
(right next door to Coleen’s Flower Shop.)

The Dottie Hottie recently scored a couple pairs of “juggler gloves” at the Super 99 Plus on Dot Ave (corner of Welles Ave.). With the pointer and thumb slots “uncapped,” these gloves are surely the perfect thing to keep the urban commuter who is wont to juggle the keys, the T pass, the messenger bag, the like, and who’d rather not have to do the whole gloves on/gloves off shuffle in the bitter temps of Beantown’s winter.

The gloves come in an assortment of colors and are a mere $.99 for a set of 2 pairs! That’s four gloves for less than one money! While supplies last….

The Dottie Hottie swears Hidden Jules, the adorable consignment shop on Adams St. opened 15 minutes ago. And that 10 minutes ago, it was still open for business. Then, 5 minutes ago, the Dottie Hottie drove by the boutique only to discover the windows vacant of clothing, the signage removed — GONE like a thief in the night!?

Jules, where did you go with your jewels? Your shop was so cute! We miss you. Let us know where you have hidden your jewels elsewhere….

You know you’ve passed it on Dot Ave. The suspicious green exterior. The window displays with the hodge podge of trinkets and trucker hats. And then you’ve probably scoffed at the signage: “Super 99 Cent Plus.”

What’s the plus?

And what’s so super about it?

You know you’ve been curious. But did you have the courage to enter beyond yon doors?

The Dottie Hottie investigated. And lo, a manifest destiny of chatchkes of all shapes and sizes was unearthed!

The store is actually very clean and organized. Yet, you could spend hours in it, trolling for itty bitty buddhas, birthday balloons, and a new belt buckle.

They even had a Michael Jackson Thriller belt buckle to boot! Thirteen dollah bills, y’all!

We managed to purchase a whole bevy of birthday products (kiddie whistle toys, streamers, balloons, forks, etc.) for $13. My arms were literally brimming with stuff and the sum total was less than I had spent at Lambert’s for some apple cider and grapes.

The store is staffed by some charming young Vietnamese chaps. Totally helpful with the Mylar balloon selection and while the MJ belt buckle was exciting, it’s fair to say the Super 99 Plus staff is what the “plus” is all about — they’re the icing, for shizz.

***
Super 99 Cent Plus
1759 Dorchester Ave
Dorchester Ctr, MA 02124-2535
(617) 282-5460

When did the word barista worm its way into the vernacular? When, officially, did “coffee dude” get swapped out for the Italian word for coffee bartender? Barista. It sounds like a surfer’s modifier, doesn’t it? Like, those waves are looking so far out, they’re like barista, man. “It’s just a fancy word for coffee maker,” said Kiersten Cohen on “The O.C.” when Ryan’s delinquent brother rolls up into Orange County looking for something to occupy his time (in case you missed that one). Barista. Maybe it’s not officially considered Stuff White People Like, but the Dottie Hottie would contend “applying for jobs as a barista” probably deserves marginal inclusion. It’s a nice word, it’s a word propagated far and wide by Morebucks, and the Dottie Hottie just wonders how we all came to adopt this Italian word as part of the English lexicon.

But no matter. The important thing is that a barista be a good one. And Dot’s own Flat Black is about to weed out the weakest link at the coffee bahhh.

They’re hosting ‘White Chrome’: Boston’s 1st Annual Barista Throwdown

When: Sat. Oct. 24th

What: Each competitor will have to prepare a medley of “espresso, latte/cappuccino art and original signature drinks to exacting standards in a 5-minute performance set to music.” They will be judged by foodie celebs!

Who: And YOU should totally come and cheer them on. GOOOOO BARISTAS! (Public is invited for a tasting from 2pm- 4pm during the practice rounds)

Also: The Dottie Hottie is also excited that there will be a cupping by Flat Black’s mastah roastah and co-founder, David House.

How much: Admission to the competition is free, but a donation of $10 is suggested to benefit the Greater Boston Food Bank.

A live video broadcast from the event can be found at www.UStream.tv.

Until this month, Dorchesterites who desired to sell or purchase used clothing (not on the interweb) had to leave the Dot for Quincy, Newton, and even places on the South Shore where consignment shops flourish. But not anymore. Two (!!) consignment shops are rocking the block around Pope’s Hill/Adams St. these days, and the Dottie Hottie is pumped for some resale therapy.

The Dottie Hottie, being a good little recessionista, is set to unload a whole bunch of nice name-brand fashions that ::sigh:: just ain’t gonnn fit no mo’.

After surveying the racks at the new Hidden Jules, I think some of DH’s duds aren’t even *nice* enough for the shop. Proprietor Julie Malcolm has a keen eye for the haute couture. Her shop on Adams St. looks like an adorable French boutique with a generous supply of women’s and children’s clothes (think: polka dot tites for $1!!??) and a growing inventory of men’s wear, too.

Hidden Jules
Proprietor: Julie Malcolm
hiddenjules1123@gmail.com
671 Adams St.
Dorchester, MA
617.379.3388

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Over on Neponset St., Repeat Boutique has a sign that indicates the grand opening will occur on May 23. The Dottie Hottie couldn’t help but take a peak in the windows and, at first blush, is certainly impressed by the ambience.

Info. forthcoming on Repeat Boutique

And you? Share your reviews of Dot’s newest resale shops here!