A new book store is coming soon to Washington. The Novel Nook, located at 600 East 5th Street, will carry used books in a wide range of genres, from non-fiction to classic literature, children and young adult titles, and more. There will also be a small section dedicated to new books by indie authors.
The Novel Nook owner Carmella DeJesus, who calls herself “a total booknerd” and has the home library containing 1,000 books to back up her claim, says opening a bookstore is an experience she’s always dreamed about.
“It was one of those lifelong dreams that think you can’t do, but it snowballed after looking at the space,” Carmella says.
Area bookworms can rejoice knowing that the store’s shelves have room for around 1,400 titles. Carmella plans to replenish the store’s inventory from various sources in order to keep the shelves full of titles, including by accepting donations. Anyone wanting to part with some of their current books and get a little something for them in return can bring in books to receive a store credit that will go towards future purchases.
The store’s selection includes classic literature, non-fiction, popular fiction, kids, young adults books, and more. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
Playing on the business name, the interior has several cozy reading nooks that invite you to sit down and stay for a bit. In addition to the retail space, there’s a private room that businesses can rent out for meetings. The meeting room space will also be open to bookclubs, homeschool groups, or other community groups, free of charge. Additionally, Carmella plans to host events at the store, such as the upcoming Bunny Brunch, on Saturday, April 19. This ticketed event will feature a bunny themed story time and craft for kids ages four to nine, and a light brunch for all attendees, plus a latte for parents provided by Lang-a-Tang Cafe and Catering.
Thankfully, area book enthusiasts, myself included, won’t have to wait long to experience the new store. The Novel Nook will host its Grand Opening celebration this Saturday, April 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Follow The Novel Nook on Facebook and Instagram to get all the opening celebration details.
I love Greek food, but since I’m the only one in my household who enjoys it, I don’t eat it very often. For the longest time now, I’ve noticed the sign for a Greek place in Washington when I’ve made a trip to Walmart. Recently I was out running errands solo around Washington and decided to have lunch at DTM Gyros.
As soon as I walked into the door, my nose was greeted by the delicious scent of cooking meat and aromatic spices. The menu is located on the wall behind the order counter, and I wrestled with my choices at first. With menu options that include classic Greek dishes like gryos, Greek salad, hummus, and baklava, among other items, I wanted to sample everything. I decided for my first visit (but it will not be my last!) that I’d go with a gyro. I noticed that the menu also included Greek fries, which are fries topped with feta and parsley, served with a side of tzatziki, so I decided to order those as well.
My food was made fresh to order and came out promptly. Both the gyro and the fries were big portions and I didn’t need to eat both, but since I didn’t have a way to keep them cool before returning to my home, I ate both. And, I didn’t leave a single crumb behind! It should also be noted that I was so full from lunch, that I didn’t eat dinner that evening, but I have no regrets.
The classic gyro made with beef and lamb at DTM Gyros. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
Wrapped in a soft pita, the gyro was honestly one of the best I’ve ever tasted. The meat was tender and flavorful, with just enough tzatziki, feta, and fresh vegetables like lettuce, tomato, and red onion inside the pita to really set off the flavors from the meat.
The Greek fries, while I did not need them, were amazing! The fat crinkle cut fries supplied the perfect bed for the feta crumbles, and were only made better by dipping in the generous side of tzatziki. I’ve always loved this herbed yogurt sauce, and DTM Gyros’ version is absolutely divine: light enough that it paired well with the fries, but flavorful enough that it still complimented the meat in the gyro.
The Greek fries are topped with feta and a side tzatziki for dipping. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
I obviously didn’t save room for dessert on this trip, but the next time I go I plan to try the baklava as well as the Greek salad, which is one of my favorite varieties of crisp greens.
Here’s what’s happening around Franklin County this week. With the nicer weather here, there are more events happening throughout the area. If you want to plan ahead, you can always visit the calendar on the website to see what’s coming up.
April 1 The St. Clair Branch of Scenic Regional Library is hosting an event to teach you how to Charleston. Register for the event here.
April 1 Bad Beats Dance Class is a fun way to get fit. This hour-long class will feature a blend of music genres and decades such as music from the 90s to present day, with dance moves that encompass Latin, jive, country, hip-hop, and more. Register for the class at badbeatsdf.com
April 2 Purchase tickets for Brushin’ Whimsy’s paint event at Sip on Main and choose to paint a spring cactus or mushroom gnome. Guests of the event will receive $5 off food or drink purchased during the event. Register here.
April 3 Head to Marquart’s Landing in Washington for a night of creativity and fun with Artmazing Event Co! Get ready to unleash your inner artist as we guide you step-by-step through creating a beautiful spring painting. No art experience is necessary. All the materials and instruction will be provided so you can create your colorful masterpiece. Food and drinks are purchased separately. Sign up at the link at this Facebook event.
April 4 The Washington Public Library will host a teen egg hunt. The library will be dark and the hidden eggs will be full of candy. Find the glitter egg to receive a special prize. Attendees should bring a flashlight. The event is for ages 12 & up. Learn more.
April 4 Belt out your favorite tunes at Sip on Main’s karaoke night. The fun is going down on three different nights in April at the establishment’s event room. Find out more by visiting the bar’s Facebook page.
April 5 Ladies, Littles, & Lattes is celebrating its second year with a bash that includes Easter bunny photos, food trucks, horse rides, and other fun activities. Get all the details.
Photo via Hoppin’ Into Year Two’s Facebook Event.
April 5 Attend the black light bingo night, which is a Charity Bingo event benefitting The Chief Mason Griffith Foundation at Union City Auditorium. Purchase individual or per table tickets here.
April 5 Attend the Liberty Hall Vendor Fair to find things that are handmade, holistic and other one-of-a-kind items. The vendor fair is from 11 – 3 both Saturday and Sunday. Get more details.
April 6 Attend the Liberty Hall Vendor Fair to find things that are handmade, holistic and other one-of-a-kind items. The vendor fair is from 11 – 3 both Saturday and Sunday. Get more details.
April 6 Visit the American Legion Auxiliary in Union for their Spring Fling Vendor & Craft Fair! This event will feature food trucks and food vendors, as well as local crafters and vendors. Find out more.
April 6 Originally scheduled for March 30, Kaleidoscope Consignment’s first farmer’s market and craft fair of the year was rescheduled due to weather. Find items from local artisans and crafters like local honey, handmade jewelry, Scentsy, delicious food, sourdough baked goods, and more. Get more details.
Finding the perfect wedding gown that makes you feel radiant and ready to celebrate your big day is a process. Often when brides are looking for a shop, they want to patronize a bridal store that’s clean, customer focused, that has a large selection, and that will leave them feeling great about their important purchase. Luckily, our area is home to a store that makes the bride-to-be feel like a goddess.
“It’s such a privilege to be trusted by someone, and to empower them to feel beautiful and confident. That’s why I love being here,” says Autumn Underberg, owner of Goddess Gowns in Union. Located at 33 S. Oak St., in the heart of downtown Union, the location has long been a dress shop, but Autumn purchased it in late 2020 and rebranded it to its current name. The store has two floors, each coming in at over 2,000-square-feet of space, with the main level focusing on bridal gowns, while the lower level contains prom and formal wear.
Prior to owning Goddess Gowns, Autumn spent a decade working at Union High School and worked part-time in the dress shop on Saturdays under its previous owner. Although she loved what she was doing at the school, she couldn’t resist the pull of becoming a small business owner when the previous owner decided to retire.
“I wanted to change what I was doing in the world,” she says of the decision to open Goddess Gowns.
Bridal gowns and bridal party attire on display at a bridal show. Photo credit: Goddess Gowns.
Ensuring her clientele has the best experience possible is at the center of all that she does. In an ideal world, selecting a wedding gown should be a completely joyful experience free from overwhelm or uncertainty. Autumn says that many times a bride-to-be will enter her shop without a clear idea of what type of gown will work for her body type, or even uncertain she’ll find the dress of her dreams within her budget.
It’s those moments that Autumn gets most excited about, since it’s an opportunity to help the customer find the perfect wedding gown. Throughout her years in the business, she’s discovered that consulting with brides and helping them into the dress of their dreams has become her passion.
“The happiness is so addicting,” Autumn explains of the process of helping brides.
Small town charm meets city style selection
As the owner of an independent dress shop, along with having strong ties to the community she serves, Autumn offers bridal and prom selections at a lower price than the larger boutiques and chain stores one might find in the city. Although the majority of her clientele are from the Union and Franklin County area, some customers make the drive in from St. Louis and even Illinois.
No matter where her customers call home, the ultimate goal is helping them into a dress that makes them feel beautiful and that they can afford. And with her knowledgeable, yet approachable, down-to-earth personality and focus on staying true to her community, Autumn has her finger on the pulse of who her local customers are. So much so, that she often repeats a sentence that sums up the hardworking folks that come into her shop.
“My customers wear boots and work for a living,” Autumn shares about the local clientele. And everything from the price tags to the interaction with the shop staff, to the sophisticated without being pretentious store vibe, reflects that truth.
Assisting her with the day to day operations and meeting the needs of both bridal and prom customers is Annalise Sullivan, who Autumn says has “been the greatest gift,” to her business. While Annalise is the only full-time employee, on weekends, much of the prom sales area is staffed by young ladies who are still in high school, since they’re in tune with the current dress trends for teens.
When it comes to bridal trends and fashion, the team stays up to date by attending bridal shows both locally in the St. Louis Metro area, as well as further away in cities like Chicago. Although trends and tastes can vary, Autumn sees many of today’s brides choosing dresses that buck tradition.
“Brides are daring and there are no rules. They’re wearing what they want to wear and often it has nothing to do with white.”
Some of the dresses brides have selected in recent years have been in off-white colors, along with hues like sand, mocha, pink, and even black. For the women who want to make a unique statement with black bridal gowns, the shop also carries black veils to complete the look. In addition to color variety, the size selections at Goddess Gowns range from 8 to 30, and styles can range from elegant ballgowns to trendy, edgier cuts, lace embellishments, or lots of bling.
Wedding gowns can range from the classic white, to ivory, sand, and even black. Photo credit: Goddess Gowns.
Similarly, the prom dresses and formal wear available can fit a variety of tastes from traditional tuxes to pink suits and prom gowns in the latest cuts, colors, and fabrics. In addition to prom and homecoming attire, the shop also carries items to dress the entire wedding party, from bridesmaids, mother of the bride, flower girl dresses, and more.
Additionally, the shop sells press on nails, a variety of accessories, hairpieces, and shapewear to ensure everyone looks their best in their gowns. And there’s also a selection of scented wax melts and jewelry, both of which can make great bridesmaid gifts.
Find out more about Goddess Gowns by visiting its website, following the shop on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, or calling the store directly at 636-364-2555.
Small Town Socialite 