Granny-Made

One of my favorite little kids' clothing stores is closing.

I blame Jennifer. I gave her ample opportunities to have more kids, which would've kept them in business for at least a few more years.

What I love about Granny-Made:

• They smile when you walk in the store.
• They have a dog that hangs out in the store all day and likes to be petted.
• They celebrate childhood with creations like a lime-green toddler swimsuit with a pink tutu. If there is beauty in the universe, it is a smiling toddler wearing that swimsuit.

• The front window makes you feel good when you walk by--like you're not the only person in the world who believes in the magic of lime-green toddler swimsuits, or pink butterfly dresses with tiaras. Everybody deserves a little magic in life, and there's too little of it, dammit.

• One of the owners is a guy, which makes me feel less creepy about liking pink dresses.
• They've graciously featured my books in their window, which was a great way to impress friends that came over for dinner--I'd casually walk them past the store until they said, "Hey, isn't that your book?" Then I'd act mildly surprised in a jaded, successful-author kind of way.

• They're one of those little neighborhood stores that makes the Upper West Side the kind of place in which Jennifer and I wanted to raise our kids and block other pedestrians with our strollers.

They'll still be on the web at grannymade.com. But I will miss the little bit of magic they brought to the block.