Down on Main Street
The town of Beaver was imagined around an easy-to-navigate town center. With one vibrant street serving as the hub of shopping and dining, it’s easy to stroll down the sidewalk along Third Street, and find everything you could possibly need in a single afternoon. If you’re heading out to Beaver for a chic soirée, make a day of it! Stop in at one of our favorite boutiques, Shirley Shoppe, and get dolled up. The large space boasts even bigger styles with everything from Brighton to Vera Bradley designs. “We’ve been here for 73 years, and we’ve had lots of lovely friends as well as customers,” says owner Arlene Tarn. “I consider the customers friends, and it’s nice when people support local businesses.” Tarn says the store is best known for its selection and service. “We’re here to help you if you want it, and to leave you alone if you don’t,” she says. “I try very hard to buy things that you can’t find anywhere else, things that you can’t find by the pound.” As a small business owner in Beaver, Tarn has come to appreciate the sense of community. “In other areas, they’re building communities, but we don’t have to build one. We already have a vital downtown.”
To continue to help support the local businesses in Beaver, find that classic Chanel suit to update your summer style and head down Third Street just one block to RESTYLE. The store carries gently used, designer duds perfect for adding to your already fabulous wardrobe. Be sure to check out the store’s signature event, Third Thursdays on Third, offering extended hours and in-store specials. Count us in for these monthly mini-galas celebrating art and fashion. Shirley Shoppe, 659 Third St., Beaver. 724.774.5340. RESTYLE, 576 Third St., Beaver. 724.513.6001. gotdesignerclothes.com.
Food for Thought
Shopping all day along Third Street is an ideal way to whip up an appetite. Head over to the Wooden Angel for a meal that’s 
simply divine. Start with an appetizer, like the lamb stuffed grape leaves, then move on to one of Chef Mike’s specialties. We recommend the Baked Seafood AuGratin, filled with sauteed shrimp, scallops, langoustinos, and lump crab, tossed in a lemon, tomato basil. But if you’re in the mood for something exotic, or just want to grab takeout, call up Yama Japanese Restaurant. Brush up on your chopstick skills, and feed your craving for sushi. The fresh ingredients and inviting atmosphere are sure to leave you hungry for more (seconds, please!). Wooden Angel, 308 Leopard Lane, Beaver. 724.774.7880. wooden-angel.com. Yama Japanese Restaurant, 538 Third St., Beaver. 724.774.5998. eatatyama.com.
Home Sweet Home
If the small-town charm of Beaver convinces you that it’s time for a move, you’re in good company. With downtown 
Pittsburgh only 35 minutes away, the daily commute is only one, good iTunes playlist long. The median family income in Beaver ($57,208) is on par with the U.S. median family income ($50,200), while the Beaver per capita income is nearly $4,000 more than the U.S. average per capita income. It’s easy to see why people are choosing to build their homes, and lives, in Beaver. So if you’re set on a permanent move, or maybe buying a second home in the small town, you’ll need the help of local real estate experts. With more than 100 years experience in Beaver real estate, Bovard Anderson Co. can guide potential buyers looking to investigate the market.
Bovard Anderson Co., 617 Third St., Beaver. 724.774.5330. bovardanderson.com.
Divine Décor
Shop some of the most unique home décor stores in town. Start at Kathleen’s Interior Accents to scoop up some great finds for indoors and out! Check out some of their great birdbaths or decorative wreaths. Toss a pillow or two onto your sofa to jazz up the living room, or find a unique collectible sure to make all of the neighbors jealous. But if you’re looking for the piece de resistance for that bare wall in your home, stop by Wolf’s Fine Art. Roam the store filled with stunning pieces, specializing in 19th and early 20th century art. If you stumble upon a piece that you love (which, trust us, won’t be hard to do), head down the block to the Courtney — Laughlin Frame Studio & Gallery. The duo of Kathy Courtney and Jamie Laughlin is bringing years of framing expertise to Third Street. The studio and gallery is home to unique art and stunning custom framework. Using the latest in Conservation Framing Methods (the use of materials and techniques that provide protection to the works of art), Courtney -Laughlin Studio & Gallery is becoming a Beaver institution. Kathleen’s Interior Accents, 428 Third St., Beaver. 724.775.9567. Wolf’s Fine Art, 637 Third St., Beaver. 724.991.6090. wolfsfineart.com. Courtney — Laughlin Frame Studio & Gallery, 531 Third St., Beaver. 724.773.0306. courtney-laughlin.com.
Oh, Happy Day
If the kids are getting antsy to get away from their typical summer activities, head out to Beaver for Garrison Day. Scheduled for June 11, Garrison Day is one of the largest events in Beaver. “It’s a craft antique show that fills all three parks downtown,” says Heather Neish, who’s mother Ethel Icenhour organizes the event. The show and sale are the community’s most visible events all year long — drawing more than 10,000 visitors! Named in honor of the military garrison stationed at Fort McIntosh in the late 1700s, Garrison Day includes vendors 
displaying hundreds of arts, crafts, and antiques. “We have people come from everywhere. We’ve even had people plan their vacations from Florida to come up for Garrison Day,” Neish says. If you get hungry perusing the summer festival, there are plenty of vendors on hand to quench your thirst or satiate your hunger. Stop by the art show, and then enjoy the lively music by the Fort McIntosh Fife and Drum Corps. Sponsored by the Beaver Area Heritage Foundation, Garrison Day is a summer treat for the entire family. “Everything being sold has to be homemade. And there’s a lot of people making designs right on the spot,” she says. Beaver Area Heritage Foundation, beaverheritage.org.
In the Fast Lane
Feel the need for speed? Take a spin around the track at BeaveRun Motorsports Complex. With its diverse track and program options, the complex has been thrilling drivers since 2001. “We have three facilities, and different programs for different experience levels,” says Dan Schlosser, Motor Sports 
Director. Take your performance vehicle out for the ride of your life on the complex’s North Track. The track is 1.6 miles with 10 turns, and drivers are able to reach speeds faster than 120 mph. Try your handling skills on the tight, twisty layouts, or rent a go-kart and race it on the Wilson Circuit (17 turns in .82 miles!). “This is a participant-driven facility. From driving on the track to renting go-karts or entering drifting events, this is a very hands-on type of facility,” Schlosser says. Not a risk taker? Sign your company up for any of the corporate training or team building events that BeaveRun offers, or watch the kids (as young as 5) try their hand driving the go-karts. “We run these programs in-house and using our own karts, school cars, and race cars. Or people who have their own performance cars can come down and enjoy the track,” Schlosser says.
If you’re more of a clap from the sidelines type of person, head to Steel Town Sports to pick up some gear for the upcoming sports seasons. Drive home with the new Steelers license plate that you’ve been searching for, and pick up one for dad too. Don’t forget the great earrings for mom so she can cheer on the Buccos this summer in style. Or, take home a pair of cozy slippers and cheer on your favorite black and gold teams from the comfort of your couch. BeaveRun MotorSports Complex, 201 Penndale Road, Wampum. 724.535.1000.beaverun.com. Steel Town Sports, 546 Third St, Beaver. 724.774.5533. steeltownsports.com.
