You'd think there wasn't a store for miles around. More than 1,700 women attended Maiden Minnesota at the super cool W Hotel Thursday night. The event, which raised money for WomenVenture, is a celebration of creative women owned businesses. And the Twin Cities really is a hotbed for great ideas. Eighteen local companies set up shop, including Hollywood Fashion Tape, The Thymes and Alora Ambiance.  Joy Teiken (pictured), designer of Joynoelle, was there selling her lovely dresses, as was Laura Nelli (pictured below), whose pretty Nelle handbags are becoming a hot commodity. The new Corset was there, selling jewelry and signing women

up for styling sessions. As the mother of boys, I was drawn to Ciao Marco, a new line of stylish dress shirts for little boys. Apiary Design had a delightful 
display of stylized stationery, including pretty thank you notes and gift tags. And Elin & Clara seemed to be reeling women in with their fabric belts. It was an inspired evening that makes a gal proud to live in a city populated by so many clever women.
Funny footnote: Had to stop by the rockin' lobby bar for the delectable grilled cheese and tomato soup. The place was swarming with women from the event, but next to my party was a man who was inundated with well-wishers. Not only because he was one of the very few guys there, I soon realized. It was Senator Dean Barkley. What a hipster.