Animal Lovers

How much for that animal in the window? Anthropologie auction supports WorldWildlife Fund

More than 50 Anthropologie stores are auctioning off handmade papier-mâchéanimals — like this ram at the Rockefeller Center store in New York — to supportthe World Wildlife Foundation.
Photo courtesy of Annie McElwain
At Highland Park village, animals like this rabbit are on display in the storeand in the windows.
Photo by Rachael Abrams
The animals are made by the art coordinators in each store.
Photo by Rachael Abrams
A winter-themed window display in New York.
Photo courtesy of Annie McElwain

In addition to a mix of funky yet feminine vintage-inspired fashions, Anthropologie carries an adorable assortment of animals — a recently acquired owl cookie jar springs to mind — as part of its collection of shabby chic home décor.

We were not surprised, then to see papier-mâché rabbits, owls, polar bears and the like dotting the store and window displays at the Highland Park Village and NorthPark locations. Turns out, though, these creatures serve a higher purpose: to help put some coin in the coffers of the World Wildlife Fund.

More than 50 Anthropologie boutiques around the United States are involved with the project, in which these papier-mâché creations will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. One hundred percent of the proceeds goes to WWF.

A spokesperson from the Highland Park Village store told CultureMap that every store's art coordinator was tasked with making the crafts using a wire base, papier-mâché and paint. The animals up for auction in Highland Park Village include the following:

Small bunny, starting at $20
Small penguin, starting at $20
Medium penguin, starting at $35
Large polar bear, starting at $60

Any of these little guys would make an original and thoughtful gift — especially for that friend who just had a baby and needs a few more touches for the nursery. If you want to place a bid, just give a sales associate your offer and email address this weekend, January 5-6.

If you win, the corporate office will contact you for a PayPal or credit card number. Winners will be announced January 8 and have until January 11 to pick up their prizes.

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Swedish Meatball News

Sleek furniture store IKEA to open first location in Dallas

IKEA

IKEA's signature Billy cabinet

Dallas finally gets its own IKEA store. According to a release, the Swedish-born furniture company is opening a new location — the first in Dallas proper — to debut in late 2025.

Called IKEA Dallas - University Park, the store will be located at The Shops at Park Lane, the center at US-75 and Park Lane that's home to stores such as Whole Foods Market, American Girl, Saks Off 5th, and Home Goods.

The address is 8080 Park Ln., and they're not specifying exactly which storefront it will occupy, but it will be a smaller-format store at 63,000 square feet than its suburban siblings such as Frisco where the square footage is 310,000 square feet.

IKEA is on a journey to become more accessible, affordable, and convenient, with smaller "urban" stores that have a limited inventory of items sold on site: 3,200 articles.

IKEA's entire range will not be available for immediate takeaway; big furniture items like beds and couches, for example, can only be ordered online, with options for store pick-up or home delivery at a minimal fee.

Nonetheless, the Park Lane will be two levels and will be the 11th store in Texas: Currently, there are five full-sized IKEA stores, three "Plan and Order Points with pick up, and two smaller-format stores opening in San Marcos and Rockwall.

IKEA Rockwall, which just celebrated its groundbreaking, will comprise 108,875 square feet and the store be built from the ground up. IKEA Dallas-University Park will be built in an existing building at The Shops at Park Lane, which building it is, they do not say.

The Rockwall store will have a new Swedish Deli cafe where they'll serve meals onsite, as well as their Swedish Bistro takeout concept, serving their signature Swedish meatballs which they also offer in a delectable plant-based version as well, you should totally try it if you have not already.

Park Lane will have food, as well, although no word on whether there'll be a cafe.

"At IKEA, we want to create a better everyday life for the many people and one way we can do that is by bringing IKEA close to where people live, work, socialize and shop, says IKEA US CEO Javier Quiñones in a statement. :The opening of IKEA Dallas - University Park is a perfect example of our strategy to develop smaller, more accessible urban store formats, bringing a more connected and accessible IKEA experience to everyone."

shopping openings