True confessions: I may be a shoe addict.

I’ve tried retail therapy, but the symptoms only worsen – a heady feeling at the smell of fine leather, quickening pulse over a sexy peep toe, quick justifications for just one more pair ...

Sound familiar? I know I’m not alone.

Luckily, Liz Wyman of Falmouth understands. This week she’ll host the inaugural meeting of Portland’s Hello Stiletto Shoe Club to give us a place to gather – and wear our shoes. Mark your calendar now: 7 p.m. this Thursday, Nov. 29, at the Foreside Tavern in Falmouth. The club and the meeting are meant to be fun – a chance for women who love shoes to meet, socialize and show off their footwear to kindred souls.

One agenda item so far is a shoe contest, which TV anchor Kim Block and her friend, writer Liz Peavey, have agreed to judge. (No rules, just make sure your feet are well-shod.) And don’t worry if you’re not a stiletto kind of gal – flats are fine.

Liz also hopes women who attend this week's meeting will bring a pair of shoes to donate to charity.

The shoe club is the brainchild of Melissa O’Shea, who started a Boston area Hello Stiletto in 2004. Since then, chapters have been launched in Chicago, Atlanta and Florida. More chapters will begin soon in Los Angeles and New Jersey.

Down the road, Liz hopes the Portland club will have some shopping events and behind-the-scenes deals.

So what will she wear for the inaugural meeting? She’s debating between her peep-toe brown suede shoes with grommets or raspberry pink slingback peep toes. (Though a current favorite is her Cole Haan knee-length black suede boots. “If my house was on fire,” she says, “I would grab them.”)

Hope to see you there, fellow shoe fans. I’ll be the one in the violet blue platform pumps - let the competition begin!

For more information, email Liz at ewyman001@maine.rr.com.

Maralyce Ferree sale

You'll have to do a little driving for this year's Maralyce Ferree coat sale - but we all know it's worth it. So grab some friends and head south early to Amesbury for some bargains.

The sale will be 9-4 this Thursday, Nov. 29, 12-8 on Friday and 9-2 on Saturday, cash and checks only. Directions: Take 95 to exit 60, Salisbury Beaches, Route 286. Turn right at the end of the exit. At the next light turn right onto Route 286 West/Maine-Monroe Street and follow it to the Amesbury Industrial Park on the left. Maralyce Ferree is at the end in the Cabot House/Maptech building.

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