KRISTA CURRY: THIRD STOP, BROADWAY >>>

A couple comes into Orange on Broadway, the female half looking for a dress. She's not in there five minutes before she pulls a short, hot pink, spaghetti-strap leopard-print dress from the rack. $15, Guess brand. Owner Laurel Lawson agrees to hold it for her.

But don't be downhearted, dear bargain shoppers. Orange is chock-full of great finds like that hot pink leopard-print dress. Lawson shows me a beautiful vintage (1950s? 1960s?) white and yellow formal dress. "It's $30," she says apologetically, as if $30 is expensive for a vintage dress in that condition. Most of her dresses are about $15, some less, a few more. Only the coats were that much â€" a red leather-studded jacket that I would have died for when I went through my Michael Jackson phase is $15, and an absolutely unique green jacket with a boxy shape is $16. The tag reads, "Specially made for the Ryukyuan Gift Shop." I don't know what Ryukyuan is. But it's a pretty cool jacket.

Other items included a pair of Banana Republic wide-legged black slacks, size 8, for $8. Men's pants go for about $2.00, though a pair of pinstripe slacks, Kenneth Cole brand, are $10.

Lawson explains that she appeals "not just to the student hipsters, but anyone who wants to dress eclectic, to people who have a sense of style." It's one more store that I'm having a huge problem with walking out of empty-handed, and I might be going back for a particular item. And since all is fair in love and war, and clothes are certainly love and bargain shopping is certainly war, I'm not telling you what it is.

[Orange on Broadway, 739 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.970.7080, www.myspace.com/orangeonbroadway]

Bargain Guide Feb. 5

ANNOUNCER: Krista’s post on Orange is the third of many second-hand store reports she’ll be dropping on Spew in preparation for the Weekly Volcano’s Bargain Guide issue Feb. 5, 2009. The South Puget Sound is full of free and ridiculously cheap stuff â€" you just need to know where to look. Leave it to The Weekly Volcano to uncover all the ins and outs and exclusive bargains to be had.

To advertise in the section, call 253.584.1212 or email us at advertising@weeklyvolcano.com.

LINK: Previous bargains