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June 29th, 2007
We have started hiding shoes from our boyfriend. Sure, we have separate bank accounts and he really has no beeswax peering into our closet (although we share it—yep, we live in sin, and it’s grand.) But anyhoo, we have started to feel the tiniest twinges of guilt lately about our shoe-related purchases. And it’s not even like we’ve been going that crazy. For instance, we went shopping just last week with a girlfriend who was looking for a pair to wear with a wedding dress—she came home with six boxes of new kicks—we only brought home one. And can we help it if we have a friend who owns a shoe store, who gives us deep discounts every once in a while? So we have to take advantage of that, right? Ahh, thank you for listening. We feel better already, and we promise to come clean. Soon. Besides, we’re running out of places to stash ’em. |
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Seattle Picks: |
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| 1 | My Velouria |
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| 2 | Great Expectations The way we shop, you would think we had unlimited funds. The truth is —not even close. We should have listened to our parents and married nice, stable boys with PhDs and big… um… incomes, because though we fall in love with baristas, they can’t buy us designer handbags. We are forever Finnegan, looking in on Estella’s shoe closet with a pang of jealousy. Of course we’re very happy, but sometimes the “marrying up” bit chafes as a life choice, especially when we find a store like Polite Society that makes our poor little hearts go thumpity thump. Everything in there is so amazing—even their mannequins are cooler than we are. Look for decadent items like a gray polka-dot charmeuse top by Malene Birger, vintage candelabras that make you want to skip a month’s rent, and seriously sexy James Cured by Seun denim for men that even dedicated Levis-wearers will feel comfortable in. If this is Polite Society, we are truly the riffraff…but thank goodness we can buy our way in! Polite Society |
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| 3 | Form and Function We love feathering our nests—you might say it has become an obsession. And we have to touch everything we see. We’ve been told that we might have been blind in another life, since so much of our visual experience is tactile. And it all came together the day we walked into Whimsy Home Décor, a bright and fun spot where the focus is on melding form and function. The result is a treasure of fabulously practical pieces, from the stacking Magnolia bowls (use them as serving pieces, or hang as wall art) to the giddily embellished throw pillows (hand-sewn shells, sequined fish.) We loved the highball glasses in heart-stopping colors (purple, amber, green and pink) and the gigantic candles in Lifesaver-bright colors. Whimsy also does custom furniture and bedding—ask about the array of combinations to choose from. Plus they focus on sustainable small companies, so most of their items are handmade. To top it off, a portion of their profits goes to charitable organizations and nonprofits, so the “do-goodery” factor is in full effect! Stop in, and tell them Seattle Picks sent you! Whimsy Home Décor |
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| 4 | Where Everybody Knows Your Name Wine We like the thought of having our own personal “Cheers,” but without the bad lighting, Rebecca, and, well, beer. Sometimes we wanna go where everybody knows our favorite bottle of Sauv Blanc. A friendly neighborhood wine bar seemed like an impossible dichotomy, until we found cozy-chic Poco Wine Room on Capitol Hill. We’re so in love with Poco’s staff that we’re having second thoughts about sharing them with you. Owner Peter Moore and his team make a point to remember every face, and might been the loveliest bunch of wine geeks (we say this with love!) we’ve ever met. They’re happy to gush about Poco’s solid, rotating list of regional and international wines without a hint of ‘tude. They might even (gasp!) ask about your day or compliment you on your shoes while serving up gluttonously proportioned plates of Manchego and antipasti. And because friends share with friends, we’ll let you in on another tip: Poco’s happy hour (W-M, 4-6 pm) is our favorite in Seattle. Plus, $2-off glasses and $8-off bottles? Our happiest hours, indeed. Poco Wine Room |
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| 5 | Great Recommendations If you weren’t addicted to “Melrose Place,” then we may be blowing your mind here, but OMG did we love that show. Especially Josie Bisset’s character, Jane Andrews Mancini. Not only did she get in her share of trouble, but she always looked fabulous doing it. Sigh. Anyhoo, we just heard from a friend that she has a favorite store in Snoqualmie called Mignone Interiors. It’s an uptown store, filled with gifts, home décor items, furniture and even kitchen gear—all with a fabulous eye for luxury and uniqueness. The store itself is a wonder, too, with 100-year-old wide-plank barn floors and old-growth beamed ceilings. They sell items like the deliciously decadent mixes from the Barefoot Contessa line, Nouvelle candles, Italian ceramics from Vietri, scrumptious bedding from Peacock Alley, hand-tufted rugs and sustainable furniture from Cisco Brothers and South Cone. The list goes on and on! Pop in, keep an eye out for Josie, and tell them Seattle Picks sent you! Mignone Interiors |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Doggie "Do" Right Neighbors have stopped us while we're walking our dog, demanding see our "doo bag." As if we'd skulk off without picking up after Fido. So we present our pockets, stuffed with plastic grocery bags, and think, "There has to be a better way." Enter Luff's Doggy Daypack-it holds poop-pickup bags and has a pull-through grommet for easy dispensing. There's a pocket for cell phone, treats, keys, lipstick, whatever, plus it wraps around the leash handle or dog collar, so Fido can carry the load. |
 luffdog.com |
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| 2 | Start a Riot The talent coming out of the Pacific Northwest constantly amazes us. Case in point, the folks from Sub Urban Riot, who grew up in our woods and pledge that rain actually gives them clarity. While most of their wares are clever hoodies and t-shirts perfect for lounging, our favorite is the Knotty dress—simple, classy and available shortly. We also adore their product descriptions, which make us giggle with comments like, “It’s raining cat!” Good taste and a sense of humor? They’re definitely from our area. |
 suburbanriotstore.com |
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| 3 | No More Boozy Faux-Pas! |
 clingythingylabels.com |
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| 4 | Say Hello to My Little Jenn Our bestest friend in the world is named Jenn. She’s able to throw together the greatest cocktails in minutes—whether it’s a lemon drop, an appletini or a cosmo. She’s the life of the party and she even comes with a handy dandy carrying case. Cocktails by Jenn may be the coolest hostess gift ever, perfect for livening up birthday parties, book clubs and the like. There’s even a new CBJ chocolate peppermint martini—that Jenn, she’s a keeper! |
 cocktailsbyjenn.com |
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| 5 | Domestic Stylings This is why we adore Domistyle, where aprons come in two varieties—fresh and funky—and tons of colors. Thoroughly modern and more than a little sexy, these beauties make even dishwashing fun! www.domistylegifts.com |
 domistylegifts.com |
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| Website of the Week! | |||
| Red Tricycle Their slogan is “Pint-Sized News for Savvy Grownups,” and we can see why! Red Tricycle is the ultimate Seattle guide for parents—they give you the scoop on all things kid-related, from new stores and products to events, secret sales, and other items of interest to those of the kid persuasion. And this isn’t for just any old parents—this is the good stuff for hip chicks (and their mates) who like a bit of culture with their cartoons. Basically, you and everyone you think is cool. Hip, informative and fun? Hmmm…sounds familiar…we like it! Mention Seattle Picks when you sign up for Red Tricycle's newsletter, and score a cool RT tee for your Little One! |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | “Paradise Grows” and Rick Araluce at The Traver Gallery The Traver Gallery is proud to present Paradise Grows, a solo exhibition introducing the needlepoint portraiture of Portland-based painter Mary Josephson, with 15 richly textured, colorful embroidered artworks. In July, the Gallery will present a large-scale installation environment by Seattle artist Rick Araluce, known for his eerie miniature mixed-media constructions. What: “Paradise Grows” and Rick Araluce at The Traver Gallery |
 travergallery.com |
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| 2 | Moxie Papergoods’ First Birthday To celebrate their first birthday, Moxie Papergoods is offering 20% off everything in their new store! They’re showcasing some fabulous designs from up-and-coming talents, including 9 Spot Monk, Delphine, Thatblusky, and Seraph, on top of their already impressive list, including Snow and Graham, Smudge Ink, Louella Press, Cielo Blue, Little Bitty Ink, Some of Me, and more! |
 moxiepapergoods.com |
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| 3 | La Rousse Spring Sale: More Markdowns! La Rousse only has two big sales a year ... and one of them is in full-effect through June 30 … round two of mark-downs! Save 40%-50% off spring and summer merchandise from Anna Sui, Deborah Sweeney, LA Made, ParkVogel and more. Check out this week's happy hour: get a 10-minute massage with a purchase of $50 or more, and sip free beverages! What: La Rousse Spring Sale |
 la-rousse.com |
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| 4 | Fashion First Seattle You are invited to a fabulous cocktail reception and fashion showcase, hosted by Carmilia’s Boutique at Mission Latin Restaurant & Lounge in West Seattle. Sip complimentary summer cocktails while enjoying an informal fashion show featuring summer’s hottest looks, available at Carmilia’s. Models will be showing from 7-9 pm. This is a free event! See you there! What: Fashion First Seattle presented by Carmilia’s |
 missionbar.com |
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It’s amazing that in a town of 600,000 people there could be two papers with two columnists doing “Girl About Town” beats, but there you go. And all the better for us, since we lurv them both. This week we’re sharing our addiction to The Seattle Times’ Girl About Town, Pamela Sitt, and her Sunday gossip-fest. She’s done everything from interviewing Michael Kors’ mom (who of course wears her son’s eponymous designs) to dishing about celebrity sightings. As Pirate John would say, “She’s arrsome.” |
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