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July 20th, 2007 Does the dating scene even exist anymore? The only people we know who go on actual pick-you-up-at-8 "dates" are gay men, and one guy our boyfriend works with who claims every girl is a stalker after three dinners. The rest of the single ladies we know say it's hardly ever a one-on-one evening. It's more like the guys call them up and say "My friends and I are going (wherever) tonight. You should meet us there." That's fine if you're in high school, borderline OK for college, but no post-college guy should have a chance in Hades of hooking up girlfriend-style if that's his M.O. Friends don't let friends go on group dates! |
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Seattle Picks: |
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| 1 | Prepare for a Surprise When Seattleites think of the Eastlake neighborhood, retail therapy wouldn’t be the first phrase that comes to mind. Well, think again…a glamorous surprise has popped onto the radar north of downtown, and it is well worth the 5-minute trip around Lake Union. Ericce is a contemporary boutique catering to men and women. Adorned with gorgeous hanging chandeliers and merchandised to perfection, it’s an inviting environment for perusing the latest and greatest from designers such as Vince, Rachel Pally, and coming this fall, Alice and Trixie. Themes vary from the classic sophistication of Diane Von Furstenberg to the subtly playful Alice and Olivia, and the always popular Ted Baker for men. Be sure to explore their denim shelves for True Religion, Union, Hudson, and William Rast (btw…for all you long-leggers out there, check the Hudson supermodel 36-inchers). Next month, Ericce will be launching their new website featuring all the fab merchandise in their store. So instead of venturing to Eastlake, you could buy that new DVF wrap dress from your sofa with pimple cream on your face. We won’t tell. Ericce |
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| 2 | It’s a Nice Day for a White Wedding (Dress) |
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| 3 | Tasty Times Happy hour used to mean $1 PBRs and everything deep-fried. You’d leave tipsy and wake up swollen from the astronomical levels of salt you consumed. Lucky for you, the post-work ritual has evolved into a more sophisticated event (at least for some), and you now have a healthy list of tasty spots—pun intended. In fact, one of favorite spots is located in the newish (last year) Hotel Max. Red Fin’s happy hour happens daily from 4-6 pm, and again from 10 pm to 1 am, serving up dozens of delicious bites priced from $2-$9. We spend many afternoons in the office longing for the Sushi Set, which features five pieces of beautifully presented sushi for only $6. There’s also the Spicy Poke Salad, and rolls galore—spicy tuna roll, Seattle roll (salmon, avocado, cucumber, tobiko), and of course the old stand-by California roll. If you’re not a fan of raw fish (gasp!), you’ll love items like the lemongrass-garlic steak, green papaya spring rolls, and shiitake mushroom dumplings. Wash it down with $3 well drinks, pints and hot sake. A.K.A. guiltless unwinding. Red Fin |
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| 4 | Who Needs the Big Apple? There’s nothing like a free lunch, though that’s usually not enough to send us to a boutique. But our friend sprang for lunch, and to tell you the truth, we spent the entire meal thinking about the dress she had on. It was this fab James Perse number of the softest cotton... We had to know… Where did she find it? Manhattan, she said, and you don’t need a plane to get there. So with bellies full, checkbooks in tow, and our trunk all cleared out for goodies, we headed to Manhattan boutique and found a wealth of our favorite things: the dress we were after, plus other beauties by Milly, Nanette Lepore, Catherine Malandrino, and more… then there were the pants! From wide legs to skinny jeans, by the likes of Theory, Chaiken and Da Nang. Rather shop from home? Manhattan’s online store has a well-edited selection, with not only sale merch (hooray!) but a list of trends, updated each season, so you can cancel that subscription to Lucky and rely on the fashionistas at Manhattan to keep you up to date. Manhattan |
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| 5 | Pooch Couture We admit it. We treat our animals like people (we don’t really trust people who don’t). So much so that our boyfriend’s mocking “it’s a cat, not a child,” has become a mantra in our house. She eats better food than we do, and sleeps in a cushier bed. It’s a good thing all we have is a cat, because the second we get our English Bulldog, you’d better believe he’s going to be wearing a bomber jacket to the park. We draw the line at dog strollers, though, seriously. Thank goodness we found Scraps Dog Bakery, the veritable Barneys of dog and cat supplies. Scraps has the goods we need to pamper our sons-and-daughters-of-another-species on the inside (home-baked treats and the best in all natural and raw foods) and out (indestructible toys and couture collars and coats). Corduroy beds from Jax & Bones and carriers from Too Haute to Trot topped our list … and don’t even get us started on the Doggles. Scraps Dog Bakery |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Shop Local Now that we’ve graduated from our college rut of decorating from Bed, Bath, Linens & Things & Beyond, we try to seek out smaller, local artists whose works are more original. Which is where Petaline comes in. They’re a Seattle-based online boutique that supports indie artists from the Pacific Northwest. From clothing and jewelry to handbags and paintings, it’s a one-stop shop for everything unique, and we especially love their selection of paintings and photography. Make your house a home! |
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| 2 | When You Wish Upon a “Starr” Do you ever dream you are a princess, without all of the tulle? Now you can indulge your romantic fantasy, but instead of a princess, you can be a star…a Castle Starr. Castle Starr’s designers have created a collection of feminine dresses and tops that emanate the powerful, sophisticated spirit of the woman who flaunts them and the people who designed them. The collection features dreamy pieces, embellished with sculpted ruffles, pleating, organza flowers, and eye-catching beads. Now all you need is a ball! Available at The Finerie and La Ree Boutique |
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| 3 | Mom Need a Time Out? It’s tough being a mom, so little things make all the difference. Check out MomFinds.com—a daily dose of hip finds for moms and kids. Their editors are real moms just like you who love to shop, and everything they write about is something they’ve tried and would buy themselves. From Tummy Tuck Jeans, to the best nursing bras to great deals for little ones, SheFindsMom is a must-read. Sign up for their email newsletter and visit blog.momfinds.com for daily finds! |
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| 4 | We Like You, Too If you haven’t witnessed the genius that is Amy Sedaris, then her book “I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence” is a perfect entrée into her slightly twisted but overall quite adorable world. It’s a hilarious guide to entertaining, with tips for everything from properly freezing meatballs to dealing with intoxicated guests. Her sense of humor is so unique, and “I Like You” should be a part of every sassy hostess’ party planning arsenal. |
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| 5 | No Cure for Handbag-itis As much as we love shoes, it’s handbags that are our real addiction. We seriously can’t stop buying them, especially since “Vegan” (formerly known as “vinyl”) has made supercute non-leather versions so affordable, and all during summer the lure of fabric beauties is tough to resist. Take this saucy zebra number from Fred Flare: it’s big enough to hold all your junk plus your laptop, so you can take it from work to the beach to brunch without sacrificing one iota of bad-girl style. |
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| Website of the Week! | |||
| Whitney and Wyatt.com
Just admit it, you love talk shows. You’ve watched everything from Ricki Lake to Oprah to Maury and hey, even Tyra (but only when you have the flu, of course). So watch locally, babies! Whitney and Wyatt are two gals about town who take the talk show to a new level—it’s online. So you can get your talk-show fix—with the volume way low, natch—at work, at home, even on the go. They consider a range of topics, from “serious stuff” (“are you ready for a female president?”) to “girly fluff” (“is it okay to wear gold with silver?”) You gotta love these ladies! |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Hush Baby Hosts “Mommy's Night Out” What: Mommy’s Night Out at Hush Baby |
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Bite of Seattle Taste local delicacies from more than 60 vendors, and chef’s specialties from Seattle’s best restaurants at the Pacific Northwest’s premier food festival. The annual Bite of Seattle features two indispensable ingredients for a fun event: food and entertainment. Enjoy musicians and other performers on seven stages rolling out over 150 acts as well as interactive celebrity cooking demonstrations! What: 2007 Bite of Seattle |
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| 3 | Knitty.com at Churchmouse Yarns & Teas What: Amy Singer of Knitty.com at Churchmouse Yarns & Teas |
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| 4 | Bi-Annual Sample Sale at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Shop Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams now thru Sunday, July 29, and enjoy up to 40% off floor samples + stock, and 20% off all special orders, including upholstery, casegoods, lighting, rugs, fine art photography, and accessories. Mention "Seattle Picks" and receive an additional 5% off any order. Happy shopping! What: Bi-Annual Sample Sale at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
When: Now thru July 29
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