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August 3rd, 2007
Okay, so the question has come up: Why do the Seattle Picks girls always say “we”? “Are you sisters?” some have asked. “Do you share a boyfriend?” others have wondered. “Are you schizophrenic?” Fair enough. Anyhoo, yes, we use “we,” and we are quite comfortable doing so, but for your reading pleasure, what follows is our reasoning behind it. First, we are a collective of writers. Everyone on staff shares the same love of independent, local businesses, and shopping and dining and drinking and pampering, so we present Seattle Picks as a group effort. Second, and building on the “group effort” theme, we decided it’s less weird to say “we” than to have “I, I, I” all over the page. If we did that, then it might be even more confusing. “I shop even though I don’t have a job” would follow “I just got a promotion,” or some such, and your heads would explode. So, we use “we.” Perhaps it’s not grammatically correct, but hey, this ain’t a textbook. And bottom line? We want to entertain you, and y’all need heads in order to enjoy this. |
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Seattle Picks: |
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| 1 | What's in a Name? |
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| 2 | Sugar and Spice Enter Curtsy Bella, a boutique tucked behind University Village. This shop is no shrinking violet, and we got chills the minute we walked through the door. Equal parts Holly Golightly and Debbie Harry, this place understands that a woman is a multi-faceted creature. From the colorful and kitschy yet somehow classy Tarina Tarantino jewelry to the carefully-chosen-for-maximum-impact lingerie section, Curtsy Bella is the kind of shop where we covet something on every display. Punk rock appetizer plates from Rosanna tempt us next to sweet charm bracelets from Dog Eared, and frankly, we’ll have to watch ourselves if we plan on buying gifts here, since they may never end up with their intended recipients. Gift wrap is free with every purchase, and who says we can’t open a beautifully wrapped gift we bought for ourselves? |
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| 3 | Hidden Treasure You know those friends who can find a treasure anywhere? The ones who can walk into your run of the mill estate sale and walk out with bags of vintage Lanvin and a gorgeous Tansu for $25? We are so not those people. We can’t tell if it’s a luck or a laziness thing, but all we seem to find are neon-colored afghans and old toasters. So we are patting ourselves on the back for finding Souvenir, and with no exterior signs and a display window full of old suitcases, it was no small feat. If you blink, you’ll miss it, but we expect that’s what makes a good find so good. Owner Curtis Steiner has a gift for uncovering the beautiful in the old and exquisite treasures peeking out from every case, cupboard and cranny. The ephemeral jewelry and handmade cards, both refashioned from 19th century antiques, are Steiner’s specialties, and small Victorian-era trinkets fill the rest of the space, perfect for gifts. Estate-sale bargains you won’t find here, but sometimes, convenience is just as rewarding. Souvenir |
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| 4 | Say Goodbye to Shabby Chic Remember when Shabby Chic was all the rage and you couldn’t escape faux-finished walls, ratty lampshades and old dressers that were “distressed” to look like they’d been weathering outside a Connecticut farmhouse for 70 years instead of being manufactured last week on some island overseas? Thank goodness that’s over with, because we never got into it. (Except for some reason the metalwork—we do love a good shabby curtain rod.) But anyhoo, our real love is for that futuristic/modern style that’s a mix of the movies “2001” and “Austin Powers,” and our parents’ living room in Redmond, circa 1971. Without the shag carpeting, natch. And what better place to rock that goodness than Chartreuse. Vintage furnishings and accessories “of a certain era” mix seamlessly with of-the-minute, timeless designs. It’s a very cool showroom, and one visit to Chartreuse made us want to redecorate our entire house. Perhaps we could put a fabulous chrome wall light in the hall. Or we could splurge on a vintage black-leather Danish chair for the office. (Of course, we’d never let anyone sit in it.) Goodbye, Shabby, hello fabulous! Chartreuse |
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| 5 | Do That to Me One More Time When we were very very (oh so extremely) little, and VH1 came to cable, they played a lot of Anne Murray. “Do That To Me One More Time” was on a lot, and some song about being on a pedestal… anyhoo, VH1 probably wants to live down their Canadian-songstress beginnings, but we will forever be grateful to them for instilling in us a love of smooth songs for making whoopee all night long. Frankly, this boutique has nothing in common with Anne Murray, but we can’t help but think that the lingerie at Zovo needs a smooth, yacht-rock soundtrack to set the mood for sweet, sweet lovin. From naughty garters to plush loungewear, Zovo is a mecca for any woman who likes to pamper herself. We’ll set the scene with white candles burning in brass candelabras, chilled glasses of fine champagne, the dulcet tones of Loggins & Messina on the hi-fi, and a gorgeous bra & panty set from Zovo peeking out from under our satin robe. Oh yes, we’re bad, but oooh baby, it feels so good. Zovo Lingerie |
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| 1 | Earthy Pretty Things We’ve been known to buy jewelry. A few baubles here and there … nothing excessive. Maybe just a necklace. Or earrings. Or a ring. On a Tuesday. Okay, we have a problem! And nobody is a better enabler than Schwa Designs. This ethereal line of “jewelry of the earth” is filled with brightly colored gemstones, delicate chains and drop-dead designs that are all inspired by the Pacific Northwest. Whether you wear Crocs or Chloe heels, we know you’ll find something to love. |
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| 2 | “Clean” Clothes We know there are plenty of mamas out there who firmly believe in feeding their little ones organic food. If that’s the case, why not uphold the same standards when it comes to clothes? Little Marmara makes it easy with items made from 100% chemical-free organic Turkish cotton. Decorated with gender-neutral storks, lions and camels, shirts are comfy and cute to boot! Though the line is limited at the moment, stay tuned for pants, sweaters, towels, toys and other healthy options coming soon. |
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| 3 | Strut Your Stuff We adore Parisians for so many attributes, especially the way they strut about town, going to work, doing glamorous errands, meeting friends at le brasserie—always à pied, or “by foot.” Now we can live more like the French with the help of WalkScore.com. You simply type in your address, et voila—you’ll retrieve a score that rates the walkability of your neighborhood. It also provides the location of area businesses. Our score was a whopping 70 out of 100. Go on Frenchy, and check your own. |
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| 4 | Get it Together |
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| 5 | Ifs and Butts Yes, that's right girls. This silicone butt-lifter adds a little sumpin sumpin that'll leave you feeling foxy. And should anyone actually cop a feel, it's real to the pinch. |
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| Cocktail of the Week! | |||
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Fall Preview for Knitters at Tricoter Stacy Charles and Esther Mancini of Tahki Stacy Charles, Inc. are coming to Tricoter to preview their fall lines direct from Europe and NYC. See all of their beautiful luxury fibers and sample garments. The event is also a benefit for the local cancer support program Knit for Life®. What: Fall Fashion Preview and Knit for Life® Benefit |
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End of Summer Sale at Lemon Meringue Celebrate fashion with the End of Summer Sale at Lemon Meringue Boutique. Treat yourself to adorable, must-have items with savings of up to 40% off on everything in the store. In addition, Spring Sale items will be marked at up to 70% off. All sales final. Let the shopping commence! What: Lemon Meringue End of Summer Sale |
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OMG we can’t let you go without telling you about our latest adventure—today we published the first issue of Minneapolis Picks! Know anyone in Minneapolis??? We’d love your help in getting the word out. If you know anyone in the Twin Cities—old friends, family members, dance instructors from your all-arts high school, boys you kissed in summer camp, ex-girlfriends, old roommates who left town because nobody “gets them” anymore, dog-walkers, drinking buddies, sorority sisters, your friend’s sisters, whomever … let them know that they’ll get the scoop on the latest and greatest places to shop, dine, drink and pamper in the Twin Cities. Plus, it’s free to subscribe! |
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Website and Newsletter maintained by Studio Ridge.com |
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