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October 26th, 2007
Has anyone else noticed the Halloween/New Year’s Eve correlation? See, every year we build up Halloween to be this big, amazing, epic extravaganza. And every year we just wake up on Nov. 1 with makeup on our pillows and disappointment in our hearts. Just like with New Year’s Eve: Everyone always makes such a big deal about NYE — finding the right outfit, the right person to kiss at midnight, the right party to attend—and then at midnight, it’s just a big letdown. Just another minute in 525,600 minutes in a year (yeah, we learned it from that song in “Rent,” too), except we’ve built it up to be so much more. This year, however, we’re determined to make Halloween different. We need to recapture what it was about Halloween that made it so special when we were younger, dressing up as a punk rocker every year and bobbing for apples with the neighborhood kids. So this year, we will: a) buy a bag of our favorite miniature candy bars all for ourselves, b) watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” with commercials and all (there was definitely no TiVo when we were kids), and c) not dress up as something sexy on Oct. 31 (that includes just sexing up everyday costumes like a nurse, teacher or mouse). Now if only we could track down some of that pink hairspray we used for our punk rocker ensemble … |
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Seattle Picks: |
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| 1 | The Bee’s Knees Our sister-in-law is an incredible gift-giver. Every birthday we hold our breath with anticipation at what she’s come up with for us. Invariably it’s the most perfect thing, and many have become everyday essentials, like the adorable and distinctive small pink wallet she gave us as a bridesmaid gift. The perfect size for business cards, this little gem is always in our purse. Recently, she let us in on her secret: She shops almost exclusively at Laura Bee Designs in Ballard. Charming, unique and functional are all words that can be used to describe Laura Bee’s creations. You can find anything from handbags to hair ties at Laura’s boutique, and many of her items are customizable. Pick from an array of cool fabrics, and create your own purse, belt or wristlet—or choose from ones readily available at the shop. Laura Bee has been creating custom cuteness in Ballard since 2002 and is celebrating her fifth anniversary on Nov. 10 from 5 to 9 pm. Stop by, shop local, and start your holiday spree early! Laura Bee Designs |
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| 2 | Classically Fresh We’re fans of the old saying, “Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver, and the other gold,” so we can’t help but love our tried and trues while on the hunt for the new. This philosophy pertains to almost everything in our lives, including the cozy pajamas we just pulled out for chilly nights … though our significant other gave up hinting and insisted it was time to drop some coin for a new pair. So with our honey’s prompting, we decided it was time for a visit to an old favorite in Madison Park. Ann Marie Lingerie is an adorable sleepwear and lingerie boutique that has been a neighborhood staple for 23 years. You’ll find gorgeous bras and panties from unique lines like French-made Lise Charmel, elegant nightgowns and robes from German-made Celestine, and cult favorites from Hanky Panky and Cosabella. We adore the stylish bras and panties from Aubade sent with love from Paris. You’ll definitely find a way to please your man—and yourself—in this amazing boutique. And thanks to wonderful attention to detail in every item, you’ll easily find a new gold. Ann Marie Lingerie |
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| 3 | Love & Locks We love our stylist—and when it comes to our hair, we like to stick with a good thing. But lately we've been getting that itch to try someplace new; and when we heard about Ballard's Tart Hair & Cosmetics Studio, we just had to check it out. If you blink while driving down 56th Street, you might miss this gem of a salon, but don't be fooled by the low-profile exterior—after all, it's what's inside that counts. And inside is hip décor (including chandeliers à la Urban Outfitters), a salon mascot (Rocco the Pug), and, of course, a team of amazing stylists. We opted for a blowout by owner Jami (since we weren't quite ready to "cheat" on our current stylist) and left wishing we could bring her home as our personal hair guru. Our 'do has never looked better, and the pre-style scalp massage was the best we've ever had. Needless to say, one trip to Tart is enough to make even the most committed client consider salon infidelity. Tart Hair & Cosmetic Studio |
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| 4 | Luxe Redux Who says things aren’t better the second time around? We’ve had uninteresting first dates that turned into very interesting second dates. We’ve returned to restaurants that disappointed the first time and had great experiences the second. Heck, we even failed our driver’s license exam the first time when we moved here. All that stuff about motorcycles and rural roads … we weren’t ready! But we were ready for the Alexis Hotel’s new look. Thanks to some creative input from the Seattle Art Museum and fabulous room upgrades, it’s casual elegance, all around. And the fact that the Alexis used to be apartments means the kids will have plenty of room to frolic without you freaking out about them breaking things. . Need more options? How about business meetings in an executive suite, or a bridal party in the Seattle Art Museum Suite? With two bathrooms, closet space for a hundred dresses and room to spare, the room will be the next best thing to getting married—which, of course, most of us only plan to do once. Alexis Hotel |
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| 5 | Calling all Vegans! Morning pastries go with coffee like ketchup goes with fries—a symbiotic relationship in the world of palate pleasing. The problem is we might savor every refined-sugar granule and shortening crumble as they melt in our mouths, but what about our health? If only we could eat our morning pastries guilt-free! To the rescue: Flying Apron Sustainable Bakery, where all baked goods are made with health in mind. Recently opened in Fremont, Flying Apron specializes in the finest organic ingredients, wheat-free flours and non-hydrogenated oils. In addition, all baked goods are gluten-free, dairy-free and egg-free, and most are alternatively sweetened. But what about taste and selection, you say? Every morning, the doors open with freshly baked dark-chocolate muffins, berry tea biscuits, and scones, just to name a few. Caffe Fiore coffee is freshly brewed, cakes are baked for special events and catering services, and the dark wooden tables beckon for someone to sit and relax. Vegans and pastry-loving sugar addicts join hands, and eat your hearts out to good health. Flying Apron Bakery |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Lust for Learning When we were kids, our parents sought to make learning fun. They’d give us a jar of coins to count and then promise we’d get them all if we could count them correctly. Despite our still-latent shopping addiction, we always gave it our best shot. So hearing about Braincandy’s new “5 Senses” DVD and music CD series brought back fond memories. And it helps that the big blue eyes and tiny lips are adorably irresistible. |
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| 2 | Press On We've long loved Portland's Egg Press for their handmade letterpress cards, and we were the first in line when they branched into screen-printed tees. Their website is the place to find limited-quantity items that aren't found in brick-and-mortar retailers ... zipper pouches, matchbook-style notepads and fun paper doll prints. You can also find their charming cards grouped in reasonably-priced collections, perfect for stockpiling in case of a gift-giving emergency—cuteness needed, STAT! |
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| 3 | An Uplifting Idea Now you can defy gravity with Liftits (we can’t believe we just wrote that). “Lift” your girls for that perky B.K. (Before Kids) look—without a bra! Liftits are perfect for saucy holiday tops and dresses. They’re guaranteed to keep you “up” and “in,” because Liftits are a hypoallergenic adhesive that’s applied to the top of the breast, not underneath. Genius! |
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| 4 | For the Thinking Man’s Dog We adore adornments, even for our dogs. And you can make them the envy of the dog park (without embarrassing your pet or yourself) with Sococo’s Good Karma Collection of leashes and collars. And who knows … you may help your dog make the world a better place as he spreads good karma and good cheer with the thoughtful quotations and pretty colors of his Sococo collar. |
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| 5 | Get Your Betty Ready Oh my, really, what will they think of next. Surprise him with a little beauty for your Betty. When he checks out the goods, you’ll show him. Yes, you really are a platinum blonde. For today, anyway. Introducing the first safe color that’s specially formulated for the hair, ah, “down there.” Betty colors naturally, covers gray, and enhances to match your glorious locks above. From now on, when you highlight or color, don't forget your Betty! |
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| Designer of the Week! | |||
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Some of history’s greatest works of art were born from artisan guilds, and Nave is trying to breathe new life into the D.O.A. concept of artistic collaboration in fashion. This contemporary sportswear line is creating a buzz by using a rotating cast of independent designers who contribute to the central collection. The newest collaborators for Nave’s Fall/Winter 2007 collection are Alice Ritter and Carson Potter. The blended hand of Ritter’s romantic lines with masculine edges and Potter’s exquisite detailing brings us a collection of downtown-cool pieces. Nave, available at Impulse |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Capture Your Creatures on Camera Halloween is the second most popular holiday for capturing special memories. So Phil Holden and The Fine Art Photography Studio invite all creatures big and small —children and pets, mamas, gal-pals, husbands and boyfriends—to a spooktacular photography event! Bring as many ghouls as you like, and enjoy refreshments while you have some fang-tastic photos taken. Reserve your spot now! What: Capture Your Creatures: open studio day at The Fine Art Photography Studio |
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| 2 | Good Shop Lollipop All those frocks for kids are just too sweet, especially at the whimsical Lollipops Children’s Boutique. And there’s a bonus for making the ferry trip on Nov. 8: Lollipops, along with Blinx, Oil & Water, The Berry Patch and Flowering Around, will be celebrating their Holiday Open House with specials, including 20 percent off everything at Lollipops. What: Holiday Open House at Lollipops |
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| 3 | “Head Over Heels” at Clementine A tribute to fall heels, Clementine is offering a month-long discount of 25 percent on every pair of shoes with a 3-inch-plus heel. Think: nights out, holiday parties, cocktails with the gals! For every pair you purchase, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a night out for two, including dinner at the delicious French restaurant Crémant. What: “Head Over Heels” 3”+ heel sale |
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| 5 | Biggest lucy Warehouse Sale Ever! It’s time for a road trip! If you love lucy’s fantastic activewear as much as we do, high-tail it to Portland to stock up at their biggest warehouse sale ever. While supplies last, tops are $10, pants $15-$20, jackets $20, shorts $5 and accessories $5-$10, and 10% of proceeds will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest. What: lucy Warehouse Sale |
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