|
 |
May 15th, 2009
We recently decided that we need a hobby—besides shopping, that is. We have friends that are into photography, making jewelry, painting, and knitting—all sorts of creative and crafty things. One of our best friends even recently opened her own amazing Etsy shop for a collection of silk hair flowers she just discovered she could make one quiet weekend night. We want to be creative and crafty, but our artistic endeavors usually look like kindergarten art projects when we get done with them. Witness the scarf we started knitting a few years ago—barely a few inches long and with about a hundred dropped stitches. Or when we took up watercolor painting and people asked us what exactly they were looking at—was it supposed to be abstract? Not so much. Sigh. Maybe we’ll just stick to shopping for now—we know we’re good at that. |
||
Seattle Picks: |
|||
| 1 | Signed, Sealed, Delivered Wedding and baby season is upon us, and everywhere we turn somebody is getting engaged or announcing they are preggers. It’s only a matter of time until we’re asked to be a bridesmaid, a maid of honor, or to plan a shower for the mamma-to-be, so we want to make sure that we’re ready to be the best darn bridesmaid/maid of honor/baby shower planner that ever was. This is why places like a·muse exist. A place where we can channel our inner Martha Stewart and get our supplies to make the most colorful and creative invites. You know, the kind that make people ooh and ahh when they see them peeking out of their mailbox. In anticipation of the call of duty, we stocked up on shimmery papers, flowery ribbons, glittery pens, and a “Got Milk?” stamp for our bestie’s upcoming baby shower. For ourselves we snagged a chic enamel utensil bin to hold all of our new goodies. Hey, a girl’s gotta stay organized. These will be anything but ordinary cards… just like the anything but ordinary us. Stop in and mention Seattle Picks to receive a 10% discount on your next purchase! a·muse |
|
|
| 2 | Root of the Matter With economic woes and the ever so sporadic spring sunshine, sometimes we Seattleites need to be reminded to stay calm or rather, stay "rooted," so as not to lose our boutique-loving marbles! And there's no better place to do so than Ballard's new chi-soothing restaurant, Root Table. Created with the urban lei-woman in mind, Root Table brings us reasonably priced Thai cuisine with a sophisticated pan-Asian twist. The whole place feels super authentic—from the recycled wood tables designed to resemble tree roots to the eclectic blush-inspiring menu. It’s hard to say what we liked best, but we must say the most inventive was the Ménage-a-Thai, a trio of Thai curries served with choice of meat, flatbread and a dollop of rice. The only thing French about this dish (besides the name) was its delicate figure-loving portion—yet it has the impressive ability to satisfy. Revitalized, energized and totally thrilled with our culinary experience, we almost ditched the shopping to go relax with some after-dinner yoga. Almost. Root Table |
|
|
| 3 | Good for the Sole Now we know this may come as a surprise, but we love shoes. Especially tall stilettos. But sometimes, our feet don’t feel so peppy after a few hours of shopping. As fashionistas, we’re not supposed to admit that—after all, fashion before comfort. If you must know the truth, the only reason we’re telling is because we found the perfect solution—and we just have to share! Re-Soul is an amazing little shop with tons of great stuff—kitchenware, unique odds and ends, belts, bags, and most important… shoes. Not only are their shoes adorably unique (and many are handmade), but they are actually comfortable. Like meld to your feet, separated at birth, second-skin comfortable. The leather was so soft and supple… we’re actually drooling remembering it right now. Tall boots are stocked year-round—hey, this is Seattle—and they also have sandals that will take you from spring to summer and possibly beyond. You can always find classic colors like brown and black, but we’re going for dyed-leather colors that will look great with that dress we’ve been saving up for. Comfort and style… we feel reborn. Re-Soul |
|
|
| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Bold and Beautiful As true Seattleites, we long for summer, but when the temperature tops 87, we start to complain about how hot it is. The solution? Cute summer dresses that are easy and breezy— like Heidi Merrick’s latest collection—packed full of silk dresses in bright colors and bold ethnic prints. We are currently coveting the Swami dress in coral silk chiffon for its luxe 1970’s caftan design… and how gorgeous we know we’ll feel in it on a hot summer day. |
 |
|
| 2 | Pucker Up, Baby Posters are so college—we’ve graduated to full-fledged adults now, and as such, require real art for our pad. We wanted something original and fun, and found it with Kiss Portraits. They send you a lip-print collection kit—complete with MAC Viva Glam lipstick and kiss-image sheets—then you select your best kiss, the color, style, size, etc. It comes back on canvas—your unique personal piece of art. Move over, Andy Warhol! |
 |
|
| 3 | Infinity and Beyond We dream of shoe closets lined with shelves of stilettos, wedges, boots, ballet flats and more—we could buy nothing but shoes for the rest of our lives. Sadly, we don’t have the money (yet) for a million different pairs of kicks, but we do have Mohop shoes. They’re actually one pair of wooden soles, but have infinite design options created by different ribbons laced multiple ways through elastic loops. Between the grosgrain, metallic, striped and satin ribbons and a million different tie options, it’s the perfect summer sandal. |
 |
|
Hip Happenings: |
|||
| 1 | It’s Good to Be Bad |
 |
|
| 2 | Below the Belt We love the ACT Theatre because they’re constantly staging shows that make us think while keeping us thoroughly entertained. Their latest show, “Below the Belt,” a skewering of corporate culture starring acclaimed actor Judd Hirsch, is like an episode of “The Office” crossed with Samuel Beckett—darkly funny, and a great way to spend an evening. What: “Below the Belt” at ACT Theatre |
 |
|
| 3 | They’re Moving! Veritables is one of those stores where we literally want everything they sell—everything. So when we found out they were combining their gift store with their main Seattle and Bellevue locations, we were jumping up and down with excitement because it means 50% off all merchandise (lamps, throws, dishes, candles) for us! What: Veritables Moving Sale |
 |
|
Your pocketbook a little thinner these days? Skip the weekly tabloid grab, read Seattle Picks, and shop local instead. Just click on the links, grab a popsicle, and explore our city's great eats and treats for freezies! |
|||
Be sure to visit www.seattlepicks.com and check out past issues in our archives. If you like what you see, forward to a friend and encourage them to check out www.seattlepicks.com and subscribe for free! It's easy--there's a box in the upper left to enter your email address. If you would like to make a suggestion, please email us at contribute@seattlepicks.com. Share your favorite ideas for Picks, tell us about terrific products or services, announce a sale or event, or let us know what you think of Seattle Picks! Website and weekly issues maintained by Studio Ridge.com. |
|||
