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July 2, 2010
Few things are better than an unexpected gift, and the surprise package we received last weekend is one of our all-time favorites. An old family friend sent us dishtowels. Now before you go thinking that we’ve lost our stylish edge, hear us out. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill megastore dishtowels; these are hand-embroidered vintage dishtowels that we’re calling tiny works of art—which of course means we will never use them! We can’t even imagine how long it took her to sew all seven. (One for each day of the week!) It got us thinking about how many truly vintage treasures we’ve seen in our favorite boutiques lately—crocheted washcloths, hand-stitched handkerchiefs, and funky, fun vases made out of old milk bottles—and how they remind us that good quality never goes out of style. |
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Seattle Picks: |
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| 1 | Shop Like an Egyptian |
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| 2 | Summer Home Summer is here, even if the weather is still toying with our emotions. And as soon as the sun decides to stay, we know just where we’ll be celebrating—on the deck at Madrona’s new wine bar, Bottlehouse. Serving up small-production wines from Northwest wineries, as well as bottled beers, sodas, and locally sourced snacks like High Pies, Beecher’s cheese, and cured meats from Salumi, this charmingly chic establishment is a great place to spend a sunny afternoon, or even a rainy evening. Every detail of the space has been beautifully thought out—that’s what happens when the co-owner has a background in interior design—and you can’t help but feel right at home on the main floor of this classic craftsman. Part bar, part retail shop, Bottlehouse is a cozy, stylish spot to sip wines by the glass, and a great place to grab a unique bottle to bring to your next soiree. As we toast the arrival of another cloudy Seattle summer, we’ll enjoy the indoor ambience and keep warm with a nice, big glass of wine—or maybe a cup of Victrola coffee or Remedy tea. It’s all good! Bottlehouse |
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| 3 | Sweet, Sweet Music Remember being little and playing on a summer day—perhaps with Barbie, or out in the yard picking dandelions? You’d be engrossed in choosing the perfect skirt for Barbie’s date with Ken that night, or arranging those puffy yellow flowers into a crown to wear on your princess head. Then, all of a sudden, you’d hear it. That music. Faint at first, then it would get stronger and louder. Barbie was forgotten—the chase for the ice-cream truck was on. Happily, you don’t have to rely on your memories anymore. Parfait Ice Cream Truck blends childhood joy and adult taste. There’s no cheesy music, and they don’t drive around every block in the city hoping for customers. They pick strategic locations throughout the city (check their website to find out where they’ll be this weekend) then stay put for an afternoon. You get all the delights of a cool, sweet treat, only this time your tongue won’t turn neon colors. Oh no, Parfait’s ice cream is homemade, all natural, and organic. It’s pretty much amazing. Could summer get any better? Parfait Ice Cream Truck |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | The Lush Life If we won the lottery, we’d get a big, honkin house and fill it with local art. And though we’re not living in a palatial manse, we are able to snap up some affordable pieces that make our (tiny) house sing. This animal series by Ryan Berkley won our hearts with its quirkiness and wit. The Rabbit is our favorite, but the dinosaur and giraffe might have to come home, too. We dare you to pick a favorite. |
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| 2 | All Keyed Up After we saw the stunning diamond skeleton keys from Tiffany, we felt faint with longing… and then our butts bounced back into reality. Scoring one of those pricey, jewel-encrusted beauties is about as likely as our Pug, Pork Chop, doing the cha-cha. Good thing we found these sweet little made-from-vintage key necklaces by Seaworthy. They’re not loaded with bling, but they’re just as covetable! Best part? Online shopping = instant gratification. |
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| 3 | Uh-Oh, It’s Magic There was a time when washing our hair every day was mandatory. But now we're older, lazier and cheaper, and the idea of spending time and hot water on a daily shampoo just seems, well, wasteful. Enter Magic, from Portland's Sidlab Haircouture. It’s no misnomer—this miraculous dry shampoo keeps a good-hair day going, with a spray and shake. Perfect for all hair colors, this is one weekend solution that doesn't require extra effort... or a special wand. www.sidlabhair.com |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Fireworks in the Bedroom Cozy up with your man this Fourth of July—instead of with thousands of strangers at Gasworks Park. Stay for three nights at Pan Pacific Hotel, and they will give you 50% off your third night! You can enjoy the fireworks show from the comfort of your own bed, then create some fireworks of your own. (Wink, wink.) What: Pan Pacific Hotel 4th of July Special |
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| 2 | Where Old Meets New We love vintage furniture, but every time we go shopping we find ourselves gravitating toward more modern pieces. Go figure. Well now we’ve found the perfect place to meet both of our tastes—Maison Luxe. They’re offering 30% orders of the Oly Studio Collection. You’ll fall in love with these handcrafted pieces—we did! What: Maison Luxe Oly Studio Private Sale |
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| 3 | Shop in Style What do we love more than high-end fashion? High-end fashion on sale! Head down to Butch Blum this weekend to shop their summer sale. Classic and classy designer duds are 40% off, and there are to-die-for brands like Blugirl, Paul Smith, Inhabit, and Allude. Love, love, loves! What: Butch Blum Summer Sale |
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