I'm afraid Best Buds may soon become Madison Park's worst kept secret. But as a shopping sleuth I feel like it's my duty to tell you about the best shops and buys, and this is definitely one of them.
By Kathy Schultz | February 6, 2007
Bored with chocolate, roses and dinner out? Give your valentine (and yourself) a treat with a spa treatment for two. Many area spas have special packages or accommodations for couples including massages, steams, soaks, manicures and pedicures. Here are a few spots for pampered togetherness.
By Kathy Schultz | February 7, 2007
If you can't afford that island retreat this Valentine's Day, opt for the next best thing – a sensual experience that will remind you of those days spent in the south of France, a tropical vacation or the promise of an exotic vacation to Morocco or Egypt.
By Kathy Schultz | February 8, 2007
Looking something to light a fire under your valentine? Check out the Rare Love candle by Burn Rare, said to have the aromatic essences of natural aphrodisiacs.
By Kathy Schultz | February 13, 2007
While prowling Pike Place Market one day for lunch I stopped by Fini, the tiny accessories boutique that shares a courtyard with the Inn at the Market. There I discovered something truly amazing – cute leather goods at affordable prices.
By Kathy Schultz | February 14, 2007
A new boutique without denim? Mon dieu! This French/Soho/street/vintage-inspired shop in downtown Seattle makes new inroads among the influx of boutiques in town. Rue, French for street, references the decor of the shop from the graffiti-covered door to the oversized aerial photo of the Flatiron District in New York where proprietress Michelle Kim previously resided. Crystal chandeliers, French-style wallpaper with a raised black velveteen design, and black and white photographs of Paris set the stage for this sophisticated newcomer.
By Kathy Schultz | February 15, 2007
Turning green? Then visit One Earth One Design, a shop opened by Sandy and Paul Campbell in November. Sandy Campbell, an interior designer with years of experience searching out well-designed sustainable products, has filled the store with items you'll use in every room of your house with good conscience.
By Kathy Schultz | February 20, 2007
You can't miss this new cupcake boutique – just look for the charming chocolate and vanilla striped awnings. The retro-flavored bakery is appropriately located in the Wallingford Center, a converted 19th century schoolhouse. It's a charming affair altogether – perfectly frosted cupcakes are displayed behind a glass case on an old-fashioned white marble counter and coffee and cupcakes are served from aqua and creamy white Fiesta ware. Stainless-steel and aqua-colored chairs look like they came from Ozzie and Harriet's kitchen.
By Kathy Schultz | February 21, 2007
Feminine styles of previous decades reign at Diva Dollz, a vintage-inspired shop in Pioneer Square. The light-filled shop looks like it has occupied the corner location on First and Cherry, well, for decades. The store's 18-foot high ceilings with crown molding, honeycomb-design flooring and massive chandelier set the stage. An intricately carved wood display case occupies the bulk of one wall and glass display cases are filled with vintage and new jewelry. Ladylike pairs of gloves from the '30s with leather as thin as paper lay casually on the countertop. Red-lipped mannequins swathed in fur pieces peek out beneath wide-brimmed chapeaus.
By Kathy Schultz | February 22, 2007
Can there really be an entire book on the skirt? The answer is yes – and it's a fun read to boot. "The Long (and Short) of It: The Madcap History of the Skirt" (HarperCollins, 2007; $14.95) by Seattleite Ali Basye, is a clever little tome that traces the history of the skirt from the loin cloth to bustled skirts, skorts, and pencil styles to the low-rise mini. (Hmm, the last is suspiciously like the first.)
By Kathy Schultz | February 27, 2007
