Girls Guide to City Life

Tick Tock Couture Florals

admin — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:26:22 +0000

In Los Angeles floral shops are a dime a dozen although the prices definitely are not. Unfortunately, high prices don’t equal quality, beauty or often delivery which means you could easily spend a small fortune on a small, non-memorable bouquet.

When my best-girlfriend was having a birthday and I wanted to send flowers to her work (a very stylish and famous salon in town), I knew that the flowers had to be special not just for her but also look good on her table since her high-paying clientele would be staring. I needed a statement. I needed same day delivery. I needed it all with a budget under $100.

Over an hour of surfing online and phoning, I found Tick Tock Florals. I emailed them the photo above and asked if I could have a similar arrangement for around $85 plus delivery. They said, of course! And a few hours later I received a gushing call from my girlfriend who could. not. believe. the. flowers.

They were beautiful, arranged amazingly, unique and special. And they were there at her table only a few hours after my call and within my budget. And her guests? Equally impressed!

Tick Tock Florals may cost more than picking up a bouquet at the grocer or by ordering from a generic 1-800 flower company, but the difference in price, personal service and experience in receiving are certainly worth the extra money. The next time you have a special someone to celebrate and want to make a statement, try sending an arrangement. Actually, why not just send one to yourself? You know you deserve it.

Tick Tock Floral
1603 N. La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Toll Free: 800-893-6688

Healthy Spot, Santa Monica

admin — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 08:37:52 +0000

http://healthyspotla.com

The Curiosity Shoppe, Mission District

Anh-Minh — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 05:30:12 +0000

We love online shopping, but adorable stores like The Curiosity Shoppe make us want to step away from the computer and run out with credit card in hand. Owners Lauren Smith and Derek Fagerstrom launched the store as an e-commerce site last year and, earlier this month, they went brick-and-mortar on us.
The couple managed to transform an old veterinarian’s office into a space filled with great artwork and housewares. Be sure to pay close attention to the fixtures throughout. They, along with their talented friends, designed and assembled everything themselves.
Oh, don’t let the small amount of square footage here fool you: There’s plenty to keep you busy browsing and buying for hours. You’ll be glad you left the house.
The Curiosity Shoppe
855 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA. 94110
(415) 839-6404

Beard Papa’s, Oxford Circus

gigi — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:17:26 +0000

I never used to think of myself as a cream puff lover, per se, but I’ve always been fond of specialty shops that focus on one item and do it to perfection. It was this thinking that first attracted me to Beard Papa’s – a cream puff cafe on Oxford Street – and it rocked my world.
This chain, started in Osaka, Japan, serves freshly made cream puffs with a light and crispy pastry shell, filled in front of your eyes with a thick, rich filling that is closer to custard than whipped cream. You can opt for the traditional vanilla, or try the flavour of the day from a changing menu that includes chocolate, strawberry, cappuccino, English tea, green tea and very berry. The monthly schedule of flavours (posted in the shop and on their website) is a good excuse to come back again and again.
Beard Papa’s also has eclairs, chocolate fondant and thin slivers of tiramisu and cheesecake, but I haven’t tried any of these yet, as the cream puffs are just too good for me to stray. Beard Papa’s has turned me into a cream puff lover after all!
BEARD PAPA’S
143 Oxford Street
London
W1D 2JB
020 7494 9020
Hours: Mon to Fri 9.00am to 9.00pm, Sat 10.00am to 10.00pm, Sun 10.00am to 8.00pm

Barneys, Union Square

Anh-Minh — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 09:40:20 +0000

Finally! San Francisco is now home to Barneys — a must-visit every time I’m in New York City. But now I don’t have to fly thousands of mile to see what’s new at the Co-Op.
The Union Square location is the old FAO Schwarz. Remember that building? It’s not super-big, but it’s better than nothing. On the fourth floor is where you’ll find labels like Diane Von Furstenberg, Madison Marcus, Demylee, Marc by Marc Jacobs … the list of swoon-worthy designers goes on and on.
Oh, and shoes are on the second floor, which is more like a mezzanine than an entire floor. If you wear at least a size 36, you’re in for a real treat. (Luckily, ladies with petite feet like myself still have Nordstrom!)
So the next time you’re shopping downtown, be sure to add this to the list of places to drop by. And, if you want one of those black cotton Co-Op bags, you probably have to ask — but, from what I witnessed during opening weekend, the Barneys staff will be happy to oblige.
Barneys
77 O’Farrell Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 268-3500

Novelty Golf & Games, Linconlwood

anna — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 03:56:43 +0000

Some friends and I discovered a little piece of vintage history right here in Chicagoland this week at Novelty Golf & Games. A far stretch from the more difficult miniature golf greens in Grant Park, Novelty Golf is full charm, character, and colorful cartoony “obstacles.” Not to mention two 18 hole courses that refused to be tamed! It’s fun to try for the holes in one, but don’t be disappointed if you don’t get one – here it’s more about fun times with your friends than masterful putts.
Novelty Golf has been in Lincolnwood for more than 50 years and (thankfully) it seems to be the exact course it was back then. Basically, it’s exactly what the miniature golf experience should be. And at $8 a round, it’s quite a deal.
In addition to miniature golf, Novelty Golf and Games also has batting cages, video games, and a restaurant. And it only took us about 30 minutes to get there by car from downtown Chicago.
Hours: Mon. – Sun., 10am to Midnight
Novelty Golf & Games
3650 West Devon Ave.
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
(847) 679-9434

Red Horse Cafe, Park Slope

Alissa Wilkinson — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:41:14 +0000

When I lived in Manhattan, Joe the Art of Coffee was my coffee shop of choice. And then I moved to Brooklyn and spent many months trying to find an equivalent in my new neighborhood; every place I visited was good, but not perfect – either too crowded, too loud, too quiet, or too distractingly decorated to provide the optimal environment for writing.
It was with great joy that my husband and I stumbled on Red Horse Cafe. The decorations are chill and modern without being chilly or unwelcoming; seating options include armchairs, couches, window-mounted bars with stools, and traditional cafe tables. The baristas play music at just the right volume that is cool without being obnoxious. There’s free wireless, and you can sit there for hours without anyone bothering you or without feeling like you’re hogging the space.
The coffee, of course, is superb, with every traditional espresso option as well as a myriad of teas, juices, and even wine and beer. There’s also an assortment of tasty pastries and other edibles. Budget conscious? On weekend nights from 7-10pm, selected beers and wines are two-for-one. And their hours are extensive enough to satisfy anyone’s coffee consumption schedule. It’s the kind of neighborhood cafe you’ve only dreamed about – until now.
Red Horse Cafe
497 6th Ave, Brooklyn (at 12th Street)
F/R/M to 9th Street/4th Ave
718.499.4973
Monday – Thursday: 7:00am – 10:00pm
Friday: 7:00am – midnight
Saturday: 8:00am – midnight
Sunday: 8:00am-10:00pm

Salt, Los Gatos

Anh-Minh — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:00:15 +0000

On a stroll through downtown Los Gatos last week, I was shocked to see how many charming new shops had recently opened. The most surprising was Salt, a cool women’s boutique that resembles something you might find on Union or Fillmore Streets in San Francisco — not in the suburbs.
Salt has only been open for about a month now, but already, the inventory is impressive. I was immediately drawn into the shop by the Charlotte Ronson print tops. Graham & Spencer, T Luxury, Mimi & Coco and Jenny Han are also carried here.
So if you live in the Peninsula or South Bay, you no longer have to drive all the way up to San Francisco for your next big-date or girls-night-out outfit. With the money you save on gas, you can pick up a necklace at Salt to complete your new look.
Salt
78 West Main Street
Los Altos, CA
(408) 395-0800

Schilling Jewelier, Spiegelkwartier

Kelly — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 22:54:40 +0000

One of the best things about having people to visit is that they often end up taking you to parts of the city you’ve never explored before. I’d window-shopped along the Nieuwe Spiegelstraat many times, enjoying a peek at antique furniture I could never hope to afford, but never ventured inside any of the by-appointment-only shops there. My cousin Nerissa, however, saw a pair of earrings she just had to have, so we made a note of the opening times at Amsterdams Keur, the Schilling jewellery shop, and came back so that she could try them on.
The shop has all sorts of old items in all price ranges, but even if you’re not in the market for a pair of antique earrings or a massive old mirror in an ornate frame, it’s worth going to the Spiegelkwartier just for a look around. You’re sure to find something that interests you in the neighbourhood, whether it’s old jewellery or modern art.
Schilling Jewelier (Spiegelkwartier website)
Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 23
1017 DB Amsterdam
Tel 020 6239366

Stain Bar, Williamsburg

Alissa Wilkinson — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 06:36:51 +0000

In Brooklyn, a borough filled with “chill” bars, it can be surprisingly difficult to find one that strikes the right balance between good food and drink, a friendly-yet-safe environment, and plenty of good art and music available to tickle the creative nerve.
Stain is the place you’ve been looking for. It’s conveniently situated in Williamsburg, but just enough off the beaten path to have avoided the Williamsburg cliches. The owner, Krista, painstakingly renovated the space to be eclectic and homey without being fussy or awkward. There’s free wireless internet, a back garden, and goodies like really great pretzels and mulled wine.
And Stain is devoted to all things local; their drink list only contains beers and wines from New York State, and their performers and artists are all local and unsigned. They host craft nights, open mic nights, art openings, costume theme parties, and too many other cool events to name. There’s a giant nickel made of car parts on the wall. And did I mention the mulled wine? It’s really good.
Stain Bar
766 Grand Street in Williamsburg
L to Grand Street
Opens daily at 5pm
718.387.7840