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I've taken my things to Diane's from a coat alteration to jeans. I forget how much they charged me for the coat (maybe $26 or something?) but pants hemming is just $10 plus tax.
They would...
I've taken my things to Diane's from a coat alteration to jeans. I forget how much they charged me for the coat (maybe $26 or something?) but pants hemming is just $10 plus tax.
They would first tell you the date it will be done (usually about a week), but if you ask them if they could rush it a bit and have something by certain date (I did this once when I was going on a trip the following week), they will work with you.
I've been satisfied with their work thus far, and they have dressing rooms, so you can take the shoes you'll wear with the dress and have them pin it to match the height.
P.S. They also have a person doing alterations at Village Cleaners in the U Village Mall, and I know she does formal dress alterations as well. The turnaround time may be slower, however. They said she's busy because it's wedding season. She's only there M-Th.
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Dania
Category:
Uncategorized
6416 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, Washington 98115
(206) 523-6829
It's not exactly a "little shop", but my vote would be to pop in to Dania and see what they have... because "affordable" is the hard part to fulfill. While they have a little more design-conscious...
It's not exactly a "little shop", but my vote would be to pop in to Dania and see what they have... because "affordable" is the hard part to fulfill. While they have a little more design-conscious stuff than IKEA, their prices are still quite reasonable, so it's kind of like an upgraded IKEA (less particle board). IKEA does have some pieces made of solid wood, but I hear you, they are limited. :-)
I like that some of the pieces carried by Dania are innovative for small spaces... for example, a coffee table which can convert to a dining table http://daniafurniture.com/?page=shop/flypage&page_back=shop/category_items&offset=18&product_id=1192&category_id=f85e462baf927f8e53989dd969c0e430
- they also have a few more extension tables which remind me of clean and functional designs by muji http://www.muji.net/eng/ (whose furniture is unfortunately not available in the US ). We looked for quite a bit of cute "small space furniture" since we live in a small condo, but I tell you, they're hard to find!
They also have a beautiful table named Kobe, which converts to a dining table but can be stored away in size of a console table and comes with storage drawer space. I don’t see it on the website, but the last time I was in their showroom they still had it. Their north location on Roosevelt Way has more merchandise, including discontinued items and a big as-is discount corner with stuff that’s been returned or scratched.
If you are in Vancouver, I highly recommend popping in to EQ3 http://www.eq3.com/cat-eq3/splash.html - another cute furniture shop whose stuff is quite reasonable by furniture standards, and much cuter than IKEA - and they have a lift-up storage bed reminiscent of flou beds, for about 1/3-1/5 of its Italian counterpart. They can deliver to Seattle for a fee.
Happy shopping and don’t forget Craig’s List!
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Fox's Gem Shop is a real gem (ha-ha), in that they may be one of the few shops that truly know what customer service and professionalism mean. All I can tell you is that I'll be going there for all...
Fox's Gem Shop is a real gem (ha-ha), in that they may be one of the few shops that truly know what customer service and professionalism mean. All I can tell you is that I'll be going there for all my jewelry needs for as long as I live in Seattle.
I personally believe that the class of business is determined by how they treat each and every customer, no matter how small, big, or troublesome the transaction may be. Businesses that know this are in for a long-term relationship with the customer, and Fox's Gem Shop is such a place.
Here was my example: I needed to re-size and engrave a couple of rings which were bought overseas in Japan - we didn't have the time to fix them while we were there. One of them was tricky because of its unique tension setting of the diamond, the other was a pretty simple band, but we needed to try sample bands with different width and shape, since bands with different widths and materials felt different on my fiancé’s ring finger even if they are officially the same size.
When we brought this up to another store (Studio Porter Jensen in U Village), they were short and dismissively said, "Try taking it to where you bought it." (We were asking because we couldn't!) When we went to Fox's, they said, "Of course we can do that for you."
Most jewelry shop wouldn't even have sample rings in different widths (they usually just have one set of standard sample rings). Fox's not only has that, they even have Japanese sized rings to compare and adjust sizes with. (They have premium and somewhat unusual platinum rings by Suwa, a Japanese brand, and Varna - my personal favorite in Western world – among others.) I bet they have European sized rings, too.
We were first helped by Jean, who was nothing but professional, pleasant and helpful in helping us determine the right size with the width of the band we were working with. My ring came out beautifully, even seemed better than before, and we felt assured they knew what they were doing. Then we later worked with Melissa for the other ring, who is a true wizard - just by looking at my fiancé’s fingers and holding his ring finger for a brief second, SHE KNEW which size he'd probably need. After trying out several rings, it turned out she was right. Now that's a professional.
They make you feel good about doing business with them every step of the way - the person you worked with would personally call you, leaving pleasant messages like "your beautiful ring is ready... (And I didn’t buy it from them!) …you can come pick it up whenever you'd like." And when you go in, even in your most casual outfit, the person who worked with you will come out and treat you like the most important person, giving you their undivided attention. (And they offer to clean your ring each time you come in for free.)
I *know* IF I spent thousands of dollars on something, every shop would treat me nicely. I didn't need to spend thousands at Fox's for them to seem as though they were most delighted to help me. Because they treated me with the utmost respect for the little things we came in for, they earned my business for life.
That's true customer service.
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Skinlogic
Category:
Skin Care
7900 E Green Lake Dr N Ste 108
Seattle, Washington 98103
(206) 523-4444
Having had to always work really hard for my money in (poor) nonprofits, I never thought I would succumb to the ever-so-thriving "skincare clinic"/spa industry. But your age changes things, and with...
Having had to always work really hard for my money in (poor) nonprofits, I never thought I would succumb to the ever-so-thriving "skincare clinic"/spa industry. But your age changes things, and with my wedding coming up, I thought I’d give facial a try. Now I’m a believer! Thank you Ramona!
Having read good reviews on JB (thanks everyone), I didn’t hesitate to book a facial with Ramona at SkinLogic. I’m sure their other technicians are competent, too, but being a facial virgin, I wanted to play all my cards right. The clinic is located right by Chocolati Café on E Green Lake, and it’s nice, subtle, and professional looking, like a hybrid between doctor's office and minimalist hair salon.
The receptionist welcomed me and checked me in promptly, and after I filled out some forms I was led to a consultation room with Ramona, where we talked about my concerns and skin care regimen. She’s very easy to talk to. Then it was off to the treatment room. The bed was nice and toasty, the room dim and soothing, and the whole treatment – I got the clinical facial with glycolic peel with Ramona’s recommendation – was completely relaxing. Extraction of course hurt a little bit, but it was done quickly and efficiently. The mask application with a brush felt cool, calming and heavenly on my skin after the cleansing and the peel. It was so relaxing in fact I even fell asleep after Ramona left the room for me to get dressed!
I came out glowing, and I felt like I now had a different skin. (They didn't try to oversell me products, either - they made some mild recommendations, if I were to run out of the stuff I'm currently using.) My fiancé (who may not sometimes notice a new haircut) even commented multiple times how good my skin looked, even on the next day!
I’m definitely going back.
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I'm a hard core NPR listener and a big fan of the Car Talk show, and I tend to trust the show's listeners' opinions. So when I just moved here and my GTI needed service, I didn't hesitate to go to...
I'm a hard core NPR listener and a big fan of the Car Talk show, and I tend to trust the show's listeners' opinions. So when I just moved here and my GTI needed service, I didn't hesitate to go to the Car Talk web site's Mechanics Files (used to be called Mechani-X Files or something, but must have had copyright issues).
And it delivered. I went to the highest rated neighborhood mechanic, Louis Foreign Auto Repair shop, which used to be owned by Louis but now run by Dan Richardson who bought it from Louis after years of working there. This is an old school shop with the sign you can barely read, so if you want a shop that's shiny with donuts and coffee machine, it isn't for you.
What the shop does is take care of your car. Dan is not an overly chatty guy and is not into fluff, but he knows his stuff. He always seems to estimate a little higher than what you would actually pay, so there's no surprise, and it's usually a good estimate. He looks out for you (your car) and wouldn't do things that are not necessary, so you know you're not getting ripped off. When there are multiple options, he would explain them to you along with pros and cons and lets you choose. They are also super quick. I dropped my car off for service the other day, and I swear Dan called me back within an hour. I trust this man completely - he's honest and competent, as simple as that, but that seems hard to come by in today's auto industry.
P.S. Apparently he's an expert in older VW engine rebuild, if you have an older bus, etc., he's the man.
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Pho Ha Noi
Category:
Food & Dining
7297 W Lake Sammamish Pkwy NE
Redmond, Washington 98052
(425) 558-7855
Pho Hà Noi is a little Vietnamese place in a strip mall on W. Lake Sammamish Pkwy right outside of Redmond Town Center. Its location right down the street makes it an ideal stop if you need to grab...
Pho Hà Noi is a little Vietnamese place in a strip mall on W. Lake Sammamish Pkwy right outside of Redmond Town Center. Its location right down the street makes it an ideal stop if you need to grab something quickly after you get off work, before you catch your show at Marymoor Park or Redmond Town Center.
It's good because:
- It never seems crowded
- They deliver decent pho with clean yet profound tasting soup
- Service is quick
- Prices are very reasonable
I've been here a few times and the lady who runs the place has always been friendly and attentive. They have other dishes than pho, but since it's in their name, we always get tempted to have one. A small pho (usually ample amount if you're not a big guy) is $5.55 and a large $6.55. The only gripe we have is that we wish they would give you more basil automatically (you usually get one pretty sprig along with other accompaniments - bean sprouts and chili - which may be good for many people). I also like their Bún Hà Noi, a rice vermicelli noodle dish, with grilled pork - their meat is grilled so it's a little crispy on the outside but tender overall, and very flavorful. IMHO, though, I feel like they cut the carrot in it too thin to add texture. They also have a good assortment of stir fry/curry/stew dishes with fresh ingredients ranging $7-8. Their appetizers are also reasonable (starting at $3.50) and fairly tasty.
Overall, their food may not be something you keep dreaming about, but its convenient location - once you find it - makes them a winner. I'd rather eat here than any of the places in Redmond Town Center, because it's simply a better value. Plus you get a free homemade cranberry almond cookie at the end of your meal.
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Daiso
Category:
Retail Shopping
3000 184th St SW
Lynnwood, Washington 98037
(425) 673-1825
If you've ever been tempted by the "3 for $5" pile of little products they sell near the entrance of Uwajimaya, you would love this store. In fact, it may be a bit of a sensory overload - they...
If you've ever been tempted by the "3 for $5" pile of little products they sell near the entrance of Uwajimaya, you would love this store. In fact, it may be a bit of a sensory overload - they stock thousands of items for mostly under $2 (most items are $1.50 to $2, some larger items hovering above).
If you've ever been to Japan and stepped into their 100-yen shops, you would've been impressed with the quality of these cheap items. The largest company in Japan that runs such stores is Daiso, which happens to manufacture a LOT of its products to keep the cost down. Daiso decided for some reason Alderwood Mall is where they would begin their U.S. expansion.
But back to the store. They have ceramics (where else can you buy a tea pot or sake set for $2?), cleaning supplies, hair clips, tupperware, snacks, notebooks, origami paper, organizational plastic trays and baskets, screw drivers, pliers, knives, batteries, etc, etc... even those vacuum seal storage bags. Hair curlers? Got them. Little beckoning cat (manekineko) figure? Got them. Planters? Of course. You get the picture. They pretty much have most things a drug store would carry, but cheaper.
Of course, quality of the products vary. There are some good bargains here, though - like those button cell batteries you need for your garage opener remote for under $2, cute soy sauce plates, or plastic wraps (I like their smaller "Japan size" since I always feel wasteful using a huge piece of plastic wrap on a small bowl). Or if your little girl wants some plastic trays to organize her stuff, don't spend $5 each at Target! Come here.
You could get carried away here because everything seems so cheap and there are so many of them. Be careful because all sales are final; no returns. Another drawback is that many products only have instructions in Japanese. If you're curious ask the staff to help you, or bring along your Japanese-speaking friend.
You can read the P-I article (which was facilitated by a bad translator IMHO) on Daiso's business move here: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/246403_retail29.html
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It's true what they say: if it ain't broken, don't fix it. Such is true with Mamma Melina's food from near Napoli. No big oohs and aahs, no big tricks, but the stuff they dish out are pretty darn...
It's true what they say: if it ain't broken, don't fix it. Such is true with Mamma Melina's food from near Napoli. No big oohs and aahs, no big tricks, but the stuff they dish out are pretty darn good, because they are tried and true.
The restaurant is tucked away in the same building as Seven Gables Theatre at the very busy corner of 50th and Roosevelt, across the street from the imposing Tubs of Seattle Spa. The location and the views from inside the restaurant are not ideal, but that doesn't faze me from seeking out their good food.
The place oozes with the old-fashioned restaurant charm and you can tell it's a family-run business. Pasquale, Melina's husband would sing from time to time, and his paintings and murals adorn the restaurant. The space is nice and cozy; the tables are close together and it's an intimate space. With the oil lamp lit later in the evening, it becomes lively and romantic at the same time.
The flavors are intense and very true to the ingredients they use. The flat bread comes hot out of the oven and is tender. Rotolini di Melenzane, grilled eggplant stuffed with mozzarella & prosciutto, is hearty and aromatic in tomato sauce. Pastas also come in hearty portions, perfectly al dente, with great flavors. I really enjoyed the spaghetti alle vongole - cooked with fresh Manila clams, white wine, garlic, olive oil, parsley and some red pepper flakes - such a seemingly simple dish, but the juice was so succulent and flavorful I thought they might have cooked it in a seafood stock. Linguine alla pescatora is also very good, except clams were curiously missing and mussels were overpowering the whole dish. (If you love mussels, go for it.)
Their wine list goes very well with the laid-back cuisine from their home in Italy - you can get a pretty good wine for under $30 a bottle. The house pinot grigio isn't too bad, either. They also have a limoncello you could have with your dessert, which is a nice change of pace if you want something different from the ports they offer or single-malt whiskeys. They also have a few grappas, sambuca and full bar.
The desserts takes the same approach - uncomplicated and scrumptious. Their tiramisu is very, very creamy and smooth - mascarpone overload! Lady fingers are perfectly soaked. With a cup of espresso, it would be the perfect end to your meal.
I would give it a "Perfect" rating, it it weren't for the slightly inconsistent service provided by the wait staff. The owner family is charming nonetheless.
P.S. They were going to serve Copper River Salmon risotto the day after we visited in the beginning of the week - limited time special. We had a show to catch the next day so we couldn't make it, but Roberto, one of the three sons, had the chef prepare it for us the following day! (There was just one serving of the salmon left, too - whew.) Thank you Roberto!
P.P.S. I overheard they might be trying to open another restaurant again - hopefully that wouldn't spread their resources too thin, because this place is a gem!
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If they had been these muffin bottoms, the homeless would not have gotten mad at Elaine in that Seinfeld episode. I just luuuuv their chocolate muffins. Their muffins are good top to bottom - no...
If they had been these muffin bottoms, the homeless would not have gotten mad at Elaine in that Seinfeld episode. I just luuuuv their chocolate muffins. Their muffins are good top to bottom - no need to fight for the top! The slightly melted soft chocolate chips and the not-too-sweet, buttery, fluffy, not-too-heavy but dense enough batter makes me wish for another nice day on which I can walk to The Coffee Crew. Their cranberry walnut scones and marionberry muffins are good, too, but like Andy says, the chocolate muffins are the standout. It's definitely a comfort food - it's the kind of muffin you would like to bake at home but you let them because they can do it more perfectly. (I almost don't want to tell people to increase the competition, but I love the people there I want them to do good business.) To balance your palate, though, if you have two people I recommend getting one chocolate chip muffin and one marionberry muffin. It makes the experience all that much more richer, like how a chocolate cake is better with a tangy raspberry sauce.
The folks (and it seems fitting to call them "folks") there are so nice, too. The coffee drinks are also solid. It's one of those little neighborhood coffee shops where you want to stop and read newspapers with every chance you get.
Caution: they close at something like 2:00 PM (closed on Sundays), so go there early.
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**I'm updating my previous review... the place is going up in my world because the people have been a bit better... and I've met the U.S. barista contest champion, Jennifer, and she's actually quite...
**I'm updating my previous review... the place is going up in my world because the people have been a bit better... and I've met the U.S. barista contest champion, Jennifer, and she's actually quite nice and not even a bit snobbish. Very service-oriented and cheery - she's a gem. It's the other guys who may miss the beat. With Black Cat Cafe closed in the area, and most of the college students gone (nothing against them, it just makes the place way too crowded), it's a nice summer hangout.**
Despite the proximity to this place (I'd say our door is less than 100 ft from it), it hadn't been the first choice on our coffee shop list. Sure, they may have the barista contest champion, they may have good coffees and atmosphere, but I feel like they take themselves too seriously - and half the time they got our orders wrong. (One time it was a regular con pana instead of decaf for my friend, another time it was mushroom quiche instead of chicken pesto quiche, etc, etc.) It's probably a sign of being old when you start thinking "kids nowadays...", but don't kids nowadays know that you're only allowed to claim to be good at something when you fulfill basic requirements?!
I'm happy they have good coffee roasted on premises, good tea selection, and spicy chai tea instead of overly sweet one, but that still doesn't make up for cashiers with too short an attention span and baristas who don't seem so thrilled to see you as they are so engaged with their art. Ultimately it's a hospitality business which is supposed to please customers, so I'd only go more often when they start getting my orders right, and they seem happy to see me spend my money there.
With that said, they have pretty good pastries, quiches, panini sandwiches and a killer mocha shake. They also have free wi-fi, so it's not a horrible choice if you are in the neighborhood and crave good coffee. And if you want to impress someone with foam art http://www.zokacoffee.com/page.php?xPage=blog/index.html on a Latte - this is the place.
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