Archive for Shopping
Nikol Elaine – MakeUp Artistry
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Last Tuesday night my friend Dolores and I attended the San Francisco Clothing Swap! We had a great time! (Blog post coming soon about the Clothing Swap). While makeup artist Nikol Elaine was doing Dolores’ makeup we all got to talking. Nikol was such a wonderful person I asked her if she would be willing to do an interview for my blog. She said yes!
Nikol Elaine is what some might call an artist of the face. A makeup artist by day, born and raised California girl by night, she is clearly on a mission to show you how less can enhance more. Known for her delicate use of false eyelashes and crafty ability to make subtle or dramatic changes, she winks at any challenge. Nikol Elaine works solely on location across the bay area and specializes in wedding makeup.
What do you love most about the Bay Area?
-I love how lucky we are to be surrounded by mountains and ocean and I love that San Francisco is a mecca for travelers and culture from all over the world.
Where is your favorite place to hike/bike in the Bay Area?
-I enjoy hiking and the view from Mt. Diablo
Favorite place to take your dog?
-I love taking my dog downtown Danville to Sideboard cafe as he loves sitting outside to people watch.
What is your favorite restaurant in the Bay Area?
-My favorite resturant changes often as I am a self proclaimed foodie, however this month is Esin in Danville.
What is your favorite place to get coffee or tea?
-I could not live without coffee and my first choice would be Cafe 504 in Oakland
What is your favorite place to shop for clothing?
-I love shopping vintage in SF and for gently used clothing at local consignments or at SF’s own ClothingSwap.com!
If you had an out of town guest coming to visit that had never been to the Bay Area where would you take them?
-I would take them wine tasting in Napa valley followed by a nice dinner in SF.
Meet Mary Cary
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Earlier this week I attended the Bay Area Bloggers Society meeting that was being hosted at the Video Blog Marketing studio in Sausalito. This is where I met the very interesting and dynamic Mary Cary. I asked Mary if she would share some of her favorite Bay Area places with us. She agreed!
What do you love most about the Bay Area? The weather and the outdoor spaces
Where is your favorite place to hike/bike in the Bay Area? West Marin – love road biking out there or on Mt. Tam
Favorite place to listen to live music? I like to play live music (I play guitar in Terry Lauderdale Band, TerryLauderdaleBand.com and my favorite place to play is Slims in San Francisco or The Cow Palace.
Favorite place to take your dog? Running around near Old Mill Park in Mill Valley
What is your favorite restaurant in the Bay Area? Sushi Ran Sausalito
What is your favorite place to get coffee or tea? Peets Mill Valley
Where do you shop for clothing? Shadows San Anselmo or Famous in Mill Valley for local folks – or Hot Topic for my Band Gear.
If you had an out of town guest coming to visit that had never been to the Bay Area where would you take them? Marin Headlands, Tiburon or West Marin
Anything else you would like to share with our readers? Thank you for reading! Reading is good for the brain!
Tell us a little bit more about you:
Having my own record label for the past 10 years and developing websites, identity branding, social networking, search engine optimization, editing and producing great music, sound and video blogs was the perfect next logical step to putting together my new company, Video Blog Marketing – marketing for local businesses.
Mary’s specialties are: New Media Marketing, Website Development, Wordpress Blog Development, Professional Branding, Video Production, Music/Sound Production, Motion Graphics Production, Local and Worldwide Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Networking, Shredding Guitarist/Producer/Songwriter.
Follow Mary Cary on Twitter @videoblogmarket
Hip, Hip Hayes Valley
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Please welcome guest blogger Grier Cooper. After reading Grier’s post below, I’m ready to head to Hayes Valley to do some exploring.
Hayes Valley in San Francisco has blossomed into a cultural oasis with a plethora of hip boutiques, upscale restaurants, and an edgy art scene. In a quick stroll around the neighborhood, you’ll feel as though you are exploring the side streets of Paris. Not so long ago, Hayes Valley was one of those sketchy, somewhat seedy neighborhoods where you wanted to watch your back when walking at night. Now, it is a place you won’t want to miss.
Speaking of an oasis, Arlequin restaurant, at 384 Hayes Street, is just such a place. As both a cafe and a wine bar, it also houses a secret garden, nestled behind the cafe. While diners enjoy salads, paninis, or the highly recommended Indian lamb burger, hummingbirds and sparrows flutter overhead.
Dinner ought to be followed by drinks, dessert, and a stroll, not necessarily in that order. However, Sugar, 377 Hayes Street, offers a variety of delectable, sugar-rimmed cocktails in its sultry lounge, and Cafe Altano, 620 Hayes Street, makes a mean crème brulee and tiramisu.
Window shop to your heart’s content, but be sure to swing by the African Outlet, 524 Octavia Street. It’s impossible to miss, with one of the most alluring windows in the city, with African art, artifacts and treasures from every country on the African continent. Sake fans won’t want to miss True Sake, at 560 Hayes Street, where you can taste and purchase from the most extensive collection in town.
Whether you drop by for an hour or two before the opera, or make a day of it, Hayes Valley will have you coming back for more.
Grier Cooper is a California based children’s writer, photographer, and dancer. She draws on over twenty years of experience as a dancer, teacher and performer to create both fiction and nonfiction that inspires, educates and enriches the hearts and minds of her readers. Visit her at www.griercooper.com.
