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 | Nanskin & Urban Allure Getting the perfect pores during summer is one of those enterprises that can make you go “hmmm". Given the unpredictable weather fluctuations all San Franciscans have accustomed themselves to, it’s kind of hard to plan in advance, especially in the hot-and-cold (often in the same day) season. But here are two skincare spas that pride themselves on offering stellar services that are always in season.More |  | A Darker Side to Magic “Ever get the feeling that everything you’ve experienced tonight has happened before and will happen again?” That’s the enigmatic question that bookends magician Christian Cagigal’s latest show, “Now and at the Hour.” Cagigal is best known for “The Pandora Experiment", a brilliant solo performance that consistently played to sold-out audiences at the EXIT Theatre’s diminutive yet aptly intimate café in 2007 and 2008. While Cagigal has sacrificed childhood whimsy and ethereal parlor tricks for a more dramatic turn, the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree in his new piece.More |  | The Lap of Luxury in Carmel Valley Looking for gracious hospitality, a laid-back vibe, and a historic destination that’s well outside the bounds of a dreaded marine layer? For close to five decades, Carmel Valley’s Quail Lodge, a haven well known to seasoned golfers and frazzled urbanites alike, has been hosting everyone from country club-coddled types to young couples intent on a coastal getaway sans all the fog and tourists.More |  | Vino DIY Ever wanted to make your own bottle of wine but feared that you just didn’t have the know-how to tell your Barbera from your Dolcetto grapes? Then a summer learning session at Crushpad, the five-year-old DIY winery located in Mission Bay/Dogpatch, is definitely in order. And don’t worry -- you won’t need to crack the books too hard to try your hand at being a vintner. Crushpad’s no-nonsense yet down-to-earth approach to the fine art of winemaking lets you make your own barrel without the inconvenience of hauling your own grapes or selecting the right fermentation vessel.More |  | Meeting All Your Clinical and Facial-Sculpting Needs The medical spa seems to be the new preferred method of beautification and pampering among some circles. A hybrid between a clinic and a day spa, at its very best it’s the kind of place that takes its relaxation seriously, but never at the expense of its service. All the same, spa establishments that often dress themselves up as serious clinics seldom sport both medical know-how and aesthetic panache in equal measure. That’s where [b]Medical Skin Aesthetics[/b], the brainchild of San Francisco clinical aesthetician Alisha Valverde, comes in.More |  | Return of the Sun Tajikistan, Senegal, Hungary, Colombia, the Philippines. Even if you’re a world traveler, it’s unlikely that you’ve trekked through all these terrains -- but not to worry. If the globe-trotting budget is tight this summer, simply head on over to the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival to get your requisite dose of culture. The festival, which has wowed thousands of audience members for three decades now, has challenged the already-permeable boundaries of world dance (despite its “ethnic” moniker), as well as viewers’ understanding of the intersections between dance, tradition, and artistic innovation.More |  | A Slice of the Good Life for the Next Generation The days of weekend getaways to staid, matronly bed n’ breakfasts sporting out-of-date Victoriana and soignée, hoity-toity guests is officially over. Exorbitant trips to chichi hillside hamlets have been replaced by excursions to eco-chic, casual-meets-upscale places like Solage Calistoga, where you’re more likely to sip a martini in your bikini than sup with the Joneses in a cavernous dining room.More |  | Whisk Mom Away to This Affordable Haven If you’re fortunate enough to have your mom in close proximity, pass on the banal Mother’s Day options and head over to a special spot nestled deep within the rolling vineyards of Napa Valley -- complete with tranquil, lushly manicured landscapes and a clean sophistication that doesn’t play itself up with unnecessary extravagance.More |  | Karuna Healing Arts and Urban Oasis Just so you know, holistic bodywork is about way more than incense, aromatherapy and New Age music. In fact, the more effective the practitioner, the less likely it is that your massage will be accompanied by hokiness or fluff. Case in point: here are two therapists who understand the old adage, “Healer, heal thyself.”More |  | Hotel Resto Remodel Yields Mixed Results In June 2008, the JW Marriott Hotel's "is it a bar or is it a lobby?" Pacific Restaurant, which sat pretty above Union Square, underwent a much-needed makeover. Jazzed up by an airy new design and revamped interior (complete with atrium, vaulted skylight, marble floor, and a sprawling assortment of lounge, lobby, living, and restaurant spaces), the newly christened Level III appears to be part of a larger sea change among chains like the Marriott: forego the default mode of generic, muzak-infused hotel restaurants, and opt for chill-out environments meant to attract all types -- from brunching girlfriends to the pre-theatre Friday night crowdMore |
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