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A Cruelty Free Make Over
Alternative cosmetics have recently pegged a finger on the pulse of beauty culture. Take Urban Decay, for instance; the trend-setting cosmetics company famous for color names inspired by the sordid realities of urbania (Roach, Smog, Rust, Oil Slick and Acid Rain) has flouted the puke-perfect priss of conventional makeup lines for years. Then there's Real Cosmetics, the pioneering company launched by Lubna Khalid that addresses the absence of products catering to ethnic skin... More
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Fashion That’s Frankly Appealing
You’d have to admit that San Francisco isn’t the fashion capital of the United States, but San Franciscans have their own great style and there are loads of local designers here currently creating unique clothes and accessories. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely you have the time to track down all of them down in the city’s boutiques. Other than discovering these treasures in local shops, you have to rely heavily on annual holiday sample sales to see their latest wares. But there’s a company called Appel & Frank that brings them all in one place for you. More
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I’ll take at least two, if by sea
If you walk into Art of Navigation: A Chandlery at Pier 38 near Townsend Street and are confused that you aren’t in a marine supply center, you won’t be the first person to find yourself in that state of mind. These days, a "chandlery" is known more commonly as a marine supply store, but a "chandler" has been traditionally known as one who makes candles, which is what they do there. More
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A Vessel of Sensational Finds
A new vessel just opened its contents on Mission’s 16th Street. It’s called BellJar and it is a quite a deep vessel housing objects of an eclectic and stylish mix. Sasha Wingate, the visionary of this cozy space, showcases a delightful array of pieces that cover home décor, fashion and beauty for all to experience and take home as their own. Wingate explains, “I really felt inspired collecting, decorating and conceptualizing environments and creating these special little moments.” More
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Tailor-made Bicycles by Customer Choice
In my suburban hometown, we had a bicycle shop not unlike the one in the episode of the Brady Bunch where Peter gets a job repairing bikes. Instead of Mr. Martinelli, though, we had a slight-of build French gentleman named Pierre who wore a blue smock and sold and repaired every kind of bike they could fit in the tiny store, from the tricycle to fancy road racers. More
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Under a jade and coral gateway, you enter Chinatown- one of the largest Chinese quarters outside of Asia. From this juncture at Bush and Grant, you encounter streets thick with herbs, tea leaves, jade jewelery and wisdom hats that crowd amongst the singing crickets and clamor of both locals and tourists. Forget about parking. The area is best covered by foot. More
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Surprising Gifts Unfold Around Every Corner
So many times I rode by the store Dandelion on the corner of Potrero Ave. and Alameda Street right on the edge of the Potrero Hill neighborhood but never stopped. I often made a mental note to myself to visit someday but never felt the urgency to because I thought Dandelion was just another gift shop. More
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In the United States celebrating death is a macabre endeavor. Very seldom do we rejoice when departed souls diminish from existence and join the nether world. Dia de los Muertos, in the Mexican community, is a departure from our consternation. It celebrates death as the bedfellow of life, each sharing the yin and yang of our being. Visit Casa Bonampak and Studio 24 "en el Corazon de la Mision" (in the heart of the Mission) for Dia de los Muertos culture, education, and supplies. More
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Toys that Aren’t Just for Kids
For most locals, North Beach is probably not the first neighborhood to come to mind for shopping; it means braving the tourists and sidling past the strip joints. But there are a few gems that could motivate the savvy shopper to venture that way, and Double Punch is definitely one of them. More
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Days 'til Christmas are winding down and I have a strange recommendation for last minute shoppers: drive to your local San Francisco mall. When push comes to shove, shopping malls are the last place where you'd like to be during the holiday crunch, however, everyone could use a personal touch to their holiday gifts. Why not complement your Christmas presents to loved ones with a personalized photo of yourself with Santa Claus? More
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