Lynn S.

Aveda Environmental Lifestyle

The assistants can introduce you to the line and analyze your skin type and recommend products skillfully. I found a few things there I liked. The return policy is great too - except for the pushy attempt at converting one of my returns. I was told the the moisturizer I wanted to return was doing a good job for me and then I just needed to buy 1 more product of oil to put on my skin first. I have very oily skin and am not about to apply oil just to apply a moisturizer. Anyway. They give excellent coupons in the mail if you get on their list.

PROS: good coupons, return policy
CONS: can be pushy about returns

French Hand Laundry

The ladies at French Hand Laundry know the chemistry behind their craft and formulate specifically for various fabrics and materials. They can also mend and clean things you didn't think could be fixed although my experience is with getting a water spot out of satin which they said had not been successful - but looked 100% better to me so I could wear the top again. They also care for the clothing of the Autrey Museum and the day I went in, several of Madonna's costumes were hanging to be cleaned and archived in her collection. Park on the street. Not inexpensive enough for all my cleaning.

PROS: knowledge and skill with unique situations, choice of museums
CONS: not the cheapest.

Fashion Cleaners

This place uses an environmentally friendly process for dry cleaning that did not clean my machine washable dress pants. I asked to have a water spot from using Dryel taken out and did not want the fabric abraided in a machine. The pants came back with the same spot. So, I went home and hand washed them in my sink. They dried perfectly. No thanks Fashion Cleaners. Communication was NOT clear.

PROS: lack of attention to detail, poor communication
CONS: expensive, dubious value.

Nu Way Cleaners

Other places are too expensive or offer disappointing results like leaving the garment dirty when you've specifically pointed out the spot to clean, or pinning pants onto a hangar! Not Nu Way. They are professional every time and treat my clothing with care. The alterations I've had done were excellent - taking in pants and shorts and patching a small hole. Clear communication.

PROS: price, quality
CONS: Have to drive to La Canada

Aram's Shoe & Boutique

Aram is great with altering dress hems or changing the design of a dress to make it look more flattering or suited to your personality. She is not cheap, but she takes her time with you (no credit payments) and you can trust your special pieces with her. Talent beyond mere hemming. The shop itself it small, but you can find some unique fashion clothing there and unique fashion jewelery.

PROS: Talent, skill
CONS: cash payment, not cheap

Julienne

I've found unique honey, oil, soap, bread, sauces, and soup here at this small but full shop. You can buy freshly prepared sides and entrees like their delicious cumin carrots with cilantro or fingerling potatoes and herbs or packaged to go sandwiches, brownies, and salads. Their frozen section carries larger version of soups, lasagna and pastas. I enjoy the salmon terrine, various aoilis, coulis, and cream sauces and the imported chocolates. Choices vary but you can purchase a fresh three course meal that looks and tastes like you took hours to make. The service is good.

PROS: variety, quality
CONS:

Yoga Kingdom Sanctuary

I bought a great Jade Harmony natural rubber yoga mat here. A lot of yoga stores sell only pvc mats which are not as environmentally responsible to produce. They sell the owner, Shagagi's DVDs for Hatha yoga here too. The 2 studios which you pass to arrive in the back where the store is are kept dark and there is a mysterious quality to the lighting and incense in the place. It seems intimidating as a beginner to contemplate practicing there. If your are looking for a more spiritual place, as one reviewer put it, the atmophere may certainly aide you.

Harry & David

Perfect gifts for anyone from healthy fruit (don't offer all options in-store) to decadent truffles and sauces. Mostly foods skew toward the dessert end. I give my diabetic mother the sugar free moose munch. The chocolate covered fruits are good too.

Homes Body Shop

Holmes looks like a nice place to go and has a nice waiting room but you are a dollar sign to them and so is your car. I was quoted nearly DOUBLE for a very minor bumper repair - like $800 instead of the $425 I went with at an already not cheap establishement. They tried to get $300 more out of me to pound out a tiny tiny dent to the under frame which would have totaled $1100 to basically just repaint a bumper. I had the place I went with just paint the slight frame dent to protect it and even they only wanted about $90 in labor to pound it out.
The Honda dealer recommends Holmes to customers who inquire - kick back?

PROS: looks nice.
CONS: costs ugly.