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Ruth W.
Hometown:
Honolulu, HI, 96822
Insider ExpertRank: 3,826
First Reviews: 24
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Boston Street Baby Store The Incorporated
I happened to be near Pike's Market and stepped into this store to check out their infant clothing section. They carry all kinds of onesies, bibs, socks, hats and toys. They have everything organized by size and color and although it's a bit cramped in there I found it easy to find what I was looking for. They also carry a lot of cute and trendy baby clothing lines like Tea. I ended up purchasing an adorable water proof sushi-print bib with a pocket sewn into the bottom to catch food. The only downside is that some of the prices are a bit high. Other than that, I do recommend this store to anyone who's looking for unique baby gifts.
Three Dog Bakery Inc
A friend of mine purchased a birthday cake for her puppy here and at the party all the dogs loved it. She bought the cake from Three Dog, which uses all-natural dog-friendly ingredients to create delectable treats and confections. My dog loves the "pupcakes" they have there and while we are buying him dog treats, we like to peruse the aisles for the latest stock of collars/leads, toys and bath products. Three Dog also carries the very popular Puchibags if you are looking for the perfect carrier for your dog when you're traveling.
Les Amis
This quaint cottage-like boutique looks from the outside like a vintage/antique store, but don't be fooled. Inside this boutique you'll find lots of contemporary designer clothing with trendy handbags and jewelry. I like to shop here for their latest Nanette Lepore dresses. They have quite a selection of flirty, feminine dresses here and tops made with soft, light fabrics. Of course, the prices are high but expected as it would be ridiculous to expect to find a $20 Nanette dress anywhere.
Burnt Sugar
For its limited space, Burnt Sugar surprisingly carries quite an assortment of items. I was pretty overwhelmed the first time I shopped here as I had a hard time narrowing down my "shopping basket" of items for the sake of my wallet. You'll find candles, cosmetics, other beauty products, tableware, childrens books/toys, dog bowls, travel items and handbags at this store, just to name a few. The salespeople are genial and the prices are pretty reasonable. Just be prepared to possibly spend some serious cash here because everything is so cute!
Ballard Mail & Dispatch
Rightfully known as Ballard's "Sip-n-Ship," I used to frequent this place during my lunch breaks to pick up a coffee and take care of odds and ends with my home based business. At the time, my schedule was pretty chaotic, and Sip-n-Ship made it a little less so by giving me a place to rest my legs, pick up a latte, have a sandwich, pick up a gift and ship out whatever I needed to, all in one place! They have delicious soups and sandwiches, a cozy little area to lay on a couch and read upstairs (complete with a bookshelf full of things to read, including storybooks so it's kid-friendly). They even have a mini-storefront where they sell all kinds of cute items (cards, toys, beauty products, frames, clothes). If it wasn't for this place I don't think I would have survived at my job as long as I did.
Olivine
I heard so many great things about the selection of clothing, shoes, bags and lingerie at this store, so I decided to stop in one weekend to check it out. They definitely lived up to my expectations with regards to their selection, as they did have quite a collection of pretty, feminine dresses and tops, trendy handbags and a plethora of bath/beauty products. However, the one thing that deterred me from making a purchase was the fact that not one salesperson approached me (even though there was only one other person in the store), or even greeted me. I got a very unfriendly vibe and some not so nice looks which really took away from the shopping experience.
Re-Soul
I like to shop at this store mainly for their unique jewelry section in the back. They carry a lot of handcrafted artisan-made jewelry, some of them by local artists. You won't see the usual sterling silver and rhinestone here, expect to see original pieces crafted with wood, bone, blown glass and other natural components. They also have some beautiful art to look at and home furnishings. The salespeople are helpful but not too in-your-face or aggressive. I like the laid-back vibe of this store. If you are in the area you should definitely check out Re-Soul.
Railey's Leash & Treat
I absolutely love this store, they are the friendliest people on earth here and they carry the most adorable dog products. You'll find all sorts of cool items here, from a hot pink doggy sweater with a skull and crossbones stitched on, to doggy scarves, to funky-print collars. They also have a nice selection of shampoos and conditioners with all natural ingredients. The dog carriers they have here are not the cheesy vinyl/patent leather type that you might see elsewhere, they don't sacrifice fashion for function. And although Railey's carries some high-end "doggy-couture" products, you don't get the snooty pretentious vibe from this store like you might at other boutiques. I highly recommend this place to splurge on your pet.
Private Screening
This is my all-time favorite for vintage second hand stores. I have found quite a few hard-to-find, off-the-wall items here and have never had to pay more than $10 for anything (yet). From vintage Saturday Night Fever iron-ons to very retro lucite rings, I love this store because you can walk out with some really original, authentic stuff without having to sacrifice a large portion of your wallet. It's a bit crowded in here but it's worth it to wade through the plethora of magazines, clothing, hats, books, jewelry and doo-dads to search for that one rare piece you've been looking for all your life (at least that's what it feels like when I've found something cool here). Very friendly sales people and awesome finds make for quite a satisfying shopping experience here!
Land of Nod - Baby Furniture
This store is chock-ful of nostalgic toys that will bring back some childhood memories for you and retro-style furnishings for your child's room. Similar to that of Pottery Barn but with a more boutique-y touch, the Land of Nod store is laid out also with different furniture set-ups displayed whether for boy/girl, infant/todder and older. The only disappointing thing about this place was the relatively expensive price tag on nearly everything. I'm not sure if I would spend that much for furniture a child might outgrow in a matter of years. But, it's a great place to find unique toys when you're sick of the same old products you see at Toys R Us.