RSS this is life in austin/aspen
We all know I’ve been struggling with my iPhone (I’m on #3 in two months). Perhaps if I had one of these fabulous, easy-to-carry wristlets or clutches it wouldn’t be so easy to lose my phone?
Michael Kors iPhone wallet $79.95
November 18, 2010
Austin: Gilda Grace Opens Friday
As if my neighborhood wasn’t cool enough already (Snap Kitchen? El Arbol?), a new boutique graces the Brykerwoods area. Gilda Grace Collections opens Friday, November 19th at 10am. Gilda Grace is assembled like a woman’s closet, albeit one curated by Austin-based entrepreneur and designer Nere Emiko.
The multi-level boutique features Emiko’s Beth Elis line, a high-end wedding dress line. Beth Elis has been featured in Brides, The Knot, and The Wedding Channel. Because Emiko is a study in contradictions–her degree from Carnegie Mellon is in Electrical and Computer Engineering–naturally her boutique would feature all sorts of fashions, from casual to formal, relaxed to stiff, practical to impossible … plus hard-to-find books, antique furnishings, and rare paper products.
Want some names? Try chocolates from Maison Bouche, leather pillows from Beirn, books from DAP and Assouline, and all sorts of goodies from Ittala, Lafco, Soolip, Libretto, Triple C Design, Modern Alchemy, and Design Abroad.
Of course, there’s still the outdoor garden for dinner parties, baby and bridal showers, teas, happy hours, and even small weddings. What more could you want, really?
Welcome to the nabe.
October 22, 2010
Wow, more shopping/deal sites!
Yo, did you guys know about SteepandCheap.com? Because I sure didn’t, but apparently everyone else within 1,000 vertical feet of snow did. It flashes a new item every 30 minutes or until it sells out, whichever comes first, and its got tons of mountain-y gear like skis, accessories, clothes, hiking gear, shoes, packs, camping stuff, you think REI and they have it.
Also new to my life are Left Lane Sports and 118 Boardshop, both “invite-only” shopping sites more akin to RueLaLa, ideeli, or Gilt but with less frequent sales that sit on the site longer. They also focus on the outdoorsy stuff, though 118 Boardshop is a skate-culture shop.
You know what else is cool? My first ski boots:
They go really well with my hot pink skis. OF COURSE I got hot pink skis!!
October 20, 2010
FREE j’tote bag?! Enter the giveaway!
I can’t believe I’ve forgotten to tell you guys about this. j’tote, only the greatest laptop bags ever (I love the Alix bag and carry it EVERYWHERE. Everywhere, people. Traveling, library, coffeeshop, you name it, Alix goes) are giving away a Colette clutch (I love her too) a day during the month of October!
It’s in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so enter the drawing now!
J’tote will also donate 10% of proceeds from sales of all Luxe Line bags to The Rose through the month of October. The Rose is a non profit Breast Cancer Organization whose mission is To reduce deaths from breast cancer by providing screening, diagnostics and access to treatment for all women regardless of their ability to pay.
You have 11 more days to win!! Enter the drawing now!
September 29, 2010
Aspen: Shop and Eat in New Places!
New places to shop (I still love Susie’s):
WeSC, which stands for “WeAretheSuperlativeConspiracy”, opened its Aspen concept store this August. The Swedish born street-fashion brand is designed “For intellectual slackers,” it means for hipsters with cash to spend and attitude to spare (461 East Hopkins).
Courage. B boutique will open “soon” and specialize in fashionable women’s apparel and accessories. From ballet flats to Hermes-inspired Kelly bags to knit shifts with matching cardigans, you’ll find everything you need to update your wardrobe … if you’re a tourist, probably.
Yoga studio 02 Aspen is opening a retail store in the Aspen Square building by Thanksgiving … while I think it’s amazing a lululemon hasn’t opened here yet despite the fact that you can’t GO to a yoga class in Aspen without seeing the silly om sign, the luxury yoga line is just one of many carried at 02′s main street store, but lulu’s shorts are marked up 150%. Unless there are some serious sales, I still have my fingers crossed for a local lulu (and you know my loyalty lies with King Yoga).
Dannenmann-Pure was such a hit during Aspen Fashion Week this year that German fashion designer Petra Dannenmann is bringing her signature 100 percent organic pure boiled wool fabric produced with no chemicals to the little ski town that could (525 East Cooper).
Eating
Some of us are stuck with the off-season deals (though I can hardly say stuck when Matsuhisa offers $5 rolls), but for everyone else there are some new grub-gettin’ places in town:
The Silver Queen opened in September 2010 occupying the former famous Syzygy space. Chef Jamie Flatt, formerly of Willow Creek and known for some incredible use of truffle in his sweet potato fries, is overseeing the kitchen. The cuisine is American-eclectic with an Aspen-reasonably priced bar menu (520 E. Hyman).
Pitkin County Steakhouse & Pitkin Tavern opened in August of 2010 replacing Double Dog and Steak Pit on the corner of restaurant row. The steakhouse serves dry aged steaks, fresh fish, and a salad bar stocked with local produce, while the tavern is a classic locals’ hangout with a full menu, shuffleboard, and 12 beers on draft (305 East Hopkins).
Casa Tua restaurant and private club is slated to open mid-December across from Belly Up. Can another “private club” make it in a Caribou Club town? Look for the restaurant to offer fine Italian fare with French and Swiss influences, while the upstairs club will offer an “Italian oasis” for members only. Do we have that many Italians visiting Aspen?
Hopefully C & P Burger will fill Aspen’s much-needed quick-n-dirty dining scene. Austin has its food trailers, why can’t Aspen have some grab-and-go options? Lunch, dinner, and adult beverages, will include locally grown beef burgers (yum!), LuLu Wilson’s famed Kale salad (better than Peaches?), truffle parmesan fries (sign me up), soft-serve yoghurt with seasonal fresh fruit (ha! it was only a matter of time…). It opens “soon” so keep your eyes peeled!
August 2, 2010
Austin: Another Daily Deal Group Coupon Site
Eversave launched in Austin today, even though they’ve been doing trial deals for a couple of weeks. You get a $5 instant credit when you join.
Like Groupon, LivingSocial, aDealio, and Localiter, Eversave offers local daily deals called “Saves” to Austin-area residents. The Saves feature fun things to do in and around the city including sporting events, restaurants, spas, salons, entertainment and more. Already I’m sad I missed out on Bedtime Bones (calming dog bones? count me in) and Rock-It speakers, the cheaper way to make cooler speakers for toooobing the river, during their soft launch in July (yes, it’s August already. WHAAA?).
Unlike the rest, Eversave is also a bit of a destination site that offers articles, helpful tips, polls, printable coupons, and tons of other features. It’s like a little savings magazine, minus the Costco factor.
Eversave is ALSO committed to giving back to the community, a unique feature as compared to other similar services. A portion of the proceeds from select Saves will be donated to local schools, charities and other non-profit organizations. For instance, with the Austin Aztex Save, 10% of the proceeds were donated to the Breast Cancer Resource Center of Texas. “We were thrilled to be the first Save to be featured in Eversave Austin’s launch,” said John Nelms, Director of Development of the Austin Aztex.
“Austin is a bustling city that offers its community so much fun and excitement with an abundance of activities — both day and night,” said Jere Doyle, President and CEO of Prospectiv, the parent company behind Eversave. “Eversave allows Austin residents to try out new places and events at a discounted price that they may not have tried before. The Saves give local merchants and businesses the opportunity to welcome in new customers.”
Try out Eversave by joining here (you know I get referral $, so use my link, please!)
June 24, 2010
Austin: Genius TIKKR Watch Bar Crawl
In one of the best marketing ideas I’ve heard in a long time, join Austin-based watch-maker TIKKR for a West Sixth bar crawl where the drinks are free IF you’re sporting the right wristband–a TIKKR watch, natch. Genius? Genius.
Thursday night, the party starts at 8pm at Dirty Bill’s (511 Rio Grande), then proceeds to Annie’s West, Kung Fu Saloon, and other preppy but fun spots. The uber mod watches are square and rubber, $65 a pop, and customizable. To snag one before Thursday, stop into Beyond Tradition on 2nd Street, or email and beg them to sell you one on the spot.
June 3, 2010
Flash Sales – $$$
Deals sites, sample sales, flash sales, designer sales … it’s all about getting the limited-edition hot deal these days. Below I’ll list the companies I have invites to if you want to join, but first, some nerding-out business news about these sites.
According to WWD, the leading four members-only shopping sites are HauteLook, RueLaLa, Gilt Groupe, and ideeli. Today, HauteLook reveals that they are receiving $31 million in a third round of funding led by Insight Venture Partners, bringing total funding to $41 million (Gilt Groupe has raised $83 million in funding). The company launched in 2007 and became profitable earlier this year. It does not buy inventory, but has 175 employees (2 of which are recent hires in Arthur Lewis, former SVP of adult merchandising for Old Navy, and Tim Lewis of Neiman Marcus) and more than 2.5 million members.
ideeli also has around 2.5 million members (it has more than doubled from one million base in December ’09), largely from households with an annual income of upward of $100,000. They have 100 employees and expect to surpass $150 million in revenue this year.
Envite.com is the most recent one I’ve signed up for, and it aims to stand out by shipping items within 24 hours.
There’s also the site for wine, which, if I had more money, I’d buy and never have to the leave the house. Winery Insider.
Invite to Hautelook
Invite to RueLaLa
Invite to Gilt Groupe
Invite to ideeli
Beyond the Rack: enter code NLA09083B57 at Registration
Invite to Billion Dollar Babes
Invite to Envite.com
[UPDATE] Here’s a link to join Daily Candy’s Swirl!
The flash sales trend is crazy … beyond shopping for clothes, accessories, and other luxury gear, there are tons of companies doing it by city, with restaurants, salons, and adventures like whitewater rafting. Even Aspen is getting in on the action with a mobile coupon that texts you a deal once a week! Aspen Deals
Groupon and Living Social are the big dogs, with deals in Austin, Denver, and more. In Austin-only sites, there’s Adealio and Localiter.
If you know more I haven’t heard of, post in the comments!!
May 14, 2010
Austin: Taste North Austin at the Domain
Taste North Austin is an all-day family event Saturday from 11am to 5pm in the original Domain. The Domain will also host a post-party from 5-7pm in the new-ish Domain II with desserts, drinks, and music by T Bird and the Breaks.
To sample bites from all the restaurants, you buy a $20 tasting wristband and get 10 tastes. Participating restaurants:
- The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf – Marie Callender’s
- County Line – The Melting Pot
- Crú – A Wine Bar – Newks Express Café
- Daily Grill – NoRTH
- Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar – Panera Bread
- Kona Grill – The Steeping Room
- Lick it, Bite it or Both
- Mangia Pizza
You can also sample AND watch cooking demonstrations from these restaurants:
- California Pizza Kitchen – Sushi Zushi
- Cookwell and Company – Urban: An American Grill
- Jasper’s Gourmet Backyard Cuisine – Viva Chocolato
- Maggiano’s Litte Italy
Kids can decorate their own chef hat, make a sand art bracelet, craft a beaded key chain, and get their face painted!
In case you live under a rock, The Domain is located at 11410 Century Oaks Terrace, it includes a 57-acre first phase with an upscale Main Street center anchored by Macy’s and Neiman Marcus, nine upscale restaurants, 75,000 square feet of Class A office space, 390 high-end apartments and a Westin Hotel. Phase 2 of The Domain opened this year with 136,000 square feet of small retailers and restaurants. www.TheDomainInAustin.com.
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