NWsource | Scout Colmant

Dark delights await at Queen Anne's new Chocolopolis

Scout Colmant — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:15:51 -0700

Couture chocolate has arrived on Queen Anne, and you'll find it at newly opened chocolate shop Chocolopolis, the ultimate destination for Seattle chocolate connoisseurs.

Don't expect to find gooey marshmallow, tacky peanuts or messy nougats at this store. As I learned last week at an open house for the media, when it comes to fancy-pants cacao, it's all about dark chocolate.

Got mandals? Head to Mario's for stylish summer footwear for men

Scout Colmant — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:31:53 -0700

In 1985, my brother and infamous popular stud Stephen graduated from high school and came home from '80s clothing retailer Chess King with his summer trousseau: all the pastel, rolled-up-sleeve, Miami Vice sport jackets, tanks and white pants he would need to cruise chicks on the Jersey shore.

He had one pair of shoes for all of these pimp summer outfits -- a pair of white leather "flats" with a basket weave pattern on top.

The Ballard debut of Dolce Vita is sweet news for fashionistas

Scout Colmant — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:35:19 -0700

When I recently walked into shimmering new boutique Dolce Vita, which opened last month in Ballard, I was overwhelmed with the sense that I had somehow been transported to L.A. -- or more specifically, West Hollywood, where local actress Josie Bissett ran fictional "Melrose Place" boutique Jane Mancini Designs.

Give Dad the gift of sound and vision with Oakley's MP3 player sunglasses

Scout Colmant — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:15:51 -0700

Getting close to Father's Day and still stumped? Consider Thumps. The new Split Thumps from Oakley are a combination of sunglasses and an MP3 player. They're a terrific gift for the dad who likes to soak up the sun and get his groove on at the same time.

With traditional MP3 players, outdoor activities such as mowing the lawn or practicing your golf swing often result in a tangle of earphones and equipment. Oakley took care of that problem by building the MP3 player and its controls into the arms of the sunglasses.

Oslo's men's boutique knows what dads want for Father's Day

Scout Colmant — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:32:28 -0700

Before my father retired, he was a lawyer on Wall Street, and his impeccable daily uniform featured an abundance of beautiful suits and amazing ties. But his off-duty clothes? Look out. The man in black socks and shorts you saw in television ads? He was real. Many dads, it seems, don't do dress-down very well.

Give Mom a sparkly and affordable Seattle heirloom

Scout Colmant — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:50:39 -0700

Still stumped on what to give Mom on Sunday? A perfect gift for Mother's Day can be found at the costume-jewelry treasure trove Rhinestone Rosie on Queen Anne. What Seattle mom -- or mom with a kid who lives in Seattle -- can resist a sparkly rhinestone brooch immortalizing the Space Needle?

Create your own Seattle Holiday on a rented scooter

Scout Colmant — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:05:38 -0700

Locally owned business Scoot About knows that a sporty scooter is a great way to see the city for the first time -- or to see it with fresh eyes. From its South Lake Union office, the company rents scooters to mostly neophyte drivers, and it doubles as a boutique for Vespa-related gifts, including black-and-white film stills of Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday."

Renee Bassetti's custom blouses are all about you

Scout Colmant — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:56:56 -0700

Men have enjoyed the luxury of custom shirts for centuries, and most major cities can claim more than one talented shirt maker. But did you know that perhaps the world's only custom shirt maker for women is located here in Seattle?

Tucked away in a golden-hued showroom on the 12th floor of the Fairmont Olympic Hotel is the headquarters for Renee Bassetti, a custom clothier whose hallmark is her quintessential, handcrafted woman's blouse.

Win the war on stress at Eastside spa Truce

Scout Colmant — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 10:27:08 -0700

The Eastside may not readily come to mind when you think of an antidote to the stress and hubbub of daily life. But what if you discovered -- in the midst of Bellevue's myriad jackhammers, rising office towers and extravagant retail canyon -- an escape to peace?

That's exactly what Truce, the new spa at Westin Bellevue, pledges to be.

Little yogis salute the sun at Urban Kids Play

Scout Colmant — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:30:28 -0800

At Urban Kids Play on Queen Anne, a wonderful transformation takes place every second Tuesday of the month. The display tables are wheeled away, and the vibrant children's boutique becomes a yoga studio for little ones looking to stretch their arms heavenward and salute the sun.

"We're big on active play," says co-owner Curtis Kingrey. "Kids moving their bodies, using their minds to inspire their creativity and fuel their play."