STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

travelgirl wrote:

---

Favorite Unique Store-For me it's not a boutique but it is the infamous Gap Clearance center which is actually located in Kentucky near the Cincinnati (CVG) airport.  It stocks Gap, Banana, Forth and Towne and Old Navy stuff and there are always tremendous bargains to be found.

---

I'm so glad that you mentioned this!!! I totally forgot about it!! I'm from the area, and I'm going home to see my family this weekend. I've been having a bit of a shopping problem lately, in that I need a huge load of new clothes but not the energy or the funds to do the amount of shopping I need to. I love clothes from all of those stores and was going to suck it up and go to all of the regular stores tomorrow.... but now I'll hold out for the weekend and hopefully stretch my budget and patience a lot further :)

My town (Austin, TX):

Fancy restaurant: Carmelo's - the place can't be beat for romantic atmosphere or food; Uchi - best or 2nd best sushi in town but awesome for atmosphere and creativity in menu

Normal restaurants: Vivo's for sitting on the patio (excellent prickly pear margarita also); El Chile's for excellent Tex-Mex; Eastside Cafe for the best brunch; Trudy's for the best mexican martini (although stay far away from the food); Conan's Pizza for the best pizza with whole wheat crust and soy cheese; Sea Dragon for the best Vietnamese/Chinese menu; Mushashino for the best sushi; Athenos for the best greek salad evah!; and The Shady Grove for the best hangover food

Bars: Lala's Little Nugget for the best dive; B-Side for the best romantic bar; Cuba Libra for the best mojito; Stubbs for the best place to hear live music; Parish, tied for the best place to hear live music; Mother Egan's for best pub; Hotel San Jose bar for coolest place to chill and drink wine

Movies: Alamo downtown for oddball movies and sing-a-longs (Madonna, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Michael Jackson, Beatles, etc.); The Arbor for best indie flick

Shopping: Parts and Labour for best local, affordable jewelry; Goodie Two Shoes for best affordable shoes; South 1st for boutiques with the best styles (although pricey); Blue Elephant for best gift shopping; Emeralds tied for best gift shopping; Fetish for best shoe selection, period; New Bohemia for best vintage clothes; Room Service for best vintage other; Big Red Sun for best outdoor/plant store

Favorite things to do: Go see old movies at the Paramount in the summer (old fancy theatre that shows classic films in the summer); walk/boat around Town Lake (pretty lake and hike/bike trails in the middle of town); roller derby - watch, not participate; go to the hugggeee Whole Foods downtown and try new wines/cheese/etc.

 

-- Edited by blubirde at 15:59, 2006-06-12

Ooooh I like this idea.  My city is Houston, TX:

Favorite Restaurants:
1. Chuy's (Mexican) best salsas
2. Los Cucos (Mexican) nice alternative to Chuy's
3. Taco Milagro (Mexican) best atmosphere and fast mexican food
4. Hunan's Chinese (either downtown or on post oak) great wonton soup and return of the phoenix dish (ginger sesame chicken)
5. Koobo's (Sushi) great atmosphere and really good sushi
6. Kolache Factory- best breakfast food ever!!!!
7. Lupe Tortilla - great for families.  Kids play while parents visit all in visible sight
8. Michaelangelos - best Italian
9. Maggiano's - poor service but the spinach and chicken manicotti is to die for
10. La Strada - fabulous panini's on the lunch menu.  Supposively has a great weekend brunch

Favorite Bars:
1. Flying Saucer - beers from around the world
2. Sherlocks - decent houseband on the weekends
3. Ernies - great if you are with a group and want a place to yourself.

Favorite Hotel:
1. The Magnolia downtown - great hotel at an affordable price
2. Westin Galleria - if you want to stay in the middle of the Galleria

Favorite Shopping districts:
1. Highland Village - Anthro, BR, Crate & Barrel, VS, Pottery Barn, etc all outside in strip malls without having to deal with an actual mall!
2. The Galleria of course - both upper and middle level shopping
3. Rice Village - another outdoor mall close to Rice University
4. The Mall at the Woodlands if you just want beautiful scenery and a little bit of outdoorsyness to your shopping experience
5. Katy Mills - Off Saks, Last Call (Neiman's), BR, and Gap outlet (the outlet at San Marcos is much better though)

Favorite Places to go:
1. Alley Theatre for Plays and the Houston Ballet
2. Houston Zoo
3. Herman Park in the Museum District - very pretty and close to the museums and Imax
4. Memorial Park
5. Dave and Busters
6. Kemah Boardwalk just to get out and see the gulf