Browse

our directory of women-owned businesses

Author Archive

LUNAFEST: Connecting women through film

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

Here at CRAVE we are constantly looking for opportunities to celebrate outstanding women. We also CRAVE opportunities to bring women together for amazing events and experiences and this month LUNAFEST definitely fits the bill. LUNAFEST is a film festival for women, by women AND all the proceeds raised benefit two wonderful non profits the Breast Cancer Fund and Seattle Reel Grrrls. This CRAVEable event will take place April 20th at the Broadway Performance Hall AND attendees will be eligible for a trip to Costa Rica, a signed Nikki McClure original, gift baskets from Made Housewife Wine and MORE!

About this event:

Date: Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Time: 5:30 – 9:00PM
Location: Broadway Performance Hall; 1625 Broadway Ave, Seattle WA
Register here.

Join us for a ladies night out (and men too) at the Seattle LUNAFEST, hosted by LUNA Bar and the Seattle LUNA Chix. LUNAFEST is a traveling short film festival by, for, and about women. Each ticket sold raises money for the Breast Cancer Fund as well as the local nonprofit Reel Grrls.

Over the years, as LUNAFEST has grown from a single annual event to more than 140 festivals each season. LUNA’s commitment to this worthwhile program has grown as well. All the participants of Seattle LUNAFEST will have a chance to win a 15 day trip in Costa Rica!! The Seattle 2010 LUNAFEST will begin with a wine and beer reception. The night will also include light appetizers and a chocolate tasting, as well as an amazing raffle thanks to our many great supporters. The first 200 women will receive goody bags stuffed with fabulous prizes!

Come join the fun - register today!

Seattle’s Fabulous Florals

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

They say that it is better to give than to receive but when it comes to flowers sometimes it’s nice to give AND receive. Mother’s Day is coming up and nothing says “Thank You Mom” like an elegantly arranged bouquet of her favorite flowers. Tis’ the season for summer romance, anniversaries and weddings – all of which require elaborate gestures of floral love. If you are choosing to abstain from the celebration of these floral holidays it is always nice to buy a gorgeous arrangement to celebrate yourself and all your fabulousness. For this week’s Best of Florists & Floral Shops we drafted up a fabulous list of totally CRAVEable fabulous florists. So no matter who you’re giving the flowers too and what they are for one of these shops has a custom arrangement perfect for you!

Maxine’s Floral & Gift – One of the coolest flower shops in Seattle since 1983. The shop is kind of like walking into munchkin land in the Wizard of Oz. People come in just to get their happy fix. Stop by today!

Trudy’s Floral Design – Offering the freshest, most unusual flowers, many of them grown in Trudy’s own garden. Trudy’s Floral Design prides itself on friendly, knowledgeable service. Come in and find exactly what you’re looking for!

Fleurish – When it comes down to it, flowers truly speak for themselves with their own language expressing feelings that one can not find the words for. Fleurish draws you into the beauty that only a flower can communicate to those willing to listen with their eyes.

Willow & Bloom – The top destination for Seattle’s premiere flowers. The classically trained mater designers work to create one-of-a-kind flower or plant arrangements that can easily be paired with their unique gifts and hand-made greeting cards.

Sometimes it’s nice to stop and smell the roses. Stop into one of these amazing florists and celebrate life!

Interview with Diana from Sip & Ship

Friday, April 9th, 2010

The Sip & Ship is a one-stop shop for the ultra-busy urbanite. It’s a cool combination of Starbucks meets Mailboxes Etc. with a lot more ambiance. Multi-taskers love this store!  They can get a document notarized, faxed, and mailed, grab a card and gift and have it, gift wrapped, packed and shipped via UPS, FedEx, DHL or US Postal Service.  All while enjoying a delicious latte.

How would you describe your business in three words or less?
Sip, Ship, Shop.

What are the most popular or best selling products or services?
Our hassle free shipping services, neighborhood apparel and assortment of letterpress cards for all occasions.

People may be surprised to know that…
Our 100% organic fair trade coffee/espresso is also green-roasted using 100% renewable energy.

What was the inspiration or motivation behind starting your business?
The sense of community it provides to our customers and employees. We enjoy connecting people with people.

Who is your role model or mentor?
Mentors are Jan and Van, previous owners of the Queen Anne Mail & Dispatch.  Role models are my three best girlfriends, Connaught, Sally and Tamara, who help me and guide me during different phases in my life.

What mistake have you made in your business that you will not repeat?
There are too many to mention however it’s important to learn from them instead of dwell on them.

How do you spend your free time? What is your indulgence?
Spending free time with my husband and three children is important to me. We like to explore the trails in Discovery Park.  My favorite indulgence is enjoying a glass of wine with my husband and a pint of ice cream all to myself.

What is your favorite place to go with your girlfriends?
New York City in the spring.

Favorites and Why?
Best place to get a manicure/pedicure? Lee’s Pro Nail in Queen Anne.

Favorite Salon? Scream in Ballard – I can get in and out quick.

Best local designer? Angela Driscoll’s cards are fun and whimsical.

Best gym, fitness club? Pro Sports Gym – I love the steam room and sauna on those less than rigorous workout days.

Where to find:
Ballard: 1752 NW Market Street
Greenwood: 8560 Greenwood Avenue North

206.789.4488
www.sipandship.com

Best of Coffee & Tea Shops

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Seattle has become the coffee capital of the world. Home to coffee giants and mom & pop shops alike there is no better place to go to experience coffee of all kinds. We asked Crave fans from all over the city to share with us the places they go to get the Best Cup of Coffee in the city – and the best cup of tea (even in the city of coffee we can’t forget tea). These are places people love to go to meet over coffee, get out of the rain and snuggle up with a good book and a cup of joe or if their just desperately in need for a caffeinated pick me up. With great power comes great responsibility and we simply couldn’t do a Best of Coffee without including all the greats so bear with us as we honor the best!

Espresso Vivace – South Lake Union
Walnut Street Coffee – Edmonds
Muse Coffee Co. - Lower Queen Anne
C & P Coffee – West Seattle
Diva Espresso – Seattle
Victrola Coffee – Capitol Hill
Bakery Nouveau – West Seattle
Forza Coffee Company – Tacoma
Victors Coffee Co. – Redmond
Cafe Javasti – south of Northgate
Makeda Coffee – Phinney Ridge
Stumptown Coffee Roasters – Seattle
Macrina Bakery – Seattle (excellent tea)
Richmond Beach Coffee Company – Shoreline
Hot Wire Coffee – West Seattle
Fonte Coffee - Seattle
Espresso Elegance – Seattle and Bellevue
Caffe Fiore – Seattle
Zoka Coffee – Seattle, Kirkland and Japan
Bauhaus Books & Coffee – Seattle
El Diablo Coffee Company – Queen Anne

See a place on the list that you haven’t tried? Stop by and try a cup today! Wherever you sip take a moment to relax and enjoy every last drop!

Interview with Stacie of Bowie Salon and Spa

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

Bowie Salon and Spa is an Intercoiffure salon and spa we represent the highest standards in the hair industry and are committed to delivering excellence  with innovation, quality with value. “We want our salon and spa to be a place where clients are greeted with genuine warmth and welcome – a place where they can breathe, relax and feel good about themselves.”

How would you describe your business in three words or less?
Contemporary Affordable Luxury.

What are the most popular or best selling products or services?
Colour, Haircut, Highlights, Blow Outs, and Waxing.  Products: Shu Uemura

People may be suprised to know that…
I’m a dork with a rad sense of humour!

What was the inspiration or motivation behind starting your business?
Drawing on my East Coast and European training so that I am able to provide something different for my clients.

Who is your role model or mentor?
Johan Kempen

What mistake have you made in your business that you will not repeat?
Not following my instinct.

How do you spend your free time? What is your indulgence?
Snowboarding, chillin’ out, SHOES, handbags, Vegas, traveling – typically to Europe and South Africa for advanced education.

What is your favorite place to go with your girlfriends?
Steven’s Pass

Favorites and Why?
Best place to find gifts? Fini, Cool Things, Area 51
Best place to buy shoes? New York & Paris
Best Place to buy clothes? Sway & Cake, New York
Best Gym, fitness club? Knock Out Fitness  (Carla Wilcox rocks!!)

Where to find:
1507 Belmont Avenue
Seattle, WA  98122
206.568.3300

www.bowiesalonandspa.com

Best of Wedding and Event Planners

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Tis the season for celebration! Many people around the area are getting ready to celebrate new beginnings and happy endings. Whether you are celebrating Dads, Grads, anniversaries or weddings take the stress out of the process and invest in a Wedding and/or Event Planner. For this week’s Best Of we have compiled a list of fabulous Wedding & Event Planners from around Seattle who can help make your celebration a huge success. Cheers!

The Adventure School - The Adventure School is an event planning company that creates immersive adventure environments. The fabulous ladies of The Adventure School believe in advenutre, and they work with businesses, communities, individuals and other key partners to create visionary spaces, legendary parties and happiness.

La Belle Soiree - A memory made for a lifetime. Your event should be as unique as you are. Allow La Belle Soiree to handle every detail so that you are able to savor your day.

Half Past Lavish – From sophisticated elegance to urban chic, or perhaps a bit eclectic, Half Past Lavish is here to assist you in the planning and production stages of your event. We are your support network to help you plan the event of your dreams. One that you will remember for years to come with satisfaction and pride.

Little Black Dress Events and ProductionsLittle Black Dress Events & Productions is a full service event company. We are at your service providing you with all your event planning needs- Little Black Dress Events & Productions specializes in fashion shows, product/boutique launches, corporate parties, and personal celebrations such as weddings, anniversaries, bridal/baby showers, and birthday parties. We are also experienced in producing promotional events and fundraisers.

Event Success – Weddings, corporate and special occasions. Step one is to get to know you and your goals and needs for your event. Once we understand your wishes, we help you create a flawless and memorable experience for all those in attendance. Event Success has built relationships with high quality vendors and venues througout the Northwest. By calling on these resources, we can be sure to meet your wishes and your budget.

Lilies & Lemon Drops – A custom floral and event design studio in Seattle. At Lilies & Lemon Drops, our passion & drive comes from within and our inspiration comes from our clients.  We are constantly striving for perfection and we never settle for anything less than the best.

Taylor’d Events – Made for you…wedding education and wedding and special event planning. Whether you’re planning your wedding yourself and want some feedback, or leaving all the details to someone else, Taylor’d Events by Jennifer offers a variety of solutions.

Thank you to everyone who contributed suggestions. If there is someone we have missed who you think deserves to be mentioned let us know and we will add them to the list. Until next time – savor your celebration and let the pros take care of business. Salute!

Interview with Sharelle from DRY Soda

Friday, March 26th, 2010

DRY Soda: refined flavor / lightly sweet / all natural. The DRY Tasting Room & Company Store offers samples of its flavors and the opportunity for customers to purchase DRY and related goods. DRY’s modern “soda jerk” can recommend DRY pairings for your next evening of entertaining or which hot, new dining spot to check out on your next evening on the town.

How would you describe your business in three words or less?
Modern. Sophisticated. Refreshing.

People may be surprised to know that…
My first job was selling Christmas wreaths door to door in office buildings.

What was the inspiration or motivation behind starting your business?
As a mother of four young children and a food lover, I realized during my fourth pregnancy that there was a need for a sophisticated beverage that was all-natural, less sweet and non-alcoholic.  Something to drink that serves the same purpose for many people as wine – either a great pair with food or as a refreshment on its own.  From that idea DRY Soda was born.

Who is your role model or mentor?
Dan Ginsberg, former CEO of Red Bull, North America and Peter Cheney, former CEO of Mars

How do you spend your free time?
I spend it with my husband and kids.

What is your indulgence?
Going to great restaurants.

What is your favorite place to go with your girlfriends?
Crush, Chef Jason Wilson has developed an amazing and innovative menu – plus Crush was one of the first restaurants to carry DRY!

Favorites and Why?
Best place to get a manicure and pedicure?
Julep

Best place to find gifts?
Elliott Bay Books

Favorite Salon?
Studio 904

Best place to buy shoes?
Nordstrom

Best place to buy clothes?
Barney’s

Best local designer?
Luly Yang

Best gym, fitness club?
Actually,  I have personal training by SassyFit!, which trains people in their homes or places of work.  Workout sessions typically last an hour and my trainer gives me “homework” to do between sessions.  I’m also an avid runner.

Where to find:
410 1st Ave S.,
Seattle, WA 98104
206.652.2345

www.drysoda.com

Best of Pet-Friendly Places

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

As the weather in Seattle improves and we head into spring it’s a perfect time to take Rover for a walk. Fortunately, the days of leaving “Rex” at home are far behind when you check out one of these fabulous Pet Friendly destinations. Sure to excite and entertain you and your pooch our Best of Pet Friendly Places features eateries, hotels, parks and shops. Whether your dog likes to relax or prefers a riveting game of fetch he or she is sure to be satisfied with one or all of these destinations worth a “tail wag” or two!

CAPERS Home
If you are shopping for furniture CAPERS offers a pet-friendly place to shop. They welcome pets in to approve furniture and gift purchases and dogs of all sizes regularly accompany their owners on shopping adventures.

Northwest Cellars
If you or your dog have more refined tastes you can bring them into the Northwest Cellars Tasting Room in Kirkland. Sip on some fabulous Currently Available Wines and enjoy great appetizers. Open on Saturdays and Sundays from noon – 5pm it’s a great place to hold a dog friendly event or private tasting.

CitySearch Dog Friendly Destinations in Seattle
CitySearch took the guess work out of pet-friendly with their comprehensive list of pet friendly destinations in Seattle. Check out the list below or see for yourself on Citysearch.com.

Know of a fabulous pet-friendly locale that didn’t make the list? Let us know we’d love to share it.

We hope you and your pooch enjoy our list. Woof! Woof!

Interview with Kelley Moore

Friday, March 19th, 2010

Come meet Kelley Moore and learn from her entrepreness experience at this month’s CRAVE chat. Space is limited – register today.

Kelley Moore is the Pacific Northwest’s foremost Lifestyle & Entertaining expert with a mission to inspire people to connect with each other. Kelley’s creative passion, combined with her gregarious personality, wins her clients and fans. She is truly a triple threat; not only coming up with concepts for books, magazines and TV, but also writing, producing, and starring in her own projects.

Describe your business in three words or less.
Focused. Passionate. Authentic.

What was your motivation behind starting your business?
I began my career as a social worker, which required me to inspire people to make positive changes in their lives. I recognized the importance of relationships and community in that position, and my passion to support people led me to volunteer with nonprofits to execute events. As a result, I built an event business creating well-designed environments to connect others and strengthen relationships. I have built a multimedia platform in my mission to inspire people to share what they are passionate about through the way they entertain and design their lives.

How do you spend your free time? What is your indulgence?
Hanging out with my friends, a glass of red wine, and a selection of rich, creamy cheese.

Learn more about Kelley Moore and how she became an “Emerald City Entrepreness” join us for the March CRAVE Business Chat.

Where to find:
206.691.9979

kelleylmoore.net

Kelley on Twitter: @kelleylmoore

Kelley Moore Creative Media on Facebook

Best of Local Bloggers

Thursday, March 18th, 2010


Seattle is filled with fabulous lady bloggers who contribute to the amazing heartbeat and energy of the city. We wish we could feature them all but for this week Best of Local Bloggers we would like to call attention to a few special ladies who help make the Seattle blogosphere ROCK. We took a minute to provide a brief overview of the fabulous blogs and had the bloggers share with us what they CRAVE. Check out the fabulous things they have to say.

Sydney of Seattle Boutique Blogspot - Sydney is a Seattle fashion insider who has her finger on the pulse of all things fashion.  She works full-time in the industry going Global Sourcing for the Menswear Private Label lines at Zumiez Inc., and serves as the PR Liaison for Seattle’s Fashion Group International.  Sydney regularly blogs about local designers and boutiques on her site Seattleboutiqueblogspot.com. You can also find Sydney at Sydney Loves Fashion.
What do you CRAVE? I crave all things fashion! Covering local fashion for my site is my way of giving local designers and boutiques the exposure they deserve!

Kam of needleplusthread
Kam started needleplusthread almost a year ago as a way to keep moving, keep inspired and keep interacting with her city as she got older. She loves living in seattle and has worked most of her professional life in the Seattle clothing design industry.
What do you CRAVE? I think my blog is a visual reference to a lot of what I crave- I take photos of people who inspire me either in style, demeanor, or creativity.  also pretty little bits I find in and around seattle- relating to retail, food, neighborhood and of course, pooches.  I also crave chips, but I don’t take photos of them, or me eating them.

Andrea of Skinnypurse
Andrea is an ex-marketing professional turned full-time mom, with a 2nd baby on the way.  She’s always loved fashion and shopping, and created Skinnypurse.com as an outlet to post her current obsessions in clothes, shoes, handbags, etc. The site evolved into a fashion and style blog, which now features things like fashion trends, beauty product reviews, designer profiles and promotions from online merchants.
What do you CRAVE? Currently, I’m craving: sleep, more hours in a day, and a foot massage.

Nadine of Girl’s Guide to Seattle
Girl’s Guide to Seattle is an online resource for the young, fabulous, and fashionable female on a budget. It’s a site dedicated to providing fresh Seattleites with tips of what’s hot, what’s not, and all the city has to offer! It is run by Nadine, a young marketing/PR professional and Seattle transplant, who moved to the city wanting to embrace every aspect and share the experience with her peers.
What do you CRAVE? I crave soaking up the city life and thoroughly enjoying every opportunity it provides, from fabulous restaurants or deliciously authentic hole-in-the-wall delis to breathtaking views and kind, open-minded people. I crave meeting Seattle’s movers and shakers – the people dedicated to keeping this city spectacular and learning what inspires, motivates, and drives them. I crave making connections.

Three to four sentences doesn’t begin to explain how phenomenal these ladies are, if you want to learn more you will have to check out their blogs for yourself. Thank you again ladies for all you do, keep up the blog work! :)

Cheers!