Devon's World: Shopping

From San Diego to Santa Rosa used to be the boarders of my shopping. But that was years ago. Now I have been over seas and have other places to recommend.

California: Being that I’m a native Cali-girl, we start here. For great deals you can’t beat the Cabazon outlets close to Palm Springs 48750 Seminole Dr. Cabizon Ca 92230. If you are not hung over the best time to go is January 1st. That’s right, forget the Rose Parade (who really needs to see a Snoopy made out of Mum’s any way?) they have a great mix of winter and summer clothing. If you are a member of Triple A, go to the office and get your coupon book for more savings.

South Coast Plaza: 3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa 92626. The Mecca for shopping is always a great way to spend an afternoon. The best way to chase the blues away, head for Tiffany’s they are always nice and just looking a jewelry can make you feel great. It does me. Just as a quick visit to Hermes and see what handbags are in, can be great fun. I think of this as a live Museum, where it’s okay to touch the works of art. The sales at Nordie’s are annual and you should already know they happen in January and June, the same as in Europe. Don’t pass up the chance to go to Via La France. A great way to cool your heals and grab a quick bite to eat. I usually stop there on my way out, and pick up a few chocolate croissants for the next days’ breakfast. If you want a real treat they do have crème brulee.

Fashion Island: 401 Newport Center Dr, Newport Beach, Ca 92660. The view from the CheeseCake Factory over looking the Pacific Ocean is worth a million. So is the shoe collection at Neiman Marcus. The café on three at Neimans’ has popovers with a yogurt raspberry spread that tastes great with one of their signature Martinis’. Not to be missed is the Lobster Club Sandwich. This is a haven for Ladies-who-Lunch. One of the best things about Fashion Island is that you can bring your dog. Most shops are fine with it as long as Fido has manners. The Parties at the Nike store and block parties at South Coast are always such fun. Not on the list? Shame on you.

Laguna Beach: The shops along PCH and the Art Festivals during the summer can insure that you don’t look like everyone else. That’s the thing about globalization, everyone looks the same. We don’t want cookie cutter fashion and mass produced art, do we? The Festivals start July 4th and run till the end of August. Parking can be difficult, there are shuttles during festival season just for that. If you didn’t get enough French food at Via La France try Cie La Vie. The champagne cocktails go great with your girlfriend’s stories about their husbands. If you have your man with you, drop by the Laguna Brewing Company, he’ll love the brew and might even relax enough to let you talk about your week. I won’t recommend which shops are the best here, just take your time and find your own favorites.

LA: Melrose Ave. Has there ever been a time were it wasn’t cool to be shopping here? If so we don’t want to know about it. Always a great place to find that one pair of shoes or outfit that won’t make it to the mall for another year. For the only place in SoCal you can find it, Agent Provocateur, is on Melrose. Fred Segal at 8100 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, Ca (323) 655-3734, has cutting edge clothing for your inner rockstar. Young Hollywood picks up their digs here. The only problem with Melrose and always has been, no place to go to the restroom. So when you get tired, head over to El Coyote at 7312 Beverly Blvd, LA, Ca 90036 (323) 939-2255 and get some fuel, always great food and the Margarita’s should be ordered straight up and make sure you go easy on them. Another alternative is Canter’s deli on 419 N. Fairfax Ave Los Angeles, Ca 90036, leave room for the cheese cake!

Rodeo Drive: It’s worth a mention. Forget what they put in the movies, the shop people are nice! The best part is that Tiffany and Co. here does have breakfast, if you are starting that early. (210 N Rodeo Dr. Beverly Hills Ca, 90210) The art-work around here is pricey, but again you can get things others only see in magazines. Some galleries will work with you…..can we say lay-a-way? Shhhh! You didn’t hear a thing. Lately it seems more like a public viewing of B.H.’s latest plastic surgery. So maybe we’ll leave it to the producers wives.

San Francisco: Union Square,…..Duh! and Sutter Street for quaint shops. The best bathroom is the one in Nordies at 865 Market Street. Comfy sofas, which is important when you’ve been walking up and down all those hills! Of course visit the San Francisco Brewing Co 155 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, Ca. 94133, and get a box of fresh beer to go. How else are you going to have a proper hotel party? San Franciscans will still look down their nose at you when you tell them you are from So Cal, I don’t know why they have to keep putting us down to make themselves feel good. They can talk to their therapist for that one.

Sacramento: Okay not a great place to shop, really but if you go to the Old Town Sacramento (1004 Second Street Visitors Center. (916) 442-7644) It is fun for an afternoon on your way to Sonoma.

Calistoga: At the very top of the Napa/ Somoma Valley this little town has some great mineral baths. A nice place to crash after all the wine tasting. There is a Coach outlet, at 629 Factory Stores Drive, Napa, Ca 94558, worth a quick stop at, in between all those lovely winerarys. What is it with ‘Wine people’… always so relaxed? Okay maybe it’s not hard to guess.

Oregon: Lincoln City and there is a great outlets here Factory Outlets 1500 SE East Devils Lake Rd Or, 97367 in this coastal city. A treat from Cali, no sales tax. So load up on good deals and save the change. The seafood around the area is great, take some crab to back your campsite. No need to just have hamburgers just because you want to take in some fresh air. It’s your vacation by the way.

Victoria B.C. Canada: Okay so as you can see this is my vacation route. All the way up the 5 freeway. So once you cross over on the ferry the down town area in Victoria on Government is the best shopping area. The Fairmont Empress hotel at 721 Government Street, Victoria Canada V8W1W5, has the best “high tea”, make a reservation and it is well worth it, the champagne cocktail is yummy! As for food, there are many inexpensive pubs to try with great lunch specials. The Butchart Gardens at 800 Brentwood Bay BC, V81J8, should be on your list, the Spring has a fabulous display of tulips, Fall and the roses are gorgeous.

New York City: A stop by Macy’s at 151 W. 34th Street New York NY 1001(between 7th Ave and Broadway) is okay if you have never been there, but its’ too far away from Chanel at 15 E. 57th St, (between Madison Ave and 5th Ave) for my taste. Not being a New Yorker I can’t really recommend secret spots, so take your copy of Sex in the City book and map out places you want to see. Other than staying far away from the Knock-off’s on Canal street, my only insights are to keep your hand on your good hand bag, but not so you look like you are afraid, just a confident stride with your arm holding your bag, like you own the place, savvy?

London: Oxford Street, the answer to Melrose here in England. They have all the happening new fashions. The place to get things not seen on the other side of the pond. It’s that a great reason to go? Besides seeing the tourist places and Harrod’s at 87-135 Brompton Road Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL, to see the food halls. Check out a local pub and relax and drink your beer. Since you are there in Knightsbridge pop into Harvey Nichols 109-125 Knightsbridge London SW1X 7RJ. My tip, okay, this it was given to me by a good friend: Keep quite during dinner, well all the time. The loud American’s are sat in the back of the restaurant and everyone is completely annoyed. So don’t be like our fellow countrymen that give us a bad name, distinguish yourself as the quite polite America, believe me all through Europe this is advice is much appreciated. I always try local foods, I just steer clear of the blood pudding and blood sausage, nasty stuff. Heathrow airport actually has some great shopping, but the food is overly expensive. Just get some snacks at the little markets and load up on the duty free goods, a great way to beef up your perfume and makeup collections. The magazines there sometimes come with free gifts, so check them out if anything the extra tote bag will come in handy as a way to carry all the mags and books you just bought.

Gasglow Scotland: I have some great mates here so that’s why this is on the list. Plus in the summer you will still need a sweater. It’s a nice break from the hot weather other places. For men’s suites, the place to go to is Slater’s great service, they can have a suit altered licitly split. Just down the street is Cyber the place to get a corset. Both of these places have the best prices and good quality. See,…. it pays to be around the Scots and their trade mark thriftiness! Go to the hotel at Loch Lomand, more high tea at one of the country’s most famous golf courses.

Paris, France: Chanel, the original shop on 31 Rue Cambon, the bottom floor has, yes last season, but it’s on sale. Of course the best time to go to Europe is January and July when everything is on sale. The Hermes shop at 24 Faubourg Saint-Honore, here is the busiest I have ever seen, but then again you can get a black alligator Kelly bag with diamond clasp for over 100,000.00 euro. So there you go. The best view of Pairs is atop the Tower de Eiffel. So even if you are afraid of heights, suck it up and go anyway. For a good meal the options are endless. Do I need to tell you to take a whole day and go to the Louvre? The Mona Lisa is waiting.

Munich, Germany: Maximillanstr is the place for all your luxury goods. Just a stones throw away from the Marienplatz where the Glockenspiel is, and with in walking distance from the Hofbrauhaus house. (Am Platzl 9 Munich, BY 80331, Germany) You can get all the souvenirs on the Kaulingerstr and the sidewalk cafes are everywhere. So you can stop in to rest with this marathon of shopping. If you want real local flavor go to the beer garden and market around noon (south of Marienplatz) and eat pretzels and drink a beer with the locals.

Zurich, Switzerland: Still have room in your luggage? You’d better for the chocolate you will want to smuggle across international boarders. The Coop department stores have cafeteria on the top floor. Go to Globus, the department store for women. The lingerie department has some surprises. Drop by Sprungli the best chocolate you will ever find. ( Bahnhofstrasse 106 8001 Zurich phone 044 211 53 72) Here is German efficiency working for you, the parking structures have red and green lights on the ceiling (this is a newer parking area I am talking about) and when the parking space is full the light is red and when it’s open it’s green. So you don’t have to keep straining you neck to see around a car, just glance up and look for the green light. They also let you know how long it will take you to walk from that parking lot to the down town area. Smart cookies these Swiss.