Our Impression Now
 
You know you've had a good shopping experience when you leave the store feeling like you've just left a good movie. The finer details slowly creep into your thoughts later, like an ex-girlfriend finding her way back into your bedroom.
 
Shortly after leaving Nuvo Moda, we came to realize that it's the philosophy behind a business that separates one store from another. Nuvo Moda has a simple credo of choosing clothes for fit and style—while keeping the prices as modest as possible. Eschewing the trappings of overt label-centricity for the best and most interesting product, this is a place with real style where you can really get down and shop. The stock is a few notches above casual, and includes jeans, button-ups, suits, slacks and shoes from American and European designers. We were impressed to find many items with slim lines, standout fabrics, interesting details, and patterns that speak without yelling.
 
Nuvo Moda is the perfect fitting ground for the night out that leads to a night in. So be careful.
 
Nuvo Moda
1307 First Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101
206.684.6886

Know Your Shots
 
Most people know that Seattle and coffee go together naturally—like Wilford Brimley and Diabetes.  While the latter only has Liberty Medical for solace, Seattle has dozens of micro-roasters standing strong amidst the hundreds of identical coffee shops named after Ahab's first mate. The problem though, is how to navigate these treacherous waters.
   
Enter Sebastian, probably one of the few German-born baristas with a PhD on Pike Street, he can often be found behind the counter of his Seattle Coffee Works, just up the street from the Market. Inside his shop—and safely away from Coffee-Drinking Man, the area's less industrious kinetics sculpture—you can pit numerous local roasters against each other in a series of 2-ounce ceramic cups.  
 
Whether you've come to get your daily fix or to try “the works,” Sebastian will tell you all he knows about his rotating selection of espresso while he carefully grinds, prepares, pulls, and checks your choice of liquid Seattle pleasure. So when someone comes to visit and wants the “coffee experience,” you need only take them here.
 
Seattle Coffee Works
111 Pike St.
Seattle, WA 98103
206.340.8867
www.seattlecoffeeworks.com

Hardware Heaven
 
Downtown Seattle has been missing a few things as of late, and one of those things is a good old-fashioned hardware store. What’s a guy to do, middle of a project, painting or refinishing this or that, if he runs out of the essentials?

Head to City Hardware. Located in the newly formed South Lake Union district, with a multitude of new life being fed into the area via Paul Allen, the University of Washington and Amazon.com, City Hardware is a welcome resource. We were amazed at the depth of offerings stuffed into this 5,000-square-foot space. Occupying what was once a huge Catholic bookstore (now next door), City Hardware offers Benjamin Moore paint, Meila Vacuums and a host of eco-conscious cleaning, painting and problem-solving products to round out the mix.

Locally owned and dog-friendly, we run into the owner every time we go in, and his well-behaved black Lab is always lying leisurely across the front mat. If you’re a fix-it or even a try-to-fix-it sort of guy, this is the place for you, and hey, there’s even free popcorn!
 
City Hardware
901 Harrison St.
Seattle, WA 98109
206.262.9440
www.cityhardwareseattle.com

Courtesy of Amour on the Boulevard

King George

Do you remember those montages of art that beginning credits would play over in early '60s films? You know the ones—swinging jazz music played while you saw names like Doris Day, Rock Hudson and Audrey Hepburn dance by.

You can now add some of that hep-cat style to your pad with the works of artist George Perrou. Informed by the likes of Miro and Kandinski, his works are (so far) affordable and will enhance virtually any wall space.

www.georgeperrou.com

Double-Bagged

Socially conscious? Environmentally friendly? How about messenger bags by Malia Designs—they're made from recycled Vietnamese rice bags, so they’re sturdy, fully lined and waterproof.  

Available from Five Accessories (which donates 15% of sales to local charities where each product is made) Malia Designs gives an additional five bucks to Cambodian foundations that support victims of violence. Best of all, they look great!

www.fiveaccessories.com

See the Future

We love watching movies on our iPod during flights (or while waiting for the plane, which is more often the case). But there is only so long our eyes can squint at that little screen. 

Enter ezVision Video Glasses. These ultra-lightweight glasses simulate a 50-inch big screen, have built-in earphones, and an 8-hour rechargeable battery. These might just make up for those x-ray specs we ordered from a Silver Surfer when we were nine.

www.audio-outfitters.com

Men, Take Note
 
If you haven't figured it out yet, women like chocolate.  The rare exception aside, you cannot go wrong by taking the woman in your life (or the one you hope will be) to a day of chocolate-tasting and demonstrations at the 2008 Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon. Trust us.
 
What: Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
When: Sunday, July 13, 11 am–5 pm
Where: Bell Harbor Center
Cost: $17.50 advance, $20 at door
Visit: www.seattlechocolatesalon.com

Imagine Capitol Hill
 
Need your bike fixed? Want free coffee or tea? Or better yet, do you care about sustainability and enjoy being outside? Join Imagine Capitol Hill for a one-day street fair focusing on inspiring the community to live more sustainably—or just swing by for free coffee and performances in the park.
 
What: Imagine Capitol Hill
When: Sunday, July 20, 11 am–4 pm
Where: Cal Anderson Park (Thomas and 10th St)
Cost: Free
Visit: www.sustainablecapitolhill.org