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November 2005
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Floral fixation
Our picks for can't-miss flower shops.In theory, saying it with flowers would be easy enough—until you recall the parade of corny bouquets you've seen in your lifetime. Admit it, Bay Area standards have soared as high as a sunflower stalk, and baby's breath hasn't exactly stood the test of time. Also, it's all about the message: "Thanks for the bracelet, Aunt Martha," requires a different set of blooms from, "Sorry for standing you up at the rock show, potential boyfriend." Here are the top shops in five essential sensibilities.
| 1 RUSTIC Arranged invitingly in buckets outside, Maxine Siu's arrangements at Bell & Trunk are unstructured and uninhibited with garden roses and hydrangeas appearing almost as they would in nature. Her delightful shop never misses. BEST FOR: Your personal yoga instructor or your vegan stepsister. 1411 18th St., Potrero Hill, 415-648-0519. | 2 COUTURE Arrangements from Floramor are guaranteed to impress (and get you out of the doghouse). It specializes in abundant, contemporary designs. And located next door to the flower market, Floramor gets first pick of flowers no one else even lays peepers on. BEST FOR: Your spouse on the big anniversary or your fastidious interior decorator. 731 Bryant St., SoMa 415-975-2020. | 3 URBAN At Briar Rose flower atelier, you can design your own bouquet or have owner Christine Nakatani whip up one of her eclectic designs, which come in nontraditional containers like Japanese soup bowls and mint julep cups. She is simply an artist. BEST FOR: Your bohemian brother or your feng shui-obsessed therapist. 399 Courtland Ave., Bernal Heights, 415-641-8382. | 4 | 5 TOUCHY-FEELY Bunches, a New York-deli-style shop, boasts overflowing buckets of dahlias and tuberoses, direct and daily from the growers. The owners are serious about flowers, dispensing unusual instructions (add a shot of vodka to your tulips?!) to extend an arrangement's lifespan. BEST FOR: Your green-thumbed uncle or dedicated, doting mother. 14 1/2 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, 408-395-5451. |
Suicide hotlines and resources
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