This is a very belated response to comments (challenges) posed on these
lists, many by the delightful Wilma de Soto.
It took a while to make time to indulge myself in beauty treatments (and
ad hoc social experimentation) but...
I am happy to report delightful outcomes.
The original thread spoke to Barbershops and Beauty Salons and the way
services are purchased, delivered and perceived across lines of color. I
am not much for makeup or fancy hair "dos" but I love a good pedicure and
melt into the hands of a competent masseuse.
So I looked for a "Day Spa" in a 'Black neighborhood' and determined to
cross the color barrier.
The results were even better than expected.
I discovered
Louise Antoinette's Salon.
5439 Whitby Avenue
Phila, PA 19143
215-747-3329
Open
Wednesday and Saturday 9 Am - 5 PM
Fridays 9 AM - 7 PM
On my first visit, I enjoyed the BEST pedicure.
Their service list distinguishes between "Natural" (Hot Oil, Parrifin and
scrubs) and "Artificial" (Sculpture, Acrylic, Polish) "Nail Services". I
chose "Natural" and enjoyed an hour of Soaking, Scrubbing, Nail Trimming,
Callous Removal, and Exfoliation followed by soothing creams spread from
toes to knees. This salon uses the "OPI" method.
http://www.opi.com/pedicure.asp
It feels great, smells wonderful and leaves feet and legs refreshed.
The price, $30.00" was a little higher than at one of the ubiquitous
'Asian' Nail Salons and a lot less expensive, but still much better than
any pedicure I've received at top places, like the "Adolph Bieker" or
"Topper" Salon-Spas.
A full hour was lavished upon my tootsies, and the supplies used are more
expensive than I'm willing to indulge in for home use.
I felt the visit was a great value and a smart, mood altering, use of my
time.
Plus my feet looked great, even though I didn't choose polish or color
for my toes.
Since I was not sure if one treatment was a fair test, I went back for
the "Full Body Massage".
The goal is to relieve stress, reduce pain, increase mobility, preserve
and restore body and soul.
It did all of the above.
It was a great massage at only $60.00 / an hour+ long hour.
(The top Spas run much closer to $100.00 / session (often more)).
There are private body workers closer to home, that do as well, in the
$60.00 / hour price range.
Dan Choplik, Iris Bloom, Carol Bower and Jed McKee leap to mind as
talented practitioner's of healing massage.
Each person has to find their own balance as to which qualities provide
the most comfortable emotional and locational contexts for a complete
massage experience (privacy, anonymity vs. familiarity, access, etc.)
There was something fun about the L.A. "Spa" experience.
I liked the young woman, Crystal Custis, who worked on me.
She was my size and had my physical strength, and seemed sensitive to my
problems and goals.
It was a good match.
She was slow and steady and helped center my more assertive-mercurial
nature.
I recognized her last name, as being from one of the great West Philly
boxing families, and it turns out that she started her career giving
muscle rubs at her family's "James Schuler Memorial Boxing Gym" on
Lancaster Avenue. She pursued certification with years of training and
now divides her time between the Spa (Fridays and Saturdays) and the
family gym. I was able to relax into confidence that she had natural
gifts, proper training and a lovely reassuring manner.
Sociologically and Anthropologically, the biggest areas of difference
were:
I was the only white person in the building.
The greetings and welcome were more profound than found in more
posh name-spas.
There was much more privacy.
Pedicure rooms could hold two (for BFF escapes and chats).
(The much more expensive Biecker's runs an assembly line of
chairs, with no privacy.)
Most of the clients seemed to be there to have Semipermanent eye
lashes attached.
(The change in appearance and confidence was fabulous.)
The colors and decor were seemed based in Morocco, where 'rest'
is defined as cool and dim.
(My Irish roots tend to see 'rest' as sun and surf and eye
searing brightness.)
The music choices.
A place like Biecker's might feature only "New Age" sounds of
flutes and surf, while
Louise Antoinette's featured a mix of "New Age", Jazz, Southern
lullabies and even "Amazing Grace".
My only complaint was that the background music was a little
higher than I like.
But I enjoyed the choices and responded to the unexpected themes
therein.
The Salon also offers
Waxing Services
Back facials (for skimpy dress occasions and/or acne treatment)
Extractions (zit removal)
I like that the Salon's mission statement includes, "our staff is
committed to professional, ethical and exceptional service, in a warm,
friendly environment".
Please remember, this is was a social experiment, which became an
endorsement of two wonderful experiences.
It is not intended to diminish any of the fine providers or services
already in use by list members.
For Haircuts, no one beats the Saturn Club, owned by neighbor Becky
Wright.
I think "Sabrina" is the most brilliant and talented of cutters, while my
husband and daughter swear by "Liz", and our Michael prefers to have his
hair cut by one of the guys on the SC staff. Larry is also happy with
cuts from Tony (45th and Baltimore) and Benny (48th and Baltimore) but he
prefers a set appointment and does not embrace the randomness of waiting
on line and chatting with neighbors when he has so few weekend hours to
complete house chores and find his own R&R.
It feels important to point out that a HUGE part of feeling better is
changing habits.
I was injured in 1999 and have been in almost chronic pain since.
About 2 years ago I noticed that Wilma had begun to reverse time.
She was getting thinner, with better posture, prettier skin (better
subdural circulation) and looking younger each time I saw her.
She shared her secret... a personal fitness and pilates trainer named
Elga Lyle.
Elga is a formerly FAT female who now stops traffic with her exquisite
physique.
I know, because she walks me, about three miles at a time, around our
'hood, twice a week.
I'll swear that Trash pick up on Baltimore and Springfield Avenues has
improved and occurs more consistently near 11 AM on Wednesdays so that
the maintenance workers can impress Elga with their strength and
efficiency.
I have been walking with Elga for over a year, and it never feels
"normal".
She still has to drag me out of the house.
But I do feel a lot of benefit.
I am regaining strength and flexibility and am suffering much less pain
and have slowed the progress of Type II diabetes and can enjoy doing most
of my own gardening.
Without any changes to my diet (yet) I have lost 30 pounds (in about a
year) just by adding her two hours per week, and sessions on my own (at
FIT GYM or in Woodland Cemetery) to my routine.
I wish I had found her before I'd let the pain reduce my activities and
increase my intake of comfort food.
Sometimes it hurts to exercise, but...
... I gain a lot of pain free hours after the workouts
... it is better than hurting, all the time, for no discernible
reason.
If you have the time, can afford the indulgence (I gain with this
expense) than feel free to call
Elga Lyle of
Metamorphosis
215-291-2920
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
If you don't have money, just walk.
And if you are more advanced, try some of the local practitioners like
the Yoga center or Stephen Fisher.
I hope all my friends and neighbors make time to look and feel better and
grow comfortable with the diversity of goods and service available
throughout the longest reaches of our neighborhood.
Best!
Liz
Elizabeth Campion Cell Phone: 215-880-2930
215-546-0550 Main, -546-9871 fax, Desk + VM: 215-790-5653
PRUDENTIAL, FOX & ROACH REALTORS, LLC
Please read Consumer Notice & enjoy "HOME PILOT" tools at
www.PruFoxRoach.com
----
You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the
list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see
<http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
