Best of the Main Line & Western Suburbs 2012: Beauty, Health & Recreation

Main Line Today’s readers and critics pick their favorites.

Readers’ Picks
(page 2)

Critics’ Picks
(page 3-7)

 

 

Readers’ Picks

Health Club âž™ Main Line Health & Fitness
931 Haverford Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 527-2200, mainlinehealthandfitness.com.

- Advertisement -

Park âž™ Ridley Creek State Park
Media, (610) 892-3900, dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/ridleycreek.

Spa âž™ Ame Day Spa & Salon
111 Waynewood Ave., Wayne; (610) 995-2631, amesalonandspa.com.
 

Critics’ picks continued on page 3 …
 

Critics’ Picks

Beauty Boutique âž™ Kiss and Makeup
At this intimate makeup boutique, the focus is on you. For Kiss and Makeup founders Lisa DiCaprio and Darci Henry, it’s more than just about looking beautiful. They want to empower women to feel beautiful about themselves, too. And their signature darci by DiCaprio line stands up to national scrutiny.
2 E. King St., Malvern; (610) 647-4455, kissandmakeupmalvern.com.

Best-kept Salon Secret âž™ Salon 153
If you’re looking for the intense, high-energy vibe of a larger salon and spa, you won’t find it here. What you will find at this corner gem is an intimate space with a relaxed atmosphere, along with high-end talent and customer service that rivals any Main Line competitors. Good things really do come in modest packages
153 Bala Ave., Bala Cynwyd; (610) 668-1603, salon153.com.

Corrective Colorist âž™ Swarthmore Hair Studio’s Pat Ukropec
For the times your color doesn’t turn out anything like that InStyle cover shot of Cameron Diaz you showed your stylist, Ukropec has your back. She’ll fix the mess and make you ready for prime time in no time.
4 Park Ave., Swarthmore; (610) 544-6620, swarthmorehairstudio.com.

- Partner Content -

Day Spa âž™ Joseph Anthony Retreat Spa and Salon
Whoever said you have to go to a destination spa to get destination-caliber pampering has never been to Joseph Anthony. An accommodating staff and a tranquil atmosphere accompany treatments modeled after those offered at some of the most exclusive spas in the world, making for a true retreat experience. We recommend booking multiple treatments—say, a signature facial followed by a leisurely soak in the chromotherapy tub—and making a day out of it.
243 W. Baltimore Pike, Glen Mills; (610) 459-4663, josephanthony.com.
 

Continued on page 4 …
 

Eyebrow Treatment âž™ HD Brows at Currie Hair, Skin & Nails
The latest beauty craze to hit Europe is the HD (high-definition) Brows treatment. Lucky for us, Randy Currie sent aesthetician Carmella Proto across the pond, where she trained to become one of only two professionals in this country certified in
the treatment. HD’s unique, seven-step brow-shaping process includes tinting, waxing and threading. It’s more artistry than simple hair removal, and Proto is a master of the technique—something you’ll know after just one visit.
Glen Eagle Shopping Center, 585 Wilmington-West Chester Pike, Glen Mills; (610) 558-4247, curriedayspa.com.

Eyebrow Waxing âž™ Shannon Brogan at Nicholas Sebastian Salon Spa
Waxing isn’t always a pleasant experience. But Brogan’s affable personality makes her clients feel at ease as she waxes, tweezes and shapes those brows to perfection.
3618 Chapel Road, Newtown Square; (610) 325-0122, nssalon.com.

Facials âž™ Day Spa by Zsuzsanna
Getting a facial comes with its own set of expectations. After all, don’t we all want to leave with dewy, more supple skin? The aestheticians at Day Spa by Zsuzsanna strive to exceed those expectations. Their full menu takes into account all skin types, and experts analyze yours to determine which treatment is right for you.
241 Conestoga Road, Suite A, Wayne; (610) 688-3969, dayspabyzsuzsanna.com.

Fitness Classes âž™ Focus Fitness
You never have to worry about getting bored with your workout at Focus. Its high-energy instructors know how to keep your attention while helping you blast calories with unique combo classes like “Cycle & Core,” where a fierce spinning session is followed by a set of exercises targeting the abdominal muscles. Or try “YES,” a popular offering that fuses cycling and yoga.
1111 E. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, (610) 525-5515, focusfitnessml.com; 573 Wilmington-West Chester Pike, Glen Mills, (610) 358-1500, focusfitnessbrandywine.com.

- Advertisement -

Guy-friendly Spa âž™ Lavenders Body Care Clinic
Lavenders’ Weekend Warrior package is designed for the man who craves the aesthetic and therapeutic benefits of a spa treatment without the feminine frilliness that typically goes along with a few hours of pampering.  Its Gentleman’s Facial is geared toward specific issues affecting male skin (men can appreciate that healthy glow, too), and the restorative massage relieves sore muscles. Trust us, your guy will want to make this a regular routine (if you can stand it).
814 Fayette St., Conshohocken; (610) 832-9470, lavenders-tlc.com.
 

Continued on page 5 …
 

Local Garden âž™ Skunk Hollow Community Garden
Credit organizers Sara Pilling and Katrina Ogilby for having the foresight to envision a community garden where a weed-choked field once stood. Located on the site of the defunct Radnor CSA, Skunk Hollow offers township residents space to grow fresh vegetables, hang with fellow gardeners and maybe even pick up a tip or two about organic pest control. For a nominal fee, local folks can rent three four-by-16-foot, raised beds. Don’t know what the heck you’re doing? No problem—advice is plentiful and free.
Willows Park, Wayne; (610) 688-8202, skunkhollow.org.

Local Theater Group âž™ Narberth Community Theatre
For more than 50 years, Narberth Community Theatre has brought musicals and plays to life in the tiny borough. Though many of the performers have theater experience, most also have day jobs—and all work for free. It’s truly a labor of love, and good theater, too.
206 Price Ave., Narberth; (610) 352-4823, narberthcommunitytheatre.org.

Manicure âž™ Zazen
Sanders and acrylic fumes don’t have to put the kibosh on your relaxing spa day. Stocked only with organic and all-natural nail products, Zazen is the spot for a gorgeous, incredibly long-lasting manicure in a lovely environment free of harsh chemicals. The complimentary cocktails served at Friday’s happy hour don’t hurt, either.
200 E. Gay St., West Chester; (610) 430-1400, zazennailspa.com.

Massage âž™ Miriam Gerber at Polished Spa & Boutique
As if giving the best manicures and pedicures around weren’t enough, Polished’s Marina Selverian has added amazing massages to her treatment menu. As a seasoned massage therapist, Gerber has a natural knack for discerning what the body needs, applying just the right amount of pressure to troubled areas and kneading out those pesky stress knots without leaving you sore an hour later. You’ll feel rejuvenated and somehow lighter after just one session, which explains why so many clients have standing appointments.
221 Conestoga Road, Wayne; (610) 688-4181, thepolishedspa.com.

Maternity “Me” Time âž™ Pre- and Post-Natal Pilates Classes at Belly Pilates
Kelly McBride’s Pilates program boasts obvious physical benefits while relieving stress and boosting energy. She has a nurturing way about her, making new moms and moms-to-be feel confident and understood.
100 Chetwynd Drive, Suite 201, Bryn Mawr; (610) 608-5883, bellypilates.com.
 

Continued on page 6 …
 

Mind-body Workout âž™ Aquatic Fitness Center
The fitness pros at Aquatic understand the value of a sound body and mind, offering innovative programs that provide a stimulating array of workouts. Popular classes include “Peel Off the Pounds Pilates Reformer,” with its bonus cardio boost, and “Spin Fusion,” which combines pedaling and yoga.
601 Righters Ferry Road, Bala Cynwyd; (610) 664-6464, afcfitness.com.

New Fitness Trend âž™ Red Hot Dance Fitness
Zumba is so last year. This year, it’s all about Red Hot Dance Fitness. The brainchild of Drexel Hill native Christine Gallagher, RHDF is an exhilarating, cardio-focused workout set to the beat of the latest pop music hits. Beginners can handle the
moves, while advanced dancers love Gallagher’s complex choreography. Melting off calories has never been so entertaining.
Visit redhotdancefitness.com.

Relationship Guru âž™ Benjamin Le

Salon for Pre-wedding Pampering âž™ Avante Salon and Spa
The stress of planning a wedding can weigh heavily on any bride-to-be—which is why the treatments at Avante are a gift on so many levels. Their “Here Comes the Bride” package features head-to-toe primping, paired with plenty of relaxation. It’ll have you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated for that walk down the aisle—though we can’t guarantee the “relaxed” part will last.
668 Downingtown Pike, West Chester; (610) 429-1800, avantesalon.com.

Salon for Hair Enhancements âž™ Salon Ziza
Liz Stelmach and her team have more than a few tricks up their sleeves to get you the look you’ve always wanted but never thought possible. Whether it’s a full wig or partial extensions, these hair gurus never subscribe to the one-size-fits-all approach.
6 Greenfield Ave., Ardmore; (610) 642-5200, salonziza.com.
 

Continued on page 7 …
 

Spa Treatments âž™ Ame Day Spa & Salon
Sure, they have all the typical treatments—like hot-stone massages and spa pedicures. But the staff at Ame encourages clients to venture outside their comfort zones and dabble in one or more of their signature treatments. We recommend the Bamboo-Fusion Massage and the Shirodhara ritual treatments. The latter include everything from facials to body massages designed to sooth the mind and soul—all within an hour. Sounds like pure bliss, in our humble opinion.
111 Waynewood Ave., Wayne; (610) 995-2631, amesalonandspa.com.

Spin Classes âž™ Club La Maison
Colleen Crossed’s classes are the first to fill up at Club La Maison—and for good reason. Inspired by her awesome playlist and motivating personality, Crossed’s spin groupies gladly give their all session after session. You’ll be so pumped, you won’t even blink when she leads you from your bike to an intense circuit-training regimen. Talk about a full-body workout.
215 Sugartown Road, Wayne; (610) 964-8800, clublamaison.com.

Yoga Instructor âž™ Kristin Page at Verge Yoga Wayne
No matter where you are in your practice, Page’s measured, accommodating style will nudge you in the right direction, leaving you focused and rejuvenated after each session. Whether you’re a newbie with breathing issues, or a yoga vet who could use some encouragement to take your practice to the next level, her guidance will help you get the most out of your time on the mat.
250 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; (610) 971-0518, vergeyogacenter.com.
 

Our Best of the Main Line Elimination Ballot is open through February 22!