In the Sun Magazine's In Style of Feb. 24, Maryland Famil Magazine, edited by Rudy Miller, was incorrectly identified.
The Sun regrets the errors.
Have you ever wondered if there might be a better place to get your hair cut, your nails manicured, your clothes cleaned or tailored -- if only you knew where to go?
We interviewed a wide range of prominent Baltimoreans, male and female, to find out if they could provide some tips. Most were happy to tell us where they shopped or had their hair cut, but only a few were generous enough to divulge the names of their tailors. It seems others had some concern that their much-treasured seamstress or tailor might get too busy or raise prices if they got too well-known.
=1 Below are some of the highlights of our survey.
CLOTHES SHOPPING The majority of the men we interviewed stick with the old favorites such as Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Brooks Brothers, Hyatt & Co and Hamburgers.
But what do the flamboyant Don Walls, theater and movie critic for WBAL-AM, and the down-home Norm Lewis, meteorologist for WMAR-TV, have in common? They both like to shop at Sam Glass & Son Inc., where designer clothes are sold at a discount. Mr. Walls, who also is executive director of the Property Owners Association of Greater Baltimore, also likes Gage Clothes Co. And Mr. Lewis has a great tip -- he gets his shirts made at Custom Tailors, right across from Sam Glass, for only $30.
In addition to his favorite Brooks Brothers, George D. Edwards II, president of Hottman-Edwards Advertising Inc., likes to shop at the Clothing Outlet in Cockeysville.
And Steve Tancibok, the menswear buyer for Ruth Shaw Inc. in Cross Keys, likes to find ties at A. J. Borenstein's Eclectic Inc., downtown, and Marshalls in Towson. Jim Schwartz, public affairs manager of the Noxell Corp. in Hunt Valley, finds good clothes and bargains at G. Briggs in Timonium.
Pat Minarcin, anchor for WBAL-TV, says he's had his clothes made at the English American Tailoring Co. in Westminster for years.
Surprisingly, Stan Stovall, anchor for WMAR-TV, orders all his suits from Bangkok, Thailand. "I'm difficult to fit, so I get my clothes tailor-made in Thailand, for about one-third of the off-the-rack prices here," he says.
The women seemed to favor department stores, such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Hecht's and Macy's, and some believe they offer bargains.
"Saks must hate me," says Jo Ann Peroutka, vice president of the cash management department at Signet Bank/Maryland. "I comb through the sales clothes on their bargain rack and always find the least expensive dress."
A favorite bargain place is Loehmann's in Timonium, but two trubargain hunters are Lisa Simeone, producer and senior announcer for WJHU-FM, and Rudy Miller, editor of Maryland magazine, talk show host for WCBM-AM and feature reporter for WMAR-TV. They both tend toward second-hand or vintage clothing stores. One of Ms. Simeone's favorites is Oh! Susanna in Fells Point. For new clothes Ms. Miller shops at the Bead Experience in the Rotunda, and Something Else in Mount Washington.
Ann Taylor, in the Gallery and at Owings Mills, elicited an enthusiastic response from many interviewed. Julie Fader Gilbert, manager of sales and marketing at Owings Mills Town Center, says she shops at a lot of stores, but Ann Taylor is her "most favorite store of all." You may also find Liz O'Neill, anchor-reporter for WBAL-TV, browsing through the racks here on one of her rare shopping excursions.
Rhoda Dorsey, president of Goucher College, buys most of her clothes at Miller Brothers and the Dress Circle in Towson and the Wardrobe Inc. in Roland Park.
PAMPERING YOURSELF If you go to Lola Inc. in Mount Washington, you may run into Ron and Linda Scherr, co-owners of Rococo in Pikesville; Elane Stein, radio personality at WBAL-AM; Sally Thorner, anchor at WMAR-TV; or one of the gang from Ruth Shaw Inc.
Edward Hyatt, president of Hyatt & Co., men's clothing stores, also goes to Lola's for manicures, but has his hair cut at Patrick's Hair Design in Columbia Mall.
Similarly, you may see Camilla Carr, anchor-reporter for WBAL-TV; Arnold Borenstein, owner of A. J. Borenstein's Eclectic; or Daniel Costello, dean of the Merrick School of Business at the University of Baltimore, at Cheryl's Hair Stylist, at Harbor Court.
Liz O'Neill, George Edwards and his wife, Melanie, often frequent Stars Salon in Lake Falls Village; Rhoda Dorsey goes to Nelson's Place in Ruxton; Sheldon Caplis, vice president of Institutional Advancement at the University of Baltimore, says the Gentlemen's Quarters in Owings Mills is the best.
John Sapp, vice president of human resources for SigneBank/Maryland, says he and a number of other downtown businessmen go to Whitey's Blaustein Building Barber Shop.
While many people have manicures and facials at the same places they have their hair styled, some go elsewhere. Few said they have pedicures on a regular basis.
Laurie Zissimos, vice president of Signet Leasing and Financial Corp., has manicures at A Cut Above on Light Street. Mary Beth Marsden, weekend anchor at WMAR-TV, goes to Ranata Nail and Skin Care Salon in Timonium; Julie Gilbert goes to I. Natural in Owings Mills; Linda Scherr has manicures at All That Glitters in Pikesville, and Sally Thorner has her facials and manicures at La Papillon in Timonium.
The most original facial comes from Liz O'Neill, who laughs and says, "When I open the dishwasher, I put my face over it! It's very stimulating!"
Denise Christenson Design, on Pratt Street, draws good reviews for facials from the likes of Camilla Carr, who goes there when she can't get to Los Angeles, and Arnold Borenstein, who offers gift certificates from the salon as incentives for his salespeople. Rudy Miller frequents Gloria Brennan, the Salon, in Pikesville, for her facials, while Julie Gilbert goes to Monica's Hair Salon, off Water Street.
Many of those who have regular massages have them at their health clubs, such as the Downtown Athletic Club or Bare Hills Athletic Club. Some people have massages only when they are traveling or are on vacation.
Horace Holmes, anchor-reporter for WMAR-TV, goes to the Towson YMCA, where he is a board member. Stan Stovall, when time permits, goes to Wenda's Inc. on Falls Road and Steve Tancibok, et al., at Ruth Shaw have massages by Roy Baum, who travels to the client.
TAILORS, DRY CLEANERS AND SHOE REPAIR While some people interviewed declined to divulge their tailors' names, a number of people were kind enough to share their secret with us. Others simply have alterations done at the dry cleaners or where they purchase their clothes.
Ron and Linda Scherr like to go to Myong Kim at Kim Master Tailors located in the Valley Village Shopping Center in Owings Mills.
Gloria Brennan, owner of Gloria Brennan's About Faces, goes to an "old-fashioned" tailor in Pikesville, Morris Kaufman, and she has her clothes cleaned at the Lord Baltimore Cleaners on Smith Avenue.
Another favorite tailor is Custom Touch Tailors in Kenilworth Bazaar, which is providing a lot of help for Sally Thorner these days, as she alters her clothes during her pregnancy. Also, Mary Beth Marsden says she "spends a ton of money" there because she is petite and needs most of her clothes altered.
Sheldon Caplis goes to Pikesville Tailors, Jim Schwartz goes to Eddie's Cleaners and Tailors in Cockeysville for tailoring and dry cleaning, and Rudy Miller goes to Venus Cleaners in Roland Park for alterations and cleaning (although she sometimes slips over to Neild Cleaners for a little dry cleaning there, too).
Majestic Cleaners in Roland Park is a favorite at Ruth Shaw'boutique for tailoring, shoe repair and cleaning, although they also recommend Ruxton Cleaners in Towson and Leather-Rite (for leather cleaning) on Randall Street.
Ron Scherr highly recommends Fussy Folks dry cleaners in Pikesville, while Lola Jones, owner of Lola Inc., and Elane Stein use Polovoy Cleaners, located off Cold Spring Lane. Alexander Yearley, vice president of the retail division at Signet Bank/Maryland, uses a downtown favorite, Martone Cleaners on Howard Street, and Stan Stovall goes to Crown Cleaners on Cold Spring. Ed Hyatt drops his cleaning of at Parkway Cleaners in Pikesville.
Although few of the people who swear by this shop could remember its name (apparently a universal problem for shoe repair shops), a number of people visit G. Dongarra and Sons in Roland Park. Among those who visit are Elane Stein, Alexander Yearley and Mary Beth Marsden.
Norm Lewis says Dan Brothers, downtown, is the best for shoe repair, and he's even convinced his wife, while Gary Thomas, vice president of the commercial banking division for Signet Bank/Maryland, says Hess Shoes does fantastic repairs. Horace Holmes says Hakkey Shoe Repair in White Marsh Mall can make shoes look new again, Sally Thorner likes Genco's Shoe Service on York Road, and Lisa Simeone goes to George's Shoe Repair on Read Street.
TOILETRIES
Last but not least, we wanted to know where Baltimoreans buy their toiletries and cosmetics. More often than not, those interviewed bought their cosmetics at area department stores, such as Macy's, Hecht's, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Woodward & Lothrop, while a number of men said relatives keep them supplied with colognes and after-shaves.
As bargain places, Laurie Zissimos, Alexander Yearley and Gary Thomas say Rite-Aid, Revco and Giant offer a good selection and good prices. Norm Lewis and his wife shop at the Cosmetic Center; Linda Scherr and Elane Stein shop at Fields Pharmacy in Pikesville; and Jo Ann Peroutka buys her cosmetics at A Cut Above.
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