Paragon
I made reservations for my friend's birthday at the restaurant and the service was rude and inconsistent. If you go to the bar area for Happy Hour, you will not be disappointed. The view is stunning and the appetizer selection is good and not exhorbitantly price for a ritzy location.
Beauty Supply Warehouse
This place has a HUGE selection of wigs, extensions to buy and have your own salon put in and clip on hair pieces. All at a reasonable price. Anything from braids to blonds to long to short, you will find any hairstyle you want for a change.
El Encanto Hotel
You don't have to be a guest to dine at El Encanto's restaurant. It's pricey, so I would save it for special occasions. On those occasions, make sure you get a daylight reservation because the hillside and ocean views are stunning. Walking through the garden itself gives you the feel of paradise.
Parkside Inn
Sister hotel to the infamous Mar Monte Hotel, this is a great place to stay for a much lower rate. Good size rooms, and you can order food service and get to enjoy other amenities of the Mar Monte. Downfalls - you check in at the Mar Monte and there is no staff at the Parkside. Also, be careful about walking in the area - right next to a park and the railroad, so there are homeless people loitering in the area.
Holiday Inn Resort Catalina Island
For the last 3 years, my teammates and I stay here during the Catalina Crossing Outrigger Canoe Race. Beautiful grounds, fair prices and shuttle to downtown. After a long race, it's great to check in and relax in the hot tub.
Jezebelle Skincare Solutions
In North Park, Nichole the owner/esthetician opened a shop in one of those little cottages on Adams. Biggest problem - you hear the outside traffic while getting your facial. However, the techniques used are so gentle, you end up being relaxed anyway. Also only uses Cosmedix, a very high quality product.
Carpet Tile & Flooring
The sign on the outside of the place is actually "Pro Flooring." They did all of the laminate floors in my condo in record speed. Two years ago was my last installation, and other than things I've messed up myself (drilling into the floor and allowing a puddle to gather) I've had no probs. Right across from Home Depot, the cost was about 1/3 the estimate from Home Depot, who kept coming up with hidden costs everytime I turned around.
Rapid Results Bodywraps
A few years ago, I went before my brother's wedding to see if I could look a little tighter in a sleeveless dress. Forget it. Somehow, you will end up technically losing 10 inches, but that's adding up miniscule amounts from your entire body. They claim it's the mineral solution they put on you, but you're really just sweating it out. Also, very uncomfortable. They wrap you like a mummy and make you use the treadmill. Please!
Dirty Paws Pet Wash
This place offers grooming or Do-it-yourself supplies. One good offer is that if you bathe your own dog, they will trim nails for a reduced fee. Drawback for my dog is she is a chihuahua, and the loud sound by the dryers scared her, but if I had a large dog, no question I would go here.
Kahoots La Mesa
This place is off of Jackson in La Mesa. I needed to get a harness for my chihuahua b/c a regular leash was choking her. I went to Pet Smat, Petco and Pet People and could not find what I wanted. When I went into Kahoots, not only were there tons of harnesses, the woman working there came over and helped me try several of them on my pet. She then said keep the receipt and if it doesn't work out over the next couple of days bring it back - knowing it would be used!
