Shopping in San Lorenzo

When Lori Shannon first announced her intent to run a marathon, people responded with more than a hint of incredulity. Lori had no experience and, at 5’3” and a size 16, she didn’t cut the form of a typical distance runner. Even so, she set to work and completed the 1993 New York City Marathon, proving to herself that with the proper training and dedication, she need not live life as a spectator. Since crossing that first finish line, Lori has never looked back; she has since run multiple marathons, competed in triathlons, and ridden her bike cross-country.

Seven years later, Lori founded See Jane Run in San Francisco, hoping to empower women to test their limitations and bolster their own fitness and self-confidence. The female-operated fitness company has since grown to encompass four West Coast locations that sell women’s running gear, including shoes, sports bras, and aerodynamic shower caps. At its four retail locations, like-minded runners come together with free weekly run clubs, giving them a group setting in which to train to meet their own individual goals or prepare for one of See Jane Run’s half marathons or 5Ks.

Two moms founded Milana C., naming the boutique clothier after their three children—Mia, Lana, and Charlie. The shop stocks brands including Alexis Bittar, alice + olivia, and Splendid. It also hosts occasional events, which in the past have included a girls' night out that blended networking opportunities with spray tanning, a more effective pairing than editing your resume inside a tanning bed.

With thousands of frame and mat combinations, The Great Frame Up can satisfy any and all framing fantasies. The expert framespeople can make diplomas radiate (diploma framing starts at around $100), personalized jerseys glisten (starting around $300), and dorm-room movie posters sparkle (many 24"x36" pieces are under $125). The design wizards can also find a home for any prized possession, such as shoebox photos, baby booties, ticket stubs, medals, and really good pot roasts. The Great Frame Up’s no-hassle guarantee and assurance that all work is done on-site means your frameables won't be subject to mistreatment at underground commercial framing facilities.

With spring spreading like a bag of spilled gravy, now is the ideal time to throw open the windows and get home-care projects underway. Pick up a Stanley six-piece screwdriver set for $6.99, a VPT rip hammer for $8.49, and a whole bunch of screws, anchors, and bolts (prices vary), and you'll be ready to finally mount every buffalo nickel and steel penny in your coin collection. Illuminate the newfound décor with a 12-pack of Ace light bulbs ($21.48), the better to see by as you make use of a Purdy four-piece premium paint-tray kit ($19.99). If you need to match paint to a favorite coverlet or choose a hue that complements a pleather recliner, each store offers a paint-matching service free of charge. Get keys made for $1.99 a pop, or clean a barnacle-encrusted carpet with the help of a carpet-cleaning machine ($30 a day to rent).

Grab an organically pre-packed Numi teabag such as the antioxidant-infused chocolate Puerh black tea blend accented with orange peel, nutmeg, and cinnamon ($9.99 for box of 16 bags), or load your own loose-leaf tea to finely tune the proportional potency of each cup of mint Puerh organic green tea ($13 for a 4 oz. bag). Upgrade from practical yet tasteless Chia Pets with the decorative and flavorful properties of flowering tea that blooms when steeped (from $7.99 for a 27-gram box). Or simplify your drink with an essential teapot such as the classic sage ceramic pot with bamboo handle ($26.99). You can browse the online catalog for a taste of what Numi carries, but your Groupon can only be used in-store.

Established in San Jose in 2006, Premier recently moved to new digs in downtown Palo Alto. Premier offers premium footwear, clothing, and accessories in a range of well-known brands, such as Nike and Adidas, as well as newer brands such as Creative Recreation and Supra. Show your sports loyalty with the Nike Auto Flight High ($90) in Miami-Dolphins orange and white, or slip digits into boat-shoe-style Toms ($54), just right for sailing the world in a hand-carved dugout.