Shout out to CoCo!

This is a special edition of Spa Trekking that has nothing to do with spas, but in case anyone likes Conan (CoCo) O'Brien and is amused by the stupidity and cynicism of NBC brass with the late night mess, you may enjoy my latest Hollywood gossip blog:

http://www.thewrap.com/blog/naomi-serviss


Don't pretend you don't read gossip.....

and enjoy......and remember these people have millions of $$$$$$$!!!!

......So don't cry for them, (insert popular Latin America country).

Spa Willamina: Proof that Less IS More.....

Or should I say, "Spaaaaaaa Willamina"?

Right upfront: I generally do not enjoy spas that are in residential settings.

Day spas on tree-lined streets marked by school-crossing signs and wandering local felines do not typically get my attention. And I happen to love cats, so don't criticize my observation. Just reporting, not editorializing.

Having said that, Spa Willamina may very well be among my top 5 Day Spas. Ever. Not just in Portland (Oregon). I've been to other day spas in similar nabes where you can hear school kids playing, buses loading and unloading and other unwelcome sights and sounds of suburbia right outside a treatment window.

Not very relaxing, to say the least. And that's all I will say on that topic. Discretion is, after all, the better part of keeping my spa job, not to mention valor.

Back to this wonderful, homey environment encased in a delightful Craftsman home in a NE Portland community. Owner Willow has gone above and beyond expectations in this surprisingly well-appointed, cheerful spa environment that occupies what once had been a basement-level.

This delightful spa, in business for an astonishing 8 years (she is definitely doing everything right) has hosted its share of celebrities (I'll never tell) and the local hoi polloi who have discovered a gem right under their damp Portland noses.

The exterior is painted in a warm brown tone, with plenty of greenery (a sight welcomed by someone who had been wandering in the desert for 2 years) surrounding it. Entrance is in the back, and as I found my way to the yard, a serenity overcame me as I noticed the little cosmetic touches that whispered "Spa country ahead"--that included more greenery, paeans to peace and kindness and the like.

As I opened the back door, a sign requests that guests leave their shoes at the top of the stairs. Now, some people may take offense, but since this is one of my personal "house requests" I was already on the same page as Willow. Who wants dirty shoes in a spa or home? I could go on, but you know the spiel.

Heading downstairs I was greeted by Elisa, a therapist with incredible hands (and she knows how to use them!) and a lovely manner. I was offered tea (Green with Ginger, thanks) and a moment to poke around before filling out a very extensive medical history. Another smart tool for spa-owners to take seriously. Too often, spas fail to maintain potentially important records that might be valuable should some unforeseen incident occur.

A quick tour included a peek at 4 treatment/facial rooms and a beautiful shower created by hand by Willow's husband, which includes hand-selected round rocks for a cobble-stone floor, and glass walls. It reminded me of some chi-chi New York spas, but warmer.

So on to the history compilation. I filled out the usual in my klutzy way, knocking a phone off its hook and nearly destroying a table. Good thing Willow wasn't there yet to witness my "agility" but I think I gave Elisa a good laugh.

One caveat: don't ask for birth years. Birth days are fine, but come on, we don't need to be reminded of our fading youth. So, on my paper that asked for these numbers (month, day and year) I wrote: "12/3/none of your business."

Send me a card if you want, but not one of those "If You Were Born in 1899...." cards, thank you.

But I digress, as I am wont to do. Elisa brought me into a dimly lit warm massage room, its table heated just the way I like. Music drifted in the air, most of it a tad too percussive for my taste (I don't want to hear clapping during an instrumental) and when I recognized a tune, I started singing it in my head. Not good, when you're trying to get out of your head. And it didn't help that I detected some western twang in some of the selections, but you can't always request Sleepy Native American Flute Music. Although if the music was truly annoying, I would have mentioned it, as should you if anything displeases you during a treatment.

I was too far under Elisa's spell to care at that point, and fortunately, the song has since been deleted from my "memory" bank, so win/win!

The massage was perfect--working out some nasty stress-kinks and an achy-breaky lower-back--Elisa may have small hands but she knows where those trigger points are!

But all good things must end and as I checked out my spa-head look, I shrugged it off and went on to experience one of the most masterful facials ever, performed by none other than Willow herself. She is so at home (she should be, it's her home) among her self-created potions and lotions, she could probably give facials blindfolded (not recommended, just a metaphor).

Take note, Portlanders, or potential visitors: Willamina Spa is on the A-list of every visiting dignitary in La-La Land and beyond, so better be prepared for a long wait. Unless you mention my name. Then you'll have to wait longer.

But seriously folks, check out the website, it's one of the best I've seen. And it will answer all your technical questions and describe treatments more thoroughly than here. And you must try some of Willow's self-made skin-care products. Simply packaged and pristine ingredients.

Now go make the call. Before Hollywood comes calling.

Day Tripping

Most of the day spas I've frequented have been in New York and Boston. These were typically more than a quickie nail-fix/threaded eyebrow studio. Some were on par with resort hotels and others had menus that ran like Smith & Wollensky's. Another one convinced me never to have a wrap again. Yup, it was that relaxing.

But Portland. Now we're talking day spas. This city is almost too-precious (but it's not) and at times can strike you as being even ergonomically correct. Therefore, it is my conclusion that the day spas must follow suit. Democratic and accessible, these are spas of high concept and low-tech, all within a 10-mile radius of downtown.

This week I shall explore a few and report about them on About.com/Spas in addition to my modest little diary here. So get ready you people, you. I'm getting back into the game.

Just stop killing all the bees.

Trek On

And another year bites the dust.

But let's be grateful that some spa "trends" never quite caught on: a fish pedicure where little guppies eat your dead skin cells (oh that sounds real sanitary) and then munch on the next victim, uh, guest. Or a facial that's comprised of such unpleasant ingredients, I dare not mention them.

I could go on, but it's too early to gross myself out.

After a self-imposed hiatus of trekking (real life intruded) I look forward to discovering some excellent day spas in our new town of Portland, Oregon, and then sharing them with you two.

Already lined up are a couple of highly recommended ones: The Dragontree holistic day spa (www.thedragontree.com) and the Spa Willamina (http://www.spawillamina.com)which sound amazing and I'm already starting to relax just thinking about it.

Which is what we all need, now that the old, bad year is gone and hopes for a better one fill every sentient being's heart.

Just keep the guppies off my toes.