Red Carpet Diamonds

Finding a home is never an easy task (especially in the Bay Area).

It took Evan Bloom and Leo Beckerman a year’s worth of pop-ups before they could put down roots: Their Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen opens today in the Mission.

Beckerman entices passersby from the display window, where he shapes traditional Jewish breads (rye, challah, chocolate babka, rugelach, and bialy) for sit-down service or takeout (matzo ball soup and meats are also available to go).

Take a number at the quick-serve counter and mosey into the former taqueria, now outfitted with a half-open kitchen, self-serve bottomless coffee station, family photo wall, and gallery of Yiddish albums. Nosh on Beauty’s Bagels sandwiches and challah French toast for breakfast; Cobb salad, pastrami burgers, or smoked (on-site) turkey clubs for lunch. Roast brisket and stuffed cabbage are on deck for dinner (coming soon).

Can we get a mazel?

Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen, 3150 24th Street, at Shotwell Street (415-787-3354 or wisesonsdeli.com).

Photo: Molly DeCourdreaux / Courtesy of Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen

The most we’ve ever gotten from an airplane seatmate is a case of the sniffles.

Dinelle Lucchesi scored a business partner.

After she befriended Ari Taymor on a flight to San Francisco, the two hatched a plan to combine her management savvy (she’s the brains behind SF underground club Anthrob) with his culinary chops (stints at Bar Tartine and L.A.’s Salute).

Now ready for takeoff, their Venice pop-up, Alma, flies high with modern, out-of-the-box cuisine and a relaxed BYOB vibe.

Housed in cafe Flake, the Wednesday-through-Saturday operation serves three- and five-course prix fixe dinners that take their cues from Taymor’s frequent farmers market jaunts. The menu changes weekly, but you can count on appetizers that dip below sea level (garlicky oyster stew) and exotic entrees that soar with sophistication (Jiménez lamb with hibiscus and beets).

Lucchesi and Taymor plan to stick around for a couple of months before (hopefully) doing something more permanent.

Fasten your seat belts.

Alma, 513 Rose Avenue, at Rennie Avenue, Venice (almafoodandwine.tumblr.com). For more information, email almafoodandwine@gmail.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Alma

Brendan Sodikoff (Gilt Bar, Maude’s Liquor Bar, Doughnut Vault) wants you to listen and listen good.

And you should: His diner, Au Cheval, opens today in the West Loop.

First, erase your diner stereotypes. (Yes, you have them. And that’s okay.) Au Cheval is clanging copper pans, a zinc counter with leather stools, and mismatched vintage china. It’s ’90s hip-hop and funk-inspired British pop, courtesy of music curator Scottie McNiece. It’s beautiful and urban, and the coffee is strong.

It joins diner and cook — the kitchen’s out in the open — in a frenzied, communal atmosphere. It’s chopped chicken liver, house-made bratwurst, and quality catch; eggs joined by foie gras and chicken blood sausage; killer chilaquiles; burgers, fried bologna, and beer; mille-feuille that took a month to perfect.

All proceeds from service today and tomorrow go to Bright Pink and Heshima Kenya.

No diner is finer.

Au Cheval, 800 West Randolph Street, at Halsted Street (312-929-4580).

Photo: Kari Skaflen / DailyCandy

Certificate of Authenticity

Name: Online marketplace Mercantile.

Launch Date: February 2012.

Owners: Callie Jenschke and Nicki Clendening, who co-founded NYC interior design firm Scout three years ago.

Contents: Twenty-five pieces of one-of-a-kind furniture, antiques, and artwork culled from the duo’s dedicated global flea market shopping. They hone in on eclectic items with world-roved wear and tear (or those that look “loved,” in their words). See: a decorative African headdress crafted from colorful feathers (pictured); an antique geometric-patterned Turkish rug; an elephant-legged carved rosewood side table from India.

Expiration: When one of the items sells, the girls replace it immediately with another treasure.

Notarized Signature: Signed, sealed, delivered.

Available online at scoutdesignsmercantile.bigcartel.com, $300-$5,000 (prices vary based on selection).

Photo: Courtesy of Mercantile

“A bottle of Boone’s Farm followed by a Zima flavored with Skittles.” — Us, 1997

“Single-malt Scotch, please.” — Us, 2012

Responsible for this personal growth: Ricky Crawford, a former Glenlivet brand ambassador who throws the funniest and most informative single-malt Scotch tastings this side of Glasgow.

In today’s video, he gives us a miniature lesson on how to order — and actually enjoy — a glass of the good Scottish spirit. Do as he says and you’ll be surprised how many heads turn at the bar.

Crawford’s as charming as he is Scottish. (Yes, the man wears a kilt.) And now you can book his services for all your soirees (birthdays, bachelorette parties, etc.).

Just don’t take any cheap shots.

To book Crawford for a tasting, go to rickyshopscotch.com.

Your come-to-bed look typically consists of a bandage dress, backbreaking heels and Spanx.

That hardly counts as slipping into something more comfortable.

Nail the louche look with slip-ons that combine the laid-back sexiness of a men’s shirt with the English gentility of slippers.

Designer Charles Philip — originally from Milan but living in China — loved his striped shirts so much he had one made into a pair of shoes by a cobbler in Shanghai. So fetching was the creation that he and his design partner, Sheila Pitigala, created a range in stripes, leopard print and florals. The delicate shape proves flat can still be sexy.

And that kind flattery will get you anywhere.

Available at Harvey Nichols, 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RJ (020 7235 5000). To see styles, go to charlesphilipshanghai.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Charles Philip

Surprise dining experiences (mystery meat loaf, whodunit dinner theater) don’t sit well with you — or your stomach.

Ease safely into the culinary unknown at Zephyr Paquette’s (Elliott Bay Cafe, Cafe Flora, Poco Wine Room) Skelly and the Bean, a new community-supported restaurant-slash-incubator opening Thursday.

From Wednesday to Sunday, the focus is on the seasoned chef’s farm-to-table comfort food: tater tots with sour cherry ketchup, buckets of raindrop-shaped donuts and accompanying jam puddles, and secret chicken (you won’t know whether it’s fried, braised, grilled, or stuffed until it hits the table). Naturally, local farms (Alm Hill Gardens, Crown S Ranch), breweries, and wine providers (Northwest Wine Academy) supply key ingredients.

On closed nights, burgeoning chefs and culinary students seeking to prove their restaurant chops take over the kitchen and dining areas. Think pop-ups and anything-goes test kitchens.

Your guess is as good as ours.

Skelly and the Bean, 2359 Tenth Avenue East (206-328-2326 or skellyandthebean.com).

Photo: Jandazzatron / Flickr

Missoni dress: I no longer fit my owner. Thus, I languish in this closet. What shall become of me? EBay? Wasteland? [Gulp] The dumpster?

Valentino bag: If you’re lucky, you’ll go to exclusive new swap club Style Blender. The brainchild of fashion industry gurus Nony Tochterman, Ravid Levy, and Brooke Wilen, the boutique puts a fresh spin on sartorial recycling.

MD: You had me at “exclusive club.” How does it work?

VB: First you become a member; it’s only $30 a month. Then take in your unwanted goods. If accepted, they get appraised on a points system based on retail value, age, and wear and tear. Those points then act as your currency to shop racks of designer treasures (Louboutin wedges, a DVF frock, Gucci handbags).

MD: I’m a special-occasion gown. Will I find a buyer?

VB: Probably quite a few. Members are free to rent an item for an event, then return it dry-cleaned to redeem their points.

MD: A chic communal closet? I’m sold.

Style Blender, 8230 Beverly Boulevard, at North Harper Avenue, second floor, suite 30, Fairfax District (323-212-6002 or styleblenderla.blogspot.com).

Photo: Courtesy of Style Blender

Listening to GOP candidates blabber about employment rates can get a little dull.

Fortunately, Job & Boss makes deliberations much more interesting with unusual accessories.

Collaborators Brook Lane and Kirby McKenzie generate artisanal items in an Oakland design studio. They call themselves a salvation company, but it has nothing to do with religion: The duo dips small batches of canvas and leather into natural indigo using traditional Japanese techniques. The result? Modern, one-of-a-kind goods.

Luscious blue patterns (made from resist-dyeing methods that employ clothespins, pole wrapping, and double dipping) add intrigue to clutches (that double as iPad cases), bucket totes, loop scarves — and even a new carpenter’s apron modeled after Japanese work wear.

They get our nomination.

Available at James Rowland Shop, 2447 Dwight Way, at Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley (510-848-8180 or jamesrowlandshop.com); online at jobandboss.com, $78-$310.

Photo: Brook Lane / Courtesy of Job & Boss

Dallas’s food truck craze is on a roll. Join us in welcoming five new mobile restos revving up this month.

Tin Star Taco Taxi
The cab-inspired truck — dubbed Paco — serves gourmet tacos (chorizo and egg, fish, bacon and avocado, grilled chicken) and street nachos (chips topped with seasoned ground beef, queso, and jalapenos). Find locations online at tinstartacotaxi.com.

TX Delizioso
The Italian kitchen on wheels creates classic dishes with a twist. Think hamburger pizza, chicken Parmesan, and cream cheese and mozzarella-stuffed mushrooms. Fun fact: It’s registered with the Go Texan program, which means cooks use mostly in-state products. Find locations online at facebook.com.

Little Vessel Grill
Tapping into the Asian-American scene, it’s not your average truck grub. Menu items include tomato soup shooters, pulled pork tacos, and avocado, chicken, and blood oranges stabbed with a skewer. Find locations online at facebook.com.

Cajun Tailgators
The purple and gold truck owned by two LSU alums hopes to bring the flavors of Louisiana to Texas. Just in time for Mardi Gras, the truck rolls out Cajun-style gumbo, shrimp po’boys, fried boudin balls, and beignets. Find locations online at facebook.com.

Dos Paisanos
Expect south-of-the-border bites from Dallas’s first Salvadorian-meets-Mexican truck. We’re talking staples such as burritos, tacos, and carne asada, as well as lesser-known plates like pastelitos (meat pies stuffed with potatoes, rice, and beans). Find locations online at facebook.com.

And that’s the word on the street.

Photo: Courtesy of Tin Star Taco Taxi

You credit The New Yorker for your ability to appear effortlessly intelligent at dinner parties. (“Hendrik Hertzberg would love these canapes.”)

The East Coast standby may have met its match in The Chicagoan. The new biannual magazine from J.C. Gabel, editor and publisher of now-defunct cult favorite mag Stop Smiling, hit shelves yesterday.

Originally a ’20s newsstand staple, the contemporary version is packed with features regarding the city and the Greater Midwest — its mission to shine light on the fascinating (in some cases, forgotten) people who inhabit middle America.

Spanning 194 pages, the debut includes interviews with Jeanne Gang and Alex Kotlowitz, a piece about former Blackbird/Avec pastry chef Tara Lane, short fiction and poetry, and a 46-page mammoth about Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.

Did we mention there are zero advertisements? The endeavor functions as a nonprofit funded by donations, subscriptions, and memberships.

It’s the talk of the town.

To subscribe or find a list of locations, go to thechicagoanmedia.org.

Photo: Courtesy of The Chicagoan

We’re used to local entrepreneur/milliner Satya Twena coming out on top.

So when we heard she was launching Pique, a monthly hosiery subscription service, we had to get to the bottom of it.

The story is tight(s): In the process of researching luxe hosiery (she planned to launch her own line), Twena unearthed some impressive high-quality collections and was compelled to share with the world.

For now, simply pick a plan (one, three, six, or twelve months) and size, then slip into two pairs of Twena-approved, work-appropriate stockings, leggings, socks, or tights. Members pay $38 per month for roughly $60 worth of goods. An online shop for a la cart orders is in the works (scheduled for March 1).

Currently, the site is in soft launch. However, if you’re one of the first 50 readers to subscribe, you’ll get a little surprise and $20 to spend at the online shop.

You’re welcome for the leg up.

Available online at discoverpique.com. For the special, subscribe to the service then email customercare@discoverpique.com and mention DailyCandy.

Photo: Satya Twena / Courtesy of Pique

In a perfect world you’d speak three languages and volunteer in foreign countries. But there’s no need to venture far to get on the right path. Here, a few local suggestions to get you started.

Animal Instinct
You claim you’re not territorial, though your last roommate begs to differ. Redeem yourself by acting as temporary foster parent to a cat or dog from PAWS Wellness Clinic (2900 Grays Ferry Avenue; 215-298-9680).

Mind Your Manners
The hours you spend on Facebook have done little for your people skills. Before the occasion for actual human interaction arises, brush up on etiquette with help from Dawn Burke Sena, the unstuffy expert behind Social Solutions (215-627-0131).

Fixer-Upper

Dad is on speed dial for whenever you need something repaired. Take matters into your own hands at West Philly Tool Library (1314 South 47th Street; 215-833-3190). There’s a sliding-scale membership, and 2,500 gadgets and tools like drills and ladders are yours for the borrowing.

Attitude Adjustment
Despite those strategically placed tattoos, you feel your street cred slowly slipping away. Left-of-center Wooden Shoe Books & Records (704 South Street; 215-413-0999) hosts readings, movies, and discussions to keep you from tumbling too far into the mainstream.

Clean Up Your Act
Judging from the ever-present pile of clothing on the floor, you struggle with wash-and-fold. Wash Cycle Laundry (888-611-9274) has your back: The cleaners there load everything onto a bicycle-pulled trailer and launder it in energy-efficient machines with ecofriendly detergent.

You’re on your way now.

Photo: Courtesy of PAWS Wellness Clinic

You don’t need to be a history buff to enjoy these messages in bottles. Carlos Huber’s fragrance blends based on bygone eras yield unisex scents that stand the test of time. Let us translate.

Then: In the 1400s Aztec warriors dedicated wreaths of white flowers to altars, hoping to please vengeful gods.
Now: Encircle yourself with Flor y Canto’s Mexican tuberose, magnolia, plumeria, and marigold for your own Saturday night rituals.

Then: Louis XIV first glimpsed his peace-keeping bride, Infanta Maria Teresa, atop a wooden pavilion on a dewy, floral-scented morning in 1660.
Now: Fleur de Louis’s marriage of white cedar wood, jasmine, orange blossom, and Florentine orris perfectly suits dinner reservations (French-Spanish fare or otherwise).

Then: In 1695 the sisters of Mexico City’s Royal Convent of Jesus Maria concocted new flavor combos (courtesy of cocoa and chiles) that put the nunnery on the map.
Now: Pack girls’ night full of sugar and spice with Anima Dulcis’s cocoa absolute, Mexican vanilla, cinnamon, and chile infusion.

Then: Russia, circa 1837, saw many a duel; leather-boot-clad gentlemen headed into the woods to square off at dawn’s first light.
Now: The aroma of Aleksandr’s neroli, violet, fir balsam, and Russian leather comes to life during a peaceful hike or picnic in the great outdoors.

Both factual and fragrant.

Available at The Webster Miami, 1220 Collins Avenue (305-673-5548 or thewebstermiami.com), $165-$175. For more information, go to arquiste.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Arquiste

There once were two sisters from Memphis who dreamed of quitting their corporate jobs and running a luxurious shop full of their favorite bath and beauty products and gifts.

“To Atlanta!” exclaimed Sarah and Jenny Bronczek, where they opened Ona, which means “she” in Polish (a nod to the girls’ heritage).

Their vision came to life with iron doors, elegant floral arrangements, an Italian hand-blown ribbon glass chandelier, and rustic shelving.

The girls stocked the shop with tried-and-true Hervé Gambs diffusers (a tribute to a stint in Europe), Barr Co. bath products, Kneipp medicinal oils, Jack Black men’s products, Branché charmeuse pillowcases and eye masks, and Supracor honeycomb face scrubbers.

The Bronczeks piled Shelley Kyle dusting silks and fluffy poufs and Belle Fleur candles on a reclaimed wood table made by their brother, and the visitors came from far and wide.

’Twas a happy ending.

Ona Atlanta, 3400 Around Lenox Road, suite 206a, Buckhead (404-812-0002 or onaatlanta.com).

Photo: Ashley Hesseltine for DailyCandy

If Elisabetta Canalis and Steve-O’s recent make-outs have taught us anything, it’s that unexpected partnerships are having a moment.

For instance, take chic mullet of a lifestyle boutique Fit to Be Tan Designed by Paul Corrie Interiors. The housewares shop in front/custom tanning party in back is the brainchild of designer Corrie and husband Steve Ewens.

Beneath a rope chandelier of sailors’ knots, discover a meticulous tableau of one-of-a-kind finds: a sepia-tone shot of Lake Geneva, gold-edge mirrors, whisper-thin tumblers, and a wooden cigarette case ideal for holding eyeliners. For each treasure that’s sold, another arrives from Corrie’s private collection.

A peek down the hallway, however, reveals tanning rooms in which technicians will soon spray sun-sensible glows. By early March, you’ll be able to choose from ten tones (sun kissed to George Hamilton) and an optional glowing finish. Coverage is seamless and should last a week.

Just remember: Only jackasses test the comfort of toile-covered chairs before their bronzer has dried.

Fit to Be Tan, 1626 U Street Northwest (202-332-0360 or fittobetan.com). To make an appointment, email appointmentsdc@fittobetan.com. Tans are $50.

Photo: Courtesy of Fit to Be Tan

Condition: Shut-In-Itis
Causes: Wind chills, snow-free ski trails, February.
Symptoms: Excessive pj wear, microwave popcorn dinners, disproportionate investment in The Bachelor outcome.
Prescription: An instructive house call from one of Tavolo’s preeminent pasta doctors.

Let the healing begin: Schedule an afternoon feast for your carb-loving buds (fifteen max). You’ll get recommended wine pairings so you can stock up in advance (we trust you can crawl off your couch).

On the day of, Tavolo owner Chris Douglass or chef de cuisine Nuno Alves arrives with ingredients and tools to whip up a restorative smorgasbord.

For two hours, Douglass or Alves will noodle around your kitchen, showing guests how to make tummy-warming dishes like squid ink linguine or Bolognese-topped gnocchi. If you crave a more decadent curative like lobster fra diavolo, they’ll happily oblige for a little extra dough.

You’ll also get recipes to prevent future relapses.

Prognosis: A very full recovery.

To hire their services, call 617-822-1918. Cost starts at $60 per person.

Photo: Ursula Alter / Getty Images

Over the years, we’ve put our head, neck, eyes, pretty much our entire body on the line in the name of vanity. Today we’re sharing our little black book of top-notch beauty therapists, hairdressers, manicurists and other miracle workers.

Eyebrows
Kamini Vaghela
The lightning-fast defuzzer is the only person we let near our brows. Once she perfects shape, her threading technique reduces and thins unwanted hair.

Lashes
Jinny Lashes @ Blink Brow Bar
Natural-looking, semipermanent extensions are applied individually and work well for special occasions or a makeup-free beach holiday. Just make sure to have them professionally removed.

Waxing
Strip Wax Bar
Stop in for virtually pain-free hair removal, thanks to expert therapists, pleasantly scented hot wax and a TV in every treatment room.

Massage
Nicole van Zomeren
Get your body back on track with a one-hour remedial rubdown packed with Reiki, Indian head massage, lymphatic drainage and more.

Aromatherapy Associates
Unwind in an oasis of calm in the middle of bustling Knightsbridge. Warning: you may fall asleep during Michelle Sturjess’s relaxing scalp massage and wake up not knowing where you are (in a good way).

Nails
The Nail Station
Experiment with the latest trends and polishes, as well as long-lasting acrylics and Shellac, at the warm and friendly salon.

Simone Rosa
Book the cheerful Brazilian (077930 552145) for quick-as-a-flash at-home manicures and pedicures.

Julie’s Nails
The no-frills, American-style chain (91 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JZ; 020 7243 4188) is useful for walk-ins and last-minute nail emergencies. Additional branches can be found in Kensington and Chelsea.

Facial
Abigail James
The holistic facialist uses her soft, magical fingers and natural, organic products to destress and calm problem skin.

Skin Gym at Triyoga
Settle in for an emotionally soothing facial that involves live skin care products, deep cleansing and pressure point massage.

Hair
Rossano Ferretti
The Method cut at the elegant Italian spa helps hair fall naturally as it grows out. Balayage/ombre highlights are a more sophisticated take on the dip-dye technique, and the divine head massage/hair wash will send you off to sleep.

Tatiana’s Hair Extensions
Micro ring real hair extensions don’t require glue, sewing or braiding, so there is no damage to your own locks. Plus, they look so natural no one will ever know they’re not the real deal.

Photo: UFO FR/a.collectionRF / Getty Images

Cool hunter? Influencer? Tireless trend spotter?

When it comes to hot ideas, you don’t like to be kept in the shade.

Unless it’s courtesy of Italia Independent sunglasses. Newly available online for girls and guys, the groovy wraparounds, aviators and retro frames come in a range of brilliant colours.

But these aren’t just any old sunnies. Take a closer look; they’re some of the more technically advanced designs on the market. Most are crafted from durable materials like titanium, celluloid acetate and techno polymer, meaning they’re hard-core (and scratch proof).

Of particular note: the I-I mod 050 is the first pair of sunglasses made entirely of carbon fibre. Other designs have a soft, velvetlike finish.

Have you not laid eyes on these before?

Frame on you.

Available online at italiaindependent.com or mytheresa.com, from £149.

Photo: Courtesy of My Theresa