Fredericks San Francisco Is A Great Brunch Spot and Coffee House With Super Fast Wifi

How to get the Clift Sonesta Experience Every Day Whilst Sleeping Around The Corner

Vivienne Chan

2026-01-10T10:24:00.0000000 2026-01-10T11:02:47.5070000

Fredricks Cafe Breakfast Joint

Homemade Hollandaise at Fredericks on Geary Is Worth Returning For. It’s possibly the best I’ve ever tasted.

Fredericks is a cafe and eatery located inside the Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel San Francisco, serving as one of the hotel's updated food and beverage options alongside the famous Redwood Room. It offers breakfast and lunch with both sit-down and counter service, paying homage to the hotel's original owner, Frederick C. Clift.

Fredrick’s is located on Geary adjacent to the Redwood Room at the Clift Hotel a gorgeous 5 star city centre place to stay where you can sip a cocktail after 5pm in the infamous Redwood Cocktail Lounge, another snoop. This trip I was staying in a small hotel around the corner right next door to the Mason St Cafe diner in the Tenderloin district that didn’t have a restaurant so we had to find breakfast brunch places in the neighbourhood for the three day stay. So spending time in Frederick’s every day gave us the Clift Hotel vibes without the expensive room rate. The highlights were the freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, at 10 bucks sweet and tangy in equal measure and the naked fruit smoothies, I loved the berry option at 9 bucks.

We stayed on a budget on Mason St around the corner from Fredericks Cafe at The King George Hotel which was fine but not fancy. It is an old property, the rooms are a bit dated, no restaurant, but most of the hotels don’t have restaurants as there are some many different great food places. It was clean and we had everything we needed, except we did have to pay 15 bucks a day extra for WiFi which was temperamental.

The hotel comparison room rate in this neighbourhood, The Clift Royal Sonesta, like I mentioned first choice at $215 per night, the two budget options we looked at were the Bijou Hotel on Mason at $136 per night right now and The King George Hotel at $120 per night. We opted for the lower price. We just needed a base. If you want a cool aesthetic and are happy to pay a bit more the Bijou Hotel is a little further away from Union Square but closer to Powell Street where you catch the underground and BART but FYI there were more homeless people the closer you get to Powell St station, which can be difficult to see.

Frederick’s within a couple of minutes walk became our go to serving pastries and a limited order at the counter hot menu that changes daily.

It’s not the cheapest joint, a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel runs around $20 but the homemade Shakshouka billed as Californian was a spicier take on the South African tomato and pepper like stew over a poached egg cooked in the tomato liquor. At $24 bucks a plate you’d expect it to be good and the eggs Benedict came out with the creamiest of buttery hollandaise sauce you’ve ever wrapped your lips around. The chef knows how to cook. And no expense is spared on the bakery items, bagels as good as you’d find in New York and the croissants and pastries were totally delicious and fresh every day.

The building is impressive, massive windows on either side of the steps up to the entrance. On the inside you get gorgeous black and white floors however there’s no waiter service, it’s an order at the counter system and the seating is on a first come first serve basis. The best tables by the windows fill up first so you need to arrive early if you want a table here otherwise it’s the booths in the back which I have to say I did find a bit cramped.

The crowd is pretty smart, we were there on weekdays so most people were quietly working on laptops and iPads. The WiFi was fast and free. Which made up for the hotel.

The service was urgh…. Not super friendly but hey the food was good, the coffee barista style, hot and strong, tasted pretty decent, no free refills.

Everything was a la carte, expresso shot extra, flavour shot extra, but on the upside the hot chocolate was not from a packet and they had every choice of milk and non dairy alternatives imaginable.

Move Over Stanley 1913 Path Water Bottles are What The Cool Kids Carry in Hollywood

From Jaden Smith’s I Love You Restaurant in Hollywood To Path Water it’s Cool To be Kind

Vivienne Chan

2025-11-14T10:13:00.0000000 2026-01-10T10:24:30.1100000

Water or any drink brand has long been iconised. It started with Coca Cola and expensive marketing campaigns to make us think if we drank Coke we were super cool. An obesity crisis and your dentists worst nightmare later coke was replaced by water, all the cool kids carried an Evian and the cool grown ups drank a Perrier in the 1980s, until we figured out single use plastic was a disaster for the environment and carbonated drinks have their own negative impact on our bodies. So we went to coffee, carrying a Starbucks meant you were an upwardly mobile Gen Z supporting fair trade growers and paying a premium for a cup that was completely recyclable biodegradable, still single use, unless you bought into their discount member program, purchasing a stainless steel mug and remembering to wash it out before you left your apartment in the morning for your daily fix. It didn't take off, well not really anyway. We still have the very big issue of convenience generated single use plastic in the beverage space.

So then came along Stanley 1913 a British company and ignited the imaginations of millennials across the globe who bought into a $50 reusable travel cup and turned Stanley into a unbelievable success story at approx $750 million annual revenue in just a few short years.

The Stanley brand began 1913 when inventor William Stanley Jr. invented the all steel vacuum bottle. He patented the design on September 2, 1913, and the company was established soon after that but it’s taken a surge in recent sales, different coloured models marketed mainly to women and a few extremely successful viral campaigns on social media to fuel the brands meteoric rise. I haven’t bought in, the design is clunky to me and the price stratospheric but it shows when a brand gets lucky or captures the imagination of the moment miracles can happen.

My reusable path water bottle has created the same kinda warm vibes for me. I’d never heard of the water bottle brand until recently and bought mine because I was forced to, it was a purchase of convenience and I am so glad the vendor in question at LAX, the airport gave me no other option. I flinched at the price initially $7 for a bottle of water not realising my Path Water bottle would become my latest accessory.

I am all for joining the cause to eliminate single use plastic and have done my best to stop buying plastic bottles of water wherever I can over the last few years, of course I am not perfect especially at fast food restaurants where substituting soda for water in my meal deal means another plastic bottle.

Now I am using my Path water bottle regularly even this habit has changed, dropping the meal deal for a couple of tacos or veggie sandwich instead, and drinking my own water in my Path Water bottle. When you read about all the great work Path are doing aside from their main lane and see how great looking the bottles are I am sure more people will go in search of this brand.

It’s hard to change peoples minds, it’s even harder to change behaviour but I am so encouraged by Jaden smiths Hollywood restaurant I Love You that began life as a food truck on Skid Row serving healthy plant based food on a pay it forward model of pay what you can afford and now is popping up in bricks and mortar locations like 1880 Century Park E, Ste 1600, Los Angeles, CA 90067, in Los Angeles.

There is an appetite for change even though  as Martin Luther King said “change does not happen on its own”, but requires "continuous struggle" and determined, persistent effort against injustice; I’d like to add to that convenience and greed and zero social responsibility.

Thanks to Path Water for creating a reusable water bottle with such a clean design I think it's going to change the way people keep their water handy and close, you've certainly gotten a new soldier here. Let’s  hope it doesn’t take another 100 years (Stanley 1913)

10 Best Lingerie Brands, From Luxury to Budget: La Perla to Auden at Target, with Intimissimi in the Middle

From La Perla and Coco de Mer to Target's Auden, explore 10 top lingerie brands—with Intimissimi...

Vivienne Chan

2025-11-07T09:30:00.0000000 2025-11-07T10:58:12.7200000

My 10 favorite lingerie brands, from luxe to budget (with Intimissimi right in the middle). I am a little bit addicted to lingerie shopping so have had quite a bit of experience and made quite a few mistakes too. FYI When shopping a new brand I always, always go into a store and try on before ordering repeats online.

Whether you’re building an everyday drawer or hunting for heirloom-worthy lace, these 10 brands span the spectrum—from high-priced icons to wallet-friendly Target finds. Intimissimi sits squarely in the middle, with luxury above and smart-value labels below.

Luxe splurge

1) La Perla - Why it’s beloved: The gold standard for craftsmanship, Italian silk, and hand-applied lace. Pieces feel like couture. - Best for: Bridal trousseau, special-occasion sets, impeccably finished basics that last. - Typical prices: Bras $150–400+, briefs $80–200+.

2) Coco de Mer - Why it’s beloved: Sensual, fashion-forward silhouettes with exquisite materials and provocative design. - Best for: Statement lingerie, boudoir pieces, and collectors of limited drops. - Typical prices: Bras $150–300+, bodies $250–600+.

3) Wolford - Why it’s beloved: Precision fit and technical mastery—famous for hosiery and bodysuits that sculpt and smooth. - Best for: Sleek bodysuits, opaque tights, everyday-minimal lingerie with a luxury finish. - Typical prices: Bras/bodysuits $150–400, hosiery $35–120.

4) Lise Charmel - Why it’s beloved: French opulence—guipure lace, rich embroidery, luminous color stories. - Best for: Elegant demi and balconette bras, matching sets that feel like art. - Typical prices: Bras $150–250, briefs $80–130. The polished middle (including Intimissimi)

5) Intimissimi - Why it’s beloved: Italian styling at accessible prices—lightweight lace, pretty neutrals, and frequent promos. At the moment aside from Wolford these are the bras I wear everyday - Best for: Everyday T-shirt bras, lace bralettes, slip dresses, silk-blend camis. - Typical prices: Bras $39–69, briefs $12–29. Often bundle deals.

6) Chantelle - Why it’s beloved: Parisian design with science-backed fit; great size range and comfort. I think of Chantelle as affordable luxury. Probably the most notable for size consistency so easy to buy across the range once you know the Chantelle size for you - Best for: T-shirt and minimizer bras, supportive everyday lace. - Typical prices: Bras $78–98, briefs $30–50. Many styles up to US I cup (varies by model). 

7) Marie Jo - Why it’s beloved: Belgian precision from the Van de Velde group; refined shapes with clean lines. I treated myself to Marie Jo from a luxury lingerie store I loved to visit in Phipps Plaza, Atlanta when travelling on business. A welcome shopping distraction. - Best for: Contoured and balcony bras that give a naturally lifted silhouette. - Typical prices: Bras $110–150, briefs $40–70.

8) Wacoal - Why it’s beloved: Fit-first engineering and durability; excellent support in a wide size matrix. I chose wacoal when pregnant. Easy to find in large department stores like Macy's - Best for: Full-figure support, smooth T-shirt bras, minimizers, and wire-free comfort. - Typical prices: Bras $65–85, briefs $18–35. Many styles up to US I/J cup.

9) Triumph - Why it’s beloved: Triumph has the bra for the way you are. My very first bra was a triumph. A global heritage brand balancing comfort, shaping, and approachable prices. - Best for: Everyday sets, light shaping, wire-free comfort lines. - Typical prices: Bras $45–70, briefs $15–30. Budget and Target-friendly

10) Auden (Target) - Why it’s beloved: Inclusive sizing and modern basics at truly accessible prices; easy to mix-and-match. - Best for: Wire-free bralettes, everyday T-shirt bras, seamless panties, nursing options. - Typical prices: Bras $15–25, briefs $5–12. Sizes commonly range approx. 32A–46DDD (availability varies).

How to choose your match - For heirloom lace: La Perla, Lise Charmel, Coco de Mer. - For sleek, minimal foundations: Wolford, Marie Jo. - For size-inclusive support: Wacoal, Chantelle, Triumph. - For value with style: Intimissimi for mid-price, Auden for budget. Fit tip: Start with your “bra math”—snug-but-comfortable band, cups fully encasing breast tissue, and straps adjusted to lift without digging. When in doubt, try sister sizes and use each brand’s size chart, as fit can vary by style.

On a side note I am sure I am not the only person who buys lingerie in sets and then rarely if ever wears the knickers.

 I’ve just found a bra I absolutely love I am buying alone, on its own in future. Probably because after being a long time lover of lingerie it’s the kind of staple garment, once tried an experienced you truly don’t need to go anywhere else for every day comfort and support that gives no lines or back fat bubble, perfect under any garment, my soon to be every day reach for if I can find a few more, I have only aquired one so far.

The Wolford Sheer Tulle Bra used to come in two colours, black and a pink nude. This has now been replaced by the Wolford Tulle Full Bra at $130 in both black and nude which I don’t like as much because it’s more of an underwired bra top shape. The only place I’ve found the original Sheer Tulle bra is on secondhand market places and lingerie shops who may have old stock still available. Happy Hunting but know there's competition for any remaining stock of this beautiful bra out there.

Trader Joes an iconic grocery experience in California

Grocery Shopping Is Addictive: You won’t believe how hard it is to stay away once tried

Vivienne Chan

2025-11-04T12:21:00.0000000 2025-11-14T10:12:51.2430000

Traders Joe’s one of that last American institutions that is so great.

We’ve got Ralph’s, Vons, Gelsons and Pavillions, Bristol Farms and Whole Foods, we even got Erewhons grocery exclusively in California for the young upwardly mobile profiles and yummy mummy yoga set, the 99 cent store and food for less, for the less well heeled but no where delivers the must return for specialty items you just cannot get anywhere else.

I’ve been shopping at Trader Joes for years. And safe to say I love it and whilst some might say you cannot get everything you need there like branded laundry detergent, I’ve swapped over to their free and clear liquid detergent which is beautifully scented with lavender, cheaper than the branded versions and equally effective.

There are a few things unique to Trader Joe’s I buy every week and couldn’t get anywhere else which is why their customers are so loyal. The merchandising and store layout might not be as “corporate” as other stores, more a farmers market feel but I like that and the flowers are better and cheaper than the actual farmers market. I like to go to the one in Santa Monica at least once a month. There are a few different ones, one on Wednesdays and one on Saturdays. I like the one on Sundays from 8.30am -1.30pm on Main Street.

I digress.

Things worth making a trip to Trader Joes for:

The pirates booty, a cheesy, cross between Cheetos and popcorn snack.

Ready made fresh Bruschetta topping, chopped tomatoes, herbs, garlic in the same green tub it’s been packed in for years, makes a great side salsa, or perfect bruschetta, tastes completely homemade, because it is.

Chocolate coated coffee beans you won’t be able to resist. You won’t find these delicious treats anywhere else.

All the small batch brews and IPA mean you can try something different pretty much every week and support small brewing companies. The wine selection is really good too.

And the fresh ready made salads, all priced between $3 and $5 dollars are larger than average portions and every possible variation, spinach, chickpeas, beans, Mexican salads, corn, quinoa, Caesar. If you like salad there’s no where better for selection or price, with or without meat.

And don’t get me started on the breads, biscuits and cakes. It’ll take you months to get through trying all the various choices to determine which are your favourites. If you like exploring different things it’s the place for you. The selection and quality is second to none.

And you’d imagine an offering this spectacular would have a spectacular price tag and yet it’s the opposite.

Shopping in Trader Joe’s won’t break the bank, unlike stores with similar offerings like whole foods or Erewhons where just a few items can rack up a $100 bill very quickly.

Trader Joe’s has managed to build amazing relationships with their suppliers to provide a fresh food offering second to none across the world.

If you find yourself Stateside, make a point of popping in and having the Trader Joe’s experience, a master class is healthy California lifestyle, sustainability, shopping small and local and good vibes and value.

And I couldn't believe it this week when I saw Bloombergs opinion columnist Andrea Felstad extolling the virtues of the Trader Joe's canvas tote one of which I am a proud owner, as being the competition amongst stylistas in Hollywood to the famed Hermes Birkin. Not sure how true this is but I'm onboard. I use mine everywhere, to the gym, to the beach, cost me about $4 bucks but hey while stocks last with this kinda high profile marketing. So happy to be a bag carrying paid up member of the Trader Joe's style alumni. Who knew?

This is not an advertorial. I don’t work for Trader Joe’s, never had, just a genuine loyal customer.

San Francisco Premium Outlet - a visitors guide to budget shopping designer clothes

Brands You Can Expect From High Designer, Gucci, Versace, Prada, to Off Saks Department Store

Vivienne Chan

2025-11-02T08:57:00.0000000 2025-11-02T10:11:25.5830000

First off, for anyone visiting San Francisco it's a bit of a trek and really you need to car to get there. We took an Uber which cost about $65 each way and takes about an hour, it about a 40 mile journey. If you drive yourself parking is free and there's lots of it. We were warned it gets pretty packed although it wasn't the case when we visited. The mall opens at 10am, we arrived around 10.30am on a Sunday morning and it was pretty quiet. We did discover some of the premium stores like Vince, Givenchy, Armani don't actually open until 11am but there's plenty to check out if you happen to arrive early.

Making The Most Of Your Visit

I would suggest planning ahead and deciding which stores you want to visit a head of time. It's a pretty vast place for first timers and a little overwhelming, especially if you are only interested in specific brands or looking for something specific. It's probably worth looking at the brand list before you go and also find the stores you like on the map ahead of time. We'd looked at the brand list but didn't do this so finding what we wanted to see wasn't the easiest and we did end up doing more walking than necessary if we'd had a better plan.

Are the discounts and savings worth the trip?

It's expensive for sure, especially in the designer stores. I was looking for a hoodie, I saw a few I liked, one in Zadig and Voltaire, around $200 and one in Givenchy for an eye watering $460, which didn't feel like a designer discount so I'd say you need to budget around $500 if you want to have a decent shop. I went in the Theory store, a brand I love and found a very cute jacket, not sure what the original price was but $300 was too much for me.

We spent 20 minutes in the Off Saks Outlet, a favourite store of mine at the Beverley Center where I live in LA. This was really disappointing.  There was hardly any stock and what they did have looked really dated, lots of occasion wear, ready to wear, very little athleisure, comfortable, every day clothing and hardly any shoes or boots, we didn't buy anything in there.

There's a lot to look at, it's very big and could be overwhelming. Planning ahead before you visit is smart as some stores we found had extra discounts on top of the normal discounted prices. We shopped in the Vince store as we got lucky. They were offering an additional 25% off the already 40% off which made their staple T shirts much more affordable around $45, we stocked up.

The lululemon store was packed full of stock if you are a fan but you'd need to allocate time, the store was very busy and going through the rails to find your size and style was a job not for the faint hearted. If you want to try things on I'd suggest wearing something easy to whip on and off as even in the winter months, we went in the fall, it was still very warm and sunny and all that walking, we did end up a little bit hot and sticky.

Getting the most out of your visit to San Francisco Premium Outlet 

Planning ahead will save you a lot off time and make sure you don't miss out visiting your favourite stores, or spending your whole budget in one store and then realising there are others with stock you'd have preferred. Don't make any snap purchase decisions, especially when you first arrive. The retail assistants are well trained to close sales and not everyone offers returns, in many of the stores, sales are final so you don't want to make a mistake. 
 

It's a fun day out, but wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for a lot of walking. We did plan for have a shop and then a nice restaurant for lunch, forget that. There is one food court in the centre which is expensive, not fancy, not healthy and where you'll struggle to get a table, even when the mall doesn't feel packed. Our Uber driver warned us ahead of time the food options at San Francisco Premium Outlet are limited and showed us a mall close by where the restaurants she said were a lot better, even though we ended up not eating at all in the neighbourhood, there are better options 5 minutes drive away.

Would I go back?

Definitely. I loved the Vuori store. This was my favourite, where I spent the most money and I didn't get to the Lacoste store, another brand I love because I blew my budget in Vuori. I also missed the Adidas outlet which would have been good for a new pair of Samba's or Gazelles. If you are looking for sneakers All Birds looked good,  I didn't see a Nike although there was a pretty big Puma store. I also didn't make it into the Sandro store or the Maje store, two brands I love for ready to wear, clothes to wear for work, even though working for a record company I don't dress up massively, this kinda stuff was not something I was shopping for on this trip, but definitely on my radar for another visit, budget permitting.

There's also a big Sephora for make up and beauty lovers but if you are used to shopping Sephora the savings were insignificant in here and this was probably the busiest store of all the ones we visited. We did shop but the service was shocking and we had to stand in line for 15-20 minutes to pay. 

The other shops we didn't make it into were Ralph Lauren which looked pretty big and North Face or Moncler if you are heading to Big Bear or the slops and looking for a winter jacket.

The San Francisco premium outlet is not as fancy as I was expecting and the savings aren't as fantastic as I'd hoped for but there's certainly loads of choice and you can find something lovely if you take your take your time and don't shop on impulse.

Vuori California Leggings and Athleisure Brand Get Tennis Ambassador Jack Draper

I went to the outlet in Northern California to see what’s up

Vivienne Chan

2025-10-29T19:20:00.0000000 2025-10-29T23:40:51.9730000

I love an athleisure brand and quite a few have started in Southern California, inspired by the casual healthy lifestyle, by dreamers and doers in search of sand, sea, surf, fitness, sport and art. I can relate. I jumped on the ALO bandwagon and have been enjoying the ride for a couple of years, I jumped off the Lululemon yoga mat, (they also have an outlet store at the San Francisco Premium Outlet I visited) when it came to light white folk were being promoted and valued more than the rest. 14 ex Lululemon workers spoke out in Sheena Butler Youngs article in Business of Fashion, 20 November, 2023 "Black is Off Brand at Lululemon" I didn't like it and I stopped buying, although when I poked my nose in store in Livermore designer outlet, lots of women clearly hadn't read the memo, it was very busy. I glanced at the packed rails of coloured leggings but didn't see anything to make me change my mind, even though I was shopping for leggings. I stayed in the Lululemon store all of 5 minutes. 
I didn't know I was looking for Vuori until I found it. I was on my way to Lacoste, the Theory outlet store on my radar and there in between was a window display full of leggings. I was in, in a flash.

The store is light, bright, modern and inviting, like the California ocean on a hot day. The store layout is girls on the right, boys on the left, and notably every piece of clothing I touched made we want to put it on literally. Soft stretchy leggings, matching bra tops, looked well cut with deep flattering waist bands and lots of 7/8 lengths for shorter Asian girls like me. A result after Lululemon making leggings for Amazonians. 
I asked a friendly helpful assistant about black leggings, there was a lot of colour, she explained the outlet didn't get much in black and what she had was regular price because black always sells out in store and online she told me. She did manage to find me a catsuit and a pair of leggings in black, my size, so I was off to a great start.

I started trying on hoodies, (I couldn't afford and then opps couldn't resist) short cropped styles, some with zips, very cute on in earthy colours, easy the wear and style, longer length cosy options in cotton, polyester blends that felt so luxurious. I bought into the "investment in happiness' strap and was happy to spend $80 on one of these beauts.

Everything is plain, check, and the branding is minimal and subtle, double check, the labelling is recycled and everywhere you look you see sustainability and ethical practise, from fabric sourcing to labour and manufacturing follows a strict code at the brand's core.

I remembered a story on my radar about British no.1, tennis star Jack Draper leaving Nike where he said he was one of many, launching a tennis line with a much smaller more ethical sustainable brand where he felt he could make a difference and that aligned more with his values, an offer he couldn't refuse he said, and launched the new brand partnership a couple of months ago at the US open.  When I connected the dots I realised this was Vuori too, and I thought how refreshing it was to see someone so high profile moving away from a brand like Nike to join a relative unknown brand by comparison. Funnily enough my allegiance to Lacoste came from a love of tennis too. However after shopping big in Vuori, I blew my whole budget I didn't make it to the Lacoste store this trip. 
I do love to play paddle tennis down in Hermosa Beach, CA so I have checked out the ladies tennis offering from Vuori online. I've already seen a few things I like.

The clothes I purchased I absolutely love, they fit and feel great on. I haven't tried washing anything yet, it will be interesting to see how things hold up after the laundry. The price point is about the same as ALO yoga, $100-$130 bucks for leggings, sweats and loungewear $100-$150, a tennis dress will cost you again about $90-$100.

In the outlet there were definite savings, my catsuit was only $50 and I saved about $50 on my hoodie even though I had to pay retail for the black super lightweight skimming leggings and a bra top, $150 for the set. I do love it and still a little more affordable than ALO even at full retail.

Yoga gals and tennis junkies check out these sporty apparel pieces. I purchased a week ago and haven't worn anything else since. As soon as they go in the laundry I have a feeling I'll be back shopping online. I have just signed up for 20% off. For the first time this week I have seen ALO yoga using the Kardashians to market their biggest ever celebrity inspired sale, the prices are better for sure, the airlift leggings I love are now $80 instead of $134 but for me those ladies that get to market everything kinda put me off. I just think they cannot like everything and when the motive is just money I don't really believe or want to keep buying in, even for a product I like and have had a few times before.

Vuori you've got me right now. Let's hope you stay true for the long haul.

Hollywood Reporter I trust for industry news whilst Loving Access Hollywood on NBC

Real news reporting Vs gossip and tabloid news in Hollywood

Vivienne Chan

2025-06-18T10:57:00.0000000 2025-06-19T07:17:13.5670000

I love having my copy of the Hollywood reporter on my coffee table in my apartment some people prefer mega art books, or limited edition fashion or photographic compilations for me it’s up to the minute Hollywood news, produced by proper journalists issued weekly, I get 35 issues a year at $159 bucks and for me it’s money well spent.

In a world where news is mostly consumed online although less and less unless you pay as the main papers Los Angeles Times, New York Times and Post, Washington Post and the Wall St Journal all require a paid subscription to read anyway my Hollywood Reporter subscription keeps me abreast of industry news in Los Angeles and I swear a few of my friends pop round because they know I have a copy of the latest issue.

Thursday nights are now consumed by Season 3 of And Just Like That which began a few weeks back. Episode 4 of 12 aires Thursday 18th, June and it was the Hollywood Reportor who broke the release date back in April, 2025.

And Just Like That season three debuts Thursday, May 29, at 6 pm PT. The 12-episode season releases weekly, concluding with the season finale on Aug. 14.

I know it’s had really mixed reviews and sure it’s dated and I agree clinging on for dear life, the story lines may be lacking in substance but what can I say I am a die hard fan.

It has to be said the reviews have been pretty shocking thus far as the cast try to navigate probing interviews around the series scandals and controversies, I remember SJP’s awkward interview on NBC’s access Hollywood at the premiere of the new show back in December 2021 and wondered at the time why she looked so

uncomfortable standing next to husband Matthew Broderick and looking to him for support not really knowing what to say amidst fall out rumours with SATC co star Kim Catrall who played Samantha Jones suggested to have thwarted plans for a third movie.

As I have got stuck into the third season of Michael Patrick King’s follow up to Darren Stars creation of a now 27 year old franchise for the remaining three friends, Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte I’ve been reminded of Mr. Big, John James Preston, played by Chris Noth being killed off “death by Peleton

Bike” in episode one of the first season, and the timeline of why the interview was perhaps so

Awkward. Two weeks later mid December 2021 the Hollywood reporter published an article citing sexual assault allegations made by two women (that later became five women) against Mr. Big which led to footage shot in Paris addressing Carrie’s grief for the feel good series (Big appearing to Carrie on a dream sequence) as she dispenses with his ashes over a bridge in to River Seine, being cut.

It made me think about how TV characters created over long periods of time can shape who we believe them to be in real life when in fact near fairytale perfect Mr. Big is behaving completely differently day to day and even potentially using the HBO brainwashing to his own advantage.

I am not singling out the actor Chris Noth here who has denied all allegations and has not been charged with any offence, merely pointing out why I like the counter balance a newspaper slash magazine like the Hollywood reporter provides for tele addicts and TV show fans like me.

Will the super successful TV show revival 20 years later get a fourth season commissioned by HBO. I very much doubt it. I think even blood thirsty commissioners have had their lunch dragged out as long as possible on a show revival that’s failed to convince even fans like me who’ll watch on in some form of nostalgic stuper,

“that’s entertainment”

The only thing we need now is to see picture perfect Aidan Shaw, played by John Cornett involved in some real life controversy or drama and the nail will finally be hammered down on this proverbial coffin.

Thanks for keeping it real Hollywood Reporter.

Abbot Kinney Boulevard and lux lingerie shopping you find there

Intimissimi Cosabella Bluebella and Beyond

Vivienne Chan

2025-05-22T16:06:00.0000000 2025-05-22T17:57:49.2670000

I love Venice, the library, the boardwalk, it’s a vibe, a scene and it doesn’t matter if you haven’t been for ages whenever you return whether it’s to visit one of the many dispensaries or to visit the famous canals or see where classic movies like White Men Can’t Jump, Spiderman Far From Home or going back further the musical Grease were shot, it’s a place like no other on the planet even for Angelinos like me.

After 27 years a favourite of mine Chaya Venice, on Main an old style hotspot been there forever sadly closed fortunately the less formal M cafe on La Brea is still going part of the Japanese family’s legacy.

It’s a place that doesn’t stand still and the shopping on Abbot Kinney Boulevard has now overtaken the the big malls of the 90’s and noughties. I love the Beverly Center it’s close to where I live, convenient and there’s a big movie theatre there too but it doesn’t beat the on foot experience of meandering down the street bobbing in and out of the now super cool shops and branded boutiques you can find there like Free People and the Italian lingerie outlet Intimissimi.

The great thing about the neighbourhood it is always changing, ethics and sustainability are the competing currency, if you haven’t got a story about all you are doing right you probably won’t survive.

There are loads of independents. Bromelia is a favourite for swimwear and all the modern units attract smaller innovative brands like Evelyn and Bobby who began their journey in 2018 with a pop up on Abbot and Kinney

.

It was in a small, tiny infact, boutique on Abbott Kinney where I first discovered the Italian Brand Cosabella, founded in Miami in 1983 by husband and wife team Valeria and Ugo Campello in Miami, USA they discovered a way to compete selling Italian made luxury garments made more affordably and better than the cheap Chinese competitors. I’ve been a fan ever since. Also not to be confused with Cosabella, Bluebella founded in London, UK later in 2005 making similar luxury designs with a more affordable price point. As someone who grew up loving gorgeous intimates made in Europe finding these two brands in a hobo boutique in Venice Beach was a massive game changer at the time. The quality and design detail I loved, for a much lower price. You can now find a range of the Bluebella lingerie brand at Target.

The original shop is now long gone but angelinos can shop the Cosabella range at Bellezza Exquisite Lingerie in Pacific Palisades. Since its inception Cosabella has remained family run and operated. A truly American success story.

These days whenever I’ve finished shopping no trip would be complete without picking up my favourite healing remedies courtesy of Saje and a healthy juice from the Pressed Juicery.

Some of the shops are super expensive for sure, you are going to find the big name brands like Vince, Lululemon, Rag and Bone, Zadig and Voltaire, American Vintage but it’s the little lesser known up and comers that make this area of Southern California so exciting for me.

It’s a neighbourhood feel that maintains the relaxed vibe of all the beach cities minus the sometimes pretentiousness of West LA.

It’s further to go and parking in Venice especially at the weekend can be tricky but for me if you are thinking of heading to Melrose, Abbot Kinney perhaps less well known outside Los Angeles county is way better and much more fun.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Vanish Colours For California

Ballerina 111 is the perfect nude pink

Vivienne Chan

2025-04-18T10:20:00.0000000 2025-04-20T12:27:45.1900000

I have got a bottle of Sally Hansen complete salon manicure, number 210 nail polish, it is called Shall We Dance. I have had it for years, like an old fashioned bottle of corrector fluid I keep diluting it with solvent as it gets thicker and thicker to try and extend its life. I cannot find it anywhere and I’ve searched every drug store pretty much.

Then my friend came up with Le Vernis nail colour 111 ballerina from Chanel which gee is kinda almost exactly the same. The thing I like about it, two coats and it’s still sheer. Looks like lovely clean natural shiny nails, you can see the tips through so don’t need a french manicure and it’s so sheer and light as it starts to chip, I wash dishes every day, you don’t actually notice.

It’s the perfect clean groomed nail solution for girls who are low maintenance.

I got it for a present so I couldn’t afford $46 normally.

Is it worth it. Well it says it’s got all kinds of lovely ingredients to help keep your nails healthy. Obviously nail colour on your nails isn’t the best to wear all the time. I probably have nail colour on for two weeks of four to give my nails a break and let the air, sea and sun get to them and the condition of my nails since using the Chanel colour has been good.

My friend a real Chanel girl bought it for me because of a new formula, embracing a more natural approach developed especially for Chanel featuring a higher concentration of pigment and enriched with camellia eco ceramides, a naturally derived ingredient.

I’ve been using for about a year and my nails look great. I have even invested in a Le Vernis nail colour rouge noir, it’s a blood red, brown I love. I bought it for the colour. Great for the fall and winter in California when the days are shorter but the toes are still out.

Like I said if you can find the Sally Hansen one you’ll save yourself a fortune. The chanel nail polishes if the budget allows are really really nice, go on really easily, dry quickly for the gel lovers and really don’t chip and I am hard going on things like that.

Baja Sharkeez

On highland Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA

Vivienne Chan

2025-03-09T10:29:00.0000000 2025-04-18T10:20:45.0070000

When I first moved to Southern California I lived at the beach in Manhattan, first in a small apartment on 23rd st and Highland Ave and then we moved to an apartment closer to Rosecrans actually on Highland, with views facing the ocean so Baja Sharkeez (originally Sharkeys) was our very first fish taco hang out. I love their quesadillas too.

This restaurant is not fancy. It’s the perfect dive bar for a pitcher of beer after volleyball or getting together with friends for binge watching your favourite show or just watching a game.

The decor is Baja inspired, colourful art and memorabilia adorn the walls creating a lively fun up beat atmosphere. The crowd is usually 20 somethings, that’s the beach, mainly rentals for students, surfers and young professionals.

Whether you are in the mood for a cheeky cocktail or a delicious quesadilla it’s the best casual sit down spot in the neighbourhood.

Since it opened over 25 years ago now it’s become a favourite amongst the residents and the brand has expanded to include 4 other locations, Hermosa Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Santa Barbara.

Even though I live on the Westside now I still love this restaurant and especially when friends visit from out of town and we enjoy a stroll on the strand or a day at the beach we always finish off with the fish tacos, the mahi mahi is always super fresh; the guacamole and homemade salsa I’ve been addicted to for years.

Fallen in Love with Loewe Bags

Paula Ibiza Straw bag and the Loewe Bracelet Bag ♥️

Vivienne Chan

2025-03-09T09:04:00.0000000 2025-03-29T09:58:06.4670000

I treated myself to the Loewe Paula Ibiza straw purse in black retail $1100 (I didn’t pay that, I purchased 2nd hand with some Birthday money) FYI it comes in a terracotta colour, pea green or natural rafia and in a small, mine or large size at hold on to your hat $2200.

I don’t usually like a small bag, or a bag without a shoulder strap, don’t worry this bag comes with a strap although I found myself not needing it. I carried it with the handles like a shopper and it’s actually quite roomy so managed to get everything I needed in there for the day, wallet, phone, make up; small bottle of water, hairbrush. Yep looks small and neat although somewhat deceptive.

I am really happy with the investment.

The second Loewe purse I am after is the Bracelet Bag. This one is more expensive at $1700 (I’ve seen one as low as $800 secondhand but haven’t taken the plunge.

This one I absolutely LOVE for its unique design and ease of carrying. From the demos I’ve seen online it couldn’t be better for me and my lifestyle. You pop your stuff in the pleated tube and then slip it in your wrist like a cuff, the easiest accessory.

The Loewe bracelet bag has come in an array of colours including green and white off white although new the two colours are black and nappy, the one I have my eye on is the nappa, a soft camel colour.

The aesthetic of the bag is a pleated lamb skin tube. Not much branding, just logo embossed leather on each end. It’s the design and how you wear it I was really curious about. I found it original and intriguing And most of all fun.

For me I want it to go with everything and as I don’t wear a lot of black in Southern California and as I already have the black straw one, I think the lighter colour I will get much more wear.

Divine. I’ll post if I take the plunge.

Expedia.com Buy knowing you are NEVER getting money back

I’m back as a more informed customer

Vivienne Chan

2025-02-06T10:59:00.0000000 2025-04-05T16:50:02.3370000

About 10 years ago I got burned by Expedia, who also own Hotels.com. Expedia a travel business started by Microsoft in 1996 it was aquired in 2003 by USA Interactive corporation is now publically traded but with key stakeholders being the usual group of money making suspects, BlackRock, State Street Global Advisors, Par Capital Management, and ValueAct Capital Management

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I bought into a vacation that was mis marketed, mis represented, spent a fortune, had a terrible time and then found out exactly what kind of company Expedia is:was.

I haven’t given them any business for at least 10 years and have recounted my avoid Expedia mantra to everyone who would listen until this week.

I’d booked a hotel using Bonvoy Marriott club points and I needed to add on a couple of extra nights.

I’ve stayed at the particular property before so I didn’t need to read reviews or the description of where I was going (that had been so lacking and regarding some facilities completely made up, in the past)

The price for these couple of nights ranged online from Expedia being the cheapest at around $400 per night up to some sites offering the same room for as much a $700 per night.

In this situation I just went with the cheapest and booked with Expedia. I was completely aware this booking could not be changed and was completely non refundable. I was happy with the terms for the low price.

One thing I will say when I emailed the property to connect my redeemed points based booking with the new on a serious budget Expedia booking the reception at my chosen property was less than warm when they saw who I had chosen to book with.

I appreciate this is just the property maybe judging me a bit for booking through Expedia and going for the rock bottom price above anything else.

I guess my point here in this case it was better for me this time to give my business to a company I have been treated badly by in the past. And that’s OK.

To sum up if you don’t care about after care or service. And you are just looking for the cheapest price, go with Expedia. DONT expect them to be there should anything go wrong. They won’t be based on my experience and I had an unbelievable experience with no food available they never even acknowledged even after the story appeared in a local newspaper.

I used Trivago this trip for the first time. I didn’t really rate it.

Heritage Quay Antigua and Barbuda

I could feel the rich poor divide

Vivienne Chan

2025-01-14T14:39:00.0000000 2025-01-16T12:55:30.5600000

I’ve visited quite a few poor places. The Caribbean is usually not a place where you feel the locals are really suffering. The reason I love this part of the world, the joy and hospitality of the people.

Over the holidays I went to Antiqua for a few days. I was supposed to be going with someone special, they decided to end it before Christmas and I decided crying in a tropical paradise better than at home in my apartment watching Bridget Jones on repeat.

I packed in haste, just threw a few things in a travel bag and when I arrived I needed a decent bikini.

It’s a Caribbean island smaller than Barbados or Jamaica with most of the tourist shopping in one place at Heritage Quay, which doubles as the port where all the cruise ships pop in for the day and the travellers aboard step off for some duty free shopping.

The port area is like an outdoor shopping mall you’d find in the US kinda like an outlet mall, loads of jewellery, but the clothes and beachwear selection although quite extensive I was really shocked by the inflated prices.

I decided to venture a little further outside the Heritage Quay and walked into an area that definitely had more local vibes.

I asked these women pictured where I could find a bikini for my four day stay. They directed me to a couple of local shops I was happy to explore, imagine a shanty type set up with a curtain over the door, stepping into the unknown to find a couple of living rooms filled with clothes in plastic bags.

This is definitely a place of two halves, the Heritage Quay, constructed for tourists only where a bikini that should cost $100 costs $500 and a local economy where the people are so disillusioned by the seeming inequity of the tourists they rely on; when they get a customer they are a bit hostile.

The experience I had trying to support local was a bit scary, I felt I needed to give them money, I had to buy something to get out of the shop.

I even had to pay to take the photo.

Baja Fresh

Go to Mexican fast food on the west side

Vivienne Chan

2025-01-04T12:33:00.0000000 2025-01-04T14:01:54.8030000

Baja Fresh is the same age as me. Born in 1990. My absolute favourite on the go lunch spot on the west side, easy for me as it’s pretty close to the Pacific Design Center in the Beverly Connection.

It’s not drive through, but plenty of parking in the strip mall off La Cienega.

I’ve been a loyal patron for years, there used to be one in the South Bay near the studios on Rosecrans, I think this location is now shut down.

The most irresistible thing for me is the black salsa, closely followed by the pico de gallo and the black chips. Not sure whose they are but really good. I picked up the black corn chips in Trader Joes and Erewhon, neither were as good as these.

The guacamole is homemade fresh, spicy and unlimited.

The limes you can have as many as you want, same goes for coriander and jalapeños.

You order your tacos or burrito, I love the black bean taco salad but if I am feeling really hungry the burritos are more substantial.

Always happy to sacrifice a drive through to customise all the fresh and spicy ingredients.

I go to Baja Fresh at least once a week sometimes two and it’s always on the list when hosting folks from out of town.

Gutted when the one in Manhattan Beach shut. There’s also one in Marina Del Rey on Maxella.

I cannot think of anywhere you can get the same quality and consistency for under 10 bucks.

And if you are veganuary or trying to eat less meat in 2025 everything is built plant first super easy to drop the chicken or steak.

Instagram Hackers

What happens and what to do when your Instagram account is hacked

Vivienne Chan

2024-11-26T08:39:00.0000000 2024-11-26T13:09:40.2670000

Sharing this snoop to warn everyone about an Instagram scam, hack. If you get a email saying you have been verified, qualified for a blue tick, the only email you need to look for that is legitimate is “security@mail.instagram.com”. Everything else is fake.

I got an email, the kicker not to my Instagram email, (something I wish I’d thought about) saying I had been verified and was now eligible for a blue tick, something I have applied for a few times in the past but never had a response or been awarded the verified badge.

My instinct was is this fake? so I looked at the email address the message had come from meta@verifiedbadgesform.com

The clever hackers had produced verifiedbadgesform.com to point to all the meta Instagram help support pages making me believe it was a real email.

So I clicked and went through the series of prompts.

Within minutes I had an email saying a random foreign gmail address had been added to

my account and within a few minutes more my account was disabled, Instagram had never heard of my user name, email or phone number.

When I tried to search my account from another Instagram account it was there but all my 6000 post history was missing.

I have subsequently gone through all the processes on the meta support website to attempt to recover my account which resulted in me receiving two numeric codes from Instagram with messages in English and Turkish (something that made me question again if I was in the middle of another hack)

I think not, as the final stage of the account recovery process was to submit a video selfie that scanned my whole face for the Instagram support team to determine the account is actually mine not the hackers.

Now according to half a dozen blogs I read in the subject I just have to wait.

One of two things will happen, I’ll get a login reset link to my Instagram email or I won’t. The time frame for this, anywhere between a few days and a few months.

Can I contact Instagram, the answer is no. I did find out I am not alone, 13% of all Instagram users in the US have been hacked.

TikTok Seller Center and My TikTok Shop

You are just not going to believe this

Vivienne Chan

2024-10-30T09:30:00.0000000 2024-10-30T09:42:44.8000000

When I told my friend what had happened with my TikTok shop she said “I don’t you know why you are shocked, why do you think it’s being banned.”

Like many others a couple of years ago I caught the TikTok wave, people saying they were making pretty decent money with a TikTok shop so I opened one.

I had to jump through quite a few hoops to get my store up and running, I had to buy global product codes and get some images of my products shot and after a few weeks my store was finally approved by TikTok.

At first I did sell. I was making content, doing lives, following the instructions and guidance in the seller centre and it all seemed to be working.

I even had a couple of silly videos reach over 200K views. It made me happy, I told people, look I said I’ve managed to go viral on TikTok.

The problem I didn’t really know or understand why. In retrospect I think perhaps TikTok gives everyone a leg up at the beginning.

I worked pretty hard on it for about a year. The problem was I couldn’t grow, I couldn’t get traffic, sometimes I’d post a video and by the end of the day it had 5 or 6 views when the one the day before had 20K. It just didn’t make any sense to me.

Then just as I was about to quit, TikTok started looking like they were helping me, they started offering their customers discounts on my products but still paying me the same amount, i.e. losing money to get people shopping with me.

This is good, or so I thought but the discounts or the sales didn’t last.

Eventually I realised it just wasn’t worth it. I was making loads of content, doing a lot of work for little or no reward.

Then the fun begins. Has anyone on here actually successfully closed a TikTok shop.

What looks like a straight forward process from the instructions I could not make happen.

You have to access a security code to process your account closure however when you try to add the code from your email, a alpha code (letters not number) TikTok disables your keyboard and only gives you access to numbers so you cannot add the code. Get around that by cutting and pasting and TikTok will not let you scroll down and accept you want to close your account.

Like I said you couldn’t write it.

Then if you actually manage to make that button visible, I tried turning my phone that didn’t work, after a lot of tries to finish the process when I did manage to press it, I got a message, and this is 100% what happened,

Something that read like; we are so happy you have decided to stay.

I haven’t managed to delete my TikTok shop via the TikTok Seller centre.

Anyone who has would love to hear how you did it.

R + Co Dallas Two way mirror high shine

Thickening hair care products

Vivienne Chan

2024-10-14T10:31:00.0000000 2024-11-20T14:05:40.2600000

Not so good. Why it’s in the car.

My hair is not my best feature. Even though everyone says Asian hair is the best mine is thinning. Why I like wigs.

R and Co have been a life saver and game changer for me the thickening shampoo and conditioner obviously cannot give you more hair but I have noticed a big difference after about 12 months using.

The shine oil is the opposite because it is kinda greasy, even when using a very small amount. Anyone with thin hair knows product can make you look like you’ve just had a bucket of water ripped over you, and this is me with the two way mirror smoothing oil.

I’ve put it the car so I can offer a quick juzz to friends and family and hopefully find a new home for

it.

I bought it from Sephora and I think it was about $35, which is a lot for me.

So guys you know it’s not good for thin hair but FYI checks all the good animal friendly cruelty free boxes and smells so good too.

I could see this product work very well on thicker unmanageable hair. For hair already lank or thin this product makes it worse.

The IVY

On Robertson

Vivienne Chan

2024-09-30T13:01:00.0000000 2024-09-30T14:15:05.7170000

Here’s the deal. I just got back from London, saw Taylor Swift in Wembley and hung out on Regents Street, Bond St, Mayfair, went to everywhere on the Monopoly board pretty much.

They have this group of restaurants everyone talks about, The IVY and I spent my vacation telling people about our “The Ivy” in LA.

This restaurant is a personal favourite, I love going so decided to share this snoop about the iconic spot on Robertson, not to be confused with Santa Monica, The Ivy at the Shore, which is great but a different beachy vibe.

The experience at the IVY begins when you pull up and Valet park, the restaurant is smack bang in the middle of two

Luxury high end clothing stores so the people watching and women with bags filling up the patio is a regular scene.

Lunch for two is at least 100 bucks. I like the brunch eggs Benedict and hollandaise, they make it better than anywhere and the signature Banana split I’ve been ordering for years with homemade pistachio ice cream.

The staff are as iconic as the place, Mario has been there I’d guess more than 30 years and he seems to remember all his regulars, dressed in floral ties (that match the seats) and crisp white shirts, when you’ve been you’ll understand why there really is only one “The IVY”

FYI for anyone booking in a table of 5 of more expect 19% service to be added to your bill.

It’s a super spot for star gazing and celebrity stalking if that’s your thang although the last person I bumped into there was P. Diddy ikes.

Anine Bing

My latest go to Athleisure Brand

Vivienne Chan

2024-07-08T11:42:00.0000000 2024-07-08T12:47:43.9070000

My local Anine Bing store is 8211 Melrose Ave, LA and there’s also a store in Pacific Palisades, CA I usually cannot resist popping in when I am passing or visiting my dentist.

The clothes are very simple, classic basics, in neutrals, black, nude, grey, white, off white and nothing too over branded which I like. I guess you’d say typical LA beach lifestyle basics, with focus on comfortable wearable sustainable pieces, a sensibility that appeals to me.

I was in London recently and got to visit the Anine Bing store on Avery Row, W1 London and although it is very small by comparison to Los Angeles I felt very welcome. No pushy sales people and I got to enjoy browsing.

The sizing tends to be true to size. I am a US 6 and I buy small which is pretty standard.

I purchased the intarsia beach cover pictured and have been very happy with it, especially because it is made from a lovely soft cheesecloth material which makes it extra absorbent, like a cross between a wrap and a towel for my ocean dips.

I also bought a vintage black Anine Bing baseball cap which is one of the best fitting and flattering caps I own so all in all a very loyal customer. Lovely shops, lovely brand. The last time I shopped I got 7 things in the checkout and had to reduce it to 3 as I was way over my budget.

To give you an idea on prices, I paid $150 for the beach cover and about $50 for the baseball cap.

GetRiver.com Review

Colibri

Vivienne Chan

2017-09-18T09:15:17.2430000 2017-09-28T09:55:15.0670000

I have been an active user on Instagram for several years and a few months ago started looking at options to help me grow my reach without compromising my account or upsetting my loyal followers.

I discovered Get River from being marketed to on Instagram by them and then did some research on Google and thoroughly read their website, I have tried a few apps that make quite bold claims but did nothing except get you to download a couple of apps you don't want, and after reading a pretty comprehensive review of their trial on Reddit (a site I trust) by supposedly someone who is not affliated with them in the least I decided to sign up for the free trial myself and see what happened.

The way the company say Get River works is based on the hashtags on photos you post. Their software goes out and likes pictures on your behalf engaging with new people i.e. Potential customers. It also follows people on your behalf (based on hashtags) in the hope they like your content and comeback and return the compliment.

We started with the free 7 day trial and we were very impressed to begin with, our likes catapulted from 50 or 60 per picture to 400 - 500 very quickly and our engagement was dramatically improved. Get River started following accounts and although many were not appropriate (porn or spam) so our feed became impossible to manage for real the followers did start going up.

We did have a small problem in the beginning accessing our account and had to change our Instagram password but in the Get River marketing blurb they promote never getting any account blocked (although it does say in the fine print terms and conditions they accept no responsibility for blocked accounts or lost content) fortunately neither happened to us permanently,

I elected to sign up for the Managed program at $99 per month and at first it was great and seemed to be working well although we had to fight tooth and nail to get invoices for our payments and then we discovered only about 10% of the people followed actually follow back (loads of spam accounts) and Instagram doesn't like unfollowing AT ALL. So Get River cannot unfollow at the rate they can follow and within a short period of time you reach critical mass and the whole thing stops working.

It took us a while to figure out exactly what was happening. We started manually unfollowing which was extremely time consuming and got us temporarily blocked by Instagram twice. (Fortunately it was only temporary)

The customer service and support is one way, put your query in and get it answered with no way or having a continuous dialogue which is very convenient for them and very frustrating for you when they refuse to answer direct questions about problems or difficulties.

The final straw came when we expressed all these issues to Get River in an email and asked to cancel our subscription.

The response that came back was we had not followed the correct cancellation procedure, that Get River had taken an additional payment and if we wanted to cancel we must read the terms and conditions.

It took about 6 further emails and watching a video to learn how to cancel this service and no money has been refunded.

This is a real buyer beware situation. They do have a pretty clever business model that looks like it's really brilliant in the beginning. We paid for 2 months before realising it was actually money for old rope then an additional month because we couldn't figure out how to cancel, great for Get River but not so great for the customer. in three months of using we saw no increase in traffic to our website although our instagram engagement increased significantly in the beginning.