Monday, December 01, 2008

By MARIJKE ROWLAND
mrowland@modbee.com

last updated: October 15, 2008 07:55:23 AM

While the economy seems scary enough, plenty of folks are still looking for old-fashioned scares this Halloween.

There to help is Modesto's Daydreams & Nightmares. In February, the full-service costume shop moved from its downtown Modesto location to its more spacious Yosemite Boulevard spot.

Owner Dana Walters said the store, which opened in 2004, moved because of increased rent on its previous Eighth and L street location.

The store's new, larger 6,000-square-foot spot means it can offer more costumes and accessories. Walters estimates the shop has some 5,000 costumes for rent.

Halloween is the store's busiest time of year, and Walters hopes old customers will follow them to their new location behind the Wonder Bread Outlet off of Riverside Drive (look for the big purple doors).

Daydreams & Nightmares offers an in-house seamstress and makeup artists. Nicolle Landre (who has done body painting at the Playboy Mansion) and Jayson Adcock can create everything from small designs to full-body applications. Seamstress Lani Britain can customize costumes to order.

With the economy in turmoil, Walters said she was worried at the start of the month that no one would be in the Halloween spirit. But, she said, she has been pleasantly surprised by people's desire, so far, to indulge in the mysterious and spooky this season.

"People are saying we're upset about this economy, but let's have a party anyway," she said.

Daydreams & Nightmares, 2549 Yosemite Blvd., Suite I, will be open special October hours all month, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 575-0023.

Elsewhere around the Business Beat:

Looking to relax without the scares?

Check out the grand opening Thursday of the I Am Yoga Wellness Studio, 2031 Geer Road, Turlock.

The new health studio offers yoga, pilates, tai chi, meditation classes and full spa services. It also is home to the Balance Food and Juice for Life cafe.

Owners Anna Eshoo and Tracy Parreira met while earning their certifications at the Yoga Institute in Turlock.

I Am Yoga had a soft open in August and began teaching its 11 yoga classes, from intermediate to advanced and prenatal levels. The spa has a sauna, showers, three masseuses and facial estheticians.

It offers reflexology, tui na, shiatsu, prenatal, Swedish and deep-tissue massages as well as microdermabrasion, body waxing and more.

The studio has a child care center. The Balance cafe features fresh juice, sandwiches and healthy snacks.

The ribbon-cutting ceremonies will be from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday with Balance food tastings, free chair massages, raffles and tours. Yoga classes will be free all weekend for drop-ins and new clients.

For more information or to book services, visit www.iamyogastudio.com or call 667-8100 ...

Options for dining in Turlock have expanded as well this year.

In August, Kinnari Thai Cuisine, 1801 Countryside Drive, opened its doors.

The Thai restaurant is owned by Patterson husband-and-wife team Thakon and Palida Thamawuttawee. Running a restaurant has been a dream of Palida, who previously worked as a waitress at Tasty Thai in Modesto.

Kinnari is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch, 5 to 9 p.m. for dinner Tuesday through Friday and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call 656-9189 ...

Popular Mexican eatery Mariachis Restaurant in Turlock has doubled its size.

Earlier this spring the restaurant, 2669 Geer Road, had a grand reopening to debut its new 150-person capacity. The restaurant, owned by Irma Villapudua, has been in its University Plaza Shopping Center location for the last seven years. Its hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. Call 632-7662.

Have an item for Business Beat? Contact Marijke Rowland at The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352; 578-2284; or mrowland@modbee.com.

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