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October 5th, 2007
What the flapjack happened to summer? We were finally getting sick of wearing sandals and beginning to get nostalgic for fall, and then blammo! It’s winter for a full week. What happened to the transition? We need the transition. We need to layer with light cotton shirts for at least a month before we’re bundling up to walk the dog and wearing socks to bed. We like to gradually ease into colder weather, as nature intended. Having actual seasons is one of the best parts of living in the Northwest, and fall is our favorite season, hands down. But apparently Mother Nature is skipping that step this year. What’s the dealio? Has she got other things on her plate? We are so disappointed in her. No fall??? Seriously, what a rip-off. |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | There is a Season… As the cold, wet weather sets in, we have to remind ourselves of just what it is we love about this time of year—being able to light up the fireplace, buy fresh cider in stores and dig out our winter coats. Or, better yet, buy new ones! Indeed, after a quick stop into the relocated The Bee and Thistle, we’ve got our eye on a chic red and black plaid number from B.B. Dakota—as well as a Beaubois purple houndstooth—that we’re pretty sure will find a way into our closet. Sassy coats aren’t the only things we found in this long-time favorite boutique, now freshly opened in the Pearl. We’re mad for sweet Peter Pan collars from Tulle and Miss Me, kelly green patent handbags by Hobo and Melie Bianco, and silk dresses covered in colorful but abstract patterns. Shopping with a boy in tow? A new men’s section will keep him happy, too. Whether you’re ready to leap into lambswool or want to linger in linen (at 30-75% off!), you’ll be covered with super stylish finds. Tell them Portland Picks sent you! The Bee and Thistle |
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| 2 | Tiny Bites It’s no secret that we love to shop and we love to eat. So when we went to a personal trainer who told us that it would be a great idea to eat five small meals per day instead of three, we were perplexed. How could five small meals keep our inner urges satisfied while we shopped away our outer urges? Would we starve on these benders? So weren’t we relieved to find Lolo, which specializes in Spanish tapas—smaller, appetizer-sized meals, perfect for one of our five! We ordered the Serrano Ham and Manchengo Cheese Croquettes—mini balls of potato sitting in cheese sauce. Yum! The Apple Salad came with large slices of apples dipped in pesto dressing. Our bellies were happy. For dessert we tried the Churros, which came with honey and chocolate dipping sauce. Mmm … warm, cinnamon bliss. Okay, so maybe we overdid the “five small meals” idea on this visit, but at least we tried to keep our personal trainer happy. And we did satisfy the hunger we worked up while shopping. We say, shop ’til you drop, then hit Lolo! lolo |
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| 3 | Wear It Again, Sam Since we don’t have the “eye” for finding the gems, second-hand clothing stores can be kind of scary for us. But we don’t like chi-chi boutiques with three items on a rack and a ton of ‘tude, either. There needs to be a happy medium for those of us who can’t spot the flawless cashmere in a moth-eaten haystack. And that’s why we love What’s Upstairs. One of our favorite consignment shops, they get new shipments just about every day. And what’s new at What’s Upstairs is a bright and chipper redesign, including newly seafoam-green walls, new furniture, and new dressing rooms. You won’t find anything less than stellar here, and it’s all arranged by color. The quality of the merch is fabu—for instance, one of our favorite Furla bags was up for offer. Also, labels we love like BCBG, Nanette Lepore, Kenneth Cole and Ralph Lauren were represented. Not to mention some of the cutest jewelry we’ve seen in a while. With these brands and these prices, you’ll definitely show your smarts at What’s Upstairs this fall. What’s Upstairs |
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| 4 | You Gotta Have Friends We have this pal whose favorite television show of all time is “Friends.” Not only does she make us watch reruns of “Friends” (almost) every time we hang out, she even went as far as to name her cats Ross and Rachel. Ouch. Needless to say, the moment we spotted Chaos Café & Parlor we immediately called our pal and told her to come meet us for coffee, which several hours later turned to wine … but we digress … Like the coffeehouse on “Friends,” Chaos Café & Parlor is bright, funky and feels like home. There are board games, magazines and Wi-Fi for your entertainment, couches for reading; and the Parlor, which is opening up in October and will be available to the community as an open space for the arts, such as yoga, book club meetings, live music and the like. Stop in for breakfast, lunch or dinner (all vegetarian and mostly organic) and don’t miss their dessert menu—it’s to die for! We’ve definitely found our home away from home at Chaos. Chaos Café & Parlor |
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| 5 | Spare the Wallet, Spoil the Child We just saw the “Nanny Diaries,” and while we loved the honest portrayal of Manhattan’s Upper-East-Side moms, the movie brought us back to the summer of our junior year when we went to NYC to nanny for two young children. Cute, but spoiled, their wardrobe alone was worth more than we made all summer. Part of us loves the idea of dressing our children in the latest fashions, but there’s no way we’re going to fork over our entire paycheck. That’s why we were thrilled to find out about bella stella, an adorable shop filled with a mix of funky and fancy new and resale clothing. From PluiePluie rain boots and raincoats to ivy studio onesies with sayings like “Future Librarian,” we fell in love with just about everything in their shop. Seriously, they have everything you need at extremely reasonable prices—and don’t you feel so much better knowing that you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for your kid to be cool? We certainly do. bella stella |
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| 6 | Do Guys Drive You Crazy? What happened to the guy who used to woo you? The one who invited you over "just to hang out" and had lasagna in the oven and your favorite flick on DVD. The one who chatted you up on the phone for hours every night. The one who kissed you when he left the house. How did he turn into a sports-watching, dishes-piling-up-in-the-sink, not-so-talkative, overall unsatisfying "friend"? He’s still in there … you just need the key to unlocking how your relationship “used to be” and how to rekindle it. If you want to put the spark back in your marriage, put the sexy back in your boyfriend, or just plain figure out what makes men tick, then PAX Programs’ seminars are for you! Their “Making Sense of Men” seminar helps women find the key to understanding men. This isn’t advice from a magazine or an “us against them” indoctrination—these are professionals who have helped thousands of women improve their relationships with family, at work, and romantically. You’ll find a new perspective about men and women, with some great laughs along the way. Register online—it’s free—and tell them Portland Picks sent you! Making Sense of Men - Free Intro |
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| Photographer of the Week: | |||
Ever since our senior year of high school we’ve been weird about posed photos. We’re so demanding (they must be natural; they must capture our “true selves:” we don’t want props!) that we’ve tested the mettle of many a photographer. And let’s be honest—there are lots of talented photographers here. But we find ourselves recommending Moving Pictures again and again. You’ll feel relaxed and even enjoy yourself, forgetting she’s there as she snaps away. It’s more like storytelling than picture-taking. Children, couples, individuals, families … the portraits are natural, tender, and most of all, wonderfully you. |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | We Smell Pretty We never tire of pretty scents when we’re in la toilette. So why do we love this line of hand, body and dish wash from Daub & Bauble? First, there are three amazing scents to choose from (we can’t get enough of the Sorrento Lemon & Ginger). Second, the hand lotion includes shea butter, and finally, and best yet, you choose the design on the bottles, including deer and birds, Morrocan-inspired prints and more. Getting clean has never been so fun. |
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| 2 | What a Treat! Diet Coke. Splenda. Hand lotion. Confused? So were we. Normally we hate things without sugar with a passion, but the new Sugar Free Therapy hand butter from Portland’s own Treat made us reconsider our reservations. Even without all the fillers (the lotion is fragrance, lanolin and paraben free), the mixture is ultra rich, providing relief to even the driest of skin. What’s more, it leaves your hands smooth, not greasy, proving once and for all that you don’t need sugar to be pretty darn sweet. |
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| 3 | Travel Gear We’ve said before that we love Portland oodles and oodles. No other city compares, which is why it’s the first place we ever deemed worthy of the Picks. And since we know you’re just as passionate about Portland as we are, we’re going to share a little something we found … even though we know it might become über-trendy the moment we run this. So, without further ado, we give you Maptote’s Portland bag. Seriously, could the faux bois font be any cuter? |
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| 4 | Building Bridges They don’t call Portland “Bridgetown” for nothing. And even though we love all of the glorious steel structures that connect our quadrants, the St. Johns Bridge holds a special place in our hearts. With its gothic architecture and vertigo-inducing height, it’s no surprise that the SJB has now been immortalized in pillow form. Filled with recycled pop bottles and available at Trillium Artisans, this organic gem is all Portland! |
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| 5 | Art in a Jiffy Thanks to Etsy, great art pieces have become a real bargain; there are just no more excuses for blank walls and stark interiors. The difficulty comes in separating the wheat from the chaff, but lucky you—Portland Picks is here to help! One of our favorite finds is Treetop Studios, which offers hand-printed creations on high-quality 8x10 paper. Birds, butterflies and modern flora come in classic neutrals to match with any décor. Whether you’re buying for babies, birthdays or yourself, just pop ‘em in a frame for insta-stylish art! |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Lucina Debuts at Greenloop Portland's go-to spot for the best and brightest in eco-fashion, Greenloop, will host Lucina as their featured designer during First Friday Art Quest. Lucina, a locally based, Fair Trade jewelry collective, is garnering attention for its exquisite, modern designs. Meet the designers, see the entire fall collection, and enter to win a free Lucina piece opening night! |
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| 3 | Art, Architecture + Cocktails! |
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| 4 | It’s Time for Art in Mountain Park Head over to Mountain Park for their latest art show! Dozens of artists will be present, selling work in all different mediums. Everyone is welcome, and it's going to be a casual event. Enjoy complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres, free chair massages by LMT Larry Wolfe, and meet the featured artists: Sonja Donnelly, Jason Failla, Karen Christensen and Shirley Benz. What: Art in Mountain Park |
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| 5 | Save 20% on Furniture at hip! What could be better than hip for contemporary and modern furniture? How about a second hip, slated to open this October? Until the new store opens, you can save 20% off any special order placed at hip’s original location, plus you’ll get a little bonus coupon for the new store should you find that location a little closer to home. What: HIP Anniversary Sale |
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| 6 | PICA & Nordstrom: Runway to Rooftop Enjoy an evening devoted to all things fashionable, at a fundraiser for the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art. It’s cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at their rooftop party, plus entertainment, a runway fashion presentation, and incredible shopping from Nordstrom’s via C boutique. Discover truly stunning collections that go from runway to rooftop to your way. What: Runway to Rooftop |
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| 7 | The Wedge Feeling cheesy? More than 25 artisanal cheesemakers who hone their craft tucked away in rural and not-so-rural corners of Washington, Oregon, Northern California, Idaho and Utah will gather for The Wedge: Portland Celebrates Cheese. The South Park Blocks, located between SW Harrison and SW Montgomery at the campus of Portland State University, will host the festival. What: The Wedge: Portland Celebrates Cheese |
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| 8 | Voices for Silent Disasters Voices for Silent Disasters humanitarian concert series will benefit Mercy Corps humanitarian efforts in Uganda. Enjoy a great lineup of more than 35 top Portland musicians including Art Alexakis, Storm Large, and Pink Martini’s Thomas Lauderdale and China Forbes, in a collection of 11 concert events throughout October and November. Tickets are $10 to $15. What: Voices for Silent Disasters concert series |
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| 9 | Fall Sale at Josephine’s Save 20% on fabrics storewide at Josephine's Dry Goods’ annual fall sale! They’ve been selling designer fabric for fashion enthusiasts for more than 30 years. Enjoy seven days of storewide savings on an exceptional selection of new Italian wool suitings and novelties, fine cotton shirtings, Amy Butler prints, silks, jerseys, knits and more. There’s also a remnant sale! What: Annual Fall Sale at Josephine’s |
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| 10 | Line Up for Leadership New Leadership Oregon (NLO) invites you to the Line Up for Leadership Luncheon. NLO, started by the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, provides leadership training for Oregon college women. Sonja Henning, a former WNBA player, attorney, and now associate director of sports marketing at Nike, will keynote the meeting. What: NLO leadership luncheon |
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| 11 | You’re Invited to a Gala! Ride Connection, a non-profit agency that coordinates a continuum of quality transportation options for older adults and people with disabilities, is holding its annual gala to benefit their programs and services. Enjoy food and drinks, plus the music of Michael Allen Harrison, Theo Burke and Mark Ferguson, and the art of Tim Combs, Erin Donley, Larry Treuber, Michelle Purvis and others. What: Ride Connection annual gala |
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| 12 | Snow Bunny Boot Camp Signal Sports and Recess are partnering to bring you Snow Bunny Boot Camp! Come to a preview and get a free hour of training, as well as meet boot camp alumni and ask questions. Snow Bunny Boot Camp will improve physical fitness, lower-body and core strength, plus flexibility and balance. Attend a preview and save 20% on the camp (normally $250)! What: Snow Bunny Boot Camp Previews |
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| 13 | Nau Special Sale to Support Yes on 49! Haven’t checked out the sustainable outdoor fashions from Nau yet? Now’s your chance to get a great deal on their spring products—save up to 75% off! (While supporting a great cause!) They’ve opened a space in the Pearl from now thru Sunday, and will be donating 5% of every sale to 1000 Friends of Oregon. What: 75% off Nau Clothing, Music, Art |
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We’re launching Portland Picks for Men on October 26! Each issue will have all the insider info and great recommendations of “regular” Portland Picks, but with guy-focused content and tips just for dudes. We’re going to send it you first so you can check it out—so don’t be surprised when your Portland Picks gets a shot of testosterone that Friday! So be sure and email it to your hubbies, boyfriends, BMFs, office crushes, brothers, uncles, dads and cousins, and of course, your hottie doctor, dentist or acupuncturist. Wink wink. It’s free to subscribe to PPFM, and it’s going to be epic. |
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