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October 19th, 2007
Next week, Portland Picks is getting a shot of testosterone. Why? Because we’re launching Portland Picks for Men—life & style in Stumptown! Here’s the best part: We’re sending it to you first! So don’t panic if your Picks next week is taken over by d-u-d-e-s. Each issue of PPFM will have all the inside info and great recommendations of the original Portland Picks, but it’s written by guys for guys, so there will be topics and tips to keep them on their toes, PDX-style. As soon as PPFM arrives in your inbox, please forward it to every guy you know who likes to eat, shop, drink, recreate, relax and hang out in Portland. (You can use the “Send to a Friend” button at the top of the page.) Or just go ahead and sign them up at www.PortlandPicksforMen.com! It’s free to subscribe to PPFM, and it’s going to be epic. Trust us; they will thank you for it. |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Member of the Tribe When it comes to our manes, we find ourselves changing stylists as often as we change our outfits. We love finding the newest, trendiest, hippest hairstyles, and with that usually comes a new, trendy, and very hip stylist. Our stylist of the moment: Sonia at Tribe Hair Studio. She’s amazing, to put it bluntly (and no, that’s not a pun on “blunt cut,” but now that we think about it....) Anyhoo, she’s fun, smart and brings some sass to Portland and Tribe Hair Studio, which opened at the end of August. You’ll find Tribe in a very modern-loft-type studio in NW Portland. The atmosphere is laid back, yet chic and urban. From haircuts to color, scalp treatments, bridal packages and more, they have everything you need to update your look. Make sure to stop by their open house on Oct. 20 from 7-10 pm, where they’ll be serving complimentary wine, beer and food, and featuring a Prize Drawing! And be sure to schedule an appointment soon—tell Sonia that Portland Picks sends their love! Tribe Hair Studio |
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| 2 | Feeling Continental We like to think that we have a European flair. A certain sophistication that fuels our appreciation of art and food and wine. Sadly, we can’t jet off to Europe at a moment’s notice, so when we’re fighting off the travel bug we head to the Opposable Thumb Gallery + Café on Belmont for a quick fix. Open a little over a month, Opposable Thumb is a Barcelona-meets-Portland combination of art and food in a setting that makes us want to get comfortable and stay for a while. The gallery features monthly exhibits by local artists, best viewed from one of the many inviting conversation areas—a friendly mix of reclaimed and recycled furniture. But it was the food that really got our attention. It’s a tempting array of small plates with a deliciously sustainable theme, with ingredients from the Portland Farmer’s Market. The menu features soups, salads, panini sandwiches, focaccia pizzas piled high with luscious toppings, and delectable, locally made gelato. It all comes together to make us feel so very continental in that Audrey Hepburn sort of way. Opposable Thumb Gallery + Café |
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| 3 | Make Yourself at Home Our friend J has been dreaming of a beachfront place for years. Every time we’re at the coast he’s scouting bulletin boards in little cafés and stopping at “For Sale” signs, but it wasn’t until recently that he found his home away from home. Rockaway, a sweet little town with adorable restaurants, cute shops and an incredible stretch of beach, is now J’s vacation home. And looking out over all of it are the new Rockaway Shores Condos. He called us recently and said, “Bring your clothes, your toothbrush, and dinner.” Sold! We showed up with our overnight case, the makings for beef stew and a Netflix. The gourmet kitchen and sophisticated décor (beautiful furniture, high-end appliances, designer linens) made it hard to keep our eyes off the almost wall-to-wall view of the ocean. We had coffee on the patio the next morning and watched movies on the flat-screen … sounds good, right? Call Brian at the number below and ask about ownership! You too can have a piece of the dream. The only downside? You have to do the dishes. Rockaway Shores |
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| 4 | Flora-bunga! Okay, we’ll admit it. It’s cold. Farkin’ cold. Of course this will be nothing come January or so, but the weather turned just when we could garden bee-free. But all is not lost: There’s Urban Flora. Previously the shop on SE 30th and Division housed all indoor gardening equipment—but as of June, you’ll need to travel down a block and a half to Urban Flora’s other location at 2865 SE Division for all your soil and soil-free gardening goods: sun lamps, soil supplements, fans, climate controls, digital timers, etc. Urban Flora Plant Oasis, in the original storefront, is a full-service florist, with everything in its cool space for sale. They’ve got all the plants you want, with an emphasis on sub-tropicals. Think you can’t find orchids in the winter? Think again. In particular we love the well-chosen vases, pots, candles, cool old birdcages—in short, they have everything we need to make our garden the secret getaway spot we’ve always dreamed of. Now when spring hits and we get re-inspired to haul out the gardening gloves and (ahem) kneepads, we’ll have Urban Flora to guide our trowels. Urban Flora Plant Oasis |
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| 5 | It’s Getting Hot in Here When trying to figure out where to go for a casual dinner the other night with a group of gal pals, it was hard to make a decision with so many mouths to please. We were in the mood for a relaxing spot where we could sink into our seats and ultimately get comfortable with a bottle of red and some good friends. Now we just needed the food. As our pizzas were being pulled from the fire we were distracted from our conversation by the delicious smells, and when delivered, the crusts were a perfect golden brown. We actually stopped talking for a minute as everyone took the first bites. Delish. And we have to love a place where the eats trump girl-talk! Wildfire Pizza & BBQ |
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| 6 | Eyes on the Prize Truth be told, we’re as blind as bats. And because we’re the Portland Picks gals, we always want to know what’s new in stylish eyewear rather than figuring out which frame works best for us. But we finally came to that point where we simply could not splurge on another pair of ill-fitting frames, so we booked a consultation at Eyedentity with Jenna, a former celebrity eyewear stylist. She met with us one-on-one to discuss our personality, hairstyle, wardrobe, work environment and demographic, and told us that our eyewear is our number-one accessory and should convey to the world who we are! Who knew??? Based on our consultation, we began the process of elimination. Starting from hundreds of frames we narrowed it down to four finalists. We then used the “magic mirror” to take a picture (without our glasses!) and “wa-la” we could see what we would look like in our four final pairs. Comparing and contrasting has never been so easy. Contacts, shmontacts! We’re set for life with our new frames—the perfect union of style and function. Eyedentity |
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| 7 | HUD One, HUD Two! Our son wanted to quit the football team for many reasons, including fear. We were concerned, as we generally are about, well, everything, and couldn’t help wonder if there was something we could do to help him. Coach Steve stepped in and worked with him diligently, coaching him through his fear, and taking advantage of our son’s speed. We were amazed how immediately it paid off in new confidence—a new kid almost—with success on and off the field, and it was because of this coach. Now, if only we could apply that to Mom’s life! And behold, we can. Turns out that Coach Steve has an alter-ego— Steve Beyrle of Oswego Mortgage. As a “mortgage coach” he and his team can offer great loans and will work incredibly hard and honestly to make sure you’re confident and happy, finding what works best for you. And unlike our overdone play on words, he's a very straightforward guy, and definitely someone you want on your team. Call Oswego Mortgage today if you’re in the market, and tell him Portland Picks sent you! Oswego Mortgage Corp. |
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| Event of the Week: | |||
Are you feeling lucky? You should! Stewart+Brown, the organic pioneers and the headliners for Portland Fashion week, are having a trunk show at Tumbleweed! Pamper yourself silly in Mongolian cashmere sweaters that practically melt on your skin, richly colored tees for layering, plus puckered tweeds, cozy fleece, and the softest merino wools. You won’t want to take these clothes off. They’ll change the way your dress. And they’ll be on sale! What: Stewart+Brown Trunk Show at Tumbleweed |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Wet and Wild We love us some funky footwear, so when wet weather rolls around we’re often stumped—how do we incorporate our bold style into clunky gear? So we turn to Wellingtons for fresh and fabulous rain boots. This year, we’re getting two pairs—one wildly patterned, and one sedate. Well, sorta sedate. Okay, not at all, but how could we not fall in love with these hot pink babies? Sooo cute, right? They make us wish every day was a rainy one. |
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| 2 | We Predict You’ll Have Another Cup What’s the best thing to sip on chilly nights (other than hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps)? Tea. Plus, you can tell your fortune afterward by studying the leaves in the bottom of your teacup. We are all about this textural porcelain teapot from Pearl River. The color scheme is punk rock, but the delicate design is a classic Chinese shape. Too bad schnapps and tea don’t mix, but then again, that will probably save us from taking our tea fortunes too seriously… |
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| 3 | Hands Off! Clutches are de rigeur this season, and we’re positively smitten with them. We actually enjoy forcing ourselves to whittle down to the essentials for an evening out—ID, credit card, lipstick and a house key. It’s very freeing. But this saucy number from French designer Sabrina Love is just a bit bigger, so we can stuff in more stuff (cell phone, maybe a naughty pack of smokes, a notebook for jotting down boys’ phone numbers) and still look fantastique. |
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| 4 | “Gimme, Gimme, I Need, I Neeeed!” (We’re not crazy—that’s a quote from “What About Bob.”) Anyhoo, we’ve been lusting after the Nixon “Small Player” watch and this is a hint—if anyone is out there to take it—that Mama neeeeeeeds this watch. We don’t even know what makes us so crazy for it. Is it the chic matte finish? The sexy metal links? The fact that it goes with everything? All we know is we must have it, and if Santa is listening, please know that we’ve been very, very good. |
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| 5 | Possibly the Best Toothpaste Ever Well, not ever, but we really like it. Forget plain old drugstore mint—this is the good stuff! We always have a tube stashed in the downstairs bathroom, so we can leave it out for houseguests and be like, “Oh, right, this is our regular toothpaste. This is how we roll.” Marvis actually comes in several flavors, but we heart the Jasmin Mint. Aside from the purty purple tube, it has a delish taste that actually makes you savor brushing your teeth. It’s true! |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Alyson Fox Show at Amalee Boutique Amalee is proud to host a trunk show featuring artist/designer Alyson Fox with an evening of amazing art, cocktails and hors d’ouevres. Alyson has been featured in Domino, ReadyMade magazine, New York Times Sunday Style and Design Sponge. She will debut her new line of totes and tees featuring her illustrations at Amalee, and show her latest artwork! What: Alyson Fox Trunk Show at Amalee Boutique |
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| 4 | Buy 10, Get 1 Free at NW Pilates Get in shape for the holidays and feel oh-so-good at NW Pilates. You won’t find a mat class here! They have all the equipment and expert trainers to help you get the body of your dreams. Private and small-group classes available. Mention Portland Picks when you purchase a package of 10 to receive 1 class free! What: Buy 10, Get 1 Free at NW Pilates |
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| 5 | Get In On Shop Therapy Bring your friends and save on fabulous designer clothes and accessories at a two-day shopping event! Shop Therapy offers must-have fashions from DVF, Theory, Ellie Tahari, Robert Rodriguez, Betsy Johnson, Love by YA YA and more. Hip shoppers in the know have already discovered Shop Therapy … now it’s your turn! It’s worth a sick day for this Weds/Thurs extravaganza! What: Shop Therapy at Elephants Deli, Garden Party Room |
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| 7 | Shop to Benefit SMART Join shoppers at the Woodburn Company Stores for its annual Shopping Extravaganza to benefit SMART, an early literacy nonprofit. Ticket includes: Fabulous savings at your favorite stores, morning beverages by Java Crew, lunch by Wild Pear Catering & Pepsi, wine tasting by Chateau Benoit, 5”x7” group photo by The Shutterbug, plus more! And chances to win great prizes! What: Shop to Benefit SMART at the Woodburn Company Stores |
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| 8 | Be a Design Diva at Cielo Blu's Sample Sale Show the world (or at least friends and family) you’re a design diva by stocking up at Cielo Blu’s sample sale! Known for fresh designs and vibrant color, Cielo Blu’s fine paper collections show you’re both stylish and thoughtful. Everyday and holiday cards, gift wrap, notebooks, invitations and more start at only $1. Arrive early for one-of-a-kind cards! What: Cielo Blu Sample Sale |
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| 9 | Do You Want to be The Biggest Loser? If you said “yes,” or you just want to lose a few pounds, then this program is designed for you. This team program isn’t about “the food” because it never is—a person isn’t fat because she loves mashed potatoes! Join “The Better You” program & discover how healthy habits, commitment and support, can change your waistline! What: “The Better”You Program |
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| 10 | Ladies Who Launch Live! Dedicate a day to Ladies Who Launch and get totally inspired and motivated by listening to women who have launched a cable network, a lifestyle brand (Kathi O’Neil of Portland Picks!), the bible of restaurant guides and more. You’ll leave with referrals, new friends, great marketing tips, connections (or reunions!), plus a gift bag, lunch and spa services! What: Ladies Who Launch, Live! |
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