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November 23rd, 2007
Start your engines, ladies—today is “Black Friday.” It’s the biggest retail day of the year, and if you’re reading this at 7 am then we know you have the restraint (or maybe the good sense) to be home having a nice breakfast instead of fighting the crowds for a TV that’s half price. Don’t get us wrong, we love a good sale; we just don’t like being jostled while shopping. And this year, we have devoted ourselves to the mantra “Shop Independent.” Not to be preachy, but darn it that’s what Portland Picks is all about: finding the coolest boutique that’s just around the corner … discovering locally made soaps, perfumes, chocolates, jewelry, clothing, décor, artwork … and sharing it with all of you. Whether you’re elbow-deep in a pile of cashmere sweaters today or cruising the Internet for gifts, remember to search our archives (there’s a Search box on www.PortlandPicks.com) for the most fun, funky, fanciful and fabulous locally made items! Happy shopping! ps: We have two tickets to give away (worth $100 each) to OMSI’s “Science in the Kitchen” bash. Forward Portland Picks to 5 friends and cc picks@portlandpicks.com, and you could be a winner! (See below for event details!) |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Get a Life! We hardly ever get jealous of other cities. But over the last year or two, we’ve been bitter about New York and its Jamali Garden Supply, a modern paradise for those blessed with a green thumb. Really, with all the mid-century mod furniture available for Portland homes, shouldn’t there be something for our houseplants? With this week’s opening of Life + Limb, our little green monster can finally disappear. We couldn’t be happier about this SE gem, filled with planters, vases, birdfeeders, architectural cacti and aloe, perfect for your Pearl loft or retro ranch. From vintage ceramics to metals, fiberglass and ebonized wood, a wide range of materials make it easy to match existing furnishings—we even spotted an option in wool! As a sucker for design, we loved hearing the litany of names—Adler, Roost, Perch, Suck U.K., Gainey and even Hip Haven for their recreated bullet planters. But, most of all, we loved hearing “Jamali” and knowing that we could finally cancel that trip to NYC and stay right here in PDX. Life + Limb |
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| 2 | Open the Door We have a love/hate relationship with this time of the year. The holiday shopping, the holiday cards, the decorating, the baking, the tree, the viewing of the tree, and our favorite part: the endless array of holiday parties—what better reason to buy a new outfit or three? We’re the types who like to go all out for these occasions—new dress, new shoes, new accessories—which is why we are so happy to see that sofada has reopened its doors on Burnside. Owner and designer Alice Dobson has created a beautiful space with more hours and a work studio for production and custom fittings on-site. She is also carrying more designers, shoes (new!) jewelry, and undergarments, so now everything you need is right at your fingertips. Don’t miss the holiday party on Friday, Nov. 30, where you’ll meet some of the local designers and artists featured in her boutique, and while you’re there you can pick out your holiday outfits (plural). So she doesn’t sell tinsel for your tree. What she does have is your brand new holiday outfit. Stop in and tell her Portland Picks says hello. sofada |
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| 3 | When the Decorating Bug Bites… It took us a while to figure out our decorating taste. Even in our 30s our house is a jumble of family castoffs and impulse purchases. We’re working on conveying our personal style through décor … it’s a long road. We thought we might be on it a while until someone suggested we check out a brand new shop: Real Deals on Home Décor At these prices, we might have found the exit! The first things that caught our eyes were the fantastic mirrors—huge, with expensive-looking framing. We figured they’d be around $500—but not one of them topped $100. Items go quickly, so if you see something you like, buy it! They stock the store with Bombay chests, marble-topped vanities, iron work and decorative items (country chic, traditional, Tuscan, holiday) and pottery that looks like it came from an expensive catalog. They’ll have tons of new merchandise for their official January Grand Opening and there’s a free gift with purchase when you mention Portland Picks! But pop in now on a Saturday (10 am-4 pm) or a Thursday (10 am-6 pm) and tell them Portland Picks sent you. Real Deals on Home Décor |
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| 4 | Holy Gnocchi |
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| 5 | Too Cool For School We spent the weekend mining our overstuffed closets for Goodwill donations (‘cuz we’re good like that, and yes, so we could make room for more fall fashions). Up high in a box labeled “Do Not Touch!” we found a favorite old sweatshirt—ahem–the ex-boyfriend sweatshirt. Aghast and misty-eyed all at once, we knew it was time to say goodbye to high-school crushes and sadly, tomboy comfort. Wherever would we find such a staple of handsome amenity and rebel coolness? Why, at Upper Playground, where urban art and street fashion go hand in hand well beyond the schoolyard. The offbeat outpost traffics stacks and racks of counter culture hoodies and tees, created with original designs (hand-drawn, quirky and retro-inspired) by irreverent artists hailing from around the globe. Be seen in the work of Sam Flores, Herbert Baglione, Jeremy Fish or Dora Drimalas, just to name a few. Besides the clever threads, they sell sneakers, hats, pillows, bags, and a slew of other dope finds. Head out to the Playground and let them hook you up. Upper Playground |
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| 6 | Full of Bravado Last Sunday was one of those impromptu days where we spent the day in wine country as part of a big fun group, and sipped and picnicked ourselves silly. Then our new friends asked us, “Hey, do you want to come over for dinner? We have a fireplace.” Score, we thought. But the cloud to this silver lining? Unabashed coveting. We wanted their house, complete with perfect craftsman coved ceilings, decorated super-accessibly and fun—and yet like something we could never hope to accomplish. Until we found Bravado Home & Design in the Pearl. Bravado is what we would call comfortable modern. The sofas have great lines—but are still comfy. The pillows are artful, yet cushy. You can have as much or as little guidance as you need at Bravado: Various “vignettes” are set up throughout the store, so you’ll always have an idea what works, and then, just maybe, get inspired to create your own ideas. We loved the various candle scents and the bags that would be perfect to stack magazines by the…fire? Sigh. It’s perfect for Pearl dwellers, and those of us who need a style infusion. We left Bravado with a little bravado of our own. So what if our house is more messy than lived-in? So what if there are more people than furnishings? All the more reason to let the professionals pick up our slack. Bravado Home & Design |
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| 7 | Death, Taxes, and Pie? We love that scene in “Stranger than Fiction” when Ana (Maggie Gyllenhaal), the anti-establishment baker, yells at Harold (Will Ferrell) to "get bent, tax man!" And how cute is it that she wants to make the world a better place through baking? We think she's on to something because every time we eat at Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery we somehow leave happier and more content. After three years in the transitional Alberta neighborhood, the Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery is as established as they get. Not to be missed are the seasonal muffins and pies filled with local, organic fruit, and the World Famous Fried Egg Sandwich. We're swooning just thinking about the Organic Plum and Crisp Ginger Streusel pie with the perfectly flaky, all-butter crust. The best part is that now we don't have to worry about dessert for the holidays because we can special order any pie. If death and taxes are the only certainties in life, at least we can take solace in exceptional baked goods. After all, we want to do our part to make the world a better place, too—one pie at a time. Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Two-for-One We’re suckers for botanical art. So much so that a friend came by recently and dryly noted, “You like birds.” Ouch. But we won’t be daunted when there’s so much more to love out there. Our most recent fixations are the “Flora & Fauna” trays at Portland’s own Flora on Alder St., also home to io herbal alchemy. |
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| 2 | Smooth as Silk Shaving your legs can be such a hassle. But a really good shaving brush can lift the hair for a closer shave and silky skin, so your legs/underarms/bikini feel better longer. We love this shaving kit from Rituals Skin Care. Most importantly—the handmade anti-microbial shave brush (no badgers died making this brush!) And the rest of the items in the kit (shave oil, moisturizing shaving cream, milk & honey lotion) are natural and organic. Why not do it up right with fabulous products? |
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| 3 | Expose Yourself to 2008 Who doesn’t remember the iconic “Expose Yourself to Art” photo with former mayor Bud Clark? Well, with 2008 fast approaching, it’s time to make some new memories. Artful Education’s new benefit calendar features plenty of prominent Portlanders in unexpected poses. Catch Chief Sizer with her hand in the donut jar. Or Greg Oden finger-painting. Better yet, spot Clark and Mayor Potter exposing themselves to Vera Katz. Leave it to Portland to come up with such a wacky way to support art and music education! |
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| 4 | Say “Yes” to Socks! We’ve never won anything in our lives… well, once we won a t-shirt in a bar raffle on Halloween but it turned out that our friend switched our tickets. But somebody out there won one of the cutest contests ever—designing a new sock pattern for local favorite Sock It To Me. As if their socks weren’t cute enough! Or comfy enough! Seriously, you can wear these knee-highs all day without pinching or rubbing, and nobody has to know you have unicorns under those knee-high boots. |
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| 5 | Home for the Holidays We want a beautiful home for the holidays—trees bedecked with glittering ornaments, holly trailing down the staircase, stockings hung just right—but we get stressed just thinking about mopping the floor. Enter Chancellor Designs—they’ll turn your home into a wonderland—with no stress for you. An initial consultation determines your needs. Holiday parties? Traditional family Christmas? A modern take on Xmas? They put it up and take it down! They’ll even decorate through January with winter whites, or into February for Valentine’s Day … you get the idea. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 2 | Let Her Press: National Letterpress Show + Sale |
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| 3 | Shop Where the Pros Shop: Albea Iris Do you have a picture of your home in your head? Make it a reality—or extra-special for the holidays—shop Albea Iris’ Early Clearance Event! Local design professionals know that Albea Iris Furniture specializes in high-end contemporary furniture at factory-direct prices. Their showroom is fantastic, and now you can save even more on gorgeous furnishings. What: Early Clearance Sale at Albea Iris Furniture |
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| 4 | Fabulous Sale at Visage Eyewear! Experience stellar sunglasses, bold character pieces and everything in between, carefully selected from around the world, at Visage Eyewear. Wonderful frames make a fabulous gift (especially for you!) Enjoy warm tea, tasty snacks, great music and all the fun frames necessary to combat chilly days in style. Get 50% off sale frames—some marked as low as $60! |
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| 6 | Tired of Wussy Workouts? Yes, Pilates is a dancer’s workout, but dancers have rock-hard abs for a reason! Check out NW Pilates—their expert instructors can guide women and men at any skill level through a challenging, satisfying and above all, effective workout. Call now for the Buy 10 Get 1 Free special, and tell them Portland Picks sent you! What: Get a Real Workout at NW Pilates |
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| 8 | First Annual Forest Heights
Holiday Tour of Homes What: Forest Heights Holiday Tour of Homes |
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We just opened a fortune cookie that read “Be frugal at this time.” Um. Yeah. We’re getting ready to shop til we drop, Universe! We need all the good karma (and credit) we can get! Happy Black Friday!!! |
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