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January 11th, 2008
You can totally tell where our heads are this week. We’ve been gorging throughout the holidays, and the urge to splurge on food and drink is still strong. We used to joke in college about “feeding the beast,” and apparently the beast is still here, and she’s hon-gry! This issue of Portland Picks is chock full of places to dine, drink and satiate your Bacchanalian desires. There’s even fab food for Fido! But no worries—we’ve also given you ideas for how to work off all that indulgence, because, let’s face it, though we may eye that pie, it will go straight to our thighs. btw: We have three exciting issues coming up for you:
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Speaking of Bespoke At a party recently, we shared our newest discovery. “It’s so cool,” we gushed. “Bespoke wallpaper!” Then, because we are who we are, we had to add, “You know, custom. Custom wallpaper!” Of course we forgot we were talking to one of our most stylish chiquitas, who lives and breathes bespoke. Yikes. So we blamed it on the champagne. So: Hermitage has arrived in Northwest Portland. This delightful shop sells hand silk-screened and hand-finished wallpaper from designers as far-flung as London and Sweden. We oohed and ahhed over the silky sheets, wanting to wrap them around ourselves like towels. Plus, style-seekers who don’t have the wall space or budget can still get a poster-size panel of many of the offerings. This is not your mother’s wallpaper. Full of perfectly chosen accessories like Scandinavian tea sets, antique suitcases, postcards, jewelry, and beautiful dishes from Brooklyn and Canada, Hermitage is like a museum of delicate cool. When a new, cool store opens up that makes us want to completely redecorate our abode, we feel free to repeat ourselves. So we’ll say it again: Custom! Custom wallpaper! Hermitage |
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| 2 | No Need to Fear These Heights We’re not exactly sure how we’re feeling about 2008 thus far. In the past week, one of our ladies broke up with her significant other and moved to the Hawthorne neighborhood. (The Hawthorne part we’re excited about, the moving part, not so much.) So last weekend when she stumbled across a brand new bar, she was more than thrilled to have a new place to call her very own. And she called us. Voila! Vertigo is just the comfort everyone is looking for in a neighborhood watering hole. The relatively small corner location is more than welcoming, with big, comfy booths, a delicious menu (still in progress), and John and Bryan, two of the best bartenders/bar owners a girl could desire. Vertigo is literally still in its opening stages, but we are anticipating great things: live music, outdoor seating, happy hour, a late night menu and trivia night. Actually, we’ve changed our minds about 2008—a few beers, a few good friends, and a neighborhood bar to call our very own—what more could we ask? Vertigo |
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| 3 | Work Out Where the Trainers Train You know how we feel about Pilates at Portland Picks. We are freaks for it. What do we love? The non-impact workout, the way it tones our abs (and everything else), and also the fact that there’s likely a studio near one’s home or workplace. Good stuff. And that said, yes, there are a lot of studios, but we found one that really stands out—Pacific NW Pilates. They actually train instructors in STOTT PILATES®! We initially found that a bit intimidating—the prospect of being surrounded by flat-stomached hard-bodies while we’re trying to burn off our bellies was a touch unsettling—until we learned how “everybody-friendly” Pacific NW Pilates can be. And it dawned on us that we’d be getting top-quality instruction. With its warm, inviting atmosphere and training for all ages and body types (plus yoga and sports conditioning), we may even think of a new career as a Pilates instructor ourselves. And their new-student discounts will help us get shrink our bellies without shrinking our bank accounts. Pacific NW Pilates |
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| 4 | How Do You Say “Awesome” in Belgian? We’re not nearly as well-traveled as we hope to be, but when it comes to our favorite European country, we are quite enthralled. Called “the Venice of the North,” Belgium long ago romanced us with its winding canals, antique cobblestones, and Gothic homes with steep, gabled roofs. Of course, we need more than just charm (no offense, Dear Suitor) to entice, thus we’ve got to say: Belgium has some seriously tasty chow. Craving a cone of pomme frites and a Belgian brew, we found our way to the new Belgian Embassy, found in the petite purple bungalow (formerly housing Lovely Hula Hands) off Mississippi. We forgot how scrumptious Belgian cuisine was! The meal made us melt, from the salad of organic greens with poached pears to entrees like the stoemp and sausage and potato leek stew, both hearty and rich in flavor—and graciously European-sized in portion, considering our anti-Super-Size-Me New Year’s Resolution. Surely our date must have been annoyed as we relived our memories—endlessly. We’re pretty sure he ordered the Belgian chocolate mousse to shut us up, but we don’t mind; we know a good thing when we see one. Belgian Embassy |
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| 5 | Oh, you Pretty, Young Thing! Remember grade school? We’d wait for recess in drab Toughskins jeans, generic striped tops, and boring white sneakers that always made our feet hurt while we ran from boys with cooties. What was mom thinking? We were young hipsters in the making! If we could have a do-over, we’d beg our mum to take us to Haggis McBaggis, where the young, cute and fashion-forward go to dress, accessorize and buy shoes—fabulous shoes! In Scottish folklore, a Haggis McBaggis is “a playful, creative, fun-loving child.” We could see why the whimsical boutique (complete with a pillow mosh pit and slide) makes shopping for shoes, gifts and apparel child’s play. Doting parents find exquisite, well-fitting shoes, wiggly ones run about the kid-friendly store and the patient staff earns an A+ for customer service. We popped in this time to check out their unbelievable sale, 20% - 60% off adorable shoes (Primigi, Merrell, Keen and Robeez), raincoats, winter wear, totes, toys, gifts, and even stylish, comfortable footwear for women. Shop the sale from now until January 28—and bring along your own little Haggis McBaggis! Haggis McBaggis |
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| Event of the Week: | |||
Edible Paper. Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream. Electric Foamers... Is it science class or your dinner plate? Everyday ingredients become fantastical when science and food collide in restaurant kitchens, and The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry will honor the chefs and the science behind them at “Science in the Kitchen: An Evening with the Nation’s Top Culinary Alchemists.” Tickets are available to the Cocktail Chemistry & Appetizers event, with cocktails, cooking demonstrations, music by DJ Mr. MuMu and Liv Warfield, and even science experiments! What: Cocktail Chemistry & Appetizers |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | So Wonderfully, Wonderfully, Wonderfully, Wonderfully Pretty Whose fancy hasn’t been tickled by “Alice in Wonderland”? Amazing creatures, otherworldly objects, fantastical teapots and toadstools! And we’re almost certain that Alice inspired the owner of Flutter. Her taste for the ultimate in girly frills with a touch of Gothic—from deliciously scented soaps to birdcages and ethereal jewelry—borders on fiction! And now we can shop Flutter’s magical store online. From fabulous furnishings to plush home accents, we can indulge our Wonderland yearnings any time we please. |
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| 2 | Oh Yes It’s Ladies’ Night You and your girlfriends get trailed by a professional photographer as you party and have fun together and extol the virtues of singlehood—and who knows, with a photographer in tow you’ll probably attract some guys! And this package is available any night! |
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| 3 | Oh No, It’s Not Over! Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean that the gift-giving has come to an end. Whether you’re looking for birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers or something else, Violet is a one-stop-shop for any occasion. Search for ideas by occasion, category or recipient, with clever titles like “Morning Person,” “Owns Everything,” or “Hedonist.” We snatched up a super cute set of shopping bags for a friend, but on second thought, we’ll probably keep them for ourselves! |
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| 4 | Free to Be You and Me Last time we checked it was still winter. But that doesn’t mean we can’t look forward to spring! And haru jewelry (meaning “spring” in Japanese) offers the perfect excuse to prepare for warmer weather with hand-crafted pieces that blend classic and contemporary styles. We love that haru incorporates precious gemstones, vintage glass and sterling silver and that no two items are alike. Whether you’re seeking a bracelet, choker or ring, with haru, they’re just as unique as you are! |
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| 5 | What’s On the Menu, Fido? When we first took home our pup, she had a little yakking problem. If only Dog Stew had existed back then, we’d still have our designer rug! This high-quality chow is whipped up right here in the Rose City and delivered straight to your door. It’s gentle on tummies and can make even healthy dogs feel terrific. With real meat and lots of vitamins, we’re certain your picky pooch with be smothering you with kisses in no time flat! |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Pin-Me Celebrates with a Fabu Sale! It’s time for Pin-Me’s 3-year anniversary sale! Save big time on the items you’ve been lusting after from their unbelievably adorable selection of pants, skirts and tops plus dresses, coats and denim. All regular clothing and handbags will be marked down 30-50% off! And join them for a party + shopping + giveaways on Saturday night! What: 3-Year Anniversary Sale at Pin-Me |
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| 2 | Haggle Sale at Stars Antiques Malls Are you ready to haggle? Fun plus savings means you’ll get the best price when you’re shopping for antiques and vintage items. Stars Antiques Malls’ Haggle Sale—the first big sale of each year in which almost all of their dealers participate—starts this weekend. You’ll find savings of 15-50% off an amazing selection of items, from furniture to jewelry! What: Haggle Sale at Stars Antiques Malls |
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| 3 | The Art of Weddings is Back! The fabulous vendors from Simply Chic Weddings are hosting this year’s “Art of Weddings”—a not-to-be-missed evening full of ideas for your dream wedding! You’ll feel like you're at a wedding reception, where you can see many of the vendors in action. Plus sample handmade cupcakes, Stumptown espresso drinks, fabulous hors d’oeuvres and cocktails! What: The Art of Weddings |
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| 4 | Workshops for Women |
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| 5 | Live Wide! |
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| 6 | Now You’re Cooking! Take a cooking class! Chef David Bloomfield of the Hall Street Grill will prepare low-fat, nourishing, wholesome and delish dishes in this fun class. Quinoa salad, grilled seasonal veggies, grilled chicken with grape-tomato relish and more. Sit back, relax, sample the food and enjoy a glass of wine as he demonstrates … the recipes are yours to keep. What: Dacor Cooking Class with Chef David Bloomfield |
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| 7 | A New Year, New You Sale Keeping your New Year’s resolution just got easier: Infrared Bodywraps are on sale at Exhilarate Bodyworks! Just $39 for all of January. No limit! Whether you have a current program or you’re just starting one, Infrared Bodywraps are a great way to get that edge. Burn up to 1,200 calories in a 50-minute session! Ask about their new Detox footbath service! What: Infrared Bodywraps on sale |
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| 9 | Relax Your Mind—and Frown Lines Mark your calendar for Mona Spa & Laser Center’s beauty event! Free hand chemical peels; $10 a unit Botox; buy 3 Juvederm syringes get one free, plus snacks and drinks! Bring your significant other and they’ll receive 20 units of Botox free with your Botox purchase. Meet their Botox representative and bring your questions to this pre-Valentine’s day of beauty! |
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| 10 | James Beard House Preview at Ten 01 Experience something amazing. Make thee a reservation for Ten 01’s preview of Chef Jack Yoss and Sommelier Erica Landon’s six-course James Beard House dinner (which they’ve been invited to present in NYC), focusing on Oregon’s bounties with wines from St. Innocent and Francis Tannahill. This may be some of the best food you’ll ever taste. What: James Beard House dinner preview |
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| 11 | P:EAR Pairings at Vino Paradiso This special evening at Vino Paradiso will donate the proceeds to the P:EAR organization. Four unique courses by Chef Ian Duncan will be paired perfectly with local wines by sommelier and co-owner Timothy Nishimoto. Representatives from P:EAR will talk about how they support and creatively mentor Portland’s homeless children. What: P:EAR Pairings at Vino Paradiso |
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| 12 | “Big Wines from Small Producers” “Big Wines from Small Producers,” a wine-tasting fundraiser to benefit the newly formed Indie Wine Foundation, will feature full-bodied reds from several of Southern Oregon’s premier artisanal vintners. Enjoy music, wine and appetizers! Enter to win a gift basket from Southern Oregon food purveyors. The Indie Wine Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting the art of craft winemaking. |
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Have you spotted a new boutique in your neighborhood or on your way to work? Let us know about it! Drop us a line at picks@portlandpicks.com – any time! |
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