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January 25th, 2008
Remember Jay Jacobs? We lived for that place in junior high. We’d go to the mall with a gaggle of girlfriends and spend hours trying things on. And oh, we bought such ugly, ugly clothes there … big sweatshirts with bat sleeves, button-down shirts with stiff stand-up collars—yeesh. And Judy’s—did you shop at Judy’s? We still long for a pair of black and white polka dot Capri pants we purchased there to match our black and white “exclamation point” earrings. And in college it got worse: leggings, shirts so long they came to our knees and so baggy that if we didn’t belt them people thought we were “with child.” Sheer blouses to wear with bra tops (sorry, Mom), colored jeans … vests?!? We were in style then, but still somehow fashion atrocities. And recently a friend of ours moved and dug up a checkbook from when she was 24 years old. The carbons showed the depths of her shopping addiction. Here’s a sampling of where she spent her money: Jay Jacobs, Jay Jacobs, tanning salon, nails, Jay Jacobs, Jay Jacobs, Jay Jacobs, Meier & Frank (shoes), nails, tanning salon, nails, Meier & Frank, Jay Jacobs. Ouch. Ooh, here’s something to banish all thoughts of popped collars from your minds: a mini shopping spree at Mario’s. Forward Portland Picks to 5 friends and cc picks@portlandpicks.com … you could win a $100 GC to Mario’s! |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Search and Destroy When we were young, we weren’t allowed to do much of anything. Jump on the bed? No! You’ll break it! Pump the swing as high as we could on the backyard swing set? No! You’ll break it! So now that we’re older (and with a broken bone behind us), we’re always on the lookout for things we can damage without consequence. Whee! But our design sense is anything but impaired at the newly opened Destroy Store on E Burnside, a space that’s a sexy hybrid of skater chic and industrial. (Yes, we find that hot—if our “sk8r boi” crushes in years of yore are any indication.) Started as an online company over four years ago by New York-raised designer Adam Brush, the Destroy Store carries t-shirts and hoodies in cool patterns and colors, designed by Brush and local artists. Though there’s more stuff for the guy (or the girl who wants baggy), they are building on their inventory for the ladies as well. Stop by the new store—you’ll find just the thing to give yourself a break. The Destroy Store |
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| 2 | Window to the World |
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| 3 | It’s Freaking Cold! We just walked the dog and it’s possible we’ve lost all feeling in our cheeks. Why do we do this to ourselves when we know where to go to warm up? No, not our local pub (though that’s a fine idea). We were thinking more of a place that can help us with layering. Where else but Signal Sports? And since their Winter Clearance Sale starts today, we say “ha!” to Mother Nature! (That might not be a good idea.) But we say it anyway, because we’re going to save at least 30% off every ski, board, boot, parka and winter pant. We’re going to be cozy, warm and above all, properly equipped. They’re also clearing out fall and winter sportswear with discounts up to 50% off brands like Lole, Nikita, Merrell and Beyond Threads. Plus all footwear is on sale at 40% off. There’s lots of winter weather still to come, so take advantage of super discounts on the very best gear. And nobody knows about the sale yet—except Portland Picks! You get to shop early for the best selection. Brrr … and hooray! Signal Sports For Women |
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| 4 | All Grown Up We loved our local college bar so much. It was home during finals, a place where we met cute boys, and we memorized the drink list. But the sassy college girls from back then are different from the sophisticated women we’ve become. We need a new “local” that reflects our grown-up ways! Luckily, we stumbled on the mature version of our college watering hole—The Victory Bar. They call themselves “a bar with good food,” and they aren’t lying. We sampled the spaetzel (just a fancy mac n’ cheese, but decadent and delicious). Their inventive drink menu offers classic drinks with a twist, like a French 77 that’s tart and sweet and warms the belly. We also sampled one of the best wines we’ve had in a while. And we love a good wine—we’re excited to try out the cellar list. Co-owner Chrissy Cimakasky (whom we could have chatted with for hours) offers half-glasses for sampling and discounts on bottles to go. We vote to make The Victory our new “home bar.” It’s understated. It’s classy. It’s sophisticated … just like us! The Victory Bar |
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| 5 | Keepin’ It Green The term “mini-mall” doesn’t exactly conjure up something Pick-worthy. In all honesty, it makes us think of greasy Chinese buffets and second-rate big-and-tall stores, neither of which deserves our blessing. But when you drop in the words “vegan” and “inner SE” (hey, it’s one word to us!), just a few extra syllables make a world of difference. This little Stark strip is 100% animal-friendly, particularly if you’re a clotheshorse. That’s because it’s where you’ll find the new location of Herbivore clothing store, open just two months and tucked right between Food Fight and Sweetpea Bakery. Like their compatriots, Herbivore is all about showing vegans and vegetarians the love, be it with sweet artist-designed tees, non-leather belts, or totes perfect for grocery shopping next door. Not ready to change your diet? Omnivores are welcome, but a quick look at their ample book section might just convince you that being veggie is easier than ever. Whether you call it a “mini-mall” or just an über-hip row of shops, there’s no doubt that green is the way to go. Herbivore |
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| 6 | Focus on Your Body Everyone dreams of a better body—even supermodels have problem areas—or so they think. But us “real-worlders” need help achieving fitness, let alone greatness. We find what we need to succeed at Bodies in Balance, one of Portland’s original Pilates studios, with 10 years of making bodies beautiful and happy. They tailor each person’s program to their individual needs—this isn’t cookie-cutter exercise. Whether you want a home program, group classes or one-on-one instruction, their knowledgeable, well-trained instructors have the experience to take you from post-rehab to athletic conditioning, or even just focus on toning and sculpting for the “regular Jane.” Bodies in Balance also offers teacher training, in case you fall in love with it. And of course Pilates is fantastic for men and women of all skill levels. It improves alignment, ease of movement, core strength and support—and some people even get taller! The first four private lessons are $220—not bad for all that personalized attention. Yes, all this and their spanking new location in our beloved city center … what more could you ask? Bodies in Balance |
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| Cocktail of the Week: | |||
This tummy warmer is guaranteed to banish all thoughts of chilly nights, and fill your head with visions of sugarplum fairies. Especially if you have more than one—which may be tough to resist! |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Must We Suffer for Beauty? We succumbed to the rigors of waxing long ago, but we have to say—it’s a pretty awful regimen. The legs, the bikini … it’s all painful. We were considering going back to the razor until we discovered No-Scream Cream. This magic lotion numbs you just enough to take the edge off the hair being ripped from your body. We ran out of it before our last wax and noticed a huge difference in our pain threshold. With No-Scream Cream, suffering for beauty is definitely a whole lot easier! |
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| 2 | If You Like Cleaning, Raise Your Hand We’d rather have a root canal than clean the house, but our OCD requires that we stress about the dust bunnies we refuse to sweep up. We need professional help, but we’re not exactly CEOs, so what’s a girl to do? A girl should get a guy to clean her house! We recommend Scott of Dad’s Housecleaning. He’ll do your chores, mop your floors, and scour those grimy corners until your house sparkles like a Disney movie. He’ll even do laundry. And with affordable rates, he might become your new BFF. Call 503.539.5581 or email dadshousecleaning@yahoo.com! |
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| 3 | Then and Now A few years ago we went to a “green gift” event and the only thing we walked out with was a bag from Portland’s own Mugwump. And while back then they were cute, we’re glad to say that—like us—they’ve gotten even cuter with time. Each tote, wallet and bag is unique, made from discarded items like classroom wall maps, vinyl placemats and paint-by-numbers. With an attitude of “nothing wasted,” the future of Mugwump looks long indeed. |
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| 4 | Do Something Decadent Going out for your anniversary or Valentine’s Day? So 2007. Get the best of both worlds in your world—dinner and a massage at home. Show Chef Rhonda Lai into your kitchen; while she whips up your meal you and your partner bide the time until dinner with expert massages, all in the comfort of your humble abode. Float off the massage table and over to your dining-room table, set beautifully for a delectable dinner. When has eating in your robe ever been this luxurious? |
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| 5 | Eat Your Veggies? Vegetables aren’t our favorite things. In fact, there are a few that we downright hate, with Brussels sprouts and asparagus at the top of the list (note: not all of us on staff feel this way). Peas always fell somewhere in the middle…until now. That’s because we’ve just discovered pea jewelry by Rachel Sudlow, which makes the little green menaces look totally scrumptious. The mother of pearl beads, paired with a silver pod, may not make us want to eat our veggies … but we’d certainly wear ‘em! www.rachaelsudlow.com |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Celebrate Oscar Night at PAM Portland Art Museum is the place to be on Oscar night! View the 80th Annual Academy Awards in their Kridel Grand Ballroom, for an evening benefiting the Northwest Film Center and the Portland Art Museum. You’ll enjoy a celeb-worthy five-course dinner, a live auction, and fabulous prizes! Dress up and pretend you’re Young Hollywood for the night—we won’t tell… What: Oscar Night at PAM |
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| 2 | Poppy & Ivy is Moving—and Celebrating Celebrate a brand new locale for Poppy & Ivy with a Grand Opening Bash! You love them for their amazing vintage finds and treasures that change daily, from vintage keys to scrumptious candles. Join the fun for bubbly, trunk shows by local artists, an introduction to their favorite skincare line and a balloon bust sale! What: Grand Opening Bash at Poppy & Ivy |
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| 3 | How Healthy Are You? Find out at the Health Assessment Open House at GroundSpring Healing Center P.C., a complementary, integrative and collaborative health and wellness clinic. Reserve your spot and receive skin scanning, nutritional testing, a hot-stone massage, reflexology, and a Chinese pulse and tongue assessment and prescription. You can also experience their new products: HABA additive-free mineral makeup and Yonka skincare! |
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| 4 | West Linn MedSpa Has Injection-Free Lipodissolve! No more needles! West Linn MedSpa offers injection-free Lipodissolve, a technology that has been used in Europe for several years for spot fat reduction, cellulite, and body sculpting. The treatment uses an FDA-approved no-needle delivery system that is painless—even pleasant—and right now a single session is only $200! Goodbye to the pain and bruising of conventional mesotherapy! What: Injection-free LipoDissolve |
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| 5 | End of Season Sale at POSH Boutique Save 25-75% off at POSH Boutique! Their apparel embodies the wardrobe needs of the modern Portland woman with luxurious yet easy care fabrics, great silhouettes and amazing fit. And shopping at POSH won’t break the bank! Enjoy saving up to 75% off of womens wear, 15-50% off kids, 50-75% off maternity apparel, and nursery works furniture at 40% off. What: End of Season Sale at POSH Boutique |
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We know you’ve committed fashion faux-pas in your youth. (Would that make them “fashion faux-pasts”? Oof.) We’d love to hear about them—or better yet, send photos! |
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