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February 29th, 2008
Of course we watched the Oscars (we heart Jon Stewart) but we also watched the IFC Spirit Awards and we have to say, those are a lot more our speed. We were knocked out by the bottles of vodka and champagne chilling on each table. We're so doing that at our next party!!! And of course, we got to see our favorite crush-on stars like Parker Posey and Steve Zahn—people who probably don’t even get an invite to the Oscars, let alone a run at the gifting room (which is so not right, btw.) Seriously, Parker Posey should be the poster girl for the Spirit Awards, seeing how she’s been in like five kajillion independent films. In fact, they should make her their statuette—much like the famed gold one people get at the “other” awards, Spirit winners will be handed a gold-dipped, full-body likeness of Parker Posey. Preferably with bangs. Feel like a winner? Forward this issue to 5 friends and CC us at picks@portlandpicks.com ... you could win a free pass for two to NW Pilates’ Mat-Class Happy Hour! (See the Hip Happenings for more details on the class—it’s a blast!) |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Jealous? You Should Be. Our best friend lives in Paris and to be honest, that’s really annoying sometimes. She always comes traipsing home, wearing these super chic trends via the French runway. We just can’t keep up with her—we always feel ultra drab standing next to her and all her “Frenchness.” When she comes home next time though, we’re prepared. We’ve been shopping at Le Train Bleu. LTB, which recently relocated to NW 26th Ave. & Upshur, is sure to give our wardrobe that extra chic-ness we’ve been craving. In addition to their high-end, French-inspired clothing lines, they have added several new and unique lines to their spring collection. We also have plans to take our hubby there, because lucky for him, they just started carrying men’s clothes too! Really, Le Train Bleu has everything we need to be just as adorable as our little French friend. Not only do they have clothing that you won’t see anywhere else, they’ve got the jewelry and the handbags, and to top it off, they like to mix a touch of art into everything they do and sell. We think our Parisian-dwelling friend will be the jealous one next time! Le Train Bleu |
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| 2 | One for Me … And One for Me Though children are a blessing, we’re 99.9% sure that we’re never having kids of our own. The thought of spending that much money on someone other than ourselves just makes us cringe! Fortunately, our friends aren’t of the same mindset, which is why we’re happy to have found Why Not?, a nostalgic addition to the Sellwood strip. Entering the store—in the words of a customer—is like falling down a rabbit hole and winding up smack dab in the 1940s. From the weathered pink walls to the portable turntable, here’s where you’ll find reproduction paper dolls and children’s classics like The Velveteen Rabbit. But what we love most are the clothes, handmade from vintage linens or embellished with doily lace, each piece sweeter than the next. While there are springy swing jackets for big kids too, Why Not? is really aimed at those who want retro chic for their little ones. Floral and fruit patterns abound and, for the boys, there’s even a “cowboy corner.” Sure, we might be selfish, but when it comes to shopping for friends, we’re more than willing to splurge. Why Not? |
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| 3 | Afternoon Delight We like to think that we are grown up and somewhat mature for our age, which is why we can never get over the fact that our face does not always agree with us. Every so often (i.e. once a month) we just so happen to get a ginormous pimple. Grr! Seriously, our teenage years were ages ago. Thank goodness for Caroline Haelig, a Level Three Dr. Hauschka Aesthetician and owner of Bali Spa. She provided us with the most amazing Dr. Hauschka Classic Treatment Facial, which revitalizes the skin and encourages deep relaxation. She pampered us head to toe including a foot soak, lymph stimulation, colored light therapy and two treatment masks, not to mention zapping our pimple. We left feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, and pimple begone! Two days later, there was no sign of our nemesis. Be sure to call and book an appointment soon, Caroline also offers Dr. Hauschka body treatments and waxing (Double Martini Bikini, anyone?) And be sure to tell her the ladies at Portland Picks sent you! Bali Spa—by appointment only |
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| 4 | Award Show-Worthy Baubles If we had an invite to the Oscars, we’d plan our outfit by starting with the jewelry. The dress could wait—but we’d simply have to have something gorgeous dripping from our earlobes, dangling from our wrists and hanging seductively from our necks. In fact, forget the dress! It’s the jewelry we covet. And we wouldn’t be the ladies we are if we didn’t swoon over baubles the likes of Mandalena’s. From her quaint little shop in Bridgeport Village, Mandalena (yes, it’s an actual gal!) hand-crafts gorgeous jewelry you have to see to believe. And it doesn’t break the bank! And when you consider how talented she is—placing in the Top 20 for Swarovski’s “Create Your Own Style” design contest in 2007—her pieces seem even more luxurious. Don’t have time to get down to BPV to indulge in Mandalena’s award-winning designs? Here’s the big news—you can now shop online at www.mandalena.com/portlandpicks. Thank goodness we don’t need an awards show to indulge. We can wear Mandalena’s jewelry anywhere! Doing the dishes, out to dinner… even to the movies! Mandalena |
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| 5 | Indoor Sports Valentine’s Day is what New Year’s is to partying. Amateurs. So as a rule, we skip it. One year, rendered dateless, we took a blanket, spread it on the floor, uncorked (ahem, unscrewed) the wine, and ate feta, hummus, pita bread and chocolate all by our lonesome. And it was good. Our romantic luck has since improved, but what’s a girl to do with champagne taste but distaste for crowds? Our favorite: Bring the celebration home. For entertaining one or 100, Pearl Specialty Market & Spirits is our new favorite place for the upscale nibbles and sips. The airy shop has the pinots, the Belgians (beers, that is), local liqueurs like Clear Creek pear brandy, and even an absinthe brewing kit. They also have a Scotch collection the likes of which we haven’t seen since, well, Scotland. Not to mention artisan salts, cheeses, and—our favorite!—MarieBelle chocolates! They’ve been open since December and they’re continually finding cool new things to bring in. They’ll even consider requests; we’ve been on the hunt for sweet Italian candied cherries to toss in our husband’s Manhattan. We asked and they decided to order them on the spot. Just in time for V-Day. That sure is service. Pearl Specialty Wines and Spirits |
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| 6 | Single and Fabulous. Exclamation Point! We’re not going to lie—this year, Valentine’s Day was one of those fried-food and Long-Island kind of days (which is normally sooo not our style, btw). But we were single. And not thrilled. So before the girls came over for a night of cheap wine, cheesy movies and fondue, we grabbed our BFF for a quick bite at the new Edge of Belmont, which teeters, well, on the edge of our fave little SE hip strip. Thankfully, the place axed the island/pirate theme of past (formerly Calypso and Salvador Molly’s), but retains a colorful Caribbean vibe and serves up dinner delights like Pretzel Chicken, Ruffle Tilapia and Tofu in Peanut Sauce—which we swiftly bypassed for the Cheezy Poofs and spicy Red Ringers (like we said, it wasn’t our smartest menu moment). But seriously, those were some of the best onion rings to ever impress these picky taste buds. And that Long Island, made with cucumber-infused gin, black cherry vodka and blackberry rum—yum, yum, yum. Yes, we’ll be back; it seems like a good place for a first date. Assuming we get one… Edge of Belmont |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Save Your Skin We’re constantly on the lookout for skincare, so when we found a pure, active and organic line we did double backflips and clapped hooray! Getting older is no picnic, so products like Alchemilla’s are so welcome. Their preparations deliver a more healthy, vitalized and youthful complexion—just what we need! And their high-quality, pure botanical extracts are safe and effective. Plus they’re made in Oregon, and supplied by local organic farmers. Now through the end of March get free shipping plus 2 free samples on orders over $65… and enjoy the new you! |
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| 2 | Oh So Pretty We know which crystals will form diamonds before they're ever mined. We know which oysters carry pearls before they're ever opened. And we can sense a beautiful piece of jewelry from miles away, blindfolded. SanMarco Designs crafts a certain amount of elegance and femininity that is just right. And we love that this classic, timeless, chic and ageless line could truly suit anyone, from our sexy friend Lib to our loco Aunt Kristy to our dear mother hen, Jennibelle. How transcendental! And so is the overall philosophy. Groovy baby. |
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| 3 | Bat for Lashes We often wear mascara as our only makeup. If we were stuck on a desert island, we’d eschew sunscreen for a lifetime supply of the black stuff. Which is why Portland’s own Tube Your Lash mascara is one of the great loves of our lives! It gives you gorgeous lashes and won't cry off (like Holly Hunter in “Broadcast News,” we schedule time for crying jags), but comes off easily with a splash of warm water. |
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| 4 | Cuteness for Your Head A friend of ours recently proclaimed that if we grow our hair out, we’ll look approximately 12 years old. “So be it,” we said, and proceeded to embrace our inner tween, buying up adorable barrettes to pin back our lengthy locks. Now we’re happy to tip you off to Portland’s own DaisyChains, an Etsy seller of bobby pins embellished with dots, stripes and mod flowers. Truly, you’re never too old for some hair bling! |
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| 5 | Best Roommate Ever We once had a roommate who would incessantly hit the snooze button. Hearing it go off for the tenth time each morning would annoy us to death, but we have a secret … we’re guilty of the same offense. This explains why we’re so happy with Clocky. After giving you one chance to wake up, he will leap off your nightstand and wheel around the room—beeping—until you drag yourself out of bed to catch him. Effective + cute = best roomie ever! |
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| Event of the Week: | |||
Gather the wedding party and make a beeline for the Pearl District! Enjoy the Perfectly Pearl Modern Bridal Event, to benefit Central Portland Families. See the specialty goods, services and offerings that make the Pearl District the perfect wedding (and wedding planning) destination. LEED-certified venues, invitations printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks, locally grown floral designs and more… plus designer gowns, dazzling jewelry, and the latest trends. Nibble on hors d’oeuvres! Bid in a silent auction! (btw: This may be more fun than getting married!) What: Perfectly Pearl Modern Bridal Event |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Boutiques Unleashed, Baby! If you don’t know, Boutiques Unleashed is a human and canine fashion event showcasing the latest couture for you and your pooch. Come early to enjoy food and cocktails and get your chance to preview fashion in the Unleashed Auction. Watch as models and doggies strut their stuff down the runway, and be sure to stay after to bid on your favorite fashions and accessories! What: Boutiques Unleashed |
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| 2 | Who Says Dating is Hard? So many Portland singles complain about the dating scene. You might be one of them. If so, we have the cure for your romantic woes. “Fearless Dating” is a co-ed workshop that offers a killer new approach. Learn how to make an authentic connection while communicating what you intend to communicate, and while you're there, who knows who you might meet? What: Fearless Dating seminar |
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| 3 | Healthy Happy Hour at NW Pilates Spend the all-important hour before you head out by working on your abs. Every Friday in March NW Pilates will be holding a happy hour mat class focusing on ab work to get you feeling sexy for your weekend. You’ll feel slimmer, taller and more confident—just bring your own mat! RSVP since space is limited. Just $10 per class! What: Healthy Happy Hour at NW Pilates |
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| 5 | Single and Hating It? Get off your patoot! It's Just Lunch, Willamette Week & www.PortlandPicksforMen.com present "Happy Hour for the Single Professional." This is your chance to find your next hiking buddy … or Romeo. Ten dollars = admission + 1 hosted drink and free appetizers—bring a wingman and it’s only $18 for two! Register to win a one-year membership to It's Just Lunch while you're there. Visit www.PortlandPicksforMen.com to see how you can win free tickets! What: Happy Hour for the Single Professional |
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| 6 | Celebrities in the Mist Did you ever wonder what we're listening to? Portland Picks' Publisher, Kathi O'Neil, will be on 105.1 The Buzz this Friday at noon, playing four of her favorite tunes with Sheryl Stewart! We can't wait to hear what tracks she'll be spinning...and we are totally making her DJ the next office party. Tune in! What: Kathi O'Neil's Celebrity Playlist |
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Visit us at www.MySpace.com/PortlandPicks for a few select gems that we only share there! We’d love to hear from you and be your friend! Or check us out on Facebook--we are invading cyberspace, babies! |
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