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October 24th, 2008
Have you ever been flirted with but had no idea it was happening? The other night at dinner a bartender was really mean to us but in a jokey way, and we were thinking he was just a weenie but our friends kept saying, “Oh no, he likes you!” It felt like third grade. That was honestly the last time boys were mean to get our attention. Oh, except for college. But we never went for the bad-boy type. Too much work. We’re romantically lazy. Anyhoo, back to the bartender. His snarky comments just kept a comin’—and when we finally stopped smiling through our teeth and snapped back with a choice bon mot he got really defensive. Awwwkward! Plus, we are head over heels for our boyfriend, so even if that guy had been nice, we couldn’t be swayed from our honey’s side. Awww. Still feeling Green from last Friday’s issue? (Or from our bartender story?) Forward Portland Picks to 5 friends and CC picks@portlandpicks.com and you could win a free pair of adorable, reusable Baggu Bags! (See below for more details!) |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | City of Rosabode There’s something we’ve noticed when we go shopping with our mother. It’s not so much the “That doesn’t do anything for you,” and the “Where would you wear that!?” It’s what she does when we go into stores: She runs all the clothes through her fingers. And when we comment on it, she says she doesn’t even notice. So next time Mom is in town, we’re making a beeline to NE Fremont’s Rosabode, a virtual “please touch” museum for the stylish. We’re talking throws, pillows, messenger bags, laptop slips, hats, clutches and bags, all in wonderfully patterned and fun-to-touch fabrics like faux fur, velvet, and silk. (Good for winter-cozying!) We couldn’t stop running our hands over the merch. Even Fido deserves a furry place to lay his head—check out the sumptuous dog blankets for a great pooch perch. Rosabode calls itself “lingerie for the home,” and everything in it is handmade by its truly genuine owner, Rose. Stop by. You won’t be able to keep your hands to yourselves. Promise! Rosabode |
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| 2 | Mon Petit Amour We once worked at a French bakery and fancied becoming a pastry chef. That is, until we realized we'd have to wake up at 3 a.m. everyday to bake bread. Um, no thanks. We need our beauty sleep—and refuse to get out of bed on a Sunday for half-risen dough! Instead we'll head to the new Petit Provence on Alberta, where the baked goods are ready and waiting for us. On a recent visit, we tried the Red Frittata (red chard, shallots, and goat cheese) with a side of sweet/savory butternut squash. Amazing! Though we were stuffed, we couldn't leave without one little pastry. The tough part was choosing from their enormous selection: pistachio brioche or poppyseed brioche, dark chocolate croissant or white chocolate croissant, fruit tarts or opera cake. Did we say just one pastry? We meant ten. Only eight weeks old, Petit Provence has all the makings of becoming a brunch institution (brunchstitution?): cheery atmosphere, amazing food, and the dreaded wait list (sigh). See you in line! Petit Provence |
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| 3 | Be There With Bells On Not all of our shopping is glamorous. We go to home improvement stores to find thing-a-ma-bobs for our misbehaving toilets. We troll the concrete floors of warehouse stores for multi-packs of tampons. We brave the crowds at outlet malls to score holiday sales. (Gaack!) All in the name of saving some cash. Thankfully, not every penny-pinching effort means sacrificing style. Olivia Belle is a budget-savvy gal’s shopping bailout. We can’t believe this lovely shop is a designer boutique outlet. Outlet! Owner Lindsay shops LA and New York to bring us the latest looks at amazing discounts off retail. Find that perfect little number from hot designers—like flirty silk dresses from Robert Rodriguez, affordable French couture from Catherine Malandrino, and gorgeous signature printed blouses and skirts from Trina Turk. For more street-meets-chic, check out casual apparel from Mike & Chris, Juicy Couture, and Theory. She’s got the must-have denim, too, from Rock & Republic, Frankie B and Taverniti. Olivia Belle gets in new apparel every week, so shop often to scoop up the deals because these A-list fashions go fast. Olivia Belle |
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| 4 | Paint It Black On a whim, we bought an easel and paint set thinking we'd become overnight artistic sensations. There’s just one flaw to our plan. Apparently, painting takes some skills that we're sorely lacking, mainly hand-eye coordination and creativity. Luckily, Portland already has tons of fab local artists, which frees us up to do what we do best: Shop. And one of our favorite places to shop for art is Onda Gallery. The new gallery in Lake Oswego features fine art by local artists, as well as sustainable, fair-trade gift items from Latin American communities. We loved the colorful kids' handmade wool sweaters, adorable leather purses, and recycled glass jewelry. They even offer services such as wall murals, portraits, art rental, and lessons (we might need those after all). And every first Friday, they host a reception where you can meet the two featured artists of the month. As the saying goes, "Those that can't do, teach." Or in our case, "Those that can't do, shop." There’s a lesson, after all. Onda Gallery |
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| 5 | In With the New We are digging this weather lately. We don’t have to crank the A/C. It’s fun to watch the rain. And last Sunday was the perfect kind of day where we just wanted to lazily read our New York Times over some good food in a mellow space—but outta the house. So we stopped by new Evoe on Hawthorne, next to Pastaworks. Sure, we love the blond wood bar, the spare yet warm stainless steel surroundings. But what we’ve trained our eyes on is the food: Small bites, all perfectly composed, and yet share-worthy. A piled-high tumble of pardon peppers, glossy with oil and char. Pickled veggies. A cheese plate that looks like art. Sandwiches and salads that are so bright and chipper it’s like you’re watching HDTV. We brought our paper with us, but we hardly read it. We were too busy focusing on what we were eating. That’s okay, for isn’t the news just the same old same old? While Evoe’s menu changes just about daily… Evoe |
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| Wine of the Week: | |||
Cleavage Creek Cellars October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and the best possible time to enjoy a world-class wine while helping efforts to find a cure. We are absolutely smitten with six new Cleavage Creek wines, including a 2006 Reserve Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, and a 2007 Reserve Chardonnay. Each bottle honors a breast cancer survivor—their photo is on the label, and their stories are told on the website. They’re as unique and special as the wine they represent. Plus, 10% of each sale is donated to breast cancer research. |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Think Green When You Decorate We stare at our living room, devising plans for rearranging it, but we need expert help to bring out our personality—our design skills are severely lacking. So we called Tami Clark, an award-winning Green designer and interior-design guru, for a beautiful, productive, affordable redesign. What’s more environmentally friendly than redecorating with items you already have? Top it off with a little Feng Shui and some serious design chops (trained at Parsons!) for professional results. Re-create your space! |
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| 2 | Our New Motto “It’s Never Too Cold for a Frozen Dessert.” Never ever. And we don’t discriminate—we do dairy and non-dairy—even Vegan! And our favorite Vegan frozen dessert is Coconut Bliss—ice “cream” made with coconut milk. It’s naturally rich, cholesterol-free and sweetened with agave syrup, plus it’s certified Kosher. Dig into flavors like Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge and Mint Galactica, and you might even think it’s summer outside. (But don’t go out there without a coat.) |
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| 3 | Paper or Plastic?!? Between the mayor-elect’s new strategy and what local stores are already doing to eliminate the use of plastic bags, it’s downright shady to be seen with one. But what are your options when it comes to being eco-friendly, grocery friendly, and just plain tidy? Try the genius Baggu bags—they come in a rainbow of colors, fold into a handy pocket, and weigh nothing. Nothing. Did we mention the adorable array of colors? We love being chic and green. |
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| 4 | The Perfect Recipe Holiday cards can be so impersonal; canned messages and bulk mail leave us feeling anything but Christmas cheer. This explains why we adore the new holiday recipe cards from Ringo Baby, which allow you to include a favorite concoction for all your loved ones to enjoy. Not skilled in the kitchen? Ringo Baby also offers CD cards, which allow you to include favorite photos or songs, as well as a very personal touch. (Enter discount code PPH10 and save!) |
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| 5 | What a Beautiful Smile Remember those toothpaste commercials from the 80s where the lady wouldn’t stop licking her teeth? She’d run her tongue over giant pearly whites and say something like, “Mmm… I do this all day. I can’t help it. It’s freaking me out but it’s so good.” Anyhoo, we get it. Rather, we got a new Ultreo toothbrush. Designed at the UW, it’s the ultimate in sonic technology. Our teeth are whiter, they’re smooth and shiny, and, mmm! We can’t stop! |
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| Event of the Week: | |||
16th Annual Northwest Women’s Show |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Getting Married? The Bravo! Wedding Affair will transform the Embassy Suites into themed wedding vignettes, such as “Old Hollywood” and “Moonlit Beach,” staged to look like a reception, rehearsal dinner or ceremony. Every detail has been taken care of, from the invitations to the dress. The first 10 brides to click here will win tickets to the show! What: Bravo! Wedding Affair |
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| 2 | Come Out and Play! Calling all Portland-area families! Join Babytalk magazine at Washington Square for the World’s Biggest Playgroup—a day of fun-filled activities, fabulous giveaways and live entertainment for moms and babies! Enjoy toys, games, a Boppy play area, samples and raffle prizes, a Stroller Fit class, Kindermusik (engaging activities and musical play) and children’s musician Louie Miranda. What: World’s Biggest Playgroup |
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| 3 | Rummage Love with Catlin Gabel Happiness is the Catlin Gabel Rummage Sale—happening next weekend! Peruse an amazing selection of designer clothing (Carolina Herrera, Jil Sander, Missoni, Burberry, Donna Karan, Juicy Couture), shoes (Charles Jourdan, Stuart Weitzman) and to-die-for handbags (Prada! Chanel!) plus home finds and jewelry. At rock-bottom prices, you never know what outrageous buys are waiting for you! What: Catlin Gabel Rummage Sale |
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| 4 | Lady Power! The 16th Annual NW Women's Show (presented by Thriftway) is happening this weekend! Get style tips, shopping, makeovers, samples and sassy beauty products from 250 exhibitors chosen especially for you. This is about “real” women—and it’s all about fun. Don't miss Brandon Beemer from The Bold and the Beautiful and the Firemen's Fashion Show! What: NW Women's Show |
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| 5 | More for Your Money, Honey If you are looking for a new stylist, know anyone who is, or you're just wanting to step out on your regular stylist for a much-needed change, call our girl Leah! As a special incentive, she's offering either: A Complimentary Haircut with any Color, or A Complimentary Deep Condition with any Haircut! You will love your hair—we promise. |
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| 6 | “Forget the Economy” Special at NW Pilates The economy got you down? Don’t give up on your workouts—they help beat the blues. Though their prices are already reasonable, NW Pilates is offering group classes for just $18 each. They have your back! (And your belly, and your arms, and your legs…) Drop-ins welcome, but call for a schedule. Work out on machines—no mats! What: Group Classes Just $18 each at NW Pilates |
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| 7 | We Love a Grand Opening… What? What PDX is celebrating its grand opening… and you’re invited! So what is What PDX? It’s only the hottest interior design showroom on the east side. It’s also your new go-to resource for posh interior design… mention Portland Picks and save 15% off any regularly priced item in stock during the event! |
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Ramping up for Holiday Shopping? Even on a limited budget, we aim to bring you the best ideas and the best spots to get them. And check out www.PortlandPicksforMen.com for great gift ideas for the men in your life! They will thank you, trust us. |
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