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January 23rd, 2009
We’ve been told that we over-use the phrase “best thing ever,” but how else do you describe certain things that absolutely blow your mind? And no, we’re not talking about dulce de leche ice cream or that warm glow you get after a good sneeze—we’re talking about an infomercial we saw for something devastatingly astounding… it’s called “The Snuggie.” The Snuggie is a blanket… with sleeves! The commercial shows people lying on the sofa, cuddling with their kids, answering the phone, watching TV. Totally normal, right? The trick is that your bod is enveloped in this huge blankie, while your arms are free to hug, dial and click. The best part? When they show a family at a sporting event—sitting in the stands, amongst the crowd—and they’re all wearing Snuggies. Um? Wha? Wow. If you ever spot us in the stands wearing Snuggies, please stage an intervention, ASAP. Here’s another candidate for the Best Thing Ever: Forward this issue to 5 friends and CC picks@portlandpicks.com—you could win a $50 Gift Certificate to Mabel & Zora! |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Mind Your Manors Blame it on a healthy social life or call us clutter-blind, but we just noticed that serious (last-minute) efforts to decorate (and clean!) only occur when we’re about to have guests over. (There, we ‘fess.) Don’t get us wrong, we do care what our home says about us, but let’s just say we could use some inspiration. Manor, finally at home in their new space on NW 23rd, is definitely ready for guests. This beautifully appointed shop carries treasures from near (our beloved P-town) and far (Italy, the Orient and Africa)—furniture, linens, pillows, framed prints, decorative objects, lighting, jewelry, body care, perfumes, books, tableware, gourmet foods and teas. Many of the curious goods are vintage or careful reproductions of original designs. We And what’s not to love about a little inspirational shopping to get us feathering our nests, finding the perfect curio for that empty shelf or selecting an exquisite gift for the friend who has everything? After all, home is where the heart is! Manor |
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| 2 | Grammy Gotcha We had the coolest grandma around. She'd let us jump on the furniture, eat sugary cereal, and run naked through the sprinkler in the front yard. And she always baked the best cookies and gave the biggest hugs of anyone we knew. Grandmas are just awesome that way. But ours was the coolest. |
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| 3 | Miss Zen Recently a friend told us we weren't very Zen. That we needed to get in touch with our inner self and relax. While we appreciate our friend's honesty, we work hard to stay stressed. It's just who we are. And we wouldn't change it if we could. |
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| 4 | So-So-Ma There is something about January that gets us wanting to shop. Maybe not the first week and change, but around mid-month, we start gettin’ the jones to spruce up the closet with some spring-friendly items. But between holiday spending, and ... well, let’s face it, have you read the newspapers? We’re pretty skint. But we’re making lemonade with the discovery of a fab new vintage store. In the space formerly known as Rad Summer on SE Division, Soma is a great area find—only three weeks old! We eyed two expertly tailored long coats as well as a t-shirt of vintage, pre-baby, pre-crazy Britney, and a pair of perfectly broken-in cowboy boots. Couple that with some new duds and cool jewelry, and we’ll be making this a regular stop to shop. Also, not only the clothes are vintage—all of Soma’s racks and tables were found secondhand, for example, at NE Portland’s Rebuilding Center. And the paint on the repainted walls? Craigslist. In short, Soma’s the perfect store for the hard times, and even beyond. Soma |
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| 5 | Can You Keep a Secret? |
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| Cocktail of the Week: | |||
Dry Fly Vodka How do you impress the man in your life for Valentine’s Day and get something for yourself? Pick up a bottle of Dry Fly Distillery’s vodka. Using only the sweetest “hearts” of the triple-distillation run gives it delicious caramel overtones, and the wheat they use is so local that they actually know the farmers. (All of this info will impress your man, and Dry Fly vodka makes the best vodka/OJ we’ve ever had!) |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | An Aromatic Aphrodisiac We thought men were supposed to have supercharged sex drives… but it’s our ladyfriends who say they have more, ahem, “interest” in nookie than their guys! Is it an epidemic? All we know is that we must take measures to spice things up. Enter: Bikini Kitty’s “Kat-Nip.” It’s “a sensual mix of scent to enhance love and lust.” You just dab a little on your abdomen (trust us) and the scent inspires him to passion. Yes, please. |
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| 2 | In Theory… We’ve always heard that men are attracted to scents that remind them of food. But rather than rub a burger all over our body (seriously, ewww), we err on the side of baked goods. That’s why we’re fans of Kiehl’s vanilla essence roll-on oil. Originally created in 1968, it’s sweet with just a hint of musk—both hippie and hip at the same time. The guys we approached described it as “yummy.” Sounds like the theory’s right after all! |
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| 3 | Show Your Pride NYC. LA. And now—finally—PDX. That’s right; Ork Posters has officially taken on Portland’s patchwork of neighborhoods and we think the results are 100% wall-worthy. From St. Johns to Sellwood, every ’hood is reflected…even the teensy-tiniest. And in colors from “cloudy day” gray to “greenest city” green, you’re sure to find one to complement existing décor. Natives or no, Portlanders love their hometown; who could ask for a better way to showcase our civic pride? |
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| 4 | Keep On Movin’ The record snows have receded, but our weather is so unpredictable that odds are they’ll come again. Next time the flakes fall, be prepared. Slip on some Moov Boots and you’ll stay cozy and dry, no matter what the weather. The four color schemes are more classy than cutesy—especially the gold and black Rococo—and the fleece lining will keep your tootsies warm. Come snow or just rain, Moov’s got you covered all winter. |
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| 5 | Come Fly With Me Project Runway has come and gone, but one thought still lingers… as much as we weren’t fond of her personality, Kenley’s feathered hair accessories were to die for. If you want to ruffle feathers of your own, check out Pluma, where every headband is handcrafted, gorgeous and sweetly speckled. Made from pheasant feathers, we particularly love the Lily’s black and white swirls, though honestly, the Jessica’s vibrant green would surely fly with us as well! |
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| Event of the Week: | |||
We can’t resist a great deal on a gorgeous handbag. So how happy were we to find out about the biggest sale in like, ever, at Ellington Leather? Huge discounts on Ellington Leather products as well as sister label elsapel—we’re talking Italian-leather handbags, briefcases, totes and travel bags from $10–$50, plus belts, wallets and organizers for $10 or less! Up to 90% off original prices! (A portion of the proceeds go to Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest.) What: Ellington Leather winter clearance sale |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 2 | A Symphony of Love on Valentine’s Day Sometimes the romance is in the details. Share the love with What: A Symphony of Love with the Vancouver |
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| 3 | Nolita Sale… Just for You! Nolita is offering a sale on Rock & Republic jeans… just for Portland Picks! Mention the code "Picks" at the register and take an extra 20% off any pair of Rock & Republic jeans, this Saturday only! Find more deals on True Religion, Seven and Joe's Jeans priced up to 70% off, plus clothing for men and women. |
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| 5 | Huge Moving Sale at Bubble One of our favorite local boutiques is cleaning house! Everything at Bubble is 50–70% off, including semi-formal dresses for under $100! All handbags are 1/2 off, and jewelry and lingerie 30–50% off. Bubble is closing in six days in preparation for the unveiling of its new location at 1100 NW Glisan (formerly Aubergine) early next month. What: Huge moving sale at Bubble |
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Help us keep our local businesses in business. Shop local! And tell a friend about Portland Picks! |
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Be sure to visit www.portlandpicks.com and check out past issues in our archives. If you like what you see, forward to a friend and encourage them to check out www.portlandpicks.com and subscribe for free! It's easy--there's a box in the upper left to enter your email address. If you would like to make a suggestion, please email us at contribute@portlandpicks.com. Share your favorite ideas for Picks, tell us about terrific products or services, announce a sale or event, or let us know what you think of Chicago Picks! Website and weekly issues maintained by Studio Ridge.com. |
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