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May 29th, 2009
We enjoyed the Memorial Day holiday way too much. What a gift to have an extra 24 hours to relax in glorious weather (and, of course, stop at 3:00 for a moment of silent remembrance). But we just noticed that the next day off isn’t until July. Where’s the justice in that? We speed through weekends like we’re on fire, and find ourselves in “Groundhog Day” each Monday, asking ourselves, “What the heck happened to Sunday?” It’s a vicious cycle. We need to follow the French model for work—start about 10 a.m., take a long lunch (with a glass of wine, natch), go back til about 7 p.m., dinner at 10 p.m., then sleep it off and start again. Oh, and they get those fabulous three-month vacations and liaisons (wha?). Seriously, we totally need to rethink everything… or else learn French. |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | The Hook-up Back in school, we always had a "source." You know, the kid who always came through with hook-ups. In grade school, it was our covert candy source. In middle school, it was the girl who found the best deals on faux fashion (we couldn't afford not to look good even back then). In high school, we made friends with the boy who knew what music was hot before anyone else did. These days we pride ourselves on being the source, but every once in awhile we get schooled in a new thing or two. |
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| 2 | Moving Right Along Our second-year wedding anniversary: It wasn’t the fancy restaurant or the hokey cards. It was when we decided to move to a new place. Forget the seven-year itch, try the two-year. Luckily for us, we changed our location and not much else. Much like us, the darling clothing store Twill has relocated from the Mt. Tabor area to close-in SE Division and is taking advantage of the area’s fabulous foot traffic to showcase its super-cute selections. And you should take advantage of this opportunity to flaunt all the local designers that Twill carries. We wanted to walk out with all of it—knitted earrings and necklaces (yes, you heard us: they’re knitted, in delicate metal), adorable skirts, comfy shorts, everything perfect for the lovely spring that is here and which we so, so deserve. Don’t you deserve something nice this spring? We know you do. And the musically inclined will love the antique piano in the shop. At the least, it’s a place for kids to play and guys to wait while you flit and flirt through this delectable boutique. Move along, indeed. Twill |
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| 3 | More, More, More New car smell? It’s awesome. And what about new restaurant smell? Especially a new restaurant that we’ve eagerly anticipated? It’s even better. That and a number of other delightful scents are evident at the new Nel Centro in downtown’s Hotel Moderna. If you’ve been to Lauro Kitchen on the east side, Nel Centro brings similar flavors and likeminded preparations: rich, fragrant, filling cuisine. We dug into the French-inspired fish stew with shrimp, mussels, clams, and squid, and wanted to sip its sauce like a cocktail. A Flintstones-sized steak comes atop creamy potatoes and lightly grilled asparagus. At dessert, ricotta fritters float on a vanilla custard we can’t stop stealing. All in one of the coolest settings we’ve seen in a while; groovy, modern, sexy. It made us almost wish we didn’t live here, so every time we came here we could be struck by its coolness. But we do live here. And more Nel Centro for us. Nel Centro |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Clean Up! As messy as we are in the kitchen, you’d think we’d be more interested in stockpiling Sham-Wows than collecting cute tea towels, but girl, you’d be mistaken. And so far, no towels are as cute as French Notes’ Flour Sack Towels. Handmade in Oregon, they boast fruit, veggies, even chickens, with the name en francais in a pretty script. So chic! So sweet! So necessary! (And ooh la la… do these make a great gift for cooks, or what?) |
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| 2 | Make the Postman Blush One should never underestimate the pick-me-up power of getting a surprise delivery in the mail. An unexpected “Thinking of You” card or little treat from a friend makes our whole day. So naturally, we find the idea of Panty by Post brilliant. Get a monthly subscription of decadent French panties by Blush in the mail—once, six times, or every month for a year! They’re gorgeous, comfy, and the perfect gift for a bride-to-be… or anyone who doesn’t need a crock pot. |
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| 3 | See the Light We’re addicted to sunglasses. We have every shape, color and gradient known to man. Other than matching our outfits, the main side-effect has been that we can hide those little crinkles around our eyes. But we found help—Relastin is our new BFF. Their Eye Silk has a Zinc Firming Complex™ that’s almost instantly effective for gently smoothing away fine lines, while encouraging skin to produce more elastin. We saw improvement in the first few days! Who needs shades? |
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| Event of the Week: | |||
Celebrate the Revamp of Ellington Leather |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Experience Michael Manwaring at Ste. Maine We are in hot love with Michael Manwaring’s art. His whimsical drawings evoke nature, decoration and the female image in classical, graceful designs. (We totally need to cover our house with them as wallpaper!) See his works on paper at Ste. Maine’s exhibition, and meet him at an artist’s reception. The exhibit will run through June. What: Artist’s Reception for Michael Manwaring |
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| 2 | Recess Health Immersion Starts Soon! Get in the best shape of your life and have a blast doing it! Pilates, Tai Chi, Yoga, Budokon—it’s all a part of the plan. You’ll also receive nutrition and cooking instruction to fit your lifestyle. Meet three times a week to get healthier, make new friends, and win free fitness prizes and classes from fabulous sponsors. What: Recess Health Immersion (formerly Boot Camp) |
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| 3 | Take a Playcation in Seattle! Get fun freebies at the Hotel Vintage Park, Hotel Monaco and Alexis Hotel! The “Summer Playcation” package includes a complimentary ice-cream hour and wine hour (Sangria!) and “Game On” with Wii or Xbox games, plus in-room freebies (wi-fi, yoga, fitness center, movie and popcorn, coffee). With a $25 food/beverage credit to their bars and restaurants, will you ever leave? What: “Summer Playcation” |
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| 4 | Party June 6 at Fleur de Lys! Fleur de Lys Nail & Waxing Studio is turning eight, and you’re invited to the party! They’ll be offering 8% off gift certificates, swag for the first 15 ladies to attend, 8 drawings for products and services, a complimentary Fleur de Lys Lemon Drop, art by Ron Giusti, jewels by Holly Hestand, and… drumroll, please… $8 per unit Botox! What: Fleur de Lys Nail & Waxing Studio anniversary party |
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| 5 | Fashion Show Tonight at Cha! Okay, ladies, cancel previous plans and head to Cha for a fashion show (and margaritas)! See the latest designs from Mabel & Zora, Lucia Apparel, Haberdashers and Popina Swimwear, featuring Lolabelle Designs jewelry—all the latest looks for spring and summer from Portland designers and boutiques! Grab dinner and watch the show… did we mention Cha’s delish margaritas? What: Fashion Show |
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