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July 30, 2010
We have a friend who’s a Wiccan (for reals!), and she promised us that everything would get better in June. For everyone. And, um, that didn’t happen. We’re still ankle-deep in credit-card debt (and everyone in our family is hale and hearty—so unless we play the lottery, no lump sums of cash are coming our way). We still have 15 pounds to lose. (That may be our own doing.) Also: we are still frustrated by our love life. And it’s practically August. We don’t know if she was just being nicey nice, or if her calendar is off, but we were totally counting on that whole “it turns around in June” thing to carry us through 2010. Now we need something new to look forward to—like a mantra, but different. Maybe this: “Vodka makes everything better.” Or perhaps: “Those shoes will go on sale.” Can’t hurt, right? Better yet, enjoy the here and now: Forward this issue to 5 or more friends, and CC picks@portlandpicks.com. You’ll be entered to win an absolutely precious “map of Portland” heart from PaperCutWorks! See the Chick Pick below for more info. |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Who Knew? Last week on a cross-country flight, we got a big surprise. It wasn’t a first-class upgrade or free wine (darn!)—it was free on-board wifi. From thousands of feet in the air we emailed love notes to the hubs and caught up on celebrity gossip. Be still our hearts! We were surprised again last week at Adam Arnold, a by-appointment-only boutique on NE MLK. Surprise #1: Not only did we immensely enjoy the eponymous and award-winning fashion designer and store owner’s collection; we found him delightfully down-to-earth, a trait reflective of the pragmatic approach he takes to fashion. He prides himself on creating high-quality, classic pieces. Surprise #2: He designs and makes his clothing right there in the store! It doesn’t get more local than that. Arnold’s “atelier” opened earlier this year, and it’s a unique opportunity to shop for locally made clothes, and to have said clothes custom fit by the designer himself. We won’t be surprised if we start seeing Arnold’s designs pop up in boutiques across the world. Yet another reason to hop on a plane! |
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| 2 | A Love for All Seasons As you may have noticed, we like to shop. That is an understatement of comedic proportions. Occasionally though, we found ourselves breezing into one of our old favorite stores only to realize—with a mix of sadness and embarrassment — that we’d sort of outgrown it. While we’re all for aging gracefully, we used to wish we could find a boutique more like a soulmate, one that could actually grow with us. Our garment prayers were answered with Meringue. Sisters Regan Donofrio and Nicole Douglass realized that as lives change, so do fashion needs (imagine that!). They carry fashion-forward clothing and gifts for babies, kids, men, women, and even feature bridal and maternity pieces. Single gal who needs skinny jeans and a gift for your roomie? Check and check. Mom to a toddler with another on the way? Check, check and check. And we’re not talking boxy onesies and frumpy “mom jeans”: think Ella Moss, Vince, William Rast, et cetera. This means that while kids may eventually outgrow the frocks they buy here, you are in no danger of outgrowing this place. Meringue |
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| 3 | Your New Morning Ritual About a year ago while shopping for a brunch we were invited to, we happened upon a box of par-baked scones in the freezer aisle. Genius! We pretty much brought the bakery to our friend’s oven—the smell of baking pastries was the best part of the morning. Mmm, so good! Then we discovered that Florio bakery, which opened earlier this year on NE Killingsworth, is the very same Florio that thought up those decadent scones! We couldn’t wait to check it out, and what we found was absolutely charming. Tucked into a plain little house, Florio Bakery has a lovely array of baked-on-the-premises sweets and savories, from olive-filled croissants (ridic!) to chocolate cupcakes. Stop in, have a latte (with Trailhead Roasters coffee), and relax. You can even special order cakes, galettes and muffins if you have a group to please. And the fact that Florio is right on the edge of an actual neighborhood might be the best part. We were daydreaming about walking across the street to nibble on lemon-curd delights… what a way to start the day! Florio Bakery |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Take Another Little Piece of My Heart When out-of-towners visit, they want a souvenir. We always suggest a tattoo or a pound of locally roasted coffee, but sometimes you need something in between “hard-core” and “had it before.” These handmade hearts from PaperCutWorks are spot on—they’re special enough to take home, even if you live here! Each one is cut from a vintage map of Portland, and mounted on a wood block—a totally original way to show your Bridge City love. |
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| 2 | Token of Inspiration We’re totally having a moment with global-inspired artisan jewelry. We find ourselves drawn to the stories they tell. But in order to find such exclusive pieces, we’ve typically depended on a little luck and a lot of research. Born out of a similar frustration was Boticca.com, a site that makes exotic, global designs accessible. It seeks out creative designers who combine edginess and exclusivity, and each piece featured on the site is purchased directly from the designer. |
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| 3 | Pretty as a Picture Our personal goal is to know every dress, handbag and accessory in every local boutique, blog and magazine. (We haven’t achieved it quite yet, but we keep on tryin’!) While searching for new art to liven up our walls, we stumbled upon the fashion illustrations from Prismera Design. And with our fashion obsession, we can’t think of anything better to look at all day than these original watercolors with their bright pops of color. Loves. www.prismeradesign.com |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Get Schooled in Great Deals Get ready to shop! Bargain Hunting 101 (a super-colossal, collaborative clearance sale) returns, with more than 50 local vendors. Save on clothing, jewelry, accessories, handbags, items for kids, babies & pets, cards, art, and more! (Plus: Last-hour blowout prices.) Have a cocktail, snap up incredible deals from your favorite local stores and designers, and save. What: Bargain Hunting 101 |
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| 2 | Supercharge Your Metabolism! Want to burn 20 calories a minute? Fulcrum Fitness shows you how! Transform your body in August with their Kettlebell Bootcamp. Two outstanding trainers guide you through a safe, non-intimidating, supportive workout (that doesn’t bulk you up), and you can even shower afterward. Co-ed; open to all fitness levels. Mention discount code “ppicks” and save $25! |
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| 3 | Irving St. Kitchen Brings It Home Watching the fate of the Gulf Coast on CNN isn’t enough—get your tickets to Irving Street Kitchen’s Benefit for the Gulf Coast! Enjoy a pig roast on the patio and live jazz music, plus EaT Oyster Bar will be there shucking oysters and you’ll taste 11 amazing pinot noirs! Do good, have fun. Win-win. What: Gulf Coast Benefit |
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| 4 | Spend First Thursday with Fred Astaire Do something different for First Thursday—enjoy a complimentary open house at Fred Astaire Dance Studio! Their gorgeous space in NW is open to you for the evening. Enjoy an open house with an art exhibition by local artist Pearl Wright, sip a glass of wine, and then dance the night away. What: First Thursday at Fred Astaire Dance Studio |
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Wanna pay this goodness forward? “Like” us on Facebook, and sign up a friend at www.PortlandPicks.com. You’ll be glad you did. |
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