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June 24, 2011
Other than visiting the fam and going to Seattle, there hasn’t been a vacation on the calendar since 2006. People keep telling us “go on vacation, dummy!,” but it’s tough when you have a mortgage and a business to run, plus finding someone to house-sit three idiot Pugs isn’t a prime gig. (Amiright?) So last weekend, we bit the vacation bullet. We turned on the “out of office” reply and left the city. Turns out vacations go fast! Three nights and four days seemed like a long stretch—until we got there, and realized that it’s like five minutes. So what did we learn? (Besides the fact the building won’t crumble to the ground without us in it, and we’ve got a decent drive, but absolutely zero golf-course etiquette?) We learned that we need to take more vacations. Maybe even four nights and five days next time! |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Shop ’til the Cows Come Home Back in the day, we were devoted “Little House on the Prairie” fans. The one-room schoolhouse, cute Almanzo, and that meanie Nellie Olson kept us tuned in. There was something so sweet and simple about prairie life … and all that calico. |
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| 2 | Have You Heard of “Glamping”? It’s “glamorous camping,” and it’s the only way we rough it. Like “The Princess and the Pea,” we can feel every pebble underneath our sleeping bags. That whole “don’t shower until you get home” thing is total bunk. And just because we’re in the middle of nowhere doesn’t mean we have to eat ramen. So when we feel the need to relax, rejuvenate, and get back to nature, we head to Skamania Lodge. Um, hello? They have a spa! Just 45 minutes east of Portland, Skamania is in the spectacular Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, so we can get our nature on and then find our bliss with naturally inspired signature treatments at the Waterleaf Spa & Fitness Center. Afterward, we’ll savor some of the region’s most celebrated dishes and award-winning cuisine in The Cascade Dining Room or the River Rock. Sure, there’s hiking, biking, fishing, golf, rock-climbing, whitewater rafting—you know, adventure—right there for the taking. But we’ll be taking in the breathtaking views of the Columbia River and Cascade Mountains, and catching up on our Jackie Collins. Skamania Lodge |
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| 3 | Looking Good, Naturally So we got ourselves over Akemi salon. It’s Portland’s first “green” salon, and since opening in 2006, they’ve set the standard for cruelty-free styling. Located in the HUB Building on North Williams, Akemi is a place of warmth, light, great music, and a cold beer if you want one. And Akemi’s staff of stylists is like a family. In fact, owner Suzzette Easton’s adorable husband, Ted, recently joined the team. There’s a lot of love in the room. As our mane was managed, they swung open the door to the adjacent courtyard, and the combination of fresh air and delicious smells of vegan hair products made the whole experience relaxing and lovely. We left with a hug from Suzzette, as well as shiny, healthy, beautifully styled, earth-friendly hair. Akemi Salon |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Dress for Gym Success Now that we’re into yoga, we invested in the right pants, tanks and mat to help us achieve inner peace and outer fabulousness. Unfortunately, our ratty sports bra smashed the girls, compromising both goals. Portland fitness expert Jennifer Ferguson created Handful bras to flatter, not flatten, and solve that problem. The removable padding lets us decide just how good we look at the gym (or anywhere—they’re so comfortable!), and the mesh bag helps Handful keep its shape in the wash. Genius. |
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| 2 | Who’s Making Dinner? Sometimes making dinner seems like the… most… difficult task… ever… and we end up having popcorn for an entrée. Worse than college—ferreals. Dinner at Your Door comes to the rescue with fresh, homemade, healthy and satisfying meals to please the whole family. Go online & choose your entrees, sides, and salads, and they deliver to your doorstep once a week. Gluten-free, veggie, kids’ meals—you have delish choices. (We can’t wait for lettuce-wrap night!) |
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| 3 | Crocheted Couture Knitting + fine jewelry = our newest obsession. Orit Hadad turns everything she weaves into gold (can we learn how to do that?) with her finely crocheted gold-filled wire rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Encapsulating freshwater pearls, blue topaz, aquamarine, amethyst, turquoise and Austrian Swarovski crystals, Hadad’s jewelry is the perfect blend of delicately divine, DIY whimsy and gorgeous glamour. Our favorite: the knitted gold ring with the cluster of fresh water baby pearls! Orit Hadad Jewelry |
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Deal of the Week: 1 Month of Yoga for $40 |
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Make that unlimited yoga! Stumptown Yoga is offering one month of unlimited yoga for just $40! There’s no excuse for missing a day of Downward Dog now, is there? There are 23 classes to choose from each week, from beginner basics to a kids-and-parents class, Vinyasa flow for all levels, and advanced power yoga classes for adults. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | FIAT Party Tomorrow! Have you seen this adorable car around town? Check it out at the Tonkin FIAT grand opening tomorrow for an Italian-themed party all day, with food from Ciao Vito and Mio Gelato. Plus you can meet the Rose City Rollers (Tonkin FIAT is sponsoring them this year!) Plus prizes from Hotel Lucia, Angel Vine Winery, and more! What: FIAT Studio Grand Opening party |
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| 2 | Yard Sale at Mercantile! Last year we cleaned up at this sale! Mercantile’s Annual Yard Sale continues, with racks of stylish summer clothes from brands like Vince, Theory, Rag & Bone, Agave, Current/Elliot and Piazza Sempione at up to 75% off! Snap up wear-now items like linen, white jeans, tees for layering and summer accessories. (They validate parking too!) What: Mercantile Yard Sale |
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| 3 | Save the Planet—One Beer at a Time! The North American Organic Brewers Festival is hosting the nation’s most earth-friendly beer festival! Drink organic beer, cider and kombucha out of reusable/compostable cornstarch cups; eat organic food; even the event electricity is earth-friendly. More than 50 beers await, plus live music, a soda garden with complimentary Crater Lake Root Beer for kids, and more! What: Organic Beer Festival |
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Sign up the men in your life at www.PortlandPicksforMen.com. It’s a nice treat for them—especially if you “forgot” Father’s Day… or was that just us? |
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