 |
|
presenting |
| PORTLAND PICKS | ||
|
life + style to you:
every Friday |
|
|
|
February 10th, 2006
Are you still working on those New Year’s resolutions, or have you tossed them aside to wallow in Mallomars and Tivo’d episodes of SNL? (We won’t tell if you have, but we suggest that you revisit your original good intentions…at least once in a while.) When we look back on our resolutions (exhibit more patience while waiting in line, make more time for reading good books, call our mothers more often, exercise regularly, and avoid Mallomars at all costs), we feel warm inside, and think of them fondly. We didn’t really expect to stick to all of them, after all. But the one that calls out for extreme stickiness is the exercise bit. Now that the weather is beginning to show signs of spring we must heed the call of the outdoors, and get our patoots out the door for some serious sweatin. Whether it’s to the gym or just a power-walk around the block, we promise to feel the burn…and to look cute doing it! (We’re for sure going to visit one of our local activewear favorites – lucy. Their spring line is cute enough to provide all the motivation we need to work off those Mallomars.) |
||
Portland Picks: |
|||
| 1 | lucy Warehouse Sale! And now that we’ve whet your appetite for all things active, you’ll be thrilled to learn that lucy is having their warehouse sale! It comes around only twice a year, and everything is $20 and under. Can you believe your good luck?!? Their mind-blowing End of the Season Blowout Warehouse Sale features jackets at $20, pants at $10, tees and tops at $5-$10, and shorts at $5. We don’t recommend that you pay in change, but OMG you totally can bust open that piggy bank and walk away with armloads of goodies.
All sales are final. Cash or check only. Come early for the best selection! |
||
| 2 | The Healthy Kitchen We love to shop for kitchen stuff. We may not be the world’s best chefs but our equipment is top-notch. In fact, we even have items we don’t really know how to use, but my goodness they look saucy in the dish rack. Sometimes we put them on the counter when guests come over, just for the illusion that we’re skilled in the kitchen. But since we’re Portlanders, we care about eco-friendliness, too. And we came upon the most amazing kitchen store called Mirador – it’s three huge rooms of eco-friendly and wonderful kitchen accessories – a hippie chef’s dream come true. They carry everything from gorgeous acacia-ware bowls (from sustainably harvested acacia wood) to an amazing selection of items for canning and preserving food, to fair-trade oven mitts. Everything is designed as a recycled or sustainable alternative to “regular” products – and the result is astounding. Pop in for soy wax candles, cookbooks, salt and pepper shakers…you can outfit your entire home with lovely things, and feel good about it, too. Mirador |
||
| 3 | Hello Moto...Kitty We found such a bright spot on Division. It’s motokitty, “the Accessory Laboratory.” Cari at motokitty makes sexy sparkles and good bags for bad girls (and good girls too...but that just sounds better.) Her handmade handbags are adorned with funky fabrics and motifs. We especially love her Scooter Bag and Gun Toting bags. Crafty Cari has been creative and crafty since exiting the womb. She makes and sells her own jewelry as well. Gorgeous necklaces with handmade glass beads, earrings...simply glorious. motokitty shares a space with equally cool Modified Apparel that does funky and retro prints, t-shirts, and men’s bowling shirts and adorable girly polo dresses, many of which are made for the Scooter fan. Some of their duds feature gas pumps, vintage hi-fi equipment, spark plugs and Vespa gear. All their wares are screen-printed on site with this impressive round press that you can’t miss. Motokitty is next to uber-chic vintage clothing store Betsy’s and delish eatery, Genie’s. This block definitely makes a splash on Division. Meow. motokitty |
||
| 4 | Seduce Him with Your Eyes The greatest compliment a woman can get is when a man actually notices she's changed her look. Or just notices her, period. And we've pulled out all the stops when it comes to this challenge. Whether we're sporting blue hair, pink hair, a faux-hawk - nope, never a second glance. But when we came home and batted the most beautiful lashes at him; not only did he notice, he was hypnotized into buying us expensive gifts...well dinner anyway. For a $150 session for the initial extensions, Lannie of Lotus Salon will transform your lashes like you never thought possible. It costs between $30 and $40 every two to three weeks, but is well worth it when you consider you don't have to use mascara any more, can always wake up looking your best, and can maybe score a dinner out, too! Of course, the greatest benefit may be no raccoon eyes after a long bout of crying -- when he doesn't notice your new hairstyle. Lotus Salon and Spa |
|
|
| 5 | A Blissful Wedding Event: The 4th Annual Bridal Loft Brunch and Cocktail Party We love this event. We want to have its baby (but we'll marry it first!) It's the perfect, romantic thing to do this time of year. One stop wedding planning all under one shimmering roof. Ever attended a bridal show and felt like you came away with NO real information? Not at The Bridal Loft Brunch and Cocktail Party, where you choose from 14 different mini-seminars and also have plenty of time to follow up and ask additional questions of local experts afterward. All while noshing on yummy hors d'oeuvres and sipping champagne and cocktails by Embassy Suites Catering; and tasting cake by Joseph's Dessert Co. and Zee Cakes (yum!). If that's not enough, after class, head to the Beauty Bar and try out demo services from Fada Salon, 77, Seasons Therapeutic Massage, Soleil Spa and Beauty, Au Salon, and Event Cosmetics. Even the grooms will get pampered by the folks at HairM. All attendees receive a handy Bravo! Wedding Planner in a Bridal Loft Tote ($50 total value) to keep all your information organized. No bags of junk mail, no hard sells. Just the most efficient and enjoyable way to get the real information you need, wrapped up in a fun party to celebrate planning the time of your life. Seating is limited due to the interactive nature of the event. Tickets are $28 in advance and $35 day of event. Register online at http://www.thebridalloft.net/bridal_loft_brunch.php or or call (503) 788-5280. Don't miss it. Sunday, February 19, 2006 |
||
| 6 | I See London, I See France… Attention all Bar Girls! You love to turn upside down and spin around on the Monkey Bars like the Olympic-bound gymnast you aspire to be, but you don’t want those icky boys to see your panties. Really, it’s enough to ruin your day. So what’s a girl to do? Enter Monkey Bar Buddies, created in Portland. We love them down to the little wee bow! And they will not make your bottom look big. They are adorable and are designed to not bunch up or look bulky under a skirt. Genius! And it’s not just us that thinks so. Monkey Bar Buddies have caught fire nationwide. And with Monkey Bar Buddies, it’s one less thing to worry about so you can concentrate on more important things, like perfecting your Monkey Bar routine, with your incredibly tight form and silk smooth pirouettes, a layout back-half to immediate double-twisting front, closing with an awesome triple twist. (With those Monkey Bar Buddies, we give you a 9.575!) |
||
| 7 | Achieve Yoga Booty Speaking of underpants, one of our resolutions is to look better in them. We have to admit we were a tad skeptical about the whole yoga craze. Is that really the reason all those celebs and models are tall and lanky...or is it because they don't eat? We have heard the term “yoga butt” thrown around and that has always intrigued us. Could it be true? Could we truly achieve Y.B.? We were up for the challenge. (Besides, we always wanted to say “Om” out loud, would we finally get the chance...ooh, drumroll!?) We decided to find out and give it a try at Yoga in the Pearl. If anyone 'does' yoga, it's Yoga in the Pearl, a lovely environment where just by being there the genius of yoga practically rubs off on you. They offer a Yoga Basics class on Tuesdays and Thursdays and that sounded just right for us. It was a good introductory class and we didn’t feel awkward or too uncoordinated doing the exercises, even though we could barely touch our toes. Our instructor was helpful and gently corrected our form when necessary, without drawing too much attention to our novice-ness. And we did get the chance to say “Om” which we decided we weren’t that crazy about after all (maybe because it was more like “um” since we weren't totally sure what we were doing). We did feel relaxed, though, and a bit taller, and overall a whole lot better at the end of the class. |
||
| 8 | Beyond Beehives Remember those awful old prom photos of your mom wearing her hair sky-high, sporting some bright blue eye shadow and horn-rimmed glasses? Okay, so the glasses and shadow might be doable again, but the helmet-headed up-dos of yesteryear have long since faded into hairstyle history books. Today, gals glam up with sophisticated, intricate styles that range from minimalist to big and bold - all with touchable results. Mandy Zelinka, of 77 in the Pearl, says that today's up-dos have such variety, there really is something for everyone. And these saucy looks aren't just for proms and weddings - women often come in to get glamorized for blind dates, anniversaries, an Oscar bash and other special occasions (Valentines' dinner, anyone?). When you come in for your appointment, Mandy says you can bring in a picture of a style you like or just let her do her thang. You can ask for a more funky look with twists and spikes, a traditional style with curls pinned in unique ways, or just a really great flat-iron job (you know -- the way you can never get it to look at home). She can rock it out or tone it down, depending on the location and type of event you're attending. No matter what style you choose, she'll make sure you look your best for your once-in-a-lifetime moment - and, of course, more than ready for that close-up.
Mandy Zelinka |
||
| 9 | Department of Skateboarding My total experience with a skateboard: When I was in high school, all the cute Jesuit boys would skateboard down Vista and when they got to the bottom would hitchhike back up. "Coincidentally" my friend Kelly and I would be driving by (again and again) and we would pick them up and take them back up the hill. Totally pathetic. Of course now we’re, like, in our almost thirties (more or less), and we want to live a long life and we realize we could, um, die, which we really didn’t realize before. But we still think Skateboarding is cool, and if we were to do it, or had teens that were into it we’d hang out at the Department of Skateboarding, an amazing venue (and also the spot for an upcoming fashion show!). They even have a theater and a skate shop next door called Pharmacy. The Department features 16,000 square feet of 8’ kidney bowl, cement wallride, quarterpipes, roll-ins, banks, ledges, hips, gaps, rails and more. We have no idea what that means but it sounds far too dangerous for us. Nonetheless, it’s all a sight to behold, especially if you haven’t realized yet that you can die. If we ever did this we would be padded and protected like the Michelin Man, which is why it’s a sport for the younger set. Dude. Department of Skateboarding |
|
|
| Chick Picks: Last Minute Valentine’s Gift Ideas | |||
| 1 | I Love Myself Being a sexy single girl on V-day means you can do anything, be anything, and get yourself anything you want. Treat yourself (or a friend) to the I Love Myself Kit, a box filled with goodies that let your V-day Vixen shine! Celebrate your sexy self with super-luscious I’m So Sexy Lipgloss. Get your glow on with Dust Up Kissable Body Shimmer. Show the world you’re a fun and fabulous free agent with the adorably sexy “Freebird” t-shirt. The kit also includes a va-va-voom pink feather boa, totally hot temporary tattoos with suggestive messages that make great ice-breakers, and of course, a yummy bar of Sweetheart Chocolate. This year, it’s all about you, so be self-indulgent. You won’t be disappointed. |
 bootyparlor.com |
|
| 2 | Falling in Love Where was this when we were in grade school and we wanted a potion to sprinkle on Ed? We tried our hand at our own love potion, and various voodoo dolls, but still he paid us no mind; those just didn’t cut the mustard. Now we’ve discovered a potion that does work! It’s called Falling in Love. You know that elated feeling you get when you are in love...or big time crush? Well now they’ve bottled it. It’s pheromones that give us a sense of wellbeing. A pheromone is a natural, odorless chemical secreted by humans that influences specific patterns of behavior. Falling in Love is a revolutionary breakthrough that can change how you feel about yourself and how others feel about you. Makes sense to us. You need this product if you are stressed out, you are single and wanting or you are married and hoping, if you have PMS 28 days a month, or if you just love getting hugs and kisses. (Hey, that’s us, us and us!) |
 philosophy.com |
|
| 3 | Send a Song to Your Valentine Valentine's Day. Oh the pressure. Mostly for him because he has to prove his love, and that's a tall order. If you really loved us you'd wear a vial of our blood around your neck (like Billy Bob Thornton), you'd traipse across the world and adopt a baby for us (like Brad), or at least you'd do something totally unique that looks like you put a great deal of thought into...even if you didn't. Like sending us a song. Send a song to your Valentine from Portland’s own Pride of Portland Chorus, a group of local women that sing a capella four-part harmony. Their quartets deliver two Valentine Songs, a silk "Keepsake" rose, and a box of See’s Chocolates on request to your special someone in the Portland/Vancouver/Salem metro area. (You can also send a telephone “Singing Valentine.”) To order a love song, visit www.prideofportland.org. Just follow the "Hearts." |
 prideofportland.org |
|
| 4 | Love Tee How about showing the love with a classic Love t-shirt from Amy Tangerine. She has a whole line of shirts for every Valentine on your list. These are sold at one of our favorite boutiques in New York, and you can buy online too. Shower the people you love with love and with these Love t-shirts. Squeal! Don’t you just love them?!? |
 oliveandbettes.com |
|
| 5 | Look Naturally Sexy Then there’s the obligatory lingerie. How about a Very Sexy push-up, without padding, for a natural not over the top look. (And we mean Very Sexy, not just sexy.) And it’s comfy so you’ll actually wear it. A gift for you as well as him. Without all the fuss. The stretch lace with rose motif is just what the doctor ordered for Valentine’s Day. Make it easy on him, so he doesn’t have to pay the annual visit to the Victoria’s Secret store with all those, umm, distracting visuals...and direct him online instead. |
 victoriassecret.com |
|
| 6 | Pearls are a Girl’s Best Friend Our friends at Portland’s Pearl Outlet have a fabulous item that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day – pink pearls! With prices that start at $145, this necklace is practically guilt-free and the perfect way for us girls to indulge ourselves this love-filled holiday. And did you know that The Pearl Outlet launched their newest high-end luxury line called Lustère? This collection features pieces with gorgeous and rare Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea pearls – topped off with a little frosting! Prices for this collection start at $1000 – but they’re definitely worth saving up for! And, hint, hint...you are so worthy! |
 thepearloutlet.com |
|
| 7 | Party on Valentine’s Day |
 urbanwineworks.com |
|
Hip Happenings: |
|||
| 1 | Happy Valentine's Day! Enjoy a massage together with your special Valentine. The side-by-side massages will include champagne, chocolate and candlelight in a beautiful studio located in the Pearl District. Tuesday, February 14th $150.00 per couple Treatment 1306 NW Hoyt #309 Portland Oregon 97209. Treatment |
 |
|
| 2 | Artemisia Boutique February 10th 4-8 p.m. Serving Champagne and hors d’oeuvres 30% off an item of your choice Excluding sale merchandise Introducing exciting new lingerie collections from Hush Hush, On Gossamer, and Tammy Mar. Artemisia Boutique |
 artemisiaboutique.com |
|
| 3 | Game of Love at Pazzo Ristorante Pazzo Ristorante is featuring a Valentine’s Menu focusing on the “Game of Love” available February 10 through February 17. This special menu features lovely preparations of wild game created by Executive Chef John Eisenhart. In addition to creating delicious dishes at Pazzo, Chef John is also a legally ordained minister with the Universal Life Church Monastery, collects vintage punk records, and a classic car aficionado who drives a 1964 Galaxie. The $55 per-person cost includes four courses complete with wine pairings. The regular dinner menu will also be available. All proceeds from the “Game of Love” menu will benefit p:ear, a local Portland not-for-profit program that works with the homeless and traditional youth, ages 15 to 23. Pazzo frequently supports p:ear through in-house promotions, and Chef John Eisenhart delivers food to the shelter on a regular basis. www.pazzoristorante.com |
 pazzoristorante.com |
|
| 4 | Portland Showcase of Wine & Cheese Oh how we adore wine, and we relish cheese…..and we looooove the Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland. And this…..this is one of our all time favorite events, near and dear to us. The Portland Showcase of Wine & Cheese, a benefit for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area, is back! Three thousand oenophiles and cheese lovers will be sipping and nibbling their way through a delicious evening in late February, at the Oregon Convention Center. The Portland Showcase of Wine & Cheese, presented by Safeway, is one of the region’s most unique (and tasty) evening events. Coupled with the food and drink will be live music and both a voice and silent auction filled with high-end yet affordable items.
We’ll see you there! |
 bgcportland.org |
|
| 5 | Honey, What Are We Doing for Valentine's Day? If you're still looking for something special to do on February 14th, consider attending Expressions of Chocolate at 7:30 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. 100% of the net proceeds to go directly to three local cancer organizations: The Children's Cancer Association, Candlelighters for Children with Cancer, and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Not only will you feel good about helping others, you and your Valentine will enjoy an outstanding evening listening to the music of Michael Allen Harrison and the voice of Julianne Johnson, watching high-caliber dancers from Polaris Dance Theatre, and tasting exquisite chocolates by Bernard Callebaut. Expressions of Chocolate Tickets for the event are 50% tax deductible, range from $50-$125, and can be purchased through Ticketmaster. For more information on the event and the silent auction, please visit www.expressionsofchocolate.com. |
 expressions of chocolate.com |
|
| 6 |
|
||
| 7 | The Love Lounge Celebrate Valentine's Day in the Basic Rights Oregon Love Lounge at the Jupiter Hotel Dream Box! This special event will treat both sexy singles and committed couples to an evening of aphrodisiac appetizers, a Hot Chefs chocolate buffet, complimentary cocktails, dancing to the sounds of DJ Outbox and your chance to bid on and win one of several ''dream dates'' and other delights! All this for only $40 in advance/$45 at the door! Mark your calendars now for February 14th, 7-11 p.m Then, make a night of it by booking a ''Naughty or Nice'' room package from the Jupiter Hotel! Use the code ''BRO'' when you book your reservation and 10% of the proceeds will benefit Basic Rights Oregon! Proceeds donated to BRO. Call 503.230.9200 or 877.800.0004 to book your reservation. |
 basicrights.org |
|
| 8 | Join the fun for Mardi Gras February 28th: The Found Object Parade begins at 6 p.m. at Shaver & Mississippi Ave., and runs down to Fremont and back. Join the fun and be in a Mardi Gras Parade on Mississippi Avenue. Make your own float with found objects! (The Rebuilding Center will donate materials, just fill out their request form by contacting Jennifer at jjako@rebuildingcenter.org.) Floats should be shopping-cart size, as the parade will be on the sidewalks. Line up is by the garden on the North side of The Mississippi Ballroom. The Historic Mississippi Ave. Business Assn. will give out awards for:
Winners will receive a found object trophy and gift certificates (including dinner at Bold Sky!) at a short ceremony after the parade. Stop by Quirks & Quandaries for more info: 3955 N. Mississippi Ave. |
 |
|
| 9 |  |
||
| 10 | Why be ordinary when you can be extraordinary! It's that time of the year again when the Cupids in all of us gallantly attempt to woo our main squeeze(s) by showering them with tokens of our adoration. Speaking from experience . . . the red and white carnations nessled amongst heaps too much baby's breath in a cheesy glass vase does not give high ratings! Whatever is a person to do with another glass vase? Word to the wise . . . All Cupids near and far send your Valentine(s) a blumebox bouquet. |
 theblumeboxpeople.com |
|
|
That’s it for today. We’re off to play hooky – we need to unplug and get outside. We suggest you do the same! xo |
|||
Log onto www.portlandpicks.com and check out past newsletters (archives). If you like what you see, forward to a friend and encourage them to log onto www.portlandpicks.com and become a free subscriber. If you would like to subscribe or contribute, please email us at Contribute@PortlandPicks.com
|
|||
