Home Sweet Home

We’ve been feeling a little bit like Holly Golightly these past weeks, Starbucks in hand, smooshing our little nosies against the window of the new Williams Sonoma Home on Northwest 23rd...and now finally, they’re going to let us in. And you know what, this space is so spectacular, so gorgeous, it should be a Tiffany’s. Just one of four stores nationwide, it’s a welcome addition to this chic street, offering everything you need to make your home a sweet one.

And Williams Sonoma Home offers great quality, several notches up from their neighboring brethren. Very traditional styles, fine craftsmanship, casual elegance. And now we have no excuses. We don’t have to live like we just graduated from college, as we have been doing for the past, well let’s just say, “several” years. Classic sofas, coffee tables, bedding, mirrors and accessories. Everything you need but the kitchen sink...unless you want a kitchen sink. You can probably get that here, too. Pay them a visit. They even have parking. And the store is so beautiful, with amazing windows and curb appeal, that it’s worth seeing just for the space.

Williams Sonoma Home
338 Northwest 23rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97210
Phone: 503.248.1013

You are so Ori-Jennel

That’s French for “original.” Or maybe not. We barely graduated because of that darn French class, but we can do a mean accent...Orijennel. And this store is “original” but better yet, let’s be straight, it’s Ori Jennel...a cool little shop specializing in fun and funky clothes. It’s a mom-and-daughter venture open just four months. Their goal was to bring Hollywood style to the Northwest. And in light of the looming Oscars, we will be head-to-toe Ori Jennel as we judge all the celebs in their very “un-Ori Jennel” duds (at least compared to us!) Can you tell we like to say that?

They have a nice selection of designer jeans, too. We saw some Sevens we haven’t seen elsewhere. They also carry cool hats, and hip tees and tanks. They also have a 50% and 75% off rack with great deals. The location is easy to get to but set enough out of the hub for easy off-street parking. We didn’t even have to use our parking karma. Squeal! What a Doris Day day!

Ori Jennell Styles
510 SW 3rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97204
971.544.2400

You’ll Be Awestruck

Odessa is an upscale boutique with a small-town comfortable feel. The owner sells breathtaking clothing, designers found nowhere else in the city. We are always awe-struck at Odessa. It’s a gorgeous open space filled with style (and a good selection of dare we say, “original” choices for your big Oscar night that would put Valentino to shame!)

Odessa also carries this really great line of linens by a woman named Kerry Cassil. We hear that once you buy something for your bed from this line, you'll be hooked. They are beautiful and all handmade in India by a designer who lives in SoCal. We hear the baby blankets are incredibly popular, and new moms rave that it is their favorite.

In addition to the fashion and bedding, Odessa also carries the Red Flower fragrance and skin-care line. The little kits for travel are the ultimate gift for anyone who cares about botanicals and natural skin care. The boutique has a great central location in the Pearl, so add it to your list when you do a Pearl day. It’s definitely a Pearl in this district.

Odessa
718 NW 11th Ave.
Portland, OR 97209
503.223.1998

G is for Genius

Do you prefer plastic or…??? When we learned we would be having twins, after the initial shock, we decided cloth diapers would be the best. How could we justify 24 Pampers a day x 3 years (in the end it was more like 6). But then we tried the cloth, and with babies screaming, and pins, and big time stank, and the chemicals we rationalized they used against their fragile little tushies... After giving it a very serious chance, two long days at least, we switched to plastic. To do our part for the environment however, we didn’t rush to change them, instead waiting until they were seriously droopy and people started to stare. Unfortunately, we felt like we had no real choices. So now, to slightly redeem ourselves, we want to shout to the world a new diaper that is friendly to the environment! These folks right here in Portland have a new product called gDiapers that love the Earth. And no more Diaper Genie – these are flushable! gDiapers puts waste where it belongs, in the toilet. Not the landfill.

gDiapers have no elemental chlorine, no perfumes, no smell, no garbage and no guilt. In fact, flushables are so gentle on the Earth you can even garden compost the wet ones in one compost cycle, approximately 50-150 days. Just think of the standing ovation you’ll get from the planet. (Well let’s not go crazy...your friends might stop coming over.)

Leave it to folks in Oregon to come out with this. G is for genius and gDiapers.

The Life and Times of an Urban Mama

A few hip Portland women have given birth to a little online community that has really taken off. This is a community of very cool mamas...in fact, “Urban Mamas,” to be exact. And you’re invited to join them. And that’s not all that makes this special. There are w[h]ine nights, coffee play dates, OMSI runs, running/walking groups, plus the sharing of a whole assortment of joys, challenges, and questions of what it means to be an urban Mama in PDX.

They grapple with important issues, like what to do when you’re out with your three-year-old and faced with a public restroom (hover technique?), playdates (does the mom have to come, too?), that new biting thing (No biting! Bad.), and other daunting adventures worth chatting about.

Come and join them at one of their upcoming coffee playdates and get a sense of their vibe and who and what they are all about. They’re all about the community. In fact, we love their long byline: "work. play. laugh. ask. vent. share. grow. learn. connect." It’s practically our motto too.

Their next gig is W[h]ine Night, March 3, after the kids are in bed. Visit their cool online site for more information.

Fun in Hollywood

Remember in grade school how you’d take a field trip once a year to some roller-skating rink? You’d ask for a size smaller so your girlfriends would think you wore a 6 instead of a 7, because the popular girls all wore 6 in their Nikes. You’d hope you wouldn’t fall down and skin your knee – or worse, be pantsed because you were wearing Dolphin shorts and that boy who liked you was kind of a bully. You’d cross your fingers and hope with every fiber of your fifth-grade heart that Tim would ask you when it was time for Couples Skate…then that Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam song would come on and…oh my…did that kid just fall down?

Ahh…good times, good times. But now that we’re older, we can’t risk a knee injury, or a righteous pantsing, so we bowl. And where do we bowl? Hollywood, baby! Bright lights! Big city…where are we going with this?

Anyhoo, yes, the Hollywood Bowl. It’s a grand place with lots of lanes, a Saturday night Monte Carlo night (we have no idea what that is, but it’s adults only so we predict booze!), and a dank little bar (the “Players Club”) that you can duck into if you need a stiff drink because you only bowled a 65. Now, get out there and have fun!

Hollywood Bowl
4030 NE Halsey St.
Portland, OR 97232
503.288.9237

My Beautiful Laundrette

By now you know that we adore our dog. His little beady eyes are so trusting, his little body so efficient at squirming out of our grasp as we attempt to shove him under the bathtub faucet. Thank goodness we found Beauty and the Beast – Pet Laundrette. It makes the act of washing the dog a whole lot easier.

They’ve got a bunch of big tubs, and big hoses, and free shampoo (medicated is extra) so you can get Fido clean without sullying your bathroom. And no appointment necessary! They supply aprons, towels, and a concrete floor, so no muss, no fuss! No worries! Just a clean dog and a happy you. It’s $10 for a small dog, all the way up to $19 for “huge.” (We think if your dog qualifies as “huge,” a car wash may be in order. Just a thought.)

There’s also an extensive retail selection adjacent, with everything you need for your pet: food, leashes, toys, cool plastic bowls, studded collars, shampoo, leads, carrying bags, beds, even parkas to keep your dog dry in the rain. And if you cheese out and won’t wash your dog yourself, there’s also a grooming salon. Check them out, and tell them Portland Picks sent you!

Beauty and the Beast – Pet Laundrette
3832 NE Sandy Blvd.
Portland, OR 97232
503.288.5280

Oh, Daddy

Okay, you’ve driven by it a million times, but didn’t have the nerve to stop in. Sometimes little ladies can be shy about venturing into buildings where flames climb up the sides. But we’ve done the footwork for you, and can report that Big Daddy’s BBQ is nothing to be afraid of! In fact, it’s quite welcoming, and the flames are comforting once you’re inside.

Big Daddy’s offers up delectable Southern-style barbecue. You can order plates of brisket, racks of ribs, pulled pork, catfish, smoked turkey…you know…light fare! Oh, but it’s worth blowing the diet for this place. Sides include mac & cheese, sweet potato fries, collard greens, red beans & rice, fried okra, hush puppies…are you getting hungry? Forget salad – it’s all about man-food here.

You choose your own sauce, from sweet to spicy. Then you top off your meal with a Sweet Tea to cool the fire. Aw, now, that’s good eats.

Big Daddy’s BBQ
3001 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Portland, OR 97214
503.243.0007

Zero Gravity

We always imagined that being in space would involve lightheadedness and a feeling of floating…and we were right! No, we haven’t traveled the Milky Way, but we have traveled down Hawthorne to imbibe many White Russians at the Space Room. And predictably, our heads did spin.

We love this place – an institution in these parts – for its kitschy charm, strong cocktails (we dare you to drink their Long Island Iced Tea and walk a straight line) and salty bartenders. Where else can you get Jetsons atmosphere and a draft beer? Tell us…seriously…we want to know.

We have decided to take all future out-of-town guests to the Space Room when they visit, to soak up the scene and to let them know that we know what’s up in this town! Forget the Northwest! Phooey on Lake Oswego! So long, beautiful people! Hello, Space Room.

The Space Room
4800 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Portland, OR 97215
503.235.6957

The Power of Portland Picks

Did you know that you can advertise on Portland Picks? And Advertising on Portland Picks = big results! We accept one or two advertisers each issue and you can be one of them. Check out this recent advertiser's website traffic and how it jumped the day her ad in Portland Picks came out.

This is your ad. This is your ad on Portland Picks.

For more information on advertising, visit our website: www.portlandpicks.com/advertise

In 1995, craigslist.org was born: a free, down-to-earth and uncensored bulletin board that revolutionized the ease and speed with which people could communicate, exchange goods and services, and create community. Primarily focusing on housing, jobs, items for sale and personal ads, the site soon became a hub for San Francisco's wired community.

2003. Craigslist is big. Really big. Over 1/3 of all Bay Area Internet users utilize craigslist on a regular basis. Outside of the Bay Area, craigslist has spread to 31 cities across the globe, including Portland, with no sign of slowing. In San Francisco alone, the site receives over 23,000 posts daily, with page views close to 29 million daily. With no advertising, no commercialization and only word-of-mouth promotion, craigslist has become a phenomenon. And it's still free.

The film:

From a single post on craigslist they assembled 8 film crews to document a random day-in-the-life of what has evolved into the world's largest community board. Not just the "Best-Of" or the "Success Stories," but a real, down-to-earth look at the fastest-growing grassroots cyber-community in the city that started it: San Francisco.

This is that day: August 4, 2003: An Ethel Merman drag queen searches for the perfect backup band for her Led Zeppelin covers. A suburban professional woman assembles a diabetic cat support group. A couple seeks the perfect rabbi for their marriage. A would-be mother finds her ideal sperm donor. Doors for sale, one-night stands, compulsive roommates, transsexual erotic services. The mundane and the sublime, the ridiculous and the profound, all come together to paint a portrait of a thriving, humanistic community in the midst of an ever-accelerating culture.

www.24hoursoncraigslist.com

Give it a Bump

Check out bumpstyle, the on-line boutique for hip moms to-be...from Portland, Ore.

bumpstyle has just introduced their first collection of modern maternity tees. Their signature bump tees are designed to be extra long (guaranteed to cover that maternity waistband) and snug fitting to show off your most beautiful asset – your tummy. Take their adorable Oven Tank: with a bun in the oven it’s often hard to find a tank top that covers below the belly...until now.

Made from the softest fabric, the bump tee feels great against your skin, and because it has a little bit of stretch, it’s guaranteed to grow with you from tiny bump to bodacious belly.

Design Your Own Class Ring

We were always really impressed with a good education. If a guy was kinda cute, but then we learned he went to Stanford, he got extra points that raised his cuteness level. We figured the same would hold true if we could say the same thing. We always wanted to go to a really impressive school...like Stanford, or Harvard...something with gravitas and bragging power. If we went to Yale or UCLA, we would have been more popular, for sure. Never mind that we couldn’t get into one of those schools! But now we can pretend that we did! And we don’t even have to print out a fake diploma on the Internet. All we have to do is flash our class ring.

Yes, you can design your own class ring to any school of your choosing. And won’t it be a gem of a conversation piece at that cocktail party or better yet, that job interview.

Let’s Cuddle

In light of the next holiday, hang out with your buddies on St. Paddy's day. We mean, really, really hang out with them, with the shamrocker triple jacket. Just put this on with your nearest and dearest and you’ll be all cozy warm when you’re out in the crowded streets in front of Kell’s or in the tent at Jake’s. Though you might want to make sure you gargle...close quarters and all. This clever jacket is made by Pantalaine, provisioners of America’s Finest Plural Clothing! Where was this during those recent frigid days?

(Warning: No driving under the influence of this coat.)

Arm Yourself with Heliocare

Spring break is coming and many of you will be off somewhere warm. It’s hard to even think of sunscreen right now. but it’s the sun that is the biggest culprit of aging and wrinkles. And now you can arm yourself with the latest breakthrough, Heliocare vitamins. Taken each morning, they work from the inside out, blocking out the sun’s harmful rays as well as providing some intense antioxidants. They’ve been on the market in Europe for decades and are only now getting noticed here.

They are the latest buzz, the hottest must-have item for youthful, perfect skin. Get them while they’re hot.

X Marks the Spot, Indeed.

X marks the spot! Kara Janx’s X Panties are super-cute and sassy, with a giant X on the rear. The cotton-lycra blend and boyshort cut makes them equally comfy and adorably sexy. Available in white with a red or pink X, and in pink with a red X.

And we know for sure that our bum will look just like the ones on the right when we put these on. Right.

You are the one

We're always looking for ways to feel good about ourselves, especially when we can contribute something other than a sky-high credit bill at Nordy's. The One Campaign is a super-cool way to get involved without having to do a lot of work. Hip stars like Bono of U2 and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam are heavily involved in this movement in an effort to stamp out AIDS and poverty worldwide. Who wouldn't feel good helping a cause like this?

Visit the ONE website to sign petitions, educate yourself, or purchase one of the ubiquitous rubber bracelets in a goes-with-everything-white. And all of this will certainly hurt a lot less than paying those monthly bills.

And The Oscar Goes to...

What's an Oscar Party without cookies?! Eleni's New York makes her famed themed cookies year-round, but our favorite is her Academy Award assortment. Choose from her Best Picture, Best Actress or Best Actor gift tin and let your guests choose their favorite nominee.

And the Oscar goes to....We'll take Heath Ledger please. Yummy!

March Madness at Face It Aesthetics!

For the month of March, Genelle at Face It Aesthetics is celebrating defined skin by offering a complimentary brow shaping (includes wax, cutting and lesson on how to fill in brows for your eyes) with every facial purchase.

For the last five years she has been a West Coast and Online Makeup Artist for Bobbi Brown, and has been in the business for 20 (though you wouldn’t know it to look at her – her gorgeous skin will sell you on her services for life!) She also boasts a resume that includes Color Me Beautiful and Estee Lauder, local doctors (who see her for their skin), local models, local news personalities including Kimberly Maus of “Good Day Oregon.” Genelle also does wedding makeup!

Now the owner of Face It Aesthetics, her artistry skills and her tranquil touch enhance facials such as: microdermabrasion, chemical peels that are vitamin-enriched, semi-permanent eye lash extensions (lasts up to 4 weeks and are only $45!) and all waxing needs. Facials start at $57. Oh, and she’s coming out with her own makeup line!

Face It Aesthetics
Inside Sunrise Tan & Spa @ Gresham Station
878 NW Burnside
Gresham, OR 97030
For appointments call Sunrise Salon: 503.492.9302
For specific questions, call Genelle: 503.706.9679

Calling All Design Junkies! Design Book Debut at OFFICE

Friday, Feb 24th, from 6 to 9 p.m.
OFFICE is hosting a book launch party and book signing with architect/author Blaine E. Brownell (of NBBJ) to debut THE must-have design resource book, TRANSMATERIAL. This amazing catalog – recommended by none other than www.coolhunting.com – introduces and sources more than 200 innovative new materials that redefine our physical environment  ($24.95).
 
At the book launch party, you’ll have the rare opportunity to meet author/architect/product resource expert, Blaine E. Brownell. Get the inside scoop on groundbreaking new materials, find out what’s next, and which products made the final cut into this Princeton Architectural Press gem. Blaine is known to thousands of web users as the creator of the highly coveted e-letter, “product of the week,” in addition to being an associate architect at NBBJ, the world’s third-largest architecture and design firm.
 
This is an essential event (and book) for anyone interested design, architecture, construction, or product development.

• What: TRANSMATERIAL Book Launch Party with architect author, Blaine E. Brownell. Published by Princeton Architectural Press. Sponsored in part by the Daily Journal of Commerce.
• When: Friday, February 24th /Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
• Where: OFFICE, 2204 NE Alberta St. Portland, OR 97211. The home of quality products for the modern worker

Free! For more info, contact event@officepdx.com www.officepdx.com.

Party Mardi !!

Mardi Gras is this Tuesday, February 28th, and we predict that this is going to be a big year for Mardi Gras celebrations across the country.  The Lippman Company, Portland’s largest locally-owned party store, has everything you need to carry on Mardi Gras traditions, whether you need to outfit yourself to go out and party or you are throwing your own bash.

Perhaps most important are beads…and The Lippman Company has every size and shape you could possibly want to wear (or give away) – thousands of them!  They also have masks galore; from basic unadorned that you can embellish yourselves to the most exquisite feathered varieties that complement their selection of feather boas, face paints, and flashy jewels.

Mardi Gras encourages indulgence and you will find a plentitude of cups and plates in printed Mardi Gras themes to serve up your guests some decadent New Orleans-inspired food and libations.  They also have fabulous scene setters to dress up your walls with French Quarter windows, jazz musician silhouettes, tablecloths, centerpieces, confetti, metallic fringe, streamers, wall decorations, & banners – all in Mardi Gras designs and colors.  Last, but not least, they have the plastic babies you’ll need to bake in your king’s cake and the gold paper crown you’ll need to present to the lucky one who gets a baby in his or her slice!  

• Where: 50 SE Yamhill (on the corner of Water Avenue, just six blocks North of OMSI at the base of the Morrison Bridge)
• Hours: M-F 9-6 and Saturday 9-5
• Phone: 503.239.7007
• Website: www.lippmancompany.com

Can you believe it’s almost Oscar night?  

We try not to get too caught up in the drama of the red carpet when it’s, of course, the films that really matter.  Hah, who are we kidding?  It’s all about the glamour!  Well, who needs Hollywood when we have our very own Hollywood Theatre which is hosting the most fabulous Oscar party in town.

You may not be a Hollywood “it girl” (yet!) but you can indulge your fantasies of stardom on the Hollywood Theatre’s red-carpet entrance – complete with local celebrity hosts and a pack of paparazzi. Once inside, you’ll get an exclusive look at the fabulous American Express Gold Card Dress, worn by Oscar-winning costume designer Lizzy Gardiner at the 1995 Academy Awards, presented by event sponsor American Express.  During commercial breaks you can bid on several Oscar-themed silent auction items and enter the “Predict the Winners” contest to win a trip for two to New York and passes to the Tribeca Film Festival.

And you can feel good about your night of Hollywood celebrity treatment, as the event is also a fundraiser for The Oregon Film and Video Foundation and sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences with proceeds going toward the preservation of the Hollywood Theatre. VIP tickets are $125, general admission is $30, and both are available by calling 503.493.1128 or visiting www.hollywoodtheatre.org.

What if Portland’s most innovative minds designed the purse of their dreams? Find out at the Power of the Purse benefit auction and dinner for Girls, Inc., Thursday, March 16 at the Portland Art Museum.

This is not your standard fundraising dinner…Twenty one local celebrities and community leaders have teamed up with local purse designers to create one-of-a-kind handbags to be auctioned off at this first annual event.  Personalities like China Forbes from Pink Martini, Bruce Carey of Bluehour , Darcelle XV, former mayor Vera Katz, First Lady Mary Oberst and purse designers like Denise Kortes, Style Sister Studio,
Minou-Minou, Jenesse have all contributed their talents to benefit Girls Inc.—a non-profit that supports girls in need to recognize their potential, honor their resiliency, and believe in themselves.

For more information or to reserve a table, call:  503-230-0054 or go to www.girlsincnworegon.org.

Mardi Gras Celebration at the Heathman Restaurant on Tuesday, 2/28

To celebrate Fat Tuesday, Chef Philippe Boulot will serve his famous jambalaya - complimentary! A Cajun infused menu will be offered all day. Listen to live cajun music (Sam Bamboo) from 6-8:30 pm while sipping on drink specials such as Le Sazerac and Southern Speedbump.

And in the tradition of Mardi Gras, there will be beads.