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April 7th , 2006
Has spring sprung? We’re looking outside and seeing blue skies, feeling the warm sun on our pearly white skin, and smelling the blossoms in bloom. Achoo! We’re also sad that we can’t load up on Sudafed at the drugstore without feeling like total criminals – really, we’re not cooking up anything illegal, we just don’t want our noses to run anymore. Promise. Anyhoo, it looks like spring, which means wrap skirts and Frye boots, and sunless tanning…and trips to the coast…and vodka tonics on patios. Oh, we are so excited!!! |
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| 1 | We’re All the Same Underneath It’s what’s on top that makes us different. Wouldn’t it be fun to be your own walking billboard for unique and one-of-a-kind art? And not in an “I braid my leg hair” or “smells like patchouli” way, but in a way where you can be hip and stylish…and ecologically conscious. Right? Sounds too good to be true, until you find out about Sameunderneath. This little gem of a store features cool clothes for him and her in sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, bamboo, soy, banana peel (yes, you read that right) and hemp. And they’re so soft! And so cute! Plus they are locally designed by their in-house team, and the organic cotton tees are silk-screened by independent artists, and made in runs of only 50, so you can pick up a hip little something that is practically one-of-a-kind and will totally turn heads. Art and fashion mix at Sameunderneath, and we are loving it strong. You can find their designs in places other than Portland, but why not come to the home office and check it out for yourself? Be eco-friendly and stylish…it’s all the same underneath. Sameunderneath |
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| 2 | Remember Old Town Pizza? Nestled in the heart of Portland’s Old Town, Old Town Pizza (OTP) has been a local favorite for more than 30 years. In fact we used to frequent this restaurant when we were younguns....and it was “old” then! (Wow—that practically makes us young.) The Portland landmark comes complete with a resident ghost, Shanghai Tunnels, and a history of playing host to local hipsters. And the pizza has always been amazing. OTP uses only the freshest ingredients, and the dough is never more than three hours old (for reals). In the last couple of years they’ve grabbed the attention of a few famous folks including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and the new book, “Everybody Loves Pizza.” They’re particularly excited right now because Rachel Ray visited Portland last month to highlight Old Town Pizza as one of the city’s best restaurants in an episode of her new FoodNetwork show, “Rachel Ray’s Tasty Travels.” If you haven’t been in for a while, or ever (gasp), you MUST come down for dinner. You might not know that Old Town Pizza is located in the old lobby of the historic Merchant Hotel, built in 1880. With all the restaurant’s nooks and crannies it’s a great place to hunker down for the evening or a perfect start to a night on the town. An icon, a must, something to check off your To Experience Before You Die list if you haven’t yet (you do have one of those lists, don’t you?) And if you haven’t been there in a generation or two, share your childhood with your own kiddies. They’ll be plenty occupied during this casual dinner while they have their eyes peeled for the ghost. And for even more convenience, they deliver! Old Town Pizza |
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| 3 | Lucky Me…But What About You It’s our lucky day. The difference between those who are lucky and those who are not is that lucky people are simply more aware and find their own luck. And we found a new store called Lucky Me, and if you haven’t seen it yet, we’re here to tell you so you can be lucky, too. See, you’re lucky already because you’re reading this! Does any of this even make sense? Lucky Me is a new, fun, girly store filled to the brim with girly goodies. You will feel so darn lucky, like won-the-lottery lucky, when you visit Lucky Me. Even as you approach, at first noticing the charming awning and tree lined sidewalk, you will feel the luck. It’s a yummy store filled with bright handbags and sunglasses and jewelry and gifts that you can scoop up and share with your friends. Share the luck and the love at Lucky Me... and then continue on your lucky, merry way next door, because Lucky Me is sandwiched between two other favorite Picks (Maggie Elizabeth and Tangle Knitting). We’d definitely call this your lucky day. Check out their Grand Opening on Sunday, April 23, from 12-5 p.m.. They'll have food, wine, give a-ways and an extra 15% off all day long. Lucky Me |
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| 4 | A Real Shoe-In Shoes are a girl’s best friend, but we don’t have to tell you that. And now there’s a virtual warehouse of shoes that just opened in Portland. This is mecca, the promised land. Shoes abound just for you. Never are they without your size. Never are they without a jillion choices of the latest spring heel. Check out their sexy wedges and stock up! We love the affordable high cork heels in dozens of spring styles, reminiscent of our Sbicca/Bare Trap daze. Yes, the infamous Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW) has found its way here—because they know we’re crazy about shoes—so let’s prove them right! And they have handbags, too, so you can pick a purse to go with every extremely reasonably priced designer shoe. It’s dizzying, in a good way. It was packed when we were there and everyone was so giddy, inhaling the atmosphere, but this is a warehouse space—this place was BIG—so it didn’t feel crowded in that personal-space-invading way. At DSW, they support your right to indulge in your passion for shoes. And just delivered: a spring-infused collection of naturals, flats and canvas. Shop every style, every fashion, every color, and save up to 50% off regular department store prices. And be sure to try them all on to your heart’s content. That’s why they’re here. Pitch the tent, Girlfriend, ’cause we are home! DSW |
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| 5 | There’s No Place Like.... The newly opened Justin & Burks is a beautiful new home store in Sellwood. They’re “up the street from extraordinary,” at the corner of ooh-la-la! With a design-savvy husband and wife team, this place is filled with warm, beautiful home furnishings, sofas, chairs, pillows, throws, and rare antiques in a charming space we’d love to call home. They have custom sofas you’ll want to curl up in (don’t mind us when you see us in a lump in the corner). The style is something you’d find in a rustic and warm cottage along the shores of Long Island, or in your shingle-style Gearhart home. Whether you’re shopping for your breakfast nook or your library, for candles and gifts, or just for some design input, Justin and Burks is a treasure trove. And they have special themed events four times a year for your further inspiration. Just a visit to their store will inspire your creativity and turn your house into a home. Justin & Burks |
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| 6 | WWAD - What Would Alanis Do? Alanis Morissette's songs in the early '90s were all about ups and downs and confusion and frustration...and now she's happily engaged to supercutie Ryan Reynolds (rowr!) How does she do it? Well, one trick up her sleeve is available to you, too: attending an Understanding Men seminar, right here in Portland! Of the seminar, Alanis says, "In my never-ending journey of looking to be more loving (to myself, others, my man, etc.), this has been a perfect and truly profound step." You can't get a better endorsement than that! Check out her page-long letter about the seminar on her website www.Alanis.com under "musings"!
Find out the answers to these questions and more about the "Celebrating Men, Satisfying Women" weekend workshop. And best of all, Understand Men 101 is free when you reserve in advance (normally $45). Be sure to mention Portland Picks!!! And know that you'll be among friends - plenty of women who subscribe to Portland Picks have already attended these seminars and think they're positively priceless. Find out for yourself! The next Understand Men 101 upcoming seminar date is Thursday, April 27, 2006, from 7-10 p.m., in the Portland Hilton. Reservations are required. Please visit PaxPrograms.com and click Understand Men 101, or call 800.910.7011 to reserve your seats. Be sure to check out their great articles and radio clips, too! |
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| 7 | Spring Clean Yourself Tis spring time, time for spring cleaning, time to open up the windows and air out the place. Yes, we’re talking about you. Get yourself in ship-shape for spring. No more hiding under your coat, now’s the time for getting out and out about and looking and feeling your best. And there’s no greater place for your spring cleaning than The Dragon Tree Spa. They offer luxurious therapies that will help you still the mind, mend the body, and uplift your spirit. They offer yoga classes, waxing, and other divine tools to tune yourself up for spring in a gloriously inviting and relaxing environment. But it’s their vast array of bliss therapies that will work wonders on you inside out. You are here: Start with a warm-milk foot bath, then retreat to a private massage room to continue your journey with an aromatherapy facial steam immersion while you lie covered in warm fennel packs to melt away your stress. Next, experience supreme bliss as one of their expert therapists gives you an hour-long full body massage followed by a warm towel aromatherapy cleanse. Complete your treatment with a customized all-natural facial with one of their highly trained skin care specialists. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Man, this whole pampering thing is hard work. Think we’ll have to do some more research. See you there! We can chat in the Sangha room while we both have our scalp massaged while bathing our feet in honey. ...sigh.... The Dragon Tree |
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| 8 | Put Your Nose to the Grindstone Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods |
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| 9 | Southpark is a Class Act We know classy. We may not always act classy – we’ve been seen to choke on negihama rolls, to dribble wine down our fronts, and to lose our tempers in public. But we know classy when we see it, and we saw it in every detail at Southpark Seafood Grill & Wine Bar. Just so you know: we ate more at Southpark than we did on Thanksgiving, and oh my, it was all so delicious. Bold flavors, Southpark is known for their wines, and their oysters, and their seafood, and the attention to wild populations of fish. The menu features local, seasonal ingredients and the freshest fish you can find without putting a pole in the water yourself. And really, who wants to do that? We’d rather eat what the chefs at Southpark cook up – and then choose the accompaniments – including seasonal vegetables and “Turlu Turlu” – a delectable Moroccan-style ratatouille. So hear this, Portland – Southpark has been laying down the gauntlet for superior food and service since 1998. Their servers know more about the food and the wine list than most physicians know about doctoring. We’re not kidding! These people are tuned in, so don’t be afraid to let them guide you with wine pairings throughout your meal. We’ll say it again: Southpark is a class act. Southpark Seafood Grill & Wine Bar |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Bend Over There’s nothing worse than wearing your low-rise jeans and having to, of all things, actually sit down. We often come prepared with a sweater to tie around our waist or place behind us, just so. But now if we feel like it, we can let it all hang out with Smart Ass thong underwear. With sassy messages on your undies like “desperate housewife,” “kiss my,” or “oxoxo” and more. Let’s face it, lean over and you flash your thong to the world. So why hide it? Far better to stand up, or in this case, bend over and flaunt it. Check out their website and learn how to develop your own “cheeky” style. It’s inspirational sass for your fabulous, um, you know. |
 getsmartass.com |
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| 2 | The Shape of Things to Come We have just been turned on to a true miracle. Ultra Shape. It has been around for years in Europe, New Zealand and Israel but is not yet FDA-approved in the states. It’s an ultra-sound that you wave over your fat on your lunch hour and over the course of a week the body sheds the fat, disposing it from the body much like you would a bruise. You can lose up to an inch off your thighs, stomach, and rear—like lipo without the downtime. We were so excited about this we Googled it and even emailed around to see if we couldn’t find a back alley joint in U.S. We’re even thinking of taking a vacation to Israel, despite the apparent dangers there. We’ll let you know when it arrives here. |
 ultrashape.com |
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| 3 | The Best Revenge Give the gift of Revenge, the Revenge CD. A great way to get back at those noisy neighbors! Give them a taste of their own medicine with any one of these 20 ear-splitting sound effect tracks. Anyone who's ever lived in an apartment will really appreciate this hilarious CD! Earplugs are supplied for your listening pleasure. Tracks include: 1) Drill, 2) Party (At Least 200 People), 3) Orgasm (Outstanding), 4) Train, 5) Drum (Played by a Child),; 6) Inhuman Screams, 7) Walking (High Heels), 8) Domestic Squabble, 9) Doors Banging, 10) Bowling, 11) Unhappy Dog, 12) Practicing Scales (Violin), 13) Traffic Jam, 14) Garbage Truck, 15) Newborn, 16) Phone Ringing, 17) Ball Game, 18) Pigeons, 19) Spring Cleaning, and 20) Cock-a-Doodle-Doo! |
 wishingfish.com |
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| 4 | Baby Love This is so cute we can’t even stand it. Things are so much cuter now than when we had babies—no fair! So much to coo over, so much to covet. Like Mahar Drygoods. They feature vintage and artisan-crafted goods for kids. All of the items you’ll find at Mahar Drygoods are created in the homes and studios of artists, designers and crafters (many of who are based in the Pacific Northwest!) who are thrilled to be sharing their talents with you and the little people in your life. Based on a 1930s children’s bookplate, the site features illustrations by Rhode Island artist Jen Corace...and like all of their products, is well-designed with a nostalgic bent and a nod to modernity. Mahar Drygoods |
 mahardrygoods.com |
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| 5 | Cute Bathing Suits! Victoria’s Secret has the cutest bathing suits that enhance your figure and show off your best features. They have so many styles that make you look amazing, whether you’re a bikini girl that needs a little help up top, or a one-piece girl that wants to hide her tummy, or a little skirt to hide to your bum. All their bathing suits are sexy and provide a little expert oomph where you need it, designed much the same way they do their bras. |
 victoriassecret.com |
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| Cocktail of the week: Blue Ocean | |||
| After daily spring break chi-chis we couldn’t very well leave you without your cocktail this week.
This cocktail is from Callaloo, a new Caribbean restaurant in Northwest Portland (at the corner of 17th and NW Glisan in the old Casanis space). Callaloo will be open for lunch, dinner and late night dining seven days a week. The restaurant will offer daily drink specials during "Island Time" (happy hour) including yummy tropical drinks using house-made infused rums and vodkas. The kitchen will be led by chef Tyler Williams, who has trained with Thomas Keller at Bouchon in Las Vegas. Chef Williams is creating a menu that blends traditional and fresh Caribbean flavors with European technique and promises to provide Portlanders with a sample of bold, island spices and flavors. Callaloo Escape |
 callalooescape.com |
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| Kathi on Kink: | |||
Portland Pick's Founder, Kathi O'Neil, frequently chats with Les and Rebecca on KINK's Morning Show. Listen to Kathi on Kink from her Thursday appearance and learn about some of her favorite spring Picks.
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| 1 | Switch Grand Opening! Visit the grand opening of the new Switch store in Multnomah Village beginning tonight, Friday, April 7th from 4-9 p.m. and lasting all weekend long! All sale items will be an additional 20% off the sale price. The evening will include music, food and door prizes. Other merchants will be open late so Multnomah will be buzzing with all kinds of fun and shopping. The shoes are so cool and comfy and stylish and unlike anything you’ve seen in this town. And they sell their shoes in a very cool tote bag, no boxes required. Be the first to blow up the block with these eye-catching shoes that bring the best of fashion and function together for a bold statement to be envied. And this groovy store has more than just shoes to ogle. They have tons of other wonderful accessories and unusual trinkets to fall in love with, too.
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  switch-shoes.com |
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| 2 | Oregon Culinary Institute is Now Open! The new Oregon Culinary Institute is now open! Cooking classes for the casual cook are offered on the weekends, featuring hands-on instruction from certified chef instructors in professional kitchens. Reserve your spot in one of the signature series taking place every weekend for 10 weeks straight, for a total of 50 instruction hours. The Basic Cuisine series is a condensed version of the professional program; the Baking and Pastry series will cover everything from artisan breads to tortes to chocolate, and beyond. In addition to these two signature series, OCI offers classes in international cuisine, American regional cuisine, baking and pastry, specialty classes, chef demos, and team building. Class prices vary, please call for information. Today and tomorrow OCI is having an Open House for anyone interested in the consumer or professional program. Enjoy refreshments while touring this beautiful new facility in the Goose Hollow neighborhood.
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 oregonculinaryinstitute.com |
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| 3 | Crave Urban Bus Adventure
Come spend the day and experience the city, fashionista-style. Join us Saturday, May 20th for the Ultimate Girlfriend Adventure! You will visit one-of-a kind boutiques and specialty shops—each one a hidden gem! A small fee of $45 includes lunch, wine (if you’re over 21), special treats at each of our stores and a Crave Goody Bag. Fabulous Crave Spa Services (think Indian Head Massage) on the bus while we travel between locations. Amazing Crave Savings and deals at our select stores! SPECIAL VIP PACKAGE available with your own personal shopper—call us to find out more at 503.226.2377. Gather your friends together and reserve your spot today! |
 craveportland.com |
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| 4 | Crafty Wonderland Portland's Monthly Art + Craft Extravaganza is this Sunday, April 9th from 11am-4pm at Doug Fir Lounge. Shop the work of over 40 artists and crafters. Visitors can also make a miniature shrine to take home at our DIY table led by Church of Craft and DIY Lounge. Crafty Wonderland will be an ongoing event, taking place on the second Sunday of every month. Our second show be on Mother's Day, May 14th and will feature a whole new mix of vendors with cool gift making for Mom at the DIY table.
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 craftywonderland.com |
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Things to do to welcome spring:
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