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August 11th, 2006
We were having a debate the other day about the “ugliest” decade. Our friend over here swears it’s the 70s, what with bell bottoms and plaid polyester and ELO ’fros, but we think it’s the 80s. What could be worse than clothes made from parachute fabric, head-eclipsing shoulder pads and pegged pants? Oh, we are going into shock right now, just thinking about the way we dressed back then. We thought we were so cute, too…you might not trust our taste anymore if we tell you about some of the fashion faux-pas we made circa 1984…a turtleneck sweater-dress comes to mind…and high-heeled plastic shoes…and gladiator sandals that we wore with baggy pants…and a hat…oh, we were so confused…so confused… |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Sip and Kranz, Sip and Kranz What’s a discriminating mum to do with her savvy offspring after the twenty-five-thousandth “I’m bored”? Sometimes you just need to get out of the house, but come August you’ve run out of creative choices. Well, say no more. We’ve just met the au courant mecca for moms. Welcome Sip and Kranz...a new hot spot for hot moms and their hep kids. This place is the bomb. It is such an amazing, swanky modern space with delectable snacks (not your typical milk and cookies). They have an entire glass-enclosed play area, where mom can relax and sip a latte (and soon even have a glass of vino) while the kids busily play around them. And you don’t even have to have kids to go here. Since the kiddles are in their sound-proof room, where incidentally they can do all the graffiti they want along the huge wall, other regular (and dare we say, “hot” guys) sip their coffee and strum their computers (yes, wi-fi!) in the mod easy chairs. Between the décor, the incredible food, the delish coffee, the atmosphere (which in our opinion is nearly everything) and the kid-friendly element, this is our new favorite place in the whole wide world. Plus you can stop by Nolita for some jeans (which are now on sale) just next door, and skip through the Jamison Park fountain. Re-route the playgroup! This outing can consume a whole day of fun…in style. Sip and Kranz |
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| 2 | Men of Steel Are you so sick of seeing your stud muffin in the same old cruddy, ho hum clothes? Have you wondered where you can find stylish duds for your honey, so he can actually be presentable; like to the extent where you can show him off proudly to your girlfriends and actually claim him as your own? You’re not the only one thinking those thoughts. Dana of Dana Lynn’s – our fave handbag shop in town – was sick of looking out onto Northwest 23rd at these potentially cute guys that could be much cuter if they only knew how to dress. And let’s face it, sometimes guys need a little help. Sometimes they need a little hand-holding. Sometimes we have to spell it out. (And if you’re like us, our specialty is “cleaning them up” so they look all cute, then breaking up with them, so the next girl is like “wow, he’s adorable” and it was all our doing!) But we digress. When it comes to improving your man’s wardrobe, we suggest dropping him at Steel with a kiss and a tender push through the door. We promise that once he’s re-done, you’ll love him even more. These clothes are so hot, so sexy, so ‘normal’ – and comfy, too, so he can’t complain – and reasonably priced. Steel carries many local designers, and hand-picked coolest styles from independent designers around the country. This place is slick, just like your man will be. Steel For Men |
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| 3 | Hip, Baby…Hip So as you know, we’re on a search for some rockin’ Portland-style baby gear for a friend in Phoenix who is “up to here” with Disney onesies and “Mommy Loves Me” tees. Poor thing. She’s fashion-forward, but for some reason she is constantly talking about her jones for tie-dyed things to clothe her mini vegan-in-training. And though we’re down with providing her with locally made, eco-friendly and unconventional garb and goodies, well…the tie-dye? Not so much. So thank goodness for BlackWagon’s new retail space – which just opened last week! Just like their fabulous website, the sleek new store has all the hip and fun things you’d want for yourself if you were a baby – checkered Vans, onesies with silk-screened tuxedos on the front, Che Guevara tees...so you can dress your little ones in adorable outfits that reflect your coolness, as well as their need to burp up. (FYI: Our favorite item has to be the Debbie Harry onesie. We are so buying that for ourselves…just in case we have a kid one of these days…or maybe we’ll put it on the pug…) Anyhoo, they also carry cool stuff like diaper bags and mobiles and blankets – all with a bit of edge, and a lot of style. Pop in there this weekend, and tell them Portland Picks sent you! BlackWagon |
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| 4 | Ooh, Vindalho We sometimes celebrate our “month-iversary” with our significant other, and we did this time at Vindalho (pronounced “vindaloo”) on SE Clinton. Located in a former union hall, industrial yet thoroughly welcoming in its open, modern design, Vindalho takes on Indian cuisine, but it’s so not the post-booze curry from a chick-lit paperback. Nay, Vindalho interprets the food of India as richly and diversely as did the country’s explorers back in the day. We started with drinks befitting the warm evening: a Bahia Breeze, with cachaça, jalapeño syrup and cilantro, thirst-quenching with a top-note of heat, and a hurricane-strength Dark & Stormy, full of rum and sharp ginger ale. All tables are promptly served a starter of pappadum with tamarind-date chutney, so good we almost licked the dish clean. The rest of the food stands up to the crosswinds of culture, like Saag Paneer Masala, with homemade cheese and organic spinach, Roasted Corn and Potato Samosas, and seasonal heirloom tomato and melon salads. A cardamom crème bruleé arrives with a perfect, glassy sugar top yielding to succulent, lightly spiced custard. Vindalho makes every effort to—and succeeds at—sourcing ingredients from local, sustainable providers, with the bulk of it being organic. And it was the perfect summer evening for Vindalho; the light totally perfect, the fold-in window open by the bar, its open kitchen happening and enthusiastic. Service knows their stuff, especially when to monitor and when to hold back. We even had good booth neighbors—you know, when they offer you their food to taste? Love that. ’Cause if your meal is really good, it’s always nice to share. Vindalho |
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| 5 | The Best in Laser Hair-Removal Laser hair-removal…you know you want it…but it can be scary to find someone you trust. At American Laser Centers, they believe that their patients deserve the safest, fastest and most effective treatments available. All laser hair-removal procedures are performed in their offices by trained and certified technicians, (which include licensed estheticians, licensed nurses and physicians assistants). American Laser Centers are so confident in the quality of their services that they offer a one-of-a-kind, industry-leading written laser hair removal guarantee: Once you've completed your six-session course of treatment, they will remove any hair that grows in the treated areas for up to two years, free of charge! Click here for your chance to win $1500 worth of hair removal! (And ask about their other services, like Skin Rejuvenation Therapy and Vellasmooth cellulite reduction therapy!) American Laser Centers |
  americanlaser.com |
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| 6 | Carbs, Glorious Carbs Boy, are we glad that no-carb diets have fallen by the wayside. We’re back on the bread with a vengeance. And whenever we get a hankering for the best leavened goods around, we go for UCB. No, UCB isn’t an improv comedy theater further down the west coast. UCB stands for Upper Crust Bread. You might have seen UCB’s breads in stores like Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Zupans and New Seasons, and in the Lake Oswego farmer’s market on Saturdays. But if you haven’t visited their bakery in downtown LO, you’re missing out. Missing out on the intoxicating scent of fresh bread, baked all day. Missing out on the best cinnamon rolls in town (with apples to keep them extra-extra moist!) Missing out on a whole host of breads, from jalapeno-cheddar to challah to dill rye to oat bran. Missing out on an incredibly nice staff, including owner Alice, who dropped a successful law practice for small-business baking nine years ago and loves what she does. It’s evident in the product; UCB grinds all its own wheat flour, for example. Their breads don’t contain anything we can’t pronounce. And fear not, wheat-allergic or -phobic, UCB does some great loaves like zucchini spelt and sunflower spelt. Trust us, the bread is just as good frozen and toasted or fresh and eaten in handfuls, out of the bag. We even broke our “no eating in the car” rule for this stuff. Upper Crust Bread Company |
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| 7 | Beautiful Bridal Lena Medoyeff is one of our favorite local shops in town. Everything is made of the finest silk, feminine styles, and just the right amount of traffic-stopping allure. These are all unique pieces so you don’t have to worry about showing up at your next shindig in the same (gasp) de la Renta as Sharon Stone. (Because we know you travel in her circles, natch.) And you really can’t ask for more, can you? Well as a matter of fact, yes you can. Especially if you’ve got a wedding in your future. You see, now across the street on Northwest 23rd, you’ll find Lena Medoyeff Bridal filled with enchanting choices for bride and bridesmaids, whether custom couture or ready-to-wear. And they’re not a bajillion dollars either…they just look like it. And if you’re a bridesmaid, perhaps you can gently cajole the bride to look here for fetching bridesmaid gowns you’ll be proud to walk down the aisle in. Lena’s classic styles will keep you smiling in all those wedding photos, even when you look back at them 20 years from now. And the best part? A bride-to-be can come in off the street and walk out with a beautiful handmade silk wedding dress! Or she can custom order, to fit her style. Dresses range from about $300-$1500, so there’s something for everyone, and every dress is special. Plus, Lena has been designing the dresses and cutting all the patterns by hand for almost 10 years now! Truly amazing! All of the garments are made here in Oregon, and all the fabrics are handmade silks from a single small mill…it’s just, well, beautiful. Lena Medoyeff Bridal |
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| 8 | Wax On…Hair Off You know how this that and the other sneaks up on you and then demands your full attention? Well, when we got a handle on this that and the other, we realized something else about our nether…regions…they needed a wax. And pronto, since it was suddenly and absolutely short-shorts weather. See, having recently moved and losing access to our beloved Slavic ladies in our favorite Soho Spartan wax locale, we felt a little lost. And we didn’t want to expose the nether to just anyone. So we trotted down to SE Portland’s Wax On Spa. With two locations in Seattle, and open in Portland on close-in SE Burnside since last fall, Wax On is quickly assuming the title of Emporium of the Hairless—or at least the better-groomed. It’s a cool space, unassuming yet spotless, and Kristin, who did the deed, didn’t make us feel self-conscious once. Waxing is the one spa treatment you want to be in and out for, and Wax On’s good like that. First they’ll exfoliate you, powder you down, and apply and pull off the wax quickly and efficiently, finishing you off with a sweet-smelling shea butter. And ladies (and gents, yes, you straight boys are 20% of their clientele), we have to tell ya: It was the best wax ever. No irritation, no sensitivity, and we didn’t have to go over sections with a razor when we got home. Wax On also offers special “maintenance prices” for bikini waxes, as well as other basic spa services like manicures, pedicures, and facials. See what we do for you at Portland Picks? We bear it all so you can bare it all. Enjoy. Wax On Spa |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | You Are One Tuff Betty Are you a dirty girl? We've all got to come clean sometimes. And TuffBetty wants to help cleanse you of your dirty little secrets. TuffBetty Soaps hand-makes all-natural bar soaps right here in PDX, with ingredients you know by name like olive oil, lavender, and poppy seeds! Try “flavors” like Oatmeal Cookie, Green Tea Veggie, Orange and Cream, or Licorice—or their Peppermint Pear bath salts—so unique—so delish! You can wash that man or that long day at work right outta your hair with downright decadent soaps and scrub bars (depending on your washing-out needs!) Does Spot need some scrubbing? TuffBetty has just the thing to get him to leap into the tub: TuffDoggy Soap. And if all this still doesn't make you feel quite as sparkling and new as you'd like, check out other offerings like bath oils, lip balms, and foot soap. Get Tuff! Be clean! www.TuffBetty.com |
 tuffbetty.com |
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| 2 | Get Fashion-Forward at Signal Just because you don’t wear leather doesn’t mean you can’t be saucy as all get-out. In fact, we just found the perfect fashion-forward “vegan” handbags at Signal for Women, in the Pearl. Matt & Nat bags hail from Montreal, a city of diverse influences. They’re the perfect accessory for your local sustainable business meeting or your next trip to the market. Pair your new Matt & Nat with your favorite Chuck Taylors or the Stella McCartney heels you can’t live without. Each bag features a cell phone pocket, a detachable key chain, a zipper pocket and Matt & Nat’s positivity message reminding us to “choose life, choose positivity, choose the golden rule.” Now that’s fashion we can feel good about. |
 signalsports.com |
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| 3 | Get in the Mix At friends' parties, how many times have you been subjected to libations made from those scary-colored, heartburn-inducing mixers? Yes, margarita mix in the shape of a sombrero, that'd be you. But at the same time, squeezing 30 oranges for that precious vodka orangeade recipe you tore out of the glossy cooking mag is kind of a downer, you know? Especially with the paper cuts and all. Enter modmix drink mixers: they’re all organic and created with painstaking attention to detail and flavor. The Pomegranate Cosmopolitan, for example, contains just raw cane sugar, and pomegranate, orange, and lemon juice concentrates. The Lavender Lemon Drop blends perfectly with vodka, and the Citrus Margarita needs nothing but your fave tequila. |
 mod-mix.com |
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| 4 | Is It Getting Chilly? With fall creeping up on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about cooler nights and longer sleeves. We hate to have to cover ourselves up, and we’re especially sad about having to hide all the cute t-shirts we picked up over the summer. But surprise! We just found an adorable tee you can look sexy in all year long. This magnolia-print chartreuse t-shirt is 100% cotton with extra-long sleeves and a form-fitting body. And it’s just one of the delectable collections from Portland’s favorite handbag designers, Dillon and Dillion. We’re collecting all of them…so bring on fall! www.dylananddillion.com |
 dylananddillion.com |
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| 5 | Bag It Our kids go to an awful lot of camps which requires us to pack a lunch (a tall order!) Of course we usually haven't been to the store so we have to 'iron chef' something together. Then we can't find any of the dozen lunch boxes we've bought over the years so it all goes into the handy dandy and decidedly uncreative Ziploc baggy. Once at camp, there it sits all measly and sad and humiliated among the other LL Bean, Scooby, and flower-power boxes. It's an embarrassment. But no more! Now we found Mobi. It's still disposable, but now it's fun, too! And quite an attention grabber. Finally your children will be proud of their lunch...or at least the bag. |
 mobi-usa.com |
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| Thanks for the Kudos: | |||
| Portland Picks Gets a Shout-Out Willamette Week just published its Best of Portland...and we're in it! Enjoy: Best Fashion Fix Stumptown chicks with umpteen AmExes want Portland Picks (portlandpicks.com). It's our own P-town version of the irritatingly irresistible buyer's blog Daily Candy. Every Friday, this cleverly written insider knowledge (out of Westover Media) spills the dirt on the newest shops to pillage with consumer gusto. The downside: Some of the content is just shilling for advertisers. The upside: It's a free newsletter—the perfect way to while away a headache the morning after hitting the Bettie Ford Lounge a little too hard. |
 wweek.com |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | OFFICE One-Year Anniversary Sale: 13% Off Everything! It’s hard to believe that OFFICE, our fave design store for groovy and useful products – has been open for one year! And to celebrate, from now through Sunday, OFFICE offers 13% off of everything to say “thank you” to their loyal customers.
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 officepdx.com |
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| 2 | PDX MindShare – Networking, Baby
pdxMindShare is a Portland, Oregon networking organization whose mission is twofold: Help connect qualified professionals with companies in need, and help employed professionals increase their value through pdxMindShare network connections. |
 pdxmindshare.com |
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| 3 | The Children’s Gym Announces Fall Open Houses
The Children’s Gym has been building able bodies and self-esteem in children ages 12 months to 14 years. They have been in Portland more than 25 years teaching motor development skills through advanced gymnastics. During open houses, children are encouraged to step inside the gymnastics centers and experience the fun! |
 childrensgym.com |
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| 4 | Put Your Best Face Forward Learn elegant makeup tips from the best! Find out what works for you – from what you already own – and get face-changing tips that you can create at home, on your own.
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 thebridalloft.com |
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| 5 | Get Pampered at Tootsie’s Our favorite shoe salon-slash-pedicures place is having another month of fabulous specials! Their selection of shoes and handbags is absolutely drool-worthy, and with this fun special you can treat yourself to new kicks and little R&R with a professional pedicure…perfect for showing off (your) cute tootsies!
Plus, this weekend, enjoy their Summer Blowout Sale with shoes from 30-50% off. |
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| 6 | Achieve the Success You Deserve! While great shoes are always helpful on the road to success, leadership skills and goal-setting are also mandatory for those who want to achieve personal and professional success.
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 human performance solutions.net |
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| 8 | PazzoBAR Party The festivities continue through the night, with jazz duo In Good Measure, fun flicks on the new flat screen and happy hour prices till close. Pazzo is located at 627 SW Washington St, and for more information call (503) 228-1515 or visit www.pazzoristorante.com. Cin Cin! |
 pazzoristorante.com |
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Thank you, beloved readers, for the dozens of cannoli-based suggestions from last week’s sugar-fueled cry for help. After reading all of your emails, we determined a clear reader-favorite for PDX cannoli: DiPrima Dolce Bakery on Killingsworth. We will check it out asap! But we were also intrigued by this suggestion: There’s a pizza place in Vancouver that makes great cannoli…can anyone elaborate on that? We had no name for it, no address. Seriously, our search knows no borders… But then wait, there’s more. We were lured to Bridgeport Village to Tutto Bene and got to taste test their cannoli (yes, all of them) and OMG, they are out of this hemisphere for sure. Honestly, we learn so much from you! |
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