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October 13th, 2006
We spent the weekend traveling (we were as close to “on vacation” as we get over here), and when we got to the (town that shall go unnamed’s) airport, we were greeted with a hilarious phenomenon: fans in full team-regalia. We’re not just talking duffel bags emblazoned with team logos, we’re talking many hundreds of people in team jerseys (women, too), fans with matching team hats and shirts, and, our favorite, hats that are shaped like team mascots. Hard to explain, but imagine a Seahawks or Cardinals fan wearing a hat that looks like a bird. Really. We saw this. And it was like a big (plastic?) bird head that you wear on top of your head…??? We were amazed. Now, we’re all for showing team spirit, and we do admit that the Cheesehead hats are so bad they’re good, but when it comes to making the top of your head look like an animal, we recommend that you stick to the jerseys. |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Happy Feet You know what they say about guys with big feet. They’re…um…hard to buy shoes for. But no longer: Take your guy to industrial-chic Baddoll/Oddball, where on the “Oddball” side of the store, men’s shoes start at size 14. While he tries on any of Oddball’s vast selection of Vans, adidas, Diesel, Puma, and Reef kicks, you can check out shoes for yourself on the Baddoll side of the store, including cute Lacoste, Terra Plana, and PF Flyers. Because nothing bonds a couple like shopping together! Baddoll also offers adorable kids’ shoes, so don’t hesitate to pick a pair up for your young’un. Or let the kiddles play the Donkey Kong game while you shop. Or you can play it while your man shops, and then let him try to beat your score when he’s done. Because at Baddoll/Oddball, it’s all about equal opportunity. Baddoll/Oddball |
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| 2 | The Brunch Bunch Like all good Portlanders, we're breakfast people. We're also people of routine, with a designated breakfasting day of Saturday. While this works great with our busy schedule, it's kept us from experiencing the joy that is brunch at Bluehour...until now. Just a few short weeks ago, Bluehour took the plunge and began offering their take on the classics - malted waffles with mascarpone, polenta pancakes, even an upscale version of steak and eggs, complete with mouth-watering béarnaise sauce - all weekend long. While it might set you back a bit more than other options around town, you get what you pay for. The service is impeccable, the dishes divine...even the coffee is a solid step above. Looking for lunch? Don't miss a variety of salads, seafood and the ever-popular burger. We'll even let you in on a little secret - parking in the Pearl at 10 am is a snap and, as of now, there's no wait for a table in the spacious dining room. Talk about a breakfast bargain! Bluehour |
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| 3 | Prepare to be Im-pressed Perhaps the fact that Lark Press shares a wall with the delightful Pix Patisserie was how it first got our attention, but once we passed through the door of this charming letterpress shop all we could think of was: PAPER! We want to surround our lives with letterpressed goodies, now that we’ve seen the goods. A tranquil one-room studio and retail space houses Lark Press, a letterpress business specializing in creating simply gorgeous invitations, business cards and greeting cards. But really, if you have an idea that you’d like to see printed onto paper, chances are Jean Sammis can make it happen - and you might even have the opportunity to watch! All the printing happens on-site via the giant letterpress machines, which we found to have an almost hypnotic effect if you watch them work their rhythmic printing magic. Jean is the creative brain behind the one-year-old business. Her artistic vision comes through all things Lark Press, from the visual setting of the space to her sweetly simple “happy birthday” greeting cards. If you can’t get over to the North Portland studio, then look for Lark Press cards at your neighborhood New Seasons Market. Lark Press |
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| 4 | Get Fired Up A few years ago, we lived near a paint-your-own pottery store. Our enviably artistic husband went hog-wild, creating pasta bowls representing earth, fire, water, and air. Since we specialize in words, not pictures, we doodled on a bud vase and swore he’d never show us up again. Time to even the score: Ready Paint Fire has come to the Pearl. Family-owned and open six weeks, Ready Paint Fire describes itself as an “interactive art center.” Would-be artistes pick a piece of white ceramic pottery, everything from soap dishes to serving platters, and adorn it using any of Ready Paint Fire’s huge selection of glazes and stencils. Pieces are ready in three days. The store also serves as an art gallery, with paintings and sculpture from Lincoln City’s Freed Gallery. It can also be used for birthday parties, corporate team-building, and singles’ nights. Ready Paint Fire also has its beer & wine license, so feel free to imbibe while you create…and a glass of vino can take the edge off if your artistic skills are anything like ours… Ready Paint Fire |
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| 5 | Making Sense of Men Men and women communicate differently. When you do the dishes, it’s because the sink is full of dirty bowls; when your boyfriend does the dishes, it could be his way of saying, “I love you.” Unfortunately, there’s no 7th-grade health class where little girls are taught about the subtleties of an adult relationship. But happily, you now have the experts at PAX Programs to help you unravel the Mystery that is Man, and make sense of what they say/do/feel, while learning valuable lessons about yourself. Married or single, you will gain insight into fascinating and illuminating areas of man/woman interaction with "Making Sense of Men" (formerly "Understand Men 101"). Learn about the different types of attraction, and discover the qualities in you that attract men. Learn how to listen for the words that a man says when he cares about you. And learn how to immediately apply everything you learn! Next Making Sense of Men |
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| 6 | Hip to be Square Speaking of vino… Four-and-a-half years ago, back east, we planned an outdoor wedding and had to supply our own booze. Our caterer directed us to a store that sourced select, small-production wines. It was kept at 58 degrees—we wish we’d known that before we walked in with wet hair, but whatev, it was all worth it. People still talk about the wine we served! But once it ran out, we returned to our usual plonk purchasing, involving Trader Joe’s, pretty labels, and frugality. So we were jump-up-and-down happy to find Square Deal Wine Company, which keeps their premises at the same crisp temperature and stocks the wines we never thought we’d see again. Most of their stock is directly sourced by small vineyards in France, Germany, and Italy, with about 8-10 Oregon and Washington wines to supplement. And you won’t pay through the nose for exclusivity: About 80% of their wines are between $12 and $18. Even better: on-site nibbles. Steve’s Cheese, located inside Square Deal, offers a vast cheese selection, as well as charcuterie and paté. Square Deal throws classes a few times a month for $15 a person, where you can taste eight wines or so and learn about Bordeaux or Riesling, for example. Also don’t miss their Farmhouse Dinners, also $15, and featuring a huge spread of meats, cheese, olives, and breads, and wines you choose. They also rent out their awesome space for events. Hmm, maybe for our five-year anniversary party…? Square Deal Wine Company |
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| 7 | Getting Ready for the Slopes We like to think of ourselves as ski bunnies, but based on our previous performance on the slopes, we should probably reconsider being “lodge bunnies.” We’ve been persuaded to do double black-diamond runs (or as we call it, “tricked,”) but those take us a day to complete, what with the time spent crying on the moguls and all. But that doesn’t mean we don’t want to look like professionals when we’re on the mountain. Or better yet, look like we have some alpine fashion sense. Which is why we rely on Signal for Women to help us gear up and glam out. They specialize in skis and boards specifically for women, and they’ve used and tested all the equipment they sell, so it’s all optimized to help women perform better and have more fun! And right now they’re celebrating their first anniversary with a whole weekend of preseason specials! Get deals on this season’s ski and boardwear, as well as boards, skis, and boots, with savings from 10%-30% off. You’ll find K2, Volk!, Nordica, Burton, Bonfire and Marmot, as well as a collection of brands that you won’t find all over town. Genius! Signal for Women |
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| 8 | Your New Retreat Have you heard about the latest trend in spas? They’re partnering with everyone from dentists to chiropractors for incredible all-in-one packages…so you can have facials as you wait for the doctor…can you imagine? We think this is the best idea ever. So we were tickled pink to discover that this trend of combining the arts, shall we say, has found its way to our sunny shores. Well, almost our shores…Vancouver, Wash. Just a hop, skip and a jump for one of the most unique spa experiences you could dream of—Mona Spa and Laser Center. It’s a luxury medical and relaxation spa, created in the European spa tradition, which offers state-of-the-art skin rejuvenation services plus luxurious spa treatments. Heaven! And their grand opening is Oct. 19, with free informal workshops and demonstrations from 10 am-3 pm on treatments like TriActive LaserDermology and Photo Genesis, and giveaways for new clients with prizes from the luxury skin-care line by Peter Thomas Roth. Oh, and free makeovers from Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics! KINK FM will be there from 3-5 with special prizes, and from 3-7 there will be formal festivities including a Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting, catering, raffle drawings and formal workshops. You must check this out…your mind and body will thank you…and tell them Portland Picks sent you! Mona Spa and Laser Center |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Supporting the (Rockin) Arts Want to get a little closer to Elvis Costello or Keith Richards without being a groupie? Check out the Relix Band, a unique bracelet made out of used steel guitar strings from a wide variety of popular artists. As musicians replace their strings, they're sent to the publisher of Relix Magazine. From there, they go on to designers at Azu Studio who create the beautiful bracelets, complete with a silver seal to guarantee authenticity. All proceeds go to support a variety of arts-related charities, leaving you with a good feeling about being a fan. |
 relix.com |
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| 2 | Lucky You As with anything else, we usually wait until the last minute to buy the gift, and the last possible second to wrap the gift, which usually means it looks like you-know-what. Well, now we can wait until the last possible minute and it will look fabulous swaddled in a gift bag from Lucky Crow. Oh how your gift will be marveled at! Whether you're going for that groovy Free Spirit, Holiday Dots, or Vintage Children's pattern, Lucky Crow gift bags are stylish, reusable and re-giftable, too. No scissors, no tape, no mess and no stress. And best of all, they’re eco-savvy, like you. |
 luckycrow.com |
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| 3 | Gifts for Those Who Live on the Edge The holidays, gulp, are creeping up fast, just look in your corner drugstore. In fact, now would be a good time to start leaving little hints around the house, in his wallet, under his pillow. For you, it has to be really thoughtful, over the top even...like...a song composed just for you, a gourmet cake-decorating class, cheese and wine tasting in New York, a game of one on one with an NBA player, or a round of golf with a PGA player (for us the sports ones can’t top wine-tasting!) Or you can experience weightlessness (hmmm), or an exclusive shopping adventure in NY or LA (ah-hah!) Xperience Days has the perfect gift for you or your loved one that prefers to live on the edge. Give or get an unforgettable Xperience. |
 xperiencedays.com |
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| 4 | Mini Crave Parties You deserve a girl's day or night out, held in your comfortable home digs or swishy hotel suite, with all your friends there for drinks, nibbles and spa treats. Crave will provide the services, you bring the friends! This is perfect for bridal showers, birthdays and bachelorette parties! |
 craveportland.com |
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| Portland Fashion Week Picks: | |||
| Fashion Week is coming up October 20th with a kick-off show featuring Portland designer Alice Dobson (S o f a d a), the darling of New York Fashion Week. And this extraordinary week-long event will debut other phenomenal local designers that will make your knees weak. As part of the advisory committee, we know first-hand this will be over the top. We’ve also highlighted many of our favorites to whet your whistle. |
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| 1 | Alice Dobson (S o f a d a) - Alice Dobson will kick off Fashion Week, and as "Best Debut" designer in New York, as well she should. We love playing dress-up, even more than when we were seven and couldn’t get enough of Grandma’s lacy slips. And Sofada delivers the most divine selection of feminine, sexy, quality gorgeous dresses with her 2006 fall line, so we get that same dress-up feeling with every garment. Every single one of them makes us want to weep. |
 sofada.com |
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| 2 | Poppi Swim has been featured in several local and national magazines, including Portland Picks. Their handmade swimsuits have a retro feel and fit beautifully, even disguising some of our flab-ulous spots we like to keep under wraps. These are true perfection, and you can mix and match. Plus, there’s nothing like seeing bikinis on a runway to take you away. You’ll drop that towel and want to flaunt yourself in these gems. |
 poppiswim.com |
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| 3 | Segel Clothing is a line of locally designed menswear, primarily cool t-shirts that are creating quite a buzz. In fact, Actor Robin Williams, who was in town for rehab, bought his Segal shirt from Steel for Men (on NW 23rd). Your man will be looking so studly when you're finished with him. Bring him along to the show and point out what he could look like. We like to think of him as BS and AS (Before and After Segel.) And trust us, After is oodles better. |
 segelclothing.com |
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| 4 | Magali Corzo is so stinkin adorable. Her gorgeous designs have a flirty Latin influence, and Magali is a local favorite and a natural for Portland Fashion Week. From amazing coats and long-sleeve artsy tees to sexy, flattering dresses, her show is not to be missed. This gal is going places, and you can say you saw her when, at Portland Fashion Week. |
 magalicorzo.com |
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| We could go on and on, but suffice it to say that you’ll see designers like Eden Dawn that were featured in magazines like In Style and Vogue, plus Adriana Couture, Magma Jewels, Saffrona and DarBeka, and so many more. Bet you didn’t know how many amazing designers we had blooming in this town! Be a part of the fun and fashion. Sign up now and stake out your front row in fashion history. www.portlandfashionweek.net |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | 10 Hours of Power Don’t miss this opportunity to learn powerful self-defense skills taught by expert female martial artists. Tulen self-defense transforms fear into action. Verbal, non-verbal and physical strategies are simple to learn and highly effective. While you're there, you'll also discover the Tulen Center’s wonderful facilities that are truly women-friendly. The Center offers instruction in yoga, boxing, and of course, Poekelan martial arts. It’s a great place to get fit, learn new skills, and make new friends. Ask to take the tour! What: 10 Hours of Power at One With Heart Tulen Center |
 onewithheart.com |
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| 3 | Flexible & Positive P.R. Firm Seeks Part-Time Media Relations Manager Ehrlich Written Communications, a copywriting and PR firm located in Old Town Sherwood, is accepting resumes for a part-time media relations manager position. The media relations manager will essentially be responsible for securing media coverage for clients by regularly pitching their news to reporters and editors. The manager will work in a largely autonomous fashion and closely administer targeted media relations campaigns from start to finish. EWC is a small but growing firm, and the manager will play a key role in its day-to-day operations. EWC is located in a charming suite just above the Sherwood Coffee Company and next to the new Sherwood Library. The work environment at EWC is casual in dress and manner. See the full job description at: www.ewcomm.com |
 ewcomm.com |
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| 4 | Casual vs. Couture You are invited to “Casual vs. Couture,” presented by local apparel company Ancient, Inc. and Heather Bell Jewelry. Local entrepreneurs and owners of Ancient, Inc. will be hosting their first runway show featuring their casual wear fall line and their new high-end couture line, A.I Exclusive, with all of the proceeds from the event benefiting the Portland Schools Foundation. What: Casual vs. Couture |
 heatherbelljewelry.com |
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| 5 | Good things on Friday, the 13th…? Friday the 13th is the perfect day to go on a shopping spree for all things Halloween. The Lippman Co. is now fully stocked with everything you can imagine for the spookiest of holidays, from gruesome life-like props to old-fashioned toys and creepy decorations, unique lines of tableware and spooky tabletop decor. Where else but the Lippman Co. can you get bloody limbs, a crazy wig, an 8-foot hanging skeleton pirate, a giant whoopee cushion costume, fake tombstones, and scene setters to transform your house into a haunted one? Get into the Halloween spirit and go pick out some fun stuff to outfit your home (and yourself) at The Lippman Co.! What: Everything you need for Halloween |
 lippmancompany.com |
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| 6 | Wishes on Wheels With the help of local Boy Scouts, doctors, nurses, lawyers and business leaders will race decorated pinewood derby cars down a ramped track to
victory...all to support Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital's "race" to
serve our community's kids. In the last seven years, Wishes on Wheels
has raised more than $520,000 to create a children's oncology day
treatment center; purchase new isolettes for the neonatal intensive care
unit (NICU); and to provide funding for Emanuel Children's Hospital's
heart, diabetes, cancer, pediatric rehabilitation and development
programs. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Kristine Krause,
Emanuel Children's Hospital Foundation, at 503-413-4141 or kkrause@lhs.org. |
 lhs.org |
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| 7 | VIP Mini Crave Spa Party You're invited to a very special Mini Crave SPA Party presented by Daria/105.1 The Buzz. Only 105 spots are available for this FREE event (entry is free, spa services are extra), to get the ultimate in pampering services. Indulge in acupuncture, massage, Indian Head massage, waxing, manicures or get a henna tattoo. Listen to the Buzz to win a free spa service! What: VIP Mini Crave Spa Party
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 craveportland.com |
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| 8 | Bella Moda Designs Announces New Shoe Arrivals! Are you ready? It’s time to shop the exciting new arrivals at Bella Moda Designs Imported Shoes. Are you still looking for that perfect boot? Try a pair from their collection, designed in Italy and Peru, and affordably stylish. Or how about something in patent leather? If you're tired of wearing the same styles and labels, and seeing the same shoes sold all over town, then Bella Moda Designs has exactly what you’re looking for this fall. Make Bella Moda Designs your first stop for all your footwear needs. Come in soon for the best selection! |
 bellamodadesigns.com |
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| 9 | Bella Lulu's Grand Opening! Please join us on Friday, Oct. 20, for the opening of our newest of the three bellas,
bella lulu’s, a store in the heart of Beaumont Village offering unique gifts for you and your home. |
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So many good things to do this weekend! Stock up on ski stuff, get your Fashion Week tix, head out to a cool party, and tell them all that Portland Picks sent you! |
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