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October 20th, 2006
We are on a mission to clean up our act. Tis true. Forget New Year’s resolutions, we are resolving to get healthy now. We are going to stock our fridge with tofu and papaya juice, leave our running shoes by the bed, and go to the library every Sunday. We now vow to get more sleep, balance our checkbooks, take more walks, call old friends, and spend more time reading and less money on frivolous things like dinners out and little magnets that look like olde tyme sailor tattoos that we found at that cute shop down the street. …or precious earrings from that other shop with the vintage dresses…or those little cat salt-and-pepper shakers from that other place…and there’s that new restaurant we have to try…and we heard of a couple new bars that sound supercool…. |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Haute Home Furnishings As the leaves begin to fall along with the temperature, one thing’s for certain…we’re hanging out inside just a little more. And as our home-nesting time increases, so do thoughts like “This couch needs some help…wonder how much it’d cost for a slip cover?” and “We’re sick of looking at that blank wall! We must find something pretty.” Lucky for us, the hunt for lovely home things just got a little easier. On the corner of North Mississippi Ave. (yes, we’re kinda obsessed with this street, it’s true) and North Shaver lives a beautiful brick ballroom-esque building which houses one of our newest home-décor faves. The doors to Hovel Home Furnishings have been officially open for about two weeks, and business owners Jennifer Wallingford and Janet Keating gladly call this stunning showroom Hovel’s home; however you may recognize the name from before. Jennifer and Janet used to run Hovel out of a way smaller space on NE Fremont Street, and moved in order to grow their retail and “soft furnishings” business. We were delighted to ooh, and ahh over Hovel’s custom-made slip covers, locally-made art pieces, and browse through the too-charming-for-words Portland Pink room. Portland Pink has mainly existed in exclusive trunk-show form, but now the romantic antique collection has a room all to itself within Hovel. And yes, that wall is now a little less blank, just in case you were wondering. Hovel |
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| 2 | Paradise Found We love to give gifts even more than we like to receive them. When we’re out and about we’re always picking up a little something for someone…we never come home empty-handed, plus it assuages our guilt about purchasing so often for ourselves. Oh, and we’re supporting local businesses, too! So it’s a triple-duty, win/win/win. And now we have a new place to find that perfect sumpin-sumpin for just about everyone, including Fido and little Suzy and Jack—bella lulu’s—now open and ready to serve you with a wide variety of home accessories and gifts including Vietri Italian pottery, recycled glass tableware by Fire and Light, and other lovelies like fragrant candles and soaps, bamboo-fiber bedding, pajamas and bathrobes, jewelry, stationery, dog beds, cat dishes, kids’ clothes…oh, the list goes on and on. And bella lulu’s takes great care in selecting their stash, so you can be sure that you’ll find something thoughtful and unique—whether you keep it for yourself or not! (We won’t tell.) And their grand opening is today! Help them celebrate, and get some of your holiday shopping done (it’s not too early to start!) and tell them Portland Picks sent you! |
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| 3 | Burning Love We eat up edamame and thrive on tofu, so why shouldn’t we have a soft spot for soy candles? Granted, we probably wouldn’t want to devour this incarnation of the bean, but we can understand how inhaling Blazing Bean Soy Candle Company’s take on apple pie might just make you want to try. Open just a month, Blazing Bean is already building a list of devoted clients, and it’s easy to see why. Each candle burns for hours on end, with virtually none of the soot or smoke associated with paraffin. Even better, soy is a renewable resource and the wax is non-toxic and biodegradable – perfect for green households. With more than 50 scents, it’s easy to find one that will light up your life. Our favorite? Seaside – which makes us think of saltwater taffy – though the heady Gardenia came in a close second. Not content to buy off the shelf? Have Blazing Bean whip up a one-of-a-kind fragrance, giving your business the signature scent it deserves. Blazing Bean Soy Candle Company |
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| 4 | Eat, Drink, Kiss – with a New Twist We had just come from a performance at the Bagdad Theater and were craving the perfect eating-drinking spot. It had to possess a few “musts”: killer cocktails, non-greasy good food, and just big enough for our friends (and friends of friends). It didn’t take long for our collective brain to come up with the perfect answer – The Sapphire Hotel, of course! We sat down ready to order the classic tuna toasts with melted Gouda when – wait – something was different – the entire menu was different! (Gasp!) Could that indicate new ownership? As of June 20th the answer to that question has been yes. New restaurateur Carrie Engle purchased the absolutely divine establishment with her business partner Shannon Freeman after being a fan of it herself. Carrie admits that she always wanted a place just like the Sapphire, and when she got word of it being for sale, she jumped at the opportunity. Carrie obviously knows a good thing when she sees it; therefore the interior remains relatively unchanged. The dark wooden tables tastefully touched with birds-in-motion cut-outs still decorate the space nicely, and the lighting is still kept at a romantic low level with the occasional candle or Chinese lantern thrown in. Expect to sip and bite on new things like their “Thyming is Everything” (house infused thyme-gin, tonic, and pomegranate juice) bacon-wrapped dates (stuffed with almonds and bleu stilton - lord, we could eat those by the dozen!) or bourbon-bread pudding. Psst… happy hour is from 4 pm-6 pm daily. The Sapphire Hotel |
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| 5 | Treat Your Feet Ages ago, we worked a retail job. While the discounts were amazing, there was one major downside – our feet simply ached at the end of the day. We used to fill bathtubs with hot water and Epsom salt, and it just didn’t do what we needed it to do. If we lived in Japan, ashiyu, or foot spas, would be readily available to relieve tired feet. But in Portland? Not so much. While it’s too late to remedy our retail career, we’re glad to say that ashiyu has finally crossed the pond and landed right on Sellwood’s Antique Row. At Ashiyu Patio Foot Spas, you can pick up your own Northwest version, a soothing centerpiece for a modern garden. Just think of it as a water feature that does double-duty as a hot tub, complete with jets and temperature control. When not in use, the gentle burbling creates calming background noise. In use, total relaxation. Whether your taste runs towards the more organic resin bowl filled with river rocks or the contemporary square with bench seat, Ashiyu’s got you covered. After a long day at work, don’t your feet deserve a break? Ashiyu Patio Foot Spas |
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| 6 | A Mortgage Guy with A New Vision You know when you’re looking for a home, you’re not thinking about financing. You’re thinking about curb appeal and bay windows, about square footage and location, location, location, and how many bathrooms and are those new appliances and how long will it take to get from the front door to the grocery store…but you should, and we mean really really should, get your financing in place before you look. Enter Daniel Divens of New Vision Wealth. Daniel’s down-to-earth demeanor makes you forget you’re doing business! He totally “gets it” and really loves what he does, which creates a genuine rapport with clients. You’re not just a “number” to him, you’re his number-one priority, and we get the notion that he would take care of you like family, ferreals! You should know all you can about the mortgage process, and enjoy it, too, says Divens. He’ll even meet you for happy hour or at a coffee shop—whatev—but he will take the time to assess your financial situation and recommend the best options, with your entire picture in mind. And Daniel will even go with you to sign the papers, kind of like a cool uncle who’s looking out for your best interests. So if you’re in the market for a new home or a refi, call him, and tell him Portland Picks sent you! Daniel Divens |
 danieldivens.com |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Press On We've long loved Portland's own Egg Press for their handmade letterpress cards, and we were the first in line when they branched into screen-printed tees. That's why we're so excited to tell you about the company's brand new creative outlet—an online store. Their website is the place to find limited-quantity items that aren't found in brick-and-mortar retailers...zipper pouches, matchbook-style notepads and fun paper doll prints of a loveable Boston terrier named Pearl. You can also find their charming cards grouped in reasonably-priced collections, perfect for stockpiling in case of a gift-giving emergency—cuteness needed, STAT! |
 eggpress.com |
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| 2 | Welcome, Doggy! We've pretty much determined that we're never having kids. Instead, we're one of “those” people. You know, the ones who treat their dog like a surrogate child? But try as we might, our pup isn't a fashionista, and doggy clothes just make her mad. Instead, we're forced to find other ways to impart adorable-ness to our faux offspring, like rhinestone collars, patterned pet beds and now...custom notes for special occasions!The folks at Tiny Prints know how much we love our labs (and pugs and chihuahuas) and have created a series of colorful "birth" announcements and matching thank-you cards to show off the pampered pooch. Now everyone can share in your enthusiasm when you welcome the newest member of the family! www.tinyprints.com |
 tinyprints.com |
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| 3 | Hairs the Thing We have discovered the most incredible secret and even though it's hard to divulge, we love you too much not to. Now we can have perfect, boufy, Jessica Simpson locks all the time. No more ponytail, no more baseball hats, no more hair dryers, flat irons and curlers that frankly don't even work for us. No more urgent hairdresser visits for blowouts. |
 hairuwear.com |
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| 4 | Skincare Just for You We will try anything for healthy, youthful skin. That is if it's all natural, for women over, ummm, a year younger than we are, and extra credit if it's from Portland and women-owned. So that just leaves us one choice. Emerita. Emerita has just launched their daring skincare products designed just for us (or some of us here that are within said age bracket which we are not claiming).This new line includes creams, lotions and eye serums that help defend cells and slow the aging process. We particularly love the Dark Circle Eye serum and the Skin Brightener with Vitamin C. And our thirsty skin drinks up their Day Face Cream that hydrates and protects...and the pretty packaging doesn't hurt, either. www.emerita.com |
 emerita.com |
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| 5 | Celebrate Portland's Pups Well-known Portland Photographer Bruce Forster and Andrea Schneider of The Pearl Retriever have produced the most incredible, heart-melting Pups of Portland Calendar 2007 to benefit DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital. In July, nearly 200 dogs posed in Bruce's studio and Portland Picks publisher was one of the celeb judges that selected 12 portraits from those photo sessions to represent Portland's pups. |
 pupsofportland.com |
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| Halloween Picks: | |||
| 1 | Kick off the spooky Eve at Old Town Pizza, located in the heart of Portland's nightlife, the landmark comes complete with a full bar, haunted history and a resident ghost. Not to mention seriously excellent pizza. |
 oldtownpizza.com |
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| 2 | Getting started early? Catch the Underground Portland tour launching from the Visitor's Center in Pioneer Courthouse Square every day at 2 pm and ending a couple hours later at Old Town Pizza with a peek at the tunnel entrances tucked in the basement...ooh! We’re getting chills! |
 shanghaitunnels.com |
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| 3 | Visit the historical Lone Fir Cemetery on Halloween night. Take a scary tour of this landmark cemetery, learn its history and hear spooky tales during the special "Tour of Untimely Departures." This is a one-night-a-year tour, open 6 pm to 9 pm on Tuesday, October 31, at SE 21st Avenue and Morrison Street.
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 View Flyer |
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| 4 | Take a peek at the freaks at Baron VonGoolo's Museum of Horrors. This is merely one of the super-groovy scariest and highest-rated haunted houses this salmon hatchery has ever seen. And it's the hands-down weirdest and wildest haunted house to boot. See oddities and entities from cursed relics to evil clowns. Freakishly fun! |
 baronvongoolo.com |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Cut for the Cure Help cure Breast Cancer at the Ziva Team’s Cut-A-Thon. 100% of money raised from salon services on Sunday, Oct. 22, will go to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Minimum donation for services start at $10 - any other is greatly appreciated, and there’s also a bonus raffle drawing for great prizes. (Raffle tickets are $2.) There will be music and beverages, too! |
 zivanet.com |
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| 2 | Michelle DeCourcy Fundraiser: Shop for a Cure Local fashion designer, Michelle DeCourcy is holding a fundraiser for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Oregon. Specially designed Scarves by Michelle will be offered for $69 and 100% of the proceeds, along with 10% of all other Michelle DeCourcy sales will be donated to the charity. |
 michelledecourcy.com |
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| 3 | Super Group Specials at Spa La La Book a group of 5 or more in October or November and receive 20% off all nail, facial and body waxing services when you mention Portland Picks! Spa La La also has a mini boutique inside the salon, so you can look good and pick up treats for you and your gal pals—what a way to spend a day! What: Spa La La Group Specials |
 spalala.net |
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| 4 | Discounts at Twisted Locks Salon For the month of Oct thru December, clients who mention Portland Picks will receive 25% any hair or nail services with Madeline at Twisted Locks Salon! What: Portland Picks Special Discount |
 twisted-locks.com |
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| 5 | Extend Your Lashes—Specials Running Now! Have you been thinking about lash extensions? Now’s the time to book your services (and save hours of time, we promise!) with Deborah Beers at Equilibria Massage & Skin Care. Deborah is offering a special price of $150 for a full set, available on Mondays, through 2006! What: Lash Extension special |
 equilibriamassage.com |
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| 6 | Bill Blass New York Trunk Show Find your holiday look now with a special Bill Blass trunk show presented by Mary Kalez Healy. Bill Blass New York is a new bridge-priced label, designed especially for trunk shows, designed by Jose Solis. The collection will be offered for the first time in Portland in November. Try on samples and place orders, which will be delivered within 10 business days. |
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| 7 | Celebrate Signal's First Anniversary with Savings Portland 's only women's ski and board shop, Signal Sports for Women, is celebrating their first anniversary with amazing 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, Volkl, Nordica, Burton , Bonfire and Marmot, as well as a collection of brands that you won’t find all over town. Plus, women’s ski and snowboard boot fitting is their specialty – satisfaction guaranteed. What: Big Sale at Signal Sports for Women |
 signalsports.com |
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This sleepy weather is so perfect for cozying up on the sofa, but not so much for getting out and about. And seriously, even in summer, we are rendered helpless without at least two cups of coffee, taken intravenously, and prior to 9 am. We'd love to know what you do to keep motivated when the weather turns wintry. Suggestions? |
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