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November 17th, 2006
Our friend went to Paris and all she brought us was a bottle of sold-out-in-the-States Chanel Black Satin polish. We of course love it, because we adore Goth Hands. Plus we’ve been seeing it on everyone from Kate Moss to political pundits on CNN. So of course we slopped it on right away (cuticles, be damned!) and as soon as we left the house everyone kept asking us if it was part of a Halloween costume. Um, no. So we thought, “Maybe we should leave black polish to 15-year-olds and celebrities,” but then we’d see fashionable women wearing it—and many were over 40 and dressed otherwise conservatively. So we thought, “We have to pull this off!” Especially since bottles of the stuff are selling for $60 on eBay! Amazing, right? And even more amazing since we found out that the $24-a-bottle Chanel is made in the same factory as Wet & Wild…which is 99 cents a bottle. So the next time there’s a color fad and a must-have polish, we know exactly where to go. |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Emerge Into a New You We try so hard during the holidays to look cuter, thinner and wealthier, but mostly we just wind up feeling more harried because of all the pressure. We need serious pampering with immediate results—and long-term effects. We’re dreaming, right? Nobody can make that happen without a dedicated staff of at least a dozen people who primp, pamper, pump and powder you to perfection. Until now! We found the key to looking our best—right now, and at any time of year: Emerge Medical Spa. It’s brand new to Bridgeport Village and offers the hottest, most effective treatments to make you “better” while still being “you.” It’s beauty rejuvenation in a soothing, relaxed environment, and their natural, soft approach provides only the best in non-invasive anti-aging solutions. And to top it off, you are cordially invited to a reception introducing Emerge, on Sunday, November 19, from 1-6 pm! It’s a great opportunity to visit their state-of-the-art facility, meet the expert staff, view treatment presentations and enjoy refreshments. (We love refreshments!) You will also have the opportunity to win Emerge services and products. See you there! Emerge Medical Spa at Bridgeport Village |
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| 2 | No More Soggy Doggy! It never fails to amaze us how the rain can seep in and affect almost every little part of our lives. Let’s take our dogs, for example. We know at least three four-legged creatures that practically refuse to do their bathroom business outside on the soggy grass. We’ve even heard of a pug owner holding an umbrella over her doggy just to get her to go! Needless to say, our dogs aren’t crazy about the weather…so now, without further ado, we proudly announce the arrival of Dogs in the City. This doggy daycare slash indoor dog park is seriously a dream come true for us and our water-phobic dogs. Plus, it’s genius for those “only child” dogs who need to get out and frolic with their own kind once in a while. And did we mention that it’s warm and dry? The coolest thing about this place is definitely their hours. The indoor dog park is open until 10:30 pm Monday through Thursday, and they offer daycare until 11:30 pm on Fridays. Can you say hello happy hour and goodbye wet-dog smell? Dogs in the City |
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| 3 | Fun with Grammar Ages ago, we were writing majors, so when it comes to grammar and parts of speech, we've totally got it down. We know our adverbs from our adjectives and, like everyone else, we know that nouns refer to people, places and things. |
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| 4 | Shock the Monkey When we were in junior high, the cool girls started coming into school wearing brightly hued Asian slippers. By the time this fad dribbled down to our social caste, it was no longer relevant or clique-approved, but no matter. A decade (ahem) or three later, we’re still drawn to the brightly colored footwear as well as the accompanying silk robes, and bags. Oh, the bags. Which is why were so happy to find feng-shui-friendly, recently renovated The Monkey King, on SE Hawthorne. Newly bright, cheery, and colorful, the Monkey King features all the wonderful Eastern trinkets you want, and nothing you don’t. They provide the fashion, and also things like Cinnabar bracelets, lucky carp vases and cookie jars, and beautiful scrolls and tables. Plus paper fans. Parasols. Chairman Mao mugs. There’s even an abacus. And—our favorite—the red cellophane fortune-telling fish. And as we’ve mentioned before, though our husband calls us Monkey, this isn’t his store; the name refers to Sun Wukong, a Chinese cultural hero and trickster, and a mythical character. That’s nice and all, but we’re just happy to relive the nicer parts of being 13. The Monkey King |
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| 5 | Holly Go Lightly Summer has come and gone, but who cares? We’re still looking for the perfect pair of wind chimes. And that’s a hard to do this time of year. Especially since we don’t want something too woodsy, hippy, or Zen-y. And you know what? Hollyhocks had them. Hollyhocks, on a quieter stretch of SE Belmont, has all the garden stuff you want but were afraid to ask for because you assumed something so cool didn’t exist. Though prime blooming season is over, it doesn’t matter. Right now Hollyhocks is offering a whole host of cool tree ornaments, including blown-glass pretties from local designers. In fact, owner Hollyann Hood stocks as much stuff from local artists as she can; all the recycled wood furniture and handmade glass are all sourced right here in P-town. Holly’s also a landscape designer, specializing in helping clients envision their outdoor spaces. It’s not hard to do, even in the store, since the ceiling is painted the blue of a languid Portland sky, and nearby, you hear the piquant notes of the best…wind chime…ever. Hollyhocks Garden Essentials |
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| 6 | Parking Spot Oh, it felt so good to get out of the driving rain, and even better into a cozy new eatery. The Park is a new joint right smack downtown, and it’s the perfect place to pop in post- or pre-shop, or to meet a friend for a quick bite. (Or if your parents are staying downtown, as ours will be, direct them there instead of your doorstep.) Formerly the Pico De Gallo Mexican restaurant (and before that a shoe store—see! we knew this place had good genes), The Park offers a hugetastic selection of coffees (we treated ourselves to the blackberry jubilee, with blackberry, French vanilla, crème de cacao), as well as local beers and wines. If there’s a meal you need, The Park’s got you covered, with breakfast, lunch, Happy Hour, and dinner. Service is the kind of genuine nice that we moved to Portland for, and the place is family owned and operated, which always gives us the warm fuzzies. And the solid nibbles range from salads to flatbread pizzas to pates to cheeses, all served in a warm cozy space with art that changes monthly. Go on, they’ll treat you right. (Every day and every night.) The Park |
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| 7 | Keep the Kiddies Warm and Toasty In the movie “A Christmas Story,” the youngest child is bundled up in clothing so thick and bulky that he can’t move his arms. Once his mother pushes him out the door it’s like three steps before he falls flat on his face. And we’re sure you have your own memories of winterwear so ridiculously huge that you forgot you had knees until spring. That’s just one of the reasons why we love Newport Kidsport. Aside from providing outerwear for children that provides warmth without bulk, their offerings are water-repellant, breathable, provide protection without confinement and, bottom line, are downright adorable! Plus it’s all locally made! Really! Stylish, functional and local—plus unbeatable quality—is sure to please the most discerning and progressive parents. Check out their “Chilly Wear” line, featuring classic designs made with Polartec Windblock Act fabric—perfect for cold-weather play. And “Rainy Wear” can brighten gloomy winter days—it’s waterproof, breathable nylon in a variety of fun colors. And don’t forget that outerwear makes a terrific gift! |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Make Life Simple for the Holidays, at Home or in the Office
Are you looking for a genius holiday gift idea? Do you think you can’t throw a last-minute holiday party? We’re here to tell you that yes, you can! The answer is delicious in-home or at-the-office catering brought right to your door by BOXlunchonline.com. Choose from fabulous PDX restaurants and caterers with upscale gourmet selections, even vegan and diabetic needs can be met deliciously and simply, and you can do your ordering online with the click of your mouse so it’s super simple. BOXlunchonline.com brings the best of Portland right to your door, with delivery options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And true to Portland, the paper products they use are environmentally conscious, and the restaurants and caterers can have local, sustainable and organic meals delivered by request. From classic fare to Thai to Vegan, you can have it all! |
 boxlunchonline.com |
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| 2 | “Do Good” with Special Holiday Ornaments The holiday season can often seem like an annual spending frenzy. So, in the true spirit of giving, Ornaments to Remember has created a way to help one feel good (and “do good”) with the money spent on holiday gifts. All profits from their blown-glass designs will go to The Learning Community, a non-profit, public-benefit corporation whose mission is parent education. Ornaments to Remember offers hundreds of designs with something for everyone. You can shop online at www.ornaments2remember.com, or at the showroom in Wilsonville, at 28170 SW Boberg Road, #1. It's open extra hours (including Saturdays) through December 16. Call for hours and directions! Ornaments to Remember |
 ornaments 2 remember.com |
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| 3 | Personalized Gifts for Little Angels We love this idea…get creative and have fun coming up with personalized gifts for your little angel with original designs from Sweet Arts Design. Select from colorful prints for your child’s room, custom shirts for your little one, personalized alphabet books, and even more creative ideas. It’s so easy—you create the gift by selecting the design, the color, the font and the text to make your own one-of-a-kind, perfect present! |
 sweetartsdesign.com |
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| 4 | Design Your Own Dress! You don’t have to be a fashion designer to know what you like. All you need is a little guidance from Olivia Luca, the most genius idea we’ve heard of in years. Olivia Luca lets you design your own dress, from your own home, in your own style, for your own body, without sewing a stitch. And these are exquisite dresses made from beautiful, lush www.olivialuca.com |
 olivialuca.com |
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| 5 | Rock-n-Roll Baby Announcements Styled after gig posters for rock concerts, these birth announcements by Rattle-n-Roll will stun your friends and family and stand as a great keepsake for the coolest kid on the block...yours. They are great as birth announcements or birthday invites, graduation announcements, wedding invites, engagement announcements or any purpose you can dream up! |
 rattle-n-roll.com |
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| 6 | We Need a Life Coach – Stat! Do you ever feel like you need help getting things done? Like you don’t have enough motivation, or even worse, enough TIME to do all the things you need to do? That’s where Didi at Coach to Win comes in. She can help you map out a powerful plan for your life that helps you accomplish so much more than you thought possible—from success at work to weight loss to loving your body and maintaining that all-important work/life balance. Didi helps you craft a special vision, just for you, that primarily focuses on what needs to be done now while putting you on track for the future. She’s your life coach, business coach, and therapist--just what you need, we swear! Not only are we getting on board with Didi for our own mental health, but we’re giving her services as gifts this year! Happy holidays! We know you need it. Mention Portland Picks and receive 20% off all sessions booked in November. |
 coachtowin.com |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Celebrate cheeky b ’s Anniversary with a Sale cheeky b will be celebrating its second anniversary sale on November 18 & 19 expect 20% off everything in the shop, plus prizes, drawings, freebies, goodies, and yummy treats! cheeky b offers hip, fun and quirky items—from fabulous housewares to beautiful jewelry, fab handbags and even gifts for kids and pets! It’s an amazing resource for cool holiday finds, and with everything on sale, what are you waiting for? What: cheeky b Anniversary Sale, 20% Off Everything! |
 cheekyboutique.com |
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| 2 | This Ain’t Your Grandma’s Craft Show Where can you go to shop from over 25 hip, local, indie designers and artisans? The first ever Portland Etsy Art and Craft show! From ironic pin cushions to the hippest in accessories and jewelry, this ain't your grandma's craft show! Put on by the Portland Etsy Street Team, a group of Portland artisans and new-wave crafters dedicated to making and promoting quality handmade goods, the Etsy Art and Craft show will put you in touch with local artists and crafters from Etsy.com, a handmade-only marketplace. What: Portland Etsy Art and Craft |
 pdxetsy.com |
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| 3 | Upscale Jewelry…Online Shopping…Holiday Sale! We love shopping at Gemstone Jewelry By Design’s upscale online jewelry store, and now it’s even better since they’re having their First Annual Holiday Sale! Receive 25% off the total purchase price on gorgeous precious and non-precious gemstone and pearl jewelry! Get your holiday shopping done with incredible savings on their fabulous selection of women’s and men’s one-of-a-kind jewelry. This sale is only once a year, so hurry! What: Huge Sale at Gemstone Jewelry by Design |
 gemstone jewelry by design.com |
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| 4 | Fab Footwear & Big Savings at Bella Moda Designs Bella Moda Designs is celebrating their third Anniversary, and as a thank-you to their adoring fans and customers, they will be offering 20% savings on all regular priced boots and shoes for two days only! Bella Moda has the best selection of boots and shoes from Italy and all around the world, unique labels you won’t find everywhere else in Portland. We’re talking the latest designs, the hottest trends and the most original selection—at affordable prices. What: Big Sale at Bella Moda Designs |
 bellamodadesigns.com |
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| 5 | Baby, You’re Invited to a Sample Sale Get the best baby gear in town at the warehouse/sample sale for children’s clothing and accessories from Baby Star, Kung Fu Bambini, Knuckleheads and more! There will be cocoa and cookies and great deals on incredible finds. Stock up—for yourself, or for gifting. This is not to be missed! What: Warehouse/Sample Sale for Hip Babies |
 knuckleheadsclothing.com |
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| 6 | Big Sale at Tootsie’s Shoe Salon! Happy Thanksgiving, shoppers! Are you looking for great deals on cute holiday kicks? Look no further—Tootsie’s Shoe Salon is having a big sale this weekend! It’s going to be incredible—we are already cleaning out our closets in preparation. Get this…ALL boots and bags are 30% off, and all shoes are 20% off! (This is not valid for previously marked-down merchandise—but what it means is that everything is on sale!) And don't forget their December special: Buy one Ultra Pleasures Pedi for $35 and get 50% off the second! What: Tootsie’s Sale—everything is marked down! |
 Map it |
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| 7 | Visit the Tropics this Holiday Season Portland’s own tropical urban boutique MNLSTYLE hosts “Escape to the Islands.” Take a break from your frenzied post-Thanksgiving shopping by relaxing and enjoying treats in MNLSTYLE’s urban oasis showroom. Browse unique gifts like the exclusive Hobo Shopper handbag and view the new sustainability line. Get a 10% discount when you mention Portland Picks in-store, and online enter the code PickPDX, through Dec. 31. What: MNLSTYLE’s “Escape to the Islands” shopping event + Portland Picks discount |
 mnlstyle.com |
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| 8 | Kids' Night Out Date night? Holiday shopping? Drop the kids at the Portland Children's Museum for supervised, hands-on fun and creative projects. Children will spend the evening with a team of Museum Educators playing in the exhibits and sculpting, shaping and building in the Clay Studio. The night will wind down with stories and songs in Imagination Theater. Pizza dinner included! Pajamas optional! What: Kids' Night Out at the Portland Children's Museum. Ages 5 & up only. Requires advance reservation. Space is limited |
 portlandcm.org |
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We are devoted to providing you with the ultimate ideas for holiday gift-giving. This issue alone should win us some kind of award! But we are ramping up for the Big Daddy—the Portland Picks Holiday Gift Guide! Look for it December 1. xoxo |
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