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December 8th, 2006
Since we have new ski togs and a snow-hungry pal, we went to Mount Hood for a day on the slopes. Granted, we haven’t been on skis in four years, and truly we thought we’d do better, but darnit if our enthusiasm wasn’t off the map! We skillfully evaded snowboarders (parents, take heed—your children have no clue about “mountain etiquette”), we suffered wind-burned chins, we had frozen toes and a burn in our thighs that would have made Jane Fonda weep, but our composure through the hardships completely fell apart when we took a tumble. The snow-blindness kicked in and we thought a big pile of powder was a tiny little bump. We totally yard-saled it—we went one way, our skis went another—and as we lay there laughing, spread-eagle, face-down and still grabbing our poles, our sleeves full of bitingly cold snow—we quickly realized that we had tinkled in our ski pants. Just a little bit. But enough. |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Our New Station Stop The cold is making us uncharacteristically lazy. Avowed pedestrians, we’ve been (shh!) driving everywhere and circling up to half an hour for a parking spot. Must… limit… exposure. What have we turned into??? But now there’s good news for us fashion-forward slothful types: Le Train Bleu has moved! We’ve loved Le Train Bleu’s kicky selection of adorable duds, and now we’re thrilled to share that we’ve just discovered more of them, in an all-new space! They’ve picked up and moved to the Pearl, in a fab walking- and fashion-friendly zone. The new store is totally luscious and dreamy—and still stocked with all kinds of stuff that you want to buy ohmygoshrightthisveryminute. Rebecca Taylor outfits, Vena Cava shirts and dresses, Bi La Li coats all the way from London. And all kinds of cute hats, toiletries and other cool tidbits (Swiss Army chocolate bars, anyone?) We’ll for sure be going out to all the parties, now that we’re dressed so well. But we’ll be driving. Le Train Bleu |
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| 2 | Make A Difference While Looking Hot! We are all about saving the planet—we want to preserve and protect what’s here to make the holidays bright for generations to come. But when we consider our present-day necessities (which currently involve buying presents), we don’t have to give up our altruism to give gifts that make a difference. We’ll admit it—we want to shop Earth-friendly but still look cute. Which is why we love Moxie for their Ecoist handbags and wallets that are made from recycled, organic and non-toxic materials. Plus they work with Trees for the Future to plant trees all over the world—when you buy a bag, they plant a tree! And Moxie also sells one-of-a-kind 99% recycled blazers by Fandora (formerly Bella Sisters), that are locally made and perfect for Portland weather. Or choose from their gorgeous selection of stylish holiday dresses. And how about a gift certificate for someone truly deserving? Plus—mention Portland Picks and receive 10% off your purchase from now until Dec. 24. Who doesn’t love to shop local? Moxie2400 E Burnside St Portland, OR 97214 503.29.moxie www.moxiepdx.com |
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| 3 | FYI: Your Childhood is Hip Growing up, our parents refused to buy us certain toys—The Strawberry Shortcake Easy-Bake Oven, for example, or a Cabbage Patch Kid. Such toys were too "trendy" and, well, too darned ugly to grace our home. Fast-forward a couple decades and we have to admit they were probably right. But classic toys like Legos, puzzles and rubber balls have stood the test of time, and books like "Pat the Bunny" and "Goodnight Moon" are more beloved than ever. |
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| 4 | Isn’t it Romantic? The weather outside is frightful (well, not really, but let's just go with that). Now imagine a cozy, warm room. An elegant dinner. Holiday music playing softly in the background. Candles glittering over a perfectly set table. Gazing into one another's eyes. You toast, to your love/family/date/dog/dinner/new shoes as you sip a rich cabernet selected by your personal sommelier. And then, what's this? A gift? "Pour moi?" Oui! To accompany your romantic dinner at Gracie's, when you mention Portland Picks, they will give you a shimmery, glorious ornament from Ornaments to Remember, a special keepsake to remind you of this special night. (And Ornaments to Remember make the best gifts, with quirky ornaments for everyone, from cowboys to sun-bunnies.) Isn’t it romantic? Gracie’s |
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| 5 | Your Turn in the Spotlight After being an only child for 10 years, we'll admit we were the teensiest bit sad when our brother showed up. As cute as he was, we were no longer the center of attention. Though we're much older now, there are still times when we want to be doted on...and when those times pop up, we head straight to Wallflowers: A Salon. Beyond the ultra-personal service is the philosophy that every great head of hair needs a touch-up now and then. For that reason, they urge customers to come in for a teensy trim (all free, of course) in between cuts. This is especially great for guys (and gals) with short hair, who end up looking rough around the edges in just a couple of weeks. Once that's out of the way, isn't it time you stepped into the spotlight? Wallflowers: A Salon 1720 NW Lovejoy St. Portland, OR 97209 503.753.5710 |
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| 6 | How Are Guys Like Santa? Like Santa, men get their power from us believing in them. When we believe in their goodness and generosity; when we believe they want to take care of us and make us happy; we interact with men in a way that naturally brings out the best in them. Like Santa, with men, believing is seeing, not the other way around. Which is why we rely on PAX Programs! PAX provides information for us to be satisfied in our relationships with men ~ friends, sons, fathers, co-workers or lovers. Their three-hour seminar, Making Sense of Men, is loaded with great information including how men are responding to you and how they communicate their attraction, ways we often miss! Maybe we have outgrown believing in Santa, but it’s never too late to believe in men. Making Sense of Men |
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| 7 | Modern Comfort By now you’ve heard it more than a dozen times…food isn’t the answer to your problems. But with the winter rain dumping all over you it’s hard to argue the fact that good food can provide a little comfort amidst the coldness. And that’s exactly what Savoy did for us recently. The part-bar part-bistro sits in the heart of the cutey Clinton neighborhood and serves a delicious menu of comfort foods in a lovely modern atmosphere. Owner Peter Bro gives a nod to his Wisconsin-homeland with menu items like fried cheese curds and mac & cheese. Peter, and Savoy chef Alton Garcia, also spice things up by changing the menu monthly (tip: go soon before the seasonal pumpkin fritters get yanked). The pan-fried trout was also noteworthy. If you’re searching for a comfort-food finale (like we were) then don’t hold back on dessert. Our warm chocolate-chip cookie gave us the mojo to brave the drippy outside while our insides were left smiling. Savoy |
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| 8 | Be Artier Than You Are Over the years we’ve taken art classes with varying degrees of success. The charcoal sketch class? Loved it, but our manicurist cried every time we came in with miner-black cuticles. Pottery? Oof. Nothing is more pathetic than watching your bowl fall in on itself while spinning on a wheel. Macrame? Another wash. Though we were surprisingly good at it, nobody wanted our ropy creations. In fact, we were mocked. And it hurt. But since there’s an artiste in us, we are trying again…we heard about Jennifer Wells Design, an art-glass teaching studio. Now we can create beautiful pieces in classes for fused glass ornaments, plates, vases, and more! Fused-glass ornament classes are $30, and held 12/12 from 10 am-noon; 12/14, from 6:30-8:30 pm; 12/17, 9:30-11:30 am; 12/18, 4-6 pm; and 12/19, 7-9 pm. If you’re not the arty type, you can peruse their studio or website for one-of-a-kind pieces. Gift certificates are available! (Would you rather have macramé???) Jennifer Wells Design |
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| 9 | Vintage for the Rest of Us We'll admit it...we have big feet. Not of the "shop only at the Nordstrom's special sizes sale" variety, but the average American "every generation has feet slightly bigger than the one before." So, as much as we can accessorize with vintage handbags and jewelry, shoes were always somewhat off limits. |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | An Uplifting Idea Now you can defy gravity with Liftits (we can’t believe we just wrote that). “Lift” your girls for that perky B.K. (Before Kids) look…without a bra! Liftits are perfect for saucy holiday tops and dresses. They’re guaranteed to keep you “up” and “in,” because Liftits are a hypoallergenic adhesive that’s applied to the top of the breast, not underneath. …sigh… |
 usefulchickstuff.com |
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| 2 | Give the Gift of Safety & Security We’ve had membership in AAA since we were 16, and happily, our dad still pays for it each year. He is the Safety King—which probably makes us the Safety Princess, but who’s going to argue semantics when it comes to the benefits of AAA like competitive insurance rates, a full-service travel agency, and the dependability of roadside assistance. Membership is a terrific gift for that hard-to-buy for friend or loved one, or just to keep your near and dear safe and secure. And as an added incentive they’ll waive the $10 enrollment fee on each gift membership you purchase through 12/31/06. www.AAA.com |
 AAA.com |
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| 3 | Instant Celebrity Style! Jeans go with everything but holiday parties! When you’re lost in the closet, get professional help. Style Coach Jandi Girard at Inspire is a necessity this time of year—she helps us get our style on point, coaching us through a tandem shopping trip and pointing us in the right direction. Her expert eye sees what’s right for you, and it’s all based on your tastes and your actual (gasp!) measurements. If you want to hear “you’ve never looked better,” Jandi is your gal. And holiday packages are available for all budgets—treat your sister, mom or best friend to a session of shopping for holiday clothes. They will never look better! www.coachinspire.com |
 coachinspire.com |
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| 4 | Wear Your Thoughts on Your Sleeve We love words of encouragement on those bad hair, bad boss, or bad boyfriend days. We also love fun jewelry. At Zen-Diva.com, encouragement and jewelry combine in handmade gemstone bracelets. 503.646.4531 |
 zen-diva.com |
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| 5 | For the Thinking Man’s Dog We adore adornments, even for our dogs. And you can make them the envy of the dog park (without embarrassing your pet or yourself) with Sococo’s Good Karma Collection of leashes and collars. And who knows…you may help your dog make the world a better place as he spreads good karma and good cheer with the thoughtful quotations and pretty colors of his Sococo collar… www.gosococo.com |
 gosococo.com |
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| Cocktail of the week: | |||
| Mmm…cocktails. We love ’em. Recently, Bo Restobar opened in Hotel Lućia, and their drink menu is original and elegant. Here’s one of our favorites, called Starry Night…you can make it at home, but we recommend popping in to have it mixed especially for you…and then you can treat yourself to their menu. (It’s Pan-Asian on small plates—traditional, nouvelle and fusion all at once and it’s genius.) |
 typhoonrestaurants.com |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Sameunderneath Holiday Launch Party Sameunderneath is having a holiday launch party! Check out terrific new bamboo holiday collection, including shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, trench coats and wrap dresses. Enjoy music, food and drinks, and receive 10% off with donation of new toy for the Mississippi Street Toy Drive, and an additional 10% off any purchase over $200! What: Sameunderneath Holiday Launch Party |
 sameunderneath.com |
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| 2 | Loyly’s Bar is Now Open (Pampering = A Great Present) Enjoy wine, beer and salty snacks after a steam, sauna or massage at Loyly Sauna & Steam. It’s a terrific gift for couples on co-ed Sundays—relax & enjoy their calming space, plus no facials or manicures to scare the guys. (Though single-portion beauty products are for sale.) Steam with your honey & toast to feeling good. What: Enjoy wine, beer & delish snacks at Loyly Sauna & Steam |
 loyly.net |
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| 3 | Holiday Shopping at a Stylish Auction Put on your little black dress and bring a date to Silent Night at Pittock Mansion. Relax to the music of the season and enjoy complimentary hors d'oeuvres and wine while you discover the perfect gift! Choose from an array of items and services on display for bidding throughout the evening. What: Silent Night at the Pittock Mansion, to benefit Portland's YWCA and Portland Female Executives |
 pdxfx.org |
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| 4 | You’re Invited: 11th Annual Holiday Bobble Hop on over to the 11th Annual Holiday Bobble where you'll find a variety of locally made, handcrafted gifts for you and yours. With free gift wrapping, live music, massage therapy and crafts for the kids, this type of holiday shopping beats the mall any day! What: 11th Annual Holiday Bobble—Handcrafted Gift Sale |
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| 5 | American Express Shopper Appreciation Days Shopping just got easier with Shopper Appreciation Days from American Express. Get free parking on Saturdays, Dec. 9 and 16, at four parking lots in the Pearl District & on NW 23rd Avenue. Be sure to pick up a free gift bag! Plus, if you’re an American Express® Cardmember, you’ll receive a free American Express prepaid card worth $15. |
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| 6 | Make a Holiday Gift Basket…with Wine! Why not drink some bubbly, hang out with friends and get your gift-shopping done all at the same time? Once sipping and suitably inspired, Sara Shaw and Morgan can help you put together a fabulous gift basket from a fine selection of oils, decadent chocolates, gourmet goodies and, of course, wine! What: Girls’ Night Out at cork • a bottle shop |
 corkwineshop.com |
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| 7 | Pamper Your Soles at Shoefly Enjoy music, drinks hors d’oeuvres and awesome giveaways, plus complimentary foot massages and other surprises at Shoefly’s Pamper Your Soles Holiday Party. And that’s not all – buy 1 pair and save 15%, buy 2 pairs and save 20%, and buy three pairs and save 25%! Hooray for the holidays! What: Pamper Your Soles Holiday Party |
 shoefly.com |
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| 8 | Women’s Health Brown Bag at Nordstrom Jillian Romm, RN, LCSW, will help you strategize about taking care of yourself, your relationships and your health as you improve health and wellness at every stage of life. There will be a drawing for a delightful gift from Season Specialty Gift Shoppe, plus handouts and other materials. No RSVP necessary; bring a friend! What: Women’s Health Brown Bag |
 ohsuwomenshealth.com |
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| 9 | The Secret Society Art Show and Sale Shop local and for a good cause at The Secret Society Art Show and Sale. Talented artists will present apparel for women and children, jewelry, ceramics, glass, natural beauty products, reconstructed blazers, hats, scarves and more! And enter a raffle where 100% of the proceeds will go to the Oregon Food Bank. What: The Secret Society Art Show and Sale |
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| 10 | Holiday Open House at Cooking Accomplished! Cooking Accomplished! is having a holiday open house and Grand Opening Party on Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 5-8 pm. They will be serving samples of their fabulous food and sips of delicious wines. Plus there will be tours and demonstrations, and door prizes! What: Holiday Open House at Cooking Accomplished! |
 cookingaccomplished.com |
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| 11 | Special Sale for Portland Picks at Gypsy Chic You know that glam-hippie look that Sienna Miller and Kate Hudson do so well? That saucy Portland-style boho that you crave? Get the goods—at great prices—at Gypsy Chic. For under $100 you can walk out with a new outfit, and mention Portland Picks to receive 20% off your entire purchase! What: Special Sale at Gypsy Chic…just for Portland Picks readers! |
 gypsychiconline.com |
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Thank you for your support of Portland Picks. We know we've been inundating you with lots of holiday ads, but like other media we have staff to support and a website to maintain...and we want to make sure you're always the first to know about the biggest and bestest sales in town, no matter what part of town they're in! (And keep you tuned in to special sales that are Just For You!) |
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