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December 15th, 2006
We can't tell for sure, but it's likely that we're being outsmarted by our dog. He was glued to his bed by the kitchen and turning up his nose at food, so we made him chicken soup and took him to the vet. Then the vet said there's nothing wrong with him, so we took him home, and the antics--which stopped for the vet--started again. And we continued to worry. Can you see where this is going? Oh yes, we fell for his tricks like New York fell for Flavor Flav--we fell hard, we fell fast, and we were very, very emotional. (Plus we looked FABULOUS doing it.) The problem is, you see, that we're so attached to the little guy that we're easily manipulated. We feel guilty about leaving him alone. He gets more medical attention than we do. And we're obviously huge suckers, but the scariest part is that possibly, just possibly, we're not that smart...after all, he is a dog... |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Do You Believe in Magic? We are having a major issue with concentration lately; typing WWW has led to A.D.D., for sure! So when we stopped by the brand-new io herbal alchemy store downtown, owner and creator Jewelie Randall prescribed us a Grounding Potion. It contains herbs including oakmoss, cinnamon, and dandelion—and we swear that when we spray it in our office we gain focus, clarity, and a few things crossed off our list. In addition to Grounding, other potions include Empowering, Perception, and another favorite, Love. All potions also come with a spirit stone placed in each bottle to strengthen and preserve the magic. And come on—we all need a little magic sometimes. She’s also come out with Aqua Vitae floral waters in Rose, Rosemary, and Lavender, which we plan to squirt liberally on ourselves as we fly to our upcoming (yes!) vacation. A longtime herbalist, Jewelie develops products that she can’t live without. Stop by io herbal alchemy and you’ll develop similar dependencies. io herbal alchemy |
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| 2 | Sparkly Goodness We have a couple of lovely old brooches that our grandmother passed down to us, but they’re so fusty that we never wear them. We feel silly pinning things on hats and jackets like the “cool kids” do. But what if we could update them into modern jewelry? Maybe morph the fusty brooch into a cool clasp on a glittery necklace? Lucky for us, Mandalena specializes in custom baubles—you can bring in pins, necklaces or earrings and she’ll rework them into fabulous “new” pieces—or you can choose from her glorious array of glamorous designs. Her little store is a glowing jewel box—surrounded by windows, creations of Swarovski crystals and pearls, semi-precious stones, and silver and gold catch the light just so. We were smitten with the vintage Swarovski crystals from the 40s and 50s, as well as the French couture pieces with sultry black ribbons and bows. And it’s even sweeter during the holidays—you can get 10% off your first purchase, or bring a friend for a 20% discount! Mandalena |
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| 3 | Gilt-y Pleasures We never know what to do for New Year’s Eve, so most years we wind up at home with a good steak and a better bottle of wine and despite our best intentions, we knock out at our usual bedtime and miss the ringing it in. Sigh. But this year we are determined to get out & about and live it up…but in a low-key way. So we’re thinking of making reservations at the Gilt Club—they’re hosting a 4-course prix-fixe dinner for $50! And their special NYE cocktail is delish—a strawberry-infused vodka with basil-infused lime, topped with a champagne float and served in a martini glass. Decadent! And we lurv the Gilt Club any night of the year. It’s like a saucy boudoir with its red-leather booths, organza draperies and dramatic lighting—but a perfect balance between funky and elegant. And though most people think of Gilt Club for its drinks and its burger, we are big fans of the rest of the menu, which changes often. Yes, it looks like we just talked ourselves into it…see you on New Year’s Eve! The Gilt Club |
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| 4 | Sweet as Sugar Every year it gets little closer – the holiday when we’ll run out of every single gift-giving idea. We honestly believed it might happen in 2006 – we looked and looked and just couldn’t find anything for our parents, who possess a lifetime’s worth of gadgets, tchotchkes and knickknacks. But then we stumbled into lemontree and knew we could at least make it through a few more celebrations before we run dry. lemontree is filled to the brim with brilliant gift ideas. There are vintage-inspired clocks, sassy cards, stylish journals and more funky salt and pepper shakers than any reasonable person would ever need to flavor their food. There are incredible wind-up toys that show off their inner gears and custom silk handbags made locally by Ginger Abernathy Creations. And local doesn’t stop there – look for Wicked Wicks handcrafted candles, Arcana soaps and Tao of Tea gift sets. After settling on a gift for the ‘rents, we took a few more spins and came up with options for the rest of our list. Who knew lemons could produce a store so sweet? lemontree |
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| 5 | Beer Bells Ring, Are You Drinking? Remember those ladies in that old Mervyn’s commercial? We have become them. Every time we’d walk past the under-construction NoPo McMenamins’s outpost, we’d cup our hands and press our faces to the glass. “Open, open, open…” And apparently, we weren’t the only ones waiting for the arrival of Chapel Pub (previously the Little Chapel of the Chimes), to the Piedmont neighborhood. On opening night visit the wait for a table was an hour plus, and parties of eight, seven, five, kept pouring through the doors. The staff handled the crowds with ease, and once we sat down, everything went off without a hitch. We snuggled up to a pint of their seasonal winter ale, the Kris Kringle, spiced with ginger, cinnamon and allspice, while admiring the impressive interior. We couldn’t resist hot and crispy tater tots smothered in Terminator Stout mustard, and while we knew we shouldn’t have, we even enjoyed the Black and Tan brownie (must, bike, to work, tomorrow!). And now that Chapel is open we won’t be surprised if we end up there…a lot. Chapel Pub |
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| 6 | Feel-Good Hair-Care We’re the first to admit, we love to pamper ourselves! But shallow we aren’t, so we’re making the switch to Akemi Salon, the new cruelty-free, vegan-friendly salon. Stepping through their doors is like stepping into our living room—bright, creatively decorated, and personal—if only ours came with complimentary high-end wine, beer, tea, coffee, and soda. (Note to selves: Next time we’re coming in on Saturday for mimosas!) We spent the afternoon with Sarah, who wowed us with techniques we’d never seen before—twist, twist, scissor, scissor—trust us, she knows what she’s doing. We left feeling rejuvenated and refreshed and ready to take on all the holiday parties we RSVP’d to back in November. Haircuts, color, special occasions, and weddings, even all-natural dread maintenance…the ladies at Akemi Salon know their stuff and use only vegan-friendly lines, so we can feel good about being pampered. As an added bonus, tell Sarah that Portland Picks sent you and she’ll snip $5 off your haircut. Cheers! Akemi Salon |
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| 7 | Streetwear Sale at Signal Ski season is upon us, and if you haven't found your way into Signal yet, you have to get in there! It's the perfect halfway point between Powell's and the new shops in NoLo. Where else can you browse through a unique array of hats, jewelry, purses and activewear, while an expert boot-fitter makes custom footbeds for your ski boots? (They warm up the footbeds and then you put them on & walk around the store as they meld to your feet, which gives you ample time to check out the amazing selection of cute snow togs and warm-weather outfits. And their selection of streetwear is not only super cute, but an untapped resource for this time of year. Find jackets, sweaters, hoodies, turtlenecks and vests from brands like Nikita, Wesc, Lole, Lifetime Collective, B By Burton and O'neill. (We spent about 25 minutes just trying on hats!) Mention Portland Picks on December 15, 16, and 17th to receive 30% off their full selection of streetwear. Signal |
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| 8 | What’s His Secret? Our man is a fashion plate. He works the "Critical V" (where the tie, shirt, jacket and pocket square intersect) and pores over every issue of GQ. But there's one area of his wardrobe that just can't keep up—his underwear. Under U 4 Men |
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| 9 | Glorious Holiday Shopping Awaits… We glamorous types love the holidays because they’re the perfect excuse to bring out the baubles and show them off. Holiday parties, holiday events, holiday trips to Trader Joe’s—we have a million places to wear our sassy goodies! Which is why we don’t want you to miss out on holiday shopping at emily-jane. In addition to their amazing collection of sparkling crystal jewelry, vintage cowboy boots, and accessories, they are introducing a new designer—Sha Montana. She’s local, her work is exotic, and she’s achieved cult-like status among celebs and the savvy shoppers of LA and San Fran. And now you can add Portland to the list! Her one-of-a-kind handbags, cuffs and belts showcases exotic skin and leather, and emily-jane has the largest collection anywhere. Plus, from now through Dec. 24, receive a special 2007 Holiday Ornament with any in-store or emily-jane.com purchase of $100 or more. (Just type in the word “ornament” when buying online or mention “ornament” when shopping in the store.) emily-jane |
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| 10 | Home for the Holidays We can’t get enough of holiday décor. Our significant other has actually indicated that he has seen enough of our “seasonal homescaping” to last him about 10 more seasons. But how can we resist when there are so many delightful treasures out there that look so good on the mantel? Which is why we always pay a visit to Cielo Home during the holidays. They have the sweetest, most magical array of low-key-but-glamorous décor items (tiny golden trees, sparkling silver stars), plus romantic ornaments (for a fairy-tale tree, deck the branches with lovely angels and delicate birds). They also offer small touches like frosted grapes and pears for laying about oh-so-casually, and of course, glorious chandeliers if you want to go all out. And all these things make the most wonderful gifts! Plus they have fab gift ideas that aren’t so seasonal—Asian pottery, fragrant soaps, and our favorite: hand-embroidered pillows with cameos on them. Sigh. We love being (Cielo) home for the holidays. Cielo Home |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Ring in the New Year with Dance! Enjoy a sizzling, passionate, sexy celebration of the tango on New Year’s Eve at the Montgomery Park Atrium, at “Around Midnight,” an event by Pendulum Aerial Dance Theatre and featuring special international guest artists, formerly of Cirque du Soleil and “O” in Las Vegas. Be wowed by dancers and aerialists, enjoy music by Tango Pacifico, and take a tango lesson from Alex Krebbs. Enjoy a gourmet 5-course meal by Salvador Molly’s. Dinner & a show starts at 9 pm, and is $125. Late admission (show only) at 10:30 pm is $35. Reservations required for both seatings. Tickets are online at www.pendulumdancetheatre.org |
 pendulumdancetheatre.org |
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| 2 | Super-Comf Baby Shoes Your baby (or your friend’s baby) deserve only the best, and nothing is better than sweetly soft baby shoes that are easy to put on, hard for baby to pull off, durable, skid-proof, breathable, and best of all, machine-washable! Sound too good to be true? Not with cute baby kicks from Isabooties. In fun styles like Mille Fleurs (pictured at right), Racing Stripes, Chocolate Dots and Happy Trails, baby will be cozy and cute, and Mama will be ridiculously happy that this is so. www.isabooties.com |
 isabooties.com |
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| 3 | How to Entertain the Kids? Are you planning a holiday get-together with your Mom Group? Here’s a fabulous way to entertain the kiddies and have them create a gift for Mom at the same time: with blumebox’s My Monet Blumebox. It comes in white or natural, and once the kids have doodled a message to mama, it becomes an instant vase! (And no worries—it has a plastic liner and is 100% recyclable.) We love this idea, and at only $4.99 each it’s a great treat for everyone. www.blumebox.com |
 blumebox.com |
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| 4 | Give Us the Goods Every once in a while you see little kid clothes that make you want to go out and have babies. This is exactly what happened when we spotted Little Lark, a venture from the same people that brought us Lark Press greeting cards. The hand silk-screened designs are more sophisticated than saccharine, with bicycles, gnomes, robots and—our favorite—a wintry tree, complete with tiny bird. Want to match your kiddo? Don’t worry…mom and dad size versions are coming soon! www.alittlelark.com |
 alittlelark.com |
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| 5 | Happily Handmade Gifts We have a weakness for handmade gifts. Sadly, we are also entirely uncrafty, meaning we must rely on others who are more capable with needles, glue and googly-eyes. Thank goodness for Portland’s own Rosie Ro., whose handbags are 100% handmade and 100% adorable. Made with felt, vinyl and vibrant cottons, we particularly love the red bird with the little heart-shaped wing. It’s perfect for a girlfriend who has absolutely everything…but could always use just one more handbag! www.rosiero.net |
 rosiero.net |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Winter Special at Spa Willamina Give the gift of bliss to someone special this winter, with a gift certificate to Spa Willamina. Their December gift package includes a Skin Defense Facial, Warm Oil Scalp Treatment, Hot Stone Massage, Cinnamon Foot Soak, and lunch for $265—that’s $20 off! Allow 3 hours. What: Spa Willamina December Special |
 spawillamina.com |
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| 3 | Fashion Show by Garment Head out for a night of fashion showcasing upcoming spring lines by NW designers, hosted by Garment, a local boutique in SE Portland! Featured designers are: She-She, Lucia, Sofada, Flood Clothing, Eden Dawn, Suzabelle, Mabel and Audrey, Heidi Steeves, Midgewear, Misha Ashtom, Louise Jeans, and Eve. Free! Food and drinks available! What: Fashion Show by Garment |
 E Mail |
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| 4 | Sassy Sakétinis from SakeOne Bring something original to your next holiday party. SakéOne’s Sakétini gift baskets feature delicious designer cocktail creations—including Dragon Milk, the hit cocktail from the November Crave party. They make hot hostess gifts, not to mention they are 15% off until December 24th! What: SakéOne Sakétini Gift Baskets |
 sakeone.com |
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| 5 | Sugar and Spice Contest Do you know a community-minded do-gooder who is always thinking of other people’s needs? Now you can reward their generosity by entering them to win a day at The DragonTree holistic day spa—a $300 value—and a wonderful way to reward a wonderful person. What: Sugar and Spice Contest |
 thedragontree.com |
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| 7 | Transform the City with a Card Website: www.downtownportland.org |
 downtownportland.org |
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| 8 | Take the Holiday Express! The Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation’s 2006 Holiday Express features vintage locomotives, and a 40-minute round-trip along the Willamette River. All proceeds benefit the ORHF, and the next trains leave this weekend! Tickets are available at Safeway and through TicketsWest. What: Holiday Express train ride |
 orhf.org |
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| 10 | Gallery Opening - Perfect for Holiday Gifts! British-born Portland artist Christopher Bibby has a gallery opening on Tuesday, Dec. 19. Please come by to see his wonderful, original oil paintings, watercolors, and large and small reproductions of his acclaimed Portland and international work. |
 iambibby.net |
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Do you know yet where you're spending New Year's Eve? We'd love to hear all about your favorite place to be when the crystal ball drops! |
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