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December 22nd, 2006
We have been feeling “older” lately. And not in a good “I’ve learned a lot” or “I have a lot to offer the World” way, but in an “oh my sweet good grief who took the 26-year-old Me and replaced her with an old bag” way. It’s not cool. There are things we used to do that now freak us out…like sitting above the B rows at the basketball game. We got vertigo just going up the escalator. Serious. Our BF asked us to hold his beer real quick-like as we were ascending, and as the terror mounted within our hearts, we could barely bark out a “no.” It was crazy. We were crazy! And once we found our hallway to the arena, and that cavernous space opened up before us, we felt like we were going to fall face-first off the bleachers and no amount of reason (or overpriced amber ale) could assuage the ground-slipping-away-beneath-our-feet feeling. We were terrified almost the entire time. It wasn’t until we got home to our dog and our hot-water bottle and warm blankie and a Tivo’d episode of Jeopardy that we began to feel better. |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | New (Old) Store Alert! It was a bright and brisk winter morning, yet our holiday partying the night earlier left us (hiccup) needing a little something extra for us to rise and shine. So we hopped on the old Schwinn and pedaled up NE Alberta Street. Coffee, Christmas shopping and a little wind in the face would do us some good. The frigid temperatures perked up the body, our daily cup-a-Joe awoke the mind, and when we saw NE Alberta’s brand-spanking-new vintage store Poppy and Ivy, our day of Christmas shopping came into full focus. Poppy and Ivy is a too-cute vintage and “vintage inspired” home décor store that opened just last weekend. They are still filling the store with fun finds from the past, and even some new (but still vintage-esque) odds and ends. It was all we could do to keep from loading up the bike basket with stocking stuffers for everyone. We can’t wait to see how they round it all out! Poppy and Ivy |
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| 2 | Wineaux Here at Portland Picks, we love to write about food. It’s even difficult to tear us away from consuming for shopping! So when we heard that wine shop Vinideus opened in the Pearl, we begged our editor to let us cover it. And she wholeheartedly agreed: Wine isn’t just something to pair with food, it’s a medical necessity! Whew. About 85% of Vinideus’ exclusive wines are from France, with the remainder coming from Spain, Italy, and the Northwest. They also have their own label for pinot, chardonnay, cabernet franc, and chenin blanc. And a Bordeaux for every palate! And no wines they carry are mass-produced, with most wines coming from family wineries. It’s a great mix of French know-how and Portland small-biz love. And Vinideus is more than just a bottle shop. They plan to eventually sell the elegant stemware that they carry (for their daily tastings!) and have tables and a lounge-y area upstairs from the shop. And if you’re in Southwest Portland, don’t worry—there’s a Vinideus there, too. A third location is planned for the future. Go toast the holidays! Vinideus |
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| 3 | Indie Come Home! Come January, we’ll head off to the mountains of Utah, ready to brave the Sundance Film Festival for the fourth time. We’ll wait in interminable lines and pay outrageous prices for food, all to experience some of the best foreign and independent films. But after a trip to Portland’s new Living Room Theaters, we wonder if hopping a flight is really all that worth it. You see, now those films are playing right downtown, in an environment as luxurious as any Park City condo. Want U.S. premieres? Two current selections are just that. Comfy seats? Lift the middle arm and snuggle with your sweetie on the recliners, with enough space on either side to avoid other theater-goers. Gourmet food? Crepes, wraps and other small bites are tasty without being messy. Add wine, beer and cocktails and you’ve just described our dream date destination. We have our fingers crossed that this concept succeeds, which means attracting audiences willing to try out films that push boundaries. Two we’ve already seen are the clever doc “Wordplay” and the edge-of-your-seat thriller “13 Tzameti.” Check ‘em out—you’ll be glad you did! Living Room Theaters |
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| 4 | Go North, Young Man (and Woman) If you were to take a world map and mark everywhere that our family has been, you’d need an office supply store’s worth of pushpins. We’ve been to Denmark and Poland, our dad’s visited Ethiopia and Brussels and our uncle jets off to Japan and Australia every month or so. That’s why we know that our next family reunion will likely involve a stop at North 45. Like our relatives, owners and travel mates Josh and Jim have made it a point to get out and see the world. And, lucky for us, they’ve brought back souvenirs in the form of scrumptious eats and drinks. Menu standouts include eight varieties of French-inspired mussels and pomme frites, and cocktails including Eastern Europe’s tangy Moscow Mule and Japan’s contribution, the refreshing Sake Pear. From Brazil to Belgium, North 45 – named for the pub’s GPS location on the 45th parallel – has every hemisphere covered and, with its dark wood details and cozy lighting, is a beacon for travelers and homebodies alike. North 45 |
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| 5 | How Long Till Summer? Recently, we attempted a skirt without tights. Not Britney or Lindsay commando territory (because…ew). Just, you know, to see if we could pull it off with just the socks and boots. And yikes. We’ve declined from our natural, athletic tan to Casper in a matter of weeks. Absolutely horrifying. But we’ve found a solution: Urban Tan. Whether you want your glow to come from a bed or a spray, the coconutty-smelling Urban Tan’s your place. Their spotless beds are high-pressure, meaning more results in less time. And banish thoughts of freakish, unhealthy orange—Urban Tan’s beds use mostly UVA light, not UVB. They really do have the latest and the greatest machines—seriously, you get in one and it’s like boarding a spaceship. A spaceship to Planet Glowy, baby! Or if you want the spray-on Mystic Tan, they’ve got that, too. Whatever it is you choose, we’ll see you there. Because right now we can’t tell where our white picket fence ends and where we begin. Urban Tan |
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| 6 | Pause for Good Food Recently we've been reading the best-selling expose' Fast Food Nation, its stomach-churning facts making us want to eschew any food rendered from animals and start our own organic gardens. Unfortunately, we lack green thumbs and are not quite ready to plunge face-first into a totally vegetarian lifestyle, so we've been in search of healthy protein sources that don't taste like the paste we pilfered in kindergarten. Thus enters the new eating and drinking establishment, Pause. Opened by Mike Raleigh and Capron Meyers of Low Brow fame, Pause actually grinds its own meats on the premises, and pickles its own veggies. We'd never have thought meatloaf and sliders could once again tickle the red-meat fancy! In addition to delish comfort fare, the drinks are A+. And with a delightful selection of well-priced wine (no bottle over $25), a fine beer selection (bottle and on tap) and Pause’s proximity to the Alibi, you’ll find it’s a perfect excuse to skip the commute down I-5 (and skip the organic gardening). |
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| 7 | Eye Candy The first time we baked a cake, we learned to cover up any imperfections with the icing. It didn’t take long for us use this idea in other parts of our life—headbands to hide a bad hair day, jewelry to spice up a simple outfit... But now, our days of bad hair and “blah” outfits are over. Fuchsia owner Anne, a former chef, has opened her self-described “jewelry restaurant” where she creates eye-catching presentations all day long. Her recipe starts with local and International jewelry at prices so reasonable we don’t feel guilty about giving ourselves a little gift or two this holiday season. Then she mixes in some pieces for the home including modern vases, plate sets, and unique artwork by Kendra Binney and Jenna Robertson. To finish it off, she incorporates colorful clutches, wallets, and handbags that we can add to our everyday office wear or for a night out on the town. The results: Stunning. With so many beautiful choices, who says imperfections are a bad thing? Fuchsia |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | You Haven’t Seen Anything Yet The first time we laid eyes on Ruby Spinel’s elegant and gorgeously luxe jewelry, we were smitten. The display case was full of the most original and unusual baubles we’ve seen this side of heaven. The designer uses gemstones like garnets, or sapphires in lush, dusty pastels, mixes them with oxidized silver, vermeil, even ribbon and velvet, and creates “statement” pieces that are incredibly feminine. Find Ruby Spinel jewelry at Nolita, East West Fusion, Dazzle, Syzygy (in Manzanita, OR), Portland Art Museum, and The Arrangement. |
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| 2 | “Lucky Money” Traditionally, Li Xi envelopes containing “lucky money” were given during Chinese New Year. Graphic designer Tram Pham was introduced to the custom as a child during this festive time. Today, the red envelopes are used throughout the year for other special occasions including weddings and birthdays, and Mrs. Pham elegantly preserves this tradition, and shares it. We love her highly symbolic, delicately beautiful cards, where ornate silhouettes and shadows are created using intricate lasercutting. So dramatic! They will make all your New Year’s greetings memorable. |
 designnight.com |
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| 3 | The Perfect Tummy Tuck Ahh, jeans. You love 'em and you hate 'em. And after babies, we're personally leaning toward the latter. But now we've found Tummy Tuck Jeans that suck us in quite nicely and give us that pre-baby belly we remember so fondly. |
 tummytuckjeans.com |
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| 4 | So Nice |
 nicecubesbaby.com |
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| 5 | Your Guide to the Happiest Hours When we lived in Manhattan, young and, um, poor, we were expert at flushing out all the happy hours in town. We would go HH Hopping, mapping out where we could get the best bang for our buck. And we did this while maintaining our dignity by snubbing our noses at anything less than swank or cool, or containing a certain quota and quality of guys. |
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| Item of the Week: | |||
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Do you want to make an impression? Check out Souchi's cashmere raglan plunge top—it’s a unique, stylish sweater that can be worn alone or with a camisole. Fitted, but not tight, the sweater is sexy without being revealing—the perfect top for a night out on the town or a holiday party. The sweater is available in 36 colors, is machine washable, and is also 10% off through the end of December (and that includes special orders of this style!) Souchi807 NW 23rd Ave. Portland, OR 97210 503.525.0043 www.souchi.com |
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| Portland Picks’ New Year’s Eve Roundup Ring in the New Year in style! |
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| Gilt Club: Fifty bucks gets you a four-course delightful edible celebration. 503.222.4458, www.giltclub.com p.s.: All TriMet and MAX rides are free starting at 8 p.m. so no excuses now... trade in those car keys for a free bus ticket. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Get Down at the Kiddie Disco! Baby Loves Disco is coming to Portland! Your tiny tots will be dancing on air on the floating dance floor at the 100-year-old Crystal Ballroom…it’s an afternoon dance party with real music from the 70s & 80s—no Barney allowed! Plus there are crafts, snacks, and entertainment for all! Admission is $12 for walkers…non-walkers are free. What: Baby Loves Disco |
 babylovesdisco.com |
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| 2 | S.O.S. – Stylize. Organize. Socialize
S.O.S. will feature fashion shows by Accentuate, Lily Atelier and Le Reve, organizing advice from Organize in Style, entertaining tips from Salut Wine Company, and wardrobe ideas from That’s Fabulous. Tickets are $20 in advance through www.OrganizeInStyle.com or Lily Atelier, or $25 at the door. Raffle tickets are $2 each and will benefit The Children’s Center. What: S.O.S. Stylize. Organize. Socialize |
 OrganizeInStyle.com |
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| 4 | Garnish Gets into the Spirit of Giving Garnish, a new boutique on Alberta Street, is sponsoring “Fashion Forward Fundraising.” Garnish will support local schools by donating 10% of profits on Friday evenings in 2007 (from 4-8 pm) to the customer’s school/s of choice. In addition to their purchase, each customer will immediately receive a check for their school and a thank-you receipt recording the amount of their donation. |
 garnishapparel.com |
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| 5 | Moda Nova Announces Liquidation Sale Sadly for us, Moda Nova is closing its doors…but not before they have an incredible sale—with discounts of up to 80%! Get incredible savings on holiday dresses and separates from French designers and hot Latin and Italian lines. They may be closing up shop, but their fashion-forward eye is still spot on. What: Moda Nova store-closing sale |
 modanova.com |
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| 6 | Spa Chakra Avalon Special This holiday season give the gift of well-being. Purchase a $100 Spa Chakra Gift Certificate and receive a second complimentary $100 gift card. If the recipient redeems the gift card by March 31, 2007, they receive an additional 30-minute service upgrade! What: Gift Certificates from Spa Chakra Avalon |
 spachakra.com |
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| 7 | Give the Gift of Girls' Night Out! Give a Girls' Night Out gift certificate from Nirvana Spa! December special: Apple Spice pedicure ($80) and manicure ($50), plus complimentary wine, champagne or sparkling cider! For 4 or more guests, upon request they'll provide catering, tarot card readers, astrologers, henna artists, even limo service. Receive $15 toward a retail/spa purchase for every $100 you spend on a gift certificate. What: Nirvana Apothecary & Spa |
 nirvanadayspa.com |
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So here we are…just a few days from Christmas, a week or so from New Year’s Eve…why, we get all misty just thinking of 2006 and how quickly it zoomed by. And we get totally faklempt when we think of how your support & love has helped us grow and evolve. Hugs and kisses! |
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