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January 12th, 2007
We do not understand modern technology. We have this new-fangled cell phone, see? And we can barely answer it, much less create a text message in less than 10 minutes. We’ve had the durn phone 8 months and just figured out how to add punctuation. All our previous messages have been almost monkey-like in their simplicity. “lunch tomorrow yes no” is a classic. As is, “got message i dont know if plans ok” OY VEY. Anyhoo, we are a bit challenged in this department, so it makes it extra amazing to see people who are cell-phone savants. Like this girl the other day who was texting while driving. Driving!!! She was behind the wheel! Her car was in motion! And she was working that Nokia like a champ. The only thing that could have made it more dangerous—or more asinine—is if she had a baby on her lap, a la Britney. We think she was in a blue Toyota…so be on the lookout! She’s dangerous, for sure. |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Work It, Baby Believe it or not, we thought we were ready when we had our first baby. But when it came down to the wire, we had a mini freak-out, pulled a “Rachel from Friends,” called our mother AND our mother-in-law and invited them both to stay (unbeknownst to our husband) while we got the hang of things. If only we had known about Babyworks… Babyworks is an environmentally friendly store that offers a complete line of organic and non-polluting baby products. From cloth diapers to organic baby clothes, owner Paula and her retail staff make shopping easy by welcoming new customers in to try out their products (30 days, no-questions-asked return policy) and to learn more about cloth diapering. With names like bumkins® and fuzzibuns®, we don’t know how you can resist making the switch to cloth diapers for your wee one. Retail hours are limited (they’ll do their best to accommodate you!), but once you know what you’re looking for, you can order online or over the phone. How simple is that? Babyworks |
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| 2 | Free to Be You and Me When our youngest sister turned 21 last year, we officially reached that in-between stage—in between being too old to go clubbing every weekend and too young to feel quite at home seated at the swanky new martini bar. Stumped, but not willing to stay home on yet another Friday night, we ventured out into the cold rainy night to see if we could find some middle ground—and we found it—in the basement! Part art gallery, part dance floor, part performance space and part lounge, Pi-rem Hybrid Gallery & Lounge offered us exactly what we were looking for—swank but not pretentious, fun but not “frat-y”—we felt right at home in the dark and beautifully decorated bar. With an extensive list of imported and local beer and wine, music (DJs and performers) ranging from Indian influences to lounge/down tempo, and a new DJ-driven happy hour called “Qool” (www.qoolportland.com) starting Jan. 17 at 5 pm, we no longer feel too old or too young. Finally, a bar that feels just right! Pi-rem |
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| 3 | Mi Office Es Su Office There are pros and cons to working from home. Cons: Personal distractions, like, oh, kids. We'll get an important phone call from a client and resort to locking ourselves in the bathroom, little pounding fists and screams heard in the background. Also, to avoid inviting clients to your home, you're always meeting at random coffee shops, and if you go too often to the same one, baristas give you the stink eye. 322 NW 6th Ave., Suite 200 Portland, OR 97209 503.517.6900 info@soukllc.com www.soukllc.com Monday - Friday, 7 am-7 pm |
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| 4 | 100+ Bottles of Beer When we dragged our man from Texas to Oregon, there wasn’t much that he missed. In fact, aside from Rolando’s Super Taco (which really doesn’t travel well), we can only think of one thing that made him homesick…Shiner Bock beer. Upon arrival, we immediately conducted a Shiner search, but came up with nothing. If only someone had pointed us toward Belmont Station back then! The just-moved SE bottle shop definitely has Shiner, as well as anywhere from 500-900 varieties of brew, from right here in Oregon to places as far flung as Sri Lanka, Finland and the Balkans. And these guys aren’t novices—in their brand new space (no longer on Belmont, mind you) they went so far as to install UV filters on every fluorescent bulb, ensuring that your cold one doesn’t get skunky. Not a drinker? There are cases with soda and shelves of sweets and teas from Britain. And for the beer-lover in your life, don’t miss the glassware, bar towels, vintage signs and other breweriana. Bottoms up! Belmont Station |
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| 5 | Be Pretty and Witty Choosing a stylist or esthetician is almost like choosing a mate, is it not? You want them to be nice, attractive (c’mon now, it helps if they take their own appearance seriously if they’re going to tamper with yours), good at what they do and, well, make you feel good about yourself. We are happy to report that the lovely Jane Cowan, certified esthetician, succeeds in all of those areas. Her many years in the biz makes her a waxing and facial pro, and we also dig her convenient location on North Mississippi, right above Pin Me Apparel, and adjacent to all manner of super-good Mississippi shops. We’re also fans of her witty weekly emails telling us her availability and a quick anecdote. Is it just us, or is hitting the “reply” button way easier than making a phone call to book an appointment? However you decide to track her down, make sure to tell her Portland Picks sent you! Jane Cowan |
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| 6 | When Hallmark Won’t Cut It… A friend of ours is just about to celebrate a milestone birthday and we’ve been busy looking for just the right way to commemorate the occasion. Do we go tastefully mean-spirited, reminding her that she’s ancient (or at least WAY older than we are)? Or just silly, letting her know that milestones aren’t anything to lose beauty sleep over? We weren’t sure which way to go until we wound up at Birdie’s, one of our favorite stores for finding just the right gift. There are hundreds of cards—the snarky ones, not the sappy variety—and there are oodles of fun ideas, from the boxer shorts that “grow” when you add water to Dick & Jane tote bags. But the very best of all are their birthday hats, glorious white cake-like crowns that will totally humiliate (but in a good way!) the lucky wearer. Hmmmm…creating a spectacle, embarrassing the recipient, burning the birthday experience into her memory forever? Sounds like a perfect milestone gift! Birdie’s Teas, Cards & Gifts |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Kinder, Gentler Gifts While we’ve sought out vegan-friendly restaurants many times before, 2006 brought a new challenge—finding vegan holiday gifts! Where would we find something handmade, charming and kind to animals? Why, Never Felt Better by Jen, of course! This online store has adorable accessories, including pins, pouches and scarves embellished with woodland creatures. Every item is created with man-made materials—you won't find leather, wool, silk, animal-based glues or other byproducts. Hooray! |
 neverfeltbetterbyjen.com |
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| 2 | A Delicious Monthly Visitor We often have trouble finding the perfect gift for our foodie friends…one that’s not only delicious, but keeps giving all year long. What kind of perfect present could this be? Membership in Miss Zumstein’s Cookie-of-the-Month club! Whether they love hazelnut meringues, lemon bars or shortbread, two-and-a-half-dozen toothsome treats can be picked up or mailed anywhere in Portland proper. Easy to share, pack or just gobble, our fingers are crossed that we’ve been nice enough for a monthly delivery! |
 misszumstein.com |
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| 3 | Say Hello to My Little Jenn Our bestest friend in the world is named Jenn. She’s able to throw together the greatest cocktails in minutes—whether it’s a lemon drop, an appletini or a cosmo. She’s the life of the party and she even comes with a handy dandy carrying case. Cocktails by Jenn may be the coolest hostess gift ever, perfect for livening up birthday parties, book clubs and the like. There’s even a new CBJ chocolate peppermint martini—that Jenn, she’s a keeper! |
 cocktailsbyjenn.com |
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| 4 | Fortune Tootsies New baby? Now there’s even more good fortune with lucky socks for baby. These socks are so sweet and adorable—every baby needs a box! Each one has two pairs of white and one pair of red socks, each one with an individual fortune on the sole. Our favorite? “You will sleep through the night…soon.” Author? Sandman, of course. |
 presentbydesign.com |
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| 5 | Too Much is Never Enough Like shoes, one can never have enough handbags. All of Designs by Jayne’s handbags are handmade with exquisite detail and lots of love. Designs by Jayne handbags are not only local, but original, one-of-a-kind or limited edition works of art, created from the most delicious fabrics. Handles, accents and trims are crafted from the highest-quality materials including semi-precious stones, Czech fire-polish glass, vintage beads and buttons, sterling silver, wood, silk, suede, chain and more. You need these…at least one. |
 designsbyjayne.com |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Mothers & Daughters: Empower & Connect "This Precious Relationship" teaches tangible life skills that you can apply to your mother/daughter relationship. Topics include making powerful requests, listening from neutrality, communicating from purpose and intention, and connecting choices to results. Make a two-day investment that will improve your relationship, and change your life. What: Workshops for Women presents “This Precious Relationship” |
 workshopsforwomen.net |
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| 2 | Shopping Bliss at Imelda’s & Louie’s The geniuses at Imelda’s and Louie’s came up with a guilt-less shoe sale, Shopping Bliss After the Holidays! From Jan. 11-16, select shoes, boots and accessories will be up to 70% off. And if you’re like us, you are ready to blow a bit of that mid-month paycheck…let the shopping commence! What: Shopping Bliss at Imelda’s and Louie’s |
 imeldasandlouies.com |
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| 3 | Product—Now Open at Bridgeport Village Product is a complete beauty & fashion boutique dedicated to the sale of cutting-edge cosmetics, skincare, and accessories. Luxury brands include Smashbox, Paula Dorf, Cargo, Kevyn Aucoin, Scott Barnes, DuWop, Fresh, i.d. Bare Minerals, Bliss Spa, Ole Henriksen, Mario Badescu, DDF, LipFusion, Tracie Martyn and so much more! It’s absolutely fabulous, dahlings. Product |
 shop-product.com |
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| 4 | Get Your Crab On Celebrate something tasty—fresh Dungeness crab is irresistible, and it takes many delicious forms all throughout January at McCormick & Schmick’s. Be tempted by spicy Dungeness Crab Enchiladas, decadent Tortelloni with Crab & Gorgonzola, and fresh whole Dungeness with a Champagne Dipping Sauce. Race you there! What: Dungeness Crab Month |
 mccormick and schmicks.com |
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| 5 | Not Your Typical Bridal Show You are invited to a Bravo! Wedding Affair at The Governor Hotel, transformed into a variety of wedding vignettes featuring exciting trends and styles. Brides and grooms can experience wedding services first-hand and meet personally with caterers, photographers, stationers, dress designers and other wedding experts to get their advice. |
 bravowedding.com |
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| 6 | The Portland Showcase of Wine and Cheese Now in its fourth year, the Portland Showcase of Wine and Cheese is the largest annual fundraising event for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Portland Metropolitan Area. Purchase tickets in advance through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland for $35. Tickets at the door cost $40. What: Portland Showcase of Wine and Cheese |
 bgcportland.org |
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| 7 | Winter Clearance Sale Bella Moda! Announcing Bella Moda Designs Winter Clearance Sale! You love Italian boots, now enjoy savings from 30%-70% off! Their gorgeous collection of fall boots and shoes are now on sale. Buttery leather, incredible detail, remarkable craftsmanship, great value…all at Bella Moda Designs. Come in soon for the best size selection. What: Fall Clearance Sale at Bella Moda |
 bellamodadesigns.com |
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| 8 | Get 30-75% Off at Souchi Stop by Souchi on Jan. 18 for cupcakes from Saint Cupcake, glasses of bubbly and savings from 30-75% off! From 4-7 pm, enter a drawing at the point of purchase that gives you an additional discount of 15-30% in addition to already marked-down prices, full-price items, and special orders. |
 souchi.com |
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Did anyone else miss New Year’s Eve like we did? We wound up falling asleep on the sofa around 9:30, and only woke up at midnight because the neighborhood dogs were barking at the fireworks…that were being enjoyed by “perkier” revelers. Thank goodness we saw the Taipei celebration on the 5:00 news—apparently, we’re not fit to celebrate with people on our continent. |
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