|
 |
January 19th, 2007
We’ve been comparing notes about our snow-induced “personal hells” this week, but the venting is doing no good…we’ve tried everything to relieve the stress—power yoga, bottles of wine—but so far, we’re still grumpy.
|
||
Portland Picks: |
|||
| 1 | Euro Fashion with Portland Flair Perhaps it was the cute display of snuggly stockings that drew us in…or maybe it was a shopping call sent from “Sofia” the mannequin…whichever the reason, on a dreary weeknight we were delighted to find ourselves inside the doors of Sofia, a sweet little European-style boutique on NE Fremont. European-born owner Michaela Hashitani gave us a tour of her shop, and even let us pet her furry little doggie friend (warning: don’t pet it while it’s on its bed). When we weren’t being charmed by the dog, we were being awed by the clothes. The stuff she carries is just plain fun. The fabrics are colorful, dense, and have a tailored quality to them that’s hard to find in this town. We were impressed by her selection, too. She’s got tons of long jackets, skinny pants, fashiony vests and great bags. She even has a consignment rack. If after browsing around you’re still in need of outfit advice, don’t be afraid to look to Sofia for inspiration—she’s the well-dressed mannequin, and namesake of the shop! Sofia |
||
| 2 | Hair Sanctuary We love a lot of good movies from the 70s. “Midnight Cowboy,” “Harold and Maude,” “Taxi Driver” and “The Goodbye Girl,” but we also love 70s cheeeeese. “Soylent Green.” “West World.” And of course, “Logan’s Run,” which we’ve seen like a thousand times. For some reason, we never get tired of that flick. We are sad like that. When we peeked in the window of KoiPOD salon, it looked like “Logan’s Run” come to life. We expected all the stylists to be in white bodysuits, and they’d have a policy that they wouldn’t do your hair if you were over 30. Of course, we have active imaginations, and none of that actually applies. Turns out that KoiPOD—despite its slightly sci-fi looks—is one of the newest places in Portland to get beautiful hair. From cut & color to texture, thermal straightening (tell us that’s not totally sci-fi!) to extensions, you can come out looking as futuristic (or as modern and “now”) as you want, regardless of your age…or bodysuit preference. KoiPOD |
|
|
| 3 | Be Fierce (and Frugal) Here’s a dirty little secret: Some of us are kinda scared of vintage stores. It’s not that we’re against donning pre-worn garb, it’s just that getting the good stuff just takes so much time. Who has endless hours to wade through mustiness for the occasional find? But then we found the brand-new, aptly named Daylight Savings, and our time (and cash flow) is now properly budgeted. We zip into the alley (behind Burnside proper) and find a perfectly chosen mixture of Levi’s, vests, shoes, bags, and jewelry that we can afford. We can even find old army uniforms and soft fleece plaid for our man. And we fell in love with their $5 leather wrist cuffs (the kind that sell for $60+ elsewhere!) No one is messing with our fierceness! And just like the days are getting longer, so are Daylight Savings’ hours. They’re open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am-4 pm, and soon they’ll be open on Fridays, too. They bring in new, neat stuff weekly, so check in often. Though you’ll have more time to shop, the good stuff still goes fast! Daylight Savings |
|
|
| 4 | Sometimes, You Get What You Need We are convinced that we were born to lead a life of leisure, and should have been part of a family that owns hotels. Or at least we should have hooked up with a guy whose family owns hotels. Either way, we haven’t, so we’re stuck behind a desk just like everyone else. We got karmically screwed, so we pretend we’re heiresses by treating ourselves to a little pampering. One place we revisit is Portland Spa & Boutique. They have it all: medi-spa treatments, massage, waxing, facials, foot therapy, cosmetics, plus an incredible array of expert products for sale—everything from skin-enhancing fluids to pedicure tools by Microplane. But we can’t get enough of their manicures—the room itself is so cool—dark leather chairs, individual stainless steels tubs, plus a library of DVDs so you can catch up on Dr. McDreamy or Tony Soprano, which makes it perfectly guy-friendly, too. (Valentine’s Day, anyone?) Oh, and ask for the paraffin treatment! Individual applications leave baby-soft skin, and take the edge off the hotel-less life we really lead. Portland Spa & Boutique |
||
| 5 | Miracle on 30th Avenue Milagros means “miracles” in Spanish, and that's what this place is, a boutique for little miracles and their mums. Their business philosophy, heck, their whole loving vibe and sense of family, makes this more than a boutique—it’s like a clubhouse where you want to hang out, linger and loiter, loiter and linger, make yourself at home...without being arrested. |
||
| 6 | Take Me Home Tonight In grade school, we had a friend named Cheryl, and we wanted her mom for our own. She made everything from scratch, turning out incredible meals with things like side dishes and desserts—stuff we weren't accustomed to in our own "entrees-only" home. Though Cheryl’s long gone from our lives, we feel lucky to have found the perfect replacement mom—Chef Jim at the new A La Carte Café. He whips us up fluffy butternut squash, flaky turkey pot pies and soups simply loaded with the freshest ingredients, all packed neatly in to-go containers that are perfect for reheating. When we’re tired from a long day at work, all we have to do is stick it in the oven and, voila!, a delicious home-cooked meal that can be enjoyed while kicking back in slippers and sweats. While we feel a little guilty saying this, we’re pretty sure we want Chef Jim to adopt us and cook lasagna, gorgonzola mac and pot roast for us every night…as long as he promises not to ask about grandchildren. A La Carte Café |
||
| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Sock It to Us! We are freezing lately and the man-about-the-house just gave us the heads up that the Uggs have got to go. Thank goodness for Sock It To Me socks! These are amazing—magically long enough for everyone, tight enough to hug the leg without cutting off circulation, and seemingly double-thick, thus making them perfect for padding about the house. Find them at Naked City and Red Light (both on Hawthorne), Buffalo Exchange (Hawthorne and Downtown), Frock (on Alberta), and Gypsy Chic (on Mississippi). |
 sockittomesocks.com |
|
| 2 | A Cleaner for the Rest of Us We love the idea of an environmentally friendly dry cleaner. And we love having things picked up and delivered. So when we found Dry Cleaning Station we were awash in happiness. Their unique solvents are biodegradable, and won’t hurt soil, groundwater, the ozone layer, or you! Dry Cleaning Station will even give you $10 off your first order with this coupon CLICK HERE! |
 ecodrycleaner.com |
|
| 3 | Everyone Loves an A-Gram Every Valentine's Day, thousands of Valentine-A-Grams are delivered throughout the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area as part of a fund-raiser for Meals on Wheels. If you’re not familiar with the event, this is how it works: Order a $24.95 Valentine-A-Gram online, and have it hand-delivered. Simple, right? Each “A-Gram” includes delicious treats, gift certificates, and a personal message from the purchaser—all in a bright red gift box. Check the website for details, and do some good when you do someone good! |
 loavesandfishesonline.org |
|
| 4 | Did We Make You Blush? Just in time for Valentine's Day (sorry, we're like Rite Aid, already talking about Christmas in July), indulge someone—or even yourself—with a subscription to the "Romantic Gift of the Month Club" Surprise and delight you or someone you know (or someone you meet in a bar…hey, we know whassup!) with a variety of romantic treats, or invite a friend to come over and play! Each surprise package will delight one or more of the five senses every month.www.makeyoublush.com |
 makeyoublush.com |
|
| 5 | Fly the Friendly Skies We are told that everyone should join the Mile-High Club before they die, but that darn airport security is so tight these days. And those plane-rangers (or whatever they’re called) don’t take kindly to two people bumping around in the bathroom. Never fear, there's always the Mile-High Kit...sexy travel essentials for love on-the-go. Membership has its privileges! So get your engines revving, and don't leave home without it.www.milehighkit.com |
 milehighkit.com |
|
| 6 | Celebrity Stylings We have a new favorite designer. Well, new to us, and her name is Julie Chaiken. Her designs are stunning and fit real bodies, real lives, and personal style. We are so in love with her designs, though some work better for us than others (i.e., the mini is not our friend). Chaiken has a faithful following of sexy, stylish, strong women of all ages, including celebrity devotees like Angelina Jolie, Reese Witherspoon, Brooke Shields, and Oprah Winfrey. And now, you!www.chaikenclothing.com |
 chaikenclothing.com |
|
| 7 | Get Off Our Case! Like handbags, one can never have too many laptop bags, and Melissa Beth designs some of our favorites. We have one in every color. Get Off My Case will totally keep you from falling asleep in your next bored (um, we mean “board”) meeting. They have a soft velour exterior, genuine leather trim, and uber-cute patterned inside linings. But this case is more than just a pretty face, it is also foam-interlined and Teflon-treated; hence, fashion meets function! |
 melissabeth.com |
|
Hip Happenings: |
|||
| 1 | Break-up Boot Camp - Now Healing Broken Hearts Thinking about dumping Mr. Wrong? Suffering from a broken heart or the guilt of being a heartbreaker? Break-Up Boot Camp will teach you time- and girlfriend-tested techniques to rediscover your fun and fabulous self and become a centered, happy, confident single woman in only 4 weeks! Get back in the game! |
 lifesprout.net |
|
| 2 | Free Makeup Session! Face It Aesthetics is giving you a free makeup session with every facial purchase (a $55 value), using YOU! Mineral Cosmetics, during the months of January and February. Professional Makeup Artist and Clinical Aesthetician Genelle Holub is the creator of this “good for YOU” cosmetic line.With Genelle’s help, it's all about YOU! What: Free mineral makeup application with a facial |
 faceitskin.net |
|
| 3 | “12 Weeks to Mindful Eating” Are you having trouble sticking to your resolutions? Do you have a lifelong battle of the bulge to fight? This program is designed for people who want to develop a healthier relationship with food, and with their bodies. Learn balance from Donald Altman, MA, a former Buddhist monk and award-winning writer. What: “12 Weeks to Mindful Eating” |
 portland health and wellness.com |
|
| 4 | Personal Style for EVERYbody and Budget Learn what Personal Style is, how you can find yours and keep it at any budget. Sara, DahlStyle’s fun & fabulous expert, will discuss Proportion, Balance, Fit, Accessorizing and keeping a well-maintained closet. You'll walk away with a workbook filled with tips that pertain specifically to you. We love the personal touch! |
 dahlstyle.com |
|
| 5 |  |
||
| 6 | Spa Willamina Valentine’s Package Treat yourself to a special spa package for Valentine's weekend. It's a wonderful treat for one, or book for two and spend quality time with your sweetheart. Get a Nourishing Facial, Swedish Massage, Foot Treatment, and enjoy decadent Alma chocolates for only $150 per person! Allow 2 hours. What: $150 Spa Willamina Valentine’s Package |
 spawillamina.com |
|
| 7 | You HAVE to check out the New Afternoon Buzz on 105.1 The new show is hilarious. Daria is ever-witty and smart and so entertaining and the chemistry between Mitch and Daria is infectious. It's one radio show where you'd rather listen to them than the cool songs (but we like the cool songs, too). Listen here to the sample...just to whet your whistle. |
 1051thebuzz.com |
|
|
Is anyone else still loving the black nailpolish trend as much as we are? We know, it’s thisclose to being over. But we love the rebel “feel” of it. It feels like we should be sneaking clove cigarettes behind the gym, wearing Converse to church, cutting classes, defying our parents—bah-hah! All that good teen-angst stuff. It’s a lot to get out of a manicure. Maybe we’ll rock it forever. Or at least til we get our hands on one of those clove cigarettes…hmmm… |
|||
Log onto www.portlandpicks.com and check out past newsletters (archives). If you like what you see, forward to a friend and encourage them to log onto www.portlandpicks.com and become a free subscriber. If you would like to subscribe or contribute, please email us at Contribute@PortlandPicks.com
Website and Newsletter maintained by Studio Ridge.com |
|||
