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February 23rd, 2007
Don’t know if you’ve noticed, but all those cute winter boots are going on sale…and at the same time, spring is threatening to be sprung on cute strappy sandals. So what’s a girl to do? Become a hobo. Yep, that’s our only solution. A sack on a stick will hold multiple pairs of shoes so we can navigate ankle boots in the chilly morning, open-toed heels for that mid-day patch of sun, and leather wedges for evening showers. The sack can also carry lunch, but since we’re Urban Hoboes we’ll opt for takeout sushi instead of a can of beans. Honestly, we’re kinda digging the hobo idea. How cute will we look toting a leopard-print bundle over our shoulder as we hobo-it down 23rd? And how convenient for shopping, right? And how tight will our buns get from jumping trains? We are loving this hobo idea. See you at the campfire! |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | The Ace is the Place We cannot begin to tell you how excited we were when we heard the word. For the last nine months we’ve been checking the windows, checking the website, and as of last week, it’s open…Portland officially has its very own Ace Hotel. The original Ace in Seattle first started glossing the pages of hip magazines like Wallpaper and InStyle after their opening in 1999. We heard the buzz, stayed up there once, and fell in love with the mega-cheap rates (rooms start at $75) and clean, modern style. Well, we’ve fallen in love again—only now, our swank hotel is over on SW Stark Street instead of up in Washington. The Ace Portland isn’t quite finished developing into its full bustling awesomeness, but it’s pretty darn close. As of last weekend, 25 out of the 79 rooms were finished (and booked up, might we add) and the attached coffee shop (why hello, a brand-new Stumptown!) was up and running smoothly. Expect a ton more buzz around their arrival… The Ace Hotel has just begun. The Ace Hotel Portland |
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| 2 | Sparkle-y Goodness There’s this girl we know whose style we totally admire. She’s always dressed in vintage clothes, dripping with rhinestones and perfectly coiffed. While we know we could never pull off such a look—it takes someone with a serious theatrical side to get that immersed in a bygone era—there’s one element of her look that we’re dying to try out…false eyelashes. Now we’ve bought the fake kind before, but the thought of getting first-time jitters while using GLUE near our EYEBALLS was intimidating, to say the least, which is where the shiny new Sparkle Beauty Bar steps in. Sparkle offers lash extensions in singles, fills and full sets, with color-enhancing and ultra-thick options for those who need an extra boost. They’ll handle all your other beauty needs as well, with makeup services, hair cuts/colors, and waxing. But what we like best is their commitment to others—the salon participates in Locks of Love and offers “Look Good…Feel Better” classes through the American Cancer Society. Cuz though we love looking good, it’s what’s inside that really counts. Sparkle Beauty Bar |
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| 3 | A Thirst for More This might sound a little know-it-all-ish, but we like to think we know this town pretty well. With that said, we are constantly seeking out the areas we don’t know as well, just to make sure our beloved Portland doesn’t keep any cute corner in hiding. That’s half the reason we wanted to check out Thirst Wine Bar and Bistro down on the riverfront. We looked at the address and actually had to bust out Mapquest to find it! After navigating through the very-shiny South Waterfront district, we found the uber-romantic Thirst Wine Bar. Lucky us, we dropped in during their weekly complimentary wine tasting (every Thursday from 5-8 pm) and sipped on a wide variety of vinos out of Yakima, Wash. We picked out a couple faves, asked tons of questions (we’re not afraid to admit we’re amateur wine drinkers—but half the fun is getting there, right?), and snacked on delicious local artisan cheeses. Drop in for a glass of relaxation, and tell them Portland Picks sent you to find them! Thirst Wine Bar and Bistro |
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| 4 | Survival of the Fittest After 10 days on a cruise ship with nothing to do except drink, eat, and mock, we rolled back into town in dire need of some straightening up. But we didn’t want to trudge to a soulless gym and pound away at the treadmill like a gerbil (then again how many rodents on belts have you seen?) We needed a better fitness option, something more Urban Girl than Gym Rat. Behold: Miss Fit. It’s not a gym, it’s a workout loft. Say your best friend owned an art gallery and you used it to work out. It’s like that. Miss Fit is warm, soft-lit and open, with a team of highly-trained professionals who make fitness as high- or low-key as you want. And they soooo know their stuff: We ran sprints with Rupert, ohhhmed and aaaahed through yoga with Chia, and strength-trained with Miss Fit’s preternaturally sweet owner, Susanne. Miss Fit also offers massage therapy and acupuncture, for the complete wellness package. We now know where we’re going after work, and it’s not to the bar (for a change…) Miss Fit |
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| 5 | Get Freaky with Tiki Last week’s visit to Thatch started us thinking…while we love the retro-modern style our house has on the inside, our yard leaves much to be desired. Wouldn’t it be nice to have our own island retreat just outside the back door, with tikis tucked away in the bushes and bamboo-covered torches lighting up the night? That’s how we wound up at Freaky Tiki Retro Deck, the perfect place to bring some personality to our petunias. Jam-packed with cute kitsch, the Deck is your one-stop shop for outfitting any space with Polynesian flair. There are tiki mugs for your bar, tiki masks for your walls and even tiki books for your shelves. Fortunately for shoppers they also expand into other areas, offering an assortment of colorful pillows, retro stationery, and toys and gifts that recall decades past. In fact, our favorite find at the Deck were the old-fashioned “penny” candy sticks that we remember enjoying at summer camp in our youth. The cost may have increased a little, but bringing back sweet childhood memories? Now that’s priceless! |
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| 6 | Chasing the Dragon Remember in Office Space, how Jennifer Aniston’s character worked at Tchotchke’s? With the “flair” buttons all down her suspenders? Well, sometimes in Portland it seems that there are innumerable tchotchke shops, all with seemingly exotic scarves, or carvings, or heavy silver jewelry. But we’re happy to say that we’ve found a shop with all kinds of exotic things, and they’re not mock-able in the least. Dragonfly Imports is a recent addition to the hopping SE 28th Ave. area, and we’re thrilled it’s in our nabe. Everything in the store is handcrafted. You won’t pick up something that’s pretty and see “Made in Taiwan” on the bottom. Or maybe you will, if it’s something that Heidi, Dragonfly’s owner, has personally picked up: She travels all over the world to bring back things for the store. We fell in love with the wooden handbags, Tibetan rugs, and freshly cut soaps. Dragonfly also has tea sets, wood carvings from Bali, some of the coolest candle holders we’ve seen in ages, even furniture and—our favorite purchase—really cool tealight candles, shaped like flowers. We’ll definitely be back, even if it means we’re only buying gifts for ourselves. Dragonfly Imports |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Ever Met a 4th Generation Pro Photographer? If you want a photographer who creates honest, richly detailed images for creative events, weddings, and the individual, here’s your lady. Serena Davidson has worked with everyone from Dr. Jane Goodall to Sports Illustrated and is now a local who has been shooting PICA's TBA festival for three years. |
 serenadavidson.com |
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| 2 | Domestic Stylings We'll let you in on a little secret—we’re not crazy about cooking. When forced to brave the kitchen and its big scary appliances, we always pop on a little armor in the former of an uber-girly apron. The last thing we want is marinara ruining our Michael Kors. This is why we adore Domistyle, where aprons come in two varieties—fresh and funky—and tons of colors. Thoroughly modern and more than a little sexy, these beauties make even dishwashing fun! |
 domistylegifts.com |
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| 3 | “Art”-ography We've sure come a long way since the traditional (and rather uptight) family photo. Today’s portraits come with a modern twist, most notably those from local artist Lisa Golightly, the brains behind Kiki & Polly. Golightly combines art and photography to make something entirely new—artography? —playful paintings of bike rides, tea parties and sports, augmented with the true-to-life faces of your own motley crew. Perfect for family or friends, this is one gift that’s truly unique. |
 kikiandpolly.com |
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| Event of the Week: AVANT-GRANDE - Art Beyond the Apron |
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What: Starbucks Third Annual AVANT–GRANDE |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 2 | Are You Ready for Spring? Visit the Yard, Garden and Patio Show to think outside your home & design your dream outdoor living space—green thumb not required! If you have a traditional backyard, balcony, roof-top garden or even a windowsill, this springtime celebration will inspire you to decorate past your back door! What: Yard, Garden, Patio Show |
 ygpshow.com |
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| 3 | Celebrate Poppi Swim’s 1st Birthday Everyone loves Poppi Swimwear, come celebrate Poppi’s first birthday March 1-17. Pick out a swimsuit for Spring Break or simply divert yourself from rain to sunnier summer thoughts. Details: 50% off last season’s merchandise, 75% off selected suits, 10% off everything else (custom services excluded). Plus, drawings for merchandise and discounts! What: Poppi Swim’s First Birthday Sale |
 poppiswim.com |
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| 4 | March Pedicure Specials at Tootsie’s Here’s the dealio: Buy 1 Ultra Pleasures Pedicure for $35 and bring a friend for free, OR buy 2 Ultra Pleasures Pedicures and get your friend’s for 10% off AND bring a third friend for free! Got that? Plus, all appointments must be booked together, so it’s real girl-bonding time! What: Ultra Pleasures Pedicure Specials at Tootsie’s |
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PDX Collective Winter Blowout Sale One day only! Killer sale prices for men & women on shoes, jeans, tees, dresses, skirts, jackets, handbags, and jewelry. Park just once to shop Shoefly, Mimi & Lena, Physical Element, Pin Me Apparel, Sameunderneath, Nolita, Parts + Labour, So Much Fun, Phlox, Moxie, and Garnish Apparel all in one place! What: PDX Collective Winter Blowout Sale |
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| 6 | Special Sale & Celebration at Michelle DeCourcy Celebrate something special: Michelle DeCourcy Remission Celebration—a benefit for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, where 20% of Michelle DeCourcy sales on March 1 will be donated to the LLS. Spend more than $300 in-store to receive a free “be” scented candle. Plus, shop online for 20% off all orders until Feb 28! What: Michelle DeCourcy Remission Celebration |
 michelledecourcy.com |
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| 7 | Last Chance for Signal’s Progressive Sale! This is it, ladies! The last week of Signal’s Progressive Sale. The ultimate markdowns are happening now! All ski and snowboard outerwear, resort wear, and every ski, board, boot and binding is at 50% off! We know you’ve waited on pins and needles till the prices dropped—now go forth and shop! What: The Progressive Sale at Signal |
 signalsports.com |
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| 8 | Plans for Spring Break? Kids Rule at Sunriver Resort! The whole family will enjoy Spring Break with the Kids Rule! promotion at Sunriver Resort. From skiing to biking, the kids will be happy. With tennis courts, a pool and a gorgeous spa Mom & Dad will be happy. Kids stay free*, eat free* and ski free*! (*With a paying adult.) What: Kids Rule! promotion at Sunriver Resort |
 sunriver-resort.com |
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p.s.: We were totally kidding about being hoboes. Just wanted to see if you were paying attention. |
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