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April 20th, 2007
Moving stinks. They say that moving is as stressful as a divorce or a death in the family, and we’ve been through all three, so we can say from experience, “Yup.” No matter how much you want a new place, think twice—or else hire movers to do it all for you, no matter what the cost. Because the joy of living in a new house can be totally eclipsed by the pain in the arse-i-ness of packing it all up, hauling it somewhere, and then putting it all away. We know from recent experience, because we Just Did It. To top it off, on the third night in we almost burned the place down. We preheated the oven with a loaf of bread and a bag of tortilla chips in there…the plastic melted, the chips caught fire, and the whole downstairs was filled with caustic smoke. If we make it through the first month without serious collateral damage, we are not moving for another 25 years. We’ll be those weird neighbors who don’t leave the house, because what if it’s not there when we get back, and we have to move again??? |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | A Touch of Mink We didn’t get this dramatic by accident. We had an angsty childhood, and the town we grew up in stunk in a lot of ways, but the worst was that you had to hit a 30-year-old, run-down mall to shop. As a result of that deep, abiding trauma, now we absolutely love it when a great store opens in our ’hood. And now Mink is here! And with it, all the sweet and sassy things we totally and completely adore about being a girl. Cotton skirts (cute but not cutesy). Flowy dresses and feminine cardigans. Bags and belts and camisoles and candles. And all priced reasonably! Carla, Mink’s owner, is a former English major who, as she puts it, “Always loved period pieces.” She must share our dramatic bent. Whether you want to play Emma in a modern yet classic Empire dress, or plan on starring in an autobiographical flick about how far you’ve come fashion-wise, there’s no better place than the kicky, girlie-girls-with-an-edge-only Mink. Mink |
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| 2 | Go Ahead, Pamper Yourself We once had a boyfriend who liked to push our buttons by saying “more than a handful’s a waste.” Not only is he long gone, but we wholeheartedly disagree with the sentiment. Our handful is most certainly not a waste, and if we can’t find some guy to appreciate it, we’ll just do it ourselves! (That sounds weirder than it is, btw.) That’s why we’re so excited about the grand opening of Lille Boutique, the perfect place to pamper your handful with gorgeous lingerie. These aren’t undergarments designed to impress the boys (though they’re certain to love them), they’re for making YOU feel special, whether you’re out celebrating or just kicking back on the couch. Stocked with small, independent labels from hip designers like Dessous and Araks from NYC, and Elise Aucouturier and Princess Tam Tam from France, each item is hand-picked for softness, support and quality of fabric. Whether you crave cotton, have a soft spot for silk, or simply love lace, you’re certain to find something luxurious which—in our opinion—is never a waste. Lille Boutique |
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| 3 | Happy Caffe Our husband has criminally bad restaurant karma. Every time he chooses where we’ll eat, it’s laughably bad. Even an established joint is bound to have their one crappy night when he shows. So you couldn’t blame us for raising an eyebrow when he whisked us to the brand new Caffe Pallino. But, miracle of miracles, we were sooooo glad he did! The only thing dingy about Caffe Pallino is part of its logo, an artfully applied coffee mug stain. Everything else sparkles in spotless stainless steel as polished and futuristic as we imagine the Space Station to be. Gleaming wood tables and simple white chairs complete the modern mix. There’s a selection of tasty coffee treats, as well as sandwiches, salads, and pastas. And, oh happiness, you can always get gelato, some of the best we’ve had in town—especially the almond nougat and tiramisu. We are so going to get our calcium this summer. We departed, sugared and happy—especially our husband, who got us to admit (only once, we swear!) that “Yes, Dear, you were right.” Caffe Pallino |
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| 4 | You Sexy Thing We just watched the movie “Showgirls” because we love cheesy flicks and we couldn’t help ourselves. It’s probably the most awful movie ever made but hot damn if the pole-dancing scenes aren’t sexy. Like, “sexy” sexy where we would feel uncomfortable watching it with our Mom, no matter how lame the script is. Anyhoo, those girls all had great bodies (and apparently, bad acting coaches), and we want a great bod, so we looked up The Bombshell Ballroom to get in touch with our “sensual side” and to gain strength, flexibility and coordination. And heaven knows we need a lot more of that last one. Can you say two left feet? But they will coach us through all of that—the first thing you learn is how to manipulate your weight using momentum on the pole, so you can eventually glide and spin and do tricks. Wahoo! And this workout helps you keep your curves—pole dancing is great for your middle, your legs and your behind. And wait til you do it in heels!!! The Bombshell Ballroom |
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| 5 | We Love Rock & Rose Ah, vintage stores. It’s kind of hard to escape that prevalent funk that settles over most of them. Is it really worth it, we wonder, to spend hours upon hours looking for just the right ironic find? The jury’s still out, we think. That said, we have a new favorite store, and it is Rock n’ Rose Vintage on lower East Burnside. They carry men’s and women’s, vintage, new, and used, and it’s all fantastic. It’s like Rock n’ Rose somehow climbed into our thought bubble when we imagined what we wanted a vintage store to be. It’s totally the kind of stuff that will have people stopping you on the street to ask where in the world you found it. We were in love with their selection of jackets, both fitted and loose, the jeans, and the funkified dresses. And the artwork on the wall by a local tattoo artist. And their purses, oh their purses. We didn’t find one that was over $25, but they all looked like they should have been $250—wait, hey, Rock n’ Rose, don’t you be getting’ any ideas now… Rock n’ Rose |
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| 6 | Sundays Just Got Better So we had just run our butts off at the Shamrock 15K, and we were dang tired. En route home, needing a crucial carb infusion, we groaned to our husband, “Hey, remember that donut stand we saw on Belmont? Wonder if it’s open?” Imagine our delight when we drove up and lo and behold, there were people! Eating donuts! There is indeed a reason to get up early on Sundays, and it’s Moody’s donuts. Pumped out by a little machine, one at a time, and fried in trans-fat-free canola oil (see? healthy, for a donut!), these are some of the best donuts we’ve had in Portland—nay, ever. Moody’s donuts are the perfect mix of cakey and flakey, and come in a small, select number of flavors: plain, vanilla or chocolate glazed, powdered sugar, and cinnamon. And all hot off the press. The cinnamon had us licking the paper, completely undignified—just how we like it. But, like we said, don’t dilly-dally. Moody’s is only there from 9 am-2 pm on Sundays. And we’ll fight you for our spot. Moody’s Donuts |
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| 7 | You’re So Vain Why is it that after we get our hair cut we can never, and we mean never ever get our hair to do what the stylist did at the salon? We brush, we blow dry, we straighten, we curl, we use the same exact products that our stylist used and somehow, we end up looking like Cameron Diaz in “There’s Something About Mary”? Hair gel, anyone? Last week we found our new favorite salon, whose slogan alone was reason enough to fall in love: Vanity Junkie, Where It’s Good to be Vain… Vanity Junkie is a full-service salon that offers haircuts, hair coloring, facials and waxing for all our beauty needs. The space, creative! The complimentary beverages, delicious! The owners, Jenny and Sara, simply adorable! We left feeling relaxed and beautiful…that is before we ventured out into a typical torrential April downpour. But now we no longer care that our bangs will be sticking straight up tomorrow...because we know a place where it’s good to be vain. Vanity Junkie |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Specialty Items We have some family heirloom rings, and though we love the stones and the memories, the designs are dated. So we took them to Lisa Smith, the house jeweler at Elizabeth Street, to work her magic. And even better—she has her own designs for sale, in white gold, yellow gold, silver, even leather and stones (semi-precious, lab and natural). It’s a wonderland, made especially wonderful by the amazing Italian vintage pieces she has reworked. Heaven! |
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| 2 | Find Your Perfect Match |
 zafu.com |
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| 3 | Let's Face It |
 marchwellness.com |
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| 4 | Your Pretty Little Miss From adorable hats to the sweetest tees and luscious dresses, your little miss will be outfitted like a (very hip) princess. |
 lulubedding.com |
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| 5 | It’s Easy Being Green We have been thinking so much about the environment ever since we moved to Portland, and every day we consider our actions and how they affect our planet. But we still have to get dressed—and look cute—so we turn to Greenloop! We are so about the Loomstate t-shirt—we’ll buy it to celebrate Earth Day! They’re 100% organic cotton, and are intentionally sewn off-center for a kitschy, vintage, worn-in look. We look more Earth-friendly already! |
 thegreenloop.com |
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| Event of the Week! | |||
| The Ultimate Open House
Clear your schedule this weekend to check out the biggest home-viewing opportunity ever to hit PDX. This new show features new homes, townhomes and condos for sale in the Portland metro area. Each of the nearly 80 homes is in perfect condition—not a fixer-upper in the bunch—because they’re all new construction, from entry-level to dream home. Look for the guidebook in the April 21st edition of The Oregonian that includes a complete description of each home. The Ultimate Open House |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 2 | Hotel deLuxe Movie Night Hotel deLuxe is kicking off its first movie night with Portland filmmaker and Comic Book Artist Jacob Pander’s “Painted Life,” a cross-generational, cross-cultural portrait of Dutch immigrant and Artist Henk Pander intimately told by his son Jacob. Food & beverages provided by Gracie’s Restaurant and the Driftwood Room. What: Free movie night at Hotel deLuxe |
 hoteldeluxeportland.com |
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| 3 | Occasions Annual Spring Sale Occasions Fine Gifts is about to kick off their annual spring sale! You can enjoy savings of 20-50% throughout the store, starting on Monday. There will be daily drawings for great prizes and a grand prize at the end of the sale. Replenish your gift closet or shop early for Mother's Day! Shop. Relax. Enjoy. What: Occasions Fine Gifts spring sale |
 occasionsfinegifts.com |
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| 4 | Get in Shape with Baby! The time is right for Baby Boot Camp! Shape up and bring the kids! With an exercise program designed to challenge you and provide time with baby, you can get ready for swimsuit season & have fun with other parents. The first class is Free—and mention Portland Picks to receive 10% off your class package. What: Baby Boot Camp |
 babybootcamp.com |
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| 6 | Celebrate Earth Day at Imelda’s With Earth Day fast approaching, what can you do to ease global warming? Shop locally, at Imelda’s, for your shoes! In honor of Earth Day, Imelda’s will donate a portion of their weekend sales to the Climate Trust. There will be giveaways and even a chance to win a pair of Earth shoes (pictured—cute!—at right). What: Celebrate Earth Day at Imelda’s |
 imeldasandlouies.com |
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| 7 | No More Dieting! Be Nourished invites you to two free lectures about the harmful cycle of dieting. They will discuss how you change, why we diet, and offer recommendations for a satisfying relationship with food and body. The capacity to change is within you…let Be Nourished help you deepen your understanding, and learn something profound about yourself. What: Be Nourished free lectures |
 benourished.org |
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| 9 | Mimi & Lena Throws a Party And a sale! Enjoy an entertaining evening with a fashion show, food and beverages, desserts by Saint Cupcake, and music by DJ REB. Plus—the best part—20% all spring merchandise at Mimi & Lena! (Not including bridal…but brides, you can still attend the party. xo) Free cupcakes and a sale?!? We’ll see you there! What: Spring sale and party at Mimi & Lena |
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| 10 | Amazing Prodigies, Great Concertos Enjoy a gala concert spotlighting the 10 outstanding winners of the 14th Annual Young Artists Competition. The 10 soloists, chosen from over 70 entrants, will perform with conductor Neil DePonte and a symphony orchestra. This may be the single biggest performance of these talented musicians’ young lives. Help them celebrate! What: Young Artists at the Schnitz |
 metroartsinc.com |
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| 11 | “Making Children Visible” Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest and Film Action Oregon have partnered to present "Making Children Visible,” to raise awareness about the impact of incarceration on families. The award-winning film "A Sentence of Their Own" will be screened, providing an intimate look at two boys dealing with their father's incarceration. Proceeds provide scholarships to Film Action Oregon's summer program "Project Youth Doc.” |
 bbbsnorthwest.org |
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| 12 | Black Tie Bowl-o-Rama Dust off your bowling balls and bring your bowling shirts out of the closet! It is once again time for the formally causal juxtaposed evening…The Black Tie Bowl-O-Rama…where you can help CARES Northwest strike out child abuse and have a ball at the party of the year! What: Black Tie Bowl-o-Rama |
 caresnw.org |
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| 13 | Sparkle at Darcelle’s! Sparkle Foster fund is hosting a fun-filled night at Darcelle’s, a cabaret-style showcase for female impersonators. In business since 1967, this cabaret is a campy Portland institution that has been a huge hit for years. Sparkle Foster Fund is grateful to Darcelle for hosting this fundraiser to support local children in DHS foster care. |
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We have big news! We are launching Seattle Picks today! You can visit it (and even sign up!) at www.SeattlePicks.com, and please tell all your friends, especially those in the Emerald City. We’re hoping to make it just like Portland Picks—a fun, girlfriendy guide to the city, and we hope to have devoted readers, just like you. Wish us luck, k? |
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