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June 8th, 2007
Why do tiny people get to have all the fun? Our friend just sent us a list of what she ate the other day: sushi for lunch, then a cheeseburger, a hot dog (no bun), potato salad, pasta salad, a corn dog, and an entire roasted garlic plate. And no, this is not the menu from the Sigma Nu Memorial Day barbecue, this is honestly what she ingested all on her own. And she’s thees beeg. Here’s what we ate: a bowl of peanut butter Puffins, a salad (lettuce, tuna, dried cranberries, walnuts, oil & vinegar), half a bowl of pho, and one—ONE—egg roll. If we were to ingest half the food in her daily diet—even over a week’s time—we wouldn’t be able to fit into our jeans for a month. Just the salt intake alone would leave us looking like Angelina Jolie had punched us in the face. (We can’t even get started on the effect on our bellies. Let’s just sum it up with a quote from our Pilates instructor; “Hold in your belly.” Which is followed by our whine of, “But we aaare holding it in.”) Nuff said. |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Takin It to the Streets Change is good. We know this. And Greenloop just reminded us. Back in our college-days, the term “eco-fashion” meant one thing: hemp drawstring pants designed for spontaneous yoga poses or hacky-sack tournaments. But we are glad to shed that archaic stereotype and embrace the modern sustainable fashion movement. For one thing, it’s just plain smart, and for another, stores like Greenloop make it just plain easy to look good while doing good. What does “doing good” mean? Good question. Greenloop sells brands that use eco-friendly materials; practices energy efficient production; invests in renewable energy and carbon offsets; and maximizes recycling and waste reduction. Awesome. They had been selling stylish eco-fashions solely on their website until about a week ago when they grew their cyber space into a retail space. We cannot be more thrilled. The shop is gorgeous, and filled with tons of tanks, skirts, blazers, jeans, shoes, jewelry and even lingerie that is all earth-friendly. They even carry some of our fave local enviro-fashion lines like Anna Cohen and Sameunderneath. Love it. Greenloop |
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| 2 | Hawaiian Tropic Ever since that last run-in with the shears, we’ve been battling with our locks, wishing the hair toss was a little more Kate Hudson (and a lot less Britney Spears). Minus a trip to the tropics, we found we could feign her sun-streaked waves at the adorable Tiki Beauty Bar in Sellwood—a hair salon seasoned with a bit of beach boutique and vintage charm, the perfect culmination of Portland chic and surfer style. A turn in the old pink barber chair proved it truly was worth its weight in golden streaks of blonde. And if your hair is like ours, you need more than a little help inducing curls from an otherwise floppy mane, which is why owner and stylist Ti Kivett creates the wavy look with a pricey pair of curling scissors and a perm (gasp!) that actually looks natural. Lucky for us, our already Hawaiian style just needed a trip to the jewelry case to top it off—one very cool string of shells—and, aloha beach babe, off to the coast we go. Tiki Beauty Bar |
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| 3 | A Perfect Match We have a collection of matchbooks, started about 10 years ago, when we smoked. It’s not under glass or anything, they’re in a giant fishbowl, but whenever we’re lighting up—and all we light are candles nowadays—it’s nice to reach in and have the match box trigger a memory. It’s how we fight our alcoholic Alzheimer’s. And now we’re happy to add another to our collection: Matchbox Lounge, on SE Division. Cocktails are well-mixed and reasonable—try the Easy Rider, with Bulleit bourbon, homemade lemonade, and fresh ginger. The food doesn’t disappoint either—try the seasonal cheese plate with smoked goat cheese, caramelized onions, and honey so good we did indeed lick the plate. The layout’s cool, too. Warm red walls, local artwork that changes every First Friday, a bar made from salvaged wood. Even Wi-Fi. Stop by for Happy hour from 3-6 pm, or order food right up till closing (2:30 am). Remember the Seinfeld where George slept under his desk, ready for anything that might arise, cuz he had everything he needed? That’s so us at Matchbox Lounge. Matchbox Lounge |
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| 4 | Phone Home We’re pretty picky about the furnishings we buy. At least that’s what we tell ourselves when a year after moving into a house, it’s still just as bare (modernist! open! spare and lovely! yeah!) as it was upon moving day. We want things that are unusual, well-made, a little bit different—but we won’t pay a grand for a dining room chair. But then we found Eclectic Home—and our (furnishings) issues may be resolved. Filled with mainly eco-sustainable furniture, Eclectic Home carries the kind of stuff that fills the house in your head. Awesome kitchen islands from North Carolina. Reclaimed wood tables from Vietnam. All kinds of cool screens and room dividers. And reasonably priced too, especially considering what you’re getting. How do they find all this cool shizz? Owner Dennis Rose goes out and “beats the streets” to find the best-made, best-fun stuff. This shop only promises to get better, so hightail it over there before we snatch up that kitchen island. And then start singing along to “Islands in the Stream.” It’s been that kind of day. Eclectic Home |
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| 5 | Mangia Bene There’s a lot of really good Italian in this town, but a spicy pasta sauce is often the most adventurous dish. We won’t eat sweetbreads or squid ink, but we want them on the menu. It tells us the chef can create a not-so-easy but traditional Italian meal. And we found it at Pinocchio, a beautiful new spot right by the Schnitz. It’s perfect for pre- or après-show, but you don’t need an occasion to dine there. Two words: “antipasti bar.” Grilled eggplant, balsamic-marinated onions, mussels, smoked salmon, on and on... We followed that with a “salad” of buffalo mozzarella, paired with peppers and arugula on chewy-crusted bread, plus entrees! We stuffed ourselves silly (try the gnocchi with lamb ragu), drank copiously of their signature cocktails (the “Pinocchio” is perfection, and there’s a nice champagne-by-the-glass list), then topped it off with bread pudding (decadently caramel-y). It’s the good stuff that Mom would cook—if she was Italian—and if she was a good cook. (Ma, calm down, we’ll take you there! You’ll see what we mean.) Pinocchio |
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| 6 | Get Your (Med) Spa On We are the unlucky types who, after reaching 30, continued to break out. It’s a huge thorn in our sides, and is especially vexing when we have occasions where we’ll be dressing up or photographed. Oh, the horror! And trust us, we’ve tried everything. But then we found West Linn MedSpa. They do things differently. You’re pampered from the minute you walk in the door. From the “living room” feel to the complimentary drinks and snacks, to the toothbrushes and even personal-care products gratis in the powder room, this is a class act. They have developed a comprehensive approach to skincare including education, home-care regimens, nutritional counseling and non-invasive procedures; all tailored to meet your goals. From Botox, Restylane, SilkPeel Dermalinfusion, painless hair removal, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, vein treatments and skin rejuvenation to Aesthera Laser Therapy acne treatments, West Linn MedSpa brings you into nature’s beauty and brings out your natural beauty. In addition to their current hair-removal and acne specials, mention Portland Picks and receive 50% off any facial or chemical peel through June 30, 2007. West Linn MedSpa |
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| 7 | Feather Your Nest One of our best friends just bought a new house. Since it’s out in the ’burbs and we rarely feel like driving 30 minutes for anything, we’ve decided the least she can do is furnish it in a wildly attractive manner so we have something to look forward to when we get there. Fortunately, we’ve found her the perfect store…EWF Modern, a brand-new retailer in the heart of the Pearl. Like its sister store, East West Fusion, EWF is filled with eye candy, this time aimed at those who covet a sleek, chic and enviro-friendly style. Look for wool rugs, natural stone, and lots of reclaimed wood that’s crafted into rich armoires, tables and dressers. Need a pony-hair chair? They have a lush chocolate version, as well as complementary pillows supplied by shaggy Mongolian lambs. Though the store’s emphasis isn’t on accessories, those they have are carefully selected, including Erich Ginder’s resin antlers and Yeats Design’s ornamental wood bowls. Whether you live in the ’burbs or downtown, we fully support decorating the house you’ve got in a thoroughly stylish way! EWF Modern |
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| Website of the Week: | |||
| Fashion Questions…Answered When celebs sport new looks, you can’t tell us you don’t lust after them. And SheFinds.com can tell you exactly where on the Web to turn them up. Need a new bra? SheFinds has the scoop on the best brassieres around. This ridiculously fun site is a resource for everything from exclusive deals to answers to your embarrassing questions…there’s a blog for daily finds…they even have a special issue, just for Moms! And if you sign up for their newsletter, tell them Portland Picks sent you! www.SheFinds.com |
 shefinds.com |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Get Help! When you do everything from setting appointments to shopping, gardening, paying bills, and taking the dog to the vet in one weekend—plus planning dinner for guests—your head can explode Tis true. Call Cameron Concierge—a genius new service that provides a full range of support, from running errands to event planning to last-minute help. They can organize your home, your dinner, your backyard, your appointments…your life. This is high-caliber personal service. Mention Portland Picks by June 30, and get 20% off the first day! |
 cameronconcierge.com |
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| 2 | A Bird in the Hand We have this weird thing with birds lately. We want them in paintings, on pillows and all over our clothes. So when we came across Portland designer Anisa Makhoul’s new Web store—Makool Loves You—we were super excited to see her one-of-a-kind birds that we could add to our avian collection! Into dresses, not doves? There’s plenty for you, too. The site also features Makool’s small, seasonal clothing lines, hard to find items by overseas designers, and handmade items individually created by Anisa. What’s not to love? |
 makoollovesyou.com |
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| 3 | (Blank) in a Blanket When we first got our pup, the only thing she came with was an old baby blanket. Ugly, but hard to give up because of the history. One look at locally-made Dream On blankets changed all that. Combining graphic prints like polka dots and camo with the exquisite softness of minky, these creations are so cute you might wonder if they're just for pets (nope—babies, too!) Now we've never seen our girl so happy—she's as snug as a...well...dog in a blanket! |
 dreamonblankets.com |
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| 4 | Skincare Magic We are willing to explore any sort of magic “fountain of youth” pill that knocks on our door. We will guinea-pig ourselves, wade through the hype, and figure out what works and what doesn’t. |
 spapure.info |
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| 5 | Booty-Kicking Yoga There’s a swanky new yoga studio in town—a gorgeous facility that offers intense classes—Bodyoga in Lake Oswego. They’ll have you sweating into a nice pretzel in no time. We were sore for a week afterward. They specialize in Vinyasa, which is meditation in motion. It’ll chisel away any excess body mass and improve the health of your mind, diminish stress, and improve your whole health. They also have Free Fridays at 4:30...truly a happy hour! |
 bodyoga.biz |
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| Event of the Week! | |||
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Ever wanted your very own Fashion Stylist? KPTV's Personal Style Editor Sara Dahl is available for you on your budget. She is a body-type expert with the know-how to help you look absolutely amazing, whether you're going for girls night out glamour or a closet re-do. Plus she's affordable! Packages are available for any of your Fashion/Style needs. Meet her next week at the Personal Style Workshop: Saturday, June 16, from 1-3:30 pm. Check www.dahlstyle.com for details, or contact Sara at sara@dahlstyle.com or 503.701.7538. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Get Your Fashion Fix We know you love to shop. And Fabricate Events is hosting a one-day shopping event showcasing emerging local fashion designers and artists at the Wonder Ballroom. Find one-of-a-kind pieces before they hit boutiques and galleries; often at reduced prices. There will be music and a fashion show, and the first 200 guests will receive a gift bag full of trendy surprises! What: One-Day Shopping Showcase |
 fabricateevents.com |
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| 2 | Cooking 101: A Class For Men Who Hate to Cook Does your man know his way around a kitchen? Pave the way for delish meals, cooked just for you. For Father’s Day, or just any day, send him to Cooking 101: A Class for Men Who Hate to Cook! He’ll learn knife skills, recipes, use of seasonings and herbs, and etiquette from Chef Rodolfo—your guy will be a gourmet! What: Cooking 101 |
 portland health and wellness.com |
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| 3 | Art in Mountain Park Enjoy an artists reception and art fair at Mountain Park Gallery. The opening night features work from several local artists, from watercolor to mixed media and oils. Meet the artists, buy a piece for your home or a gift, and enjoy wine and complimentary refreshments. Plus free chair massages, door prizes and the tinkling sounds of their grand piano. Lovely! |
 mountainparkhoa.com |
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| 4 | ETSY Craft Show Join the Portland Etsy Street Team for the Etsy Art Craft Summer Sale! Featuring 60 artists and craftspersons, the Etsy Art Craft Summer Sale features everything from screenprinting, spinning, beading, metalwork, and ceramics to painting, soft sculpture, glasswork, fiber arts and more. Bring the kids (there’s a special activity table just for them) and shop til you drop! What: Etsy Art Craft Summer Sale |
 pdxetsy.com |
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| 5 | Chow for a Cause You're invited to eat, drink and be merry at a post-climb celebration on Wednesday June 13th at the Chesterfield -- 1101 E. Burnside. Stop by for a drink, a quick bite or dinner. The Chesterfield is generously donating the day's proceeds to support fundraising for the Climb to Fight Breast Cancer. 1 in 3 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime--help the effort to find a cure as you have fun. What: Support the Climb to Fight Breast Cancer at the Chesterfield
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 chesterfieldpdx.com |
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| 6 | Fabulous Sale and Art Opening at Phlox Enjoy a glass of wine in an evening of art and fashion at Phlox Clothing Boutique! Youʼre invited to Mark Wernerʼs art opening, whose colorful work inventively uses sea tumbled stones and bubbles. Everything will be 15% off, and if you purchase art, you'll receive a Phlox gift certificate valued at 20% of your purchase. What: Summer sale and art opening at Phlox |
 phloxpdx.com |
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| 7 | Paint the Town Red Do you need a quick creative recharge or a romantic weekend away? Hotel Monaco’s the “Paint the Town Red” package is the ticket. It includes: a room for 2 in a Monaco Suite, complimentary bottle of Hotel Monaco Portland private label Oregon wine, in-room easels, canvas, palette and paints, in-room art film, room-service continental breakfast for two, and a seasonal “Chef’s Table” dinner for two at Red Star! What: Paint the Town Red package from Hotel Monaco |
 monaco-portland.com |
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| 8 | Hotel DeLuxe Movie Night The Hotel deLuxe’s state-of-the-art Screening Room will show “A Thing of Wonder, The Mind and Matter of Jerry Andrus.” Andrus is a magician, inventor, and poet who uncovers the mysteries of life on the boundary between reason and illusion. The movie is free; no-host food and bevvies are available from Gracie’s Restaurant and Driftwood Room. What: Hotel DeLuxe Movie Night |
 hoteldeluxeportland.com |
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| 9 | “Escape with Pride” Spend Gay Pride Weekend at Hotel Monaco in Seattle! The “Escape with Pride” package includes hotel accommodations for two, plus a Special Gay Pride Party Basket that includes champagne, Red Bull, a fun feather boa, and protection. The on-site Sazerac restaurant will host a “Pre-Funk” Disco Brunch, and you’ll be the first to watch the parade! What: “Escape with Pride” Package at Hotel Monaco |
 monaco-seattle.com |
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| 10 | Father’s Day Specials at HairM Looking for the perfect gift for Father’s Day? Give him gift of pampering with a Gift Card from HairM. The Father’s Day Pamper Package includes The Emperor’s Cut (cut, 10-minute scalp massage, hand massage, and a cocktail), The Ultimate Hot Towel Shave and a 30 Minute Massage for just $115. What: HairM Father’s Day Pamper Package |
 hairmgrooming.com |
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So there you have it. Another week of fabulous (if we say so ourselves) suggestions for things to do in our fabulous (we all say so) city. Enjoy! |
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