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presenting |
| PORTLAND PICKS | ||
| life + style to you: every Friday | ||
| December 17 2004 |
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It is right about now that we begin to, well, panic. Maybe panic is too severe a word but with our mother-in-law’s gift, children’s concerts, invitations to hither and yon, out-of-town guests and our standard worries, things can feel daunting. That is why the good lord invented red wine and Portland Picks. This week we will lead you by your delicate hand to the best shops for the hard to please and then to the most adorable spa to have someone rub those tootsies. New Year’s Eve plans? We’ve got you covered! Flowers to send, we have the number! Fret not; Portland Picks is here with all the right answers to all the most vexing questions. |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | We love Posie. Alicia Paulson makes the most precious ‘rosy little things’. Each one is crafted by hand (it blows our mind, frankly). From skirts to handbags to darling holiday gift tags, everything she makes is extraordinary. The shop, Ella Posie, on East Burnside is full of cheer and gobs of delightful treasures. You will find yourself feeling ever so generous this year as you scoop up a perfect gift or two for everyone on your list, only to battle yourself to part with it. Alicia Paulson |
 Rosy Little Things.com |
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| 2 | Who's Your Buddy? Buddies Flowers in Lake Oswego has always been one of our favorite florists. They have exotic flowers and gifts and always create the most unique and breathtaking arrangements to send to a loved one, or to use as a centerpiece for your dinner party. If you want to send the most glorious flowers to someone you love, call Buddies! If you want flowers and holiday decorations galore, call Buddies! If you are looking for hostess gifts, or need to doll up your house a bit more (nothing cheesy here), call Buddies, or, visit! Keep their number on speed dial; this is your floral SOS line. Buddies Flowers |
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| 3 | Clothes Galore! Galore Department Store, our favorite boutique, is now bigger and better. They expanded into the vacant neighboring space after Mimi and Lena departed. Their funky space is edgy and unique. Graffiti in the dressing rooms, fake grass instead of the usual mundane carpet, unusual accessories, jewelry, shoes. It’s a fun store to visit, funky retail, you want to hang out, try on everything, dance to the music. It’s just cool. Galore Department Store |
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| 4 | Reflect your individual style with clothing from Grapevine! Grapevine is a bit more conservative, tailored, but with a twist. These are wearable clothes, flattering clothes, sexy clothes, feminine clothes, never frumpy or boring. You can find the perfect stunning outfit to wear as you lunch with the ladies, make a statement at work, a fabulous and flattering dress for that cocktail party. They have a wonderful sweater collection, vast jeans selection (the hottest!), great belts and shoes. We love all their coats and dresses. If we are puzzled about what to wear this evening, we know we can run in, find something just right in an instant, and look and feel fabulous at our event. With unique fashions from classic to contemporary, casual to chic, the Grapevine's two Portland area stores provide the latest collections to fit your every mood. They have our favorite labels, like Elie Tahari, Nanette Lepore, Trina Turk, and Tracy Reese. We love this store! Grapevine 7535 SW Barnes Rd |
 Grapevine Style.com |
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| 5 | Magnetic Wear Jewelry for the mind, body, soul This is the hottest thing. Cool looking jewelry and good for you! Polexus® is the claspless jewelry that looks great, makes you feel great, and allows you to create your own design. They have a full line of magnetic jewelry including: magnetic bracelets, anklets, rings, and necklaces…all with very powerful magnetic properties. Magnetic therapy has been said to ease the pain of such ailments as: arthritis, carpal tunnel, poor circulation, rheumatism, tennis elbow, fibro myalgia, and tendonitis. Additionally, Magnetic energy has been said to have a beneficial effect on lymph flow, hormone production, nerves and muscles. Balance your inner chi baby, we’re believers! And while we’re getting healthy, we’ll look fabulous to boot. Meetings, shmeetings. Okay, so you’re really bored in that meeting, you are pretending to pay attention, good (albeit vacant) eye contact, a periodic nod that shows you are ever-present (or falling asleep), hanging on every word (drooling), yet you are really thinking about how you need to organize the recycle bin when you get home. Good news. Take off your bracelet and take it apart during those boring meetings, so that it looks like you’re still rapt and attentive, even though you are trying to decide how high you can make the little magnetic tower before it takes a spill. It’s better than doodling. Call for your hot new jewelry today and make sure you say you heard about it from Portland Picks. Active Links |
 Active Links.us |
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| 6 | Tea for Two and Tea Forte – extraordinary teas, enchanting presentation, unforgettable occasions This new innovative tea product was featured on Oprah’s ‘O” List this year and has won many food industry and design awards."Tea Forte" is an innovative tea infuser filled with delicious tea blends and it's packaging makes for a great gift presentation! There are 4 blends - Ginger, Oasis (green tea), Flora and Forte (black tea). They've been a huge hit and a perfect pampering combo to brew and drink while taking a Jellybath – our other incredibly popular favorite! Pick up Tea Forte and Jelly Bath at House Dressing! House Dressing always carries one-of a-kind house wares and very special gift items to enhance your life. House Dressing |
 Tea Forte.com |
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| 7 | Commemorative Vintage Red Cross Products:
Vintage Red Cross T-shirt
Commemorative Knit Kit
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| 8 | Cashmere Sweaters! The easiest gift this season is the cashmere sweater. It’s a no brainer. Soft cable knit sweaters, cashmere cardigans, classic v-necks, a pink argyle sweater or lush hoodies. One can never have too many sweaters and JCrew has the most fabulous classic
and high quality selection for every girl and boy on your list.... but only
if you’ve been very, very nice. |
 JCrew.com |
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| 9 | Holiday Shine...from Urban Decay Dust it on and let someone else kiss it away! Sweeten your look or give it a sexy kick by slipping on a seductive sheen. Urban Decay Body Powders in 9 tasty (but not sticky) formulas.
Urban Decay for all your holiday cosmetics...fun, feminine, and dangerous! Pick them up online at Urban Decay.com or Nordstrom Downtown and Washington Square. |
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| 10 | We Love This Monkey on Our back! Actually make that 3 Monkeys. 3 monkeys has great inexpensive unique holiday clothing, from tuxedo pants and silk jackets, to faux fur shrugs. They also have great stocking stuffers and unique girlfriend gifts that will surely brighten someone’s day. They have fun handbags in the shape of a high heel, funny girlfriend books, over the top apparel and accessories, and all very affordable. It’s a delight to shop here. Everything is clever and funky and you’ll surely find something perfect for everyone on your list. It is one of those shops that you hope no one will discover because you want it all for yourself but because we love you, we’re letting you in. 3 Monkeys |
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| 11 | Charmed, I'm sure. As you well know, charms are the big thing these days, a hunky sterling silver bracelet with a collection of classic looking charms to reflect who you are. If you’re a girly girl, maybe a shoe or lipstick or a handbag will do. If you like to travel, perhaps a passport, an Eiffel Tower, and a wee little suitcase. If you’re a mum, maybe a baby bottle, a pacifier, or little booties. For charms, charms and more charms, Lucy Palmer Boutique, "the ultimate girl shop" is the place for you. Even the big downtown jewelers are referring customers to Lucy Palmer for their wide selection of charms. Most start at $11 and you can join their Charm Club. Buy 6 Charms and the 7th is free, and they keep track of what you already have so if a loved one comes in to buy you a charm, they can make sure you don’t already have it, or they can find out some of your favorites.
Lucy Palmer Boutique |
 Lucy Palmer.com |
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| 12 | Storables When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, nothing trumps getting back to your pre-holiday weight (or for some of us, our pre-three-babies weight). You will find plenty of people offering advice on that topic but not here. This year, we at Portland Picks are going with another oft-made rarely kept resolution, getting organized. A place for everything and everything in its place, for this we suggest a trip down to Storables in the Pearl. As the not-so-subtle name implies, this store is full of classy containers that are perfect for filling with all of your things. You will find tools, ideas and complete systems for every room in your house, along with all the accessories that make it fun. Get your pantry into ship shape with jars and containers that hold everything from coffee to pasta to cat food to cereal. Give everything in your home office a home of its own with clever file holders, document boxes, shelving or magnetic message boards (we love those little containers with magnetic bottoms that hold stamps, paper clips, thumbtacks, etc.). And of course, there are as many ways to tame that closet as there are items stuffed into it. If you are serious about keeping it up year round, why not pick one trouble spot a month to tackle? We suggest you start with that 7-foot organizational nightmare that is probably standing in your house right this very minute the -- The Christmas tree. Storables offers a few great options for storing your ornaments and wrapping paper and supplies. You can choose from durable and no-nonsense Rubbermaid bins with inserts to place each individual ornament or opt for the more fancy version, a sturdy box, also divided, but covered in red satin. Nothing brings peace of mind like a completely organized home. Give yourself the gift of order, one present that will still be glorious come spring. Local Storables store locations:
Or shop online at Storables.com |
 Storables.com |
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| 13 | Bond No. 9: I Love New York Eau De New York Okay, well maybe not a Portland Pick, but definitely a Pick. And no, this does not smell like a blend of bus exhaust, humid subway steam, and a garbage dumpster in the Meat Packing District. Eau de New York is a fast-as-a-flirt paced blend of fruits, flowers, and greens whose scent molecules positively whizz through the air. Its top-notes are breakfast-y citruses: grapefruit, mandarin, bergamot, and petit grain (from the young twigs of a piquant orange tree), spiked with fresh greens. After that initial kick...another kick, but gentler this time, as the scent segues into its heart notes: rich-bodied neroli (from the white blossoms of yet another rare orange tree, said to act as an antidepressant), exotic gardenia (used as a mood up-lifter in scent-therapy), delicate cyclamen (a mind-soother), intoxicating white lily (conducive to love and happiness), basil (a known stimulant) verbena (used by sorcerers to rekindle the flames of love), and jasmine (an antidepressant, anxiety-reducer, aphrodisiac, and headache reliever). The lingering base notes, vetiver, oak moss, skin musk, and white wood, all have a sensual but balancing effect. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. |
 Apothia.com/ |
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| 14 | ME! Bath Again, yes, all about you, which is why you need ME! And let’s face it, on those gloomy gray nights when you’ve had not such a great day, rather than sitting down and binging on a pint of sherbet, soak in it instead! You’ll feel oodles better in no time. ME! Shower Sherbet is a 16 oz. daily exfoliating cleanser – it is a whole new way to treat your body to a daily dose of delicious and delectable shower fun. Produced with only the highest quality, spa fresh ingredients, our sherbet
will leave your skin smooth and soft, ready for you to take on another day.
The scent is invigorating and the effects linger! This is a holiday must have. |
 Apothia.com |
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| 15 | Elephant Couture: Buy a Limited edition elephant couture t-shirt and save an elephant! Now that’s BIG! The Asian Elephants are teetering on the brink of extinction and now you can be fashionable and fabulous when you buy a limited edition elephant couture t-shirt, as curious and rare as an elephant itself: T-shirt ingredients:
Featured designers:
Elephant family Limited Edition Available now at approximately $35 - ALL PROFITS GOING TO ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION... Buy online at Elephant Family.org |
 Elephant Family.org |
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| 16 | Glamour Muffs This is so hard to disclose. It pains us. But we love you so much, it's worth the sacrifice. So here goes. Glamour Muffs. There. We love our muff. We are so popular with our muff. My muff was actually on TV (you could also see a titch of my wrist too!), just to the right of Kathy Griffin's earlobe when we were being hangers-on at the local celeb event recently at Oba. But even prior to it being a famous muff, no matter where I went with my muff, I got so many compliments. And you can obviously see why. First, it is reminiscent of a childhood muff (I had a pink one when I was 5), but these muffs are soooooo glam. You see, they double as a purse. You can wear your muff as an evening bag and as a muff to warm you hands. It can be worn on your wrist or down by your side. This is an attention-getter, and who doesn't love that?! This is a muff, er, MUST, for all those holiday soirees! |
 Glamour Muffs.com |
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| Best of Portland Picks: | |||
| Since we’ve grown exponentially in recent months, we’re going to occasionally bring back a few of our favorite things, just to remind and reintroduce...in case you weren’t yet tuned in. | |||
| 1 | After all that holiday shopping insanity you need a well-deserved break. All that shopping, walking, spending takes its toll on your tootsies. Well, we have the simple solution. Take yourself and your significant other, or yourself and your girlfriend, or heck, just your lovely self, to the Barefoot Sage on Hawthorne for a little well-deserved pampering. Make an evening appointment and make a real date out of it. It’s such a unique, unconventional atmosphere and indulgent experience. Entering the dimly lit earthy room, you’ll first notice the raised shabby chic-y love seats. You’ll sink into comfort, sip your hot tea, and think you’ve died and gone to heaven. But that’s just the beginning. You’ll order your “Foot Zen” which is a lovely warm herbal infused footbath and magnificent deep foot massage. It’s incredibly decadent because it’s all about you. No means to an end, nothing to check off your To Do list, just simple meditative chillin’. And you deserve it. Happy Holidays. We love you! (And p.s., by spa-like standards, it’s cheap!) The Barefoot Sage |
 The Barefoot Sage.com |
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| 2 | Now kick up those well-relaxed heels and zip across the river to Zipadees on NW 23rd. Do a little browsing, then sit back and relax in the 60’s decoTeen Lounge. Read your Tiger Beat and watch some tube in between all that tiresome shopping. Zipadees labels itself a Teen store, but we are a wee bit older than that and we were delighted with the treasures we found. It is for all ages. We stocked up on the baby gifts: cowboy burp rags, charm bracelets, CicciaBella Baby Booties, a gray flannel diaper bag (which we choose to use as a brief case, thank you very much). They have the coolest t-shirt collection, clever hunky sterling silver necklaces with glass lockets, wonderful beauty goodies from favorites like Jacqua (Night Cap and Sweet Face) and Knotty Girl. You will want to curl up in the groovy girl teen lounge and hang out all day. Zipadees |
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| 3 | Now to pay for it all. Umpqua Bank in the Pearl. Man! This is the life. If you want a grown-up “clubhouse”, this is for you. This is where you must do your banking…. socializing, relaxing, reading, sipping, and man spying (if you’re single). This is your new hangout. Forget the no-fee checking and all the other wonderful perks, you just want to move-in here. This is banking your style, and how it should be. It’s truly amazing! Read the selection of papers, watch CNBC, do a little emailing or web surfing, eat some donuts, and even help yourself to their quarters if your parking runs out. Umpqua Bank in the Pearl. Where else can you feel good about Free-checking and Freeloading?! Umpqua Bank |
 Umpqua Bank.com |
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| Portland Pick's Book of the Week: Entertaining Stocking Stuffers | |||
| 1 | Is Your Straight Man Gay Enough? Have you checked out the new book "Is Your Straight Man Gay Enough?" by Nan Shipley and Jason Anthony (Chronicle Books)? It's a hilarious how-to guide for any woman whose man is just too manly and needs a little (just a little) gayness--you know, the ability to recognize when it's appropriate to wear flannel plaid shirts and when it's not, and the capacity to carry on at least a slightly intelligent conversation about shoes and pop culture, without losing his ability (and desire!) to fix that leaky sink. As one of our fans put it in recommending this book, it seems to fit right in with Portland Picks' fun, chic approach to the world. Enjoy! |
 Chronicle Books.com |
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| 2 | All About Me, by Philipp Keel Well, duh, of course it’s all about you! That’s why this book is priceless, Princess. You get to answer probing questions and tell yourself, or others if you dare, all about you! This journal helps you write the greatest book ever written....starring (drumroll)....the fabulous YOU! As you've probably heard before, an unexamined life may be pretty darn boring. You can remedy that with All About Me, a journal filled with checklists and fill-in-the-blank questions divided into 25 categories, including sexuality, ego, wishes & dreams, opinions, emotions, memories, and choices. What authors have affected you? Do you believe in God? What film can you watch over and over? Ever had sex on an airplane? Do you want to be buried or cremated? All About Me can serve as a fine tool for improving your self-knowledge; it's also been used by couples who want to get to know each other better, and would make great fodder for getting a party going (especially the question, "Does a photo of you naked exist?"). If you're interested in self-actualization or improving your relationships, you'll find the book fascinating, while anyone just looking for a fun way to spend a rainy day or make a long trip go by faster will be rewarded, too. |
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| Portland Pick's Cocktail of the Week: Spiced Martini | |||
| Spice up the Holidays with a Spiced Martini.
In a pitcher combine 1/2 cup cinnamon vodka, 3/4 cup vanilla vodka, and 3/4 plain vodka Measure out 3 ounces spiced vodka and 1 ounce Amaretto into a chilled Martini glass. Makes four servings. Bottoms Up! Recipe courtesy of Gourmet Magazine. For more holiday recipes, check out: Epicurious.com |
 Epicurious.com |
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| Kids Music Pick: Ralphs World | |||
| Sometimes kids + kids music + mom don’t jive. Too much of the Wiggles for example, can bring on a migraine. Too much Raffi can induce seizures in folks over age 6. And, say it with me, it’s okay to expose your children to all kinds of music (sans perhaps Eminem). It doesn’t just have to be about Hot Potatoes or eating your veggies or Mary and her pesky little lamb. If you want all that pre-toddler “brain wiring” to take place, we’re pretty sure Pavarotti’s La Traviata and The Rolling Stones Gimme Shelter (“You can’t always get you want...”) can also do the trick just as well as Barney. There are choices that are good for all, like: The Beatles, They Might Be Giants, Bob Marley, and much more, that kids and adults can enjoy and share without losing our minds. That said. if you are looking for children’s music with a groovy, grown up twist our new favorite is Ralph's World... check out Ralphs World.com from Chicago. You’ll like what you hear. This is kids music that you will enjoy too, and most importantly, won’t get on your nerves. Definitely a cool take on kid’s tunes. |
 Ralphs World.com |
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| Portland Pick's Ipod Playlist: More Despairing Love Songs | |||
Does anyone ever get a little sad during the holidays? Why is that? It can be joyful and tearful, just a frenzied ball of wacky ethos. Well, this isn’t holiday music (way too sad), but heart-wrenching music nonetheless just to enhance those already fragile emotions. So dial up itunes and download these tunes. Now you can plug into your ipod and go shopping, and cry your little eyes out....and God help anyone who cuts you off at the register. Oh Happy, Happy Holidays!
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Mercedes-Benz of Portland Winter Dream Event
All day event with TeriAnn from the Buzz 105.1 here from 2pm-4pm. We would like to invite you all down to meet the Really Nice People of Mercedes-Benz of Portland. We will have warm drinks, holiday cookies and lots of prizes and fun to be had. Join Teri Ann & 105.1 The Buzz Prize Patrol at the Mercedes-Benz of Portland at 1605 SW Naito Parkway from 2-4 pm on Saturday. Stop by and get a Salon Savvy spa treatment just for taking a test drive and you will be entered to win a Mercedes C230 Sports Sedan for a weekend. Also Mercedes-Benz of Portland will donate $100 to the Freeby Family for every vehicle sold this Friday, Saturday and Sunday! Enter to win more exciting prizes; perhaps Duran Duran tickets or maybe a hotel stay with dinner. (While supplies last) For more information on the local hero Jesse Freeby go to www.1051thebuzz.com and click on Nelson and Terry. Also from 12-4 pm come get your portrait taken in front of our award winning Mercedes-Benz Winter Dream Event display. A beautiful display in the showroom created and handcrafted by the employees of Mercedes-Benz of Portland. Absolutely stunning scenery for your holiday pictures. You could also include a picture with the all new SLK350! Mercedes-Benz of Portland |
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| 2 | DRESS FOR THE CURE DECEMBER 29 All ages, General admission $18 from Ticketmaster, $20 at the door. Stay Happy, Stay Beautiful and Remember - Life's too Short to Wear Boring Clothes! Dragonlily Boutique Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. |
 Dragon Lily.org |
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| 3 | Holiday Art Bazaar 50 of the ultra-talented, diverse artists from the Urban Art Network's 1st Thursday street gallery will exhibit a kaleidoscope of visual arts & crafts. Discover that one of a kind gift amongst handmade drawings, paintings, photography, jewelry, and clothing, and more. Sunday, Dec. 19th, 1-9 pm the surface lot at 14th & Morrison (2 blocks south of Ballroom) is only $3
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 Urban Art Network.com |
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| 4 | New Year's Eve Dinner Ideas:
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See, that wasn’t so painful! There are so many details to see to and we at Portland Picks make it our duty (and pleasure) to attend to these things so that you don’t have to. Enjoy this season, relax and celebrate the wonderful people who love you. Take time for you, and in all that you do, remember that at the end of this effort is all that real, solid, gleaming love of family that sustains us. Be good to you for us! |
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