Park it

The daffodils are out and the trees are blooming, spring has sprung early and we are delighted! Now is the perfect time to discover (or rediscover) one of Portland's most beautiful treasures, Laurelhurst Park. Located at 39th and SE Stark, Laurelhurst Park has long been a popular Portland hangout. In 2001 it became the first city park to ever be named to the National Register of Historic Places. A stroll through this park is a chance to appreciate all the best things about Portland, breathtaking natural beauty, our diverse population, and our signature easy-going style.

Play Frisbee on the expansive grassy fields or just sit back and watch the wildlife from a comfortable bench. Exercise your dog on the large off-leash field, or park yourself on the hillside for some people watching. Pack a lunch, and picnic under one of the shady trees. In addition to a man-made lake, you will also find a large children's play area, more than 30 acres of grass and trails, tennis, volleyball and basketball courts, restrooms and more.

Okay, let’s pretend it’s Central Park. Grab those inline skates or slip on those Nike’s for “a jog,” or borrow your sister’s dog. Time to get moving, honey, and meet all those single John Kennedy Jr. types that have popped out of the woodwork and they’re waiting for you!

Laurelhurst Park
SE 39 & Stark
Portland, OR

Dress Up

House Dressing on Northeast Broadway has all kinds of new delicious treats in for spring. After you do all that spring-cleaning, remove all the dust and clutter, fill ‘er back up in style. House Dressing ...everything for your home and you. Frankly, you’ll go just a little nuts in there.

They just got in a new luscious line called Lollia. This is an Oprah pick and it's fun and fresh and very girly! Lotions and potions and bubble bath and candles. Scents like Breathe and Relax are a daily must-have in your crazy world!

House Dressing has also included a new baby section of clever and adorable gifts. PeePee tee-pees, baby burritos and adorable Belgian tees with playful pictures of the "nice gnomes" from Northern Europe. The tees are so cute! They have the classic French sleeves and text on the back with each gnome’s name and what they are doing - e.g."Leon 'a l'accordeon" (Leon and the accordion). (Known for being kind and helpful, Gnomes are a part of rich Scandinavian folklore.)

Also - an unofficial announcement (shhhh, you have to swear not to tell anyone).... they are expanding the store and adding an over-the-top line of sofas and other upholstered pieces. Their unveiling will be in May, and we’ll let you know when the party is. We can’t wait!

House Dressing
811 NE Broadway St,
Portland, 97232
(503) 493-8037
www.housedressingpdx.com

A massage a day keeps the blues away (and any mysterious toxins that may be lurking)! You need to take extra care of you, pamper and reward yourself after all that you do, and make a standing appointment, like you do with the dentist (only you’ll look forward to this).

There is a clever new massage concept in the Portland area called "Massage Envy" located on Cedar Hills Blvd, near Art Media, Gart Sports, etc.

You buy a massage membership, 6 months for 49.00 per month (or try it out for a one time trial at $39 an hour). With that you get a 1 hour massage per month and any other massages are 29.95 for an hour and 42.95 for an hour and a half !!!!!!

One of our dear reader’s, Lynn, had an hour and a half with Marc and said it was fantastic. Mind you it isn't Aequis (and it is in a strip mall), but if you like massages it is great. They have long hours, a vast selection and the place is warm and comfortable. The tables are heated, soothing music, very attentive staff, very affordable and cool membership concept to add to your overall health. You deserve this, busy girl!

Massage Envy
2680 SW Cedar Hills Blvd
Beaverton, OR 97005
Phone: (503) 726-ENVY (3689)
www.massageenvy.com

‘Relish the Urban Bride’

Back in the olden days, when we were all getting married, it was all about the foof. The foofier and fussier, the better. Now, of course, we cringe looking back at our photos and always think to ourselves if we were doing it today, how very different it would be. For sure we’d look like Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, simple, elegant (we’d copy her).

For a cool twist and great ideas, relish this: Brides and wedding industry professionals are invited to an event showcasing a modern take on the “Urban Bride.” Located at Relish, the swanky Pearl District boutique, guests will find resources with a modern twist on photography, jewelry, fashion, floral, photography, and invitation design to name a few – for free. On hand will be the Relish Urban Bride Resource List, models featuring tomorrow’s clean look in gown and jewelry design, as well as several floral and invitation examples and ideas.

Trisha Guido, owner of Relish, successfully developed her bridal registry over 2 years ago. Since that time, she has amassed a collective resource for individuals seeking a wedding a step outside of the traditional, in line with their own more individualistic, modern design ethic. Says Trisha, “’Because Design Matters’ the company slogan, can be applied to everyday living, as well as your wedding day.” Elegance is not a fad. Have a wedding you look back and relish every moment, every touch.

If you are getting married, and want a cool, modern take on a traditional wedding, this event is for you.

• Gift Registry Services: Trisha Guido Relish
• Dress Design: Sarah Mansfield
• Floral: Lavish
• Jewelry: MINK & Magma
• Stationary: Madrona Hill Collective

Come take a look. You’ll get so excited! It’s one stop shopping with everything desirable at your fingertips. You will shine!

Relish
433 NW 10th Ave.
Portland, OR
503-227-3779
info@relishstyle.com
Tuesday, March 22nd 6:00 to 9:00 pm

How Art Thou?

You’re not really a true sophisticate, a grownup, until you have art. No, posters tacked to the wall with blue gum don’t count. Your nieces painted handprints? They count a little, but we call that fridge art. The black velvet print he bought on the side of the road, NO! You need art that is beautifully framed and reaches out to you, into you, and brightens your spirit, just like those Prada shoes you bought when you were feeling a little low. Yeah, yeah, it’s expensive (but so were the shoes), and usually the last on our list after furniture (and shoes).

Well the perfect artist to brighten up any woman’s shopping day is Cynthia Mosser. Cynthia Mosser will be showing next month at the MARGHITTA FELDMAN GALLERY. And they have many pieces that are under $200 (and framed!) for her April show with fun titles such as “Seaside Party” and “Handy Bio-doilies”…very feminine swirly, colorful work. Some are more expensive (upwards of $900) but for framed, professional artwork this is so reasonably priced, a great investment, and fun fun fun fun! Plus, Mosser’s work makes us happy. You need a beautiful thing in your house that when you look at it, you sigh. Trust us, this is heirloom quality art that you can afford and will treasure.

Marghitta Feldman Gallery
503 228 0089
www.mfeldmangallery.com
mfeldmangallery@qwest.net

Speaking of art

Fashion can be art, and art can be fashion. And never more so than at the Art Show & Sell, an annual benefit for Portland’s arts magnet schools, held April 8 & 9.

At least one-fourth of the 106 artists in this show will be offering wearable art—everything from June Cleaver–style aprons and cozy knitted scarves to ultramodern acrylic rings and classic beaded necklaces.

Some of the featured artists include a group of five Portland women--all friends-- that have formed a design collective called “Five Dreams.”

Together, these five designers have got the hip urban shopper covered, from quirky knit hats, intricate sterling silver and gemstone jewelry, chic crocheted sweaters, hats, and accessories made from reclaimed and vintage yarns, relaxing bath tea bags and aromatherapy pillows decked out in fun, retro fabrics, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets made with lustrous semi-precious stones, crystals, and lamp work beads.

That’s just one example, you’ll be amazed at the bevy of reclaimed vintage fashion, jewelry for everyone, and so much more.

This is a great cause and really great shopping! After a visit to Show and Sell, you’ll have lots of good show and tell!

• What: The fifteenth annual Art Show & Sell, featuring the work of more than 100 Pacific Northwest artists and benefiting Portland’s Buckman and da Vinci arts magnet schools.
• Where: Buckman Elementary School
  320 SE 16th Avenue (between SE Pine and SE Stark)
  Portland, OR 97214
• When: 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Friday, April 8, 2005
  10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, April 9, 2005
• Admission: Friday:
  $5 per person
  Saturday: free
• Info: www.buckmanelementary.org

Saucebox – Swank and Circumstance, Urban, revamped and saucy.

You are so cool; you reign cool. You live the word! Always the trendsetter, you were the first on the block with San Francisco Riding Gear, Dorothy Hamill copied your “do”, and you discovered Saucebox long before anyone else. Well, like most trendy places, usually by the time the rest of us discover it, it’s passé. Not so with Saucebox. It simply gets better with age (and a slick remodel), which just means it’s most definitely not a trend.

How can this favorite haunt be even better, you ask? How can great be greater? The newly renovated dining room has something for everyone: Continued quality with their signature cuisine, inspiring interior, sidewalk tables for this fabulous weather, and a bar scene that rocks. See you there!

Saucebox
214 SW Broadway
Portland, OR
503.241.3393
www.saucebox.com

Hassle Free Travel

You long to go on vacation, and simultaneously dread it. It’s daunting, exhausting, a big fat hassle. Well, you, my princess, always striving for that life of leisure, need, actually require, Luggage Free. God forbid you ever lift a finger, let alone wait even an instant longer than you must. If you had it your way, Rickshaw’s would be de rigueur.

Luggage Free is just the ticket! Luggage Free is a luxury luggage delivery specialist, offering travelers the option to send luggage ahead to nearly any destination, worldwide, to avoid the inconvenience of carrying, checking and claiming bags --even going through customs.

This luxury service takes your luggage there and back, safely and in style. Allowing you to focus on more important things like kickin’ back at the swim up bar with that fancy fruity cocktail.

We love our new Cuffs.

No, sorry honey, not that kind. The sleek wood cuffs from Twist by Cero Designs (some lined in sterling silver!) Wood jewelry and cuffs are the must-have accessory and all the rage for spring and summer.

Yes, these are our kind of cuffs, and the more the merrier. Available at Twist.

You are no woos.

You don’t whine if you get a little wet de-rigging your Dragon Boat on the Willamette. Not you. You’re a regular Outward Bound Girl (or pretend to be anyway).

This Ocean Skirt from Patagonia makes it a breeze transitioning from Yacht to dock with this pocket-less hip rider made of stretchy swimwear fabric. Plus, what would you choose (you have to choose one): kayaking in this and still looking stylish and cute even when your buns are sitting in a puddle... or wearing a little itty bitty bikini in the puddle, in the “fat position”, with a perpetual wedgy?

We choose A, cute and stylish...and comfy, wildly floral, sexy, and utilitarian. It can also be used as a cover up and comes with matching swimsuit. You are one hot mama! (Where are those cabana boys?!)

Patagonia® Portland
907 N.W. Irving St.
Suite 100
Portland, OR
Phone: (503) 525-2552
www.patagonia.com

There is a fabulous artist in town....on the verge so get him before he goes World. You see, Pottery Barn has discovered him and he’ll be featured in their spring catalog. We are particularly fond of this one, puts us in a “Happy Hour Mood” (always cocktails on the brain). For the under 21 set, he has you covered as well.

And all his work is HUGE, larger than life, just the way we like it (right, girls?)

Aaron Christensen is from Portland and his work has been featured on MTV’s Cribs. His studio is located at 22nd and NE Alberta.

Check out his portfolio at www.EmbellishmentsStudio.com.

• Surf shorts
  
  
• Floral Sun dress
  
  
• High bouncy pony tails
  
  
• Sandals or wedge flip flops
  
  
• A good spf 30 and a fake tan (like a spray-on from Tan Rio on Burnside)
  
  
• Sun Hat (lived-in cowboy hat in pink?)
  
  
• Giant Ultra Soft Beach Towel
  
  
• Beach Read ( I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe) and two new mags: M.A.R. And Tango
  
  
• Big Canvas Tote (think seaside cabanas and farmer’s markets)
  
• Terry cloth drawstring capri’s (anything terry by the pool)
  
  
• Natural faces (minimalist pink, innocent, like Revlon’s lipstick in Pink Giggles.)
  
  
• Deliberately worn and torn jeans to fold up to mid calf
  
  
• Flattering bikini with boyfit bottoms
  
  
• Tunic to throw on over your bathing suit
  
  
• Pink Paul Frank Beach Cruiser
  
  
• A pink ipod filled with flowery, summer tunes
  
  
• Portable Chess for the beach
  
  
• Big round Jackie O glasses to protect those peepers and make you look like a star incognito
  
  
• A natural, tropical fragrance like Malie Kauai’s Tropical Lei. (Mmmmm, "Aloha" Gardenia, Jasmine, and Plumeria!)
  
  
• Pick up a picnic To Go from the new Elephants on NW 22nd.

Okay, here’s your 9 Step Program:

1. First we need to rebuild your self esteem. We love this song. It’s written just for you.
   
   “Tell me what it’s like to be the one and only all American Girl....The Neiman Marcus of them all!” (Have you ever heard such a compliment?!)
   
   All American Girl, Train
2. Don’t forget to breathe now. Yes, take a deep breath. Inhale, exhale. Yes, you can do this.
   
   Breathe (2AM), Anna Nalick
3. Then there’s Joss Stone, who’s like 12, but has a voice and song filled with grownup wisdom.
   
   “My mistakes will make me strong, I’m staring out into the great unknown, I’m feeling wings, though I’ve never flown. I’ve got a mind of my own.....”
   
   You have the right to be wrong, Joss Stone
4. Okay, okay. There may be an occasional blip on this road to independence (darn hormones), and we expect that, which is why we had to include this one from Van Morrison. (“Momma told me there’d be days like this...”)
   
   Days Like This, Van Morrison
5. Sometimes you can’t make it on your own, U2 (Uh-huh. Can too. Watch me!)
6. I Can See Clearly Now, Jimmy Cliff (reggae)
7. These are days, 10,000 Maniacs
8. From Now On, Basia
   (“Got to learn to walk again...”)
9. And just to haunt you a little, we have to include this:
   I Am Woman, Helen Reddy

Yes, you are invincible! You go girl! Strike out and seize the world!

Women's Health Conference

OHSU Center for Women's Health will hold the tenth Annual Women's Health Conference on Saturday, April 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Oregon Convention Center.

The keynote speaker is Judith Reichman, M.D. one of the nation's most respected voices on women's health care issues and is the physician correspondent on women's health for NBC's "Today" show.

Dr. Reichman is the author of several books on women's health issues, including "I'm Too Young to Get Old" and "I'm Not in the Mood." Her newest book is "Slow Your Clock Down: The Complete Guide to a Healthy, Younger You."

Tickets to the all-day conference are $35 and includes a vegetarian lunch.

To register online and learn more about the conference, please visit: www.OHSUwomenshealth.com

The 7th Annual Black Tie Bowl-O-Rama: Saturday April 23rd, 2005; 7-11pm

It's more than just another Black-Tie dinner! Way more - way COOL. It's a spectacular and outrageous benefit for the very worthy organization called CARES Northwest. You get gourmet food, cool drinks, glow-in-the-dark bowling and unforgettable memories.

You can dress up (with or without your tiara) and have a blast bowling. The event is at the AMF 20th Century Lanes - SE 92nd and Powell in Portland. Cares is one of the oldest child abuse assessment centers in the nation. Help strike out child abuse by attending this worthwhile event.

For more information, contact: Liz Burns, lburns@lhs.org