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May 16th, 2008
Do you know how, at TJ’s, you can win free groceries when you bring in your own sack? Well, get this, we won. We really, truly, not even because we batted our eyelashes, won! Finally the OCD tote-toting paid off. A friend said we should wear our fast shoes, cuz it would probably be one of those grab-and-run scenarios where you have five minutes to seize as much stuff as you can. We had a feeling that was a long shot. But we wore running shoes anyway. We raced to the counter and practically barked, “Hi, we’re here for our shopping spree!” And do you know how they ring their bells and shout across the store? Well, they didn’t do that. Instead, they laughed and handed us a $25 gift card. It did buy us one very nice bottle of Italian red, and hey, that’s incentive enough to keep rocking our eco-smart ways. Here’s some incentive for you: Forward this issue to 5 friends and cc picks@portlandpicks.com and you could win your very own Envirosax bag! |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Make Room! When it came to spring cleaning this year, things got a little out of control—namely when it came time to clean out our closet. Our motto was “downsizing,” and downsizing we did. We’re talking bare minimum: a few vintage dresses, standby hoodies, and select shoes. Since then, our friends have been ever-so-kindly hinting that wearing hoodies with dresses doesn’t cut it every single day, so we decided to head over to Folly. Folly is our closet’s dream come true. Owner/designer Sarah Bibb carries all West Coast designers, which are all unbelievably soft, feminine, and extremely wearable. We stocked up on flowy dresses by Cameo, reversible skirts from One Ear Dog Frog (Sarah’s own line), blouse-like tank tops by Dusty, and denim by Level 99, which feel and look ridiculously expensive, yet aren’t. She also has the most adorable clothing for little girls, and accessories to complete every outfit. Be sure to stop in frequently because if you’re like us, you’ll want one of everything. Seriously, your closet will thank you. Folly |
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| 2 | Better than Birkenstocks Years ago, we moved to Eugene for college, and all our friends warned us about turning hippie and adopting Birkenstocks as our shoe of choice. Fortunately, we quickly learned about a small-town secret: Miss Meers. Designed to fulfill our footwear fantasies, this shoe boutique catered to our shoe-aholic selves and quickly became our go-to place for outfitting our soles in anything but Birks. So you can imagine our delight when we discovered that Miss Meers is no longer miles down 1-5. This past August, they opened a new shop in West Linn’s Central Village and filled it with the kind of bright, sexy shoes that make us feel just like kids in a candy store. The cute styles from the expected brands—Franco Sarto, Calvin Klein, BCBG, and so on—leave us positively drooling, especially because they also carry styles from big-name brands that we can’t find elsewhere. Plus, the treats-you-like-a-best-friend staff knows how to help a girl in need. Especially when they hand you a club card that tracks your purchases and—get this—gives you half off every fifth pair! Miss Meers |
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| 3 | Dining (Well) in The ’Burbs Last year, we shed a tear when we moved to the ‘burbs. Sure, we knew we were getting a great condo, but we also knew that frequent, gourmet dinners out would quickly become a thing of the past. We fully expected drive thrus to be our sole choice for dining “out.” And then we heard about (five-0-three) restaurant and bar—West Linn’s answer to decidedly urban, upscale eating. With locally sourced cuisine, a swanky bar, and a lively open kitchen, it’s our new favorite haunt. The name (derived from our local area code) says it all: they’re dedicated to sourcing fine, fresh ingredients from our great state. We loved the ahi tuna tartare crowned with a quail egg yolk and sided with fennel fronds, as well as the housemade fettuccine tossed with a sweet orange sauce, local andouille sausage and fresh, flaky halibut. Meanwhile, the indulgent Oregon truffle and gruyere “mac and cheese” showed the chef’s aptitude for comfort food—and although it was rich, it sure beat a heart attack in a bag. Now we heart our area code even more! (five-0-three) restaurant and bar |
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| 4 | Doggone Cute |
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| 5 | The Constant Gardener Remember last year when you ran around, naturally last-minute, desperately seeking the perfect gift for your friend’s birthday? And you never found it because you didn’t know where to go and ended up sending a card and bouquet of daisies—again? We do. And we felt like sell-outs. With all of Portland’s great little shops, we still had nothing to show for it. This year, however, we’re set. All our girls are garden goddesses these days, so we’re shopping at Oxalis, a new garden boutique in a grand old house up on Nob Hill. A fusion of mini-nursery and all things boutique, Oxalis has every rose in the garden, with clothes, books, gifts and décor, plus a lush backyard filled to the brim with beautiful plants to make green their urban homes. (And ours!) Our favorite find was the “Garden in a Bag.” We’re so sending that to our friend this year. She can grow her own violet garden and think of us all year long. Now that’s a gift that won’t die after a week (ahem, like our daisies did)! Oxalis |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | One Sack, Two Sack, Three Sack Love We love our totes. Love, love, love ‘em. More than just grocery getters, they’ve become our latest accessory, and frankly, we can’t stop buying them. Long-time tote fave Envirosax has always appealed to us for their super-compactability and urban chicness. Plus, they’re strong enough for the market and pretty enough for hauling Mimosa mixers to brunch. And with five fresh prints in their new Mikado line, we figure it’s about time to restock! |
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| 2 | Preg-O Naturale When we were pregnant, back in the day, we dutifully gave up wine, coffee, and coloring our hair. The only thing we had left was eating, and so we did—for nine months. We wish we’d sprung for Portland's Maternitique instead. They have everything Mum needs when she's prego, with natural skincare and cosmetics, prenatal wellness products and adorable baby gifts in the best, hippest brands. So saddle up with a mocktail, mama, and get e-shopping! |
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| 3 | Style is a Cinch |
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| 4 | Drink Up! Be the first one in your cubicle row to sip airforce Nutrisodas—they’re all sugar-, caffeine-, sodium- and aspartame-free. So what’s in ’em? Deliciousness. We like “Focus”—the mango/peach natural flavors deliver ginseng, the amino acid L-Tyrosine and other vitaminy stuff to keep you healthfully alert and ready to concentrate. |
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| 5 | Once Upon a Time... Before babies and mortgage payments, we were impeccably put together and current on the latest trends. Nowadays, we think we look good if we manage to pull on our "fancy" yoga pants and a mostly clean shirt. Well Certified Image Consultant Tami Clark helped us revive our image at the Saks Fifth Avenue Club downtown, where the style guru asked a few Q’s, sent us to the dressing room, and left us feeling fashion-fresh—with a wardrobe to match! Tami Clark, AICI, 707.208.5536 |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Sidewalk Shoe Sale at Signal! This one is hard to believe, but it’s true. Hundreds of pairs of shoes will be on sale tomorrow at Signal! Styles from Merrell, Privo, Adidas, Nike, Ahnu, Gravis, Puma, DC, Patagonia and more are all priced at $20 each! (Some are up to 80% off!) Plus there’s an assortment of $5 flip flops. All sales final. |
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| 2 | Le Tour de Irvington This weekend, explore the gorgeous houses in northeast Portland’s historic Irvington district, known for its charming and well-preserved homes dating back to the early 20th century. Now in its 26th year, proceeds exclusively support neighborhood projects and local charities—and, with hubby in tow, will likely benefit the case for remodeling your own home! What: Irvington Home Tour |
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| 3 | The Wild Party Gather the group for a night of wild fun! Live on Stage Productions presents The Wild Party, an off-Broadway smash hit about a young vaudeville couple who throws “the party to end all parties.” A blend of sex, drugs and jealousy amount to overall havoc, and the twists are spicy enough to take PDX by storm! What: The Wild Party |
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| 4 | Got Events? We love Andina but never really thought of it as an event space—until now. Their Tupai room is now open for private parties! You can enjoy Andina’s fabulous food in a gorgeous room that you’ll have all to yourself. Perfect for wedding receptions, office parties, or just because. Call to make your reservation—this place will fill up quickly! What: Tupai Room now open at Andina |
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| 5 | Get Your Tix to Masquerade in May Don’t miss the Junior League of Portland’s “Masquerade in May,” a fancy pants evening with cocktails and swing dancing, plus a mask competition and silent auction with hot items like private Pilates lessons, spa packages, ski weekend getaways and more! Proceeds will benefit local early childhood development programs. What: Masquerade in May |
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| 6 | Get Personal at lifeBODY fitness Forget wearing swimsuits—we just want to feel good in our own skin. And nothing gets you in shape like personal training sessions. Or how about outdoor fitness? It starts soon at lifeBODY fitness! And here’s a special just for you: Mention Portland Picks and receive 10% off all personal training packages before the end of May! What: 10% off personal training packages at lifeBODY fitness |
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| 7 | Host a Foreign Exchange Student! Looking for a way to make a difference? Volunteer families are needed to host high-school exchange students who will arrive in August. This is a tremendous opportunity to help change someone’s life—and your own. Open your heart and your home ... share your community and country … be a host family in 2008! What: Host a foreign exchange student through CIEE |
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| 8 | Spring Cravings Oooh, girls! Put on your shopping shoes. CRAVEparty is putting together Portland's largest sample sale with a super-fab selection of designer clothing, handbags, jewelry, home décor and more. Sip, nosh and shop, then check out the hot, local trends on the runway and finish with one of several bath and body treats, like a yummy scalp massage or mani! What: CRAVEparty Spring Market |
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Have you spotted something new in your hood that absolutely must go in the Picks? Let us know! Drop us a line at picks@portlandpicks.com or just hit reply and respond to this email. Easy as pie. |
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