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July 18th, 2008
Our friend is turning 30 in August and decided she’d do one cool thing every day until The Big Three-O. So over the last week we’ve participated in some very interesting feats. Yesterday, for example, she got a membership to Costco. And we documented the whole, largely uneventful fiasco, as well as our bike ride to Hawthorne, and every Mojito til the sun went down. But the best-slash-worst event was Sunday brunch. Chocolate fountain, Dungeness and King Crab, peel-n-eats, crepe station and—wait for it—All You Can Drink Mimosas. We were smitten. So while our friend was busy slurping oyster sliders, we were waving down the waiter for a fourth, fifth, sixth champagne topper. Two hours later, we were still eating, still drinking, and sweating profusely. To top it all off, we called New Boy and left the longest, most horrific, high-pitched voicemail stating we were wolfing food like it was our job, and smashed. Nothing says romance like a drunk dial at two in the afternoon! We think we’ll swap these events for something calmer, like the rooftop film screenings held at Hotel deLuxe. Sounds sweet, right? Email five of your friends and CC picks@portlandpicks.com, and you could win four tickets to the NW Film Center’s Top Down summer film series (see below for more info)! |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Throw Us a Bone Here We love animals, we really do. And we love giving gifts that stand out. Recently, though, we were stumped when we received an Evite for a doggie birthday party. Was there something beyond biscuits and bite-toys? We’d hate to lose status as star gift-givers. Enter: Tré Bone in downtown St. Johns. With an extensive selection of top quality—many local!—goodies for dogs and cats, they house everything Fido could ever need, want, or dream of. Pet owners—and friends of pet owners—are sure to find something to please the furry companions in their lives, from all the staples to unique finds such as pet tents for hot days and super-cute pet clothing. Plus, owners Carol Ellis and Serge Ouattara pride themselves on carrying pet foods devoid of by-products and fillers like corn or wheat. With so many choices (do we go whimsical and outlandish or simple and sweet?), picking the perfect gift was a challenge. And that challenge was conquered, thanks to Tré Bone. Heck, maybe we’ll even throw the party next time. Tré Bone |
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| 2 | Happy Feet Something we’ve never gotten: Why are toes referred to as “dogs?” See: “My dogs are barking.” Is it some sort of sled-dog reference? Shouldn’t this be applied to your canine teeth instead? Doesn’t matter; looking at our feet makes us want to go all Old Yeller anyway. Chinoise is here to help. The year-old boutique recently converted its back area into a serene foot spa, a retreat from all the NW 23rd madness. We were already captivated by the fabulous jewelry and furnishings on offer; now we’re taken by the plush spa environs that soothe your eyes as well as your feet. Sipping on jasmine tea, we opted for the Chinoise Signature, a 90-minute exquisite treatment involving a foot soak, a 50-minute foot massage with lavender cream, and hot stone treatment that loosened us everywhere we needed. No time? Try the half-hour “On the Go” treatment for a mere $20—its effects will last far longer than the treatment time, trust us. Either way, Chinoise’s flawless pampering and sweetheart staff make it the most successful conversion since Sammy Davis Jr. Chinoise |
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| 3 | The Good, the Bad and the Velvet Here's who we've had in town this summer: everyone. With all the Rose City press we’ve been getting for being a fabulous travel destination, it seems that everybody has found an excuse to visit. We love visitors; we just can't bear to go to the Oregon Zoo 500 times in one summer. Thank goodness for all the offbeat places that keep Portland weird—like Velveteria, the only museum where you can see Clint Eastwood, Jesus, and the Mona Lisa in velvet. Considered a kitschy art form, velvet paintings range from garish to stunningly beautiful. And owners Carl Baldwin and Caren Anderson have collected more than 2,000 of them, 350 of which are currently on display. The place is so “in” that the Shins just did a photo shoot there for Rolling Stone magazine, and it was featured on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. Plus, they just released a new book titled Black Velvet Masterpieces. Only open Thursday through Sunday from noon to five, Velveteria is the perfect outatowner destination—and only costs five bucks (cash only), so you and your home slices can do Powell’s and HH at P-City without exhausting the vacay funds in one day! Velveteria |
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| 4 | Wishy-Washy No More You know how you sit around the house for an hour trying to figure out where to eat? We waste so much time mulling over our choices that we’re not even hungry once we decide on a destination. We just want to take a nap. But the hours of indecision end today! Chic-but-not-pretentious Lincoln is a perfect addition to the hothot Williams ’hood. Ingredients are locally sourced, there are gourmet veggie options (like braised Corona beans with rosemary and polenta) and so much care goes into the dishes that you’d swear the chef was cooking yours with you in mind! Don’t miss the Crispy Potato and Sage Fritters, and the Arugula salad with celery, pecorino, almonds and lemon-anchovy vinaigrette. Also on the menu (at least when we visited) were Ricotta Cavatelli, Hanger steak, and a roasted half-chicken whose aroma brought the house down. Now we have so much time that we can take a nap and dine out! So head to Lincoln yourself. Order an Elderflower Gimlet. Relax. And tell them Portland Picks sent you! Lincoln |
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| 5 | Look Sharp We remember the school year we spent squinting at the chalkboard, complaining of headaches. Our whining prompted a trip to the eye doctor, only to discover we needed glasses. We remember thinking: Goodbye social life. Hello geekdom. We hoped and prayed that by ninth grade, our folks would spring for contact lenses—because our very lives depended on it! Well, we survived high school (apparently!) and learned to embrace our myopia. Cute glasses are now functional fashion accessories. And if there’s one place to get one-of-a-kind frames, it’s Blink. They carry a hand-picked selection of unique eyewear, including eco-fashionable bamboo frames from local maven Amy Sacks and stylish collections from around the world (France, Spain, Switzerland). We tried on avant garde stainless steel designs by Parasite and colorful frames with decorative temple motifs by Etnia. The super-friendly staff helped us with pair after pair, until we finally set our sights on a modern, hot-pink number from hip Japanese line, Modo. Blink |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Good to Grow We might not have kids ourselves, but we love that we could outfit them in a thoroughly modern style. It didn’t used to be like this—kid stuff was all about “practical” rockers and precious furniture—so we’re happy to see retailers like Grow Modern add options for today’s families. Look for cribs that convert, changing tables that fit Danish décor, and rockers that look both chic and comfy. Good style doesn’t come cheap, but does anything, nowadays? |
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| 2 | Style Coaching to Feed Your Soul We hear about a lot of interesting things at Portland Picks, but a style coach who combines fashion with inspiration has to be the utmost in personal pampering! You have to call Colleen at embodypeace—the focus of her Soul Coaching and Fashion Styling is simple—be happy now. She’ll help you create a new relationship with food, body, life and style… and find joy in all of it! Meet her for breakfast, and begin discovering your authentic style. |
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| 3 | Entertaining Linens We daydream about registering for traditional, classy, silver flatware and crystal goblets at Tiffany someday, but we also have a slightly subversive side that delights in the silly and creative parts of life. We may set the table with grown-up china, but we will also have these fabulously fun, handmade wine-ring cocktail napkins from Avril Loreti. Each napkin has a different print of a wine-ring stain—we think it brings the perfect amount of fun to the table! |
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| 4 | Drink Your Drink The other day we had a serious craving for something good to drink—something tasty. So we headed to the market and found ourselves awash in a sea of phenylketonurics and aspartame—ick! Then we found Emerge™ Nutrient Infused Water. Hmmm… the flavors looked good. We tried it. And we liked it. It’s formulated with essential ingredients like B-vitamins, Guarana, Essentra®, Magnesium and Zinc, and only 50 calories. And with flavors like “Alert” (passionfruit) and “Protect” (pomegranate, acai and blueberry), it’s yum, baby, yum! |
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| 5 | They’re in Good Hands With the traveling season upon us, thoughts turn to how to take care of the little ones when we’re out of town. No, not those little ones. Our cats and dogs, of course! Instead of making Fifi and Fido stick it out in a kennel, we’re calling on the Accredited Pet Sitters at Reigning Pets Northwest. They come to yourhome and even put a Net-cam in place so you can rest assured that your pawed pals are in good hands! |
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| Item of the Week: | |||
Oregon HotSpring Spas We always wish that we had a hot tub to soak in at the end of a long workday, but did you know they're truly good for you? July is Health & Wellness Month at Oregon HotSpring Spas, and with a special of only $99 down, $99 minimum monthly payments, 12 months same as cash, you could bring home the new Limelight Spas with lots of fun extra features. And if you want to steam away your troubles in a Sauna, their fabulous Helo Saunas are 10% off this month only. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Shop Indie This Saturday! The group formerly known as PDX ETSY is having a sale tomorrow, so don’t miss it! Pick up handmade items from your favorite Etsy artisans—from soaps to jewelry. Visit some of these fab shops for a preview: Urbana, Phoebe1, Salmon Street Studios, Ruby Girl, Scrumptious Suds, Mini Muse Designs, Little Daisy Chains, PDX Beanies, RubiBlue and LeaK Arts. What: Handmade Sale |
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| 2 | We Love a Cupcake Anniversary Cupcake Jones is celebrating one year of feeding Portland’s cupcake addiction with fun, food and festivities! Stop in on Thursday evening to dine on hors d’oeuvres… and cupcakes, of course… plus yummy VISO sodas. There will be a giveaway for a chance to win cool prizes, and swag bags for the first 50 guests. |
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| 3 | Vintage Theater Reopening Today! |
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| 4 | Two “Posh” Sales You Don’t Want to Miss Posh Boutique, Posh Baby and Harlo Kids bring you two awesome sales! First, the Posh Boutique summer sale—save 40% off all women’s clothing and 30% off all kids’ clothing and shoes. And today only, shop the final warehouse sale of Posh Baby + Harlo Kids. Everything must go! Clothing, bags, bedding, summer and winter styles on sale! What: Posh Boutique Summer Sale/Posh Baby + Harlo Kids Final Warehouse Sale |
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| 5 | Join the Shoe Club Party! What: Shoe Club Pampered Shopping Party |
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| 6 | Film by Roof Summer is here and we hate going indoors for anything. But NW Film keeps movie nights a priority with outdoor screenings of Flight of the Navigator and other kitschy classics held on the scenic rooftop of downtown’s Hotel deLuxe. Mixed with pre-movie entertainment, plus snacks and cocktails by Gracie’s Restaurant, TAZO and Sierra Nevada, movie night never looked better! What: NW Film Top Down Series |
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| 7 | Do Your Part—and Have Fun! Run for a cause when you participate in the 4th Annual Sherie Hildreth Ovarian Cancer Empowerment 10K/5K and 1-mile family fun walk. Proceeds go to the OHSU Cancer Institute for Gynecologic cancers, making it a great opportunity to encourage, inspire, and celebrate with lots of fun entertainment, plus free buffet breakfast following the event. What: 4th Annual SHOC 10K/5K run/walk |
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| 8 | Palomino Grand Opening We heart good ambiance, which is why we’re excited for Palomino to open, with their high style and European-inspired American Cuisine. Palomino will be choice stomping grounds for post-work socializing or Friday-night dates, with affordable yet delicious menu items like Lobster Ravioli, Cedar-Wrapped Salmon and a Strawberry and Toasted Hazelnut Salad. Scrumptious! What: Palomino grand opening |
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If you’re like us, your guy friends are always asking for fashion advice. Know the type? Turn them on to portlandpicksformen.com. Voila! Problem solved. Because as much as we love to dress our Ken dolls, we just don’t have the time to consult our wardrobe and theirs. |
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