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October 30th, 2009
Hot potato! This is our 300th issue of Portland Picks. Three hundo. That’s practically Guinness Book-worthy, as far as “things we have done” are concerned. We’ve never held a job more than three years, never had a relationship longer than four years… heck, we’ve even had friendships end and pets “go to the farm in the sky” in under 300 days, let alone weeks! And you know what? It feels good. Heck—it feels great! Publishing Portland Picks is nothing if not rewarding, after all. Between the interactions with our BFF readers (keep sending those cards and letters!) and the amazing local business-owners we get to meet, it’s like having a key to the city. Yay. To celebrate, we’re offering up the most giveaways ever!!!! All you have to do is forward this issue to 5 or more friends and CC picks@portlandpicks.com, and you’ll be entered to win one of the fabulous prizes listed below (read carefully—there are a ton of amazing shops on this list!) And yes, this is for real! A one-night stay at the glamorous Hotel Lucia, $100 in haircare products at 77 salon, 2 free private lessons at NW Pilates, or a $25 gift certificate to one of these fabulous shops: We’ve come a long way, baby, and it’s all thanks to you! |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | More Than Skin Deep Over the years, we’ve considered many tattoos—a dolphin on our ankle, a tribal band, the good ol’ tramp stamp, some Chinese character we can’t remember—but have never taken the plunge. It’s not the needle or the commitment; really, the dingy linoleum, cold fluorescent lights, and sterile feel of most tattoo parlors just freaks us out. And if we’re going to be manhandled by some bad boy covered in ink, let’s just say we’d like it under slightly different circumstances. But now that we’ve discovered the newly reinvented Icon Tattoo, we may finally be ready. This “parlor” is more boudoir than back alley, thanks to new owner Melanie Nead’s oh-so feminine aesthetic—and the seven out of eight female tattoo artists on staff. Forget the tough-guy routine, Icon is all about delicate designs, portraits, flora, fauna, and everything nice. If you’re looking for something less permanent, Icon also sells cheeky cards and gorgeous local jewelry like feather earrings, vintage pendants, and hammered-metal rings. Stay tuned for fashion shows and holiday bazaars, and in the meantime, you may just find us there enjoying afternoon tea. Icon Tattoo |
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| 2 | Sugar and Spice Just like there are chick flicks, there are dude movies. Like “The Blues Brothers.” Much as we’ve tried, we just don’t guffaw like the fellas when it’s on. Thankfully, this gender divide is not limited to culinary destinations. At NE Portland’s new Brews Brothers, it’s a coffee joint by day, tapas bar by night, and male and female, young and old, vegan and meat-eater all happily coexist. Set in a house, the first floor is a casual grouping of tables and the second floor is a “tea-room hideaway,” offering everything from an event room to classes and tastings. We love the coffee by Mountain Village, and the desserts by Pure Bliss baking company (the chocolate mousse is to die for, and shh, it’s even vegan). And we swooned upon spotting their gluten-free brownies! There really is something for everyone at Brews Brothers, whether it’s sharing an “Oregon Board” with fruit, cheese, nuts and bread, participating in a Saturday night sing-along (we’re told they’re very popular), or just chillin’ with a Laurelwood brew. The Brews Brothers |
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| 3 | Get Bent
We’ve had one of those weeks—you know, the kind where you Jekyll-and-Hyde between road rage and uncontrollable sobbing, like when the local bakery sells the last low-fat gluten-free cranberry scone to the guy in front of you. Our BFF told us we were stressed out (hormonal) and over-reactive (bitchy), and maybe we should “get help.” We buckled and checked our manic selves into a new mind-body class. Stretch Appeal—developed by Laure Redmond, author of Feel Good Naked—is a fun and relaxing hybrid of Pilates, dance and yoga offered in the new BodyVox Dance Center. She combines dance moves with strength and toning intervals, core work, and gentle stretching. The classes are small so she can give personal attention, intuitively guiding and encouraging, while counting out the moves (thank goodness!). Laure’s positive energy (plus some sweat on our part) helped our tensions melt away, leaving us centered and fancy-free. Sure, we stepped into the studio as stiff as Frankenstein, but after a few classes we’ve loosened up our ‘tude and our grip on the steering wheel. Which is good for everyone, right? Stretch AppealBodyVox Dance Center NW 17th Ave. and Northrup 503.229.0627 www.laureredmond.com |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | So I Smell There’s nothing that makes us feel sexier than perfume. Stilettos and garters be damned…it’s the smelling nice that gets our man’s motor running. So you can only imagine our excitement over the sweet scents from Olympia’s Wiggle Perfume Oils, which range from the sugary Speakeasy Vanilla to the musky Anjali. The dozens of varieties might seem overwhelming, but you can’t go wrong. Whether it’s earthy Annabelle or the floral Valdosta, a little wiggle definitely makes our world go 'round. |
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| 2 | Blondes Don’t Have More Fun But they do have less visible facial hair. Brunettes, especially as we age, fear the “Frida Syndrome,” e.g. the presence of unwanted moustaches. Ack! So we enlist the exceptional help of esthetician Deb Beers at the Center for Aesthetic Medicine at the Oregon Clinic. She’s a doll, and painlessly (and quickly) zaps any unsightly “friends” that pop up. Ask her about specials on laser hair removal to suit your skin type and needs—then we’ll see who has more fun! Call 503.488.2650. |
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| 3 | Tiny Bubbles Portland’s no stranger to the art of the microbrew. But beer as actual wall art? Well, that’s a different story. BevShots looks at beers, wines and cocktails under a microscope, turning the up-close images into vibrantly colored modern art. Pick by beverage or color palette—whether it’s the bold balloons of an Irish pale lager or the purple swirls of a vodka tonic, the final product is sure to be an intoxicating blend of art and science. www.bevshots.com |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Snap Fitness’ Anniversary Celebration Milwaukie’s Snap Fitness invites you to celebrate their grand re-opening this weekend with refreshments, raffle drawings, and super savings! Meet their top-notch personal trainers, learn about the benefits of being a Snap Fitness member (e.g. no contracts, 24-hour access, neighborhood feel, parking and more) and help them celebrate a year in business! What: Snap Fitness grand re-opening |
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| 2 | Hot Glass Artist Invitational Have you ever seen a glory hole? Don’t be saucy—it’s a 2,200-degree oven where they fire glass. Elements Glass Gallery + Studio is bringing 12 top glass artists together for the first time in Portland at the Hot Glass Artist Invitational, Nov. 6–29. See how hot glass is made, and pick up gifts for the holidays! What: Hot Glass Artist Invitational |
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So there you have it. Three hundred labors of love, via Portland Picks. Tune in next week for #301! |
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