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February 26th, 2010
Mother Nature just ripped us off! After almost a week of glorious weather (where we busted out the sandals—with jeans) we had to suffer through more rain. To add to our angst, our local boutiques are teasing us with silky tops and dresses, and our closet is practically begging for new shoes. We are tired of black and gray—we need coral, Robin’s egg blue, crisp yellow, and maybe some of that sheer pink to lighten our days. Oh heck, we aren’t going to let a few dark clouds stop us from shopping. And we suggest you do the same! And as an added bonus this week, we’re offering up a $25 Gift Certificate to Fez Studio. Just forward this issue of Portland Picks to 5 or more friends and CC picks@portlandpicks.com for your chance to win! (Fez Studio is a beauty mecca—from gorgeous makeup to perfume, hair products, professional tools and more!) |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Say Hello! There's just something about the 1930s and 40s that makes us swoon. The way everyone walked around with an air of sophistication and style, every day of the year (not just on holidays). The women were always classy, and the men—well, they were debonair heart-throbs in those suits and hats (Cary Grant, anyone?). It was such a seemingly simple, yet secretly seductive time. When we need a little dose of sophisticated styling that's sassy and alluring, we head to a seasoned fave, Say Say Boutique. Everything we need is in one amazing store: jeans, tees, skirts, tops, dresses, hats, jewelry, handbags. Many local designers line the shelves (shirts from Sue Bradbury, silver cuff jewelry by Skyler, n' joy purses, and tinymeat wallets) alongside bigger names like Skunkfunk, kersh, LTB Denim, and Nuvula. Chic, elegant, playful, and unique—that certainly describes us and the goodies at Say Say Boutique. Thank you, Say Say Boutique, for helping us look the part—no matter what role we’re playing for the day. Say Say Boutique |
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| 2 | Meatpacking District When our BFFs called up to invite us to drinks at the new “it” spot, and started flinging about phrases like “European style,” “locally sourced” and “casually chic,” we buckled up our stilettos and set the GPS for The Pearl. Imagine our surprise when we were re-directed to the Central Eastside Industrial District. Wasn’t this one gigantic sprawl of empty warehouses the last time we got lost on the way home from OMSI? We pulled up to Olympic Provisions, a new restaurant and honest-to-goodness charcuterie on the first floor of the repurposed Olympic Mills Commerce Center. It was love at first sight. Olympic Provisions was lit by two things: candles on the tables, and a truly mammoth neon sign on the wall which simply reads “MEAT.” We have to appreciate anyplace that celebrates meat in Las Vegan proportions. And celebrate they do, with lunch, dinner and wine menus full of cured meats and accoutrements. After sampling our plate, our neighbor’s plate, and a stranger’s plate while they were in the restroom, we were hooked. We love it when Portland throws a curveball—as long as it’s made of salami. Olympic Provisions |
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| 3 | Ab Fab We just spent the last 24 hours holed up at home with a distasteful case of the nasties. Ack. It was not fun. Our back hurt, our stomach was upset, we couldn’t sleep well and a low-grade fever made our cheeks flushed and our hands all clammy. We were gross enough to gross even ourselves out. Thankfully, for the sanctity of our marriage, we had a much-needed hair appointment at the lovely and intimate Ginger Salon in the Pearl. The ladies of Ginger pride themselves on “specializing in everything fabulous”: fabulous location, fabulous ambience (good music!), fabulous list of services and products, and fabulous (and super convenient) online booking. With that list of attributes, we think it’s fair to say that the ladies of Ginger truly are everything fabulous, And with an eastside location too, Portlanders on both sides of the river can check out Ginger for themselves. We must admit that while we were, indeed, nursing ourselves out of something quite unglamorous when we walked in the door, we walked out feeling quite amazing. Thanks to Ginger, our grossness was totally forgotten by us and Hubby! |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | ’Tis the Season We received two baby shower invites, a birthday party invite, and a birth announcement in one week. So we can say with authority that the cutest card was a real standout. Printed right here in Portland by poppin prints, it was a gorgeous tri-fold card with a metallic sheen, and inside, the most wonderful photograph of baby. You can have photographer/founder Laura McGraw take the photo, or upload your own. No babies for you? Create your own custom stationery! |
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| 2 | Flock Together Thanks to a combination of misplaced paranoia and bird-flu pandemic predictions, we’ve developed an irrational fear of our fine feathered friends. But through it all, our love of bird- and feather-themed goods has remained a constant. That’s why we’re completely smitten with the feather-emblazoned reusable totes we spied at Bag the Habit. Available in punchy colors with handy carrying pouches, these stylish carryalls are easy on the eyes, perfect for shopping, and light as … a feather. |
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| 3 | Love It? Leave It? The romper is back, and though it may be an acquired taste, we can definitely feel ourselves leaning toward loving it! Just think—a grab-and-go built-in outfit that’s cute, comfy and trendy. And this Vena Cava version (available locally at Frances May) is all heart. With a cotton top and silk shorts, it can hide a multitude of sins and show off your assets all at once. What’s not to love? |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | See You at the Oscars®! For the fifth straight year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has chosen the nonprofit Film Action Oregon to host the only officially sanctioned Oscar Night® America party in Oregon. Hollywood Theatre will sparkle with a red carpet, paparazzi, photo ops with an authentic Oscar statuette, food from Portland’s finest restaurants, fun contests, and viewing the Oscars! What: Oscar Night® party at Hollywood Theatre |
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| 2 | Exciting and New Red Star Tavern’s new menu is tops! It has a touch of New Orleans and a whole lot of flavor and value. We loved the Organic Beet Carpaccio, Sauvie Island Organic Greens, and the Oyster BLT, and their new rotisserie offers up Natural Chicken and Willamette Valley Lamb. Oh—and the Red Velvet Donuts? Positively T.D.F. What: New Menu at Red Star Tavern |
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| 3 | Can You Feel It? If you don’t know about the Bar Method, this famous workout has come to Portland and it’s fantastic. Our legs were shaking, we dripped in sweat, and thinking back on it, we barely moved! It’s a targeted, body-lengthening balancing act (based on isometrics) that will have you swimsuit-ready in no time. Tell them Portland Picks sent you! What: Portland Bar Method, now open! |
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