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August 31st, 2007
Did any girls in your high school fight? Big surprise—we weren’t the scrappin’ sort—but we definitely knew (or knew of) the girls who were tough and not averse to pulling another girl’s hair in a frenzied bathroom attack. They tended to travel in packs, these tough girls, and have older boyfriends who drove Mustang fast-backs and blasted Motley Crue or Rush songs and had coolers of beer in the back and were greasily ideal for sneaking off campus to smoke cigarettes before Earth Science class. We were discussing those girls with a pal the other day, and wondering what happened to them. Did they marry their greasy boyfriends, move to trailer parks and have 15 kids? Did they get MBAs and think back on their hair-pulling days with a mist in their eyes as they check their makeup in Chanel compacts between courses at power lunches? Our pal claimed not to know a single tough girl in high school. She was adamant that in her small town, the girls were pretty amiable. There were occasional yelling matches over boyfriends, of course, but she never saw anyone get physical … other than the slapping that ensued when someone tried to steal your Caboodle. |
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Portland Picks: |
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| 1 | Happiness Is… You know that feeling when you get really excited about something, then you try and share it with a friend and your mind starts racing and you feel as though you can’t quite get the words out fast enough? We’re totally having that feeling right now … Idom has made us giddy from the get-go. Idom (pronounced like "item" but with a "d") is one of NE Alberta’s newest, hippest boutiques, and owner Modi Soondarotok is behind it. She opened her doors less than a month ago, and from the moment we laid eyes on her sweetly designed dresses we knew that Portland fashion had ramped up another notch. Modi (yes, Idom is her name spelled backwards) brings us a world of professional experience (she’s a grad of Parsons and has worked for Donna Karen and Armani). The fabrics, colors, shapes and functionality of her house-label dresses are superb, original and fun with hints of sophistication. Just in case you were wondering (we always are), yep, she does layaway. Holiday parties, here we come! Idom |
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| 2 | You Are Not Alone Have you ever had the dream where you show up in public—naked? Without fail, we always have it when we’re going through a major life change, whether it’s college graduation, our first real job, breaking up with someone or buying our first home. We’re definitely vulnerable more often than we’d like to admit. Thankfully, we’re on the same page as sameunderneath—a clothing company for men and women with a “bigger” message—that we’re all alike, and we’re all in this together. And sameunderneath recently opened its second Portland location on NW 23rd with their signature tees, hoodies, dresses and jackets made from eco-friendly bamboo fiber, which gives the clothing a comfortable, luxurious feel. The pieces are timeless, and we can’t help but want the Jersey Cowl Dress in every color, not to mention the Hooded Jersey Dress and Aviator Jacket! We’re pretty sure we’ll never get over our fear of being naked in public, but it sure feels good to know that someone else besides us totally gets that we’re all the same underneath. sameunderneath |
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| 3 | The Pearl is a Girl’s Best Friend Forget the diamond—a girl’s best friend is a pearl. It’s no secret that we’re proponents of the Pearl District. We love to take friends and family from out of town to the Pearl—what a fabulous way to spend a day. From shopping and eating to drinking and people-watching (yeah, we do it!), it’s just fun. Plus, there’s Powell's. Sigh. So we definitely won’t miss the fabulous Pearl District Labor Day Sidewalk Sale. From Sept. 1-3, you can enjoy a long weekend hanging out and having fun—and—bonus—more than 45 merchants will be participating that weekend with incredible sales! Save anywhere from 10-80% off items for the home, shoes, jewelry, French dresses, menswear, artwork from Asia, Persian rugs, sportswear … did we say shoes? The list goes on! And while you’re there, be sure to enjoy Art in the Pearl, a Labor Day weekend art festival in the North Park Blocks. For more info about all the fun, click here! Pearl District Sidewalk Sale |
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| 4 | Miss Thang Recently, we came across alligator sausages. We don’t know one end of an alligator from another unless it comes with a zipper and a handle on top, but we do know that we don’t want to eat it—in any form. Also, our friend just had a dream about eating alligator meat ...weird, right? And strangely, these occurrences made us crave Cajun food somethin’ fierce! So weren’t we thrilled when the just-opened Miss Delta enabled us to get our fill of delish Southern fixins. One of Miss Delta’s owners was the proprietress of the Delta Café, and she’s brought her cookery to Mississippi Avenue, offering up some favorites (hush puppies, blackened catfish, fried chicken, ribs, jambalaya, collard greens, mac & cheese), plus specialty cocktails like the “Farmer’s Daughter” (muddled cucumber, vodka, lime, and a splash of cranberry). Miss Delta’s décor mixes exposed brick with lush chandeliers and a soupcon of religious iconography, and it all vibes like a confident, citified Southern Belle. Bonus: They’re often open til midnight, providing a much-needed late-night dining scene on Mississippi. Laissez les bon temps roulez! Miss Delta |
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| 5 | Going to Extremes We’re on a new kick. Because we can’t kick. All the exercise we have done in the past has turned on us. Thanks to our grit, steely determination, and astronomical pain tolerance, we now have a stress fracture. What’s that mean? Well, it means we’re so strong that we broke our own tibia. Creepshow! We’re Type A enough to know that we’ll need to kick-start our body not into submission, but domination. So, the new kick? It starts with protein. We want to consume as much of it as a bodybuilder. And where do we go? The new Extreme Training facility in the Pearl. Extreme Training is a women-focused training facility, featuring trainers who know what they’re doing, state of the art equipment, and an awesome smoothie bar. Even if you don’t work out, you can walk in and enjoy tasty, high-protein, low-calorie (about 200-300 of them) shakes in delish flavors. The road to recovery (and a better butt) begins at Extreme Training. Just don’t kick us while we’re down, folks. Extreme Training |
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| 6 | Rock On Every once in a while, we reminisce about Portland restaurants that have come and gone—the Metro on Broadway, La Patisserie, and Café Lena, to name but a few. These are the places of our youth, where we hung out with friends and checked out cute boys, so we totally understand the nostalgia that those a decade or two older have for the 50’s burger joint Yaw’s. As of this week, the spirit of Yaw’s is back in full force, with a new eatery sporting the lengthy moniker of Mark Lindsay’s Rock & Roll Café. Lindsay, if you don’t recall, was the lead singer for Paul Revere and the Raiders, and the space is peppered with fascinating memorabilia from his band and many others. From the famous Yaw’s burger and shakes (delish!) to broadcasts from K-HITS radio (right on-site!), there’s lots to love. Be prepared, however—this isn’t a mid-century time warp—it’s more like Portland’s own Hard Rock, with a really local twist. Mark Lindsay’s Rock & Roll Café |
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| 7 | When Your Closet is Your Frenemy Lately we’ve been having those stressy mornings that turn outfit-making into a chore. No matter how many combinations we put together, everything has been done. And frankly, we’re too busy to be original. We used to love style-setting, but right now we just don’t have the time. When we spotted the Sellwood boutique Coco Gets Dressed, we knew we’d found our break—because the only Coco we’ve ever heard of was the one who said, "Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance." (We could not agree more. Plus, we’re fairly certain that Coco Chanel never had a problem with fashion.) The racks at Coco Gets Dressed are lined with lots of linen and Lilly Pulitzer, and pieces that are timeless yet original, like those by Cynthia Ashby and XCVI. For our layering habits, there are neutral shades and contemporary colors, luxurious fabrics and chic cottons, plus stunning jewelry by Chan Luu and Susan Goodwin. And for this we are grateful, because while Chanel’s penchant for fake pearls was endearing, we still think freshwater pearls make the outfit. Coco Gets Dressed |
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| Event of the Week: | |||
Glamour girls, start your engines! It's never too late for fabulous beach togs at Poppi Swim, no matter what time of year, and now youʼll save 45-75% off all Poppi Swim prints and selected solids. Stock up on swimwear from Sunsets, Hydra, Speedo, and Aerin Rose at 15-50% off, plus all accessories are 15% off! (Cover-ups, chemical-free tanning lotions, flip flops, hats and Angel Sunglasses.) To sweeten the deal even more, with a purchase of $150 you'll receive a free pair of Havaianas. We love you, Poppi Swim! Next year, look for an expanded store with even more swimwear brands, including Letarte, Tommy Bahama, L Space, Miracle Suit and more.... Poppi Swim |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Molten Hot Like most Oregonians, we’ve visited Mount St. Helens, learning about ash falls and lava caves. So Blake Von Roekel’s Magma jewelry, which reflects the flow of glass, seems perfectly named. But what really blew us away is how exquisite it is. Candy colored glass beads are fastened to sterling silver with loops and swirls, creating necklaces, bracelets—even hairpins—as memorable as Harry Truman himself. |
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| 2 | Bag Ladies We are slowly getting greener, especially at the grocery store. Sure, we shop local and sustainable, but then we haul our bounty home in paper or plastic. There has to be a better way! Enter Baggu Bags—reusable bags that A) fit over the shoulder, B) come in a bunch of adorable colors, and C) if used regularly, can replace up 700 disposable bags per year. You’ll be the hippest chick at checkout, and at $22 for three, you can afford to share! |
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| 3 | Totally Tubular Back in high school, we totally used the word “hella.” Everything was “hella cool” or “hella sucked” and, looking back, we think our overuse of the word made us “hella lame.” In limited doses, however, we’re okay with it. Which is why we rather like the site Hella Good, which promises incredible goodies and irresistible surprises. Fortunately, it delivers, with handcrafted jewelry, screen-printed tops, whimsical accessories and more. Our favorite? An art print set from The Royal Tenenbaums—odd, but hella awesome. |
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| 4 | Name that Bag Soft, slouchy leather tops fresh and hip fabric choices. Like all of local designer Jamie Irene’s handbags, the Evette is current without being trendy. We like that in a bag. |
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| 5 | We Heart NY As much as we love to travel, we’ll admit that we haven’t visited NYC lately. We’re looking forward to returning—mainly to check out Rice to Riches—but in the interim, our travel cravings can be satiated with a visit to Carolyn New York. The site offers a “story in a bottle” for a full spectrum of nail polish shades—navy blue for Fleet Week, hot pink for Staten Island, brown for the city’s brownstones. Native or never been there, each bottle definitely contains the city’s charm. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Shopping for a Cause Head out to Bridgeport Village where the best of Beauty and Fashion unite to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Pick up your event guide and pass loaded with exclusive fall fashion discounts, and upon purchase get the deluxe Portland Picks Swag Bag! Donation is $20; all proceeds benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. What: Fashion for the Cure |
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| 2 | Three Rivers Wine & Land Benefit The Three Rivers Land Conservancy nonprofit raises money to conserve private natural land in local watersheds, creating harmony with nature and ensuring its preservation for future generations. The Wine & Land Benefit brings together fine local wines, eclectic Northwest cuisine, and a silent auction and raffle to benefit the Conservancy. What a wonderful way to spend a day! What: Three Rivers Wine & Land Benefit |
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| 3 | Get Sustainable in Style! City Girl just received a shipment of Carilyn Vaile's new gren line BambooTee. Made of antibacterial bamboo thread, BambooTee feels fabulous on the skin and is super flattering to the figure. Shop early for the best selection of Fall 2007 dresses, tops and bottoms. What: Carilyn Vaile's Bambootee Line |
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| 5 | Wrapping up the Summer! A Back to School Special you don’t want to miss: buy two Infrared Bodywraps for $70! Buy the two for yourself, or bring a friend! This is a great way to try infrared body wraps, where you can burn up to 1,200 calories in a single 50-minute session. Packages are also available. Ask about their “refer a friend” program! What: Buy 2 Infrared Bodywraps for $70 at Exhilarate Bodyworks |
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| 6 | Adorable New Art at cheeky b! Matte Stephens, a professional artist of 13 years, draws inspiration from 1940s and 1950s jazz, modern design, and old movies to create some of the most adorable art we’ve seen in ages. And it’s at cheeky b—available as originals, or well-priced prints ($20-$1000). Our walls are practically begging for his preciously punk interpretations of birds and owls. |
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| 7 | The Art of Football Package at the Alexis Hotel |
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| 8 | Fall Sale at Josephine’s Dry Goods It’s time for Josephine’s Dry Goods’ annual fall sale. Enjoy seven days of storewide savings on an exceptional selection of new Italian wool suitings and novelties, fine cotton shirtings, Amy Butler prints, silks, jerseys, knits and more. Need to brush up on your sewing technique? Sign up for classes! What: Annual fall sale at Josephine’s Dry Goods |
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| 10 | Cruise with the Blues! Cruise with Delta Music Experience on the Portland Spirit for the New Orleans Blues, Jazz & Zydeco Mardi Gras Dinner & Dance Cruise. Join Charmaine Neville with Reggie Houston's Crescent City Connection, Too Loose Cajun Band and Michael "Hawkeye" Herman. Book your tickets today at AGDME.com then call 504.524.2583 to secure your free guest pass(es). Tickets are limited, book now before they sell out! Mention Portland Picks for a 2-for-1 ticket special tonight only! (8/31) What: Delta Music Experience on the Portland Spirit |
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| 11 | September Mississippi Social & Fashion Show Don’t miss the September Mississippi Social—plus a silent auction and raffle, and a fab fashion show featuring Flourish, a collaborative fashion show with hot new looks from Phlox, Gypsy Chic, Sameunderneath, Pin Me Apparel, Blue, Amalee and Black Wagon. A $2 donation will benefit the Historic Mississippi Business Association and Albina Youth Opportunity School. What: September Mississippi Social & Fashion Show |
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| 12 | Twisted Labor Day Sale Attention all knitters! Get yourselves down to Twisted for 10%-20% off summer yarns...cotton, linen, soy, bamboo, corn, and more! Save on fabulous yarns from Debbie Bliss, Southwest Trading Company, Aracaunia, Louet, Sirdar, Skacel and Cherry Tree Hill. Come on in and help them make room for their new winter yarns! What: Twisted Labor Day Sale |
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