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February 15th, 2008
The writers’ strike is over! And thank god. In an election year that is perfect fodder for the likes of “Saturday Night Live” and “The Daily Show,” their absence was much more apparent. After all, it is only every four years that the job of writing comedy is made so easy. Hell, one could do an hour on Mike Gravel alone. (Shine on You Crazy Diamond.) We can relate. In a place like Portland, it’s easy to keep you informed about the best new indie-owned places to shop, eat, and drink. That said, here are a few more Stumptown gems to check out. |
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Portland Picks for Men: |
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| 1 | Buy with a Little Help from Your Friends Shopping for glasses can be overwhelming. There are approximately 14 billion things to think about when doing it, and that's estimating low. “Do I want plastic or metal frames? Round or square? What color looks best on me?” This could go on for weeks. By the time it's said and done, we've flip-flopped more than Mitt Romney. It would be nice if someone would just take the time to walk you through it all. Enter Hub Optix. Smack in the middle of Bridgeport Village, Hub Optix prides itself on one thing: personalized customer service. They'll take the time to fit you with the perfect pair of specs, or shades selected from their impressive designer collection, much of which is hard to find anywhere else in the area. Brands like Chrome Hearts and Paul Smith line the walls of a sleekly designed store. And the Ducati 1098 sitting in the center of the showroom doesn't hurt the eyes either. But, it's really about the service. They'lll give you the kind of star treatment you'll tell your friends about, then they'll tell their friends about, and you'll all keep coming back for more. Hub Optix |
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| 2 | Hello, Hello As it is, we have plenty of reasons to get out of our cozy (yet somewhat messy) homes and brave even the most unfriendly of winter weather. However, some nights we commit ourselves, steadfast at the homestead, like a rock of iron determined to stay put no matter what earthly force compels us outward and—crap! There's a new bar in NE? Okay, we'll stay in tomorrow. We made our way up to the new Alberta hot spot Bye and Bye to see what all the fuss was about. Bicycles, baristas, bartenders, babes and back patios are all good things—and the Bye and Bye abides. The spacious room was beautiful, as were the ladies sitting next to us. B&B boasts a full bar with friendly staffers, some delicious specialty potions, a stellar vegan menu and a rad Evil Knievel portrait to boot! As omnivorous as we happen to be, upon our next visit (probably tonight!) we'll be trying the Meatball Sub (meatless), catching an early evening buzz and mingling with others seeking shelter from the constant precipitation. Bye and Bye |
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| 3 | Abundant Riches We've gleaned a few nuggets of wisdom throughout the years—either by osmosis or experience—that's kept our humidors stocked and our coffee tables stacked with quality reading material. It's true, there was a time when we chewed on Backwoods and got our dose of social commentary through “MAD Magazine.” Fortunately, those days are but a puff of stale smoke thanks to Rich's Cigar Store. With the feel of a newsstand plucked from a gloomy London street corner, Rich's carries a massive array of magazines, newspapers and the obligatory assortment of English candies. The pungent aroma of pipe tobacco upon entry has an instant calming effect, coercing you to peruse their impressive offerings. Granted, Rich's has had a few years to get it right. They've served Portland since 1894 and tout 1,500 cigar brands and thousands of magazine titles from their flagship store on SW Alder. Simply put—it's the best place pick up a Fuente, “The Guardian” and the latest issue of “Found” magazine. And we're pretty sure you can get your fix of “MAD” should the urge strike. Rich's Cigar Store |
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Mandatory Items: |
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| 1 | Best Key-Chain Accessory Ever Let' be honest. Sometimes we would rather keep our web-surfing habits private. The StealthSurfer lets you keep Web bookmarks, Internet history, cache, and email off the computer and with you for convenience, privacy, and security. From not wanting the boss to know that you read “The Onion “on company time to not wanting your girl seeing that you were looking at, well, let's just say “jewelry for her,” it's a good bet. |
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| 2 | Storms Be Damned We firmly believe in umbrellas as just another opportunity to fashionably accessorize (Think: cufflinks, pocket squares, etc.) However, sometimes the weather (or situation) calls for something more utilitarian. Something compact, lightweight (only 8 oz.) and above all, strong. The X1 line from Knirps is the smallest one we've seen but still provides 37" coverage. And if this winter has taught us anything, it's the importance of having an umbrella tested in a 55-mph wind tunnel. |
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| 3 | Pump Up the Volume At the risk of revealing both our monumental laziness and our current obsession with “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia” reruns, we can't keep this one to ourselves. The Entertrainer is hooked up to both a heart-rate monitor and your television. After entering your age, gender, length of workout, and fitness goal, this gadget will detect if you're slacking and turn down the TV until you pick up the pace. Genius. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | "Happy Hour for the Single Professional" It's Just Lunch, Portland Picks For Men and Willamette Week present “Happy Hour for the Single Professional.” Get ready to mingle with some hot ladies (who, of course, will be very intelligent and professional, just like you.) Ten bucks gets you admission + 1 hosted drink and free appetizers. You can also register to win a 1-year membership to It's Just Lunch while you're there. You know you can't resist. See you there! What: Happy Hour for the Single Professional |
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| 2 | Make Your Basement Formidable The Wine Outfitters, Portland's only full-service wine cellar design and construction company, is opening its first public showroom. Stop in to see examples of their work and ask questions. Their knowledgeable staff can show you racking, lighting, finishes and storage and design options. From custom design to simple solutions, treat your wine well—even if you drink it next week. What: The Wine Outfitters Showroom Grand Opening |
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| 3 | Ditch the Frames Plywerk's method is our favorite way to hang photos. The extremely eye-catching placement of your chosen photo onto plywood renders frames useless. And now that they are further personalizing them with custom laser engraving (makes great gifts!) we are pleased that they are offering this service to PPFM readers at no charge. What: Plywerk discount for PPFM |
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| 4 | Valentine's Do-Over? Take her to what we feel is one of the most relaxing and romantic places in the area. The View Point Inn is hosting a Sokol Blosser Wine Dinner this Wednesday! In addition to the wine flight, you'll be treated to a five-course aria by one of the best chefs around. Seriously. What: Sokol Blosser Wine Dinner at the View Point Inn |
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