Make This an Epic Winter
 
Our whole lives we've suffered Oregon winters indoors. We’ve always felt like the cold, rain, and lack of sunlight were our penance for the beautiful scenery and amazing summers. We've even contemplated moving to Florida or SoCal to avoid the winters. This year, however, we've decided to embrace the weather and head to the mountains.
 
Before we can do this, we need to gear up, and the place to do so is Epic Snow. We love this spot because unlike many board shops whose employees are too "extreme" to get off their ass and show a beginner what they need, Epic Snow loves to start newbies, and even has a large assortment of kid's gear. Also, they have a great selection of gear, including apparel by local company Grenade, boards by Rome, bindings by K-2, Smith helmets, Oakley goggles and wax by Seattle's OneBallJay.
 
If you're like us and you’re looking to beat the winter blues, get out and hit the slopes; and if you're in need of gear, pop by Epic Snow to receive 5% off your first item.
 
Epic Snow
2318 NW Vaughn St.
Portland, OR 97210
503.922.2666
www.epicsnowboards.net

Breakfast of Champions
 
If breakfast is the day's most important meal, why doesn't anyone take it seriously? Stop settling for a cup of coffee and a Pop Tart or your local café's slapdash plate of eggs!
 
Instead, check out Cricket Café. Open every day until 3:30 pm, the Cricket offers the best quality food and the most generous variety of choices. You can expect cage-free eggs, house-roasted coffee and espresso, and meats and veggies procured from local farmers and growers, as well as the ability to build your own omelet exactly to your liking. To get all the best food in a single order, consider the massive Big Farm Breakfast, which includes a pancake (either buttermilk or oatmeal cinnamon), two eggs any style, potatoes (either hash browns or home fries), juicy pepper bacon, and a choice of toast, which includes their incredible homemade biscuit, for under $10.
 
Accompany the meal with one of their ingenious "liquid breakfast" cocktails like the Chai Rhum Toddy, a mix of rum, vanilla syrup, and Chai tea with whipped cream, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Now that'll get the day started right!
 
Cricket Café
3159 SE Belmont St.
Portland, OR 97214
503.235.9348

Fifty Sense
 
The typical hotel bar exists solely for those guests too lazy to walk across the street to get drunk. More an amenity to the overnighters than any significant addition to the local community, such a space usually offers unimaginative design, standard cocktails, and pretentious service.
 
But just as the luxury hotel has reinvented itself in downtown Portland with the Hotel Fifty, so has the traditional hotel bar received a much-needed facelift with the Fifty's H50 Bistro and Bar. With a slightly retro-futuristic design vibe that evokes the Jetsons, the H50 cracks the traditional mold with its exposed fireplace and space-age lounge seating. At the bar, the drinks are plenty strange, too, with mixes of sake, lychee, flavored gins, and fresh citrus fruits accompanying more traditional liquors.
 
For a bite to eat, arrive before 6 pm and get $3 off dishes like their amazing cheese plate with its three different artisan cheeses with artistically arranged nuts, honey, bread, and fresh fruits. Or try one of their fancy burgers—venison or beef—with toppings like mushroom ragout, endive/apple slaw and Nueskes bacon. Good stuff.
 
H50 Bistro and Bar
50 SW Morrison St.
Portland, OR 97204
503.221.0711
www.h50bistro.com

A New Winter Must

One thing we've always loved about ski season is taking off those ski pants upon our return home, leaving us in only our long johns. Our bottom half appreciates the added warmth that our everyday boxers or briefs don't provide.

In a "why didn't we think of that?" moment, we discovered
Toasty Boys. Made from organic cotton, this is the thermal underwear material we love, but cut in a boxer brief version
for everyday use.

www.christopheranthony.net

A Sweet Deal

Let's face it—giving ourselves license to eat horribly around the holidays is as American as, well, early onset diabetes. But since it is the holidays, we figure we should stuff our privileged faces responsibly.

Check out the chocolate from Northwest outfit Theo. Not only is it the only organic, fair-trade bean-to-bar factory in the U.S., but it tastes great and they give away a portion of the proceeds to some pretty fantastic causes.

www.theochocolate.com

Attention Dads and Uncles
 
We remember our childhood imaginations being limited to Legos and crayons. We never had the opportunity to work the family video camera because, as our father said about many things, we'd only break it. Plus, what child could even lift the anvil-like cameras of yore?

So we'll feel particularly cool this year when we give our nieces and nephews the Crayola Digital Video camera. Plus, the more cameras around at Christmas means more nog-fueled memories for later.
 

NIKETOWN Portland Run Club

Don't miss NIKETOWN Portland Run Club this Monday night. It features special guest speaker, Alberto Salazar, three-time New York Marathon winner and coach of the Nike Oregon Project. Participate in a 3, 5, or 7-mile run, then enjoy free food, beverages, and a DJ. (21 and over? Free Widmer beer!) Plus you can win tons of great prizes. Don't forget: Run Club is every Monday and Wednesday at 5:30 pm all year, rain or shine!

What: NIKETOWN Portland Run Club
When: Monday, Dec. 1, 5:30–8 pm
Where: NIKETOWN Portland, 930 SW 6th Ave.
Cost: Free!
Visit: www.nikestore.com

Holiday Ale Festival

Love the big beers of winter? The Holiday Ale Festival has more than three dozen on tap, many created specifically for the event.  It's one of the best venues in town to mingle with good friends, and meet lots of new ones. Clear, heated tents create a warm and cozy ambience.
 
What: Holiday Ale Festival
When: Dec. 3–7, check website for times
Where: Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW Sixth Ave.
Call: 503.252.9899
Visit: www.holidayale.com

Perfect for Dad
 
Take a few names off your list with one stop to HairM. Any guy will appreciate a HairM experience, complete with smiling faces and complimentary beer. For a limited time, pick up Gift Cards over $100 and receive a free $15 Gift Card for yourself.
 
What: Holiday Deals at HairM
Where: 818 SW 1st Ave., Portland; 3300 SW Hocken Ave., Beaverton
Call: 503.517.0570 (P) or 503.352.0882 (B)
Visit: www.hairMgrooming.com