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January 16th, 2008
Politics. On the local front, we have the newly implemented ban on smoking. It reminded us of a great quote by Fran Lebowitz: Smoking is, as far as I am concerned, the entire point of being an adult. Many people find smoking objectionable. I myself find many--even more--things objectionable. I do not like aftershave lotion, adults who roller-skate, children who speak French, or anyone who is unduly tan. I do not, however, go around enacting legislation and putting up signs. On the national front, we are on the cusp of a new Presidency, which reminded us of more great words. These of David Lloyd George: A politician is a person with whose politics you don't agree; if you agree with him he is a statesman. You'll forgive us the abundance of quotes and lack of original commentary this week. After all, we've just quit smoking. |
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Portland Picks for Men: |
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| 1 | More Kettlebell! Russian culture has given us some great stuff: vodka, constructivist art, and Olga Korbut. Mother Russia is also the birthplace of kettlebells. This old-school type of fitness training (think: 17th Century) revolves around a cannonball-shaped, cast-iron weight that was the secret weapon of the Soviet Olympic athletic program and its military police. Today it has become a favorite of local gyms and mixed martial arts centers. Locally there is now an entire facility devoted to this ancient workout regime. Elite KettleBell Gym, located in the southwest suburb of Tigard, is for tough guys and gals who desire great core-strength and tough “Rocky IV”-esque workouts. Similar to Cross-Fit training, EKG is the only gym of its kind in Oregon and includes Swedish sports massage and mixed martial arts alongside its kettlebell programs (used in conjunction with sandbags, sledgehammers, and 50-foot ropes). And, oh yeah, you can also flip four-foot-high tractor tires here. You don’t need a neck like a tree trunk to participate, but |
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| 2 | Indonesian Holiday Nothing livens up the midday mundane-ities like a delicious, hearty lunch at a place you didn't know existed. If you're ready to relinquish your daily cheeseburger in exchange for some bargain Indonesian food, follow us. Located downtown on SW Jefferson, Taste of Jakarta is one of the latest and greatest additions to the ethnic lunch scene. Serving traditional dishes fast-food style, Jakarta is as fast, cheap, and reliable as that daily cheeseburger, but as unique and foreign a dining experience as you might find at a more upscale establishment. Plates like the Mie Ayam Jamur, for instance—it mixes chicken, mushrooms, Indonesian noodles and spices and comes with a side of Indonesian-style chicken-noodle soup with meatballs. Familiar enough to qualify as comfort food, but unusual enough (with the addition of their house spices and hot sauces) to make for a memorable meal. Those looking for more exotic options should consider the young jackfruit curry, the Indonesian salad with chayote and fried tempeh, or Teh Botol, a delicious Indonesian iced tea, for washing it all down. Taste of Jakarta |
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| 3 | Leisure Suits You There are certain neighborhood bars that are so welcoming, comfortable, and fun that you're likely to forget you don't Leisure, the newest imbibing locale in St. Johns, is exactly that kind of place. Small and simply designed, it pulls off sparseness and simplicity without coming off as either divey or pretentious. Instead, its utilitarian layout flexes itself into the perfect neighborhood hub by offering themed movie and trivia nights, free board games, a brilliant drink menu and lip-smacking pressed Panini-style sandwiches. Bargain happy hour prices don't hurt either, with already low prices on drinks, beer pitchers, and bruschetta lowered ever further from 4-6 p.m. Better yet, both cocktail fans and beer nuts won't be disappointed. All five tap handles feature quirky microbrew or foreign beers at just $3.75 per pint (plus $2 PBR and Olympia tall boys), while cocktail options include macho mixers like the Old Ginger with Morello cherries, ginger and orange muddled with bourbon and soda. After you choose a drink, pair it with a sandwich. For such a low-key place, they're surprisingly serious about good food. Leisure |
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| Gratuitous Photo of the Week: | |||
Photo courtesy of www.liberator.com |
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Mandatory Gear: |
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| 1 | Fly-N-Bike Flying with our bike means we always end up paying the excessive baggage fee. Sure we’ve seen most travel bikes out there; no thank you. We recently found a series of bespoke (no pun intended) bikes that have us pretty excited. Montana’s Freeman Transport makes ‘em with Columbus steel with S-and-S couplings. They can be easily unassembled and packed into their 26” x 26” artist-series carrying case, ensuring they can be checked. Only one tool needed for assembly. Genius. |
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| 2 | Sharper Storage With regard to our office habits, we once worked in clutter Conversely, a spotless desk looks like you’ve been doing nothing, so the best bet is to make the available surface look |
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| 3 | Happy Days We love 50’s style, and as often as we end up at thrift stores or on e-bay looking for that perfect toaster oven, you won’t find us trading in our new flat-screen for a black and white console. Turns out we don’t have to. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Rejuvenation Factory Sale Starts Tomorrow! |
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| 2 | The Other Mr. Burns Stuart Ramsey will be hosting a private Burns Supper at North 45 to celebrate the life and poetry of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. This will be an evening of fine food, Scotch Whiskey, bagpipes, and a couple poetic toasts along the way. Only 40 spots are available, so call now. What: Burns Supper |
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| 3 | Happy Hour? See You at Blitz Ladd! We love the new Blitz Ladd (aka, Blitz SE)… great cocktails, good food, fun games (the ones you play and the ones you watch), excellent guy-to-girl ratio, and Happy Hour. Enjoy $2 domestic beer, $3 imports, $3 house wine, $3 well drinks, plus $4-and-under eats. Bonus: Buy One Slice, Get 1 Free from 4–6:30, Monday–Friday. What: Happy Hour at Blitz Ladd |
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