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January 30th, 2009
H.L. Mencken said, “Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.” He may or may not be correct, but one thing is for sure… love is in the air. That’s right—Valentine’s Day approaches. A timely little holiday, strategically placed in the calendar as to give one an opportunity to make up for any misdeeds or overindulgences that may or may not occur during Super Bowl weekend. Not to mention the listlessness she has to endure the following week while we men lament the absence of football until fall. Because the gift you procure for your one and only (or more if you’re from Utah) is of such importance, look for PPFM’s second annual Valentine’s Day Gift Guide next week. It’ll be chock full of great gift suggestions. And, of course, we try to keep things local. And remember: Go big enough and you just might recieve a “get out of jail free during March Madness” card. Forward PPFM to 5 friends and CC picks@portlandpicksformen.com, and you could win a pair of tickets to see the Vancouver Symphony. Makes for a great date. Trust us. |
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Portland Picks for Men: |
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| 1 | Wow Oui When is a barbershop not like a barbershop at all? When it's—oh, la, la—Nationale. Although it still has a fully operational barber pole spinning outside its East Burnside locale from the days when you'd stop by here for a quick trim, now those same faded barber stripes represent the tri-color flag of France and the esprit de corps of a most unusual store. Nationale, which is less boutique and more a living art installation, is Portland's version of Colette—the hand-curated Paris boutique that treats retail items like objets d'art. Here Euro-candies, chestnut spreads and gum vie for attention alongside Limoges china, body deodorant, and original art. Sure, it can get a little femme, but, for le boys there's an old piece of luggage stocked full of the most beautiful cravats you've ever seen—only five bucks each. And while your lady is pawing her way through the silk scarves, you can always pick up an imported "publication" and pretend you're still back at the barbershop sneaking your first peek inside the pages of a girlie magazine. Nationale |
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| 2 | I’ll See You In Nell! When it’s cold and miserable outside, and empty and howling inside your stomach, there’s nothing quite like some piping hot, hearty comfort food to nurse you back to full strength. Luckily, Café Nell has recently sprung out of NW Kearney with a menu full of face-glowing, heart-warming, gut-packing meals to get you back on your feet. Cold carnivores should be especially pleased by Nell’s extensive array of meats. Whether you dig beef, pork, lamb, chicken, or seafood, it’s all here, prepared simply with just the slightest quirky twists in recipe to keep you guessing. Salted cod fritters, hanger steaks and fries, or the succulent braised beef (topped with a fried egg and served with carrots, onions, and bread in a rich and spicy broth) are perfect weapons for killing that frigid feeling inside. Pair any of the above with a glass of whiskey from the fully stocked bar to reignite the fire in your belly. A sleek, shiny, modern American restaurant with large windows perfect for watching all the miserable people outside, Café Nell features a bar almost as big as the main dining room, a roaring fireplace, and one of the cozier settings in town for waiting out the weather. Café Nell |
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| 3 | V for Victory Sometimes we just want to forget we’re in Portland. Maybe it’s the weather, or the traffic, the day-to-day grind or our neighbors. Whatever it is, we’d give almost anything to be transported somewhere exotic. At times like these we skip the travel agent and saunter to Victory Bar on SE Division. The lighting is suitably dim, the decorations amply bizarre, and the ambiance so indescribably Old World that we’re instantly convinced we’ve been transported to an ages-old pub in some quaint Belgian town. Sleek and shiny but wholly unpretentious, Victory is a wine bar and lounge mixed together with a shot of European flair. Take a seat at the bar and marvel over the inventive food menu and classy drink list of high-end cocktails like bourbon ginger ale with fresh ginger and orange, plus toddies, martinis, wines, and little-known Belgian brews. We recommend dropping in for Happy Hour from 5 to 7 pm every day, and taking advantage of the best baked spaetzle this side of Austria, or the jalapeno and cheddar hush puppies for just $5. You’ll also save a buck on all draft beers, and only pay $5 for any mixed-drink masterpiece. Victory Bar |
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| Gratuitous Photo of the Week: | |||
courtesy of www.LoversLane.com |
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Mandatory Gear: |
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| 1 | We Don’t Need No Stinking Cords We spied our enviro-friendly neighbor with some new electric tools in the yard recently. Not to be outdone, we went about seeing how we might outfit ourselves with some gas-free goodies. Problem is, we loathe cords. What we found was an 18v string trimmer by Black and Decker that runs on a compact battery. We also found a chainsaw, cultivator and more that all ran on the same battery. Between the convenience, the mobility, and the price, we bought the whole line. |
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| 2 | Sure Shot There are typically only two kinds of pint glasses that one can find in either our kitchen or those of our compadres; plain ones, and those clearly stolen (accidentally, of course) from the corner bar. And nothing says, “I’m an alchoholic” like shot glasses from all fifty states. To stand out from the pack, check out the etched glassware from locals Bread and Badger. From new to used and reclaimed, there’ll be one to suit your drinking needs. |
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| 3 | The Longest Yard? Because there is always some sort of pissing match at Super Bowl parties. And because they usually involve throwing. We recommend getting this bad boy delivered overnight. A football (the kind you throw, you crazy brits) that can measure, within a yard, how much distance the ball was thrown. Not only will you put any arguments to rest, but this is a better way to work off pigs-in-a-blanket than playing Madden 2010 after the game. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Locals Only Last week you may have read about Plywerk; the outfit that takes your uploaded image and photofinishes it to plywood or bamboo. Turns out they’re local, and while the window for Valentine’s delivery has passed, us lucky Stumptowners willing to pick up our goods have until Sunday to take advantage of the 20% off. What: 20% off Plywerk for Valentine’s Day |
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| 2 | Stuff Your Face… Do Good Andina Restaurant will host two benefit dinners for Green Empowerment’s Peru Community Energy Project, an undertaking that will provide communities in Cajamarca, Peru, with electricity using solar, wind, and micro hydro-powered systems. The dinner will feature a five-course menu prepared by new executive chef Jose Luis de Cossio and a silent auction. What: Benefit Dinners fro Green Empowerment |
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| 3 | Travel Bargain of the Year We were already in love with Portland’s latest (eco-friendly) luxury hotel, The Nines. Then we heard that beginning on the ninth of this month they’re offering rooms at only $99 per night. The deal will be running (you guessed it) 99 days. Be sure and reference the “99 for 99” package when booking. What: $99 Hotel Stays |
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| 6 | Ring in the Romance Sometimes ladies like to be wooed. Show her you're more than just a jock with tickets to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra's Valentine's Day concert. Music from Brahms, Stravinsky and Oltra highlight this romantic program with accompaniment by the Oregon Repertory Singers. It should be a great concert, and you'll look like a prince for taking her. What: A Symphony of Love with the Vancouver |
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Sign up a buddy at www.PortlandPicksforMen.com today—he can probably use that helping hand come V-Day. |
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