Swim. Bike. Run.  
 
Remember why track & field was so much fun back in school? No, it wasn't the steeplechase, but the girls you got to hang out with during practice—and we're not talking about the shot-putters. Gentlemen, the sport of triathlon is made up of nearly 40 percent women and is one of the fastest-growing sports among affluent young professionals. We can think of much worse demographics to splash around the pool with.
 
Locally, the sport is thriving thanks in part to Athlete's Lounge—a homegrown triathlon shop with new digs in Northwest Portland. They offer everything you need to swim, bike and run your way to your first or 30th tri.
 
The staff is happy to dole out expert advice and set you up with training schedules, square away your nutrition needs, and fit you for the fastest bike you've ever ridden. Seriously. What's more, their new location is a prime jump-off point for trail runs in Forest Park and nice flat rides out to Sauvie Island—making it popular for pre- and post-workout gatherings.
 
Athlete's Lounge
2600 NW Vaughn St.
Portland, OR 97210
503.477.5906
www.athleteslounge.com

Pizza Treaty

The search for the perfect Portland pizza is an arduous one in a city that loves pizza this much but can’t agree on what they like about it. Thin crust or deep dish? Mozzarella and tomato sauce or feta and olive oil? Pepperoni and mushrooms or pineapple and anchovies?
 
No matter what your taste (or lack thereof), we can probably all agree that Mangia Pizza is one of the better compromises in town. The crust is just thin enough that a New Yorker could identify with it, but has that lightly crisped and buttery quality that a Chicagoan demands from the skeleton of his pie. And while the classic pizza base is intact for all the traditionalists, white pies are also available, and the toppings list balances old favorites with all the stuff the Mafia would kill you for if you put it on a pizza in Naples.
 
Based out of a cozy little diner setting off NW Thurman, Mangia has a decent wine list and an outside deck that should be packed in a month’s time with pizza lovers and pizza heretics alike.
 
Mangia Pizza
1937 NW 23rd Place
Portland, OR 97210
503.222.2667

Crepes of Wrath
 
When it comes to late-night hankerings, crepes aren’t usually the first thing to come to mind. But maybe they should be, because whatever you love to eat late at night, it probably tastes even better wrapped in a pancake.
 
That’s the philosophy behind Le Happy, a west-side hangout hidden on the otherwise desolate 16th Avenue, between the Pearl and Nob Hill. The menu is broken down into two categories: savory and sweet, with the savory filling options including bacon, ham, cheese, egg, roast chicken, veggies and smoked salmon, while the sweet choices encompass chocolate, fruits, honey, lemon, hazelnuts, and sugar, sugar, sugar. In a buckwheat pancake, random combinations of tasty ingredients transform into delicious small meals perfect for quelling that uprising in your hungry, liquor-laden stomach.
 
Even better, Le Happy offers a rocking list of specialty drinks, some solid wines, and that laid-back, intimate ambiance ideal for a first date. Soak in the crimson walls, spinning disco ball, and bizarre art displays and you just may fool yourself into thinking you’ve been catapulted through time and space into some French bistro, circa 1972.
 
Le Happy
1011 NW 16th Ave.
Portland, OR 97209
503.226.1258
www.lehappy.com

Photo courtesy of www.janesvanity.com.

Day Tripper

Whether you’re sitting in on a big meeting or just at the coffee shop catching up on some correspondence, the bag you walk with says as much (or more) about you than the clothes on your back.

One of the best lines is right here in the Northwest. Rian Men’s unparalleled commitment to quality in every detail shines through on their handcrafted goods. Behold our fave for Spring: the Day Tripper Messenger bag. Worthy of that new laptop.

Rian Bags

Man Food
 
With the sun beginning to shine again, we’re growing anxious. We love the pasta and stews of winter as much as the next guy, but it’s high time we got back to smoking, BBQ-ing, and grilling meat.

And we were stoked that Nicky Farms, perhaps the Northwest’s finest purveyors of wild game, have just introduced a whole range of sausages. From wild boar brats to Sicilian-style rabbit and chicken sausages, you’ll be a rock star at the grill this year.
 
www.nickyusa.com

Better Than Bottled

We got on board with ditching those bottles of Fiji long ago. The immense waste of everyone drinking bottled water is certainly not lost on most folks. So we’d fill our Nalgenes until it was reported they caused the plague or some such nonsense.

We’re pretty sure we’ve now found the solution. The Wellness H2.O is a reusable water bottle that not only filters toxins and fights free radicals, but enhances the water with Japanese minerals for further hydration. How refreshing.

Wellness H2.O

Small-Biz Symposium

Small-business owner? Don’t let the economy take you under. Register for SHOP Symposium 09, an all-day conference for business owners, independents and retailers like you. Learn from more than 30 leading business pros via live, off-the-cuff panel sessions chock full of advice and expert know-how featuring start-up tips, marketing magic, ROI revival and more.
 
What: SHOP Symposium/09
When: Monday, April 6, 8 am–4 pm
Where: Brunish Hall, PCPA, 1111 SW Broadway
Tickets: $99, or $75 when you buy 2+ tix
Call: 503.226.2377
Visit: www.cravebusiness.com

An Unforgettable St. Pat’s With McCormick and Schmick’s
 
Stuart Ramsay will be pairing three Irish whiskeys (Tyrconnell Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Kilbeggan, and Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey) with Brewmaster John Harris’ Full Sail Beers (Keelhauler Scottish Ale, Cask Conditioned Amber and a rare 11-year-old Imperial Stout). Chef Boyd will be preparing three different dishes to go with each pairing. Are you game?
 
What: St. Patrick’s Day Whiskey and Beer Pairing Dinner
When: Tuesday, March 17, 5:30 pm
Where: McCormick & Schmick's Harborside at the Marina
0309 SW Montgomery
Cost: $25 per person
Call: 503.220.1865
Visit: McCormick & Schmick’s