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April 24th, 2009
We have a friend who used to teach in Korea, and another who has been sent there for work stints. Among all of the reasons (and apparently there are many) they agreed upon about why Korea was weird was the open wife beating. Just rampant, out in the open back-handery. Apparently, one learns quickly not to intervene, and that this is simply a part of the culture. Which made us think; our significant other insists on us immersing ourselves in local culture and tradition whenever we travel. But, alas, we’re pretty sure a well-placed “When in Rome…” would not help us in the least if we dared. |
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Portland Picks for Men: |
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| 1 | Not Fade Away We often celebrate the unconventional here at PPFM; and nonconformity is seen by many as the core of what keeps Portland interesting—or, as we’ve seen on a bumper sticker, "weird." But we feel it's only fair to point out that conventions are a lot like handrails—you can choose not to use them, but they're there to keep you from falling on your face. Consider Frances May in downtown Portland. They built their entire collection of clothing around the idea that the artful expression of classic looks is the sure shot way to keep on the edge of fashion without falling off. Their current line has a keen sense of design and detail without being radical. We notice a good cross-section of the more conservative (not a dirty word!) early 60’s and mid 80’s American styles blending together in a sort of iconic cuddle puddle. Add a modern eye and the 20/20 sensibility that only time can lend, and you start to see how Frances May manages to stay comfortably modern while holding onto... you guessed it… convention. |
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| 2 | Specialty of the Day |
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| 3 | We Eat Quiche, Too There are some things in life that are defined as “ladies only,” and some that are a man’s realm. But at PPFM we’re ready to knock down some gender-specific walls. For example: As many times as we’ve seen the ladyfriend come back from a facial all blissed out, we finally wised up and scheduled one of our own. But not a namby pamby girly facial—we needed one that was—yes—just for men. And we found it at Ruby Violet. Their men’s facial is designed for a man’s specific skin needs (nobody gets upset at little beard growth here) and it helps combat the harsh effects of shaving (tell us you’re not still using a disposable!) and elemental damages (from Man Stuff like hiking, biking, and sitting under forced-air vents at work all day.) Say what you will—this is one realm that we men are taking over. So move over, ladies, and pass the cucumbers—we’re going to roll home looking great, feeling manly, and most of all, completely blissed out. Ruby Violet |
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| Gratuitous Photo of the Week: | |||
Photo courtesy of www.spicylingerie.com |
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Mandatory Gear: |
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| 1 | Hardy Drinker Water bottles are in abundance around here, though sometimes they are a bit too big and bulky. For these times, we are looking for something sleek, cool, and very durable. Thankfully, Nalgene now has a flask. With a 12-ounce capacity (and a handy shot glass-sized cap), this leak-proof, slender hip buddy is the perfect thing for a quick refreshment here or there. |
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| 2 | Grill Out Summer and good weather are on their way, but are you prepared? Unlike beer, grilled food is difficult to bring to the beach, let alone to the top of a mountain—sorry, Weber. Thankfully, the O-Grill 3000 is here and extremely portable. This propane grill weighs in at 24 pounds, has a 225-square-inch surface and comes with everything you need, including retractable legs, storage case, and lighter. Grill on! |
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| 3 | Keep it Up For those techies out there (and everyone else who owns an iPhone or iPod), keeping a long battery charge can be a challenge sometimes. Belkin has developed a sleek-looking USB charger made for the car that doesn’t come off as nerdy or bulky. Flush with the dash, both it and your device will look like they finally belong in the car. Now you can keep your power up all night long. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Wear Your Derby Duds |
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| 3 | Clash of the Titans The Portland LumberJax host the San Jose Stealth in a West Division Semifinal playoff game next Friday. This is the second consecutive year that the Jax have made the postseason and the first time since 2006 that the team will host a playoff game. Tickets start at just $10, so get ready for the playoffs. |
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Lean over and tell that guy in the next cubicle what you’re reading, and let him know he can sign up for free at www.PortlandPicksforMen.com. |
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