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May 22nd, 2009
Another fine weekend is upon us. Time to dig out the cornhole game from the back of the garage and fire up the grill for gourmet sausages or tofu dogs—whatever strikes your fancy. Learn how to plant a garden, go on a bike ride (though we prefer our long-board, and will never—never—be seen on a bicycle—it’s just better that way), eat dinner al fresco and chill growlers of local suds. Also: Time to re-up the allergy medication. The flowering trees are nice to look at while you’re barbecuing on the patio, but nobody wants you sneezing on their tofu dog. |
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Portland Picks for Men: |
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| 1 | Blue Swayed Shoes Pot people and Religion people are really similar when it comes to enthusiasm—they both think what they're into is so great that everyone should try it, and then they only hang out with other people who do. Just as enthusiastic, but much less officious, are Shoe people: they often keep their obsessions more closeted(!) than other enthusiasts, but the mere mention of footwear will have them lighting up like the Made in Oregon sign. Unlike their religiomarijuanic (patent-pending) counterparts, they’re less concerned that you share enthusiasm, but they would love it if you were willing to go along for the ride. Considering that “Shoe people” and “Women” are nearly synonymous, you’re lucky there’s Shoefly. Well known for their ladies footwear, Shoefly now carries men’s shoes, which lean toward the casual and modern. Seventies-retro Asics, Camper brand, Penguin, J Shoe, Ryan Roe and many future styles and brands have a place here. The next time your girlfriend (wife or gal pal) brings up their “need” for shoes, suggest Shoefly in the Pearl, and watch them light up. Shoefly |
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| 2 | Reese Lightning We’ve got nothing against wine. It’s perfectly fine, if a bit overpriced. But it’s those wine snobs sticking their noses into their glasses, spouting off about bouquets with their pinky fingers elevated that have forced us to avoid wine bars like they were infected with swine flu. Fortunately, Café Reese over in NW Portland is contagious in all the right ways. Part wine bar, part coffee house, part bistro, Reese has a little something for everyone—without the pretension. The wine list is an eclectic but focused mix of local and foreign, white and red, sparkling and still, with prices by the glass and bottle. Meanwhile, bistro bites like the baked brie, steak crostini, and pumpkin ravioli make for great pairing options when the hunger pangs hit. Grab one of the leather couches or outdoor tables, or pony up to the bar and talk wine with the knowledgeable staff. Reese pulls off a neat trick, managing to be both homey and slick with its combination of clean, sparkling surfaces, large windows, open doors, and courteous, friendly service. It’s the cure for the common wine bar. Café Reese |
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| 3 | Shack of All Trades There is this groovy little strip of stores on Lower Burnside Street (hipster translation: “LoBu”), and smack dab in the middle of the strip is perhaps the grooviest little shop/gallery that P-town has ever seen. So—WTF—why hasn’t The Grass Hut made a splash on the pages of The New York Times like every other cool place in town? It’s way beyond “unique.” Where else will you find limited-edition freakazoid toys next to inexpensive outsider/indie/urban art next to cool T-shirts and ’zines? Less store than “conceptual hive of creativity,” you’ll never know what you’ll find beyond the Hut’s doors. And, hell, isn’t that what the NYT is looking for? The mission of the shop is to show folks the kind of art you normally don’t see in Portland, or pretty much anywhere else. That is to say, all that cool stuff you see in all those really cool ’zines ends up on the walls here—for cheap. If you’re looking to outfit your own homey hut, you’d be hard-pressed to find more original artifacts. Cool. The Grass Hut |
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| Gratuitous Photo of the Week: | |||
Photo courtesy of www.corsetsdiva.com. |
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Mandatory Gear: |
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| 1 | Not Ready for Retro We love music. We love vinyl, we love MP3s, and we like CDs. The CD is something we can’t give up on yet, but we’re tired of our old compact-disc player that is anything but compact. Something we just found to make us love CDs again: the wall-mounted CD player from Muji. Basic controls are on the top, but the fun is turning it on. The pull-cord turns your music both on and off, making for a quirky conversation piece. |
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| 2 | Razor-Sharp With the near extinction of the single-blade shaving razor, man’s morning grooming routine has become all too pedestrian. C.O Bigelow’s Premium Razor kicks the a.m. up a notch with their handsome, faux-ebony razor. Durably constructed, this razor is designed for use with the Mach 3 refill blades, giving you a close shave in as stylish a way possible… without going to barber college. |
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| 3 | Just in Case Laptops come in all shapes and sizes and for the most part, they are getting cooler-looking with every new model. Too bad the same isn’t said for their cases. One case that we are proud to carry is the Cocoon CLB551. A 15-inch laptop case that is sturdy and sexy, its hard shell hides a smart internal organizational system that can be customized for whatever you choose to put in it, and has a protective neoprene sleeve. Just in case. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Shave Swap |
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| 2 | Kid-Free OMSI? Here's your chance to shoot off water rockets, concoct chemical creations, and enjoy the wonders of OMSI after-hours with no kids in sight! Enjoy a glass of wine while learning about robots, tornados, or fossils. Have a pint of local beer while exploring the exhibits. Talk to a brewer about the science behind beer, or taste the complexity of coffee. 21 and over. What: OMSI After Dark |
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| 3 | Greetings from Argentina No need to dust off your passport—Morton’s the Steakhouse is hosting a Malbec tasting with wines from Argentina. Try six outstanding wines from the Mendoza and the Cafayate Valley. They’ll be paired with hors d’ouevres like cheeses, broiled sea scallops with apricot chutney, sliced tenderloin with a chimichurri sauce and miniature Legendary Hot Chocolate Cakes. Sold. |
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