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July 17th, 2009
It's summertime in the city. Every year we think we're prepared for the heat and then whammo! We're sweltering in a hot house thinking, "Why didn't we move to Seattle?" This 90-degree business is just plain wrong. Especially since apparently no house in Portland was built to withstand heat. Or cold, for that matter. (Even our closet is drafty in December.) So what's a young man to do? Head to the coast! Pack up your girl (or your guy), some flip flops, your dog and the kids (if you've got em, flaunt em!) and head out to where the water is blue and the days are breezy. And when you get there, do us a favor--bottle up some of that sea air and send it to our office. We'd appreciate it. |
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Portland Picks for Men: |
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| 1 | Out of Time Nothing can be said about vintage clothing that hasn’t already been said about Keith Richards: The shit is old, the first thing you should do if you take it home is wash it; and if you try to deny how cool it is, you just look stupid. So if we’re sayin’ vintage clothing is like Keith Richards, then we’re also sayin’ that Barely Worn Vintage Voodoo is like the Hot Rocks comps—all the best from the 60’s through the 80’s. In fact, there may be no better place in Portland to find the perfect pair of shorts to wear while sitting in a plastic pool waiting for your turn at badminton. Rock a killer short-sleeve button-up shirt from BWVV on the croquet course and the girls will be sucking the beer foam out of your glue-on mustache faster than your best friend can slur Yahtzee. With most items only reaching the $10 mark, the only thing between you and seeming as cool as Keith Richards is a full blood transfusion and a couple million dollars. Barely Worn Vintage Voodoo |
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| 2 | Rook It Out This “place for guys” will give you a basic or buzz cut for less than $25 or give you a beard or ’stash trim for just five bucks. More expensive is the heavenly yet somehow dangerous-feeling “hot towel straight razor shave” as well as something Rook’s calls the “barber facial treatment” (both $24) which master barber/proprietor Justin King says is basically a “hot towel shave without the razor.” It may’ve have only been open since April Fool’s Day, but this place doesn’t joke around when it comes to proper men’s grooming. And, yes, their cuts kick ass. |
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| 3 | Going Tapas Tapas bars are a rare treat in this town, but rarer still is the tapas place you can walk out of with a full stomach and money still left in your wallet. For whatever reason, some folks seem to think that “tapas” translates into “tiny portions, giant cost.” Thankfully, there’s Patanegra over in NW Portland. They’ve nailed the authentic tapas experience by offering a huge assortment of traditional and new wave Spanish-style fare, from fingerling potatoes with chorizo sausage to sautéed mushrooms in garlic and white wine, beef tenderloin, salted cod fritters with salsa, cured salmon… and the list goes on and on. There around 50 different plates available, spanning such a variety of foods, cuisines, and ingredients that it’s a wonder the chef can remember them all let alone transform each one into a unique, delicious mini-meal all its own. And to Pata’s credit, the portion sizes are substantial. For a couple, two or three tapas will do the job, and there will probably even be some leftovers for noshing on the next day. Whichever plates you end up choosing, be sure to pair it with the best glass of homemade sangria this side of Madrid. Patanegra |
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| Gratuitous Photo of the Week: | |||
Surf’s up, lads. Photo courtesy of www.sexylookslingerie.net. |
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Mandatory Gear: |
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| 1 | Stainless, Tough We all love drinks; they are refreshing, awakening, vital, and most of the time, tasty. The problem with drinks, particularly the ones we take on the road, is keeping them at the right temperature. Less than cold water and less than hot coffee is no fun whatsoever. The Aladdin Stainless Steel Bolt Bottle is here to keep what should be hot, hot, and what should be cold, cold with its stainless steel vacuum body and double-wall lid. Refreshing. |
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| 2 | Bring Your Beer Beer is the drink of kings (at least for us Portland guys) and we love to have it on hand everywhere we go. Often, we’ve been forced to lug around a big, ugly cooler or awkwardly designed “freeze bag.” Both options technically work, but both are neither stylish nor practical. The Dolores Chiller is the answer to summertime drink mobility. With a fully insulated interior and room for 12 beer cans plus ice, you’ll never be far from a fresh one. |
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| 3 | Swiss Everywhere There are a few things that are indispensable to a man. We could list off all the items that are required in this day and age, but instead we’ll simply repeat the Boy Scouts’ motto: Be Prepared. There is no better way to be prepared than to have a trusty and sturdy utility knife. The best is the classic wood and metal Swiss Army knife with blades, can openers, tweezers, and all those other things we haven’t yet found a use for. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 3 | Hook Up. Save Lives? |
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| 4 | The Only Way to Golf |
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| 5 | Solve, Race, and Win with High Trek Adventure! Ever want to be on "The Amazing Race" but can't quit your day job? High Trek Adventure is coming to Portland. Teams of 2–6 will solve clues and face fun challenges while navigating the streets of the Rose City. The winning team gets $300 and entry into the nationals in Vegas—the grand prize is $12,345.67! Mention PPFM for a 15% discount! |
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| 6 | Get Your Wine On Impress a date with your knowledge of sustainable management practices and the growing of premium wines. Tour the vineyard, taste the wines, and enjoy an outdoor class (so bring appropriate footwear and sun-protection). The class includes a commemorative wine glass, and of course the free wine tasting. (Would we steer you wrong?) Also: 10% off wine purchases on that day. What: “Precision Viticulture: Farming for Sustainability and Quality” |
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What else is on your agenda? How about signing up a buddy at www.PortlandPicksforMen.com? After all, we can’t grow without your TLC |
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