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September 18th, 2009
Summer is coming to a close. It's almost gone. And while you'll not hear us say "good riddance," we won't be lamenting its loss like many Portlanders. It is abundantly clear to us that due to our "other-season" weather, we're to worship summer as if it's the holy grail, but you know what? We like the autumn leaves. And sweaters. And anticipating ski trips. And the lack of tourists. And of course the big elephants in the room: Football, Basketball, and Hockey! Don't get us wrong, we enjoy a bit of baseball, but we prefer sports. |
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Portland Picks for Men: |
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| 1 | Improve Your Presentation Skills We’re not talking Brooks Brothers suits here (though the whole “Mad Men” hullabaloo certainly has us rethinking pinstripes). Just an update on your casual wear. A nicer shirt, trendier jeans (yeah, we said it)—comfortable clothing that turns heads. Need an expert to help you out? Head to Blake. A fixture on 23rd, Blake and his staff will personally fit you for your body and style preferences. For fall, we’re all about the new 7 for All Mankind denim and the ridiculously soft James Perse tees for layering. We’ll give our signif O the robot tee… light a few candles, put on the Barry White… after all, she’ll look better in it than we do. |
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| 2 | Picnik-in’ and a Grinn-ing’ It’s not everyday you walk down the bus mall and hear banjo music blaring out of a building. But that’s exactly what you’ll be faced with if you venture into one of this town’s most unusual lunch outlets. Now, don’t be scared. Hillbilly Bento isn’t the dining equivalent of “Deliverance.” But it does deliver some of the best damn vittles you’ll find outside the hill country of our Southern states. Now, placing slurp-worthy Appalachian cuisine inside the clean lines of an Asian bento box might sound like a recipe for disaster, but here it works—especially if you choose a Southern Boxed Meal of cola-flavored Pepsi Chicken or the slow-roasted Hillbilly Pork. Each entrée comes with a bento base of Cajun dirty rice, pilaf or salad. And for just a couple of bucks more you can add on a gut-busting side such as cornbread, corn on the cob, buttermilk biscuits—even fried okra! Save room for pecan pie, and whatever you do, don’t squeal like a pig in delight when you’re done. The H.I.C. (Hillbilly in Charge) might just stuff you in a pot and roast you. Now, that’s some good eating. Hillbilly Bento |
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| 3 | Thai Something New While a majority of new Portland restaurants are going the unorthodox route with creative mixes of disparate foods, those serving ethnic cuisine are stuck in a rut—serving up cookie-cutter menus that replicate the same 10–20 familiar dishes. The new Red Onion Thai Restaurant on NW 23rd is as guilty of this trend as anyone else, but it also offers plenty of alternatives for those sick of Pad Thai, fried rice, and Drunken Noodles. Basic rice, curry and noodle options have gotten a flavor promotion with unfamiliar ingredients like pumpkin, roasted duck, Chinese sausage, and Dungeness crab, the specialties list offers an ever-changing assortment of foreign plates you’ve never heard of, and the seafood menu pairs American halibut, catfish, salmon, and prawns with traditional Thai spices, sauces, and curries. Check out the Three Flavors Halibut to see Thai in a whole new light—soft Halibut pieces are coated in a thin, crispy, fried shell and paired with a bowlful of assorted fresh veggies and fruits like peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, pineapples and cucumbers and served atop a light, sweet sauce. It’s flavorful and yet unfamiliar—it’s like trying Thai again for the first time. Red Onion |
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| Gratuitous Photo of the Week: | |||
Photo courtesy of www.babygirlboutique.com. |
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Mandatory Gear: |
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| 1 | Old-School Workout Along with the ancient Greek trivium (the study of logic, grammar, and rhetoric) physical exercise has always been considered a fundamental part of a man’s education. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have regular access to a marble gymnasium. Thankfully, we can all have our own handsome classic chrome tanned-leather athletic gear for our personal use. Whether you choose medicine balls, footballs, or punching bags, you’ll finally have something to match that old-timey bike. |
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| 2 | Weatherize Your Room Unlike in the Northeast, the exact time and likelihood of rain is usually no big deal for us in the Great Northwest from Monday to Friday. It’s the weekend—when we are out in the snow, rain, mountains, and ocean when we need an occasional update on the weather. The Wood Station Weather Display is a great way to stay abreast of the changing climate and time. Embedded into a sleek wooden case, an LED display comes to life when motion is detected to show you everything you need to know. |
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| 3 | USB Man Okay. USB accessories are not exactly sexy. They are, however, very necessary for almost all of us—almost all of the time. The problem often is that they are boring. Put a bit of personality into your USB hub with the USB Man 4-Port Hub. With hands and feet that extend your electronic reach beyond one mouse, the hub includes a 45-inch cord, a power light, and an AC adapter to power it all. Neat. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | For the Dogs What: DoveLewis’ Dogtoberfest |
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| 3 | Here’s the Problem with Music Fest NW… Well, there are many. Parking aside, the crowds make watching the up-and-comers pure hell. In a stroke of genius, Tonic Lounge (with its own parking lot) booked one of the biggest up and comers out there… SF’s The New Up. Seeing what will be 2010’s “new thing” in this club while the kiddies toil away downtown? Priceless. What: The New Up |
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| 4 | Golf? Check. Poker? Check. |
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We want to know! Send us your pick for best Swayze movie ever. |
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