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January 1st, 2010
Who would have thought it—2010 is here. After a long year of great ups and disappointing downs, we’ve finally made it to the glorious morning after. A lot has happened in 2009, starting with a great hope for the future and culminating in an overly aggressive pat-down at the airport after it was determined that wearing underwear is now considered suspicious behavior. No matter. We are just now happily waking up after drinking way too much celebration ale, cheap wine, and Trader Joe's "champagne" with that giddy feeling of knowing that we finally have a wonderful excuse for being overly friendly with that attractive neighbor two doors down. What will come of it in 2010? Only time will tell. |
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Portland Picks for Men: |
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| 1 | Up in Smoke Last time we came across a Quonset hut on the side of the road, it turned out to be a military surplus store manned by a squirrelly looking dude in full fatigues who kept glancing over his shoulder and muttering something about “Charlie.” But venture into one such metal dome on NE Broadway and you won’t find any dusty flak jackets or hollowed-out grenades. Instead you’ll discover Broadway Cigar Co., a smoker’s paradise complete with plush leather seating, 50-inch flat-screen TVs, a state of the art ventilation system, and a walk-in humidor stocked with more than 600 types of cigars. And don’t worry that either your wallet or sense of sophistication will come up short—owner Jason Lee welcomes newbies with open arms and a big, fat stogie. To determine your palate he’ll ask how you take your coffee, your liquor of choice, and what foods you like. He’ll then recommend a cigar in your price range, starting as low as $5. The only downer is that Broadway isn’t licensed to serve alcohol. But, as Lee says, “I can’t control what’s in someone’s coffee cup.” Now those are words we can live by. Broadway Cigar Co. |
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| 2 | Rocco’s Modern Life If 2009 had a lesson for small-business owners in Portland, it was this: keep it simple. We’ve watched as bars and restaurants have either succumbed to their own bloated weight in the midst of the recession, or skyrocketed to success with the leanest and meanest of business models. Reliable downtown staple Rocco’s Pizza has taken the latter route by making the most of a prime piece of real estate, keeping the costs down, and passing the savings on to customers. Now all that frugality has paid off with the opening of sister establishment Rocco’s Bar in the space adjacent. Just like the pizza joint, what Rocco’s Bar lacks in ambiance, it makes up for in bargain pricing, quirky and friendly staff, and laid-back attitude. A daily happy hour (3 to 7 p.m.) provides thirsty customers with $3 microbrew pints, $1.50 PBR pints, $2.50 well drinks, $3.50 Absolut, $4.50 Maker’s, and discounted wine. To seal the deal, meatball subs and pizza slices are available from next door, and two pinball machines, flat-screen TVs, large windows, and a second-floor balcony provide the cozy space with a surprising variety of distractions. Rocco’s Bar |
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| 3 | Turning Japanese Without the drive to experience new and better things, man would not travel for pleasure, would not seek thrills for thrill's sake, and the guitar solo would never have been invented. Carpe Drive! Of course, once we’ve discovered these new great things, the obvious next step is to share them. (Note: We’re pretty sure this is why pants were invented.) If your relationships are anything like ours, you already know of BIWA—a perfect place to share a flight of adventure with a date. The walk down from the upstairs landing immediately makes you feel that you've been transported far away, and once awash in the sepia tone glow of the dining area, you immediately notice how warm and intimate the space is. The food ranges from small portion (Izakaya) to full meal, and includes Yakimono, Yakitori, noodles, Tofu and Kimchi. Because Biwa is essentially an Izakaya establishmen—the Japanese version of a gastropub—on steroids, you’ll discover as many choices in your drinks as you will your food, including palate- (and mind-) bending “flights” into Sake and a large selection of special Shochu drinks. With all the chaos of Christmas and the New Year, a little trip to Japan might be just what you need to feel normal again. Biwa 215 SE 9th Ave. Portland, OR 97214 503.239.8830 www.biwarestaurant.com |
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Gratuitous Photo of the Week: |
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Mandatory Gear: |
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| 1 | It’s Not a Fanny Pack Those of us who get around by bicycle are faced with the daily decision of where to put our crap. The options generally are: wear a backpack, get saddle bags, or leave everything bigger than an iPhone at home. While we generally hate all of these for many reasons—comfort, chance of theft, and having small pockets—we’re happy to find another option. The JanSport 1989 Bike Swinger is a pretty cool looking duffle bag that attaches to the front of most bicycle handle bars. Awesome. |
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| 2 | Smooth Damascus Considering that our face is the most obvious part of ourselves that we put out for the entire world to see, it’s strange that we don’t treat it better than we do. Crappy throw-away blades have nothing on what a high-quality straight-edge razor can do for your beard—and your face. The German-made Damascus is a vintage blade and work of art that will change how you think of shaving. |
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| 3 | Press to Impress If you’re like us, during this holiday season someone gave you a big book full of cocktail recipes that call for strange ingredients and insist on using fresh juice. While we recognize that corners can be cut, we also figure that if you’re going to take the time to make your own cocktail, you should do it right. That means squeezing juice fresh each time you make a drink. The best way to do this is with a great-looking juicer like the Keg Works Heavy Duty Juicer. Trust. |
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Cocktail of the Week: |
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First hangover of 2010? The Bloody Mary has long been appreciated as the ultimate hangover cure, but if you’re not feeling well enough to get to your favorite brunch spot, Three-O Tomato Vodka (infused with tomatoes, pepper, horseradish, and spices) makes it simple to mix up “the hair of the dog” at home—even if you can’t bring yourself to turn the lights on. Three-O Tomato 3-Step Hangover Helper Mix ingredients with ice. Squeeze in lemon wedge. Garnish with celery stick. Happy New Year! www.threeolives.com |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 2 | Forefront Mt Tabor Theater is back, gents! Of the bevy of upcoming shows, we highly recommend Tuesday’s Birth of a Whale: one of the more interesting, stony bands Portland has produced in a while. The show’s rounded out by local purveyors of straight-up rock (remember that?): Council Crest. What: Rock Show |
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| 3 | Showcase of Wine & Cheese ...you had us at “cheese”… The Showcase of Wine & Cheese benefits the Boys & Girls Club of Portland, and this tasty evening will present more than 300 exceptional wines, gourmet cheeses and delish hors d’oeuvres, plus entertainment! We suggest snagging a couple tickets now. What: Showcase of Wine & Cheese |
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Sign up a friend at www.PortlandPicksforMen.com. Gracias, amigos! Guess how many parties in Portland will play "The New Year" by Death Cab tonight and win a prize! |
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