|
 |
May 7, 2010
We love that new “Most Interesting Man in the World” commercial in which the narrator states that “his mom has a tattoo that reads ‘Son’.” Genius. And while we wish we had it like that, we don’t. We owe mom everything. Sure, she never wrote a best-seller on parenting, but she’s no Lynne Spears, either. We count ourselves lucky. No matter how good a job she did, though, this holiday always sneaks up on us (raise your hand if this is the first you’re hearing about it). So in honor of both mom, and men’s penchants for doing most things last-minute, we are mixing in ideas for mom in this issue, including some PPFM-exclusive specials. Don’t worry, there’s still some stuff for us, but we felt it best to point out some great ideas where mom is concerned. We’re confident you’ll know the difference. |
||
Portland Picks for Men: |
|||
| 1 | Beer Head We used to think there was some kind of ceiling to Portland’s beer craze, some point at which the over-saturation would cause breweries and beer bars to come spilling down the sides like the extra foam in an overfilled pint glass. If we have reached that point, Apex Bar is aptly named, because we can’t imagine it being anywhere but the very top of the heap. Located on SE Division, Apex is like the mutant spawn of two of our other favorite local beer bars; it has the low-key scenester vibe of Green Dragon with its sparse industrial design, pinball machines, and local art on the walls, and Bailey Taproom’s bargain pricing, awesome tap list, and neighboring Mexican restaurant takeout. With its 50-tap capacity (and 30 pouring currently), Apex easily encompasses local favorites Hopworks and Laurelwood, Cali stalwarts Firestone and Bear Republic, and exotic foreign beers from Warsteiner and Brasserie Dupont. Plus, Apex’s large outdoor patio area will be one of Portland’s best spots for your daily dose of hops and Vitamin D as the weather continues to improve. Beer, pinball, sunlight; what more could a Portlander ask for? Apex |
|
|
| 2 | How to Outshine a Sibling Mother's Day is just around the corner. It's this weekend, actually. Before you panic, relax in knowing the perfect gift for the mother in your life is located conveniently in NW Portland. The Dragon Tree Holistic Day Spa offers everything for the woman in your life, including waxing, facials, massage and other divine tools to tune up for spring in a gloriously inviting and relaxing environment. But it’s their vast array of bliss therapies that will work wonders on her, from the inside out. The Ultimate Day of Relaxation, available for only $260 from May 7-10, (Mom can use whenever she’d like) includes a rose and milk foot-soak, followed by a 20-minute foot massage all while she enjoys mimosas and cookies from Two Tarts. Then she'll experience a Mother of Pearl body polish and an hour of Swedish massage by their bodywork experts. She'll conclude her treatment with a one-hour organic custom facial. In the interest of quality time, we may have to join her. The Dragon Tree |
|
|
| 3 | Violetta Does It Betta How is it that the lunch hour never seems long enough? Maybe it’s because by the time we’ve decided on a place to grab our food, placed our order, paid our tab, traveled to the nearest city park, and found a good spot to sit, we’re almost out of time. Fortunately, Violetta has put down roots at downtown’s brand new Director’s Park and they’re cooking up some of the best fast food in town for hungry workers in a hurry. Once you’ve bitten into grass-fed beef hailing from a nearby farm, smothered in an Oregon creamery’s cheese, accompanied by local produce, you’re going to have a tough time ever ordering from Mickey D’s again. But the local connection doesn’t stop there; everything from the sodas to the pastries, from the hot dogs to the fries, hails from nearby small businesses. Depending on your appetite and diet, you can choose between 1/3 and 1/2-pound patties, vegetarian-only options, and a variety of fries or chips; though when it comes to the fries you really can’t beat their white truffle fries. And best of all, regardless of what you decide, you’ll have plenty of time to savor it. Violetta |
|
|
| Gratuitous Photo of the Week: | |||
Mandatory Gear: |
|||
| 1 | The Salt and the Sea We always like to expose Mom to something new and unexpected… keeps her young. We’re doing that and giving her the gift of health this year with a unique experience at Salt Grotto, the first salt therapy spa on the West Coast. Located in the Pearl, Salt Grotto offers salt inhalation therapy in a relaxing micro climate created from three kinds of salt. Mother's Day packages and specials—for sessions, Dead Sea salt skin and body care products, and salt lamps—are available. |
 |
|
| 2 | Like You Know What You’re Doing There are but a few places in Portland we dare trust our own shopping instincts. Come to think of it, it’s not so much that as it is the can’t-miss selection and the always successful track record we have there. And Mink on Hawthorne is the only one of these places whose clothing and jewelry are appropriate for both Mom and Wife. Still don’t trust? Well, take 10% off gift certificates as well as purchases when you mention PPFM. You can’t go wrong here, fellas. |
 |
|
| 3 | Beautiful Music on a Balmy Summer’s Eve Most memorable evenings include a memorable soundtrack. With the weather about to turn warm (any day now), there’s no reason why your outdoor evenings should be any different. Give your soundtrack a high-quality finish with outdoor speakers or home theater speakers factory-direct from Portland’s nationally acclaimed Aperion Audio. We like that they offer free advice, a risk-free in-home audition, and extraordinary value—without the added expense and frustration of buying home audio at retail. |
 |
|
Hip Happenings: |
|||
| 1 | Worth a Thousand Words Treat the mothers in your life to a creative photo session. To mark the holiday, pauline | photography is pleased to offer a special $50 sitting fee (a $150 value), which includes a 5 x 5 print of your choice and a day to remember. Guaranteed. Pauline's style, reflecting her Northern European roots, is subtle and understated. The result: genuine and honest images that your family will love forever. What: Mother’s Day Special at pauline | photography |
 |
|
| 2 |
|
||
| 3 | Twist and Shout! Sport Conditioning Portland is offering an opportunity to experience the Twist difference. Twist is not a gym—there are no machines, except one... the human body. Join them for their 7,000-square-foot open house June 1–12 and receive unlimited free coaching and training. Call to reserve your space. |
 |
|
| 4 | Ring My Bell We’re addicted to kettle bell workouts. They seem to find muscle groups we never knew we had (or new ones to be sore in). We feel awesome since starting, though, And we look damn good. If you’ve been thinking about trying it yourself, mention PPFM for 10% off one of 3 summer sessions, lasting through September. What: Kettlebell Boot Camp PDX |
 |
|
| 5 | Rock On at The Alexis Since Seattle is the epicenter of all things grunge, the Alexis Hotel is offering a “Come as You Are” package. Experience the Kurt Cobain exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum with 2 VIP tickets, a “Nirvana” cocktail, deluxe accommodations, a keepsake poster and valet parking. (Reserve the Rock ‘n Roll Suite—with guitars signed by the Bodeans and Coldplay.) What: “Come as You Are” package |
 |
|
| 6 | Salty’s Sunday Brunch—All Weekend If you’ve waited this long to make a reservation for Sunday brunch, you might not get one. Luckily, Salty’s is hooking us up with their world-famous brunch buffet on Saturday this week. Consistently ranked among the nation’s top Sunday brunch buffets, we’re calling a last-minute audible for Mom. See you tomorrow! What: Saturday Mother’s Day brunch at Salty’s on the Columbia |
 |
|
Want up to the minute updates on sales, happy hour specials and PPFM-exclusive deals? Just check us out on Facebook and you got it. |
|||
Be sure to visit www.portlandpicksformen.com and check out past issues in our archives. If you like what you see, forward to a friend and encourage them to check out www.portlandpicksformen.com and subscribe for free! It's easy--there's a box in the upper left to enter your email address. If you would like to make a suggestion, please email us at Picks@portlandpicksformen.com. Share your favorite ideas for Picks, tell us about terrific products or services, announce a sale or event, or let us know what you think of Portland Picks for Men! Website and weekly issues maintained by Studio Ridge.com. |
|||
