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March 5th, 2010
Part deux of our interview with Jonathan Goldsmith (a.k.a. The guy from the "Most Interesting Man in the World" ad campaign):
At this point in the interview we hear a loud background noise and Goldsmith informs us that his wife heard this answer, so we reluctantly refrain from asking how one gets from dinner with a brunette to morning with a blonde. But, man, that would have been interesting to hear. |
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Portland Picks for Men: |
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| 1 | Fashion Cents Whether we’re buying a new plasma TV, picking up courtside seats to a Blazer game or keeping that sweet thing at the bar full of drinks so she’ll laugh at all our jokes, we’ll gladly spend a little extra cash to experience the better things in life. But for some reason, when it comes to clothes, we just can’t stay away from the $19.95 clearance rack. That’s why we experienced a little sticker shock when we first set foot in Frances May, which features high-quality, fashion-forward men’s gear like a rugged Grouse Coat by Rag & Bone ($572), a hip utility shirt from Pendleton/Opening Ceremony ($226) and pimptacular canvas oxford shoes with leather piping from Rachel Comey ($320). A variety of additional threads are offered in the more pedestrian $100-$200 range. So what do you get for the extra loot? According to co-owner Pamela Baker-Miller, it’s all about quality, fit, style and standing out from the crowd. This month Frances May will be rolling out their latest spring lines while at the same time clearing out all their fall gear by offering deep discounts. So if you’re looking to upgrade your wardrobe to clothes that won’t disintegrate in the dryer after two months, now is the time. Frances May |
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| 2 | Right Where You Need to Be Working through these Northwest winters can sometimes be a drag. Not because the season is nasty or because we have nothing to do, more so because after spending so much of our vacation time with friends and family in December we are finding our next big trip / vacation / extravaganza a little too far away and out of sight. Thankfully, for times like these we always have extended weekends due to the liberal use of the term “sick-day.” One of the best extended weekends around is at Cannon Beach, more specifically at the Inn at Cannon Beach. With great-looking and comfy lodging steps from the ocean (which includes a library of free DVDs in case the weather is more winter and less summer) and a large bathtub built for two, the Inn just might be the remedy for whatever ails you. And if you decide to get away from your 9 to 5 under the pretense of something more severe than the 24-hour flu, don’t fret, you can always book a room that is Fido-friendly for the whole week. Inn at Cannon Beach |
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| 3 | It’s a Small World After All…
If Portland’s lunch cart phenomenon has taught us anything, it’s that size matters not to hungry downtowners seeking delicious lunch. Café Velo has taken that lesson and adapted it winningly to a piece of real estate on the corner of SW Pine Street about the size of some folks’ bathrooms. Granted, we have yet to find anything as appetizing near the commode as what’s cooking at this café. Hearty and healthy have joined forces to spawn densely packed flatbread sandwiches with roasted vegetables, grilled meats, subtle seasoning, and cheeses, as well as falafels and fragrant middle-eastern dips, freshly baked cookies, muffins and pastries, and stews and broths so rich and flavorful that they’d send the Soup Nazi into frustrated hysterics. Best of all, the menu is constantly changing to reflect the freshest ingredients available and the whims of Velo’s master chef. For those looking for a good jolt to get through the workday, Velo’s size-challenged perspective carries over to an eclectic selection of limited-batch, craft coffee beans and tea leaves hailing from small farms. Enjoy it on the go or at one of the miniature outside tables. In every little way, Velo is a testament to tiny, and proof that bigger isn’t always better. Café Velo |
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| Gratuitous Photo of the Week: | |||
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Mandatory Gear: |
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| 1 | Skull n’ Bones
It seems that Skull and Bones-related designs and motifs are appearing on more than just pirate flags and select Yale cufflinks these days. From the late Alexander McQueen’s runway models to the back of hip kids’ packs, macabre has found its way almost everywhere. For those not wanting to pay ghastly prices for these styles though, Yak Pak offers some great accessories at very reasonable prices. From messenger and backpacks to wallets and laptop sleeves, Yak Pak’s got you covered. |
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| 2 | It’s Almost That Time
Since spring and summer are not yet upon us, we haven’t been too concerned with the general cleanliness of our cars and homes of late – at least not yet. While we still have some time to go before nature calls (spring cleaning, that is), now is really the perfect time to get prepared. Using commercial cleaning technology developed by lads in white coats, the Ionic Clean washing system does things to your water to remove the minerals that generally leave streaks and spots all over what you just washed. Pretty sweet. |
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| 3 | The Classics As part of man’s modern arsenal of cool knickknacks and perpetual distractions, classic games deserve a coveted spot on our shelf. While properly vintage gear is always best (passed down from grandpa), a true-to-life remake also does the trick. Paul Smith brings us several childhood classics in a handsome wooden box that is great for old-time’s sake, but also when the power goes off and you have nieces visiting for the weekend. |
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| Grooming Tip of the Month: | |||
Women always try to make us feel good by saying how sexy salt-n-pepper hair is, but the truth is, it makes you like you're getting closer to using Viagra and oversized remotes (hopefully not at the same time). Now don't rush to the store and come home with a box of dye to tackle those suckers. Remember this is your image ,guys. Instead have a professional give you a demi-permanent color (this means it will fade naturally), preferably one formulated for men's hair. HairM offers a Grey Camouflage service that tones down your greys without making it look like you did anything. So take a few years off, man… while you can. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | See You at the Oscars®! |
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| 2 | You Gotta Check it Out |
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