Trendy Tuesday: A Hip Airport Hotel With a Focus on Style & Green Practices

January 4, 2011

The Marriott, Holiday Inn, Motel 6, these are the standard sleeping options that are normally nearby an airport when you visit any U.S. city.  You can expect a hard bed, minimal design, Denny’s style food, and an overall lack of comfort and entertainment. And then there is Aloft Portland Airport Hotel, basically the opposite of everything I just described.

Aloft is located at 9920 NE Cascades Parkway, and is just minutes from baggage claim at Portland International Airport. Stylish, fun, and green minded to boot, Aloft is a clear display of Portland pride and the creator’s love for the North West. This bold new airport lodging sports a loft inspired design with earth tones and geometric shapes, as well as a green building plan and an enforced eco program.

The hotel itself has a gorgeous gym, an impressive bar, a 24/7 open pantry packed full of healthy and indulgent snacks, a beautiful pool, and complimentary hotel-wide internet access. Once inside your room it gets even better, and each room has an ultra-comfortable signature bed, an over-sized showerhead, custom amenities by Bliss® Spa, and a fun, art-deco design. And you don’t have to be afraid to bring the kids along for the stay. Aloft offers for the kids a child-size air mattress and kid’s bedding, kid-friendly food options, games galore, and their splash pool.

And even though there is plenty to see and do right within the walls of the hotel, the establishment urges visitors to get out and enjoy our fantastic city, boasting about our “urban energy, cool culture, edgy art galleries, unique boutiques, and tons of outdoor activities.”  You might expect rates to be high at a place like this, but they start out as low as $99 and have a lot of great offers you can take advantage of.

This is a fun, innovative and stylish airport lodging that is like nothing I have ever experienced before.  It is a welcome addition to our fare city!

Trendy Tuesday: Local Designs & Unique Handmade Pieces at Frock

December 21, 2010

Mix some vintage styles with some Burning Man inspired fashion and you have Frock–a unique boutique that sells independent designs and small runs of rare, one-of-a-kind pieces, and handmade items. As local as it gets, Frock is committed to the local, living economy with a product mix consisting of 90% locally designed and produced items supplemented with 10% regional, independent, and other goods.

It doesn’t matter your age or sex because Frock has something cool for everyone. They have a plethora of items and it was really hard for me to choose my favorites, but here they are!  For women, I would recommend the Stumptown Tee, Peacock Tank Top, Red Floral Applique Tunic, a belt buckle by Namaste, the bike earrings by Handmade Julz, and the What’s Your Poison necklace.

For kids, I love the Octopus Onesie, the Hotdog Hi Five Tee, and the Cat Eye Sunglasses. How cute are these little models by the way!

For the men out there, check out the Cock Tee, Oregon Undies, Lucha Mask Socks and The Hole In One Sweater Cap.

Frock is located at 1439 NE Alberta St. in Portland, Oregon.  Enjoy your holiday shopping (hint, hint) !

Trendy Tuesday: Designer Lables at Here We Go Again

December 14, 2010

Many of my friends who dress in an eclectic “Portland” style shop at Red Light and Buffalo Exchange, resale shops where low prices and a hip selection allow for larger hauls than mall stores or even Forever 21. Here We Go Again is also a resale shop, but they do things a little differently, and they have their eye on a more high-end array of products.

Resale shopping is an art. You have to be patient and persistent to find just the right item, and you have to be willing to go with your gut and buy on impulse when you love something because it probably won’t be there next time you go in. Here We Go Again ensures that you will always have something to marvel at by focusing on designer labels and top-condition merchandise. I’ve often had my clothes turned away at Buffalo Exchange, and I think they’re probably even pickier at Here We Go Again. Check out the instructions for consignment and the list of “Labels We Love,” including Bebe, Burberry, Chanel, Coach, Dolce & Gabbana… you get the idea.

Of course, the discriminating taste at Here We Go Again is what makes it a “deluxe resale boutique,” and they have some truly amazing clothes and shoes for prices way below retail. Take a look at these ankle boots they featured recently.

I’m crazy for ankle boots this winter. So many high heel styles are inappropriate for our rainy Portland winters, but ankle boots pair practical coverage with the irresistible cuteness of heels. Here We Go Again stays on top of fashion trends, and these boots from their John’s Landing store are the most recently featured items on their Web site and Facebook page. Keep in mind that these might already be gone, but if so, they’ve been replaced with something just a little different and just as cute. Oh, the excitement of resale shops.

As you may imagine, along with designer labels come handbags, wallets and pouches in high quality leather and other materials. Two recently posted items that caught my eye:

Here we have two purses with widely varying prices, which I think is great for a resale shop, especially one focusing on high-end labels like Here We Go Again. The purple cross-body purse is by Linea Pelle and costs $69; the big leather bag is by Gustto and selling for $255. That’s a lot of money, but the bag retails for $625, so it’s an amazing deal.

The four items pictured above are from the John’s Landing location, at 0511 SW Carolina St in Portland. Here We Go Again also has a location at 2438 NE Broadway. With the city-wide coverage provided by those two locations, you have got to swing by one (or both!) of their stores and see for yourself the amazing selection and prices offered by this deluxe resale boutique.

Trendy Tuesday: The Urban Cowgirl

December 7, 2010

Uma Thurman in “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” brought a home-on-the-prairie-meets-casual-New-York-chique style to her character.  The cowgirl hat mixed with her rawhide jacket and striped cotton shirt was the perfect combination of new and old style.  Based on the current collections available at Free People, many designers apparently agree.

Slip dresses, fur vests, long flowing skirts and denim jackets line the walls of  the clothing boutique Free People, located at 817 NW 23rd Ave.  It is a look they call “Easy Rider” and the clothing really embodies the freedom and edginess connected with that name.  Some of my favorite pieces available right now are The Easy Rider Dress, Levis Denim Vest, and the Chiffon & Lace Slip.

But it is Free People’s gorgeous western inspired jewelry and accessory collection appropriately titled “the Old West” that really turns any outfit into a cowgirl masterpiece.  The collection contains a lot of leather, fringe, jade, copper and feather pieces, like the ones shown below.

For these and other great styles head on down to Free People’s shop in Portland, or find them online here.

Trendy Tuesday: Gluten Free Treats at New Cascadia

November 30, 2010

You may have noticed a trend of gluten free products in grocery stores and at bakeries. I find this new trend of gluten free products fascinating, because when my mom was diagnosed with celiac disease in 1994, no such market existed. At the time, doctors believe only a small portion of the population suffered from celiac disease or gluten intolerance. In recent years they have realized that many people have a mild to severe allergy to gluten, and a market for gluten free bread and treats has emerged.

My mom has done an admirable job for more than a decade of steering clear of bread, beer, cake and cupcakes, pasta and the innumerable other everyday foods that contain gluten. The next time she comes to Portland, I’m going to have to take her to New Cascadia Traditional Bakery, where nothing on the menu will be off-limits, thanks to this ingenious bakery’s entirely gluten free operation.

Owners Chris and Teresa of New Cascadia both suffer from gluten intolerance, and they established their bakery to meet the needs of others with Celiac disease and gluten allergy. To make their bakery and products completely gluten free, special care has to be taken to avoid any gluten contamination. Even if the in-store operation has no risk of contamination, it’s possible the ingredients they use could have been milled on machines that also milled wheat flour or barley.

The steps they take to avoid contamination include verifying and sourcing all ingredients, buying grains from Bob’s Red Mill produced on gluten free equipment, and maintain a well-informed staff who understand the needs of their customers and the protocols that will deter contaimination. At New Cascadia, they also incorporate more than the standard rice flour, tapioca and other non-gluten flours. They use nutritious, hearty alternatives  like quiona, teff, coconut flour and more.

Once these practical elements are considered, we can move on to the treats! New Cascadia offers bread like baguettes, their “Portland Sourdough,” seeded bread, pizza crust and the indulgent cheddar parmesan bread. Basic stuff, but extraordinary to a person who’s been denied such simple pleasures. Bagels and hamburger buns round out the list of basic bread products. I can recall many a burger eaten by my mom with a fork and knife, bun pushed aside. These buns will solve that problem!

Most of the breads are vegan (for those with dairy and egg allergies), and all are soy-free.They also have a line of vegan sweets. Cakes are made to order — place your order 48 hours ahead of time to have a beautiful gluten-free cake for your birthday or event. As for pastries, New Cascadia offers tarts, cupcakes, pies, cinnamon rolls, and cookies. Cookie flavors include certified gluten free oatmeal, chocolate chip hazlenut, snickerdoodle and vegan chocolate chip!

New Cascadia Traditional Bakery is located at 1700 SE 6th Ave at SE Market, one block down from Hawthorne. Whether you have a gluten allergy or not, these treats are worth trying!

Written by Forkfly intern Eleanor R. Brown

Trendy Tuesday: Shopping Locally at Kazoodles Toys in Vancouver

November 23, 2010

Thanksgiving is still to come (just a couple days!), but the Christmas music is already playing 24/7 on the radio. With about a month to go to those various gift-giving holidays, it’s time to start thinking about what to buy for the people you love. We all enjoy presents, but what’s more fun than picking out a toy for a child in your life and watching them open it with rapt appreciation? At Kazoodles Toy Store in Vancouver, you will find unique, fun gifts for the kids in your life.

Kazoodles was opened by Bob and Mary Sisson in 2006 to fill a niche market they had detected in the Vancouver area. They wanted to find safe, quality, unique toys for their grandkids without having to come to Portland, so they made it happen. Earlier this year, they opened a sister store. Kazoodles is independently and locally owned, scoring it big points with those who look to avoid supporting big corporations with their holiday dollars. Current social-awareness movements like No Corporate Christmas make independent retailers like Kazoodles especially trendy and attractive places to do your holiday shopping.

Let’s take a look at some of the great toys they offer!

The first thing that caught my eye, this “faux bow” by Marky Sparky, may seem like a reckless choice, but Kazoodles strongly emphasizes safety in the toys they sell, and this product won the Astra Best Toy award for Best Active Toy of 2010. The bow is recommended for those eight and older, and costs $24.99. I know kids who spend so much time in front of a screen, anything that gets them moving (even to shoot things) is a good thing in my book.

If you feel otherwise, Kazoodles has a lot more to offer, too!

This next product is a splurge at $169.99, but I am a sucker for dollhouses. Playmobile has the best sets and accessories, with lots of detail to make the scenes versatile and fun. This Furnished School Building will keep boys and girls entertained for hours during long cold days inside. And I certainly won’t judge if you choose to join the kids and play with it. Those figures are just too cute to leave alone.

For a creative activity that will captivate a budding artist, get the Create Your Own Pop-Up Books kit for $19.99. The kit includes blank books, markers and design ideas to get your young friend started on her pop-up masterpiece. These three recommendations barely scratch the surface of Kazoodle’s huge, excellent selection. Look at their website to see tons more great gift options, and search by age, activity or brand.

Even better than browsing on the website is browsing in the store, so check out Kazoodles at their original location, 575 W 8th St in Vancouver, or at their new location, 13503 SE Mill Plain Blvd, #B-3, also in Vancouver.

Trendy Tuesday: Wine Bars

November 9, 2010

Last night the city got dark at about 5:45 pm. It was the first of many dark, wet winter days to come. When this time of year rolls around in Portland, our version of hibernation often calls for getting well acquainted with the dive bar down the street. This year, let go of your dingy watering hole and explore the trendy alternative to the ubiquitous Portland bar, the wine bar. Surely classy joints like Wine Unwind and Pour Wine Bar and Bistro will take the edge off the Seasonal Depressive Disorder the city collectively suffers from.

Wine Unwind, located in the Pearl, emphasizes comfort and an inviting atmosphere, defying the vague notion some people have of wine as elitist. This shop has a lot more going for it than just its extensive selection of European, California and Northwest wines. Every Friday the shops hosts a tasting of their favorite selections of the week, followed by live music (the website describes it as “more like a private concert”). They also host unique movie-watching experiences, where foreign films are paired with a wine from the country of the movie’s origin.

Wine Unwind has a huge selection of vino, which you can order by the glass, by the bottle, purchase to take home, or order online and have shipped to you. They also have a wine club, where you can sign up to have 2, 6 or 12 bottles shipped to you 4 times per year. The wines sent out are carefully selected for quality, matched to the season, and info on vintage and food pairings is included. Oh, and Wine Unwind offers its space for private parties without a reservation cost — you only pay for the drinks and food you and your group consume. That’s one tasty deal.

As for you east-siders, Pour Wine Bar on NE Broadway also offers selection, accessibility and value. Pour focuses more on local products — most of their bottles come from family owned small vineyards. Also, their menu is slightly more extensive than that at Wine Unwind, with a stronger emphasis on food and wine pairings. The owner Robert Voltz worked as a cook in Eugene and continues to plan and execute much of the menu at Pour. The aesthetic at Pour embraces a retro look, built around the look of the space and “a stash of Saarinen chairs left over from a 1952 cruise boat.”

Pour offers a great value on wine — check out their prices here. They do not have a retail store, but they do sell bottles to go, for $5 less than the serving price. Sundays are reserved for parties and events, and the space is available along with help in throwing a theme party or dinner.

Wine Unwind and Pour Wine Bar and Bistro offer great alternatives to your usual routine, with upbeat atmospheres and intelligent recommendations on delicious drinks. Check Forkfly for deals with these trend-setting spots.

Written by Forkfly intern Eleanor R. Brown

Trendy Tuesday: Fall Fashion at Shop Adorn

November 2, 2010

I go to school at Portland State, where I like to spend time between classes sitting in the park blocks and watching people as they go by. It’s not unlike window shopping; every day I spot a style I’d love to emulate. Shop Adorn, a NE Portland boutique with a website that ships all over the US, offers designer styles at non-designer prices, and they’re carrying some of the fall fashions seen around Portland.

First, the all-important fall jacket.

Portland in the fall is all about layers. While heavy coats will emerge later in the season, for now Portland is rockin’ the hoodie-under-a-jacket look. Hoodies are pretty indispensable considering our wet climate (and our reluctance to use umbrellas), and a jacket that fits comfortably over your favorite sweatshirt will keep you warm and dry all autumn long. Above on the left is a men’s bomber jacket by Obey for $108; on the right, a women’s Kut from the Kloth jacket in Olive for $60.

The cool weather calls for some warm staples, like this heavy cotton button-down and this gray sweater dress. (That cowl neck keeps you warm the same way a scarf does, and the silk blend fabric is insulating — stay cozy all day in this dress!) Lanzo shirt by WeSC, $68; L.A.M.B. dress, $195.

And the finishing touches on this fall wardrobe are accessories you can throw in your backpack and pull out when it gets a little nippy or the rain starts coming down. Fingerless gloves are essential for those of us with touchscreen smartphones; these Coal gloves are only $15 and they’ll be handy all winter long. The $25 acrylic hat, also by Coal, will keep you dry and warm.

Visit Shop Adorn at 4759 NE Fremont to stock up on your fall staples, and use Forkfly to get 20% off your entire Shop Adorn purchase!

Written by Forkfly intern Eleanor Brown

Trendy Tuesday: Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt in Vancouver

October 26, 2010

The idea of mixing toppings into a frozen treat is not particularly novel. We’ve all had McFlurries (yum) and ice cream mixed on a frozen granite slab and dropped into a little red bucket. I used to work at one such ice cream shop, where the thick, trans-fat-laden concoctions and the high prices ($.50 for each little scoop of M&Ms?) turned me away from our product quickly, although I loved my job. Perhaps I could have pimped my product with more enthusiasm had I worked at Menchie’s, a frozen yogurt shop that really is doing things in a new and different way.

Menchie’s deals in frozen yogurt, not ice cream, automatically giving it points for healthiness (or at least guilt-free-indulgence-ness.) Of course you can deck out your froyo with hot fudge and peanut butter to up the dessert factor. Or add fresh fruit and granola for an honestly wholesome snack — Menchie’s yogurt has live and active cultures, which are good for digestion, and lots of bone-building calcium. Sugar-free, low carb and dairy-free options are also available. Sounds good, you say, but what’s going on at Menchie’s to deserve a Trendy Tuesday post?

And here we come to the best part: you pay for what you grab, not based on charges for each tiny spoonful of topping, but by weight! No longer will the number of toppings you want, however little of each variety, break your bank. Although Menchie’s is now an international franchise company, this is no evil, opportunistic corporation. The concept came from a young couple who got married and opened their first store within the same year.

Their company has experienced wild success and growth. Still, “Every Menchie’s is founded on the same principles of community, outstanding service, healthy living, and the pursuit of the perfect yogurt mix!”

So stop by Menchie’s in Vancouver on your lunch break, or take the family after dinner for a reasonably  and fairly priced, wholesome treat. The store is located at 19171 Mill Plain Blvd, Suite 107.

Written by Forkfly intern Eleanor Brown.

Trendy Tuesday!: The Green Approach to Business

October 19, 2010

As slow as the progress might be, one can’t deny that businesses have made some much needed steps in the green direction over the past few years.  More and more consumers are bringing their own bag when shopping, many grocery stores have stopped offering plastic bags, companies are replacing their outdated light bulbs and appliances with energy saving ones, and even though all of this is commendable, it is businesses like Oblation Papers & Press that are helping keep Portland ranked the number one greenest city in America.

Oblation Papers, located in The Pearl District, say that they, “Have been attracted to the benefits and practicality of recycling since they opened in 1989.”   Oblation includes a letterpress print shop, urban paper mill, retail store, flat printing and a wholesale product line.  Every day they take unwanted paper products, convert them back into pulp, and make it into fresh, new paper.

Twenty years later they are still making paper and following recycling principals. Their concerns for conservation affect everything they do, including their design process. Their fiber source is now 100% cotton, acid-free, and recovered from the garment industry. They supply a machine-made envelope option with their printed work that is made from 100% post consumer waste.  To reduce waste,  they have a line of wedding invitations with only a single envelope and RSVP postcard. Their digital design department provides several environmentally friendly paper options, and prints using solid ink technology, which generates approximately 90% less waste than typical color printers. They also use soy inks and citrus solvents.

But the most impressive part about this company is that they are proud supporters of wind energy, and use this sustainable power option to run their business!  Way to go guys you are truly an inspiration to businesses everywhere!  Support green companies like Oblation right here on Forkfly, and get $5 off a purchase of $25 or more from Oblation through the end of this month.

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