Archive for August, 2008

Pearl District Sidewalk Sale

Pearl District Labor Day Sale

It’s Labor Day Weekend which for the Pearl District means both its annual outdoor art/craft show and sidewalk sales at 40 shops throughout the neighborhood. Where would we head first? Moule, the Pearl’s most stylish shop for man, woman, child, and gift (no kidding, the space alone is worth seeing) which has huge discounts including great pieces from Rachel Mara that can absolutely play the summer-to-fall game with style. Physical Element will have Taya and Silvija Koschnick of Portland-based Tasi jewelry from 12-5 PM and check Olivia Belle, Bee and Thistle, Bubble Boutique, Mabel & Zora, Icebreaker (fall is coming, time to grab some merino layering pieces) Nolita, and Shoefly.

New Shop: Ink & Peat

Ink & Peat
photo: John Valls via Housemartin

Did we say something recently about the ampers(and) phenomenon for shop names in Portland?

After a 15 year stint doing textile design, Pam Zsori turned design blogger (Housemartin), floral designer, and now retailer with the opening of her floral and home shop Ink & Peat (3808 N Williams — Suite 126). Which is good news for you because she has a giant swath of your design gift needs covered…an armful of cut flowers? printed pillows and table linens? little vases, garden ornaments, rarified lotions and potions? Her aesthetic is clean, modern, light, organic, with a Scandinavian and rough-hewn feel, all in a light, large store in a coming ‘hood.

Ink & Peat
photo: John Valls via Housemartin

That’s “ink” as in printing on card and textile which Zsori extends to mean “handmade,” and “peat” as in digging one’s hands into the earth and the lovely flora that result. Have a look

And while you’re in the neighborhood, check out Lark Press.

Hawthorne Street Fair + Fashion Show

Saturday August 16 is the Hawthorne Street Fair with many shops putting goods on sale including Imelda’s and Louie’s Shoes - 20-70% off sale items inside, Mink with 15% off of all summer items (tanks, shorts, skirts, and dresses), and Local.35 with new markdowns on spring/summer as Justin starts receiving fall goods. Presents of Mind has a sidewalk sale and visiting designer PDX Softgoods.

There is a fashion show at 3 PM at the Main Stage at SE 36th.

Fashion necessaries: sunscreen, parasol, big hat.

physical element online shop opens

Cop.Copine suzelle dress detail. available at physical element
Cop.Copine suzelle dress detail. image via physical element

physical element, the Pearl District boutique with fashion-forward European and Japanese labels like Cop.Copine is now open for business online. We like the detailing on this Cop.Copine dress, and apparently (we’ve yet to take it for a test run) it’s of a convertible length…you can bubble the hem or let it drape…fun! play clothes! And as much as we like color for beach, pool, and garden, we’re just about ready to get serious (like Brian Johnson) with black on black for winter so this “Suzelle” dress suits us to a T.

Check out Bill Cunningham’s On The Street, “Ravenwood.” The ladies of NYC agree.

One-Day Outlet: Bargain Hunting 101

Bargain Hunting 101

Perhaps you will say that you don’t need to go to school to learn how to shop for bargains from a number of Portland’s independent boutiques and shops. We will beg to differ. It is, in fact, to school you’ll go, McMenamins Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd) to be exact, where the latest installment of the multi-shop sale extravaganza, Bargain Hunting 101, happens this Sunday, August 17 from 11-4. Clarification: Kennedy School, as most of you know is the former school turned restaurant, bar(s), movie theater, (and more) by the resourceful McMenamin brothers. Bargain Hunting is more than a dozen Portland shops who transform the Kennedy School gymnasium (and the patio beyond) into an outlet-for-a-day. Who’s in? It’s primarily a NE Alberta lineup with a few outliers thrown in for good measure: Collage, Digs, Frock, Ella’s, Foundation Garments, Garnish, Knot Ugly, Mabel & Zora, Gypsy Chic, Hazeldrops, the Monkey and the Rat, Mink, Olio United , Sofia, Poppy & Ivy, Sofada, and IDOM. If that seems overwhelming? Start with IDOM, Foundation Garments, and Olio United and go from there.


First Thursday Sales

Aruna, Miss Sixty photo via Shoefly

Three Pearl District boutiques are sale-ing for First Thursday from 5-9 PM. Neighbors Mabel & Zora (748 NW 11th) and Shoefly (718 NW 11th) team up with Lucia (424 NW 11th) for the one-night stand. Find shoes from 25-70% off at Shoefly, 15% off dresses at Mabel, and 20% off skirts at Lucia.

New: sword + fern

sword+fern

Remember how for a while, new bands were all called “The (whatevers)”? There are viral naming memes, no doubt. And right now the “and”s have it. Life + Limb, Mabel & Zora, stone & honey, and now sword + fern (811 E Burnside), Emily Baker’s new shop and studio. Ampersands and pluses aside, this latest edition of the revolving set of Very Good Shops at the 811 building looks a winner. The new shop carries work by Erin Albin of Appetite Home (screenprinted home decor) and Heather Treadway’s apparel line Paperdoll as well as Baker’s jewelry (Clever Castle which you might have seen a few doors down at Redux), medicinal botanicals, art, vintage housewares, books. There’s a grand opening party tonight at 6 PM.

Emily Baker jewelry

New Line: Stone & Honey

Stone & Honey Agate
image via Pinball Publishing who printed the chipboard tags for the pieces

A small things necklace is virtually a uniform for many a NW girl. A dear friend doesn’t go anywhere without hers. Carried at Seaplane, Presents of Mind, and other local retailers, we first saw Teresa Robinson’s small things at the dearly departed motel gallery. A dear friend doesn’t go anywhere without hers. small things cuts motifs like little birdforms, minimalist flower silhouettes, from silver and layers them over glass making a modern pendant/ring/etceteras.

This new line, stone & honey, from small things designer Teresa Robinson, knock our socks off with its loose silver geometries that feel hand-drawn, but this agate piece is our favorite. Don’t know what the ETA is for these pieces, but we eagerly anticipate.

pinwheels, stone & honey
image via Pinball Publishing who printed the chipboard tags for the pieces

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