Shoeshine stands began to appear on my radar around the time I started dropping multiple C-notes on boots. At first it was a mildly fetishistic stunt, sitting on the stand in black Barbarella boots and a super-short skirt. But I soon became addicted to the firm pressure of the stiff brush, the manly smell of […]
Employee of the Week
Posted inEmployee of the Week
Kari Coleman
Assistant to Gus Van Sant Meno Film Company
After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in marketing and sociology, Vancouver native Kari Coleman was following in her mother’s footsteps working at the welfare office when she realized the job would soon drive her nuts. So she enrolled in an intro to Super 8 class at the Northwest Film Center, and […]
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David Chelsea
Commercial Artist for various publications, including the New York Times and the New York Observer
Last year I had an article in the New York Times—a personality piece about my then-dude that I wrote for their “Modern Love” column. While it was somewhat shocking to see my (real) name in that most-hallowed paper, it was more disconcerting to see the illustration that accompanied it: a watercolor portraying an eerie likeness […]
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Evelyn Weston
Operations ManagerPhotobooth ServicesPhotobooth Services
Perhaps you’ve noticed the stealthy influx of retro photo booths in Stumptown’s finer boîtes. First it seemed the only booths were at the Matador and Ace Hotel, but soon they appeared at Holocene and Ground Kontrol. Now East End’s got one and (for those who prefer the company of tots to toddies) so does Finnegan’s […]
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Amanda DeMann
Fromager New Seasons Market
Talking with Amanda DeMann about cheese is a transformative experience. She proselytizes with as much fervor as a church full of Pentecostals, so it’s no wonder that people have started calling her “Cheesus” (rhymes with Jesus… get it?!). She got her start innocently enough when she happened upon a French cheese book. Crammed with historical […]
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Tony Mengis
Bartender/Owner East End 203 SE Grand
The days are numbered for Portland institution Virginia Café, which will fall under the wrecking ball early next year, leaving precious few dive bars downtown. While they’ll tell you they’re not actually closing, only moving up the street, the Virginia won’t be the same without the decades of nicotine residue and lipstick prints that give […]
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Matt Halperin
Command Pilot Columbia Helicopters
Once a familiar face at Bluehour, Saucebox, and Zefiro, Matt Halperin was feeling service industry burnout when he struck upon his new career while watching Russell Crowe in Proof of Life. Now he’s been piloting helicopters for seven years, flying all over the West Coast with huge loads of logs or water (fire season just […]
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Christy Noelle Desko
Psychic/Proprietress
Tea houses devoted to fortunetelling used to be quite common in the United States. Unfortunately, these days they’re a dwindling breed. But now—goddess bless!—Portland has her very own, thanks to the enterprising Christy Desko, who opened Mademoiselle Noelle’s Fortune Tea House two months ago. Christy has been a working psychic and practicing herbologist since the […]
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Employee of the Week
Anjali Hursh DJ Fez, Holocene, etc. As you may have observed, Portland is about the whitest city on the planet. Happening upon a party hosted by Andaz is like falling through a rabbit hole—revelers of all races and ages come together on the dancefloor, sweating to the infectious Indian beats of DJ Anjali and the […]
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Cora Conzoner
Bartender Ladd’s Inn
Although it looks like any other unassuming neighborhood dive bar, the Ladd’s Inn is a storied Portland destination. It’s been a hippie folk music venue, a controversial hiphop club, and in more recent history, it has become a destination for under-the-radar chaos, with nightly happenings from karaoke to poker to stand-up comedy. This Saturday, October […]
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Noah Kort
Dildosmith cloneawilly.com
Whoever said diamonds are a girl’s best friend didn’t know about vibrators. Gals love their toys. However, even the ballsiest boy might feel a twinge of penis envy when he catches a glimpse of the thick eight-inch pearl-studded Pink Panther on his darling’s bedside table. Well, try this on for size: The Clone-A-Willy penis casting […]
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Shari L. Jay
Natural Resource Specialist
It’s weird when you find out someone you know actually has a “Real Job.” Take Shari Jay, who’s as rebel as they make ’em south of the Mason-Dixon. Shari’s a cowboy from Oklahoma, a tractor fanatic with a degree in Irish literature, and a fixture at the more rock ‘n’ roll after hours in town […]