For the second year in a row, the Mercury asked its readers to nominate the sexiest person in Portland—be it themselves, their partner, friend, or acquaintance. In a city of pioneers un-beholden to the mainstream, the definition of “sexy” is extremely nonspecific. As we pored over the submissions, we simply knew we’d recognize it when we saw it, without many preconceived notions of what we were looking for. This year’s choices, Kate Lucas and Nolan Catfish, weren’t just chosen for their physical looks (although they’re both pretty devastating), but because we recognized in them an attitude that felt right, and indicative of something sexy about Portland, something worth taking an afternoon or two with a talented photographer to memorialize in these images.
Like many of the young people who keep this city more interesting than its size implies, Kate and Nolan’s perspectives are shaped by experiences living outside of Portland. Kate is one of those seemingly rare Oregon natives in the 18-35 demographic. Originally from Aloha, she left after high school to pursue acting dreams in New York City, ultimately returning to explore another interest that didn’t make her feel “at the mercy of other people’s whims,” or (ironically) subject to other people’s definitions of sexy. She’s currently in school and considering a career as a sports chiropractor, can flawlessly rap you the intro to The Fresh Prince of Bel–Air, and counts cats, reading, and true stories among the things she defines as “sexy.”
Nolan originally hails from Indiana, but has come to epitomize one of the most celebrated aspects of local culture: small-scale, organic, local farming. After gathering experience in food production that included stints all over the country, as well as in New Zealand, Nolan completed the Farmer Apprentice Program at Sauvie Island Organics in 2008. He then went on, with business partner Chris Segel, to found Wealth Underground Farm (wealthunderground.blogspot.com), where many of these photos were taken. Located on a Metro-leased acre in the hills off Highway 30, they began selling their 100-plus varieties of seasonal crops at the St. Johns Farmers Market, and this year have moved on to becoming a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm. Tempting as it may be, bombarding them for subscriptions (as of this writing there are still a few slots open) may well result in being turned away; they are committed to maintaining their hands-on, craftsmanship emphasis. In other words, they want to stay small.
Kate and Nolan are sexy because they’re healthy, natural, happy, and unpretentious. And for at least a few minutes as they frolicked in nothing but a couple wool blankets, boots, and their skivvies in a wide-open meadow on a drizzly afternoon, we would venture to declare that they were, indeed, the two sexiest people in Portland.
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Meh.
My avatar is sexier.
Umm….really? That’s the best you got?
Your avatar proves you need to leave the house, and “the best” Portland has is tongue in cheek…duh. When they do an article about Portland’s biggest haters, there you’ll be.
They’re adorable! Where do I click to see them doing IT?
But…who ARE they? How did they get the most votes? It just says she’s in school and he’s a farmer – how did people know to write in their names? Did they campaign for votes or something?
Would reading this article in the print version make more sense…this is just plain odd.
Kudos to both, but Matt Flagg is sexier by a mile.
@ Reymont: We put the call out for submissions weeks in advance. Anyone could submit themselves or be submitted by someone else. You just had to know the person you were submitting well enough to at least provide us with enough information to contact them. There was no need for them to be locally famous or work in a high traffic location of Stumptown or anything, necessarily. And we selected them in-house. It was never put to a public vote (we can be cruel, maybe, but not that cruel).
This article makes me sad. I’m not sure why. But this is the sexiest Portland has to offer? Even without beer goggles, I see more talent at any random bar on a weekday night. I get the feeling that there weren’t too many nominations.
Meh indeed, they are fairly un-ambitious personality-wise and not exactly *stunning* by any standards… fairly run-of-the-mill-average. But then again, can’t go hurting the others with average looks’ feelings. Oh, the celebration of boring.
A lot of you are being stupid twats. This piece is touching on the irony of “real” beauty contests by holistically choosing finalists that embody many of Portland’s finest attributes. One of those most important attributes (that some of you need to be reminded of) is just NOT GIVING A FLYING FUCK. So calm down. Personally, I’d bang the living daylights out of Nolan any day of the week, except Sunday. That’s Jesus’ day to bang.
If anybody can find a Highschool pic from back in the day of Kate, she used to be a huge fattie, but cheers to her for picking a better life of being fit. It proves that she cares enough about herself to want to be healthy. but the chubby pics are really quite amusing.
Kate is super fine! Nolan is cute, too, but he looks sort of mean. Maybe it’s the Bizarro Nolan facial-hair.
oh but the world is missing out. the girl nolan started this farm with, a sweet gal named brooke…now SHE Is a feast for the eyes.
the real sexiest girl in portland is no doubt a stripper…and the sexiest dude should play in a band and do yoga.
Yeah…BORING. The Lille or Gilt ads are totally sexier. Shit even the Sapphire Hotel ads sometimes..
of course they’re both white hipsters.
Isn’t ‘sexy’ supposed to illicit thoughts of sex? Those people don’t make me think of sex.
I would imagine that 100% of the people people who complain about these two being less than hot are even less hot themselves, ugly or even fugly.
Typical ugly Portland hippy/hipster types.
I don’t get it
Yeah, I don’t get it either. “Kate and Nolan are sexy because they’re healthy, natural, happy, and unpretentious” pretty much sums up everyone in Portland. This is just lazy writing. And it’s not Luker’s best work either.
There was an underlying point to this which at least some of you are grasping. And yes, naturally they are a couple of white hipster/hippies (whatever..), which is hardly shocking considering the publication. Basically I see hundreds of people that resemble them every week…stupid little bearded guys, chicks with bobs and funny clothes-Ca c’est la vie, no? Either way I think they are representative of Portland (good or bad) and I think even one of them is ACTUALLY FROM HERE! No way! However “Burtles” your assertion that everyone in Portland “is healthy, natural, happy and UNPRETENTIOUS” is either one of the the most ironically funny statements of all time or you are confused. I would love to know what areas of our fair town you frequent(I pretty much know already), purely from a cultural anthropology standpoint of course.
I would actually attribute the fact that he “looks mean” ROM, to a lack of oxygen to the brain and the unfortunate consequences. In other words he might be a little slow. Just saying.
the article was not “pick the guy and the girl who are most representative of portland,” it was portland’s sexiest people. the “iest” part means the most sexy of all the fine people in town. yeah i’m talking to you showstopper, can you grasp that underlying point?
@tw Damn right! #fail
I’d rather be average on the outside than ugly on the inside.
I think they are plenty sexy, but the booty girl on the Lille ad outshines everyone.
@TheHundreds you’re probably one of those people that use to think your shit didn’t stink & now you got older & uglier & realized how successful kate got & needed to hate on her. it doesnt matter what she looked like in highschool cause now she is the sexiest in oregon & that probably makes you green with envy.
=]
They are cute enough but what is up with the old blanket, hiking boot, undie combo? That just makes me queasy and it’s not all that sexy.
What’s really sad is how many Portlanders probably DO think these mediocre hipsters are the very definition of “sexy”.
sexiest chicken ever!
This may be the Mercury’s most pathetic moment.
But I guess, VOTE for Portlands MEDIOCREST Heptards! doesn’t have the same ring…
@ thehundreds:
wow. a fattie, huh? but what about her personality? did you even know her? was she kind? passionate? funny? helpful? do you even know?
these are just two people who are being honored because someone thinks they’re special, not because they are most likely to star in your masturbatory fantasies.
doesn’t anyone remember the golden rule? does no one watch bambi anymore?
so… fuck you! AHS ’98 biatch!
The cluephone is ringing. It’s for you, n^k.
“PORTLAND’S SEXIEST” means they SHOULD be “most likely to star in your masturbatory fantasies”. What part of the definition of “sexiest” do you not understand?
cluephone? maybe you need to practice that hustle of yours on some scrabble yo.
grab a dictionary, pal. not only does sexy not require physical or sexual attractiveness, the definition implies subjectivity and does not exclude complete subjectivity.
i personally think knowing how to grow your own food and not being afraid to go after what you want is extremely sexy… and you probably think fake tits and bleached assholes are sexy. AND THAT’S OK.
but, it may be time for you to dial the ego down a bit and realize nobody really gives a shit whether you find these two sexy or not. they will shine on while you will be posting miserable half-baked insults within the life swallowing interweb. have fun!
They’re so…..vanilla! Nothing spicy or kicky or lustful here at all! This is like saying the “Twilight” movies are the best porn.
Man, who could win this game? Last years hairdresser and bartender got ripped to shreds and now their opposites are being torn new ones. You people would bitch no matter what. I applaud this years picks. The definition of sexy in Portland is so skewed that I think these two are refreshing. They both appear comfortable in their skin, they’re doing “stuff”, and I think “healthy, natural, happy” is the perfect embodiment of what sexy should be. Quit being dicks.
He looks like Jack White, and she looks like Parker Posey needing a sandwich. Have I stumbled into the 90s again? These people are average at best.
I agree with whoever said “Sexiest” makes the reader think the person is hot or, maybe, just maybe WANT TO HAVE SEX WITH THEM. Now granted, my age means I could be both these kids’ parents, but still, I can appreciate beauty in all ages and forms. Beauty, and attractiveness, yes. These two exude that, I guess. But “sexy”??? No. Not even close. These two people, as nice as they might be, do not make me salivate and want to rip my clothes off and have sex with them. And it would have been helpful if the Mercury had defined “sexy” a little differently. I don’t define sexy as someone who is happy and exudes confidence and health. I define sex as someone I might want to have sex with. Duh. I’m just saying.
Nolan’s not just cute. I was friends with him in college, and I can say that he’s also a smart and creative risk-taker who’s living out his ideals, and isn’t afraid of hard work. That’s pretty sexy…
I met nolan. he is a little slow at best. but generally he can pass it off as bruting