Who: Miko and Carrick
Where: The Cute Alert! Party at Le Baron de Paris
Photo by: Dan Bailey

More of the crowd, the backstage, and the show after the break… All photos by Minh Tran.

Guess which is the latest Portland boutique to offer shopping online.

Hey, it’s February already, and it kicks off with First Friday on E Burnside. This time around, Lille Boutique is adding art to its already awesome equation of beautiful lingerie and antiques. Sarah E. LaBarre’s “New Works in Fibers” will have its opening reception at the store (1007 E Burnside) from 6-9 pm, and expect art to become a staple of Lille’s First Friday doings—they’ve already got artists booked out through April.

And that’s just the tip of the iceburg with Lille news: They’re also debuting the launch of local artist Sabrina Peterson’s new line of lingerie, called Birds of Prey (Someone tell Jayme Hansen!), plus new arrivals from The Lake and Stars and Princesse Tam Tam.

AND, from now until the 14th, the store is also offering 15% off all lingerie from Eres (one of my personal favorites). Happy Valentine’s Day indeed.

Oh Baby is getting ready for Valentine’s Day shoppers with an event that pays tribute not to “panties” but knickers—as in, lingerie from Great Britain. Sure, why not? On Friday, Feb 8, 7-9 pm at the Broadway location (1811 NE Broadway) you can check out the British Valentines Romp, and score something from across the pond for your posh lady.

The SHOP/08 Portland conference is coming to town. The deets:

Crave Party is proud to present SHOP/08 Portland, a conference to honor, invigorate, and educate independent retailers of all stripes. For new businesses still figuring out the nuts and bolts or a business veteran needing fresh ideas, this all-day conference is for all business owners seeking knowledge and improvement. The only conference of its kind, this one-day event teaches practical skills, offers wise encouragement, and builds camaraderie amongst retail professionals. Whether your shop sells cookies or candles, high-heeled shoes or hardbound books, the public is invited to join us. Guests are encouraged to bring all business questions, frustrations, fears, worries, and hopes. Prepare to be inspired. Attendees will participate in panel discussions and group sessions geared to enhance all areas of business. Topics covered include how to attract new customers, predict future trends, effectively build your brand, and how to use the online marketplace to enhance your brick and mortar store. The SHOP/08 mission is to bring the community together to be inspired and educated while keeping the local small shop owner thriving. Featured local experts this year include Carol Gardner of Zelda Wisdom, Kathi O’Neil of Portland Picks, Suzanne Hein of LexiDog Boutique & Social Club, Hallie Janssen of Anvil Media, Mark Hayes of Flowerbud.com, Melissa Shaw of What Counts, Craig Opfer of Magneto Works, Katherine Gray of Tweak Interactive, Lisa Radon of Ultra PDX, Andi Koegler of The Changing Room Magazine, Rebecca Luke of les Egoistes and Rob Smith of the Portland Business Journal – to name just a few. Past speakers include seasoned retailers like Mario from Mario’s, Jeri Rice, Michelle Manasie of Fireworks and Lisa Myers of Capers in Seattle. SHOP/08 is an all-day conference that takes place in Portland on Monday, March 10th from 9-5pm at the Gerding Theater @ The Armory in Portland’s Pearl District. Registration is $100 for a full day pass, $75 for a full day pass if you purchase two or more. Please visit http://craveparty.com/shop08 for event information and www.craveportland.com to purchase tickets online.

Lots of pretty people and beautiful designs came out last night… stay tuned for photos and an exciting new video to come shortly!

Hey designers/business owners, did you know that you can place a free classified ad on portlandmercury.com advertising your goods? See here what Ity-bity Bags did for her business under the “piece of craft” section and she doesn’t even live in Portland!

You can’t beat free advertising! I’m going to get my own ad together now.

Reminder that tonight is Action/Re-Action, a fashion show featuring 12 of Portland’s brightest apparel design stars: Adam Arnold, Holly Stalder, Genevieve Dellinger, Julia Barbee, Emily Katz, Elizabeth Dye, Leanne Marshall, Kate Towers, Gretchen Jones, Liza Rietz, and Emily Ryan.

Each designer will be showing a piece inspired by Touching Warms the Art, a hands-on jewelry show currently residing at the Museum of Contemporary Craft. (You can read more about the show here and here.)

This looks to be a great opportunity to see these designers working on a level that’s more conceptual than commercial, and I for one am quite anxious to see the results.

(A piece from Touching Warms the Art)

Whether you’re dunking a basketball, dressing like a nerd, or playing air guitar with a broom, be sure to take along your BRITISH KNIGHTS!

Circa. 1990. Tips to James!

Last night I saw La Lupe, Queen of Latin Soul, which is being screened on Sunday by the NW Film Center in the last installment of the Reel Film Festival. She interesting for a lot of reasons (an insane, manic performer, a Santera, sassy and hilarious), not least of which is her style. I have never seen huger false eyelashes, and she was always teetering on the edge between beautiful and crazy.

I’m going to put aside the un-PC billing of this sale at Mario’s (833 SW Broadway, or Bridgeport Village if you know no fear) as being something for women to do while all the men-folk watch the Superbowl and eat chicken wings (hey, it’s been around for 20 years), because what’s really important here is that prices are being slashed on the kinds of designer duds that small potatoes folks like my only (frequently) dream of owning. With the Winter Break Sale already in effect, sale prices will be halved on all women’s sale items. That is huge.

The sale starts earlier than Mario’s is usually open: from 11 am-5 pm, and espresso will be provided (headgear might also be advised). Be nice, and have fun.

(She loves shoes, he loves chicken wings.)

Who: Takao
Where: Outside of his store, Nid, on Cat Street (Shibuya)
Cutest piece: My fabrics interseason jumper!
Photo by: AM