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April 24th, 2009
One of our friends from the Carolinas has recently made us examine our Northwest fashion. He’s a blend-into-the-scene type of guy; been here six months, works at “The Eastside Giant,” and is adopting Seattle as home. The problem is that we think his scene is a decade out of date and entirely made up of out-of-state stereotypes and random re-runs from the show “Frasier.” Three recent examples: he wears Birkenstocks, but only with socks; he follows the mantra of not carrying an umbrella, but wears the biggest rain jacket everywhere; and he is steadfastly devoted to coffee—but only to Starbucks. Speaking of fashion, forward this issue of SPFM to 5 or more friends and CC us at picks@seattlepicksformen.com, because our friends at MOMO are giving away a $30 gift certificate to one of you and offering everyone 10% off for the rest of the week if you mention SPFM. (Small Print: Can’t be combined with other offers and not applicable to consigned items; aka jewelry). |
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Seattle Picks for Men: |
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| 1 | Atlas Shopped Sometimes the best new clothes are old clothes. For this to be true, though, the old clothes really have to be the best. This is the problem with many so-called vintage stores. At Atlas Clothing, however, the best is all they sell. The store does carry new clothing, though the vintage selection is the real draw. Atlas features pieces from Lacoste, Adidas, and other quintessential ’70s and ’80s brands. There are also tons of worn-in Levi’s and countless one-of-a-kind T-shirts, all of which are perfectly weathered. Prices are very reasonable, ranging from $5–10 for a T-shirt and about $40–60 for a jacket or pants. The clothes are carefully edited and updated often; the staff is helpful and knowledgable about what they are selling. Also, a small part of the store is dedicated to records, courtesy of Jive Time Records, (and good music is always playing). In their new location, Atlas is the place to go, whether you’re looking for something specific or just looking around. Since the inventory changes often and you never know what treasures you’ll find. Atlas Clothing |
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| 2 | Pasta Revisited Yes, there are a lot of Italian restaurants out there. But how many of them are really that good? Are they just good, or good enough to revisit week after week after week? We know at least one that is. It is called Rialto Pasta Bar & Grill, it’s in Fremont, and it is epic. We are not totally sure what it is about the place (which used to be in Greenlake, for those keeping track) but we think it has something to do with the comfortable yet refined atmosphere, the excellent and personable staff, and of course the mind-blowing handmade pasta. The (affordable) menu is packed with delicious options like Spinach Fettuccine Alfredo, Baked Ziti with Pork Ragu, Classic Bolognese, and the absolutely perfect Rudy’s Red, which consists of a rich meat sauce simmered for hours and served over handmade spaghetti with two huge meatballs. There are also nightly specials, and every entrée comes with a salad. We bet that you will be hooked after your first visit. And if you’re still a little unsure, try the Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake. Rialto Pasta Bar & Grill |
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| 3 | Lucky Beer For many of us, beer is a staple in our diet. To use the classic food pyramid as an example, it would go sweets, dairy, meat, vegetables, fruits, then grain all drenched in beer. Thankfully, a new brewery and taproom has opened in Redmond for us to indulge in our favorite libation. The Black Raven Brewery has set up shop just off of Willows Road and is crafting small-batch ales and lagers. The small taproom is both a fill-up station for bottles, growlers, and kegs as well as a cool pit-stop to duck out of traffic and make better use of your time. With no kitchen yet, you are free to bring or order in any food you like. The home and guest beers rotate often, but expect great-tasting and interesting beers from the Raven soon. Two we are excited to try: the Splinters, a scotch beer aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels; and their Belgian-style, bottle-conditioned series. From what we’ve tasted so far, it seems the raven does bring good luck to brewers. Black Raven Brewing |
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| Gratuitous Photo of the Week: | |||
Photo courtesy of www.spicylingerie.com |
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| Mandatory Gear: | |||
| 1 | Hardy Drinker Water bottles are in abundance around here, though sometimes they are a bit too big and bulky. For these times, we are looking for something sleek, cool, and very durable. Thankfully, Nalgene now has a flask. With a 12-ounce capacity (and a handy shot glass-sized cap), this leak-proof, slender hip buddy is the perfect thing for a quick refreshment here or there. |
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| 2 | Grill Out Summer and good weather are on their way, but are you prepared? Unlike beer, grilled food is difficult to bring to the beach, let alone to the top of a mountain—sorry, Weber. Thankfully, the O-Grill 3000 is here and extremely portable. This propane grill weighs in at 24 pounds, has a 225-square-inch surface and comes with everything you need, including retractable legs, storage case, and lighter. Grill on! |
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| 3 | Keep it Up For those techies out there (and everyone else who owns an iPhone or iPod), keeping a long battery charge can be a challenge sometimes. Belkin has developed a sleek-looking USB charger made for the car that doesn’t come off as nerdy or bulky. Flush with the dash, both it and your device will look like they finally belong in the car. Now you can keep your power up all night long. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Sounders vs. Earthquake Pre-Game Party |
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| 2 | Hop Scotch 2009 It’s that time of year again. Hop Scotch Beer and Scotch Festival is back and as good as ever. Take seminars on scotch, talk with brewers, and support the Seattle International Film Festival. Come one, come all, and bring a designated driver. What: Hop Scotch Beer and Scotch Festival When: May 8 and 9 Where: Fremont Studios Cost: $20 and up Visit: www.hopscotchtasting.com |
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| 3 | David Sedaris Talks Down to You |
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It has come to our attention that a Nigerian prince will share his fortune with us; all we have to do is share our credit card with him. Thankfully, we don’t steal identities nor do we share your email with anyone. Tell your friends about Seattle Picks For Men, they’ll thank you. |
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