Read And Weep, Out Of Towners

It's a long weekend, the kick-off to Summer, and I hope you all get a chance to spend time with family and reconnect with friends who you haven't seen as much as you'd like to over the Winter. My weekend will include: blanket in the grass, pickled cucumber sandwich, some Malian guitar music, and Kir in the afternoon.

If you are lucky enough to be in Portland this weekend I would also like to recommend a few things to do in town.

You have just over a week left to see the Beneath The Surface print show at Nemo, curated by dear friends and Le Train Bleu collaborators Pattern People.

Opening Night Reception

Anna Giertz

Kustaa Saksi

Katrin Wiens

Pattern People

I would also like to recommend a visit to my favorite Portland boutique Una. The New York Times just ran an article on Portland (AGAIN, sheesh...and thanks!), and they named this as a spot to hit. I would also recommend it to any visitor who likes fashion, antiques, jewelry, the beautiful life.

This might surprise people to hear but I'm boutique phobic (one of the reasons I love shopping online). However, Giovanna the owner of Una is so charming and at the same time laid back that I find myself "popping in" to her shop and then turn into the dinner guest who hasn't left even after the hosts are in their pj's brushing their teeth and taking the recycling out. Oh, and she sells amazing stuff, always amazing stuff. She has some new deliveries that have just arrived AND an awesome sale going on. P.S. if you don't live in Portland, sniff sniff, you can visit the Una Blog and if you see anything you'd like to order just email or call and they can ship it to you.

Album di Famiglia
J. Dauphin Road Runner Bracelet

What else should you do? Go to the sale at my other favorite boutique in town, Narcisse. They carry the exquisite brand Noa Noa from Denmark.
Oh and seeing those beets and leeks reminds me to remind you to hit the farmers market. I had my fist ever Oregon Truffle purchased there last week. They are pretty and smell like Pecorino and were shaved thinly into a moutwatering potato gratin.

Beneath the Surface Show Opens Tonight

BENEATH THE SURFACE: FLORA, FANTASY & FABLE IN SURFACE DESIGN

MAY 1ST THROUGH MAY 31ST

FRIDAY MAY 1ST - OPENING RECEPTION 6 to 10PM

Music provided by Spencer Product

NEMO HQ

1875 SE Belmont

Portland, Oregon

BENEATH THE SURFACE is curated by surface design studio, Pattern People, and highlights the work of influential, contemporary surface designers through the mediums of wallpaper, prints, and 3-dimensional objects. The work presented demonstrates how patterns can give dimension to an otherwise flat surface and create a world that pulls in the viewer. Focusing on escapist and fantastical themes, the exhibit features utopian landscapes, folkloric fables, and interpretations of magical inner journeys.

The exhibit includes designers from the U.S, Japan, Finland, Germany, Sweden, and the U.K:

• Anna Giertz
• Chelsea Heffner
• Dan Funderburgh
• Deanne Cheuk
• Eno Henze
• George Moskal
• Joanna Bean
• Jo Hamilton
• Katrin Wiens
• Kinpro
• Kustaa Saksi
• Laundry Studio
• Linn Olofsdotter
• Marc Curtis
• Michael Leon
• Mike Perry
• Nama Rococo
• Osmose
• Pattern People
• Timorous Beasties

For show details visit: www.patternpeople.com/beneath_the_surface

For more information on Nemo HQ, visit: www.nemohq.com