Next stop: Stumptown

baowry
In early February I decided to stretch my wings a bit and travel northwest. I’d never been that far up the coast and I had a hankering for some vegan treats and beautiful scenery. One of my jam buddies had just moved back to Portland and my wanderlust was in full effect, so I booked a flight and set off a couple weeks later.

The next few posts will give you a bit of insight into my experiences and of course I’ll post some tunes to go along with them. I spent five days there but it was love at first sight. Portland is definitely my favorite US city, and I hope my words and music do it justice. Without further adieu…

I arrived around 10 at night and the sky had just cracked open when my friend parked his Subaru. The frigid air made me glad that I brought my heavier, hooded jacket. We were in St. Johns, a laid-back, friendly North Portland suburb and The Baowry was our first stop.

The music was turned down to the perfect volume and the decor was tastefully Asian. Our waitress had Siamese blue eyes and a dress that rose just high enough to make it interesting. It was the calm before the storm and I couldn’t wait to begin.

Playlist
Warpaint: Keep It Healthy 
Glasser: Shape
Temples: Colours to Life
Boy Friend: Rogue Waves I
Diiv: Air Conditioning
Marissa Nadler: Dead City Emily
Angel Olsen: Stars
I Break Horses: You Burn
Friends: Ideas On Ghosts

Playlist for the Hopeless Romantic

Image

“People worry about kids playing with guns, and teenagers watching violent videos; we are scared that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands – literally thousands – of songs about broken hearts and rejection and pain and misery and loss.”
― Nick HornbyHigh Fidelity

If there is one thing I am familiar with, it is the mindset of the hopeless romantic; therefore it was inevitable that I would construct a playlist of modern themes for the victims of constant pining. This is not your typical compilation– I’ve peppered the mix with songs you’ll hear for the first time and maybe have heard in passing, but didn’t quite catch the title of. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Threads of “dark” chords and folksy break-aways

1. Angel Olsen “The Waiting
2. Anna Calvi “Suzanne And I”
3. Chelsea Wolfe “The Warden”
4. David Lynch & Lykke Li “I’m Waiting Here”
5. Avi Buffalo “Jessica”
6. Nurses “Technicolor”
7. Saint Saviour “Tightrope”
8. Soley “Pretty Face”
9. Cocteau Age “Know Who You Are At Every Age”
10. Son Lux “Pyre”
11. Nurses “You Lookin’ Twice”
12. Tu Fawning “Wager”
13. Polica “Vegas”
14. Tricky “If Only I Knew”
15. Son Lux “Leave the Riches”

Metropark USA

Image

If you’re looking for the best of the best branded denim, Metropark USA might just be your heaven.  They have all the great brands including MEK, 7 For All Mankind, SIWY, and Henry & Belle.  With great tees and tops for both men and women hailing from Obey, Free People, Romeo & Juliet Couture, as well as great accessories from Betsey Johnson and Tarina Tarantino, you can put together a killer outfit for a nighttime excursion to your favorite club.

Metropark USA has the dedication to music and the club that goes all the way to including a turntable for live mixing.  Naturally, their song selection is up to date with the best songs that will get you ready to party that very night.  I’ve put together a collection of great club songs to set your moves into motion in and out of the shop.

1. Labrinth ft. Tiny Tempah- Earthquake
2. Nero- Promises (Skrillex & Nero Remix)
3. Pendulum- Set Me On Fire
4. Ellie Goulding- Lights (Bassnectar Remix)
5. Calvin Harris- Feel So Close
6.  Skrillex- Scary Monsters & Nice Sprites
7.  Pitbull ft. Chris Brown- International Love
8. Calvin Harris- You Used To Hold Me
9. Rihanna- Where Have You Been
10. Flo Rida ft. Sia- Wild Ones