We hope the tail end of 2010 (good riddance) treated you well. We're excited to get out there this year and explore the best and newest the city has to offer for you gentlemen of PDX. There's not much better we can do than quote a wiser man:

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man." ~Benjamin Franklin.

Central
"Where is this place? For some reason the cool bars in Hollywood have to be hard to find and have no sign. It's kind of like a speakeasy kind of thing. It's kinda cool. It's like you're in on some kind of secret, you know? You tell a chick you been someplace, it's like braggin' that you know how to find it." Remember this line from Swingers?

Well, that's the first thing we thought of when we visited Central. Tucked away inconspicuously around 3rd & Ankeny, not only does the atmosphere possess a definitive "speakeasy" vibe, but the place is devoid of both a web presence and signage of any kind.

Whether or not your date is impressed by the fact you're "in the know" will be irrelevant, for Central is associated with adjoining Perierra Crêperie, which offers the best sweet and savory crepes this side of the river Seine. There's no password to get in, but may we suggest wowing her by walking in with a well delivered "The raven flies at midnight"? You'll be the money.

Cabezon
Growing up in a family who were both restaurateurs and Catholic, we did our fair share of finding the best fish purveyors on Fridays. And if there's one thing we learned, it's that there are three kinds of seafood restaurants; those who know how to perfectly spice a mediocre piece of fish, those who simply procure the freshest possible finds and let things lie, and those who can do both.

Cabezon is of the latter variety. Doubling as a fish market in one half of the place, there's an incredible selection of super-fresh, usually-local fish available. But sit down in the unassuming dining area for not only a lesson in all things fish & wine (they boast a very informative staff), but the rare talent that Chef David Farrell possesses; knowing when to pull back and let the fish do the talking (or swimming, as it were), and when to get playful.

A cozy little neighborhood haunt in the Hollywood District might not be your go-to for a date night, but making this your destination will pay off dividends about three seconds into the meal.

Halo Shoes
When it comes to our wardrobe, we have honed at least a working knowledge of what constitutes "our style". We know what classic pieces have worked for us and we try to compliment these with a rotating cast of modern, "in-vogue" articles. When it comes to shoes, however, it behooves one to strike the right balance between classic and modernity in one item (ok, two).

Have you ever noticed that European men (especially of the Latin variety) tend to pull off daring flourishes in their wardrobe that would seem unthinkable stateside? Well, the reason it always seems to work is deceptively simple; the anchor of their bold wardrobe are classically informed, impeccably crafted shoes.

The thing we love about Halo Shoes in their new Pearl location, is that it's one of those stores that has a can't-miss selection. Which is to say, we don't really know what we're looking for when we go shopping for footwear. We know when we see it, and that's the genius...the whole place is full of such things. Drop anchor and hoist sails accordingly.

1:: Years ago we resolved to try for natural fibers whenever possible. If for no other reason than women are tactile and when they reach out to give you that flirtatious graze, it's best you don't have Gortex and poly fleece waiting for them. Plus, it just looks warmer...more organic.

In keeping with this pathos, we have found the perfect time-keeping accessory to compliment this wardrobe. The solid, strong look of wood also provides a certain warmth and approachability.

2:: For the Holiday season we tend to give gifts with a purpose. Sometimes selfish, sometimes not. But to entice certain friends and family members that haven't yet visited our fair city, we chose to snag 'em in with copies of Chuck Palahniuk's Fugitives & Refugees.

A one-of-a-kind travel guide (and we use that term loosely) on Stumptown, it wittily highlights enough weird, off-the-beaten-path places (read: NOT Voodoo Doughnut), we procured a copy for ourselves.

3:: Every time we witness Don Draper elegantly pull a cigarette case out of his inside breast pocket, it makes us reconsider the cancer vs. cool argument. Luckily, we've found a more benign and modern stand-in.

The IDEA International MP3 card speaker comes in three classy colors (go with silver) that's about the size of the classic cancer case and packs a wallop of sound for the size. Now imagine slickly producing this from your pocket at the office.