Portland Interview Magazine #29

ISSUE N ยบ 29 2019

steve

DUNN K AT U C h a n n e l 2 N e w s Station Anchorman pg. 46

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INTERVIEWS Emma Dye | Mark Byrum | Garrison Hullinger | Leland Duck | Alex Hofberg | JoEllen Newton Steve Dunn | Kristin Tierney | Brent Collier | Brittany Walsh | Steve Gemmell | FashionNXT

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CONTENT ISSUE 29 2019

COVER FEATURE STEVE DUNN KATU CHANNEL 2 NEWS ANCHORMAN

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SPECIAL FEATURE FASHIONXT FASHION SHOW

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STEVE DUNN

FASHIONXT

EMMA DYE

MARK BYRUM

GARRISON HULLINGER

LELAND DUCK

ALEX HOFBERG

JOELLEN NEWTON

KRISTIN TIERNEY

BRENT COLLIER

BRITTANY WALSH

STEVE GEMMELL

FEATURE INTERVIEW EMMA DYE CRISP SALADS NW

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MARK BYRUM BRIX TAVERN

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GARRISON HULLINGER INTERIOR DESIGN

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LELAND DUCK REVIVE DESIGNS & UPHOLSTERY

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ALEX HOFBERG WATCHWORKS

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JOELLEN NEWTON COCO & TOULOUSE

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KRISTIN TIERNEY AUTHOR

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BRENT COLLIER COLLIER PDX

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BRITTANY WALSH ARCHER/ENTERTAINER

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STEVE GEMMELL EARTHQUAKE TECH

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ABOUT TOWN CHINESE ROSE PRINCESS & QUEEN FASHION GALA

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HEALTH ALKALINE WATER: HYPE OR HEALTH?

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NEWS VANCOUVER, WA CAMAS, WA THE PEARL NW DISTRICT DOWNTOWN LAKE OSWEGO FOREST HEIGHTS MILWAUKIE 6 | PORTLANDINTERVIEW.COM

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LETTER

Nothing beats a Portland summer. From warm winds that caress you as you sit outside at your favorite local restaurant, to drinking iced tea on your porch while watching the sun go down, this is the good stuff. Right now is the time to engage our community and make connections with our neighbors.

The New Pearl Perspective

Everywhere you look, fellow Portlanders are out and about riding bikes with the kids, enjoying festivals and street fairs, art and fashion shows, and frequenting local businesses and public spaces. And that’s what makes this city truly special – residents who appreciate what Portland has to offer.

Speaking of what Portland has to offer, in this issue of Portland Interview, you will be introduced to a journalist, an author, a performer, several business owners, entrepreneurs, and so much more. Don’t hesitate to explore your city and support local businesses!

Justin Fields Editor-in-Chief Portland Interview Magazine

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Portland Interview Magazine and the entire contents of this issue are copyright 2019 Choose Local Media Inc., all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or part without written permission from Choose Local Media, Inc. Published by Choose Local Media, Inc. Portland Oregon © 2019

PORTLAND INTERVIEW

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JUSTIN FIELDS, DAVID BENTLEY, JYSSICA YELLAS, BYRON BECK, CHRISTINA WISE, KYLE COLLINS, KATIE WISE, MERLIN VARADAY, BONNIE KNIGHT, DEBRA YERGEN

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FEATURE

Emma Dye, Crisp Salads NW

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Emma Dye Chopping It Up with

Crisp

W O R D S Byron Beck P H O T O G R A P H Y Tim Sugden Emma Dye is the Founder of Crisp Salads NW where bunnies eat for “free” and vegans, keto-fans, paleotologists and bacon lovers all thrive (and eat) in tasteful harmony.

A Martha Stewart of salads (Crisp also offers soups, wraps and cookies) Emma has made it her mission to offer the best chopped salads in the city where you can feel good about what you’re eating, and have a good time doing it too.

Portland Interview Magazine had a chance to catch up with the “Chief Salad Officer” of this local chop shop about her crispy biz. Here is what she had to say.

Can you tell me about the concept of Crisp?

I was inspired by other chopped-to-order salad restaurants across the country when I used to travel all the time for work (Emma sold medical equipment that required a lot of travel). Both my husband, Kirt, and I have always loved a chopped salad as you get a little bit of everything in every bite. They’re also WAY easier to eat – have you ever tried to cut through huge pieces of lettuce or big circles of tomato at your desk or in your car? Chopping does take a little more time so we’ve put a lot of thought and effort into speeding up the process so our customers can still have that experience without having to wait longer than at other counter service restaurants. Plus, it’s FUN to watch your salad being chopped right in front of you!

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“A Beautiful Salad Is A Master Class In Contrasts.”

How did you become involved with Crisp?

While I was traveling, I had to be very thoughtful about how to eat healthy while on the road. In addition to bringing a LOT of my own food…I would research where to eat. Salad restaurants became a favorite find, especially because I could design my own salad based on how I was eating at the moment. I could always make something delicious that I also felt good about putting in my body. I started thinking, “Someone should open a chopped salad restaurant in Portland!”

Do you remember the first time you made a salad?

Not so much the salad as home-made salad dressings. In 2011 I read Kimberly Snyder’s book, “The Beauty Detox.” It took my wanting to eat real, whole foods to another level. When I started reading labels more carefully, I was unpleasantly surprised at the unnatural, and unnecessary, ingredients in a lot of different foods but especially in store bought salad dressings! Her book had a few dressings that were just so simple to make and yet so incredibly flavorful. (Crisp’s) Basil Lover’s and our Caesar were both inspired by her recipes.

What is your favorite salad to make for yourself?

The Emma’s Detox of course! But I 12 | PORTLANDINTERVIEW.COM

makes a great side dish to share with others. To get even more protein & healthy fats I like to add cage-free eggs... and bacon!

Do you think Portland is a good city for your type of restaurant?

Wouldn’t have opened it if I didn’t think so! I love our city and the diverse eaters we have – I don’t know of another city that seems to have such a high number of vegans AND such a love of bacon! Seriously though, folks in Portland care about the quality of our food but we also care about the well-being of the people making and serving our food. I love that we are able to serve REAL food and still pay our team above a living wage.

also often eat what our current special, seasonal salad is at the moment. In February we do a Pizza Mia salad with natural pepperoni; it’s like pizza in a bowl -- with WAY less carbs!

What is your favorite salad to make for others?

Our Roasted & Toasted. It’s our secret salad as we don’t advertise it on the menu at Crisp, but it is listed on our online ordering page. It’s got roasted Brussel sprouts, cauliflower and yam with toasted hazelnuts. It’s a meal on it's own but also

Can you tell me what community means to you as a business owner?

Creating a space where people, from employees to customers to vendors, feel welcomed, joyful and appreciated no matter their food or life choices.

What is the best part of your job?

So much of the day-to-day is business related stuff but I love when we get to come up with a new salad or dressing; everything from what goes in it to what we’re going to call it! I also like meeting people who truly appreciate and ‘get’ what we are trying to make and do. It’s always fun meeting customers who are so excited

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they found us! Recently, we catered for an office where the manager was thrilled she was able to provide ‘salad bar style’ for 35 people – a few were vegan, some are doing keto, several were gluten free and together we were able to make everyone happy!

What's the hardest part of your job?

Owning a restaurant is not as financially rewarding as many may think. Nationally, the average profit margin in restaurants is about five percent. That means 95 percent of what restaurants take in as revenue goes into the food, the employees, the rent and everything else that comes with running the place. Unexpected expenses like repairs can eat away any meager savings. I must watch every expenditure like a hawk!

Making sure we stay financially viable is the most stressful part of owning a restaurant – at least for me.

What do you do for fun when you are not in the kitchen?

We have a great network of friends so socializing – get-togethers at friends’ houses where we play poker is one of my favorite things to do. As is wine tasting.

And then curling up on the couch binge watching our favorite shows is also a great stress reliever!

What makes a good salad?

When designing a salad, it’s important to balance the ingredients; round out crunchy with soft, acidic with healthy fats, a bit of spice with something creamy or even a little sweet. One of my favorite toppings is our feisty walnuts – they are a little sweet and a little spicy plus they add extra crunch and awesome flavor to our Southern Fried Chicken although they can of course be added to any salad. A beautiful salad is a master class in contrasts.

Are there exciting events coming up we should know about?

We’re thrilled to be participating in Walk Williams Wednesdays, which will be the 2nd Wednesday of every month through October. Crisp is honored to be one of the local restaurants chosen to offer healthy food choices at the Brian Grant Foundation's Plates for Parkinson's fundraising event on Oct. 18. At Crisp, our Sunshine Bowl will be only $5 AND we’ll have real live therapy bunnies on-site EVERY Wednesday (weather permitting) 5:30 to 8 pm. And rabbits eat for free at Crisp – we donate all of our bunny edible compost to our wonderful friends at Bunnies in Baskets. PI

ÜÜCrispSaladsNW.com

Salads

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FEATURE

Mark Byrum, Brix Tavern

W O R D S David Bentley P H O T O G R A P H Y Tim Sugden In the heart of the Pearl, you’ll find Brix Tavern, a local staple with everything from Sunday brunch to an exciting nightlife.

Founder Mark Byrum, the mastermind behind Brix’s success, as well as six other restaurants in Portland, started as a busser at Red Lion. He is a certified sommelier and a member of both the POVA and the Oregon Restaurant Association.

HITTING THE

“Flip Wednesdays” have become a unique Portland get together; show up to Brix with all of your friends, order as much food and drink as you can humanly consume and at the end of your meal, flip a coin to see who pays, Brix or you?

Portland Interview took a trip into the Pearl to visit Brix (1338 NW Hoyt) and speak with Byrum to get his take on what it’s like to be a restaurateur in Portland’s hot cuisine scene.

Where did it all start for you?

I think it was ‘89 at the Red Lion. A friend worked there, he bussed tables and I worked at a grocery store. I was making $2.35 an hour, and so was he but he got $10-15 a night in tips. I was just trying to get by, and this was a way better opportunity. In grocery, I had to do swing shifts and take the graveyard shift. That killed me. I started out bussing tables and slowly learned how to cook table side as a captain. I learned how to cook flambé, Steak Diane, Caesar salad, shrimps, scampi and cherries jubilee. I mastered the captain aspect of it, and then I realized I made really good money waiting tables, so I started waiting tables on a Sunday.

I eventually moved on and took a job at the Battering Ram, it’s still on the river down in Eugene. I heard they were hiring but I had to start as the morning busser.

From there, I finally got into serving after busting my ass for six months.

This all started in Eugene?

Yes, I’m a small-town boy out of Thurston, which is even smaller than nearby Springfield. Then I moved to Portland for better opportunities. I got a job at Trenton and was there for a couple of years until I was introduced to Paul Brenneke with Avalon.

He really liked me. He thought I was young and ambitious, and I’d be a good partner for the team.

Was your interest always in food and hospitality?

I was going to pursue my career in the financial world. Then, in the last winter term at Portland State, on a ski trip and 16 | PORTLANDINTERVIEW.COM

ended up pulling my shoulder. I couldn’t wait tables anymore. That’s when Paul came and said, “Why don’t you come and manage a restaurant? You ever think about doing this for a living?” I thought, well I don’t have a lot of options right now, so, yeah, I guess I will! That’s how it all really started. I knew how to wait tables and I was knowledgeable about wines, but I had never really managed.

Your employees have mentioned that you like to participate with the chefs.

So, food was really of interest to me because of cooking table-side. But I wanted to expand my knowledge. I wanted to know what a demi-glace was.

What was the process behind reductions?

I really wanted to know. One of the sous chefs, Billy, worked with me at night. He would talk to me about food and tasting things, making sure your sauce didn’t break and how long to sauté garlic. They really started teaching me how to cook.

I would always leach on to any chef just for knowledge purposes. I love food and to cook, so I just lent myself to help with anything in the kitchen anytime I could.

I would show up an hour early to jump in the kitchen and help them do prep work.

If they needed pantry work, I’d actively be involved.

Is that when you decided you would like to learn all aspects of the business?

Of course, I was the manager now. That’s the whole goal right? My world as a server taught me that confidence is everything and knowledge installs confidence. For me to be a confident manager, I need to

know every aspect of each restaurant. I need to know the protocol of everything from how to turn off the fire alarm, to being prepared if someone goes down on the line; do I know how to prep the salads, and sauté the salmon? You want to be able to talk in detail of everything that’s going on in the restaurant. First and foremost was education. I already knew the front of the house. It was about mastering the back of the house.

How long did it take?

It took quite a while. Even with cooking at home, and I mean, who doesn’t like to cook at home? I know there’s people that don’t, but when you do, you want to understand what you’re doing. You don’t want to throw food in the pan and hope it makes something good. You want to take time to understand.

Brix had a historically tough location in the Pearl. How did you overcome the obstacles and start to thrive?

Well, we were the 5th generation restaurant in that space, so, that doesn’t lend itself well.

You’re an entrepreneur and an artist of sorts with what you do. Were you intimidated, knowing the history of the location?

You know, I wasn’t. That was probably one of the craziest things. I think if you go into something timid and intimidated, you probably shouldn’t do it. You must have 100% belief in yourself or else your concept will crack. I tell everyone that. I know when something feels right. People ask me how I’m feeling about my next

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concept, what am I going to do? I can honestly tell you, it’s all about walking into a building to see if it’s a perfect fit. You have to look for the match. You can’t shove a concept somewhere just because you want to do it. It never works.

Restaurant businesses are some of the most difficult to run. What magic rules would you give to an aspiring restaurateur?

First of all, be a hands-on operator. Be on the property at all times. If you’re unable to, make sure you have that good number two person you can count on. Being set with those two aspects, understanding that you both share the same vision, that’s consistency. I’ve learned that from McDonald’s. You might go to McDonald’s and think it’s the best burger you’ve ever had. The next person might think it’s the worst burger they’ve ever had. Their food is always going to come out the same no matter what.

Consistency equals trust?

Exactly, because they know what they’re getting every time they come back. I remember the negative reviews, “This is never going to work! This is the Pearl District with elevated cuisine and fancy tables. What do they think they’re doing!” My wife started to freak out and I told her the same thing -- some people love McDonald’s, some people hate Burger King, and vice versa. You can’t please everybody. You can’t panic either, you got to stay on course, believe in what you vision is and stay consistent. That’s the biggest thing.

What are some of your most popular menu items?

The diversity in the menu plays a large role in our success. We love to think about what “american classic comfort food” truly is. This is where my late chef Kevin Kenny, my wife and I would talk through the menu.

We’d have conversations on what that looks like. What is it exactly? Is it Chicken Pot Pie? You gotta have it. Nothing says comfort food like that. You gotta have steaks, burgers, sandwiches, and pizzas. That was our interpretation. What you see on the menu is what we believe is “American classic comfort food.”

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How do you define Brix’s atmosphere? Is it a sports bar or something more?

That’s why we call our restaurant “sports friendly” and more “barcentric.” It’s all those little combinations of words that makes sense of what Brix is. There are no beer signs, football jerseys, or logos getting in your way. It’s a sleek and contemporary sports bar. The word “tavern” is important too because it means it’s a place where your friends and family go to have a good time. It’s an upscale sports bar without the connotation of whatever a sports bar is.

nothing worse than sitting there for 45 minutes waiting for your food, especially at breakfast time.

From what I understand, failure to retain customers is the result of two different things – either the food or the service wasn’t that great.

Consistency and service are the two biggest parts. I tell the staff all the time that service can set you apart from everyone else in the city. If we serve very good food and pair it with incredible service, they’re always going to come back. If we serve good food and bad service, they’re never coming back. There are too many other options in the city.

Was it fun to work with him?

It was so fun. We would go out and eat food together. The coolest thing about him was I could take him to a restaurant and say, try this dish, and he would try the dish and he could go back to the kitchen and make that same dish. I have never seen anyone with a pallet like he had. He was so diversified, it was unbelievable. 2002 is when we started our work environment, which is a fun story.

I was actually brought in to fire him. Then, I realized, he wasn’t the problem. It was the management team. He was following their directions because he wanted to please. He’s one of the best chefs I’ve ever worked with and I’ve worked with a lot of chefs. PI

As a customer I’ve noticed how quickly the food comes out.

It’s something that we pride ourselves on, preparation and training. It’s a big deal. You come to eat and you’re hungry. There’s

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Is there anybody that you would credit for some of your successes?

Absolutely, the late Chef Kevin Kennedy. He passed last August from cancer. He helped me build the entire food side of the business. Kevin is incredible. He cooked all of his life. The guy knew food. He helped me with all of my concepts and wrote the menu with me.

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FEATURE

Garrison Hullinger, Interior Designer

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a Grand Design

W O R D S Christina Wise P H O T O G R A P H Y Tim Sugden Garrison Hullinger is an interior designer with a passion for creating functional, beautiful spaces that are as comfortable as they are impressive. Garrison Hullinger Interior Design’s meteoric rise from its 2010 start in Garrison’s attic, to a bustling downtown studio, is a direct result of the talent and flexibility of the team he has assembled and nurtured.

When did you start your career?

I got into the Neiman Marcus management program in Dallas after college and then I started working for The Gap. I was fortunate. I worked for The Gap for 16 years. I was then hired to work on a new prototype store, Old Navy. I was the first store manager for the test store in Texas. My experience was really understanding processes, operations and standards in stores and creating best practices.

I know you’ve had some tough things to overcome along the way - tell me about your journey.

In ‘99 I had a severe accident and suffered a traumatic brain and spine injury. It reset my whole life. I had to learn to walk and speak again.

I found out I lived with a man, but I was okay with it. J accepted me and stayed with me through it all. It was almost like raising a child for the first two or three years of my recovery.

Garrison Hullinger

He was your partner and you didn't remember him?

No, I didn’t. It only lasted for about 6 or 8 months and then my memory slowly started to return. I didn't know the house I was in; I didn’t know anything. It was crazy. I was very immature, and my mind was pretty closed off because I was sleeping 16-18 hours a day with all the medication and seizures.

When did you start to see a change in your recovery?

It took about five years. That’s when we decided that we would transfer to Portland. Within a year and a half, things really started to turn around for me. I was able to get my driver’s license back, and things sort of started clicking for me and my short-term memory started coming back and I stopped having seizures.

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Residential Design is a passion of yours. What sparked that interest coming from retail?

My partner and I bought a house that we were renovating in Northeast Portland and our realtor turned us in to a photo scout who came by and took pictures. Our home was published in seven different magazines across the nation. The word got out, so we knew at that time that we would do something in remodeling design. J and I have over 10 homes that we have remodeled together. We love it! It's been a passion, but passion doesn't always pay the bills, right? I was trying to figure out how to get back to being a viable contributor. I think it was great too for J to quit spending money. He was like, “Can you do this with other people's money?”

Did you feel confident in starting something new because of your experience structuring retail stores, creating technology, and managing people?

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I just knew I needed to do something. So, I started in my attic nine years ago with a couple part time employees. We started building the company by word of mouth through neighbors and friends. We moved out of the attic seven years ago into this space. I went from having three part-time employees to 34 employees.

I’m sure that your team is as grateful to you as you are to them. How did you find such a team? Or did they find you?

There are not a lot of designers out there that have the mix of background that I have, so I’m sure that attracted some of the best to come my way. I started being contacted probably in year two because of my tech background. It’s easy for me to use social media platforms or to use Houzz. I was one of the top 25 interior designers in the country for the first five years just for user interface.

Others were interested in why I was growing so quickly. I have six senior designers, five of them have more than 20 years of experience in their own skills and background. There are four members on a team. No more. Every team has a senior and almost every team has a lead which allows them to grow and develop and to learn more.

Tell me about the culture in the office. Is there a strict atmosphere, or more of a creative vibe?

Knowledge of our culture has spread; how we are different and what we do.

I think the most attainable piece people relate to is that we created a process, and we create a sandbox for the designers to play in. You can create inside that sandbox the most beautiful castle you want, and if the rain and the storms come along, sand doesn’t get washed away. Every team leader, whether it be in Hospitality, Commercial, Custom or Residential must communicate on week three to their project leaders and to our client how our project’s going according to budget and according to actuals. We have regimented formulas that we all follow.

There is not one person doing several different jobs. They have their own specialties.

Right. We consider ourselves strength builders. We really try to work and focus on someone’s strengths. If you have a deficit, I don’t really give a shit, I don’t even want to talk about it. You don’t come here and join a department

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when you’ve never designed a restaurant and now you want to design a restaurant. If you come to us with a lot of residential background, you’re going to work on the residential team because we are building your strengths. We don’t want to put training wheels on anyone.

What do you think sets you apart from other design companies?

We are probably the most unusual design team, where all the milestones are set out at the beginning of the project. They always know when every meeting is with every client. So now we can easily plan around vacations, time-off, and there’s no overnight working. I think in our culture we are a little more rigid about how our process works. It’s about gathering and collecting really, talented skilled team members and seeing what they can do. PI

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FEATURE

Leland Duck, Revival Designs & Upholestry

Leland Duck - Shot on Location at Urbanite

28 | PORTLANDINTERVIEW.COM

EVIVAL of the Fittest F u r n i t u r e Leland Duck is inspired by the past; so much so that it influences much of REVIVE DESIGN what OR he est. 2011 // Portland,

does today. At his NoPo-based Revive Designs and Upholstery, which he owns and operates with his wife, Duck specializes in heirloom furniture, including vintage re-upholstery, mid-century antique commercial design and bespoke product. Portland Interview’s Magazine spoke with the Wyoming-born designer about his passion for places for “people to sit” and here’s what he had to say.

People talk a lot about the 'fast fashion' problem, and I think that we can also say that 'fast furniture' is a problem as well.

When did you fall in love with furniture and furnishings?

Antiques are where it started for me. I'm a history buff at heart and always enjoyed period-correct restorations. My grandparents lived in a beautiful Craftsman home, so I was surrounded by interesting things from a young age. I used to work at an antique mall in Wyoming while I was going to trade school. I started my furniture buying habit there, (always with the intention of reupholstering—just never had the time) which has followed me ever since.

Do you remember the first item you reupholstered something and why?

My first upholstery project was a motorcycle seat for my dad’s 1977 Harley Davidson.

I was in trade school and needed a project, and my Dad luckily had enough trust in me to let me upholster his pride and joy.

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What do you love about furniture?

It serves a purpose, and there is no right or wrong way to get to that purpose. I like the fact that many different trades can create and collaborate over furniture. And at the end of the day, people always need a place to sit.

Are most people’s furniture worth re-upholstering?

Yes, almost 100-percent of the time. Furniture has a history and a story behind it, especially heirlooms. Plus, if you love a piece of furniture it’s an amazing way to give it a little lift, instead of discarding it for something new that might not be as good.

Isn't it cheaper to buy new furniture?

Not necessarily. Older furniture is usually built to last, that’s why it’s been around for decades. New can be cheaper, but the life span may not be as long, and the environmental cost always takes a toll. People talk a lot about the “Fast Fashion” problem, and I think that we can also say that Fast Furniture is a problem as well.

Re-upholstering may not always be the cheapest answer, but it’s a worthy investment.

What is the average life span for a piece of furniture?

A good quality piece of furniture can last a lifetime. However, I would say 20-30 years before requiring reupholstery if good quality materials are used.

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How do you help customers understand your process: Is it hard to get people to try something new?

We like to walk our clients through pretty much every stage of the process. One of the most enjoyable parts of reupholstering is being a part of the design. Our clients pick the fabric, pick the feel of the cushions, they choose the little details that they would love. It can be challenging to get people to try new things, but we try really hard to show them our passion which I think really helps people see our final vision.

What comes first in your mind: the fabric or the frame?

Frame dictates the fabric for me. I am always looking for a unique shape or form.

Do you strip the furniture before you recover it?

A good quality restoration starts from the frame up. This gives you the opportunity to assess broken springs, cracks, distress to the webbing and so forth. Our goal is to never recover over anything that will fail over time.

What has been your favorite project and why?

It's hard to name a favorite in the 10 years I have being doing this.

My first real design piece will always be in my top five. It was an army canvas couch that I re-upholstered for my booth display at

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"Frame dictates the fabric for me.

I am always looking for a unique shape or form." the Portland Bazaar. We were just starting to create and make our own pieces to sell and it’s a scary thing to do. I poured a lot of myself into that couch, thinking if it didn’t sell, I would be able to take it home – but honestly, we really needed it to sell! I will never forget that Grace Bonney from Design Sponge loved it enough to have it shipped back home with her to NYC. It was crazy, I was shocked and amazed that someone loved something that I made, that I designed and that I really loved as well. It was an amazing moment for me and my wife. It was validation, it was like I was in the right place doing exactly what I should be doing.

How long does a project take from start to finish?

This is all dependent on the project, our current schedule and when fabric or materials are in stock, but we usually say 2-4 weeks is a good rule of thumb. It all comes down to scheduling and my trustworthy team that makes it possible.

What do you do for fun when you are not working on a project?

My favorite thing to do is treasure hunt at any estate/garage/antique sale I can find. I also love spending time with my wife and our shop dog companion, Fozzie. I love to reorganize my garage and play with my countless sewing machines whenever I get the chance.

Is Portland a good city for what you do?

Portland is an amazing city for us. I first started Revive out of my basement, which was great, but it wasn’t entirely practical. Portland was this magical place then, and was creating these amazing maker communities, out of necessity, but they were a fantastic launching pad for new businesses. It was one of these communities, Beam and Anchor, where Revive really started to take off. I will forever be grateful to the people there who helped me get started and allowed me to collaborate and really find my way. I’ve met some of the best people here in Portland and I can’t imagine having started this anywhere else.

If you didn’t end up in your field, what else do you think you might be doing?

I would have liked to work for the National Park Service, or maybe I would have owned a hot rod shop. I do know my retirement plan is an Antique and oddity shop owner, but that’s a long way away.

Does someone need an appointment to meet with you?

Yes, an appointment is always best, that way we can give you our full attention.

Do you pick up and deliver?

We do, although it is an extra cost. We prefer to use trusted courier services, especially for large scale projects. PI

ÜÜRevivePDX.com 32 | PORTLANDINTERVIEW.COM

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FEATURE

Alex Hofberg, Watchworks

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W O R D S David Bentley P H O T O G R A P H Y Tim Sugden

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rom a chic pocket business, to having a retail presence catering to the burgeoning market of vintage timepieces, WatchWorks has evolved. Watch design has gone from the mundane to unimaginable; once designed for a day at the opera, church and the board room, watches are now being taken to great heights. Sir Edmund Hillary ascended Mt. Everest with a Rolex on his wrist, and Mercedes Gleitze swam across the English Channel in 1927 sporting the “Rolex Oyster.”

Alex Hofberg felt the call to adventure when he abandoned his college education, left Upstate New York, and emigrated to Oregon in 1986. Looking for a creative and constructive space, he landed in a communal home by the Good Samaritan Hospital. One of his roommates had been a watchmaker, and together they decided to fill the large home with interesting objects and collectibles. By 1989, Hofberg had his own retail space.

“You can sheer a sheep every spring, but you can only slaughter it once.”

When did you make your way to Oregon?

I abandoned a college education in Upstate New York in 1982, and spent some time chasing a technical degree in recording engineering in Manhattan. I wasn’t being creative or constructive, so I moved to Oregon for a change of pace in 1986.

Why Portland?

I have a sister who lives here. When I got here, I established a communal home over by Good Samaritan Hospital. One of my roommates who had been a watchmaker in a prior life, had a big, old drafty house with very little furnishings or comfort. We decided that the thing to do was to start filling it with interesting objects and furnishings. In that process, we went to every garage sale, estate sale, flea market, and dumpster and started bringing things home. We brought back Mixmasters, toasters, blenders, furniture, artwork, pinball machines, and musical instruments.

Breitling Navitimer

Art, form, and function, as well as the mechanics had your mind going?

Yes! Furnishings of every kind. We started accumulating stuff and liked selling it. If I found a Rolex, I would hop on my bike and pawn it off somewhere in town. We would also host open houses and garage sales, having the buyers come to us. We would sell what we accumulated, and then do it again. We were like the “American Pickers.”

Omega 18k Rose Gold Deville

Bell & Ross BRS

When did watches start coming into the picture?

My friend who helped me “pick” had been trained as a watchmaker earlier in life. While we were picking, we started running into estates of various watchmakers who were dead or dying. Watchmakers were trained post World War II, or post Korean War as part of the G.I. Bill. It was a way to put soldiers back into trade work, and by 1990 or so, people were reaching the end of their careers or had already passed. By accident, we ran into three or four basements full of stuff. Some of it was machinery, some of it was books, some of it was parts, some of it was complete watches.

I was also taking classes at PSU in business systems and quantitative analysis, working for Arthur Anderson, so this was just 35

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pocket money. I was wandering through the Smith Center on campus and noticed on the community bulletin board that there was a Rolex for sale. I pulled off the little pull tab and called the fellow. He was turning a watch that had been given to him by an uncle into dollars. I bought it from him and took it down to Alder Gold and sold it. I bought it for $200 and sold it for $600. I thought I had died and gone to heaven!

Is this business more about relationship building or making money?

One of the interesting things about this business is that we are fraught with decision making, fairness and moral equations all day long. It can be easy to let dollars be your compass and forget how to be fair, when the dollar signs are looming in front of you. And Lord knows, I like a bargain as well as the next person. But people will find a way to figure out when they’ve been screwed. They may or may not make your life miserable about it, however…you can sheer a sheep every spring, but you can only slaughter it once.

Tell me little history of the watch?

There really was no market for collecting wrist watches. There had been expensive wrist watches born as a result of WWI, because pulling out a pocket watch in the trenches wasn’t convenient.

In the 1930’s we started to see high grade and complex watches. Hans Wilsdorf, who founded Rolex, theorized that a wristwatch could be far more functional and impervious to dirt, moisture, dust, heat, and cold. In a way, Hans Wilsdorf could be credited with inventing the tool watch. In 1985, anyone who was interested in collecting timepieces collected clocks or pocket watches. Mostly low-level Hamilton, Gruen, Bulova, tank watches, pocket watches, and not necessary so much in modern high-grade. The market evolved.

There is always a leader, but then followers in the industry. Who were the fast followers behind Rolex?

That’s an interesting question that you ask because "fast" isn’t the word I’d use. It took the industry decades to conclude that the tool watch was making a lot of what they were producing superfluous, weak, and not competitive, just because of the way the case was sealed. Using the word “oyster” combined with the way that a Rolex is closed, is a very clever and useful engineering feat and marketing ploy. It took a long time for the competition to realize that their watches need to have locking crowns, threaded case-backs sealed on to a gasket, and needed to be made in a robust manner.

When you opened WatchWorks, how much repair versus selling of the collection that you had already amassed took place? Did you sell more by word-of-mouth, or were people discovering you from your retail presence?

The repair business at the time probably represented about 15% of the gross sales in a year. Not far into the early stage of WatchWorks I hired a watchmaker, Paul, who was far better trained and

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“If it doesn’t work reliably and accurately, it’s not a watch.”

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far more skillful than I was. He is still with me after 26 years. The double-edged sword of what I do is that the repairs are frustrating, and tedious, warranties are challenging, watches are complex, and tiny parts are easy to damage. Any speck of dust inside the casing could stop them or have them run poorly and their utility is gone the moment they hiccup. For instance, if you are repairing somebody’s car, it is still transportation if the brakes squeak, it’s still transportation if the radio doesn’t work, it’s still transportation if you have trouble rolling up and down the window. The moment a watch hiccups, the whole utility is useless. If it doesn’t work reliably and accurately, it’s not a watch.

The profitability of repair and its frustrations are tragic, challenging, and awful. However, it builds foot traffic ethos and pathos like you wouldn’t believe. The success of WatchWorks has a lot to do with our being recognized both by collectors and enthusiasts and other jewelers in the Pacific Northwest as being experts in maintaining integrity, and therefore we have the street cred to also be trusted to sell things.

Very important.

That’s the glue of the relationships as well as the expertise?

We could send our watches out to be fixed elsewhere but the fact that my watchmaker is visible as you walk into the store is not an accident. It is unusual in this industry to see a watchmaker. The French word for watchmaker is “cabinotier” because they worked in small enclosed areas. You never saw them. Some of the most beautiful and important watches of the late 1800s did not have the manufacturer’s name on them. They’re blank. Why is that? It was the jeweler who had the important relationships with the king, with the Admiral, with the General, with the Mayor, with whomever. Often their name would be on the dial, their name might be on the covet, the inner cover, and the watchmaker was silent.

Why do people buy complicated fancy watches?

People buy complicated watches because they are sending a message to those around them that they lead complicated, technical, complex, sporting, adventurous, scientific, luxurious lives. We’re not in the business of need. We sell want. There are some people that need to have the time displayed on their phone or their wristwatch and those people may or may not buy a fine watch. But on the flip side, I personally also believe that technology is frustrating and quickly obsolete. So, I think it’s a good thing in general, because it will keep my business viable and clients interested in returning for something different. PI

ÜÜWatchWorksPDX.com

38 | PORTLANDINTERVIEW.COM

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FEATURE

JoEllen Newton, Jewelry Designer

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In the heart of Portland’s Sellwood-Westmoreland neighborhood, there’s a place where a cat is a woman’s best shopping companion, Abba anthems abound, and you leave feeling lighter than you did walking in. The latter is JoEllen Newton’s philosophy when it comes to her shop CoCo & Toulouse.

The company turns seventeen in July, but the shop wasn’t always a retail space. For those who believe in manifestation, Newton’s story is a classic one of ‘ask and you shall receive.’ She knew what she wanted and exactly where she wanted it.

“My husband and I used to eat at Caprial's restaurant next to Stars, where my store is now,” Newton told me. “We’d have date night and I just loved it there. I thought, ‘if I had a store, I’d want it to be this corner.’”

"Our mantra is if you are unsure about a piece, don't get it. I don't want our ladies to have a closet full of our clothes that they aren't comfortable wearing!"

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"While we may all look different, have very different lives, we are all so much alike and lovable."

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So how did Coco & Toulouse begin?

It started because I did jewelry and had a sales rep in Seattle who did the West Coast. We did the San Francisco and Seattle markets two times a year. He has two stores up in Seattle. We wrote up orders together, and he prompted me to open a store.

It was me in my studio all by myself all day at that point, so I loved the idea. The landlord pointed me to this space in that back parking lot and I said okay. The rent was reasonable, and I’d work there and go from there. And it took off!

And you eventually expanded from that one location, right?

How did that happen?

Caprial's left two years into it, and the landlord asked me if I wanted the additional space next to Starbucks and I said yes! I took it and decided to do clothing. That was my business plan, ‘I think I’ll do clothing.’

So, I went to the markets and learned to buy clothes. I went to LA showrooms and opened the door. We eventually combined the two locations, and we’ve been open at the combined location for six years now.

Who is the CoCo & Toulouse shopper? How would you describe her?

She is fun, adventurous, generous, and most any age. They’re mostly women who are not afraid of other people’s opinions, are bright, caring, and have a great sense of humor!

And I’ve got to ask, where did the name come from?

I used to have a cat named Toulouse. My friend used to call me CoCo, and my grandchildren call me CoCo. What inspires the jewelry you make?

I am inspired by any kind of art, even music. Paintings, things I see in nature. I also love assemblage. Geometric shapes, stripes, polka dots.

What is the environment like when you make your jewelry?

I can sit at my stool at my studio for hours making my jewelry. I don’t take my phone and I listen to Mumford & Sons, or monks chanting, and Abba Gold, 'Gimme Gimme Gimme'. It’s not like I live high, but I love what I do, and making people happy in this way.

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You said, "If you don't love it, don't do it," and that one of your shop girls calls this your ministry. What do you mean by this?

Often when someone is trying on clothes, they will have to make a choice to buy it or not. Our mantra is if you are unsure about a piece, don't get it. I don't want our ladies to have a closet full of our clothes that they aren't comfortable wearing! I want them to be excited about each piece of clothing, jewelry, handbag, and scarf.

I think the ministry part is that we want you to have a good experience in the shop. To feel better when you leave than when you arrive.

To take the time to connect. We had a customer just come in who said, “I was having a bad day, and I knew I’d feel better if I came in.”

You have two fashion shows a year at your shop. Tell us more about those!

They are so fun! Each one is a benefit for a local charity. We use our customers of all ages and sizes for the models, serve some bubbly and snacks. It's a grand time in the spring and fall.

We even had an 81-year old woman, her daughter who was in her late 50s, and her granddaughter in her late 20s, model for a show. In our first fashion show, we had the grandmother and granddaughter come out in the same outfit -- a funny scrunchy denim skirt and a black leatherette jacket. One of them had it with high boots, one with leggings. The exact same thing. You don't have to be of a certain age to shop here - most of our stuff is not age specific.

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"You don't have to be of a certain age to shop here - most of our stuff is not age specific."

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What is the most unique item you carry at the shop?

French candles, English candles. We have candles from the Queen's candlemaker from London that come in a black glass. One of the scents was the one burnt in the cathedral that Megan and Harry got married in. Post 9-11 it’s harder to get liquid soaps, but we still have French candles. They come in for all the things we carry that can be gifts.

What do your shoppers always come back for more of?

Clothing, gifts for friends, handbags, fragrances, candles, accessories, and sometimes just for a smile!

What is the most valuable thing you've learned in 17 years of owning CoCo & Toulouse?

While we may all look different, have very different lives, we are all so much alike and lovable. We all share many of the same fears, joys, poor self-images, needs, and dreams. Our customers quickly become friends. I've always believed in the goodness of people, but even more now.

What are you loving style-wise at this very moment?

I love colors. I’m loving green especially right now. We just got black velvet and purple velvet frames for readers. We want you to have fun, you know, have a giggle! PI

ÜÜCocoAndToulouse.com

44 | PORTLANDINTERVIEW.COM

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FEATURE

Steve Dunn, KATU Channel 2 News Anchorman

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steve W O R D S Christina Wise P H O T O G R A P H Y Tim Sugden

Arriving at KATU Channel 2 News Station, I was buzzed into what is a secure compound encompassing an entire Portland block in Northeast. When I came through the door, I was welcomed by a gracious host surrounded by monitors that show any comings and goings. She announced my arrival and Steve Dunn, TV Anchorman came out to greet me.

Sitting and chatting with him before our interview was like being with a long-time friend. “How are things with you Christina… thank you for doing this, this is very exciting”. He has a genuine way of making you feel like you are the important one.

His co-anchor Debora Knapp walked by as we are visiting, acknowledging her with a funny little quip. You can feel the great pride he has for his surroundings and love for his colleagues as he walks me through the newsroom greeting everyone he encounters, leading me to the fishbowl where the interview begins.

The large conference room looks out to a huge open space where his colleagues collaborate. He casually sat across from me, comfortably awaiting our interview.

Your professional career started in Michigan. What sparked your interest in broadcasting?

I grew up in Michigan, in what is now a suburb of Detroit. I was probably around 10 years old when I knew I wanted to be in broadcasting. My parents bought me a tape recorder and I would interview anybody in the neighborhood whether they wanted me to or not. I would interview the family dog - got little reaction but that tape recorder definitely changed my life.

Who were your influencers? Ten years old is quite a young age to know your passions.

As a young boy I would watch the Detroit TV station WXYZ. There was an anchorman there by the name of Bill Bonds who was very charismatic. I thought, “Wow, he gets to know what's going on before anybody else - how fascinating is that?” I would read the newspaper into the tape recorder that my parents got me, trying to get his voice down. I’d go into the bathroom and kneel down, read the newspaper and then look up to make eye contact. I had no idea they had teleprompters back then. I just assumed you had to memorize all that stuff. I’d memorize a paragraph and then I’d look in the mirror. It wasn’t until years later when I interned for Bill Bonds that I saw that they had teleprompters. I said to myself, “You’ve got be kidding me, this is so much easier!”

There are those that talk about “fake news.” How do you look at news responsibly in terms of “real news” and getting the correct message out there to the viewer?

We run into this all the time. These people (pointing out to his colleagues), they know in the newsroom that we must be unbiased. It doesn’t matter how we may feel about a topic, when I go on the air at night, I don’t want anybody to know how I feel about

it. When we report on television, whether we’ve had anything to do with putting it together or not, we are the first point of contact, the source of information. K2 is very supportive of our decisions as to what we report. If they forced me to read a story a certain way, I absolutely would not do it. Because I’m the one that must live with it. I keep it as honest as I can, that’s what I do.

Even with your own political beliefs?

Absolutely! When I watch other networks and I see them taking a side, which many have done now, I think, “That’s not journalism, that’s picking a side.” We stress in this newsroom every day that we don’t pick a side, we just tell the story and let the folks at home decide where they stand. And it’s challenging sometimes because I have beliefs and feelings like everybody else, but I also know that’s not my job. My job is to deliver it right down the middle.

You are actively involved with many charities here in Portland, such as Loaves And Fishes, Northwest Medical Teams, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, and Big Brothers and Big Sisters to name a few. What charity is your current focus?

I’m heavily involved in the Children’s Center. They take abused children out of homes and they are placed with an intermediary until there is a permanent home for them. I’m also actively involved with Meals on Wheels. Those two are my main focuses right now, but if someone calls and asks for my involvement and I’m available, chances are I would be there to help.

If you could have had any other profession that interests you, what would that have been?

Well, that’s funny because there was a point in college where I decided I was going to be a

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dentist, because I was talking to my dentist one day and he said, “You know Steve, there’s not too many years down the road until I’m going to be retiring. I’m going to need somebody to jump in here. I only work three days a week now and I play golf the rest of the time.” I’m thinking that sounds like a pretty good life to me. For a short period of time in college I started taking some pre-dental courses, but I could NOT get though chemistry. No matter how much I studied, I could not get through it! To me, that was a sign, so I switched back to broadcasting.

What does a day in the life of Steve Dunn look like?

It all depends. I do the 11pm news at night so I probably leave here at about 11:40pm. I’m home by midnight-ish, but I can’t go to bed right away, so I’m usually up until about 1:302:00am. I try to get seven hours of sleep, and then I’m up and getting stuff done.

What about family?

I have a seven-year-old son. Of course, he’s in school now, but I do as much as I can with him during the week. He’s in baseball now, and basketball, so on the weekends it’s all about him, all day long. That is my life!

3rd grade.

As a journalist, I know you have a sense of responsibility to your viewers. You’re human, trying to deliver the message. I’m sure there are things that weigh heavy on you…how are you able to separate your own emotions?

I try to think in my mind, “It’s my responsibility to get the message out to everyone at home, so I’ve got to stay calm, cool, and collected.” Over the years I think you train yourself to stay calm. In the beginning, when I started my broadcasting career, it was tough for me because I hadn’t trained myself to do that. I remember one time there was an accident involving some teenagers that had been killed. I remember thinking, “This is going to be tough, there are parents at home that are now dealing with this, their whole life is changed.” These were high school kids. It’s very difficult for those families involved, but the longer I stayed in the business, I realized that it’s my responsibility to just be the calm voice. Then when I get home, or I’m driving home after a broadcast and I’m thinking about what happened, then I can get emotional. But while you’re on the air, you can’t.

Everyone is curious about your love life as a local celebrity and most eligible bachelor. Are you on dating sites, do you get fan mail, or do you trust your friends to set you up on dates?

I trust my friends. I trust my own gut too, I really do. I don’t get on dating sites at all. I don’t think that’s a good place for me to be. I think that you go through life and you just meet people and it seems to all work out.

Had just started my job as News Anchor at WPBN-TV in Traverse City, Michigan.

Viewers see you daily and feel that they know you. How do you respond to them when approached?

I take it as a compliment when someone comes up and says something. It’s an honor when they are being nice. I have no problem with it whatsoever. I like finding out who they are, what they do for a living, how long they’ve lived in Portland, we usually strike up a nice conversation. A lot of times it’s a good chance to meet people that you wouldn’t normally meet. I can count on one hand in the 33 years I’ve been here where someone may have been disrespectful.

As an award-winning Journalist, anchor and broadcaster, you could choose to be at any top network. Why Portland, why KATU? You know it’s funny, when I came here 33 years ago, I said to myself, “I’m staying here for three years and then I’m getting the heck out.” I think Portland is a tough place to leave because it is such a great community, the people are so great, and you’re so close to the ocean and the mountains. It’s also relatively easy to get around, and so when I start looking at other options I’m thinking, “Do I want to live in Los Angeles? Do I want to live in New York? Do I want to live in Chicago? I really don’t!” So, it comes down to livability to me. And especially now that I do have a 7-year-old son, I’m here. I’m not taking him away from here.

This is where he has friends and family and I have roots.

48 | PORTLANDINTERVIEW.COM

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"I will be here as long as they’ll have me, and that’s the truth."

There are so many ways to relay information to the viewer through news organizations, internet and other social media platforms. Do you utilize Twitter and Facebook to stay relevant?

It’s a huge priority now to get the word out through social media. Every day we get an email from one of our producers who write, “Digital First.” We need to get it out to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. And I do that on a regular basis. For example, we have Mayor Ted Wheeler coming on our political show next week. So, the question I will put out on my Facebook is, “What are your questions for Mayor Wheeler? Let me know and I’ll ask him.” It usually lights up…people respond immediately. We know that there are folks that don’t watch television as much as they used to, so sometimes if they see something come across Facebook, like Mayor Wheeler is going to be on, they may tune in.

Using your nonpartisan brain, what would be the difficult question that you would ask Mayor Wheeler? A question that needs to be asked?

The question I am going to ask him is, “There are people that feel that this city is falling apart because of the homeless issue, with tents on every street corner now. How much of that is your responsibility?” No doubt, he has said before, his number one priority is homelessness.

What would you do about the homeless situation if you were Mayor Steve Dunn?

I think I would have a taskforce of people who would go around to the folks who were living in tents and ask them, “What can we do for you?” Would they want to move into housing? Because some of these folks do not. We’ve learned over the years, for whatever reason, some don’t want to be moved into housing, but a lot of them do. “Can we help you do this?” Can we help with assistance, or food, just to make things a little better for these people who are out there? Clearly, they are suffering, and some are falling right through the cracks. I believe asking, “How can we make life better for you?” will make our city better. We may find folks that do want to improve their living environment, and we should help guide them in the right direction. I don’t know if that is being done.

Downtown Press Conference.

Downtown Press Conference.

It’s extraordinary that you have been with the same station for over 30 years. Is Steve Dunn DONE, or do you have another 20 years left in you?

I will be here as long as they’ll have me, and that’s the truth. I love what I do every day and wouldn’t know what to do without this. K2 has been fantastic to me and we have a great relationship. We know each other well now after all these years. We are family.

If I retired, I’d still be curious about what’s going on in the news world. As long-as they will let me go, I’ll go. If it’s five more years, great. If it’s ten more years, great. If it’s 20, you’ll still be seeing me. PI

ÜÜKATU.com

Reporting live from the Kingdome for a Seattle Mariner game.

Relaxing before a promo shoot with Peter Jennings.

50 | PORTLANDINTERVIEW.COM

Emceeing Children’s Center Healing Garden Gala.

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FEATURE

Kristin Tierney, Author

W O R D S Christina Wise P H O T O G R A P H Y Tim Sugden Author Kristin Tierney’s road to recovery is an epic journey of selfdiscovery and spiritual resurrection. From Nike Project Manager, to crack addict and prostitute, her book Cracked...Not Broken is a compelling narrative that recounts a flight from darkness to light and illustrates a triumph of accountability and authenticity with forgiveness and grace.

When you were at Nike, was the working environment a contributing factor to your drug use... or was there something empty inside of you or chemically related, such as depression, or anxiety, that simply wasn’t being addressed?

Nike had nothing to do with it. In fact, I thrived in that competitive environment. My drug abuse had everything to do with feelings of inadequacy. Although I had always managed to look put-together and in control on the outside, internally, for as far back as I can remember, I never felt as if I was ever enough.

I lived a lie. There were days when even I couldn’t tell where the lies stopped, and the truth began. Some days I felt like a really great actress, other days, a fraud. So, for years, I relied on powder cocaine to achieve and maintain a certain level of detachment that kept me disconnected from my emotions.

Drugs seemed to quiet the vicious voice in my head.

Was Nike supportive in getting you help, once they knew what you had done?

Beyond any reasonable expectation. Initially, I was given a paid leave of absence—my bosses at Nike knew something was off, but weren’t sure what. Within hours of me finally fessing up as to what was really going on, Human Resources began helping me find an inpatient rehab facility. My problem was that no one had yet discovered that I had been stealing from the company for months to support my new crack habit. I suspected the other shoe, so to speak, was soon to drop so I politely blew off every offer of help and waited for Nike to fire me.

What was it that took you from casual use to the dark side of your addictions?

In September 2002, I was no longer getting what I needed from powder cocaine and made the reckless decision to pick up a crack pipe for the first time. I foolishly thought, “Well, it’s just coke, rocked up coke. Same thing, different flavor.” But it wasn’t. Crack was a beast that I should have feared. And it took me down so fast, I never even knew what hit me. I woke up on the morning of February 17, 2003 on the floor of a filthy crack house to my new reality—I had lost everything.

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racked...

Not Broken KRISTIN TIERNEY

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“But I also know

I am centered in my gratitude for every dark minute

of it because it has allowed me to become the woman I am today.”

Did you ever feel afraid for your life? How did you deal with that constant fear?

All the time. Crackheads live in a dark world full of danger and tragedy. Thanks to no one but myself, I was trapped in it. I suppose the saving grace was that survival was all consuming. That dominated every thought and dictated every action. So, although I was very aware of how terribly frightful each hour of every day was, there was very little time to fall apart over it.

Many don’t survive your journey…what were your first steps out?

The day I finally walked away from the dope and prostitution for good was the day I was able to embrace just barely enough strength and courage to surrender. To be willing to make a commitment to my spirit. To be able to be internally firm enough to say that although I didn’t know what the next hour or even the next day would look like, I was still all in—I was done destroying my life. It might not sound like much, but it was a huge first step. And the many, many small steps that followed could not have happened without it.

Every story has villains and heroes...who were yours?

The villain and the hero of this journey are identical twins. The villain was always the vicious voice, in my head. My inner critic. Her voice taunted me for most of my life and played a starring role in my downfall. I had a handful of people who supported me when I made the decision to reclaim my life, but I realized that I had to be the hero. I had to do the hard, methodical, gut wrenching work myself. If my efforts were going to be successful and sustainable, I knew I needed to achieve an inner peace.

Today you seem to have control over your addictions...what do you do now to keep them at bay?

As with most struggles in life, “it’s not the thing, it’s THE THING.” In my case, the focus initially was on addiction, not the underlying issues that fed my need to detach and, then, self-destruct.

I did my work. I identified, deconstructed and reconciled my old self and replaced it with selfworth, self-esteem and self-love. I have cultivated an entire repertoire of healthy coping mechanisms and behaviors so when I am presented with challenges now, I face them head-on, confident they will not destroy me. Blowing up my life will never again be an option, let alone a solution.

Are people celebrating you today or do you feel you’re being judged?

For the most part, I have been very blessed to have my journey supported and celebrated. But that in and of itself can be shocking. For some,

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it seems, my transparency is too much to wrap their heads around. “It’s a lot,” as someone recently said. He meant it was a bit too much for him to handle. I get that.

But I also know I am centered in my gratitude for every dark minute of it because it has allowed me to become the woman I am today.

Your book is very revealing and very brave the way it’s written in what you expose. What gave you the courage to write the book?

Before I wrote one single word, I made a personal commitment to write a book that put it all out there. How else was

“

I going to tell the whole story? There’s something empowering and sacred about embracing everything I once was, and the reader has to know the entire story to celebrate the journey.

What’s it like being on stage as a motivational speaker telling your story?

I believe my willingness to stand in my truth, to lead with my vulnerability and transparency, inspires the meaningful conversation to be had—that my audience walks away willing to look deep within and, hopefully, continue the dialogue long after I have left the stage.

When can we expect your next book?

One of the most profound discoveries is my belief in divine timing—that everything that happens in one’s life occurs at precisely the right moment, including the release of another book. On a recent morning run, the title of my next book came to me. I’m keeping that to myself for now, but that’s how it was with Cracked…

Not Broken. A short time later, during another run, the opening paragraph of the first chapter started writing itself. So, it is already happening. PI

ÜÜKristinTierney.com

I identified, deconstructed

and reconciled my old self and

replaced it with self-worth,

self-esteem and self-love.”

56 | PORTLANDINTERVIEW.COM

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FEATURE

Brent Collier, Collier PDX

Fashion

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COLLIER W O R D S David Bentley P H O T O G R A P H Y Tim Sugden

Brent Collier is effortlessly fashion-forward. His ongoing passion for high-end Italian wear commenced over 40 years ago in Southern California. From styling movie stars on Rodeo Drive, to introducing Italian streetwear to Portland and Seattle, he painstakingly selects the perfect blend of timeless Italian suits and distinctive, chic Italian casual wear. Brent takes great pride in how he presents himself and styles his clients, tailoring each of them for the perfect fit.

“I love nice things that are made well that someone cared about and crafted. I have the ability to look at my environment and tailor it for where I’m living.”

He strips himself down to the naked truth and is both passionate and revealing as he shares with me where he began, and how he loves the experience of humbly representing an image one can be proud to portray.

You say you naturally connect emotionally with clothing. How does that help you when merchandising someone?

I don't know which came first, but I know that I always felt good when I was dressed at a top level. I made it a point somehow to have the experience of wearing great clothes. I loved the feeling I would get, and I wanted other people to feel that too.

What do you like best about what you do?

I like it all. Traveling, I like having ideas and seeing them created and come together, making people feel good about the ideas, supporting them.

Do you live your work?

Pretty much. I’m passionate. I go with what I’m passionate about. And then I have a better life. I want a good road, I go to Italy four times a year and I’m very modest about it. I stay in great AirBnBs, meet wonderful people. I’m just a man amongst men, but that’s where I feel at home. I enjoy that experience. If that’s going to be my road of work, I like it.

Who is your Customer?

They’re all over the place man. But I think they all share an importance for their image. It isn’t just clothes. To me, image is earned, meaning they're probably described by others as ‘great’, but they may not have the same description of themselves and seem to be humble when it comes to that. They have the natural cool factor. These guys are cool dudes, they’re heroes, they’re sportsman, they’re good fathers, they’re good in the community.

My core customers are good people! They are into the daily life. The same daily life I’m into.

Who inspired you in the early years?

I got a job a job at Jonathan’s. Jonathon was really a Mentor to me. He gave me a chance early, when I was 20, 21. He took me to New York on a buying trip to a new show called ‘Designer Collected’, it was the first one. I still remember the feeling of walking by this one showroom and seeing this young guy, older than me, he was probably 26, sitting in his showroom by himself, there were other people going in and out; I almost felt bad. I walked in and he was cool, got up, shook my hand and was happy to just see someone in his showroom. What intrigued me was that he was young, and he was doing something.

He had to get here somehow. Anyway, it ended up being Paul Smith. He’s huge. It was his first show; he stuck with it and look where he is today.

You quit drinking early on…did you drink to escape or just a way of calming yourself down? You do have a lot of energy.

I used alcohol like a medicine. I was shy and skinny and that led to insecurity. In the beginning it worked for everything, all of the sudden I’m not shy, still skinny, but not shy. I felt more empowered; the walls came down, so then I thought it would work for everything, until it didn’t.

Alcohol seemed to take away your insecurities.

To some degree. I remember always trying to please everybody hoping their reaction to me would define me; make myself feel better about myself, and it never would.

I was letting the world define me, rather than defining myself. At that point in my life it felt selfish and I wasn’t selfish.

I’m naturally compassionate, caring and

giving, and if I’m going to be the best I can be, I’m going to be the best at that.

I can’t give what I don’t have. I can’t love someone authentically and receive love if I don’t love myself first. It’s all about the love. I just wanted love in my life. Whether it be people, places or things.

What brought you to Portland?

I needed a change of scenery. I was introduced to Mario by a girl who had worked with him and was working for us down in L.A. I flew up to Portland and spent three days with Mario. He knew very well were I came from, so he let me know that if I wanted to make a move, that he’d create a spot for me.

What made you want to start your own store in Portland?

I was working at Mario’s; I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a Tuesday night…

I was having trouble with the manager. I felt like I was stepping on toes and being scolded because my sales weren’t big enough. Every time I tried to build my sales; I was pissing somebody off because they thought it was their customer. They weren’t recognizing that I was setting up their sales and making them more money.

That same night, I start bawling my eyes out. At first, I didn’t even want to know why. Then I felt like I was screaming to the Gods. ‘God, just show me what to do, I’ll do it, I don’t care if I’m flipping hamburgers, just give me something!’ I cried myself to sleep and woke up the next morning. I felt a little better. Sometimes with crying you feel better and you don’t even know why.

And then it hit me. I knew what I needed to do. My best friend had been in wholesale; he had access and connections to the 59

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factories. I called him up and I bled to him as we often did in life and still do. He said, “You should try what I’m trying, you’re really good man.” So, I borrowed $5K from my grandfather to buy opening inventory and I started selling out of my house. On the weekends I would convert my living room into a store with racks and the few clothes that I had. Then I would drive up to Seattle and do a trunk show at my father’s salon. I’d also fly to L.A., call old clients, work with them and fly back.

Where did your showroom start?

I had a friend who had a showroom in Montgomery Park, and he let me use it for not much. So, I opened at Montgomery Park. I’d be open on the weekends because that’s when he didn’t need the showroom. I had some tasty stuff that no one else did.

Did you call it the Showroom right out of the gate?

I called it right out of the gate. I remember being in a New York showroom, my buddy’s showroom, and the girl would answer the phone, “Hello Showroom” and it just sounded cool! I called it ‘The Showroom’ and I rented a place downtown above where Mercantile is now, across the street from Riche's. So, I got a second story that was like a showroom.

You went from there to above Riche's?

Yes, but it was still The Showroom. We grew three times and I was there for 13 years. And then I went in the mall. I got a good deal right next to Saks and started calling it Collier. I started having higher-end clothing, so I felt it was time to put my name on it.

What’s next for Collier?

I think the world is finding its way again, as far as like… ’do I shop online’? There are a lot of online companies jumping into the game with not much success. Everybody is trying to find ways to shop.

The best way for me to shop or my guys is to be hands-on, work with me, work with my guys, let me bring stuff you can’t just go get. You need to try it on and if it doesn’t fit, you need to know that that size is there, not through the mail. We take you to an elevated point of trust. I need to work with people. For the most part guys need direction, and they like a good experience-at least a real one.

How do you define the word “Collierize?”

If someone gets me and they like my style, my experience. I tell my guys, don’t do 60 | PORTLANDINTERVIEW.COM

Photo: Tom Boehme

You just opened your store in Seattle?

Yes… Seattle’s a bigger game. There’s more possibility in Seattle. What I mean is that they wear the clothes a little more, the incomes are huge, not that they aren’t in Portland, just more of it. I’m right there by Amazon. So, my goal is to “Collierize” it. I have some great customers there already that spend big money.

Locally owned since 2003. While our footprint continues to expand, our mission remains unchanged:

Make People Smile.

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traditional stuff, you got to feel it. If something’s not right and it doesn’t look good, I don’t want cliché. It’s got to be right, to fit right, to look cool.

in front of me. I want to go slower and get a feel for what it’s like, not guess what it’s like. I’ll tailor some things at a little higher level there. I might get into my own brands and my own line.

Where is your new Seattle location?

We’re at 601 Stuart Street, on the corner of Stuart and 6th Avenue.

How much time will you be spending between Portland and Seattle?

I go two weeks there and one week here. Just keep rotating.

Are you going to buy differently for that store versus your Portland location?

I think I eventually will. Right now, I’m doing the same. Out of the five or six categories here in Portland, I’m doing my best three or four there. Just cherry picking it. I think I will buy differently eventually; I came mid-season, so I had to work with what was

PI

ÜÜCollierPDX.com

Photo: Tom Boehme

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Do you like your life?

Yeah…for the most part. I like me. I’ll take that.

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FEATURE

Brittany Walsh, Archer/Entertainer

Brittany Walsh, or “Acrobritt”, as she is known in the circus world, taught herself how to perform acrobatic archery – on a dare! This amazing talent has led her as far as Dubai, Germany, Finland and Hong Kong. She recently spent a year performing in the Comedy and Dolls variety show at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. David Letterman hosted her, and after being featured on Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! there are two wax statues of Acrobritt (in Florida and Tennessee).

Brittany’s philosophy of hard work, curiosity and fearlessness has created a solid foundation that will continue to take her on one amazing trek after another. The only thing more dazzling to observe than what she has already done is what she is going to do. This is one to watch!

Can you describe the journey that led you to being an acrobatic archer?

I definitely didn’t start out with acrobatic archery. It was a very unplanned, unexpected occurrence. I competed in gymnastics for 11 years, and then later turned to circus, and I’ve been doing that for almost 14 years now. I currently train about 20 hours per week to maintain the skills I have.

In the beginning of my acrobatic journey, a friend and I were looking at an old circus book, and there was an old photograph of a woman doing acrobatic archery. My friend dared me to give it a try! So we went and got a beginning archery kit and just went for it.

Was it an actual bow and arrow?!?!

In the beginning, we started with a Nerf-type set up. The first step was trying to hold the bow in my toes. And then to see if I could do a handstand while doing that. Then, trying to draw the string with my toes. So, there was a progression!

Had you done archery before, the normal way – you know, with your hands?

Um, no. I actually had never done any kind of archery before I decided to do this specific trick. Even now, when I try to do archery the “normal” way, I’m still much better with my feet than my hands!

When you are doing a performance, you have to hit a very exact target, correct?

Yes, and most of the time I do. When I am aiming, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration. For some events, I use suction cup arrows for safety, and for some performances I actually use flaming arrows! Sometimes I am aiming at a balloon;

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ACROBATIC ARCHER

W O R D S Merlin Varaday P H O T O G R A P H Y Tim Sugden

Brittany Walsh

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A

Daring Adventure

65 Brittney Walsh - Shot on Location at Portland Event Productions

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“Not going after your dreams and living a life of regrets is even worse than trying and not succeeding.”

sometimes there is a person holding the target; sometimes the distance is not so big, and sometimes it is quite long. I also need to take into consideration how my body is feeling that day. All of those factors play a role in how I am aiming.

Is there someone specific who inspired or mentored you?

I am pretty fortunate to have been surrounded by people who are very passionate, and who don’t hold back when it comes to chasing their dreams. I aspire to be like that. My Do Jump! Artistic Director Robin Lane greatly inspired me. When I first got involved in circus with Do Jump! they really welcomed me. Robin was very helpful in guiding me and encouraging me. Also, my coach

and friend from Austria, Stefan Furst, who comes from a sports/ acrobatic background and is now an acrobatics teacher, was very helpful to me in my personal growth.

You hold the Guinness World Record in acrobatic archery! What did you achieve to gain that distinction?

There is actually a long list of requirements to make the Guinness book of World Records! There was a prior record I was trying to beat, held by another female circus performer. First, I had to apply to Guinness. Then, I needed to hire a professional land surveyor to measure the distance. I had to find a bunch of completely random witnesses – no one who had any kind of personal stake in my beating the record. I had to find an appropriate location, and make sure there were sufficient safety precautions. Finally, we had to shoot a video of me beating the record. I had to hit a bullseye that was only four inches in diameter!

If a young child told you they wanted to do what you do, what advice would you give them?

When I was young, my sister and I would read the Guinness Book of World Records and watch Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, and we were completely in awe. I never imagined being involved in either of those myself, but now that it has happened, it definitely feels like a dream come true! I would tell them to follow their passions.

Whatever you enjoy in life, continue working at it as hard as you can. Then, nothing is impossible.

Were there specific fears or challenges that you needed to overcome to become an accomplished acrobatic archer?

Of course there is always the fear of failure.

But not going after your dreams and living a life of regrets is even worse than trying

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and not succeeding. That’s always been my motto – if something doesn’t work, I can always take a couple steps back and rethink it. I might change my approach, but I never give up or decide not to try.

Now you have a perfect way to travel the world! What’s next for you?

I try to continuously find new ways to challenge myself – aiming further, hitting a smaller target, doing tricks blindfolded...

If you weren’t a circus performer, what would you like to do?

I’ve always had a passion for travel! I would love to host my own travel show. I love meeting new people, and drilling down as far as possible into different cultures.

This year I will be focusing on a performance called Auream with Halcyon Shows, a Portland circus company. Watch for it in late 2019, early 2020! PI

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ÜÜAcroBritt.com

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FEATURE

Steve Gemmell, Earthquake Tech

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W O R D S David Bentley P H O T O G R A P H Y Tim Sugden

BOLTING IT DOWN STEVE GEMMELL

From Colorado ski bum to Oregon retrofitting entrepreneur, Steve Gemmell has proved himself to be a staple of the Portland construction community.

Born to Australian scientists and immigrants, Gemmell had a wealth of knowledge to work with from a young age.

As the road led him to Portland after receiving a major in German Studies, Gemmell found himself running odd jobs and fixing up his sister’s home, which grew into his mother company, Gemmell Construction.

Portland Interview had the opportunity to sit down with Steve and discuss his life story, as well as his passion for seismic retrofitting.

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“It’s about loving people. I have always been a people person.”

You're celebrating your twentieth year?

That's correct, since 1999. First off, I technically have three businesses, Earthquake Tech LLC, which is a subsidiary of the mother company Gemmell Construction. I also own Alberta Development. Additionally, I’ve acted as a larger commercial contractor and as a commercial developer. My volume of work tends to be with our Earthquake Tech products and services that mainly focus on residential projects.

So, both of your parents immigrated here and worked as nuclear scientists...that must have been some upbringing?

Well, I do feel a bit worldly and educated, or better… lucky and fortunate to grow up like that. I was given a lot of options. I kick myself in the ass now because I didn't take full advantage of it.

Understanding the gift of the time. So fast forward… now, I have an 11-year-old daughter. I’m trying to get her to understand that when you’re a kid you have a lot of time and options. Take advantage of it. I am looking to have the same time and options today, like a lot of us are. As a kid, you find yourself trying to figure out just how to burn a Saturday.

Was your sister's house the first one that you retrofitted for seismic security?

No, I started off as a painter in 1994. I also had the opportunity to get my general contractor license because the CCB offered it to me. Getting my license gave me options. I had already been doing work on bathrooms and kitchens, so I transitioned to remodeling as well.

When I bought my own place in ‘95 my dad, being a scientist, knew about the fault line that we have off the coast of Oregon.

He suggested I get earthquake insurance. I called up State Farm and he gave it to me right over the phone. No questions asked. I remodeled that one, then refinanced it because it was in the beautiful late ‘90s… So easy to do… I bought another house. I called State Farm again for earthquake insurance and this time he asked if my houses were bolted down. I had no idea what the hell that meant, so I called up an engineer I’d been working with. He's the guy that showed me how to do this… I said, “What is this?” He

said, “This is a seismic retrofit.” I bolted down the houses, then I got my insurance… Then I realized I had to do this to qualify.

Then bam! The light bulb went on. People like myself will want this. I started Earthquake Tech in 1999. Slowly, we grew out of remodeling and did exclusive seismic and structural work. At that time in the company it was mainly residential work. In the last couple years, I've been involved in a lot of commercial because there is more of a market for it. As peoples’ awareness grows, the city keeps pushing for it. It's really blowing up. This is my retirement plan at this point. If I can do it for another 10 years, I'm done!

It seems a little scary going under a house? It’s got to be hard work?

Hell, my knees are shot bro… I'm going in for double knee replacement in late winter next year so I can’t do that work right now. I can't wait until I can again, you know?

How many employees do you have at Earthquake Tech?

Six on the outside, three on the inside, including myself; it’s a nineman ‘special ops’ crew.

How busy are you?

It's interesting because there's a certain flow. It seems to be very seasonal even though we can work year-round. People still have ideas on what we can do at different times of the year. I must remind people that we are in your basement. We're still happy and warm down there.

What homes need to be retrofitted? Who is your target customer?

Anybody that understands the value of their assets. I’m a believer in insurance to a point. To me this is a really simple and inexpensive for protecting a big investment.

When did builders start to pay attention to bolting down houses to foundations?

In 1976 it became part of the building code in Portland. Builders and contractors incorporated bolting down houses with vertical bolts coming up out of the concrete foundations. That doesn't necessarily mean it’s a seismic quality job, but it was better than nothing. The contractors of the ‘80s houses blew it off. Inspectors were letting it go. So, if I were to pick the year of homes that are most likely bolted down, I would say the mid-90s and up. There's not a whole lot of work left to be done on those houses. The codes and regulations can change all the time because we are talking about a nine-point plus magnitude earthquake.

The 700-mile Cascadia subduction zone off the coast of California, Oregon and Washington will produce a massive earthquake sooner or later. If the entire zone gives away at once producing a full margin rupture, somewhere between 8.7 and 9.2 magnitude, do you have the capability to secure a building to withstand that?

The stuff we are doing today could seriously take that on and of course we’re talking basically about

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the worst of the worst. That's the possible scenario, right? An earthquake is like a tornado, you'll notice a trailer park is destroyed but there are those few houses that are still standing.

There are smaller quakes that happen all the time that can be pretty damaging.

There are fault lines that'll produce a lesser extent earthquake around us and under us. Even if a smaller one happens, and your house comes off your foundation it's not just some easy fix.

The last time there was a mega earthquake was sometime in the 1700s. Do you know when it will happen again?

Yeah, I get people asking me the question all the time. The other day I was driving my truck around with Earthquake Tech on the side of it. A guy on the sidewalk next to me said, “Hey when's the next big one going to happen?” I said, “I don't know man, five minutes or 50 years!” Then, he said, “Why can’t the sciences prevent it?” I laughed so hard. “I don't know! But I'll tell them to get on it!”

They say an earthquake is the hardest thing to predict.

It is. It’s not like some weather pattern. It just builds up all of this tension, then, it decides to release. It doesn't really give you a warning when it decides to go.

Research shows that 95% of buildings and bridges are not built to withstand a nine.

No, it will be intense when the big bad one hits.

The NEIC locates about 12,000–14,000 earthquakes each year. Magnitude 2 and smaller earthquakes occur several hundred times a day worldwide. Major earthquakes, greater than magnitude 7, happen more than once per month. Is there also another way to look at the differences?

Sure, it's not just about magnitude. It's also about depth. So, you can have a large-scale earthquake and if it’s deep enough it won’t affect you. On the other hand, a shallow earthquake with a small magnitude can really affect you. That's why we simply can't take it for granted that our houses will make it through some of these smaller ones.

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Earthquake Tech’s main business is securing homes to foundations, but do you have suggestions for homeowners to secure other areas of their home?

As far as earthquake preparedness goes, we look at the house, structure and garage, as well as the hot water heater to see if it is strapped down. A few days without water and you will wish you had protected the tank. There is 75 gallons stored in there that will look tempting to you after a few days without water. We also address gas valves. We install an emergency shutoff valve that will close off the gas from coming into your house when it is rocked by an earthquake. People pay a lot of attention to this after the knowledge of fire is associated with earthquakes and gas lines.

Additionally, one should obviously store food and water. It's an absolutely known fact that the prepared prevail after things like this happen.

the house and get all the weight off of it, then build a frame around it to support the structure. If it slid off, the foundation probably won’t be in good shape either.

There’s no rebar in these old foundations for additional support.

Are you seeing a trend or priority in the last 5-10 years of people getting their homes retrofitted? Is a home being earthquake ready adding value? Are home sellers finding it important to have done for resell?

Absolutely, because we have more people educated about earthquakes. Also, there are home-grown policies out of Salem that have made it mandatory to check the box. The sales form providing information about your house should indicate if your house is bolted down.

Margaret Anne Gemmell April 11, 1936 - July 24, 2019

Some people may feel they can't afford Earthquake Tech.

What are we looking at?

On the average you are looking at $3,500 and that includes permits, and inspections etc. Not a bad insurance plan when it comes to protecting your largest asset.

So, if disaster strikes and your house moves off the foundation, how do you lift or shift it back on the foundation?

You don’t. Well, you can do it, but you are talking about a lot of work, time, and money. You've got to strip

Why do you do what you do?

It’s about loving people. I have always been a people person. Doing something helpful, and doing it well… Now that house is @/0%#& bolted down… Mic drop! PI

ÜÜEarthQuakeTech.com

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SPECIAL FEATURE

FashioNXT

2019

LINEUP REVEALED CELEBRATING DIVERSITY W O R D S Bonnie Knight P H O T O G R A P H Y Yi Yin | Hal Harrison October 2-5, 2019 marks the 8th year of FashioNXT, the official fashion week of Portland, as recognized by the mayor. Throughout the years the production has been known for celebrating the diversity of design providing a stage for streetwear, couture, accessories, innovations in FashionTech, and emerging designers.

The world class production has also made a name for showing diverse international designers which included, Latin America, China, Dubai, Philippines, Canada, and designers throughout the United States. FashioNXT Week diverse models included, plus size models walking for Colty and Tammi Ann Barker, as well as Blair St Clair of Ru Paul’s Drag Race walking for Project Runway All Stars winner Mondo Guerra.

Attendees of the show can expect to see the continued tradition celebrating the designer’s creativity and diversity while experiencing fashion at its best. Gustavo Apiti Couture 2018 show featured NBA Stars CJ McCollum and Evan Turner walking the runway in bespoke suits alongside couture dresses highlighted with FashioNXT Accessories Competition winner Lunaversoul. Camisha Jackson of Lunaversoul designs accessories and wearable art designed with medals and Fiberglass. With both designers coming back with individual runway shows.

We are so looking forward to Washington based couture designer Chany Venturini’s meticulously detailed feminine collection. Each show will create a beautiful collection of diverse designs. Salem, Oregon based Bridal Designer Vien To of Vouture will return to FashioNXT for the 4th year in a row, fresh off the designer’s award by Oregon Bride Magazine as Best Bridal designer. Seattle based bridal designer Mimi Wolfe will bring drama to the runway with her whimsical avant-garde designs. Gender neutral leather goods designer COLTY will return to FashioNXT with a collection that will bring theatrics and flare that the designer is known for.

UpNXT co-winners O’Field and Ale O will return for runway show. Ale O a Portland based Latina designer whose designs are perfect for the modern woman who cares for sustainability, and modern edge with the use of geometric shapes. O’Field a Portland based designer whose designs celebrate the designer’s heritage coming from a legacy of sheep farmers, with use of Pendleton 76 | PORTLANDINTERVIEW.COM

wool in many of her designs. UpNXT alum Tammi Anne Barker the Vancouver BC based designer will return to the runway. Tammi has been focusing on building her brand, focusing on quality construction and tailoring, body diversity, artist collaboration. Are you UpNXT? FashioNXT will host auditions for UpNXT Emerging designers on July 28th. The winner decided by judges of UpNXT will be rewarded with a show at 2020 FashioNXT Week, alongside other prizes helping their business.

Narakorn Semachim of Thailand, 2018 FashionTech competition winner for his concept design I Bloom I Bloom Just for you” is a bio-fashion collection that speculates on the future of Thailand in year 2100. This fashion collection is designed based on the characteristics and properties of microbial cellulose – Kombucha, using patterns and colors mimicking and imitating the living organism allowing humans to be in the symbiotic state with nature. Former animation designer Shamanic Chic is bringing FashionTech to the runway with sustainable designs, that integrate tech in garments as well as medicinal priorities of fabrics. Lunaversoul 2018 Accessories Competition winner will be showcasing on the runway, as well as an exhibit in the FashioNXT plaza where attendees can view or purchase her designs all four nights of the show. FashionTech and Accessories designers can still apply until September 21st. The winners of the 2019 FashionTech Competition and Accessories Competition have the opportunity to have their designs highlighted in exhibits the 2020 FashioNXT show, alongside prizes.

While the runway is the main attraction at FashioNXT Week the pre-show plaza and after party provides the opportunity for guests to socialize, meet the designers, and shop exhibitors. FashioNXT is still accepting exhibitors for the 2019 show. A wide variety of businesses chose to showcase their brands in the FashioNXT Plaza; including participants in the fashion incubator, show designers, and accessories stores/ brands VentPdx and Delicia Winds. The SE Division store VentPdx features unique jewelry designers not found elsewhere in the northwest. Hannah Widmer of Delica Winds Designs Accessories that bring style and function together to make eyewear fashionable for all.

FashioNXT launched an Influencer Ambassador program to create access for fashion, style, and social influencers. The program is meant to engage with the influencers to inspire current and aspiring professionals in the fields to take their businesses to the next level through events engagements, like Influencers Brunch. It creates excitement and awareness for designers at FashioNXT Week.

FashioNXT Incubators program will progress throughout the summer/fall with mentorship for designers, models, stylists, and event production throughout the summer.

Model auditions will be in mid-August in Portland and Seattle.

Designers Showing in 2019 FashioNXT Week: from Portland Shamanic Chic, Holly Ren Designs, Ale O, O’Field, Colty, Yamil, Vouture, Ventpdx; from Seattle Lunaversoul

by Camisha Jackson, Gustavo Apiti Couture, Mimi Wolfe, Venturini, The BRIN Project

by Reshma. Also, Nokota Style (Kansas), Designs by LCW (Austin), Tammi Anne Barker (Vancouver BC, Canada) … and so much more.

If you are interested in FashioNXT programs from the Runway and Beyond email: contact@fashionxt.net or visit www.fashionxt.com for more information on showing or be a sponsor. PI

ÜÜFashioNXT.com

Venue: FashioNXT Week Runway Shows and After-party Daimler North America | 4859 N Lagoon Ave, Portland, OR 97217

ORDER OF APPERANCE Hair Lead: Chachi Make-up Lead: Angela Foster Designer: Mondo Guerra Model: Blair St Clair Photographer: Yi Yin

Hair Lead: Chachi Make-up Lead: Angela Foster Designer: Vouture by Vien To Model: Kemle Fakhry Photographer: Hal Harrison

Hair Lead: Chachi Make-up Lead: Angela Foster Designer: Gustavo Apiti Couture Model: Adilson Correia Photographer: Yi Yin

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ABOUT TOWN

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Chinese Rose Princess Queen Fashion Gala This year Kerry Yu, President of Oceana Blue Productions, and a well known international model and designer here in Portland, hosted her annual Rose Festival event. The Miss China Peony Princess Gala. This event celebrates China and our local Chinese community here in Portland. This was a night full of fashion, awards, and speeches highlighting Chinese leadership and local supporters as well as Oceana Blue’s youth development program, where kids shared stories of their personal transformation and success. PI

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written by Debra Yergen sponsored by The Wellness Center, PDX

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Alkaline Water: Hype or Health?

As summer temps sizzle and hydration becomes imperative, drinking enough water is a goal most of us rank as important. Water is a lifeline to good health, but is all water created equal?

These days, there’s a lot of talk about alkaline water. The pH scale ranges from 1 (acidic) to 14 (alkaline). When a person’s pH drops below 7.35, Nobel Prize Winner, Otto Warburg, MD, discovered the environment becomes more acidic and susceptible to diseases like cancer. Foods with preservatives and sugar create an acidic environment, while alkaline foods like vegetables, berries, fruits and alkaline water can help your body neutralize some of the acidity.

Achieving a more alkaline environment is increasingly popular as people become more aware of disease triggers and prevention. Naturally-occurring alkaline water has a higher pH due to the metal, salts and minerals. Water that is made alkaline can be healthy

but may contain contaminants. Beyond pH, what also matters is the ionization in the water.

“Free radicals damage cells by stealing their electrons, a process called oxidation,” explained Heidi Meinecke, co-owner of Energy Massage & Float Spa, a Pacific Northwest recovery and prevention wellness center. “Just like a cut apple turns brown quickly through oxidation, our cells break down resulting in sickness,” she said. To counteract this, the wellness center makes ionized alkaline water available to the community as a public service. The water they use has no added components. It’s instead filtered through a series of titanium plates to give the atoms a negative charge.

The takeaway: eat your berries and other antioxidant foods and read labels even when it comes to water.

The more you do to eliminate free radicals, the better you’ll feel overall and the healthier you will be. PI

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The 22nd annual Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival August 23, 2019 - August 25, 2019 This year is American Jazz and Blues. Since 1998, the festival has attracted visitors from 19 states and Canada. The festival features internationally acclaimed jazz artists, 200 wines, 50 fine artists from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California; to local restaurants and commercial exhibitors. www.vancouverwinejazz.com

Vancouver Brewfest Craft enthusiasts won't want to miss this chance to sample brews from noteworthy Northwest breweries. More than 60 brews to try, great food, fun, art/craft vendors and live music make this the premier event for beer lovers in SW WA. Keep your wristband and glass from Friday and get in free Saturday August 9, 2019 - August 10 Fri - 4 PM to 9:30 PM; Sat - 12 PM to 9 PM

Spirit Tales of the Vancouver Barracks The walking tour takes place in Vancouver, Washington, at the historic Vancouver Barracks.

The Vancouver Barracks was founded in 1849, and members of the United States military served there until 2011. In those years, thousands of service members, their families, civilians, and prisoners walked its grounds. In over 150 years, they left their mark on the land and the buildings, leaving behind many memories.

Saturdays 7-8:30 pm, Sundays 12-1:30 pm.

Clark County Fair This year's Fair is sure to provide you and your family endless entertainment and excitement.

We have amazing free grandstand entertainment and concerts for plenty of family fun. August 2, 2019 - August 11, 2019. www.clarkcofair.com

www.ghostsandcritters.com

First Friday’s Every first Friday of the month throughout the year, participating merchants and restaurants stay open late with special programming, live music, and pop-ups. Also, downtown art galleries lead the First Friday Art Walk featuring rotating exhibits from local artists. Please visit the Vancouver's Downtown Association website for more specific details. www.visitvancouverusa.com

www.visitvancouverusa.com

Fun for the whole family Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center is a 100-acre space that is designed to entertain kids with nature trails and a fish hatchery, and the Water Resource Education Center has hands-on activities designed to give children a closer look at our drinking water and where it comes from.

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is simply a must-see for all visitors to the area. Aside from touring through a working blacksmith shop, wood shop, and other period trades at the reconstructed fort, kids can actually dig for artifacts on site. Make sure to stop next door at Pearson Air Museum to get a historic perspective on aviation.

Vintage The 11th

Annual Downtown Camas Vintage & Art Street Faire will feature 60+ vintage and local art

vendors all in the charming tree lined streets of Downtown Camas.

Vintage offerings include a huge variety of indoor and outdoor furniture, and home and garden items as well as clothing and accessories. Art offerings include quality paintings, woodworking, glass art, metal work, handmade jewelry, fiber art, repurposed art, and more. Live music and delicious food will also be available. Saturday August 24th, in Downtown Camas on 4th Avenue and Birch Streets, near Camas Antiques, 305 NE 4th Avenue. Live music will include jazz guitar

by Bret Malmquist from 10-12 and Carol Rossio Jazz Trio with French influence from 12:30-3pm.

Art Outdoors Come enjoy artists in Downtown Camas painting our town! During the day on September 6th from 9am-4pm, local artists will be doing Plein Air (Open Air) painting around town. So fun to watch! Then vote for your favorite during the First Friday event from 5-8pm.

The finished plein air art pieces will be on display at the Camas Gallery, 408 NE 4th, from 5-8 pm that evening. The community will vote for its favorites and “People Choice Awards” will be given. These works of art will then be auctioned off at the Dinner in White on the Columbia, a benefit for the Washougal Library Building Fund, on Saturday, September 7th at Marina Park at the Port of Camas-Washougal.

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Pearl District’s Biggest Block Party Celebrating its 29th anniversary, the Pearl Party is a family-friendly block party that brings together people who live, work, play and school in the Pearl District. The event features live music from the Just Friends Band (yes, the amazing band everyone loved from last year!) games, plus delicious food and drinks from local purveyors. You can see a time-lapse video from the 2018 Pearl Party above Friday, September 20, 2019 from 5 to 8:30 pm (rain or shine).

Teen Craft Hangout

Willie Wonka "In a touring Broadway production, Roald Dahl’s great confectionary fantasy comes to the stage, with such indelibly colorful characters as Willy Wonka, Charlie Bucket, Grandpa Joe and Veruca Salt, popular songs from the 1971 film adaptation (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory) and a dessert platter full of new tunes by the songwriting team from Hairspray."

Shine the Pearl Volunteer to work in groups and clean up one dedicated zone in the Pearl District. Teams are assigned to specific zones so it is easy to manage and they set their own schedule. We provide you with the training and tools.

Through the PDNA Tackling Trash Program, in collaboration with the city and the generosity of donors, we are replacing all existing city-serviced trash cans in the Pearl District with tamper proof cans and adding up to 100 additional cans throughout the neighborhood.

We encourage families to participate, but please note that participants must be at least 10 years of age. Ready to lend a hand or have questions?

www.pearldistrict.org/committees/clean-team

NW District Public Library. Ongoing in August. It's

a time for teens to make and create this summer.

Explore a new craft every Friday ... from fuse beads to ceramic art and more. All abilities are welcome. For disability accommodations, call 503.988.5123 or email help@multcolib.org 2-3 days before a program.

A group exhibition of works from April Bey, Bean Gilsdorf, Michelle Grabner, Faith Wilding (with subRosa), and Wendy Red Star, united at the intersection of intimate and political feminism.

Upfor Gallery 929 NW Flanders, Ongoing thru August 31st | Hours: Wed-Sat 11am-6pm |

www.upforgallery.com

PICA

(TBA) gathers artists and audiences from around the world for ten days of contemporary performance, music, visual art, film, workshops, lectures, food, drink, conversation, and celebration. Returning September 5-15, 2019, join to be present in the moment when anything can happen.

PICA’s 17th Annual Time-Based Art Festival

Called “the best contemporary summer festival in the country” by The New York Times, Portland’s Time-Based Art Festival (TBA) returns every September with 10 days of boundary-pushing performances, visual art and projects that defy categorization.

www.pica.org/tba

Polish Pottery Place 2281 NW Hoyt St | 503.222.5463 Available at retail stores, better bars, and restaurants throughout Oregon.

PolishPotteryPlace.com

AriaGin.com

Made in Poland

Comedians and Singers Mickalene Thomas: Do I Look Like a Lady?

Through August 31, 2019 Portland Art Museum, The Portland Art Museum is pleased to present the recently acquired video installation Do I Look Like a Lady? by internationally renowned artist Mickalene Thomas. Thomas work addresses themes of beauty and identity expressed through the myriad subjectivities of African-American women.

The Museum is particularly honored to collect a work by Thomas, who lived in Portland as a young adult. She often speaks of visiting the Museum to see an exhibition of Carrie Mae Weems work in 1994, and how that formative experience enabled her to see herself reflected in the art and led to her decision to become an artist. This exceptional story points to the impact of art and the possibilities that can be inspired inside museum galleries everywhere.

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Lakewood Theatre Company Opens its 67th season with the new musical Roald Dahl's Matilda. From the brilliant mind of Roald Dahl comes a magical stage adaptation of his beloved children’s novel.

Prepare yourself for a captivating masterpiece that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. The show begins July 12 and continues through August 18, 2019 on the Headlee Mainstage at Lakewood Center for the Arts.

Self Defense U.S. World Class Taekwondo – Bethany, a well established Martial Arts Academy and state of the art 9,000 square feet facility with the best Instructors on the floor that focuses on Kids Martial Arts and Adult Martial Arts. High Performance Olympic Taekwondo Program, Recreational Martial Arts Classes, Adult Self Defense and Fitness Programs, National and International Black Belt Accreditation.

80s Hits!

www.lakewood-center.org

Reading Time Summer Reading Program, is geared toward teens entering grades 7-12 and will include karaoke, Henna tattoos, free books and prizes while also giving kids an opportunity to sign up for the program. The Summer Reading Program runs from June 1 to Aug. 31 and is intended for all residents, from pre-readers to adults. Participants keep a log of their reading throughout the summer while also taking part in special events.

A summer party is held at Rossman Park as the program comes to an end; this year, it will be Aug. 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. www.ci.oswego.or.us Farmers Market Lake Oswego Farmers Market at Millennium Plaza Park, 200 First St., in downtown. The farmers market will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 12. It boasts an average of over 80 vendors each week, offering superior products ranging from produce, meats, fresh seafood, nuts, cheese, hot food and more.

Now with 5 locations in Bethany - Cedar Hills Beaverton - Hillsboro and now in Forest Heights.

Martial arts courses are an excellent choice for self defense, discipline and fitness. Learn more about martial arts classes in Portland.

Forest Heights Taekwondo is now offering a Grand Opening Special. Just $39.00 for three weeks of classes. Includes uniform and belt.

2057 NW Miller Road, Portland.

Let's Race

The Portland Trail Series is a super cool, low-key series of trails races held in Forest Park. Three, five-race series are held Wednesday nights from May to October. Each race covers a different, challenging course, ranging from four to seven miles. The Series benefits the Forest Park Conservancy. Fall Race #1 is August 28th. For more info go to, www.gobeyondracing.com

Hit Factory Live. Grab a blanket or a lawn chair and bring the family to enjoy live music at Milwaukie Bay Park. The concert is free and open to all ages and is a part of the North Clackamas Parks and Recreations 2019 Concerts in the park Series.

Hit Factory plays all your favorites of the 80’s.

Saturday August 17th, 6 pm to 7:30 pm.

B Ball Skills

(Three-Day Camp) Boys and Girls will work on basic basketball skills such as ball handling, passing, and catching, shooting and footwork. Ages 8-13 Monday August 19 thru Wednesday August 21 Eastside Athletic Club, 4606 SE Boardman Ave.

Eastside Milwaukie- Skillz & Drillz

www.activekids.com

CNA Program Wednesday, August 21st, 5-6 PM at Clackamas Community College, This info session is for individuals interested in pursuing a health science career as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Tech Hire Clackamas can provide financial assistance, support services to those individuals 18 – 29 and qualify for assistance. www.clackamas.edu Mike’s Drive In And The JDRF August 27 thru September 22 Come help Mike’s Drive In support a great cause and have an awesome meal at a good price.

JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) works tirelessly to find better treatments, preventions and ultimately, a cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its complications through critical research. Every dollar we are able to direct toward this research comes from donors like you.

Organic Bronze Bar is the healthy alternative to UV & Chemical Tanning!

Offering spray tans customized to your skin tone, with a formula made with all natural and organic ingredients.

Enjoy that healthy glow, plus a full body hydration!

Book Now! 503.297.0200 First Time Tan $25

windhorsecoffee.com

BREAKFAST TOASTIE'S | LUNCH PANINI'S FRESHLY BAKED PASTRIES Visit: 7365 SW Barnes Rd Suite B | Portland OR 97225 Book Online: OrganicBronzeBar.com/ForestHeights

10611 SE Main St. milwaukie | 503.659.1000

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