It has been called the fabric of our lives, and rightfully so. From clothing to food products, cotton is everywhere; yet despite its popularity, few people know the dark side of this ubiquitous textile. "The simple act of conventionally growing and harvesting the one pound of cotton fiber needed to make a t-shirt takes an enormous and devastating toll on the earth's air, water and soil that impacts global health," writes more...

Once the prized dessert of bake-offs and barbeques, this fiery redhead is finally dusting off her southern roots and making her way into the hearts of true cupcake aficionados. Red velvet cupcakes may seem like simply another flavor option to some, but be warned; one bite could easily transform your vanilla-cupcake-eating ways into the seedy underground culture of red-velvet-eating bliss. Maybe it’s the delicate taste of cocoa more...

Versatile en-vogue? You better believe it. In a time when eco-friendly and budget-conscious consumers rule the market, designers have begun to see the creative value in convertible clothing, and more and more of them are creating items of fashion with function. Instead of creating a look for you, these designers are passing along their creative genes into the palm of your hand, so to speak. Each piece can be buttoned, twisted, draped, more...

Tis the season to begin bundling up. At least thinking about it. Fall is (almost) here. And when the needles do drop on thermometers across Portland this year, an entirely different type of needle will spring up around town. Knitting isn’t anything new in our city; knitters have been calling Portland home for decades, bringing their crafts and needles into pubs, coffee shops and staff meetings. The trend this season isn’t a more...

It seems the '70s have returned. Only it’s not the kitschy disco balls that we’re seeing complement the swanky fabrics and minimalist designs…we’re seeing the return of the mounted staghorn fern. “I think a lot of the popularity of the fern comes from the fact that you can mount it on the wall,” says David Kesler, Creative Director at the Floral Design Institute of Portland. “The whole more...

It sits there all alone. Unused. Maybe even a little bored. Frantically trying to figure out where it did me wrong. That little yellow card that, once scanned, gives me access to more exercise equipment than I know how to handle. That little card that gives me a dry place to run during the winter rains. But it’s summer now and once the sun shows itself for the first time, my poor gym card begins its summer-long hibernation as I more...

When Alyssa Kail walks to work each day, she keeps her eyes on the ground. No, she’s not shy, just on a mission: to find discarded treasures. Kail is the Creative Reuse Center Manager at the School and Community Reuse Action Project (SCRAP), a nonprofit organization focused on inspiring creative reuse and upcycling through educational programs, art galleries and affordable workshops. “We started about 11 years ago with a more...

Once school is out, block parties pretty much go steady from June until October. It’s all about encouraging good relationships with neighbors and creating community. When Southeast Portland resident Allen Field decided over a decade ago to help his neighbor plan a block party as a celebration for his birthday, he had no idea what was in store for his beloved Richmond neighborhood. Fast forward 11 years to the present as Field is more...