Trophy Case: The Best Local Stuff of March 2016
Image: Tiktaalik
OUTDOORS
Light and ergonomically pleasing, Portland-based Tiktaalik’s stainless steel Field Knife Set consists of a paring knife, a serrated knife, and a chef’s knife. The single-piece construction holds up to the rigors of the outdoors, so you can cook like a pro wherever you may be. $249, tiktaalik.com
HOME
Local designer Holly Mueller’s handmade rope wall hangings lend elegance and pop to any space where traditional artwork might not do—like that awkward empty wall in your living room. $720, hollymuellerhome.com
Image: Holly Mueller
DESK
Scribble your ill-advised poetry verses in a crowd-funded Scrubby Notebook, a waterproof whiteboard that looks like paper but can be wiped clean at any time. Plus, with cover art created by talented homeless youth from p:ear, a portion of the purchase price will benefit the local nonprofit. From $22, scrubbynotebooks.com
Image: Michael Novak
BATH
Combining olive oil with milk from Nigerian dwarf goats on a family farm just outside of Portland, North45 produces creamy, organic soaps sans artificial scents. The bamboo charcoal, rosemary, and mint–infused Detox Soap invigorates your sense of smell and your body. $8, etsy.com/shop/North45
Image: North45
BIG IDEA
Facebook’s event pages and e-vites are great, but what if you want to rally a spontaneous bar crawl? Enter Down For Whatever, an app for iOS, Android, and your web browser that does away with spammy group texts, static event pages, and clunky e-mails. In about 15 seconds, you can create an activity and notify your friends, who can opt in whether they have the app or not. Says developer and Oregon native Sean McCleary, “I wanted to pare making plans down to as few decision points as possible.” Free, dfw.io
