In the late nineties, Autumn meant you could slow down at the gym, retrieve your bulky-sweater collection from storage and begin the stew/pasta/holiday-snack gorging that we all came to know and love. We basically fancied ourselves grizzlies—man clearly needs to store up calories for the winter, right?

Well, in the age of skinny suits, tailored shirts and more form-fitting sweaters (seriously, can we trade our merino back in for cable knits yet?), one thing is painfully evident; the economy isn't the only thing making us nostalgic for the nineties.

Oh dot-coms, pleats and Seinfeld, how we miss you.

Pink Rose
Too many restaurants in Portland try to capture a specific "scene". Often the entire vibe of a bar can be pigeonholed into being designed for a specific subsection of the city. Anyone who has been through the Pearl certainly knows this all too well.

Yet, whether young or old, casual or business professional, a Portland hipster or simple city dweller, we have found a spot for you. Acting much like their namesake, the Pink Rose, presents itself with a delicious sort of intimacy. Boasting a breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night menu, you can gorge yourself on some very well crafted food. Featuring some well-polished drinks (delicious Bloody Marys) with their plates, one can't go wrong with a well-thought menu. Be sure to check out the crowds on First Thursday or have a romantic night out with a loved one.

The Pink Rose exudes a vibrant energy. No detail has gone unnoticed, as the restaurant creates a space meant for tasty drinks and a delectable menu.

Duchess
Remember Marcello Mastroianni in "8 ½"? He was the epitome of style. He had a casual elegance and could wear the hell out of a suit. And what a sharp-looking suit it was, too. It's a shame you can't find suits like that anymore. Well, not until Duchess came along, you couldn't.

Not only can you get that particular suit and dozens of other vintage-inspired suits, but you get them custom made. That's right. Made just for you. The fine folks at Duchess help you pick out fabrics, take 30 different measurements, and work with you to design an entire ensemble. Then, in 6 to 8 weeks you meet to put the finishing touches on your very own custom-made, vintage-inspired suit. Best of all it's ridiculously affordable at just around $500—a 60's suit at 60's prices.

While we can't guarantee you'll get lucky as much as Marcello did, we can guarantee you'll look just as sharp. Call for an appointment, and tell 'em Portland Picks for Men sent you to get a free tie with your new suit!

Hotel Max
It's the most wonderful time of the year. The song, of course refers to Christmas, but guys know fall is where it's at. It means trips to Seattle for Seahawks games. We recommend the train (get the party started early, right?).

When it comes to our Seattle adventures—or our business trips for that matter—we're partial to Hotel Max in Downtown. With its modern design interplaying gracefully with original works of art and photography, it basically functions as a non-traditional art gallery and an extremely dynamic hotel experience. Making things even more interesting (coaxing us up for a pre-game Saturday recently) is that they offer a package deal with EMP's Nirvana Music Experience going on right now. Not only do you get free passes to the exhibition, but the whole 5th floor of the hotel is a veritable museum of early-grunge era photography.

Whether you're headed up for business or pleasure (or whatever you feel when things don't go right for the Seahawks), the Max is a no-brainer when you arrive in the Emerald City.

Twist:: Coffee is a Northwest tradition, but shade grown, organic, and fair trade are only half of the equation. What really sets us apart is our gear. We may have ceramic pour overs for a smooth drip, a Turkish pot for special occasions, and a French press to round out the low-tech offerings, but we're missing something key—espresso.

That's where the mypressi TWIST comes in. High-tech and perfect for the campsite or small kitchen, this handheld device is all you need for a great shot of espresso. Just add finely ground coffee, hot water, and a CO2 cartridge. Ahh.

Opena:: You know what goes well with beer? Not carrying around so much crap in your pocket. If only there was a way to lighten your load and open a bottle of cool craft beer while, let's say, protecting your iPhone from scratches at the same time. What, there is?

Keychain bottle openers, once a lifesaver, now look like a bulky thigh-poking accident waiting to happen; that's why the Opena is such a great idea. It's a tough iPhone case that packs a slide-out bottle opener. Carry less crap and drink more, what's not to love.

Keybird:: Keychains are great. They do a great job of keeping your keys together, but they also have a downside: They do a great job of keeping your keys together. If you're like us, you've struggled and bitched trying to get a key off your chain to give to the dog walker, an out-of-town friend, or the sometimes girlfriend.

Now you don't have to choose between struggling with the loop and leaving your door unlocked—get a Carabiner Key. It's a ready-to-be-cut blank key that pops on and off your chain effortless. Pretty cool.