Auto
Parts On-Line
Thanks to the lack of salt on Portland roads, automobiles
here have long lives. But they still break down, and it
can be difficult to find parts. ValuParts (www.valuparts.com)
makes it easier by allowing you to do a quick search for
recycled parts in your neighborhood. A scan for an engine,
exhaust manifold and replacement window for three different
cars--each a decade apart in age--found all but one of
the items at "auto recyclers" (formerly called junkyards)
between Gresham and Bakersfield, Calif. The service, provided
by ADP Hollander, is limited as it only works with recyclers
who have registered with the site. (Of more than 25 salvagers
in the Portland metro area, only three are plugged into
ValuParts). The service is quick and informative, but
you still have to call the outlet to check on parts, and
you have to take the seller's word that they're in good
condition. The site claims that all parts are tested,
but a call to inquire about a used engine proved otherwise.
Weekend grease monkeys will doubtless appreciate ValuParts'
convenience, but remember that it's hard to tell a lemon
from a peach if you can't hold it in your hand. (CM)
Canine
Klatch
You threw her a birthday party. You got her
a walker. You bought her pastries from Three Dog Bakery.
Still, Fifi's ennui endures. Maybe it's time to try Happy-Go-Lucky
Dog Training and Playcare (1642 NE Sandy Blvd., 731-8774),
Portland's first doggy day-care center, which opened April
5. Following the model of similar businesses in Seattle
and New York, pooch enthusiasts John and Lisa Plymale
converted a retail space into two bright playrooms, one
for big dogs and one for little dogs. The idea is to give
carefully supervised off-leash exercise by letting dogs
play with each other--no obstacle courses or other gimmicks.
A typical day includes potty breaks, a morning snack and
a midday nap in a star-ceilinged room lined with private
kennels. With the advent of pet psychologists and animal
antidepressants, it may seem that pet pampering has gone
too far. But dogs are social creatures, and day care could
make puppy Prozac obsolete. Potential clients must be
at least five months old, have up-to-date vaccinations
and undergo an evaluation to gauge how they interact with
other dogs and people. The cost is $15 a day, about what
a dog walker charges for a half-hour stroll. (KM)
Build
Your Own
The appeal of futons is obvious: They're inexpensive
and portable, and their minimal aesthetic fits with your oddball
belongings. How about some shelves to match? Shelf Expressions
is the offshoot of a yardstick-manufacturing company, which
explains its products' slat construction. The versatile units
are made of interlocking parts, but no tools are required
for assembly (unlike Ikea goods). They're available unfinished
or with a natural or honey oak stain. Good-looking, wall-ready
shelves start at just $4.52, and you can get a functional
freestanding storage unit for under $20. Previously, Shelf
Expressions sold its wares at futon shops and home furnishers
like Crate & Barrel. Now shoppers can get direct savings
at the factory outlet (16429 NE Sandy Blvd., 257-7742). When
you're over plywood and cinder blocks, you know where to go.
(KM)
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Willamette Week | originally
published April 7,
1999
|
