Despite a frigid 15 degrees, seven stalwarts came together to spend quality time together around a coffee shop table.   We originally fantasized of crossing the river to go to a shop downtown, but 2 miles out it was clear not all of us were properly protected from the elements, causing us to end our journey at Caffe D’Arte in the Lloyd district.  With lots of windows and good lighting, this European inspired shop – its TVs often turned on to European soccer – is a bright spot in more ways than one.  Its hangout limitation is that its interior seating is limited.  Still we hung out here significantly longer than in most places, probably not looking forward to getting back out into the cold.  Topics included frozen pipes and how Oregonians in the 1920s protected them, the heritage tulip tree outside, the standards for a heritage tree, the reasons behind coffee shop turnover, Willamette Week’s listing of new shops to visit, Alaska’s tax structure, the book The Righteous Mind’s analysis of conservative and liberal prisms and values, and the environmental costs of energy independence.     1615 NE 15th Ave.