The Red E Cafe has all the hallmarks of what an above average shop needs in order to be successful in Portland.   Though on the longer, narrow side, there’s good lighting throughout in addition to the plate glass windows facing Killingsworth.  The well crafted counter makes a statement that the beverages and pastry are that way as well.  There’s a variety of seating options, large art on the walls up front, exposed brick in back, and an attractive wooden floor.  Having to brave a cold wet bike ride, it made the five of us feel it was well worth the effort.

Continuing last week’s luck of hearing transformative music from our foundational years, today the sound system was playing an extended amount of early Van Morrison.   Discussion topics were all over the map: M recounting his recent trip to the wilderness of Patagonia and Chile; his admiration for their museum’s front and center focus on the atrocities under Pinochet; if countries without long-term ethnic animosities carry out similar brutalities, aren’t we humans simply subject to a syndrome of savage, power gangsterism when the chance arises; frustrations with elected liberal leaders who were once activists – from Obama to local commissioners – who in office forget the programs re. equality that they once campaigned on; how we need to keep pressuring them; and how come while there appears to be residual public push-back to anti-poverty and equality programs, large corporations and the wealthy who pay no/low taxes or park their profits overseas, escape the public’s wrath.      – 1006 N. Killingsworth    theredecafe.com