The new Prince outlet is just a half mile from our meeting spot, so the three of us took the scenic/strenuous 10 mile route via Rocky Butte to get there.  Interestingly, while the flagship Kenton Prince shop is relatively modest in its decor, Fremont’s is in a newly completed mixed use building and shows off a trendy decor of opposites: bold black, blue and white wall colors;  a stylish counter with a concrete floor; great full length windows and exposed ceiling pipes.   Because inside felt crowded and we wanted to talk a while, we chose to sit outdoors with chairs that had backs rather than sit inside on backless stools.  An additional note: one patron told us she thought the acoustics inside made it hard to hear what her friend was saying.

Today’s discussion topics were literally all over the map.  While studying epidemiology in CA 35+ years ago, M had led outings of medical students into rural Peru to expose them to Quechuan traditional medical practices, including healers who’d rub a guinea pig over a patient before killing it to diagnose that patient’s malady; G just back from D’s and his first trip to Hawaii, said that though they had a great time they’d probably not go back because they felt it was too touristy; H reported that daughter O is moving in with her boyfriend who lives close to the Kenton Prince shop, but would be 5 miles away rather the 1/2 mile away she is now, (which is only significant because his other children’s families live on the same block as he;) M touted Grocery Outlet’s imported cheeses, G touted their wines, H touted Rite Aid’s prices for craft beer.

4523 NE Fremont                                         http://www.princecoffeepdx.com