On a great spring morning for biking, our sextet descended on this recently opened Seven Virtues shop after first navigating through the pre-opening bustle of Saturday Market and Cinco de Mayo vendors, plus an organized run along the downtown waterfront.   Noticeable off the Seven Virtues bat was how much smaller in seating capacity this shop is than its sister/brother shops on NE Glisan and Sandy, how bike parking was a challenge, and that its menu was vegan and gluten free.  We cheer the menu, and suggest improvements to the other two.   We also cheered the free refills after being stung by other shops that were charging $2.00 for a refill, definitely a turn-off to those like us who enjoy extended conversations.

Discussion topics began with the upcoming ballot measure to create a Portland Clean Energy Fund to assist low income residents with their housing burden as the City grows more unaffordable; theorizing that the Mayor isn’t currently supporting the measure because of fear of upsetting the Business Alliance who is supporting his proposed tax increase to fund more police; wondering how much the police struggle is one of unsuccessful recruitment vs money; and comparing the historic displacement experiences of Alberta and Mississippi vs what’s occurring now in Cully, and unanimously agreeing that today’s non-profits are more sophisticated, work together better, and deservedly are taking leadership roles. 

3528 SE Hawthorne         http://www.sevenvirtuespdx/hawthorne