Thankfully though our fingers got pretty chilled, it was another dry, scintillating bikeride over the Broadway Bridge into NW.   Sterling Roasters has a long history in NW Portland, having started roasting and opening the NW Coffeehouse on Burnside 10-15 years ago, and then adding a kiosk next to Trader Joe’s, and more recently a tiny upscale shop with just 8 seats and cloth tablecloths.  Then they sold the Burnside shop, and last year relocated the tiny shop into this larger space also on 21st.

Despite the narrowness of this new space and lack of natural light,  they’ve made it feel feel stylish through their attention to lighting and skylights, plants, wall treatments, counter design, and welcoming baristas.  However, for groups who want to hang out there is only one table for six with two-seat tables dominating the space.  Thus, we four were scrunched in a makeshift corner next to the front door.

With the Fertile Ground Festival going full steam and H seeing 12 new works in 11 days, theatrical reviews is where our discussion started out.  DS raved about Portland Playhouse’s performance of No Candy re the Srbenica genocide, H was overjoyed in seeing 2 wacky comedies by members of the LineStorm Playrights Collective, and DM was very happy with the screening of Allelujah! by National Theatre Live.  M, meanwhile, was mired in the sorting/packing/giving away/grieving regimen that’s required when a family is leaving its home of 34 years; adding to the stress are style differences – he’s on the  sentimental meticulousness side of the spectrum, his partner’s more on the hard love side.

518 NW 21st                                                               http://www.sterling.coffee