After having biked out Naito Parkway and Nicolai to Schoolhouse Electric, only to learn that the Ristretto outlet in the cozy alcove we liked was closed, our foursome spotted Cascadia on Naito Parkway, stopped, and made ourselves at home.  Cascadia -open for 3+ years – is a smallish shop with nice natural window light plus interesting chandeliers, and straight-forward furniture.   If it were a larger space the owners might have the opportunity for some varied seating options, but seating is mostly metal stools and chairs which may limit the time patrons want to hang out.

Discussion topics today included DM’s Scotland travels, the documentary on mountain climber Fred Beckey, and the the “negative intimacy” syndrome that some couples fall into.  DM and J enjoyed Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness,  and the Orkney Islands where DM’s great grandfather is from, specifically Rousey Island with 200 inhabitants, (and the highlight of their trip.)  On Rousey they searched for and found their ancestors’ farm from which their great-grandfather – born in  1860 – departed in 1867 with his family to the United States.  Hearing of their interest, the current owners and residents – the Sinclairs – sought him out in town and invited them into the house and even spend the night; since the Sinclair’s  ancestors bought the property in 1867, DM felt he was being  treated as a dignitary.

According to DS, Fred Beckey was an iconoclastic climber who whose temperament wasn’t meant for team climbs, and who as a solo was the first to reach the top of many of challenging peaks in the Northwest.

2010 NW Naito Parkway                                     cascadiacoffee.net