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After a frigid 8:00 a.m. take-off with frozen fingers, it’s hard to describe how invigorating and sublime biking back feels two hours later with a sunny blue sky plus the magnificently colored leaves of  fall all about.  Our history with Spielman’s Bagels on SE Division begins across the street at its former site in Feb. of 2013 when Portland’s bagel lovers were in shock after Kettleman’s Bagels closed and decent boiled bagels were hard to come by.   Our understanding is that Spielman worked for Kettleman – as did the folks who started Henry Higgins, Bridgetown and Bowery Bagels.  Today there are Spielman’s outlets on NE Broadway, NW Lovejoy, and Multnomah Village plus this iconic cabin-like shop with its neat side and backyard.

We like the interior atmosphere at this Division outlet more than our neighborhood’s so-so one on NE Broadway.   Though the music was louder than ideal for our talking, at least it was oldies but goodies and tasteful blues; there was local art on the walls, as well as characters behind and in front of the counter.  There was no chair variety, but in good weather the outdoor picnic tables offer a nice amenity.  The coffee tasted good and was all you can drink.  Please be warned, though, that we had to improvise re bike parking.

Today’s topics included sons’ families who live in Brooklyn;  G and his wife D’s recent rewarding caretaking there for their granddaughter;  DM and J’s upcoming wedding in Miami for one of their sons;  PDX’s upcoming bond measures;  the importance of the upcoming Virginia election;  how the rural and urban roads in Virginia put ours to shame, while Rural Utah roads are great compared to their urban ones;  how the PERS retirees at the table are willing to take a cut in benefits to help solve the PERS conundrum;  and Trump’s follies of the week.  

2111 SE Division                                                     http://www.spielmansbagels.com