Portland Coffee Hangouts

Despite a frigid 15 degrees, seven stalwarts came together to spend quality time together around a coffee shop table.   We originally fantasized of crossing the river to go to a shop downtown, but 2 miles out it was clear not all of us were properly protected from the elements, causing us to end our journey at Caffe D’Arte in the Lloyd district.  With lots of windows and good lighting, this European inspired shop – its TVs often turned on to European soccer – is a bright spot in more ways than one.  Its hangout limitation is that its interior seating is limited.  Still we hung out here significantly longer than in most places, probably not looking forward to getting back out into the cold.  Topics included frozen pipes and how Oregonians in the 1920s protected them, the heritage tulip tree outside, the standards for a heritage tree, the reasons behind coffee shop turnover, Willamette Week’s listing of new shops to visit, Alaska’s tax structure, the book The Righteous Mind’s analysis of conservative and liberal prisms and values, and the environmental costs of energy independence.     1615 NE 15th Ave.   

It’s been a couple of years since two of us last visited Seven Virtues, which was then recently remodelled.  Today seven of us took the long, exhilarating way around Mt. Tabor to take advantage of clear skies and good company.   Physically, not much changed with the shop.  Though long and narrow, they’ve done a good job of taking advantage of the space and making it inviting and comfortable.  There are two couches in the back for people to gather and talk around a table; this is also an area for kids.  Otherwise it’s wooden tables and chairs, or stools along the window.   The counter has clean lines and is quite efficient.   Today’s topics included the origin of the term seven virtues (thankfully the smart phones corrected our wild guesses,) our upcoming New Years gathering with spouses, U of O’s fall to Arizona, and the psychology of being up or down for a competition.        5936 NE Glisan  http:// SevenVirtuespdx.com

Took a long round-about ride to get to this new neighborhood shop.   Miss Zumstein has some challenges in terms of hanging out for extended periods as it is a small space and seating options are limited.  However, in terms of pastries it gets high marks.   Discussion topics this morning included the growing enthusiasm from Cully residents re. revitalization efforts, our dismay at the health care act’s launch, and our responsibility to children/grandchildren to spread the word about environmental sustainability.   5027 NE 42nd    misszumstein.com

After closing its original shop (admittedly a cubby hole,) in our central NE neighborhood, Ristretto replaced it with a new inner E shop near the Burnside Bridge.   Six of us ventured down and appreciated the industrial feel and clean lines of the new space, but also wished there were more seating options, as well as other indications that they wanted us to stay a while.   We took over the central table and discussion topics included T’s wariness around his son’s college interview later that day, the yurt that friend Joel had built in Homer, AK, and frustrations around the healthcare system’s rollout.    555 NE Couch    ristrettoroasters.com