Suburban Springtime

Spring is a beautiful time of year. With the colorful flowers blooming and the sunshine warming us up, it is no surprise that people can not keep themselves indoors.

Barns Courtney at WXPN

Last Friday British singer-songwriter, Barns Courtney performed an energetic set for the WXPN free at noon. While this is a new audience, it's safe to say that the audience was entertained by not only Courtney's songs but his conversation as well. Check out my photo recap of the brilliant show.

The Great West Exploration: Portland, OR

When we arrived in Portland last Wednesday (March 9th) it was pouring rain - which is not unusual but apparently it was more rainy than usual. That night we started off our time in Portland with a drink at Rouge Brewpub before going to a Thai restaurant for a delicious supper. The next morning is when our real Portland adventure began. We started off at Caffe Umbria for a morning cup of coffee and then began walking towards the waterfront. Along the way we stopped in a little bike shop (because...well it's Portland). We also stopped into another store that sold a variety of things all from different local vendors; they had everything from clothing to chocolate to a six-pack holder for your bicycle. Finally, we make it to the waterfront where we walked through numerous cherry blossom trees and along the trail for a bit, before continuing back in to downtown Portland.

We found another coffee shop to try out in downtown, called: Public Domain Coffee. One thing I realized while in Portland (and Seattle) was that somehow every coffeeshop here is capable of making a latte with better foam than the one best place in another city. I do not know why that is but I suspect it is because they are not rushing themselves to get all the orders finished quickly. Therefore, the baristas are able to take their time and make it right! I am sure there is a more technical explanation, too. Anyways, after our coffee break we hopped on the bus to Hawthorne and explore another section.

Walking up and down Hawthorne avenue it looked like a cool neighborhood. The main street was filled with little shops, coffee shops and bars. However, if we looked down some of the side streets we could see cute houses in the neighborhood. While in Hawthorne we stopped for a snack at the Portland Cider House before checking out couple of the shops. Later in the afternoon, after strolling Hawthorne ave, I met up with a friend and went across a different bridge to explore the St. Johns section of Portland. We started at a very cool coffee shop called Cathedral Coffeehouse which, like the others, put excellent foam on my latte. After sitting in the coffee shop for a bit we went to explore a little part underneath the Cathedral bridge - which crosses the Williamlette River. I took pictures of the scenery under the bridge as the sun began to set, and with that it day was done. It was time to head back to the Pearl District to get ready for dinner.

The Great West Exploration: Seattle, Washington

In early March, I traveled across the United States to explore Seattle, WA and Portland, OR. The weeks leading up to the trip were spent researching coffee shops and chocolate factories in the two cities, which was a bit overwhelming as to the amount of cafes in each city. I had two full days of exploring in Seattle and it was filled with lattes, cider, and walking about 22,000 steps a day. I would list all of the great coffee shops here but that would turn this into a 100-page novel so here a few of my favorites. Caffe Senso Unico is a small, comfy coffee shop with a nice atmosphere, good coffee, and tasty treats. If you are down by the Pike Place Market be sure to take a walk through Post Alley and find the "Gum Wall".  Located next to the gum wall is a little hole-in-the-wall place called: Ghost Alley Espresso. This coffee shop home to "The Smog" which takes the London Fog up a notch and it is delicious. Another place definately worth stopping by is a place known for the latte art and is called Moore Coffee Shop - when I was there they drew a cat on my latte!

If you are a fan of Starbucks, or even if you are not, be sure to include the Starbucks Roastery and Tasting Room as part of your coffee tour. It is located about 10 minutes (walking) up the hill from the convention center and includes more than the Starbucks experience that they regular shops offer us. Inside the roastery you can sit at one of two coffee bars and read a printed menu before ordering your drink and food. While enjoying your coffee or tea you can watch the beans go through their roasting cycle, preparing to be poured into someone's cup of coffee. There is also a beans station where you can see all the different kinds they have and even select whichever beans you want to be packaged, so you can enjoy them at home.

For those of you looking for a less caffinated beverage or a more refreshing one, there are numerous brewpubs and cider houses scattered all over Seattle. Just up the street from the Starbucks roastery is Capitol City Cider. This is a very cool place to go for a meal or just a couple drinks with friends. In the basement bar there are a couple of shuffleboards and a stage for live performances. They also offer an extensive list of craft ciders; varying in flavors to satisfy everyone.  My third morning in Seattle I got to check out one more coffee shop before heading to Chinatown with my mom to catch the bolt bus to Portland, Oregon.


© Ellen C Miller, 2024