The quest for the best coffee shop/coffee & atmosphere actually began for me BEFORE we even moved here. Slightly romantic, unrealistic expectations crowded my mind, and continue to push me to my quest of finding that "perfect" cup of coffee in the "perfect" setting.
After cruising the internet for Portlander's ideas of the "best" place, I began thinking that they didn't know anything either! Especially after we went to the downtown location of the infamous Stumptown, my disappointment was at an all-time high. So what was I to do? Ask the neighbors!
Wednesday morning I was invited by our neighbor, Jen, to go for a walk. Upon waking and seeing the ever famous Portland mist, I was excited, as this was our FIRST Portland Rain! I know, I know... there will be PLENTY more where that came from on about October 31st until April! So anyway, I thought it would be fun to walk in the rain and she didn't even flinch. Good! We had a great walk and she took me by some places close by, that are definitely on my list of places to go, including 2 cafes and a $3 movie theater!
Today, Jen invited me to go for tea and we traveled to an area that I'll probably never find again on my own, but it is called Urban Grounds. Really cool place. It's on a corner and has a large, but cozy, warehouse feel, with plenty of sofas, chairs, tables, and a back room that has a playroom for little ones! Several mom's had toddlers in tote.
Jen ordered her fav Chai tea latte, and I decided that I needed to know whether or not their coffee was any good. Decaf coffee, please. They make their decaf with espresso, so it actually became an Americano, which was actually what I like even better. It was very good! So good, in fact, I was savoring it and got my "bottomless" second cup to go! As the saying goes, "Keep Portland Weird", the gal behind the counter was keeping it real. The only employee in the store, she didn't have any change in her register so she went to her coat pocket to "buy" some change from herself, after asking Jen if she could "buy" some change from her. Interesting. Not sure how she's going to make it through the rest of her day, since it was only 9am....
We had a great time conversing and learning more about each other. She & her husband and 2 children are planning to go to Senegal, Africa next year for missions. Jen is starting classes for a CNA certification so she can use her skills in Senegal too. We are meeting & getting to know some great people who have great plans ahead of them, and it's really fun! For some this is just a place of transition, for others, a training ground for the future.
What a nice way to start the day!
Oh! Yesterday, we got a Craig's List find: dressers!! It took over 2 hrs to "revamp" our bedroom and get rid of ALL THE BOXES, but it sure feels good!! Last on the list--a bed & a crock pot!!
Hopefully we'll have more of a weekend than we did last wknd. Scott hopes to finish his Greek assignment today so he can rest/refresh his tired brain until Sunday p.m. as he reviews for Monday's class quiz. He is doing progressively better each day and Prof. Terveen assured him that it WILL click, but it may not be until next semester, once all the memorization is over. Scott just keeps asking him all the "why's" of Greek....
It's lunch time now. More later!
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