Artifact – Dear Liza

Re-engaging with Portland

Dear Liza,

This winter has been very disconnected, and disconnecting. Being sick, or having Grandpa Nelson sick, since early December has made us be more stay-at-homey than usual. So Auntie Bridgett and I have started making an effort, every weekend, to get out and fall in love with Portland’s small businesses again.

This past Sunday we walked south. On Hawthorne, we saw the new Mochinut shop, which sells ‘corn dogs’ made with rice flour and other delicious things.

Continuing south to Division, we stopped in at The Whole Bowl for lunch. It is in the small food truck court between 35th Place and 36th Avenue. You can find it by looking for this mural and walking down the short alley.

This is the look of a woman enjoying the beans, brown rice, avocados, cheese, sauce and cilantro of a delicious Whole Bowl. Yum!

Well fed and ready for a shopping adventure, we headed into Artifact. This curated, funky, affordable secondhand store is always fun.

Bridgett found a tiny metal table that is finding good use in her crowded studio.

Collage art supply was our next stop. I found magenta embroidery floss that will be nice in the crazy quilt. Bridgett noticed that they have changed their inventory a bit, having more kid’s art supplies, fewer art papers and pens. They have also moved their back wall forward, so the main space is smaller.

By now I was starting to flag, so we headed north, stopping to see what’s happening with the Farmhouse Food Carts on SE 35th Place. We were worried that this delightful pod would disband with the departure of Reverend Nat’s Cider, but Migration Brewing has taken a short term lease and is hoping to have a fine summer. Shera Indian Food, Let’s Roll Sushi and Gyro! are all making use of the space, and will have increasing hours as the weather warms up.

We made our last leg home, stopping by Asylum to pay our respects to this cool shop that is closing soon.

As we have learned, small businesses in big cities are always a gamble, and if you like a place, you have to buy their stuff. Your sale may be what boosts that day’s sales over a bar.

Get out there, folks! Show your city some love!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Lots to See in the Neighborhood

Dear Liza,

Spring weather is here! The flowers are popping, birds are singing, and the days alternate between sun and showers.

On a walk through the neighborhood to Collage Art Supplies, we saw our first tulips, hanging out with their friends hyacinths and daffodils

Down in SE Division Street, the employees of our favorite vintage shop, Artifact, are protesting unfair promotion practices and pay. We waved in support of the protesters and will shop elsewhere until the management figures out how to treat its staff better.

Grandpa Nelson was very patient while I picked out my birthday presents, two jars of Mod Podge, two pencil sharpeners and some Liquitex acrylics, which will fill in some gaps in my art cupboard. Then we walked to The Daily Dose coffee shop for a pick-me-up. Nicole Little’s art on their walls was intricate and colorful, showing real skill with a bandsaw and showing the peace sign from my childhood.

Heading back home, we ran into a free roaming duck and chicken, wandering up 32nd Street.

And just to put the SPRING stamp on the day, we saw our first tulip tree blooming! This variety of Magnolia, which popular here in Portland, is not as bulky as those I knew in Salinas. I like them so much better!

Have a great day!

Love,

Grandma Judy

A New Hat

Dear Liza,

For years, I had a favorite hat. It was an Indiana Jones style that was good for winter, spring and fall, waterproof for rain, and heavy felt so it was warm.

When I was teaching, I wore it every day. Parents and kids told me they could identify me anywhere in town because of the distinctive silhouette of the hat.

Then, in 2019, I lost it. On vacation in Seattle, I left it in a taxi cab. Gone, gone, gone. Now what?

For months, I was too sad about it to think about replacing it. That winter came and went and I wore wooly hats and my new Hufflepuff scarf.

For the next summer I got a wonderful straw hat. But still no replacement.

And then the other day at Artifact, a fabulous second hand shop down on Division, I found it! Second hand and on sale, I fell in love with it. It fit, it was close enough to my old one but just different enough to be ‘new’, and the price was right.

I love my new hat!

Hooray!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Moore Coffee, Please!

Dear Liza,

Mostly, when we need groceries, we make small trips and walk the goodies home, but when we are out of soda, ice cream and cat litter all at once, it’s time to bring the big guns.

And since we had the car out, we decided to so some wandering. We drove to Collage Art Supplies on Division and picked up some card stock and watercolors on sale.Then we headed to Artifact, a curated second hand store with really neat stuff. I got a new hat! (That is a story for tomorrow).

Then, worn out and needing sustenance before grocery shopping, we hunted for a new place Auntie Bridgett had heard about, Moore Coffee…. “It’s in a little alley,” she said. And she was right. And such a pleasant alley!

The actual coffee is served out of a tricked out Volkswagen van, and the van is parked in a delightfully comfy and bohemian space between and behind two buildings. There are cozy chairs and yummy food and drink. There is shade from the sun and protection from the rain.

And, the young man told us, on weekdays after lunch, there is beer and wine and sandwiches! (Which means we need to make a return visit).

And there was a vintage MAD magazine!

Enjoying the yummy pastry and cooling iced Earl Grey tea while enjoying spoofs on the elections of 1976 was relaxing, delicious and very Portland.

When we finally pulled ourselves out of the old Adirondack chairs and headed for Safeway, we were well prepared. What a lovely day!

Love,

Grandma Judy