Tag: Cafes in SE Portland

Jay Ringer at The Foxtrot Lounge

Dear Liza,

It was rainy and chilly Sunday, but the new Foxtrot Lounge was open for coffee, tea, sandwiches and music, so Auntie Bridgett and I bundled up and walked over.

There wasn’t a big crowd, because even in Portland most folks will stay home a cold, wet Sunday.

We ordered some hibiscus tea, found a table on the patio by a heater, and listened to the music, a wonderfully sweet, nostalgic sound.

Once I had warmed up with a cup of tea and the music had stopped for bit, I headed over to the gazebo across the yard to see who was making it. I met Jay Ringer, a talented and soft-spoken fellow. He plays the pocket trumpet, melodian, and electric keyboard and sings, all very well. His playlist includes The Beatles, Donovan, Jim Croce, and standards from the 1940s to the 1980s, music I grew up with and have grown old to.

Foxtrot Lounge Jay Ringer Musicians in Portland Cafes in Sunnyside New businesses in SE Portland

We enjoyed looking at the decorative panels and fountains, oriental but not stuffy, exotic but not spooky, just the right quirky vibe for our part of town.

I know we will spend many happy hours at Foxtrot.

Love,

Grandma Judy

The Fourth Wall

Dear Liza,

There is a really cool new place for coffee, drinks, and snacks just down Hawthorne. It is a movie-themed cafe called The Fourth Wall.

This is a cafe where you can get coffee drinks, cider, and even wine. For sustenance, there are some pastries, all sorts of cereal ( for your inner 8 year old’s breakfast) and ….. popcorn!

There is also a huge screen where cartoons and movies of all sorts are running. All day, everyday.

There is a calendar out front to let you know what is happening when, so you don’t miss the Lord of the Rings Trivia night or the meet up for Magic The Gathering. This looks like a good place to hang with like-minded weirdos!

Inside is delightful Blue, who gets your goodies and makes sure you are happy with the movies.

When we were visiting, Blue was just finishing up hosting a birthday party, and The Incredibles was showing. That was fine with us; we love Pixar!

But there is a schedule, and Sunday mornings are for cartoons. The one for today was The Owl House, one of Cousin Kestrel’s favorites. A few girls came in and settled in to watch, as well. It is about a girl named Luz who finds herself kidnapped to a magic world, and decides to stay. It is funny and true and full of cool monsters.

We settled in with a Crater Lake Root Beer, a hot chai latte, a Cabernet sauvignon, and two bowls of popcorn to enjoy the show.

I can see us spending many happy hours noshing, drinking, and watching movies at Fourth Wall. Hooray!


Love,

Grandma Judy