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
Dear Liza 