RKTBlog

Here’s he latest trailer for Laika’s Coraline!

Here are some more pictures from Mike and my second journey into the city.  This time we hit the Marina Disctrict, Russian Hill, Nob Hill, Japantown, the Ferry Building, and we tried to hit the Golden Gate Bridge, althoiugh it was shrouded in fog.   Still haven’t been through Chinatown, though.

Mike, Schneider, and I have settled into our new home for the next two weeks, the glorious Woodfin Suites hotel in Emeryville, CA!  It’s so glorious, that we woke up to the sounds an aggressive stream of water pouring into our bathtub from the ceiling light fixture!  Fortunately, that’s been the only real hitch in our travels so far.  We made it here safely, and in good time. The trip was surprisingly picturesque, too!

Our first real day here in San Fran was a busy one.  We drove into the city, parked the car, and walked around town for six hours straight, seeing as much as we could see until our legs gave out.  All that walking in Portland was a good primer, although in case you haven’t heard, this city’s got a reputation for hills!  We fit a lot in that time- Golden Gate park, the Castro, the Duboce Triangle, The Mission District, City Hall… Oh, and we got serenaded by a real-life mariachi band!!  Still, we barely made a dent in the city!

Anyway, I took a few good pictures so far, and thought I’d share.    

We miss our Portland posse!  

We finally started packing up for the move to San Fran.  We don’t have too much to pack, fortunately, as our movers are going to be packing anything “breakable”. Apparently just about anything is breakable by their definition, so that just leaves us with books, clothes, and my studio supplies.  It’s satisfying to get rid of any extraneous junk.  At the same time, this will be our fourth move in four years, so we’ve already weeded a lot out along the way.

Moving is always a little bittersweet, though.  Last time we moved, the studio Mike was working at had closed, and many of our friends had already moved away.  There was little keeping us in Dallas near the end, and we were ready for a change of scenery.  

This time’s different, though.  We’ll be leaving some really great friends.  That’ll make it harder this time around.

From an actual conversation I had on Facebook today (edited for brevity):

Brad: “Brad is craving Jeni’s Salty Caramel Ice Cream…”

Me: “Oooh… I’ve been craving that for four years now.  One of the BIG things I miss about Columbus.”

Alison: “Seriously.  I am ready for Spring now.  Can Obama make that happen, the skip winter thing?…”

Me: “The real question… is can Obama get us all universal Jeni’s”

Allison: “Sweet idea!  But then he would be accused of being an ice cream socialist!“

It’s back to life and work, finally, after these months and months of anticipation.  Barack Obama is our next president.  I am proud of what has happened, and I am even prouder of the dignity with which it happened.  This is truly one of the most exciting days to be an American.

GO VOTE!

There’s something to be said about a city where the only bad cup of coffee can be found at Starbucks.  Even here in Portland, there are plenty of Starbucks, but unlike in other cities, Starbucks could never dominate the local coffee scene.  Not only are there so many other alternatives, but they are all better by far!

Perhaps, unlike Seattle and Starbucks, Portland’s coffee gems will always remain closely guarded secrets, never to be discovered by the rest of the country.  This city is all about the small, personal, handcrafted experience, and I have a hard time seeing even the biggest chain of Portland coffee shops making the switch to production on a national scale.

The best among the best coffee to be found here comes from Stumptown Coffee.  The people at Stumptown know their stuff, and then some.  In the past year, I’ve seen the Stumptown name pop up a number of times in the national media, and their product shows why!  It’s the smoothest cup imaginable. It’s the first I could appreciate without a hint of sugar to cover up any lingering bitterness, best served as nothing but pure coffee and cream.  

There are plenty of other amazing choices as well.  Urban Grind is my second favorite.  Their shop in the Pearl District serves up the coziest atmosphere, and their staff members are some of the most personable and friendly around.  I’m no longer big on mochas, having seen the potential of undoctored coffee, but I’ll make a few exceptions, and Urban Grind’s mocha arancia is the perfect sweetness, flavored with a hint of orange essence-  in short the perfect mocha.  Better yet, their espresso is a surprisingly good match to Stumptown’s.

World Cup Coffee & Tea is another solid choice, with their focus on sustainability and multiple locations around the city.  They also serve another fine mocha, sharper in taste than others around town.  If you’re looking for a place to hang out, Vivace on NW 23rd serves up Stumptown roasted coffee and tasty crepes in a warm and cozy atmosphere.  Coffee Time, on NW 21st, is a little rougher around the edges, but its open late and has its own particular charm. 

Here in Portland, no matter where you turn, you’re bound to find a good cup of coffee.  Perhaps, San Francisco will have its share of quality coffee shops too, but just in case, I plan on hoarding away a stash to take there myself.