Portland Q

Quiet Reflection
Friday, January 20
The affects of my quaffing last night lasted into today and I thought that might be as far as I would get with the letter Q. I ran into Sebastian on 23rd St, and we compared notes on how much fun we had last night. One of the things I love about this bustling Northwest neighborhood is that it's not unusual to run into a friend on the street--there is so much going on in a mile radius of my studio apartment--cafes, coffee joints, bookstores, movie theatres, galleries, grocers. I sometimes go without the car for so long, I almost forget where it's parked.

Bustling is good, but sometimes a little peace and quiet is called for. The Tao of Tea--just a few steps away on Hoyt and 21st--is the perfect oasis for reflection. And tea is the perfect drink, even in this coffee-obsessed town.

Upon entering you feel instantly relaxed. A feeling of spacious and privacy at the same time-- there are little nooks behind rice paper dividers and hanging cloth. The soothing water fountain and pleasant Indian music, the subdued lighting, all conspire to make you forget you're in the middle of one of the densest areas of Portland.

The selection of teas here is unparalleled and they take their time brewing. Brian, my server brought me raspberry leaf tea after making sure I understood it didn't really taste like raspberry. I asked him for help since I couldn't decide on dessert--the lemon tart or the gingerbread. Without hesitating he recommended the gingerbread and it was sublime--baked with molasses and topped with blueberries and grated ginger, with a sprig of spearmint.

The teahouse was half-full and everyone seemed to be taking their time, lingering over tea and snacks. I think about my time here in Portland and how it might (or might not) be coming to an end soon. One of the many wonderful benefits of my recent wanderings is I've been having second thoughts about leaving at the end of the month. But I don't have to decide tonight, and so I simply enjoy this pause before we head into the homestretch of the Portland Project. Only nine letters to go.

Note: there is also a Tao of Tea at 34th and Belmont, and the aptly named "Tower of Cosmic Reflections" teahouse at the Portland Classical Chinese Garden.