Portland: Rain, Regret, and Really Good Coffee
okay, so i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm espresso right now. 4948247 and 1840000461 - seriously, what is that? it just keeps popping into my head. the air here is thick, like a damp wool blanket, and the humidity is clinging to everything. it’s…there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. 91% humidity, pressure’s holding steady at 1018, feels like 1.59, temp’s bouncing between 4.58 and 6.76. it’s a Portland kinda day, you know?
I landed yesterday and immediately felt like i’d stumbled into a Wes Anderson film, but one where everyone’s slightly disappointed. The rain is relentless, a grey, insistent drizzle that seems to seep into your bones. I’m staying in a tiny studio downtown - it’s basically a glorified closet, but the shower’s hot, and the coffee shop downstairs is a godsend.
Spent the morning wandering around *Powell’s City of Books, which is basically a labyrinth of paper and forgotten dreams. I snagged a first edition Kerouac - felt like winning the lottery, honestly. Someone told me that the used bookstore on Hawthorne is a goldmine for vintage records, but I didn’t have time. I was too busy dodging puddles and trying to decipher the local slang. ‘Drip’ apparently means ‘good,’ and ‘stan’ means…well, let’s just say it’s complicated.
I’m a touring session drummer, so my gear list is a whole operation. Let’s break it down:
*The Kit: My trusty Ludwig Vistalite kit - it’s seen some things. Seriously, some things.
*Cables & Percussion: A mountain of cables, sticks, and a few weird percussion toys I picked up in New Orleans. Gotta keep the energy up.
*Travel Case: A battered, duct-taped hard case that’s held together by sheer willpower.
*Headphones: Noise-canceling, obviously. My ears need a break from the chaos.
*Snacks: Protein bars, trail mix, and an unhealthy obsession with gummy bears.
I stumbled across this amazing little dive bar called The Bye and Bye - it’s got a sticky floor, a jukebox that only plays 80s power ballads, and a bartender named Silas who looks like he’s wrestled a bear and lost. I heard that he makes a killer Old Fashioned, but I was too busy nursing a pale ale and listening to a guy argue about the merits of different types of vinyl.
Speaking of locals, the neighbors are…interesting. If you get bored, Eugene and Salem are just a short drive away. There’s this family, the Millers, who live across the street - they’re obsessed with competitive bird watching and have a collection of ceramic gnomes that rivals the Smithsonian. They wave at me every morning, which is both terrifying and strangely comforting.
I spent a few hours exploring Pittock Mansion*, perched high above the city. The views are insane, but honestly, I was mostly just trying to avoid getting soaked. The place is dripping with history, and someone told me that the original owner, Henry Pittock, was a notorious recluse who communicated solely through carrier pigeons. Wild, right?
Seriously, the rain. It’s a constant, low-level soundtrack to my trip. It’s…atmospheric, I guess? Or maybe I’m just sleep-deprived. I checked TripAdvisor and Yelp - the coffee shops are consistently rated ‘amazing,’ which is a relief. I’m planning on hitting up Stumptown tomorrow. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g33848-Portland_Oregon_US.html
I’m trying to capture the vibe of this place - the melancholy, the creativity, the sheer weirdness of it all. It’s a city that wears its scars proudly. I heard that the street art scene is incredible, but I haven’t had a chance to check it out yet. Maybe tomorrow. Definitely need more coffee. https://www.yelp.com/map?1=yes&2=Portland%2C+OR
Right now, I’m just…existing. Trying to find a decent burrito and avoid getting completely lost in the rain. Portland, you’re a strange and wonderful mess.
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