Portland Rain & Really Weird Vibes
okay, so like, i’m pretty sure i’m running on caffeine and regret. portland. it’s… a thing. i landed yesterday and the air is thick, you know? like, you can almost taste the damp. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. the pressure is 1022, humidity’s at 76 - feels like 19.61, temp’s hovering around 17.73 to 23.92. it’s giving ‘end of the world, but also, artisanal coffee.’
I’m staying in a converted warehouse downtown - seriously, it smells faintly of sawdust and old dreams. it’s not bad, just… intense. the whole place is covered in these weird, hand-painted murals. like, someone just went wild with spray paint and a whole lotta emotion. it’s kinda beautiful, honestly. i found a place called “The Wandering Bean” - their cold brew is legit. they have a whole wall dedicated to vintage *espresso machines. it’s a whole vibe.
I wandered around for hours, mostly just getting lost. i stumbled upon this tiny record store, “Groove Therapy,” and spent like, an hour just listening to vinyl. the owner, a guy named Silas, told me someone told him that the rarest record in the store was a first pressing of “Remain in Light” - he wouldn’t even let me look at it. shady. i checked out Yelp for some food recommendations and heard that “Pok Pok” is the place to be for Thai, but the line is insane. i’m gonna try to snag a table at “Screen Door” later - someone told me their fried chicken is worth the wait. https://www.yelp.com/search?keyword=pok+pok&sort_by=relevance https://www.screen-door.com/
Speaking of locals, if you get bored, Seattle is just a short drive away. there’s this family, the Millers, who live across the street - they’re obsessed with competitive bird watching. like, really obsessed. they have a whole shed dedicated to binoculars and bird guides. it’s… a lot. They also have a pug named Winston who judges everyone. seriously.
I spent the afternoon exploring the Powell’s City of Books. it’s massive. like, a labyrinth of books. i could have spent a week there and still not read everything. i grabbed a copy of “Infinite Jest” - because, you know, portland. https://www.powells.com/
I overheard some guys at a bar - they were clearly wasted - talking about a secret underground music venue called “The Echo Chamber.” they said it only opens on rainy nights and the music is… unsettling.
“Dude, it’s like, you’re inside the music. Like, you can feel it vibrating through your bones. And the lighting… it’s purple. Always purple.”
I’m gonna try to find it tonight. Maybe.
I’m also trying to track down some vintage clothing* - portland is a goldmine for that stuff. i found this amazing shop called “Retro Riot” - they have everything from 70s bell bottoms to 80s neon. https://retriot.com/
I’m starting to think i need a bigger suitcase. and maybe a therapist.
One last thing: don’t trust anyone who says they know where the best coffee is. everyone’s got their own opinion. it’s a Portland thing.
Seriously, the rain. it’s relentless. but, you know, it’s part of the charm.
Oh, and I just saw a guy dressed as a giant banana. portland.
I’m gonna go find some more coffee. and maybe try to avoid Winston the pug.
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