The best nights I have are those I spend in a car watching the lights and the people pass by on my way to somewhere (nowhere in particular) with music gently guiding the way. Tonight was one of my better nights. Raseny and I felt rich for moment, and we enjoyed many a minor meal on this drizzly Portland night. We began at Saint Honore, the bakery on NW 23, for coffee and pastries. From there we made our way downtown to Voleur for an order of french fries where we watched the MAX trains go by under darkening skies, and the lights on the river from the huge stretched windows. Then over to Voodoo Donuts for our mandatory donut. Yes, it's mandatory. We're downtown, we're getting donuts. Then we got good and properly lost.
We drove out into the east side, and headed south until we found something that caught Raseny's eye. It was a record store this time. I don't remember the last time I looked at cds live and in person. In my world music only exists online, and if I get cd it is delivered to me from the Great Distribution Center located somewhere out there in the great unknown place that I'll never see, and certainly will never walk around. They had 4 Skinny Puppy cds, 1 Front 242 cd, and no Snog. I stopped looking after that. Raseny didn't, though. She bought The Shins cd, Wincing the Night Away. As we walked back to the car she turned, handed me the cd, and said, "This is for you."
Yeah, it's been a good night.
From there we headed further South and found ourselves on Hawthorne. We drove past the Subhumans concert, and the mass of kids pretending to be part of a scene that died an ignoble death 20 years ago. From the corner of my eye I spied a coffee shop (on Hawthone? NO WAI!), and next to that coffee shop was a sign declaring Portland's Best Fish and Chips. Well that sounds like a challenge to me.
The fish wasn't that great, but the fries are a winner.
Back into the chill but now clear night. Scattered clouds meandering through the night illuminated by moon and headlights as we wander beneath them just as aimless. Sometimes you have to be a little lost. We drove North again and found our way to the 84, and the drive I love so much. On the east side of the river I stare out over the water and let my eyes wander up the reaching towers of glass to the hills behind them. We turn over the bridge leading to the 26, and I look over the grid of concrete and streetlights nestled between a river of shimmering black, and the shadowy face of hills under stars.
I love living here. If I'm going to be lost anywhere I want to be lost here.
We drove out into the east side, and headed south until we found something that caught Raseny's eye. It was a record store this time. I don't remember the last time I looked at cds live and in person. In my world music only exists online, and if I get cd it is delivered to me from the Great Distribution Center located somewhere out there in the great unknown place that I'll never see, and certainly will never walk around. They had 4 Skinny Puppy cds, 1 Front 242 cd, and no Snog. I stopped looking after that. Raseny didn't, though. She bought The Shins cd, Wincing the Night Away. As we walked back to the car she turned, handed me the cd, and said, "This is for you."
Yeah, it's been a good night.
From there we headed further South and found ourselves on Hawthorne. We drove past the Subhumans concert, and the mass of kids pretending to be part of a scene that died an ignoble death 20 years ago. From the corner of my eye I spied a coffee shop (on Hawthone? NO WAI!), and next to that coffee shop was a sign declaring Portland's Best Fish and Chips. Well that sounds like a challenge to me.
The fish wasn't that great, but the fries are a winner.
Back into the chill but now clear night. Scattered clouds meandering through the night illuminated by moon and headlights as we wander beneath them just as aimless. Sometimes you have to be a little lost. We drove North again and found our way to the 84, and the drive I love so much. On the east side of the river I stare out over the water and let my eyes wander up the reaching towers of glass to the hills behind them. We turn over the bridge leading to the 26, and I look over the grid of concrete and streetlights nestled between a river of shimmering black, and the shadowy face of hills under stars.
I love living here. If I'm going to be lost anywhere I want to be lost here.
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
Getting lost and exploring your town is amazing and still one of my favorite things to do. I can't wait to fall in love with a new town. Yes, I'm talking Pittsburgh.