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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 2005)
auflusl 5. 2005 - jUSt OUt 23 . KID AND QUEER FRIENDLY Cafe Destino . 1339 N.E. Premont St.) 503-284-9455 Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays» 7 a.m., to 3 pan. weekends • Queer Quotient: ; Cup: Vibe: . OUTPOST ON BURNSIDE Blend . 2327 K. Burnside 8t.; 503-234-8610 Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays» 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends «Queer Quotient: ' Cup: Vibe: *•<* 4 * « * • * * • Blend is fl great example of a place that yogurt, bagels, hummus and other veggie serves as both » neighhorhixxj meeting spot friendly treat«. as well as offering a-queer-friendly atmos The community bulletin board at Blend phere. Featuring a long,'dark room, with an is worth taking a look at to find out what is evep daiker rcxjm down a few steps, the best happening around town. There is also a good place to drink coffee here is out on the selection of local newspaper!», as well as the stcxy?, where a parade of dogs and hikes pass Los Angeles hipster mag Arthur, which is • on busy. Burnside. • • . . • hafd'to find in Portland. ’ • On the other hand, the back room of ♦ The ambiance of Blend is low-key, with Z Blend would be a perfect place for a small ' some fairly distressed pieces of furniture, group meeting or study^ession, and has the The art on the walls is unusually interesting potential for coziness compared to the in the rainy season. regular-coffeehouse In the-summer, it is fare, and the mbber- . mòre like a cave ducky collection is than-anything. outstanding. The coffeé, There is nothing offered up by a af Blend to suggest it charming young is particularly gay, fnan, was fairly good, although it is queer- although not alto owned. Instead, the gether delicious. vibe is friendly, casu There aré snacks forA al and neighbor- purchase, including hood-focused. * ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT Cooper’s Coffee Bast . 4500 s . e . stark st.) 503-238-2120 . - Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays •Cooper’s Coffee West • 1010 s.w. Gibbs st.j 503-944-5000 • Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays» 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.-Saturday, 7:30 a.m.*to 4 p.m. Sunday * . : .• Queer Quotient: Cup: * Vibe: “Hip’to be square” is the prevailing atti tude at Cooper's Coffee House, owned by ♦ Michael 'McRae. . . ' . ’ • A former construction -worker, McRae says Z be opened his shop “for the fun qf jt.” Yet with its success after 2 i/2 years of business, he branched out to open Cixiper’s Coffee West on the Oregon Health -6*. Science University campus. ♦ • Cooper’s‘East is an open, airy neighbor- • hood spot attathed • to * Addison’.<Market. McRae points to his middle-aged, mainstream - * * . clientele and says, “I don’t have hipsters here. ' * ” • . .* • . - • He prides himself on the smiles from his friendly baristas and their method of meeting ’ -and greeting every customer. ' On any given mommg. Café Destino is . “1 know what is going on In their lives,, teeming with moms and kids. The proximi and they know about mine,’’ she notes. ty to Irving Park, ^preschcxil, and kid- Café Destino is an especially welcom focused Peanut Butter and Ellie’s perhaps ing place for queer parents. Zinn knows of explains this, but ntfighboa in the know five lesbian families with kids less’than 1 are familiar with proprietress Chantal Zinn year old within a mile radius of her shop and her own kid-focused life: • - who visit regularly. She has a 20-month- . •. After working for McMenamins for 10 • old son named Parker Reno Zinn who years, Zinn ioqnded Café Destino, which* keeps her busy when she is not working in the shop. . will celebrate its fifth year in • business this • • * year. Her own changing life reflects the “I’m so glad these kids will grow up I changes in the with each other,’’ she says. • • shop: • “They’ll have peers and also ,iWh«n we first people to commiserate wijh!” opened, it Was more • Favored among denizens of gay and lesbian Irvington, as well as the ’ younger hipsters from the • fecused because we brought in our Alberta area, aye Café Destinos friends. Now it is breakfast sandwiches. The more of a neighbor- menu offers steamed and fried hixxl place, where eggs with all sorts of fixins. The you run into your coffee, which is rich and vel neighbors and vety, is roasted in Seattle at friends. It’s a place Café Vita, and the pastries are for families, gays locally produced. and lesbians, kids, Zinn’s enthusiasm abput her older folks.” shop is contagious: “We love Zinn'claims to know 95 percent of her coming to work every day,” she says. “It’s a clientele, a figure that cannot be disputed great, fun placé where you’ll have delicious when-you watch her greet them. food and really great coffee!” * ♦ * * ♦ “They’re always smiling, always thanking,’’ . he says of h is staff. “That’s important to me. * 3 “ • * Cooper’s is an . extremely dog-friendly environment, with the shop itself named after McRae’s red Doberman. Free dog gie treats are offered at the front counter, and . the shop is decorated with pooch portraits. . • McRae is very involved with die community, raising Cw»o/ AMtrno«- 45TH « ST*». I ■ ... money for the Oregon Humane Society and holding food and gift drives dur- .ing the holidays and a free .pumpkin-carving event for .Halloween. * . Besides • typical coffee fare and • pastries, Coopers offers quiches and fresh sandwiches with cream cheese spiced up in-house. Bridgetown provides the beans. According to McRae, busi- ness is “rockin,’ ” and the shop is .“flying through food.” He attrib utes most of the shop’s success to the “personalities behind the counter,” offering no lip and a warm welcome. Our rating system: weak brew balanced blend perfect cup Continued on Page 25 ^KAREN M. SWEIGERT, MD k Obotetrico and Gynecology Donor Insemination 'CW . > [. Phone 503 274-9936 Big City Produce Local Folks, Local Produce 2°?d winner B Food Sys'«" 1040 N.W. 22nd, Suite 330, Portland, OR 97210____ J Little Store . . . Big on Diversity. 722 N. Sumner (at N. 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