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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 2005)
« COFFEE KLATSCH Let's Do Coffee & More . 19373 S.W. Willamette Drive,; West Linn; 503-635-4224 * • . ' * * Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Let’s Do Coffee at the Water Tower • 5331 s.w. Macadam Ave.; 503-241-7486 Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays The Perfect Cup and Caffe • 1721 Willamette Fails Drive, . West Linn; 503-722-1722 Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekends Queer Quotient: •. Cup: Vibe: . . ♦ ♦ • • * * • - * - * ■ ■ ♦ L --*■** • * *■ • * * * t Coffee means a whole lot more at West Linn’s gay-owned Let’s’ Do Coffee and More and Perfect Cup and new-Let’s Do Coffee at the Water Tower in John’s Landing. * * \ V • • • Oswego, hand-selectgd beans from Caffe Vita, a Seattle microroaster, and the creami est, spiciest, most refreshing iced chili evoke grins from shoppers who browse its gift shop of kitsch-meets-homey comforts. The » store offers “never knew you wish you had” specialty candles, lotions, jewelry, bedding and other novelty gifts. Whjle the store doesn’t scream “queer.mecca,’-’ the owners say the store helps people feel comfortable to be themselves. “It’s a place that’s safe and inviting.. and friendly for people to«corne and hang put and enjoy themselves", without having to worry about being themselves here/’ said Shannon. When owners and partners Ctaig He describes hiis clientele as a mishmash Shannon and Brad Day is opened their flag- of moms in the mornings, the business crowd • • • • ship shop, Let’s Da Coffee and More, it was ' ’using .wireless Internet connections at the inspired by their inability to find*a perfect lunch'hour, teens doing homework in the cup in their suburban digs. • * afternoon and couples and.Gommunity meet “ ■* I’ve got * to have my coffee in the mom- ing groups in the evenings. . . ing, and we couldn’t find any that we liked/’ The shop draws a crowd .on Saturday •. explained Shannon. nights with acoustic music. ♦ * W * • But a stop in thé shop will* show that cof It also donates 10 percent of its sales to • • fee isn’t the only offering on the menu. various schools and charities, with ongoing Overgrown sweets from La Provence in Lake fund-raisers and donations to auctions. .. .. « • • THE GODDESS ■■ * IS ALIVE AND SHE IS MAKING YOUR LATTE * . e ' Touchstone Coffee House • ♦ 7631 n . e . Giisan st.; 503-268-7613 . ’ . Hours: 6:30 * a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday • . Queer Quotient: Cup: . Vibe: ». * V ♦ • • Located in a colorful ♦ hut across from the church conglomerates of upper Giisan is an . # outpost of community: Describing. • Touchstone as a “feel-good place,” owner . Becky Bilyeu has been in business for six years, longer than any other lesbian-owned * • ♦ • • coffee shop in the city. ■ “It’s a place where peopjt; can come and relax, be inspired when they ate feeling • stressed out or creatively tapped. At .Touchstone, you can ge.t rejuvenated-ere- • atively,” she notes. ♦ * • ’ . The décor of Touchstone is somewhat .everwhelming at- first. It *i.< obviously a well-foved space, and it is cozy but clut tered* The garden is in its midsummer glory at the moment, and there are tables , outside in which to enjoy the sun. There is definitely a new age vibe at Touchstone, which could be a bit dis tracting: Nearly every inch of wall space is hung‘with art, craft or signs proclaim ing platitudes such as “Miracles happen to everybody.” Although not for everyone, this aesthetics definitely uplifting. Bilyeu is’proud that her cafe offers an alternative to the bar scene and dnly wishes more lesbians from the area would make the trek up Giisan to see her. There is a commu nity resource room in the cafe where people #■ . can advertise their businesses, look for nxim- mates or hook up with activity groups. • ’ The regulars at Touchstone are about a’ • third from the queer Community. In addition, Touchstone does a brisk business with the church crowd from across th« • • street/There • are fnoms who come in, as well’as^i’knitting ’ ’ . * • • • group that meets regularly. There are ■ evening astrology and* tarp I readings, which have proven to be quite popular with her . .clientele. “I have regulars from all over the area,” comments Bilyeu. “People drive from Vancouver, Oregon City. I think that is a testament to the specjalness of this place. There is really nothing else'like it.” Touchstone offers the traditional cafe fare, but lacking a kitchen does not offer ]pj * poj f ! IE « - » ■ • KNOWLEDGE IS POWER LIVE • LOCAL • LIBERAL 620 kpoj The Thom Hartman Show weekdays 6AM - 9AM • much’in the way of food beyond panini sandwiches and bentos. The pastries are all ' baked locally by small indepondeht bakers Buddha Belly and Scone Age Pastries. Bilyeu is adamant about her politics with respect to locally owned businesses: “It’s ‘ worth i{ to support gay-owned and independ ent coffeehouses. If it wasn’t for my neigh borhood clientele, 1 wouldn’t have made it the six years I have. It may be a little extra, • • but ¿mall plàces don’t buy in bulk the wiiy thé big places do. But it is worth it; Walk the • extra block, spend the extra quarter. People don’t realize how nice small business are until they are gone." JF1 « AM___________________ PORTLAND'S PROGRESSIVI TALK STATION
