Portland Cafés
So I moved from a city that I love to a small town that I love. I've been tuning into feelings of homesickness, lately, mal du pays, nostalgia, longing, in Polish its called tęsknota.There are concrete aspects of the city that I don't miss: pollution, traffic, low flying airplanes. But I miss some places terribly: the cafés for example. Some of them moved away as did I: Cambridge Café, Portland Coffee Roasting, and Mornings in Paris. Above is a scene from 2000 at the old Portland Coffee Roasting that was on Commercial Street. Cafés are for many people places for conversation, for me, they are most often a place where I love studying my French and, of course, sketching.
Enjoy your new surroundings, they will soon become familiar, as will the faces at the new local cafe you choose to frequent.
ReplyDeleteBon courage
Always enjoy seeing your sketches.
Żal, że kawiarenki, które lubiłaś przestają istnieć. Twoja tęsknota (pisana też po polsku :))) ) za nimi wynika z treści pod uroczym szkicem. Ściskam.
ReplyDeleteI empathise with you, missing favorite cafés are not easy to compensate. I hope you will find some nice spots that will become new favorites!
ReplyDeleteI love this one!
ReplyDeleteI am ok visiting a city..but give me a small town any day..
Luckily there are cafés here etc.. I wish someone would create those spaces for you.
I find longing..well long.
I want you having the best of both worlds:)
Oh to be able to go to such a place and use the time to study a language or read a book or engage in casual conversation with a friend! This is lovely!
ReplyDeleteI wish we had a true cafe near us--all we have are chains like Starbucks and Panera. They don't have quite the same feel, though I do spend time in Panera, it's usually a bit busier than I'd like. It's better than nothing.
ReplyDeleteSketching in a café is always fun but I the surroundings have to be interesting as well. I love Paris for that reason, there is always something interesting to sketch and alway a café nearby.
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog and love your sketches!!
ReplyDeleteCafes are fun, especially early when the city still sleeps.
ReplyDeleteRita -- Your longing for the cafes of Portland is understood by me completely. That is why I just moved (yes again) to an Oregon college town that has wonderful cafes and coffeehouses to enjoy and sit for however long you like. All the wonderful folks of all types enter and saunter through. Some of the coffeehouses here have been in operation for many years. They are not chains. I hope you can perhaps visit Portland often to help fend off your longing for the life of a cafe artist. Great sketch!
ReplyDeleteDear Rita I can certainly understand your homesickness. I had a favorite cafe-bookstore in a nearby city and it changed ownership and just is not the same. I too miss it. So glad though I have special memories of those fun times. Love your sketch. Your style is wonderful. Have a great weekend friend.
ReplyDeleteOh, I can see you there! I am behind you, watching you sketch . . . :))
ReplyDelete