A period of redemption awaited me Saturday morning. McKenzie was in town from Denver and we set a plan to meet for brunch at the much-recommended Vita Cafe on Alberta. I must say, brunch in Portland is one of my favorite things in the world. Getting up and out of the house on a sunny spring Saturday, eating and drinking the morning away, chatting with a close friend - these are very restorative things.
As I drove down Alberta I was struck by all the new shops and eateries tucked into long buildings stretching the blocks. I didn't think it had been that long since I'd visited the area, but I had a hard time keeping my eyes on the road ahead of me. I found Vita easily and secured both a booth and a Bloody Mary. McKenzie soon arrived and we set to devouring the menu and trying to make a selection. I opted for the day's special - "The Leaning Tower of Huevos." As Vita is a very veggie-centric restaurant, I had several options in terms of making my meal vegan, vegetarian, or thoughtful meat-eater. I went with cage-free eggs and opted for a side of fresh fruit rather than bacon.
The meal was great. McKenzie commented on how she loves that Bloody Marys are basically a meal in a glass (or a mason jar in this case), so make that the meals were great.
When we were stuffed to the point of pain, we set off on a short walk to explore some nearby shops. We found a Mexican shrine store and a branch of the fabric store Bolt. Holy dreamland. Bolt's fabrics, though pricey, are gorgeous and so-charming. I'm going to really hone my sewing skills before spending too much money there. Our last stop was the awesome Townshend's Teahouse, where we chatted with a knowledgeable cashier man and selected some hot brews for the road. McKenzie went with a womanly choice and I selected something like smelled like a lemony kitchen solution (which is actually a good thing, to me). I also picked up some loose detox and peppermint teas to whip up at home and hopefully heal my ailing husband.
We parted ways and I drove off aimlessly. I soon decided to try out the Japanese Gardens at Washington Park, which were having their annual free admission day. The park was packed, with the zoo parking lot completely full. I got lucky and found a spot fairly near the Japanese Gardens on my first drive through.
I hiked up the hill and followed switch backs to the Gardens' gate. Though crowded, it was nice to stroll leisurely through knolls of nearly-blooming trees and over tiny wooden bridges.
Back at my car I discovered a pretty flower bud taking off its jacket. Seems like a better sign than anything to do with a groundhog.
