JULE SELBO

Summer’s almost here and my office is getting hot. The sun starts pouring in an hour after sunrise  – @ 5 am –  and it is aggressive. The big blob sends biting, shiny light right across my desk, exactly – as I sit at my laptop – right into my eyeline.

Move your desk, stupid, you say.  But – after the sun gets to a certain height in the sky –  the placement is perfect.

And besides, I know the air outside is the coolest it’s going to be in my waking hours.  So, walking shoes are put on and notebook and pens go into my bag (computer will be left at home unless I am walking only a few blocks) and the morning walk/write begins. I limit my choices to those under 2 miles from my home – the search is for a pretty empty spot where coffee and maybe an egg or muffin or pancake can be ordered, and the “white noise” of a hustle and bustle kitchen and a few customers can be had. The “white noise” is essential.

My favorite way to start my day:  coffee and writing.

REGULAR HAUNTS

Becky’s 5 am 390 Commercial.  Stools at the counter –  plenty of space until 6:30 or so – sometimes later.

The Works 6 am  – 15 Temple Street (close to Spring, close to the Nickelodeon Movie Theatre). IMO, they are among the best sandwich and salad providers this side of Portland.  Order at the counter, there are usually only one – or none – people there so I have my favorite spot at a high-top window seat.

Double Great 6:30 am – 100 Congress Street.  When I first moved to Portland, it was Hilltop Café and it’s where I met many in my neighborhood who are still my friends today.  Friendly, warm, home-cooking Hilltop Café closed during Covid and it took a good year or two for Double Great to open. The owners take coffee, matcha, and hot chocolate seriously. Pastries are provided by an outside source. The place is populated with people on computers or reading books – but then starts to buzz around 8:15 am with those doing low-key business meet-ups and meeting  friends/new acquaintances As tables fill – I leave.

Bom Dia 7 am – – 47 India Street.  Acai bowls with tons of fruit, bagels, smoothies and an array of different coffee options. Excellent tables and chairs to work at.  There’s a nice stream of people coming in with or without their dogs to get their morning favorites and the tables do not fill until after 9 am.

Bard Coffee 7 am (8 am on Sunday) – 185 Middle Street. IMO, shares my award for the best drip coffee of my haunts. They get their pastries from an excellent bakery. This is a popular spot but until 8:30 to 9 am, there is no sense that you are overstaying a welcome. See “regulars” there every day – a playwright that I really like, a lawyer who is writing a book, a few bloggers.

Navis 7 am  – 56 Thames (close to Ocean Gateway). Quiet until 9 ish. Regulars there every day. Nice and quiet until 9:30 or so. (Don’t know about after that, because I’m on my way – but when I walk by later in the day – lots of customers for sandwiches etc.)

Speckled Ax 7 am 18 Thames.   Don’t really like the light here.

Coffee By Design 7 am 1 Diamond Street.  It’s a farther walk for me and there’s that one extra hill that I like to avoid.  So if it’s raining and I take the car – this is a great spot.  Stays low key until 8:30 or so.

Forage 7 am 123 Washington Avenue.  Very noisy and for me, not a “settled” noise –  and I’m not fond of the tables and chairs. Great Great bagels – and the bagel sandwiches are amazing.

Lenora 7 am 2 Portland Square. One of my favorites.  It’s more of a late night/late afternoon hang (drinks and tacos) so in the early morning there’s only a few regulars –  or a few parents with young kids. Amazing place to work and

There are a few of us doing just that. But plenty of room. Coffee is great at Lenora’s.  So lovely to sit here and work.

Salt Yard Café  7 am 285 Commercial Street.  Connected to the hotel, so it gets busy with travellers.

Radial Coffee Co. 7 am 383 Commercial Street. NEW-ISH. Haven’t tried it yet.  Across the street from Becky’s….

Porthole. 7 am. 20 Custom House Wharf.  Classic old diner where the food and coffee takes a second seat to atmosphere. Friendly. Lots of regulars (who are non-writers/readers) and great atmosphere.

Cutie’s. 8 am 46 Market Street.  New. Lots of people reading here, early morning. And on computers.  Don’t have a good sense of it yet.

Tandem Coffee Roasters 8 am 122 Anderson Street.  Too small to work at. Great coffee. But I am too aware that the seating is limited.

LB Kitchen 8 am  255 Congress.  Lots of people on computers and or writing in notebooks or reading here.  Very healthy, tasty food. Excellent coffee.

Bake Maine Pottery Café. 8 am 122 Washington Street.  One of my neighborhood gems. Excellent place to work on computer or in notebook for an hour or so.

Yuri’s Desserts  8 am 3 Spring Street  Korean pastries, airy donuts.  Good amount of tables to sit at. Lots of people on computers or writing in notebooks.

Eighty-8 Donuts 8 am 225 Federal Street – a counter to sit at, but not a great place to settle into the white noise.  But those donuts!  Definitely (for me) just pick up a donut and go.

Now, if it’s raining – and I get into the car –  it’s a whole other world out there from 5 am to 9 am.