Little Bird Tour NW Lands

We woke up in Oregon Tuesday to ice-covered windshields and frozen fog. It was 26 degrees and time to head back home. Cold and gray was the weather flavor of the tour, but we didn't get snow and enjoyed much warmth from the locals during our travels. Special thanks go to Ellen at KSKQ in Ashland for having us on the show, Oberon's for the hospitality and warm cider, Patricia & Scott in Ashland & Gail & John in Corvallis for hosting us, songbird Jean Mann for sharing a bill at the gem of a listening room in Redmond, Soulfood Coffeehouse, Thene at Metronome in Tacoma, the Copeland clan in West Seattle, Willow & the Embers, as well as Tracy at Twilight Gallery. The adventure in touring isn't just in the playing, it's in the people you meet and places you experience. I always return from such trips with my mind expanded. We got home Tuesday afternoon to 75-degree weather, perfect conditions to put ones feet in the sand (we had nothing to do with the stray Christmas tree).

Oberon's mulled wine and hot cider on a freeeeezing night.

Jean Mann!

The SoulFood listening room

the scene at Metronome in Tacoma

post-game music at Twilight Gallery

Home is where the beached tree is?

Stations of the Bean: NW Coffee (so far)

What self-respecting tour of the northwest would neglect conspicuous coffee consumption? Not this one. Despite giving up coffee for most of December, I'm back on the bean here in Oregon. Yes, the  Little Bird tour has thus far been fueled by some delicious locally-roasted coffee beverages. Some highlights from our trip thus far: 

Limestone Coffee in Medford, OR. Seriously third-wave in Southern OR. Yes, they have almond milk if you're into non-dairy espresso drinks, which they did a fine job with, but the winner was their selection of nuanced pour-over coffee features. Every cup is ground to order. http://www.limestonecoffee.com/

Good Bean, Jacksonville, OR. Not far from Medford is this little food, wine and coffee-savvy burg. Hot-air roasted beans from the region's original roaster did not disappoint in the java department, as Good Bean served up a truly exemplary latte made with hazelnut milk. Their beans are proudly served throughout the region's other cafes and restaurants, as well. http://www.goodbean.com/

Noble Coffee, Ashland, OR. Aw, how nice to walk into a place and see a Gibraltar on the menu! Having lived next to Blue Bottle's kiosk in Hayes Valley, SF, during this drink's nascency, I've a soft spot in my heart for this barista-brainchild of a beverage. We happened into this Ashland roasters Railroad District 'temple to coffee' after our radio gig at KSKQ and felt instantly at ease (and warm! It's 30 degrees here). Organic and artisanally crafted, Noble's Gibraltar more than lived up to Blue Bottle's original. http://www.noblecoffeeroasting.com