Lux Coffee Lounge Is Open in the Hazelwood Neighborhood

The interior of Lux Coffee Lounge, in a black and gold theme.
Photo credit: Lux Coffee Lounge

Love it or hate it, social media’s Almighty Algorithm can feed you good stuff sometimes—and that’s how I learned about Lux Coffee Lounge on Instagram. I’m so glad Instagram showed me this account—it’s a lovely looking space with visually enticing food and drink, in a newly remodeled space on SE Division Street (not too far from Sunbela) in east Portland.

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Four Things I Learned This Week (March 8)

Viking Pancake Breakfast this Sunday. Throughout the year—except during the pandemic—the Norse Hall in NE Portland would hold what they call a “Viking Pancake Breakfast.” My husband and I have loved going and really missed it during COVID. It started up again in the past year or so, and this month’s Breakfast is a fundraiser for the Portland Nordic Chorus (which I sang with, briefly). 20% of the proceeds from entry fees will go to them and their work.

From 8:30am to noon on Sunday, March 10, you’ll get all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage links, fruit, scrambled eggs, orange juice, and coffee or tea. It’s open-seating, no reservations. $10 adults; $6 children age 3-10; under 3 eat free. Pay cash at the door. 111 NE 11th Avenue, Portland

Closings—Rusa, Bar Norman, Bee’s (early). Some closings are happening this month and I’m sorry to see them all go. In an email entitled “A Joyful Goodbye,” Bar Norman announced their closing: “Bar Norman is closing on April 6th. We’ve had a thrilling run on Clinton Street and while I wish we could continue on, this chapter of the bar has come to a close. We’re going to spend the next month celebrating this special place and we hope you’ll join us.” They also posted on Instagram. 2615 SE Clinton Street, Portland

Rusa, a food cart serving Eastern European+Latin American combinations, announced on social media, “When you have nothing left, it’s time to move forward. Rusa is permanently closing.” They may make it to the end of month, but the real end is when the food runs out. 1027 NE Alberta Street, Portland

Bee’s Cakes closed their doors earlier this year, with the decision to stay until May, but vandals did their thing one time too many, and Rebecca is closing things down by the end of the month. Most recently they dumped out garbage all over the little parking lot, tore down some outdoor lights, damaged the door, and cut the power, leading to a significant loss of product. It does not feel safe for her and her family any more. This breaks my heart and why the city tolerates this stuff is beyond me. 7137 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Bardo, a tea room, is open. I recently became aware of Bardo, a tea room on NE Killingsworth across the street from Extracto (where I get coffee semi-regularly). I’ve wondered about this little white building for years, and I’m so curious about the interior (which I can now check out—and have tea). The folks behind Bardo have given their mission a lot of thought: “Our aim at Bardo, is not simply to offer you high quality tea, but it is also to weave the story that connects the soil, to the farmer, to the tea, to the cup.” Their hours are here. 2926 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland

Anniversaries—Higgins and Du’s Grill. Higgins celebrates 30 years and in honor of that, Chef Greg Higgins and his team have prepared a special menu for the month of March, “both in honor of his mentor [Chef Joseph Matter of Ribeauvillé, Alsace, France] and as a nod to the dishes that his loyal guests have loved the best over the years.” The menus are accessible from the Higgins website. 1239 SW Broadway, Portland

And Du’s Grill celebrates 29 years! On social media, they said, “I can’t remember the exact date of Du’s Grill’s inception. But I know it’s sometime around when the cherry blossoms start showing n the trees … Thanks for keeping us going all these years!!!” 5365 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

First Tastes: Tea and Dumplings at Cloud Pine Tea + Culture

Cloud Pine Tea + Culture in Milwaukie, Ore.

A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to see an old friend when he traveled to Oregon to visit his daughter, and we had lunch together at Cloud Pine Tea + Culture, a newish (est. 2021) teahouse-restaurant located in downtown Milwaukie. A mix of seriously good tea, delicious dumplings, and great conversation was a nice break from everything. I’m already looking forward to returning.

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