The location is on NE 69th and Glisan. It's an outside patio restaurant area with lots of benches to sit, both on the sidewalk and deeper into the block.

The main draw of this location is the series of small restaurants stationed next to each other, and the prospect of eating outside during nice weather. Like food carts, but without the food carts.

Right off the bat, I can see a variety of people occupying the space. One of the group is three men, probably in their 20s, enjoying a few beers and chatting about how well their plans for the summer were executed. One is white and two are asian. They're dressed very similar: shorts, hats, short sleeve shirts. 

Beside them, on a smaller table meant for two, is a man with dyed blonde hair playing on his phone. He's wearing pants. He's also wearing sandals with socks. His socks are green, with the outline of a marijuana plant on them. He receives a to go plate with food and now he stands up to leave. 

Beside this man, on another small table meant for two, is another man. He's talking to someone on the phone now, drinking a can of coke. 

I'm sitting in the middle of this grid of tables, on one of two lawn chairs next to what is, I presume, an outdoor fire pit filled with black rocks.

Next to me, a black man talks on the phone, attempting to schedule plans with the other person on the phone. He's informing the other person that he will have another beer at this location. 

In front of him, a couple, both white, just sat down, each with a glass of orange beer in front of them. They're not speaking, smoking and waiting for their order of food. 

In front of me, a family is sitting down. They appear to be at the end of their dinner. A man and a woman, both in their 30s or thereabouts, with their two children, both under 10, waiting alongside them. The kids are looking over their parents' shoulders as the parents check their phones. 

Beside them, on another table, is what appears to be another family. Everyone is white. The father is nearly done with a beer, the mother just halfway through hers. Their children, a boy and a girl, have water cups in front of them. The whole family is dressed in pastel colors.

On the sidewalks are three more tables. One table has what appears to be another family: an older black man, bald, with three younger women, perhaps in their thirties and perhaps his daughters, talking over beers that one of the women just brought. What's interesting about this table is that there is a young girl of about 3 with them who is running around all over the place. She wears a white Minnie mouse shirt and a tutu dress. She was sitting next to me for a brief moment, but one of the women, presumably her mother, just picked her up and brought her back to their table. It’s quite clear she wants to keep her daughter safe while they enjoy dinner.

Beside them is a very recently emptied table that had a family in it just minutes prior. The family was a man and a woman, both white, with a baby. They had just cleaned their table and left the premises.

The last table on the sidewalk is empty, and has been since I've arrived here. 

Every table is colorful, with a covering that appears to be floral; they remind me of the designs of Hawaiian shirts. No two tables have the same design, so while they all came from probably the same designer, they’re each decorated with different colors and flowers.

Every table is under a canopy on the "deep" section of the location. Every table on the sidewalk, save for one, has a large umbrella over it, capable of being modified to tilt against the sun. Right now, a young woman wearing a mask is tying up the umbrella on one table. She appears to be staff from one of the restaurants in this location, and was waiting for the family to leave so that she can start the process of closing things down.

I will name the restaurants right now: one is called Pie Spot. It serves savory pies, coffee, and smoothies.

Beside it is a bar, which I'm sure has served every single beer that's being enjoyed at this restaurant patio area.

A Mexican restaurant named "Tierra del Sol", which specializes in Oaxacan cuisine, is next. 

Beside it is a restaurant named "Alleamin African Kitchen." 

The final restaurant is a sushi spot called "Sea and River Sushi + Burmese Grill."

Occasionally, staff from the various restaurants will come and deliver food to a table, but then they will disappear behind closed doors. They are always wearing masks. About half of the clientele say thanks when their food is delivered.

Since we are on Glisan, the sound of cars are constantly driving by. They're typically quiet, or at least the sound of moving cars going 30-40 disappears into the background, but about ten minutes ago, several sports cars revved their engines and their exhausts sputtered loudly as they drove by, capturing the attention of several of the patrons, who looked at the cars in the distance, annoyed. It seems most everyone was not expecting loud cars to intrude into the atmosphere, myself included, which perhaps gave all the more reason for the drivers of the sports cars to create as much noise as they did.

Several civilians are walking along the sidewalk. On occasion, what appears to be a houseless individual also walks by, pushing their shopping carts or holding on to their bags. 

Across the street, there is a Domino's Pizza. I know from experience that this Domino's is quite good, since it's made up the majority of my fast food experiences the past five years I've lived in the area. Beside the Domino's is a coffee shop called Mudd Works Roastery.

One of the families I mentioned earlier, the one with the bald black man and the three black women, just told a joke and they are laughing heartily now. I can hear that they are not speaking English. The little girl sits quietly, perhaps having been reprimanded by her mother for running around. She plays on a phone. 

All that's left are couples and single men like myself now. Everyone is quiet except for a couple that just sat at one of the smaller tables beside me. The man is talking about a bass player he saw at a show, and mentioning how cool that experience was for him.

I almost missed them, but there's another couple sitting behind me, on my 7 o clock. Both are white and wear glasses, and are talking in low voices. Whatever they're speaking of, they do not want it overheard.

Two Asian men wearing masks have just sat down on one of the empty tables vacated by one of the families. If I'm not mistaken, they came from the sushi restaurant. They sat their plate of food on the table, and then beelined directly to the cantina. They've just come back, beers in hand. They're preparing their chopsticks to eat. I’m speculating that they're either on break or taking advantage of a lull in clientele to enjoy themselves. The sound of cars driving past prevents me from listening in on them, but that perhaps doesn't matter: they're not speaking a language I can understand.

The white woman from the bar, the one who had tied up and removed the umbrellas from the sidewalk tables, is sweeping the floor of her bar now. The broom gently scrapes against the floor, producing a familiar sound. 

There is music coming from somewhere, but I can't pinpoint exactly where from.

The sun is setting now. I had on my sunglasses when I first arrived, and have switched to regular prescription glasses due to the declining sunlight.

It has been an hour and now it's time for me to leave. I enjoyed this experience. Various people from different backgrounds came to enjoy dinner with their families. There were a few different options to satisfy every palate, so I imagine this is why the people came to this particular place. That, and the convenience of the location, of course (I’m presuming everyone was very local, as I didn’t see any parking nearby).

Even with relatively pleasant image in mind, there was clearly a class component to this setting, made quite obvious by the amount of houseless folks ambling by. 

It’s interesting to me to consider how all these people view their world; they all wanted to eat and drink, and most were doing it with friends and/or family. The staff behind the scenes made it happen, and they, when given a chance, also took the opportunity to enjoy the setting with some food and drink. 
Because of Covid, all seating was spaced out appropriately, and nobody that came with with a group or by themselves interacted with another group. Despite this, I would argue the vibe was quite pleasant.

By the time we all got out of the car, in less than a minute the grocery store clerk had finished his micro ice cream cone and had rushed through the same door he came out of.

Already standing on the corner, with my niece, we went to Fat Straw for some Bobas. We tried to cross the street but a car, inside there were two white people, they did not respect the traffic signal that tells them where to stop, so we had to wait for them to continue to cross normally.

We walked to the cafe and found that all the outside tables were taken. In total there were approximately 7 people. A group of 5 were together 1 man sitting and 4 standing (three women and one man) and they had a dog. In the group, the man and the woman who were standing were interacting with laughter. The two women who were also standing, one of them was a woman with a disability of Asian descent who was next to a woman who was taller than her with a dark complexion, they were talking about the drinks they were drinking.

In line to order there were three people waiting.

The first people waiting were two men in their 20s who talked very amiably among themselves, they immediately withdrew and bowed their heads and remained attentive to their cell phones, to one side until their order was ready.

Right in front of us was a woman with Asian features, she looked about 25 years old, she had her hands in her waist. Starring directly at the menu. She was wearing a black t shirt and pants.

Then came Behind us a white woman. Since he got to the line, he opened his wallet and took his credit card out of his beige wallet (very nice by the way), he seemed to be in a hurry. She ordered and she moved to a shade, and she starts looking at the windows of the stores nearby, every so often she looked at her cell phone, she never drew a smile.

After a moment he came closer to wait his turn to receive his order, he fixed his hair and rubbed his hands, frowning.

The time came when we got our drinks and we were ready to go. We had to ask several people for permission to leave, 4 more people had arrived.

We headed back to the supermarket. Outside at one of the 2 tables outside was a middle-aged lady sitting turning onto Hawthorne Street, she seemed to be waiting for them to come for her.

Up ahead, just in front of the supermarket door was a white man dressed in black with a leather jacket, a real rocker, and a cart full of objects and flags.

Once inside the supermarket I observed the same employee that I had seen taking his break now in a corridor helping a costumer to find some products, I heard that they thanked him for his help and the employee left.

I started walking inside the supermarket and in the delicatessen area I saw 2 workers with masks, a woman and a man talking. She was very loud and gesticulated a lot with her hands. Then he went over to the computer to check something.

More Adelante At garden section I saw 2 women with masks hugging one of them has a apron. They looks very happy talking each other’s. Seems a non-expected encounter. Because of the distance I couldn't hear what they were saying but they looked happy.

A song in Spanish began to play "Musica Ligera" by Soda Stereo, an Argentine rock group that I really like and I was moved to hear my language in that context, I started to sing and I explained to my niece about the song and we started to move together to the rhythm of the song. While we were dancing, in the bakery a white man with his 2-year-old son saw us surprised. Just then he approached where we were, took in his hands a box of eggs, opened it to examine that everyone was okay, and I lost sight of him.

At one point, the same woman who was in the delicatessen sector passed very quickly, she was walking very fast and behind her a customer. He spoke to the local employee, and she asked him questions behind her.

Immediately afterwards another worker appeared carrying a cart full of cardboards pass next to us carefully like trying to avoid us. 5 seconds another worker drives a cart full of bread she passes next to us fast with no worries.

I continued browsing the supermarket, via a man in his 60s picking meticulously in the yogurt section, as if checking expiration dates.

Then I went to the cashier’s section and there were four cashiers, three women, and a name. A Latin woman, another Asian, from whom I could distinguish behind the masks. The cashier who attended us looked tired but with a friendly attitude, she asked us twice, as I had added a bottle of water to the purchase, she asked if we paid in the same account, to which my sister answered yes.

I found it interesting to note that the different employees had different ethnic backgrounds, and that while some looked more tired or busy than others, they all had a friendly attitude towards customers.

On the other hand, the supermarket customers were very attentive to their affairs, very focused on choosing their merchandise. I must say that in all my observation I did not see anyone of color, neither in the street nor in the cafe or at the supermarket.

 

Off to the left of the large Mexican family there was a smaller three people black family also enjoying their day off in the sunny beach. Hiding from the sun underneath a purple beach umbrella was a young black woman laughing with a small young girl in her arms. Next to them was a sleeping young black man laying on the sand and a t-shirt over his face. The little girl then proceeds to get up as a seagull lands close to their set up, laughing as she chases. This made me laugh, but I tried to keep myself quiet as to not draw attention to myself. She was probably about 5 or 6 years old, with a beautiful natural afro in full display to match her mother, not a care in the world is seen by her attitude. They didn’t seem to be there for a long time, unlike the Mexican family, they did not have any snacks, rather just bottles of water, along with large purse and bag pack full of beach toys. Once the girl began to ran, the mother proceeds to tell her to not run to far, and to not touch the animal. This wakes the sleeping guy next to her, immediately looking for the little girl. They seemed like a happy little family, assuming this by their closeness and wedding rings they displayed. The small girl is the center of the world for this young couple. Cherishing these moments, happy and relaxed, they look like they value family a great deal. 

Off to the right of the large Mexican family, singing along to the Mexican music playing from the tent is a young couple, also appearing to be of Hispanic descent. When I first arrived at the beach, they looked happy laying in the sun, tanning and discussing something very intently. I was unable to hear, due to the music. During the 45 minutes I was at the beach observing people, I watched the young man get up and head to the water. As he did this, the young woman raised herself up and watched him as he made his way to the ocean. Having not paid much attention as to what happened next, from watching the young girl chase the seagulls, I noticed he was back and they were now fighting. When he sat back down, the woman was now fully sat up, facing him, talking loudly looking very displeased. At this point, I was very intrigued as to what could have happened in such a short period of time, he was gone maybe 15 minutes in the ocean. They argue for a couple more minutes, then the girl seems displeased enough to stand and point at a group swimming in the water. The man appears frustrated by the situation and lays back down closing his eyes and going back to tanning. She very visible angerly begins walking down the beach, to the point that I lost sight of her. From what I can gather, it seems that the young man might have been looking at another woman or possibly talking to another woman in the group that was swimming, which angered who I assume to be his partner. By the time that I was heading out, because it was getting too hot and late for me and my son to be out, she was still not back and he was still sleeping, laying on the sand. 

I found this exercise to be extremely interesting, the 45 minutes went by very fast as the scenery was beautiful and people seemed to enjoy this. Almost all the people that went by seemed to be there with someone important, enjoying their days and keeping to themselves. I am not sure if it was the social distancing, that no masks were seen anywhere, or the relaxing setting, but it reminded me of a untroubled time. One before COVID, before right vs left, before divisive elections and everyone angry at each other. It was…peaceful.

August 27 2021, 1:30-2:30 pm

1:30 pm: In the coffee shop there are 2 booths with tables that can seat about 4 people, a long bench with a counter-height table in front of it that looks like it might seat about 4 people, 3 tables that can seat 4 people, a loveseat with a table in front of it, and a another counter-height table with five individual chairs. 

When I sit down to start the observation there are 14 people, including employees, in the room. There are 4 employees and 10 customers. There are signs posted on all doors and on every table about keeping masks on at all times when not eating or drinking. There are 3 people wearing masks while not eating/drinking, all 4 employees are wearing masks, and 7 people are unmasked. Of the unmasked people, only 4 are eating or drinking. The 3 other unmasked people are working on computers or looking at their phones. 

The weather at the time of the observation is reflected in how people are dressed. Even though it is August, it is overcast and colder than it has been in the last week. Most people in the coffee shop are wearing pants, closed-toe shoes, and have jackets on or draped over the backs of their chairs. 

1:35 pm: Three women walk in and order. They have backpacks and are talking about where to sit. They sit at a larger table after ordering, set up computers, and get out textbooks and notebooks. The coffee shop is quiet and the only conversation that can be overheard comes from the group setting up what looks like a study group. 

1:56 pm: There are now 25 people in the room. There are 6 people in line to order, others are seated at tables or looking for places to sit. There are two tables with groups working/studying together, three tables with two people, and all other tables are filled by individual people working on computers or phones. I can overhear the conversation at a table with two people near me. The two women are speaking English but are sharing contact information for other people in the community who speak Russian. Throughout their conversation they switch between speaking in English and Russian. Sometimes they use Russian words within sentences started in English, or they start sentences in Russian and use some English words.

 At another table with two people, a third person greets them and joins their table. As they make space for the new person, they get file folders with papers out from a bag on the floor. One of the people originally seated at the table offers to order the new person a coffee and asks what they would like. 

The coffee shop is a lot louder and more lively than at the start of the observation. Every table with more than one person has a conversation going. The only people in the room who are not speaking are individuals working on phones/computers, people waiting in line individually, and two employees who are making drinks or preparing food. The people who are not talking are looking at phones or computers, even while waiting in line. 

2:00 pm: An employee is walking around wiping down tables as people leave. The person flips signs over on tables that say either “This table is unsanitized” on yellow paper in red font or “This table is sanitized” on green paper in green font. I notice as new customers walk in that they do not select tables based on the sanitized/not sanitized signs. They sit at tables that fit their group size or discuss sitting at an unsanitized table because it better fits their preference of where to sit. The employees are not suggesting tables and customers do not request for tables marked as unsanitized to be wiped down. The employees are also not commenting on masks. 

2:07 pm: Three people who were in line to order take their drinks to-go. Others are looking for tables or are getting settled at tables. The original 10 customers from the start of the observation are all still seated. As I glance around the room, I notice that all customers and employees are white. All the employees look like they are in their 20s, and all customers except 2 also look to be in their 20s. The other 2 customers look like they are in their mid 40s.

2:18 pm: One new customer walks in. There is no line, so the person orders right away. The person’s drink is ready within 2 minutes and the person walks out. All people seated at tables are the same groups or individuals described in the sections above. Two more people walk in and order. They are looking around for a table. One of the two people suggests they sit at a table outside so they can leave their masks off. They receive their drinks and a numbered marker so their food order can be brought to the table they choose. They walk outside and sit at a table near the windows lining the coffee shop. I find it interesting that these two people are choosing a table based on the mask requirements. All customers seated at tables inside are unmasked at this point, even if they are not eating or drinking. One customer sitting alone gets up from a table, walks to a counter with napkins, silverware, and a garbage can to throw away a cup and pastry bag. The person does not put on a mask to walk to the counter and does not put on a mask after sitting back down at the table. 

2:30 pm: Four people walk in: two individuals and what looks to be a mother and her child. The child looks to be about 4 years old. The first person in the line orders, moves to the end of the counter, and pulls out a phone. The second person orders and does the same. The two people are standing close to each other and do not look up from their phone. The mother orders and the child is pointing at bottled waters/drinks in a cooler in front of the counter. The mother reaches over to grab a bottle of water and adds it to the order. The two individual customers both receive their orders and walk out. The mother and child move to the end of the counter. The mother pulls out a phone. The child is standing nearby. All other customers are still seated at tables continuing conversations, while the people sitting alone still look focused on work on computers or phones. The mother and child receive their order and walk outside. The only people standing or moving at this point are the employees. Two employees have wet rags and are checking for any tables that need to be sanitized, while the other two employees are standing behind the counter. They are both standing quietly.

First, I take note of everyone in the coffee shop and immediately notice every person in here is a white female (from what I can tell). I don’t know why, but I also noticed everyone is ordering cold drinks which I don’t understand because hot is the way to go on this fall-ish day. I am loving the weather today. I see what appears to be a woman, blonde, in her 40’s at a table with an older woman - maybe it’s her mom?

 

There is another woman in short shorts and has tattoos all over her legs and is telling the barista she “was just cat-called twice on the walk over.” This barista has the coolest burnt orange hat on (I want it).

There is a white gentleman sitting outside with cycling gear on, he’s looking at his laptop and eating a snack from home. A white woman wearing a Hillsboro Hops sweatshirt and blue hair just sat down with him but they aren’t talking much.

The greatest thing is happening right in front of me. A white man and a pregnant black woman are waiting for their coffee at the bar, and they just started slow dancing to Frank Sinatra playing over the speakers. I am choking up writing this because I am quickly realizing I may not have noticed this if I wasn’t writing these notes. With them, is a young girl and they did a three-way hug. They are bursting with joy and it’s filling up the coffee shop. I’ve been listening to OPB all day to keep up on the situation in Afghanistan and it’s been grim but this dancing just brightened my day. What a gift.

I can overhear the baristas apologizing over and over because they are short on so many supplies (no cinnamon, no coconut milk, etc.) 

A woman wearing a hijab and sunglasses just walked in pushing her baby in a stroller. She walked through and went into Barnes and Noble. I smiled at her because as a mom I always think, “I see you mama!”

A white gentleman just walked in and plopped himself down at a table with his laptop. He hasn’t ordered anything yet and I can’t see him very well because his mask is so big. My guess is someone is meeting him here for a meeting. Let’s see, shall we?

There are now two young girls (both white) sitting outside and giggling back and forth. It’s clear they are having fun together. One of them just now walked in and said, “Hey, I love your hat” to the barista. I couldn’t agree more.

Another white woman, maybe in her 60’s, just walked through and went into Barnes and Noble. Her mask had “Book Nerd” written all over it. The barista with the cool hat yelled out, “Hey Joan!” and they gave what I can only guess were smiles to each other (damn masks).

Looks like I was wrong about the meeting - the gentleman just finished his drink, tossed it in the trash and left.

I am now the only customer here. I don’t think I have ever seen it this quiet. Is it covid or just the time of day? 

The gentleman and the woman with the blue hair still haven’t interacted much. I see the woman has now started knitting something but I can’t tell what it is.

A white pregnant woman, maybe in her late 20’s, just walked in. Well, waddled in. I remember that so well, chafed thighs and all. She’s dressed really nice - long maxi dress, hair in a big bun on top of her head, pretty shoes on. I wonder where she’s going? I bet she misses caffeine.

A white, middle-aged man just walked in and is asking a bunch of questions about different dairy products, asking what certain drinks are, “What does “temporarily out of stock'' mean?” The barista with the hat is being so nice, they are going back and forth and making each other laugh. Now the gentleman is telling a young girl how to lock the bathroom door properly - “I found out how with my pants halfway down!” He is wearing black denim cutoff shorts and a rain jacket. This guy is a character.

Now it’s just me and the shorts guy sitting in here, both drinking our hot drinks, both on our laptops. The time is now 3:57pm and the woman wearing the hijab is leaving Barnes and Noble, her kid has a book in her hands. 

I just arrived to my local supermarket. I am sitting right by the Starbucks kiosk which is in the far corner of the store by the doors which overlooks the produce and Deli. I sit at a little square wooden table that is kind of sticky. There are a lot of noises. To the left of me at the Starbucks kiosk, there are three baristas. One of them is older with her blond hair in a ponytail and is pretty talkative,one has bright pink hair that is shaved close to her head with it in little pigtails. The other is a brunette with a ponytail. The older barista explains some directions to another about how to make a certain drink, I can hear that the certain recipe needs coconut milk.The sounds of fridges open and close. A younger man comes up with a huge bouquet of pink roses with white baby’s breath. The blond barista starts to joke with the young man about being in love. He continues to talk with the barista as he glances down at the front of the kiosk where there are various mugs and starbucks products for sale. The barista explains to him which products are for sale and which ones are new. At the side where the drinks are put for the customers once the baristas are done making their drinks, a couple is waiting. One of them is wearing a green wizard t-shirt and looking at his phone. Whilst the other one in a baseball cap just received a green apple drink and told the barista how much she liked it. The couple leave to go to the deli. They glance over the deli products and decide on something. The deli worker weighs the food in a little white plastic bag and puts a price on it. In back of me in the very corner of the seating area I hear a lady on her phone, and it’s on speaker. It sounds as if she is making an appointment. She explains the reasons why she can’t go, a Vegas trip, a best friend's birthday. She leaves and I see that she is wearing all black and gets her drink and goes.

In front of me on the deli side, a store worker puts new rotisserie chickens on a huge heater kiosk. She is checking each one for their temperature. She wears Her hair up in a bun with a little hairnet covering it. She wears a grey hoodie and a neck brace and occasionally looks towards the produce while the thermometer rests inside the chicken. She is kind of slumped over and quiet. Over in the produce a couple of feet in front of her, there is another store worker who is now taking notes whilst looking over the tomatoes. The shop worker with the grey hoodie makes her way behind the deli counter. A customer comes up to order from the deli and the grey hooded store worker grabs fried chicken with silver tongs without gloves and asks her if the amount was ok, and puts it in the little white plastic bag. She looks tired and quiet. Throughout this whole encounter, the baristas are laughing away, especially the blond one over various things. 

The bell at the entrance door beeps loudly. 

An older gentleman overlooks the pre-made sandwiches. A bald man dressed in a button up plaid shirt and jeans, and a hairnet walks out of the deli. The minute he leaves the deli, he quickly takes his hairnet off. He fixes products in straight lines as he zooms away, his keys jingling as he sprints. The older gentleman is still looking at the premade deli sandwiches. He inspects each one and puts them down. He looks very present and concentrating on each product inspecting it all around. He finds one, puts it gently in his cart but as he starts to leave, he turns and picks up another but puts it down soon after. At my right, the deli and produce start to slow down, but at my left the baristas are still talking and laughing. The blond barista talks about her life and her daughter. She speaks very loud and joyfully and uses her hands to express herself. Moments later she says her shift is over and she leaves the two baristas at the kiosk. I can hear her laughing from far into the store at various people. With the blond barista now gone, it is very quiet. At the deli, there is a couple who glance over the premade meals in a little open freezer. The man’s shirt has a pigeon on it with text that says “I am a lie”. The woman looks over the premade meals, then she strolls along with the cart while he follows along. He glances at his phone while she picks what apples she want. Then he switches and takes the cart himself whilst she walks beside him. The two baristas start to clean up all of the equipment and dishes they have used. You can hear the sink hit the tubs and containers as they switch certain equipment for another. An older lady asks for water. She wears a colorful long skirt with red and yellows. On her head she has a woven sun hat that has no covering for the top of her head. She takes her water and leaves. The front door alarm goes off. An announcement comes from the above speakers and a lady’s voice fills the room explaining about how the store has a beautiful selection of roses at the front. A woman with two little kids, searches for some veggies. Her cart is full of food and the little two kids hang off the edges of the cart while she pushes them. Another lady with two boys walks up to the chicken kiosk.The shorter boy pushes the cart, while the taller boy talks with the lady. She shows the taller boy something on her phone and he lifts his eyes up smiling behind his mask. To my left I hear the barista shake a bright orange drink In a clear container. The owner of the drink jokes with the barista and says “you almost spilt it!” in jest. 

This experience for me was pretty fun! I really enjoyed going to a place in which I have gone so many times before. But actually sit down and be present and observe people. At times it felt awkward, because I wondered if people saw me staring at them and typing fast. But in the end it was pretty interesting. I kept thinking, well, what I am observing doesn’t sound interesting and entertaining. But that is how life is. At this little moment of time in this supermarket, this is what I observed. There was no screaming (Except the blond barista), no fights, no weird encounters per say.. But it was full of people going about their day to day life. As I observed, I noticed how many assumptions I made about people, and tried to omit them out of my writing. I had assumptions such as “She IS tired”, and or “He IS lonely” and the like. What was interesting for me also was describing people. The blond barista for example.. I have seen her many times before, and is so bubbly and you can tell she loves talking with people. Even describing her at that moment I don’t think I could fully describe her perfectly. She lit up the whole area with her laughs and her various stories. It was really interesting to just sit back and watch what was happening in front of me. I would love to do this again sometime!

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

2:45-3:30

For my observation, I sat inside the Starbucks on the corner of Hwy 30 and Gable Rd. in St. Helens, Oregon. This establishment is usually quite busy, as it is about 35 minutes from Portland, and is on a direct highway from Portland to Astoria and the Oregon Coast.

In this Starbucks, there are 9 tables that seat two persons, 2 tables that seat four persons, and a bar that seats an additional 4 persons. There are 3 additional tables outside. It is usually at least at half capacity, especially during the summer months. Today when I entered the Starbucks, there were three people seated and one person standing in line placing an order. The 3 people seated were all sitting alone at tables that seat 2 persons.

The man finishing his order is an older caucasian man. He seems to have trouble understanding what the cashier was saying and he sighs a lot, but he doesn’t get upset. When he turned around and saw me, he stepped back and walked around me, making sure that there was a few feet between us. He continued to watch me until his order was ready, and then he went outside to sit at one of Starbucks’ outdoor tables. He was alone but seemed to be talking to himself. He was dressed in jeans, a button-down shirt and a cardigan. He wore a mask. He struck me as someone who was raised in a traditional home where people who looked different than him were to be avoided, which would explain his behavior around me. 

The gentleman sitting on the opposite side of Starbucks directly across from me is eating something. He is caucasian, bald, and built like a football player. He appears to be in his 30s (maybe early 40s). He was wearing a solid navy polo shirt and brown cargo shorts. He is watching videos on his laptop, but not using the keyboard at all. He never looked up - just stayed focused on his computer. He did not wear a mask. He only spoke briefly when he took a call on his cell phone. His voice was big and boisterous- just as I had imagined it would be. He didn’t show anger, but you could tell that he has a big personality and dominates whatever space he occupies. He left just as I was finishing up my observation. 

The woman to my right is a caucasian woman in her 40s. She is wearing capri length sweatpants, a t-shirt, and running shoes. She wore sunglasses the entire time she was here.  She has a shopping bag on the seat next to her, and she repeatedly looks in that bag with purpose, as if she is searching for something that she never found. She was quiet and did not wear a mask. She did not speak to anybody while I was there. She left before my observation was completed.

The woman to my left was drinking an iced beverage and scrolling through her phone. She appeared to be hispanic, but I cannot be sure. She carried a large tote bag with her. When she left, several of the employees said goodbye to her, and she called them by name as well. 

Two additional people walked in during my observation.

The first was an older caucasian woman, who was greeted by name. Through hearing the conversations between this older woman and the staff, I learned that the older woman was the district manager for this Starbucks. She placed a coffee order, proceeded to walk around the store, chatting with the employees, and then disappeared into the back room, where she remained for the duration of my observation. 

The second person to walk in was a younger (high school aged) white woman. She ordered her drink and stood quietly, waiting to get her order and leave. One employee asked her a question, and the younger woman walked up to the counter and carried on a conversation with that employee until her order was ready. 

The employees were a mix of male- and female-presenting. They all appeared young (under 25) and they were all white-presenting. Their interactions with all patrons were cordial and friendly. There was a lot of laughter. The music playing was a blend of 90s R&B and rap music, and oftentimes, the employees would sing along at times. 

12:15pm: a group of six, possibly a family (Indian), are playing tennis on one of the courts. They are taking turns and laughing. They are not taking the game too seriously and seem like they are just here to have fun and spend time together.  

On the other court there is a father and daughter (approximately 9 years old, Indian) practicing with a basket full of tennis balls. The father is throwing her a ball one at a time while she works on her swing. He gives her positive and constructive feedback. They are having fun and working hard. 

A middle aged woman, black, is throwing a ball for her two dogs

An older white woman walks on the path with her large Huskie dog, who seems old and is moving slow, off leash. The dog is stopping to smell the grass a lot and seems unfazed by other people around. The woman is patiently waiting for the dog and contently watching the people around her. 

There are about 10 children around 5-10 years old playing on the playground, some wearing masks. A girl just fell from a spinning part of the playground and her friend is comforting her. She kept playing after a couple minutes. 

12:30pm: There is a young white woman and a white boy, who looks about 10, that are setting up cones for a soccer drill. They’re excited to get started and happy that the weather is much cooler today. They are kicking the ball back and forth and the woman is giving the boy instructions on technique. 

12:40pm: 4 of the kids on the playground have been called to go home by a woman supervising at a picnic table

The woman throwing the ball for her dogs has seen a man that she knows and they hugged and were happy to run into each other

A dad (white) is pushing his two young boys on the swings as another kid that he doesn’t know is asking him about where he lives and what he does for a job. The dad said he works for a tech company and they live in the neighborhood. The kid told him about his dog and how many steps he has on his Fitbit for the day. 

12:50pm: The father and daughter playing tennis have left and there is now a woman sitting on the bench of the tennis court on her phone

A group of kids on the playground have a speaker and are playing Paul Simon music

An older man and woman (white) are walking together and dancing a little to the music 

A man (Indian) has run from the parking lot with his tennis stuff to meet the woman waiting on the tennis court. She did not seem upset that he was late but he apologized. 

There are several people walking or running by on the path. Some with headphones, some with dogs, some with kids on bikes. 

On the playground, kids talk to each other and play together regardless of if they know each other but there hasn’t been much interaction between different groups in the park if they don’t know each other. 

1:10pm I left the park 

I noticed that I sometimes felt like I was intruding by observing people. As if it was none of my business what they were doing but it was so interesting to see people interact without being a part of it. 

 

The second thing I saw while waiting in line to pick my number was a Latina woman between the ages of 20 and 25 who was in charge of the register. There were approximately eight vehicles in front of me, and the cashier was constantly running back and forth, but he appeared to love her job because she was constantly smiling. When I approached her she said. When I approached her, she said. Hello there! How are you doing today?  From what I replied, I am doing good thank you. Which number would you like? She asked me. I wasn't sure and I spent about a minute looking at the sign but she did not rush me. After selecting my number, I proceeded to the waiting room to wait for my car to be washed.

My third observation was on the group of employees assigned to do the deep cleaning. Six men and one woman were doing the deep cleaning when I arrived. One thing I noticed about them all was that they were all wearing short pants, which I assume was due to the hot weather (it was over 90 degrees Fahrenheit). Because they were working nonstop, some employees appeared fatigued and frustrated. When I approached one of them to ask if he could remove a sticky glue stain that my kid had left on one of the seats, he said he would try but couldn't promise anything because it had been in the seat for quite some time. I examined my seat after he finished cleaning it and found that the employee had not attempted to remove the adhesive, but I chose not to say anything. 

 

My last observation was with customers sitting in the waiting room while their vehicles were being detailed. The majority of the people in the group were women of different ages, with only one couple between the ages of thirty and thirty-five and a child of approximately five years. When I arrived, the couple was already there, and they stayed for another twenty minutes while I was there. The child was running and jumping around the waiting area, and one of the women sitting close to them seemed unhappy because the boy was running in front of her and the parents were silent. While waiting, I saw that the majority of the individuals were using their smartphones.

During my forty-minute of observation, I noticed that just the person at the register appeared to be enthusiastic, while the rest of the employees appeared to be unhappy. Except for the child running in front of the woman, I didn't notice much action because everyone was just sitting there waiting for their cars.

 

2 kids scootering on school grounds

 

2 adults on school field, both White, each with a dog

Dogs play and interact, people don’t

1 adult is on his phone, other is watching dogs

More dogs and owners arrive, dogs playing and barking

2 adults passing a volleyball and enjoying the beautiful evening

 

I walked up to Wellington Park which is adjacent to the school field:

12 boys on a soccer team practicing on field, age 14ish, All Latinx or Black

1 Latinx male adult coaching in English and Spanish

Lots of cones on field, doing drills, kids look happy and are working hard

Kids are organized, keeping the drills running while the coach works with individual players

They took a water break while I was watching

Many parents sitting in chairs by their cars waiting for the players practicing

 

Lots of walkers in the park:

Mostly White and Latinx

Some alone, some with groups, some with family

Some with dogs, some with kids

Several parents with strollers

White couple walking with toddler on his shoulders, stroller empty

Adults greet and chat with one another as move though the playground

 

Park playground:

5 adults, various ages:

1 adult observing

2 playing with their kid

1 pushing kid on swing

 

White Mom arrives with a small baby and places him in the baby swing, swings him gently

Greets a Latinx Mom near the playground in Spanish, they exchange greetings by name

 

4 teens sitting under a tree, off to the side, talking, looking at phones. They are far away so hard to see any more details

 

Mom and little one on merry-go-round, turning slowly, speaking Spanish, eating watermelon

Mom on phone in camp chair, watching the playground, speaking in Spanish

 

Portland, Oregon

Tuesday, August 17^th

5:30 – 6:15 pm

 

I have chosen to observe Tanner Spring Park in the Pearl District. It is a cool Tuesday late in the afternoon. It is the time of day when neighbors are returning home, dogs are being walked, and the preparation of the evening’s meal begins.  The park itself feels fluid and in a state of its natural self. So here is the observed stream of consciousness for Tanner Spring Park, Tuesday, August 17^th.

 

People are walking

Three men, one man is on the phone, the second man carries two bags of groceries, the third, walks with purpose southbound on 11^th street.

 

Commuters on bikes wiz past in the bike lane.

Folks trying to find an open parking space.

People wait for the streetcar to take them to other parts of the city.

 

There is a young girl and a photographer, capturing her image for what I perceive to be senior photos.

 

The sound of a plane overhead flies over us all.

Some dumps rubbish into the industrial size rubbish bin of the Metropolitan.

 

Neighbors come to sit on the park benches and smoke and scroll through their phones, 

while lotus flowers bloom within the spring.

 

The birds chirp and flutter between the trees

the crows caw.

The park itself is a wild rumpus of native plants trying to survive the summer’s heat.

The palate is greens, tans, and a splash of orange flowers.

 

Someone rents a Nike bike as a means of transportation.

The restaurants which line the streets serve diners alfresco.

The North-South streetcar traverses along its line.

 

There is a U-Haul parked in front of the Pilates studio with a large graphic of Montana and an indigenous person.

A woman adjusts her pants and outfit presuming that no one sees her doing this. 

Scenes from balconies of unused outdoor tables and chairs.

The smell of cooking oil hits my nose.

 

Seniors going on their evening stroll.

A baby asleep is being wheeled around the neighborhood by two men.

The clickity-clack of two teenagers skateboarding down the concrete sidewalks.

The streetcar blows its horn to move traffic out of its way.

Someone slides down the rail of the staircase. He is wearing a yellow shirt, turquoise shorts, a black hat faced backwards, and an unyielding beard – a girl takes a photograph of him.

 

Someone blares Jay-Z from their SUV.

The UPS driver finds an easy place to park is large brown van.

Most folks aren’t wearing masks.

It takes 56 minutes of me sitting in a park to smell someone smoking weed.

 

There is a lite cool breeze which drifts through.

A mother and her two little girls walk past me hand-in-hand in their bright floral dresses. 

The family dog who is leashed, reminds me of the famous TV dog Benji.

 

There is a an affluency here, coiffed and on trend residents’ parade about.

A homeless man checks the recycle bin for bottles.

One pair of older white women (mid-60s?), comfortable sitting in front of the food cart that they ordered from (Casablanca).  When I arrived, it looked as if they had ordered fairly recently, and didn't look too bothered about the fact that they were waiting in the 'park' without their food; I watched them on and off for a while, and although there was about a 10-15 minute period that they were sitting at their table waiting for their food, they did not show many outward signs that they were impatient for their food.  Once receiving their food and while eating, they spoke with the vendor as he cooked his next meals; I wasn't sitting close enough to hear what the details of their verbal engagement was.  If I were to interpret their situation, I would guess that they were in a situation which allowed them to relax and enjoy each other's company while trusting the vendor in a way that allowed for respect as well as a laid-back interaction -- they probably weren't too worried about the greater situation around them being unstable, and they also seemed very comfortable with each other.

One white man, ordered food alone from Casablanca; mask below his nose, waited for food alone near cart and wrote in a notebook while eating food.  Once he was about done, he picked up his notebook and food and left.

White middle aged man alone waiting for food from Jin-Bak, observing the crowd while mostly looking on his phone.  I noticed him glancing at me multiple times, and I will admit that I was probably a little conspicuous writing notes in my journal while I looked around at the people in the courtyard.  I never actually saw him leave, but at some point I looked up from taking notes about another group and saw him grabbing one order of food.  I didn't get the impression that he was waiting for anyone, and I got the impressions that he  was ordering food for himself and not bringing home multiple orders for others.  Perhaps he lives/works alone?  

Group of 4-5 young people with long hair and PNW  grunge clothes, laughing/talking loudly (post-meal or…), one playing speakers on bicycle, hip hop music while talking about where to meet up next.  They lingered in the courtyard for some time before leaving, and I noticed many other groups looking their way anxiously as the music seemed to be annoying them.  This group, which I honestly did not get a great look at because of where I decided to post up for my observation, appeared to be friends from work/school in their 20s, and almost seemed to take pride in the attention that was silently being sent their way; I can't say for certain, but it was almost as if they fed on the 'uncomfortable' energy sent to them by older patrons of the park and redirected it into something feeding their evening.  I didn't hear where they eventually decided on going, but they eventually dispersed until there were only two of them left; they both had long brown hair, and seemed to have a romantic connection.  Eventually they rode off on a pair of bicycles together. 

One older white male/female couple approached the Casablanca vendor while someone else was ordering; they were nicely dressed, and reminded me of the people I tend to see down near the yacht club near where I live.  They asked what the vendors' hours were multiple times, and despite the vendor having hours posted on the side of the cart and answering their questions directly, they then wanted to make sure they had ‘Jee-ros’ (gyros), just in case because they were 'leaving for about half and hour but would be back.'  I got the impression that this couple was used to people waiting for them and expectantly awaiting their return.

Pair of older white men, eaten food and multiple pints on the table, laughing and comfortably conversing - couple or old friends? 

Group of 4 people (family)? eating food with water bottles - culturally diverse, but eating the same food.  Couldn't get a good look at what it is that they had ordered, but they sat and ate for quite some time before finally dispersing and leaving the park.

New Seasons at Hawthorne

I arrived and a white woman, who seemed to be very busy, was talking on the phone. She was wearing a mask and came inside to the supermarket. She holds her phone with her shoulder in order to pick up a grocery basket. She doesn't sanitize her hands or the basket. Maybe I am still concerned with that because of the pandemic.

Also I saw two white women picking figs very carefully, they spent like one minute in that and then they didn't pick any.

Then when I was at the  vegetables section an employee (she wore a mask) came asking for permission with a cart full of boxes. She started unpacking fruit and seemed calm. Then suddenly  she came back to the storage a few seconds later she came back with surgery gloves.

I noticed a woman wearing blue, she was reading carefully the Grains label and she seemed to be making a decision. 

Then the same 2 women who were picking figs at the  dairy section appear chatting  one behind the other.

 The lady in blue with a full grocery basket (almost falling) has a list in her hands and she starts to pick yogurt in the dairy section. She seems to be in a rush.

A salesman, wearing a mask on,  was behind restocking and disassembling boxes, she seemed very Quiet.

A couple was choosing zaffron, the man carries the purchase and the woman on the phone  

 

A Tattooed worker was in the cheese section placing prices.

In the cashier I was served by and afro american cashier, very gentle, he had an accent I caouldn identifies. 

 

08/24/21

2:30-3:30 pm

2:30 pm: This week I am observing again at the same coffee shop as last week. I am looking specifically at how people in the room move based on how the furniture, signs, and counter are set up. I am considering this in my observation because I am reflecting on how people interact with spaces in their communities and why they might move in certain ways within a space. I am also observing how people interact with each other based on if they come into the coffee shop alone or with a group. I noticed in my first observation in this coffee shop that people sitting alone or who entered the coffee shop alone only interacted with the employees when they placed orders or approached the counter, while people in groups only interacted with employees or others within their group.

I notice first that there is a clear walkway from the front door to the counter where people order. When people enter the front door, to the left there are long tables that line the windows. To the right, there are smaller individual tables that seat 2-4 people, and there is also a small couch with a table in front of it. The window-lining tables and the tables to the right of the entrance are arranged in straight lines that create a clear, straight path from the doorway to the ordering station. At the start of this observation there are 4 employees behind the counter and 3 customers sitting at tables individually. The signs about mask requirements for customers not actively eating or drinking are still in place near the front door, at the counter, and near tables. The same sanitized/unsanitized table signs are still in place on each table as well. 

2:43 pm: One new customer walks through the door wearing a mask. The customer is a white woman who walks in a straight line directly toward the counter, following the path set by the arrangement of the furniture. After placing an order, the woman continues to walk in a straight line parallel to the counter to move to the end of it. The employee did not prompt this customer to move to the end of the counter like some do in coffee shops, however, the end of the counter has more open space and there is a napkin dispenser, cream, and sugar on that part of the counter. I think there is a norm in most coffee shops that after placing an order, people should move toward the end of the counter to receive it. I think the napkin dispenser and things people normally add to coffee being placed at the end of the counter in this particular coffee shop give hints that people should move to that part of the room to receive their orders even if they are not told to do so by employees. 

2:50 pm: I notice that tables near the back of the coffee shop are occupied more than those close to the front door. I think this is probably because the coffee shop is not full and the people inside right now are sitting alone and may want to be in a quiet space away from other people. The woman who just placed an order picked up her coffee and searched for a table. She is sitting in an individual stool at a long table along the windows. 

2:55 pm: Two women together just entered, followed by one man about a minute later. All three followed the same walkway path to the counter. The group of two women split up after entering, though. One woman went to the counter to order, while the second woman in the group walked from the counter to search for a table for the two of them. She chose the last empty booth near the back of the coffee shop along a wall. I notice while watching the woman who chose the table for the group of two that she is on her phone while she waits for the other woman she walked in with. The woman who ordered for the two of them is waiting for their order and is also on her phone while she waits. The third person, who entered alone, just finished ordering and pulled a phone out of his pocket. The man picks up his order and does not find a table, but takes the order to go. He did not exit through the front door where he entered. There is another door that leads to the side of the building near the part of the counter where people retrieve their orders. Even though this door is not labeled as either an entry or an exit, I have not seen people enter through this door. The three people who were sitting alone when I started the observation have left. I saw two of the people leave through the door near the end of the counter and one person exited through the door that most people seem to enter. 

3:05 pm: I notice today that the coffee shop is a lot quieter than it was last week. Today there is not a rush of people coming in suddenly like I observed last week. I am here an hour later than when I observed last week, so I think this indicates that 2:30 pm is around the time this coffee shop starts to quiet down. Last week my observation ended at 2:30 and I also noticed a lull in new customers coming in. At this point the group of two women I described above are still sitting in the booth they chose and there is only one woman sitting alone. 

3:10: Two employees are walking around checking if tables need to be sanitized. The employees are wiping down only some tables and they flip the sanitized/unsanitized signs over after cleaning tables. Even though most tables are empty at this point, I think it is interesting that they seem to trust that customers flip the little signs appropriately after using a table. I notice that the long bench-like tables with individual stools do not have the sanitized/unsanitized signs for each individual seat. It looks like there is only one sign for the long bench tables, even though they have many seats. 

3:25 pm: An employee just passed my table and walked to a corner of the coffee shop I hadn’t really noticed much until now. She is rolling a cart with used dishes behind the counter. The area for the cart is not near the main entrance and is tucked away. There are no signs about customers bussing tables and I have not overheard employees asking customers to do so. I notice the coffee cups are all disposable/recyclable paper or plastic, while the pasties seem to be served on plates with silverware. I do not see anybody in the coffee shop right now with glass dishes on their tables. I wonder if people know to bus their own table because they go to the counter to place orders and that is a norm in many coffee shops? Would people know to return their own dishes if they were served at their tables? 

3:30 pm: As I wrap up this observation, there are still four employees who are all behind the counter organizing things while talking quietly to each other. The group of two women are still at their booth in the back and the woman sitting alone is still in her seat. 

I'm at the same location I was before, A food pod of sorts on NE 69th and Glisan. It's warmer out than it was last time. Since it's earlier, the sun is hitting down harder. Also, it is a weekday; last time it was a weekend evening. The difference in time of week and time of day is quite evident. I'll explain how.

Firstly, there are far less people. Ahead of me, directly in front of the Mexican restaurant, sits an Asian man, well dressed, enjoying a light beer. He's wearing a hat made out of straw, sunglasses, a thin purple scarf, a blue dress shirt nearly unbuttoned, shorts, and loafers. He's playing on his phone right now. 

Behind me, there is a trio of women, all white, conversing and joking with each other. Empty beer glasses sit in front of them. One of the women is telling a story and giggling all the while. Since I turned around to get a decent look at them, she lowered her voice. I wonder now if I intruded too much into their conversation and they quieted because they wanted more privacy, or because her voice was relatively loud and she became self conscious when I turned, perhaps believing she was being annoying to the other patrons.

Regardless, I can hear them talking about shows on HBO. 

One of the ladies just stood and took all their empty glasses and returned them to the bar. They appear to be leaving now, saying goodbye to each other. Two of the women leave and another steps inside, perhaps to order more food or go to the bathroom.

Beside me, three people are playing cards and drinking beer. Two men, one woman, all white. I don't want to stare too much, but I'm curious about the game they're playing. One man shuffles cards. In the middle of a table sits a small, rectangular wooden board. An oval-ish series of circles is on the board, along with little colored sticks inserted into small holes dorting the circles.

A man, white, just walked up to the fashionable dressed asian man and they hugged each other. He's going to get a beer. 

Two people, both Latino, just walked out of the Mexican restaurant, said out loud, "adios!", and left the premises.

Inside the bar, an elderly black man sits and plays on his phone. A beer, halfway empty, sits in front of him. There appear to be two staff at the bar: a man wearing a hat and a wan with pink hair. Both are white. They seem to be taking a small break. 

A man and a little boy just came aboard the premises. Both are wearing masks. They're browsing the food selections. 

Not a whole lot going on right now. Everyone is just hanging out, enjoying the company of the people they're chilling with. There's not a whole lot of movement from the staff of the restaurants and bar. I'm sure they're taking the opportunity to rest in the back. 

A black man in a white suit and sunglasses just walked up to the pod. He went directly to the African restaurant. 

It's a bit windy; the canopies shake and strain a little, squeaking as the wind hits us every so often. Cars drive past us on Glisan. It's not heavy traffic, but it's active.

A white woman just walked up to the bar and ordered a drink. 

The father and son duo I see now are ordering food from the African restaurant. They bring their beeper to the table on front of me, remove their masks, and start conversing. 

I see two women, both latinas, open soda cans behind the register of the Mexican restaurant. They giggle.

Wellington Park

August 23, 7:00 – 7:45 pm

 

I walked on the path between the school field and the park field and there were very few people. It was very quiet compared to the previous week when the park was bustling with activity. There were 2 adults on the school field with their dogs off leash. The adults did not appear to be there together, but were chatting while their dogs played. 

 

I walked up toward wellington park field and there was a young Black teenager sitting in the park, just hanging out. He was there for about 10 minutes alone. Eventually, he got up and walked away. 

 

Several families were walking in the park, many had dogs, some had strollers. One African family in beautiful traditional dress and head coverings walked through the park talking and laughing with each other. I could not hear what language they were speaking. 

 

Another young Black kid rode through the paths in park on his bike. He made a few laps and then rode away. I wondered if he was looking for the kid who was sitting alone, but had already left by the time the one with the bike arrived. 

 

There was one Latino family on the park play structure, Mom, Dad and two small children. The kids were running, climbing and squealing with delight. The parents were hiding and then revealing themselves and everyone was laughing and smiling. 

 

A group of boys arrived and began playing basketball on the school covered playground area. A few were riding bikes around the playground. They were interacting, but far away so hard to know the nature of their banter and play. 

 

Lots of dogs arrived and were off leash on the park field while the owners stood in a circle and talked. It looked like they see each other at this park often and enjoy catching up and sharing about their days. 

 

There were no organized sports teams practicing this time so all of the fields were open and there was more space for off leash dogs, even though it is prohibited for dogs to be off leash in this park. 

 

Many others passed through the park on their evening walks, many with dogs. 

 

 

(Note): X = Not Open, O = Open

The Dive Bar [Alcohol]: O
Uncle Tsang's Vegetarian Kitchen [Chinese-style Vegetarian]: X
Sauc'd [Italian-style noodle dishes]: O
Jin-Dak [Primarily Korean Fried Chicken]: O
Taste of Casablanca [Meditteranean-style food]: O
Nam Pa [Primarily Hmong-style food]: O
The Butter Brush [Burgers]: X
Taco Cart: X 

I was alone and sitting at picnic table near one of the ends when a white middle-aged woman approached me and asked if I would mind sharing the table; I didn't, so a family of three and I sat at opposite ends of a long table (which could probably seat at least 8 people comfortably): a young high school girl and her parents. I overheard them talking about some sort of summer camp or trip the daughter took, and the mother seemed to be driving the conversation by either asking questions or making statements.  They didn’t have anything to eat or drink until their order from the Korean place came, the father ordered Casablanca.  After asking me if I was comfortable with sharing the table, we didn't have any other interactions.

At some point, a woman around my age sat down on the picnic table in between the family and me.  She seemed to be alone (at least, not expecting any company) and made eye contact with me when she sat down but didn't actually say anything verbally to ask if either group sitting at the table cared (not that I would; just making the observation).  Inferring from this, I guessed that she was either waiting for a friend or just planning on having a beer and leaving -- which eventually, she did.  I might have tried to strike up a conversation if I wasn't so busy writing notes, but regardless the groups involved seemed content to use nonverbal communication to show that they were okay with the situation; with the coronavirus situation and the tension surrounding masks and community areas, it seems that there is an unspoken distrust or tension in these situations.  However, nothing was said and there was no altercation of any sort; but the background of such interactions happening around the country seems to mean that such a backdrop is unfortunately present in everyone's minds in public settings.

Another family (?), a younger white man in a tank top and his parents(?) who had a large German shepherd dog - the dog was pretty well-behaved but had some moments of stern discipline, which involved loud scoldings by the owner - there were at least 2-3 other dogs around, and it felt that the other dog owners were wary of this dog, as it certainly seemed capable of harm if put in a bad situation.  They ate Casablanca, and seemed to have a spirited conversation, although interrupted from time to time when the dog did something that compelled the owner to do something.

A white man and his two young daughters (young elementary)? ordered from the Korean cart next to me -- one of the young girls stood right next to me and looked at me for a moment, until I eventually said "hello."  She replied "hello" and went on with her father, who seemed content to let them follow him but explore around the area relatively freely.  One of them was wearing a tiara and ballet type dress.  They were sitting at a table with another family with children and they were all playing together.  The parents looked like they were in their late 30s or young 40s, and rather hip; wearing sunglasses and earrings, and laughing loudly as they shared beers/cider with the other set of parents (their friends?).  They occupied the corner space and looked like they were regulars and/or comfortable in the local neighborhood. 

White couple who were drinking beer / cider with bike helmets - eating Casablanca plates in to-go containers when their food arrived.

A pair of white high school boys wearing yacht shoes, khaki shorts, and matching blue polo shorts - similar clothes, haircuts, complexion, and height.  After ordering, they joined their larger group 6 young men with sports bags.  I didn't hear them talking much, but I heard them talking about movies briefly.  Most of them did not order food or drinks, but the two that I originally saw did eventually get food and eat it while the rest of them talked enthusiastically.  Most likely a group of friends from school and/or a sports team?

Young Latino man with a goatee and backwards hat, drinking a beer alone and looking at his phone.  Did not order food, but seemed to be enjoying his time sipping his drink and looking on his smartphone.

Younger couple (early 20s)? in the corner, on a date (?) eating tacos.  Dressed in summer casual clothes, and laughing/eating as they talked.  They seemed to be content enjoying their time together.

Asian man who received a paper bag appearing to have multiple orders in it, as well as a fountain drink; he sat and enjoyed his portion(?) of the food and had his drink before leaving.

Compared to last time, with it being a lot busier, I noticed that the conversations between patrons and their respective vendors were shorter, and there were not any conversations between them outside of the ordering process.  The last time, there were some interactions between the Casablanca chef and people sitting enjoying his food; but probably due to the busy nature of this time, the conversations were kept professional and brief.  Hence, groups tended to stick to having conversations with only the group that they came with more than when it was less busy.

The last time I was here, it was grey outside but today the sun is shining and the sky is blue. Every table outside is taken and the line inside for coffee is long. In front of me in line was a white woman and three children, an older white woman who was alone, and a couple of teen girls (I didn’t see their faces well). 

Kids are so funny inside Starbucks, it might as well be a candy shop. They were grabbing juices, string cheese, fruit pouches, chips, all pleading with their mom to buy it all. Putting their greasy hands all over the cold case, peering inside as if it’s filled with the world’s best goodies. I remember feeling that way when I started coming to Starbucks (I was maybe 12 or so). 

I was hoping to see the tattooed gentleman with the cool hat but apparently he is off today. There are three women working behind the counter - two white women and one Asian woman. They all seem to be in good spirits and chatting.

Outside, at a table off to my right, are two teenage girls (both white) who are both on their phones, going back and forth showing each other their screens. They are giggling, both with some large blended, bright-colored drink. It reminded me of my time spent here as a teenager with my best friends.

At another table sits a woman (white) by herself, drinking a tall hot beverage. She isn’t looking at a phone, or reading, or talking to anyone, she is just staring off to the busy street, watching people and cars go by. She seems content.

Nearby, a white woman and a white man are getting up to leave. The gentleman tosses both of their drinks into the trash can and they are walking towards their car. They are both smiling a lot and seem happy, like they are going somewhere fun. 

Back inside, the line has stayed consistent with 2-4 people at all times. I have noticed that the majority here are teenagers. I can only assume that with their summer coming to a close, they are getting in as much fun as they can before school starts in a few weeks. Teenage girls always stand so close to one another, as though personal space isn’t an issue when you’re with your friends. 

A young woman (black) who looks to be an employee of Barnes & Noble just walked in to grab something while she is maybe on her break/lunch? Her eyes have barely come up as she is very into whatever she is doing on her phone. I have noticed that a lot today - almost everyone has their phone in their hand and they are either actively looking at it or checking it periodically. It really bothers me.

There is an older white woman outside who I have seen around town many times. She always wears a long blue jacket and oftentimes, she is sitting on the off-ramp, asking for money. She always has her black cart and she always looks so sad. She is keeping to herself but part of me wants to offer to buy her food or a cup of coffee. I hope she comes a little closer.

I see a gentleman (Asian) with his daughter and they are looking at the mugs and the coffee on the shelves. He is pointing at all of the pretty glassware and she is soaking up every word. She is pointing to things and I’m sure he is explaining what it all is to her. Kids are so dang curious. I always love watching dads with their daughters, it gets me every time.

The time has flown by and I have spent so much time taking everything in, I somehow feel like I missed so much. The time is now 3:17pm, I am going to get a refill and head home.

Starbucks

St. Helens, OR

8/27/2021

12:55pm

[This post is late due to illness]

As I enter the Starbucks, there are 5 customers seated at 4 different tables: a man in his 40s, sitting alone, a woman in her 30s-40s sitting alone, a man in his 50s-60s sitting alone, and two young women (late teens - early 20s) sitting together. Shortly after placing my order, the two younger women got up and went behind the counter- there were employees who were on their break. Only the two employees in the lobby and the other employees are wearing masks. NONE of the patrons are wearing masks, even though there is ample signage stating the requirement. 

The three remaining patrons have both a cell phone and a laptop on their tables, the older man’s laptop is closed and not in use. The woman also has a notebook and pens on her table. 

The man in his 40s is sitting with his back to the wall in one corner of the space. He is dressed in a business casual manner: polo shirt, casual slacks and dress shoes. He is on his laptop, scrolling through photos of some sort. He is paying no attention to any other patrons or employees. His eyes remain fixed to his laptop, turning away only to drink his beverage. He presents as a working-class type, perhaps a retail sales manager or some other type of salesperson. 

The older man is scrolling on his cell phone. He is dressed a bit more professionally than the younger man: a button-down shirt, slacks and dress shoes. He is drinking a hot beverage, and he looks around often while here. He leaves about 15 minutes after I arrive. As he is leaving, he puts on his mask and continues to wear it, even in his car. He is driving a Lexus. Everything about him screams entitlement. 

The woman spends her time on her laptop and taking notes. She is also sitting in one of the corner tables with her back to the wall. She is dressed casually. She has a beverage on her table, but during my observation, I never saw her drink it. She reminded me of a college student, or perhaps a teacher getting ready for the new school year.  

A woman and two small children enter the store. They place their order and immediately use the restroom. All are wearing masks. The woman, roughly 30,  is dressed casually in a tank top and sweatpants. Both of her children (male presenting, between 5-8 years old) are wearing tank tops and shorts. As soon as their order is ready, they leave. 

A large group of people dressed in athletic apparel enter the store. They are dressed for the gym: bicycle shorts/yoga pants, tank tops and t-shirts, baseball caps, sunglasses, and running shoes. There are three women and two men. The women represent a range of ages: 30s-70s. Both men are older (60+). They order cold drinks and take turns using the restroom. They speak loudly to one another with no regard to anybody else in the store. As soon as they all have their drinks, they go outside and sit at the outdoor tables, each one facing the parking lot- none of them face each other. It reminded me of a king and queen on the throne looking over their land and subjects. Like the older man, they arrived in a Lexus utility vehicle. They had no idea where to order and where to wait for their drinks, even though they ordered quickly and without staring at the menu beforehand. They had clearly been to a Starbucks before, but not this particular one. This explains their behavior outside. They clearly thought very little of my community and felt superior to all and everything in it. They were still outside with their drinks when I left. 

The employees are busy with the drive-thru window. There isn’t as much laughing today as with my first observation, but I attribute that to the busy drive-thru traffic. There isn’t one employee who appears to be in charge, barking orders. The team is helping each other whenever help is asked for. 

Joanne Fabrics, Clackamas 4:15pm 

When I pulled into the parking lot I saw a young Latina woman step out of her car with her young daughter. The two walked into the store together. The daughter was then asking her mother if they could buy some beautiful fabrics and the mother said “maybe, we’ll see”. Later, I saw the two again. The mother appeared in a rush and was trying to get her daughter to follow her. She said “later later” as they walked briskly through the store. 

I saw two teenage girls looking together at sewing patterns. They were discussing options to add sleeves to certain patterns. Both of the girls appeared to be white and in their teens. One had dark hair and the other light.

I overheard two employees discussing the request of a customer.  They talked about options for service and communication. They determined that the item wasn’t present in the store and offered alternatives.
 
I saw a middle aged woman walking through the store with a cane. She was slightly overweight. I also saw other older white woman looking at books and fabrics. One of the woman commented to her friend, another older white woman, “this fabric is cute” and they continued to discuss the pattern. The friend was actually her Mom, as I found out a few moments later. The Mother then sat down in a chair while the daughter shopped for thread.

I saw another young woman who appeared to be Latina shopping quickly in the store. I took a look at the sewing patterns and almost all of them pictured white women in their covers. There was one pattern picturing a black male and another picturing an Indian father and child. 

When I checked out, I saw the Latina mother and little girl again. The mother sounded like she was speaking Spanish to her daughter but the daughter responded in English. The daughter was asking for candy and the mother was denying her request, holding some brightly colored fabrics that appeared African or Indigenous in style.

Today I spent an hour in the Milwaukee Marketplace. This is a shopping center near my home in Portland. I was there in the late afternoon. The majority of the people I observed were white and there were a few people of color. I mainly spent my time in Joann Fabrics, a craft store I frequent.  I saw three black people in the Joann Fabrics. One of them was a black man and to me it was somewhat surprising to see a man in the fabric store, however, I recognize that this is a stereotype and bias on my part. The man was helping his teenage daughter purchase beads and fabric. They were asking the employee about the prices and sales on certain items. I believe the man was an immigrant based on a slight accent and his daughter was born here since she had no accent. 

I heard an employee talking with a white customer about money and the state of the world. “There’s not much you can do with $100 bucks these days” he said. “That’s for sure” the employee responded.  People seemed friendly and helpful in the store. 

Later, I overheard some employees complaining about their boss or manager. They vented about certain challenges and organizational difficulties. It was funny that they were having such a personal dialogue in earshot of customers in the store. 

Finally, I had an excellent checkout experience in which the store clerk let me use her personal discount account and gave me individualized advice. I love going to the craft store and I do consider it to be a community. People enjoy sharing and helping one another in the craft community. It is a place where humans have been working together for thousands of years. 

Next to them is a family, who is now getting stares very similar to the ones I was getting, as they now have the screaming infant. The family looks to be of Asian descent, a mother, father, one small boy that appears to be four or five years old, and their crying infant. The father was entertaining the young boy playing in the sand with small shovels and children’s toys. Meanwhile the mother was pacing back and forth with the small infant in a blue and white carrier. Everyone could see the frustrated and exhausted face she wore. At one point, the mom sat down in the beach chair, seemed to begin to tug on her shirt, acting as if she was going to breastfeed. This caused the father to turn around, say something to the mother, and then he sat up to grab a bottle from the bag behind them. This seemed to cause a little tension between them, but they were not speaking English. The mom then got the infant out of the carrier, placed him on her lap and began feeding him with said bottle. The father then went back to playing with his older son in the sand. 

While there were a lot of people also walking back and forth on the beach, most of them couples, or small groups of friends. The majority of them white females chatting along as they pass by. The biggest thing that I noticed was a elderly white couple that was slowly and calmly walking along the beach. The weather was a warm 75 degrees and even with the clouds, everyone was wearing either swimsuits or summer attire. This couple on the other hand was wearing long sleeve and jeans as they walked by. They were holding hands and seem to really be enjoying their time, they were also wearing their masks, I’d imagine protecting their health. What was really nice to see, is all the people that were walking along the beach seemed to respect the elderly couple and made a point to stay 6 feet or even further away from them. It was a very nice sight, seeing other clearly care about the health of the woman and man, also respecting their actions. While others were not wearing masks, the fact that they had them on was a signal enough for others to understand their wishes. 

Once again, the biggest thing I saw was a lot of happiness and relaxation. If it wasn’t for the elderly couple wearing their masks, it reminded me of a time before the pandemic. Peaceful. 

Portland, Oregon

Tuesday, August 24^th

5:30 – 6:15 pm

 

 

Observation #2

 

I am sitting in the same park bench as I was last time, which is the southside of Tanner Springs Park and I am faced North.

 

The weather is nice and there are folks in and around the park.

 

There are three individuals, all with neon colored clothing that hits the light just right and makes their clothing look electric. One gal who is wearing bright pink/orange shorts and a white top, is glowing in the sun from the reflection of her clothing. The other colors are bright green and pink – I am having a flashback to 80’s clothing.

 

An older gentleman walks two beautiful Burmese Mountain dogs. These dogs have a look of not impressed. Hopefully, they have a large condo to live in, here in the Pearl. That is a whole lot of dog for a smaller space.

 

Across the park from where I sit, there are two women who are sitting together on the concrete/grass steps chatting. They’re wearing athletic-leisure ware. There is an ease to both, and I presume they have known each other for quite some time. Their body language is relaxed and there are a few laughs/giggles between them.

 

There is a man smoking and staring into his phone two park benches to my right. He looks haggard and from this distance, I would say he’s the color or grey. 

 

A group of teenage boy’s skateboard across the wooden walkway. The sound of the wheels along the wood reverberates off all the glass and hard surfaces. It sounds like 20 skateboarders, when it’s only 3.

 

There are a set of parents and a child watching and looking into the little spring within the park. The spring has lotus leaves and blooming lotus flowers. Sometimes there are coy in there, but I haven’t check recently. The little girl seems quite interested in what is going on under the water.  She is curious, and the parents watch her dutifully, so she doesn’t tip headfirst into the water.

 

There are people eating outside at the Spanish restaurant across the street. Most of the tables are in use with parties of 4 individuals. Most of the dinners are older and resplendent in loose linen and cotton summer fashions.

 

At the café, to my left there are more couples sitting out having a class of wine. Most are faced towards the park, but several are faced towards their table companion. 

 

A man in full racing bike regalia and bike walk through the park with the bike to his side. This seems a little weird to see, but none the less, I am seeing it. He sits down on one of the park benches inside of the park itself.

 

On the opposite side of the park, I see family members with baby strollers and dogs being walked, it must be the baby strolling and baby walking witching hour.

 

There are multiple bike commuters who swish by me as I observe this park in this moment.

 

The resident homeless man, who folks generally call Jesus has entered the sidewalk to the park on my left. He’s called Jesus because all he wears is blankets around his body and generally has bare feet. I’ve never taken the opportunity to say hello or talk to him. I’ve mostly just smiled at him and went about my way.

 

The street cars continue to roll by clicking and clacki