Bars, Restaurants, & Taverns

CAFE LENA

An oral history and reunion of regulars and hosts from the Cafe Lena poetry reading series in Portland, Oregon. Cafe Lena Founders Leanne Grabel and Steve Sander present brief histories of their long-running and legendary open mic. Since its inception in 1991 and during its 10 year run, this weekly event attracted upwards of 30 readers and has been a touchstone for Portland’s literary community. Cafe Lena alumni have produced, published, performed and won awards for their poems. Many remember it as a community gathering place where they were sure that they would see friends and find inspiration. (source)

2239 SE Hawthorne Blvd
238-7087
Years:  1991  gay friendly from 1997 – 2001

For a decade beginning in 1991, this humble Hawthorne District diner was known for dependable hash and eggs, but even more for its nightly literary scene, where it was home to regular open-mike nights and poetry slams. Leanne Grabel and her husband, poet Steve Sander, made it clear that food was a secondary focus of the business. This was a place for expanding your mind, not your waistline. Richie Goldenstein, complete with bongo drums, is seen entertaining the crowd here in 1993. It's now Jam on Hawthorne. (Source)

MORE HISTORY COMING SOON

Joel Davis, The Oregonian/OregonLive, Cafe Lena

citations & references:

  • First listed in Damron Address Book 1997 under Restaurants/Cafes (*)

  • Listed in Fodor’s Gay Guide to the Pacific Northwest 1997 Under: coffeehouse culture

  • Listed in Damron Address Book 1998 under Cafes

  • Listed in Damron Address Book 1999 under Cafes listed in Fodor’s Gay Guide to the USA 1996 Under: coffeehouse culture “Brash and beatnik, Café Lena has newspaper clippings and photos of Billie Holiday, Lenny Bruce, and other performers on the walls, disco music blaring when there aren’t poetry reading staged, and great sandwiches”

  • Listed in Damron’s Men’s Travel Guide 2000 Under: Cafes