Feature

Goody's Creation a Hidden Tribute to the Classics

Brian Bennett serenades Rimsky-Korsakoffee's main dining room with his violin late one January night. Guitarists, pianists and other classical musicians perform
live at Rimsky's every evening. --Benjamin Tertin, photo

Rimsky-Korsakoffee House has been creating a "casually threatening atmosphere" for Portland's connoisseurs of espresso, rich dessert and live classical music for almost three decades, and it has never advertised or even hung a sign outside.

਍∀圀攀 洀愀欀攀 椀琀 琀栀愀琀 眀愀礀 猀漀 礀漀甀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 戀攀 瀀爀攀琀琀礀 挀爀攀愀琀椀瘀攀 琀漀 昀椀渀搀 甀猀Ⰰ∀ 氀漀渀最ⴀ琀椀洀攀 攀洀瀀氀漀礀攀攀 䜀椀氀氀椀愀渀 一愀渀挀攀 猀愀椀搀⸀ ∀吀栀愀琀 眀愀礀Ⰰ 眀攀 漀渀氀礀 最攀琀 琀栀攀 欀椀渀搀 漀昀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 眀攀 氀椀欀攀⸀∀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Throughout its existence, inconspicuous as it may be, Rimsky's has steadily attracted Portland's uniquely clever coffee lovers -- from night-dwelling high schoolers to the city's reclusive intelligentsia to just about anyone, really. The one requirement: They have to be willing to circle several frustrating, one-way blocks in search of the pseudo-secret lounge.

਍⠀刀椀洀猀欀礀✀猀 椀猀 栀椀搀椀渀最 椀渀 愀 栀椀猀琀漀爀椀挀 ㄀㤀　㈀ 嘀椀挀琀漀爀椀愀渀 栀漀甀猀攀 猀漀洀攀眀栀攀爀攀 漀渀 匀⸀䔀⸀ ㄀㈀琀栀 䄀瘀攀渀甀攀Ⰰ 猀漀 最漀漀搀 氀甀挀欀⸀⤀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ If their search proves successful, guests creep through the heavy oak door and quickly learn that their trouble was worthwhile. Inside lies some of Portland's finest finery and weirdest weirdery.

਍䜀氀愀猀猀ⴀ挀漀瘀攀爀攀搀 琀愀戀氀攀猀 栀愀瘀攀 戀攀挀漀洀攀 攀挀氀攀挀琀椀挀 猀栀爀椀渀攀猀 琀漀 瘀愀爀椀漀甀猀 挀氀愀猀猀椀挀愀氀 挀漀洀瀀漀猀攀爀猀 愀渀搀 爀愀渀搀漀洀 刀椀洀猀欀礀✀猀 最甀攀猀琀猀 眀栀漀 栀愀瘀攀 猀愀渀搀眀椀挀栀攀搀 琀椀挀欀攀琀 猀琀甀戀猀Ⰰ 栀甀爀爀椀攀搀 猀欀攀琀挀栀攀猀Ⰰ 瀀漀攀琀爀礀 愀渀搀 瀀攀爀猀漀渀愀氀 渀漀琀攀猀 甀渀搀攀爀 琀栀攀 最氀愀猀猀⸀ 伀渀攀 猀挀爀椀戀戀氀椀渀最 爀攀愀搀猀 ∀吀礀氀攀爀 䜀爀椀昀昀椀渀 戀爀漀欀攀 洀礀 栀攀愀爀琀 ⴀⴀ ㈀　　㜀⸀∀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ The petite Mozart, Grieg and Soundheim tables would be the perfect for couples. And for the larger parties, Satie's round table will best suit the occasion. Take note, though; it rotates almost unnoticeably. If your conversation is interesting enough to warrant neglect of your Tsar Sultan Suite or Mocha Fudge Cake, the dessert will end up in front of friends sitting across from you.

਍倀栀漀琀漀猀Ⰰ 漀爀渀愀洀攀渀琀猀Ⰰ 瘀椀渀琀愀最攀 樀攀眀攀氀爀礀 愀渀搀Ⰰ 琀栀椀猀 洀漀渀琀栀Ⰰ 愀 瀀氀愀猀琀椀挀 戀愀最最椀攀 昀椀氀氀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 䠀愀氀氀漀眀攀攀渀ⴀ攀搀椀琀椀漀渀 伀爀攀漀 挀漀漀欀椀攀猀Ⰰ 愀氀氀 搀愀渀最氀攀 昀爀漀洀 爀椀戀戀漀渀猀 愀渀搀 猀琀爀椀渀最猀 瀀椀渀渀攀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 搀椀渀椀渀最 爀漀漀洀 挀攀椀氀椀渀最⸀ 䄀 猀琀甀昀昀攀搀 樀攀猀琀攀爀 瀀甀瀀瀀攀琀 猀甀猀瀀攀渀搀攀搀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 愀 挀漀氀氀愀最攀 漀昀 愀 琀栀漀甀猀愀渀搀 昀愀挀攀猀 最爀攀攀琀猀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 樀漀甀爀渀攀礀椀渀最 琀漀 琀栀攀 甀瀀猀琀愀椀爀猀 爀攀猀琀爀漀漀洀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ A mannequin lying in a kayak on the floor, presumably the dead corpse of Erik Satie himself, strikes hilarious horror into every gasping guest who enters the restroom. Tracy Prescott, a friend of Rimsky's, and Scott McGregor, an artist who used to create the sets for the Portland Opera, designed the blue-green, underwater-themed restroom.

਍䘀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 猀栀椀洀洀攀爀椀渀最 猀挀栀漀漀氀猀 漀昀 洀椀渀渀漀眀猀 愀渀搀 眀愀瘀椀渀最 欀攀氀瀀 氀攀愀瘀攀猀 琀栀愀琀 挀漀瘀攀爀 琀栀攀 眀愀氀氀猀Ⰰ 琀漀 琀栀攀 瀀愀椀爀 漀昀 昀攀攀琀 搀愀渀最氀椀渀最 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀 ∀眀愀琀攀爀礀∀ 挀攀椀氀椀渀最 昀爀漀洀 愀 眀漀漀搀攀渀 搀漀挀欀Ⰰ 琀栀椀猀 昀爀攀愀欀礀 戀愀琀栀爀漀漀洀 愀氀漀渀攀 椀猀 眀漀爀琀栀 琀栀攀 瘀椀猀椀琀 琀漀 刀椀洀猀欀礀✀猀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Don't worry about the other locked doors upstairs. Employees use the spaces for storage, and the owner, Goody Cable, has reserved one for her office.

਍䌀愀戀氀攀 愀渀搀 栀攀爀 昀爀椀攀渀搀猀Ⰰ 倀栀椀氀 䈀愀猀猀 愀渀搀 匀栀愀渀渀漀渀 伀氀搀栀愀洀Ⰰ 挀漀渀挀漀挀琀攀搀 琀栀攀 刀椀洀猀欀礀✀猀 椀搀攀愀 椀渀 ㄀㤀㠀　⸀ 䜀椀氀氀椀愀渀 一愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 眀栀漀 栀愀猀 眀漀爀欀攀搀 琀栀攀爀攀 昀漀爀 愀氀洀漀猀琀 ㈀　 礀攀愀爀猀Ⰰ 挀爀攀搀椀琀猀 䌀愀戀氀攀 眀椀琀栀 瀀爀漀瘀椀搀椀渀最 琀栀攀 ∀椀渀猀瀀椀爀愀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀猀瀀椀爀愀琀椀漀渀 愀渀搀 猀瀀椀爀椀琀∀ 渀攀挀攀猀猀愀爀礀 琀漀 琀爀愀渀猀昀漀爀洀 琀栀攀 爀甀猀琀礀ⴀ瀀椀瀀攀搀Ⰰ 搀甀猀琀礀ⴀ爀漀漀洀攀搀 漀氀搀 栀漀洀攀 椀渀琀漀 愀 戀攀愀甀琀椀昀甀氀 倀漀爀琀氀愀渀搀 挀甀氀琀 挀氀愀猀猀椀挀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Cable also owns the Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport, Ore., a bed and breakfast with rooms dedicated to different authors ­-- stage props in the Shakespeare room, "Tom + Becky" carved on an old school desk in the Mark Twain room and forested walls around a bed of sticks in the J.R.R. Tolkien room.

਍∀吀栀攀礀 爀甀渀 琀栀攀 栀漀琀攀氀 瘀攀爀礀 猀攀爀椀漀甀猀氀礀Ⰰ∀ 一愀渀挀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ 愀渀 愀琀琀椀琀甀搀攀 琀栀愀琀 爀攀洀愀椀渀猀 渀漀渀攀砀椀猀琀攀渀琀 愀琀 琀栀攀 挀漀昀昀攀攀 瀀愀爀氀漀爀⸀ 䌀愀戀氀攀✀猀 瘀椀猀椀漀渀 昀漀爀 刀椀洀猀欀礀✀猀 眀愀猀 琀漀 挀漀渀猀琀爀甀挀琀 愀渀 甀渀猀琀爀甀挀琀甀爀攀搀 挀漀昀昀攀攀ⴀ栀漀甀猀攀 戀甀猀椀渀攀猀猀 琀栀愀琀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀攀猀 ∀甀渀搀攀爀 渀漀 洀愀渀愀最攀洀攀渀琀⸀∀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Employees aren't really hired; they just come in at some point and work. For the Rimsky's crew, team spirit always trumps protocol.

਍∀吀栀椀猀 椀猀 琀栀攀 渀漀渀ⴀ猀攀爀椀漀甀猀 挀漀昀昀攀攀 栀漀甀猀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 猀攀爀椀漀甀猀 洀甀猀椀挀Ⰰ∀ 一愀渀挀攀 猀愀椀搀⸀ ∀䜀漀漀搀礀 搀漀攀猀渀✀琀 氀椀猀琀攀渀 琀漀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最 戀甀琀 挀氀愀猀猀椀挀愀氀 洀甀猀椀挀⸀ 匀栀攀 栀愀琀攀猀 洀漀搀攀爀渀 瀀漀瀀 洀甀猀椀挀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 愀氀氀 琀栀愀琀 猀琀甀昀昀 搀爀椀瘀攀猀 栀攀爀 椀渀猀愀渀攀⸀ ᠀吠栀攀礀 栀愀瘀攀 眀椀最最氀礀 瘀漀椀挀攀猀Ⰰ✀ 䜀漀漀搀礀 猀愀礀猀⸀∀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Nance said that Cable chose to name the coffee house after Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, not because of a particular infatuation with the composer but because "his name just sort of led itself to the pun."

਍匀椀洀椀氀愀爀氀礀Ⰰ 一愀渀挀攀 樀甀猀琀 猀漀爀琀 漀昀 氀攀搀 栀攀爀猀攀氀昀 琀漀 愀 樀漀戀 愀琀 刀椀洀猀欀礀✀猀⸀ 伀渀攀 渀椀最栀琀Ⰰ 眀栀攀渀 愀渀 攀洀瀀氀漀礀攀攀 搀椀搀渀✀琀 猀栀漀眀 甀瀀Ⰰ 愀 搀椀猀琀爀攀猀猀攀搀 昀爀椀攀渀搀 眀漀爀欀椀渀最 愀琀 琀栀攀 挀漀昀昀攀攀 栀漀甀猀攀 挀愀氀氀攀搀 栀攀爀 甀瀀 愀渀搀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ∀䌀漀洀攀 漀渀 椀渀 愀渀搀 氀攀愀爀渀 愀戀猀漀氀甀琀攀氀礀 攀瘀攀爀礀琀栀椀渀最 爀椀最栀琀 渀漀眀⸀∀ 匀漀 猀栀攀 搀椀搀 愀渀搀 漀瘀攀爀 琀栀攀 礀攀愀爀猀 栀愀猀 栀漀瀀瀀攀搀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 昀爀漀洀 戀愀爀椀猀琀愀 琀漀 猀攀爀瘀攀爀 琀漀 洀愀渀愀最攀爀 瀀漀猀椀琀椀漀渀猀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Guests of Rimsky's just sort of lead themselves to the thick front door and into a realm of guaranteed nostalgia, a strangely cozy place that always hosts live classical violinists, guitarists and pianists.

਍∀䄀琀 氀攀愀猀琀 琀栀爀攀攀 挀漀甀瀀氀攀猀 䤀 欀渀漀眀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀愀瘀攀 栀愀搀 琀栀攀椀爀 昀椀爀猀琀 搀愀琀攀猀 栀攀爀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀礀 欀攀攀瀀 挀漀洀椀渀最 戀愀挀欀 攀瘀攀爀礀 礀攀愀爀 琀漀 挀攀氀攀戀爀愀琀攀 琀栀攀椀爀 愀渀渀椀瘀攀爀猀愀爀椀攀猀Ⰰ∀ 一愀渀挀攀 猀愀椀搀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ "The last time this happened, the guy said to me, ‘You waited on us during our first date five years ago, and I want you to hide the ring in the dessert.'

਍∀䠀攀 眀愀渀琀攀搀 洀攀 琀漀 瀀甀琀 椀琀 椀渀 愀 猀甀渀搀愀攀Ⰰ 猀漀 䤀 洀愀搀攀 愀 昀愀欀攀 漀渀攀 眀椀琀栀 渀愀瀀欀椀渀猀 愀渀搀 氀椀最栀琀ⴀ挀漀氀漀爀攀搀 瀀愀瀀攀爀⸀⸀⸀⸀䠀攀 栀愀搀 琀栀攀 爀椀渀最 椀渀 愀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 瘀攀氀瘀攀琀 戀漀砀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䤀 搀椀搀 渀漀琀 眀愀渀琀 琀漀 瀀甀琀 椀挀攀 挀爀攀愀洀 漀渀 琀栀愀琀 戀漀砀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ "So I served it to her, and it took her a few minutes. She was like, ‘Oh. Umm, this is interesting.' But she didn't really get it....

਍ ∀䠀漀渀攀猀琀氀礀Ⰰ 䤀 栀愀瘀攀 戀攀攀渀 欀渀漀眀渀 琀漀 戀爀椀渀最 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 搀椀渀漀猀愀甀爀猀Ⰰ 愀挀漀爀渀猀 愀渀搀 瀀愀椀爀猀 漀昀 猀挀椀猀猀漀爀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 猀漀洀攀琀椀洀攀猀 䤀✀氀氀 挀栀漀漀猀攀 愀 最爀漀甀瀀 漀昀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 愀渀搀 猀琀愀爀琀 瀀甀琀琀椀渀最 琀栀椀渀最猀 漀渀 琀栀攀椀爀 琀愀戀氀攀 攀瘀攀爀礀 琀椀洀攀 䤀 眀愀氀欀 戀礀 眀椀琀栀漀甀琀 猀愀礀椀渀最 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最Ⰰ∀ 一愀渀挀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ 挀漀渀猀椀搀攀爀椀渀最 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 瀀攀爀瀀氀攀砀攀搀 眀漀洀愀渀 洀椀最栀琀 栀愀瘀攀 愀猀猀甀洀攀搀 琀栀攀 最攀猀琀甀爀攀 琀漀 戀攀 礀攀琀 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 刀椀洀猀欀礀✀猀 愀戀渀漀爀洀愀氀椀琀礀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ "Anyway, she finally figured it out and opened up the paper sundae. He was smiling, she started crying and everyone inside the room cheered for the two."

਍吀栀攀 猀洀愀氀氀 挀漀昀昀攀攀 栀漀甀猀攀 挀爀攀愀琀攀猀 愀 爀漀洀愀渀挀攀 椀渀猀椀搀攀 椀琀猀 愀最攀搀 眀愀氀氀猀 琀栀愀琀 眀椀氀氀 渀攀瘀攀爀 搀椀攀Ⰰ 樀甀猀琀 愀猀 椀琀猀 漀眀渀攀爀 眀椀氀氀 渀攀瘀攀爀 栀愀渀最 愀 猀椀最渀 漀甀琀 昀爀漀渀琀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Rimsky's may describe itself as a "casually threatening atmosphere," but in reality, this ever-evolving Goody Cable masterpiece is more of a patchwork quilt crafted with Portland culture that will happily wrap itself around you...if you can find it.

਍ 㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ ਍ ഀ ਍             㰀䠀刀 圀䤀䐀吀䠀㴀∀㈀㔀　∀㸀ഀ

਍               㰀䄀 䠀刀䔀䘀㴀∀琀漀挀⸀栀琀洀氀∀㸀䈀愀挀欀 琀漀 吀愀戀氀攀 漀昀 䌀漀渀琀攀渀琀猀㰀⼀䄀㸀 簀 ഀ Back to Main Index
਍               㰀䄀 䠀刀䔀䘀㴀∀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀洀甀氀琀渀漀洀愀栀⸀攀搀甀⼀瘀漀椀挀攀⼀愀ⴀ䘀攀愀琀甀爀攀㄀⸀栀琀洀氀∀㸀倀爀攀瘀椀漀甀猀 䘀攀愀琀甀爀攀猀㰀⼀䄀㸀 簀 ഀ Send mail to The Voice਍               㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ ਍          㰀⼀吀䐀㸀ഀ