THIRD GENERATION HATTER JOHN HELMER HOLDS TRUE TO TRADITION

While I was in Portland, Oregon last week I had the great good fortune to visit the John Helmer store at 969 S.W. Broadway. If you haven’t been to this store, established in 1921, then you are missing out on another piece of hat history. John Helmer 111 is now running the show and he has created a wonderful retail emporium that honors tradition yet makes it exciting enough to seduce even the most jaded hat lover.

If you long for the olden days of retailing (which I do) you will appreciate this unaffected retail space. Hats are neatly displayed on tables and shelves in styles that fit the current customer. His choice of Toucan hats was terrific, as well as hats by Elizabeth Rohoff. The selection of men’s hats were terrific and displayed in a mild mannered, yet engaging way.

There is something about Portland, Oregon that is admirable. They seem to honor tradition and don’t tear down buildings just because they are old (if we did it to people it would be called murder). Case in point - the corner of Madison Avenue and 42nd Street in New York City.

If you happen to find yourself in Portland (after you go to the John Helmer store) head over to the Classical Chinese Garden between NW Second and Third Avenue and NW Everett and Flanders.

The garden was built with its sister city in Suzhou, China and was built over a time period of 15 years by 65 artisans using 500 tons of rocks from Lake Tai. Their mission was to create an oasis of tranquility and beauty for guests – and their mission was accomplished.

There is a tea restaurant and authentic Chinese rooms that inspire and engage the two cultures. The Ming Dynasty construction methods are soothing and there are over 100 different species of trees and 500 rare plants, nearly all indigenous to Southeast, China.

The garden makes up an entire block of downtown Portland and is well worth the visit.

For information - and festival information contact them at - 503-228-8131 or www.portlandchinesegarden.org. By the way, the year of the Rat celebration is from February 7 to 10th.