Spas aren’t for everybody. For those who prefer to pet a cat, throw an axe at a wall, or float in a sea of nothingness, here’s where to go to de-stress.
OutRaged
Like most rage rooms, OutRaged in Vancouver equips people with safety gear, tools (like sledgehammers or baseball bats), and plenty of destructible items, places them in a room, and lets them go to town. For an added bonus, OutRaged gives customers markers so they can literally write out their problems (on a plate, for instance) and then destroy them. With COVID still a part of our lives, owner Tera Gale says it’s common to see people write out “COVID-19” or “coronavirus” on an object before smashing it to bits.
Gale says OutRaged sees “people from all walks of life,” from bachelorette parties to divorce parties to groups looking for a fun night out, but surprisingly the rage room sees more women than men. What’s more, according to Gale, local psychologists and therapists are actually recommending their patients to try out their space as a way to help deal with loss, distress, and grief. So, in addition to raging out, she sees OutRaged as a place to cry, to let out any and all emotions, and “we give them a big hug afterwards and they’re good.”
Umami Café
Treat yourself to stunning views of the Portland Japanese Garden, now on full fall display, at the Umami Café. After a long day at the garden, relax and reflect in the café, designed as an homage to Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera temple, with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the hillside.
While there, sip tea from the Tokyo-based Jugetsudo and indulge in other light snacks from local Japanese confectionaries, such as Behind the Museum Café and Yume Confections. Admission to the garden and a table reservation are required for entry to Umami Café.
Purrington’s Cat Lounge
There’s nothing quite as relaxing as scratching the chin of a purring cat resting on your lap or feeling their soft fur as they do a figure eight around your legs. Even watching a cat delicately amble around a room and stare out of a window at nearby birds can be calming. Enter: Purrington’s Cat Lounge, the Northeast Portland hybrid café/adoption center. “When we were planning our renovation in 2018-2019, we tried to be very intentional about making the space a place that would encourage calm, peaceful interactions with cats and would feel like a bit of a retreat from …….
Source: https://www.pdxmonthly.com/health-and-wellness/stress-relief-alternatives-portland-rage-room