Name & Age: Veronica Vargas, 30
Hometown: Winter Park, FL – mostly (My father was in the US Military and my family relocated often)
Current Neighborhood: Overlook
How do you pay the rent and what is your slash? I work with a team of social workers at a managed care firm/In private practice as a Depth-Oriented Counselor/A vocalist in a Funk Band called Future Ghetto
What do you create? A whole lot of noise! I started singing in Future Ghetto in April of 2011. Collaborating with sound is super stimulating, nurturing, and fulfilling. Aside from music, I write, sketch and sometimes paint.
How did you land in Portland? Long answer: after completing grad school in California, I discovered that Portland was a good match for my long-term quality of life preferences, and my professional and creative endeavors. Short answer: my friend, Satya Byock, was very convincing.
What is the last book you read? In Search of Duende by Federico Garcia Lorca
Name your favorite tattoo. Hummingbird
What was the last thing you ate at a food cart? Tacos from the cart on SW 12th and Yamhill
Oregonian, Willamette Week, or Mercury? Undecided
What is your favorite bridge and why? Broadway, for its accessibility; Saint Johns, for its aesthetic
Stumptown Coffee or _________? Stumptown. Heart and Water Avenue are good too.
Coast or Mountains? I haven’t been to the Oregon coast yet, however I am an undeniable lover of the ocean
Only in Portland moment? Bus etiquette. I’ve got to say; I’ve never seen people line up to get on the bus minutes before the bus even arrives. Polite Portlanders!
A favorite local business? I still feel kind of new here, so this is difficult to answer. That said I pretty much frequent Saint Cupcake on SW 12th and Morrison several times a week. Good coffee, good pastries, and good vibe
Are you a car person or a bike person? 50/50 Bike and Bus mostly. I’m one of those, ‘weekend drivers’
If you could change one thing about Portland, what would it be? Oye, ¡¿dónde están todos los dominicanos y puertorriqueños?! PDX could use just a tad more cultural diversity and a few more Caribbean food carts.
And finally, where can we find you on the web? www.portland-counselor.org
