Jennifer Brookes: A few visiting Portland friends and I stopped for espresso at Crown Hill’s Caffé Fioré on September 27, 2009. Across the street from this coffee shop, we spotted a terribly steep downslope staircase hidden in a mass of trees. Overcome by curiosity, we followed it. Awaiting us at the bottom of the staircase was a forest filled with evening light, overlooking Puget Sound. This is Golden Gardens at sunset.

Eric Peterson: The guitar used in this piece was purchased for $5 at a garage sale near Sloan’s Lake. It was sold as a piece of wall art (not a musical instrument), and you can tell a little bit in the intonation. The melodica I used is Andy Hamilton’s, because the continent of Africa stole mine. The glockenspiel is also his. Thanks, Andy. This was recorded Saturday, September 26th between 1:00 and 3:15am.