極珍貴，東區微量路線！The Ultra Precious, East District’s Micro-energy
一個生動鮮活的城市，細看遠觀的彈性讓生息有了曲線，微量的個性越明顯，城市的輪廓就越清晰，就好像我們相信北斗七星在2000億顆星的銀河中可以連起來的勺子，永遠讓仰望的人可以理解一樣，就是微量但巨量的意義。
A lively city exudes a sense of vitality with great flexibility, with the micro-energy it projects helping to make the city’s features more distinct. Just look at the Great Dipper, that big spoon consisting of the seven brightest stars amidst the 200 billion stars in the galaxy. This micro yet colossal significance we are talking about can perhaps be understood just by looking up at the sky.
【東區裡唯一的微１】
★學雅書局｜它專賣你在誠品買不到的東西？！
小書局有一種義務，就是身兼文具店。你可以在這裡找到農民曆、封箱膠、毛筆（包括英氏小楷），這些再跟時尚、都會扯不上邊的東西。它有你在東區其他店家絕對找不到的另類專櫃：母親節的塑膠康乃馨；國慶日賣小國旗；一杆小學生的制服、一面專賣扯鈴的架子，還有小朋友的蛙鏡。但在一樓的書櫃上，各類彰顯上班族資訊焦慮的發燒新書、職場議題也不會慢於大型書局。
這間書局的身份在這裡：它沒有時尚感但也沒有距離感，你不需要用複雜的美學端詳指點它的陳設格局，它的責任也不在於提供消磨時光、複雜社交，而是生息互通的生活感。褪去誇張的時尚修飾，它非常本分的保有著與在地的相隨關係，畢竟東區是住商混合的，在服務鄰里的功能裡，它只是順道服務了在這裡上班、逛街的你。
★正大蔘藥行｜開業時間：42年
在東區，說到健康，你想的會是健身房；保養，會是美體沙龍；而維持魅力，恐怕已經想到整型去了吧？無論如何，你很難想到這裡也存在著古老的選項：中藥。
這間蔘藥行在東區已經經營42年，當我們踏進門的那一刻，老闆正用小刷子整理著藥材，他笑稱自己作的是手工業。因為服務對象都是附近鄰居，所以老闆對藥材處理很仔細。在東區4家西藥房和1家蔘藥行的比重裡，或許可以看見急促的東區，對藥到病除所要求的速度感。早年東區有多家中藥行，但因為不容易經營，目前只剩1家。不愛喝補藥？慢火細燉的中藥其實更適合以21世紀的態度使用，怎麼說，你絕對不會用阿司匹靈燉蹄膀吧？荳蔻、丁香、肉桂等中藥材，才是入菜要角。
★萬豐五金行｜兩代經營，家庭修繕所需一應俱全
在地經營38年的五金行，已經經營兩代，所有你想得到的東西這裡幾乎都買得到，跑三家不如跑一家的廣告詞，用在這裡最貼切。相較新式大賣場分門別類專業分工這件事，舊式五金走的是跨界統整概念。以水管為例，這裡除了賣數種粗細大小、不同材質外，還有一併賣綁住水管的套鍊。或是鍋子，一定有相呼應的刷子、大湯瓢，甚至是放在鍋子下面的墊子，端鍋子的手套，拿內鍋的夾子。
它的分類不以功能分別，而是以需求分別。而舊式的店，你可以新穎的用：印花玻璃杯現在不論裝什麼，都是復古；講求慢活的今天，戴一頂斗笠踏青絕對是眾人的焦點。
【East District’s Micro One and Only】
★ Hsueh Ya Bookstore｜Come to find things you probably won’t see at Eslite!
Small bookstores usually also function as stationery stores. In Hsueh Ya Bookstore, you will find almanacs, packing tapes, calligraphy brushes (including the classic ACE small calligraphy brush-pen), and many other things. These items may not be hip or chic, but you will sure find things here that you won’t find anywhere else in the East District, including plastic carnations for Mother’s Day, small flags for National Day festivities, and there is also a clothing rod with elementary school uniforms, a display shelf dedicated to Chinese Yo-yos, and also goggles for children. On its bookshelves located on the first floor, you will also find latest releases that can quench the thirst of information seekers at the same pace as any other big bookstores in town.
This bookstore’s is not trendy but it is accessible. You don’t have to try to understand its displays with complex concepts of aesthetics. It is also not a place intended for you to kill time in or socialize. It is simply there as a part of life. Bare of any excessive hip décors, it stays true to its identity and stays connected to the neighborhood. After all, the East District is a hybrid residential-commercial area. Hsueh Ya’s main purpose is to serve the neighborhood it is in, and along the way, it also happens to extend its services to those that work in the area or are here to do some shopping.
★Cheng Ta Chinese Herbal Medicine Shop｜ Been in business for 42 years
In the East District, the idea of health and wellbeing usually leads one to the big gym in the area, and the many spas and salons in the district will take care of your skincare and beauty needs. As for staying attractive and youthful? Perhaps some may consider visiting an aesthetic surgery clinic. However, in the area also exists an ancient option, which comes in the form of Chinese herbs.
This Chinese herbal medicine shop in the East District has been in business for 42 years. When we set foot in the shop, the owner was using a small brush to sort through different herbs. He jokingly said he is in the business of handicrafts. Most of his patrons are his neighbors, which is why the owner feels that the Chinese medicinal herbs he provides must be topnotch. There are four Western pharmacies and only one Chinese herbal medicine shop in the East District, and it is not difficult to see that the urge for rapid recovery from illnesses is especially demanded in the high-paced East District. There used to be more Chinese herbal medicine shops in the area, but only one still remains today because of how hard it is to operate such business. Don’t think Chinese herbal elixirs are your cup of tea? Keep in mind that a slow way of life is perhaps a more ideal way of living, and the way that Chinese herbs should be brewed or cooked over slow fire for an extended period of time is perhaps just what all of us 21st century busybodies need. After all, you would never stew meat with aspirin, right? Nutmegs, cloves, cinnamons, and other common Chinese medicinal ingredients will perhaps give you that extra boost you need.
★Wan Feng Hardware Store ｜A second-generation family business supplying all your home repair needs
This family-run neighborhood hardware store passed down from one generation to the next has been in business for 38 years. It supplies nearly anything you will need for home repair, saving you an extra trip to another shop to gather what you need. Compared to the newer big warehouse stores where items are compartmentalized, this old-school hardware store opts for a cross-integrated approach. For example, with pipes, in addition to selling pipes of various sizes and materials, it also sells what’s needed to bundle the pipes together. Or for pots, you can also find different cleaning brushes, ladles, potholders, heat resistant mittens, or pot clamps.
It doesn’t classify by function but on needs. You can find innovative ways to utilize what this old-school store has to offer. For example, glasses with printed patterns on them are quite retro-chic right now no matter what you choose to put in them, or perhaps a bamboo hat? It will sure make a statement piece for a sustainable living, green lifestyle.