Discovering Westport

Plan Fourth of July at the Beach

2011-06-23T10:11:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite times at the Beach is the Fourth of July. We are usually just getting used to the summer days, Westport is finally bright and noisy with visitors and fishermen, and everyday the giant American flag flies proudly over the Maritime Museum visible from our house miles away.

We love to dress the kids in their matching red, white & blue and head down to the presentation of the colors by the U.S. Coast Guard Grays Harbor at the Maritime Museum. The Old Fashioned Fourth of July is one of those events that makes me thankful as a parent to live in a small town.

This year, according to Westport-South Beach Historical Society president Peggy Coverdale, visitors can enjoy musical entertainment with Captain Pete’s Lollapalooza (Pete Darrah of the Wilapa Seaport Museum & percussionist for the Grays Harbor Banjo Band), a magic show (amazing tricks and outrageous fun with magician Jeff Evans) a cake walk, clowns, children's games, face painting, vendors, a plant sale, silent auction, hot dogs, strawberry shortcake and root beer floats at the former Coast Guard Lifeboat Station.

The 4th will also mark the opening of a special exhibit of limited edition Lighthouses by Harbour Lights. The collection was recently donated by Gretchen and John Lamb of Aberdeen and is valued at more than $10,000. The Destruction Island Lens Building will be open, providing visitors an opportunity to examine a first order Fresnel lens up close. The museum itself will also be open from 10AM until 4PM on July 4.

The Maritime Museum is located in Westport’s Marina District. The Westport-South Beach Historical Society operates the museum and is presenting its 17th annual "Old Fashioned Fourth." Museum admission will be $5 for adults and $2 for children under age 12. There is no charge for admission onto the grounds and access to the events.

When the Maritime Museum's Old Fashioned Fourth is over at 4PM, visitors can enjoy a dinner in one of Westport's many restaurants or stroll on the waterfront, until the Shoalwater Bay Casino presents the South Beach community's spectacular fireworks demonstration. The exhibition will beginning at 10PM in Tokeland—where the fireworks will light up the skies.

We will probably hit the beach after dark, and watch the amateur pyrotechnics go wild with their fireworks, make a fire, and have too many smores. The boys love to eat food they cooked on sticks :) The beach on the 4th, with all the families, the campfires, the fireworks, is quite a sight. Somehow, the next day, it all gets cleaned back up.

Where ever you go on the 4th, have a great one! See ya at the beach!

Rusty Scupper Pirate Daze 2011 - Tentative Schedule

2011-05-24T09:24:00.000-07:00

If you've not visited Westport for the Rusty Scupper Pirate Daze festival, you need to make plans now to come down to the beach from June 24 - 26 and check out this event. It's entertaining, family friendly, and really a one-of-a-kind festival. Particularly with this year's launch of the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie, it should be a great event.

New for this year will be the Pirates Breakfast at Half Moon Bay Bar & Grill and an inflatable bounce house amusement area near Scallywag Alley (Scallywag alley is an area for kids games. All games are $0.50 each).

Also, during this weekend, the Maritime Museum and Washington's Tallest Lighthouse are charging reduced admission of $2 to enter either attraction! That's half the normal price!

Here is the tentative schedule, updates will be posted as they are available:

Friday, June 24, 2011

12:00 Noon Festival opens with pirates, vendors, games in Scallywag Alley, inflatable amusements for children, train rides, Sword Balloons,.

1:00 PM Northwest Gypsy Quest Belly dancers perform on the street by the Main Stage; Rusty Scupper Pirate Band performs on the Buccaneer Stage; Captain Arr performs next to the Islander

1:30 PM Mini Brig Battle - Jade Dragon Pirates

2:00 PM Boom Pirates Black Powder Demonstrations (definitely worth watching)

4:30 PM Jade Dragon Pirates - Swordfights with Children

6:00 PM Pirates of the Caribbean Characters Contest.

7:00 PM Pirate After Party @ Viking Bowl

Saturday, June 25, 2011 (Entertainment on various stages goes on all day)

8:00 - 11:00AM Pirate Breakfast at Half Moon Bay Bar & Grill ($5/person if dressed in pirate garb; $8/person if dressed in street clothes)

10:00 AM Pirate Daze street fair opens

10:45 AM Pirates invade Westport

11:15 Pirates & Scallywag costume contest/Boom Pirates Black Powder Demonstration

11:30 Jade Dragon Swordfights

11:45 Treasure Chest Drawings

2:00 Folk Style Belly Dancers on Main Stage

3:15 Mini Brigs Demonstration & Play Comedy Pirates in Red Pants Performance

4:00 Hops Ahoy Belly Dancers

4:30 Vintage Costume Contest

6:30 Jade Pirates Wedding Vow Renewal

7:00 Pirate Potluck @ Viking Bowl

Sunday, June 26, 2011 (Entertainment on various stages goes on all day)

8:00 - 11:00AM Pirate Breakfast at Half Moon Bay Bar & Grill ($5/person if dressed in pirate garb; $8/person if dressed in street clothes)

10:00 AM Pirate Daze street fair opens

10:30 AM Belly Dancers Performance

10:45 Professional Pirate and Scallywags Contest

11:30 Treasure Chest Drawings

11:45 Salty Dog Costume Contest

12;00 Mini Brig Battle

2:00 Pirates on Parade!

4:00 Closing Announcements

New Commerical for Westport Washington Tourism

2011-05-24T08:52:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the new Westport commercial? Now airing on... well, I don't really know where its airing, but a friend whose daughter is in it posted it on Facebook. It's cute. Watch it!

Take a Little Vacation from Howell at the Moon Productions on Vimeo.

NW Backroads filming in Westport, Washington

2011-05-23T20:54:00.000-07:00

"Northwest Backroads" is a weekly outdoor magazine show highlighting the people, places and things that make the Pacific Northwest unique. Its goal is to give viewers a leg up when looking for that perfect vacation spot, hidden getaway or interesting tidbit of Northwest culture.

So today they filmed at the lighthouse, the Maritime Museum, Seafood Connection on Float 8, and on the Islander Patio while having lunch at the Half Moon Bay Bar & Grill. Lunch is always a little more fun when you have cameras in your face!

Look for Westport on a future NW Backroads episode!

Lacey Resident Hooks 133 lb Halibut off Westport

2011-05-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

It's been a strong Halibut season, which is coming to a close here this week. Most of the folks we've been talking to were catching halibut in the 30 - 40 pound range. One of our guests caught a 54 pounder. But this one take the cake!!

It took Mike Homes of Lacey more than an hour to reel in this 133 pound halibut near the shore area off Westport. That's a lot of Halibut fillets!!

Westport Charter Boat Association supports sustainable recreational fishing with the following schedule of directed and open fishing days in 2011:

· Rockfish – limit ten and open year round

· Lingcod (limit two now through 10/15/11)

· Halibut on Sunday and Tuesday to 5/29/11 as directed

· Salmon season is open 6/18/11 to 9/18/11 (limit is two) with the first 8 days, through 6/28/11 as Chinook-only days. During this period the Chinook must be hatchery fish (missing adipose fin).

· Salmon fishing for all species starts 6/26/11 (limit is two), Sunday through Thursday only. Coho must have an adipose fin clip. All Chinook may be retained

· Tuna starts early July to mid October, 7 days per week.

Ryland Akana from Po'okela Street Band to play in Westport at Half Moon Bay Bar & Grill

2011-04-19T12:13:00.001-07:00

This Friday & Saturday night (April 22/23), from 8pm - close, Ryland Akana, lead singer of the Po'okela Street Band will be giving solo performances at the Half Moon Bay Bar & Grill. Bruddah Ry is the originator and front man of PSB, and has been performing professionally for 30+ years. Along with the others in the group, Ry is instrumental in writing and the arrangement of all PSB music. His musical influences stem from from "grass roots" Hawaiian music and artists such as Hawaiian slack-key icon "Pops" Gabby Pahinui, the Sons of Hawai'i and Olomana. His appreciation for contemporary music came from Hawaiian national recording artists Cecilio & Kapono, and Kalapana. The passion for Reggae music was influenced by, none other than the Godfather of reggae music himself, Bob Marley.

During his performances, the Half Moon Bay Bar & Grill will be donating $1 from all Kona draft beer purchases to the Surfrider Foundation to support their Clean Water Classic Surf Contest which will take place in Westport May 13 - 15.

Hawaiian drink and dinner specials will also be offered both nights.

Westport’s 24th Annual World-Class Crab Races & Crab Feed - Saturday, April 16, 2011

2011-04-14T09:59:00.000-07:00

It's the 2nd weekend of April and in Westport, that means CRAB RACES!! It brings back memories of my previous life, as a big city dweller, a group of coworkers and I used to go to a place called Brennan's Pub, in Marina del Rey. Every Thursday night Brennan's ran Turtle Races, which was a crazy event where for $1 you could choose a "racing turtle" as your own. Each participant would place their racer down in the center of a circle (on the Brennan's outside patio) and then everyone would yell at their chosen turtle until one of them reached the outside circumfrence, thus being declared the winner. Prizes were awarded out of a giant trash bag, and were not anything you could discuss in polite company. It was crazy, and the liberal vegan that I was at the time found it really wrong. But the beer was cheap, it was walking distance from my office, so I witnessed a lot more Turtle Races than I care to admit.

The point is that this weekend is Westport's version of that event. At the Crab Pavilion, a giant tent set up in the Marina district for this event, anyone can register and borrow a racer crab for $3. When your heat is called, racing human places racer crab on a slanted table and the racing human pounds on the table and yells at his crab and the first crab to slide to the bottom of the table is declared the winner! Again, lots of fun for those who are into it, mixed with possible feelings of conflicted guilt if you're an animal lover, with any misgivings removed by the time you take your first bite of the fresh Dungeness Crab from the Crab Feed.

If this sounds at all intriguing to you, below is the Westport Chamber's description of the event with all the details. Rain or shine, hit the coast for the 24th Annual Westport Crab Races and Crab Feed on Saturday, April 16, 2011.

Festivities are centered at the Crab Pavilion, with admission just $2 per person for live music by Catch of the Day, and the main attraction - "World Class Crab Races!" Then dig into the tastiest, freshest local Dungeness Crab dinner you'll ever have, with all the trimmings (just $10 for half or $15 for a whole portion).

Enter the Crab Pavilion for the event - Westport's World Class Crab Races run from 1pm to 5pm - sign up starts at 11am. Select a racer from one of our field of draft picks ($3 registration gets you a crab that's been training since their last molt), or you can bring your own fresh racing crab if you prefer. Racing registation begins at 11am and the heats start at 1pm. Lots of prices donated by local merchants are up for grabs in this annual fun event.

The crab feed will go from 11am to 5pm. The dinner ($10 for half a crab/$15 for a whole crab) includes assorted salads, baked beans, and garlic bread, plus coffee or a soft drink. Hot dogs and other beverages, including beer & wine will also be available for sale. If you prefer to catch your own, take part in sport crabbing right off the docks or the fisherman's boardwalk any time during the season. Westport is home to the most delicious Dungeness Crab you'll find anywhere in the world.

Whale of a Sale - Collectibles & Junque - A whole pod of things you can't live without!

2011-04-12T12:13:00.000-07:00

As if there wasn't enough to do in Westport this weekend, the Westport South Beach Historical Society will be putting on their "Whale of a Sale" on Saturday & Sunday, April 16 & 17 from 9am - 5pm at the Westport Maritime Museum on the Marina. There will be Toys & Games, Sporting Goods, Books, Pet Supplies, Jewelry, Small Appliances, Household Goods, Small Furniture, and more!

The proceeds will benefit the Historical Society, who are the caretakers of Washington's Tallest Lighthouse & the Maritime Museum on the Marina.

Watercolors & Wine - Monday's July 25 - August 22 @ the Winery

2011-04-11T14:02:00.000-07:00

I was always one of those kids that got an "E" for effort in art and all things creative. Actually it more of an "E" for save your effort for something you might actually be good at, like math. I was always a left brained gal, but as I get older, certain things that were off limits for me are becoming interesting.... things like layups, the idea of running marathons, and painting pretty pictures.

So maybe the 26.2 miles will have to wait until my kids can get them selves ready in the morning without my assistance, but the Winery has an interesting offering this summer that I might just have to schedule around. Ken Mitchell will be giving a 5 week (1Monday each week) workshop on watercolors, and it just sounds like a lot of fun. The last time I held a paintbrush and a cocktail at the same time did result in disaster, but still, I'm a lot older now.

Anyway, the details are below, you can get more info directly from the source. Maybe I'll see you there!

Artists of all stripes are invited to join renowned watercolor instructor Ken Mitchell in a watercolor workshop this summer at Westport Winery. This course will be held in the winery’s gathering room over five Mondays, July 25, August 1, 8, 15, and 22, from 9am to 4pm. This course is for all levels, from beginners to experienced artists. The final class will include a group critique which students may invite guests to attend. Mitchell has a BA and MA in Fine Arts from Colorado State University. He has taught art at all levels for the past 30 years and has won numbers awards for his watercolor and oil paintings. From murals to stage sets to illustrations, Ken has excelled as a professional artist his entire life as he has also taught others the techniques to pursue their own dreams. The course fee for this class is $100. This fee includes instruction only. Students need to bring their own paper, pencils, watercolors, brushes, and non-glass containers. Lunch is available to purchase during class. Sack lunches and outside food and drinks are not allowed. Students need to provide the following supplies. These can be purchased from Cheap Joe's Art Stuff at 374 Industrial Park Dr., Boone, N.C. 28607 (1-800-227-2788) or Daniel Smith Art Supply at 4150 First Ave. South, Seattle, WA 98134 (206-223-9599) or online. 1. Watercolor paper: white 140 or 300 lb., 2 sheets 22"x30", cold press (we will be cutting them into 2-4 sheets each during workshop). 2. Brushes—synthetic, blend or sable (synthetics and blends are less costly). Rounds #0, #4, #10 and a flat 1-1/2" or any brushes you prefer if already a painter. 3. Beginner should look for the seven colors with a * after them. All paints are in 15ml tubes. Ken prefers Windsor Newton, Grumbacher or Daniel Smith brand paints: yellow (aureolin*), orange (cadmium yellow), red (alizarin crimson*, rose madder* or Indian red), violet (permanent mauve or mauve), green (Hooker's green and sap green*), blue (cobalt blue or Joe's blue* or ultramarine blue* or cerulean blue or manganese blue), brown (burnt umber*), and white (Chinese white). 4. 16"x 12" plastic (no glass please) watercolor palette or a large white plastic plate or similar size 5. Water container (medium sized plastic cup like a white plastic butter container) 6. Roll of paper towels 7. Other--painting sponge, additional painting equipment or materials you normally use (if you already paint), a board to tape your paper to (optional) and a roll of masking tape (optional).

Close up Eagle!

2011-04-11T13:34:00.000-07:00

Eagle on the beach - enjoying the sunshine. There isn't really much more you can say about this one - what a sight!!

5th Annual Tokeland/Northcove Studio Tour

2011-04-10T11:25:00.000-07:00

Artists from the Tokeland area are proud to present their fifth annual art studio tour on Saturday, April 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This free annual event showcases the diverse talents of 15 artists, working in a variety of media including: painting, photography, ceramics, metalsmithing and furniture.

Judith Altruda’s jewelry studio will showcase her recent work with anticlastic forming, a technique originating in the Bronze Age for shaping metal. She will have hammered cuff bracelets in copper and bronze, etched silver and gold rings set with sea glass, ancient Greek coins and gemstones.

The Mann Studio, headquarters of Wally and Marlene Mann, will show recent works in acrylic and oil painting and pastels.

Knock on Wood, the workshop of Jeffro Uitto, will have driftwood furniture, including benches and chairs.

Sharing the space with Uitto will be Shoalwater Bay tribal artist Earl Davis, who will show carvings and native masks.

Merrill Photography, studio of photographer Marcy Merrill, will be demonstrating colloidal wet plate photography, an early photographic process dating from the 1850s. The effect is that of an old fashioned “tin type.” Marcy will have a photo booth set up in her studio to take pictures of visitors.

At the Tokeland Hotel, artists Brad Saunders and Emily Maldonado will have lamp work beads and native cedar flutes.

Kennedy Creek Pottery focuses on sculptural ceramics with functional and decorative work, and Kimmi Kerns will have graphic designed tile work.

Bev King Lufkin, plein air painter, will present a new series of hand colored pen and ink sketches of the South Beach and watercolors. Janet Karlsson and Barbara Sampson will have watercolor paintings, with Sampson demonstrating watercolor techniques throughout the day.

Free maps showing the studio locations can be picked up at the Tokeland Hotel, the Westport Chamber of Commerce and local businesses in the South Beach area.

Music by Elias at Half Moon Bay

2011-03-15T00:50:00.000-07:00

Confirmed!! Elias Kauhane will be entertaining with live Hawaiian music at the Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill on Saturday, March 26. Details to follow, but if you've never had the opportunity to hear the sweet sounds of an acoustic ukulele and hawaiian melodies, you should make it a point to come see him sing & play on March 26!

Whales Breaching off Westport Marina

2011-03-12T11:15:00.000-08:00

More than 20,000 California gray whales swim along the Washington coast from March to the end of May every year on their 5,000 mile trek from Baja to the Bering Sea. Gray whales up to 52 feet long and weighing up 36 tons can be seen just off Westport marina.

Westport locals say to bring binoculars for the best onshore whale watching from the beach at Westport Light State Park. Or visitors can reserve ahead for one of the Westport whale watching excursions that often find gray whales just outside the marina entrance.

Whale watching excursion boats are based in the Westport marina, taking visitors on a 2-2 ½ hour cruise to view gray whales from the water at a safe distance. All of whale-watching boats are fully US Coast Guard certified and inspected, and have the latest safety equipment onboard.

Westport excursion skippers often see whales returning year after year like ‘Old Spot,’ the elder male, who generally shows up early in the season. Gray whales are mainly seen just outside Westport harbor in a place locals call ‘The Whale Hole’ where they rest on their journey north.

Westport is located on the Washington coast in Grays Harbor County where boat building, sport fishing, and commercial fishing traditions dating back to the turn of the century live side by side with surfers catching waves on Half Moon Bay, and fun along Westport’s 18-mile sandy beach. Visitors can tour the Westport Maritime Museum, enjoy ocean views from the South Beach jetty and the Westport Viewing Tower, or the historic Gray’s Harbor Lighthouse, Washington’s tallest and third tallest lighthouse on the Pacific Coast.

Winery Eclipse Concert Series Starts on June 26!

2010-06-07T12:05:00.000-07:00

Tickets for Westport Winery’s Eclipse Concert on Saturday, June 26 are now on sale. This evening of music, food, wine, art, and lunar magic begins with hors d’oeuvres at 6p.m. The Ericka Corban band will begin playing at 7p.m. Guests may purchase wine, beer, and sodas before and during the concert. This is the first of the winery’s Twilight Concert series held outdoors in the gardens adjacent to the vineyards.

Westport Winery’s much anticipated new red wine Bella, will be released for its first tasting at this event. Bella is a bold blend of Tempranillo, Primitivo, Refosco, Barbera, Merlot and Syrah, barrel-aged to perfection. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this wine benefits the Mt. Rainier Chapter of the American Red Cross.

In addition to music from the Twilight movie, the band will be performing rock, jazz, country, and original songs by Ericka Corban. The other members of her band are Mattaniah on the ukulele and accordion, Mike Peterson on drums and percussion, Jeff Perrin on the bass guitar, and Joe Perry on the electric guitar.

At 6p.m. that evening the Roberts family will unveil the latest commissioned art in their sculpture garden by Mike Peterson a renowned metal artist (and drummer in the band). Peterson elected to create a sculpture for the wine Shorebird Chardonnay. This wine benefits the Grays Harbor Audubon Society.

The price to attend the concert is $20 per person and space is limited. Tickets include the concert and hors d’oeuvres. All ages are welcome at the winery which is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for wine, cheese, chocolate and charcuterie tasting. In case of inclement weather the performances may be moved indoors. Westport Winery is located on the corner of Highway 105 and South Arbor Road (halfway between Aberdeen and the Westport ‘Y’). For more information call Westport Winery at 648-2224.

Destination Turin Culinary class at the Westport Winery

2010-02-10T12:33:00.000-08:00

Even though we've been having amazing warm and sunny weather the past few weeks, February and Valentine's day always causes me a bit of wanderlust. Just as I was imagining a week abroad, I recieved this announcement for a cooking class featuring the Piedmont region of Italy. I will admit, I had to look up Turin, but it sounds wonderful. If you're experiencing some wanderlust, the entire announcement is listed below.

Also, if you haven't been in lately, the Winery is now carrying award -winning Estrella Family Creamery cheese, created locally in Montesano. Very worth the trip!

Join us at Westport Winery for the second stop following the travels of Jules Vernes’ intrepid adventurer Phileas Fogg as we travel to the Piedmont region of Italy. On Sunday, February 21, from 3p.m. to 5p.m. Chef Erin Worth, will share with students some of the secrets in creating authentic Piedmontese cuisine in her class called Destination Turin. Each of these five courses will be expertly paired with Westport’s award winning wines with an emphasis on selections made similar to those in the Italian tradition.

The class will start with bread and Bagna Coda (Bah-nya Kaw-dah) a classic dip comprised of olive oil, garlic, anchovies and spices. As an appetizer the class will learn to create an antipasto called Uova alla Sarda (Ew-oh-vah ah-la sar-dah) or Sardinian hard-boiled eggs paired with Pinot Noirvana. The next course will feature Panzanella (pahn-sahn-ella), a bread, tomato, and cucumber salad paired with Night Watch. The soup of the day is Mestra di cicerchie (may-strah dee chi-chair-kee) or chick-pea which will be paired with Charterboat Chick’s Cabernet Sauvignon. An entrée of Agnolotti(ah-nyuh-LAHT-tee), a Piedmontese stuffed pasta filled with meats and cheeses will round out the dinner menu paired with Jetty Cat Red. However, no meal is complete without dessert. And this is where Chef Worth will teach you to make Zabaglione (za-bal-yone) with a cookie that is hand dipped in chocolate to go with the custard complimented by Going Coastal, Westport’s sparkling Gewurztraminer.

The price to attend this class is $30 per person or $25 for wine club members. Reservations are required to attend this latest culinary adventure. For more information call Westport Winery at 360-648-2224.

Grayland Beach Shipwreck Find

2010-01-09T17:30:00.000-08:00

One neat area out here that we rarely get to explore is Washaway Beach. This is the beach area between North Cove and Tokeland that is known for recent rapid erosion that has in the past 5 or 10 years has caused huge parts of a neighborhood to fall into the ocean. The beach is kind of neat to walk (and sad, also because so many lost property there), because you can see old foundations and septic tanks and water pipes the have been abandoned where homes have washed away.

A coastal storm over New Years caused a little more erosion and also uncovered a bit of a treasure that has caused some excitement on the South Beach. An old shipwreck, about 100' long was found peeking through the sand. According to the Daily World, "they" believe the ship is the "Canadian Exporter", a freighter that went down in 1921 at the mouth of Willapa Harbor.

According to Rex Martin, the Executive Director of the Maritime Museum, its a pretty complicated process to determine who owns the salvage rights to the wreckage, and it would be a bit of a job to uncover the whole thing. So it sounds like it might just end up laying there until it breaks up into flotsam. But in the meantime, its a sight to behold.

We went down there this afternoon to check it out, and there were more people on the beach than I've ever seen down there, actually more than I've ever seen on a South Beach outside of a warm clam dig. The shipwreck itself is pretty cool. Definitely worth a look. To get there, drive south on the beach to just south of Warrenton Cannery Road, or drive South on highway 105 from Westport, and park on Warrenton Cannery Road and it's just south of the entrance.

Safety first! The county has posted "no trespassing" signs and built a sand barricade where the road has washed away, due to the danger involved in walking down there. Be mindful of the tides, and don't get caught out there in a storm.

Another great culinary class at the Westport Winery...

2010-01-06T14:46:00.001-08:00

The Westport Winery has announced their latest culinary class, which looks fabulous. One of these days, I will get a babysitter and check out Chef Worth.

From the Winery Announcement:

It’s time to begin the tour of the culinary world in eight days in 2010 at Westport Winery. Following the path of Jules Vernes intrepid adventurer, Phileas Fogg, the winery has crafted a calendar of world foods to explore this year.

The first destination is Paris, France, on Sunday, January 17, from 3p.m. to 5p.m. At this class the winery’s chef, Erin Worth, will teach and serve a five-course menu created for Francophiles. The appetizer course will feature petatou de chevre fraise, a potato tart, topped with fresh goat cheese from Estrella Family Creamery. This will be followed by bouillabaisse, a classic French shellfish and fish stew featuring fresh local seafood. A salade Niçoise will be served next, this is butterhead lettuce topped with potatoes, green beans, egg, olives, tomatoes, and tuna. The entrée will feature roulade de boeuf, braised beef stuffed with vegetables, breads, and meat. This gustatory experience will finish with a classic chocolate silk Napoleon pastry with vanilla Anglaise.

As always each course will be paired with one of Westport’s wines. The price to attend this class is $30 per person or $25 for wine club members. Reservations are required to attend this latest culinary adventure. For more information call Westport Winery at 648-2224.

Get married at the Beach! Learn how at the Harbor Bridal Show!

2010-01-04T12:15:00.000-08:00

The second annual Harbor Bridal Show is Saturday, January 9 at Westport Winery. From the venue to the food and wine, from the hair to the gown, and from the announcement to the music, this casual and personal presentation will help answer questions and offer suggestions on each aspect of wedding planning with the least stress while staying within a budget.

Paula Rudberg-Lowe, the editor of South Sound Event and Wedding Magazine will share current trends in wedding planning along with important etiquette considerations. The team from Dunsire’s Printers will offer suggestions on how to keep costs down and quality up on each piece of printed material.

Margaret Tingwall and Lorrie Walsh from Passion Salon will teach you how to create lovely hair, skin, and make-up for your bridal party. A bridal fashion show presented by Lorna’s Line will inspire you, while the designers from Bayside Floral will explore how to best compliment the gowns. Merrill Photography will show you how to capture both candid and staged memories that will last forever.

The Roberts’ family from Westport Winery will discuss various beverage and catering options. Suzie’s Cakes will offer samples and suggestions on how to be both original and traditional with the perfect wedding cake. Jenny Leighton and Lindell Stacy-Horton will perform music and highlight options to help you set the mood for your guests. And Journey Travel will explore some of the best means to find the perfect honeymoon.

Space is limited for this incredibly personal and educational one-day event so pre-registration is required. There is no charge to attend the Harbor Bridal Show. Brides-to-be and their guests can register for either the 10am to noon session or the 2-4pm session. Because of space limitations children are not invited to participate in this event.

Westport Winery is located on the corner of Highway 105 and South Arbor Road (halfway between Aberdeen and the Westport ‘Y’). The winery is open daily, year around from 11am to 6pm and after hours by reservation. For more information and registration call Westport Winery at 648-2224.

Razor Clam Season Set for 2009!

2009-10-11T23:02:00.000-07:00

Razor clam season tentatively set
to open in mid-October

Digging at all beaches will be restricted to the hours between noon and midnight.

Tentative opening dates and evening low tides in October are (the best time for digging is 1 - 2 hours before low tide):

Friday, Oct. 16 ( 5:50 p.m. -0.5 ft.)
Saturday, Oct. 17 (6:38 p.m. -0.8 ft.)
Sunday, Oct. 18 (7:23 p.m. -1.1ft.)
Monday, Oct. 19 (8:06 p.m. -1.1 ft.)

In addition, WDFW has tentatively scheduled four other digs through Jan. 3.

Digs scheduled in November include:

Wednesday, Nov. 4 (7:33 p.m. -1.3 ft.)
Thursday, Nov. 5 (8:18 p.m. -1.2 ft.)
Friday, Nov. 6 (9:07 p.m. -0.9 ft.)
Saturday, Nov. 7 (9:59 p.m. -0.5 ft.)
Saturday, Nov. 14 (4:34 p.m. -0.3 ft.)
Sunday, Nov. 15 (5:21 p.m. -0.7 ft.)
Monday, Nov. 16 (6:05 p.m. -0.9 ft.)
Tuesday, Nov. 17 (6:47 p.m. -0.8 ft.)

Digs scheduled December 2 through Jan. 3 include:

Wednesday, Dec. 2 (6:32 p.m. -1.2 ft.)
Thursday, Dec. 3 (7:18 p.m. -1.4 ft.)
Friday, Dec. 4 (8:04 p.m. -1.3 ft.)
Saturday, Dec. 5 (8:51 p.m. -0.9 ft.)
Thursday, Dec. 31 (6:16 p.m. -1.1 ft.)
Friday, Jan. 1 (7:01 p.m. -1.8 ft.)
Saturday, Jan. 2 (7:45 p.m. -1.6 ft.)
Sunday, Jan. 3 (8:29 p.m. -1.2 ft.)

The WDFW website lists "Twin Harbors" as the location for a 4 day clam dig. That is actually code for the 18 miles of beach that stretches from Willapa Bay to Grays Harbor, ie. Westport/Grayland/Tokeland.

I have made a little primitive map which shows where the best places to find Razor Clams are. If you want to go to Westhaven, I recommend following the map to Westport, then turning toward Westhaven State Park on Jetty Access Road. Park at the state park and walk down to the beach.

To try Grayland, you can access the beach either on Bonge Road or Grayland Beach Road. The area in between these two roads are prime razor clam habitat.

Good luck & happy Clamming!

Cranberry Festival Week! Grayland/Cranberry Coast

2009-10-04T22:43:00.000-07:00

I love autumn at the beach! The crowds are gone, the air is crisp, and most often, the sun is still out. We have been having the most wonderful late-summer-early-fall weather this year, and the weatherman is forecasting sunny skies through this weekend - Cranberry Fest weekend!

I love Cranberry Festival weekend, for the kitschy community festival, for the cranberry harvest tours, for the bog jog, but mostly, because I am one of those people who will do anything for a blue ribbon, I love Cranberry Fest weekend for the cranberry cookoff. Unfortunately, I will be headed south for a wedding, which leaves the cookie category up for grabs this year :) Haha.

If cooking is not your thing, there are other reasons to head to Grayland this weekend. There are harvest tours (by bus), there is a cranberry eating contest (have you ever tried to eat uncooked, unsweetened cranberries?), a "biggest berry" contest among the farmers, and some farm fresh cranberries to be purchased. There are also food vendors, cranberry crafts, and live entertainment. After you stuff yourself with fair food and kettle corn on Saturday, head to the bogs for a friendly 5k "Bog Jog" to work it off on Sunday morning. There may be nothing nicer than the quiet cranberry bog lined roads of Grayland for a fall workout.

Check out the Cranberry Coast Chamber for specifics!

Secrets From The Sea Beachcombing Great Lecture at Westport Winery

2009-10-04T22:41:00.000-07:00

Beachcombing is one of the best things about living on the coast. If you have ever wanted to know more about everything from sand dollars to agates, you are invited to attend the next free Great Lecture at Westport Winery. Secrets From The Sea will be presented by Gene Woodwick of the Ocean Shore InterpretiveCenter on Sunday, October 18 from 3-5pm. This class is open to all ages and is free to attend. Pre-registration is required as space is limited.

Gene became an Olympic Peninsula ethno-centric after she and her husband moved to Forks to teach in 1960. She cooked at the Sappho logging camp of Rayonier, Inc. when he was head teacher at the Beaver Elementary School. She later worked for the Port Angeles Evening News and the Associated Press as a hard news reporter covering the area from Lake Cresent south to Lake Quinault and from the ridge of the Olympic Mountains to 200 miles out into the Pacific Ocean. During this time she covered the development of Ocean Shores. She worked for over 32 years at King County newspapers as reporter, editor, and columnist for four newspapers specializing in land use, inter-governmental issues, logging and tourism.

Gene moved back to the coast in 1984 and worked for newspapers in OceanShores and as a freelance writer. She also worked at the Grays Harbor Economic Development Council, Grays Harbor Tourism and the Chehalis Fisheries Enhancement Task Force. In 1987 she was hired to develop the Interpretive where she now serves as the curator under the directorship of Neil Eldridge. Gene continues to write for the Puget Sound Historical Maritime Museum journal The Sea Chest and the Washington State Museum's journal The Columbian.

For more information call Westport Winery at 648-2224.Westport Winery is located on the corner of Highway 105 and South Arbor Road (halfway betweenAberdeen and the Westport ‘Y’). The winery is open daily, year around from 11amto 6pm.

Cranberry Festival Week! Grayland/Cranberry Coast

2009-10-03T22:42:00.000-07:00

Just in time for the 14^th Annual Cranberry Festival the Westport Winery is offering its latest culinary learning opportunity with a class called Cranberry Crazy. On Sunday, October 11, Chef Erin Worth will create, sample, and share five recipes utilizing locally grown cranberries. The five-course menu includes: Cranberry Mulled Wine, Bibb and Butternut Salad with Pumpkin Seeds and Cranberry Vinaigrette; Chorizo, Kale and Cranberry Bean Soup, Cranberry-Orange Quick Bread, Ruby Chicken, and Pear-Apple Cranberry Crisp. The price to attend this class is $25 per person or $20 for wine club members. And don’t forget to stop by the winery to taste one of three wines made with cranberries on your way to the Cranberry Festival in Grayland on Saturday and Sunday, October 10 and 11.

Reservations are required to attend this latest culinary adventure. For more information call Westport Winery at 648-2224.Westport Winery is located on the corner of Highway 105 and South Arbor Road (halfway between Aberdeen and the Westport ‘Y’). The winery is open daily, year around from 11am to 6pm.

Crush me, Squeeze me, Make me wine (at the beach)

2009-10-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a grape-stomping good time? Just head to Westport Winery on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, October 2, 3, and 4 to participate in their annual Crush Me, Squeeze Me, Make Me Wine At The Beach Festival from 11am to 6pm. The winery will provide bins of grapes for you to stomp your way into purple-footed bliss. The featured “stomp grape” this year is Merlot with plenty of fresh wine grape sampling to boot.

On Saturday, October 3 at 5pm the winery will hold their Lucy and Ethyl Look-Alike Contest featuring guest judges...last year’s Lucy and Ethyl. This contest is open to men, women, children, and dogs with one pair of winners selected from each category. All ages are welcome to attend this fun-filled event featuring live music from classical guitarist Scott Lindenmuth along with Italian wedding soup as the hearty repast to get you in the mood of this Tuscan tradition.

This event is free and all ages are welcome at the winery. Wine is available to purchase by the taste, glass, or bottle. Reservations are not necessary to participate in this event just stop by Westport Winery located on the corner of Highway 105 and South Arbor Road (halfway between Aberdeen and the Westport ‘Y’). For more information call Westport Winery at 648-2224.

One Eyed Crab in the NY Times

2009-09-06T12:14:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love to see their name in lights? We recently saw our local crab eatery written up in the NY Times. Check it out here, then head to the beach for some deep fried crab legs. Totally worth the drive!

The One Eyed Crab, 2309 Westhaven Drive, Westport, Wash.; (360) 268-0891.

This just in... Half Moon Bay Bar & Grill takes home another Blue Ribbon - 1st place at Bite of Seattle

2009-07-17T15:35:00.000-07:00

We couldn't be prouder! The Half Moon Bay Bar & Grill bested out 61 other restaurants in a competition judged by 4 independent food critics to take home the #1 entree at Bite of Seattle. Not bad for a little seafood shack on the marina!

Congratulations to brother Donovan & his crew!

If you're in the City this weekend, head over to Seattle Center and give a shout out to Team Half Moon Bay Bar & Grill!

Eastside Street Rod Association Westport, WA Show & Shine

2009-07-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

I am lucky enough to be married to a carhound, so anytime we are within sniffing distance of a classic, unique, or otherwise noteworth auto, I get dragged along. As my Dad likes to joke "it's better than a pretty girl to him".

This weekend, July 17 - 19, is a special treat in Westport, because it's the Eastside Street Rod Association's Westport Rod Run.

The Eastside Street Rodders will be hitting Westport in style, parading up and down Westhaven drive and creating a beautiful spectacle of pre-1949 classic automobiles. We will be the lucky ones, watching and peering into windows, and establishing an early love for classics in our 3 year old and 7 month old sons. I'm not sure if there is a specific schedule or times that they drive around, but you can usually catch them mid day on the Marina.

If you're headed to the beach be sure to take a cruise down to the Marina and check out these beauties. If you miss them, they'll be staying at Mc Bee's on the main drag into town, and that's a fun sight as well.

See you at the beach!

Windriders Kite Festival at the Beach in Grayland - July 10-12

2009-07-07T12:19:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year, Kite Festival time! I've written before about why I love the Windriders Kite Festival, but there is of course, more to the story than what I noticed in my experience. Evening Magazine profiled Jerry Cannon and the World Champion Sport Kite team, who will be competing at this weekend's Windriders Festival.

The past 2 years I spent most taking photos of the kites, but this year, I will definitely pay more attention to the actual skilled kite flying taking place.

For some details:

The Festival takes place at Grayland Beach Park. For directions, google map "Grayland Beach Road" in Grayland, WA. It's about 5 minutes south from Westport.

It's pretty casual, if you're just there to watch you can drive onto the beach, or park at access road, and just walk around. There is an information booth that opens from noon - 3ish on Friday, 9am -4pm on Saturday and 9am -3pm on Sunday. Those times are approximate and probably vary depending on the volunteers that are working it :) Check out their flyer at the Windriders Club site for a little more information.

See you at the Beach!

Old Fashioned Fourth of July at the Maritime Museum

2009-07-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

I am totally late on this one... the whole point of this blog is to get information out to all of you in ADVANCE of things happening, but between the babies and a technical conference I was attending in Seattle last week, I didn't get a chance to post about all the things happening in town on the Fourth of July. But I can't skip it because this is one of those holidays that this town does right. And by this town, I mean the Westport-South Beach Historical Society.

The Old Fashioned Fourth of July at the Maritime Museum is the cutest

small town festival you could ever lay your eyes on. First of all, there is probably no prettier place than the front lawn of the Maritime Museum on a sunny day, secondly, many of the volunteers have been doing this for years, and are the friendliest bunch of seniors you ever met, and finally, the Maritime Museum flies its GIANT American Flag, which just makes it feel like 4th of July.

I love this event for all of those things, but mostly for its unpretentiousness. There are silly little homemade carnival games for the kids. Yes, the prize is a tootsie roll, but yes, my 3 year old still loves it. This is where you take your family to appreciate the simple things. Strawberry

Shortcake, hot dogs, root beer floats, and nothing costs more than a few dollars. The cake walk is a hoot, a real live piano player and people who are geniuinely happy to win a simple home baked cake. The silent auction? Well, okay, this part I actually don't understand, because a lot of the items looks like regifted Christmas presents, more like a garage sale than a silent auction, but hey, nobody's perfect :)

It's great to bring a picnic blanket and just hang out and watch all the people wandering in from the Marina, listen to music, and play a few games. Like everything in Westport, its also very pet

friendly, and there are lots of well behaved four legged friends hanging around watching the action.

This year they added a blues festival to the end of the event, and unfortunately, 2 children under 3 and concerts don't mix, so I have nothing to report. But I highly do recommend this Old Fashioned Fourth of July to all families looking for a slower change of pace on your next Independence Day at the beach!

Half Moon Bay Bar & Grill takes 1st at Taste of Tacoma

2009-06-27T09:41:00.000-07:00

This just in... the Half Moon Bay Bar & Grill won 1st place for best entree at the Taste of Tacoma for their crab cakes. If you're in Tacoma today, go check them out!

Better yet, come see us at the beach :)

Stand up paddle ... flat water in Westport

2009-06-26T08:06:00.000-07:00

So, the experiment has proved my hypothesis true - stand up paddling in Elk River is FUN and EASY (sort of). We went out last Sunday and it was a little choppy due to the incoming tide, but it was a blast. We paddled from the duck club boat launch almost to the bridge and back. It was a short excursion, not more than half an hour, because the sun was getting ready to go down and my babysitter was turning into a pumpkin, but we had a lot of fun.

Some notes:

(1) You can paddle without a wetsuit. Even though it was not super sunny, I wore shorts & a sweater. We also used our PFD's since it was our first time and we weren't sure if we'd fall in or get swept out to sea :) (Us mom's have to think like that).

(2) As a Hawaii girl, I'm still way more comfortable in the ocean. Muddy river bottoms take some getting used to.

(3) There is a ton of wildlife out there in the Elk River Estuary. We saw a lot of birds I couldn't name, a sea otter (or maybe he was seal) and little fish jumping right around our boards. I'm sure if I wasn't concentrating so hard on standing up, I'd have seen more.

We'll try a couple of other places and keep you posted, especially as the weather gets warmer.

Pirate Daze are here... 2009 Edition

2009-06-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

It's Pirate Daze time, and I'm pretty excited because for the first time, I planned ahead and got my boys Pirate costumes ahead of time (and well, this is the first Pirate Daze for the baby). They look darned cute in their pirate hats, and I've got my fingers crossed that they will actually wear them & smile for my camera. If they do, I'll be sure to innundate you with photos.

Since the Rusty Scupper Pirate website is a little hard to follow, I thought I'd post the schedule of some of the highlighted events here (Note that most activities happen along Westhaven Drive in the Westport Marina District, and you can pick up a "South Beach Bulletin" the free weekly paper and there is an insert with all the details on the Pirate Days Festival):

Friday, June 26, 2009:

12:00 noon, festival opens, Games open in Scallywag Alley

3:00 pm Mini Brig Battle in the marina

4:00 pm B.O.O.M Pirates Show (Black Powder)

4:30 pm Treasure Chest Drawings

5:00 pm Espresso Drama "Shiver me Timbers"

Lady Washington & Hawaiian Cheiftain Tall Ship Tours

6:00 pm Captain Jack Sparrow Look Alike Contest

Saturday, June 27, 2009

10:00 am Festival opens

10am - 1pm Tall ships tours

11:30 am Costume contest for amatuer pirates, wenches & Scallywags

1:00 pm B.O.O.M Pirate Performace

2 - 5 pm Tall Ships Battle Cruise (Boards at 1:30)

6 - 9 pm Tall Ships Battle Cruise (Baords at 5:30)

Sunday, June 28, 2009

10:00 am Festival opens

11:30 Professional Pirate Costume Contest

12:30 noon B.O.O.M. show

So go shiver thy timbers (whatever that means), and have a piratey great time! If you see two adorable little baby boys in pirate costumes with their mama, say hi, it's probably me :)

Congratulations to our Westport Winery!

2009-06-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

Grays Harbor’s own Westport Winery garnered amazing recognition in the summer issue of Wine Press Northwest, the region’s preeminent publication on the wine industry. The magazine evaluates wines from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Canada and publishes reviews of those they find worthy of an “Outstanding”, “Excellent”, or “Recommended” rating. Seventeen of Westport Winery’s initial offering earned high acclaim.

Wines rated “outstanding” are considered to “have superior characteristics and should be highly sought after.” Those rated “excellent” are known as “top-notch wines with particularly high qualities.” And wines which are “recommended” are “delicious, well-made wines with true varietal characteristics.” The editors of this prestigious journal headquartered in the tri-cities—the heart of Washington’s wine country—state “recent releases are evaluated under strict conditions to ensure objectivity.” The panelists know neither the producer nor the variety. At least three of four of the professional evaluators have to vote the wines into contention for these awards.

Among their red wines, their 2007 Charterboat Chick’s Cabernet Sauvignon and 2007 Boom Runner Reserve Merlot were rated “excellent”. The 2007 Surfer’s Last Syrah garnered an “outstanding” while the Swimmer’s Last Syrah was “recommended”. The winery’s Jetty Cat Red was rated “excellent” with the note that “This is an up-and-coming winery…”

In an article titled “Proud to be Pink” Westport’s non-vintage Bog Berry Blush was “recommended” as “an enjoyable sipper with unmistakable aromas and flavors of cranberries and raspberries.”

In the white wine category the 2007 Shorebird Chardonnay received an “excellent” which may be one reason this vintage sold out before the end of 2007. The Roberts family is particularly proud of their Elk River Riesling and Captain Grays Gewurztraminer and that was proven correct with the wines garnering an “outstanding” and an “excellent” respectively. As the basic components of Bordello Blonde and Lighthouse White it is therefore no surprise that these two wines were rated "outstanding” and “recommended.”

Westport as especially pleased to earn an “outstanding” rating in the sparkling wine category for their carbonated cranberry wine, Rapture of the Deep, made exclusively from Ocean Spray fruit. Also on the fruit wine front both their Little Wild Blackberry Riesling and Message In A Bottle—their all blackberry wine—were “recommended.” And it was no surprise to find their top two most popular wines, Duckleberry Grunt and Red Sky At Night with “excellent” rank, proving that the Grays Harbor community knows how to evaluate wine as well as anyone in the industry.

Shiver Me Timbers, their 2007 vintage Ice Wine earned an “excellent” review. This wine is another that sold out earlier this year. The 2008 Shiver Me Timbers will be released over Pirate Daze weekend and is a Late Harvest Riesling.

The acknowledgements wrapped up with a “recommended” given to their port-style wine called Shelter From The Storm. Of it the editors said, “A blend of Northwest cranberries, blackberries and blueberries is created in a tasty style that’s akin to a SweeTart.”

For this new business, these accolades from industry critics confirm what their guests have been saying for over a year when they wrote, “A tribute to the Grays Harbor estuary on theWashington coast…”

Stand Up Paddling for Beginners & Elk River, here I come!

2009-06-08T10:17:00.000-07:00

During a recent trip to Hawaii, I was able to try out Stand up paddling for the first time. If you're not familiar with the sport, its an ancient-sport-come-new-fad that has become the hot new thing in watersports. I've been watching the sport get more and more popular, and finally had a chance to try it.

The first day, I went with friends at Camp Mokuleia beach. It was a beautiful day, but the water was far from flat. I never managed to get beyond my knees. My 9-year old nephew did great though, he was up and paddling in no time. It was one of those really hot, no-trade-winds days, so great for just bobbing in the water anyway. We did spy a few sea turtles which made it all worthwhile.

I decided to take a lesson a few days later at Haleiwa. I called Rainbow Watersports and booked a morning lesson with Heidi. We met near the memorial at Haleiwa and did about 5 minutes of paperwork. Then she gave me a 15 minute primer on the sand, explaining basic paddle strokes and walking me through how we were going to launch the board and stand up.

The hardest part of the whole lesson - schlepping an 11' board down to waters edge and back. I am super uncoordinated, and I was able to stand up almost immediately. It was so cool. The best way to describe it is like kayaking standing up - it requires a lot more balance and concentration than kayaking, and you don't get to rest (unless you want to get down and lay on your board). We paddled across Haleiwa beach to the river, under the Anahulu Bridge and down to the end of that little stream. I grew up about 20 minutes from there and had never been back that way. I was amazed at how pretty it was. Along the way, Heidi gave instruction in different turns and manuevers.

The weather, of course, was to die for. At 8:00 in the morning, it was already about 80 degrees out. So when I got a scare from a sea turtle under my board and fell into the water, it was a welcome break from the heat. I fell one other time, when Heidi was showing me different stances on the board. Other than that, it was a really natural and intuitive thing.

Now that I'm back in Westport, I am itching to go paddling again. I have seen a couple of guys paddle surfing in front of the condos, but I think I will stick with the flat water. I'm looking to get a big board and take it out on Elk River (the river that passes by Brady's Oysters). If anyone is interested in trying a flat water paddle out here, send me an email at sup@vacationbythesea.com. I'll be checking it out and writing more about it.

In the meantime, if you find yourself in Hawaii, I highly recommend Heidi at Rainbow Watersports. She does a great job and the lesson price includes the board and paddle. It was a totally awesome experience.

Westport Winery’s 2009 Bottling and Production Tour & BBQ

2009-06-05T13:01:00.000-07:00

Westport Winery’s second free bottling and production tour for 2009 is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7. Bottling will begin at 8am both days and will run until 6pm. The winery already has plenty of volunteers who will be working on the bottling line, so this is simply a chance to come and observe the process while enjoying the scenic vineyards and farm. There is no charge to watch the action and all ages are welcome. Bill Hamlin, of Custom Mobile Bottling in Benton City will again keep the line rolling. You are encouraged come to meet or reacquaint yourself with Bill and see his incredible bottling truck.

The winery will be bottling their 2008 reds including the much anticipated Pinot Noirvana. (This wine will not be released for purchase until September 25 during the Kurt Cobain Memorial Committee’s Lounge Acts weekend.) The winery is also bottling several new fruit blends this weekend for release throughout the summer including Pineapple Express and Dawn Patrol.

As part of the weekend’s open house, guests are invited to enjoy a barbecue picnic from 11am to 3pm. Catered by Sherrie Rust and Jaymie Towle of Westport Event and Wedding Planning, visitors may purchase of lunch of beef bratwurst or hot dogs on hoagie rolls, homemade pasta rotini with fresh vegetables, potato salad, Heath and chocolate chunk cookies, chips, and a beverage. The price for this lunch is $10. Reservations are not required for this fun outdoor picnic.

Vehicle access to the production barn is limited so guests should wear appropriate footwear as the trail to the barn is not paved. Those with mobility issues should check in at the tasting room and someone from the team will escort them to the production area.

The winery is open daily, year around from 11am to 6pm, and after hours by reservation. For more information call Westport Winery at 648-2224. Westport Winery is located on the corner of Highway 105 and South Arbor Road (halfway between Aberdeen and the Westport ‘Y’).

Yappy Hour at the Westport Winery

2009-05-31T12:38:00.000-07:00

Love tasting wine? Love your pet? Love Sunday afternoons relaxing in the sun? You can have it all every Sunday, 1pm to 3pm from June through August at Westport Winery.

Join the lovely folks at the Westport Winery for Yappy Hour on the Winery patio with your canine companion. (No adult beverages for the pets, water bowls are provided.) It’s the perfect time to hone those socialization skills (yours and your pets). All ages—dogs and people – are welcome at the winery. Wine tasting and purchasing wine by the glass or bottle is available to those over 21.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of various wines benefits local animal-friendly charities: including the Coastal Animal Rescue and Adoption (CARA), Harbor Association of Volunteers for Animals (HAVA), and Grays Harbor PAWS.

Westport Winery is located on the corner of Highway 105 and South Arbor Road (halfway between Aberdeen and Westport). For more information call Westport Winery at 648-2224. The winery is open daily from 11am to 6pm year around, and additionally until 9pm on Friday and Saturday evenings from June through August.

After the Yappy Hour, come and bring your pup to the beach for a well deserved vacation! Dogs love the beach!

Fleur de Lis Festival for Flag Day at Westport Winery!

2009-05-29T12:54:00.000-07:00

Join the Westport Winery in celebrating Flag Day with their Sweet Flag Irises or Fleur de Lis Festival on Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and 14 from noon to 5pm. This free event will highlight all things Francophile in a tribute to the long history of French wine, cheese and chocolate making.

In the new culinary herb garden the Roberts family has built a Petanque Court. The game is similar to Bocce with the goal to throw aluminum balls as close to the “jack” as possible. This is a sport often played in French villages. Throughout the weekend the winery will host a Petanque challenge with prizes for the winners.

This new garden space will increase the area available for the winery’s sculpture garden. Sculpture garden artists will be selling some of their work in the garden in the style of a French market. Classical guitarist Scott Lindenmuth will be playing in the winery’s Gathering Room on both days.

And Chef Erin Worth will offer Fleur de Lis French Onion Soup for those who wish to purchase food while listening to music and tasting wine. A series of French cheeses and chocolates will also be available for tasting and purchase.

All these festivities will be set against the backdrop of the winery’s 10,000 irises (which may or may not be in bloom on this date, but everyone is keeping their fingers crossed.) There is no charge to attend this inaugural Fleur de Lis Festival.

Westport Winery is open daily between 11am and 6pm to guests of all ages and is located on the corner of Highway 105 and South Arbor Road (halfway between Aberdeen and the Westport ‘Y’).

Whale Watching off the Westport Coast

2009-05-23T00:31:00.001-07:00

This past weekend, as we were recovering from an amazing Cleanwater Classic, and enjoying the fabulous weather on the beach in front of Westport by the Sea, we noticed something that we've heard a lot about but never witnessed first hand - a pod of grey whales. It's a little hard to describe, and if I didn't see it with my own eyes, I probably would not have believed how close they were to shore - maybe 200 feet. Close enough to see the barnacles on their skin!

Since Sunday, we have heard from many neighbors that the Whales have been spotted offshore along the beach from the Jetty south all week long. It's an amazing sight, and one well worth the drive. I was not able to catch a picture, since you're never quite sure where they will surface, and I'm simply not that patient.

Here is a link the Washington Department of Ecology page on whale migrations off the Washington Coast, as well as the American Cetacean Society Gray Whale Page. Hope you can see these special creatures yourself!

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/coast/animals/gray_whale.html
http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/graywhl.htm

Springtime means Crab Races

2009-04-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

This weekend bring Westport's Annual "World Famous" Crab Races, Crab Feed, and Crab Derby. It also brings a forecast for SUNSHINE! So come on down to the beach and check out the crazy event known as crab races. As I've written in past years, its a wacky event, kids love it, but probably not a favorite of animal rights lovers. It consists of a big tent, a sloped table, and a lot of screaming and pounding, you can't imagine - you just have to come check it out.

Here's the details:

Crab Derby:
8:00 AM Saturday - Noon Sunday
$5 per ticket
You can bring your own crab pot or rent one from one of the many marina-front businesses that rent them. The local crab fishermen will "seed" the marina with crab, so there should be lots of them to catch. I'm not sure how they mark the crabs, but prizes for certain crabs caught will be distributed on Sunday. (The derby goes from ).

Crab Races:
Registration: 11:00 AM Saturday
Races: 1:00 - 5:00 PM Saturday
Entry fees: $2 to Race your own crab, $3 and they will provide a crab for you.
This is in the big parking lot down on the marina district. Drive down to Westhaven, near the Islander and the big Blue Viewing Tower, and look for the white tent ("The Crab Pavilion"). You can't miss it. I believe it actually costs $2 to enter the Crab Pavilion as well.

Crab Feed:
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday
$15 Whole Crab Dinner (includes salad, baked beans, garlic bread & beverage)
$10 Half Crab Dinner (includes salad, baked beans, garlic bread & beverage)
$4 Hot Dog & Pop
$4 Wine or Beer
$4 Shrimp Cocktail

If the idea of mass shellfish dinners doesn't appeal to you (and some people are weird about festival food, I get it), check out the races, and then walk across the street to the Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill (kitty corner to the Blue Tower, in the Islander Hotel), and have a Surf Melt and Clam Chowder to satisfy your seafood craving. Or go crazy and just have a Bloody Mary for lunch, it's Washington's best, after all!

See you at the Beach!

April 19: Westport Winery Great Lecture Series: Birds & the Bees

2009-04-14T09:37:00.000-07:00

Do you know about the birds and the bees? If not, maybe you should attend Westport Winery’s next Great Lecture called “Learning About The Birds And The Bees”. Although it may not include what you first think, you will garner valuable information. This seminar will feature Dianna Moor and Erin Potter, both longtime gardeners who will teach you about the best habitat to create in your own garden to promote healthy pollinators. This free class will be held at the winery on Sunday, April 19 from 3-5pm.

Dianna Moor has been a Master Gardener since 2006, an avid birder for a decade, and serves on the board of the Grays Harbor Audubon Society. In her portion of the class Moor will talk about gardening with native plants in order to provide food, shelter, and nesting opportunities for birds. “I hope those who attend my talks will go home and look at their gardens through new eyes.” She wants you to ask yourself if your garden is full of plants that look lovely for a few short months, but don't provide anything for the birds, butterflies, or bees.

Moor said the second step in the analysis of your garden is listening. “Do you hear any birds in your yard besides crows, starlings and house sparrows? If that is all you are hearing, you probably have too much lawn.” Moor will teach you what to plant to attract birds, and how to keep them in your yard. You will also learn how you can help rid your space of bugs, mosquitoes, and yes, crane flies! It's all about the plants. She said it’s also critical to use products in your home garden that promote a healthy environment for animals, plants, and people.

Erin Potter, a member of the Organic Beekeeping Society said her instruction will offer a similar view in terms of bees. She will begin with an overview of the conventional hive structure. She will then educate everyone on the cycles and functions of worker bees, drones and queen bees. And she will finish her conversation with details on the natural cycle of a honeybee colony in a temperate (four-season) climate.

Potter has been gardening for eight years and bases many of her organic beekeeping practices on the organic gardening practices she has learned. Potter is a mother and instructor at Grays Harbor Community College. She is also a Lieutenant Commander in the Coast Guard Reserves where she writes emergency plans and practice emergency exercises.

In coordination with the Roberts family, Erin is placing a hive on the winery property on April 26. This is just one strategy implemented by Westport Winery and Vineyards By-the-Sea in the Salmon Safe program’s habitat enhancement section.

Westport Winery is open daily between 11am and 6pm. For more information or reservations on this class call the winery at 360-648-2224. Westport Winery is located on the corner of Highway 105 and South Arbor Road (halfway between Aberdeen and the Westport ‘Y’). For early notification on all of Westport Winery’s Great Lectures, Culinary Classes, Concerts, and Festivals email: WineClub@WestportWines.com to have your email address added to their early notification list.

Just in case you were keeping score...

2009-02-11T13:16:00.001-08:00

After yesterday's snowstorms, its 50 degrees and sunny outside, and perfect NW beach weather!

Schizophrenic Coastal Weather

2009-02-10T09:10:00.000-08:00

We are having that kind of late Winter Coastal Schizophrenia, not in the clinical term, but in the "she isn't sure if she's Dr. Jekyl or Mr. Hyde" terminology. Yesterday, it we had 10 minute bouts of snow, wind, bright sunshine, and light rain, all day long. Just as it was getting sunny enough to get the kids dressed to walk down to the playground, it would start to rain. Just as we were starting to resign ourselves to playing in the rain, the sun would come out.

And just as I had given up, we had the most beautiful sunset.

There's an old saying out here - if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes... it rang particularly true today!

The end of an Era: Saying Goodbye to Neddie Rose Farrington

2008-05-03T20:37:00.000-07:00

Here in Westport, a lot has changed over the past 4 years, but some things don't change. This is a small community, everyone knows everyone, and if you need something: dinner, advice, seek out Neddie Rose.

Neddie Rose Farrington was the unofficial matriarch of the South Beach. The owner and operator of the Islander Motel & Charters for over 40 years, she was the very living heartbeat of the Marina. She was a hardworking business woman who ran a tight ship. Even after her retirement, when she visited the Islander for lunch and one of her old employees stopped to say hello, Neddie would bark "are you on a break?!"

I personally only met her a few times. I can recall her sharply criticizing the new Islander owner for having too many employees, and not working hard enough. She scolded him, going step by step in detail how she would run it in her day, stopping every few minutes to offer to come in a shape up his staff.

I had heard for years of the love story, how she cared for her husband who was injured in World War 2 for over 50 years. I have heard from countless old timers how she fed them, offered advice, or loaned some money when they were in need.

She was a beautiful woman who had lived an amazing life. The kind of woman you can only hope to be like.

Neddie's family will be holding a Memorial Service on Saturday, May 10, at Ocosta High School at 1PM. A reception will follow, to be announced at the service.

Last Dig of the Season! And the Shorebirds!

2008-04-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

Twin Harbors Beach and Long Beach will be open for morning digging May 3-7, while Copalis and Mocrocks will be open only on May 4-5. No digging will be allowed after noon on any beach. Kalaloch Beach will remain closed.

Details at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov

Happy Hunting!!

And if clam digging doesn't float your boat, Grays Harbor will be celebrating the Shorebirds this weekend as well. www.shorebirdfestival.com for more info.

See you at the beach!

Weather at the Beach

2008-04-15T15:13:00.000-07:00

We have a saying out on the coast: "If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes". I have some great photos from 2 weeks ago with the kids out on the beach in t-shirts, and evidence of patches of snow from an earlier snowfall that depicts this well.

The weather was particluarly playful this past weekend, with 70 degrees and sunshine on Saturday, and then 50's and drizzly on Sunday. Mother nature giveth and then Mother Nature taketh away.

In any case, Spring has sprung, the days are longer, and the path is full of families on bikes and on foot experiencing the splendor. It's nice to get a deep breath of ocean air and look forward to the summer ahead!

Westport Winery Grand Opening

2008-03-27T23:04:00.001-07:00

I was able to get a sneak taste of the new Westport Winery wines, and also dropped in on their debut at the Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill... I will try to post photos and more details soon, but definitely if you can make it to their grand opening on Sunday March 30, you really should. What the Roberts family has done there is really something amazing. Their facility is beautiful, the wines are great, and they have a huge selection of wines, which is impressive for their first year.

The winery is not quite halfway to Westport from Aberdeen on highway 105 (if you're familiar with Lily Lane, they are just to the East). You can stop, taste the wines, buy your favorite bottle, and stock up on snacks and supplies for a beach picnic.

April Clam digs at Grayland and Westport Beaches

2008-03-26T23:07:00.000-07:00

WDFW declared 2 weekends in April open for clam digging! This marks a new season, so if you buy the annual pass, its time to get a new one.

Here are the details:

Tentative early-April dates and low tides are:

Sunday, April 6, 7:23 a.m., -0.7 ft: Long Beach and Twin Harbors only

Monday, April 7, 8:09 a.m., -1.2 ft: Long Beach and Twin Harbors only

Tuesday, April 8, 8:55 a.m., -1.5 ft: Long Beach and Twin Harbors only

Wednesday, April 9, 9:43 a.m., -1.4 ft: Twin Harbors only

Tentative mid-April dates and low tides are:

Saturday, April 19, 6:40 a.m., -0.1 ft: Long beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks

Sunday, April 20, 7:18 a.m., -0.4 ft: Long beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks

Monday, April 21, 7:55 a.m., -0.6 ft: Twin Harbors only

Tuesday, April 22, 8:30 a.m., -0.6 ft: Twin Harbors only

Wednesday, April 23, 9:06 a.m., -0.5 ft: Twin Harbors onl

Again, Twin Harbors include the beaches between the South Jetty of Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay. Tokeland, Grayland, and Westport area each great places to stay if you are coming down for a dig. And if you aren't much a clamdigger, but you're curious about razor clams, the Half Moon Bay Bar & Grill has a razor clam basket, with clams fresh from local beaches.

Happy digging!

Westport and Grayland March Clam Digs

2008-03-04T00:37:00.001-08:00

Don't forget about this weekend's clam dig - it's a long one - 6 days, a gift from WDFW for last month's bad weather!

Opening dates and tides are:

March 7, Friday, 6:21 p.m., +0.3: Twin Harbors only

March 8, Saturday, 6:58 p.m., +0.5: Twin Harbors and Longbeach only

March 9, Sunday, 8:28 a.m., +0.3: Twin Harbors and Longbeach only (switch to morning tides)

March 10, Monday, 9:12 a.m., 0.0: Twin Harbors only

March 11, Tuesday, 9:59 a.m., -0.1: Twin Harbors only

March 12, Wednesday, 10:51 a.m., 0.0: Twin Harbors only

Here is a repost of my map of the Twin Harbors clam dig areas. I think the Grayland area is better for first timers, because there are so many people out there and you're more likely to find someone to give you pointers.

Happy hunting!

Beach Glass Treasures in Westport and Grayland

2008-03-04T00:14:00.000-08:00

On a recent weekend road trip to Ocean Shores, I met an artist who happens to be a neighbor here in Westport. Beth is the proprietor of Seashore Collections, a small art studio that specializes in Beach Glass Jewelry. She was participating in small beachcombers fair there at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. Beth had some of her jewelry on display and for sale, and it was so beautiful.

She told me that she finds almost all of her glass on the Westport and Grayland Beaches. I love that. I love hearing about finding treasure. I don't have the patience to comb the beaches and find cool stuff. I try to keep my head down when I walk the beach in front of our home, but I don't really have the patience (and now I'm usually chasing my 2 year old). But the payoff is gorgeous, as you can see in these pictures.

To own a piece of beach treasure without the long walk, find Beth on ebay (search for Seashore Collections Westport), or at one of Westport's many street fairs this summer.

Grayland Driftwood Show

2008-03-01T12:49:00.000-08:00

The Cranberry Coast Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its 46th Annual Driftwood Show on March 15 and 16, 2008 at the Grayland Community Hall. I have wanted to attend this for years, and am looking forward to finally making it this year.

You can purchase a "hunting license" for $3, which entitles you to "hunt" in designated locations on Grayland Beach for a specially marked sand dollar. If you find one, you can exchange it for a glass float. It looks like a lot of fun - who doesn't love a treasure hunt?

Additionally, there will be tons of driftwood, flotsam, jetsam, and the like on display (and being judged for awards). You can enter your interesting driftwood and beachcombing finds, as well as photography on Friday afternoon or early Saturday morning. For more information, check out the Cranberry Coast Chamber's website at http://www.cranberrycoastcoc.com/driftwood2003.html

Good luck!

Winter Beach Day

2008-02-23T21:48:00.000-08:00

After a long hard winter, full of 133 miles per hour winds, weeks on end of overcast weather, and the most rain I have seen since I moved here, we are having a fantastic February. This past week we have been treated to clear skies, a fantastic lunar eclipse, and warm (for winter) weather. The weatherman is forecasting 50's and sunny for the next few days, and we are taking advantage of as much sunshine as we can get our hands on.

As an added bonus, the end of winter and beginning of spring means the start of shorebirding season. I am looking forward to seeing what kinds of birds the recent clearing at the Links site might bring, as well as the changes made a Bottle Beach State Park. Today, we enjoyed the sandpipers on the beach here in Westport.

Entertaining the Family in Westport

2008-02-23T21:24:00.000-08:00

People always ask me what there is to do in Westport. It's a pretty simple place, after all. So, I thought that I would share my family's list of our favorite things to do. We have a almost-2 year old, and a 2 year old cousin, a 4 year old cousin, a 6 year old cousin and an 8 year old Cousin.

(1) Visit the playgrounds at one of Westport's many public parks. Here is a shot from the Westport City Park, which is behind Anchor Bank off of Montesano (look for the green sign). There is also a great playground at the Ocosta School (you can see it from the parking lot) as well as behind the lighthouse (I'm not sure if this one is supposed to be private for the Coast Guard housing, but it's not locked). Also a small playground for those staying at Westport by the Sea is convenient for smaller children.

(2) Go to the beach. No tools, no toys, no equipment required. Kids love the beach. And Westport and Grayland are special because the auto traffic is low compared to the North Beaches. My son and his cousins can spend hours, in the warm and cold weather, combing the beach, finding treasures, chasing birds, running from the waves, digging in the sand.

(3) Maritime Museum. There is a special discovery room for small children with learning toys and games on all things nautical, including a full size whale skeleton. The Historical Society also runs the tours to the lighthouse, but note if you have children shorter than 40", they won't be allowed to climb.

(4) Fish off the pier, go clam digging, drop a crab pot, anything to bring the kids a little closer to their dinner. Even if you've never done it before, if you go to Angler Charters on the marina, they will set you up with everything you need to drop a hook and tell you what you might be finding at that particular time of year (all for about $40). Clam guns can be purchased at the Red Apple for about $12. Crab pots can be rented up and down the marina. Licenses are also available at various locations on the marina, but often times, the kids don't need them. There are few things more satisfying to most kids than cooking and eating something they helped catch.

(5) Bike or walk along the Westhaven State Park path. Park either at Westport Light State Park or Westhaven State Park, and bring out your bikes, skates, or feet for a nice mile walk (2 miles round trip). For more exercise, you can walk from Westport Light State Park to the Marina, but that is about 5 miles round trip. This provides some interesting signage, deer sighting, I've even seen eagles out there. There are typically not a lot of people out there, this is not the Burke Gilman Trail, so bring your slowest family members, and don't worry about having folks yell "on your left" as you take the time to smell the beach grass.

Other things that are fun include kite flying, paddle boats (on the marina), watching the surfers, shopping in the Marina, and bowling. Of course, in the summer time, just getting a ice cream cone from Whale of a Cone and sitting out in the sunshine is a treat in itself.

See you at the beach!

Crack Crab for Kids

2008-02-21T16:23:00.000-08:00

The 11th Annual Ocosta Schools Booster Club annual Crab and Spaghetti Feed is taking place this weekend, Feburary 23, from noon to 8PM at the Ocosta Rec Hall. Tickets are $20 for those over 13 and $10 for those 6 - 12, and free for kids under 5. All proceeds will be used to provide scholarships, sports uniforms and equipment, camps, and provide support for various programs of the Ocosta Jr/Sr High School.

Go get some yummy fresh crab and support local students at the same time!

Valentines Dinner, by the light of the ... destruction island lens

2008-02-13T16:23:00.000-08:00

It's not too late to get take your sweet someone out for a romantic evening they will not soon forget. The South Beach Historical Society hosts a Valentines Dinner, with a 4-course meal and a bottle of wine for each couple, set by the light of the Destruction Island Lens, in the comfort of the lens house. Wine and dine your special girl or guy and help support the mission of Westport south Beach Historical Society all at the same time!

For tickets, call or visit the Westport Maritime Museum at 360-268-0078, they are $90/couple and include dinner and a bottle of wine.

March 2008 Clam Digs

2008-02-13T16:14:00.000-08:00

Since the weather was so bad at last month's digs, the WDFW has decided to open a very long March Dig at Twin Harbors - March 7 - 12, 2008. March 7 and 8 will be morning digs, and 9 - 12 will be evening digs. Make your reservations now.

On a separate note, spring has sprung and its a beautiful 50 and sunny today at the beach! The weatherman is predicting a beautiful President's Day Weekend (sunny and 50's)! Hooray! Come visit us!

See you at the beach!

Westport Winery Debut, March 22, 2008

2008-02-12T10:55:00.000-08:00

On March 22, 2008, 6:30 PM, the Roberts will be debuting their wines at a special Winemakers Dinner at the Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill.

Wines that will be available for tasting include the Grays Harbor Gewurztraminer, Elk River Riesling, Compass Rose, Surfer's Last Syrah, Shorebird Chardonnay, Mermaid's Merlot, Charterboat Chuck's Cabernet, Ancient Mariner's Asian Pear, Red Sky at Night (Raspberry Wine with Chocolate flavor).

The wine will be accompanied by a four course meal including such delights as baked brie, grilled pear, and cabrales crostini; procuitto wrapped scallops, seared prawns with braised leeks; hazelnut crusted wild salmon with beet risotto and butter roasted parsnips; grilled new york steak with sauteed wild mushrooms; and tiramisu and candied citrus.

Entertainment will be provided by the Electric Park Jazz Band, along with wine tasting notes by Kim and Blaine Roberts and their winemaker Dan Wood.

It should be a night to remember, and a great way to welcome the Westport Winery to our little town, so don't miss it! The dinner, including the wines is $75 per person. Reservations are required, and can be made at the Islander front desk at 360-268-9166. The address is 421 E. Neddie Rose Drive, Westport, WA 98595. Josh Wood, the Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill manager can answer any questions you have, and he can be reached at 360-268-9166.

Westport Winery 2008 - 2009 Releases

2008-02-12T08:14:00.000-08:00

The Westport Winery is expected to open near the end of March, depending on Construction. They will also have a 90-person gathering room and 250-person display garden for events. I have been watching their 40' tall lighthouse go up over the past several weeks, which I believe will also be open to the public as part of their winery tours.

Sneak peek at wines expected in the next year from the Westport Winery:

Rapture of the Deep: A cran-boggling bubbly. Divers call it nitrogen narcosis. Oh how those little bubbles change everything. Fortunately, our sparkling wine doesn't negatively affect your central nervous system. In fact, you can forget nerves all together as you relax and drink to the mysteries of the deep blue sea. This is your celebration. A portion of the proceeds from this wine benefits the Driftwood Theater.

Pinot Noirvana: Grays Harbor is known for its creative souls and none have left greater footprints than the band Nirvana. This wine is created to honor their impact on the community. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this wine benefits the Kurt Cobain Memorial Committee.

Any Port in a Storm: Imagine stormy seas and howling winds. All you want is a safe harbor and healthy repast. This is it. In our book - and anyone else's - a fine port is well-suited to accompany a deep, dark chocolate. Together these foods have more antioxidants than... well anything we can think of, so enjoy. You only go around once.

In 2010, we can expect the Maritime Muscat, Bordello Blonde, Smoky Nor'wester Pinot Precoce, Seashell Selgerrebe.

Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill Winemakers Dinner

2008-02-11T10:21:00.000-08:00

Well, this past weekend's clam dig was a bit of a bust, as the weather was cold, gray, and rainy - basically miserable weather for digging in the sand. But it was perfect weather for warming up with a glass (or 5) of wine and a fantastic meal.

I was lucky enough to get to hang out in the kitchen at the Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill's Winemaker's Dinner on Saturday night, and it was a quite a scene. Chef Donny Silver reminds me that his restaurant has consistently received 100% marks from the health department, which makes me feel a lot better about the numbers of meals I eat there. The "back of the house" as those in the know call it, provides an amazing show when they are serving as many meals at one time as they were on Saturday (51 entrees in 25 minutes).

They served a 6 course dinner, which was paired with a selection of 6 different spanish wines - starting with an apertif of marcona almonds and chorizo sausage, a seared scallop on what looked like something yummy, followed by calamari (half moon bay style), a baked goat cheese dish, and then the entree was a choice of (1) seafood paella, (2) new york strip with some kind of creamy blue cheese on it, and (3) rack of lamb. Dessert was a choice of rice pudding, almond flan, or chocolate cake. Mmmmm.... the sights and smells in the kitchen were amazing. Chef Donny and his assistants Jose and Patricia are like artists, putting their special touch on every dish. It was a great experience, and I didn't even have to wash any dishes!

Crush Me, Squeeze Me, Make Me Wine At The Beach

2008-02-10T11:45:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars!

The First Annual "Crush Me, Squeeze Me, Make Me Wine At the Beach" festival will take place at the Westport Winery on the first weekend of October 2008. The Westport Winery and Vineyards by the Sea will host a grape-stomping-good-time with free music, chowder, and wine tasting, as they harvest our grapes.

More info to follow as it becomes available!

February 9 - Winemakers Dinner at the Islander

2008-02-08T15:10:00.000-08:00

If you can find a babysitter on Saturday night, do not miss the Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill's Winemaker's Dinner. It will feature a tour of Spain, through a 5 course meal and tasting of Spanish wines imported by Casa Ventura.

The menu presented by chef Donny Silver sounds great, with spanish almonds and scallops as appetizers, paella and lamb as choices for the main dish, and an almond flan for desert. There are others, but I don't have the menu handy. Donovan told me today that they are almost sold out for tomorrow night's dinner. Sounds like a great Valentine's dinner for your sweetie.

Tickets can be purchased at the Islander Front Desk at 360-268-9166.

Where to dig for Razor Clams near Westport

2008-01-14T22:00:00.000-08:00

Since I was asked, I thought I would share the following:

The WDFW website lists "Twin Harbors" as the location for a 4 day clam dig. That is actually code for the 18 miles of beach that stretches from Willapa Bay to Grays Harbor, ie. Westport/Grayland/Tokeland.

I have made a little primitive map which shows where the best places to find Razor Clams are. If you want to go to Westhaven, I recommend following the map to Westport, then turning toward Westhaven State Park on Jetty Access Road. Park at the state park and walk down to the beach.

To try Grayland, you can access the beach either on Bonge Road or Grayland Beach Road. The area in between these two roads are prime razor clam habitat.

Note that there IS a beach access where 105 T's off to either Westport or Grayland, but the sand is very soft there, and I've seen enough hefty 4WD vehicles get stuck there to keep me away.

Good luck!

Clam Dig Tide Timetables

2008-01-09T08:55:00.000-08:00

Just a quick amendment for the post on the Jan 18 - 21, 2008 clam dig... here are the tide timelines:

Jan. 18, Friday, 2:56 p.m., +0.6, Twin Harbors only.

Jan. 19, Saturday, 3:58 p.m., +0.1, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis.

Jan. 20, Sunday, 4:53 p.m., -0.4, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis.

Jan. 21, 2008; Monday; 5:44 p.m., -0.6, Twin Harbors only.

Wine Country coming to Westport

2008-01-08T22:45:00.000-08:00

I recently had the pleasure to meet Kim and Blaine Roberts, the new winemakers that are moving into the Westport/Ocosta area. Yes, I said winemakers. Westport is getting its very own winery, called Vineyards-by-the-sea and Westport Winery. The facility will be complete with vineyards and tasting room. Wow!

The actual vineyards will be in Ocosta, about 10 minutes outside of Westport toward Aberdeen, right next to the lily farm, if you're familiar with the neighborhood. They are going to be opening up their tasting room this spring (2008), and I understand there will be a winemakers dinner sometime in late February at the Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill.

It's all very exciting, and a sneak peek in their holiday letter of some of their proposed wine bottle labels are great. Everything is ocean themed, with Mermaid's Merlot, and Charterboat Chuck's Cabernet Sauvignon among their wines.

For a quick overview, you can check them out at washingtonwine.com at http://www.washingtonwine.org/profiles/westport-winery/

I will keep you posted on events and openings!

Razor Clam Digs for January

2008-01-08T22:05:00.001-08:00

It's that time again, the WDFW has announced that the next clam digs will occur January 18 - 21, 2008, which happens to coincide with a 3-day weekend (MLKjr holiday). So its a great time to visit Westport. As a bonus, the accuweather is forecasting "brilliant sunshine" for that weekend (hey, I know the weatherfolks are almost never accurate, but we can hope right?).

So, in honor of that upcoming clam dig, I am going to publish my version of "how to clean a clam". These are by no means official instructions, I have ruined a lot of clams before I got to this point, but its how I do it.

(1) Catch your limit of 15 clams.

(2) Put said clams into a colander in the sink. An outdoor sink works well, if available, or you can do it out in your yard. You probably don't want to do this in a sink in a rental, you'll probably totally mess it up and get charged for breaking their garbage disposal or something.

(3) Boil a pot of water. Slowly pour boiling water over colander of clams. You have to have enough water to be able to get each clam for a full 2 - 3 seconds. Alternatively, if your pot is big enough, you can immerse the colander into the boiling water, and then pull it out. This is very similar to blanching vegetables. You don't want to leave it in the boiling water for too long, because it will get chewy. Once out of boiling water, rinse with cold water.

(4) The clams should have "opened up" after this. If they didn't, you either didn't expose the clam to enough hot water, or your clam is bad. My philosophy on shellfish is "when in doubt, throw it out". I know you worked hard for that clam, but you don't want to risk getting sick and ruining your trip to the beach. Some people say to cut the clams out of their shell at this point, but I have found that they just slip right off the shell.

(5) Now you should have the whole clam and you want to cut that puppy open. Now, I'm not going to pretend to know all the names of the parts, you can read other websites for that, but here's the secret. Cut off anything that looks yucky and brown, and leave everything that is white and meaty. See my pictures below for what is yucky and what is meaty. There is also a clear straw like piece that you should make sure to remove. Again, I'm not sure what it is, but it doesn't taste good. Please don't ask why I know.

(6) There you go. Now your clam is clean and ready for whatever great chowder or fritter recipe you have downloaded off the internet. Congratulations!!

Stormwatching, the real deal

2007-12-12T21:49:00.000-08:00

Everyone with a TV knows that the coast was hit with an amazing storm on December 3 and 4th, and Westport was not spared the brunt of Mother Nature.

My family and I hunkered down in our 2nd floor condo at Westport by the Sea and listened to the wind howl. And howl. And howl. The wind started whipping just after nightfall, and power was out by 11PM on Sunday. Come Monday morning, as we wandered out to survey the damage, we realized that the winds were still going strong. We did get a chance to see the high waves crashing in the Half Moon Bay and over the revetment wall at the Marina, which is always a wonderful sight.

With no power, we decided to try to head to town to stay with family, but the roads out of town in both directions were closed due to fallen trees. All day Monday, and well into the night the winds continued. Westport does not have an official weather station, but up and down the coast, wind gusts were reported at as much as 120 - 150 MPH. In Hoquiam, the nearest official weather station, the weather gauge broke at 81 MPH. The winds continued until late Monday night.

We spent most of the day huddled up, calling out of town to get intermittent weather reports from friends and family with internet access (in Seattle and beyond). With so many areas in the Grays Harbor PUD district out, and so many downed power lines between us and Aberdeen, the rest of the week kept us in the dark, without power, until it finally came on mid-morning on Saturday (5 and a half days!).

During the week following the storm, 2 things became apparent: (1) Westport is not high on the list for emergency response, and (2) People on the beach know how to take care of themselves. When we went around to check on elderly neighbors, it was quite clear that our neighbors were fairly prepared. Luckily, the weather was in the 50's, so the temperatures were not an issue. But for the most part, people were equipped with food and supplies to make it through the week. For those that weren't, the only real option in town was the Senior House, and Verna seemed to have that under control.

Since I have lived here, we have lost power about twice a year, and this was the longest we have ever been without. In spite of the challenges of living without hot water, cable TV, and high speed internet, we try to count our blessings:

(1) Really, really amazing night skies. Yes, without all the light pollution, the sky over our beaches are absolutely the most fantastic sight you might ever set eyes on.

(2) Time with our families to reflect to enjoy simple things. Yes, we can stand to look each other in the eyes and have a conversation without the TV blaring the in the background.

(3) The joy of a hot shower after and a warm meal. We tend to take things for granted, and its good to appreciate the small things.

So, yes, I am so happy to be back online, but the simple life is not so bad.

The beaches are open for clam digs!

2007-10-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

The Department of Fish and Wildlife opened up the Twin Harbors beaches for clam diggers this weekend, and between it being the first dig of the season and the AMAZING weather we're having, there has been an unending stream of people into Westport and Grayland to catch these tasty guys.

Here are some pictures from yesterday evening's clam dig. It was so much fun, this one lady even ventured out with her walker, which I just can't imagine my grandmother ever doing.

I've only been clamming a few times, I never really enjoyed it because I found it so hard to find the "clam show". But last night, the clam were showing very strongly, and I took a few pictures for those of you who are still learning to find them:

There are so many clams that the people who went out on Thursday said they were "necking", which sounds kind of dirty, but just means they were sticking their necks out of the sand yelling "pick me!" like Meredith Grey on a bad Grey's Anatomy episode. I think this might have something to do with the fact that its the first clam dig of the season (the plentifulness, not the neediness).

So grab your lantern, boots, and shovel, and come on down to the beach!

Mushroom Season

2007-10-27T10:36:00.001-07:00

It's mushroom season in the NW and if you have been paying attention to the Seattle Times over the past few weeks, you've seen all the mushroom festivals and mushroom stuff going on all over the Puget Sound and Olympic Peninsula. Last weekend was the Lake Quinault's mushroom festival, which I missed, but looked like a lot of fun.

Here in Westport, the Westport Light State Park, off of Ocean Avenue is a great spot for mushroomers (mushroom hunters?) and on sunny, cloudy, and rainy days alike you'll see the parking spaces along Ocean Avenue full of people in their rain gear headed out to find that special fungi.

We are novice mushroom hunters... okay, not really. But I love to find one close enough to the path that I can see them. This particular one is about 9" around, and almost expected a smurf to jump out and wave hello. I won't pretend to know what its called or if its edible, but it was a treat to find.

The weather is supposed to be great for the next week or so, so come on down to the beach and check it out!

Cranberry Harvest Festival - Recap

2007-10-14T20:46:00.000-07:00

It turned out to be a beautiful weekend, with sunny weather in the 60's and the Grayland Cranberry Harvest Festival was a total blast. I was a little disappointed with a 3rd place finish in the cookies and bars category of the cranberry cookoff, but it gives me something to strive for next year :) My dear pal Tim also won third place in the drinks category, for his famous "Manberry", which is a funny name for his Cranberry Manhattan. He put a lot more effort into his entry, reducing the actual berries down to syrup, and then using sugared burbon soaked berries as a beautiful garnish. I'll post the recipe later (if he'll share).

Seriously though, I was shocked with the numbers of people that come out for it, especially the amount of people waiting to take a Cranberry Harvest tour. We weren't feeling up to it with the baby, he's far to antsy these days to settle down on a bus, but we did drive around in our car and watch harvest at several different farms.

Definitely put it on your calendar (October 11/12, 2008) for next year!

Grayland Cranberry Festival!

2007-10-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

This weekend brings the Cranberry Coast Chamber of Commerce Annual Cranberry Festival to the Grayland Community Hall. September and October is harvest time in Cranberry Country, and it is a sight to behold. The bright red bogs and the farmers wading through the fruit... I never even knew it existed until last fall.

This weekend is supposed to be 61-62 degrees and partly cloudy (which means partly sunny), so its perfect weather to come down for the festival, which includes a parade at dusk on Saturday evening and a "bog jog" 10k, 5k and 3k on Sunday morning.

You can find more info about it at the Chambers website: http://www.cranberrycoastcoc.com/festival/index.html
I will be passing the bog jog since I've not done much running in the past 2 years since getting pregnant, but I will be entering my cranberry oatmeal white chocolate chip cookies into the Cranberry Cook-off. You can try them if you come to the Bite of the Bog - they're worth the drive. Here's my recipe, sans my secret ingredient if you want to try them at home:

Oatmeal White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
1 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries

Preheat the oven to 350F.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and the sugars until mixture is light in color. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the milk and the vanilla extract.

In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Either by hand or with the mixer on low speed, gradually beat the flour in to the sugar mixture until just incorporated.

Stir in the oats and white chocolate chips and cranberries

Drop 1-inch balls of dough onto the cookie sheet, placing about 1 1/2 inches apart so they have room to spread.

Bake at 350F for 10-13 minutes, until golden brown at the edges and light golden at the center.
Cool on baking sheet for at least 1-2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 4 dozen.

Surfing Westport's secret - or not so secret - breaks

2007-09-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

I have been talking about taking a surf lesson for over a year now, since my baby turned 6 weeks old and I was back to "normal". I am by no means an athlete, but watching the waves from my deck every day makes me really want to get in there. Growing up in Hawaii, surfing always seemed to be a "boy" thing, and to be totally truthful, I was way to geeky to get into the surf crowd. However, I do love the beach, and I miss swimming in the ocean. One of these days, I am going to find the time and the nerve to pull on a wetsuit and see if I can learn to love the 58 degree water outside my window.

In the meantime, articles like this one in Yesterday's Tacoma News Tribune continue to peak my interest.

Catching on to catching waves

Wet suits make Westport a good place to learn to surf

CRAIG HILL; The News Tribune

Published: September 13th, 2007 06:00 AM

Enlarge image

ALISON YIN / The News Tribune

Surfers clad in wet suits head for high tide at Westhaven State Park near Westport. A good rule of thumb for beginners: Don’t go where the experienced surfers go. You’ll be in over your head – literally.

Enlarge image

ALISON YIN/THE NEWS TRIBUNE

Darcia Davis, 31, paddles to catch a wave. The Westport resident says she tries to surf a couple of times a week, even though she has a 5-month-old baby.

Enlarge image

ALISON YIN/THE NEWS TRIBUNE

Surfers wait on their boards for good waves off the beach at Westhaven State Park. Thanks, in part, to improved west suits, the surf scene in the Westport area is booming.

WESTPORT – Learning to surf is a personal journey. At least that’s what Northwest surfing icon Al Perlee will tell you if you drop by his historic Surf Shop. The deep-thinking former Stanford defensive lineman who has been a fixture on the beach for 30 years answers every question about learning to catch a wave the same way. “It depends on the individual.”

While that is true of every sport, it sounds a little more insightful when Perlee says it with laid-back surfer-dude style.

SAND SURFING FIRST

My personal voyage started face down in the sand early one rainy August morning with one of Perlee’s best friends standing over me.

Barry Esty, like Perlee, learned to surf as a boy in California in the ’60s and moved to Westport when the California beaches got too crowded. He’s now retired but gives lessons to those who ask.

“It’s a service I like to provide,” Esty said. “I try to give people enough advice to keep them from bashing their butts on the rocks.”

That, however, is not why I was laying in the wet sand. Esty drew the outline of a surfboard in the sand with his toe and was teaching me the basics of standing on a board.

Following his direction, I straightened my arms and arched my back to lift my chest above the outline. From this uncomfortable yoga-like position, he told me, I needed to jump to my feet.

Trying to jump with my hips in the sand, I said, is a rather challenging pre-breakfast request. Not nearly as challenging as doing it on top of a cresting wave, he replied.

“It’s not easy to stand,” Esty said. “It’s all about practice. Maybe after a week of practicing every day you’ll be able to stand.”

When the landlocked lesson concluded, I met a Seattle surfer in the parking lot who reinforced Esty’s point.

“It’s not easy,” said Brian Gardner, 32. “I’ve been doing this for four years, and I still struggle.”

GAINING POPULARITY

The learning curve might be steeper than the waves, but the Westport surf scene isn’t booming because the sport is easy.

“It’s popular because it’s fun even though it’s challenging to learn,” said Damon Romero, 39, of Olympia.

Romero has been surfing at Westport since the ’80s, when the beaches were less crowded and the locals weren’t so keen on the idea of sharing their waves with inlanders.

But that was when Westport’s three breaks – Halfmoon Bay, the Groins and the Jetty – were still a fairly well-kept secret.

The secret has been out for years now and the vibe is friendly, provided the newbies surf smart.

“Any time you see surfers better than you, stay away from that area,” Adam Foster of The Surf Shop said as he issued me a wet suit and a 10-foot board. “That’s a good sign that area is over your head.”

I figured that bit of advice would eliminate the entire Pacific Rim for me, but I was surprised to find that I fit right in chasing my board in the Jetty’s modest surf.

“I’d say about 90 percent of the people out here have been doing this for five years or less,” Esty said.

That’s not to say Westport doesn’t produce gifted surfers.

At the Surf Shop, Perlee popped in a DVD with footage of his children, Dane and Hana, surfing side-by-side at Westport. As they ride the wave, Dane – who regularly wins competitions against California surfers – steps off his board and onto Hana’s.

CREATURE COMFORTS

On my first day, I figure I’ll be lucky if I can step on my own board.

I wasn’t exactly stoked to walk out in the frigid Pacific Ocean. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that my rental wet suit keeps me nice and warm.

Modern wet suit technology, Perlee says, might be the biggest reason more people are surfing at Westport now than when he moved here in the ’70s. With a good wet suit, it’s no longer painful to spend a few hours in the water.

“I used to be OK out there for about 30 minutes with my old wet suit,” Romero said. “Any longer than that, and I was suffering.”

I was downright toasty as I worked my way out to chest deep water, a bit deeper than the waist-deep surf Esty recommended for my first day. I crawled onboard and laid face down as I watched an approaching set of waves.

All I had to do, according to Esty, was paddle around to face shore, catch the wave and spring to my feet as the wave broke.

Sounds easy, but it wasn’t. I only managed to get parallel to the beach when the first wave promptly dumped me off the board.

I popped up, salt water running from my nose, and jumped on again – this time catching a wave and riding almost all the way to shore, lying on the board the entire way.

Even this, what must have been an extremely uncool-looking ride, was a bit of a rush.

I grabbed the board and waded back out for another set, anxious to try to stand.

If this story were a film, this would be the place for the music montage of me falling face first, then butt first, then tripping while carrying the board on the beach.

But, after a few hours of splashes and crashes, I finally got to my feet – for about two seconds. Just long enough to see why the true watermen, as they call themselves, live for this.

A few weeks later, back at The Surf Shop, I asked Perlee how long it takes to feel comfortable with a moving surfboard underfoot. I should have known how he’d reply.

“I can’t answer that,” Perlee said. “It depends on the individual.”

Learning to surf, after all, is a personal voyage.

TIPS TO RIP

PRACTICE: Cut out a piece of cardboard about 9 feet long and 22 inches wide then put a mark in the middle of your mock board. Lay on the board with your sternum on the mark. Then, with your hands on the side of the cardboard, practice thrusting up and whipping your front foot to the spot in the middle of the board where your sternum used to be.

DON’T FOLLOW THE PACK: If you’re a rookie and you see the surfing veterans riding big waves, pick some place else to get indoctrinated. That area is probably way over your head – literally. Pick an area where the water is about waist deep, says Al Perlee, owner of The Surf Shop.

LOSE THE SWIM TRUNKS: Those Bermuda trunks might look sweet on the beach, but they’ll bunch up on you if you try to wear them under a wet suit. The veterans recommend Speedos, bike shorts or, if you must, tighty whities (But please change in the car).

START ON A LONG BOARD: A 6-foot short board is ideal for precise turns and gnarly tricks, but it’s going to be hard to use. A 10-foot long board is for more powerful movements, and its size makes it more stable, perfect for getting a hang of the sport.

LET THE KIDS BOOGIE: Adam Foster of The Surf Shop in Westport suggests starting young kids off with a boogie board. The small foam boards are easier for the kids to play with in the surf and light enough for them to lug to and from the car. WESTPORT SURF SHOPS

THE SURF SHOP: Westportsurfshop.com, 360-268-0992. Rent a wet suit and board for $35. No lessons here, but the staff will direct you to locals who’ll teach you the basics.

STEEPWATER SURF SHOP: Steepwatersurfshop.com, 360-268-5527. A wet suit and board rental is $38 for the day or $26 for four hours. Lessons start at $50 for 90 minutes.

Craig Hill: 253-597-8497

Westport's "Boat Basin Salmon Derby" offers chance to win up to $2,000

2007-09-09T14:15:00.000-07:00

Annual fishing contest offers cash and prizes for largest Chinook and Coho salmon caught

WESTPORT - The coastal town of Westport welcomes returning salmon for the annual Boat Basin Salmon Derby scheduled to run from Sept. 15 until Oct. 31.

Anglers are invited to purchase a $5 derby ticket and fish anywhere in the Westport boat basin for Chinook/King and Coho/Silver salmon. Running seven days a week until the end of October, the long-term Boat Basin Derby offers cash prizes totaling more than $2,000 and ranges from more than $300 for the largest Chinook salmon, to $500 for the winning Coho, plus many merchandise prizes. All eligible fish must be caught during daylight hours and validated with a derby ticket at the official weigh station at the marina between 10 AM and 5 PM.

"The Westport Boat Basin Derby is intended for anglers of all ages and skill levels," said Leslie Eichner, Westport/Grayland Chamber of Commerce spokesperson. "The returning Westport salmon were fingerlings reared in pens three years ago and released under the direction of Ocosta High School conservation classes and the Humptulips Hatchery. After their time at sea, the salmon come back into the Marina - with the Coho salmon returning now.

You don't need a boat, just a fishing rod and license to fish from the dock," added Eichner.

Last year's winning Coho weighed in at more than 17.5 lbs., quite large for this type of salmon, according to Jim Jackson, the derby coordinator.

"I was down at the marina last year and you could see salmon schools with literally thousands of fish just off the floats," said Jackson. "This derby promises to be an excellent year for anglers as well. There is a limit of six fish, four adults and two jacks."

Complete Boat Basin Salmon Derby rules and regulations are available on-line at www.angler-charters.net. Derby Tickets can be purchased for five dollars each at local fishing charter offices, the Westport/Grayland Chamber of Commerce, Angler Charters and the Hungry Whale Grocery.

There are other activities in Westport including an historic lighthouse, a maritime museum, the lighthouse trail, fishing charters and outdoor amusements. For more tourist and travel information, click on www.westportcam.com or call the Westport Tourist Information Center at 1-800-345-6223.

Tokeland Golf Links

2007-09-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

The Tokeland Golf Links is another one of those Washington Coast treasures that you stumble along and then scratch your head wondering why you never heard of it. Adjacent the Tokeland Hotel, this 18 (or so) hole golf course is truly unique. Guarded only by an "honor box" requesting $10 for your play, the entire golf course is actually situated on tidal lands. During winter high tides, most of this golf course is underwater.

A true "sustainable" golf course, no pesticides or fertilizers are used. Newcastle it aint, but for $10, it can't be beat. The vistas out over the bay where the WIllapa River meets the Pacific Ocean are breathtaking - whether rain or shine.

This is particularly great for a walking outing where dad can bring his clubs and mom can follow along with the baby stroller, as well as for beginners who can't see dumping $50 and up on green fees just to stub every other ball.

Feel free to picnic after your round in the parking lot, or have lunch in the dining room of the Tokeland Hotel.

The Islander Resort presents Winemakers Dinner

2007-08-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

I have just received a flyer for a very cool event taking place on September 8, 2007 at the Islander Resort, and I'm going to pass it along here verbatim:

The Islander Resort Presents
Tour the Italian Wine Regions
Winemaker's Dinner

Join us for an elegant six course dinner with each selection accented by just the right Italian Wine. Small vineyard importers from Seattle are hosting these wines and Cristina will be your sommelier for this bellisimo event. It will be an evening you won't soon forget!

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

360-268-9166/info@westport-islander.com
421 E. Neddie Rose Drive
Westport, WA 98595

Menu:

Oysters on the half shell with pomegranate mignonette and lemon. Paired with an extra dry prosecco.
Grilled bruschetta with eggplant roulade, caprese, prosciutto with reggiano and extra virgin olive oil. Paired with a 2006 bianco.
Pepper crusted albacore tuna with polenta crisps and caponata. Paired with a 2006 Vernaccia di san gimignano.
Lobster and butternut squash ravioli with chive nage sauce. Paired with a 2004 rita sangiovese.
Choice of: Bacon wrapped filet mignon served with garlic mashed potatoes and red wine demi-glaze OR seared duck breast with carrot risotto and cranberry demi glaze. Paired with a 2004 emilio primo.
Panna cotta with marion berry puree and candied citrus zest. Paired with a 2006 Moscato D'asti.

Tickets are $80/person and are available at the Islander front desk.

A New Point of View in Westport

2007-08-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

Interesting reading in today's Tacoma News Tribune (yes, its a paid advertisement from the South Sound New Homes section, but still interesting reading):

A New Point of View in Westport

It's 5:00 a.m. on an August morning in 1977... There are 300 charter fishing boats cranking their engines to take an estimated 3,000 fishermen onto the high sea in search of the mighty king salmon. At the end of the day the boats return. After cleaning up, a dinner out and then dancing and celebrating into the week hours of the morning. In the 60's and 70's this scene played itself out every day between Memorial Day and Labor Day in this coastal village hailed as The Salmon Fishing Capital of the World.

Fast forward to an August morning in the present day. At 6:00 a.m. the 35 charter boats are warming up to take 400 men, women, and children out sportfishing. A new addition to the marina scene, walkers and joggers headed out for the paved waterfront path. The 2.5 mile path departs the marina, meandering along Halfmoon Bay to the Jetty where the first surfers are unloading their long boards for a day on the waves. The trail then borders the beach on one side, and on the other a 300-acre grassy dune, being sculpted into an oceanfront Scottish Links-style golf course. The trail ends at the Westport Lighthouse.

Back at the marina, the shops are beginning to open, but not just selling kites and ice cream. New shops are presenting an eclectic array of art, jewelry, and memorabilia. You can still find a great bowl of clam chowder, but the influx of culinary talent has infused a new energy into the menus. The Wild Salmon with Kumquat Ginger Butter at Takohachi or Seafood Cioppino at Anthony's at the Islander are delectable examples of the culinary evolution taking place in Westport.

Driving the revolution is the recent discovery that Westport offers the most beautiful and least known sandy beach in the state. That realization has inspired new residential development along the coast geared to meet the needs of today's beach cruisers. Besides the new golf course and convention center, several new residential communities within the city limits of Westport are taking beautiful shape.

The Point at Westport Harbor is a stunning example. This small community of condominiums boasts a 360 degree view of the Harbor and Olympic Mountains. The architecture is modern with a nod toward the maritime past and the interiors showcase the impressive views. While energy efficiency and sustainability directed the thoughtful design, carefree enjoyment was the goal. Your front door is just a few steps away from the private dock, where crab, perch and in the fall even coho salmon are landed! A short stroll away are the marina shops and restaurants an the start of the oceanfront walking/biking path.

It doesn't matter if you don't fish, surf, or hike... Westport was never about "all there is to do". Westport is about relationships. A relationship with the environment shared with family and good friends. It's about taking time to appreciate the beauty and tranquility that surrounds you on the coast. The air is pure, the weather is mild and a good book, a good friend or a great dinner can return a sense of balance to your life. Take the short journey to the coast to discover the"new point of view" in Westport.

61st Annual Westport Seafood Festival and Craft Show

2007-08-25T18:23:00.000-07:00

Labor day is when my husband and I celebrate our wedding anniversary. I'd have to think twice to remember the actual date that we got married, but since it was on a Labor Day weekend, we just try to remember that and call it good.
So this Labor Day weekend (well Saturday), we get to do something that appeals to us both: The Westport Seafood Festival. He loves it because he gets to eat, and I love it because I get to shop. Needless to say, we're looking forward to it.
If you want a dose of small town eating festival, come down to Westport on Saturday, September 1, 2007. The event is being held at the Maritime Museum down on the Westport Marina (you can't miss it), from noon to about 6pm. In addition to live music and craft vendors the menu will consist of BBQ Salmon, White Fish, Tuna, oysters, salad (Ceasar salad from the Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill), corn on the cob and garlic bread. All this for $14 ($9 for seniors). Chowder, hot dogs, beer and wine will also be available separate from the seafood feast.

While you're down here, try your hand at catching some fish and get ready for the Boat Basin Salmon Derby thats coming up next month. The limits are 6 fish per day, and reports are that fish are being seen already under the docks.

Come on out - the weather should be perfect!

Westport SalmonFest and the Boat Basin Salmon Derby

2007-08-20T05:31:00.000-07:00

My family eats out a lot, and last September, while we would be eating at the Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill, we would often watch people out fishing on the docks outside the restaurant. Having, at the time, a 3 month old, I didn't think much of it (most of my thoughts were focused on strategizing the next nights sleep patterns at that time). But talk about the Westport Boat Basin Salmon Derby has been surfacing and I want to share it with you all.

Apparently, the local High School (Ocosta) has an oceanography program, that follows a batch (I don't know what you'd call it - a litter?, hatch?) of salmon hatchlings that are eventually released into the Westport Marina. When the fish come back to spawn, they come through the Marina, and apparently, there are tons of fish. So many, that the catch limits are higher for this location at this time than most other places - each license can catch 4 adult and 2 jack salmons. The beauty of this is that the catching happens right off the docks on the Marina, so no boats, no seasickness, no fear - all you need is a rod and a pole. To hear the locals tell it, you can watch the salmon swimming in schools right under the docks and around the boats. HOW did we miss this before?

According to Jim at Angler Charters, the fish are starting to enter the Marina now, but the peak time to catch Salmon are from mid-September through the end of October, which is when the Derby is run. You can see the rules from last year's derby at the Angler Charters website (http://www.anglercharters.net/PAGES/BOATBASIN2006/BOATBASINDERBY2006.htm), and Jim says 2007 rules will be up shortly. Last years winners ranged from 15 - 19 pounds.

What do you need? A rod, reel, and lures. Again, deferring to the local expert, Jim says the equipment is fairly straightforward, and you can buy a whole setup from him for $40. I am going to do some research and see if anyone on the Marina rents this stuff, and will post back.

The derby is a friendly competition, tickets will be $2, and prizes will be somewhere around $2,000 total. Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill will be handing out free derby tickets with every salmon entree you purchase there.

I'm excited. The last time I went fishing, I was on a group trip on a boat in LA, and it was a lot of fun. We caught a lot of ... well, I don't really remember what we caught, but catching a nice fish made us all (cynical 20-somethings) feel like kids again, and its hard to replicate that feeling. So come next month, I will drag my husband down the marina and see if we can't catch the big one!

This Weekend at the Beach: Tokeland Woodfest, Run for the Light

2007-08-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

TGIF! It's Friday, its August, and we have a fun filled weekend coming up here. Our plans for this weekend include:

The Tokeland Woodfest. This annual event held at the Historic Tokeland Hotel is a mecca for wood artisans all over the Pacific Northwest. They will be hosting chainsaw carving competitions, art displays, and of course, art for sale in various wood mediums. We will be checking this out Saturday and Sunday.

Washington Lightkeepers Assocition Run for the Light. This is a 5 mile run, starting at the Maritime Museum, running through town, past the Lighthouse, and back along the beach. Baby and I will be walking this Saturday morning. Onsite registration starts at 8:30 at McCausland Hall at the Maritime Museum.

And if we have time, we are going to make our first ever trip to Brady's World Famous Oyster Feed, in Ocosta.... I usually only eat oysters on the half shell, but there is something appealing about seeing the oysters, bubba gump style, prepared 101 ways by the folks that grew them.

Have a great weekend!

The Freshest Fish in the West

2007-07-30T21:38:00.000-07:00

One of the more common questions people ask when they're driving through town, sticking their head out the window, yelling at you for directions, is "where can we buy some fresh___" (insert favorite type of locally caught seafood... halibut, salmon, crab, oysters, etc). It's one of the quintessential things to do when you're on the coast - the search and acquisition of fresh seafood.

Here in Westport, my favorite finds depend on what is in season, and as you get to know the locals, more often than not, someone will just bring you a fresh piece of salmon or halibut or a few dungeness crabs when their husband/cousin/brother comes in from a particularly fruitful trip. But the one favorite that I will pay the premium for all year long are local spot prawns. My husband is a shrimp fiend, and so we have always consumed more than our fair share of tiger prawns and mystery shrimp from Safeway. But since we have discovered Spot Prawns, this is all we can ever stand to eat. They are local, so you can actually buy them fresh, not frozen, and they are absolutely rich and tasty. It's like eating little tiny lobsters. I highly recommend everyone try them when they find them.

But I digress. The point of this post was to provide a primer here on the best places in town to hit when the urge hits:

(1) Merino's Seafood Market, 301 E. Harbor Street, in the Westport Marina. Merino's always has a fresh supply of whole and sectioned dungeness crab, crab cocktails, spot prawns, shrimp cocktails, razor clams, and whatever fish happens to be in season. They also sell the "fixin's": seasoning packets, cocktail sauces, tartar sauces, panko (for your fritters and crab cakes), as well as canned and smoked fish and seafood meats of all types. The best part is, if you're kind of squeamish, they can clean everything, for example, taking all the guts out of the crab so that you are just left with a perfect, shelled crab, to have the experience of cracking crab without all the yellow goo. Plus, if you're on your way out of town, they can package your catch on ice in a cooler, and even ship it ahead of you.

(2) Seafood Connection, Float 8. Besides the "atmosphere" of actually walking down a dock to buy your fresh fish, this little market offers most of the same seafood that Merino's does. They are basically brokering a deal between the consumers walking the marina and all the individual fishermen. The fish is "the freshest" available. This is where I go to get my spot prawns. The cool thing is that they have some great specials when the fishing is great (like albacore tuna fillets for $3.50/lb a few weeks back)

(3) "Boat Sales". Sometimes, and I have no idea what the rhyme or reason for these signs, but fishermen will decide to offer whatever they've caught right off their boat. So keep your eyes open for the signs, which are typically handmade a-boards on Montesano as you enter town. They'll usually give you three key pieces of info: (a) What's for sale (fresh-bled tuna is a popular one) (b) What float they're at and (c) the name of the boat to look for.

(4) Nelson Crab. Not quite in Westport, but in Tokeland, 15 minutes south, Nelson Crab is another old favorite that people know-of-but-can't-seem-to-find. So here's the basic directions, head South on Highway 105, turn left into Tokeland when you hit the casino (you'll know you're in the right place because the speed limit changes dramatically), and go all the way down until you see the Nelson Crab on the left hand side of the road (across the water). They have their own brand of canned crab, as well as fresh and frozen, shelled and whole, dungeness crab. I don't know the pattern for the other stuff, but they do carry a selection of other types of seafoods that I haven't every really paid much attention to. I have used Nelson Crab to ship crabmeat back to family in Hawaii, and can vouch for their professionalism in doing the crab shipping.

I hope this helps you find the fresh fish you've been dreaming of!

Shopping the Westport Marina

2007-07-29T23:33:00.001-07:00

Today was one of those picture perfect sunny days that makes me remember what brought me to Westport to begin with. Since I had some visitors in town, we decided to walk the Westport Marina, and since I had my camera out, I thought it would be a good time to point you all out to some of the best shops on the Marina.
Yes, there is shopping in Westport, and its not all kites and T-shirts. The first store I'm going to talk about is the Picaroon Pelican. This is a very cute tea-themed shop that sells everything you need to put on a proper afternoon tea, as well as collectible teacups and tea paraphernalia. The owner is also the woman who coordinates the annual Pirate Daze festival, and she is very friendly. She also runs a little english tearoom out of the back of the store, but I have not made it in there as yet, so can't vouch for it. The next stop as you walk west (toward the blue tower) is Miss Avenue. This is a little clothing boutique which doesn't look like much from the outside, but has some surprising inventory on the inside. In addition to a cute gift section for little girls (think pink princess themed), Miss Avenue also carries some of the hippest stylish clothes West of Olympia. Her inventory includes 7 for all mankind and Citizens of Humanity jeans, as well as other lines that I'm clearly not hip enough to wear. They also have a great selection of accessories and other fun stuff. Definitely worth popping in.

Further down the marina, you'll find Cutting Edge Kites, which has every kind of bright flying item that you might want. Today there were some particularly cute garden spinners that looked like woodys (the surfers station wagon) with wheels that spun. (Note to self, buy one of those when you have a garden to show it off in). They also carry cheap kites for the day tripper, and elaborate set ups for those wanting to do kite fighting or kite ballet (see the post on the windriders festival).

At the end of the marina, there are two artsy galleries; the Albright Jewelry Gallery, and Art Talks. Both feature jewelry and glass art by local artists. Art Talks also sells a lot of local metal art, and lot of beach themed treasures. These places have stuff for inexpensive souveniers, the sometimes collector, as well as high end art. Needless to say, I can't bring baby in either store anymore, because I'm not interested in buying something he's broken, but I love to covet the beautiful metal sculpture in Art Talks.

So there you have it, my five favorite stores on the Westport Marina. I do stroll in the others, even the Charter offices, from time to time, because you never know what you might find. And of course, there's always Pomegranate's in Grayland, which is the queen of all coastal gift shops. But next time you're in Westport, stop in and see if you find a treasure to take home with you.

Sometimes it rains in July...

2007-07-22T11:40:00.000-07:00

This weekend we were supposed to be having the annual Hot Rod Show and Shine, which is a very cool car show for pre-1949 cars. Last year, I missed it because I was home with a 3-week old, and I was really looking forward to it this year. However, a major glitch that was ruining weekends from Bellingham to Eugene was ... the rain.

Yes, it does rain in July. Actually, I don't mind the rain so much (I accept the weather patterns I live in, and happily deal with the October through June onslaught of drizzle, clouds, fog, and other weather that makes most tropical folks run and hide), except that when it happens in late July, we all feel a little cheated. This is made a million times worse when it happens in late July on a WEEKEND. I mean, after all, there are five perfectly good work days when the skies could gray over and no one would care.

The good news is the plants get the water they need, the streets get rinsed, and my car (which rarely sees a car wash out here in the sticks) gets a washdown.

AND, interestingly, the surfers were still out in force, despite the weather. When I took a walk by the jetty, there seemed to even be more of them out than normal. I guess the storm that brought the rain must have brought some great swells as well. Seeing this reinforces that voice in the back of my head that wants me to try a surf lesson. Oh well, maybe when the sun comes out again.

Windriders Kite Festival

2007-07-16T23:10:00.000-07:00

Prior to this weekend, the idea of hundreds of adults getting together to fly kites simply didn't trip my trigger. However, encouraged by a picture in the South Beach Bulletin, we packed up Baby and headed to Grayland Beach, which for those who've never heard of it, is about 5 minutes south of Westport, for the Annual Grayland Windriders Kite Festival.

And oh my goodness, if you have never seen a thousand kites flying in a beautiful blue sky, it is quite a sight. Kite enthusiasts take these festivals very seriously, staking out their areas with personalized "colors" that display the names of each person in their group. They had areas for novices, "kite acrobatics", and kite fighting. "Kite Ballet" set to music was almost as fascinating (sans the loud engines) as the Seafair Blue Angels. Baby was highly entertained by the various flags and balloon like wind socks that dotted the beach.

The weather started out overcast in the morning - a typical day at the beach, but by noon on both days, it was downright warm, high 60's at least, and warm enough for the water to be full of kids and adults playing and fishing in the surf.

So, as I understand it, these kinds of kite festivals are held all year long, from Bellingham, WA to Lincoln City, OR. The big mama of Kite Festivals is held in Long Beach, WA, every year. All are spectacular to see, the nice thing about this local festival is that its big enough to be worth attending, but small enough that you can attend without fighting traffic and getting lost in the crowds. It's one of the best small town festivals I've attending recently.

The Windriders Kite Festival is sponsored by the local Kite Flying community and local merchants in the South Beach area, and definitely worth a trip down to the beach next summer. And now, the mommy in me will end with the obligatory picture of baby with kite.

Zen Fishing

2007-07-11T23:23:00.000-07:00

Occasionally I see men out in the surf fishing and I wonder what the heck they are fishing for (I supposed I could ask someone) and how it could be worth standing in that cold water for so long. But on days like today, when the weather is clear and the temperature is hot, I almost wish I was out there with them.

Fireworks, pyrotechnics

2007-07-08T23:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, I get it, you guys like to blow stuff up. Yes, its fun. But its been 3 days since the holiday, can you please knock it the hell off!

Tourism is good for the economy.... tourism is good for the economy... tourism is good for the economy.

Visiting the Westport Maritime Museum

2007-07-06T10:58:00.000-07:00

Calling all lighthouse lovers and coast guard buffs:

You should definitely check out the Westport Maritime Museum and the Grays Harbor Lighthouse. Both properties are operated by the South Beach Historical Society, whose mission is:

"to interpret and preserve the history of the South Beach area of Grays Harbor County in Washington State, with an emphasis on the impact of local natural resources on the regional growth and development of our maritime community."

Actually, the Museum itself is right on the Westport Marina, and its an old Coast Guard Station that was built in 1939. It was dedicated as a museum in the mid-80's once the modern Coast Guard facilities were in place at the east end of the Westport Marina.

Exhibits include some science related information about the ocean and what lives in local waters; local history; information about the local Cranberry industry; Whales and whaling history (including a full Whale Skeleton that has its own building); and the lighthouse lens from the Destruction Island lighthouse. There is also a "discovery room" which has activities and hands on exhibits for the kids.

I took baby into the discovery room on the 4th of July and he was a little young at 13 months to do anything more than stack and unstack the shelf of kids books, but there were other kids in there that seemed to enjoy the puzzles and toys (I am guessing the right age range is probably in the toddler to maybe 8 years old).

The Destruction Island lens is quite a site. It's in a separate building on Museum grounds, which has a skylight, and the lens flashes colors throughout the building. There is a great scientific explanation about the various types of lighthouse lenses and how they work for geeks, and for everyone else, its just darn pretty.

You can find their hours on their website: http://westportwa.com/museum/ and the fee to get in is nominal (a few bucks, I'm not exactly sure). The volunteers are friendly and excited to be involved in the museum. I'm glad we finally got around to visiting and plan to be back soon!

Happy Independance Day!

2007-07-05T23:38:00.000-07:00

The beach was made for the Fourth of July, and today did not disappoint. From the Maritime Museum's Old Fashioned Community Festival, to the fireworks on the beach, the area was hopping. It was hard to believe it was a Wednesday and we all had to wake up for work the next morning, but nonetheless, it was a fitting celebration.

Hope you all enjoyed your day off!

Arrgh Matey, Rusty Scupper Pirate Daze

2007-06-24T22:24:00.000-07:00

Westport's Rusty Scuppers Pirate Daze took place this weekend with a "thar she blows" and an "aargh matey". This event, which is coordinated by local merchants and the Rusty Scupper Pirates (apparently community based pirate clubs abound in the Puget Sound area and they're not too unlike the Kiwanis or Lions Club, they just like to dress, um, differently).

We had dreams of decorating baby's stroller to look like a pirate ship, but like all really great home made craft projects, it died in committee. No problem, though, we figured we could still enjoy the festival, so, we packed up and headed again to festival central - the Westport Marina - sans costumes or decorations, but looking forward to the elephant ears.

The festival itself did not disappoint. You can't really go wrong with hundreds of people dressed in their fantasy costumes of pirates, wenches, and gypsies. It was a plethora of inappropriately costumed women (think lots of women with borderline S&M leather bustiers) and men. This is the renaissance faire type crowd who does not spare any detail, including the leather cup holder for the daschund. No kidding.

In addition to the people watching, there were costume contests (one for professional pirates - huh? - and one for regular joes), pirate bands, and lots and lots of pirate themed gift booths. Don't laugh - it took all of my personal restraint not to buy myself an inappropriate outfit to squeeze into for next year's pirate daze.

Baby loved the dogs dressed up as pirates and even wobbled along to some of the pirate music. In all, it was great to see the Marina so heavily populated and definitely one of those festivals worth traveling to at least once.

Note: Mark your calendars, the 2008 Event will take place June 20 - 22.

Best Breakfasts in Town

2007-06-19T23:01:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about taking a weekend trip is that it gives you an excuse to eat out. Because, after all, you didn't just drive 3 hours from Edmunds to eat cheerios, right? And Westport doesn't disappoint. Whether you're looking for greasy spoon hash or bloody mary and crab cakes, here are some of the best places to start your day:

Best Coffee Stand: Hands down, Captain Jack's Espresso, conveniently located near the Red Apple (or at our only stoplight). Friendly service, sugar free flavors, expect to wait for at least a few cars ahead of you. It's the only place in town to drive through for your morning brew.

Best Bloody Marys: Islander aka Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill. I would also argue that its the most "sophisticated" breakfast menu in town, with crab benedict and fruit cups on the menu. If there's a big eater in your crowd, order the chicken fried steak, which is portion big enough to feed a family of four for a week. Yummy breakfast sandwich on ciabatta bread is great. Drawbacks - only open Saturday and Sunday. Definitely try "washington's best bloody mary" here and drink your breakfast.

Best family breakfast: Inn at the Westwind. It's low key, and there's nothing your kids can do here that hasn't already been done. Best hot chocolates with mountains of whipped cream, and kids will love the smiley face pancake, complete with cherry nose.

Best view: Hands down, the Fogcutter. This little diner (whose owners used to run "THE DINER" down the street which closed early last year), has a full breakfast menu with such standards as omelettes, eggs benedict, and pancakes as big as your head, but the real star here is the Grays Harbor Lighthouse immediately across the street. You can eat your breakfast and then walk over and climb to the top and work off, if not all, at least a little of breakfast.

Westport dining... we're moving on up...

2007-06-12T22:36:00.000-07:00

I saw this press release today, which was very exciting... I knew these places were special, now I have corroboration!

Don’t Overlook Washington’s Best Kept Dining Secrets

Anthony’s Restaurant in Westport, Washington, gets 3-1/2 stars from “Best Places Northwest” guidebook, Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill receives 3 stars.

Westport, WA, June 12, 2007: Two of Westport’s restaurants were recently reviewed in the 16^th edition of the popular “Best Places Northwest” guidebook and received among the guidebooks highest honors.

Anthony’s Restaurant, a 40-seat restaurant located on the Westport Marina in the Islander Resort, at 421 E. Neddie Rose Drive, received 3-1/2 stars (out of a maximum 4 stars). The reviewer recommends that guests try the grilled pear, blue cheese and prosciutto salad, apricot-glazed chicken and cranberry polenta for its melt in your mouth goodness. Anthony’s also received a note as being a romantic dining experience. It was recently touted locally as having the “Best Bloody Mary” in Washington.

The Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill, located adjacent Anthony’s Restaurant in the Islander Resort, was touted as “a superb dining spot by the sea” and received 3 stars (out of a maximum 4 stars) from the reviewer. They go on to note that “fresh fish is their forte:, and that “a combination of cozy booths and tables, warm earth tones, and Moroccan-style lanterns create a comfortable atmosphere.” Diners are encouraged to try the Jetty Surf Melt, “that will have you savoring every bite.”

The ratings show that Westport’s small eateries can compete with some of Seattle’s landmark dining spots such as El Gaucho (3 stars), Ray’s Boathouse (2-1/2 stars), Palace Kitchen (2 stars) and Wild Ginger (2-1/2 stars).

Josh Wood, Food and Beverage Manager for both venues found the reviews to be a pleasant surprise, “when we created the Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill and later Anthony’s restaurant in 2004 and 2006, we knew we were on to something special. It’s exciting to be recognized, and to know that although we’re in a remote location, we can compete with the finest establishments in the Seattle areas. I hope that people will make the short 2-1/2 hour drive from Seattle to enjoy the Anthony’s and Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill experience.”

Anthony’s Restaurant and Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill are both operated by Westport Investments, LLC, a local operating company that also operates the Vacations by the Sea Oceanfront Condo Rentals (which received 2-1/2 stars from “Best Places Northwest”), and several other motel, RV, and Charter properties in the South Beach area from Westport to Tokeland, Washington.

Westport, Washington, the often overlooked beach town across from Grays Harbor from Ocean Shores, is a 2-1/2 hour drive from downtown Seattle. Once known as the Salmon Fishing Capital of the World, it is being repositioned as the ideal destination resort for beach and ocean lovers in the Pacific Northwest.

“Best Places Northwest”, 16^th Edition, is published by Sasquatch Books and is well known in the Northwest, being called “the bible for discriminating travelers,” and “the region’s undisputed heavyweight champ of guidebooks.”

###

To Protect and to Surf

2007-06-10T22:48:00.000-07:00

The Surfrider Foundation and the surf community descended onto Westport this weekend to celebrate the 6th Annual Cleanwater Classic, which is basically a small surf contest and big party.

I have always been fascinated with surfers and surfing. Growing up 20 minutes from the big wave surf of the North Shore of Oahu, I have a very solid respect for the ocean. I was caught in way too many close calls in the shorebreak to really ever feel comfortable in the surf, although I consider myself a strong swimmer. I was also quite a dork growing up, so I never had the opportunity to try surfing. So now as an adult, and with all of my adult wisdom, I am highly interested in learning. I do have an aversion to (1) squeezing my large body into a wetsuit and (2) immersing my island grown ass into 65 degree seas. However, its still on my list of "things to do", and maybe on day you'll read all about it here.

In the meantime, watching the surfing is an adventure in and of itself. The contest headquarters were located at the Islander Motel, and each morning, they would post where the surfing would occur (whether at Half Moon Bay or at the Jetty or the Groins).

Unfortunately, I won't be able to report what it was truly like at this particular time, because, well it was foggy and chilly and I can honestly say that I didn't actually make it to see any heats. I only peeked in at the post-surf party (and I mostly did that for the hawaiian plate lunch).

But, all around town, surfers were everywhere to be found, and do they ever know how to throw a party. The nice thing is that it increases awareness for the Surfrider Foundation, which is dedicated to the preservation of the oceans. Maybe next year, I'll be in the water.

Westport Wall Art (Murals of the Marina)

2007-05-28T22:08:00.000-07:00

One of the most peculiar things about this little town is how common murals are on buildings. I am not sure if it is because of the haphazard way the town grew, or the "bootstrap" manner in which many businesses around here established themselves, requiring them to be resourceful in advertising, or maybe just an unexplainable eccentricity. But there is some very cool wall art in town.

So cool that I encourage any visitors to take the time to drive around and find these gems around town. Here are a few of my favorites:

On the Inn at the Westwind (also a great diner, especially for breakfast):

On the gift shop at Float 10 (in honor of the annual kite festival):

On the walls of the Ferry Office (this was painted in honor of the Washington Bicentennial
:

On the Mermaid Deli (just one sea creature on this building):

On the side of the Washington Crab processing building:

There are also murals on both surf shops in town (Steepwater and The Surf Shop), as well as other random buildings as you drive in on Montesano. Just another one of those things that make my new hometown special.

A note about where Westport came from

2007-05-15T22:00:00.000-07:00

When we moved to Westport, almost 2 years ago, we didn't realize what a curiosity our little town would have among our "city" friends. People rarely know where Westport is, they usually think its near Ocean Shores (which its not) or that its a fishing ghost town (which it once was).

As the locals tell it, Westport was the Charter Fishing Capital of the World up until about the early 1980's. At that time, a Federal judge entered a decision (the Boelt Decision) which basically killed the fishing industry. It had something to do with fishing quotas, but I can't find the actual case reference (I haven't looked very hard) to verify this story. What I do know is that the Westport business community used to be completely fishing-centric, and it was hit hard in the early 80's: going from over 325+ charter boats to about 35.

So anyone who has visited Westport prior to maybe 2003 always has a pretty negative view of it as a vacation getaway. However, I can vouch for the fact that the economy in this town is diversifying, and the atmosphere of this town continues to morph as it grows.

It is still very fishing centric. Everyone that I work with is either neighbors with, married to, or used to be a fisherman. The charter offices still dominate the Marina district, selling bottom fishing, salmon, tuna, and the occasional whale watching trips alongside their hats and t-shirts and dramamine. But there is also a vibrant art community, as well as some other interesting retail spots in and near town.

Overall, its a small town that is blessed with some amazing natural resources (where else will you find a sandy beach and a full working marina within walking distance from one another) that is struggling to establish its identity. We have found a nice community here and are looking forward to having baby in a public school where his class size is 45 rather than 400. I do miss the anonymity of Downtown Seattle, where I could actually be in the grocery store without someone I work with inspecting my nutritional habits, but from a big picture point of view, we're glad to be here.

Crab Races?

2007-04-23T22:11:00.000-07:00

I have never been one for unusual treatment of animals, but I do admit to partaking in turtle races at Brennan's Pub in my early 20's in Marina del Rey. For a nominal fee you could "race" a turtle in the back courtyard of this classy joint off of Lincoln Avenue. Basically a bunch of drunks would place their rented turtles in the center of a circle. If your turtle won, you could pick your prize out of a large garbage bag - perhaps a pack of gum, some sort of contraceptive or alternate penny prize that only 20-somethings with too little responsibility would find entertaining.

But my point here wasn't to relive my glorious 20's, but rather to talk about a similar event, albeit quite a bit more family oriented, that takes place right here in my back yard annually. Yes, I'm talking about the World Famous Westport Crab Races. 2007 was the year I was finally going to attend these oft-talked-about races and see what all the fuss is about.

I bundled up the baby, and the out of town friends and dragged everyone down to the Marina District just before lunch. It was cold, even for Westport in April, and I was amazed at the crowds that show up for this event. It's held in a huge tent on the Port parking lots just between the Coho Motel and the Marina area. There must have been hundreds of people crowded into that tent, hiding from rain, and munching on the locally caught and prepared crab feed.

The crab races? A tilted table, maybe the size of a dining room table, at about a 30 degree slope. Participants place their crab at the top and then pound on the table to get their crab to slide down to the finish line. I did not elbow my way to the front to see the actual spectacle take place, but the pounding and cheering could be heard from the other end of the tent.

This is one of those "only in Westport" events that you just have to see to believe. Shellfish lovers bedecked in crab headbands, crab t shirts, crab hats, spattered in crab flesh, chowing down on the fresh steamed (or boiled?) crabs, that may well have been just pulled in from the local waters.

As an added bonus, the commercial crab fishermen "seed" the marina with marked crabs for a fun and playful "crab derby". People can drop their crab pots off the fishermans boardwalk or one of the piers and if they catch the marked crab they can win cash and other prizes.

Overall, it was a fun "coming out of the winter closet" event, and I recommend it, particularly if you're one of those crab lovers that love to get down and dirty with your lunch.

Clamming is On!

2007-04-22T23:26:00.000-07:00

The Department of Fish and Wildlife rules the roost when it comes to saying when you can gather food and what you can gather from our local beaches, and this weekend they told us it was okay to dig for clams. I have mostly avoided this local activity for the past few years because, frankly, I wouldn't know what to do with the clams if I did find some, and I hate to waste food.

But we had out of towners and it was a beautiful day, so we gathered up the necessary clam guns (big PVC pipe things that act like a coring tool), shellfish licenses, and containers and headed out to the beach.

The trick to clam digging, apparently, is to know what you are looking for. And what you are looking for is the clam "show". Which I like to describe as air bubbles. Which is impossible to notice in the sand if you've never seen it before. Our friends Mary and Matt were joining us for this little adventure, and for the first hour that we were out, I'm pretty sure they thought they had been scammed into thinking there was something to catch. However, once we figured it out, we caught a handful of clams, enough for Matt and Mary to make a homemade clam chowder, which would put any Seattle Restaurant to shame.

I think this might be our last clam dig for the season (until fall), but when the WDFW gives us the thumbs up again, it will be Clam On!

What is that! It burns!

2007-04-05T22:42:00.000-07:00

This week brought some of those beautiful, sunny, seventy degree, spring days that make all of life's problems just melt away. It was a great opportunity to head down to the beach at Westhaven State Park and let Baby munch on the sand without being bundled up in a million layers.

Despite the perfect weather, the beach was, as usual, completely empty. After being down there for maybe a half hour, I bumped into one of the local real estate agents walking her dog. It still amazes me that this area is so unspoiled and underused. I know come summer I'll be wishing for my solitude, but on days like today, its a little lonely.

About my new hometown...

2006-12-01T00:10:00.000-08:00

The 18 miles of sandy beaches that stretch from Westport to Tokeland is otherwise known as the South Beach and its everything you would want in a Pacific Northwest Beach. Whether you're looking for a fishing adventure, beautiful beaches, surfing, kite flying, whale watching, crabbing, or just relaxing, the South Beach is the place to be.

Many Seattlites have never heard of Westport. Or they think its "near ocean shores". It's actually on the opposite side of the mouth of Grays Harbor from Ocean Shores, nearly an hour away (although its the same distance from Seattle to Westport as it is from Seattle to Ocean Shores). Many Seattlites think there are no beaches worth noting in Washington, that they have to go to Cannon Beach or Seaside, Oregon, to get the beach town experience. Not true. Westport is a great little getaway beach town.

In the summer, you can't beat it to beat the heat in the City. For a beach town, it's not overdeveloped, in fact its quite understated. The marina district has a nice mixture of upscale restaurants (we got our first sushi restaurant, yay!) and hole-in-the-wall diners. Fishing is still a very important part of the community, and if you've ever wanted to try a fishing charter, you can do that from July 1 until the quotas are met for less than a round of drinks in downtown Seattle.

Surfing is huge here, at Westhaven State Park and Half Moon Bay. There are 2 surf shops in town (Steepwater Surf Shop, and The Surf Shop) that can outfit you with a wetsuit and a board for under $50. A lesson will cost a little more, but not by much.

Bikes and paddleboats are available for rent down on the water. Kites can be purchased for just a few dollars and can keep your kids busy for hours.

In the spring and fall, watch the WDFW to see when the beaches are open for clamming. During crab season, you can drop your crab pots right off of the fisherman's boardwalk - no boats required.

Starting in September, the salmon that were released by the local high school class start to return to the Marina, and you can fish right off the boardwalk and participate in the Salmon Derby.

There is all kinds of old fashioned fun here. It's perfect for a romantic getaway or a family trip. Day trips and overnighters. There is everything from campgrounds to low budget motels, to luxury condos. And you're only 2.5 hours from downtown Seattle. No ferry rides, no major bridges, no major bottlenecks.

Stormwatching

2006-11-22T11:27:00.000-08:00

Having lived in Seattle for the past 5 years, rain and stormy weather is not new to me. But I must admit, the word "storm" takes on a whole new meaning when you are living 200 feet from the Pacific Ocean. While the entire Pacific Northwest has been drenched with over 13" of rain this November, the really scary stuff was reserved for those of us at the beach.
It started with torrential downpours early in the month, continued with thunder and lightning rivaling that on Poltergeist, and ended with sustained 40 -60 MPH winds on two occasions over the past week.

Last Saturday evening, the sky was growling, the surf was pounding, and I was ready to take my 5 month old and crawl under the bed. I literally jumped out of my skin at 3:30 AM when I was CERTAIN we were being attacked (by who?) because the thunder sounded like a grenade outside my window. (That is either a testament to the thunder or my sheltered life, so maybe I should just be thankful). That particular storm completely blew out our condo building elevator breaker and fried my television (along with a dozen others in my building), but we survived to tell the tale.

I was lucky enough to witness a truly spectacular sight was last Wednesday, after the strongest winds left Westport without power for over 12 hours, was the evening sky. The closest streetlights were across the bay in Ocean Shores, and in the absense of light, there was the most amazing display of the milky way that I have ever seen. It was a breathtaking view, and was a sharp reminder of the good that sometimes comes with the bad.

When it was all said and done, the tree branches and debris were cleared from the roads and the power was back on, we weren't that worse for the wear despite how scary the howling winds and the complete and utter darkness were at the time.

It made me understand the ads I used to see for "stormwatching" specials and the stream of people that come into town when the sky is particularly foreboding. So for you Seattleites and Portlanders who frown when the skies get gray, take a weekend and visit the beach, bundle up take a walk on the beach in the weather, and experience the splendor.