Seattle Distilling Company

 

I love gin! Everyone who knows me, knows it is my booze of choice. A couple of years ago, I wrote about San Juan Island Distillery on Orcas Island which really tickled my fancy and really opened my eyes to the complexities of distilling. Since then, I have tried a variety of craft gins plus some very expensive imports which have made me appreciate the art of distilling even more.

So when Ryan came to visit recently, we decided to get back from the Seattle Airport via Vashon Island and the Seattle Distilling Company. What a treat that was.

Vashon Island is between the mainland (Seattle) and Bremerton (at the base of the Olympic Peninsula) with ferries to and from. In fact, you only pay when you go to the island as they know you have to leave! And because it is a short ride to an agricultural island, the ferries are small and the rides short. But in the all the time I have lived up here, I had never made that detour and it ended up being a wonderful day trip.

Ryan's flight from LAX arrived mid-morning, so we had plenty of time before the distillery opens at noon to drive around Vashon. Such pastoral settings and a lovely, old cemetery that we explored in the rain. The business center of the island has interesting small stores, well-preserved buildings, coffee shops and restaurants. I imagine in the summer it is a busy place. But the day we visited, it was raining so very few people were out and about.

The Seattle Distilling Company is situated just off the main drag, a bit north of The Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie, which we saved for a different visit.

Here's my review on Tripadvisor:

[su_box title="Tripadvisor Review" box_color="#eddfcd" title_color="#090909"]Seattle Distilling is a tiny place producing a huge product. Or products!

A recent visit to the distillery, located on picturesque Vashon Island shows you don't need a huge space to create amazing spirits.

We arrived at opening time - 12pm - and were greeted by Paco Joyce, the VP and Master Distiller. The next hour was spent getting an education about the fine art of distilling; viewing and touching the steampunkish copper and steel stills, pipes and gauges; and really getting a feel for what goes into making a great bottle of whiskey, vodka or gin.

After the tour, we tasted the products - gin, vodka, strawberry-infused vodka, Idle Time whiskey and the Coffee Liqueur. My favorite, and my son's, as well, was the gin which is unlike any mass-produced gin you can buy at the liquor store. The flavors are carefully melded and include local lavender and juniper berries. The only ingredient that is not from the island, is the lemon peel that comes from, if I remember correctly, California.

Perhaps the most interesting fact to take away from the visit was understanding the symbiotic relationship between the distillery and the island community. As an example: The remaining mash left from the grain used for the base alcohol is fed to island livestock on nearby farms. The farms, in turn, provide some of the other ingredients needed, or the farmers apply their talents, like welding, to keep the stills and machinery running.

Although it is all local and very small, the Seattle Distilling Company is making a name for itself, winning Best of the Northwest from Evening Magazine, among other prestigious awards.

Well worth the visit.[/su_box]

The Airbnb Project

Well! That was a mission fraught with delays and frustrations! What I thought would be a simple process turned into a long, drawn out project that of course, cost me far more than anticipated. But the good news is that it is done and live on Airbnb!

At the start, I knew I would have to do something about the bathroom. The house was built in 1984 and it has the original tub and shower enclosure with awful sliding glass door. When it was installed, they somehow didn't put enough braces under the unit and there was a dip in the bottom. With the hard water we have here, even before I moved in, the minerals had etched the bottom so it never, ever looked clean! So I had assumed I would need to replace the entire unit - that is something that had held me back from doing it years ago. Many thousands of dollars! But I heard about tub refinishing! In two hours, the tub looked like new!

Danelle helped me get all the fittings and doors off before Michael the Miracle Method tech showed up. He taped everything off, worked the magic and a couple of hours later, he was done! It was a bit fumy for a couple of days, but well worth it! Later in the week, Danelle and John came back down and replaced the old fittings with bright and shiny new ones! Not without some hassles, though. Parts didn't fit which necessitated a trip to Port Orchard an hour away, only to be told that the unit was too old and I would have to get a new mixer! Well, that wasn't going to happen, and between us, we did a work-around and everything works and looks great! I did end up under the basin replacing the lines there (also too old to reuse!) so John wouldn't have to make another trip to the house.

Of course, all this cost more than I planned, but it is something that had to be done before I rent it out at the beginning of next summer (that's the plan at the moment, anyway).

Buying the linens was easy, other than the design choice. So I am really happy with the way that turned out.

Home-away-from-home for my Airbnb guests

The next thing I battled with was the blind installation. The first ones I ordered online and they didn't fit! I'm pretty handy with a tape measure, so sure I measured correctly! But that set me back a few days as I tried to find others that would work. Home Depot had what I needed and they cut to size. So off I went to Poulsbo, 25 minutes away, and chose the ones I wanted and the guy working there cut to size.

When I got them home, I was all set up. Screwdrivers, drill, tape measure etc. And damned if I could figure the things out! But then, after about half-an-hour of battling silly little end caps, I saw the guy had cut the wrong end of the blind so there was no room for the end cap to slide on! Sheesh!

So back to square one! I used Home Depot's app and found that the Poulsbo store didn't have any more that could be cut to size. I would have to go to Sequim, 45 minutes away. Sunday morning, off I went and success! Back at home, drilled and screwed and less than half-an-hour later, the blinds were up and working!

But damn, it looked so bare! So off I went again and bought the drapes, installed the rods etc. Done!

A couple of weeks before, Mardelle came down to give me some ideas about how to lay the room out - she is quite the design fundi! We decided it needed a couple of small chairs just like the ones I had seen at Habitat for Humanity a few days before. On my next trip to Port Townsend, popped in but of course, they were gone! And anything new was far too expensive for me to splurge on, so last week I went into the local Goodwill and voila! One very cute, excellent condition chair that fits perfectly!

Yesterday, my neighbor Joe, came over and helped me get it upstairs. That made the room complete and I did the pix and posted to Airbnb.

So that part of this adventure is done; now I just need guests!

Come on over!

Jefferson County Farm Tour 2015

 

I try not to miss the yearly Farm Tour. It's always fun to see the organic farms sprouting up in this area. This past weekend, I went to three farms I haven't been to before. One, Spring Rain, I drive past every time I drive to Port Townsend but have never been in. The second, called Wilderbee, I've watched over the last few years as the owners developed raw land into a thriving little farm. And the third is brand new. I didn't even know Onatrue was there, tucked away off the road, with just a dirt road leading to it.

Wilderbee has something for everyone. They grow lavender and have a custom-made still for creating lavender oils which they use in a nice variety of soaps, lotions and potions. The lavender is over now, but the U-pick flower garden is gorgeous! Beautiful dahlias and a wide variety of other flowers from sunflowers to sweet peas. There is even a pumpkin patch which will also be U-pick when they are ready. Beyond the developed area is an added bonus - a certified wild area, with a lovely pond and natural vegetation surrounding it. Several bee hives hum alongside the walking trail. The honey being harvested is going into Wilderbee's latest project - mead, with a mead tasting room coming soon.

Just about a mile away, Onatrue Farm is growing on a 10 acre former hay field. Arriving just a year ago from S. Dakota, this young couple and their kids are living in a couple of trailers, devoting all their time and energy into developing the farm. Several hoop houses and chicken coops dot the land, with in-the-ground plantings of the hardier crops. I was thrilled to see ginger growing in one of the hoops and came away with a very healthy plant that I hope does well in my sunroom.

Spring Rain has been on my radar for a while, but I was completely blown away by the expanse of the farm. Tucked back beyond the tree-lined main drag, 26 acres that span the Chimacum Valley and Chimacum Creek, opens up to vast vegetable gardens and most interestingly, at least to me, are chickens and turkeys! Running wild! This is free-range heaven for all the birds which are housed in a very eclectic selection of ancient old trailers and caravans, most painted by (probably) farm kids. The chickens were everywhere, roaming around, sunbathing in the dust and generally living a life of ease!

The turkeys were also out, ranging around! What bizarre-looking birds they are! and so funny to watch.

One of the sheds had masses of 4-day old chicks. The chicken smell and the warmth of the room was almost overwhelming but after a minute or so it was ok. The tiny birds all huddled and cheeped together. Two batches of little golden ones and two of black, and they reminded me of all the chickens Mum had: how they would arrive by train in boxes and kept warm by a kerosene lamp out in the shed until old enough to go out into the yard.

Spring Rain is far more than just chickens. They raise rabbits and sheep and grow berries, orchard fruits, greenhouse crops, herbs, asparagus, and garlic. They also raise bees on this sustainable organic farm. And being aligned with the Jefferson Land Trust, they care for and protect Chimacum Creek, a salmon stream that runs through the farm.

Jefferson Farm Tour

Wilderbee Farm 223 Cook Ave Ext Port Townsend, WA 98368 (360) 379-2434 Email:  farmgeeks@wilderbeefarm.com

Onatrue Farm 220 Jimson Lane, Port Townsend, WA 98368 (360) 621-7479

SpringRain Farm and Orchard 187 Covington Way, Chimacum (425) 218-5675

Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival 2015

 

Boats used to be pretty much my whole life - I worked on them, sailed and cruised on them, then wrote about them and photographed them. I guess I got burned out, but it sure was fun to immerse myself in them again - for a short while this weekend.

The 39th Annual Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival this year, and every year is on the second weekend of September. More often than not, it is cold, gray, wet and windy. But this weekend was amazing! Mid-70s, sunny, a light breeze - perfect. Brought the spectators and visitors out in droves.

As usual, Point Hudson Marina was jammed with boats of all sizes, shapes, colors and vintage. There were small home-built sailboats and rowboats; schooners, ketches and sloops side-tied at every dock and slip. Trawlers and classic power boats like Deerleap, shared fenders and boarding ladders. There were acres of varnished teak, tons of polished brass glittering in the sun. What a pleasure!

Most of the boats on show are ones I have seen and boarded many times. I was happy to see Spike Africa, a beautiful schooner built in Costa Mesa, California in the mid-70s by Bobbie Sloan, a well-loved mariner in Southern California. I remember watching the boat being built in a vacant lot next to his house, and once launched, going aboard and accidentally losing a prized pocket knife in the bilge! I expect it's still there!

My old boat, the Wild Rose, was not there and is not on the Classic Yacht Register so I wonder what happened to her and where she is? It sounds like a project to me - tracking her down and making sure she is in good hands.

In recent years, the Festival has grown and is now produced under the auspices of the Northwest Maritime Center. It includes seminars, classes, yacht races, rowing races and kids' activities. But thank goodness, the hippy, Port Townsend funk is still very apparent

And long may it continue.

Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival 431 Water Street Port Townsend, WA 98368 Phone 360.385.3628 ext 104 Fax 360.385.4742 E-mail: info@nwmaritime.org

Detour Surprise

Sweet Pea Farm

First it was just a little chalk board, balance against a stone at the junction of the main road and our rural road. After a few days, I followed the signs and arrived at a dirt road that I remember from my old real estate days, and thought, "There isn't anything down there," turned around and went home.

A few weeks later, the Sweet Pea Farm sign was bigger, with more offerings and I thought, "I really should go and check this out."

Yesterday I finally made the minor detour, and what a little treasure we have, withing walking distance of my house.

This time, I continued beyond where I had originally turned around and found a little country store, complete with goats and chickens, tucked up near the trees. A pumpkin patch snuggled up to an old windmill and pretty produce and craft displays bordered the store.

As I walked up to the what-looked-deserted building, the goats bleated and I gave their heads a rub before entering the building. Opening the door, and following the direction to turn on the light which was on the left, I was surprised to see a wide assortment of goodies, all displayed in country store fashion. Crates of onions and tomatoes; coolers of fresh lettuce and fresh-picked chantrelle mushrooms; fresh eggs from the resident chooks and so much more.

Every horizontal surface displayed local goodies - preserves, jams, chutneys. One area even offered freshly baked cakes.

And it wasn't just food. An old wood bookshelf held used books which overflowed onto old chairs alongside it. Artsy-craftsy items were incorporated throughout the store, with a lovely metal rooster, keeping watch over the honor-system payment box. Yes, all this and not a soul in sight!

I bought some fresh lettuce and zucchini (time for a loaf of zucchini bread) and a jar of chutney to go with my curry, paid and took my change from the jar sitting beside the cash box, turned off the light and went back outside.

The goats came running to the fence and I heard someone call out for them to stop! That's when I met Laurie, whose enterprise this is. And as we got chatting I heard about her future plans and envied her her enthusiasm for the project! Next year, she plans to have a farmers market in the field with small local growers. A local baker is going to be supplying fresh bread. Even through the winter, she plans to stay open, providing eggs and other non-seasonal goodies.

My little excursion is such a reminder that often detours, even small ones, can yield great surprises.

I promised Laurie that I would help spread the word about her Sweet Pea Farm.

Sweet Pea Farm 153 Seattle Dr Port Ludlow, Washington (360) 437-0645

Port Townsend Steampunk

This was the summer of all summers here in the Pacific Northwest. We had sun for literally months, a very unusual occurrence here, but this has added to the drought which has crept up on us.

Port Townsend, host to numerous festivals and events that range from the Jazz Festival to the Kinetic Skulpture Race, made the the most of the gorgeous weather, and so did I.

One of the events particularly piqued my fancy,  The Brass Screw Confederacy, Port Townsend’s Steampunk festival. Somehow the steampunk movement had escaped me but Wikipedia clued me in.

"Steampunk refers to a subgenre of science fiction and sometimes fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrialsteam-poweredmachinery.[1][2] Although its literary origins are sometimes associated with the cyberpunk genre, steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the 19th century's British Victorian era or American "Wild West", in a post-apocalyptic future during which steam power has maintained mainstream usage, or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power. It may, therefore, be described as neo-Victorian."

And then to make it even more intriguing, my TV-Producer son Ryan told me he would be working on the new reality TV show called Steampunk'd!

That clinched it. I was going.

The event program stated that it the festivities started at 10 am so I was up bright and early. Driving through downtown along Water Street, the place looked deserted and I wondered if I had come in on the wrong day. (I learned later, that there had been a hootenanny the night before, so people were slow to get going.)

But then slowly, oddly attired (to some) people started to appear, strolling along, bowing to friends and bystanders, peering through goggles, which appeared to be de rigeuer! The clothes seemed to be a mixture of Victorian and outlandish! Hats on everyone!

Top hats, cloche, helmets, you name it, it was on show. Men wore tails, or leather jerkins - just as long as there was metal, leather and wood incorporated, it was in style.

Women's styles ranged from prim and proper to wild, with bustiers and corsets worn on the outside. Very odd. All with the requisite wood, metal and leather trim.

I had initially assumed that this was a "young" bunch of hipsters but ages were across the board, from youngsters of 4 or 5 to oldsters in their 70's.

This is a "maker" world, where these creatives produce amazing devices, contraptions, jewelry and clothing. The American Legion Hall was filled with vendors, selling everything Steampunk. Amazing works of art, wrought from - you guessed it - metal, wood and leather. Repurposed odds and ends, cell phone cases disguised as metal purses, imaginative jewelry and hats galore! I discovered too, that there are Steampunk novels!

Troupes of dancers performed intricate steps and routines that involved fighting sticks and scarves, the bells on their high leather boots adding to the music.

All the while, the parading continued, young and old, creating a spectacle, hearkening back to Port Townsend's Victorian past - but with an eclectic twist.

It was a glimpse into another world. There was far more going on than I saw and I highly recommend that if there is a local steampunk event in your area, go, enjoy and join in.

I can see how it would be a fun group to be involved in, forever playing "dress-up" with no excuses!

The Brass Screw Confederacy

Email: info@brass-screw.org Phone: 360-301-5884 Mailing Address: Brass Screw Confederacy, PO Box 1050, Port Townsend WA 98368

Artsy Craftsy Outings

This area is known for its artists and there are numerous opportunities to check out their work. Recently, I had a very artsy weekend,  going to Gallery Walk in Poulsbo on Saturday evening then followed the Art in the Woods Trail around Kitsap County. I had company, two other grannies; Pam on Saturday and Susan on Sunday. Gallery Walk in Poulsbo is every second Saturday of the month and as is the case with most of these walks, the galleries are open late and often have entertainment and serve wine and goodies! It's a lot of fun and amazing to see the talent in the area. From art photography to sculpture and blow glass and everything in between. Some I wouldn't consider art but as they say, art is in the eye of the beholder so there is definitely something for everyone.

After an arduous hour or so of wandering the galleries, Pam and I ended up at the delightful Burrata Bistro for a glass of wine.

The following day, Susan joined me for the Art in the Woods Studio Tour. We did it last year too, so this year chose a route that took us to new galleries. Our favorite was the Bob Kimball Design Studio. He creates amazing metal sculptures - some huge, some just the right size to hang on a wall. Check out my Steller story below. (You might need to refresh the page if Steller does't load.)

Burrata Bistro 19006 Front Street Suite 100 Poulsbo, WA 98370 (360) 930-8446

More-Than-7-Best-Things-to-See-or-Do-in-Port-Townsend List

Port Townsend has become a very popular destination spot as there is so much to do. Just recently Port Townsend made the “Best List” in  Fodors, USA Today,AARP and the Seattle Times  for a variety of topics, including best retirement town,  most quirky town and best Farmers Market. 

If you've done any sort of research on this little town, you'll know a lot of the activities center on boats and boating, with the wonderful boat yard and world famous Wooden Boat Festival.  And you've most likely heard about the Victorian houses and Centrum concerts and other sites that are popular. Having lived in the Port Townsend area for more years than I care to think about, friends and I have come up with our "more than 7 list" of different things to see and do while visiting. And of course, it's for locals, too as we all know how when we live somewhere for a while, we tend not to do the "touristy" things.

These are not in any particular order or preference.

The Rose Theatre and Starlight Room

When I first lived in Port Townsend, the house was right up on top of Morgan Hill. At the bottom, was a small local market, called Aldrich's where more often than not, we were served by a young man with an enormous mop of dark curls. Young Rocky Friedman went on to fulfill his dream, restoring the old Rose theatre, bringing first run movies to the little town. Since then he has gone on to create the Rosebud (a tiny, intimate theatre) and more recently, the Starlight Room. From the Seattle Times: "The Starlight Room itself is gorgeous — high ceilings, big windows (curtained, of course, when movies are playing), a graceful assortment of soft-colored vintage couches and chairs, chandeliers, the whisper of history. There’s an elegant little bar outside the main room, where you can get a cocktail or a Silverwater snack, and the whole experience just feels first-class." The Rose also sponsors the Port Townsend Film Festival that draws visitors from all over the world.

Centrum Blues, Jazz and more

Centrum is central to Port Townsend's cultural identity. It all about the arts and so much of it is shared during the amazing workshops that are held mostly during the summer. A couple of weeks ago, during Jazz Week, I was lucky enough to attend one of the free concerts which was held out at the Fort, in the open air. The music was amazing - and I am not a jazz fan! The musicians were all youngsters attending the workshops.

Art Walk 1st Saturday of every month

Living in this little artsy town, it's easy to forget about the talent that thrives here and to forget about Gallery Walk. (I did, last month.) Water Street, our main road through the middle of town is filled with wonderful art galleries and each month they stay open late that 1st Saturday with many providing wine and hors d'oeuvre to their wandering guests. This is a monthly event and is held year-round.

The Port Townsend Boat Haven

The Boat haven is a great place to visit. Spend the whole day around the boats. Besides seeing a huge variety of boats in and out of the water and see the great work the shipwrights do, you can have some of the best coffee you might ever have had Sunrise Coffee. My favorite is the Heavy Haulout. All the blends are roasted right there and all the labels are works of art themselves, created by local artist, Max Grover.  Then have lunch at the Blue Moose in the boatyard where the boat workers go for good food and  then go for a beer at Port Townsend Brewery, where they have excellent local brews and music in the beer garden on Friday afternoons in the summer.

Music on the Dock on Thursdays during the summer

This is is a Port Townsend Main Street Program sponsored by local merchants, bringing a wide range of family-friendly music to the town. Port Townsend Main Street Program 360-385-7911, director@ptmainstreet.org

The Great Port Townsend Bay Kinetic Skulpture Race

This is one of the whackier events in a town known for the unusual! Way back, I was a Kinetic Kop, handing out ridiculous tickets for a variety of infractions! Now in it's 32nd year, the krazy contraptions recently took to the water, the streets, sand and mud! As the third oldest race on the ever growing Kinetic Racing circuit, it is one of the few still run by volunteers. "These kineticnauts and their wacky Kontraptions have won the hearts, and imaginations of all who witness this eccentric, eclectic pageantry of human powered machinery."

Northwest Maritime Center and Point Hudson

The Maritime Center is a relative newcomer to Port Townsend, many years in the planning and built at the site of an old oil tank storage facility overlooking Point Hudson. The LEED-certified building houses the Chandlery, a boat shop, the Velocity Cafe and is home to the Wooden Boat Foundation. Best known, perhaps is the Wooden Boat Festival, now considered the largest in the country, held every year in September. For wooden boat fans, it is definitely the place to be. Point Hudson itself, is a small marina surrounded by some great old buildings that accommodate a sail loft, boat shops, an RV area right on the water and one of the oldest continuously-operating restaurant in Port Townsend - the Shanghai Chinese Restaurant! A newer addition is the Point Hudson Cafe. (Try the Scotch Salmon dish that is topped with caviar!)

Food

Before the town was "discovered," restaurant choices were very limited. There was (and still is) Ku Larb Thai which remains excellent. There was The Lido which served the best fresh salmon. And Waterfront Pizza. Which is still here and, in my mind, is still the best around. But the choices now are vast and exceptional and include just about everything from basic hot dogs at Dogs Afoot to great pasta at Lanza's, to Almond Chicken at the Fountain Cafe and fresh wild caught salmon and scallops at Alchemy. (This will have to be a whole new post as there are just too many eateries to mention here.)

Elevated Ice Cream

No trip to Port Townsend is complete without a trip to Elevated! Home made, seasonal and local! When my mother visited years ago, she discovered the Swiss Orange Chocolate Chip ice cream, so every time we went downtown, we had to stop for a scoop. A few years ago, they added the candy store, which is dangerous! You can buy the world-famous chocolate slugs on a stick here.

So that's just a sample of what you can do and see in Port Townsend, Washington.

Below is a partial list of some of the PT "happenings" during the year. You can see a lot more at the PTGuide.

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Annual Festivals & Events

January	July
Strange Brewfest	Jazz Port Townsend
February	Festival of American Fiddle Tunes
Shipwright’s Regatta	PT Writers’ Conference
March	Concerts on the Dock
PT PlayFest	August
Victorian Heritage Festival	Acoustic Blues Festival
Chamber Music Festival	Summer Cider Day
April	Jefferson County Fair
Marine Science Center Opens	Uptown Street Fair
Farmers Market Opens	Classic Car Show
Kitchen Tour	Shakespeare in the Park
JeffCo Expo	Art Port Townsend
May	Kayak Rendezvous
Opening Boating Day	September
Rotary Auction	Wooden Boat Festival
Rhody Festival	Crafts By the Dock
Rhody Run	Arts Fair
Hood Canal Shrimpfest	Jefferson County Farm Tour
June	PT Film Festival
Chili Cook-Off	October
Classic Mariner’s Regatta	Kinetic Skulpture Race
Steampunk	Downtown Trick or Treat
Taste of Port Townsend	November
Rat Island Regatta	Arts & Craft Fair
Rakers Car Show	Woodworker’s Show
Fiddle Tunes Festival	December
	Victorian Holidays

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