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Chocolate & Wine Tour Weekend

Feb. 16 & 17, 2013

What could be more fitting for a Valentine’s Day outing than the Bainbridge Island Wine and Chocolate Weekend?  If that sounds good, you might want to delay your declaration of love for a couple of days and come to the Island for this Winery Alliance of Bainbridge Island event the weekend of Feb. 16 – 17th.  The tour features 5 Bainbridge Island wineries and a handful of artisanal chocolatiers.

Wine making on the Island goes back as far as the 1970’s, but the 6 wineries that belong to the Winery Alliance of Bainbridge Island have all gotten their start since 2003.  Most of the wineries began in someone’s garage or shed – and have grown up to create “The Northwest’s new wine destination” according to Sunset Magazine in November of 2010.  While each winery is independent, the Alliance has created a community of wine makers who work together, sharing experience, volunteers and even equipment, to build an award winning collection of wines.  Because they are making wine on such a small scale – by the 10s of barrels rather than the thousands of barrels, the wines produced harken back to the way wine has always been made – rather than the mass-produced ‘industrialized’ wine from the giant vintners.

Five of the six Alliance wineries will be participating in the Wine and Chocolate tour.  The sixth, Fletcher Bay Winery’s tasting room is closed until late February when they will open their new Tasting Room.  The five wineries (and their chocolate partners for the weekend) are listed below.

  • Amelia Wynn Wine:   Named for his twin 5 year old grandchildren – Amelia and Wynn – owner and vintner Paul Bianchi has been winning awards since 2009 when he won the Double Gold in the Seattle Wine Awards for his Bordeaux Blend.  For the Wine and Chocolate tour, Paul will be hand selecting artisanal chocolates to go with his excellent wine.
  • Eagle Harbor Winery:   Originally from Poland, Winemaker Hugh Remash sources his grapes from the Walla Walla AVA.  His wines are served at a number of Bainbridge Island restaurants – including the Harbour Public House. (In fact Hugh specially kegs his a unique Bordeaux blend, Pubordeuax exclusively for the Pub.) For the tour he will be pairing his wine with handmade chocolates from a Pasticceria of the Scuola di Arte Culinaria Cordon Bleu (which is Italian for pastry chef from the school of Cordon Bleu).
  • Eleven Winery:  The winery is run by husband and wife Matt and Sarah Albee.  Also on staff is their son Cole, who holds the position of Chief Hinderer (he is 6).  Assistant Chief Hinderer is little brother Cameron.  The Albee’s family goal is great wine and great fun.  Their plans for the Chocolate tour have been kept super-secret.
  • Rolling Bay Winery:  Located on a hillside, overlooking Murden Cove, this winery is a destination for excellent wines – and a great photo-op.  The Tasting Room (which is also the fermentation room) is fronted by a handmade rock wall and antique doors from a Mongolian monastery.  For the Chocolate tour, they will feature a delectable line-up of Theo Chocolates.
  • Perennial Vintners:  Mike Lempriere of Perennial Vintners is one of the few winemakers who grows his own grapes on Bainbridge Island.  PV specializes in the delicately nuanced white wine made from cool-climate grapes such as Melon de Bourgogne, Siegerrebe, Madeleine Angevine and Muller Thurgau.  For the Wine and Chocolate tour PV will be featuring chocolatier Keith Jackson of Yukon Jackson’s chocolates.

Bainbridge Island is just a short ferry ride from downtown Seattle.  Whether rain or shine – the Wine and Chocolate tour will make for a memorable (and delicious) day trip!

What Story Do You Want To Tell?

January 28th, 2013

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Filmmaker, Mark McKnight’s show “Owl People” has begun at the pub starting yesterday, January 23rd.  The show consists of photographs of his watchful neighbors, the Barred Owl, who share the woods in Suquamish and seemingly tolerate his curiosity. Reprints of the photos are available.

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Starting January 31st, sit in with your favorite strings and Ethan J. Perry & friends for a good old-fashioned pickin’ acoustic jam.

All ages and abilities welcome.

Todd Houghton marks the Pub’s Open Mic 20th Year Celebration!!

Feb. 5, 2013 8:00 pm – Midnight

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In January of 1993 local musician Todd Houghton began hosting the  Harbour Public House’s longest-lasting event. Since then he has returned on the 1st Tuesday of every month for the past 20 years.  According to Todd, the music scene on Bainbridge Island enjoys an unusually high number of quality musicians – many of whom show up to the Open Mic nights at the pub. Todd himself ranks high among that number.  He was born in Kansas, grew up in Colorado and moved to Seattle from Boulder. He has extensive experience as a performer and composer, with guitar, keyboards, electric bass, and vocals both as a soloist and currently with the band Ranger and the Re-arrangers.  The band plays Gypsy Jazz – which is an exciting style of music combining jazz with the instruments typically found in Gypsy music.  Todd’s original music reflects an inner vision that he has depended on since becoming blind at the age of 7.  His songs capture an energetic and soulful passion.

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Todd on stage with Ranger and the Re-arrangers

When he isn’t performing or hosting – Todd is involved in his other passion – education.  He has a Masters in Experiential Education from the University of Colorado and works as an educational consultant in the field of outdoor ed for the disabled.  He is also a principal adviser for the Blind Youth Audio Project, which is a program of the Department of Services for the Blind, in conjunction with Jack Straw Productions.  Each summer, blind and visually impaired high school students come to the University of Washington to participate in a Youth Employment Services job placement program.  As part of the program they have the option of participating in in the Audio Project.  Working with Todd, they write, produce, and record audio dramas, learning everything from soundscaping, interview skills, radio production, multitrack and stereo music recording and mixing.  Whether in the recording studio or in the outdoors, Todd’s dedication to education is making a huge difference in the lives of the students he teaches.

He brings that dedication to his Open Mic nights at the Harbour Pub.  When speaking with Todd, what comes across is his excitement about providing a relaxed and fun atmosphere for aspiring musicians to bring their music out of their living rooms to perform in front of a live audience.  Todd creates a space for musicians to not only perform, but to jam together and learn from each other.  His goal is to create a stress free environment so that it is a fun and non-threatening way for musicians to stretch, create and enjoy. And from all reports – he reaches that goal on a monthly basis.

As a bonus – Open Mic starts off with an number from Todd.  That way, he can make sure that everything is set up and working.  It is also a wonderful warm-up for the 5 – 8 musicians to follow.  Each musician performs about 3 songs.  If there is extra time at the end of the evening, musicians can offer additional songs, or join together for collaborations.  If you want to participate – sign-ups begin around 8:30 and the music starts at 9 – continuing to midnight.  February’s event will be especially meaningful – marking the 20 years of great music that Todd has brought to the stage.  But any 1st Tuesday of any month – the Harbour Pub is really the place to be for a wonderful evening of great food, drink, company and especially – great music.

Awash in Squash!

November 9th, 2012

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2nd Annual Super Squash Scavenger Hunt

Bloedel Reserve
7571 NE Dolphin Dr
Bainbridge Island, WA

All through the month of November the grounds of The Bloedel Reserve will be searched by kids of all ages – in pursuit of the not-so-elusive squash, gourds and pumpkins that have taken up hiding.  Youngsters on the search will be given a map to guide them, and to track their progress.  And of course – there are fun prizes involved.  And while the kids are in search of pumpkins and prizes, the adults can take an instant vacation from the rush and noise of modern life.

Located a short distance from the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal or the Agate Pass Bridge, the Bloedel Reserve is a a collection of beautifully landscaped gardens blended into 150 acres of natural woodlands and meadows. It is recommended that you plan about 2 hours to sufficiently explore the grounds, which include a Japanese Garden, a Moss Garden, Reflection Garden and a Bird Refuge, along with trails, overlooks, beautiful views and a visitors center.

The reserve was created and gifted to the University of Washington by Prentice Bloedel in 1970.  The property, known then as Agate Point Farm, was purchased by Prentice and Virginia Bloedel in 1951.  The elegant French design of the home on the property was what drew them in the first place.  However during the 30 plus years that they resided there they discovered an unexpected insight through exploring the woods and meadows around them.  In an article written for the UW Arboretum Bulletin, Bloedel writes:  “Respect for trees and plants replaces indifference; one feels the existence of a divine order.  Man is not set apart from the rest of nature – he is just a member of that incredible diverse population of the universe, a member that nature can do without, but who cannot do without nature.”

Bloedel, who ran the MacMillan Bloedel Timber Company from 1920 to 1950, was a pioneer in renewable resources and sustainable industry practices.  He was the first to use sawdust as a fuel to power his mills and one of the first to consistently replant clear-cut areas.  Perhaps due to the challenges of polio as a child, he understood the therapeutic benefits of a garden and the power of a natural landscape to invoke emotions ranging from tranquility to exhilaration.  In the Reserve’s mission statement Bloedel says:  “The Reserve is a place to experience the bond between people and nature…..It is a place in which to enjoy and learn from the emotional and aesthetic experience of nature and the values of harmony, respect for life and tranquility.”

So while the kids are hunting down the squash, take a stroll in a garden retreat, think about life – and the beauty around us.
The Reserve is open Tuesday – Sunday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.

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parfitt_wireless has been upgraded to goWiFi today along Parfitt Way and inside Pegasus Coffee House and the Harbour Public House. Outages may be experienced in Harbour Marina as the system is fully implemented. We apologize for the inconvenience. However, customers should see faster speeds and increased reliability with as the new service comes online. The new SSID is gowifi. Cheers!

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Virginia V Around The Island Cruise
July 15, 2012 3 – 6 pm

On July 15th you have the opportunity to answer this question and at the same time immerse yourself in history – on the water and on the land.  The Bainbridge Island Historical Museum is holding a fundraiser that promises to be a day full of fun and learning.  The fundraiser takes place on the historic steamship Virginia V and will feature a cruise around the Island, onboard commentary by Dennis Lewarch, Suquamish Tribal Historian, food and a no-host bar.

The Virginia V, which is a 125 ft. steamship, is the last operational craft of the Puget Sound “mosquito fleet”.  The ship was built in 1921 of local old-growth fir.  She replaced the four previous Virginia ships – the first of which was built prior to 1909 and originally named the Virginia Merrill.  The term “mosquito fleet” is often used in a way that sounds like it was an official organization or designation.  However, the term was really more of a catch-phrase used to describe a collection of approximately 2500 vessels of all types, big and small, that served the Puget Sound area from 1857 to 1925 transporting passengers and cargo.  At some point it was remarked that there were so many steamers buzzing around Puget Sound that they looked like a “swarm of mosquitoes”.  As a colloquialism, it is hard to pin point the beginning and the end of the so-called Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet.

By 1925, however, automobile usage had become popular enough that the car ferry was introduced.  And that was the beginning of the fade-out of all of those steamers.  The Virginia V has had a very checkered past in her journey from mosquito fleet to historic tourist attraction.  Since she was built in 1921, on a beach – with no formal plans (by a couple of guys who really didn’t believe in reading the directions first), she has changed owners at least 8 times.  She has survived through numerous restorations, a bankruptcy where she was sold for unpaid debt, and a major collision into the docks during the storm of 1937 (the ship survived – the docks, not so much).  She also had a moment of glory in 1948 when she entered The Great Steamboat Race.  The course ran 5 miles across Puget Sound and Virginia V won by a very small margin.

Any visit to Bainbridge Island should include a stroll around the historic town of Bainbridge Island.  Be sure to check out the museum, where collections include 3500 artifacts and over 4000 photographs depicting life on the Island back to 1854.  Whether you visit on the 15th for the Museum fundraiser, or some other time, Bainbridge Island is a great destination for fun, learning, food and history.

For information or tickets for the Virginia V Around the Island cruise call 206-842-2773 or go to the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum website at: http://www.bainbridgehistory.org

Joel Salatin, the High Priest of the Pasture on Bainbridge Island this saturday

Joel Salatin – High Priest of the Pasture; Saturday June 2, at 2pm at the BPA Theatre

What first caught my attention was the listing of earthworms as one of the principles of Joel Salatin’s Polyface Farm. Standing proudly with Transparency, Individuality, and Community – earthworm enhancement is a guiding and defining value leading to the success of game-changing farmer and prolific author Joel Salatin. Describing himself as a Christian-libertarian-environmentalist-capitalist-lunatic-farmer, Joel has been featured in The Omnivore’s Dilemma, by Michael Pollan, and the documentary films Food, Inc. and Fresh. Joel came to farming as part of an extended family of innovative, full-time and part-time farmers. As far back as 1961, 9 years before the first Earth Day, Joel’s father saw the wisdom of grass farming, controlled grazing, and composting. That foundation is a keystone of Joel’s success, both as a farmer and a highly respected public figure in the food movement of today.

A closer look at the guiding principles listed on Polyface Farm’s website gives us some insight into what drives Joel’s life and success. Transparency is critical to Joel’s belief that trust between farmer and consumer can only be achieved through a practice of “no trade secrets, no locked doors and every corner being camera-accessible”. Individuality – siting a direct link between honoring the “pig-ness” of the pig (the cow-ness of the cow, etc.) and the health of our society, the farm is operated with a great deal of respect for the animals by providing them with a habitat that honors their unique physiological distinctiveness and needs. The value of Community dictates that the farm’s products are never shipped. Operating on the idea that we should all eat locally, Joel abides by his belief that we should only eat food that requires less than 4 hours travel time from the farm to our kitchen. Following Nature’s Template means that natural patterns provide the “best practices” manual for farming. Long before mad cow disease made the news, Polyface farms fed their cows appropriately as herbivores, not omnivores. And our old friend Earthworms: prioritizing soil health means stimulating soil biota means earthworm enhancement.

The New York Times has referred to Joel Salatin as the “High Priest of the Pasture”. Joel’s passion goes far beyond the health benefits of eating wholesome local foods. He believes strongly that his way of thinking on a large scale would change the strongholds of economic, political and social power, evidenced by the following quote from Treehugger.com: “Just imagine if people began discovering their kitchens again, and if the average household instead of popping irradiated, amalgamated, prostituted, reconstituted, adulterated, modified, and artificially flavored, extruded bar coded, un-pronounceable things into the microwave, actually prepared whole foods for all-down-together family meals…if we quit feeding cows corn….70 percent of the world’s arable land could return to perennial prairie polycultures building soil and sequestering carbon, that would completely destroy the power of the grain cartel, the multi-national corporations and petroleum usage.” (Joel is rather fond of modifiers in his sentences.)

Bottom line – it seems the cure for much of what ails us and the world – truly is a happy cow.

Don’t miss your chance to hear Joel speak at the Bainbridge Performing Arts Theater on Saturday, June 2. Tickets are $22/adults and $12/students with ID.

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Thanks to Port Madison’s Kemo Mackay, Pegasus is displaying the photographic art show of the  chronicle of the adventures of the S/V Libertatia and her crew as the boat travels the world again. To see the whole incredible story of determination and guts go to

http://libertatiavoyage.blogspot.com/


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