Posted by: Scott Peters in Fishing on
Apr 26, 2010
Beautiful, at half the size. |
I’ll be honest. As a trout fisher, it was an adjustment leaving Alaska. But the Walla Walla Valley has many great things going for its fly fishing: beautiful and accessible water, a long season, and no grizzly bears wanting to take your fish. On the other hand, you don’t normally find a trout, twenty-five inches long and shaped like a football in the Touchet (did I say, Alaska is a fly fisher’s paradise?).
During my last, local fishing excursion my fishing partner and I only caught a few fish and the best trout was less than fourteen inches long; but I remember thinking as I released it ‘Wow! What a beautiful trout.’
I once read something to the effect that when you start fly fishing you just want to catch a fish, any fish. As you progress, you want to catch a lot of fish and then you want to catch a big fish. Finally you want to catch a lot of big fish. Now I think there is another stage having to do with appreciating fish on an esthetic level. I also think that Walla Walla has helped me achieve it.
Posted by: Catie McIntyre Walker in Wine on
Apr 19, 2010
Walla Walla is my home town. I was born and raised here. I have seen the best and the worst of this valley. As a little girl, I remember when downtown Walla Walla was the heart and pride of our community. It was a gathering place with cafes and locally owned businesses. Then the malls came to town and our “heart” was broken for over two decades. Empty buildings, obsolete store fronts and our pride diminished.
Once again, we are strong and we have the wineries and tourism to thank for it. Wineries bring tourism and tourism brings retail specialty shops and places to dine. And if you add all of these components together – they bring employment.
Wineries need employees, but they also rely on services from other local businesses such as banks, attorneys, advertisers, computer techs, office supplies, lawn and ag services, food and catering, automotive repair, electricians, plumbers to name a few. Wineries create tourism and tourists need gasoline, food and accommodations.
Posted by: Sam McLeod in Misc Stories on
Apr 15, 2010
I just finished reading
The Female Brain, by Louann Brizendine, M.D.
I didn’t understand it.
—Sam
Posted by: Andrew Holt in Music on
Apr 12, 2010
We keep with the theme of music tonight as we take in the Spring Jazz concert for about a dozen Whitman College students. Their instructor is world class trombonist, Dave Glenn, who prior to teaching, blew his horn in the Gerry Mulligan Band and toured with the likes of Dianna Ross. He’s a player, not just an academic. And tonight we’re back at my favorite recital hall, Chism, with its scratched honey wood floor and stark 70’s architecture – no more than 100 seats in the house.
The group starts out with a solid version of Miles Davis’ “Freddie Freeloader.” Each of the musicians plays a brief solo, all of them charted, except for pianist Ethan Maier. As the evening progresses, it becomes apparent that Maier and guitarist, Bo Sagal, are true jazz dogs. They’re really digging their solos that appear improvised, or at least, memorized, which distinguishes them from the other players. All the musicians tonight exude an affinity for jazz but Sagal and Maier are the most accomplished players and seem to most personify the jazz feel.
Posted by: Becky St. Clair in Food, Downtown on
Apr 05, 2010
When I heard they'd sold Merchants I was horrified. The iconic deli/bakery was a favourite across the valley, and no one who went to their memorable Wednesday Spaghetti Night ever missed it again if they could help it. While shopping downtown, it was a great place to stop in for a breather with a bagel and an iced tea. Some friends of mine went every Tuesday and alternated who paid; they bought a large loaf of whatever bread looked good that week and a chunk of cheese they'd never tried before.
If nothing else, the most unique and notable thing about Merchants was their order-call system. Upon placing your order, you were given a playing card, the face value of which was written on your ticket. When your meal was ready, they'd call out your card - "Jack of Spades!" "Nine of Hearts!" - and you'd motion them to your table.
About a month ago the "new" restaurant opened. Thirty-four-year-old Merchants was no longer; it had been replaced with the Olive Marketplace and Café. And last week, I finally got a chance to check it out.
