Washington Coast Magazine, December 03, 2015 by Sound Publishing

THE MYSTERIES OF

Washaway Beach WINTER 2016

$3.99

A supplement to The Daily World

SHOPPING: Local Gift Ideas!

HOME: Nature by Design

LOCAL: Holy Lamb Organics

ATTENTION HUNTERS

EXPLORE RAYONIERHUNTING.COM FOR NEW HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES IN 2015 Access permits are required to enter Rayonier land. Go to rayonierhunting.com for details. Visit rayonierhunting.com to find your own recreational lease or register to receive notification of the dates and times permits will go on sale. Contact Rayonier today 855.729.4868 hunting@rayonier.com

winter 2016

contents

FEATURES

HOLY LAMB ORGANICS

WASHAWAY BEACH COVER

This 15-year-old company not only makes natural organic wool bedding, but practices eco-friendly ways.

TOP The Foster home surrounded by nature. ABOVE Willow Whitton, founder and owner of Holy Lamb Organic

The story of a place where people live knowing that the ocean will eventually take their homes.

COVER Baby seals sharing a moment on the shores of Washaway Beach. Photo by Erika Langley

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

DESIGN BY NATURE

How an architect and his wife built their dream home on a hillside surrounded by the forest.

Our work is not about houses... ...it’s about people.

Multi-year winner!

Serving all of Grays Harbor County Residential - Commercial - Land

Windermere Real Estate/Aberdeen

101 South Broadway • Aberdeen • 360-533-6464 • www.windermeregraysharbor.com

HE FIND T CT E PERF TREE A TM S CHRIS PG. 14

winter 2016

contents

14 IN THIS ISSUE 12 BOOK “Olympic Peninsula”

14 DIY

58 WORKPLACE

How to Find the Perfect Christmas Tree

ABOVE A room at Tokeland Hotel

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Alder Creative

Tokeland Hotel

20 DINE Ocean Crest Resort

WHO & WHY

Why Nancy Lachel Loves Living Here

26 STYLE

LAST SHOT

TOP Dining room at Ocean Crest Resort

Give Local This Holiday Season

62 TRAVEL

16 DRINK

SHOPPING

Wishkah Distillery

Rex’s Barbershop

Ruby Beach

IN EVERY ISSUE 10 From the Editor 72 Advertisers Directory

LOVE WINS. The longest-lasting sedan in its class

Most Awarded Small SUV

Your Subaru Dealer for 33 Years

1-360-943-2120 2300 Carriage Loop SW • Olympia • Mon-Sat 8 to 7 ~ Sun 11 to 6 • www.HansonMotors.com

Beach Homes Aren’t Just For Summer The Heart of Washington Coast offers not just a Home, its a Lifestyle. Representing Buyers and Sellers

Donna Jones 360-580-5354 Broker

donnajones55@live.com www.OwnOceanShores.com Real Estate / Ocean Shores

360-532-4000 | editor@washingtoncoastmagazine.com Publisher

Stan Woody

Editor

Doug Barker

Associate Kellie Ann Benz Editor Contributors Editorial Gail Greenwood Ayres Dan Jackson Doug Barker Kellie Ann Benz Jake Schild Kyle Mittan Erika Langley Photography Kevin Hong Kyle Mittan Erika Langley Julie Rajcich Mickey Thurman Staff Gabe Green Photographer Editorial Karen Barkstrom Assistant Magazine Kristina Case, Simply Graphic Graphic Designer Ad Graphic Designers

Constance Ellis Emily Evans

Advertising Jo Treadwell Sales Manager 360-537-3917 jtreadwell@soundpublishing.com Production Martin Osburn Manager Circulation

Kris Cearley

Subscriptions

Addy Moreno

Distribution Doug Ames Jennyfer Ames

Only the best... hand-crafted for you! Fresh Cut Grosso Lavender/Plants Crafted Soaps, Sachets, Essential Oil Hand Crafted Folk Art

Washington Coast Magazine is published by The Daily World, a division of Sound Publishing and may not be reproduced without express written permission, all rights reserved. No liability is assumed by Washington Coast Magazine, The Daily World or Sound Publishing regarding any content in this publication. A subscription to Washington Coast Magazine is $14 annually.

Farm open July - August Daily 9am-5pm

Single copies are available at select locations throughout Grays Harbor and Pacific counties including: Safeway, Aberdeen, Everybody’s, Elma and Raymond, IGA, Ocean Shores, Sandpiper, Pacific Beach, Seabrook, Pacific Beach, Gordon’s, McCleary

Dale’s

Lavender Valley Farm

48 Robertson School Rd. | Hoquiam | (360) 589-8101 www.facebook.com/DalesLavenderValley 8

Contact information Advertising inquiries, subscriptions & change of address: 360-532-4000. Back issues $8 plus shipping and handling.

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

WINTER: CURL UP WITH THIS ISSUE, ADD A BLANKET + WARM DRINK

The coast

is no less hospitable this time of the year, but one could be forgiven for thinking so. True, it’s wetter, darker and windier than at other times of the year. But in the winter in the Northwest, what isn’t? The coast is just fulfilling its true nature. The trick is to get your mind right. Change your expectations. It’s not the time of year for long walks on the beach. It’s the time of the year to look out at the ocean and be reminded who’s boss. In our cover story, writer and photographer Erika Langley tells a story of the power of the ocean, the wisdom of accepting our lack of permanence and learning to live in the moment. She is based in Seattle, but for 12 years owned property at Washaway Beach, a nub of coastline at the northern entrance to Willapa Harbor. Every winter the erosion there eats into the community of North Cove and more houses tumble into the surf, including hers. When you live there, waterfront is not what you want. It means there’s a past tense in your property’s near future. Her story and photos beautifully capture the place and the people who make it a community.

How to stay warm: lots of wool.

The wool blankets and other products offered at Holy Lamb Organics are sure to keep you warm this winter.

If you’re looking for a home base from which to contemplate your impermanence and the power of the ocean (or if you just want a cozy inn that serves Swedish pancakes) this issue of Washington Coast Magazine takes you to the venerable old Tokeland Hotel, not far from Washaway. Kellie Ann Benz tells the story of the inn that’s more than 100 years old and Gabe Green’s photos make you want to spend a stormy day in its parlor. One way to cope with winter is to burrow in, get warm and just sleep through as much of it as you can. If that’s you, turn immediately to page 28 and Gail Greenwood Ayres’ story about a business in Oakville called Holy Lamb, where wool is king. Willow Whitton has created a business that caters to people willing to pay more for eco-friendly bedding produced with sustainable, organic materials. It didn’t hurt business when Oprah’s O magazine gave their products a positive review and Diane Sawyer featured the business on ABC News. Bottom line, the winter’s not going anywhere. Figure out what gets you through it most gracefully – a cozy inn, staring down a storm or a book and a cozy quilt -and embrace it. Kyle Mittan’s story on Aberdeen’s Wishkah distillery might offer some ideas, as well. Meantime, we’ll see you in the spring.

Like our Facebook page Washington Coast Magazine for updates, sneak peeks and announcements. We have many exciting things in store for you.

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Doug Barker Editor

 BOOKS

OLYMPIC PENINSULA: The cure for the Common Trip ST ORY BY K E L L I E A N N B E N Z

AS TRAVEL GUIDES GO, “OLYMPIC PENINSULA” DELIVERS MORE THAN MOST. In fact, the book’s back page slogan ‘The Cure for the Common Trip’ says it all. Written by a native of the Washington Coast who is as equally knowledgeable as he is passionate, the small but information packed book is a must-have for anyone wishing to know the nooks and crannies that make up the Olympic Peninsula. Author Jeff Burlingame gives readers an insider’s perspective, deftly intertwining his own experience with local lore. He gives the readers tips on weather restrictions and strategies for getting to — and enjoying — some of the area’s modern pop-cult locations like the “Twilight” town of Forks or Aberdeen’s Kurt Cobain Memorial Park.

is an all-around guide, small enough to slip into a backpack, yet thorough enough to guide you toward food if you get lost anywhere on the Peninsula. Here’s a taste of Burlingame’s casual, yet informative style as he describes how Aberdeen keeps the memory of Kurt Cobain alive; “There is a small memorial park adjacent to the (Young Street) bridge, and the city’s eastern entrance greets visitors with a large sign that reads, “Welcome to Aberdeen: Come As You Are”, in honor of one of Nirvana’s biggest hits. Other bands from the Grays Harbor area have had international success, too, albeit none on the scale of Nirvana.”

The book, which is in its second edition, breaks down the vastness of the Peninsula into travel-able sections, for visitors and residents alike to be able to map out their plans. Burlingame gets into detail on the Kitsap Peninsula and Hood Canal, Port Angeles and the Northern Peninsula and the Hoh Rain Forest and Washington’s coast from Queets and Quinault to Long Beach. Guiding the reader toward what to expect when here, he devotes time to the landscape, plants, animals, government, people and culture. He also ensures that visitors pack right with a thorough list of the variety of accommodations and expectations of transportation in the region. The book offers options for a wide selection of interests, with chapters like “Three-day weekend with kids,” “Best hikes,” “Best Campgrounds,” and “Wine Time.” The book

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Info

Olympic Peninsula. Jeff Burlingame. Avalon Travel Publishing; Second Edition (May, 2015); Pp. 216. Available for purchase at www.moon.com, Amazon.com and some bookstores.

Hurricane Ridge located near Port Angeles. Photo by Mickey Thurman

EXCERPT FROM OLYMPIC PENINSULA ... This is a place where the calendar might say summer has already begun, but the weather is overcast and drizzly. Rain is part of the region’s charm — as well as the reason it’s so beautiful in the first place. Locals hardly seem affected by it, beginning their days with layers of clothes and peeling them off (and adding them back again) as the weather calls for. Smart visitors will do the same. The Olympic Peninsula is also constantly evolving. It’s a blue-collar area with first-class natural amenities, including fish and timber, that provide jobs of all sorts. Today, it’s just as common for the peninsula’s residents to promote these same resources in the name of tourism. The city of Forks, once known as the “Logging Capital of the World,” became the Twilight capital of the world after Stephenie Meyer set her best-selling books there. As the Twilight fad fades, Forks again searches for a new identity. Just as the rains and rivers have carved the land, the area’s peoples are carving its history. I consider both the people and the testaments to how special this place is, and one visit (hopefully with good weather) is all the evidence you’ll need to agree.

A world of great taste is waiting to be discovered at

‘we do’ weddings

Wine Sellars GH

Northwest, California & Imported Wines

By the Glass, Buy the Bottle If you like dining with us, then you’ll love the way we cater to your wedding or special event!

360-276-4884

206 S Broadway St • Aberdeen, WA • (360)532-0555

catering@mill109.com 5 W Myrtle Ln. | Seabrook, WA

QUALITY ◆ INTEGRITY GUARANTEED

Serving Grays Harbor since 1983 301 W. Market ◆ Aberdeen ◆ 533-4113 WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

 DIY

HOW TO

FIND THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE

Either from a tree farm, or being adventurous and cutting down your own from the forest, we’ve got all the info! STORY AND PHOTOS BY KY LE M I TTAN

U-cut Christmas trees FROM A FARM Finding that perfect Christmas tree is a holiday tradition. All along the coast, you can find tree farms that offer a variety of u-cut tree experiences. If you seek a nature-friendly, wild hike in the woods experience, look for our story about tree hunting in the national forest on the next page. But if you want a more leisurely trip to a wellstocked farm where you’ll be sure to find exactly what you please, here’s a partial list of tree farms to get you started.

TREE FARMS KLM Tree Farm

Hedlund Christmas Trees

Cranguyma Farms

Beerbower Xmas Tree Farm

3206 113th Lane Long Beach Phone: 360-642-3201 cranguymafarms.com

Brady Tree Farm

79 Middle Satsop Road Montesano Phone: 360-249-2000

Hockett Family Christmas Trees Timberview Lane Montesano Phone: 360-249-5209

Tillman Christmas Trees, LLC 471 East Satsop Road Elma Phone: 360-482-4453 www.tillmantrees.com

266 Middle Satsop Road Elma Phone: 360-482-3987 360-470-0121 www.hedlundtrees.com

P HO TO BY K EV IN HONG

16725 Marlu Lane SW Rochester Phone: 360-273-7216 Toll Free: 800-775-TREE (8733) www.klmtreefarm.com

447 Cloquallum Road Elma Phone: 360-482-3987 www.beerbowerxmastrees.com

KC’s Christmas Tree Farm 950 State Route 105 Aberdeen 360-580-1658 www.Facebook.com/ KCsChristmasTreeFarm

FIND THE PERFECT TREE? SEND US A PHOTO AND WE’LL POST IT ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Tree Tips Freshly cut Christmas trees need a lot of water to keep them fresh through the season. Keep your stand full of water by checking the stand to make sure the tree hasn’t absorbed all the water.

DIY  

to the tree once it’s cut. About 1,100 permits, Dressler said, are sold each year. “It’s something that some families have made part of their holiday tradition,” she said. “They come in on a weekend and go up and maybe make a little fire — especially if there’s snow, then it’s really fun for the kids.” Permits become available in mid-November.

U-cut Christmas trees FROM THE FOREST There are a lot of trees in Olympic National Forest. The forest is home to so many Douglas firs, western hemlocks, spruce, western white pine and other species that the U.S. Forest Service sells some of its timber stock (although the logging community doesn’t think it sells nearly enough). But you don’t have to be a timber baron with a team of loggers to take home your own piece of the forest. The Forest Service allows the public limited access during the winter months to select, cut and take home a Christmas tree. So, what are the legalities behind taking a tree from federal land? There really aren’t many, said Peggy Dressler, a support services specialist based in the Hood Canal Ranger District in Quilcene. A permit costs $5 and can be requested with an application either through the mail or at any district office. There are Forest Service offices at Quinault, Forks, Olympia and Quilcene. Permit buyers will get an orange tag to fasten

With a permit in hand, finding the right tree is the hard part. On a quick jaunt through the forest near Dressler’s Quilcene office, there’s no shortage of trees. But trees small enough to go inside the average home might be harder to find. “That’s the thing, since we basically quit clear-cutting in the mid-’80s,” Dressler said. “Up until that point there had always been a succession of small trees.” There still are, Dressler said, if you know where to find them. The forest’s most abundant tree is the Douglas fir, Dressler said, adding that anyone who goes into the forest and chooses a conifer at random is likely to choose one of these. The tree, she said, would work just fine on display between the sofa and the TV stand — if you can find the right one. “I, personally, think that it’s tough to find a decent Doug fir,” she said, adding that the regrowth in the logging industry will yield a larger selection about five years down the road. Dressler also points to the silver fir, which can be found at higher elevations and typically hangs on to its needles better than other fir species.

There are few restrictions when it comes to taking a tree, but permits are only good for evergreen species — trees whose leaves don’t shed or change color — and western white pines are off limits. Regulations also prohibit topping trees — trees must be cut from the bottom. Cutting a tree doesn’t require any special tools. A hacksaw, bow saw or small chainsaw will work just fine, Dressler said. Warm clothing perhaps goes without saying, and Dressler also stressed that many back roads throughout the forest are not plowed during the winter months, and certainly not paved, which could pose challenges for packing trees out in smaller vehicles. The Forest Service, in its handout, recommends packing tire chains, flashlights, a shovel and a blanket. Once a tree is cut and secured in the bed of a truck or on top of a car, the permit-holder will then punch out the month and day on their orange tree tag indicating what day it was cut. With the tree back home, the Forest Service recommends storing it outside until putting it on display. When you get ready to put the tree up, another fresh cut about an inch off the bottom will allow the tree to drink. Tree stands with reservoirs can be purchased at many home-improvement stores. Following the holidays, the only step left is disposal. Many counties offer Christmas tree recycling services for a fee, though some require the tree be cut into smaller sections before disposal. In Grays Harbor County, local Boy Scouts offer tree pick-up services or drop-off locations.

“It’s something that some families have made part of their holiday tradition.” -Peggy Dressler, Forest Service Get your permit!

Tree permits in Olympic National Forest: www.fs.usda.gov/main/olympic/ passes-permits/forestproducts

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

 DRINK

A pipe dream that became real is growing into big business for Josh Mayr.

Wishkah River Distillery MADE IN ABERDEEN S TORY AND PHOTOS BY K YLE MITTAN

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

DRINK  

erendipity, for Josh Mayr, came on a sunny day in August 2009.

Mayr, then a new sales associate for an Aberdeen radio group, had just sat down at his new desk and opened a drawer stuffed with sales leads his predecessor had compiled. As he flipped through, one file caught his eye. “Wishkah River Distillery,” it said. Mayr’s discovery came just a few years after he and his uncle had come up with the same name for a distillery, but back then it was their pipe dream.

Mayr continued to work as an ad salesman but volunteered to help at the distillery. One day in February 2012 the Wattses asked Mayr to come to the distillery. Sid Watts had found a new job in Australia, and they had to sell the business. They didn’t realize Mayr was interested. “That’s when I said, ‘Hold that thought,’” Mayr said. He immediately met with Chris Olsen, a close friend and owner of City Center Drug in downtown Aberdeen. Four months and two investors later, Olsen and Mayr were holding the keys.

Mayr hopped in his truck and drove to 2210 Port Industrial Road in Aberdeen, where the distillery and tasting room still sit.

In the last three years, Wishkah River Distillery has grown from a Harbor footnote to a real contender as the next powerhouse in Pacific Northwest distilling. With bottles of his vodka, gin and whiskey in about 400 bars, restaurants and stores nationwide, Mayr has high hopes of bringing recognition and revenue to the Harbor.

When he arrived, Mayr met distillery founders Sid and Sue Watts. A relationship developed.

“That’s my goal, and that’s what I intend to do,” he said. “And I will swing for the fences

Now it was real. “I remember instantly going, ‘Well, I’ve got to go check this place out,’” he said.

until I get it done.” At 36, some might say Mayr found his calling a little late — but that wasn’t for lack of trying. The Aberdeen native started off as a machinist, spending a stint building fruit packing machines for Wenatchee-based Van Doren, Inc. But an epiphany during a shift left him wanting more, and he moved to the Seattle area in the early 2000s. There, Mayr worked as a car salesman before landing a gig selling mortgage products in Bellevue and the area’s east side. With a six-figure salary and a condo on the Kirkland waterfront, Mayr did just fine until the recession left him going from bank to bank to find a job. “At some point, you have to look at yourself and say, ‘It’s over,’” Mayr said. Mayr stayed in the area long enough to sell insurance for a few years but paid regular visits to his girlfriend — now his wife — who was living in Aberdeen. He eventually moved back and took a job as a merchandiser with Anheuser-Busch distributor Crown Distributing.

With bottles of his vodka, gin and whiskey in about 400 bars, restaurants and stores nationwide, Mayr has high hopes of bringing recognition and revenue to the Harbor.

Left Page: Josh Mayr stands with his distillery’s offerings. Left: The distillery’s line-up includes: gin, whiskey and vodka (available in regular and honey). WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

 DRINK

“

“My focus has been always to grow this business and ... to put Aberdeen on the map.” -Josh Mayr

Wishkah River Distillery www.wishkahriver.com WANT TO TRY IT? Tasting Room Open Tues-Sat 12-5:30 PM 2210 Port Industrial Rd., Ste. A Aberdeen, WA 98520

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Josh checking the equipment in the distillery.

Mayr’s success isn’t just self-proclaimed — people at the forefront of the area’s revitalization movement have noticed his drive.

By 2009, he was sitting at his new desk in the Grays Harbor Radio office. Two years after that he held the keys to the distillery.

“When you have an opportunity and bright, passionate people like Josh to come home and … create a business that is connected to the heritage and history of his family, it’s pretty great. It’s a building block,” said Scott Reynvaan, who’s worked as a consultant to the City of Aberdeen and later as a volunteer with the Aberdeen Revitalization Movement. “Granted, Mayr didn’t inherit the business but he saw value in the enterprise.”

Anyone who gets Mayr to sit down behind his cluttered desk and listens to him discuss the beverage industry will soon figure out that he is a quick learner. He can rattle off the advantages and disadvantages of selling spirits versus just beer. He knows where the nation’s pockets of spirit distilleries are. He also knows that all distillers eventually come to a fork in the road with their business and have a decision to make. “You either grow or die,” he said. “There is no other choice.” Wishkah River Distillery is at that fork, Mayr said, but the choice is clear. “My focus has been always to grow this business and — this sounds corny, but to put Aberdeen on the map,” he said. “To create a destination and space in the craft distilling industry to where people can look at Aberdeen and one of the first things that pops into their minds if they’re not from here is, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s where Wishkah River Distillery is.’” Mayr knows he’s on the right track and says he’s garnered interest from investment groups. “My number-one goal right now is to find an agreement with an investment group who will commit to making a multimillion-dollar investment in downtown Aberdeen,” he said. “The jury’s still out on whether I’ll be able to accomplish that, but I think we’ve laid a pretty good foundation.”

Reynvaan also sees the value in Mayr’s longterm goals, and where they might take the Harbor. “Imagine potentially a brewpub or brewery or Wishkah River Distillery actually being on the Wishkah River,” Reynvaan said, adding that such a location could be a key factor in getting Highway 101 traffic to actually stop in the area. With all the jobs Mayr’s had, he’s learned not to try to predict the future. He said he doesn’t know how long he’ll remain at the helm of Wishkah River Distillery but added that he likes the industry and could see himself working in it for a long time. He also doesn’t mince words when he describes what it’s like to make something from scratch — something he really hadn’t done since his time as a welder and machinist. “It’s awesome,” he said, adding that it took a few months for him to get used to seeing his own product on the shelves of bars and restaurants. As Mayr pushes for his ambitious long-term aspirations, he said he’s looking at other, more immediate ways to grow, as well. Expanding distribution into Canada, he added, was one idea. As he talks about those ambitions, it’s clear Mayr knows the risks. But he’s approaching them with confidence. “It may be a pipe dream,” he said, “but I feel I’m close.”

Stop By Our Cabinet Department We make it worth your while!

Jewelers Gemologists Rare Coins Gold & Silver Bullion

• FREE computer design service • Best Service!

313 Wishkah St. Aberdeen,WA 98520 360-532-6140 bryanandsonjewelers.com

www.levee.com • Find us on Facebook! HOQUIAM OCEAN SHORES WESTPORT 523 Levee St. 724 Pt. Brown Ave. NE 805 St. Rt. 105 (360) 532-1850 (360) 289-3222 (360) 268-1850

Call 360-532-1900 300 Myrtle St. Hoquiam, WA

Tracking Power Outages Even the best system can suffer the occasional storm related outage. If the power does go out, your Grays Harbor PUD has several ways to follow the efforts being made to restore power to you and your neighbors. In addition to local radio and news coverage, outage updates are available on the GHPUD. ORG website, where you can also sign up for outage alerts, sent by both text and email. Your PUD is also on Twitter, providing outage updates and PUD information at twitter@ GHPUD.

“If Pets Could Drive, It’s Where They’d Go!”

If your power is still off once restoration efforts are complete, call the outage reporting hotline at 360 537 3721 or 888 541 5923 and let them know that your home is still in the dark. Sharing information about power outages, it’s just another way that your Grays Harbor PUD works for you.

Dr. David Westby and Dr. Dan Brown We offer Wellness Plans!

raintreevetcenter.com WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

DINE  DRINK

Ocean Crest Resort After 62 years and a devastating fire 3 years ago, this popular destination resort restaurant gets new life. ST O R Y BY K E L L I E A N N B E N Z P H OT OS B Y KYL E MI T T A N

TO ENTER THE FOYER OF OCEAN CREST RESORT’S NEWLY RESTORED RESTAURANT makes you feel like you’re stepping into luxury. The warmth of the room instantly soothes your senses and you calm knowing that — even for just a little while — the rest of the world can wait. 20

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Perhaps that’s part of the intent of the new design, or perhaps as General Manager Jess Owen puts it, “We hope that when you get here, you can relax, be in the present and let any troubles just drift away.” Owen knows a thing or two about letting go of the past. In the summer of 2011, after 62 years as one of the North Coast’s most noteworthy resort destinations, a devastating fire nearly took it all away. It took a community-wide, all-out firefighting effort to save the much-loved resort, but when the smoke cleared, the 24-table restaurant where Owen had developed his career was ashes. Firefighters were able to stave off

DINE  

damage to the resort’s hotel and spa, but the dining areas were memories. “I’m not prone to crying, but this experience had me in tears,” Owen said. “I mean it hurt, this was everything that my family built.” For a family-run business like Ocean Crest, a destination resort that has been owned and operated by every generation since Jess’s grandmother, Barbara, the loss was heartbreaking. It wasn’t just the structure and the dip in business that stung, but gone as well in the fire were original works by Grays Harbor artist Elton Bennett, a private collection that had been carefully curated over the decades. “We considered all of our options, we had some long family meetings and in the end, we knew what we had to do,” Owens explained. They started the rebuild process immediately. After three years of re-imagining the location and restoring the structure, the restaurant re-opened last summer and its re-envisioning feels a little like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Today, the restaurant at Ocean Crest Resort is a smaller room, offering a more intimate, Left: General Manager Jess Owen proudly stands in the “new” restaurant. Below: Although a more intimate setting with 12 tables, diners enjoy a beautiful view as part of their dining experience. Incorporating local art is important to the family owned restaurant, right- like Johnny Camp’s glass sculpture.

exclusive dining experience. Each of the 12 tables allow patrons an unparalleled view of the ocean. And that view, oh what a view. Through a sheer curtain of tall evergreens, the lapping Pacific Ocean at the shores down below invites the imagination to wonder about a stroll along the sand. Especially enticing is the easily walkable, gradually descending wooden staircase that looks perfect for an after-meal stroll. The décor inside is equal parts glass, wood and silk paintings, all of it made or derived from area artists. That includes the interior design. “The cedar is locally harvested, and it mattered to us to have local artists fill our walls again,” Owen said. “My family has a tradition of showcasing our local artists, and we’re happy to have walls again to show that art off.” Owen is referring to the dazzling glass jelly fish that dangle from the ceiling and the enticing centerpiece that fills the main bar wall, all originally designed for the new restaurant by Johnny Camp of Opal Art Glass. But, he could also be referring to the silk screen Elton Bennett hanging that the Bennett family gifted to the Ocean Crest as a salute to their longtime commitment to each other. Of the native sculptures that filled the walls of the original restaurant, some actually (continued on page 22)

For a family-run business like Ocean Crest, a destination resort that has been owned and operated by every generation since Jess’s grandmother, Barbara, the loss was heart-breaking.

FOR MENUS, LOCATION, WINE LIST AND MORE: Ocean Crest Resort 4651 SR 109 Moclips, WA 360-276-4465 www.oceancrestresort.com

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

 DINE did make it through the fire. Two of Randy Capoeman’s original pieces are on display, charred but still recognizable, and now carefully preserved and lovingly on display as a testament to one family’s determination to stay true to its past.

tenderloin with braised cippolini onions , mushroom, fondant potato, Cabernet veal jus in a huckleberry reduction or the Dungeness crab pasta made of fresh linguini, Dungeness crab, tobiko, snap peas, Parmesan and black pepper.

Though the room might be new, the delectable dishes and sure-bet culinary traditions remain the same.

Particularly of note for wine lovers, the resort’s wine list has been honored with awards from the Washington Wine Commission since 2004. Their wine program is specifically designed to complement their Pacific Northwest menu. The restaurant hosts a number of wine events through the year, so be sure to check their website for updates.

Owen revels in the joys of discovering new dishes, but admits that he still loves cooking with Dungeness crab and the Pacific salmon, both delivering that uniquely West Coast taste to the palate. Their menu ranges from breakfast, including their “Beach Breakfast,” a panko-crusted razor clam with rémoulade, two eggs made to order, served with roasted Yukon gold potatoes and toast; their lunch where you simply must try their “Grandma’s Famous Clam Chowder,” a recipe that dates back to the resort’s inception. For those avoiding chowders due to gluten intolerance, this famous chowder is glutenfree. At dinner, the entrée offerings challenge the visitor to pick just one item, like the Elk

While Owen says the restaurant is open to all and doesn’t require reservations, he notes that since it’s “such a long drive” he recommends reservations to those who plan to come in for a visit. For those storm-chasers who make winter along the Washington Coast a seasonal tradition, the new restaurant has a heated patio that will surely provide the perfect cover for a windy, winter day.

All about the Clam Chowder pg. 24

Above: Jess Owen prepares the restaurant’s famous clam chowder. Below: The view of the Pacific Ocean from the restaurant is amazing.

doesn’t really matter anymore. Now that the restaurant is back and thriving once again, all that matters is that this must-see culinary destination has returned.

When you get back to Ocean Crest Resort

Each of the 12 tables allow patrons an unparalleled view of the ocean. And that view, oh what a view. 22

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Escape

From the City to

Spectacular

~ Ocean Views ~ Fine Dining ~ Spa

• Ranked #1 ~ Best Place for Peace & Quiet • Ranked #3 ~ Best Romantic Hotel • Ranked #4 ~ Best Resort • Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence

Largest Liquor Store

4691 SR 109 | Moclips, WA | 98562

360-276-4465 | OceanCrestResort.com

on the Washington Coast

Wine, Beer, Spirits and More!

Order now for the Holidays!

We Ship In State & Out!

10% off

mixed cases of wine our Visit W NE n! io locat

318 ½ South Main Street Montesano, WA 98563 360-249-4412

172 W. Chance à la Mer NE #C Ocean Shores, WA

360-289-3178

www.MBLiq.com WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

 DINE

OCEAN CREST’S CLAM CHOWDER Forget the blue ribbon, and the cooking contests it has won, Ocean Crest Resort’s famous clam chowder has been winning hearts since the 1950s. “It’s been with Ocean Crest since the beginning,” said Jess Owen, general manager of Ocean Crest Resort and a grandson of the recipe’s creator. “They started offering complimentary clam chowder on Friday nights for people who would stay Friday and Saturday, and it worked.” When the resort’s restaurant was destroyed by fire — and along with it the hand-written recipe — Owen feared that the fire ended the tradition of his family’s famous meal. To remember the beloved recipe, he shared it with The North Coast News, a weekly paper in Ocean Shores, right after the fire. Below is an excerpt from the original story by Angelo Bruscas that details the making of the chowder (now served again in the re-opened restaurant).

Ocean Crest Resort’s famous clam chowder has been winning hearts since the 1950s.

The Family Recipe “Technically, it is a New England clam chowder because it is milk-based. Now, it is not a New England clam chowder that most people would recognize because we don’t use the rue to thicken it, so there is no flour in ours,” Owen said. “It’s fine for people who have wheat allergies or intolerances.” Another twist is that Owen uses evaporated milk in the process, which he said thickens naturally as potatoes break down. Also, as you heat the evaporated milk, the sugars caramelize, producing an almost pink color.

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

“Some people think we have added cheese or tomato to it, which we do not,” Owen said. The process starts by cooking the potatoes, celery and onions together with bacon and special Ocean Crest Seasoning Salt. Once the vegetables are tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed or evaporated, a counterbase is made and cooled. The base is mixed with the evaporated milk and reheated in a double-boiler, then the clams and the rest of the ingredients are brought together to make the full chowder.

Make Her Eyes Sparkle This Holiday Season!

Jewelry Store, Inc.

201 E. Wishkah St., Downtown Aberdeen • 532-6280 Mon.-Fri. 10:00-5:30 • Sat. 10:00-3:00 • www.wiitamaki.com

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

 STYLE

STEP ONE: Start with a thin lather, followed by a hot towel to soften things up.

STEP TWO: With an expert hand, swiftly and gently remove the hair, starting on the sides of face and ending at the center.

REX’S BARBERSHOP-

41 years of traditional razor shaves ST O R Y BY JA K E SC H I L D PH O T OS B Y GA B E GR EEN

 There are certain experiences every man should have: Hopping a freight, building a fire without matches and getting a real shave by a real barber are a few that come to mind. It’s too wet on the coast for the fire and boxcars are scarce, so writer Jake Schild volunteered to record his experience in the barber chair.

he straight razor shave is, in some ways, a paradoxical experience. Getting your beard hacked off by a professional definitely makes for a venture that seems to symbolize virility and manliness. But at the same time, it serves as a refreshing respite — like a mani-pedi for men.

Interested in the prospect of having an expert shave away my scruff, I scheduled an appointment to do just that. In Hoquiam, the place to get that job done is Rex’s Barbershop. The shop is a pleasant anachronism that makes you feel like you’re in a world where time stopped before there was ever such a thing as a smartphone or the “digital age” — let alone a safety razor. Inside, men in their 50s and 60s make small talk with proprietor Rex Johnson as they sit, arms folded, waiting to be done up by the affable barber who’s been in business for 41 years. Although I was admittedly nervous about the prospect of making myself so vulnerable to a stranger armed with a razor, I took my chances as the endeavor is often thought of as a luxury — something for the leisure class.

Need a shave? REX’S BARBER & STYLE 714 SIMPSON AVE, HOQUIAM, WA 98550 (360) 538-1097 { SHAVES ARE $12 }

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

First, Rex had me get into the barber chair before tilting it all the way back until I was parallel to the ground. He took my glasses from me and began to apply a thin lather to my underdeveloped tuft of facial hair. Once I was lathered up, Rex prepared a hot towel and draped it over my face, rendering me completely mummified from the neck up. This part of the process is one of the shave’s more relaxing aspects. The technique is practical in the sense that it aims to soften the facial hair in preparation for its departure, making for an easier shave. The towel is removed and we’re off to the races. Rex brandishes his razor and begins to work on, as he puts it, “his canvas.”

For All Your Holiday Décor & Gifts! Fresh Floral Bouquets Domestic & Foreign Wines Specialty Chocolates & Candies CorX Jewelry, Hats, Purses

Furnishings for Coastal Living.

300 E Dock St | Westport, WA 360.268.5045 www.westportflowershop.com

Come have a beautiful shopping experience!

522 Simpson Ave. • Hoquiam

360.532-2434 mchughsfurniture.com

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

 STYLE

STEP THREE: Rex finished up my shave with another hot towel and aftershave.

My trepidation is quelled after the first few strokes glide over my face before I realize I’m being shaven. His voice evolves into a concentrated mumble as he carefully exhibits his craftsmanship. He starts from the side and mentions the importance of stretching the skin, so he won’t risk cutting a client and tells of practicing on dummy heads in barber school. “Some people are doing it,” he says of getting a razor shave. “It’s kind of a treat. A long time ago they did as much shaving as they did hair cutting. Then they got the safety razor and people kind of stopped doing it. Now there’s a bit of a revival.” After working on the sides of my face, he

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

moves to the center, deftly eradicating the overgrown hairs on my chin and lower lip. Fifteen minutes have passed and Rex lets me know he’s finished. He heats up another towel to again steam my face and then wipes off any excess shaving cream. While I wait with the towel over my face, I bask in the fact that it doesn’t seem as though I’ve lost any skin. The towel comes off and there is one last step: aftershave. Rex retrieves it, gets some on his hands and rubs them together before applying the fragrance. It’s worth the burn. I get up out the chair feeling refreshed, my face feeling cool and smooth thanks to Rex’s handiwork. I left with no cuts, and the desire to make a trip to Rex’s in the future.

“Some people are doing it. It’s kind of a treat. A long time ago they did as much shaving as they did hair cutting.” -Rex Johnson

Country Closet

Décor 2 Baby Boutique 2 Holidays 2 Gifts 209 S Broadway | Aberdeen | 533.5152

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

Holy Lamb

Organics COUNTING SHEEP HAS BEEN CONNECTED TO SLEEP for centuries, with insomniacs encouraged to enumerate fluffy white lambs jumping over a fence in an effort to lull themselves into slumber. Some scientific studies have now shown that counting sheep isn’t a particularly effective way to induce sleep. However, recent studies have shown that there is something about shorn sheep that can make a difference to a good night’s rest. It’s all about the wool. At Holy Lamb Organics, the benefits of wool are celebrated and sewn into all sorts of bedding from infant comforters and blankets to king size mattress toppers, pillows, comforters and much more.

This is Willow Whitton, founder and owner of a 15-year-old company that provides comfortable, natural, organic wool bedding that is handmade. Not only is the quality of her bedding exceptional, her company believes in eco-friendly practices. STORY BY GAIL GREENWOOD AYRESÂ PHOTOS BY K YLE MITTAN

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

When I saw a thumbnail picture of this old store, I said, ‘This is my building!’ There was even a sewing machine in the window! While this building had operated for some 85 years as a general store, it had last been used by a leather worker.” -Willow Whitton

“There are two recent studies that show that your heart rate actually decreases when sleeping under a wool comforter,” said Willow Whitton, 39, founder and owner of the Oakville company. “When you sleep on or under wool, you actually have a more restful sleep.” “Part of the reason is that wool is so wonderful at regulating body temperature,” she explained. “It keeps you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter as it effectively wicks away moisture from your skin.” Many customers with various sensitivities and allergies also appreciate Holy Lamb Organics products made from Premium EcoWool ™ and organic cotton fabrics because they contain no chemicals or scents, she said. (The business is a strict no-chemical, no-scent zone for employees and visitors.) Even the mattresses they sell – latex foam wrapped in layers of wool – don’t have chemical fire retardants as other mattresses do. The Holy Lamb mattresses pass the fire safety test with flying colors – turns out the wool is a natural fire retardant. “Also, dust mites can’t live in wool,” Willow said. “Many people are allergic to dust mites, which live in bedding and make tiny burrows in it. But, the way wool is created, it

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Above: “The Little Bit” general store was built in 1902 and was the perfect layout for Holy Lamb Organics. Right: Staff measure and prepare orders. sticks to itself and provides an inhospitable environment for dust mites.” Both loyal and new customers think Willow is on to something, as they keep the orders coming faster than she and her 22 employees can fill them. And there’s nothing like nippy weather or holiday gift shopping to rev up business. More than 50 retail stores throughout the nation carry their products and individuals can order online. The products are not inexpensive. A queen size natural wool comforter is listed on the website at $359 and a Happy Lamb Fleece Topper retails at $480. The young company has already gotten a lot of publicity. The Holy Lamb Organics comforter has been celebrated as one of Oprah Winfrey’s O Magazine’s “favorite things” and the company was featured in a “Made in America” story by Diane Sawyer of ABC World News. In fact, Brooke Shields, Julia Roberts and the nationally known health expert Andrew Weil are among the celebrities who have purchased products from this little manufacturing company in a 1902 former general store along Highway 12 in downtown Oakville.

Now celebrating its 15th anniversary, the company was conceived of during a camping trip. After graduating from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Willow was working three jobs and barely making ends meet. Taking a break from the grind, she and a friend decided to go on a week-long camping trip in the California Redwoods. In a sporting goods store before the trip, Willow noticed a camping pillow. “I was struck with how poorly made and how expensive it was. And it was made outside of the U.S. with synthetic materials. I thought, ‘Gosh, I could make something way better than that,’ ” she said. During the next seven days backpacking, she dreamed up the business. When she returned to Olympia, Whitton began making camping and travel

pillows, which she sold at the Olympia Food Co-op. For the first five years of the business, production was inside an old school bus in Olympia that had electricity and water. The next stop was a 10-by-12foot room, then to a two-car garage. During the time she was considering yet another move, she happened to visit a friend who lived at Wild Thyme Farm, a retreat center, sustainable forest and business on 150 gorgeous acres in Oakville. “A voice in my head told me, ‘You have to be near this farm!’ ” she recalled. The impression was so strong that Whitton talked to a real estate agent, asking for properties near Oakville. There were only eight possibilities.

Committment to integrity practices Leaving a smaller eco footprint has been a priority since the beginning of Holy Lamb Organics. 100% zero waste of manufacturing byproducts, chemical and scent free facility, plastic free packaging, pledge to use only local, natural materials, and green building practices are just some of the the ways Willow makes that happen.

“But, when I saw a thumbnail picture of this old store, I said, ‘This is my building!’ There was even a sewing machine in the window! While this building had operated for some 85 years as a general store, it had last been used by a leather worker.” Then she looked inside the building. “The layout was like I had drawn out.” It certainly seemed like it was meant to be. So, with quite a bit of work, the foundation was shored up, customized shelving and tables built and a new coat of red paint applied, complete with the historic general store’s old name, “Little Bit.” Within a

few months the business had moved into the 3,000 square feet of the Little Bit. Now her husband, Roy Mackey, a builder, takes care of all the repairs, renovation and maintenance for the facility. When visiting the small showroom, which is at the front of the building – open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday – it’s clear that the building and business are a perfect match. Every inch of the tall shelving and cupboards, is used for storing supplies and pillows, blankets, comforters and toppers. The long wooden counter is still in place and the tip bins that once held produce now contain pieces of wool. WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

I hate leaving my bed. I have the sheets, pillows, comforter and mattress from here, and I will probably never use anything else.

for more information Holy Lamb Organics is located at 104 Pine St., Oakville. It is a chemical and scent-free facility. For more information or to order, go to holylamborganics.com., or call (360) 273-9400 or toll free at (888) 359-1362.

That’s something else Willow is proud of: Her business is nearly 100 percent waste free. Literally. Once every two weeks the entire manufacturing process and all the employees produce one small garbage can of waste. “And frankly, it is mostly filled with remains of people’s lunches,” noted Sarah Horton, production manager.

Across the street another 3,000-squarefoot building houses the customer service employees and a warehouse full of raw materials. Rolls of wool come carded and ready to use from a Northern California woollen mill, which purchases wool from small sheep farmers along the West Coast who practice sustainable farming methods.

All the little scraps of wool and cotton are used in a variety of smaller products. On a recent day, Zowie Aleshire presented three new handmade prototypes to Willow – a yoga bolster, circular hassock and decorative pillows, all designed in the Little Bit to use up the little bits. Anything that is too small to be usable is composted behind the building in the company’s organic garden.

Despite the general easy-going feel of the manufacturing at Holy Lamb Organics, each employee’s hands stay busy. Meticulously they track just how much time it takes to make each item. After all, you can’t sell something for less money than it takes to make.

On most work days, Zowie, along with Greg Voelker and other employees, can be found shoeless, literally clambering onto tables and disappearing inside the comforters or toppers, carefully smoothing the wool into each corner of the cotton cover, before they hand tuft the items. Nearby, longtime seamstress Rhona Brown sits at her 1940s-era Singer sewing machine at a work station she helped design. And Sarah can often be found in the showroom helping customers consider the best options for their mattress or other bedding. “Our mattresses are an investment and so we like to give people the opportunity to lie down on them, to try different combinations of firmness,” she said. The mattresses, as well as sheets and towels, are not made in Oakville, but are crafted by a trusted business partner in California.

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

As she looks ahead at her burgeoning business, Willow says her current challenges center on finding more employees and accommodating the growth. “We are growing so fast I find myself building a system, but by the time it’s in place, we’ve outgrown it. I hired a full-time IT person this year and am currently looking for middle management,” she said with a smile. Quality natural ingredients, well-taken care of animals, zero waste, allergy-friendly, handmade in the U.S., what else can be said about Holy Lamb Organics products? “My favorite part is just how comfortable it is,” Sarah said. “I hate leaving my bed. I have the sheets, pillows, comforter and mattress from here, and I will probably never use anything else.” “We often say, ‘What was Willow thinking, giving us all bedding so comfortable and expecting us to be at work?!’ ” Sarah joked.

Above: Maia Johnson apprentice seamstress hand stitches all the bedding products offerered. Bottom Right: Rhona Brown seamstress. Bottom Left: Ginsy Stone, production assistant (foreground), Zowie Aleshire production assistant (background) Left page: An employee works on her 1940 Singer sewing machine. WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Last winter the beach property I’d enjoyed for 12 years fell into the ocean. While it was a shocking experience, it was not a surprise. You see, my beach property was in a place called Washaway Beach.

Washaway Beach: A Story of Place S TOR Y A ND P H OT O S BY E RIKA L A N GL E Y

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

ABOVE CLOCKWISE: Ray Miller has owned three properties at Washaway, each of which are under water now. The trailer known as The Vagabond, one of four that the author owned and the one she stayed in while on the property. Stanley and Resha Sabre in their cabin. BELOW: The authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property, including the cookhouse. RIGHT PAGE: The interior of the cookhouse was wallpapered with fireworks wrappers that the author found on the beach.

The area once known as CAPE SHOALWATER on the Washington Coast, now properly known as North Cove, and nicknamed Washaway — is one of the FASTEST ERODING PLACES IN OUR HEMISPHERE. It loses an average of 150 feet a year. In a bad winter, it can be much more. The phenomenon began in the late 1800s. North Cove was supposed to be a luxury destination for train travelers between Seattle and Portland. It was a town with brick buildings, a Coast Guard station, a clam cannery and fine homes. The whole town fell into the ocean, one by one, and nothing could stop it. Theories vary as to why. The damming of the Columbia River at that time changed how sand moves around, or “sediment accretion” as the coastal geologists like to say, which is fancy talk for how all our sand is moving to Long Beach to the south of Washaway. There is also the possibility that dredging of a ship channel by the Army Corps of Engineers, well into the 1970s, didn’t help matters. Or it could just be that this part of the state wants to stick out like a big nose. The ocean is a relentless plastic surgeon. Needless to say, my place was cheap: $15,000 for three 50 by 100 foot lots. The first lot had four trailers in various states of rust, two shacks and an outhouse. The second lot was a wetland swamp, a black lagoon with Spanish moss hanging off the trees, emanating the sounds of bird song and frogs. The Third Estate was empty with a few trees. I figured I’d move my encampment there when the time came. There was no water, only power. It was the only thing I have ever been able to afford. I had to sign an agreement with the seller, saying I was aware of the phenomenon of erosion. And I was. I always knew what I was stepping in. One of the first people I met was my neighbor Stanley Sabre. He came by in a True Value baseball cap and asked how much I paid for the place. I told him, adding brightly, “Maybe I’ll get 10 years!” “Maybe you’ll get five years,” Stanley said, ominously. He told me to get a tide book, and to pay attention to it. If there were ever 9- or 10-foot tides, I should be here. Because here, there is a chance to see the ferocity of nature from a ringside seat. This turned out to be invaluable information.

My neighbor Ray Miller was on his third property at Washaway, his two previous estates under water. He called me “Kiddo” and reminded me of my handy, late uncle Bud. He had drills and ladders and could fix a cheap chainsaw. “Anything you need, Kiddo, just holler.” Eventually I hollered and Ray offered to cut my grass on his riding mower for a weekly sum of $10 and a 6-pack of Bud Lite. What a rewarding investment that was! One time my car died at Washaway, and I was surviving on the dubious provisions available from the walkable Minit Mart. Ray brought me, in installments, a big piece of Chinook salmon, two potatoes and two beautiful ears of Yakima corn. “Where’s my dessert?” I asked. I live in Seattle, but I felt, and feel, a hypnotic pull to the area. It is frightening, humbling and moving to be in a place that’s so beautiful and violent at the same time. It will break your heart even when you know better. Just try to resist, denial is delightful. A day here is like no other, mainly because there are so few people, you can have your own moon-planet.

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

I always knew I was a guest here, so I made a point of having a fabulous time. I built a fire pit and grilled salmon on it on summer nights. I planted foxgloves that grew as high as my trailer. I wallpapered my cook-shack with the wrappers of fireworks found on the beach. I would look out at my stately alder trees, rustling in the ocean wind, and feel at peace in a place I knew was doomed. I would watch it happen, storm by storm. I met Juanita and her 18-year-old son Ray, screamingly funny, smart people who became dear friends. It was late March 2010, they were waterfront but it seemed they’d dodged a bullet and would get another year. On March 31, Juanita’s birthday, she bolted into Ray’s room during a storm. “This is not a drill. Get your stuff and get out.” Just like that, in one night, their yard, treehouse, deck, giant trees and house all fell in. The shock and grief of it was something I was unprepared for, even having photographed countless places falling in. Now it was personal. My neighbor Stanley and his wife, Resha, always took the long view. “Don’t you want this to last forever?” I asked Stanley.

“It already has. Today.” he said. “Where else would I want to be? With all these earth changes, we’re right here at the point of attack.” They were both in Vietnam, and I admired the hard-won Zen wisdom of survivors they had acquired. They were embracing the uncertainty. I asked Resha if she was experiencing the anxiety and dread. She said she got her grieving mostly over with two years ago and was really trying to focus on savoring. She told me that my worrying might actually make things worse for me. “You need to be present and in the moment, so you can make good decisions when the time comes,” she told me. In 2012, after a bout of winter storms, all my neighbors became waterfront: Ray, Stanley and Resha, and my neighbor Craig, who wore shorts as a badge of pride all winter long. Combined, they were a neighborhood watch of full-time residents. I would come down by myself all the time. No one ever messed with me or my stuff. This, as is turns out, was due entirely to them. 2012 was an ominous year. That is when I moved my nicest trailer, a 1960 Airstream, to the property of some friends, Marcy and Bob, in the Less Doomed part of Washaway, where people build real houses. But then things settled down. My neighbors got to enjoy being waterfront longer than most. Last fall there was evidence that our luck was running out. Craig’s property, behind mine, began eroding dramatically. Though he obscured my view, his place was a barrier between me and the end of my place. I never wanted to be waterfront. Craig’s house fell in during a howling November wind storm. By then, the rest of us were thinking about packing, planning. You think you’ll have some time. It seems like it’ll be a natural disaster in slow motion, but it’s hard to believe how quickly it can happen. I figured I’d move my remaining trailers to my Third Estate.

I always knew I was a guest here, so I made a point of having A FABULOUS TIME ... I would look out at my stately alder trees, rustling in the ocean wind, and feel at peace in a place I knew was doomed. 40

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

The week of Dec. 8, three big storms blew through. Stanley and Resha’s place, another neighbor and Ray’s place were all destroyed. Ray, being across the street from doom, thought he had some time, but then the storm came from two sides, and he had to evacuate. Half my property fell in: my outhouse and shed, my stately trees. “I don’t think you’re going to have to worry about cutting the grass,” Marcy told me. When I got there, my power had been turned off. I called Grays Harbor PUD. “This is unacceptable,” I said. “I am still here.”

ABOVE: There are two World War II gun turrets on the beach, installed for the defense of the Pacific but never used. Only one is visible now at the very lowest tides. Here, the second one emerges from the bank in 2005. BELOW : Kids playing in Washaway rubble. LEFT PAGE: Washaway Beach carpool.

1 Orange chair, ringside. 2 The cookhouse on the beach, January 2015. 3 A house on the edge, seen from the water, 2003. 4 Black wave, high tide, 2003. 5 “Wake” for Stanley and Resha’s property with neighbors. 6 Resha Sabre surveys erosion on her property, November, 2014.

They came out immediately but seemed concerned for my safety. “Are you staying here tonight?” one asked. “Have you got a gun?” That seemed a curious question. “No,” I said. “Why?’” “There’s tweakers everywhere, coming out of the woodwork, ripping stuff off. It’s a free for all.” Tweakers are, of course, the wild-eyed, scab-faced devotees of crystal meth best known for theft. I thought the guy was just trying to scare me. But, look! People had already started to rip me off. Firewood: gone. Rain barrels: gone. The cute birdhouse in the shape of a trailer my friend Sue got me? Gone.

My place hung in there for a long time. Ultimately, the cookhouse did not sink into a roiling, churning high tide, but FELL FLAT ON ITS FACE on the beach on a nice day in broad daylight, like I once saw a really drunk lady do at Washaway.

My property was still half-there, the glass half-full, but no one was respecting the protocol of leaving places alone until they’re on the beach, and no neighbors were around anymore to enforce proper decorum. Two skinny, sketchy guys came lumbering through my yard, carrying a big piece of metal pipe. “Hey, this is private property. No trespassing,” I said. They shrugged, mildly inconvenienced. But for the first time in 12 years, I felt afraid and alone there. I moved out all the irreplaceable treasures that could reasonably fit into my modest storage unit in Seattle, otherwise known as my dead Honda Accord. I had my friend Bob take the beautiful leaded glass windows and Craftsman door off my cook shack, leaving it wide open. You can’t steal from me, I’m giving everything to you! Ray moved with his girlfriend to Tokeland, Craig to Grayland, Stanley and Resha back to Seattle, with their eye on New Mexico. Just like that, a community got scattered to the winds. My place hung in there for a long time. Ultimately, the cookhouse did not sink into a roiling, churning high tide, but fell flat on its face on the beach on a nice day in broad daylight, like I once saw a really drunk lady do at Washaway. Moving my compound to my third lot wouldn’t have worked, as all three of my properties eroded at the same time.

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

An old woman I met on the beach once told me she keeps coming back here for the smell. I still come for it too: the intoxicating brew of ocean and sand, mossy trees and salt. I grieve for the loss of my sanctuary,

The message here for me is about savoring. If you knew for certain that something wouldn’t last, you would make a point to really, really enjoy it, to be grateful, to pay attention. THIS IS FRAGILE BEAUTY IN UNCERTAIN TIMES. IT LASTED FOREVER ALREADY, TODAY. but I still love it here.

TOP Gun turret at sunset. BOTTOM Butterfly trailer washing away.

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

About Erika Langley: Erika Langley is a photojournalist based in Seattle who enjoyed owning property at Washaway Beach for 12 years. She blogs at washawaybeachthisweek. wordpress.com. See more work at www.washawaybeach.com and www.erikalangley.com.

The

PLACE to Be!

January 23 • NooN-9pm Grays Harbor Fair & Event Center Must be over 21 to attend

Pre-sale tickets available

Live Music All Day Wineries • Beer Garden • Food Entertainment • Silent Auction Merchandise Vendors Sponsored by Elma Chamber of Commerce 360.482.3055 | elmachamber.org WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

design by nature How an architect and his wife built their dream home on a hillside surrounded by the forest.

STORY BY KELLIE A N N BEN ZÂ PHOTOS BY JULIE RA JCI CH

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

Will and Anne Foster enjoy the greenery of the forest on the deck off their dining room. Not only is the view amazing but it lets in lots of light all day long.

Anne’s eye for unique designs matches her husband’s subtle visions, and together they have collected one-of-a-kind pieces by area artists. To enter Will and Anne Foster’s home is to enter their particularly elegant view of the world. In 1976, Will Foster was a young architect just beginning his career in Aberdeen when he met Anne as she was leaving the Polson Museum in Hoquiam. It was love at first sight and meeting Anne solidified Will’s curiosity about building a life and career in the coastal Grays Harbor County. Today, Will remains active as one of the founding partners in the busy architectural firm of Street, Lundgren & Foster Architects. While the firm’s work has filled Will’s career with a full slate of projects, it was a piece of land he found in 1997 that intrigued the architect to fulfill a long held dream; his own home on a piece of land that only an architect could love. His challenge was how to meld a home seamlessly into a wooded hillside, and it was a challenge that the architect dove into with enthusiasm. “It was about a year of designing,” Will explained. “A lot of crumbled up ideas into the waste paper bin, until eventually, the solutions started to become obvious.” Will called George Neville, a longtime friend and his most trusted builder. For two years, the crew built the Fosters’ home. Neville and Foster worked to create the unique split-faced block of concrete that texturally challenges the eyes when matched against the smooth, earth-tone painted walls. Their use of concrete blocks in the interior of the home attracted the attention of the National Concrete Masonry Association, winning an award for the design when the house was first completed. But it wasn’t just function that Neville added to the Foster home.

Right Top: The courtyard with the endless pool Bottom: Build on site, the front door is just one of many unique details of the Foster home.

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Foster’s home

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

“George built our front doors on site,” Foster explained referring to what amounts to a set of doors that open in accordion fashion from the middle, folding back flat on each side, and each inset with a narrow vertical panel of Tom Evans stained glass in rainbow colors. “They open up the entire entrance way.” And what an entrance way. The entry to the Fosters’ home is the spa-like front courtyard, complete with an endless pool (or current pool) surrounded by an atrium that’s bathed in natural light and truly inviting. Not only do the house’s front doors open fully to the outside — directly across from the well-trodden deer path — but all of the windows and glass sliding side entrances open up too. Once opened fully, this courtyard gives one the feeling that you’ve stumbled upon a deep-woods natural pool all your own. The courtyard is designed with the intention of separating the rest of the one-story dwelling from what is actually a hidden office/guest apartment. The Fosters graciously welcomed Washington Coast Magazine inside their home and offered up a tour, starting first in their guest apartment. What strikes the senses almost immediately is the way the rooms feel enveloped by the surrounding forest.

Above: The kitchen overlooks the spacious and open living room. The exterior of the home. The stained glass panels on the front door are by Tom Evans. The hallway displays artwork from local artists.

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

“It was important to us to not disturb the flow of this hill, while still having the space that we envisioned our ideal home to have.” This goal has been achieved.

Clockwise above: Bay window alcove in the master bedroom overlooks Montesanoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forest. Natual light bounces off the floor in the indoor hallway. The natural wood floor in the kitchen and living room.

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

FOR ANY OCCASION! • We ship! • Gift packs available • Shucked & in the shell oysters • Fresh & frozen razor clams • Cooked & live crab

OPEN DAILY 9am - 6pm

Call ahead for fresh fish selection!

1-800-572-3252 or 360-268-0077 www.bradysoysters.com West of the Elk River Bridge HWY 105 WESTPORT

In the apartment, a few twists and tucks send an office desk into the wall, and a Murphy bed appears in its place. Within seconds, a quiet office space becomes a modest bedroom for a guest or two. Strolling past the calming entrance way again, this time toward the main house, it appears evident that the Fosters relish some very unique art pieces, ones that allow them to express their love of animals, especially cats. Their home is peppered with artwork and carvings of river otters and cats that hint at the Fosters’ sly sense of humor. The floor itself seems like a work of art and to get the details from Will, it appears to be exactly that. In an article in Fine Homebuilding magazine, Will explained how the floors were built; “Because the house’s interior was so spacious, we wanted a flooring material that was commensurate in scale and that still created a rhythmic pattern. As an experiment, we hired Petersen Cabinets of Shelton to make 2-ft. squares of 3⁄4-in. thick, high-density maple plywood. … A loose maple spline aligned each square to its neighbors; a walnut accent provided a contrasting color. ...” The effect gives a seamlessness to the floors and ceilings and the gold color of the wood floor matches the hues on the walls and countertops.

The main house is open and natural light, filtered through forest Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

“That’s Anne’s wall,” Will explains, delighting in its surprising shock of red in an otherwise earth tone home. “Quiet genius if you ask me.”

Left page: The rest of the office is a workspace filled wtih light. Above Top: The office provides a flexible space with a Murphy bed/desk. The red wall displays an original Emily Carr painting gifted from a relative.

foliage, seems to come from every direction. The rooms flow effortlessly into each other. The kitchen is tucked around a wall from the living room, almost appearing out of nowhere around a corner. The lines of the entry way lead fluidly to the living room and toward the dominant wall in the main house. “That’s Anne’s wall,” Will explains, delighting in its surprising shock of red in an otherwise earth tone home. “Quiet genius if you ask me.” Anne explains that her love of art and her delight in collecting interesting pieces had her feeling that their home must express one flash of eccentricity.

Twin Harbor Drug and Liquor Store

Full Service Pharmacy Nautical & Home Décor ~ Gifts Groceries ~ Liquor ~ More! 733 N. Montesano St. | Westport | 268-0505 www.twinharbordrug.com WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

Historic Billy’s Bar & Grill

is open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch, & dinner. • Full Service Menu

• Homemade Soup • Fresh Garden Salad • Famous Billy’s Brick Burgers on a Torta Bun

• Large rotating selection of Pacific Northwest draft beers on tap. Full service bar. • Take-out orders available • Gift Certificates

322 E. Heron St. Aberdeen 360-533-7144

Locally Owned As Fresh as You Can Get without Catching it Yourself! Our fresh seafood market includes a variety of fresh fish arriving daily. We also carry a variety of locally canned seafood products.

Don’t feel like cooking? • Grilled Crab & Cheese Sandwich • Oven-broiled Salmon, Halibut, & Cod • Hand-breaded Fish & Chips, Prawns & Cod • Homemade Clam Chowder We serve beer on tap and wine by the glass. Cocktails coming soon! Open 7 days a week

BREAKWATER

SEAFOOD & CHOWDER HOUSE 306 South F Street, Aberdeen | 360-532-5693

Fast, Friendly Service!

Create Your Own The red wall, truly more of a rustic deep-red sunset hue, holds the thick art books and one special gift from a family member.

Above: River otter carvings and custom artwork are just some of the ways the Fosters’ home displays their taste.

“It’s an original Emily Carr,” Anne explained. “I marveled at it in a family member’s home and when she passed away, I was overjoyed to have been willed it.” The Canadian painter would be very pleased to know her painting resides so close to her beloved Pacific Northwest forest. The view from the Fosters’ deck looks out through the forest that surrounds the house and with the canopy of trees overhead, the home is protected from the typically wintry deluge that the area experiences. Their master bedroom is on the other side of the red wall, as well as their airy, open style bathroom.

Gifts Cards Home Décor Pharmacy Baby Gifts Acessories Scarves

The shared study is pocketed in perfectly, facing the front entrance — and that magical deer path — for a cozy in-home office one would not quickly be inspired to leave. The Fosters built their home to entertain the many friends they’ve enjoyed knowing and working with in the area since both began their careers here. The home, in many ways, seems designed specifically for guests and if ever there was a house that was open to the world, it’s this one.

316 8th St. • Hoquiam • 532-3061 Mon-Fri: 9:30am-6pm • Sat: 9:30am-1pm

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

 SHOPPING

Gift Giving Ideal for the season of giving — or any time of year — these products are each made on the Washington Coast by local entrepreneurs. Enjoy wrapping up a little piece of the area for the favorite people in your life. Each product can be ordered online or by phone.

Give local this holiday season! THE PENDELTON PURSE by GinGin Designs. $30 tvnelson1320@comcast.net 360-581-6251

FAIRY CANDLE by Giving Thanks. Price varies. www.givingthanksgardens.com

For everyone that needs a little nurturing

NUTRITIVE DAY HYDRATION from Rainwater Botanicals $18.50 www.rainwaterbotanicals.com info@rainwaterbotanicals.com

OYSTERVILLE STORE SOAPS. $5.50 per bar.

www.harmonysoapworks.com 360-665-0102

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

SHOPPING  

Nature Nell’s

PLAYFUL POSTCARDS. $4

www.etsy.com/shop/ NatureNellsSister

For the foodies in your life 1

PACIFIC NORTHWEST JAM. $7.50 1 Nancy’s

www.graysharborfarmersmarket.com 360-538-9747 2 NICE NUTS. $10.99 www.nicenuts.net | 702-525-3367

Food always makes a great gift!

3 WillaBay’s pre-measured CRANNIE

PECAN SCONE MIX. $6.50

www.willabay.com | 360-665-6585 4 Willapa Hill CHEESE $5-$7

‘BLU SERIES’

www.willapahillscheese.com 360-291-3937 5 Long Beach’s Starvation Alley Farms

SEASONAL CRANBERRY JUICE. Price varies.

www.starvationalley.com 503-395-4030

4 5

The kids will love this! HANDMADE WOOD LOGGING TRUCK TOY $25

www.graysharborfarmersmarket.com 360-538-9747

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

 WORKPLACE

Two creatives & one hometown S T O R Y B Y K E L L I E A N N B EN Z P HO T O S B Y G A B E G R E E N

or all of those who believe you can’t go home again, here’s two to prove you wrong: Britta Folden, 30, and Eric Jackson, 29. The duo are the brains behind Alder Creative, a thriving marketing start-up that has set up shop in downtown Aberdeen, their hometown.

Folden and Jackson are Aberdeen High School grads who followed their friends out of town as soon as they graduated but quickly realized that following their hearts was a better plan. Yes, Folden and Jackson are a couple, and as this magazine goes to press, they’ll be days away from their wedding. The marriage only solidifies a long-term partnership that developed as soon as the two began working together. Jackson always had an eye for design, leaving his hometown immediately after graduation in pursuit of a degree in Digital Technology and Culture from Washington State University in Vancouver, Wash. Folden, with her sights set on a business degree, headed off to Bellingham’s Western Washington University. While Jackson found himself drawn to Vancouver’s neighboring city of Portland, where he dabbled in rock with an indie band, Folden also looked to the Oregon city as a creative center. After university, she left her Seattle-based marketing job and became a design assistant at Fix Studio in Portland. But the Harbor kept calling their names. Returning to visit often, Folden freelanced as a writer for the Grays Harbor Community Hospital newsletter and The Daily World. While both kept one foot sort of still at home, their new city lives were in full swing. Though the two wove in and out of each other’s social circles, it wasn’t until separate lunch meet-ups in their shared hometown that the former classmates noticed each other. “It was just supposed to be a lunch with a friend for each of us,” Folden explained while Jackson listened in, nodding. “We ran into each other, our friends knew each other, and we’ve been together ever since.”

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

“I wanted the room to be original and to work on meaningful projects. And I wanted to help my hometown thrive.” -Eric Jackson

WORKPLACE  

Above: Owners of Alder Creative, Eric Jackson and Britta Folden returned home to Aberdeen to start their marketing business.

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

 WORKPLACE

alder creataive

Above L-R: Alder Creative’s offices are located in downtown Aberdeen, inside one of Aberdeen’s oldest buildings. Both Britta and Eric both really like coffee, as seen from the many cups in their office kitchen. Alder Creative recently hired a new employee, Chelsea Royer.

That was five years ago. While the young couple got to know each other in their adopted Portland and played proud to be making it in the big world, both finally worked up the courage to admit something to each other. They wanted to go home. “It was more like, I wanted the room to be original and to work on meaningful projects,” Jackson said. “And I wanted to help my hometown thrive.” Folden admits, “We both loved our home, and Portland was fun, but it wasn’t home.” Once they admitted their truths to each other, the move back home was almost instant.

The office of Alder Creative has all of the markings of a contemporary marketing company; calm, creative and coffee-scented. “It’s like when you finally reveal a secret, when you finally voice it, things change,” Folden said. “We were back in Aberdeen within a few weeks and already securing our first client.” They knew that with a little effort, they could bring to their hometown a modern design and

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

branding expertise that they had witnessed elsewhere. Jackson handled all of the design, Folden managed the business and the wordsmithing. The new business team initially worked out of their home offices without a formal location. They relied on the contacts they both had and found local projects easily. When it was time to formalize their company, they knew they wanted to make their business home in downtown Aberdeen. They wanted a location that would signal their modern approach while still hearkening back to Aberdeen’s colorful past. They found their ideal office in a modernized business space inside one of Aberdeen’s oldest downtown buildings, the kind of building that has likely seen every incarnation of the port city’s businesses over the decades. Today, the space is clean, modern and just the right size for a small staffed office. In 2014, Folden and Jackson made their new company official. They named it Alder Creative, offering brand strategy, advertising design and copywriting at their new offices at 305 S. F St. in Aberdeen. Creatively, the offices gives the two Portlandinfused hometown kids everything they need to remind themselves that they are one of many new companies redefining a new economy for the area. Their door is across

WORKPLACE  

alder creative

the street from the Wishkah River, where river otters can be seen frolicking unbeknownst to the bridge traffic above. The space suggests a Portland before Portland became what it is today. They named their company after the alder trees in the area. With the lumber industry providing the foundation for Aberdeen’s original growth, it seemed fitting to the modern duo to incorporate some type of forest theme into their company’s name. Upon finally unpacking, the creative partners found an unlikely being sharing their space; a colorful bug had made its way on to their wall. “We looked closer at this weird little thing, and we were sort of mesmerized,” Jackson explained. “It had defined black and white stripes and these long antennas. It was so cool.” Naturally, the designer snapped a picture of the little guest and googled it. The bug was an Alder Boring Beetle, and while boring beetles have been devastating elsewhere in the world, this insect actually helps the environment by aiding in the renewal of old forests. “It felt like a symbolic welcome,” Folden said. “We knew then that we had made the right decision to come home.” The office of Alder Creative has all of the

markings of a contemporary marketing company; calm, creative and coffee-scented. The dry erase boards list the many projects on deck, some long term, some immediate, and the brainstorming of other projects and pitches in the works. Jackson and Folden work in tandem with each other, with Jackson hunkering down to his computer to tinker on a design, and Folden managing the project details, relationships and deadlines. Busy since they opened, Alder Creative is currently spearheading the re-branding of the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Society, marketing for Aberdeen’s newest mayor Erik Larson and leading the website development for this magazine’s online presence. “It feels amazing to do the work we love right here at home,” Folden said. “And to give the people and businesses who have committed to the area the kind of marketing support they deserve,” adds Jackson. From their office, the Wishkah River is in view and the trains can be felt rolling through town, two reminders of the industrial side of Aberdeen that has been the city’s economic foundation. Alder Creative, in a very real way, could signal the next wave of prosperity, delivered by the next generation of loyal Aberdonians. With the ease of access to

workspaces, the eagerness of the business community to welcome new business and new entrepreneurs making the Harbor their home base, Alder Creative is one of many clever, new companies giving local companies that competitive edge.

“We’re working on developing some unique products to help small businesses and nonprofits stay on top of their web presence,” Folden said by email when Washington Coast Magazine followed up on the company a few weeks after an initial interview. “We‘re giving our clients what feels like a full-fledged marketing team, without the big price tag of hiring one.”

Since opening the office, they have now been able to hire another nearby staffer. Chelsea Royer joined the team as a part-time communications assistant earlier this year. Proving the old adage wrong, these two have gone home again and from the looks of it, they plan to stay.

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

TRAVEL

TRAVEL  

A piece of history since 1899:

THE TOKELAND HOTEL STORY BY K ELLIE ANN BENZ PHOTOS BY GABE GREEN

It’s

a little bit out of the way, about two miles down a two-lane road off state Highway 105 in fact, and tucked behind a quiet row of hidden homes on a tiny street along Willapa Bay. But when you find The Tokeland Hotel, you’ll feel like you’re home again.

What is now a charming hotel in one of Washington’s most delightful, tiny towns was once the farmhouse of a local founding family, the Browns. When daughter Elizabeth Brown fell in love with William S. Kindred, the new couple was gifted the home. There, they raised their family and in 1899 they expanded the home and opened it as the first Tokeland Hotel. As the 1900s began, this new addition to the landscape was merely one of many resort style vacation spots in the popular get-away location town of Tokeland, a destination for sports fisherman from as far as California and Idaho.

The original Tokeland Hotel was opened in 1899 and later, restored in 1990. WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

 TRAVEL LEFT: The living rom features historic black and white photos of the hotel’s history. RIGHT: Antique pipe organ. BELOW: The porch greets summer visitors with flowers and rocking chairs.

In 1989, the Whites bought the property and invested in the hotel’s restoration.

The area continued to prosper well into the modern era until in 1964 the expansion of Highway 101 through Oregon and Washington took drivers toward Raymond and away from state Highway 105. By the late 1970s, the hotel’s owners were long passed and no new owners appeared to keep the hotel in working order. According to the hotel’s current marketing materials, by 1984 the building sat abandonded and began to show signs of deterioration. The hotel’s folklore suggests that the antiques and guest registries disappered into the night, and with it went most of the details of the hotel’s past. Seattleites Katherine and Scott White, on a vacation in the area, fell in love with the derelict building the first time they saw it. In 1989, the Whites bought the property and invested in the hotel’s restoration. In honor of all of the mothers in their lives, and as a

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

nod to Elizabeth Brown, they re-opened The Tokeland Hotel on Mother’s Day in 1990. The couple saved the original dark-wood, fir-planked floors, walls and ceilings, reserving the romantic second floor and its nine rooms for hotel guests. Accommodations are available for a cozy night’s sleep in one of the hotel’s vintage rooms. They’re complete with Victorian era furniture like old iron bed frames, with modern day bedding and topped with a pristine quilt just like the old days. Bathrooms — complete with vintage claw-foot tubs — are shared among guests, in that get-to-know your neighbor way that bedand-breakfast travelling affords. Most rooms sleep two people.

 TRAVEL The White’s keep the third floor as their personal space. The main floor is the most public of areas with an eclectically designed dining room and their warm and cozy “Fireplace Room.” On any particularly busy day, especially when the sun is out, you’ll find the lobby’s friendly bay window attracting book readers to lounge until a chapter — or the entire book — has been read. Staying overnight, or for the weekend, means you’re stepping back into a time when conversation was king. By virtue of the premises, you’ll meet your fellow travellers easily and before your stay is done will have made some new lifelong friends.

Each room in the hotel, from the kitchen to the lobby, is filled with antiques that are as thrilling to discover as is this out-of-theway charmer. The Whites have done well at replacing and expanding upon the antiques that were previously lost during the hotel’s empty years. The restaurant offers a full menu from sunrise to sunset of delectible meals that will keep your belly full and your palate satiated. From homemade blueberry pancakes in the morning to the house speciality of cranberry pot roast in the evening, you’ll not go hungry. After all, isn’t it scientifically proven that there are no calories when you’re on holiday? We jest, of course. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, however, hold a spot in your appetite for

LEFT: The restaurant serves up homemade meals all day. RIGHT: The view from the rooms. BELOW: The room decor takes you a step back in time.

MORE INFO 66

their freshly made blackberry cobbler or any of their specialty pies. Looking to explore the area, you’re just a quick jaunt from the famous Nelson Crab site where you can collect your own stock of fresh seafood, and a hop, skip and a jump from the Shoalwater Casino if you’re feeling lucky. And of course, the beach isn’t far. However you choose to spend your time at The Tokeland Hotel, know that you’ll be treated to a true home-style experience. We reckon, just the way the original owners would have liked it.

The restaurant offers a full menu...and don’t miss out on the blackberry cobbler or speciality pies. Worth all the calories.

For reservations, visit www.tokelandhotel.com or call 360-267-7006.

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

 EVENTS

our favorite

EVENTS December 3 Grays Harbor College Music Department Quarterly concert of the Grays Harbor College music department conducted by William Dyer, featuring the college Jazz Band and Jazz Choir at the Bishop Center for Performing Arts at Grays Harbor College. 4-13 Steel Magnolias Robert Harling’s classic 1987 play continues at The Driftwood Theatre in Aberdeen. The show takes the audience to tiny Chinquapin Parish, La., to experience the incredible bond between a group of women centered around Truvy’s Beauty Parlor. 5 Santa by the Sea The U.S. Coast Guard delivers Santa into Westport for photos and goodies. Lighted Boat Display & Crab Pot Christmas Tree Colorful strings of holiday lights reflect on the water from spectacularly bedecked boats at the Port of Ilwaco. That same afternoon, Ilwaco will host the recent tradition of decorating and lighting its one-of-a-kind Crab Pot Christmas Tree. Ho Ho Hoquiam Fun Run Celebrate the holidays in Hoquiam with a 2 mile, 5K or 10K run. The Good Lovelies One of Canada’s premiere folk bands, The Good Lovelies, returns to the Bishop Center for Performing Arts at Grays Harbor College for a holiday performance. 5-6 Holidays at the Beach A weekend full of family friendly, holiday fun in Long Beach featuring “The Polar

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Express” with Mrs. Claus, magic and pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus and Frosty’s Birthday Party. 12 Festival of Lights Lighted parade, light tours, food, bonfire and small town charm in Montesano. 13 Grays Harbor Civic Choir Civic Choir’s traditional Christmas concert, featuring a “Festival of Lessons and Carols,” traditional Christmas songs and a carol singalong at the Bishop Center for Performing Arts at Grays Harbor College. 14 Water Music Festival Christmas Concert Welcome the holiday season by treating yourself to an exquisite afternoon of music in Ilwaco. 19 Doktor Kaboom Doktor Kaboom brings the “Science of Santa” to the Bishop Center for Performing Arts at Grays Harbor College. This family show features the Doktor attempting to recreate all of Santa’s magical wonders with science. 31 Fireworks at Midnight over the Ocean Fireworks in front of the boardwalk in Long Beach ring in the New Year.

“The Science of Santa” by Doktor Kaboom comes December 19th.

January 1-3 Boston Terrier Dog Show Boston terriers take over the Grays Harbor Fair & Event Center. 9 PUSH Physical Theatre Award-winning PUSH Physical Theatre comes to the Bishop Center for Performing Arts at Grays Harbor College, featuring a talented group of performers displaying awe-inspiring physical illusions and gravity defying, dance infused acrobatic high jinx. 16 “Frozen” Sing-Along Bring the kids to the the Bishop Center for Performing Arts at Grays Harbor College for a sing-along version of Disney’s hit movie “Frozen.” 17-18 Windless Kite Festival The Windless Kite Festival Indoor Kite Fly takes over the Long Beach School gymnasium. The “recital” of kite flying involves no fans, and features choreographed solos, duets and group performances between 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. 17-19 Lewis & Clark: Wintering the Pacific Take a step back into 1805 and experience life of the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery. Re-enactors will be camping out on Veteran’s Field in downtown Long Beach. 23 Elma Winter Wine Festival Warm up your winter with the Elma Winter Wine Festival at the Grays Harbor Fair & Event Center. 29 TorQ Percussion Canada’s premiere percussion ensemble takes the stage of the Bishop Center for Performing Arts at Grays Harbor College. The quartet is renowned for their engaging shows aimed at making percussion music accessible to audiences of all ages.

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

 EVENTS

February 13-14 Rainier Agility Dog Trials Dog show enthusiasts descend on the Grays Harbor Fair & Event Center hosted by the Rainier Agility Team. 20-21 Asian New Year Kite Celebration Asian New Year Kite Celebration in Long Beach at the World Kite Museum features the kites and cultures of a different Asian country annually. 20-27 The Love List Two men try to answer the question: Does the perfect woman exist? The play at the Driftwood Theatre in Aberdeen, runs through March 12. 27-March 1 Fisher Poets Gathering The Fisher Poets Gathering is an annual event held on the last weekend of February in Astoria, Ore., where men and women somehow tied to the fishing industry get together to share their poems, tales and songs in celebration of the lifestyle and its people. Event venues include the Astoria Events Center, the Wet Dog Cafe, the Voodoo Room, Columbia River Maritime Museum and more.

March

Clam festivals, art tours and the rodeo are just some of the things to enjoy this winter! 70

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

4-12 Mary Poppins The classic tale made famous by the Disney movie by the same name brings to life the timeless P.L. Travers story interwoven with songs from the Academy Award winning film at the Bishop Center for Performing Arts at Grays Harbor College. Mary and Burt lead the audience through beloved songs like “Step in Time” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” as everyone’s favorite flying nanny helps a family find themselves. The Love List Two men try to answer the question: Does the perfect woman exist? The play at the Driftwood Theatre in Aberdeen, runs through March 12.

17 Grays Harbor College Music Department Quarterly concert of the Grays Harbor College music department conducted by William Dyer, featuring the college Jazz Band and Jazz Choir at the Bishop Center for Performing Arts at Grays Harbor College. 18-20 Razor Clam Festival & Seafood Extravaganza All things razor clam are featured at the 9th annual festival in Ocean Shores. 23 Tears of Joy Theatre The Tears of Joy Theatre presents an all new production based on the trickster of Native American lore, Coyote, in “Coyote Tales.” The group presents two short stories about Coyote in this family friendly show at the Bishop Center for Performing Arts at Grays Harbor College. 25-27 Grays Harbor Mounted Posse Indoor Rodeo Rodeo enthusiasts descend on the Grays Harbor Fairgrounds for this annual rodeo and show.

April 10 Rainier Agility Dog Trials Dog show enthusiasts descend on the Grays Harbor Fair & Event Center hosted by the Rainier Agility Team. 16 David Jacobs-Strain Oregon slide guitar player David JacobsStrain brings his eclectic style to the

Bishop Center for Performing Arts at Grays Harbor College. Jacobs-Strain moves from humor to blues, delicate balladry to swampy rock and roll. 16-17 Pacific Rim Arabian Horse Show A celebration of the Arabian breed takes over the Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds, hosted by the Pacific Rim Arabian Horse Association. 18

Tokeland North Cove Studio Art Tour Annual art show featuring the work of artists from the Tokeland/ North Cove area. Headquartered at the historic Tokeland Hotel and nearby private art studios. 18-19 Long Beach Razor Clam Festival Long Beach brings back its historic 1940s razor clam festival, including digging lessons, live music and entertainment, a chowder taste-off and more. 23 Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival The 33rd annual Astoria-Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival features coastal cuisine, arts and crafts, wine tasting and more. 30 Five Women Wearing the Same Dress Five bridesmaids discover a bond in this funny and touching celebration of the spirit of women. The play, at Aberdeenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Driftwood Theatre, opens April 30 and runs through May 22. Horns & Hooks Outdoor Days Outdoor sports enthusiasts take over the Grays Harbor County Fair & Events Center.

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

AD DIRECTORY

Our aisles are stocked with an extensive selection of the brands you know and the products you need, all priced to save you money. • Full-service Pharmacy • Over-the-counter Medications • Health & Beauty Aids • Household Needs • Personal Care Items • Greeting Cards & Gift Wrap • Snacks, Beverages & Craft Beers • Baby Products • Fan Gear for Seahawks, • Vitamins Cougars, & Huskies

ity C Center Drug

Open M-F: 9am-5:30pm • Sat: 10am-2pm

108 E Wishkah • Aberdeen

532-5182

NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY!

Jacqueline Kay Hudlow

CONTACT ME NOW!

Branch Manager

You can download my app!

NMLS # 716318

Cell: 360.791.3693 jhudlow@primeres.com

515 W. Market St. | Aberdeen, WA | 360.591.7272 www.primaryresidentialmortgage.com PRMI NMLS:3094. Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. is an Equal Housing Lender. DISCLAIMER: Some products and services may not be available in all states. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, and conditions are subject to change without notice. Department of Financial Institutions CL-3094

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

52 7th Street Theatre 9 Aberdeen Revitalization Movement 69 Aberdeen Revitalization Movement 29 Aloha Alabama 45 Aurora Lasik 13 B&B Automotive 27 Bay West Emporium 54 Billy’s Bar & Grill 52 Brady’s Oysters 54 Breakwater Seafood & Chowder 19 Bryan & Son Jewelers 65 Capital Medical Center 72 City Center Drug 69 City of Aberdeen 29 Country Closet 75 Country Creations 8 Donna Jones 45 Elma Chamber of Commerce 55 Front St. Market 76 Grays Harbor Community Hospital 19 Grays Harbor PUD 23 Grays Harbor Tourism 13 GH Wine Sellars 27 Great NW Federal Credit Union 7 Hanson Motors 55 Harbor Drugs & Gifts 67 Kalich & Sons 8 Lavender Valley 19 Levee Lumber 23 Martin Bruni 27 McHugh’s Furniture 13 Mill 109 23 Ocean Crest Resort 11 Pasha Automotive 2 Port of Grays Harbor 72 Primary Residential 19 Raintree Veterinary Center 3 Rayonier 29 Rayonier 75 Schumacher Electric, Inc. 53 Seaworthy Home 75 ShuJacks Bar & Grill 25 The Stowaway 71 Timberland Bank 75 Total Trends 53 Twin Harbor Drug 25 Wiitamaki Jewelers 5 Windermere Real Estate 25 Windermere Westport 45 Wishkah River Distillery

WHO & WHY  

“Grays Harbor has so much to offer in every season, but winter is the one I enjoy the most. Between the climate, beaches, rain forests, rivers and people, there’s no place I would rather live.” Nancy Lachel has a space at Grays Harbor Farmers Market.

Why I like living here: BY

NANCY LACHEL

When recently asked why I choose to live on Grays Harbor rather than exiting, like so many of my fellow classmates, I remembered the nine months I lived in Ellensburg. While there, I realized that I missed everything about Grays Harbor — weather, trees, rain, climate, etc. My family roots are on Grays Harbor. My mother, Grace, grew up at Copalis Crossing, and I still have many relatives here. In the 1970s, I began baking bread for the public market, and the business grew from there. The bakery has become a passion in my life, shared with my love of gardening. Winter is an exciting time for both of my passions. The holidays bring new experiences to the bakery. On those cold winter days, I’m in the kitchen with the bakery’s right hand, Lupe, making festive pies, delectable pies and mouth-watering jams. This fills our world with aromas you won’t find any other time of the year.

Then it’s off to the gardens. I have color year round, so I work year round. There’s nothing more relaxing than building a fire pit and, listening to the birds and tending to the gorgeous ornamental kale, cabbage and cyclamen that make up my fall and winter beds and planters.

Nancy Lachel is of Grays Harbor Farmers Market in Hoquiam. The market offers a variety of vendors, and of course, Nancy’s popular pastries. For information about the market, visit www. graysharborfarmersmarket. com or call 360-538-9747.

Grays Harbor has so much to offer in every season, but winter is the one I enjoy the most. Between the climate, beaches, rain forests, rivers and people, there’s no place I would rather live. Sunshine makes our area look brilliant, and the rain keeps it that way. It’s a perfect harmony.

WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE | Winter 2016

 LAST SHOT

MICK EY T HU R MAN

Cairns: RUBY BEACH

Stacked rocks, commonly called “cairns” on Ruby Beach, just north of Kalaloch Lodge in the Olympic National Park.

Winter 2016 | WASHINGTON COAST MAGAZINE

Unique Creations

FIND YOUR

LOOK

for a Home Less Ordinary

We Have What’s Hot...

◊ Women’s ∙ Clothing ∙ Shoes ∙ Accessories ∙ Headbands ∙ Purses ◊ Men’s Clothing ◊ Consignment

Total Trends

306 W. Wain St. Elma, WA 360.861.8396 www.scottsmarketplace.com/stores/totaltrends/

ountry

reations

304 W. Main St. #1 | Elma | 360-861-8396

QUALITY AT COMPETITIVE PRICES Serving All of Grays Harbor & Surrounding Areas

• Residential • Commercial • Industrial New Construction • Remodels ARS Troubleshooting • HVAC 30+ YE NCE IE EXPER Panels • Generators

www.schumacherelectricinc.com

360-482-3233 WA ST CONTR# SCHUMI*993BE

WHAT A GRILL! HAPPY HOUR FROM 3:0 0 – 6:0 0 p m

IN FOR A BITE P O ! T S

• STEAKS • SEAFOOD • SOUPS • BURGERS • SANDWICHES • SALADS • APPETIZERS Sun-ThurS 10am To 11pm | Fri-SaT 10am To 2am 326 W. Main St. • Elma • (360) 482-1276 • 14 BEERS ON TAP