We gave the wine bar in Ilwaco, Raven and Finch, another try on the 5th of July. If you’ll remember, I was unhappy about the cigar smokers on the deck the first time I was there. This time no one was smoking and it was the perfect place to watch the fireworks. Yes, fireworks on the 5th, not the 4th. Ilwaco always holds their celebration after Long Beach. The display was wonderful and the company was good too. I didn’t make it to the Long Beach celebration because the weather was just too cold and windy for my tastes.
You may sense a trend here, but Wednesday night we were invited to a private wine tasting at the new Peninsula Wine Merchants in Long Beach. It’s a cute little place and we enjoyed trying the wines from a fairly new winery in (don’t laugh) Aberdeen, Washington.
Thursday night was Ilwaco’s Art Walk. This is always so much fun and this month we actually won the drawing! Well, Charlie did. Don’t know yet what was in the basket…. It’s always fun to stroll through the galleries and other shops in downtown Ilwaco and at the Port. We always see lots of people we know and it’s like a big block party. The next one is August 14 so plan on joining us!
Here’s what’s coming up at the Beach:
FISHING! Don’t forget that you can still fish for Salmon and Sturgeon! Check it out here: 
I wanted to remind everyone that if you’re going through Skamokawa, stop and see the Fiber Arts Exhibit at Redmen Hall. They’re open Thursday through Sunday afternoons and our show will be there until August 10.
Saturday Market at the Port of Ilwaco runs through September 27.
LB Summerfest is in full swing every Saturday and Sunday
July 12 – Leadbetter – Bay to Ocean Hike begins at 9 a.m. Call Kathleen Sayce at 360-665-5292 for more info
July 19-20 – Ilwaco- Clamshell Railroad Days
July 25 – Long Beach – World Kite Museum. The evolution of the “Kites Have Pull” exhibit begins with the featured Hall of Fame member, George Pocock. Pocock, an energetic eccentric, is considered the inventor of kites as a source of energy for travel. While the term did not exist in the 1820s, he was definitely a “greenie.” The exhibit continues with the maneuverable working kites in the ’50s and ’60s. It then presents the flying, performance kites and then to pulling kite buggies, and power or water and snow skiing. Most of the above displays are for fun. The exhibit concludes with kites being used for ocean crossing and artic travel.
July 25-26 – Long Beach – 24th annual SandSations
July 26-27 – Long Beach – 63rd NPRA Sanctioned Rodeo. Don’t miss the great Cowboy Breakfast!
Remember – free household hazardous waste disposal at Dept. of Community Development every Friday, May-Sept. Call 642-9382 for more info.
If you’re coming to the beach, you’ll want to know about road work:
Washington State Department of Transportation
Southwest Region – P.O. Box 1709 – Vancouver, WA 98668 –360-905-2000 – Fax: 360-905-2098
WSDOT Weekly Travel Advisory for July 12-18, 2008
Pacific County
MAINTENANCE:
SR 401, Both directions between the Rest Area and Bean Creek (mileposts 1.11-6.87)
July 15: Daytime traffic reduced to a single lane, alternating directions with flaggers on SR 401 for pavement repair operations.
US 101, Both directions between the Niawiakum River Bridge and the SR 4 Junction (mileposts 43-29)
July 14-15: Daytime shoulder closures, both directions on US 101 for vegetation management operations.
US 101, Both directions at the SR 4 Junction (milepost 28.95)
July 15-17, 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m.: Daytime traffic reduced to a single lane, alternating directions with flaggers on US 101 for work on underground sensors. Work is weather-dependent.
These are links to listings that have come on the market or sold since July 4. The links are good for 30 days. If you have any problems, let me know!
Looking for property? I can set up an automated search for you. Just let me know what you’re looking for and I’ll do my best to find it.
