Arts & Entertainment

Port Townsend, Arts & Entertainment

National Geographic calls Port Townsend “one of the most sophisticated places west of Seattle,” and arts and entertainment is a large part of the reason why.

For more than three decades, artists of all ages have flocked to Centrum, the nonprofit arts organization located at Fort Worden State Park, for artist residencies, workshops and performances. Centrum’s summer performance festivals in music and literature are national events, drawing thousands to the area.

Copper Canyon Press, also located at Fort Worden, is the nation’s premier poetry publishing house. Copper Canyon Press fosters the work of emerging, established, and world-renowned poets for an expanding audience.

Centrum’s Jazz Port Townsend is a summer highlight

Located at the entrance to downtown, Northwinds Arts Center is a hub of visual arts and literary activity, producing educational programs, lectures, readings and workshops, and by providing juried and invitational venues for displaying the work of regional artists.

Key City Public Theatre is perhaps the most active and vital theater organization on the Olympic Peninsula. Their year-round slate of performances and workshops draws audiences from around the region.

Port Townsend’s location, coupled with its proximity to the Seattle/Vancouver/Portland metro areas, makes the town an attractive destination for national music acts and audiences looking for intimate performance experiences.

From music, to theater, to visual and performing arts, Port Townsend is a destination not to be missed. Be sure to visit PTGuide.com’s comprehensive arts and entertainment calendar to find out what’s happening in Port Townsend.

Tags: beach, birdwatching, boats, deer, dining, fort worden state park, Lighthouse, olympic peninsula, Seaport, vacation, victorian, Waterfront
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Enjoy Fort Worden State Park

February 27, 2019 by bluegullinn

A Newsletter from Washington State Parks | February 2019

View as a webpage

Reservations | Discover Pass | Passes & Permits | Boating | Support Your Parks

Discover Pass gives you year-round access to millions of acres

When you purchase your Discover Pass, you aren’t just buying a parking pass. You are directly supporting the preservation of public lands. Not only does the Discover Pass give you access to state parks, it also offers you access to millions of acres of state recreation lands in Washington, including:

More than 100 developed state parks
More than 350 primitive recreation sites, including campgrounds and picnic areas
Nearly 700 water-access points
Nearly 2,000 miles of designated water and land recreation trails
More than 80 natural areas
More than 30 wildlife areas

Purchase your Discover Pass today!

Welcome spring with Holi

at Lake Sammamish State Park

The Washington State Parks Folk & Traditional Arts Program invites the public to celebrate spring at the 2019 Holi Celebration at Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah.

The annual celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 23. (Driving directions.) The free event, which takes place at the park’s kitchen shelter, will include a Bollywood DJ, traditional music & dance and family-friendly activities. Nontoxic paint powder and vegetarian Indian food will be available for purchase.

Holi, an ancient Hindu spring festival, is also known as the Festival of Colors. This joyful and vibrant holiday brings participants of all ages and walks of life together to celebrate, socialize and say goodbye to winter. Learn more about Holi at the event!

The Holi Celebration is part of a broader series of events that celebrate Washington’s diverse heritage presented by the Folk & Traditional Arts Program. Learn more.

A Discover Pass is required for vehicle parking.

Beat the winter chill

with a State Parks scarf

Feeling chilly with the cold weather and snow Washington has been receiving this year? Then get your hands on the new Washington State Parks scarf!

This beautiful, high-quality woven scarf is two sided and lets you proudly support Washington State Parks Winter Recreation Program.

The scarf is 61 inches long by 6.5 inches tall. It sells for $20 (includes tax) at Washington State Parks headquarters building, 1111 Israel Road SW, Tumwater, 98501. Or $20 plus $7 to have it shipped to you. Call (360) 902-8844.

The scarf is 80 percent acrylic and 20 percent polyester, and is machine washer/dryer safe. Proceeds support the Winter Recreation Program. Limited supply, so get your scarf today!

Find out how you can get your very own scarf here.

Photo: Blake the snowshoe hare is one of the mascots for State Parks’ Winter Recreation Program.

Avoid the rush!

Book a cabin or campsite now!

Planning your spring or summer vacation? State parks’ accommodations fill up fast, but you can make reservations up to nine months in advance for most parks.

If you waited too long to snag those summer weekend dates last year, consider a mid-week reservation. You might have better luck if you can be flexible on your dates. And there’s always the off season. Many cabins and yurts are cheaper then, too!

Looking for suggestions? We currently have openings for cabins and yurts at Twin Harbors and Ike Kinswa state parks. Book your stay today!

Photo: Yurt at Twin Harbors state park

Tags: beach, birdwatching, boats, deer, Events around Port Townsend, fort worden state park, Lighthouse, olympic peninsula, Port Townsend, Seaport, victorian, Washington Coast, Waterfront
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Party in Port Townsend

August 2, 2018 by bluegullinn

Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Workshop

Party down in Port Townsend in August with live music all around town, Shakespeare in the Park and summer fairs for the whole family. You won’t want to miss a minute!

The Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival heats up the park with “Blues in the Clubs” as a moveable feast of great music for all ages in various venues at Fort Worden State Park. One nightly wristband gives you the freedom to move around to all the venues throughout the evening, gaining the full benefit of the club experience. Centrum’s Blues faculty will play sets in all sorts of interesting combinations on Friday, August 3 and Saturday, August 4 from 8 pm – midnight. For more information, go to www.centrum.org.

Rock out at the Trail Blaze Ball on Saturday, August 4 at Memorial Field in downtown Port Townsend. The fun starts at 4 pm with live local bands playing and from 7 – 10 pm, the rockin’, rollickin’ sounds of FreddyPink will have you dancing the night away. Food trucks with a local beer, cider and wine garden will be available along with trail outfitters and vendor booths. The evening is open to all ages with a suggested donation of $20 at the gate in support of the Olympic Peninsula’s magnificent Olympic Discovery Trail. https://olympicdiscoverytrail.org/odt-event/

In a Viking saga of love, honor and betrayal, Key City Public Theatre is proud to present the tragedy of the Prince of Denmark in Hamlet at Shakespeare in the Park. Taken back to 932AD, Hamlet is reimagined as a saga where thanes and raiders seek fortune, power, and ultimately, a seat in the hallowed halls of Valhalla.

Directed by Marc Weinblatt, Hamlet features a cast loaded with KCPT mainstays and promises a thrilling take on the most famous of the bard’s work.

Performances run Aug. 3 through 26, outdoors in beautiful Chetzemoka Park (Jackson and Blaine Streets), Fridays through Sundays at 6 pm. All performances are Pay-What-You-Wish at the gate, with advance tickets costing $29, available at the playhouse box office at 360.385.KCPT (5278) or online at http://www.keycitypublictheatre.org/.

Audience members are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating on the grass and to dress warmly for when the sun goes down. Picnic fare is welcome. Concessions will also be sold.

The dock is still rockin’ for a few more weeks at the free, all-ages, outdoor Concerts on the Dock in downtown Port Townsend. Sponsored by the Port Townsend Main Street Program, the concerts will be Thursdays, August 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, at the Pope Marine Park/City Dock Civic Plaza. Local vendors and a beer, wine and cider garden will contribute to the festive atmosphere. Help us “Go Green” this year by renting a reusable cup during the concert and returning it at the end of the show. So far this has dramatically reduced the amount plastic used at each concert. Seating opens at 4:30 pm, show starts at 5 pm and ends at 7:30 pm. Bring a chair or a blanket and settle in for some great tunes. For the list of bands, go to http://www.ptmainstreet.org/page14/page14.html.

The Jefferson County Fair welcomes you to this year’s Bug Up-themed fair, August 10, 11 and 12. Meet farm animals up close. Cheer on riders as they put their horses through their paces. See the largest fruits, vegetables and flowers grown in Jefferson County. Hear music from fantastic bands and get your dancin’ boots on. Take a turn at riding the bull. Indulge in an elephant ear or a corn dog. Or watch the demo derby or mud drag. It’s everything a country fair should be—don’t miss it!

Open 10 am to 9 pm Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm Sunday. For more details and ticket info, visit http://jeffcofairgrounds.com.

The Olympic Music Festival (OMF) presents its 35^th annual summer season in partnership with Centrum at Fort Worden. World-class chamber music performances take place at the Joseph F. Wheeler Theater, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm, August 11 through September 19. Programming also includes a free educational concert for children and their families on August 26 at 11 am.

Since the beginning of his tenure in 2014, OMF Artistic Director Julio Elizalde has electrified audiences by presenting world-class artists on the Olympic Peninsula in programs that center on the classical chamber music repertoire and, on occasion, venture into styles such as American folk music and jazz. To purchase tickets and for more detailed information about the performances, go to www.olympicmusicfestival.org or call 360.385.9699.

Key City Public Theatre will celebrate its 60^th birthday on August 14 with a fun and fabulous dance party. The party will start at 7 pm at Chetzemoka Park—dance til dusk on the Hamlet set with the Prince of Denmark himself!

Photo by Deja View Photography

On August 18, the beloved Annual Uptown Street Fair and Parade celebrates 28 years of fun in Uptown and includes great local music, the Port Townsend Arts & Crafts Fair, the Jefferson County Farmers Market, tasty food on the street, free art activities for families and much more.

Come hang out with the Uptown businesses and neighbors for the day at this colorful community event. The Arts and Crafts Fair and Farmers Market begin at 9 am; kids’ activities follow from 10 am – 3 pm, and music from 10 am – 5 pm. The Uptown Pub is hosting an outdoor beer garden. The “GRANDLY LOCAL PARADE” is at 2 pm. Come make a day of it in historic, pedestrian-friendly Uptown. Lawrence Street and Tyler Street are closed for the Street Fair, as well as the Farmers Market location on Polk Street. Bring your appetite—there will be delicious local food vendors at the event. Coordinated by the Port Townsend Main Street Program and sponsored by generous local businesses. For more information, go to http://ptmainstreet.org.

“Jelly” by David Eisenhour

The Art Port Townsend 20^th Annual Artist Studio Tour is a festival of the visual arts featuring an open studio tour of local artists. The tour is the final event of the annual Art Port Townsend Festival. Professional artists open their studios to provide demonstrations and display their work in many different mediums such as oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastels, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, woodworking, fabric arts, glass and a variety of mixed media. This annual event is a “must see” for regional artists and art lovers. There is no charge for the self-guided tour, running August 18-19 from 10 am – 4 pm. For more information and a map of the studios, go to www.northwindarts.org/programs/art-port-townsend/aboutstudiotour/

Don’t miss the party in August. Visit us for an amazing getaway and enjoy all things Port Townsend!

A Few Upcoming Events in September—Save the Dates!
42^nd Annual Wooden Boat Festival, September 7-9
Olympic Music Festival at Fort Worden, September 1, 2, 8 & 9
Centrum’s Ukulele Festival, September 12-16
19^th Annual Port Townsend Film Festival, September 21-23

Tags: B&B, beach, birdwatching, boats, deer, dining, Events around Port Townsend, Family, ferry, fort worden state park, fun, Lighthouse, olympic peninsula, Sand, Seaport, victorian, Waterfront
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June in Port Townsend

June 4, 2018 by bluegullinn

Port Townsend is all abuzz with excitement about super-cool events this month. We’re serving up something for every appetite—with a cycling ride of the Tour de Forts, to the Brass Screw Confederacy Steampunk Hootenanny, to the Taste of Port Townsend event for foodies, and music galore with Centrum. We know you’ll love the adventure of surprise and delight when you join the fun!

And for those of you who love all things water, June is for you! Be part of the exhilarating send-off of the participants in the incredible 4^th Annual Race to Alaska (R2AK), and don’t miss Port Townsend Orca Festival at Fort Worden.

The Port Townsend Wednesday Farmers Market opens June 6, at its new location, the Jefferson Transit Haines Place Park and Ride, from 2 -6 pm. The market season is in full swing with the Saturday Farmers Market Uptown from 9 am to 2 pm.

With the new Haines Place Park and Ride location, the Wednesday Farmers Market can be easily accessed from anywhere in the Jefferson County. Try taking transit to the market or walk, bike, hop or drive to the new location of the mid-week farm and food market. There’s plenty of parking and you can stroll from Uptown through Kah Tai Lagoon to get to the market.

This season there are more vendors registered for the Port Townsend Wednesday Farmers Market than in years. Here are 15 reasons to visit on opening day: Mountain Spirit Herbal Company, Duckabush Mushrooms, Spring Rain Farm & Orchard, Fiddlehead Creamery, Finnriver Farm, Serendipity Farm, Midori Farm, Hopscotch Farm + Cannery, Chimacum Valley Dairy, Bob’s Bakery, River Run Farm, Cape Cleare Fishery, Golden Harvest, Onatrue Farm, and Hurricane Hills Winery, plus a chef demonstration with Arran Stark at the opening day market. For more info, go to www.jcfmarkets.org.

The Port Townsend Main Street Program celebrates the Tastes of Port Townsend on June 7 from 5-8 pm at the Northwest Maritime Center. Foodies will enjoy delicious samples from 14 restaurants and dessert spots, breweries, wineries and cideries, plus tea and coffee.

From green curry chicken, seafood risotto, sushi, smokehouse sliders, smoked sockeye Nova Lox with cream cheese, salads and desserts, the many tastes will delight diners. There are new participants this year, including Finistere, Banana Leaf Thai Bistro, Port Townsend Vineyards, and Key City Fish Company. This event is a fundraiser for the Port Townsend Main Street Program, a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to the historic districts Uptown and Downtown. This is a 21+ event, please bring valid ID. For more info and to purchase tickets, go to www.ptmainstreet.org.

Key City Public Theatre presents Daddy Long Legs, running Thursday through Sunday from June 8 through July 2. An adaptation of the 1912 novel of the same name by Jean Webster, this is the latest in many stage and film adaptations, and the most-true to the original work. Written in 2007, with music and lyrics by Paul Gordon, Daddy Long Legs is a two-person epistolary musical about a young orphan girl and her mysterious benefactor who empowers her through providing her with a college education. KCPT is opening the first West Coast production of Daddy Long Legs since the closing of its successful off-Broadway run in 2016.

For more info and to purchase tickets, go to www.keycitypublictheatre.org.

Join the Brass Screw Confederacy, for its seventh annual Steampunk Festival, June 8-10. Embark upon Perilous Adventures to exotic domains on the outskirts of imagination. Come decked out in your steampunk finery for another amazing year’s adventures. And while, this may not be the biggest, fanciest, first, nor certainly not the last steampunk something-or-other on earth—there is something to steam up ingenues and aficionados alike. You won’t be disappointed. This year’s event aims to rock you back on your boot heels and steam up your goggles. They’re turning it up with the Hottest Hootenanny ever, Tactical Croquet, the stupendous Bazaar of the Bizarre, Brass Screw Chautauqua, bands, magic and mayhem galore! For more details about what to expect, go to www.brassscrew.org.

Tour de Forts 2018 is a stunning ride on June 9, beginning at 8 am, that takes cyclists of all ages and abilities on a scenic and historic trip around the northeast corner of the Olympic Peninsula. Along the way, water and snack stops allow cyclists to enjoy the view from three old seaside forts that have been converted to beautiful state parks. Routes include a 62-mile, 35-mile, 15-mile and 11-mile options. To register, go to www.tourdeforts.org.

Centrum is hosting the 9^th annual Chamber Music Workshop with a free public master class on Wednesday, June 13 at 7:30 pm. Student concerts are on June 15 and 16 at 7:30 pm with a faculty performance on Sunday, June 17 at 2 pm featuring composers Haydn, Mieczyslaw Weinberg and Shostakovich. The Workshop closes with a performance with Grammy-winning Pacifica Quartet (pictured above). All performances are in Wheeler Theater at Fort Worden.

R2AK (short for the Race to Alaska) is simple. Get a boat without a motor. Race 750 miles to Ketichan, Alaska, any way you can. Don’t get eaten by a bear. $10,000 if you’re first.

The starting gun goes off at 0500 (nautical lingo for 5 am!) on Thursday, June 14, from the NW
Maritime Center in Port Townsend. The excitement of the start is palpable and not to be missed. But if that’s too early for you, come for the Pre-Race Ruckus on Wednesday, June 13, from noon to 8 pm and let loose like you’re about to sail to Alaska…with people who actually are about to set sail for Alaska! Bring your sense of adventure. Get a free tattoo. Have a blast. To join the fun and track the boats once they’re en route, go to www.r2ak.com.

Don’t miss 2018 Port Townsend Orca Festival at Fort Worden on June 23. A day of celebration, education, ceremony and adventure! Featured speakers from the Governor’s Orca Recovery Task Force, researchers from Ocean Initiative, Long Live the Kings, and the North Olympic Salmon Coalition – and then famed rock/ska band Locust Street Taxi performs starting at 1PM. Festival awards ceremony at 2PM will honor winners of the Rat Island Regatta and JPod Scavenger hunt, as well as Governor Jay Inslee for his long-term dedication and support of the Southern Resident Orcas of Puget Sound (Gov. Inslee will not be present). With all this followed by a song and dance by the North Olympic Orca Pod and a celebration of Finn the salmon’s 30th year anniversary, this year’s award ceremony will be one for the history books. http://ptorcafest.com.

The first of Centrum’s Free Friday Concerts begin at noon on Friday, June 29 at Fort Worden, outdoors on the Nora Porter Commons Lawn and lasts for an hour. http://centrum.org/free-fridays-at-the-fort/

Get your dancin’ shoes on and polka dot attire ready for Centrum’s Honky-Tonk Polka Dot Dance, Thursday, June 28 at 8 pm in the USO Building at Fort Worden featuring a variety of talented vocalists singing tunes from a range of traditions including Irish, Appalachia, Country, Blues and Gospel. This sells out quickly, so don’t delay and buy your tickets today at www.centrum.org.

Join the fun and Party at the Plaza on Saturday, June 30 from 3-6 pm across Water Street from the Jefferson Museum of Art and History. The party is coordinated by the Port Townsend Main Street Promotion Committee and volunteers to celebrate the completion of construction on Water Street. Dance to music with DJ Caleb Peacock, enjoy nibbles and fun for all ages. For more info, go to www.ptmainstreet.org.

A Few Upcoming Events this Summer—Save the Dates!
The 4^th Annual “Old School” 4^th of July at Fort Worden
The Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, public concerts July 4, 6 and 7
Concerts on the Dock, July 12-August 30, every Thursday from 5-7pm downtown
Jazz Port Townsend, July 22-29
Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival, July 29-August 5
Olympic Music Festival at Fort Worden, July 14 & 15, August 11-September 9 (weekends)
Key City Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park, Hamlet, August 3-26

We can’t wait to welcome you to Port Townsend this summer!

Tags: B&B, beach, birdwatching, boats, deer, dining, fort worden state park, fun, Lighthouse, olympic peninsula, Sand, Seaport, shopping, travel, victorian, Washington Coast, Waterfront
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Happy Spring

April 3, 2018 by bluegullinn

Farmers Market Port Townsend

Happy Spring

We’re celebrating spring in Port Townsend and invite you to join us! It’s a beautiful season of new beginnings, fresh buds in bloom, animals birthing new offspring and the earth seemingly coming alive again. With farmers and gardeners planting seeds and harvesting early products, we’re excited to welcome back the Farmers Market after its winter hiatus!

Where else can you enjoy a goat parade with kids—both four-legged and two—as they wend their way along Taylor Street in Uptown Port Townsend through an array of farmers, bakers, crafters, shellfish growers, cider and wine makers and more?

It all begins with the opening of the Port Townsend Farmers Market on Saturday, April 7, with a ribbon cutting at 9 am followed by the baby goat parade. (Come in an animal costume for a chance to win a $20 Flora Market token!) Delight in the 70+ vendors that spring into the freshness of the season with a wide array of products for your enjoyment. A chef’s demo and live music will add to the day’s festivities. The Farmers Market invites you to celebrate 26 years of nurturing and sustaining local farms and entrepreneurs. For more info about the market, go to www.jcfmarkets.org.

Key City Public Theatre presents Wolf at the Door, April 12-28, with evening shows at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees at 2:30 pm. A tenant’s rights association built on shaky alliances comes to loggerheads in the face of a gentrifying block in this hilarious world premier by acclaimed playwright, Richard Dresser. The play utilizes double roles for each actor, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

There’s a new landlord in town promising to make the building better, safer and more modern, but what about the people in rent-controlled apartments who have started to disappear. And isn’t building security just a little over the top? Character Tina thinks it’s time to form a Tenant’s Association and fight back before it’s too late. Will they hang together or hang separately? Find out the answer at the play! For more info or to purchase tickets, go to www.keycitypublicthreatre.org or call 360.385.5278.

The Port Townsend Film Festival’s Women & Film weekend includes your choice of 16 films, and two special events. In this #TimesUp, #MeToo year, women filmmakers break the “rules” without apology at the “Women Speak Out” symposium, Saturday, April 14, at 10:30 am, at the Cotton Building in downtown Port Townsend with coffee and pastries. Saturday night’s special event begins with a gathering at Taps at the Guardhouse at Fort Worden, followed by a 7:30 pm screening of Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise, with director Jennifer Townsend, at the Wheeler Theatre at Fort Worden. Passes are $75 and all include concierge service. Only 250 passes are available. To purchase, go to www.ptfilmfest.com.

If you love to cook and dream about your ideal kitchen, come to the 21^st Annual AAUW/UWF Kitchen Tour, Saturday, April 28 from 10 am to 4 pm. Nine unique homes in Uptown and North Beach will be featured. Tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com and on the day of the event at the Hospitality Center at the First Presbyterian Church at 1111 Franklin Street.

Join Centrum for one of the most uplifting and memorable events of the year, the Centrum Choro Faculty Concert on Saturday, April 28 at 7:30 pm in the Wheeler Theater at Fort Worden. With an all-start cast of performances, this concert traditionally sells out was the talk of the town for the entire spring and summer season last year, so don’t delay and buy your tickets today at www.centrum.org/choro-performance/

Make Port Townsend your home base for the weekend and tour nine award-winning wineries and cideries across the Olympic Peninsula for the annual Wine, Cider and Cheese Tour, April 28-29, from 11 am to 5 pm. This wine and cider trail is one to be envied with each location offering a unique and diverse variety of wine and cider paired lovingly with local, hand-crafted cheeses. For more info and ticket details, go to www.olympicpeninsulawineries.org.

Save the date for upcoming events in May:

May 5
Opening Day on the Bay for Boating Season
Boat parade begins at 12:30 pm at the Northwest Maritime Center
www.ptyc.net

May 16-20
83^rd Annual Rhododendron Festival
Enjoy the Pet Parade, Bed Races, Grand Parade and Rhody Run
www.rhodyfestival.org

May 26
Port Townsend Artisan Food Festival
www.jcfmarkets.org

We look forward to welcoming you to Port Townsend in April!

Forward

Tags: beach, birdwatching, boats, deer, dining, Family, ferry, flowers, fort worden state park, fun, Lighthouse, olympic peninsula, Seaport, vacation, victorian, Waterfront
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Happy Valentines Day

February 4, 2018 by bluegullinn

Enjoy Valentines Day in Port Townsend, WA

Romantic visit to the Blue Gull Inn B&B

Happy Valentines Day

Tags: beach, birdwatching, boats, deer, dining, Family, ferry, flowers, fort worden state park, Lighthouse, olympic peninsula, Seaport, shopping, victorian, Washington Coast
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Red Wine in Port Townsend

February 3, 2018 by bluegullinn

Red Wine and Chocolates

Red Wine

Love is in the air with Valentine’s Day just a few short weeks away. Escape with your sweetheart to Port Townsend for a romantic weekend getaway. We have a wide array of fantastic accommodations to suit your style. Click here for choices and to book your reservation. Many of our restaurants are offering Valentine’s specials too. For more details, contact our Visitor Information Center at info@jeffcountychamber.org or 360.385.2722.

Start your romantic celebration with Port Townsend as your home base and fall head over heels with the Olympic Peninsula Wineries and Cideries during their luscious Red Wine, Cider and Chocolate event over two scrumptious weekends: February 10-11 and 17-19, from 11 am to 5 pm. Let your quest for guilty pleasures run wild with the unmatched, extraordinary blends of Washington grapes, apples and pears—paired with decadent chocolates and local culinary fare. Enjoy a romantic drive through the scenic Olympic Peninsula!

The ticket and glass package entitles you to a special commemorative wine glass, complimentary wine/cider tasting and chocolate samples at the nine participating wineries and cideries. Book here for online tickets. www.olympicpeninsulawineries.org/redwinechocolate.php

What better place to celebrate love than Port Townsend? Over the years, our city has received many accolades from the media naming us the “best of….” Most recently, in 2017, we were named by Architectural Digest as “One of the 15 Most Beautiful Main Streets Across America” and MSN named Port Townsend the “Prettiest Town in Washington.”

With that in mind, we welcome you to come downtown and show your love for our fair city by penning a Love Letter to Port Townsend. You can write a poem, a love letter, or simply list the three things you love most about Port Townsend. Select restaurants and coffee shops will have entry forms. Please enter by February 14 to win prizes.

Concierges are ready to assist you!

On Saturdays, Port Townsend have friendly “Celebrity Concierges” roaming Water Street, from 1-3 pm, offering suggestions for things to do and see, giving directions and answering questions. They’ll be providing coupon books and maps to help you get around downtown. Be sure to look for them!

From now through June, the “Believe It or Knot!” game will pique your interest in unbelievable facts (or fiction) about our salty seaport. From the 1890s Victorian seaport to modern day, the past and present of Port Townsend will have you questioning whether you believe it or “knot.”

Hidden throughout downtown are incredible facts (true or false!) about our city. Find 10 of them at participating businesses. Try your hand to see how well you know your facts about Port Townsend by completing the game to be entered in prize drawings–$100 in monthly gift certificates and a chance to win a grand prize of $500 in gift certificates to spend in downtown businesses. And be sure to tag any of your photos on Instagram or Facebook with #ILovePortTownsend!

Key City Playhouse

Key City Public Theatre will kick off its 60^th anniversary season with the Northwest Premiere of the critically-acclaimed, one-woman play, “Spirit Awakening,” written, directed and performed by Akuyoe Graham, at the KCPT Playhouse February 9, 10, 16, and 17 at 7 pm with Saturday matinees at 2 pm.

Capturing how Ms. Graham evolved as a human being and performer, an immigrants and a woman, this mythic story is effused with power and strength, sensitivity and emotion as the supremely skilled Graham creates 12 distinct personalities that segue into one another with seamless brilliance as her life takes her from Africa to London to Spanish Harlem and eventually Hollywood. Each step provokes new levels of personal assessment, raising complex questions of split loyalties and the difficulties of rediscovering one’s roots, unimpeded by dogma. One film/theatre critic described her as a “mystic in the theatre, a sage on the screen.”

To purchase tickets, go to www.keycitypublictheatre.org or call 360.385.5278.

Shipwrights

The sailboat racing season opens with the 27^th Annual Port Townsend Shipwrights’ Regatta on February 24. Boats of all construction are welcome. As always, the race is open to folks who would like to try sailboat racing, but do not have a boat. Non-boat owners are encouraged to show up at the Skippers’ Meeting to be connected with skippers looking for crew.

The regatta is presented by the Northwest Maritime Center and the Port Townsend Sailing Association. www.nwmaritime.org/events/shipwrights-regatta/

Save the date for upcoming events in March and April:

March 2-11
22^nd Annual Port Townsend PlayFest
Key City Public Theatre, Port Townsend
This is a theater lover’s feast offering 10 plays over two weekends, including six one-act plays by local writers and three full-length plays by regional and national playwrights.

March 23-25
Victorian Heritage Festival
Port Townsend
The theme is Victorian Dreams—from roots as traditional as tea and shortbread to the high-flying speculation of Jules Verne, there will be celebrations about all that was best in the hearts and minds of this time in history. Mark your calendar for a grand time for the entire family!

We look forward to welcoming you to Port Townsend!

Tags: beach, birdwatching, deer, dining, fort worden state park, Lighthouse, olympic peninsula, Port Townsend, Seaport, shopping, vacation, victorian, Washington Coast, Waterfront
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Summer is Sizzlin’ in Port Townsend!

July 2, 2017 by bluegullinn

Happy 4th of July

Summer is Sizzlin’ in Port Townsend! Summer is in full swing and promises to heat up even more with blazing hot events and activities throughout the month. We have performances that will get your blood pumping, your heart thumping and your feet stomping. Oh, yeah, and you’ll probably get caught laughing a lot too. Enjoy Port Townsend this summer!

Celebrate America’s birthday at Fort Worden and get ready for the biggest and best party of the year at the “Old School” 4th of July. Don’t miss an epic lineup throughout the day of live entertainment, food vendors, a beer garden, a hot air balloon, field games, free root beer floats, miniature golf and a tug-of-war, all culminating in a glorious display of fireworks once it’s dark. The festivities begin at 4 pm on the parade grounds at Fort Worden. The event is sponsored by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and Thunderbull Productions, along with many local businesses.

An ”Old School” 4th overlaps with Centrum’s Fiddle Tunes Festival, a week-long immersion workshop presenting fiddle styles from specific regions of the world. Two performances will honor this American holiday: Fiddles on the Fourth is at 1:30 pm in the McCurdy Pavilion including a BBQ on the Green, and at 7 pm, Fiddles and Fireworks will showcase artists from Mexico, Missouri, Virginia and Alberta, also at the McCurdy Pavilion. For tickets, go to www.centrum.org.

Following the success of last year’s teen initiative production, Distracted, Key City Public Theatre is launching their 2017 teen initiative, a play written, directed, produced, and acted entirely by Port Townsend youth, Promposal, with performances July 7 – July 15, Wednesday – Sunday at 7:30 pm, with 2:30 pm matinees on July 8 and 9. Tickets are $12, with Pay-What-You-Wish performances on July 9 and 13.

True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country, Kurt Vonnegut wrote in his book Man Without a Country. Ian Coates’ new play Promposal blurs the line between the daily grind of high school and contemporary American politics. Despite the grim topical backdrop, this teen production is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud with its dark humor. For more info, go to www.keycitypublictheatre.org.

Rock the dock this summer at the free, all-ages, outdoor Concerts on the Dock, in downtown Port Townsend on the waterfront. The series, sponsored by the Port Townsend Main Street Program, runs every Thursday, July 13 through August 31, at the Pope Marine Park/City Dock Civic Plaza. Come to dance, see friends, enjoy a drink and have a bite. Local vendors and a beer, wine and cider garden will contribute to the festive atmosphere. Seating opens at 4:30 pm, show starts at 5 pm and ends at 7:30 pm. Bring a chair or a blanket and settle in for some great tunes. For more into and details about the bands that are playing, go to www.ptmainstreet.org.

Centurm offers the Free Fridays at the Fort concert series June 30 through August 4, showcasing fiddle tunes, jazz and blues on the lawn of the Commons at Fort Worden and is free to the public. Performances begin at noon and go until 1 pm. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, a picnic lunch or grab something to go at Reveille in the Commons. In the rare event of inclement weather, alternative plans will be posted on www.centrum.org.

The wildly popular Olympic Music Festival will be offering their stellar performances in partnership with Centrum with concerts held at the Wheeler Theater at Fort Worden.

Olympic Music Festival Artistic Director Julio Elizalde is joined by Andrew Wan, concertmaster of L’Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, and longtime OMF cellist Jennifer Culp, in a program of beloved trio masterworks by Beethoven, Brahms and Mendelssohn on July 15 and 16. For tickets, go to www.olympicmusicfestival.org

Artistic Director John Clayton has worked with Centrum to assemble a truly outstanding collection of jazz artists from around the country for this year’s Jazz Port Townsend. Enjoy “Jazz in the Clubs,” a movable feast of great music featuring intimate performances in venues in downtown Port Townsend. Your wristband is an all-night access pass, allowing you to move around to the various venues throughout the evening beginning Thursday, July 27 at 8 pm, Friday and Saturday, July 28 and 29, at 10pm. For more information, go to www.centrum.org.

Pack up your dancin’ shoes, favorite shorts, best hat, music-loving friends and family and head to Port Townsend for some epic fun and blazing hot summer events this month. We can’t wait to see you!

A Few Upcoming Events later this Summer—Save the Dates!
Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival, July 30-August 6
Olympic Music Festival at Fort Worden, August 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 and Sept. 2, 3, 9 & 10
Key City Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park, Henry IV—Part 1, August 4-27
Jefferson County Fair, August 11-13
Uptown Street Fair, August 19
Concerts on the Dock, every Thursday in August

Tags: beach, birdwatching, boats, deer, dining, Events around Port Townsend, Family, ferry, Food, fort worden state park, fun, Lighthouse, olympic peninsula, Seaport, shopping, vacation, victorian, Waterfront
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Love from Japan

June 1, 2017 by bluegullinn

Love from Japan

Love from Japan! We receive many comments from our guest over the past 2o years. Here is just one example from a Mom and Daughter that stayed with us just yesterday. In each guest room we have a diary book for guest to make write comments in. Over the years we have seen many comments in these books. Everything from how great their stay at our in was, to great places to dine and what to see and do in the area. We hope you can visit the Blue Gull Inn Bed & Breakfast and share your comments in our diary. You can make a reservation right on line at www.bluegullinn.com or just give us a call at 360-379-3241. Port Townsend is known for great dining, shopping and FUN. For a list of things to see and do in Port Townsend, WA. Check out www.enjoypt.com.

Thank you so much for staying with us and your nice comments!

We are happy to hear you enjoyed your visit.

The ND Hill House is also the Blue Gull Inn B&B

Nathaniel D. Hill House

Built: 1868

Location: 1310 Clay Street Uptown Port Townsend, WA

The ND Hill House was built by the Hill Family in 1868. It is one of the first homes built in Port Townsend, WA. Port Townsend was incorporated in 1851 and is one of the oldest cities in Washington State. Dr. Hill was the local Pharmacist, owning the ND Hill & Sons Pharmacy. He had locations in both downtown and at one point in Uptown as well. Keep in mind that in that time period a pharmacy would also sell what we call hardware today. The ND Hill building still stands today on the corner of Water and Quincy streets, in downtown Port Townsend, WA. ND Hill became one of the most successful and well-respected men to live in what was the Washington Territory. He was the first manufacturer of medicinal drugs. ND Hill was a very hard working businessman and became in many commercial businesses. For example, banking, railroads, saw mills, hardware, and telegraph companies. He was a territorial representative and County Commissioner. He became one of the leaders in the drive for Statehood in Washington.

ND Hill came to Port Townsend in 1868 with his wife, Sallie Hazeltine Haddock Hill and their two sons, Robert Crosby Hill and Howard Hazeltine Hill.

It is hard to imagine the ND Hill House was built 3 years after the end of the Civil War in the United States.

The Hill Family resided in the home at 1310 Clay Street for 90 years until 1958. At that time the house was sold by Hill’s granddaughter, Sally Hill. She was the last family member to live in the house. She was an elderly woman by that time, who had returned to Port Townsend to care for her father, Howard Hill who was 90 years old. No longer able to climb stairs, he slept on a day bed in the dining room.

Tags: beach, birdwatching, boats, Events around Port Townsend, ferry, flowers, Food, fort worden state park, fun, Lighthouse, olympic peninsula, Seaport, shopping, vacation, victorian, Washington, Waterfront
Posted in Visit Port Townsend, WA | Comments Off on Love from Japan

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