Nature, Stewardship, & Experiential Learning
A Steller Project
The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor has received a grant to create an articulation lab with a Steller Sea Lion skeleton. It will be similar to their existing lab, The Gray Whale Project, where groups put together the skeleton and try to figure out clues along the way on how it died. The goal of the lab is to provide a hands-on experience while also teaching about the animal’s life history and the current threats that it and its environment face. Students uncover the cause of death and also learn about what they can do as individuals to be a part of the solution. For more information, contact Tracie Merrill at tracie@whalemuseum.org.
On the Food and Restaurant Front
Enchanting Chanterelle
Hawk and Suzy Pingree of San Juan Island Distillery are debuting their first savory gin, Chanterelle. Infusing apple brandy and grain spirits with chanterelles, toasted walnuts, shallots, thyme, and a wedge of Pleasant Ridge Reserve cheese. Taste it, think about a Bloody Mary or a savory martini, garnished with a marinated mushroom. Their micro batch, limited quantity spirits give the Pingrees the ability to experiment and play with flavors to maximize quality. They’re also releasing Aquavit, a Swedish-style spirit made with apple brandy, caraway, dill, and other botanicals. For more information, contact Suzy Pingree suzy@sanjuanislanddistillery.com or visit www.sanjuanislanddistillery.com
Return of the Cream
Local favorite Lopez Island Creamery ice cream is back where their story began – in Lopez Village. Founded in 1982, their reputation grew as one of few ice cream companies making ice cream from scratch, using old and new technologies to keep each pint of ice cream of the highest quality and safety. In 2010, Lopez Island Creamery became so popular that it necessitated a move off Lopez Island and into Anacortes. The factory will remain in Anacortes – the Lopez Village location will be a traditional shop so visitors can get a scoop or two in the handmade waffle cones. For more information: https://lopezislandcreamery.com/.
Herbal House
Friday Harbor House has been hard at work in the garden, growing strawberries, lemon verbena, English thyme, cilantro, rosemary, oregano, sage, lemongrass, and basil along with figs and quince in the orchard. All those items are featured on either the menu or cocktail list. The herbs have been so plentiful they are also selling them to Kings Market in 4 oz bags available to take home. For more information, contact Reid Johnson rjohnson@fridayharborhouse.com or check out www.fridayharborhouse.com.
A Very Berry Salt
Sweet and savory, tart and spicy, an iconic blend of Pacific Northwest summer flavors. San Juan Sea Salt has partnered with their friends at Bow Hill Blueberries to bring their fans something unique: Blueberry Habanero Blend. The flavors of this salt hit like a tangy blueberry marinade but the uses are so varied. Try it on fish, on salads, over roasted veggies, and more. Inspired by late summer days in the Pacific Northwest, finding ways to eat blueberries for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. The best of sea and land in a jar! Try it today at San Juan Island Sea Salt’s new retail shop in Friday Harbor. For more information, contact Brady Ryan brady@sanjuanislandseasalt.com or visit https://sanjuanislandseasalt.com/.
Shops, Apps, & Packages
International Connection
You can now download the NEW Kenmore Air app and book your next flight directly from your phone! The mobile app is a one–stop shop for easy and convenient travel to all your favorite Kenmore Air destinations and check-in is streamlined with digital boarding passes. Perhaps use it for your next trip from Victoria to Friday Harbor! Kenmore Air now provides the only scheduled international transportation link between Friday Harbor and YYJ, offering 2 round trips per day, making it the fastest, most scenic, and most convenient connection to both Victoria’s Inner Harbor and Victoria International Airport. The new service to Victoria International Airport is part of Kenmore Air’s continued commitment to providing exceptional service and connectivity for customers in the Pacific Northwest region. For media inquiries, please contact marketing@kenmoreair.com, call (866) 435-9524 or visit www.kenmoreair.com.
Unplugged on San Juan Island
Nourish your body and rejuvenate your soul with a health and wellness package at the Tucker House Inn. Your digital detox begins with a class at the Studio. Choose a meditation and sound healing, Pilates, or high energy group fitness class. Spend the afternoon forest bathing at Mt Finlayson at American Camp, part of the San Juan Island National Historical Park, immersing yourself in the soothing and protective power of nature. Take a soak in your private hot tub or indoor jacuzzi tub and relax with a therapeutic massage at one of our local spas. End your day with a farm-to-table dinner savoring the fresh local bounty of the San Juan Islands. A bottle of non-alcoholic wine will be awaiting your arrival to toast to your weekend of self-care.
Package includes:
1 hour class at the Studio
1 hour massage
Chef’s Tasting at Coho Restaurant (When Coho Restaurant is closed for your entire stay, take home one of our signature seersucker bathrobes embroidered with the Collection logo instead.)
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine
Find this and other specials here: https://tuckerharrisoninn.com/san-juan-islands-getaway-packages-and-specials/
Cooking Up Some Fun
Looking for ideas for easy entertainment? Join the team at Coho Restaurant for a Sunday afternoon of cooking and eating. Our chefs will share their passion for food with cooking seminars customized just for you—whether you would like to learn to make the 5 Mother Sauces, handmade pasta, sourdough bread, or plant-based meals in a class we call, where’s the beef? The cooking classes include demonstrations and hands-on practice led by the inn’s chefs and end with sampling the fruits of your labor. Enjoy the conviviality of sharing good food, recipes, and dining experiences with friends. Perfect for couples, families, friends, team building, or corporate retreats. The cost of the class is $195/person and includes food, fun and recipes to take home. Requirements: Appreciation and love of good food and company. No cooking experience necessary. Find this and other specials here: https://tuckerharrisoninn.com/san-juan-islands-getaway-packages-and-specials/
A New Island Outlook
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Sucia Island with the Discover Sucia Island package from Outlook Inn and Salish Seacrets. This private 4-hour tour is designed for up to six guests, ensuring an intimate and personalized experience. Departing from Brandt’s Landing Marina on a luxurious 45′ yacht, you’ll embark on a scenic journey to a protected bay off Sucia Island Marine State Park. During the tour, you’ll have access to premium amenities, including inflatable stand-up paddle boards and small kayaks to explore the water and serene surroundings while taking in breathtaking views. Whether you’re a seasoned paddler or a beginner, Salish Seacret’s expert guides will provide all the necessary instruction and support to make your experience enjoyable. Learn more and book here: www.outlookinn.com/offers
Art and Culture
Rhyme in the Park
Pleasing to the eye, mind, and heart, there’s a new “Poetry Circle” located at the south end of the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park, beside the “Soundhenge” and newly planted redwood grove. The 25 poems came from the 2020 all-island poetry contest winners and were previously displayed around the Town of Friday Harbor. This poetry circle is also joined by several new and fun sculptures. “Rainforest Dream” by Leo Osborne can be found near the entrance of the Park. Look for a beautiful marbled blue parrot. “Discovering Our Wild” by John Bennett Waxo is an intricate bronze sculpture built to be touched, with over 70 animals in relief, many extinct or endangered. “Cuddles” by Pokey Park is too adorable to miss with three raccoons sharing a hug. Pokey Park also did a local favorite frog (“I’ve Been Kissed”). “Woodrow” by Joe Treat is a near life-sized driftwood rhinoceros. Joe Treat also created the driftwood “Saratops”. For more information, contact sjispark@gmail.com or visit https://sjisculpturepark.com/.
Art Without Borders
In a celebration of artistic talent across borders and the Salish Sea, the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA), in collaboration with Salt Spring Arts and ArtSpring, is delighted to announce the upcoming second phase of the Archipelago: Contemporary Art of the Salish Sea exhibition, set to open on September 22, 2023. This second installment will proudly display the works of six of the finest visual artists working in the Southern Gulf Islands, exhibiting in Friday Harbor for the first time across all three galleries at SJIMA. The first installment debuted a collection of work by San Juan Islands artists from April 21 through May 24 at ArtSpring. It marks the first time a cross-border exhibition of this size and caliber has been launched in the region. Despite being separated by an international border, the artists of the Salish Sea seem bound together more by commonalities than distinguished by differences. Barbara Cox, Exhibition Committee member of the San Juan Islands Museum of Art noted that “Archipelago strives to forge human and artistic connections with multifaceted projects now and into the future.” For more information, contact Peter Lane at peter@sjima.org or visit www.sjima.org/post/san-juan-islands-museum-of-art-crosses-the-border-archipelago-contemporary-art-of-the-salish-sea
