A Daily Dose of Gratitude

Today is just an ordinary day. Had a grueling Finance exam this afternoon, which frazzled me enough to add a shot of Bailey's to my afternoon coffee when I returned home. But the sun was shining, so the dogs and I decided to head outside on our sorta-daily walk up to Circle Drive. Handling three crazy dogs on leashes is no small feat, but it was all worth it when I was rewarded with a killer sunset once I crested the hill. I never get tired of them, and I am thankful to live in such a beautiful place where the sun dipping into the harbor sets off an amazing kaleidoscope of colors.

Heading back down the hill, enjoying the painted clouds overhead, I round the corner of my block and see my little bungalow, aglow with light and warmth, welcoming me home. My neighborhood is humble and working-class, and although my house is small, its beautiful craftsman architecture and details turn it into a work of art. Someone built this home, nearly a century ago, to be more than just a roof over their head. The attention to detail is incredible. And now it's MY little house. Which swells my heart with pride every time I turn that corner. Today, I am grateful for this home; my health, which allows me to walk up that hill; my dogs, who nudge me outside to enjoy the fresh air; and countless other things. Gratitude...it's my attitude.

The Harbor Happy Hour Project: 8th St. Ale House NEW and IMPROVED Happy Hour!

Today's Happy Hour factoid: Were you aware that happy hour has been illegal in the Republic of Ireland since 2003 under the Intoxicating Liquor Act? Ah, the Irish....they certainly love their drink!

Speaking of Ireland, today's Happy Hour locale has a bit of the ol' country vibe, most likely due to the fact that it's run by the same folks that operate Galway Bay, an excellent Irish pub out in Ocean Shores. It's got that cozy, welcoming, community-living-room-slash-pub vibe that I adore. We go there a LOT. And, when I heard that they re-worked their Happy Hour menu, I came down right away to check it out.

The most notable changes are the addition of pizza to the food selection, and wine is added at a very reasonable $3 per glass. They also offer ALL micros at $3 a pint, instead of just their house brew on the old menu. I decided to try the pizza, which is offered with a red or white sauce, and your choice of various toppings. Our waitress informed me that the happy hour pizza is a half-portion of the regular menu size (which runs ~$15 or so, making this a pretty awesome deal).

 I also had a glass of the house red wine....and, frankly, I'm not a wine snob in the least, so I can't even tell you what type it was, or the brand or anything. I just like wine that tastes good. My thin-crust pizza was delicious and just the right amount of food for a light dinner. Add a $2 salad from the menu and you've got yourself a pretty filling dinner. Our friend Nathan had the Chicken Strips & Fries, and claims that this place has the best on the harbor. Pretty awesome for 5 bones.

 (Nathan claims these chicken strips are the best, and possibly the cheapest, around!)

Overall, I give the 8th St. Ale House Happy Hour a very esteemed score of 10 out of 10 for several reasons: the wide selection of options, the prices (my pizza and glass of wine was just $8 plus tax and tip), the "just-right" atmosphere, and the fact that I can ride my bike there within a couple of minutes. Do yourself a big ol' favor and check them out at 207 8th Street in Hoquiam. I'll probably see you there!

The Harbor Happy Hour Project: Half Moon Bay Bar & Grill

A few more interesting facts about happy hour: Did you know that it is actually banned in Massachusetts and Utah? Utah doesn't surprise me, but Massachusetts? Strange. On the other hand, Kansas recently repealed their statewide ban on happy hours, and Pennsylvania extended the period of time for happy hour from two hours to four hours. I know where I'd rather move!

For the second entry in my Harbor Happy Hour project, I am reviewing Half Moon Bay Bar & Grill in Westport. I couldn't find any reference to their happy hour, besides them stating on Facebook that they offer it from 3-6 PM daily. Upon arriving there, I noticed that each day offers different food specials. So, you might want to check ahead of time to see if there is a certain day that appeals to you. For instance, my husband was not interested in either item available on the day we went (Fish Tacos & Buffalo Wings), and had to settle on a basket of fries from the regular menu.

I do appreciate the creativity of some of their specials, and I'll definitely be coming back for the Fried Tofu and the Taro Chip Basket. Try finding either one of those in a bar around here! But, their strong point in my opinion was their beer selection. They offer nine beers on tap, and only one tap was wasted on a lousy domestic. So, for $3, you can choose a nice cold pint of Kona, Manny's, or Elysian....or support your local brewer and kick back with a tasty brew from our own Westport Brewing Company...their porter and cream ale were available on tap. Props to Half Moon Bay for carrying these! And at 3 bucks a pop, it's cheaper than going to WB's tasting room.

I'm going to give Half Moon Bay an 9 out of 10 on my happy hour scale. Their only weak point, in my opinion, is that there are only two food specials per day, and you may or may not like what's offered on the day you visit. But I'm loving their micro specials, and the fact that happy hour is held EVERY DAY, not just Monday-Friday. Oh, and there's that amazing outdoor patio with a view of Westport's lively marina....a perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon.

You can find Half Moon Bay at 421 Neddie Rose Drive in Westport, and check out their Facebook page here.

The Harbor Happy Hour Project: Bridge's Restaurant

Did you know that according to Wikipedia,  one possible origin of the term "Happy Hour" is from the Navy? In the 1920s, "Happy Hour" was slang for a scheduled entertainment period on board a ship during which boxing and wrestling bouts took place; this was a valuable opportunity for sailors to relieve the stress accumulated during the long periods at sea.

I, for one, am glad to see that happy hour has evolved into throwing back drinks rather than throwing fists. And for me, happy hour has proven to be a great way to stretch my budget while still getting to try out new pubs and restaurants, and enjoy some time with friends before heading home for dinner. The only problem is that no one, to my knowledge, has compiled a list of happy hours in the Grays Harbor area, and they seem to go widely unadvertised. So, I have taken it upon myself to create the Harbor Happy Hour project, and thoroughly research all of the happy hours in town. What I difficult life I lead!

Up first is Bridges Restaurant in Aberdeen. I heard of their happy hour through word-of-mouth, because they do not seem to advertise it AT ALL, or even have a website/Facebook/Twitter. They're old school like that. And that old-school-ness extends right into their bar, which has a private library sort of feel, with lots of dark wood and comfy upholstered chairs. The clientele seems to lean white-collar...your lawyer or your dentist is probably here kicking back with a $2 well drink.

Without further ado, here is their happy hour menu:

Drink specials consisted of $2 well drinks, and beer specials ONLY on Coors or Bud. Yep, no microbrew specials. Boo Hiss. So, I drowned my sorrows in a plate of Fried Zucchini ($3.99) which was OK, but would have been better with a side of marinara instead of that ubiquitous gloppy ranch that seems to accompany so many fried food dishes. Here in 'MURICA we've got to dip our fat-fried foods in MORE fat. Yay us.

I'll give the Bridges Happy Hour a 5 on my super-special-scientific-scale of 1 to 10. There is a decent selection of food, although nothing really creative and mostly typical pub grub, but they lost it for me on the drinks. Please, Bridges, offer some micro specials for those of us who prefer something with actual flavor.

(Chloe, Stefanie, Britta, and Emily enjoy a few rounds during Bridge's Happy Hour)

So, while Bridge's may not be the best happy hour for me, it's still worth a try, especially if you prefer a more upscale environment instead of a rowdy pub. You can find Bridge's at 112 North G Street in Aberdeen.

 

Ahoy, Mateys!

I've been kayaking a lot lately. In fact, Britta and I even started a canoe & kayak club to increase awareness of the sport and hopefully meet a few fellow paddlers. Our first group paddle is scheduled for Monday, July 9 at the 8th Street Landing in Hoquiam. We plan to paddle up the Hoquiam River to the East River confluence, with John Larson from the The Polson Museum adding some historical narrative to the trip.

Yesterday, Britta and I took our kayaks out for a test paddle of the route. Here are a few photos she snapped along the way.

Bicycle Revolution!

On Tuesday, Henry and I went for an evening bike ride organized by the gals over at Go Go Grays Harbor. There was a great turnout and we enjoyed a nice ride from the Hoquiam Farmer's Market to the Wishkah River in Aberdeen. We also enjoyed a few post-pedaling pints at the 8th Street Ale House.

(photo courtesy of Britta Folden)

The rides are held monthly, check out their blog or their Facebook page for more info. A GREAT way to get out and enjoy the sun and meet other active Harborites!

Bombers Invade Bowerman!

This week, the Collings Foundation brought their collection of vintage WWII aircraft to Bowerman Field in Hoquiam as part of their "Wings of Freedom" tour.  For $12, you could tour through the authentically restored aircraft, or, for the ultimate experience, you could enjoy a flight aboard one of the planes starting at $425. Henry actually did this with his father a few years back, and loved it! Yes, it is not cheap, but the cost of maintaining these vintage planes is VERY high, and by collecting money through flight and tour experiences, the Collings Foundation is able to "keep 'em flying". 

We were down at the airport pretty much every day during their 3-day stay. We toured the two bombers one day, which is a fun experience crawling around and ducking under the low ceilings, and leaves you in awe of how difficult it must have been for the crewmen aboard. 

 (Touring the B-17)

Later that day, we watched the planes take off and land a few times. The P-51 Mustang "Betty Jane" stayed on the ground, all polished and pretty, but made for a great photo op. 

Anyways, a huge "Thank You" to the Collings Foundation for bringing the tour to our little airport. We hope to see you again soon!

Beach and Beer: A Day in Ocean Shores

Another nice spring Sunday. Henry wants to take the STi out of the garage and go for a drive, so we head out to Ocean Shores (20 minutes from our house). I have wanted to try out the Elk Head Tap Room for a while now, since their Facebook menu updates have been taunting me for ages.

The place is kinda hard to find....its address is on Point Brown Ave (the main drag heading into Shores) but the building itself is actually down a little alley. Just look for the "Fresh Beer" signs :)

The pub is on the small side, with bar seating only (no sit-down tables) with a sort of rustic vibe that fits the place well (taps on driftwood, galvanized metal bar, lacquered stumps as bar stools). They offer all sorts of warm pub snacks (pretzels, nuts, etc.) and a menu that changes weekly (They post an updated one each week on Facebook). One of the reasons for the ever-changing menu is that they claim to source their ingredients locally and seasonally.

We were able to sample several brews for free before deciding on a pint. I HAD to try the hot chile-flavored Blast Zone, which was interesting and surprisingly good, albeit HOT! And  the IPA was excellent....I may just have to come back for a growler. For food, we had the garlic cheese fries, which were yummy as well....a big pile of crispy thick-cut potatoes topped with a mountain of fresh garlic and cheddar...yum! It's a meal in itself! I wasn't hungry enough to order a full meal, but there were several vegetarian options, and I look forward to coming back to try their entrees.

The only downside to this place is that it stated on their menu that they don't accept credit cards, and that they're only open Thursday-Sunday ( which I completely understand...with Ocean Shores being a tourist town and all...but kinda sucks for us locals.)

I can't wait to head back and try out a few more of their tasty brews. Do yourself a favor, and check this place out!

Screw the Super Bowl...Let's head to the beach!

So, its Super Bowl Sunday. And since neither Henry or I watch football, AND it was a nice dry day, we decided to head out to the beach! We chose one of our favorites, Roosevelt Beach. We "tailgated" with homemade sandwiches and a Thermos full of hot soup while playing Chuck-it with Buster (his favorite thing!) The pups had a blast running around (as always) and thankfully, now that we have our little truck, we don't need to worry about sandy paws in the Subaru anymore.

A day like this is a reminder of why we love living here...on a nice day, we can head to the coast on a whim, and its likely to be completely deserted. It's just our little family and endless miles of sand!