Music Monday: Kindness - Swingin Party

Friday Five: Hot Dog!

Judging by the fact that I was able to comfortably wear shorts and sandals today, I'm going to say summer has begun. And with summer comes many things: backyard badmitton, looking so cool on your sea-doo (am I the only one who thinks that's a terrible name for anything other than fish droppings?), luke-warm cans of cheap beer in a foam cozy and, wait for it... hot dogs.

Yes, the All American hot dog! I've bet you've consumed at least three this week and I also bet you've denied it to at least as many people (including yourself). Why are those strange tubes of mystery meats so delicious?! And why does every city seem to have their own hot dog tradition?

If you are ever in Chicago and order a hot dog DO NOT under any circumstances put ketchup on it. Did you see what happened to Jack McBrayer when he visited Chicago's popular Weiner's Circle? Anyway, let me break it down for you: You got an Vienna all-beef frankfurter (simply called a "beef") on a poppyseed bun, add yellow mustard, chopped white onions, neon green sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, a tomato wedge, a pickle sport pepper, and celery salt. Sounds like a lot, right? I ate a few while I was in Chicago and I'm a convert. It's delicious!

In Seattle, cream cheese is king. This is the stuff that can only be found from street vendors somewhere between 2am and Pike St. My favorite cream cheese hot dog comes from Zach's Shack in Portland - The James Brown Dog: Cream Cheese, Chili, Jalapeno and Sour Cream. It's terrible and amazing all at the same time.

I've decided we need a Grays Harbor specific hot dog and I've come up with five options. I have not actually tried any of these, but I think they all sound... ok.

1. The Sea Dog

Hot Dog + Halibut + Coleslaw + Fresh Squeezed Lemon + Sprinkled Sand

2. The Hot & Crabby Dog

Hot Dog + Jalepeno + Crab + Butter + Bib

3. The Taco Dog

Hot Dog in a tortilla + Shredded Pork + Chopped Onions + Cilantro + Tequila

4. The Hippie Dog

1/2 Hot Dog + 1/2 Tofu Dog + Whole Wheat Bun + Kelp Noodles + Sriracha Sauce

5. The Sasquatch Dog

Hot Dog roasted on a tree branch + Foraged Mushrooms + Mustard you found at a strangers camp site 

Think you have a better suggestion? Please share with us. I'm going to get started on taste testing. 

(PS - Will someone buy and reopen the Hotdog House?!)

Bicycle Revolution

When I moved back to the harbor, one of my very first thoughts was "I want to start a bike gang." So, I may be in my late 20's but when I'm on my bike I feel like I'm seven again... and I love it. The only thing that makes it better is when you're joined by a group of super awesome friends!

The exciting part of this story is that we have actually started a bicycle "gang" of sorts! Our first ride was in May, where a group of about 11 adults and 6 kids joined together to ride their bikes from the old Breakwater Building on the Wishkah River in Aberdeen to the Public Market on the Hoquiam River in Hoquiam.

We had so much fun, we just did it again in June! And this time, we got a little bit creative and our good friend Ralph created this video of the entire ride from the Hoquiam Public Market to the Breakwater Building and back.

Sad you missed out yet? Well, you'll have your chance again in July, so don't you worry... also, we're printing up stickers and t-shirts to show your pride in the Go Go Grays Harbor Bicycle Revolution! Stop by Gray's General Store (520 Simpson Ave, Hoquiam) to place an order for your shirt. Just $15!

Music Monday: Islands - Hallways

I love this song!!

Quinalt Cancer Fund Bike Ride

Cyclists of all ages are invited up to Lake Quinalt this weekend for fund raising bike ride!

 The ride is 30 miles and is non-competitive, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to stop and check out some beautiful scenery.

   

 Cost is only $10 for adults and $5 for children and all profits will go toward the Quinalt Cancer Fund. Email mgstamon(at)comcast.net to register!

Music Monday: Hoquiam - Zombies of the Sea

I think this band isn't playing together anymore, but you can still catch Damien Jurado playing live and releasing all kinds of new music.

Music Monday: Bryan John Appleby - Cliffs Along The Sea

Music Monday: Pickwick

I'm getting geared up to head to Portland on Friday to see this band. Pretty excited about it. Check out their full live show with KEXP.

Lighthouse Ballet Academy presents Don Quixote

This weekend, you will have the opportunity to see incredibly cute children having a fabulous time dancing to classical music on stage.

(ex. 1: cute child)

Not only will they be having a good time, these children have actually been instructed on various ways to move around so that we, the audience, might find it entertaining (and also probably incredibly cute - just saying). 

(ex. 2: children with skills)

The Lighthouse Ballet Academy of Hoquiam will be performing Don Quixote this Friday and Saturday at the Aberdeen High School auditorium. Luis, the Academy's head honcho, ensures me it will be a great show with beautiful costumes and lovely choreography. "After seeing our ballet, you will no longer need to go to Seattle to see a beautiful show," he says. Based on his dance posture, I'm going to trust him.

(ex. 3: professionals)

From what I remember from the episode of Wishbone that I watched when I was in 7th grade, Don Quixote is a pretty cool story and, I'm guessing, a very interesting ballet. I was particularly excited to see these boys with masks on during the rehearsal I dropped in on.

(ex. 4: bearded children)

There certainly are many reasons to check out the show this weekend. To find out more about the story behind the ballet and to get your tickets, check out the Lighthouse Ballet Academy website!

Music Monday: Father John Misty & Other 60's Folk Goodness

A few days ago, I discovered the music of Father John Misty - former drummer for the Seattle band, Fleet Foxes. This guy decided he had to get away from the Seattle scene so he moved to LA (???). Anyway, his music is so reminiscent of 60's folk rock that I ended up spending a large amount of time last night listening to some of my old favorites. Please join me on this trip down memory lane (note: I wasn't alive in the 60's but I did become obsessed with this music when I was in high school).

First, Father John Misty

The Mama's and the Papas

George Harrison

Neil Young

Joe Cocker

Father John Misty cover Leonard Cohen

You can listen to Father John Misty live in Seattle today at 1pm streaming online at KEXP.org. 

Interview with Roxi Copland: Live Show This Friday

I had the opportunity to ask a few questions of musician, Roxi Copland, who grew up in Aberdeen and is returning to the area this weekend on tour with her latest album.

(photo via Shades of Grays Harbor)

Roxi... is that your real name? 

Roxi is a nickname that a friend bestowed on me in high school - I liked it. So I kept it.  

How did you get started in music? 

I started taking piano lessons when I was four – I imagine I was completely addicted by then anyway, and it all went downhill from there...

So, you've been at this for quite a few years. Has your musical taste changed much over the years or have you always been interested in jazz?

I’ve always loved all kinds of music. When I was growing up, my dad was a big fan of jazz, classical, and 60s/70s horn bands. At the same time, my mom was always singing country and gospel music. And, of course, as I got older, I discovered pop, rock, and hip hop. I love it all. When I first started out as a professional musician, my style was pretty heavily jazz, but I’ve been working since then to bring in elements of other genres I love. The more I find my own style, the more I realize it’s a blend of jazz, pop, soul, blues, roots rock, and Americana, but that’s kind of a mouthful, so I usually just stick with the short version and call it “rootsy jazz/pop.”

You just released your new album, Pretty Lies. Is this your first full length album and how was the experience of creating it?

Right before ‘Pretty Lies,’ I released a full-length live album that was a collaborative effort with a musician friend of mine from Iowa, Max Wellman. But, ‘Pretty Lies’ is my first full-length album that’s all mine. I can say that in a literal sense because Pretty Lies is a solo acoustic album—just me and my baby grand. Getting to this point has been a long, but amazing journey. My fans will recognize a few tunes from my first full-band EP that I released in 2008. It’s taken me this long to put together the perfect line-up of songs to really represent my sound. So while the writing—and the genre evolution that went along with it—was a long trek, actually laying down ‘Pretty Lies’ in the studio was a pretty quick process, especially since I was the only musician involved. We were able to lay down the tracks over just a few days.

So, you grew up in Aberdeen, then moved to Iowa and now you're back in the PNW living in Vancouver, BC. Do you miss all the corn fields?

Apparently I do, since I’m now moving to Milwaukee, WI. There’s been a good deal of moving in my life over the past few years. I feel a bit like a wandering minstrel at times. But I’ve been really lucky to live in a series of amazing places. No matter which side of the border you’re on, the PNW (or the West Coast as they call it in Canada) is beautiful. There’s just no where else in the world quite like it. But, I also love the Midwest. The world’s nicest people live there. And now that I’ve lived in Canada and compared them head-to-head, I can say that. (Not that I don’t love all the wonderful Vancouver friends I made.) All the same, I’m looking forward to the move to Milwaukee. It’s a great town with a great music scene. I’ve spent the most time playing in the Midwest, so it has my highest concentration of fans currently. It really is the best launching point for my grand plans of musical world domination.

I think we went to elementary school together at McDermoth. Who was your favorite teacher?

Mr. Greeley. 

And your favorite recess activity?

Anything that involved running around.

Ok. Enough reminiscing... actually, wait... any other favorite memories of your life on the Harbor?

Duck hunting, crabbing, clam digging, fishing, floating the ‘Nooch, all the outdoorsy stuff, but mainly it’s the people. My family’s here. Some of my oldest friends are here. 

You have a performance at Savory Faire this Friday. What is your favorite part of performing live?

It’s the best thing in the world to be on stage, playing a song that you wrote, and see people in the audience sing along with you. It’s an electric feeling. Obviously, I like my songs. They mean a lot to me. But nothing is as great as knowing they mean something to someone else, too.

And you're playing some living room shows on the tour. That's pretty cool! What prompted you to do that?

There’s nothing quite like the synergy that comes from an intimate audience in the perfect venue. But unfortunately, as a touring musician, you don’t always know what venue in a new city will have the right kind of vibe or attract a crowd that’s down with my kind of music. House concerts are the perfect solution. They’re win-win for everybody. You get that intimate crowd feel and the host gets a private show for his or her friends. And, bonus: you’re already at the after-party!

Even though you'll only be in town for a day or two, do you have any "can't miss" places or businesses you'll be visiting?

Every time I come back to the Harbor, I always make sure to stop in at Casa Mia for the Shrimp Salad (no olives). What can I say? It’s a childhood favorite.  

We're excited to have you back! You'll be playing this Friday, May 4th at Savory Faire in Montesano. Should we get tickets ahead of time?

No need for tickets. It’s a free show. Though, Savory Faire is recommending reservations if you want to make sure you get a table.

Check out Roxi Copland at Saivory Faire this Friday, May 4th at 7pm. For more information about Roxi and to buy her new album, head over to her website roxicopland.com.

National Bike Month!

Happy May Day, friends! Did you know that May is National Bike Month? Well, it is! And how perfect that it's sunny today. Take that bike out of storage and roll it over to La Vogue's Bike Shop to get it all tuned up and ready for a month full of riding.

The National League of American Bicyclists has organized this great month long event with a few special days you should note:

May 9th - Bike to School Day

May 14-18 - Bike to Work Week

May 18 - Bike to Work Day

Are you planning to participate in any or all of these events? We would love to hear about your biking adventures this month! Send us a photo of you, your friends, and/or your family biking around Grays Harbor and tell us how much fun you're having. Email us at gogograysharbor@gmail.com and we'll post it here on the blog!

We know it rains here a lot, so why not get yourself a poncho? This one is a little pricey, but it looks so cool (and it's made in Seattle - so local-ish-ly made).

Oh, and you'll probably need this wine caddy when you're out biking to your next party.

Still not convinced to get out there and ride your bike? Check out this infographic. Biking will get you in shape, decrease the air pollution and probably just make you a much more pleasant person. (see original post here)

Don't forget your helmet!

Music Monday: Lost Lander - Cold Feet

Music Monday: Sarah Vaughan - Can't Give You Anything But Love

In honor of Record Store Day which just happened this past Saturday, I'm playing records all day! This one is currently on rotation.

 

Friday Five: Life Can Be So Taxing

I don't know about you, but I am so happy tax day has come and gone. Now I can stop waving to that statue of Liberty every time I end up driving downtown. Seeing a smiling man in a green dress and a foam crown does not make tax season any more pleasant, just saying. So hopefully you filed your taxes on time and hopefully you got a good chunk of change back from the government. Here are a few ideas about how to spend it. 1. Put in that swimming pool you always wanted.

2. Take a family vacation to some exotic location... like Leavenworth or Spokane.

3. Quit your day job and start that cake decorating business you've been dreaming about.

4. Splurge on a professional photo shoot with your family... or just you and your pet.

5. Cry because you didn't actually get a tax return and now have to find a second job to pay off the money you owe.

What will you do with your tax return?

The Hills Are Alive!

Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens, Bright copper sleigh bells and hot yellow mittens, Round paper geese that fly with a string........ these are a few of my favorite things.... or something like that.

Haven't you just been dying to tear those old curtains off the window in your kitchen (ya know, the ones with the ducks looking at each other underneath a heart) and make some flashy new dress to wear out for a night on the town? ME TOO. The musical nun/nanny in my family got all of our clothes at Lamonts.

I'm sure you've been wondering exactly when you would finally be allowed to sing along in a public setting about your favorite things and some rare German bird called Eddelwiess... or is it a tree? Regardless, now is the time!

Or maybe you've always wondered what the heck happens to that musical Austrian family because, like me, you always stop watching the movie after the nun sings Climb Every Mountain because things kind of get a little dark and sad.

Well, the sad part is still in the movie BUT it won't be so bad when you've got all dressed up and stuffing your face with buttery popcorn at the theatre this Friday and Saturday night! Come out to the 7th Street Theatre for what will surely be an entertaining evening. The movie starts at 7:30pm both nights and Saturday will also include a costume parade and the Hoquiam High School to help lead everyone in singing along. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youth. For more info on where to get tickets or to find lyrics to all of the songs, check out the 7th Street Theatre's website.

Music Monday: Miike Snow - The Wave

This is probably the weirdest music video ever and I want to apologize for it's creepiness, but it's a really good song.

Friday Five: Creative Eggs

It looks like Spring is finally here, Grays Harbor! Yes we can look forward to at least another five weeks of tempermental bipolar weather, but at least the sun will continue to show it's face occasionally!

Anyway, Easter is this Sunday and I'm sure those of you who have tiny humans in tow have been busy knocking over other parents at Wal-Mart in search of some Peeps and Easter basket grass, both of which you will likely find wedged in the back of the couch sometime around Thanksgiving. Other things you might find around the house in the off-season? Easter eggs. That did actually happen to me once. Found an Easter egg behind a picture frame in the middle of summer. I was pretty excited... not gonna lie.

Anyway, again... let's dye some eggs, you guys! Or, rather, let's just make some eggs look kind of cool and then probably not eat them. Here are five ways to do it that you may not have tried before!

1. So, modern!

Drip rubber cement on the eggs and THEN dye them. Brilliant.I have many fond memories of rubber cement and elementary school... I'll tell you about it some time after a few drinks at the 8th St. Alehouse.

2. Chalk it up.

Paint your eggs with chalk board paint then write secret messages to your relatives at Easter brunch about how much you love quiche.

3. Keep it Natural.

Use these natural dyes to make eggs that will probably make your children a little bit sad on Easter morning.

4. Decoupage!

For those of you with absolutely nothing planned for the next 48 hours, this one is for you!

5. Nerd alert.

If you are really talented and think that a single egg will be plenty for your Easter celebration, you should try this.

I hope you all have a very happy Easter and if you need any more creative Easter ideas, just visit me at Gray's General Store!

Music Monday: The Lumineers - Ho Hey

I'd like to think that, even though I am not a fan of your every day average country song (gasp!), we can bridge the gap in our differences with amazing folk songs like this one.

Their album is set to release TOMORROW!

Music Monday: Bachelorette - I Want to be Your Girlfriend