Nutcracker Suite!

'Tis the season for the little blond girl to lift up the curtain on the giant stage to discover the world of The Nutcracker Ballet!  Anyone else remember that commercial gem?  How old is that little girl by now anyway!?  

Moving on, you must bear with me as I tell you a little story about my childhood.  It is the only way to truly get across exactly what this magical ballet does to my soul.

When I was a little girl all I wanted to do was to be a ballerina.  I was in dance lessons from the age of three, practicing leaps and twirls and jumps in my parents living room in tutus and tights.  I loved the stage, the lights, the blue eyeshadow and the red lipstick.  (why on earth the dance teachers of the world ever let our parents put this hideous combination on our faces as children is beyond me, there must have been a makeup guide from 1982 they were all following!)   My parents knew how much I loved dance and when I was ten years old they took both my sister and me to see The Nutcracker Ballet in Seattle.  We wore matching plaid skirts and red turtlenecks, which isn't important to this story I just thought it was cute, and my mom bought us a cast figurine of Clara which hung on a red ribbon around our neck.  I recently found this charm while unpacking boxes from my childhood into my adult home (no I did not cry, ok maybe a little).

I remember that first trip to the ballet, the Two Hour car ride to Seattle seemed like forever (it really still is) but the theater was gorgeous and the Pacific Northwest Ballet Company did the most wonderful job.  Since that day, my parents took us three more times over the years, and my sixth grade class went on a field trip.  I even had the pleasure of being an extra in the traveling production when i was a teenager.  Made my nutcracker debut as a toy soldier on a horse!   I bet you are all thinking that I wanted to be Clara on stage with her beautiful dress dancing to the music of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, but you would be mistaken dear harboites.  I wanted to be the Russian dancers jumping high into the air to the classical number Trepak. 

Now I told you all of this to let you in on a secret, everyone here on the harbor has the chance to make their own Nutcracker memories this November 13 and 14.  The D & R Theater is playing host to the Moscow Ballet and will be showing the legendary Nutcracker tonight and tomorrow on stage.  Make memories for you or you and your children and treat yourself to this iconic ballet.  You wont be sorry.

Taste of Home Cooking School

When the Holiday season kicks off, I get the urge to cook.  I want to have people over and prepare warm, comfy food that makes your tummy happy.  I start breaking out the cookbooks and making shopping lists.  Tis' the season to try new foods, and new cooking techniques.  KIX 95.3 must agree with me, because tonight, November 1st, KIX is presenting the "Taste of Home Cooking School" at the D&R Theater. 

Sitting in this spacious theater, participants will be privy to live cooking demonstrations by Culinary Artist Kristi Larson.  Each year Taste of Home picks 10 recipies from their fall magazine to showcase at their cooking school demonstrations. Those who attend the school tonihgt will get to see each of these recipies made and take home goody bags with the recipies inside. 

Vendors and prizes will be available to peruse and win. 

The Doors will open at 5pm and the show starts at 6:30.

The Fab Four, Loggers Playday and more more more!

With so much going on this weekend we here at GoGo wanted to wrap up the upcoming events into a nice little package and stick a bow on top to make planning your weekend of fun stress free.

Even though we are back to school and there is a tiny chill in the air, it is in fact still summer and there are many summer festivals to be enjoyed this upcoming weekend.

Speaking of festivals, Pacific Beach is soaring things into high gear this weekend with the Up Your Wind Kite Festival.  Sponsored by Hi-Flyers kite shop, this kite festival is family friendly and full of fun.  Up Your Wind is happening both the 8th and the 9th at the Pacific Beach State Park. 

Cosmopolis is also hosting a festival that will once again be hosted at the Cosmopolis Elementary School.  The Cosi Festival in the Park has operated out of the school for the past three years due to park closure when the Mill Creek Dam broke.  However, the show must go on and so will the festival this year on Sunday the 9th!

Did we mention that it is Logger's Playday weekend?  Officially starting with the Rotary Clubs pancake feed and including the Elks Lodge grand parade, Loggers Playday offers something for every history buff in town.  The Loggers Playday loggers show is a must see, along with fireworks and booths that will have you working up a logger's sized appetite.  Hoquiam hosts Loggers Playday and the festivities begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday the 8th!

If Music is more your thing then you should definitely be in Westport this weekend for the Dock of the Bay Blues Festival.  Running from Friday to Sunday the Dock of the Bay Blues Festival is the beaches answer to Loggers Playday.  Live music and food and booths to make every music lover smile.  Head to Westport this weekend for Blues music and fun.


When you are looking for live entertainment, the D&R Theater never dissapoints.  This weekend the D&R is throwing a concert that you must simply see to believe.  The Fab Four tribute band that is so much more than a tribute band will be performing on Sunday the 9th.  These musicians attention to detail makes this show a can't miss performance.  Make sure the D&R Theater is on your list for this weekend.  A perfect way to finish off the weekend!

Not to mention Hoquiam's First Thursday on the 6th of this week, the Jack Reynvaan Memorial Run at the Hoquiam track on Saturday the 8th, the Brady Clean Water Oyster feed on Saturday the 8th, the Seabrook Saturday Market on Saturday the 8th, and the AAOS Arts and Crafts festival in Ocean Shores the 7th-9th.

It is a Kite flying, Park festival, Blues playing, Loggers Playday this weekend and you must simply get out and enjoy!

Weekend in Review..Photo Journal

Our guest post photographer, Julie, was crazy busy last weekend out and about around the harbor.  She visited the Push Rods in the rain and even made it out to the Sand and Sawdust festival, (a true harborite plays in the rain). 

Acres of sand coupled with unlimited imagination came together this weekend at the Five Star Dealership’s Sand and Sawdust festival in Ocean Shores. Hesitant to make the drive with gray clouds hovering overhead, we noticed a break in the weather and decided to go check out the sand sculpting contest. 

Gloomy skies failed to dim the spirits of either the competitors or spectators and I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted with such large crowds. From Sponge-Bob to household pets, non-descript sand was turned into fanciful creatures, designs, and shapes.  All formed from the imagination and talent of the sculptors under typical Ocean Shores skies.  You could sense the tension building in the air as the final countdown began and the final touches emerged from the sand. This was a great event for all ages filled with fun, excitement, and pride…already looking forward to next year’s event!

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When I saw that rain drops had stopped falling from the sky late Saturday morning I jumped at the opportunity to grab my camera and head over to the Pushrods event in Hoquiam. In spite of the dreary weather the cars managed to shine brightly under gray skies.

I’ve always loved how classic cars remind me of a simpler time that I missed out on and often find myself longing for. Pools of raindrops bubbling upon the freshly waxed surfaces of these old beauties made for some fun, artistic photos as I found myself drawn to the smaller details of these great showpieces. 

The culmination of the event took place outside of the D & R Theatre while The Ventures performed inside. (Another big shout-out to John Yonich for his fabulous renovation of the theatre!)  The cars showcased outside invited viewers and participants back to an era that personified a simpler, more care-free world. What an enjoyable way to end the day. 

Pictures from the event can be found under the “Events” category on my website at http://www.JulieRajcichDesigns.com/ and are available for purchase by clicking the “Client Albums” link.  We can also be found on Facebook – Julie Rajcich Designs, http://www.facebook.com/JulieRajcichDesigns
If you know of any special events coming up let us know at julierajcich@gmail.com and we’ll try to fit it into our summer tour of Grays Harbor.

Music Monday - Paul Rodgers

Have you gotten your tickets yet for the amazingly talented Paul Rodgers?! This is going to be one heck of a show!!  If the name doesn't grab you, he's the legendary frontman for the bands Free, Bad Company and The Firm.  If you want MY honest opinion, he's a Rock God and I can't wait for this show!! Especially since he's playing in my hometown. :) He will be live in downtown Aberdeen on Wednesday the 28th playing at the D and R Theater. If you haven't gotten tickets yet, you should do so, NOW... Cause it's All Right Now!

You can buy tickets at Backstage Espresso located at the D and R Theater, or check them out online.    http://www.dandrtheatre.com/