The State of Washington has legalized marijuana and is working on administrative guidelines for distribution and sales. The legalization of marijuana has marketing implications for the Bed and Breakfast industry, of that we’re sure. B&B’s certainly are known for “Winemaker’s Weekends” and wine-tasting afternoons…but wait a minute! The rules have changed!
Nobody we know of has had the nerve yet to market a “lost weekend” theme for pot smokers and “green butter” eaters. Our fantasies have left us giggling and wondering about what could, in reality, be a huge marketing advantage in the B&B business. Cooking with “green butter” could leave willing participants wondering what happened to their weekend. Having pot sampling reminiscent of the cafes in Amsterdam has many of us wondering how that might be done. Smoking is not allowed inside commercial buildings, but 25 feet from the inn, it is legal. But foods made with “green butter” certainly do not pollute the air!
In our “Lost Weekend at Boreas” fantasy, we can imagine guests ruminating, “We do remember checking into Boreas Inn, having a blissful nights’ sleep in their amazing beds, eating their legendary breakfasts, dining out at The Depot, Pelicano, the 42nd Street Cafe, all on Saturday night, but more than that, we can’t remember a thing!” Well–that’s probably not going to happen, but then again, it could. Would that be different than guests being intoxicated with alcohol? Yes, it would be very different. We do not have experience with super intoxicated guests so we don’t imagine that our pot-smoking, “green butter eating” guests would have inappropriate behavior. Stoned guests would be peaceful and definitely more food-oriented and we certainly can cater to that! Would we have to transport guests to and from their culinary adventures if they are high? Yes, we would! Is there potential for B&B’s to attract more guests? Yes, there is. So the question is raised since we have a complimentary beer and wine license, meaning we can buy wine and beer and serve it to our guests at no extra charge, would that translate to marijuana too? I suppose we will soon have answers! Until then, we can continue to dream up our “Lost Weekend at Boreas” themes. And giggle.
Sometimes the weather is ridiculous. Friends call from Portland, yesterday saying it was snowing, today it was foggy there just as it was in Seattle. Today’s dawn, on the prettiest beach in Washington State, was full of crystal clear sunshine–it “heated up” to 55! It stayed that way all day, while inland, the fog persisted and the stagnant air advisories made the news. We realize that 55 isn’t toasty–but it’s certainly warmer than inland. So we are indeed blessed, this January, with perfect beach walking weather and our loaner bicycles are yearning for a guest to give them exercise. The Kite Museum and the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum have fabulous exhibits right now, Cape Disappointment State Park is sparkling in the sunshine and who knows, the whales might be swimming by! The North Head lighthouse is a great place to look for whales as well as the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center way up high on the bluff overlooking the Mouth of the Columbia River. Or you can just stare out to sea and watch the seabirds and the waves and the crabbing boats dotted all over the sea. The fresh Rock Fish at the 42nd Street Cafe (with their new floor!) is melt in your mouth good and The Depot and Pelicano are always cooking up the freshest fish, oysters and clams. Oh yes, and the steaks… Football, minus our Seahawks, will be blasting away on the now seven big screens this weekend at The Lost Roo, home of our favorite nachos. Monday is January 21st, Martin Luther King’s birthday, and the weather report is for beautiful weather well into next week. How fortunate are we to be living in such a place with so much to do even in the “dead of winter”, with our temporary, but treasured sunshine. Boreas Inn has rooms for you! $50 gift certificate a The Depot for the next three night reservation this weekend!
Is it because of our (wonderful) warm dry spell on the Long Beach Peninsula that lasted almost 100 days without much moisture? Or is it because we are having our Wild Mushroom Celebration this weekend at Boreas that the higher power has halted the handsome King Boletus (porcini) mushroom from peaking up from the soil? Even last year, a very dry summer into fall, we had porcini’s and matsu’s. Veronica Williams, our friendly forager and queen of the woods, has been unable to find any mushrooms in her favorite productive spots. We are sad. Maybe today will be the day, after a week of some moisture, that the beauties will show their domes and emerge from hiding. We can only hope! So it’s out with the dehydrated porcini’s and perhaps at Pelicano Restaurant tonight, we will dine on five courses of mushrooms–they just might not be WILD ONES!
We normally worship the King Boletus this weekend. Alas, the King is in hiding!
We are concerned about the lack of rain in the Pacific Northwest because with the rains come the beautiful, plentiful wild mushrooms. Only a couple of tenths of rain have fallen, mostly as mist, since mid-July. The chanterelle season, in and around the Long Beach, Washington Peninsula, was surprisingly good in spite of the dry weather. But come rain or shine, we will be celebrating the Wild Mushroom from October 19-21 for the 11th year of Boreas Inn’s Annual Wild Mushroom Celebration! Veronica Williams, our “All Wild” professional forager will be available to take our guests foraging on Saturday the 20th. She will also host a discussion in the Boreas living room that is open to the public on Sunday the 21st. She always brings dehydrated wild mushrooms to sell along with her Wild Mushroom cookbook. Please call if you’re planning on attending the very informal discussion at 11 a.m. on Sunday, the 20th!
Though we were booked up for this event for over six months, we had a cancellation, and the beautiful Pacifica guest room is open for this extra-special weekend. $590 for two people includes 2 nights at Boreas, 2 lavish breakfasts including our five-course Wild Mushroom Celebration Brunch with Veronica on Sunday, a five-course Wild Mushroom and matching Washington Wine dinner for two (with the celebration group!) at Pelicano Restaurant on the Port, all taxes and restaurant gratuity are also included. Add an extra night at our $150 “Walk-in Rate”! (Most of the guests have added a Thursday night to their weekend!) Mushroom foraging with Veronica on Saturday, the 20th, is $45 pp. Call today to get our last room for this relaxing celebration of the wild mushroom extravaganza! This special is not listed on our reservation site, so if you book online, ask for the Wild Mushroom Celebration in your note to us and we will adjust your reservation for you!
Wild Mushrooms abound around the Long Beach Washington Peninsula!
The gray whale is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding and breeding grounds every year passing by the Long Beach, Washington Peninsula during the southern and northern migrations. Gray whales can reach a length of 52 ft and can weigh about 35 tons and live a very long time, 50–70 years! They are called “Gray” because they have gray patches and white mottling on dark skin and descend from filter-feeding whales that developed over 30 million years ago.
When the arctic ice starts to form, the grays whales start a two- to three-month trip south to the Baja Peninsula and Gulf of Mexico. Around 19,000 whales migrate by the Long Beach Peninsula on their way to warmer waters and then a couple of months later, they cruise by again heading back north. So they really don’t have a lot of vacation time for all that traveling, they say it’s the longest migration of any mammal up to .
The gray whale is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding and breeding grounds every year passing by the Long Beach, Washington Peninsula during the southern and northern migrations. Gray whales can reach a length of 52 ft and can weigh about 35 tons and live a very long time, 50–70 years! They are called “Gray” because they have gray patches and white mottling on dark skin and descend from filter-feeding whales that developed over 30 million years ago.
When the arctic ice starts to form, the grays whales start a two- to three-month trip south to the Baja Peninsula and Gulf of Mexico. Around 19,000 whales migrate by the Long Beach Peninsula on their way to warmer waters and then a couple of months later, they cruise by again heading back north. So they really don’t have a lot of vacation time for all that traveling.
This extensive gray whale migration all the way to Baja for such a brief stay reminds me of our several family trips during spring vacation when we would drive from Lake Oswego, near Portland all the way to Ensenada, in Baja California. It’s a long drive in a station wagon with parents and two domineering older brothers for a very brief stay in Baja. Of course, stopping at Disneyland and in San Diego were nice distractions away from the back seat of a Plymouth station wagon. We’d spend a few days in Baja and then turn around and drive back to Portland. Our family migration from Portland to Baja does have a vague but humorous similarity to the gray whales’. The gray whales tend to breed and nurse their youngsters while in the warmer waters which certainly was not our goal while in Baja.
Our favorite place to watch for the gray whales is in Cape Disappointment State Park at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and the North Head Lighthouse. From December until early February, we have seen the grays migrating south and then again in March, April and May when they return to the arctic. That being said, we have seen gray whales in September just off the surf line from the stunning turnout on the Loop 100 in Cape D State Park. There are some “permanent” gray whales living off the Washington Coast. Just over a month ago a half dozen gigantic blue whales were spotted not far off the Long Beach Peninsula, perhaps 30 miles. They were over 100 feet long! Fishermen report in one day of summer fishing, seeing three or four varieties of whales including sperm whales and humpbacks or “humpies” off our coast.
Grays feed mostly on crustaceans which it eats by turning on its side (usually the right, resulting in loss of eyesight in the right eye for many older animals) and it scoops up sediments from the sea floor. They eat by using their baleens which act like a sieve, to capture small sea animals, taken in along with sand, water and other materials they scoop up. They feed in arctic waters during the summer and sometimes feed during its migration but mostly, when heading south, they rely on their fat reserves. We have seen them seemingly rubbing themselves on the North Jetty near our favorite spot in the Cape D State Park. They were feeding by scraping the rocks on the jetty. So cool!
During migration, these giant cruisers average around 75 miles per day at an average speed of 5 mph. The round trip of 9,900–14,000 miles is supposedly the longest annual migration of any mammal. By late December to early January, they begin to arrive in the calving lagoons of Baja. Gestation for grays is 13.5 months so often mothers give birth in the safer waters of Baja and single females are seeking mates. By mid-February to mid-March the whales have arrived in the lagoons and are nursing, calving and mating.
Throughout February and March, the first to leave the lagoons are males and females without new calves. Pregnant females and nursing mothers with their newborns are the last to depart, leaving only when their calves are ready for the journey, which is usually from late March to mid-April. Sometimes the mothers with new calves linger in warm waters into May.
A population of about 200 gray whales stay along the eastern Pacific coast from Canada to California throughout the summer which is why we occasionally see them in non-migration months. They never leave to go to Alaskan waters. This summer resident group is known as the Pacific Coast Feeding Group.
Now that you know all about gray whales, drive to the Long Beach, Washington Peninsula to try to get a glimpse. Right now you might see a few stragglers heading south and in a month or so you will see the gray whales returning from their brief stay in the warmer waters off the Baja Peninsula. At Boreas Inn, we always have binoculars for you to borrow and helpful hints (Bill is great at spotting whales). During the busier times of migration, there are experts at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Cape D. State Park, just 10 minutes from Boreas Inn.
This is a perfect time of year to take your Valentine to the beach to watch for whales and sleep in the Boreas Inn’s lovely beds, dine by the fire on the best three-course B&B breakfast you’ve ever had, breathe the cool ocean breezes, be lulled by the gentle sound of the Pacific Ocean lapping on the beach and to relax. Let your innkeepers, Susie Goldsmith and Bill Verner design your time away with great dinners at The Depot, Pelicano, the 42nd Street Cafe, The Lost Roo and Shelburne’s dining room and maybe an in-room massage! Check our online specials or give us a call at 888-642-8069. We hope to see you soon!
Personally, New Years’ Eve isn’t my favorite holiday. I think of doing taxes, of what I haven’t accomplished this year, what I need to accomplish next year… but every year, our guests jolly me into appreciating the holiday more than I would were we not innkeepers. After all, 2012 sounds more well-rounded than 2011. I like even numbers. THERE WILL BE FIREWORKS at the beach, in view from Boreas, on New Years Eve!! I almost forgot!
The Christmas tree is still fresh and lovely for some reason (Bill takes good care of the tree!) and we haven’t tired of the decorations so prettily placed by our decorating crew the first weekend in December. We had a great time decorating this year. This year was extra special with a sweet blend of family and beloved guests who are now family too. We are hoping that we fill up for New Years’ weekend. We are always filled up after Christmas but not this year! Groupon and Living Social may be the reason—people shopping for bargains. Frankly, for what Boreas offers, we are a bargain! But we’re offering the Carpe Diem, Walk-in Special rate starting today. $150 for luxury and pampering! Even the cottage is open this weekend.
Our guest list so far is a fun one and Odell will be here to help us dismantle the decorations if we can work around our desire to watch football…at Mark and Helen’s Lost Roo, of course! Go DUCKS! Everyone is invited to take DOWN the decorations with us and go to The Roo!
Fresh Dungeness Crabcakes and Champagne on Sunday morning, New Years’ Day, sounds pretty perfect for one of our FOUR courses, and Bill will do beautiful work on the crab cakes as always and I will bake pastries, whip up sauces and make the fruit entrée glow so that consuming all that vitamin C seems very sexy. Well…it is! But I hope that if it’s going to be cloudy this week end, that it is also stormy so we can feel comforted by the fireplaces. But I also hope that there is a break in the weather so we can go for a fresh walk to start the New Year. We have been fortunate with fine weather this fall.
Come stay with us this weekend at the prettiest inn on the Long Beach Peninsula—featherbeds, down comforters, fireplaces, fine and fancy breakfast fare, freshly baked brownies, and the incredibly-wonderful-almost-brand-new hot tub for two with a little aromatherapy—mint and eucylptus, to soften your skin. Boreas Bed & Breakfast Inn is posh but hip, fun, but mellow and very food-crazy with a great location on the beach in Long Beach Washington. Relaxation is the best way to start the next banner year—2012! Happy New Year!
Boreas Inn is all yours, decorated with love for the 2011 Holiday Season! Utilize one room for the ultimate peaceful and romantic time or bring family and friends and fill all five rooms for a flat rate of $595 plus tax per night for two nights minimum. (Ten people maximum–kids over 8 are fine.) This is a $320 per night savings. Arrive on the 23rd, if you would like three nights at this great rate or stay a little later. This ready-made holiday removes the stress and lets you relax and enjoy the season. All you need to do is bring your own gifts for under the tree. The stockings are already hung by the chimney with care–but you can bring your own! Gather your friends and family and enjoy this unique opportunity to rent the entire inn, one room or all five of Boreas’ beautiful guest rooms for your Christmas Holiday. This once-a-year special even includes our signature breakfasts with a Champagne Brunch on Christmas Day! If you would like to arrive on December 23rd, you can extend your special deal to three nights. We will arrange your holiday dinners too! (The Inn is also available for Hannukah starting December 20th–complete with menorah and candles!) You can see lots of pics of our 2011 decorations on www.facebook.com/BoreasInn!
This magical star-lit view can be yours for Christmas!
SandSations, in Long Beach, Washington, was voted #1 Best Sand Castle contest in the USA by Coastal Living Magazine! The sand sculpture weekend is coming right up on July 20th-24th. Boreas still has rooms available if you would like to build castles and sculptures or if you simply enjoy marveling at the artistry of the masters, watching teams working together to achieve a goal and learn how the process works. I used to participate in the Cannon Beach competition for around 12 years and my team used to place #1 in our sand sculpting masters category. We sculpted completely by hand. We were consistently top prize winners–that is, until this group of architects from Seattle were added to our category and used sophisticated forms and packing devices…and we didn’t always place first after that. (Coincidentally, we had one of those Seattle architect/sand sculptors as a guest at the Inn!) But talking about immediate gratification–you take a plot of sand, dig up a pile, decide who on your team does what well (I’m good at packing, making hands and letters) then together, the team works magic and achieves a goal within hours. Nothing artificial…just sand and water. It is wonderful! We used to finish off our plots with perfectly smooth borders and beautifully worked lettering. I haven’t seen anything to match our fine finish work anywhere. We usually constructed the sculpture with a theme that was based upon a pun. We were so good and getting a blue ribbon was the icing on the cake. Our Captain’s mother, Betty Lou Tolan was the founder of the contest in Cannon Beach in the early 60′s. The party to celebrate our achievement afterward was always the best time of the year. Ah… those were the days.
This contest in Long Beach awards cash to the winners. We got only ribbons at Cannon Beach and maybe a printed certificate. It didn’t matter. The intensity of taking on a project with sand and sea water and coming up with a fine sculpture was reward enough. SandSations is a great event here in Long Beach, Washington and it’s growing every year. You can experience the great hospitality at Boreas Inn, dine on our feast at breakfast time, walk our trail to the beach and watch the SandSations competition! So come to the beach for a long weekend, July 21-24!
Odell Hathaway, our guest/friend/budding videographer likes to take pics and video of me doing the “Food Tour” at breakfast time. You might be able to focus on the food in the video while I am focusing on my ever-drooping face! Both are entertaining. In this video, I have prepared breakfast for a small group of returning guests a couple of weekends ago. Bill was in Eugene for the weekend and I had our guests/friends all to myself! The baked apple french toast I am describing is an adapted recipe originally from The Shelburne Inn, our dear friends, David and Laurie. I love making this dish–something you can put together the night before and bake in the morning. Thanks to Odell for posting this video to YouTube! Come to Boreas Inn–we have availability over Memorial Day weekend—which is NEXT weekend. We promise to make you very happy indeed at our Long Beach Washington Bed and Breakfast. Boreas inn is upscale, but never pretentious!
Soak your troubles away in our new hot tub, located with a view to the dunes and ocean….there are eagles, osprey, deer and invisible bears (at least I’ve never seen them, but apparently they are around)! So I finally remembered how to upload a YouTube video to the Blog! Odell Hathaway produced this darling little video and added very auspicious music. This spa makes going to Boreas Inn, our Bed and Breakfast on the Southwest Washington even more wonderful. We are looking for guests this weekend…great weather, fabulous gourmet breakfast, local dining that exceeds anyone’s wildest dreams…we can make it happen for you!
We also have availability over Memorial Day weekend (3 days will make you very happy). So come visit us and have very private time in our new spa. Remember, there is a single key that assures you total privacy in the spa. Light the candle and put it in the window…and make time just for you!
remember checking into Boreas Inn, having a blissful nights’ sleep in their amazing beds, eating their legendary breakfasts, dining out at The Depot, Pelicano, the 42nd Street Cafe, all on Saturday night, but more than that, we can’t remember a thing!” Well–that’s probably not going to happen, but then again, it could. Would that be different than guests being intoxicated with alcohol? Yes, it would be very different. We do not have experience with super intoxicated guests so we don’t imagine that our pot-smoking, “green butter eating” guests would have inappropriate behavior. Stoned guests would be peaceful and definitely more food-oriented and we certainly can cater to that! Would we have to transport guests to and from their culinary adventures if they are high? Yes, we would! Is there potential for B&B’s to attract more guests? Yes, there is. So the question is raised since we have a complimentary beer and wine license, meaning we can buy wine and beer and serve it to our guests at no extra charge, would that translate to marijuana too? I suppose we will soon have answers! Until then, we can continue to dream up our “Lost Weekend at Boreas” themes. And giggle.
