Around the island….

Sunrise, as seen from the redeye ferry last week...photo by Kevin Holmes

Let’s take a look at what’s going on….

• I heard the PTA Pie Making Party made 230 pies for the Fair last night…thank you!

• Hey, you know the little “park” I put in yesterday’s postings, next to Friday Harbor House? That was done by Dennis Garl/Dovetail Builders. Way to go!

Even the bees are playing in the sun this past week....photo by Kevin Holmes

• It’s all about the music this weekend:

Tthe Pirates’ Latitudes & Attitudes NW Cruiser Rendezvous has music at Sunken Park on Saturday, The Chameleons play at Roche Harbor on Friday & Saturday; The Shotgun Messengers are at Herb’s Friday & Saturday, and The Rumor Mill offers Blues Night tonight, T:FLO’s live band karaoke tomorrow, and The Tease on Friday followed by Uncle Otto on Saturday, with the San Juan Jazz Quartet on the bill Sunday.

• Meanwhile, at the Community Theatre, The Real Inspector Hound finishes its run with shows Thursday-Saturday…get your tickets now!

That's Dana with Classic Cab keeping his car spotless as he waits for the ferry to unload...I like it that he & the other cab drivers' smiles are often the first thing someone coming to the island sees....

• Teddy Deane & the San Juan County Arts Council have their monthly article – here’s more:

Let’s add to the allure of the San Juans  by making it into an Arts Destination!

Here we are in the beautiful San Juan Islands, one of the most picturesque and precious environments in the United States or anywhere; a place where the surroundings alone energize us. What a wonderful home for artists of all flavors to enjoy and blend their creations into exciting dishes for the world to savor.

We have an opportunity to share this feast with all who would come to be inspired, to learn, to study with our artists, to listen and to buy.

We are sitting on one of the most desirable economic engines a community could wish for, but it’s underdeveloped and its potential is not yet realized. We have some excellent venues for the arts already. They are growing all the time within their own spheres, and we are so much the better for it – but imagine the power of combining all this energy under a single marketing roof. What if the whole island became aware of the opportunity that exists when a community incorporates the arts into their style of thinking and doing business? What if we actually made a point of attracting visitors who are in search of artistic and cultural experiences? What if we became known for our artists and the art of every kind that they produce? What if when you said “San Juans” people additionally thought of an artistic adventure? We’ve already got one of the best recreational locations on the planet!

This is all a work in progress and we don’t have any answers, but we do know that there is a vision here that can help us remain sustainable and more financially consistent in uncertain times. And what a wonderful way to impact our island’s economic growth!

Visitors in the picture...down by the ferry landing, right after disembarking....

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