More than 60,000 satisfied visitors crossed the thresholds of San Juan National Historical Park’s visitor centers in 2013, the most recorded in the 47-year history of the park, according to Mike Vouri, the park’s chief of interpretation and visitor services.

This figure does not include those visitors who don’t enter the visitor centers. Traffic counters located on the English Camp entrance drive and Cattle Point Road at the junction of Eagle Cove Drive at American Camp normally record about 250,000 visits per year.

“We knew we were experiencing heavy visitation by the number of automobiles parked along the American Camp entrance road and the volume of business in the centers at peak hours last summer,” Vouri said. “But we were most delighted about the comments we received on the quality of service provided by our staff and volunteers.” Continue Reading

To celebrate the Holidays, we are introducing Date Night at San Juan Island Cheese!
Share the Magic of the Holidays with someone special this Friday, 12-27, from 5 to 7:00 pm.
Enjoy cheese and wine and/or cheese cake and port.
Date, or Double Date!
Reservations recommended, so give us a call.

Richard Daly
Cheesemonger
San Juan Island Cheese
155 Nichols
Friday Harbor, WA
sjicheese.com
360-370-5115

Falstaff has returned to the Metropolitan Opera in a new production conducted by an undisputed master of the Verdi classic. On Sunday, December 29 at 2:00 p.m., Friday Harbor gets its chance to see the acclaimed opera during The Met: Live in HD showing at San Juan Community Theatre.

Music Director James Levine, after a two year absence from The Met due to health issues, has conducted Falstaff 56 times during his Met career. Directed by Robert Carsen, it is the first new Met Falstaff since 1964 and is set in the English countryside in the mid-20th century. The New York Times review applauded the production: “Over all, when it comes to theatrical flair, captivating costumes, stage antics and imagination, there are not many shows on Broadway to rival the Met’s new “Falstaff.”

Falstaff is a co-production of the Metropolitan Opera; Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; Teatro alla Scala, Milan; the Canadian Opera Company, Toronto; and De Nederlandse Opera, Amsterdam.

In addition to The Met: Live in HD presentations, San Juan Community Theatre also rebroadcasts National Theatre Live productions from Great Britain. A complete schedule of the HD-live events is available at www.sjctheatre.org. SJCT’s new partnership with both programs was made possible through a generous bequest from the late Dodie Gann.

Tickets for Falstaff are $20 for adults, $18 for SJCT members and $10 for student reserved. Tickets are available on-line at www.sjctheatre.org or at the SJCT Box Office through December 21 and an hour before the show (The box office will be closed for the holidays from December 22-January 1).

If you’re seeing a glow in the evening sky up toward the Fairgrounds from town, it just might be the lights on one of these houses. Maybe. This first one is really cool and the photo doesn’t do it justice at all. It’s on Grover St. (the road to the elementary school off of Argyle), right at the top of the hill.

Then if you go across Argyle from there and turn down Spruce Street, you can’t miss this one on the corner of Spruce and Hemlock. Again, this photo does NOT do it justice at all. You gotta see what they’ve done here.

And down Hemlock Street at the end by the cul-de-sac is another nice one.

Do you know of a good one? Share it in the comments below… Thanks and have a great Holiday!

You may have seen posters for this event around town – Take note: The original poster had the time listed as 6 p.m. for this concert.

It is actually at 7 p.m.

Meet Bess Truman! She is one of four “first ladies” from a litter that came to the shelter a few months ago as kittens. Eleanor, Jackie and Mamie have all gone to good homes and poor Bess remains at the shelter waiting to meet her new family… She is a small girl of about 9 months old with a very sweet nature and playful attitude. She’s always lived with other cats so she’d do well in a home with other felines. We’re not sure how she feels about dogs, but we think she’d adapt nicely to a well behaved dog or two.

Please stop by the shelter to meet Bess! We promise you’ll be smitten…

Just got this very nice note from Glenda to share with you…

Hi Ian & Tim,

JB & I went to the “Remembrance of Ernest” Pugh this afternoon at the community Theater. It was an incredible and very moving celebration of Ernest’s life here in Friday Harbor. He touched so many lives in the community in so many different ways.

It was an afternoon of remembering, sharing, laughing and crying. You could feel Ernest’s presence watching down on us from above laughing with approval. Here’s a couple of pictures I took. I would be honored if you use them in any article you post on the Update about the celebration of Ernest’s life……

Cheers,
Glenda Edwards

Have you noticed the days getting longer?

Yesterday was the Winter Solstice – the shortest day of the year. Now the days are getting longer again. Hooray!

Click for larger image 

Omnium Gatherum plays every day from now through Christmas Eve:

It’s in the Roche Harbor Pavilion in front of the fire.

Saturday (today), Monday at 7:30

Sunday at 4:00 and Christmas Eve at 4:00 and 6:00

The 4:00 Christmas Eve Show is very full, although we might be able to squeeze in about six more seats on the sides. (We hate to turn anyone away!)

The 6:00 performance has 10 seats left.

We will be there to welcome you, come snow or high water, with the fire blazing!

The performance lasts one hour and five minutes and is designed to kindle the Christmas spirit and send you home smiling.

We look forward to seeing you – DON’T LEAVE IT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE!

Found this nice letter in the Update mailbag today…

Louise Dustrude does some bird watching from the new blind on the Westside Lake Trail – John Dustrude photo

To the editor:

We’d like to give a big thank you to the Land Bank for the new bird blind on the little trail next to West Side Lake. It provides an ideal way to watch the ducks on the lake sight unseen. And, made entirely of cedar, its aroma is wonderful.

Thanks to Doug McCutchen and the crew of Land Bank volunteers who built it and to Leslie Veirs whose idea it was.

Louise and John Dustrude
Friday Harbor

[Edit – Google maps calls it “Carefree Lake”. Here’s a link to a map. If you drive north on West Side Road, past Lime Kiln Point State (Whale Watch) Park, up the hill and around the corner you will see a lake at the right side of the road. Just past the lake is a parking area and a loop trail. It’s a short trail so either way you walk you’ll find it.]

[Another Edit and another map – Here’s a link to a map sent over from Judy at the Land Bank. Thanks Judy!]

Photo by Norris Palmer

It’s a Lighted Boat Parade! Sponsored by the San Juan Island Yacht Club, the annual parade featuring a flotilla of boats decorated and illuminated for the holidays will set sail from Shipyard Cove just after 5:00 p.m. and will make two tours of the harbor.

And then a very special guest will arrive amid all the pretty boats…

The Santa Ship will visit Friday Harbor and Santa will do a meet & greet at Spring Street Landing at approx 5:45 p.m. After that, he will go first to the Island’s Convalesent Center and then to Friday Harbor Middle School on a local firetruck escorted by Friday Harbor’s finest.

The Santa Ship is co-sponsored by the Lions and Kiwanis clubs.

Nana’s Holiday House is “Wrapping Up” for the season. We still have lot of great gifts for kids ONLY to buy for their families.

Located at 65 Nichols (can’t miss the candy canes next to Funk & Junk!)and will be open Friday from 3:00 to 5:30 and from 11:00 to 5:00 on Saturday, Sunday AND Monday. Then we’re packing up until next year.

Ages 1-18 welcome to shop. Nana’s house is a community effort to allow kids to Christmas shop for their families, with all proceeds going back to the community. Many beautiful handmade and new items are still left.

Look what’s cooking at the cheese shop tonight… Oh doesn’t that look yummy! Mmmmmmmm!

Introducing Date Night at San Juan Island Cheese!
Share the Magic of the Holidays with a special person this Friday evening from 5 to 7:00 pm.
Enjoy a cheese and wine pairing and/or cheese cake and port.
Date, or Double Date!
Reservations recommended.
Give us a call! (360) 370-5115

Kim at Be Chic Boutique wants you to know about her event tonight…

Greetings!

Friday, December 20th we will be open late! (Everyone is welcome!:)

Ladies pass this on to your special guy:

Guys come shop for your wife, girlfriend, daughters, mother, co-workers, etc. on Friday night! We will have snacks and drinks!

Ladies come in and fill out a “Wish List” and send your guys in on Friday Night to shop! Or come in and model what you would like for your guy!

We will even wrap all your gifts while you enjoy a beverage.

And as a special thank you we are having a 20% off sale for Friday only! (with a few exceptions)

Best Wishes,
Be Chic Boutique
Kim

It’s time to play some music…
It’s time to dress up right…

It’s time for some Muppet fun THIS Sunday, December 22 at 2 pm when San Juan Community Theatre presents The Muppet Christmas Carol in HD in the Whittier Theatre.

This 1992 American musical fantasy-comedy film and an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol features all those favorite Muppet characters: from Gonzo the Great playing Charles Dickens as narrator to Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit. Actor Michael Caine plays Ebenezer Scrooge. Although it is a comedic remake with contemporary songs, it otherwise follows Dickens’ original story closely.

Tickets are just $5 for adults and $3 for students. PLUS! They’ll have FREE popcorn and soda for all. Tickets are available on-line at www.sjctheatre.org or at the box office (378-3210).