Sandra White

The 10^th anniversary of the Port Townsend Film Festival is starting today, September 24 and will run through Sunday. The person most responsible for the success of our festival, director Peter Simpson passed away this year, and he will be sorely missed by the community, festival staff, and volunteers.

Described on the program as "a film lover's block party", Port Townsend is just the perfect venue for this celebration of great films and filmmakers. The main stage is in our beloved Rose Theater, with movies also shown at the Uptown Theater, The Pope Marine Center, and the Upstage.

The films are chosen by 12 Port Townsend Film Festival reviewers who screened 255 films this year to pick the 60 plus films that will be shown this weekend, some documentary, features and short films.

This year our celebrity guest will be Cloris Leachman, the Oscar and Emmy winning actress known for character roles and a long run on the Mary Tyler Show. There will be an evening with Cloris and she will be available for an exchange with the audience.

There is something for everyone, including free outdoor movies on the street in front of the Rose. On Friday night they will be showing one of my favorites as a kid, An American in Paris with Gene Kelly. There is a beer garden with drinks and light meals, and of course the best popcorn ever is served at the Rose.

The weather is perfect and I promise this will be a great experience you won't foget, so hop on a ferry and come on over!

Cielo Mare

Lots of excitement and a sense of community pride was evident last Saturday at the Port Townsend Boat Haven.

The occasion was the launching of the beautiful custom built 127 foot yacht, the Cielo Mare. It was wheeled out of the huge 50 ft. tall Townsend Bay Marine's shop as interested townspeople looked on, and a private party inside the shop enjoyed a catered lunch and adult beverage. The party was hosted by the happy owners, a CA couple who love fishing in Alaska and Mexico. Everyone was anxious to see this incredible craft and celebrate the completion of the project, which involved the 80+ full time employees of Townsend Bay Marine and at least 45 local businesses from glass etchers ( for numerous bathrooms shower doors and some wall decor) to providers of lumber, paint, and electrical. This was a total Jefferson County effort.

Over 3 years in the building, and a multi-million dollar project, there has been only one larger craft built in Port Townsend which was the 162 foot Avivva, built in 1993. The custom boat building business has waned in recent years.

The Cielo Mare has a crew of 4, and will have a trial run this week, then back into the shop for some finishing touches.

http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/

This area has very interesting shipping lanes and waterways. This photo was taken going from Port Townsend area to Kitsap Peninsula across the Hood Canal Bridge. Sub is most likely on it's way to the Keyport Naval Base. Traffic is held up with each passing for about 30 to 40 min. but does not happen that often and makes a good photo op!

http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/

Port Townsend's annual Victorian Home Tour is coming up this weekend on September 19^th and 20^th. Port Townsend is one of 4 Victorian Seaports on the National Register, and has a wonderful collection of well preserved or re-habed homes, mostly from the late 1800's. These lovely homes can be toured inside with self guided tour or with the aid of the homeowners and docents on hand, dressed in period costumes and all very knowledgeable about the history of Port Townsend.

The money raised goes to support the Jefferson Health Care Auxiliary and is also sponsored by the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce.

Return to my website:

http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net

On tour this Saturday and Sunday:

(You can see all these properties on Saturday or Sunday or see part each day)

Horton Bendixen House Circa 1889 1706 Clay Street

Built as a spec house and moved to it's present location in 1905.

Daniel Hill House Circa 1862 411 Fillmore

Originally built as a simple farmhouse

Captain Thomas and Lizzie Grant House

731 Pierce Street

Italian style Villa, typical of the local fashion

Chapel Bay Circa 1850 821 Jefferson

821 Jefferson Street

This years tea house where tea and cookies are served. The chapel is said to have been brought by barge from Bellingham in the 1800's and was used as the parish hall for St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Siebenbaum Building 1917

815 Washington Street

Antique Auto Museum

First Presbyterian Church Circa 1876

1111 Franklin Street

Built in stages from 1875 to present

Clark Aldrich House Circa 1889

1123 Van Ness

Built as a rental house, an example of a simple home built during Port Townsend's "boom period" in the early 1890's.

Lucinda Hastings House Circa 1891

514 Franklin Street

3642 square feet, with view of bay and

and had 5 fireplaces. Recently sold for

over $900,000.

Plus, the Palace Hotel on Water Street. Built in 1889 for Captain Tibbals. Also, the Commanding Officer's Quarters at Fort Worden. Circa 1930's and furnished with period furnishings.

Watch a video of storm surge downtown Port Townsend in February of 2007
My son shot this amateur footage the morning after a night of 70 mile per hour winds!

The storm destroyed a restaurant ironically named "The Surf"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjld4ulvyx4