Letting Go of the Bay Leaf: Spokane

Showing posts with label Spokane. Show all posts

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Mosaic Monday #40: A Parade and a Potato

Dear reader, over several posts (May 26, June 16 and July 14), I have been stringing you along, sharing tales of our visit to Spokane. Finally, we have arrived at the pinnacle - the Lilac Festival Armed Forces Torchlight Parade. And what a spectacle it is. The festivities begin early in the day, when the floats are parked under a highway underpass near downtown. I was delighted to learn that the public can view them.

Float for Lilac Festival Princesses

As we walked among them, it became apparent that most of the floats represented communities that have festivals of their own, such as the Apple Blossom Festival. We marveled at the creativity and workmanship. At one float, a couple of gentlemen hovered, and I took the opportunity to ask a few questions.

Do these communities use the same float every year? Most make a new float every year, reflecting a theme that the community selects.

Float for Apple Blossom Festival Princesses (100th year of that Festival)

Isn't that a massive effort for one parade? It isn't just one parade - most of these communities have parades for their own festivals, and everyone participates. A float may appear in as many as 13 or 14 parades over the spring/summer.

Do all the floats carry princesses? Most feature princesses but some transport other royalty or other community groups. The selection of the princesses is a significant event in these communities. (And, as we would later observe during the parade, most of the princesses have a prepared dance routine that they perform on the float to the music emanating from it.) This is a big deal, folks!

I have only shown you a small selection of the floats - some were hard to

photograph due to how they were parked. You will just have to go and see

it for yourself!

Unlike most parades, this one takes place at night, hence the name "Torchlight Parade". I channeled my inner child and inhaled an ice cream while waiting for 7.45 p.m. to arrive. Spectators thronged the sidewalks, with chairs, blankets and children in tow. Vendors strolled the cordoned-off streets, hawking cotton candy, balloons and every possible item with lights. Stationed as we were at the start of the parade route, I can tell you the parade commenced right on time. The police sirens began to wail and the motorcycle police cavalcade got the party started.

Over the next two and a half hours, we were charmed by countless high school marching bands, military groups, drill teams, equestrian units, antique cars and of course, floats. The participants are encouraged to use lighting, and it was fascinating to observe the same floats we had seen earlier in the day, now lit in creative ways.

Here is a short video of the Lilac Princesses, who appeared near the beginning of the parade.

I am partial to high school marching bands, since #1 Son was a member of the drum line in high school, and held a leadership position as an upperclassman. Hence, I captured numerous bands on video, and I down-selected snippets of the best for you. With hindsight, I wish we had been a little further from the start of the route. Many of the bands waited to start playing until the next block, and I regretted not hearing them perform.

Band playing a military march, which seemed very appropriate for a Armed Forces parade.

This band outdid every other band with lights, from their hats to little lights on their shoes.

This band had a GIGANTIC percussion session - oh, how I miss drum line!

OK, not EVERY video was a band - the crowd LOVED the Hot Mamas, and I think this short video tells the story well.

May nights in Spokane can still be chilly, and after a couple of hours I was ready to snatch a blanket from one of the nearby kids. (Of course, I didn't!) Also, we had been standing all this time … But we stayed to the end (do not stray from the quest is a family motto), and then made our way to the food truck area to see what might still be open. A short while later we scarfed piping hot (temperature and taste) Mexican food as we walked back to our hotel. What a wonderful night!

Moon behind Looff Carousel

The next day, we said farewell to Spokane and cruised toward Idaho. What do you think of when you consider Idaho? Well, I think potato. What could be better than an Idaho potato in Idaho? Are you tired of me using the word Idaho?

Our tummies were rumbling as we approached the town of Sandpoint, and Yelp surfaced a restaurant I just knew we had to try: Spuds Waterfront Grill.
From the moment we entered, I knew we had chosen well - we were greeted first by the desserts.

I am highly unlikely to eat an Elvis Cake, but I sure like the chutzpah of a restaurant that would serve one!

It was too windy to sit on the deck overlooking the marina, but we had seats next to the window that were the next best thing. I was delighted with my meal - yes, a spud. Mine was the "Drag it Through the Garden" potato, with spinach, broccoli, red cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, green onions, mushrooms and a green onion dill dressing. I was in heaven. An Idaho potato in Idaho - my journey was complete.

Mosaic Monday

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.
Please include at least one photo mosaic/collage in your post.
The link will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday until 11 p.m. Monday (U.S. Mountain time).
Remember to add the link to your Mosaic Monday post and not the one to your blog.
Please link back to this post so that your readers will be able to visit and enjoy more wonderful mosaics; taking the MM blog button from my sidebar is an easy way to link back.
As host I will visit every participant and leave a comment so that you know I stopped by.
Please try and visit as many other blogs as you can, especially those that join in later, so that everyone's creativity can be appreciated fully.
Thank you for joining in today and sharing your mosaics with us.

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Mosaic Monday #36: Spokane City Parks

Wisteria along the river

Do you remember my admiration for Spokane's river walkways in my June 16 post? My love affair with its city parks deepened on the fourth day of our May visit. We began with another walk along the river; marmots and Canada geese shared the morning sunshine free of the rain from previous days. After a leisurely stroll, we hopped into the truck. The Crown Jewel of Spokane City Parks - Manito Park - awaited us across town.

In 1904, ninety-five acres of land was donated to the City of Spokane. Montrose Park was re-named, "Manito", a Native American word meaning "a supernatural force that pervades nature." After reveling in the glory of its gardens, I can tell you that the name choice is ideal!

Mirror Pond: I was struck by the appearance of a park nestled in a

residential area; I assume the homes were built AFTER the park.

Wouldn't you love to have this park across the street from your house?

For many years, Manito's main attractions were its exhibition gardens and small zoo. In 1912, a conservatory was added, followed by a three-acre sunken garden in 1913. Given that we were visiting Spokane in part for the Lilac Festival, it was fitting that the Lilac Garden at Manito was in top form. The variety and the aroma was almost too much for the senses to take in! Trust me that I took many more pictures than this, but you get only the best!

In 1912, John Duncan obtained 128 named lilac cultivars from Rochester, NY.

This marked the beginning of the Lilac Garden. Today, this garden contains well

over 100 named cultivars from 23 distinct species, making it one of the most

important lilac gardens in the west.

Japanese Garden

By its Centennial Celebration in 2004, numerous additions and improvements had been made. Additional signage was introduced throughout the park; pergolas in the Rose Garden, changes in the Japanese Garden and the gazebo in Duncan Gardens all enhance the setting.

The simplicity and serenity of a Japanese garden is soothing and always appeals to me on many levels - the colors, water features, bridges, stone work. It was only later, upon reading the garden brochure thoroughly, that I learned photography is not permitted in the Japanese garden. Oops.

After 12 years of planning, the Japanese garden became a reality in the spring of 1974.

Duncan Garden was originally called the Sunken Garden. The garden was designed in a formal European style

with bilateral symmetry, a central water feature and geometrical planting beds. I am sure later in the year it

would be stunning with the annuals in full bloom.

Today the park is one of the few in the nation with such a diverse horticultural display. Manito Park has a reputation as the primary garden showplace in Spokane and is toured by over 150,000 visitors every year. It's easy to see why, right?

Perennial Garden

By now we had worked up an appetite. As faithful readers know, we tend to seek out unique restaurants. And if it's been featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives", all the better. And if it serves all-day breakfast, it's a lock. The Satellite Diner and Lounge fit the profile, and we were not disappointed. Strong coffee, efficient staff, and a light sheen of grease in the air soon gave us to know we had chosen wisely. Even now my taste buds can recall this eminently satisfying dish!

I had "Hen Fruit on the Red River" - an egg on chili!!!

The rest of our day was spent attending the Spokane Lilac Festival Parade - but you'll have to wait for a future post to see glittering floats, pretty princesses and booming marching bands. Until then ...

Panorama of rock garden

Horse Chestnut Tree

Mosaic Monday

Sunday, June 16, 2019

Mosaic Monday #32 - Rain Drop Dancing

A visit to Spokane is not complete without a walk along the Spokane River, so that is how we began Day Two of our mini-vacation (see Day One). Throughout our visit, I was very impressed with the trail system and its landscaping. These are pleasant, green spaces that belie the fact you are in the middle of a bustling city.

Our meandering had an objective - the Davenport Hotel for his and her massages. And didn't I direct us to the wrong hotel? Spokane boasts 4 hotels that bear the name Davenport, and I mistakenly thought the Davenport Grand housed the spa. We should have been at the Historic Davenport Hotel. Good thing we had plenty of time - even with a speed walk covering 7 blocks, we still had an opportunity to enjoy a glass of champagne before the spa service.

When we emerged from the hotel, we found rain had begun to fall, scuppering our plans for a thorough walk around downtown. Based on my past work-related visits to town, I knew it was only a few blocks to the indoor Mall, so we set that as our new destination. It was serendipity that we snagged a table on the "bridge" of the Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar, with a three-story high view of the street outside and the atrium of the mall. And the dishes we chose were an unexpected delight for the taste buds.

Upper right: Buffalo Chicken with Gorgonzola Grits

Lower right: Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Left: The Festival lured us to town for this particular weekend

By the end of our meal, the rain had eased and we decided to explore river-side Huntington Park. Again, the layout of the Park next to the Falls struck me - simple lines with gorgeous plants, sculptures and seating spaces. It was outdone only by the Falls - if you watch the video below, you will see the Park and the Falls, deafening throughout.

For thousands of years, tribal families gathered at "Fast Water" to

fish for salmon.

My blogging buddy Kit at A Montana Life raves about several of her favorite spots in Spokane, and we took her advice and visited Boo Radleys, Atticus for cake and coffee, and then Auntie's Bookstore. It was all I could do to resist buying a dozen cute items in Atticus, from home décor to nifty coffee mugs to cards and books. We held ourselves to a bag of coffee - you can never have too much black gold!

At the book store, we inquired about outside seating, with an adult beverage in mind. One recommendation was Zola, and I was sold as soon as it came into view since it had a patio and umbrellas - I like to absorb the sun, but Spousal Unit prefers the shade. I couldn't resist jumping up to take pictures of this VW bus parked across the street. It was then that I noticed the dark clouds gathering to the east. We strolled the remaining blocks to our hotel, and just in time - the heavens opened! On the news that night they reported streets flooded in close proximity to Zola.

The next morning, the rain continued, and we seized the opportunity to have a relaxing morning in the hotel. The desk in the room looked out over the river, and the space had ample light to engage in some drawing and stitching. Then it was off to the Flour Mill across town, which beckoned with its promise of specialty shops, and the Ethiopian restaurant we found there was a pleasant surprise. (Not to mention some truffles from Chocolate Apothecary.) We had time to squeeze in an afternoon movie before meeting one of my former work colleagues for a drink at the Elk. A couple of hours later, we shared a bear hug before our Uber pulled up to the curb. Dropped at Bridge Press Cellars, we sampled wines while listening to the Jesse Quandt band. The gig was over before we were ready to call it a night, so we dodged the rain drops for a couple of blocks - Zola again! The reggae beat was thumping, with an enthusiastic audience working it out on the dance floor. But our dancing wasn't over when we left the place - the wet stuff still fell from the sky, and we found ourselves hurdling curbs, jumping puddles and giggling like little kids all the way back to the hotel. No-one would have mistaken us for the cast of "Singin' In the Rain"!

NOTE TO ALL MOSAIC MONDAY PARTICIPANTS: My visits to some of your blogs will be delayed since I will be on a camping trip Monday and Tuesday!

Mosaic Monday

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.

Please include at least one photo mosaic/collage in your post.
The link will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday until 11 p.m. Monday (U.S. Mountain time).
Remember to add the link to your Mosaic Monday post and not the one to your blog.
Please link back to this post so that your readers will be able to visit and enjoy more wonderful mosaics; taking the MM blog button from my sidebar is an easy way to link back.
As host I will visit every participant and leave a comment so that you know I stopped by.
Please try and visit as many other blogs as you can, especially those that join in later, so that everyone's creativity can be appreciated fully.
Thank you for joining in today and sharing your mosaics with us.

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Mosaic Monday #29 - Three States in a Day

Did you know you can cross Idaho in an hour? Yep, you surely can, if you take the northern route. Just take a gander at this map of Idaho. Doesn't it make you wonder who drew state lines? What could possibly be the purpose of the little sticky-up bit between Montana and Washington State? Maybe it's just there so the achievement types (no, not me, no sir!) can check Idaho off the list … Well, now I can say I have been to and through the Gem State! That's good enough for me!

Yes, we have completed our road trip, 450 miles, 5 days and enough memories that it felt akin to a couple of weeks. But that's kinda our modus operandi - we don't just visit a place, we VISIT. So, I'll spare you a blog post the length of War and Peace; I will split our mini-vacation into several segments. Here we go with Day One.

Spousal Unit planned this trip, and he deserves high marks for his research and execution. Rather than scoot through Idaho with nothing but a wave at the potato farmers, we cruised to Coeur D'Alene. French-speaking fur traders named the lake/town in the mid-1800s; legend says the traders believed the local Indians to be sharp traders, and thus they bestowed the name that means "their hearts were sharp as an awl". The French translation is beaucoup more romantic, no?

World's Longest Floating Boardwalk at Coeur d'Alene Resort

The Resort also features the world's only floating green as part of

its golf course. On the 14th hole, the green measures 15,000 sq. ft.

and weighs almost five million pounds. It can be moved on the

surface of the water to change to distance from the tee to the hole.

It's almost impossible to visit the city without engaging Lake Coeur D'Alene, 25 miles long and featuring 135 miles of shoreline. In our case, we traded our truck for our bicycles and pedaled 12 miles of that shoreline. Such variety - world-class resorts to open vistas to elegant lake-side homes (collage below). A captivating peek into the routines of this quaint city.

Loading the bikes back into the truck, we pointed our noses westward, destination Spokane, WA. Yes, Montana in the morning, Idaho in the afternoon and Washington State in the early evening. We dropped the bags at our hotel and navigated to the Night Market, through throngs of people with the same notion as us - to relish the season opener of the Market, known for fresh local produce, pickles, jams, soap, jewelry, tea, baked goods, food trucks and live music.

Given the grey skies, we opted to nibble our food and sip our beverages on the covered patio at Nectar, with a view of the Spokane River and even an osprey nest perched high atop a tall pole.

On the way back to the hotel, we spotted this mural and decided to take the advice. We dropped into the Globe Bar and Kitchen, and boy, that bartender shook a mean Manhattan!

All of these murals decorate one wall of the Globe, located in a former historic hotel that has been in downtown Spokane since 1908. I think there is some pithy advice here for everyone - take your pick!

And so concluded Day One - watch for future posts about the rest of the trip!

Mosaic Monday