The 1st annual Rainy Day Arts Festival will take place throughout La Conner on Febraury 4 & 5, 2012.

"In this season of winter, the Rainy Day Arts Festival, February 4,5, celebrates our northwest winter climate. A creative, imaginative art walk unfolds in each storefront window. Come rain or shine, put on the rain boots, an umbrella over head and walk the La Conner promenade spotting adventuresome art pieces sheltered and protected by rainy day umbrella's. As winter raindrops spark a chill, a heart warming experience awaits you in each shop. Spot the umbrellas, galoshes, red hearts. Anytime, experience the simple pleasures....in La Conner."

Join the Rainy Day Arts Festival on Facebook for more information! CLICK HERE.

Lighting up the Swinomish Channel this Saturday night will be one of the largest Lighted Boat Parades to date in La Conner! Starting at 6:30pm, "Christmas Island" is this year's theme. Come early to shop and dine...La Conner ~ Making Spirits Bright...

Businesses in the town of La Conner will be celebrating the 3rd Annual "Season of Giving" this holiday season. For three Sundays between Thanksgiving and Christmas, 10% of sales at participating merchants will be designated to a different charity.

The program will begin on Sunday, November 27th, with proceeds donated to the Hospice of the Northwest Foundation. Sunday, December 4th will benefit the Humane Society of Skagit Valley, and on Sunday, December 11th the Boys and Girls Clubs of Skagit County will be the recipient.

This year, there was an overwhelming response from the merchants and we have 31 participating! We hope that our guests will help contribute to these worthwhile causes as they shop, dine and stay in La Conner during the Holiday season!

Participating businesses are: Calico Cupboard, Cottons, Courtyard Gallery, Crescent Moon Yoga, Earthenworks Gallery, Edward Jones, Fairy Godmother's Unlimited, Ginger Grater, Go Outside, Hotel Planter, Katy's Inn, La Conner Brewing Co., La Conner Channel Lodge, La Conner Country Inn, La Conner Seafood and Prime Rib House, Mary Davis Vintage Lighting, Morris Street Antiques, Nasty Jack's Antiques, Native Springs, Nell Thorn Restaurant, Olive Shoppe, Seed's Bistro & Bar, Sempre Italiano, Skagit River Boutique, Skagit River Traders, Skagit Valley Styles, Step Outside, The Stall, Wags and Rags, Wild Iris Inn, Wood Merchant, and Wyman Park.

Look for special posters in each of the participating businesses as you Spend the Holidays with Us in La Conner!

Make La Conner your News Year's Eve destination. Our entire town is easily walkable with many restaurant and lodging choices. Twirl in the mix locally owned boutiques, galleries, and three museums, and you won't think twice about dancing your way to La Conner.

Live music at Seed's Bistro & Bar by Fidalgo Swing starting at 6:00 pm.

What are you doing this weekend?

How about taking a birding field trip, ending the day with Fine Northwest Cuisine, and then cozying up in a waterfront suite or an artistic guest house. La Conner is your watercentric birding getaway.

Trumpeter and Tundra Swans migrate south from their summer homes in Alaska to the Skagit Valley. They peak in numbers around January with the majority returning home by the end of March.

While out birding you will encounter the Snow Goose which is also white, much smaller and has black wing tips. Snow Geese gather in gigantic flocks of thousands in fields, and fly by thousands to the water around sunset. Their honking is thrilling to hear.

Watch out for the Great Blue Herons who like to hang out next to the sloughs. Then look up to the tree tops to spy on Owls, Bald Eagles, and Hawks. You may also see the Rough-legged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon and the Northern Harrier.

Happy Birding Around La Conner!

Photo Credit: Elaine Thompson

11/24 ~ 4th Annual La Conner Turkey Trot! Bring your entire family and join us for a pre-turkey race Thanksgiving Morning, November 24th. Race starts at 8:30 am, on-site registration at 7:30 am at La Conner Middle School, N. 6th St. Sponsored by La Conner Chamber of Commerce.

11/26 ~ Holiday Tea, Father Christmas, and Wreath Making at Christianson's Nursery. 10 am - 3 pm: Arrival of Father Christmas in his bright red sleigh. Come in your holiday finest and have your picture taken by professional photographer Barb Roberson who will capture this memorable occasion.

11 am - 3 pm: Holiday Wreath Making, reservations required ($5 class fee). This one-hour class repeats each hour between 11 am to 3 pm (classes start at 11 am, noon, 1 pm, and 2 pm). Wear warm clothing and bring your pruners and gardening gloves.

Noon - 5 pm: 16th Annual Holiday Tea is complimentary but reservations required. Tea seatings will be offered at noon, 1:15 pm, 2:30 pm, and 3:45 pm. Enjoy tea sandwiches and assorted delicacies accompanied by tea, coffee, and apple cider. For reservations for the Holiday Tea and Wreath Making classes, please call us at 1-800-585-8200 or 360-466-3821

11/26 ~ La Conner Institute of Performing Arts is proud to host the Celtic & Classical ensemble NOEL at Maple Hall on Saturday, November 26th at 7:30 pm. Join NOEL for a heartwarming evening of music and poetry celebrating the Yuletide season. Maple Hall is located at 104 Commercial Ave, La Conner. Call 360-466-2665 for tickets.

11/27 ~ More than 30 businesses in La Conner will be celebrating the 3rd Annual Season of Giving this holiday season with 10% of sales benefiting Hospice of the Northwest Foundation. We hope that our guests will help contribute to these worthwhile causes as they shop, dine and Spend the Holidays with Us in La Conner!

12/1 ~ Live music at Seed's Bistro every Thursday night from 6-9pm. Listen to Spoonshine tonight, Fidalgo Swing on 12/8, Savage Trio on 12/15, Rhonda Cradle on 12/22 and Fidalgo Swing for 12/31 New Year's Eve!

12/3 ~ La Conner Rotary will host the annual Breakfast with Santa at Maple Hall. Breakfast will be served from 8:30 - 11am. All are welcome! $12 Families, $6 Adults and $3 children. Maple Hall is located at 103 Commercial St, La Conner.

12/3 ~ The La Conner Kiwanis are hosting a Holiday Craft Bazaar. The bazaar will be held from 10 am - 3 pm at the La Conner Middle School on N. 6th St. Proceeds will help fund Kiwanis activities that support the children of La Conner. For a more information contact Joy Neal at jneal@lclib.lib.wa.us or 360-466-3352 (daytime).

12/3 ~ Everyone is invited to a Community Tree Lighting at 5:00 pm at Gilkey Square, in the center of La Conner. There will be singing, refreshments and a visit from Santa arriving on a firetruck. Many of the shops will stay open later than normal, with an Open House at several. For questions, please contact the La Conner Visitor Information Center at (360) 466-4778.

12/4 ~ Over 30 businesses in La Conner will be celebrating the 3rd Annual Season of Giving this holiday season with 10% of their sales benefiting the Humane Society of Skagit County. We hope that our guests will help contribute to this worthwhile cause as they shop, dine and Spend the Holidays with Us in La Conner!

12/8 ~ Hellam's Vineyard is hosting a special Holiday Ladies Night. Come join us starting at 6 pm for an evening of pure pampering! $15 per person (+ tax) gets you a tasting flight of wines, wonderful appetizers, live music, holiday jewelry, and Joan Barlow of Native Springs will be offering her soothing spa treatments. This ladies only event is always a big hit, so please RSVP sooner rather than later! Hellams Vineyard, 109 N. 1st St. #104 La Conner, 360.466.1758 www.hellamsvineyard.com.

12/10 ~ "Christmas Island" is the theme of this year's La Conner Lighted Boat Parade. The Swinomish Yacht Club will set off for a traditional run from the La Conner Marina around 6:30pm, turning south along the La Conner waterfront and ending up in Shelter Bay. This annual event increases in participation and popularity each year! Get your spot along the Swinomish Channel early as you won't want to miss this.

12/11 ~ More than 30 businesses in La Conner will be celebrating the 3rd Annual Season of Giving this holiday season with 10% of sales designated to Skagit County Boys and Girls Club. We hope that our guests will help contribute to this worthwhile cause as they shop, dine and Spend the Holidays with Us in La Conner!

12/11 ~ Christmas in La Conner , 2:30 pm in Maple Hall, 103 Commercial St. Admission by donation of canned food or cash, proceeds benefit La Conner Sunrise Food Bank. Hosted by La Conner Institute of Performing Arts.

12/17 ~ Jazz by the Channel at Hellam's Vineyard! Sample wines, and enjoy a spa day with Joan Barlow of Native Springs. Then at 6 pm, the music begins! Come listen to smooth jazz, munch on heavy appetizers and taste some fine wines. Cost is $20 per person, in advance, or $25 at the door (+ tax).

The Channel Lodge & Country Inn are offering amazing holiday package specials, just for the Jazz on the Channel night! At the Channel Lodge, La Conner's only waterfront hotel, you can get a Queen Water view for $224, or a King Parlor Suite for $294. Or, stay at the Country Inn, and get a Queen room for $154, or a King for $174. These rates are based on double occupancy, one night, and includes (2) tickets to the Jazz event, a bottle of wine, chocolates and a music CD! WOW!!! RSVP for your ticket(2) or package soon! 1-888-466-4113 to book your package, or for tickets only call the shop at 360-466-1758. Hellams Vineyard, 109 N. 1st St. #104 La Conner, 360.466.1758 www.hellamsvineyard.com

12/18 ~ Calling all kids! Enjoy Christmas cookie decorating with Santa in the Lime Dock Building. 9am – 3pm, cost $4 per child. 109 N. 1st St, La Conner – 360-547-9641

Art's Alive! celebrates 27 years in La Conner, November 4 - 6, 2011. This town-wide weekend festival features art, music, poetry and food at over 50 galleries, shops, museums and restaurants.

Twenty-seven years ago Art Hupy, director and curator of La Conner’s Valley Museum of Art (which would evolve into the Museum of Northwest Art), had an inspired idea - an art festival in La Conner that would generate the same kind of artistic excitement he saw at an arts festival he had visited as a photographer in Aspen, Colorado. He described the plan to his friends - local artists, businesses, and art patrons in the Skagit Valley and Seattle. Among those friends were renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly, and author, chef and philosopher Angelo Pellegrini. Chihuly agreed to design and create a hand-blown glass wine decanter for which Pelligrini would provide the homemade wine which would be a centerpiece for the event.

So began "Arts Alive in 85," a festival that encouraged local artists to show off their work. The program included art exhibits at the Skagit Valley Art Museum and Barkley's Pub (today known as Nell Thorn).

Since then the event has been held every November and has grown throughout the years. Thousands of artists have participated over that time, with several hundred showing their work each year. Artists such as Charles Krafft, Philip McCracken, Robert Sund and Max Benjamin have all been participants of this growing Northwest art festival. Most recently the 2010 exhibit drew about 2,000 people to its location at Maple Hall and artists demonstrated their technique at more than 30 galleries and boutiques in La Conner.

The anchor events are four annual art exhibitions – the Invitational Exhibit, showcasing 14 of the Northwest’s finest visual artists working in media such as painting, ceramics, metal sculptures, prints, photography, mixed media, jewelry and textiles; the Open Show, presenting more than 60 La Conner-area artists; the Invitational Emerging Exhibit, spotlighting 7 artists working in basket weaving, pastels, mixed media, textile; and the Invitational Jewelry Show featuring 7 regional jewelry artists who bring together an outstanding variety of technique, design and creative ability, offering something for everyone.

The Invitational Exhibit, Open Show and Invitational Emerging Exhibit will all be located at Maple Hall, 104 Commercial St. The Invitational Jewelry Show is located at the Civic Garden Club at 622 S. 2nd St. (across the street from the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum).

The Opening Night Reception will take place Friday, November 4th, 5 - 9 PM at both Maple Hall, 104 Commercial and the Civic Garden Club, 622 S. 2nd St. Tickets for the Opening Reception are $8 at the door. All artwork is for sale, and most of the artists will be on hand that evening to answer questions and talk about their work.

Admission is Free during the hours: Friday noon-4, Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 10-4.

Art's Alive! features numerous free exhibits and performances throughout La Conner over the weekend, and wonderful fare at local restaurants. This annual festival is a great opportunity to discover a full range of artists, begin your holiday shopping and enhance your collection! Pick up a program at the Visitor Center or any merchant downtown.

Make your lodging and dining reservations early and join us for La Conner’s largest annual festival! Art's Alive! is sponsored by the La Conner Chamber of Commerce with support from Town of La Conner, Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum and Skagit County Historical Museum to help support local artists. For more information call toll free at (888) 642-9284, or visit www.LaconnerChamber.com.

(image above by Featured Artist – Anita Luvera Mayer)

Community Wellness Weekend in La Conner - October 07, 2011 through October 08, 2011.

Crescent Moon Yoga Studio is hosting the opening of La Conner's first annual Community Wellness Weekend, October 7th with an open house and featured speaker, Margaret Arnett at 7 pm.

Margaret's fascinating subject is Art as Healing. We have a copy of her published book in the studio! Believing that art facilitates healing both through self-expression, and as a key to the door of the unconscious mind, Margaret has written and published articles on “Art as Healing”, and her own work reflects this process. Margaret facilitates groups based on art as healing and has worked as an art therapist in medical settings and in the community at large for the past twenty five years. Read more about Margaret http://www.margaretcarpenter.com/

Join us for an open house 4-8pm and begin a great weekend celebrating our 2-day event that features health and wellness in La Conner. Call Joan for more info 360-708-83

On Saturday, Kit Muehlman offers Lazy Yoga, October 8, 12:30 to 2:30 pm at Crescent Moon Yoga, $25, pre-registration please. Enjoy two blissful hours of yoga with bolsters and blankets. After yoga, Native Springs Spa is offering $20 mini clay facials and consultations, 125 Washington Street. Wellness should be an adventure not an ordeal.

Crescent Moon Yoga is located at 521 Morris St, La Conner. Native Springs is located at 125 E. Washington St., La Conner

October 8, 2011 - January 1, 2012 Saturday, October 8, 2011 - Panel Discussion 1 pm; Reception 2-5 pm

The Museum of Northwest Art celebrates its first 30 years with an exhibition that fills every gallery on both floors of the Museum. This comprehensive exhibit honors more than 200 donors to the Permanent Collection.

Works in all mediums ranging in date from the early 20th century through 2011 will be exhibited, featuring familiar favorites as well as recent acquisitions on view for the first time. Read what generations of Northwest authors and artists have written about our region’s art, vote for your favorite piece in MoNA’s collection, and discover the wide array of materials, subject matter, and styles of Northwest artists throughout the years.

Founded in 1981 in the historic Gaches Mansion as the Valley Museum of Northwest Art (now home of the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum), the Museum of Northwest Art moved to its current location on South First Street in 1995. Established to build upon the legacy of the “Big Four Northwest Mystic” painters – Guy Anderson, Kenneth Callahan, Morris Graves, and Mark Tobey – the Museum soon broadened its scope to encompass a wide range of artists beyond the immediate region, to reflect the diversity and breadth of Northwest artists.

The mission of the Museum of Northwest Art is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret art by Northwest artists. This clear focus allows the Museum to explore and document Northwest art history, illustrate important themes and current trends, and introduce visitors to the next generation of emerging artists of the region.

The La Conner Chamber of Commerce proudly presents: ‘A Taste of La Conner’. Friday October 14th; 4:00-8:00pm. Delight your taste buds with the delicious and exquisite cuisine offered by these eateries in La Conner. Enjoy 5 tastes for $25.00. All tickets will be PRE-SOLD at the Visitor Center located at 606 Morris Street before 5 pm October 14th (tickets can be picked up at Will Call after 5pm at Seed's Bistro & Bar).

The past 3 months have been SOLD OUT! Participating in October's Taste: La Conner Seafood & Prime Rib House, La Conner Pub & Eatery, Nell Thorn, Seed's Bistro & Bar, and Waterfront Café. Each location will offer a "Taste" featuring that chef's creativity & showcase their unique talents and delicious specialties.

Tickets are pre-sold at the Visitor Information Center located at 606 Morris Street, just after the library on your left. Delight your pallets, Relax, Shop, and Stay. For more information please contact the La Conner Chamber : www.laconnerchamber.com, info@laconnerchamber.com or 360-466-4778.

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2011 Quilt Festival ~ September 30-October 1, & 2 The 2011 Quilt Festival is a celebration that includes a three day show of Juried & Judged quilts Friday (9:30-5), Saturday (9:30-5), Sunday (10-4) at Maple Hall and the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum. $10 donation, includes entrance to both venues, below.

Maple Hall: Juried & Judged show, demonstrations by Nancy’s Needlers, specialty vendors, silent auction, and quilt appraiser, Beverly Dunivent. Beverly will be available for quilt appraisals for a fee, by appointment only. Call 360-466-4288.

La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum: featuring “Mixed Greens” by the Pacific Northwest African American Quilters; “Together” by Canadian fiber artists paired with artists of other Media; and a special exhibit of “Spirit of the West” by the Association of Pacific West Quilters.

Four days of fabulous workshops and quilt events are taking place within walking distance of Maple Hall & the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum. While in La Conner, enjoy the six-week long Quilt Walk in La Conner Shops.

Find more information at La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum

“Paint Me a River Too! Art Meets History Again” a new exhibit at the Skagit County Historical Museum, opens Friday, September 23. The unique exhibit features the work of over 100 accomplished local artists and reflects their personal view of Skagit history in paint, glass, bronze, clay, jewelry, multi-media, photography and neon.

Participating artists include Bob Abrams, Coizie Bettinger, Beckie Fletcher, Larry Heald, Anne Martin McCool, Carol Merrick, Peregrine O’Gormley, Leo Osborne and Cathy Stevens. All art pieces are available for purchase. A portion of the proceeds go to benefit the Museum. “Paint Me a River!” continues through December 31, 2011.

September 23rd – Exhibit Opening Reception 4 – 7 PM featuring pianist Cheri Cook Blodgett. Located at 501 S. Fourth St, Open Tuesday-Sunday, 11am - 5pm. 360-466-3365. Skagit County Historical Museum

The TV travel show “OFFICIAL BEST OF WASHINGTON 2011” will showcase Salon Rouge and the Wild Iris Inn, both from La Conner, during this year’s show. The show features several businesses from all over Washington State in various travel and recreation categories, each selected as “Best of Washington for 2011”. Salon Rouge was selected as “Official Best Salon and Day Spa”, while the Wild Iris Inn was selected as “Official Best Romantic Retreat”.

The “Best of Washington” production crews were on location at Salon Rouge and the Wild Iris Inn in late August. The show is projected to air nationally on the Discovery Channel in early October and in the Seattle market on NBC KING TV at noon on September 10th. Following the TV airings, the show segments can be viewed on Offical Best Of and via links at the websites of both Salon Rouge and the Wild Iris.

Salon Rouge owner, Christine Spencer, was delighted to be featured in the show. “It was a great honor to be featured on the show and a wonderful opportunity to showcase Salon Rouge, our neighbors at the Wild Iris Inn, and La Conner.” Located in beautiful historic La Conner, Washington, Salon Rouge is an exquisite boutique salon and day spa, providing expert hair design and spa services. Salon Rouge is located at 623 Morris St, La Conner and on the web at Salon Rouge.

The charming Wild Iris Inn features a blend of the modern luxuries and upscale services, complimented with the traditional amenities of an intimate Bed and Breakfast. The Wild Iris is located at 121 Maple, LA Conner and on the web at Wild Iris.

The 11th Annual La Conner Classic Boat & Car show will take place on Saturday, August 13, 2011 from 10am – 4pm. Whether your love is classic cars, show cars, classic yachts, or work boats; you will be pleasantly thrilled at this year’s event.

Start the day with a pancake breakfast at the Swinomish Yacht Club served up by the Kiwanis of La Conner. Breakfast is served from 7:30 – 10:30 am, cost is $7.00 per person. There will be a food court, raffle prizes, live radio remote by KBRC Classic Hits station 1430AM & 102.1FM, and more!

SHOW: La Conner Marina FREE PARKING & SHUTTLE: La Conner High School, N. 6th St.

Donation is $3; children under 12 yrs are free. For more information, be sure to visit www.laconnerchamber.com or call 888-642-9284.

From between a small break in the clouds, sunrays strike at the local farm fields of La Conner and warm them in golden brilliance. Rows of lavender, red, yellow and pink tulips deepen in color under the moody shadows. Mount Baker’s snowcap peak juts majestically skyward glistening from the glimpse of sun. This ever-changing light of La Conner has inspired our heroine of this story, Susan Schanen, and motivated her profound respect for the environment. Susan and her husband, Casey, came from an extended line of restaurateurs; perhaps this is where the first seeds for their ideas were sown. As a long time resident of La Conner Susan used the illuminating skies as her muse to expand on her dream... a place that would embody her belief in nature with fresh organic locally picked produce and seafood. As a husband and wife team, Susan’s vision was realized and Nell Thorn Restaurant was created.

Susan believes deeply in ‘what she takes from the environment she must give back’ and incorporated this concept into a zero waste policy at Nell Thorn. With the help of the local Waste Management program Nell Thorn has been able to achieve a 95% waste free environment. Even the cooking oil is sold and converted into Eco-friendly bio diesel, with the proceeds going to the local Friendship house.

From the deck of Nell Thorn Susan connects with the fast changing light of La Conner. The skies continue to feed her inspiration to sustain and support not only a healthy and outstanding restaurant for her customers, but also an Eco-friendly environment.

Savor La Conner! Fine dining by the sea & valley with food fresh from the harvest.

The 6TH annual Pacific Northwest Polo Association's Governor's Cup will take place on July 30 & 31, 2011 from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM in La Conner, WA. Twelve teams will compete in this year’s event, hosted by George & Rhoda Dill. Tony Gregg will be back as the announcer and for any novices, you will learn what a chucker is, how important the line of the ball is, and why the riders need so many horses to play the game.

Take part in the "divot stomping" at halftime, bring a picnic lunch and your lawn chairs and join the tailgate party. Or enjoy delicious food catered by Rexville Grocery.

Admission is $5 per car for the day. Polo lessons are also available at the polo field on George Dill’s property and taught by Tiamo Hudspeth from Maui. La Conner’s Polo Field is located at 16278 La Conner-Whitney Rd. Contact 253-732-3111 for more info.

Beginning July 25th, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community will host The Tribal Canoe Journey (TCJ). Swinomish will welcome over 100 family canoes, mostly from the Northwest, but also from as far away as Hawaii and New Zealand to the shores of its Reservation. The Tribe will formally grant the visiting canoes permission to come ashore where they will be fed, find a comfortable place to rest and throughout the week, have a chance to share songs, dances and tales of their travels.

In 1989 the Pacific Northwest Tribes revived a tradition of bringing together their people to celebrate the connection to salmon, water and each other. Initially the TCJ only involved a handful of canoes that participated in the Washington State Centennial. Since then, TCJ has expanded to include over a hundred tribes and First Nations predominantly from the United States and Canada. Over time this event has come to be known as “The Canoe Journey” (TCJ). It occurs annually each summer on the Salish Sea. Hosting of the annual event rotates among the Northwest tribes and Canadian First Nations. Canoes leave from their homelands and travel to the host tribe. TCJ can last several weeks depending on where the canoes have started; some canoes leave as early during the first week in July and paddle on the open waters for up to three weeks.

Those who participated in the first paddle to Seattle in 1989, like Emmett Oliver, realized that this journey could provide a resurgence of the traditional ways of the canoe culture. These first paddlers decided to form an Inter-tribal Canoe Society and hold the event every year. Over the last twenty-two years, TCJ has helped to bring back Northwest indigenous languages; foster the canoe family song and other songs; and provide an avenue for healing. It has served to aid in addressing and healing the problems that plague indigenous people, such as alcohol and substance abuse and suicide. Suicide has been on the rise in indigenous communities- not just in the Northwest but in the homelands of the First Nations in Canada. The TCJ not only provides a strong sense of pride and helps re-instill wellness amongst indigenous communities, but also helps build trust and cross cultural understanding with non-native communities who often live amongst or adjacent to indigenous people.

During TCJ, families and friends from afar reunite as the canoes travel to the host tribe. The canoe families paddle for an average of eight hours each day, taking breaks on support boats or beaches as necessary. After a full day of paddling, the canoe families stop overnight at designated tribal locations or specified towns to camp, eat, rest, and share songs and dances during the evening. When the tide is right and the conditions are safest the canoes head out again until finally they reach the host site.

Paddle to Swinomish Tribal Journey 2011 Every tribe that hosts TCJ believes that it is an honor and a once in a lifetime opportunity to share the family canoe culture of the Salish tribes with each other and the thousands of people who over the years have attended this annual event.

Since its revival, TCJ has drawn canoe cultures from other parts of the United States and even internationally. This year canoe families from Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, and even as far away as New Zealand are anticipated to land and join in the weeklong celebration and potlatch (traditional “give away”).

The reservation of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is located across the Swinomish Channel from the town of La Conner, WA, a small town nestled in the surrounding farmlands of Skagit County and located to the west of Interstate 5 and south of State Highway 20. For directions, google: Paddle

The Skagit County Historical Museum is proud to present “Native Journey” a new exhibit opening July 22, 2011. Featuring the Museum’s fabulous collection of baskets, stone tools, canoes and other artifacts from over 30 Coast Salish and other tribes.

The family friendly Skagit County Historical Museum is located at 501 S. 4th Street, at the top of the hill in La Conner. For more information, call 360.466.3365 or www.skagitcounty.net/museum.

Museum of Northwest Art 19th Annual Art Auction Saturday, June 18, 2011 121 S. First Street, La Conner

The Museum’s largest annual fundraiser…the perfect event for both seasoned and novice art collectors. hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer served

Tickets: Tickets ON SALE NOW [link to ticket purchasing page on our site] $95 through June 1st/$100 after June 1st Tables (Limited number available through June 1st) $1,000 for table of 8 $750 for a table of 6 $500 for a bistro table of 4

Public Preview Hours: Friday, June 17, noon to 5 pm and Saturday, June 18, 11 am to 3 pm Free and open to the public

Additional Details: Museum of Northwest Art Online Catalog (coming June 1st) Questions: auction@museumofnwart.org or call 360.466.4446, ext. 109

Fireworks over the Channel will take place in La Conner on Sunday, July 3rd after 10:00 PM. Line up anywhere along First or Second Street in La Conner to watch 30 minutes of a professional extravaganza! There is a lot of fireworks taking place before and after the BIG show so you will be entertained for quite a while.

Monday is the day of the Parade, starting at 11:30 AM down at the intersection of N. 1st and Center Street. Everyone is welcome! Bring your bike, bring your stroller, bring your elephant - anything goes for this fun, family event.

After the parade there will be a demonstration in Swinomish Channel by the La Conner Fire Boat - plenty of places along the Channel to watch - don't get sprayed! Then bring the kids up to Pioneer Park for more fun with a watermelon eating contest, face painting, go fishing, and more - prizes galore! Bring your own picnic or enjoy hot dogs served by Kiwanis of La Conner.

La Conner is participating in the 2011 Skagit Watershed Letterbox Trail program, sponsored by the Skagit Conservation Education Alliance. The 2011 Skagit Watershed Letterbox Trail starts Saturday, June 25, 2011 and runs through the summer.Find clues at Skagit Watershed Letterbox Trail program.

Many local environmental and conservation groups and organizations have designed and hidden eighteen “Letterboxes” all up and down the beautiful Skagit Watershed—from the North Cascades National Park in the east to Washington Park in the west, the Samish Watershed to the north, and Wylie Slough to the south.

The boxes are sturdy plastic tubs with distinctive labels on the tops. Each box contains educational materials about the location where it is hidden. A box also contains a notebook and an ink-stamp with ink-pad OR some unique stickers. A box might also have additional ideas for learning about an activity in the area. A list of clues for finding the boxes is available at public libraries, other locations, and on-line, beginning June 24, 2011.

Letterbox searchers: Carry your own notebook and stamp or unique stickers. Upon finding a box, enter your stamp or sticker, along with a note, in the box’s notebook. Also enter the box sticker or stamp in your notebook. Find them all! Be discreet upon finding a box, don’t call attention to your success or activity! When finished “stamping up” replace the box and move away to discuss your find. Sponsored this year by the Skagit Valley Food CO-OP 4% Friday See us at the CO-OP June 24, 2011 with a display about letterboxing and the list of clues.

Participating partners: Skagit Conservation Education Alliance (SCEA), National Park Service, National Forest Service, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group, Skagit Land Trust, Skagit Conservation District, Taylor Shellfish Company, La Conner Chamber of Commerce/Skagit County Historical Museum, Padilla Bay Reserve, Skagit Public Utility District, Skagit County Public Works, WSU Beach Watchers, Port of Skagit County, Skagit Valley Food Coop, Friday Creek Habitat Stewards. Email: info@skagitcleanwater.org or call 360-428-1054

Printmaking on the Street June 4th 11-4PM in La Conner at La Crema, 6th street and Morris, and August 6th at the Anacortes Arts Festival.

The story.......I got this idea with Candice Vitale, from Anacortes, when I saw a school down in Tacoma doing this with a group called Wayzgoose. It looked like so much fun and a great way to get up and coming young artists activated to making art in the street together with already established artists who are also looking for a new and different way to connect with cutting edge art.

I like to think of this as art that is bringing creative people together and making a bridge between communities in a way which did not exist before. There is a level of comfortability that one has to give up to make work that does not rely on a safety net. Its a bit raw and well done. Spending hours carving linocut in a circle of teenage artists is cutting edge. It brings about some real conversation and a level of commitment from those who show up. I hope if it continues it is establishing a familiarity and trust between artists from these different groups...La Conner, Edison, Swinomish, Anacortes, Samish.

Join us for large block printing using a steamroller! The opportunity to create and exhibit large block prints during the Canoe Journey in La Conner July 25-30, Anacortes Arts Festival August 5-7, and Native Journeys exhibition at the Historical Museum July 23 is going to be a great opportunity for young up and coming native artists and local known artists to collaborate and to be recognized by the community.

Fifteen to thirty artists have been invited to participate and design an image suitable for block printing with the themes “Journeys, what sustains you? and protecting mother earth.” Join me and Kevin Paul for an exciting hand made activity in which artists share their visual compositions via linoleum, ink, paper, and pressure, creating huge relief prints right on the street. Find more details Theodora Jonsson Sponsored by Kevin Paul Law Office of Patricia Paul PLLC Swinomish Canoe Planning Committee Skagit County Historical Museum LaConner Arts Commission Anacortes Arts Commission

You are invited to the annual Tulip Frolic in La Conner! Saturday, April 9, 2011 starting at 11:00am. Join us for fun in La Conner! Enjoy live music and Kid's Zone at Gilkey Square. The Kid's Zone is a fundraiser for La Conner Boys and Girls Club.

Stay for the Tulip Parade on Saturday, April 9, starting at 2 pm. Line up along First St. for the best view! All entries are welcome to participate in the parade and it is FREE! U.S. Bank proudly sponsors the 25th Annual Kiwanis Club of La Conner "Not-So-Impromptu Tulip Parade" along Morris and S. First St. Everyone welcome! Join us for this wacky parade – farm animals, clowns, bands, mascots and your favorite pets. Any size entry welcome. Spectators: bring your lawn chairs. Day of parade entries welcome. Visit La Conner's Visitor Information Center at 606 Morris St. to pick up a parade entry. OR download the form here: OR Contact: Cindy Verge Email: cindy@tulipfestival.org Phone: 360-428-5959 Tulip Festival

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival goes on the entire month of April. Tulips are still in bloom in the fields and the display gardens at RoozenGaarde and Tulip Town, are in full force and will remain so through the end of the festival. Festival-related activities, including bike trips, boat tours and wine tasting, will continue as well. "Anybody who comes up will have a great time seeing tulips, and there's still plenty going on" says Festival Executive Director Cindy Verge.

The tulips are blooming! Check your tulip festival map. If you don't have a map handy, stop by the La Conner Visitor Center. Take in the Tulips, Shop the La Conner Boutiques & Galleries, and Enjoy Fine Cuisine all in La Conner!

Keep your eye on the Bloom Map for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival daily bloom updates. The daff's are looking lovely, the tulips are starting to bloom, and the art shows are rolling! Be sure to check out the April Specials, Happenings & Events

La Conner Chamber of Commerce is here to make your Tulip Festival visit enjoyable. Please stop by our Visitor Information Center, 2nd block on your left as you enter town, or give us a call at 360.466.4778 ~ info@laconnerchamber.com. We can help you with room availability, dinner reservations, shopping guides, tours, and a friendly greeting. We welcome you to the village of La Conner.

Skagit County Historical Museum presents its 2nd Annual Historic Home Tour. This year features the Historic Homes of West Mount Vernon, April 2nd from 10 to 4. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 day of event, and are available at Gretchens in Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce, Christianson’s Nursery, Rexville Grocery, La Conner Flats or at the Skagit County Historical Museum. Or download a ticket order from the Museum website Skagit County Historical Museum.

The family friendly Skagit County Historical Museum is located at 501 S. 4th Street, at the top of the hill in La Conner. For more information, call 360.466.3365 or www.skagitcounty.net/museum.

Since 1956 May has been National Bike Month. What a better place to start off your bike ride than from La Conner! There are a variety of lodgings to choose from and all are "bike friendly". Tips from a Local....One of my favorite bike tours is starting in La Conner and then heading North toward Padilla Bay and then on to Edison and Chuckanut Drive. Another great twist is to head out of La Conner on Reservation Road to the Anacortes Trail and from there hop on a ferry to Lopez Island for great riding. For a beautiful morning short ride, head out of La Conner and loop around the Valley on flat roads with hardly any traffic. The scenery is world class and will blow you away. Enjoy the Ride!

Contact the Visitor Information Center for the Skagit Valley Bike Map. La Conner Visitor Center is here to make your visit enjoyable. Please stop by our office, 2nd block on your left as you enter town, or give us a call at 360.466.4778 ~ info@laconnerchamber.com. We can help you with room availability, dinner reservations, shopping guides, tours, and a friendly greeting. We welcome you to the village of La Conner. Hours open: 9am-4pm Monday-Friday, 12-3 Saturday & Sunday. *photo courtesy of cascades national park

Put your bike on the rack and head for La Conner and the FLAT Skagit Valley. Great biking starts and ends in La Conner!

Nothing sings Spring as beautifully as La Conner's Brilliant Daffodils! As our daffodil fields begin exploding with color, we invite you to experience the delightful magic of nature in the farmlands of La Conner & Skagit Valley.

Did you know that there are over 90 different crops grown in and around La Conner? AND, there are more tulip, iris and daffodil bulbs produced here than in any other county in the United States! Skagit County maintains one of the largest and most diverse agricultural communities west of the Cascade mountain range with Agriculture being the No. 1 industry. Local farmers produce about $261 million worth of crops, livestock, and dairy products.

Thousands of swans, snow geese and ducks are thankful for the habitat provided by our farmers. Also thankful are the thousands of visitors and locals who are in awe of the beauty of this valley.

Need some bright color in your nature palette this month? Welcome to La Conner ...... dance with the daffodils, dine with the ducks, and stay with the swans.

In 1869 John S. Conner purchased the trading post (now occupied by the totem pole plaza west of Maple Hall) on the Swinomish Channel & named the area in honor of his wife, Louisa Ann Conner.

The first White settlers here were probably midwesterner Alex R. Underwood, Michael Sullivan of Nova Scotia and Sam Calhoun of New Brunswick who all arrived in the mid-1860s.

Sullivan and Calhoun were the first to start building dikes to reclaim the surrounding flats from high tides and annual flooding.

In 1873 two brothers, James and George Gaches, purchased Conner’s store and later, along with Conner and others, later became “agri-brokers” for the produce growing on the flats.

George Gaches built Gaches Mansion in 1891; since then it has been used as a hospital, an apartment building, and an art museum. It is currently home of the La Conner Quilt Museum.

The acres of fertile farmland around La Conner were first planted mostly with oats – grown primarily for the horses of Seattle and California.

The LaConner Civic Garden Club building was constructed c.1875 as a community building and has been used as a grange hall, federal & district court, county seat, schoolhouse, and church.

The Tillinghast Seed Company opened at the entrance to town in 1890 and has operated from there ever since.

In 1900 the population of La Conner was nearly 600 and had reached the natural limits of its growth; today the town serves as home to approximately 800.

The town became an artists’ colony after Morris Graves arrived in 1937. Followed by Guy Anderson, Clayton James and others, they became leaders of The Northwest School of art.

The Rainbow Bridge was built in 1957. It was painted with the orange rust coating, but residents liked the color so much it was never given the normal final gray coat.

In 1968 the Skagit County Historical Museum was built at the very top of the hill, at 501 So. 4th St. This site with its spectacular view was formerly “Autoview Hill,” a major tourist site for 50 years.

The major industries in La Conner today are agriculture, tourism and fishing.

-- Adapted from Chamber of Commerce information, revised by Tom Robinson, Skagit County Historical Museum

Make La Conner Waterfront your Kissing destination this Valentines Weekend! Our wide array of lodging choices are perfect for a romantic getaway. Our Fine Northwest Dining choices offer special romantic dinners.

Enjoy a relaxing spa treatment, take in the sculpture walk & shop the boutiques/galleries, view the current museum exhibits, walk the docks, sip some fine wine, take in the aroma of the salt water, listen to the snow geese, and melt into a slower pace. From The Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest....."Although this area is assuredly the Northwest destination during the tulip festival, every season blesses it with a romantic aura all its own".

Salon Rouge Relax and Enjoy a 2gether Couples Massage, Couples Facials and/or Couples Pedicures on Sunday, February 13th. Call 360-466-4247 for your appointment now!

Washington Sips Wine Bar will host some special events over Valentine's Day weekend, offering a "Red wine and chocolate" special from Friday the 11th through Sunday the 13th. Live Music: Saturday Feb 12th: Puget Sound at 6:30 PM and Monday Feb 14th: Michael Gonzalez 7:30- this will be intimate, easy listening, background type music. We will offer specials on our red wines by the glass, and have different types of chocolates available for tasting and pairing with wine, and also available for sale. Be sure to keep us in mind for Valentine's Day itself, because we will be offering a Valentine's day special package, and specials on Valentine's Day wines. Located at 608 S. First St, La Conner. 360-399-1037.

Waterfront Cafe is offering a Sweetheart dinner on Monday, February 14th, 2 for $29.95! Includes choice of anything on the menu plus a complimentary glass of champagne. Located at 128 S. First St. in the Pier 7 building, La Conner. 360-466-1579.

Photo courtesy of Kirsten Morse.

Fun events for the whole family happens on Saturday, February 26, 2011! A Pancake Breakfast to benefit the La Conner High School Senior Class begins at 8:00 am in Maple Hall. The 5K-10K Smelt Run/Walk sponsored by the Skagit Symphony begins at the La Conner Middle School, registration 8:00 am, race starts 10 am.

Fishing for Smelt for all ages begins on the Public docks at 8 am and continues till 2 pm. Prizes are awarded in age categories from 1 - 99 years old for the longest, smallest, weirdest and many other categories of fish. $2 per fishing ticket.

There will be a raffle with many fabulous prizes and a $750 cash prize. $2.00 per raffle ticket. Kids activities include fish printing and other events at Maple Hall. Hot dog lunch available in the Bank of America parking lot. FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Photo courtesy of Kirsten Morse.

Art's Alive! 2010 takes place November 5, 6 & 7 in La Conner.

New this year is a Jewelry Invitation Artists Show, located in the Civic Garden Club at 622 S. 2nd St. The Invitational Art Exhibit, Emerging Artist Exhibit and Local Open Show will all be held in Maple Hall at 104 Commercial St.

Artists' Demonstrations, Open Houses, Music, Culinary Arts, Workshops, Drawings, Yoga, going on throughout Town!

Opening Reception for all 4 Shows will take place Friday, November 5th, 5-9 PM. $5 admission to reception includes a glass of wine, appetizers (admission good for both locations).

Maple Hall & Garden Club hours are: Friday noon-4, Reception 5-9pm. Saturday & Sunday 10-5 pm. Free admission for all 3 days, except for Reception.

In 1985 Art Hupy, director and curator of La Conner’s Skagit Valley Art Museum (which would evolve into the Museum of Northwest Art), had an inspired idea - an art festival in La Conner that would generate the same kind of artistic excitement he saw at an arts festival he had visited as a photographer in Aspen, Colorado. He described the plan to his friends - local artists, businesses, and art patrons in the Skagit Valley and Seattle. Among those friends were renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly and author, chef and philosopher Angelo Pellegrini. Chihuly agreed to design and create a hand-blown glass wine decanter for which Pelligrini would provide the home made wine which would be a centerpiece for the event.

So began "Arts Alive in 85," a festival that encouraged local artists to show off their work. The program included art exhibits at the Skagit Valley Art Museum and Barkley's Pub (today known as Nell Thorn).

Since then the event has been held every November and has grown throughout the years. Thousands of artists have participated over that time, with several hundred showing their work each year. Artists such as Charles Krafft, Philip McCracken, Robert Sund and Max Benjamin have all been participants of this growing Northwest art festival. Most recently the 2008 exhibit drew about 2000 people to its location at Maple Hall and artists demonstrated their technique at 17 galleries and boutiques in La Conner.

La Conner Art's Alive

Why does the Historic Gaches Mansion have a reputation of being haunted? Find out during the Ghosts of Gaches Gala fundraiser on Saturday, October 30th from 7pm until . . . !

Enjoy live music by Trish Hatley, and indulge in eats and drinks galore as you roam the many rooms of this former hospital and boarding house. Wear your scariest, most elaborate or funniest Halloween attire for our costume contest . . . experience the 1891 Gaches Mansion as it is rarely seen . . . thrill in the sight of La Conner’s eerie Victorian mansion lit up at night!

Tickets are $75 per person ($50 of which is tax-deductible), with all proceeds benefitting the Capital Campaign to restore the Historic Gaches Mansion. Call 360.466.4288 to purchase your ticket . . . only 99 will be sold. Tickets are non-refundable, and paper invitations will be sent to you along with further details of the evening . . .call (360) 466-4288 or visit www.laconnerquilts.com. . . . don’t be scared, the ghosts have been friendly so far . . .

Quilt Walk in La Conner Shops. Over 70 quilts made by members of the Clark County Quilters in Vancouver, WA, will be on display in local La Conner shops. Free maps can be picked up at the La Conner Visitor Center, Quilt & Textile Museum, and participating shops.

September 1 - October 15, 2010

Quilt Walk in La Conner Shops. Over 70 quilts made by members of the Clark County Quilters in Vancouver, WA, will be on display in local La Conner shops. Free maps can be picked up at the La Conner Visitor Center, Quilt & Textile Museum, and participating shops.

October 1-3, 2010 Join us for Quilt Fest 2010! This annual event takes place in two venues in La Conner, Washington–The La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum in the Historic Gaches Mansion and Maple Hall.

Quilt Fest is a celebration that includes a three day display of appliqué quilts, specialty vendors, and a silent auction in Maple Hall, four days of fabulous workshops and quilting events, a six week quilt walk in La Conner shops, plus three floors of new exhibits in the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum

Join in the fun on Thursday, September 30th 6 – 8:30pm at the Museum of Northwest Art in downtown La Conner for a lecture on the History of Hawaiian Quilting by Nancy Lee Chong. Afterwards, meet Nancy and fellow enthusiasts for appetizers and beverages. Hawaiian attire is optional, but encouraged. Cost: $25 per person. Call 360-466-4288 for reservations.

Quilt Fest Gala Dinner on October 1st is open to the public! Heidi Lund will be our after dinner speaker, she will be bringing her wearable art to share with us. This event takes place in the upper level of the La Conner Prime Rib & Seafood House on 1st street in La Conner, and dinner starts at 6pm. Please make your reservation no later than Wednesday, Sept. 29 by calling the Museum at (360) 466-4288–the more, the merrier!

The only quilt museum in Washington & one of only thirteen in the U.S., the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum may be contacted for more information at 360-466-4288, info@laconnerquilts.com or www.laconnerquilts.com

Choose your own route, the Berry-Dairy, Fir Island or Padilla Bay Shore Trail Tour/Route.

Tulip Country Bike Tours are now offering bike rentals for the whole family in La Conner at the Port of Skagit Marina, just a 5 minute walk north of downtown La Conner.

You can explore the valley on your own or follow one of our route maps to find great lunches, big ice cream cones and enjoy the countryside. If you have two hours or two days, there are plenty of great routes to enjoy. The Port offices will check the bikes in and out, but please call Tulip County Bike Tours directly for rental reservations or questions. In addition to our bikes we offer children's tag-alongs, trailers, child seats and strollers. Prices are listed on our website.

Tulip Country Bike Tours began offering guided bike tours in April of 2007 after owners Derek and Natalie Gustafson realized that seeing the Skagit Valley by bike was an experience they wanted to share with everyone.

The touring season begins in April during the Tulip Festival where knowledgeable guides know the best routes to locate the fields when they are at their peak bloom. During the Summer months (June - Oct.), the tours feature local farm products and opportunities to explore the shoreline, back-roads and quaint towns. The "Berry-Dairy" tour is a favorite, highlighting delicious berries and farm made cheeses. Tours vary in distance from 10-25 miles depending on the tour and preference of the group. All guided tours include a comfortable bike, helmet and lunch or snacks to keep you fueled up along the way. Reservations are required.

If you can pedal, Tulip Country Bike Tours has a beautiful route you will enjoy and are happy to customize a tour for your needs. You'll feel like a local cruising through the fields and farms of the flat Skagit River delta. It's a perfect way to unwind and be active at the same time. Please call 360-424-7461, email info@countrycycling.com or visit our website, www.countrycycling.com for more information and to make reservations.

Planning a boating trip this summer involving the San Juan Islands or Desolation Sound? If so, La Conner is THE place to start and end...or anything in between. Overnight moorage is available at the La Conner Marina, and is located in the heart of La Conner only steps away from first class shopping and dining! Many of our locally owned boutiques will ship your purchases if necessary. Boaters will find almost anything they need in La Conner from the Napa store to the Boater's Discount shop to the Liquor Store & Grocery stores. If you boat with toys such as kayaks and bicycles, La Conner has even more to offer. Kayaking is beautiful through the Swinomish Channel and out to Goat Island, Skagit Island, and Hope Island. Hop on your bike and check out the beautiful scenery through the farm fields with Mt. Baker, foothills, and islands as your companions.

Be sure to pick up your La Conner Coupon Book from either the La Conner Marina or Visitor Information Center at 606 Morris Street when you stop for the night. La Conner Welcomes You!

When Anacortes residents Stan & Christine Spencer decided to open a new salon and spa, they looked at several possible locations around Skagit, Island and Whatcom counties. Expectations were high, the new location must have a good feel, positive energy, a destination town with unlimited opportunities – they chose La Conner.

Stan and Christine have drawn on their diverse corporate backgrounds to “create something a bit special” in the small business world. As a Life Coach for women and former owner of two salons in Toronto, Ontario, Christine’s desire was to create a place of beauty from the inside-out for women in particular. She wanted it to be of the highest standards with experts from all fields, offering products that were not only of the highest quality, but healthy for the environment as well.

Salon Rouge & Spa opened in La Conner in July 2009, selecting space in the Tillinghast building located at 623 Morris Street as you enter town. The ribbon-cutting, open house and fanfare of this new salon & spa was quickly followed by a loyal and growing client base. In less than eight months, Salon Rouge & Spa expanded to accommodate the growing demand for more options.

Along with the usual spa services of hair, massage, facials, waxing, manicures and pedicures – Salon Rouge offers services such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture, ayurvedic cooking classes, inch-loss body wraps, mineral salt body scrub, workshops and much more. The new double massage room is a space of tranquility that you will not want to leave!

In addition to the expanded services, Salon Rouge now features wonderful skin care products from Jane Iredale mineral make-up and GM Collin skin care. The salon also carries quality hair products from Davines, Kevin Murphy and HBL. Stan and Christine’s philosophy is to offer expert and caring staff, flexible appointments, award winning green and organic products, involvement in the community and support for women.

“Salon Rouge & Spa is a quiet refuge in a world filled with stressful demands on your body and time. Restore your balance as you experience the deep relaxation of our luxurious treatments.”

For more information about what Salon Rouge & Spa has to offer, stop by 623 Morris Street, La Conner , call 360-466-HAIR (4247) or visit www.SalonRougeLaconner.com

The 6th biennial Skagit River Poetry Festival is coming to La Conner May 20-22, 2010. . Sherman Alexie is the guest speaker on Thursday, May 20, 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Join writer, poet, social critic and comedian Sherman Alexie for an evening of raucous and biting entertainment. La Conner Middle School Auditorium, Tickets: $25

In the Hall of Light: The Work and Life of Robert Sund will be showing on May 21-22. This new 50 minute video presents the work of Skagit Valley luminary Robert Sund. Gallery Cygnus, across from Maple Hall. Friday, 4-5:30; Saturday, 8-9 am; and 1:30-3:00. Inaugural Washington State Poet Laureate Samuel Green, Mary Cornish, Lorna Crozier, Tony Curtis, Matthew Dickman, Maicael Dickman, Chris Dombrowski, Lorraine Ferra, Terrance Hayes, Lucas Howell, Ted Kooser, Kurtis Lamkin, Patrick Lane, David Mason, Tim McNulty, Valzhyna Mort, William O'Daly, Alicia Ostricker, Alberto Rids, Mrk Schafer, Susan Stewart and Robert Wrigley are all included in the lineup of speakers.

The Skagit River Poetry project began in 1998, the result of a conversation between leaders from seven rural school districts in Skagit County, Washington. These leaders hoped to create a project which would promote high literacy standards with poetry the natural vehicle.

From 1998 to the present, more than 10,000 local students have played with words while reading and writing poetry with professional poets in the classroom. Contributing poets have modeled instructional strategies to teachers and prepared a bank of poetry lessons published on this website. The companion event for this in-class work is the biennial Skagit River Poetry Festival. Beginning in 2000, a combination of regional and national poets have traveled to picturesque La Conner, Wash. for public readings, workshops, and panels offered over two days.

http://www.Skagitriverpoetry.org

The tulips are blooming and La Conner is ready to welcome you! Top 5 things to do in La Conner's Channel Town after or before you visit the tulip fields.

1: 2010 Sculpture Walking Tour - Fun for people of all ages. Shop along the way at La Conner's locally owned boutiques, galleries, & specialty shops. Download the walking tour map HERE

2: Experience Native American Art - Spin the spiritual wheel at Maple Hall, check out the canoes behind town hall, and the art at Gilkey Square.

3: Enjoy a glass of wine on the pier while listening to the artistic waterfall cascade into the salish sea and viewing wildlife on the channel - located behind the Lime Dock Building. Follow-up with with lunch or dinner at La Conner's award winning restuarants.

4: La Conner is a 3 museum Channel Town - Explore the Museum of Northwest Art, The Quilt & Textile Museum, and the Skagit Valley Historical Museum.

5: Before your drive home walk the trails of pioneer park and then stroll the Rainbow Bridge to take some keepsake photos.

photo credit: Chris Watkins

The majestic Gray whales which are 35 ton 35-50ft in length winter in Mexico and have their young in the warm waters of the Baja area.

In January – February they begin there yearly migration to Alaska, and Russian waters.

Every year approximately 20,000 males females and young head up the California, Oregon, Washington coastline.

Of the 20,000 Gray whales approximately 200 enter into the Straits of San De Fuca. Of the 200 there is a small group of 15-20 whales that return to our area every year. They are all named and ID. For example Patches #44 is one of the largest and most prolific. Every year these whales start returning to the same area, beginning mid to late March and stay till mid to late May.

You ask why they return. It’s for the food. These whales are stopping here for a very short period of time to fatten up for their trip north. In fact it’s the mud shrimp. La Conner and the Saratoga Passage area from Deception Pass to Coupeville to Langley to Camano Island have an abundance of mud shrimp.

The Gray whales dig big pits in the mud to root the shrimp out. They roll on their sides and slap their pectoral fins and cruise majestically along the surface. Ever so often they even breech out of the water. What a sight to behold!

Take the time and come see these fascinating mammals they are truly one of the wonders of the world.

Whale watching cruises out of La Conner aboard the 100ft. Mystic Sea Depart 10:30am Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from La Conner Channel Lodge Dock, 201 First Street, 98257 Boarding 10am Return 3-4pm Cruises begin April 2, and run through May 14th. Please call for reservations 800-308-9387 or you may book online www.mysticseacharters.com

View acres and acres of Daffodils without the crowds in March!

photo credit: Kitty Bluhm

The Museum of Northwest Art will hold its annual fundraiser, MoNA Style, on Saturday, March 6, 2010, from 10am-4pm. Twenty-five artists from the region will show and sell their artist-designed clothing, jewelry, textiles, accessories and elements for the home at the museum to complement our Northwest lifestyle. Admission to the event is FREE. Proceeds, after commissions to the artists, support the Museum's education programs and exhibitions.

MoNA Style has added new features this year: informal modeling, a silent auction, and a raffle will be offered to tempt the shopper. Models showing artists' creations can be seen at four local restaurants during the lunch service. The theme of art shoes has inspired invited artists to create shoes in a variety of materials. The shoes will be available by silent auction and many can be seen in La Conner store windows a month before the event. Paintings and other fashion related work will be raffle prizes.

We are honored to showcase the following well-known regional artists who have created a variety of amusing, whimsical and surprising shoe creations for this years' MoNA Style: Kathryn Glowen, Allan Moe, Sue Roberts, Cathy Schoenberg and Maggie Wilder. The artists' works are shown nationally in prominent galleries. Zobra’s painting, Ode to Gaza B, a color rich work, is offered as the grand raffle prize.

Greet the coming spring with a treat for yourself or for your home, by browsing through the wonderful selections at MoNA Style where you may find the perfect one-of-a-kind garment, that special pair of earrings, or the ideal accessory. Make it a day—come with friends to shop at MoNA Style, have lunch, watch the models—enjoy!

MoNA STYLE 2009 HIGHLIGHTS

Doors Open: 10am (Free Admission) 25 Artisan Vendors on 2nd Floor of Museum

Participating Restaurants - Roving Models at Lunch: 11:30am-1:30pm

La Conner Brewing Company

La Conner Seafood & Prime Rib House

Kerstin's

Nell Thorn Restaurant & Pub

La Conner...Where Life is Art!

La Conner has the traditional polar bear swim every December, but this is the first Skinny Dip!

This Saturday from 1-6 at Hellams Vineyard (Historic Lime Dock Building) Emily Schafer, Lighthouse Massage and Joan Barlow, Native Springs Natural Skincare, Sandy Vess, Reflexology, will team up to offer you spa treatments we like to call "skinny dips" during the Saturday wine tasting event at Hellams.

Emily will be doing chair massage at $1 per minute with the first 5 minutes FREE! Joan will be offering soothing hand and arm treatments with the calcium bentonite clay 20min/$15. Sandy doing reflexology on the feet for $1/min.

Taste a complete flight of wines and get pampered in La Conner!

Art Credit Marion Derrett

Old fashioned holiday traditions begin in La Conner. La Conner's historic buildings line the Swinomish Channel crowned by the orange Rainbow Bridge. Peacefullness and tranquility abounds in the town of no stoplights, no speed limits over 25, and where everyone knows your name.

Decorated and lighted boats will be joining the eagles, herons, and seals up and down the Swinomish Channel Saturday December 12th for the annual lighted boat parade starting at 6:30.

From eco-friendly gift making to live music, check out the entire list of La Conner Events & Happenings and begin your old fashioned holiday tradition making in La Conner.

December 4 - 6th is "Ladies Getaway" weekend in La Conner. Ladies stay at La Conner Country Inn for $89.00 or on the water @ La Conner Channel Lodge for $119. Saturday December 5th, 3PM the fun starts at La Conner Country Inn! Grab your girlfriends & come make more. A night full of pampering, shopping, fine food, wine & fabulous women await you.

3:00 PM Treasure hunt starts. Don't be late! Prizes for everyone!

4:00 - 8:00 PM - Salon Rouge will be at the Inn providing $5.00 1/2 hour Foot Detox treatments, Pro-Derm Scan & photo's & Anti Aging Galvanic spa treatments! (regularly $40.00 each!) Don't miss out on these amazing services at such a sweet deal!

5:00 PM - Learn how to find your true beauty. Demonstrations on how to transform your skin by Nationally known beauty maven, cosmetic guru & insider to the insiders Erin Orden.

4:00 - 8:00 PM Find the perfect accent to your outfit with hand made creations by Shanden Templar - our very own jewelry designer; Cookie Lee jewelry, Gorgeous TSA hand bags and accessories & much more! Find a dramatic new look or expand your unique style with exquisite & tasteful fashion accessories from The Finest Accessories. From vibrant electric patent purses to elegant opera wallets and one of a kind hair accessories, be the woman that gets noticed this season. Astrid will be offering free consultations to help you select the right gift for yourself and the special people on your gift list.

Snacks and refreshments will be provided. Feel free to bring a bottle of wine to enjoy with your friends. We'll provide the glasses. Hellam's Vineyard is offering 10% discounts and providing prizes for all attending this fantastic event.

Shops are staying open late Saturday just for you! Please RSVP to Shanden@laconnerlodging.com Enjoy $5.00 Cosmos and Lemon Drops at Palmers Restaurant all weekend long! 10% off on other cocktails for all ladies!

Sunday December 6th Palmers is hosting "Girls Night Out" with Great food, Games & Raffles. A Benefit for N.O.A.H. (Local no kill animal shelter) 4 - 7pm Phone Kim Bowen at 360-629-7055 for more info or to RSVP. $25.00 donation.

Not only do the Seniors at La Conner Retirement Inn support the La Conner Skateboard Park as reported by the Skagit Valley Herald and the Seattle Times, but so does the business community, the town council, and the residents. Recently the town council voted to approve a partnership with the school district to build the La Conner Skate Park.

The 2nd Annual Turkey Trot is supported by the business community who has donated money, prizes, and supplies for the annual turkey trot. Business owners, residents, and community leaders will be running this year. “Our goal for the 2nd Annual Turkey Trot is to have over 100 participants” said Head Turkey and PTA president Kelly Harper.

The 5K race is on Thanksgiving Morning, November 26th, 2009 starting at 8:30 am at the La Conner Middle School. Registration starts at 7:30 am and is available the day of the race or you can pre-register. The La Conner Turkey Trot is a non-competitive race as participants predict their time with the closet predictions being the winners. No watches allowed turkeys! Cost is $10 per racer or $30 per family and donations gladly accepted. Bring your entire family and join us for a pre-turkey race to support a great cause for kids.

Caution: Wild Turkeys may be on the race course.

Skagit River Poetry Project Wins Golden Apple Award LA CONNER, WA – The Skagit River Poetry Project has won a prestigious KCTS 9 Golden Apple Award for its long-running Poetry-in-the-Schools program. The award honors programs and individuals for promoting excellence in statewide education.

Organizers of the poetry program, working with local school districts, have brought top poets from around the globe into Skagit and Whatcom County classrooms for week-long residencies since 1998. The poets help teachers develop lesson plans, lead group discussions, and work intensely with students, from elementary to college level, sparking their imaginations.

Every two years, the Skagit River Poetry Project also organizes a three-day spring festival (www.skagitriverpoetry.org) that brings internationally acclaimed poets to La Conner for readings, workshops, and panel discussions. The 2010 festival, May 20-22, will include such headliners as National Book Award winner Sherman Alexie and Pulitzer Prize poet Ted Kooser. One day of the festival is devoted to high-school students trained by resident poets and educators.

The panel that selected the program for an award – a panel including representatives from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington Education Association, Washington State Parent Teacher Association, and the Association of Washington School Principals – cited Poetry-in-the-Schools for its lasting impact: “In connecting students with poets, the Skagit River Poetry Project helps build literacy, encourages a larger worldview, and provides tools for lifelong reflection and creative thought.”

The statewide Golden Apple Awards program is sponsored by KCTS 9 and funded by PEMCO Insurance and the School Employees Credit Union of Washington. Three programs and seven individuals were honored with 2009 awards.

Winners will be honored in ceremonies held Jan. 15 in Seattle, and featured in a prime-time broadcast on public television stations statewide in February 2010. (Airdates to be announced.)

For more information on the Poetry-in-the-Schools program, contact Skagit River Poetry Project director Molly McNulty at 360-422-6033, mmcnultymb@yahoo.com.

Once again our numerous local turkeys are getting national press. The La Conner Town Council voted 3-1 earlier this month to thin La Conner's wild turkeys (the official town bird) from 18 to a more manageable 7 birds.

Where did these La Conner wild turkeys come from anyway? Kris Schmaltz of La Conner has a good idea. Several months preceeding the 1994 appearance of wild turkeys in La Conner , Kris was given two six month old wild turkeys to release in their backyard filled with brush and food for the wild turkeys. Ansel Hyland, of Guemes Island, raised the turkeys. The wild turkey eggs were in 28 days of incubation before they hatched. Ansel fed the turkeys for 6 months before giving them to Kris. These two turkeys were of the North America eastern wild turkey variety.

Wild turkeys eat bugs, berries, grass shoots, and dandelions in the wild. If you would like to feed the wild turkeys to keep them around, they enjoy corn and apples.

Click Here to take the La Conner Wild Turkey survey

La Conner ... No Stoplights, No Speed Limits over 25, and a flock of Wild Turkeys. Keep it real in Channel Town.

View Turkey Video

The sound of the slapping of the halyards rings familiar to Dorothy and Zobra. These two dedicated artists left Guemes Island after 30yrs, selling their straw-bale house for a 43 ft Pilothouse cutter now called home. As the tides change so did their life. Now docked off a pier in the middle of La Conner they are steps away from another interest that brought them here, Mona – The Museum of Northwest Art.

MONA has been a passion of Dorothy’s for years, being involved when she lived on Guemes Island. She has supported the museum as a docent, an employee in the gift shop or as a volunteer especially for ‘Mona Style’- the vibrant ‘wearable’ art show. This show spoke to Dorothy because of her own labor –intensive wearable art inspired by the use of color and ways to utilize color together. Her creations range from quilts to knit-wear and if you’re lucky you will find her at the museum in one of her own handmade creations.

Zobra is just as passionately involved with Mona including designing this year’s ‘MONA Style’ shoe poster – this contribution of art stems from a life-long career in advertising as a graphic designer. Walking distance from his floating home and a stones throw from the museum, Zobra, along with other partners, has recently opened ‘Gallery 109’ at the end of First Street in La Conner. This co-op gallery gives you a taste of local creations including Zobra’s own paintings and will also exhibit ‘guest star artists’ throughout the year.

Color, water, and the towns easy access for simple living inspire these two pillars of the community to continue working with their hands to create art. Their involvement and support to many of the active artists in La Conner generate cultural and creative experiences for us all to appreciate.

La Conner....Where Life is Art

Benjamin Bob Bado (a.k.a. “B”) is the proud owner of "Olive" -- THE GREEN MACHINE -- La Conner's unique answer to a growing request for a "Green" Town Taxi Service. He'll pull up a seat, so you can rest your feet! "Olive," is a fully licensed and insured, 21-speed, authentic Chinese pedicab -- fully equipped with an electric-assist motor, hydraulic disc brakes, turn signals, deluxe canopy, and a wide variety of bells and horns for "Kids of ALL Ages" -- that offers FREE RIDES, delivery services, unique photo opts & Good Ol' Fashioned FUN to residents and visitors of La Conner alike!

"Olive," THE GREEN MACHINE, easily seats 3 adults (700lbs comfortably), plus a couple of "little ones" with the help of a lap or two... and is "pet friendly!" The Green Machine’s 24/7 service area currently extends from Queen of The Valley Inn, to Potlatch Resort & The Marina, to the base of Rainbow Bridge and all points in-between. Olive 2.0's new high-tech electric motor even makes going up to the top of the hill to see the "Wild Turkeys of La Conner" as effortless (and FUN) as saying: "Gobble-gobble!"

“B” grew up in Utica, NY and graduated w/honors from the Boston University College of Engineering. During college "B" worked as a bicycle messenger and part-time waiter and also won 2 Boston Music Awards while sharing the stage with a broad spectrum of artists (the likes of Barry Manilow, Jimmy Buffet, The Mighty-Mighty Bosstones, Jalan Crossland, Jenn Adams, Dan Blakeslee, and Dropkick Murphys). After the birth of his first child, "B" started learning the ropes of pedicabing and became the Team Leader for a charitable organization raising money for Dana-Farber Cancer Research... all the while, maintaining a bicycle-pizza-delivery gig on the side.

"B" arrived in La Conner in early Spring and instantly fell in love with the La Conner's simplicity, natural beauty, and genuine hospitality. After spending several weeks in town, "rubbing-brains" with several local business owners and town officials, "B" realized that there was a void where "Perpetual Dreamers & Professional Smilemakers" were concerned... (not to mention: Local Public Transportation)... and the rest, they say, is: "a Mystery!"

"B" is now happily serenading couples (with his travel guitar) on the boardwalk at sunset, weaving in-and-out of the sculptures at Gilkey Park, and causing a ripple effect of smiles as he passes by! On any given day you can find "B" (all decked out wearing a feather boa) gliding up and down the streets of La Conner, ringing his bells, honking his horns, blowing bubbles, and (whenever possible) practicing random acts of kindness. "B" donates 25% of all proceeds to Kiwanis, Boys & Girls Club, Arbor Day Foundation, and The Friendship House. Ring 360-333-0332 for a ride worth bragging to your friends about!

La Conner is one of 15 race locations chosen in the Puget Sound area for the Sound Rowers Open Water Rowing and Paddling Club. The race started at Pioneer Park which is on the Cascadian Marine Trail and boasts a boat ramp, a camping area, a covered pavillion with fireplace and an outdoor amphitheatre all within walking distance of the 10 blocks of galleries, boutique, museums, and restaurants.

About 65 boats including kayaks, outrigger canoes, rowboats, peddleboats and paddleboards participated in the 7-mile race. The race was low-key, but highly competitive. The rowers experienced the Swinomish Channel which includes the historic district of La Conner, rowing under the beautiful Rainbow bridge and out into the wild nature of Skagit Bay where the fresh water of the third largest river on the West Coast, the Skagit River, meets the salty waters of the North Puget Sound.

Sound Rowers Open Water Rowing and Paddling Club is a volunteer, non-profit organization whose sole function is to sponsor human-powered boat racing for weekend and world class athletes. Race participants include Olympians and septuagenarians, and are roughly equal in numbers of kayakers and rowers, with a few canoeists and occasional exotic craft making regular appearances.

The Sound Rowers are one of many who have seen the beauty, diversity and adventure in the La Conner waterways....Put the Kayak on the rack and book a room in La Conner to catch the experience!

Michael Wirth answers to the name “Neon,” and that’s what most people call him here in La Conner. Not because he’s colorful and has a somewhat electric aura -- although that’s true -- but because Michael can take a glowing tube of glass and made it a work of art, literally.

Michael is one of a handful of artists who make neon their medium and can take a material typically associated with beer signs and tattoo parlors and create sublime, abstract images that move and wink through the leaves of a tree, or from the depths of a murky canal, or in the dark corner of a room.

He brought his own kind of color to La Conner from a distant place – New Jersey – where he was affectionately known as the “neon guru.” He has worked in scientific glass blowing, commercial signs and lighting; but his passion is in the artistic realm. Michael likes to tell his stories in colored light which is, he points out, rooted in glass and neon gas, both natural substances generated from our own earth. He likes to develop glowing structures that enhance natural settings rather than compete with them and as a result he’s created pieces such as a 20-foot DNA helix that swings between two trees and which, he points out, attracts the interest of local insects. In another piece he allows plants to grow though and around a ceiling mounted indoor sculpture. And on the Florida coast, drum-fish, otherwise obscured by dark water at night, can be seen gliding over his underwater neon sculpture that glows on the floor of a canal.

Here in the northwest, he says, “The dramatic views and natural environment inspire me. Being in a place where water comes together in a river delta, with the motion that convergence creates, I find that very conducive to creativity.”

Michael says he likes the way neon can brighten the grays of a northwest winter day and is now working on sustainability, designing and building sculptures powered by the sun, to glow with the sun’s residual power in the dark of night.

Neon Mike is just one of many artists living & working in La Conner...Where Life IS Art.

La Conner was used as the cover photo for the first edition of "The Great Towns of America" (published in 1998), and is included in the fully revised, new edition. La Conner remains on the list of America's 100 top towns for a vacation or a lifetime.

Some of the merchants in La Conner are making sure the path is clear for your visit to a winter wonderland seaside village this week! Boutiques, Galleries, Hotels, and Restaurants are OPEN and looking beautiful in the sparkly snow. So put on your scarf, whistle a holiday tune, and stroll the village of La Conner.

Over 200 La Connerites frolicked at Gilkey Square Saturday evening at the Community Tree Lighting. The highlight was Santa arriving by Fire Truck! The younger La Connerites were delighted to see Santa. When Santa's magic dust wasn't working properly to light the tree, the children were right there to help him out. The live music, wonderful cider and cookies, and the feeling of community made for an exceptional festive evening in La Conner.

La Conner ~ Making Spirits Bright!

The First 3 Saturdays of December are Local Appreciation Shopping Days in La Conner! Participating store will be staying open later and offering special discounts.

The business community of La Conner would like to thank YOU for shopping local this Holiday Season.

You are invited to enjoy La Conner when the seasons collide: select gourds and pumpkins for fall, play on the beach and enjoy the last summer berries & produce and even scope out your Christmas tree. Celebrate the harvest and shows & our hometown hospitality with an “open barn” celebration featuring: Farm tours (12 to choose from!) including dairy, row crop, animal, organic, orchard, shellfish and Christmas tree Fresh produce, dairy, beef and shellfish markets and roadside stands Delectable treats and free samples Hands-on children’s activities: veggie car races, artificial cow milking, veggie art, oyster shuffleboard & more! Hay rides, pony rides & horse drawn wagons Scarecrow making & corn mazes U-pick and pre-picked pumpkin patches Farm animal viewing, petting and walking Meet the farmer sessions and educational exhibits Farm equipment displays…. and much more! Begin & end your tour in the Historic Waterfront Village of La Conner ~ The Heart of the Skagit Valley! Experience the diversity, beauty and bounty of “Washington’s backyard.” Saturday 10-5 pm and Sunday 12-4 pm.

The entire month of September is Quilt Festival time in La Conner! Come stroll the Historic Town of La Conner and view quilts by the "Fidalgo Island Quilters" in the shops & galleries. Then mark your calendars for September 26th-28th for a visit to the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum & Maple Hall featuring new exhibits by textile artist Reynola Pakusich & textile group "SiX" based in the United Kingdom. Sign up for textile workshops by Roxanne Carter, Judy Irish & Anita Mayer. Specialty vendors will be offering unique gifts & textile supplies.

The La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum if the only quilt museum in Washington & one of only thirteen in the United States. The La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum may be contacted for more information at 360-466-4288, info@laconnerquilts.com or www.laconnerquilts.com.

La Conner....A slower pace, friendly locals, home grown organic food served in many of our restaurants, oldest town in Skagit Valley, Rainbow Bridge and the business district both are listed as historical landmarks, sheltered boating wayfare, perfect for biking, and more! We Welcome You!

With record-high gas prices forcing people to stay closer to home instead of driving or flying long distances, La Conner is offering "Staycationers" the opportunity to save money and get treated like a local. "I’ve seen a trend of guests coming from near-by communities that are first time La Conner visitors" quotes Shelly Davis, Queen of the Valley Inn owner. La Conner's Lodging & Shopping Merchants are offering gas cards, discounts or upgrades with a 3 night stay.

Click Here for Staycation Specials! *photo credit: www.conniecoleman.com

La Connerites have always know that La Conner is one of the most bicycling friendly towns around, but now it's official! Citing our state’s bicycle policies, facilities and programs, the League of American Bicyclists named Washington as the nation’s No. 1 “Bicycle Friendly State.” This award, the first ever to be given to an entire state, was announced during the National Pro Bike – Pro Walk Conference in Seattle on Sept. 5, 2008. The Bicycle Friendly State Program is a recognition program that ranks a state’s bike-friendliness and recognizes states that actively support bicycling as a way of addressing climate change, traffic congestion, obesity and high fuel prices. States are rated based on their encouragement of bicycling through legislation, policies and programs, education and encouragement, places to ride, and planning. Forgot to bring your bike? La Conner has bicycles for rent! Offered by Tulip Country Bike Tours, bike & stroller rentals are available at the La Conner Marina office located at 613 N. Second St, La Conner. Open 7 days/wk 8:00-5:00. Call 360-466-3118.

How many towns do you know of that have a "museum to people" ratio of 1 museum for every 300 folks? La Conner!

The Museum of Northwest Art presents a new exhibit by artist Ginny Ruffner. Opening July 4 – October 5, 2008 "Aesthetic Engineering: The Imagination Cycle" features new large-scaled sculpture and installation work that cross-fertilizes flora, fauna, and art. This exhibition is a mix of glass, steel, and bronze with explosive flowers, massive leaves, and twisted growing vines, including over 1,000 flowers, and eighteen freestanding sculptures made from bronze, steel, and glass.

The La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum presents: "Path to Edo: Quilts from Japan" July 16 - September 21, 2008 Miwako Kimura, curator and director of the Hanatsunagi-kai Quilt Club in Japan, brings the life and color of Japanese culture to the Northwest in this dazzling exhibit of works produced by a group of quilters from her native land. Edo, now the modern day Tokyo, is also the name of a period in Japan's rich history that would prove to influence Japanese culture for generations to follow. Guest curator Miwako Kimura highlights this enormous and ongoing cultural impact with "Path to Edo", a selection of over 60 quilts created by an array of Japanese quilters. This show, the sixth in a series of highly anticipated visits by Miwako and these Japanese quilters, highlights the marriage between traditional and modern culture in Japan.

The Skagit Valley Historical Museum is celebrating their 40th Anniversary this month! La Conner – “Lost Cities of Skagit: Rediscovering Places of Our Past,” the new featured exhibit at Skagit County Historical Museum, will run February 9 - November 2, 2008. Through rarely seen photographs, maps, stories and artifacts, the exhibit tells the intriguing tales of 17 “lost” Skagit communities including Avon, Bancroft, Bay View, Cypress, Cokedale, Dewey, Finn Settlement, Fir/Conway, Harmony, Hickson/Thornwood, Hoogdal, Marblemount, Milltown, Montborne, Samish/Atlanta, Sauk and Skagit City.

La Conner Photo by Connie Coleman

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Jennings Yarn & Needlecrafts wins the final week window display contest with The Little Village. The Village of La Conner is the place to shop for the Holidays! Where else can you shop at all locally owned boutiques and galleries? Think Global, Shop Local.

Bears N' Friends wins the third week La Conner Window Display Contest. La Conner's Vintage Holiday was enjoyed by all who visited! Peforming Arts, Lighted Boat Parade, Animated Window Displays, and beautiful lights everywhere! Come Visit La Conner during the Winter Holidays.

Each week one La Conner Business will win the "Best Window Display of the Week" Award. We have a pair of local window shoppers working undercover to choose the best display each week. You may be able to spot these undercover volunteers if you happen to see the most adorable couple walking daily hand in hand. Nasty Jack's World Famous Antiques took the first week award with a Vintage Frosty the Snowman being decorated by children in motion, circa 1940. Come Stroll the Historic Waterfront Village of La Conner while taking in the Animated Holiday Display Windows and Lights!

King 5 Evening Magazine visited La Conner last week via seaplane to cover the 23rd Annual Arts Alive Festival AND The Wild Iris Inn! The Wild Iris Inn of La Conner took first place as Western Washington's Best Bed & Breakfast. The Wild Iris Inn can be described as a small, intimate boutique hotel, country inn, romantic retreat, but certainly never ordinary. Located in downtown LaConner, Washington, the inn is a short four block walk to the Swinomish Channel and the unique boutiques & galleries on First Street & Morris Street. La Conner has a wide array of Lodging Options from Artistic Guest Houses to Waterfront Inns. Book a Room Today! La Conner...Small Town - Big Scene!

Excitement is growing in La Conner. Who will win eight whopping giveaways this fall? For instance, there’s a Feel Good Package, including fine dining, entertainment and spa visits or choices of getaway packages for girlfriends, families and romantics. There’s even a Wedding Package valued at $3,145. Monthly announcement of winners start in October. It’s easy to join the fun. Just click on La Conner Giveaway E-Mailing List and read prize details. Add your e-mail address. Then starting in January, you’ll receive a free newsletter updating you on events and happenings in your favorite getaway – the historical waterfront village with the landmark Rainbow Bridge.

Listen for the town crier proclaiming “Paint La Conner” as artists capture scenes of the Rainbow Bridge or views of the historical waterfront. Non-stop activity at Maple Hall includes 40 artists showing their work, demonstrations, shows, sales, auctions, and face painting for the kids. As you stroll downtown, stop at the Museum of Northwest Art and enjoy eclectic glasswork, international quilt displays at the La Conner Quilt museum or agricultural photos at the Skagit County Historical Museum. Premier galleries and boutiques offer browsing pleasure for art connoisseurs and for anyone appreciating beautiful objects.