Inn Chronicles

Bike in to the Inn

Nathan — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:01:26 +0000

Port Townsend’s not on the way to anywhere. That’s kind of the point of a peninsula – as well as the point of coming here to relax. Neither is it close to anywhere. We currently drive 45 minutes to buy a lot of our supplies. So you can perhaps forgive our surprise when guests arrived asking where they could store their bicycles.

“From Seattle? Really?”

We were impressed. And a little non-plussed since we didn’t really have a good answer. That’s why this spring we added a a sweet little bike port with a redoubtable rack. So for those who think nothing of a 60 mile ride up from Bainbridge – we’re ready for you.

Come ride on in...

Everything’s coming up roses…

Nathan — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:43:58 +0000

With spring upon us we re turning our attention outdoors to the gardens. When we bought the inn last year Cindy made it clear that we’d be creating a garden. What wasn’t quite clear to me at the time – and just maybe not to her – was that we’d be surrounding the entire yard with an arbor to support roses and clematis or that we’d be planting 16 roses bushes in our first spring. Nothing seems to be going slowly when it comes to our renovations. So come visit to see how things are shaping up. Little bushes today. And yes, I promise to post pictures soon….

We’re back…

Nathan — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:18:36 +0000

We must apologize for the rather lengthy silence here at The Inn Chronicles. While the editor-in-chief (Cindy) and reporting staff (also Cindy) have been more than willing to publish and literally overflowing with wonderful subject matter (renovations, Victorian Festival, new arbor, and roses), the distribution team (Nathan & his invisible WordPress minions) took a powder. It is with some chagrin that we announce that our hiaitus is at an end. Let the presses roll!

The Hesitations of Spring

Cindy — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:32:26 +0000

The camellia and lilac in our back yard are starting to flower. So is the Christmas cactus in our foyer. Little bulbs are poking up dressed in pale green. And the wind is cold enough to freeze the, um, ears off a brass monkey - and they are forecasting a bit of snow for tomorrow. This is a great season: through the volatile weather there is a surging sense of energy and hope for new growth.

The Inn looks across the bay to the islands, I walk Urse in the silent woods and on long stretches of beach. Every day I am aware of the energy inherent in the natural part of our world. I consider myself blessed to have it just one step outside my door… close enough that I take my cup of tea with me….

Oh joy! It’s a Dog’s World!

Cindy — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:03:17 +0000

We are ready to receive discerning canine guests in Victorian style!

We love traveling with our dog, Urse. It’s fun to see the world from her viewpoint and it’s a LOT more fun to run on a beach with a dog than without. With a dog companion, you have to stop and smell the roses.

When we purchased the Inn, we decided to create a dog-friendly room because we know from experience that no B&Bs in Port Townsend allow them, and darned few hotels. So as soon as things slowed down in January we pulled up carpet, refinished floors, repainted woodwork, found less-easily damaged antiques and washable quilts, put in a stock of pet toys and bought Old Consulate Dog bowls. What fun!

The Rose Suite is ready for cold wet noses and bright curious eyes!

(Our new dog policy can be reviewed HERE.)

The Victorian Power Strip

Cindy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:46:23 +0000

It is an interesting fact about old homes… the few electrical outlets they have are invariably strangely placed. Several of ours are behind the king-sized bed (tough to get to) or across the room from the one table. And while we are conscientiously bringing ever more authentic Victorian sensibility to our Inn, we have to admit that we travel with our computers. And phones. And cameras. And the occasional medical apparatus. We need outlets. And so do our guests.

Therefore, let it be known that the Old Consulate Inn is in the process of accessibly placing grounded outlets (in the form of a Monster Mini Powerstrip) on the bedside tables. True, they are anachronistic. But we are hoping that they are so ubiquitous in our world, that the eye will pass gently over them, while the mind pounces on them with relief…

Those of you who travel without the need for electricity, we salute you and thank you for your understanding.

Vacation…

Nathan — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:51:48 +0000

: Sunset in Lahaina

Well, in case you ever wondered, B&B owners do indeed get vacations. Or at least we do. It was clear from the begining that if we were going to make our guests happy we were going to have to stay happy ourselves and that entailed ensuring we got some down time. So it was built in that the first year we got a week off and after that we got at least two. Surprisingly, the bankers reviewing our business plan were delighted we were being so pragmatic. We have just returned from that promised week-off. I’m here to tell you it was not a good idea. It was genius. We were reminded of the value of good service and the joy of discovering a new world. We are back – and, yes, very happy to be so – we seem to have even brought a little sun along with us. And now it’s time to get back to the lives and work we love.

Aloha!

Cider? Beer? Here!

Cindy — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:36:47 +0000

The weekend of January 28th brings us the Port Townsend Strange Brew Fest. If you were looking for quiet, reflective tasting, um, … don’t come. If you like your beer and cider with funky bands and great ribs, then this just might be what you’ve been waiting for. The Festival encourages the breweries and cideries (20 lined up so far) to create unique brews that are frequently only sold at this event. Check out the website and the breweries attending: www.StrangeBrewFestPT.com

Might we mention, in passing, that you can walk to this event from The Old Consulate Inn. Ok, it is a longish walk (about 9 blocks) but the crisp air will do your head a world of good. Show us your ticket to the event, and get 10% off your room for the night. AND get a 3 course breakfast the next morning!

The party’s in Port Townsend.

Red Wine and Chocolate Tasting in February!

Cindy — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:36:08 +0000

OK, I have to say that after 15 years in the wine industry, I grew to greatly mistrust the pairing of red wine and chocolate. For my taste, it tends to dampen the richness of the chocolate and makes the wine taste sour. Having said that, there was one extraordinary pairing that sent me tripping amid the stars: luscious, velvety, and extraordinarily flavorful, it brought out amazing fruit nuances in the wine and an extra deep richness from the chocolate. To reach that nirvana again, I am willing to keep trying… And I have found that these tastings are a fantastic way to discover really extraordinary red wines and some exquisite chocolates, with or without each other! May we invite you to come revel in the rich wines and chocolates of the Olympic Penninsula. February 11, 12 and 18, 19, 20. http://www.olympicpeninsulawineries.org/redwinechocolate.php

May you find your own personal nirvana. I’ll be looking for mine!

No TV

Nathan — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:33:17 +0000

As an innkeeper, as a host, as a person, I don’t like to disappoint people. In general, if someone comes to me saying “I was hoping for…” then I want to say, “Sure. Here you go.” But there’s an exception to my magnanimity: tv.

Over the last 6 months, we’ve had a handful of guests ask about television, generally for videos or sports. By now we could have gone out and bought one but that simply isn’t what the Inn is about. Ironically, with a television on, communication stops. At least the kind of communication that matters to me. Instead of talking about their lives, their friends, their books, their interest - with a television people just listen.

We’re coming up on the Super Bowl and I KNOW someone at the Inn that weekend is going to be sad. That is, unless we do a preemptive strike. So Cindy and I are announcing the No Bowl Weekend. There’s a pun in there about “noble,” but I’ll leave well enough alone. Anyhow, if you’re a huge sports fan, please join us one of the other 51 weekends this year. If you must plug into the telebroadcast stream, please bring something that’ll work off our wifi. And if you’re like me and don’t have enough time for all the things in life that can be done in a room without an LCD shrine at its focal point, come join the conversation and savor the peace.