Category Archives: Food

Visit the Gig Harbor Marina and Boatyard

Recently we had friends from out of town stay at the The Gig Harbor Marina and Boatyard, giving us an opportunity to see up-close-and-personal what a cool place it is!

A long-time fixture in the Gig Harbor community, the Marina dates back to the early 1900s. These days, however, it provides much more than simply boat moorage and repair. Today’s GH Marina is just as well-known as an event venue, training facility, and hospitality suite, and is a hub of daily activity on the waterfront.

Customers will find well-maintained docks and moorage slips, haul out and repair services, technology and vehicles to maintain every caliber of boat, high-speed Wi-Fi, and a up-to-date and responsive website for convenient payment and service requests (we always find a good website to be a big plus!). The Marina is also a sought-after event location, offering a gorgeous, covered, open-air venue (hello weddings, concerts, receptions; you name it!) as well as a beautifully-renovated apartment with two private decks overlooking the waterfront, available for booking through VRBO.

There are also boats available for booking as hospitality suites, including The Eagle, originally built for musician Steve Miller. Our friends stayed a few nights on The Eagle and it was fun to play Steve’s keyboard (original to the boat) and listen to his record albums (yes, real old vinyl) on the stereo. It was blast from the past and had us humming, “Fly like an eagle … to the sea . . . let my spirit carry me . . .” for days afterward!

Perhaps one of the most fun aspects of the Marina is the little red trolley car nestled on the lawn out front. It’s technically not affiliated but it’s certainly a fixture on the premises, and serves up delicious food for guests and passersby alike. You should check it out: stop by for some fish and chips or fish tacos or any of its other tasty offerings, and enjoy a “taste” of this iconic Gig Harbor gem!

(c) 2018 Doug Lawrence Real Estate. All Rights Reserved.

Doug Lawrence is a foodie, travel junkie, and 80s music fan who supports his adventures by working as a real estate broker based in Gig Harbor, Washington. Give him a shout if he can help you with your real estate buying, selling, or investment needs, not only in Gig Harbor, but anywhere around the world. http://www.douglawrencerealestate.com

 

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

(Close) Quarters for the Holidays

As much as I love summer and sunshine, winter—and the holiday and festive occasions it presents—is by far my favorite time of year. I am a sucker for the lights and music and the food (and did I mention the food?)! But for me, the “the most wonderful time of the year” is all about family and friends.

My wife and I have a large family and we love to hang out together. We also like to maintain an open-door policy with that rather large family and any of their friends. This offer of hospitality will often include an overnight stay or two at Stone’s Throw, our home.

If the holidays will be bringing overnight guests to your house too, you may be looking for some ideas about how to accommodate them. With that in mind, here are some helpful ideas to provide the warmest and most inviting guest spaces for the holidays. (Guest room not required.)

  1. Create a warm welcome and environment. Fresh towels, chocolates on the pillow, and a bottle of water or two close by, and do not forget an extra amazing cozy blanket.
  2. If your living room doubles as your spare room, be creative by creating an area that lends itself to sleeping. Add a screen for privacy and invest in a good quality airbed. Add as many bedroom-type touches as is practical. Create a little nightstand and a place to charge a cell phone.
  3. Also remember: when your living space doubles as a sleeping space, be sensitive to your guests’ need for rest. When we have a houseful, we often will give our master bedroom to guests and we will use the airbed in the living room. This especially helpful if your guests have a little one. Plus, it allows us to move about late at night or early in the morning and not disturb our guests.
  4. Make an effort to provide a space for luggage and personal belongings. No one wants to have to keep moving their stuff every morning and back again in the evening. A luggage rack or closet, or even a private corner of the room, are some ideas.
  5. Be sure to help your guests feel at home. Share house rules if any and direct them to all provisions and amenities (food, drink, hot tub, Wi-Fi password, TV remote instructions, etc.)
  6. Keep yourself sane. Go for your walk or run in the morning and drink your glass of wine in the evening. Be flexible with everything else.
  7. Not everyone loves your furry friends as much as you do. If you are a little tight on space this holiday, consider boarding your pets to allow for less congestion. We will be boarding our two dogs for a few strategic days this month.

I love this time of year and I look forward to sharing it with family and friends both near and far. I hope you, too, are able to take the most of this amazing opportunity to enjoy this time of year—along with all who will gather in your home.

Doug Lawrence is a licensed broker with Keller Williams West Sound in Gig Harbor, Washington, serving Pierce and Kitsap Counties and referring across the United States and around the world.  Whatever your real estate needs may be, now or in the New Year, you can find him at www.douglawrencerealestate.com.

(c) 2017 Doug Lawrence. All Rights Reserved.

SaveSave

A Taste of Washington

2014 may possibly go down as the busiest year ever in the Lawrence household. It began with a Seahawks SuperBowl victory and celebration, and included a wedding, a move, and a back injury (all in the same month). And it seems like a steady flow of guests ever since. After all that, Arlyn and I did carve out some time to explore some of our own beautiful State of Washington. We explored the Yakima Valley and the gorgeous hidden jewel that is Walla Walla and all the sites and tastings that the east side of our state had to offer.

WallaWalla-Doug

A nice meal in downtown Walla Walla, WA (which is on Fodor’s List of the 10 Best Small Towns in America)

We toured the Westside’s urban landmarks with our amazing British friends and we explored the pebbled shore of the Dungeness Spit in the wind and rain.

DungenessSpit

We also took delight in sharing some of Washington State’s culinary treasures. Have you ever been to the Oak Table Cafe in Sequim, WA? As we speak they are opening a new location in Silverdale to replace an existing location in Kingston, WA. However, to get the true, authentic experience you MUST try the original location in Sequim. And as part of the experience you must try the apple pancake. It is a huge, molten, puffy delicacy of apples and brown sugar that will remind you of an apple fritter on steroids. It is far to large for most people but order one for yourself because the leftovers are amazing.

applepancake

Friend Peter visiting from the UK tackled an Oak Table Apple Pancake!

If you don’t have the time to drive to Sequim, I do have a suitable substitute that I am willing to share with you for the right price: Free, of course. 🙂

I have used this recipe a couple of times and it is easy to adapt if you are so inclined, I like the fact you can put it all together the night before if needed. I made this a couple of weeks ago for a house full of high schoolers and it received great reviews. Click on this link for Baked Cinnamon Apple French Toast.  You’re in for a treat.

Enjoy!