Shopping small could be a good call for Christmas. You’ll find wonderful stores across West Sound — Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, Silverdale, Bremerton, Port Orchard and Gig Harbor. We feature 20 small businesses. We hope this gift guide will help you find the right gifts for your friends and family while supporting small businesses. Of course, […]
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Posted inFeatured, People & Places
Christmas Collecting is a Family Tradition
Denise Harris and Margot Amestoy live on Bainbridge Island and collect Christmas treasures to decorate their homes. In addition to both of them being Christmas collectors, Harris and Amestoy are cousins and best friends. “She [Amestoy] was my best friend from birth,” says Harris, explaining that their mothers were best friends. “She was there the […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Finding the Perfect Gift
Every holiday season, folks seeking one-of-a-kind vintage items line Bay Street in Port Orchard, waiting to explore the countless antiques ready for discovery inside Josephine’s Mercantile. This year, the shop is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with its 9th Annual Holiday Gala Nov. 9-12, which also includes festivities and sales at its sister shop, Revival, across […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
Holidays in the ‘Hood
Alderbrook Resort & Spa is a gem of hospitality set on the south shore of Hood Canal right here in our neighborhood. Special occasions or simple afternoons on the canal remind us of the splendor of our ‘hood. Once you discover Alderbrook, you — like your neighbors in the know — will look for opportunities […]
Posted inHome
Coming Home
No history of Lemolo would be complete without a mention of the Deits family. In 1910, Harry Lou Deits helped plot what was then known as Le-mo-lo Acres, a stretch of land that covered nearly the entire little peninsula that lies to the west of Nesika Bay. At the time, the area was an undeveloped […]
Posted inHome
A Northwest Tiki Getaway
Wendy and Carl Tonge were locked down, isolated and staring into an evergreen forest in March 2020 on their tiny side porch. They sat in two reed chairs under a sign from Disneyland’s Enchanted Tiki Bar that says Trader Sam’s, reminiscing about another favorite tiki bar they visit whenever on Kauai. Clearly, they were not […]
Posted inAt Home
Recharge and Reconnect with Yourself: An Introvert’s Self-Care Guide
In a world that often seems to favor extroverts, introverts can sometimes struggle to find their own path to self-care. However, it’s crucial to remember that self-care isn’t a one-size-fits-all concept. It’s about discovering what energizes and restores you personally. For introverts, this often means carving out peaceful, comfortable spaces and routines within your own […]
Posted inGarden
The Dream of a ‘Secret Garden’ Comes to Life as a Place of Solace
Stepping into the garden surrounding the happy yellow house on a quiet cul-de-sac, you are entering a wonderland of vignettes — a secret garden full of treasures at every turn. Blousy, full, flowering plants; miniature glass houses; displays of birdhouses; and even a real vintage bed in the garden elicit oohs and ahhhhs. Debbie’s (last […]
Posted inPeople & Places
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
I’ve caressed and tangled with just about every thrift item there is, but this one threw me off. Don’t know why I picked it up, this ridiculous, tiny, vintage sugar bowl that read “50th” on one side. An attached underlabel read, “Kelvin’s REG.PAT OFF EXCLUSIVES JAPAN,” and the bowl bottom read, “KEVIN’S FINE CHINA HAND […]