"End of the World Haircuts" by Amy Ryding

Astoria, Oregon ~ Photo by Amy Ryding
Remember the Mayan calendar thing?
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Next Door

 Astoria, Oregon ~ January 15, 2013

This house on Irving between 9th and 10th is the companion to yesterday's post. In yesterday's second photo, the two old Victorians looked deceptively close together.

Hilly streets and sidewalks are part of the landscape. 

I thought the treatment of the lintel over the walkway was inventive.

This old house has a nice warm sun in the points of the eaves. I don't remember what you call this part of the house.

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Green Victorian

Astoria, Oregon ~ January 15, 2013

Astoria has its share of fascinating houses.

It looks more substantial from this angle.

The details are always unique.

Like many, this old house on Irving near 9th Street bears a historic plaque:

1889

Built by J.H. Mansell, notary. La

ter occupied by John Mc Cue, U.S.

Customs Inspector, 1906. Pres-

byterian Parsonage for

W.S. Gilbert

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Tan Bench, Tall Grass

Astoria, Oregon ~ February 24, 2010

Exchange and 10th Streets

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Come on In

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 9, 2012

Here are a couple of signs you'll find inside the front door at 10th and Marine Drive seen in Tuesday's post. The white banister runs across the top of the wide stairway leading to the basement; stairs begin just to the right of the photo. Someone has created an indoor-outdoor feel around both the front and back entrances that I find very pleasant and inviting.

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Wellness and More

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 10, 2012

This building at the corner of Marine Drive and 10th Street holds many surprises: Waves of Change Wellness Center, Reiki, Reflexology, Tai Chi classes, a wine cellar, an art gallery, a quilt shop, a bakery, and downstairs is an old jail cell with a bunk - imported from some other building. I've missed some of the names, but it's a cool place. Go on down the old wooden stairs to the gift shop. It's nice down there!

To sign up for Tai Chi, just give Angela a call.

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A Couple of Classics

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 10, 2012

I'm not a classic car fan in the "fan" sense, but it was very cool to come out of a shop on 10th Street between Marine Drive and the river and see these brightly-colored throwbacks. One of the things that irks me about modern cars (besides their exorbitant prices) is that so many of them look alike to me. Where is originality of design? Where is nonconformity?

I think I recognize the aqua one as a Ford, but maybe someone will identify the yellow one for me. There must be a show of some sort nearby, because I saw three or four more classic cars coming off the bridge from Washington. I think those dumb-looking rims have to be modern. What's the deal here? As for the shapes and colors, what a nice way to brighten the day.

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End of Summer

Astoria, Oregon ~ August 27, 2012

I found this end-of-summer color blooming near the corner of 10th Street and Marine Drive. It was a beautiful day, just about right for me - balmy and not too hot. It sounds strange to say that one reason I moved to Astoria was for the weather, I am not good in the heat. But I've found a number of people here who feel the same way. I think all of us enjoy the sunny days, though, when we aren't having one of those rare Astoria heatwaves. I know that I do. A sunny day in Astoria can be absolutely glorious - and we appreciate them for sure. This year we are sympathizing with so much of the country and the world that is suffering from drought. In Astoria, the rains have come.

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Reflections on Tenth Street

Astoria, Oregon ~ January 23, 2010

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The Windsor House of Tea

Astoria, Oregon ~ January 23, 2010

Thanks for bearing with the same photo for a few days. I decided to take a break. I'm back, and will be pulling random photos out of the archives this week. The business is not more, but the building remains. Would anyone like to share their fond memories either in the comments or by e-mail? I visited once, treated by my friend Lisa. The baked treats were spectacularly flavorful and decadent. I'm sorry to say that because of that and the engaging conversation, I don't even remember the tea. (It was a few years ago.) It was also one of my not-too-many forays into the basement of Astoria. I love these Art Deco buildings along Marine Drive between 9th and 10th.

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Astoria Coffehouse

August 29, 2007

Astoria Coffeehouse on 11th Street between Marine Drive and Commercial is one of my favorite places to go for a good cup, good eats, nice folks, and pleasant ambiance. It's not on the water, but only a block and a half from it. You can see passing ships from the sidewalk tables on a gorgeous day like this day in August 2007, or on a day like yesterday. It's also only about three very short blocks away from where I spend most of my time.

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House on a hill

I've always loved this little house at the corner of 10th Street and Harrison Avenue. The picture suggests the name, "House on a hill," but in fact how many houses in Astoria are not perched in some manner on a hillside? Not many. It would be harder to find a residential building that was not on a hill. It's always interesting to see how foundations, stairways, garages, and all manner of other parts of the houses are built to adapt to the slopes.

I come to this neighborhood often, and on October 13th, I especially liked the way the light brightened the house and the dark clouds beyond added some drama. That little bit of blue hill to the left of the house is on the Washington side of the Columbia River. You can barely see a few fall colors in the branches. The leaves are changing, and I'll take some pix of them this coming week.

Does anyone know a name for the style of this house? The words that comes to mind are "bungalow" and "cottage," but I don't know how technical these terms are. It was probably built in the 1920s or '30s. I was inside the house one time, and it has some elements of Arts and Crafts or Craftsman Style, but it also has a lot of elements you don't usually see in traditional Craftsman Style houses. The exterior of the house is made of stucco, which is unusual here, as most Astoria houses are sided with wood. Anyway, it's always looked cozy, and it has a glorious view unobscured by wires.