The annual
Astoria Regatta Festival is 116 years old, and this year it celebrates the Port of Astoria's 100th birthday. The parade took place yesterday on one of the only really hot days we've had all year. It was 90 degrees, which for here is scorching. I got my first glimpse of the participants along the River Walk after they'd finished the parade route.
Then I ambled my way across Marine Drive to watch from the shaded corner of Commercial and 15th Streets, a mere two blocks from the end of the official parade route. Some hot and tired participants chose to turn left onto 15th Street (on our right) and make an early escape. I watched from under the shade of this tree with a plastic bottle of ice and fruit juice. Especially today, I'd rather be the photographer.
This was one of my favorites, the "
Get A Life Marching Band" from Portland, whose slogan is, "We eat better than we play." I believe this is true, because otherwise they would all be starving, and clearly they were not all starving. All of the members have three things in common. Check out their site to see what they are. I imagine they have a lot of fun.
Trying to keep the "Get A Life" dog cool. What is a parade without a hotdog or two?
These are not hot dogs, but very hot tigers from the Cub Scouts. If the parade had only taken place a few hours later, they would have been the ones smiling. The marine layer came in and dropped the temperature back to Astoria's typical summer high 50s or low 60s.
I usually don't like clowns, but I always enjoy the ones in the Astoria Regatta parade. They're laid back and colorful. Whatever it is, I like them.
Watch out, Clown.
The woman with the white face is suffering from Clown Kissing Syndrome. It seems they know each other.
Here is one of the beautiful Daughters of Neptune. You may need to enlarge the photo for the full effect . . . or not.
Wells Fargo had a nice stagecoach, but what I really liked were the sleek horses.
Ronald is joined in his big red shoe by a couple of friends.
This is my favorite float, the Astoria High School Class of 1960. I got to the parade late, so I missed some of the first floats, but this would probably still be my favorite.
And this was my favorite music. This percussion group from Portland (I think) was hot in the right way and got an ovation. By this point in the parade, many of the bands were too dripping hot and tired to play anything.
They look cool and lovely, but I can assure you, these ladies in their navy blue gowns and spiky heels were finished.
Another hot dog, anyone?
August 16, 2010 
. . . specialties of the house at 14th Street and Marine Drive.
Thanks to Stephanie Roley for all of the photos on today's post. She was also at the end of the parade at the corner of Commercial and 15th Streets, but she braved the heat and moved around more than I did. She also started earlier. This year, the Port of Astoria is 100 years old. There's always a Regatta Queen, and this is her float.
This photo is for Francisca. I took one also, but I didn't get a good shot, so I'm glad to have Stephanie's photo.
The ladybug in a tutu has had enough. I saw him from the back, so I was able to get the correct identificastion.
This looks familiar: A trolley and a lighthouse.
How to cool off while maintaining decorum, because . . .
. . . it's not over yet! By the way, although I don't know what the construction is about directly behind these ladies, the festivities behind the construction are the tail end of the parade, which starts on Duane, wraps around one block near the post office, and snakes back to the starting point along Commercial. Fort George Brewery, located behind the yellow tent, puts on an open-air event to go along with many of the local events.
July 26, 2009
One of the ways Astoria manages life on the hillside is with this section of boarwalk on Exchange between 17th and 18th Streets. The hill slopes steeply off to the right. I originally took the photo because I liked the lighting, the grate, and the sun coming through the orange tag on the tree. There are also stretches of wood planking along the river walk, but I don't remember any other stretch of boardwalk elsewhere in the city.
August 15, 2010
The annual Astoria Regatta Festival is 116 years old, and this year it celebrates the Port of Astoria's 100th birthday. The parade took place yesterday on one of the only really hot days we've had all year. It was 90 degrees, which for here is scorching. I got my first glimpse of the participants along the River Walk after they'd finished the parade route.
Then I ambled my way across Marine Drive to watch from the shaded corner of Commercial and 15th Streets, a mere two blocks from the end of the official parade route. Some hot and tired participants chose to turn left onto 15th Street (on our right) and make an early escape. I watched from under the shade of this tree with a plastic bottle of ice and fruit juice. Especially today, I'd rather be the photographer.
This was one of my favorites, the "Get A Life Marching Band" from Portland, whose slogan is, "We eat better than we play." I believe this is true, because otherwise they would all be starving, and clearly they were not all starving. All of the members have three things in common. Check out their site to see what they are. I imagine they have a lot of fun.
Trying to keep the "Get A Life" dog cool. What is a parade without a hotdog or two?
These are not hot dogs, but very hot tigers from the Cub Scouts. If the parade had only taken place a few hours later, they would have been the ones smiling. The marine layer came in and dropped the temperature back to Astoria's typical summer high 50s or low 60s.
I usually don't like clowns, but I always enjoy the ones in the Astoria Regatta parade. They're laid back and colorful. Whatever it is, I like them.
Watch out, Clown.
The woman with the white face is suffering from Clown Kissing Syndrome. It seems they know each other.
Here is one of the beautiful Daughters of Neptune. You may need to enlarge the photo for the full effect . . . or not.
Wells Fargo had a nice stagecoach, but what I really liked were the sleek horses.
Ronald is joined in his big red shoe by a couple of friends.
This is my favorite float, the Astoria High School Class of 1960. I got to the parade late, so I missed some of the first floats, but this would probably still be my favorite.
And this was my favorite music. This percussion group from Portland (I think) was hot in the right way and got an ovation. By this point in the parade, many of the bands were too dripping hot and tired to play anything.
They look cool and lovely, but I can assure you, these ladies in their navy blue gowns and spiky heels were finished.
August 13, 2010
July 31, 2010
I had no idea that yesterday's comments were going to take such a strange turn when I planned to follow up with these photos of the First Presbyterian Church on the corner of 11th and Franklin. The church is next door to the social hall (yesterday's post), which, it seems, has had many (and varied) uses. I love the colors in this photo especially. They've been painting this church for at least a year, and the results are warm, inviting, and fun to look at.
The church also has interesting architectural features. As with yesterday's building, I would call it Gothic Revival, which I guess in the U.S. is of the Victorian Era.
All four photos are of the side (or is it the back?). It's the opposite side from Franklin Street.
