Photo Contest: "Fire in the Sky"

Astoria, Oregon ~ July 1, 2010

Guest Photographer: Mike Duncan, aka "Midnite Mike"

Mike wrote,

Here's one of my favorite pictures that I've ever taken. It was taken behind Astoria Warehousing on the 1st of July this year. For obvious reasons, I call it "Fire in the Sky".

This is another reason we love Astoria! Thanks, Mike!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Photo Contest: "Kids at the Peter Iredale"

Warrenton, Oregon/Ft. Stevens State Park

Guest Photographer: Merri Padgett

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Photo Contest: "In a Window"

Astoria, Oregon ~ July 10, 2010

Guest Photographer: Robbie Mattson

I'm not sure where this enigmatic photo was taken, but maybe Robbie can fill us in. It seems there is always music happening somewhere in Astoria, so the sign seems appropriate any time. By the way, if you wonder who painted the blue fish from yesterday's post, the owners of The Silver Salmon made a comment. . . .

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Photo Contest: "Silver Salmon Saloon"

Astoria, Oregon

Guest Photographer: Jean B

One of the fun things about Astoria is that there are quirky or just plain unique things on virtually every street corner (and between the corners, too). This is the side entrance to the Silver Salmon Grille. Maybe the sign says, "Silver Salmon Saloon" because this is the side of the restaurant where the bar is located. The "fine dining" area is on the other side. I believe that local artist Vern Wilson made the metal salmon with the chef's hat, but I don't know who painted the welcoming blue fish. Maybe someone will tell us.

Thanks for the photo, Jean. This is another scene I'd shot several times, but had never posted on "Astoria Daily."

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Photo Contest: "A Sunset View from the Maritime Museum"

Guest Photographer: John Nordquist

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Photo Contest: "A Room with a Very Affordable View"

Astoria, Oregon, Upstairs in Pier 11

Guest Photographer: Riki

Riki calls this place "A Little Piece of Heaven on Pier 11." One might also call it, "A Little Bit of Hawaii in Astoria," although it doesn't sound as poetic. I've always wondered what it looked like from the top of the Pier 11 Building. Here's the view across the river to Washington and to the fishing operation on the next pier. And the inside looks sooooo inviting! Has anyone noticed the weather report? It seems our beautiful fall weather is coming to an end very soon. This would certainly be a comfy place to watch one of our winter storms!

I learned that Malama Day Spa is one of Astoria's newest businesses - if not THE newest, having opened on October 8th. I have not been to visit yet, but I expect to soon! Riki and her mom (who still lives in Hawaii) spent hours at the beginning of the month getting the place ready to open. Here are a few particulars. Check out the links:

"Malama Day Spa is on Pier 11, in Astoria and is currently offering 20% off your first service. See their blog at http://riki-malamadayspa.blogspot.com/ or visit their website at http://www.malamadayspa.qwestoffice.net/. Phone: 503-325-8233. This is not your average spa. Prepare to RELAX and be pampered affordably. Mahalo!"

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Photo Contest: "Sunday Market in front of the Liberty Theatre"

Astoria, Oregon ~ May 18, 2008

Guest Photo: Sara Absher

Hello again! I'm sorry, I needed to be out of town for a few days. Everything is OK, and I'm back at the computer. Our interrupted contest postings are back on track with this lovely photo filled with flowers from a beautiful day in May in front of Astoria's historic and accoustically-acclaimed refurbished Liberty Theatre.

Up tomorrow is a brand new business in Astoria with a great view and services many of you will want to know about! Stay tuned. . . .

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Photo Contest: "Maverick"

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 19, 2009

Guest Photographer: Danielle Ruegg

Danielle wrote, "The F/V Maverick (made famous by "Deadliest Catch"), in it's home port of Astoria. I took this photo last year at the Fisherman's Festival. (Far better weather than what we had this year.)

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Photo Contest: "Overview"

Astoria, Oregon ~ July 14, 2005

Guest Photographer: Debbie Loyd

This gorgeous view from the bridge (you can see its shadow on the water) gives about as good an overview of the Astoria waterfront as you're going to get. For those who know the town, I don't need to point out the landmarks, but this blog has readers from around the world and across the country, so . . . here are just a few of them. (I've left the photo large, so when you click on the image and then click on it again in a new window, you'll be able to "walk through" the picture.)

At the top of the hill is the Astoria Column. The teeny little bit of red along the water at the far left is Pier 39, with Coffee Girl, kayak rentals, Rogue Ales Pub, and much more (it used to be the Bumblebee Cannery). Just to the right out of the picture is the Holiday Inn Express, where I took a number of pictures last June. The white buildings in front are warehouses, and The River Walk and Riverfront Trolley run right along the water. The cluster of buildings in the middle of the photo is downtown Astoria.

Thanks to Debbie Loyd for this grand submission. She can be found at the following links, where you can also learn about one of the businesses (or services) that helps make Astoria about its special people:

. Web site

. Blog

Thanks to Jan for the following comment:

FYI, Pier 39 used to be Bumble Bee Cold Storage. The Cannery was much farther west, across the street from the Pig ‘n Pancake. In the 1950s and 1960s, you used to see trucks driving from the cold storage plant through town to the canary with these huge “things” sticking straight up in the beds of the trucks. Those “things” were yellow fin tuna that had been kept frozen at the cold storage plant until the canary was ready for them. I was one of the first two guides hired by Bumble Bee to take visitors on tours of the canary, and I worked there the summers of 1960 and 1961. Tourists often asked me about the strange looking “trees” they saw on trucks around town.

Jan

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Photo Contest: "Keeper of the Dock"

Astoria, Oregon

Guest Photographer: Carrie Schwartzenberger

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.