Archive for June, 2008
The Commodore Hotel Comes Back to Astoria
June 6th, 2008 Categories: Fun Stuff, Real Estate News, Where to stay
Like me, most of you probably still think of the corner of 14th & Commercial in downtown Astoria as home to Chris’ News. Growing up, this was the hotspot for Archie Digests, jigsaw puzzles for family holidays, and cigars for grandpa. I had always assumed that Chris’ News had been there since the building’s inception, but come to find out this is not the case. Prior to being Chris’ News the building was home to the Commodore Hotel, which first opened it’s doors in 1925. Fast forward 83 years and The Commodore is preparing to re-open it’s doors once again. As part of the ongoing Renaissance that’s embracing Astoria, the Commodore Hotel is being reinvented by local builder and craftsman Paul Caruana. Known for his flare for combining traditional architecture with spaces designed to accomodate our modern lifestyles, The Commodore will be no exception. Geared towards the modern hip traveler, the hotel will feature 19 unique rooms that blur the line between youth hostel and urban boutique hotel. Many original details of the building will be stylishly recycled into the new design, insuring the approval of both Gen-Xer’s and adventurous Baby Boomers alike. As of right now, the grand re-opening is slated for fall/winter 2008. Look for more updates on the project at commodoreastoria.com.
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The Seafood School Rocks!
June 5th, 2008 Categories: Columbia River, Fun Stuff, Local Events
The “All About Albacore” class is this Saturday. I want to go. I’ve been waiting for this course. I am severely challenged in the fish cooking department. Besides, cooking courses are a great way to dirty up someone else’s kitchen and have a little fun with friends.
Astoria has two options for cooking classes. I’ve had appetizers with Chris at the Baked Alaska in his kitchen inside Mise en Place and attended a party where Eric at the OSU Seafood Center put on a demo course of what was soon to be our main course! If I could celebrate all my birthdays with a cooking class I would! According to my family, this is just one more sign of getting older and…geeky. This from the same folks who won’t let me get a ham radio. What do they know?
The OSU Seafood Center is really wonderful for lots of reasons. The Seafood School is but one of it’s many contributions to the community. The school is relatively new and very popular. I first became acquainted with their facility when I attended a class on canning. I’ve always been interested in canning my own tuna- it’s so tasty! Once you’ve tasted home-canned tuna it’s very hard to buy store bought again. Their website offers an online database of recipes searchable by type of seafood. If any of you are lucky enough to attend the Albacore course this weekend I’d love to hear how the Cherry Cola Grill was!
Here’s the synopsis of the tuna class:
Saturday, June 7th
All About Albacore
Try out summer barbecue dishes that we have put together to compliment the local bounty of troll-caught Pacific Albacore tuna. Bursting with Omega-3’s, Albacore is both nutritious and delicious!
Cherry Cola Grilled Albacore
Baked Beans
Corn on the Cob
Potato Salad
Grilled Flatbread
To view the entire course schedule click here and download the PDF file.
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Shifting Sands Communities and the Human Development Overlay District
June 4th, 2008 Categories: Local Events, Mill Pond Village
I admit it. I was lax in reading about the Ford Foundation’s visit to our fair city last year. I remember vaguely reading about it but for some reason it didn’t really sink in. I am ashamed. I think I was too busy changing diapers writing offers. My years of marketing the new urbanist community Mill Pond Village sparked an interest in urban planning. Tonight’s writeup in the Daily A finally got my attention. We’ve actually been selected to be part of a pilot program that is meant to help neighborhoods undergoing rapid change. The Human Development Overlay District (HDOD) is defined as a new initiative intended to integrate human capital, social, and community planning through the innovative use of information technology in rapidly changing neighborhoods and communities. Our input will be necessary and meaningful. This is very timely with all that the city has on it’s plate at the moment. I’m still researching this happening, I want to understand better what this really means for Astoria. There’s nothing on Ford’s website but here’s their mission statement. I like it. I did find a press release on the Environmental Simulation Center site. We are in good company too. Los Angeles, Boston, and St. Paul are the other three cities that made the cut. I can’t wait to see what develops!
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