Luncheon Speakers Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce luncheon meetings are held at the Port Townsend Elks Lodge, 555 Otto St., at noon each Monday, federal holidays excluded. Everyone is welcome! March 2013 CoLab opens doors to entrepreneurs By Frank DePalma & Heather Dudley Nollette The very first coworking space in Jefferson County, The CoLab, opened its doors to coworkers this week in Port Townsend. The CoLab is a membership-based collabora- tive workspace for independent professionals, providing the place, the community of col- leagues and the unique oppor- tunities to connect with other professionals across a wide selection of industries. As the owners of The CoLab, one of the inspiring things that we’ve learned over the last few years of research- ing and testing the increasingly popular global and national trend of coworking, is that when we get in the same room with other independent profes- sionals, we discover innovative and unexpected new ways to build our individual businesses, while finding immediate relief from the isolation that we so often experience when we work 100 percent from our homes or alone in offices. Although coworking is quickly gaining popularity around the world, it is new to Jefferson County. Starting a coworking space in a rural community has a different set of challenges and advantages than it does in urban environments. In Jefferson County, we have a whole lot of home- based businesses. These entre- preneurs can quickly begin to feel a lack of connection, sim- ply by the fact that they spend most of their days in front of a laptop or other task at their kitchen tables, alone. In 2011, we started gathering a small group of these entrepreneurs together in the same room, just a couple of days a week, to work alongside one another and to share ideas when they struck. That peer group has continued to evolve and has significantly informed our decision to open an “official” dynamic coworking space here at home. A NEW WAY TO WORK During this discovery phase, we’ve continued to be directly involved in our community by volunteering for local organiza- tions, several of which have “economic development” as part of their mission. New concepts such as “coopitition,” which balances “cooperation” and “competition” to represent a new paradigm, have become part of our local conversation. The coworking movement is a powerful physical representa- tion of “the new economy,” and The CoLab is evolving natu- rally out of our community’s collaborative, project-based economic engine. One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned in this process is not to rush it! Several of our core coworkers have been meet- ing weekly for over 18 months to discuss and promote the concept of coworking locally. The process itself has been a collaborative effort. We’ve re- ceived input from many people representing diverse industries, Heather Dudley Nollette and Frank DePalma are at the heart of the CoLab, a cooperative working space located above the Silverwater Cafe in Port Townsend. Coworking is quickly gaining popularity around the world, but is new to Jefferson County. March 4 - Erica Delma Delma will discuss the YMCA’s role and the power of community and the hopes for the future. March 11 - David King Port Townsend’s Mayor will discuss “What we got done last year, what’s on the boil for this year, and what’s on your mind.” Sponsor is Lexar Homes March 18 - Penelope Partridge The project coordinator of the Felicity Ann Boat Project will discuss how the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding has partnered with Port Townsend School District, Jefferson County 4H, and Puget Sound Voyaging to offer an exciting learning opportunity for local women and girls. March 25 - Rhody candidates Candidates for the Rhododendron Festival court, Kaila Olin, Emma White Thunder, Yarro Lanphear-Ramirez, Megan Walsh and Corinthia Cardona, will talk about the process of being a Royalty Candidate and take questions from the floor. Sponsor is Uptown Nutrition Continued on Page 2
Transcript
Luncheon SpeakersJefferson County Chamber of Commerce luncheon meetings are held at the Port Townsend Elks Lodge, 555 Otto St., at noon each Monday, federal holidays excluded. Everyone is welcome!
March2013
CoLab opens doors to entrepreneursBy Frank DePalma
& Heather Dudley NolletteThe very fi rst coworking
space in Jefferson County, The CoLab, opened its doors to coworkers this week in Port Townsend. The CoLab is a membership-based collabora-tive workspace for independent professionals, providing the place, the community of col-leagues and the unique oppor-tunities to connect with other professionals across a wide selection of industries.
As the owners of The CoLab, one of the inspiring things that we’ve learned over the last few years of research-ing and testing the increasingly popular global and national trend of coworking, is that when we get in the same room with other independent profes-sionals, we discover innovative and unexpected new ways to build our individual businesses, while fi nding immediate relief from the isolation that we so often experience when we work 100 percent from our homes or alone in offi ces.
Although coworking is quickly gaining popularity around the world, it is new to Jefferson County. Starting a coworking space in a rural community has a different set of challenges and advantages than it does in urban environments.
In Jefferson County, we have a whole lot of home-based businesses. These entre-preneurs can quickly begin to feel a lack of connection, sim-
ply by the fact that they spend most of their days in front of a laptop or other task at their kitchen tables, alone. In 2011, we started gathering a small group of these entrepreneurs together in the same room, just a couple of days a week, to work alongside one another and to share ideas when they struck. That peer group has continued to evolve and has signifi cantly informed our decision to open an “offi cial” dynamic coworking space here at home.
A NEW WAY TO WORKDuring this discovery phase,
we’ve continued to be directly involved in our community by volunteering for local organiza-tions, several of which have “economic development” as part of their mission. New concepts such as “coopitition,” which balances “cooperation” and “competition” to represent a new paradigm, have become part of our local conversation. The coworking movement is a powerful physical representa-tion of “the new economy,” and
The CoLab is evolving natu-rally out of our community’s collaborative, project-based economic engine.
One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned in this process is not to rush it! Several of our core coworkers have been meet-ing weekly for over 18 months to discuss and promote the concept of coworking locally. The process itself has been a collaborative effort. We’ve re-ceived input from many people representing diverse industries,
Heather Dudley Nollette and Frank DePalma are at the heart of the CoLab, a cooperative working space located above the Silverwater Cafe in Port Townsend. Coworking is quickly gaining popularity around the world, but is new to Jefferson County.
March 4 - Erica DelmaDelma will discuss the YMCA’s role and the power of community and the hopes for the future.
March 11 - David KingPort Townsend’s Mayor will discuss “What we got done last year, what’s on the boil for this year, and what’s on your mind.” Sponsor is Lexar Homes
March 18 - Penelope PartridgeThe project coordinator of the Felicity Ann Boat Project will discuss how the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding has partnered with Port Townsend School District, Je� erson County 4H, and Puget Sound Voyaging to o� er an exciting learning opportunity for local women and girls.
March 25 - Rhody candidatesCandidates for the R h o d o d e n d r o n Festival court, Kaila Olin, Emma White Thunder, Yarro Lanphear-Ramirez, Megan Walsh and Corinthia Cardona, will talk about the process of being a Royalty Candidate and take questions from the � oor. Sponsor is Uptown Nutrition Continued on Page 2
2 March 2013 Jefferson County Chamber Newsletter
Prin
ted
prod
ucts
Broc
hure
s, ne
wslet
ters,
� yer
s, log
os
Digi
tal p
rodu
cts
Web
sites
, soc
ial m
edia,
e-ne
wslet
ters
Tran
sit ad
vert
ising
...and
mor
e!Co
ntac
t Sar
a Rad
ka fo
r a fr
ee co
nsult
ation
:
360-
385-
2900
• in
fo@
lead
ergr
a� x
.com
and as such the size of the space, location, amenities, budget and expectations are completely different than what we envisioned when we started the con-versation.
GettinG From there to here
We started with an online survey that helped us to gather useful data and began to introduce the coworking concept to our community. We were asked to speak at a Jefferson County Cham-ber of Commerce weekly luncheon several months ago, and we’ve since had the opportunity to introduce the concept of coworking to a few more organizations. Our local EDC Team Jefferson gave us access to their meeting space for free cowork-ing sessions once a week, which got the attention of a local newspaper. The
Port Townsend Library then graciously offered to host weekly coworking sessions in their beautiful uptown Library Learn-ing Center, which helped promote their meeting spaces and small business resources to a growing group of participating businesses. We gladly pro-mote other local resources via our Facebook page, which has itself become a source of useful informa-tion.
Finally we decided to do a one-day “Small Business Symposium” (http://www.ptcolab.com/small-business-sympo-sium). Guest speakers volunteered their time, and anyone in the com-munity was invited to attend a workshop and spend the day network-ing and coworking. The event concluded with the monthly social event for the Chamber’s Young Professionals Network.
The success of this event, the support of both the LION funding network and our visionary land-lords at the historic Elks Building in the heart of downtown Port Townsend, have all proved to us that our community is ready to embrace collaboration over competition, and has helped move us toward a physical manifestation of the coworking home that we’ve been visualizing for almost two years.
ChanGinG the GameWe believe that co-
working is one of the single biggest imminent game-changers for rural econom-ics, and we’re thrilled to announce that The CoLab is open for business! For your business. As more of us choose this small town quality of life, the need for a world-class facility to work, connect, and collaborate grows every day.
To learn about what
coworking can do for your business, we invite you to come join us in our new space at 237 Taylor Street, on the second floor of the Elks Building in downtown PT, above the Silver-water Cafe and Mez-zaluna Lounge. We’re open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; and you can find information about our coworking community at www.ptcolab.com. Click on “Become a Member” and “Meeting Rooms” to learn about the facilities that are available for use.
The CoLab engages Jefferson County inde-pendent professionals by providing an inspir-ing collaborative work environment. We’re evolving as an innovative network of small busi-nesses, contributing to the sustainability of our local community. The CoLab: Independent Together.
CoLab: Survey pointed the way
Chamber Ambassadors and friends cut the ribbon with new member Curly Top Collectibles. Pictured are Vi Koenig (PT Laundromat & Self Service Car Wash), Cammy Brown (Peninsula Legal Secretarial Services), owners Liam &, Sinead Cannon, Joey Cannon and Karen Anderson (VIC). Photo by Steve Mullensky
The WSU Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides confi dential, one-on-one advising on the full range of business topics to exist-ing and aspiring business owners.
It can help you plan for growth, evaluate feasibility or solve a specifi c problem. Often it can link you to no-cost or low-cost resources that help advance your plans. There is no cost to clients for these services. The SBDC is funded by the US Small Business Ad-ministration, Washington State University and other organizations dedicated to business education and economic development.
Generally, for-profi t companies with 500 or fewer employees meet the SBA defi nition of “small business”.
As the new business ad-visor in Jefferson County (replacing Kathleen Purdy, who has retired), I would like to provide a monthly tip for Jefferson County Chamber newsletter read-ers. Not every tip will be relevant to every reader, but I hope that over time you will fi nd many that are applicable.
Since tax time is ap-proaching, this month I’d like to pass along some opportunities for help on tax issues.
“Free File” offers brand-name tax software to people who earned
$57,000 or less last year, and free on-line fi llable forms for those who earned more. This allows you to fi le returns electronically and use direct deposit, which is the fastest way to get refunds. The Free File
software asks questions that you answer. It picks the right forms, does the math and helps fi nd any tax benefi ts you might be eligible for. Videos and instructions explaining Free File are available in English and Spanish at irs.gov/uac/Free-File%3A-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free.
The State Department of Revenue has online tuto-rials that address a variety of business tax questions, from an overview of state tax obligations designed for new business owners to the specifi cs of how to fi ll out your excise tax return. These are available at: dor.wa.gov/content/work-shopsandeducation/Vide-oWorkshopsAndTutorials/
Default.aspx.To check out the sched-
ule for workshops that walk n ew business owners through tax reporting clas-sifi cations, deductions, and sales tax and recordkeep-ing requirements, go to: fortress.wa.gov/dor/efi le/SecureForms/Content/WorkshopsAndEduca-tion/AttendAWorkshop/RegisterForWorkShop.aspx?ID=213.
The Port Townsend SBDC offi ce has about a dozen IRS tax calendar booklets available on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis. Call 360-344-3078 to request a copy.
The WSU Small Business Development Center (SBDC) serving Jefferson and Clallam
Counties is located at 211 Taylor, Suite 402A in Port Townsend. It is one of 24 centers statewide that provide confidential no-cost one-on-one advising, re-search and training. See our website: wsbdc.org or call 360-344-3078.
The Washington SBDC is a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Ad-ministration, Washington State University and other Washington institutions of higher learning and economic development or-ganizations. SBA’s funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions, or services. All SBA-funded programs are extended to the public on a nondis-criminatory basis.
Free business help available from SBDC
Elaine Jones
Briefly• March 5, 8 to 9 a.m. -
Coffee Talk at the Resort at Port Ludlow. On the agenda is a roundtable open discus-sion.
• March 12, 5:30 to 7 p.m. - After Hours Mixer, Puget Sound Express, 227 Jackson St., Port Townsend.
• March 13, 8 to 9 a.m. - Executive Board Meeting
at the VIC, 440 12th St. PT.• March 20, 8 to 9 a.m. -
Board of Directors Meeting at Peninsula Legal Secre-tarial Services, 20 Colwell St. Port Hadlock.
• March 21, 5:30 to 7 p.m. - Ambassador Meeting at Uptown Pub & Grill, 1016 Lawrence St. Port Townsend.
Follow the Chamberon Twitter, FacebookIf you are a member of the Je� erson County Chamber of Commerce and use Twitter or Facebook -- please follow us @Je� CoChamber on Twitter and Je� erson County Chamber of Commerce on Facebook.
We use Twitter and Facebook to showcase our members and bring you the latest business news that is important to our members – so if you’ve got some news tweet about it and we’ll help spread the word.
4 March 2013 Jefferson County Chamber Newsletter
Jes Klein PhotograPhy I’ve recently returned
to Port Townsend after living in Steamboat Springs, Colo. In Steam-boat, I built a successful wedding and portrait photography business while raising a family of three. Returning to Port Townsend was an easy choice because of the quality of the people who live here amongst such natural beauty.
I’m best known as a contemporary wedding and portrait photographer. My approach is grounded in a photojournalist style. I constantly strive to reveal the emotion that snapshots rarely glimpse.
As a wedding photog-rapher I capture memories of unparalleled beauty, style and grace. I work to find ways of portraying those memories vividly, creatively, and uniquely.
When photograph-ing weddings, I focus on interactions and emotions. Always close, always tight, always there.
As a portrait pho-tographer, I work to see deeper, to reveal, to share. Through my lens, I capture images portraying the essence of my clients.
My work spans the human realm -- family portraits, senior portraits, pregnancy portraits, baby portraits -- all of the many moments that are meaningful to our lives.
I use my creative eye to hold in our memories our passage of time.
It is a gift to return to the richness of such an eclectic town.
Visit my website jesklein.com to see what I can do for you with my camera.
oaK Bay animal hosPitalDr. Madelyn Curll
moved to Port Ludlow in the year 2000 and purchased a home here in June of that year. She be-gan a business providing “relief” or per diem vet-erinary services and this is how she became acquaint-ed with the phenomenal staff and clientele of Oak Bay Animal Hospital.
While continuing to “do relief,” she began working a regular part time schedule for Dr.Hank
Snelgrove at Oak Bay. Love of the area, admi-ration for the standards and staff of Oak Bay and warm friendships with the hospital clients motivated her to buy the business when it came on the mar-ket in 2012.
Madelyn graduated from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and immediately moved to Seattle in 1981. Family and sunny skies keep her visiting Texas several times a year. However, since arriving in cool green Washington, she has considered the Northwest her home. Her invest-ment in Jefferson County reflects and enables her “locavore” lifestyle. She is eager to get to know other business owners, to work cooperatively in providing high quality jobs, a solid business structure, and state of the art veterinary medicine to the commu-nity. You can reach her at her business 360-385-7297, her home 360-437-1328 or just drop by and say hello when you are in Port Hadlock. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and M-F and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
New members
20700 NE Bond Road, Poulsbo with satellite X-Ray offices in Silverdale & Bainbridge Island
(360) 598-3141 www.inhealthimaging.com
American College of Radiology Accredited & Certified Pink Ribbon Facility
3D MAMMOGRAPHY No Referral Necessary—Immediate Results
Same Cost as Digital Mammogram
20700 NE Bond Road, Poulsbo with satellite X-Ray offices in Silverdale & Bainbridge Island
(360) 598-3141 www.inhealthimaging.com
American College of Radiology Accredited & Certified Pink Ribbon Facility
Offering a FREE $15 GAS CARD after appointment to help defer travel expenses for Jefferson County patients.
3D MAMMOGRAPHY No Referral Necessary—Immediate Results
Same Cost as Digital Mammogram
Need Networking Help?Call the business technology experts!
Port Townsend ComputersVisit our store at 1200 West Sims Way, Suite B
Port Townsend • M-F: 10-6; Sat: 10-4360-379-0605
Olympic Peninsula’s onlyauthorized service center forApple warranty repairs.
Jes Klein has moved herself and her photography busi-ness to Port Townsend.
Swan SchoolOlympusnetAll Points PilatesJefferson Title CompanyPort Townsend Public LibraryBay CottagesKristin Manwaring Insurance Totera Web SystemsThe Food Co-opJohn L. Scott Real Estate,
Port TownsendWashington HotelPuget Sound ExpressBishop HotelSwan HotelPT Marine Trades AssociationJefferson Community SchoolEDC/Team JeffersonHenery’s Garden CenterCobalt MortgageA Wolves Den at Winterchill FarmSeaport Landing
Renewing members
March mixer at
Puget Sound ExpressJoin the staff of
Puget Sound Express at 5:30 p.m. March 12 for a fun evening aboard the MV Glacier Spirit docked at Point Hudson Marina.
Mingle and network with the business com-munity while learning about Puget Sound Ex-press’ 28-year history of whale watching, ferry, and custom group tours.
Puget Sound Ex-
press is working closely with many members of the Jefferson County business community to provide a compelling experience for visitors to this area. Refresh-ments include selections from Christina James and Fairwinds winer-ies as well as snacks by Ajax, Cellar Door, Addie Mae’s and others. Door prizes are also part of the festivities.
March 2013 Jefferson County Chamber Newsletter 5
The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce named the citizen, busi-ness leader and young professional of the year at an awards ceremony Jan. 27 at the Northwest Maritime Center.
Dominic Svornich, chamber president for 2013, said there were many potential candidates in every award category.
“It was hard to get it down to even three nomi-nees in every category,” Svornich said.
Port Townsend Food
Bank Director Shirley Moss walked away with the 2012 Citizen of the Year award for her work feeding the hungry of Jefferson County. Also nominated for Citizen of the Year were community volunteer Gary Kennedy, swimming pool activists Rena and Earll Mur-man, and the mother and daughter-in-law team of Laurie and Kelly Liske.
Charley Kanieski, local CPA and owner of the Business Guides, won the Tim Caldwell Business
Leader of the Year Award. Also nominated were Dana Petrick, owner of Dana Pointe Interiors, Port Ludlow, and Steve Rafoth, owner of Enclume Design Products, Port Hadlock.
Winning Young Profes-sional of the Year was
Will O’Donnell, director of the Jefferson County Farmers Market.
Frank DePalma, president of Totera Web Systems, and Jordan Eades, co-owner of Hope Roofi ng, also were nomi-nated.
800-800-1577 ourfirstfed.com
A� ordable Secretarial ServicesLegal and Business
Cammy Brown
Peninsula Legal Secretarial Services, LLC360-344-3200 • 20 Colwell Street, Port Hadlock, WA 98339
www.peninsulalegalsecretarialservices.com
• Notary Public
• Paralegal & legal documents assistance
• 30+ years experience in many areas of law and medical � elds
“If we can’t help you, we will � nd someone who can!”
Citizen of the year nominees applaud winner Shirley Moss, second from left. Fellow can-didates were, from left, Laurie Liske, Earll Murman, Rena Murman, and Gary Kennedy.
Young Professional of the year nominees enjoy the moment. From left are winner Will O’Donnell, and nominees Jordan Eades and Frank DePalma.
Chamber honors community work
Business Leader of the Year Charley Kanieski addresses the crowd after winning the award.
6 March 2013 Jefferson County Chamber Newsletter
Getables is growing up! Gallery Walk Satur-day, March 2 marks our one-year anniversary of doing business in Port Townsend and we will be celebrating throughout the day. Please stop by and share the moment with us!
While we’re excited to have achieved this milestone, we know we couldn’t have accom-plished this feat without the support of our com-munity: our loyal custom-ers, our fellow merchants, our amazing vendors, our local support groups (Chamber, Main St., YPN, Co-Lab, Visitors Center, etc...), plus too many
individual contributors to name.
It’s the people in-volved that have made all the challenges worth facing and each day so rewarding. Your feed-back, your humor, and your energy have been inspirational and have more than affirmed our decision to open the
shop. As bright and inviting as our store feels to us, it’s essen-tially dark until one of our neighbors or visitors pops in and lights up the place with their per-sonality. Thank you for being part of the family. We’re looking forward to year two and beyond! -The Getabites
Business investors
Business builders• Port Townsend Computers• Port Townsend Paper Co.
• Homer Smith Insurance• Port Townsend Laundromat & Self Service Car Wash
Thanks to our top chamber contributors!
What’s Your Wish?
*New loan requests only. Single family owner-occupied homes only. 80% loan to value; subject to current appraisal from a Kitsap Bank approved appraiser. 5 year balloon with loan payment amortization not to exceed 20 years. Must have auto charge to Kitsap Bank deposit account. Other limitations may apply. Limited time only. **On all loans over $50,000.
Port Ludlow74 Breaker Lane
Port Ludlow, WA 98365360-437-7863
East Sims2313 East Sims Way
Port Townsend, WA 98368360-385-0123
Port Hadlock69 Oak Bay Road
Port Hadlock, WA 98339360-344-3424
Getablescheersfirstbirthday
The staff at Getables invites the public to help them cel-ebrate their one year anniversary.
Chamber Ambassadors descend on the Pourhouse to help cut the ribbon. Pictured from left are: Dominic Svornich (Kitsap Bank), Karen Anderson (VIC), Mickey Davis (Subway), Ned Herbert (The Pourhouse co-owner), Sigrid Cummings (Usana), Heather Bailey (Jef-ferson Healthcare), Virginia Marston (co-owner), Amanda Funaro (NW Maritime Center), Vi Koenig (PT Laundromat & Self Service Car Wash), Cammy Brown (Peninsula Legal Secretarial Services) and Pam Lampman (Ambassador). Photo by Steve Mullensky
Vice President, records Molly Force N.D. Prosper Natural Health
Vice President, financesJake Beattie NW Maritime Center
Vice President, OutreachJordan Eades Hope Roofing Vice President, membershipCammy Brown Peninsula Legal and Secretarial Services DIreCtOrSHeather Bailey Jefferson Healthcare Judy Cavett Fairwinds Winery
Suzy Carroll Uptown Nutrition Craig Downs Chimacum School District
Justin Jackson Middletown Dreams: A Pin Bar
Austin Henry Altas Technologies Vi Koenig Port Townsend Laundromat & Self Service Car Wash
Nancy McConaghy Coldwell Banker
Mari Stuart Community Enrichment Alliance
Debbie Wardrop Resort at Port Ludlow
Jennefer Wood Maestrale
Carol Woodley Hadlock Motel & Hadlock Realty
Newsletter advertising Sara Radka The Leader 360-385-2900
The content of this pub-lication is prepared by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce for its mem-bers.
We welcome submis-sions. If you have news to share, send articles and photos to [email protected] or mail to 440 12th St. Port Townsend, WA 98368.
Chamber contacts
Rhododendron festival royalty candidates will address the Chamber lunch crowd on March 25. From left to right are: Kaila Olin, Emma White Thunder, Yarro Lanphear-Ramirez, Megan Walsh and Corinthia Cardona.
Chamber members enjoyed themselves at last month’s mixer at Doc’s Marina Grill at Point Hudson. The popular restaurant drew a big crowd.
rhody royalty candidates mixer at Doc’s marina Grill
8 March 2013 Jefferson County Chamber Newsletter
PRSRT STD U.S. PoSTage PaiD PoRT TownSenD, wa PeRmiT no. 34
• Pre-Need Arrangements •• Personalized Funeral & Memorial Services •
(360)385-26421615 Parkside Dr., Port Townsend WA 98386
By Karen AndersonThere have been a lot
of new businesses open-ing their doors in Port Townsend during the past year. Some unconven-tional, some in unconven-tional locations, and all exactly what we need.
The BRickhoUSe BiSTRoThe Brickhouse Bistro
opened its doors June of 2012. But you may not have seen it happen because they are located underground on Taylor Street under Qui-mper Sound and Olympic Art and Office. Look for the sign on the railing and follow the stairs to the surprisingly cozy spot.
Owners, Kirk and Jewel Stott visited Port Townsend and decided it was the place they wanted to retire to. Kirk had always wanted to try his hand at the res-taurant business and The Brickhouse Bistro became their version of “living the dream.” They make all of their food from scratch and offer vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free alternatives to your traditional pizza, pasta, and other Italian dishes. Kirk said that if you have a dietary restriction, just tell one of their employees (most of which are immedi-ate family members), and they will do their best to accommodate.
We “try to cover the whole gambit,” Kirk told our volunteers as they dug in to the delicious alfredo, meatballs, and pizza. Now established, they are excited to see the possibilities of what can happen during peak season. Judging from the VIC volunteer talk after the tour, it seems The Brickhouse may be a new local fave. Winter hours are Monday through Thursday, noon to 8:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, noon to 9 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 7
p.m. with hours extending at the first sign of spring.
Brickhouse Bistro • 232 Taylor St. (downstairs), PT • 385-3687 • brick-housebistropt.com.
PiPPa’S TeaSPippa has always wanted
a tea house. But here’s the quandary. Tea is so old fash-ioned in our coffee loving PNW. How to make a tea room, in a Victorian town no less, that is going to draw in the customers and be a sustainable business? Well, the savvy business-woman that Pippa is, she had it all figured out.
In beautiful Victorian Port Townsend, one opens
a tea room that has no hint of Victorian in it. Hence the tagline, “It’s not your grandmothers tea house.” But Granny is going to love it anyway. Part of her plan to appeal to everyone was to target the men. To do that, you have to lose the doilies. And it worked! Pippa has a regular clientele of men who sit at her bar sipping tea.
There are a lot of great things about Pippa’s, like the smelling wall, or her homemade clotted cream, or the tea itself (of which I have a cup steeping right now), but one of the greatest things about Pippa’s is that they jumped right into the
Port Townsend community spirit and made their out-door courtyard dog friendly, offered a Local Love discount on pots of tea, and are working with Cen-trum to bring the outdoor concerts back to downtown during the peak season. And Pippa’s enthusiasm is infectious. She loves her job so much that in just a few minutes of talking with our VIC volunteers she had a bunch of coffee drink-ers chatting over a several cups of tea. Well, she had the help of the excellent tea, too. Pippa’s Real Tea is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.to 5:30 p.m. with extended summer hours.
Pippa’s Real Tea • 636 Water St., PT • 385-6060 • pippasrealtea.com.
Karen Anderson is the manager of the Port Townsend Visitor Informa-tion Center. Volunteers from the center regularly tour businesses so they can knowledgably answer visi-tor questions. To arrange a familiarization tour, call Karen at 385-2722.VIC volunteers enjoy a cup of tea in Pippa’s tea room on
Water Street in downtown Port Townsend.
Brickhouse Bistro cut the ribbon on its restaurant with some help form Chamber Am-bassadors. Holding the ribbon is Ambassador Karen Anderson (VIC) and Vi Koenig (PT Laundromat & Self Service Car Wash), Owners Jewel (holding certificate) and Kirk Stott (holding scissors) do the honors.
