Aberdeen, WA – The tall ship Lady Washington will stop in Westport Sunday Oct. 4 before she begins her 11-week “2009 Columbia River Fall Education Tour.” The ship is scheduled to arrive at the Westport Marina at approximately 1 p.m. and open to the public for walk-on tours from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
A $3 donation per person is appreciated. On Monday, Oct. 5, Lady Washington departs Westport for Astoria, Ore.
Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority, which owns and operates Lady Washington, had initially planned for a major restoration project on the ship after completing its annual Puget Sound tour this month. A change in the restoration planning opened up the opportunity for a fall voyage. The warm welcome by Columbia River port communities last spring encouraged the Seaport to schedule a fall voyage up river rather than south down the Oregon coast.

The tall ship Hawaiian Chieftain, which normally accompanies Lady Washington on her voyages, will sail south and offer educational programs to coastal Oregon and California schools. She is currently in Aberdeen. Hawaiian Chieftain is scheduled to visit Westport Oct. 10 before sailing for Oakland, Calif.
Like maritime history and tall ships? Visit our website and check out the newest, most complete gathering of shipwreck and fishing vessel as well as myths, legends and maybe-true tales about the Pacific Graveyard region, “Dead Reckoning of the Pacific Graveyard.”

The fall Columbia River tour is an encore of the ship’s spring 2009 tour and the Lady Washington will visit many of the same ports, emphasizing its mission of hands-on education for young people. Scheduled ports-of-call include: Astoria, Cathlamet, Hood River, Ilwaco, Kalama, Pasco, Rainier, St. Helens, The Dalles, Umatilla, Vancouver, and Washougal.

27th Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival (April 24-26, 2009)

The Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival is always held during the last full weekend of April. This year’s Festival is April 24-26, 2009.

The Festival website invites patrons to “enjoy a great spread of northwest cuisine, myriad arts and crafts, a selection of Oregon and Washington’s finest wineries, the beer garden and more.” Last year’s Festival is reported to have hosted over 200 vendors, and this year the Festival will expand beyond just wine to include three local breweries.

There will be live music in the Exhibit Hall and several musical performances in the tent. In addition, the Rotary Club of Astoria will serve their traditional crab dinner throughout the weekend.

The Festival hosts a number of contests, including a wine competition (open to their winery vendors, of which there are expected to be about 50). This year’s top three Best of Show titles were awarded to: Terra Vina – 2006 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir, Zerba Cellars – 2006 Syrah, and Sweet Cheeks – 2007 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.

The Festival will be open on Friday, April 24, from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM; Saturday, April 25, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM; and Sunday, April 26, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Daily general admission prices are as follows: Friday – $8, Saturday – $10, and Sunday – $5. (Children under 12 are free.) Alternatively, a weekend pass may be purchased for $18 at the Astoria & Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce or on Friday at the Festival.

According to the Festival website, shuttles will be available from many of the area’s lodging properties, as well as at the Port of Astoria park and ride (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) and the “Lum’s” lot at 5th & Marine (Friday and Saturday only). The cost is $1 each way. Visitors coming from Seaside on Saturday can take a shuttle to the Festival for $6. (Call Seaside’s Best Tours at 503.738.9898 to reserve a spot.)

Today beginning at 9 a.m., (NOW) the KAST On-Air auction will feature Dead Reckoning of the Pacific Graveyard, so call 503-325-2911 and check where the bidding stands, LISTEN IN and bid!  Bidding starts at .50 on the dollar, your chance to (maybe) get a chart for less than retail once the gavel drops!
In other news:

Signed by stars Christopher Lee and Caroline Munro, this is the ultimate Hammer Horror tribute with the Royal Mail first day issue stamps and postmarks commemorating British Cinema click for larger image

#3 Hammer Horror arrived at completion and sold as soon as it was viewed by a previous customer!  Congratulations and thank you, Oliver of London, England!

This piece in our edition of 50 shows Christopher Lee and Caroline Munro in Dracula AD 1972.  In the photo, Drac is preparing to drain his victim. Each star has signed, and each signature comes with its own COA and topping it all is the Royal Mail’s first day issue stamps and postmarks commemorating British cinema.

A custom-built Studio moulding frame and conservation glass will keep Oliver enthralled with his History in Vogue^TM purchase. 

We rarely share the “finish” with you, but ours are unique in that Bill uses a hard back (rather than paper) on which he attaches a clear sleeve for storage of provenance: A letter of ownership personalized to you or a special someone, Certificates of Authenticity for any signatures, original packaging for pins or memorabilia to arrive at a superior gathering of history and an enduring collectible; the kind that becomes favorite, an heirloom.

503-338-6056 or bill@nwlimited.com to find out more!

This weekend at Ocean View Cemetary in Warrenton, Oregon, the Clatsop County Historical Society will be hosting the fifth rendition of their popular “Talking Tombstones” event.  If you love history, it’s an event not to be missed.
From the Historical Society’s website:

Talking Tombstones V, “Friends In Low Places”

Links:
Talking Tombstones Coast Weekend – Daily Astorian
Talking Tombstones at the Clatsop County Historical Society’s Website
Where’s Grim
Tales of the dead written in stone Daily Astorian article w/video

Soggy Sunday Market:
The air was thick and close as the van was packed this morning, which quickly changed to a soaking drizzle-turned downpour and back and forth between the two for the duration of this weekend’s Astoria Sunday Market.

This was the view from NW Limited on Hood to Coast weekend at Astoria's Sunday Market

Bill was ousted from his usual booth location next door to Delectables by Phyllis and in front of Lucy’s Books, because someone thought not enough and left their very dirty truck parked there. 
Two different tow trucks tried, but none could budge the marooned mudball.

A Sunday Market first?

Its owner nowhere to be located, there it sat dribbling mud glops into the street.

Bill set up the booth kiddie-corner from his usual location, but the upshot of a day like this is that no one shops.
Instead, they hurry from place to place sheltered by umbrellas or hats, and clutching their sacks or coats around them, eager to get in out of the damp.
The rain comes from every direction on a day like this. Puddling in the roofs of vendors’ tents, awaiting the right moment to spill down the hapless’ backs, and rising in the gutters, then splashing back upward even on the sheltered items, splattering everything.
What doesn’t get soaked that way is not overlooked by the gusting winds.
Beer bottles at the nearby Rogue Brewery booth would shatter on the wet
pavement as boxes absorbed the ubiquitous moisture,

The empty center rows had just been swept up and washed away after falling to the ground.

sagged and the table ultimately betrayed its load.

Spirits were remarkably buoyant, but the effect of the liquid sunshine was definitely felt: Sales were low, as was overall attendance noticeably so.
Cello music added to the ambience, and when it was time to leave, the process was hastened as much as possible by the impatient vendors.

The truck next door

Now that you’re home and dry, shop our website while we dry off and gird ourselves for the coming busy week.
We are expecting Dylan and Mary Tyler Moore to join the newly-finished Woodstock piece as unique customs.
Let us not forget that last year’s Market delivered 16 rainy, blustery Sundays.
Look for us next week in our -usual- location.

At 7 pm tonight, August 6, 2008, coronation events will kick off the Regatta festival here in Astoria.
Sailboat races, children’s parade, USCG SAR demonstration, Bumble Bee Cannery worker’s reunion, historic home tours, concerts and fireworks over the Columbia River are a sampling of the events planned as part of the 4-day celebration.

The Columbia River is also the center of the Pacific Graveyard, and this small detail area of NW Limited...History in Vogue's shipwreck chart illustrates the why. Charts are available by calling 503-338-6056 or email bill@nwlimited.com

What is the Regatta Festival? 
A celebration of the river and it’s history intertwined with the people who have lived, live and will live here along the waterfront. 

The lighthouse which used to occupy Desdemona Sands just West of the present-day Astoria-Megler bridge

Times change, but the river itself has remained constant in its own ever-changing landscape.  The types of boats and ships that traverse the currents is different, and navigation aids slow their losses.  Commerce threatens to change it drastically, and development always perches on a precarious edge of greed versus aesthetics. 
One thing will never change, and those are the names and dates recorded; the history that has dictated our arrival here and now, and which is being made at this very moment:

HAPPY REGATTA
from NW Limited…History in Vogue^TM!!

Events wrap up Sunday.
Swing by Astoria’s Sunday Market to our booth across from the Elliot Hotel/in front of Lucy’s Books (look for the green awning) to purchase
Dead Reckoning for yourself.

Links:
Astoria Regatta Website (schedule and information available)
114th Regatta Festival at North Coast Oregon

Dead Reckoning radio ad

Author Eric Soyland stopped into the Columbia River Coffee Roaster this a.m., and as he enjoyed his coffee and wireless access, looked up to become acquainted with the chart.
As fate would have it, Bill walked in the door at just the right moment, and Eric and he shook hands. Kudos was given to the creator of the chart he’d just been enjoying.

Eric's sailboat, Sierra

Eric is a sailor, diver, surfer and lover of the sea. Dead Reckoning of the Pacific Graveyard naturally drew him in, and captured his imagination.

Admiration for the chart!

Later that day, Eric returned and left a copy of his book, “Ocean of Adventure” for Bill and even autographed it. Eric and his friend Erica, accompanied by their dog, Mr. Free, are traveling from Ketchikan, Alaska to San Francisco, California by sailboat and stopped in Astoria for a taste of local culture.”
They encountered the best!

Eric converses while seated at the best spot in the house

Fair winds and following seas to Eric and company…

The second Sunday Market is now history.
Weather better!

Saw a Wookiee leave with a new owner…

If you saw us there, why don’t you leave us a note here?

Is there something you would like to see included in our History in Vogue^TM line of products?
Do you regret not buying that shipwreck chart you saw there?
If there’s something particular you’re looking for, we’d be glad to hear from you.
Don’t forget that Dad of yours!

503-338-6056 or bill@nwlimited.com

The Astoria Sunday Market begins today, Sunday, May 11 (Mother’s Day)! It’s been hit-or-miss weather. If you went to see, hopefully you had an umbrella.
NW Limited…History in Vogue^TM was there (and will be there every Sunday), as in years past.
There’s even more new, great stuff to see and the ultimate answer in “what to get” for the (mom, dad, brother, sister, friend) that has everything!
We guarantee they don’t have anything like this!
For example:

14″ X 11″ this is number 18 in an exclusive American Motorcycle edition of 119 pieces, EVER.

If you can’t make it to the market, we are always available by calling 503-338-6056 or email Bill at bill@nwlimited.com
We ship, and we take plastic.

All said and done!
Several pieces have found new homes, other shoppers went home with the only regret they’ll ever experience with NW Limited, and that’s NOT BUYING!

View from Friday evening’s festivities:

The shipwreck chart was admired by many.
Every single piece is handmade with pride right here in Clatsop County, Oregon, USA.
Did you miss your chance to take home the ultimate locally-made souvenir of your trip to Astoria?
We ship, and we take plastic, just in case you did miss something, or want to reserve a future build. 503-338-6056 or bill@nwlimited.com