Cinnamon Twist, fresh from Pane d'Amore, with coffee. Twice we've smelled them baking these and other truly fresh pastries and breads when we walked by at 11:30 PM the night before.
My two-and-a-half week stay in Port Townsend has allowed me to observe the lifestyle many live here, and there are certainly some trends. Many residents, if not most, have chosen to live here. True, the trend nationwide shows many people move away from where they were born or grew up, often following jobs. However, we aren't always happy in our new locations, especially when it's hard to connect with people. So many Port Townsend residents have come to this "Victorian Seaport & Arts Community," as the sign welcoming you calls it, with a particular awareness of that word "community."
Perhaps it is due to the type of people that come here. Aside from the historical paper mill, there is no large industry or business drawing workers. These are artisans, crafters, farmers, small business owners, preschool teachers. Perhaps these people's own financial independence has them feeling inclined to support the network of small businesses that really makes up this town. It is most definitely an interesting study on how a village community can function. (My thoughts on how this could be relevant in the future of humanity are extensive--too much so for this blog post! I'd love to talk to YOU about it though)
A central part of community is, of course, food. I've never been around such abundant, fresh fruit in my life as I have this summer. I worked through the heart of the season in a blueberry field at Finnriver, a family-owned organic farm and cidery in nearby Chimacum, and let me tell you, those bushes were laden! Fruit trees all around town are begging to be picked. Tomato season is finally arriving, too--all of this despite a severe drought.
Needless to say, food and farming is a knot that holds this community together, and tourists and locals alike can enjoy the many fresh and flavorful options. I have collected here three different options to experience what Port Townsend has to offer your tastebuds.
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At the top is a drawing of a cinnamon twist from the artisan bakery around the corner from us in Uptown, Pane d'Amore. When I went in to buy these treats for our breakfast, irresistible after smelling cinnamon wafting down the street the night before, I saw front and center blueberry cream pies, with blueberries from... you guessed it, Finnriver! I could've picked those very berries! Interconnectedness brings a rewarding feeling. This bakery uses true sourdoughs and bakes their goods fresh the night before (as I discovered while craving a midnight snack).
I did this sketch at the Saturday Farmers Market in Uptown Port Townsend, also just a few minutes' walk from our front door. Local organic farmers from all around the area converge every Saturday morning, 9 AM to 2 PM, from April to December. There are also musicians and freshly cooked goodies like salmon sandwiches and the best bagels you will ever have in your life. Saturdays uptown truly capture the spirit of the town.
If you get lunch at the farmers market and spend the afternoon perhaps on the beach or exploring Fort Worden, consider getting dinner at Hanazono. This Asian noodle restaurant is located downtown, not far from the iconic stairway that leads you down from Uptown. Vegetables are freshly provided from a local farm, and the spices will not let you down. My sister and I split two dishes, a vegan rice-noodle soup and the buckwheat stir-fried noodles. In the middle of our meal we looked up at each other and burst out laughing: we both had our spoons in one hand and our chopsticks in the other, fully immersed in this rich culinary experience. Portions are sizable and the price is right.
My trip to the Pacific Northwest has come to an end, and next week I'll begin my first semester of college. I always look forward with great excitement to new people and experiences, and that's just what I have in store!
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