Skillets for Cooks & Art Lovers

When Peter Clark discovered his roots included an ancestor who was the blacksmith on the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery, it wasn’t a total surprise. Peter had already chosen the same career. He has turned his skills toward making hand spun carbon steel skillets and hand forged utensils that are as pleasing to the eye as a pleasure to cook with.

The Art of Chocolate

The fine art of making chocolate delicacies seems right at home when sharing a retail space with fine art. Peterson Gallery & Chocolatier is a treat for the senses. Sip on rich drinking chocolate or let an artfully decorated truffle melt in your mouth, while viewing paintings and sculptures from area artists.

A Little Wine, Please

Whether made from grapes growing in the unique cobblestones of the Rocks District AVA, on the rolling hills near historic Echo or in the Keating Valley near Baker City, wine from Eastern Oregon has distinct characteristics that are worth discovering and sharing. Copper Belt Winery, located on a former cattle ranch that has been in the family for over a century, has a tasting room on Main Street in Historic Downtown Baker City. Pick up a bottle of their popular Rancher’s Red and sample the amazing selection of cheeses from around the world at the co-located Cheese Fairy, operated by the winemaker’s sister. Find a list of Eastern Oregon wineries, breweries and distilleries and start tasting.

Locally Grown, Created and Made

Two Mercantile establishments in Union County offer unique gifts from local artisan makers and growers. At Community Merchants in downtown La Grande, shop for high quality locally raised pork, beef and poultry, packaged for your holiday meals. Or, browse the wide selection of handmade jewelry, pottery and decorative items from artists who call this beautiful area home. Cat’s Paw Farm Mercantile is located on the north end of Union. Here, the proprietor is the maker of an amazing variety of soaps, lotions and potions, as well as jars of fresh small-batch mustards, soups and tea. The tiny shop is packed with great finds, but, if you want more selection, be sure to go to the website to complete your shopping. Many of ingredients that add fragrance and flavor come from the owner’s adjacent farm and garden.

Making Memories

Stir up memories, or curiosity, and consider the gift of a train ride that includes wine and chocolates or a robbery by mounted bandits. Or a tramway trip to the top of a mountain, where views are nothing short of breathtaking. Get a jump start on winter fun! Find more by ideas by exploring Visit Eastern Oregon.

National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Baker City, Oregon:  Family Fun Day, Friday, November 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be crafts and activities for children, parents, and grandparents to enjoy together. All activities have a pioneer or nature theme, and there is no additional charge for materials. At 12:30 in the Leo Adler Theater, there will be a showing of the animated feature film, “An American Tail: Fievel Goes West,” with a running time of 76 minutes. Call 541-523-1843 for more information. Admission rates are $5 for adults; $3.50 for seniors; Free for youth 15 and younger.

Brady Goss Concert, OK Theatre, Enterprise, Oregon: Come rock out at the Old OK Theatre with local piano virtuoso Brady Goss and his smokin’ band, Friday, November 23, 7 to 9 p.m. There are sure to be plenty of local guests on the stage as well. Give thanks, eat some leftover turkey and pie, shop in Joseph, then get on down to the OK! For more information contact Darrell Brann, 541.263.0941 or oktheater1@gmail.com.

Jingle Thru Joseph Holiday Parade, Joseph, Oregon: Saturday, November 24, get in the holiday spirit while browsing and shopping along Joseph’s Main Street, then join the community at 5 p.m. to watch the Jingle thru Joseph Holiday Parade!

The parade caps off the annual Jingle Thru Joseph Holiday Bazaar, Friday & Saturday, November 23 and 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shoppers will find a grand variety of gifts, decorations and greenery, including fresh Christmas wreaths and swags at the bazaar, taking place at the Joseph Community Center. Wallowa County Humane Society will have Pet Selfies with Santa, so, bring your camera. The Humane Society provides help posing pictures of pets, kids and hard-to-handle adults.

Arts East Center, La Grande, Oregon: Saturday, November 24, 8 to 10:30 p.m., join a group of fellow film enthusiasts to watch a curated selection of lesser-known classics, under-seen influential movies, ‘70s and ‘80s “trash,” cop movies, horror and more. The films are projected in the ACE gallery for an authentic film-going experience. Teaching artist Lucas Kruse introduces each screening and facilitates a casual group discussion at the end – like a book club, except it’s Film Club. Follow @filmclubace on Instagram for monthly updates. These screenings take place monthly on the last Saturday. Please enter through the Penn Ave door. Admission is $5 and you must be 18 or older to attend. Find more information at www.artcentereast.org or contact the Center at 541.962.2800 or info@artcentereast.org.

Shoppers will find a festive atmosphere in every community along the byway. Our local businesses support community projects and events throughout the year, so be sure to shop locally and help keep the holiday spirit and economy strong for all. Happy Thanksgiving!

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As fall quickly turns to winter, it’s time to prepare for your favorite winter activities. Oregon’s Sno-Park program helps provide snow removal at about 100 winter recreation parking areas (Sno-Parks) across the state. Sno-Parks exist in most of Oregon’s mountain passes and in most ski, snowmobile and snow play areas. A list of areas designated as Sno-Parks is available at www.tripcheck.com under “Travel Center.”

If you park in a Sno-Park between November 1 and April 30, you need a valid Sno-Park permit displayed near the lower left corner of your vehicle’s windshield.

There are three types of permits: a $25 seasonal permit, a $9 three-day permit good for three consecutive days, and a $4 daily permit. All DMV offices and permit agents at winter resorts, sporting goods stores and other retail outlets sell these permits. Private agents can charge an additional service fee. A list of permit agents is available at www.tripcheck.com under “Travel Center.” To become a Sno-Park permit sales agent contact DMV, Vehicle Mail at 503-945-7949.

The seasonal permit also is available by mail from DMV. Send a written request with your return address, phone number, and a check or money order to DMV, Vehicle Mail No. 1, 1905 Lana Avenue, Salem Oregon 97314.

• You can use California and Idaho Sno-Park permits in Oregon.
• You can use Oregon Sno-Park permits in California and Idaho.

Parking in an Oregon Sno-Park without a permit may result in a fine, so be sure to obtain a permit and display it on your vehicle.

For more information:
Karen Morrison, Maintenance Services Coordinator, 503-986-3006, Karen.J.Morrison@odot.state.or.us

Dave Thompson, 503-860-8021, David.H.Thompson@odot.state.or.us

LA GRANDE, OREGON__The Grande Ronde Symphony Association celebrated 70 years of music during their annual fundraising event in La Grande last month. The evening included a meal catered by Chef Merlyn Baker and an auction offering a wide variety of items donated by the community. Entertainment showcased music from the different decades of the Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra’s existence, beginning in the late 1940s and moving on through to contemporary tunes. Also featured were award-winning wines and brews from Echo Ridge Cellars of Echo, Oregon, and Barley Brown’s Brew Pub of Baker City.

The music, food, and decorations provided a retrospective, but the evening also looked to the future when the Association introduced attendees to the new music director, Zachary Banks.

According to the Association website, for seven decades northeastern Oregon has benefited from artistic performance and educational enrichment provided by the Grande Ronde Symphony Association and its major programs including the Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra, the Grande Ronde Student Symphony, and the Chamber Concert series.

The Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra is believed to be the oldest continuously operating community symphony orchestra west of the Mississippi. The orchestra began at Eastern Oregon College in 1946 with faculty and student musicians. The first meeting of the newly formed Grande Ronde Symphony association was held at Eastern Oregon College on December 5, 1951, followed quickly by the adoption of a constitution, bylaws and election of officers and board members. The organization has been ongoing ever since.

The orchestra presents an annual series of three concerts in Eastern Oregon University’s McKenzie Theater in Loso Hall and one concert in Baker City.  The orchestra also performs at other events such as the annual Holiday Music Festival. Many of the musicians in the orchestra form smaller ensembles to perform chamber concerts in area homes, as well.

Grande Ronde Symphony Association is excited to ask the question, What’s New with You? as the orchestra begins its 71st season, under the baton of the new Music Director, Zachary Banks. The concert takes place Wednesday, November 14, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. in McKenzie Theater on the EOU campus in La Grande.

According to Mr. Banks, “We are honored to be presenting the season’s fall concert, entitled, “What’s New with You?.” The finale of the program is Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor, From the New World. Banks continued, “This work, written during the composer’s visit to America, is compelling, poignant, and timeless. It is truly a masterwork that is not to be missed! Works by Mozart and Mendelssohn will be opening the program.”

The Association’s President, Alice Trindle, further commented, “The theme chosen for the beginning of the 71st season as Oregon’s longest continuously performing community orchestra, could not be more appropriate. We will be celebrating our new Music Director, while looking forward to many new activities of the Grande Ronde Symphony Association.”

Ms. Trindle continued, “Zach was born and raised in Northwest Indiana and began his musical studies at age 10. Carrying his passion for music into his higher education, Mr. Banks moved to Oregon in 2010, and earned his Bachelor and Master degrees in cello performance from Portland State University. He recently taught in positions with the Portland Youth Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, and currently is an educator and conductor for numerous programs within the Oregon East Symphony in Pendleton.”

Tickets can be purchased in advance at Direct Music Source, 1010 Adams in La Grande, or at Betty’s Books, 1813 Main Street in Baker City or online at granderondesymphony.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the door of McKenzie Theater.

Concert Schedule 2018-2019
Concerts and chamber concerts begin at 7:00 pm.  (This does not apply to the Holiday Music Festival which is sponsored by Eastern Oregon University.)

Fall Concert
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
McKenzie Theater, La Grande

Holiday Music Festival TBA
McKenzie Theater, La Grande

Winter Concert
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
McKenzie Theater, La Grande

Spring Concert
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
McKenzie Theater, La Grande

Go to the orchestra’s website for more information and the Chamber Concert Series schedule. Get updates from the GRSA sent straight to your inbox! Click here to view the latest edition. Email grsapresident@gmail.com or call 541-805-5574 to subscribe!

The all-star Mary Poppins cast includes Opera House favorites Liam Bloodgood (Bert), Keil Fauske (Mr. Banks), Wendi Stein (Mrs. Banks), and Olivia Sturm and newcomer Grant Deem who play the two children Jane and Michael Banks.

Artistic Director Terry Hale and choreographer Heather Watson – who brought you the smash hit Hairspray and Addams Family – combine their talents again for another highly entertaining and magically artistic show performed by a fantastic cast. Order your tickets early to get the best seats!

Upcoming at the Opera House in April 2019 is the hit musical Mamma Mia! And in summer 2019, the acclaimed Disney musical “Newsies” will open on the E.O.H. stage. Now is the perfect time to order your season tickets to ensure you always get the best seats (and free popcorn!).

Tickets are available at ElginOperaHouse.com, or at the Box Office by calling 541-663-6324.
Follow the Elgin Opera House on Facebook at facebook.com/operahouse.

La Grande Farmers’ Market:  This lively market has grown in recent years and offers a wonderful way to spend Saturday mornings. In addition to lots of fresh produce, enjoy live music and shop for crafts and baked goods. The market runs through October 20, from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, and Tuesdays, from 3:30 to 6 p.m., in Max Square, at the corner of Fourth and Adams in downtown La Grande. September 22 is Kids Day at the market, where kids can have a free booth space from which to sell their products and creations. Kids can also shop for free that day.

With the Cove-Union Farm Loop brochure as your guide, enjoy the countryside while checking out what is fresh at these favorite stops:

 Platz Family Farm stand has a wide variety of vegetables, including squash, beets, peppers, sweet corn, lots of tomatoes, carrots, flowers, frozen berries, raspberry syrup and jam, local crafts and much more. Find  homemade bread and scones on Fridays. Located at the north end of Union, where their beautiful garden is visible from Highway 203 but accessed via North First Street, the farm stand will be open mostly on Fridays 10-6:30 through the fall season. They will probably close in mid to late October. They are open on Mondays for just a couple more weeks and can usually be found at the La Grande Farmers’ Market.

If you haven’t yet discovered Cats Paw Farm Mercantile in Union, now is a great time to stop by the charming little shop on the north edge of Union. Owner R’Chel is a very busy entrepreneur, using products grown in her own garden and pasture next door to create a myriad of beauty and food products. She recently provided the following news:

• Herb tea blends and spice herbs are constantly being crafted and restocked as she continues to harvest and air dry their spray-free herb crops.
• This summer’s Peach Mustard is available and R’Chel debut a Jalapeño Mustard soon. Shoppers will find around a dozen mustard flavors that the shop crafts and stocks year round.
• The shop has added three new Shrub Syrup Concentrate flavors this summer, bringing the selection to 9 flavors. Added to your bottled or domestic drinking water, shrubs are a great way to get your daily water intake with the added benefit of electrolytes and a vitamin boost in an all-natural, product, crafted from spray-free local fruit.
• An End of Summer Soap Sale is underway to make room for all the fall and holiday soaps currently curing. Get 40% off on selected bars. They are converting to eco-sustainable packaging-all plastic packaged skin care, hair care, lotions and liquid soaps are marked down to 30% and below.

Cats Paw Farm Mercantile is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Entering Union from LG, take a right into the parking lot just after crossing the Little Creek bridge. From North Powder, go through Union towards La Grande and turn into the last driveway on the left before the Little Creek Bridge.

Cove has lots to offer people who are following the Cove-Union Farm Loop, including Nella Mae’s Farm Stand on Antles Lane, which is self-serve, open every day from April through October, and offers fresh produce, fruit and eggs, from the nearby farm and other local producers. Be sure to pick up a suggested recipe for serving what’s fresh!

The Plantworks has brought back their plant stand on Lantz Lane in Cove, offering native plants and also a few fire resistant non-native plants. The greenhouse grows plants for environmental rehab and watershed projects. Pick up a few hardy plants for your landscaping. The stand is self-serve and prices are listed.

The Pick‘N Patch, 62816 Lower Cove Rd. near Cove, opens to the public Friday, October 5. They will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from 10 to 4 through the month of October. Also open by appointment only and for school trips, Monday thru Thursday. Contact Dian Frisch, 541-786-2421. It is a U-pick pumpkin patch with lots of sizes to choose from. There are also straw bales, corn stalks and wheat bundles for fall decorating needs.

If you are following the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway to Wallowa County, pick up a copy of the Wallowa Barn Tour and see the beautiful and historic structures in all corners of the county.

One of the highlights, Liza Jane’s Farm Stand at 6 Ranch, is always a great place to stop, located at a Century Farm at 87161 Hwy 82, on the north side of the highway nearing Enterprise. It’s open 24/7 and self-serve; with fresh produce, honey, eggs, and herb garden, local grass fed meats (beef, lamb, pork, chicken & goat), fresh bread and handmade soaps.

The Wallowa County Farmers’ Market is held Saturdays from 9-2, in Joseph, Memorial Day through half of October. There’s live music, crafts and produce booths, in one of the most scenic towns in the West.  The WCFM is hosting a Harvest Dinner fundraiser on Saturday, September 22. The fall schedule also includes an apple cider press, October 6. See the website and flyer for more information.

Also, Slow Food Wallowas is putting on an event called Pig-nic: A Hog Harvest Festival, October 6, from 1-4 p.m. at Barking Mad Farm Bed & Breakfast on Alder Slope. More info on Facebook.

This time of year, Ruby Peak Naturals, a store in Enterprise carries a good amount of local food.

In Baker City, Val’s Veggies is a large farm stand located in a small red barn on Campbell Street, across the street from the Baker Heritage Museum. There is always a wonderful selection of produce and fruit from Val’s Medical Springs farm, as well as from other regional producers. The Val’s Veggies Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch opens October 1, at the farm, 44889 Houghton Creek Road, Baker City, Oregon. It’s worth the drive!

The Baker Farmer’s Market is held every Wednesday from June 6 through September 26, from 3 to 6:30 p.m., and October 3 through 24, from 2 to 5 p.m., in the courtyard at the Baker County Fairgrounds Event Center, 2600 East Street, Baker City, Oregon.  ​

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Motorists are advised to drive with extra caution, watch for bike riders and share the road. Heavy bike traffic can be expected on the following routes.

Monday September 10 – Halfway to Wallowa Lake State Park via Hwy 86, FSR 39, Hwy 350 and Hwy 351.
Tuesday September 11 – Wallowa Lake State Park to Elgin via Hwy 82.
Wednesday September 12 – Elgin to Pendleton via Hwy 204, Pambrun, Thornhollow, Cayuse and Mission Roads, and Court Avenue.
Thursday September 13 – Pendleton to Pendleton via Echo following Hwy 37, Despain Gulch Rd, Hwy 395, Thielsen and Rieth Roads.
Friday September 14 – Pendleton to La Grande via Court Ave, Mission Road, Old Hwy 30, I-84 between Mileposts 248 and 259, with a lunch stop at Hilgard Junction State Park off Hwy 244.
Saturday September 15 – La Grande to Baker City via Hwy 30, Hwy 203, Hwy 237, Anthony Lakes Highway, Pocahontas Rd and Hughes Lane.

Oregon Department of Transportation crews performed road sweeping operations along state routes prior to the ride and will continue to monitor the shoulders and construction work zones to help provide safer travel for the bike riders. Highway variable message reader boards will display safety reminders along with the temporary roadside signage set out by Cycle Oregon staff.

The signature week long ride is a popular annual event that exposes cyclists from all over the world to the communities and natural beauty of Oregon.

More information about the ride is available at http://cycleoregon.com.

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Oregon’s Alpenfest, the only Swiss-Bavarian cultural festival in the West, happens in the majestic Wallowa Mountains of northeast Oregon – a region whose spectacular scenery reminds many of the Swiss Alps.

Events are scheduled at Wallowa Lake, one of Oregon’s biggest attractions; the art colony of Joseph, and historic Enterprise. The glacier-formed lake is known for its pristine beauty and recreation assets ranging from boating, hiking, fishing and camping, to riding the tramway to the top of the surrounding peaks.

Featured performers are The Polkatones dance band, the Tirolean Dancers folk dance troupe, Swiss yodeler Shelby Imholt from Portland, Enterprise alphornist Bruce Coutant and accordion virtuoso Alicia Baker from Denver.

Polka stars Randy and Ashley Thull from Wisconsin will offer free polka lessons, and visiting accordionists will play on Main Street in Joseph and at the outdoor Alpine Breakfasts at Wallowa Lake.

Main performances take place Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and evening in the century-old Edelweiss Inn, traditional home of Alpenfest, next to the Wallowa Lake Tramway.

Numerous craft and food vendors will offer their wares Friday through Sunday at the outdoor Alpine Fair.

On Saturday and Sunday mornings, pancakes, eggs and sausage will be served at the Alpine Breakfasts to benefit the Wallowa Lake Tourism Association.

Details about the performers and ticket information are available at oregonalpenfest.com or by phone to 541-426-2577.

Alpenfest was born in 1975 when business owners at Wallowa Lake sought to create a reason for visitors to come to “Oregon’s Little Switzerland” after Labor Day, the typical end of the busy visitor season. Tourism is a large driver of the county economy.

A natural for the end of September, when other regions are staging Oktoberfests, the original Alpenfest lasted until 2008. In 2011, after disappointed tourists kept asking what happened, business owners in Joseph and at the lake decided to revive the festival.

The new era was ushered in with a new name, “Oregon’s Alpenfest,” in 2012. Events were scheduled in three Wallowa County locations, as is the case today.

Beer offerings will differ from those in past years. Instead of importing German beers, Alpenfest will pour exclusively eastern Oregon brews in Alpine style. Attendees receive free 24-ounce glass mugs at entrance.

Terminal Gravity Brewing in Enterprise, which has honored the festival with an Alpenfest beer every year since 2012, will make a German kolsch. East Fork Brewery in Joseph will provide a Bavarian Hefeweizen, M. Crow Brewing in Lostine a Berliner Weisse and Side A Brewing in La Grande a German black lager known as Schwartzbier.

Alpenfest’s bratwurst is produced by Hines Meat Co. in La Grande. Hines, a family-owned butcher shop, is the latest of several providers of bratwurst for the festival following changes in the region’s sausage landscape. Chuck Anderson, the event’s alpenmeister, said Hines “has the best smoked German bratwurst in the state that I’ve tasted.”

The event’s parent organization, Alpenfest, is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Swiss and Bavarian traditions. Contributions are tax deductible.

Saturday, September 8, is what we have been calling the Mystery Tour Train Ride. Many travelers have taken part in a “Mystery Tour,” in which the destination is unknown when the group tour departs its home base, only to be revealed as the tour progresses. In this case, we only go where the track takes us! But, the theme, meal and additional entertainment for this ride will come as a surprise to passengers who like a little bit of suspense in their day. Rest assured, the day includes beautiful scenery and a great lunch!

During the Fall Photo Run, Saturday, September 15, Eric W. Valentine, a La Grande photographer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, conducts a short workshop in the dining car for those who want to take memorable photos. Participants in the workshop will have the first of two run-bys to practice what they have learned. The train ride departs at 10 a.m. for the 5.5 hour ride.

The Wine & Cheese Train takes place Saturday, September 29. This scenic train ride offers exceptional fall colors and provides a wonderful time to relax and unwind. Passengers taste a variety of wines from Copper Belt Winery, poured by the wine maker, and Umapine Creamery serves a sampling of their artisan cheese. A light meal of soup, fruit and bread is served along with the wine and cheese. The ride departs from Elgin at 3 p.m. for an early evening ride, so bring a jacket in case the evening mountain air feels chilly. Expect to return to the depot by 7 p.m. (Not recommended nor priced for riders under 21.)

More of the popular train robberies are offered Saturday, October 6 and Saturday, October 13.  The Autumn Train Robbery features the notorious Gold Rush Bandits, who hide out in the woods and wait for the train to roll into their territory! Mounted on horses, bandits flag down the train and climb on board. The train ride departs from Elgin Depot at 10 a.m. and returns at 2:30 p.m.

Our last train ride of 2018 takes place Saturday, October 20. The Two Rivers End of Season Bounty follows the Grande Ronde and Wallowa Rivers as they tumble their courses and join together at Rondowa. We will depart in the afternoon so passengers can catch the end of the fall colors, with the golden Tamarack trees a highlight. They will dine on wonderful locally grown food and craft beverages. This ride departs from Elgin Depot at 2 p.m. and returns at about 6 p.m. (Not recommended nor priced for riders under 21.)

Get all of the meal details and further information and book your reservations by visiting www.eaglecaptrainrides.com. Or, if you prefer to talk to a travel agent, call Alegre Travel, 800.323.7330, and ask for Kori.

According to his website: “Cale has become one of the most versatile and hardest working entertainers in the industry, playing as a single artist or with full band, everything from small clubs to main stages, opening act to headliner, cowboy church to wineries and beer gardens. Cale is known for giving a show that is not just enjoyed, but remembered.” Learn more about the country and gospel singer and hear his music at www.calemoon.com.

At the Enterprise concert in Cloverleaf Hall, admission at the door is $15 for adults and $5 for 12 years and younger. Save by buying tickets in advance. The 38th annual Hells Canyon Mule Days runs Friday through Sunday, September 7 – 9, and is filled with activities for fans of mules and everything western. Go to www.hellscanyonmuledays.com for a schedule and information.

All ages are welcome at the family friendly concert in Baker CIty, Sunday. Opportunities to win one of two raffle prizes will be available during the concert, offered to raise funds for the 2019 series of summer concerts in Baker City’s popular park, adjacent to the Powder River and near downtown. Make a donation of $5 to receive one door prize raffle ticket, or donate $20 for an “arm’s length” of tickets. Like and follow Baker City Events on https://www.facebook.com/PowderRiverMusicReview. For more information on the concert series or to offer support in 2019, contact Lynette, event coordinator, 541.519.5653.