Discover Our Town

Guy Fawkes Night at The Whale & Ale - San Pedro, CA

Thursday, November 5^th is Guy Fawkes Night & is First Thursday. Enjoy our full menu, or take advantage of the one-night Starving Artists $25 fixed three-course menu.

Back to entertain you on November 5, (First Thursday Artwalk night),
are Izon Eden, from 6:30 to 10pm   
 

The Whale & Ale - San Pedro, CA

Every Friday Night... visit The Whale & Ale & enjoy the fine entertainment of Rob Klopfenstein & Guests joining him at the Piano, no cover charge for Bar or Dinner Guests. 7 to 9.30 p.m. San Pedro, CA

 

Hot Jazz of the1930’s, 40’s & 50’s @ The Whale & Ale with "The Jazz Whalers" - San Pedro, CA

Sunday November 1^st.
(…we feature Jazz every Sunday… 5 to 8pm, no cover chg.; on Sun. October 18 will be the excellent Mike Guerrero Trio), & on Sun. November 1^st - a special treat:
Jazz Trumpeter Barry Anthony is bringing the hot Jazz of the1930’s, 40’s & 50’s to The Whale & Ale. Barry heads up “The Jazz Whalers”, - a three piece combo featuring LA’s finest musicians performing the best music of the jazz age.
In a typical set you’ll hear Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Chet Baker, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin & all the great composers of Broadway & Tin Pan Alley. This is the Jazz of New Orleans, Chicago, New York & LA as performed in it’s heyday, full of life & soulful energy. If you like your Jazz hot & lively, then come & join Barry & his “Whalers” at The Whale & Ale.

Create Web Site Workshop - Three Rivers, CA

Create A Blog Style Web Site With WordPress, Arts Alliance Workshop

November 11, 2009  1-4:30 pm
Three Rivers, CA

WordPress is a free and easy to use, non-technical web publishing solution for everyone. For individuals without a traditional web site, this is an easy way to start your Internet Presence. For others, this is a simple way to enhance your Internet Presence.

This workshop will focus on how to set up and use the WordPress system. The cost is $25 for Three Rivers Arts Alliance members and $35 for nonmembers. To sign up or for additional details, visit the Three Rivers Arts Alliance web site, http://artsthreerivers.org or call 561-3464.

Instructor: Aranga Firstman, Ph.D., educator, artist, web site designer and web master.

Vicars & Tarts Costume Party - Whale & Ale - San Pedro, CA

Saturday October 31st

The Whale & Ale - San Pedro, CA  

Les Lavandes Bed and Breakfast (for an Advent, Christmas or New Year’s getaway)

Les Lavandes Bed & Breakfast of Herman, MO

Just spend a weekend there with my sister, niece and 2 nephews. Myrta & Richard are incredible. I will never be able to stay at another B&B. I mean it. They have set the bar way tooooo high. The food was !! Well Don't Know If My Words Would Do Justice !! But the food was amazing, as well as the warmth we felt from them. Almost on extension of us. Will be back next year, already made reservations. Jean - Lenexa, KS

It is easy to see how much Myrta loves what she does, because of all the small details she puts in her baking, cooking and decorating...which is very much noticable! It also says a lot about Myrta and Richard when you read their guest books and see how many guests have come back to visit. My husband and I came here for our honeymoon. It was our first time staying at a B&B style lodging. We are coming back in October and looking forward to Myrta's and Richard's cooking. By the way, Myrta's lavender cookies and lavender ice cream are out of this world! Malvina and Phillip

Welcome to our B&B! Myrta, a native of Switzerland, has lived and traveled extensively throughout the world and besides being a baker’s daughter, she was an international flight attendant for many years. Together with her husband Richard , they have opened their B&B with their hearts and minds and have been successful in spoiling and pampering their guests infinitely.

We are offering some  special 2 night  week ends,

Friday and Saturday, Dec 4 and 5

Friday and Saturday, Dec 11 and 12

Friday and Saturday, Dec 18 and 19

Friday and Saturday, Jan 1 and 2, 2010

  

 including the following:

A FULL GOURMET BREAKFAST  each morning, consisting of:

Homemade bread

Homemade jams

Fresh fruit

A variety of juices, caffee latte, espresso, regular coffee, REAL Swiss chocolatHot breakfast

ONE COMPLIMENTARY HIGH TEA  upon arrival, consisting of:

Homemade Swiss chocolate truffles

French/Austrian/Swiss pastries

Variety of international teas

A 5 COURSE CANDLE LIGHT DINNER , consisting of:

Gluehwein (hot mulled/spiced wine)

Appetizer

Mixed salad with homemade dressing

Main course

Dessert with coffee/tea

(Details on appetizer and main course and dessert  to be announced)

  

Traditional “old world” Christmas ceremony with the  lightening of  special candles and sparklers on the Christmas tree while either listening or singing some old carols.

The garden hot tub with some incredible stargazing moments  might be the right finishing touch of a splendid, unforgettable evening…..

Price for Swiss and French Suites: $ 195.00 per person

Price for American room: $165.00 per person

 

Please Call: 573-236-4774

Reserve: Here

Visit Web Page: Here

Country Inn & Suites - Naperville, IL

Country Inn & Suites By Carlson 1837 Centre Point Circle Naperville, Illinois 60563   630.505.3353 www.countryinns.com/napervilleil   Does your company have a Corporate Negotiated Rate with us?   If you have room nights in Naperville, Lisle, Aurora, or Warrenville, then you qualify for a special rate at the Country Inn & Suites in Naperville!  Do your part, and help your company save some money!   If you already have a Corporate Negotiated rate at the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson in Naperville, then now is the time you want to call and renew your rate for 2010! Contact Julia Pohlman today at 630.328.4650 or julia.pohlman@countryinns.com and see if you have a corporate negotiated rate.  If you don't...then lets set one up for you!    The Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Features: *Complimentary HOT Breakfast daily *Lobby bar open nightly *Complimentary Shuttle Transportation within a 10 mile radius *Complimentary wireless/wired Internet throughout hotel *24hr Business Center *24hr Fitness Center   Brush up on your pool skills with our new addition of a pool table located in our Lounge across from our Lobby Bar!  Enjoy a hot piping personal pizza in our bar while watching the game and enjoy an ice cold drink!       Sincerely,   Julia Pohlman 630.328.4650 julia.pohlman@countryinns.com Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Visit us Online! $25 Maggiano's Gift Card! Contact Julia Pohlman to set up your company's negotiated rate, and you will recieve a $25 gift card to Maggiano's after your first booking!   *Valid for NEW companies only *Offer expires 10/30/09 *Offer not valid for existing accounts   Holiday Shopping Starts NOW when you visit the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Naperville!   Now is the perfect time to set up an appointment for a site tour with Julia Pohlman at the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson in Naperville.  By doing so, you will receive a $10 gift card to the Chicago Premium Outlet Mall.    *Valid for new tours only *Offer Expires 10/30/09 (must take a tour by expiration date) *Must present this coupon to qualify *Valid for one employee per company   Call Julia Pohlman today to set up your site tour!  630.328.4650 julia.pohlman@countryinns.com

Art Classes at Three Rivers Artists' Studio - Sequoia National Park, CA

Web Presence for Beginners
"from the artist's hand to the world's eye"
A one-day workshop for artists, open to anyone

October 24, 2009 10-3 pm
Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak, Visalia, CA 93291
559-739-0905

For those of us who are hands-on creative persons, showcasing 
ourselves on the world wide web via the internet can be very daunting. This virtual world seems to move at super sonic speed far from human pace of making art. Often we give up before we even start. 

This one-day workshop is based on this tenet: 
Start where you are. Take just one simple step at a time. 
Start is the keyword here.


The professional artist is represented by their actual artwork,
and also by what is said and read about their work on the world wide web. The wise and savvy artist needs to be in control of his or her own “brand” or name as it shows up in the virtual world.


Do you want others telling the world about your work as an artist, or 
do you want your story told using your own creative voice?


 ■ learn a simple web glossary

■ learn how to register a domain name

■ find out tips about search engines

■ learn to create a free blog as a website

■ learn basic blogging techniques 

■ learn to recognize clean website design


■ discover ways to sell your art online

■ explore social media to enhance blog

■ develop personal artist’s web presence

■ connect with other artists in the world

■ be inspired by the web art community
■ acquire web competency without fear
■ create locally and exhibit globally

$45 for registration prior to October 10, $55 after this date. 
Pre-registration required. Reserve your space early.


The instructor is Elsah Cort, collage artist, web enthusiast, blogger,
and Three Rivers Artists’ Studio Tour organizer

For more information or call 559-561-4671 or visit http://elsahcort.wordpress.com_

Instructor: Aranga Firstman, Ph.D., educator, artist, web site designer and web master.

Stratos Jet Charters, Inc. October 9, 2009 Orlando, Florida based Stratos Jet Charters, Inc. is proud to announce that during the month of October, they will be raising funds in support of Susan G. Komen Foundationʼs fight against breast cancer. It is the goal of their company to raise $5,000. Joel Thomas, President of Stratos Jet Charters, said that “we have decided to participate in raising awareness for the Susan G. Komen Foundations fight against breast cancer, because of the personal experience of one of our clients. His family is currently dealing with the struggle against breast cancer and we will be making a donation in their name.” Stratos Jet Charters, Inc. will donate $50 to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for every flight flown during the month of October. They will also match any client donation up to $250. To learn more about breast cancer awareness, research and support, please visit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure website or call 1-877-GO KOMEN. To learn more about Stratos Jet Charters philanthropy activities, to charter a private jet or arrange a charter flight, visit Stratos Jet Charters blog or call 1-888.478-7286.

Photo Gifts from Friends of Elk Lake Resort - West Yellowstone, MT

Gifts From Friends

As I promised in my last post, I am going to share with you some 'gifts' I have received from our guests. All my readers know I take LOTS of pictures. I guess I feel that, to a point, a picture really is 'worth a thousand words.' However, if you have spent any time at the resort, you also know I spend the vast majority of my time (during season) inside. I cook. I clean. I answer the phone. Then, when I'm done, I start all over again. Thus you will understand why the photos taken by guests who are here enjoying the glories of a Centennail Valley are such gifts!

Furthermore, many of our guests are better photographers than I am - and many have much nicer camera equipment. In addition, many of these photos share aspects of life at and around Elk Lake which I enjoy but cannot capture due to schedule constraints. Thus I thought our blog readers would probably enjoy these offerings and recognize why I consider them to be more than a nice gesture but a real gift.

The Centennial Valley is beautiful. It is wild. It is pristine. It is home to many more people than animals. Thus most of these photos have wildlife as their subject.

PLEASE NOTE: WHILE THESE PHOTOGRAPHERS HAVE SHARED THEIR PHOTOS WITH ME (AND THUS WITH YOU) ALL OF THESE PHOTOS ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT AND MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S CONSENT.

The top picture and the first few which follow are courtesy of my favorite wildlife photographer, frequent winter (rare summer) guest, and good friend - Gary Pumplin. As you can see, Gary is a talented photographer. While many of his photos are not taken in the Centennial, they nonetheless, portray animals and birds which call the Centennial home.

 
Moose are year round residents in the Centennial. While they are seen most frequently in the winter, a young bull moose found his way into the yard just the other day. These guys, however, weren't in the back yard!

 
While less frequent than last year, bear sightings or track sightings are the norm around here. These beautiful, large predators are a thrill to see - from a distance!

 

Another illusive Centennial resident, badgers are not easy to spot - but they are extremely photogenic if you get lucky.

Another generous and talented photographer we were privileged to meet this year is Jerry James. While Jerry and his wife reside in California, during their week in the Centennial they proved to be more comfortable in a 'my' environment than I would be in theirs. Please remember, the images which follow are NOT public. They belong to Jerry James, San Mateo, California.

During their stay, Jerry and his wife, Sue, spent quite a bit of time pursuing the Centennial's wild inhabitants. All the pictures which follow were taken in the valley. And for those of you who wonder where the wildlife are in the middle of summer - these were all taken in the middle of summer.

  On one of the last days of their stay, my hubby shared the location of our favorite 'swan viewing' spot. Jerry and Sue spent about an hour and a half enjoying the birds and capturing some wonderful shots.

 

 
 

While I have captured a few shots of these beautiful birds, nothing I have compares to the beauty of these. Thank you, Jerry, for sharing with us!

However, swans were not his only subject. He managed to capture a pair of pronghorns:

 

A beautiful young Swainson's Hawk:

A couple of young Grebes:

 And a fantastic upclose of a pair of Sandhill Cranes:

Not every photo our guests share with us involves wildlife. Not everything centers around the resort. In fact, our wisest guests (in my opinion) are those who take the opportunity to spend a night packed up into the Centennial's high country. The LaFay family (our French-Japanese friends who have spent more than one summer day in our company) took such a trip. And, in spite of less than perfect weather, they are already vowing to repeat the experience next time they visit.

 

This photo is courtesy of the LaFay family.

Of course not every fantastic horseback trek has been taken in the Centennials. Just saddling up and taking off from the lodge can be fun, too. This next fantastic photo of Bugs and Tina crossing The Narrows at Elk Lake is courtesy of Russ Johnston.

 
As you can see, we have been blessed with MANY beautiful photos and our guests have been blessed with MANY wonderful sightings and experiences here at Elk Lake. However, lest you think the wildlife sightings stop when winter comes to call, I have two more photos to share with you - one from my friend Gary whose photos I've displayed above: 

 
 

And one from Len Tillum - another local, talented photographer who enjoys visiting the Centennial, but makes most of his treks in the winter.

I hope you have enjoyed this photo tour as much as I have enjoyed receiving these 'gifts' from friends. These are just a sampling of the many photos we have received over the years. If you have photos you'd like to share with us, please, send them along. If these images have sparked your interest, check out everything the Centennial Valley and Elk Lake have to offer. For now, I've got to get my camera. I see another photo opp coming up!

Lady of the Lake