Tall Ships are Here

The Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftan are in Gig Harbor for the weekend so stop by Arabella's Landing on Harborview and check out these beautiful ships and have a free tour!

UPTOWN HAS JULEP AND MORE

Uptown is a great place to hang out now for lively entertainment, movies and restaurants, including Blazing Onion slated for opening NEXT MONTH. But have y9ou considered Uptown for relaxing too?



Julep Nail Parlor is a beautiful and relaxing spa that you just gotta try. And now for fall they have some great new things happening. SPA Week takes place September 14-20th at all of Juleps salons, including Uptown. Spa Week is a great opportunity to get in and try out the services at Julep if you have not been ther yet. Four treatments will be on special during Spa Week;

Julep Organic Facial

Pumpking Glycolic Pedicure

Bikini and Full Leg Wax

Brazilian and Full Leg Wax

Julep is the hip and relaxing new place to go in Gig Harbor. Call for your Spa Week reservation at (253) 858-4472 or http://www.myjulep.com/

Julep is also proud to be environmentally conscious germ-o-phobes! This beautiful salon is toxin free, germ free, stress free and green! Join Juelp in their clean and green commitment. I am!

FREE HEALTHY LECTURES COMING IN GIG HARBOR

The Healthy Harbor program in Gig Harbor has been well attended and fun since it kicked off its '09 season last May. Only a few weeks left before the program ends for the year. There are lots of great things going on for Healthy Harbor in September and October, so check out the whole list at www.gigharborguide.com.

Two free lectures are worth considering coming up in the weeks ahead;

EXERCISE AND THE BRAIN, Wed September 9th , 6:30 p.m. at the Gig Harbor Civic Center, 3510 Grandview Street will be presented by Dr. Pat Hogan. Learn how exercise can keep you and your brain engaged and healthy as you age.

LIVING THE 100 YEAR LIFESTYLE, Wed September 16th, 6:30 p.m. at the Gig Harbor Civic Center, 3510 Grandview Street will be presented by Dr. Bruce Gruber. Learn solutions for living your best life. Did you know that a lot of the food you have been told is healthy is actually not good for you? Or tha profit based pharmaceutical companies are not in the business of helping us get healthy?

Both these lectures are open to the public and free.

Quilts, Films and Studio Tour Mark Two Months of Art Events in Gig Harbor

Just because summer may be ending, the fun and colorful events in Gig Harbor are not! Fall is such a great time to visit Gig Harbor and over the next several weeks many colorful art events are on the calendar. Don't miss out on great fall weather combined with visual arts and performing arts;

QUILTS - I love this - amazing talent it takes to create these works of art!

OPEN NOW, the Gig Harbor Quilt Festival artist show at the Gig Harbor Civic Center, 3510 Grandview Street. Beautiful quilts made by local quilters to benefit Breast Cancer Research. These quilts are on display through October 2nd, during regular Civic Center hours, Monday through Friday 8am-5pm. Please note the Civic Center will be closed due to furlough's on September 4th.

Gig Harbor Quilt Walk, is returning to Gig Harbor after a couple of years absence. Enjoy the beautiful quilts on display in local businesses from September 16th-19th.

Gig Harbor Quilt Festival, now in its 7th year, takes place October 15th - 17th with classes, lectures and quilt show. Register now at http://www.gigharborquiltfestival.org/

ARTISTS - Gig Harbor is a hub of artist activity year around, but during the fall it intensifies!

Gig Harbor Art Walk - the Thursday night Art Evening in historic downtown Gig Harbor will continue through September. Shops are open until 8pm. The First Saturday Art Walk is year around, every first Saturday from 1-5pm.

Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour, Sept 19th & 20th is a favorite event, giving visitors a peek into personal studios of our area's finest artists. http://www.gigharboropenstudio.org/

Plein Air Artists will visit Gig Harbor October 1-4...and will work at locations through out town taking advantage of our beautiful sceneary. Watch for them.

Peninsula Art League's annual Juried Arts Show will hang at the Gig Harbor Civic Center, 3510 Grandview Street from October 5-November 13th and is open and free to the public during regular Civic Center hours, M-F from 8am-5pm. Please note the Civic Center will be closed due to furloughs on October 12th.

PERFORMING ARTS - enjoy films specially selected and live performances too!

The second annual Gig Harbor Film Festival brings two special opportunities to Gig Harbor; first a free family outdoor theater event and festival will be held on September 12th at Skansie Brothers Park, and then the big daddy event, at Galaxy Theater, with three full days of fabulous films October 16-18th. Learn more at http://www.gigharborfilmfestival.org/

Paradise Theatre presents "And Then There Were None" live performances begininng September 18th http://www.paradisetheatre.org/

Encore! Theater presents "My Name Will Always Be Alice" live performances beginning September 26th http://www.encoretheater.org/

ENJOY Fall in Gig Harbor!!!!

HEALTHY LECTURES FREE IN SEPTEMBER

Two local doctors are offering free lectures in September, as part of Gig Harbor's Healthy Harbor program. Continuing the effort to create overall community awareness about health and lifestyle choices in Gig Harbor, the Healthy Harbor program is free to anyone interested in the Gig Harbor area.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 9TH, join Dr. Pat Hogan for EXERCISE AND THE BRAIN at 6:30pm at the Gig Harbor Civic Center, 3510 Grandview Street, Gig Harbor. Learn how exercise keeps us young, in both body and mind. This lecture is FREE.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 16TH, join Dr. Bruce Gruber for LIVING THE 100 YEAR LIFESTYLE at 6:30pm at the Gig Harbor Civic Center, 3510 Grandview Street, Gig Harbor. Learn solutions for living your best life. This lecture is FREE.

Healthy Harbor is community health effort in Gig Harbor, presented by the City of Gig Harbor and sponsored by MultiCare Gig Harbor Medical Park and St. Anthony Hospital. Learn more at http://www.gigharborguide.com/

FAMILY FUN FEST RETURNS

Pen Met Parks, in Gig Harbor, invites everyone back again this summer for the BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT OF THE YEAR, Gig Harbor Family Fun Fest.

Don't say farewell to summer just yet. Cap off a blissful summer with this great family event; one last "hurrah" before pulling out the sweaters and hitting the books.

On Saturday August 29th, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Pen Met Parks invites everyone to Goodman Middle School for this second annual event.

Enjoy pony rides, carnival games, miniture golf, and face painting. Join in family favorites like the three legged race, balloon toss and a dizzy bat spin race. Play horseshoes, bocce ball, and volleyball. There will also be a bounce house, hot dogs, soday and music.

Truly an old fashioned, community picnic style event. Have fun with your Gig Harbor neighbors at Pen Met Parks second annual Family Fun Fest Saturday August 29th. For more information call (253) 858-3400

OVER THE BRIDGE FESTIVAL AT THE GIG HARBOR YMCA

Two summer's ago the Gig Harbor community changed for ever with the opening of the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge and then the new Gig Harbor YMCA. Both additions to the community were long awaited, and though some still begrudge the bridge, most locals will acknowledge what a difference both have made, in a positive way, to our community.

The Gig Harbor YMCA immediately engaged in the community sponsoring events and working through out the community helping families. Next Saturday the Y will celebrate their anniversary with a celebration for the whole community, in keeping with their mission.

The "Over the Bridge Festival" is a community event hosted by the Gig Harbor Family YMCA. Join the fun on Harbor Hill Drive and enjoy music, family activities and more.

Who: Everyone
When: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, August 22
Where: Gig Harbor Family YMCA10550 Harbor Hill Drive, Gig Harbor, WA 98338 Map
Parking: Free parking adjacent to festival
Cost: Free
Contact Information
Want to be a vendor? Contact Kim Robison at (253) 534-7870Want to volunteer? Contact Susan Buell at (253) 534-7872Want your band to play on the stage?

Celebrate once again with the Y. http://www.gigharborguide.com/

FALL FASHION FEST AT GIG HARBOR UPTOWN

There is that bit of chill in the air, and the days are definitely shorter. Fall is around the corner, and with it the most highly anticipated fashion frenzy of the year. There is just something about new fall wardrobe, whether you are a student or an adult, it's so much fun to be fitted out each fall.

And there is no better place to do it, then Gig Harbor's Uptown. http://www.uptowngigharbor.com/

Join the fun this coming Saturday August 22nd from 11am-1pm for the RED CARPET Fall Fashion Show at Uptown featuring fashions from the stores at Uptown . The weather should be great for this outdoor event, in the courtyard just behind CHICO'S. Fun and fabulous fashions to enjoy.

Bring a donation of school supplies or food for FISH Gig Harbor's Food Bank and receive a raffle ticket for drawing and prizes.

It's all about the Red Carpet at Uptown this coming Saturday. All you Fashion-istas, Be There!

ELK COVE VINEYARDS FEATURED AT GIG HARBOR'S BRIX 25 WINE DINNER

As we approach fall, don't miss the first time ever opportunity to enjoy Elk Cove Vineyards with a fabulous seasonal menu at the August 27th Winemakers Dinner at Gig Harbor's Brix 25 restaurant.

Craig Hedstrom, National Sales Manager of Oregon's Elk Cove Vineyard will be on hand at the Thursday August 27th dinner to pour three of ECV's best new releases and two Library selections that simply said are completely "unavailable". Chef Thad Lyman will prepare a five course dinner to pair with each of these amazing wines.

One of Oregon's oldest wine producers, Elk Cove Vineyard in the Willamette Valley proudly remains a family owned and operated winery. Their focus on hand crafted, Estate grown wines is evident in each glass - rivaling the best in the world.

Do not miss this opportunity. Seating is limited and reservations are a must! Dinner and wine is $80 per person plus tax and gratuity. Call today at (253) 858-6626. To learn more about Elk Cove Vineyards visit http://www.elkcove.com/

QUILT WALK RETURNS TO GIG HARBOR

I am really excited to hear that the Gig Harbor Quilt Walk is returning to the harbor this September.

The Gig Harbor Quilt Festival was the first event I helped instigate when I started the job as Gig Harbor's Marketing Director 10 years ago. At that time the Quilt Festival had classes, an auction and a quilt walk.

Over the years the quilt walk was dropped, but lectures and other events were added. This year the Gig Harbor Quilters Guild, under the leadership of Nancy Altman, original founder of the Quilt Festival, has stepped up to bring the Quilt Walk back to Gig Harbor September 16-19th.

This year, the Quilt Walk is several weeks earlier than the Quilt Festival (October 9th) but hopefully the two events will sync up in the future. In the mean time enjoy them both, great reasons to visit Gig Harbor in the fall.

The quilt walk will feature beautiful fabric works of art at locations around Gig Harbor during the three day event. Visitors will pick up a passport and map and make their way through the event viewing all the quilts in multiple locations.

In addition, two lectures are planned on Saturday September 19th at the Harbor History Museum. At 10:30am the History of Quilting and at 2:00pm Crazy Quilting.

This should be a fun, color ful weekend. Just so happens it is the same weekend as the Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour, so you can really get your art fix in Gig Harbor. Make a weekend of it - stay at one of Gig Harbor's fabulour inns or bed and breakfasts and enjoy all Gig Harbor has to offer! Learn more at http://www.gigharborguide.com/.

Gig Harbor Arts Commission to Celebrate Installation of Tom Torrens Art

"Ring in the Salmon", by renowned artist Tom Torrens, a resident of Gig Harbor will be installed by the Gig Harbor Arts Commission next week.

To celebrate this newest addition to art in Gig Harbor, the public is invited to a ribbon cutting and unveiling on Thursday August 13th 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in conjunction with Thursday Art Evening in downtown Gig Harbor.

The beautiful metal sculpture has been in the making for months and depicts a beautiful salmon desinged by Ben Isitt, atop a large cone of recycled metal, the trademark style of Torrens. A bell completes the piece, thus the name "Rining in the Salmon".

Donkey Creek Park will be the permanent home of the sculpture, fitting due to the fall chum run that annually occurs in Donkey Creek.

The public is invited to celebrate this milestone for the City of Gig Harbor.

ROCK ON GIG HARBOR

Get ready to Rock, Gig Harbor, August 15th in downtown Gig Harbor with the FABULOUS FARELANES.

Join downtown merchants for a rocking 50's event with classic cars, classic music, classic food, all with a throw back to the carefree "happy" days.

Dig out that poodle skirt, slik back your hair and come downtown for dancing from 6:30-9:30pm. Prizes and lots of other fun will be included. More than a dozen downtown businesses will be participating with specials.

The Fabulous Farelanes, out of Portland Oregon, are well known for their sound and style, and preformances all around the region. Join the "sock hop" fun. For additional information contact Linda Gair, at The Keeping Room, (253) 858-9170.