Theatre Turned Overpriced Store

I posted a photo of this building facade about a year ago, and the only reason I'm featuring it again is because I think the colours look a lot better and more vivid in this shot. This used to be an old movie theatre, but is now Macy's, an overpriced clothing and home supplies store on Main Street in Walla Walla. Macy's is a chain store, but I believe it's only in the northwest United States. You can read more about it at my previous post (click the link above).

Eating the Easter Bunny

I went into Bright's Candies this afternoon after lunch for a treat, and this is what they are making this week: Easter chocolates! Ducks, chicks, bunnies, eggs, and more, and their displays sport pastel spring colours and artificial grass-filled Easter baskets. What a fun job this must be to use molds to create just about anything in chocolate! (Though I'm certain one would not be interested in eating as much chocolate after working here all day...)

It's Monday...

Let's take a little break, shall we? Start the week off right with a coffee and perhaps a good book. Welcome to the downtown Starbucks. Those gentlemen are enjoying the comfiest seats in the house. The chair I'm sitting in is probably the least comfy. Take note of this when choosing your seat next time you buy a drink here. This Starbucks was recently remodeled and in my opinion the remodel didn't do anything except rearrange the place. The hallway down to the restrooms is stacked high with cardboard boxes...apparently they didn't plan well for storage when remodeling. And though they have more room behind the counter now, you can barely open the door and squeeze inside when there's a line because it blocks the entrance. Not well thought-out in my mind...but who asked me?

Cayuse

This is the front of Cayuse Tasting Room, affiliated with Cayuse Winery, one of the valley's nearly 200 wineries. This particular winery is located across the border in Milton-Freewater, and the soil where the grapes are planted is quite rocky. The winery owner has a theory that the rocks soak up heat and heat the soil, making for a tasty grape, which in turn makes for a delicious glass of wine. It must be true because although this tasting room was set up and painted bright yellow nearly two years ago, it has never once been open. The winery sells wine as quickly as it can produce bottles, and is therefore always sold out, with nothing to offer tasters. The storefront does the winery's advertising well, though, don't you think?

Inland Octopus

This is the valley's local toy store, Inland Octopus. I honestly have no idea why it's called that, so if any local is reading this and knows the answer, please share in the comments. The mural above the entrance to the store is quite controversial in the valley, and has garnered some national news coverage. Walla Walla's downtown foundation has regulations regarding signage and storefronts. The foundation believes that this mural violates the code for downtown storefronts, and they have filed a civil suit against the store, charging them $100 per day until they either a) remove the mural or hide it with something acceptable or b) win in court. In my opinion the mural adds character and fits perfectly with this particular toy store. I've been told by some people I know that their kids love it - and what else should matter? It's a toy store, designed for kids. Regulations and foundations aside, what do you think of it?

Hip

This is another shot from my salon, Bella, where my friend Rachel does my hair. I love how modern and comfortable they have the place decorated. It's also quite festive with the red and green being quite appropriate for this time of year. Happy Christmas Eve!

Shopping at the Movies

This is the corner of Colville and Main Streets in downtown Walla Walla. As you can see, the dominant building is Macy's, a well-known high-end department store. I don't shop there much (due to the "high-end" part of that last sentence), but occasionally I like to browse. The store is kind of neat inside, since it used to be a movie theatre. Some of the floors are sloped, the walls are rounded and decorated, and the doors are wider than most store doors. While most of the inside really does resemble a department store, the youth section is very much still in the theatre shape, with a ramp into the section and a step down into the shopping area, with very high ceilings and angled walls instead of just a large square or rectangular room.

Bella

I like colour. That's why I like these shelves of hair products in my salon of choice, Bella. My friend Rachel does hair there and she's amazing...so is the atmosphere of the place. Located at the east end of Main Street in downtown Walla Walla, I highly recommend giving it a try.

Here Comes the Sun Again

Not an amazing picture, but the reason I took it is amazing: SUNSHINE! The valley hasn't seen this for over two weeks, and this was a brief glimpse, but definitely enough to make a lot of people smile, if only for a few moments. This shot was taken on my cell phone as I crossed Main Street after getting a haircut at my favourite salon, Bella. I have a couple of pictures of the salon to show you, too, but wanted to post the sunshine picture first.

Beautiful Disaster

So many books I don't even know where to start! This is another shot of the inside of Earthlight Books, a new and used book shop located near the east end of Main Street in Walla Walla. I particularly like the random origami art hanging from the ceiling here. Another picture taken just for my friend, Ciel, from Versailles Daily Photo. Bonjour, mon amie!

Just for Cieldequimper

This may look like a mess to you, but to a local Walla Walla bookworm, this is heaven on earth. Welcome to Earthlight Books, a favourite haunting place for people like cieldequimper, author of Versailles Daily Photo, who visits the valley from time to time and adores this little book shop near the end of Main Street in downtown Walla Walla. This shot is for you, Ciel...and there's more to come tomorrow!

Pink Sparkles

This is at the same breast cancer fundraiser on Main Street last week. I couldn't get close enough to the horse to get a good picture (all I had was my phone's camera), since they kept walking around. Kids could pay a couple of dollars (100% of which went toward helping cancer patients at a local hospital) for a horse ride around the block. The horse was, of course, decked out in pink and even sparkled in the sunlight.

JUGS

On Friday the city closed down the corner of 1st Street and Main for a breast cancer awareness event called "Paint the Town Pink." The event featured pink hair extensions, pink cupcakes, pink lemonade, pink bracelets, pink t-shirts and more. All proceeds went to cancer patients at a local hospital. This booth was by the coordinating organization, JUGS, or Just Us Girls Sharing. For $20 you could get one of the t-shirts you see hanging at the end of the table here; it is for men and says "Guys Supporting JUGS." Perhaps a little inappropriate but I must admit it caught my eye and I did chuckle. Click on the picture for a better view.

Main Street Spill

A couple of weeks ago while I was getting in my car after a brief afternoon shopping trip downtown, I heard car horns honking. I turned around and in the intersection behind me was a unique sight: A Coca-Cola truck had lost a case of soda, sending Sprite and Coke bottles bouncing around the road. Several people nearby hurried into the intersection to get the pop out of the way of traffic. Within a minute everything had been picked up and a minute later the driver reappeared, obviously embarrassed. She thanked everyone for their help and loaded up the case to take back to her truck down the street. I'm glad I had my camera right there at hand!

A Puzzle

Another photo credit belongs to my sister for today's shot. It was taken from the sidewalk on Main Street, looking up at the facade of the Bank of America building. Where do all the lines go? And which line is connected to which other line? Or are they connected at all?

Waiting

It's lunchtime in downtown Walla Walla, and the business folks are heading out to their favourite lunchtime diner of choice for a bite to eat before tackling the afternoon. These folks are waiting at the corner of Main Street and Second Avenue in front of Baker Boyer National Bank's main Walla Walla building. There are a lot of bank buildings in towntown Walla Walla, and all of them seem to be on this corner! They are beautiful buildings, that's for sure. Also, note the green street sign and lamppost - just perfect for St. Patrick's Day!

A Rainy Day on Main Street

On a grey and dreary day we take a little drive down Main Street. This is the main intersection of Main Street in Walla Walla. On Thursday, someone mentioned in the comments the die Brücke building. Here you see it on the right-hand side of the street. Just across from it, directly to the right of the car, is our downtown Starbucks - the best place to sit and people watch in the valley! The die Brücke building hosts the Book & Game Company, a wonderful little shoppe that sells...you guessed it: books and games. It's a fantastic store I spend hours in most times I go there. And it's hard to leave without another promising book or exciting game. Down just past the B&G Co. you can see the old theatre, which is now a Macy's (discussed in Thursday's blog). Welcome to Walla Walla!