Patisserie...Again!

A lunchtime treat on a summer afternoon: Chocolate gelato and a lemon tart from the Colville Street Patisserie in downtown Walla Walla. Can you tell I love this place?

Mmmm...

This is handmade pasta with asparagus and spinach and Parmesan cheese. I got it for dinner at The Green Spoon, a new restaurant in downtown Walla Walla. It was delicious...and now I'm hungry.

An Old Bank

This is an old bank building downtown on Fourth Street in Walla Walla. I don't know what fills the upper storeys, but the lower level is occupied by John L. Scott Real Estate.

No Appetite Now

This really grosses me out. I mean, besides the fact that I'm a vegetarian, I just don't understand why bacon and chocolate together is a good idea. I spotted this at Bright's Candies on Main Street in Walla Walla. And no, I didn't buy it.

Espresso, Please!

Your typical after-lunch scene at one of several high-class downtown restaurants. This was taken after an out-of-the-ordinary splurge on an expensive lunch with friends at Brasserie 4 on Main Street, just a week or so ago.

Déjeuner Avec Ciel

Last week my friend Ciel was in town, visiting from France, where she maintains Versailles Daily Photo, always posting fabulous photos and fascinating history tidbits. Every time she visits her friends here she makes time to see me; last time we grabbed coffee at Starbucks and this time I introduced her to the Patisserie, where she got breakfast (blackberry scone and OJ) and I enjoyed a mid-morning snack (mocha and a chocolate chip cookie). It was so good to see her; I love making new friends and learning more about different cultures, and Ciel is all of that wrapped up in one great conversationalist. If any of you come to the Walla Walla Valley, please let me know; I'd love to meet you, too!

Desserts

I edited this photo I took of my friend's daughter, waiting patiently in the Colville Street Patisserie for a bite of gelato (Italian ice cream). (She eventually got some; I shared my strawberry and Mom shared her vanilla.)

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?

Down on Colville Street

This is a high-class place for relaxing with a hot cup of deliciousness...as well as a bowl or plate full of perfection. This is the Colville Street Patisserie, located between Main Street and Alder downtown, and if you need evidence of the amazing deliciousness you can get here, check out my first post from this place. One of these days I'll get a picture of the amazing pastries and other yummy things they have in that glass case you see there up near the front of the place. I absolutely love meeting friends here...or taking a journal and enjoying my own company for a while. If any of you come to visit Walla Walla, please let me know; I'd love to meet you here.

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!

Congregational Church

As promised, a better view of the church at the "end" of Alder Street. This is the Congregational Church of Walla Walla and it really is a beautiful building. My sister-in-law got married there, and her father-in-law directs the music there (or did...not sure if he still does). You can see that this is where Alder jogs to the right (south) and dumps drivers onto Palouse, but you only have to go half a block before turning left to get back onto Alder. Sometimes streets don't make any sense, and this is one of those times.

Crosswalk

While stopped at an intersection on Alder street (one block south of Main Street) in Walla Walla, I snapped this picture through my rainy windshield. I also took a shot of the church you see at the end of the street once we got a bit closer. (No, I was not driving.) As you can see, Alder Street appears to run straight into that church. In fact, Alder Street jogs to the south (right) at the church and continues one block over, effectively ending Poplar Street, which runs parallel to Alder until the street in front of that church, which is called Palouse. Tomorrow, a closer view of that lovely church. (By the way, do you think that guy crossing the street noticed he was having his picture taken?)

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.

Mill Creek Brew Pub

This charming edifice is one side of the Mill Creek Brew Pub in downtown Walla Walla. A down-to-earth, casual dining place, the Brew Pub (as it is commonly called in town) is not only a restaurant but a microbrewery as well. They also serve sweet potato fries year-round. It is called Mill Creek Brew Pub because it is situated on top of one part of Mill Creek, a mostly underground waterway that makes its way throughout the valley and empties into the Columbia River.

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.