San Juan Island Lodging WA Friday Harbor

e-newsletter December 2010
Featured Recipe
Friday Harbor Dining
Historic Tucker House
Coho Coffee Blend
Like Us - Facebook & Twitter
Holiday Wishes
Island Festivals
Winter Markets & Fairs
Gift Ideas
Featured Recipe
Hazelnut Encrusted Lamb


  This lamb is easy to make, yet elegant enough for a holiday meal. We use lamb from Horsedrawn Farms on Lopez Island. 

Hazelnut Encrusted Lamb


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Friday Harbor Dining San Juan Island WA - Coho Restaurant

Celebrate in style with Coho's extraordinary holiday dinners. We'll be serving on December 25th and will ring in the New Year on the 31st. We'll even be open New Year's Day.  Chef Alphonsine is planning special holiday menus for Christmas and New Year's Eve.  New Year's Day will feature our regular winter menu.   As you know, our tiny restaurant can only fit so many people, and these holiday extravaganzas are always booked to capacity; it's not too early to make your reservations - the earlier the better.


Winter Specials

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Tucker House Is Ready For Her Close-Up!



We received our new photos from photographer Mark Gardner!  Here's our beloved 1898 Tucker House, in her new coat of dark green paint.
 
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Coho Coffee Blend 
Coffee Cup

 

Our custom coffee blend debuted last month.  Made with high quality green beans purchased from small farms in Sumatra and Papua New Guinea, it is roasted in small batches to a Viennese Roast - just enough to give a hint of dark roast flavor, while still allowing the bright flavor profile of the high quality beans to shine through.


Click here to order from our on-line gift shop.

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Enjoy "Fan" Specials

 

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Holiday Wishes
Since this will be our final newsletter  until next year, we would like to wish you all a very happy and peaceful holiday season.  May the joy that we feel in living on San Juan Island be with you throughout the new year!

From all the staff at Harrison House Suites and Tucker House Inn

Harrison House Suites &
Tucker House Inn Newsletter
Greetings!  

We had such a busy season this summer, we completely forgot to announce our newest acquisition, the Sunshine Suites Vacation Rental.  Located just a block from the main street of town and two blocks from the inns, it's convenient to shopping, restaurants and the ferry landing, but still in a quiet neighborhood.

 

Perched on the upper floor of an historic craftsman-style home, the suite has been completely remodeled into a modern, comfortable get-away for families and groups.  Our summer guests have loved the bright, cheery colors and all the natural window lighting.


The suite features a loft-style bedroom with a queen bed, a separate bedroom with two twin beds, and a full-size sleeper sofa.  The one and a half bath layout offers convenience for everyone, and the full kitchen allows you to cook meals in-house if you choose.  Unlike the inns, breakfast and housekeeping service is not included in a vacation rental, so you have the added economy of a single nightly charge regardless of how many are in your party.  (Maximum occupancy is six.) And because there are no guests sleeping below you, you can even bring your four-legged family members!


You can check availability on both the Tucker House Inn and Harrison House Suites websites, under the Other Properties tab - or just give us a call.  We'd love to hear from you!

Fondly,

Anna Maria & Dave
Island Festivals

If you think our little town of Friday Harbor is quaint in the summer, wait till you see it in December!  All the shops, restaurants and art galleries decorate their windows with lights and special displays; the street lamp posts have lighted stars and snowflakes hanging from them; the scent of hot coffee drinks, mulled ciders and other warming beverages beckon passersby to step inside out of the chilly air.

On December 3rd, our annual Island Lights Festival kicks off at 5:00 pm with Santa at the Clock Tower, kids making Christmas ornaments, Circle Park tree lighting, the Soroptimists service club offering free hot coffee and baked goods, and Christmas carolers walking the street.  We even have a roasted chestnut vendor! For more info and photos of last year's event, check our Tucker House blog and the Chamber of Commerce website.

Chef Alphonsine, King John, Dave and Anna Maria

On a more elegant scale, the San Juan Community Theatre will ring in the season with their Holiday Festival, also on December 3rd, starting at 6:00 pm.  This will be a lively evening with cocktails, appetizers and dinner set up at gourmet stations around the room.  Dancing on the Whittier stage will have everybody rockin'.  This is the theatre's main fund raising event, and the items in both the silent and live auctions are outstanding this year. Vacations, fine arts and one-of-a-kind dinners and events comprise the amazing 35-entry catalog.  In fact, our own Coho Restaurant is donating a "Renaissance Dinner and Wine Barrel Tasting" for eight in the cellars of San Juan Vineyards.   Complete with theatre costumes for all, music, and a feast that would please Henry VIII, the lucky auction winners will feel like they've slipped back in time to days of yore.


December 11th is the Christmas Lighted Boat Parade starting about 5:30 pm in Friday Harbor between Jensen Bay and the University of Washington Labs.

 

While not technically a festival, the Christmas Bird Count is a fabulous opportunity, for avid birders or those who would like to learn more, to help San Juan Islands Audubon.  Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 18th.  The last few years, these keen-eyed observers counted about 110 species.  And winter is one of the best seasons for spotting migratory birds. 

 

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Winter Markets & Fairs

 

The temperate climate of San Juan Island has allowed our small family farms to produce some amazing produce.  "Eat Locally" has become a way of life for many islanders.  Access to high-quality island-grown produce, fruit, meats, eggs, and dairy products as well as local seafood and shellfish leaves short grocery store lists.


Susan & Peter Corning
Synergy Farms

Visitors who like to cook often make it a point to stop at our Farmers' Market during the summer months.  But most don't realize, the market continues year-round - it just moves indoors.  


It's held on the first Saturday of every month, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, in the Friday Harbor High School Commons.  You'll find the same growers offering their colorful array of winter squashes, greens, and more.  The expanded space also allows room for more crafts booths.

 

Speaking of crafts, there's a fun Holiday Flea Market and Craft Fair on December 11th, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the San Juan County Fairgrounds.  It's the perfect time to shop for those unique bargains and do your holiday shopping as well - island-style! 


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Gift Ideas


Fidos and Foodies - what do they have in common?  Our house-baked treats, of course!  Our doggie biscuits, made with people-grade ingredients and baked fresh in small batches, are eagerly gobbled up by all our four-legged guests. Our granola is an often-requested recipe, but a bag of freshly-made granola chock full of nuts is a nice gift, especially for that person you want to give "just a little something" to!

For those who have everything, a get-away stay on San Juan Island is always a treat. Gift Certificates Tucker House Inn Washington Gift Certificates are available for Harrison House Suites, Tucker House Inn, and Coho Restaurant, and we can customize your gift with special adventure packages or amenities to suite all tastes. 

If they've already got room reservations, the Island a la Carte coupon book is a great value.  Just $29.95, it's filled with discount coupons from most San Juan Island retailers, restaurants, galleries, spas, consignment stores, adventure activities and more.  Use just a few coupons and you'll have saved the cost of the book.  The proceeds from the sale of the coupon book support the Mullis Community Senior Center.  Just remember that the current book expires April 30, 2011.  

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If you would like to contribute an article or photograph, or have an idea of something we should include in our next edition, please let us know. 

You can also follow our news on our blogs: Harrison House Suites Blog,
Tucker House Inn Blog, Experience San Juan Blog and Coho Restaurant Blog.
 
 Contact us at:
Harrison House Suites 235 C Street  360.378.3587 800.407.7933
 
Tucker House Inn  260 B Street  360.378.2783  800.965.0123
 
Friday Harbor, WA, San Juan Island 98250

A Special Gift for Our Guests