Paddle Journey

Coastal natives around the area paddle into town on a communal trip throughout our inland watters. I like this concept, and wish more types of trips like this were organized, motorcycle, hike, bicycle etc. Communal journeys would bring a lot of folks together.

The Mini at shows

My other blog www.minicooper.tumblr.com I go into greater details, if you see me around town feel free to flag me down for a chat, I would love to talk about PA (Port Angeles) and give you advice about what to do around here.

Ruddell Car show

I was expecting the typical car show, lots of car guys, food, and some families and their kids. There was so much more than I had expected, so many more people, good burgers. I will go back next year. The highlights were Don Grimsleys' Road Runner, and Finks' 55" Chevy. Beautiful rigs all. I hope the kids had fun getting to know the Mini, I always like when they get in and say "I could drive this car!" See you next year 2nd Friday in July.

Waiting for spring

Buds on trees, warming weather and birds building nests. Spring is a long way off, but it seems like Port Angeles is making preparation for the end of winter.

Hike the Ridge

Tis that time of year, before the lifts open, after the holidays when we hike the ridge. A word of advice, go early because hiking the ridge involves hitching rides back to the top, and after 2pm rides are slim, sometimes none. Expect deep powder and untouched snow, well worth the cardio it takes to get to the top.
enjoy.

Blackbird coffee house

I hope my last post wasn't too depressing. Even with the vacant store fronts, even with the depressed housing market, the reversal of net numbers of people moving to this area there are spots of hope. Blackbird is one of those.
My son and I stopped by Blackbird Saturday to grab something warm before hiking a couple of runs up at hurricane ridge, we were pleasantly surprised.

Blackbird is very stark white, and clean, it doesn't have the cozy feel that Starbucks is going for, but the uncluttered atmosphere is a really nice respite from everyday life, and I think it will work very well in this economy. The Coffee is excellent, every bit as good as the Buzz (which did not really have an equal until now). The coffee cakes are FANTASTIC! I'm not kidding, a large slice for 3.50 may seem a bit high, but the portions are indulgent, and since there is no bakery here in PA it's nice to get a bakery fix from somewhere. Combined with the good coffee I hope Blackbird becomes a hit, it was a great experience, and a wonderful way to garnish a day on the mountain.

The Blackbird coffee house
336 E8th St Port Angeles, WA
360-452-3999

Dire Straits

No not the band. Life here in Port Angeles is getting hard. Here are a list of businesses off the top of my head that are closed or are closing.

1. K ply mill
2. zen zizi clothing store
3. round the clock
4. Ma Ma's grill
5. Landing grill
6. Camera Corner

Empty storefronts, lots of empty commercial space, and no construction.

I think it's happening, the state and county governments have finally squeezed enough to make people give up. For the longest time running a business here felt like walking on a razor blade, always tipping, never feeling balance, never having time to breath. Keeping employees, and customers happy, taxes, regulations. The mantra has been said before, but the stark reality of the consequences are in empty buildings all over town. People have lost hope.

I have had lots of ideas for businesses that would do well in downtown Port Angeles.

1. Scooter rentals: summer only, but it would be a fun business to run, an especially fun enterprise to train FBLA teens.

2. Communications store: AKA cell phone outlet, there are lots of tourists moving through town in the summer, keep them talking.

3. Bakery, we have a doughnut store, this town has no bakery, no good bread.

4. Large open market, copy the market on Granville island in Vancouver.

5. Light manufacturer I really miss ThomBin, I loved their products when there were here in Port Angeles, it gave PA an identity. I was proud to buy and give his stuff away it always made me feel good. Port Angeles needs to make something, anything.

Where are all the business people? why not teens? why not college students? I know the answer.

Fear.

Why would anyone expose themselves to the risks of running a business, and the risks of prosecution in the form of taxes and regulation from the state. It's almost stupid to start a business today, the economy has crushed your profit margin, congratulations we still need our B & O tax on your GROSS! now your in the red again, why not declare bankruptcy. Gone are the employees, gone are the hopes of more tax revenue, with no renters commercial real estate will be owned by the banks, and it will sit stagnant until the gates are opened up.

Why not experiment with Port Angeles and see what happens? make downtown a regulation free zone, no minimum wages, no labor laws, no employment security tax, B & O tax, real estate tax, sales tax, no unions, no signage regulations, minimal building codes, and make business owners free from liability. Ok, no brothels (not that Port Angeles hasn't seen its share)
but after that I wonder what would happen? Why not just one sheet of paper to start a business, better yet one form on a web site, why isn't it that simple?
I would seriously consider moving to a place that was exempt from B & O tax. Businesses can't breath anymore, we're suffocating, and the worst part is the state thinks it can save us by choking harder.

Help, drowning here, stop pushing, stop choking, just stop.