Tag Archives: Sylvia Beach Hotel

Sunday Roast: Missing the Sylvia Beach Hotel this year…

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Photo by Zooey

For the first time in five years, I’m not spending Thanksgiving week at the Sylvia Beach Hotel.  Right now, I’m supposed to be sitting in the parlor on the third floor in front of a crackling fire, reading my book, and waiting for the hot spiced wine to arrive.

But because a job remains elusive, it was not to be this year.  I’m listening to the wind howl outside my window, trying to pretend it’s a storm at the beach.

So instead, I’m planning a low budget Thanksgiving dinner with Zoo Jr — he’s bringing the turkey — and am truly thankful that my son and I will have the whole weekend to hang out together.

This is our daily open thread — What are your plans for Thanksgiving?

The Watering Hole: September 2, 2011 — Sylvia Beach Hotel

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Photo by Zooey

This is the parlor of the Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport, Oregon.  On the left is the small kitchen where I make myself Earl Grey tea, and sometimes linger over a jigsaw puzzle on the table.  There are windows across the front of the building on the right — that’s why the chairs all face that way.  I’ve spent many an hour sitting in those chairs thinking I would read more than I actually did. Mostly, I just stared out the windows, mesmerized by the waves below, while achieving total relaxation.  This is where I fell in love with the Oregon Coast.

You know that feeling when you think you know where your life is going, but then it turns out that it’s totally not happening?  Yeah, me too.  Sometimes you just have to go in a completely different direction, and that’s when I had the brilliant idea of packing up my stuff and moving to the place I love.

So that’s what I’m doing on Monday — leaving Idaho and moving to the Oregon Coast.  It’s a gift to myself…just cuz.

This is our daily open thread — what kind of nice things have you done for yourself?

The Watering Hole: August 18

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Oregon Coast

Oregon Coast

Photo by Zooey

The Oregon Coast is my happy place.  I love the smell of the air, the sound of the pounding surf, the feel of the cold air, the starving seagulls, and the thrill of seeing the occasional whale spout in the distance.

I stay at the Sylvia Beach Hotel, where there are no phones, no televisions, no radios, no clocks, and no computer access.  What they do have are thousands of books (in case you forget yours), hundreds of games and puzzles, lots of cushy chairs for reading, napping, or quiet conversation, and hot spiced wine at 10 p.m.

I’m spending Thanksgiving Week there again this year.  Is it November yet…?

Where is your happy place?