Blog Archives | Page 15 of 31

Express Assistant Chief Pilot Christina Rzeplinski

Mar 8, 2021

Flying wasn’t the original plan for Christina Rzeplinski. But after taking a private jet to tour colleges on the East Coast, the trajectory of her life was forever changed. Christina wanted to be a pilot.

“I was really lucky. A girlfriend from high school took me with her to tour colleges. We flew on a private jet to New York, Boston and Connecticut,” Christina said. “Most people get on a private jet and think, ‘I wish I could always fly on a private jet.’ I got on and said, ‘I want to fly this thing.’”

March 8, 2021/by Mikaela Judd

6 Cuddle-Worthy Destinations in the San Juan Islands

Blog, Things to do in the San Juan Islands

Oct 21, 2020

6 Cuddle-Worthy Destinations in the San Juan Islands

Slow-paced island life, farm-to-table cuisine, and intimate accommodations make for the perfect winter escape.

Though the San Juan Islands aren’t as popular during the drizzly season, the relatively deserted towns make for a crowd-free adventure. The slow pace allows shop owners and artisans linger with customers. Cloudy days offer their own kind of beauty. Mist often clings to fields and shrouds shores, lifting like a translucent curtain.

The hikes remain beautiful and wildlife plentiful during the fall and winter months. But don’t feel pressed to go exploring. These cuddle-worthy destinations feature cozy fireplaces that may keep you indoors all day and all night. Whether it’s a solo getaway or a party of two, the San Juan Islands offer the perfect mix of solitude and hospitality.

October 21, 2020/by Mikaela Judd

Caitlin Hunter — Boeing Field Supervisor

Blog, Kenmore Family

Oct 12, 2020 Mikaela Judd

Raised in the airline industry, Caitlin Hunter’s no stranger to helping make a passenger’s travel day fly by smoothly. She joined her mom at SkyWest Airlines in 2005, doing anything and everything that was needed.

“You name it, I’ve done it. Working the ticket counter. Loading bags. Pushing the airplane out. Being a gate agent. I’ve done everything but fly the airplane,” Caitlin explained in a break between customer service calls.

Five years ago, she joined the �鶹��Ƶ family as a Seasonal Customer Service Agent. “Kenmore is a great place to work. I absolutely love it here,” she said. A people person through and through, Caitlin’s upbeat attitude made her a perfect fit for working with customers and she was quickly hired on year-round at the Lake Union seaplane terminal.

October 12, 2020/by Mikaela Judd

Picnic Perfect: Where to Buy the Best Picnic Essentials in Seattle

Blog, Things to do in Seattle

Aug 26, 2020

Picnic Perfect: Where to Buy the Best Picnic Essentials in Seattle

From sandwiches to a mix-and-match spread of fixings, discover some of the best places to get picnic food in Seattle.

Derived from the French term ‘pique-nique,’ a picnic initially described gourmands who brought their own wine when dining out. But by the Middle Ages, this beloved pastime began to acquire the respect it so rightly deserves. An elegant and leisurely affair — Seattle picnics are particularly renowned, if for no other reason than they mark the scant three months of Emerald City sunshine.

So, gather ye blankets while ye may. Load your coolers with a nosh-worthy spread from some of the area’s best shops slinging eat-with-your-hands goods. And, find yourself a sunny spot to lounge.

August 26, 2020/by Mikaela Judd

Get to Know Stephanie Smith, Owner of Holly B's on Lopez Island

Blog, Things to do in the San Juan Islands

Aug 25, 2020

Get to Know Stephanie Smith, Owner of Holly B's on Lopez Island

What makes a wetland biologist trade water and grass for butter and flour? For Stephanie Smith it was the desire to be more creative and find a career she could do anywhere in the world.

A Pacific Northwest native, she dove fingers first into a world of dough. And after completing the pastry program at Le Cordon Blue in Seattle, Stephanie ran the bakery for Microsoft’s catering service. But she longed to use her skills at a job where her hands got sticky, customers ordered in person, and her schedule allowed her to travel.

August 25, 2020/by Mikaela Judd

Lead �鶹��Ƶ Machinist and Welder, Mike Smith

Blog, Kenmore Family

Aug 18, 2020

Quality craftsmanship — that’s what motivates Mike Smith. As the lead machinist and welder at �鶹��Ƶ, doing things the right way every time is essential.

“I like having to do stuff right. I like that part of my job,” said Mike. In his role at �鶹��Ƶ Mike specializes in creating prototypes, fabricating custom parts, making tools, and producing small production runs of parts.

August 18, 2020/by Mikaela Judd

Rahman Anderson from Studio 45 Glass on Lopez Island

Featured Artists, Things to do in the San Juan Islands

Jul 29, 2020

Rahman Anderson from Studio 45 Glass on Lopez Island

Walking into Studio 45 Glass on Lopez Island is like falling down the rabbit hole with Alice. It’s a world of color, where possibilities are only the beginning and art feels like it is created from thin air.

After traveling the world working and studying glass art in Italy, New York and Germany, owner and master glassblower Rahman Anderson returned home to Lopez Island, where he grew up. He wanted to put down roots and settle on his family land where he has now built his own home and grows a garden.

July 29, 2020/by Samantha Howard

Crabbing in the Pacific Northwest

Things to do in the San Juan Islands

Crabbing in the San Juans by Sara Satterlee — *Photo by Sara Satterlee*

The sweet and salty goodness of a one-day adventure on the sea.

Pacific Northwest locals are very nonchalant when discussing Dungeness crab. Dungies (as locals call them) are arguably the best crab on the planet. We crabbers are somewhat protective of our favorite spots and our most reliable bait.

Most of us have pulled fresh crab from the Puget Sound and Salish Sea. And with some experience tucked under our belt, we tend to think we know what we’re doing. But most of the time we just get lucky and land a few keepers. However, that’s not the case for Corey Joyce. Filling the pot is his daily hustle.

July 27, 2020/by Sara Satterlee

A Blissful Getaway

Blog, Things to do in the San Juan Islands

Jul 26, 2020

Soaking up the Simple Pleasures at Friday Harbor’s Lakedale Resort and the San Juans.

Now more than ever we crave a change of scenery. From long and sometimes isolating days of working from home, to wrangling children, whipping up countless meals and everything in between. Over these past few months our homes hastily transformed into schools and gyms to offices, restaurants and libraries. With all this time spent at home you wouldn’t think we would need a break, but we do!

There is something so invigorating about visiting the San Juan Islands. I cannot think of anything quite like the thrill of salt air rushing through your hair or seeing all manner of watercraft cruise by to make you enthusiastic about where you are fortunate enough to call home. And if you are insanely lucky you might even spot an orca, seal, sea lion or bald eagle on your journey. After a short, forty-minute flight, you might as well be a world away.

July 26, 2020/by Lisette Wolter-McKinley

Dave Ber, San Juan Island Knife Maker

Blog, Featured Artists, Things to do in the San Juan Islands

May 19, 2020

Near the center of San Juan Island, in an area known to some as ‘Hippy Heights,’ Dave Ber hand-crafts knives in his 200-square-foot shop.

The self-taught knife artisan began honing his craft in 1986. He outfitted his first blade with a simple wood handle. Crude in comparison to his work today, Dave never sold the knife. It wasn’t up to his standards. But the three-incher foreshadowed the elegant designs and exceptionally well-balanced blades he makes today.

Dave’s shop is one of three rustic wood structures on the 2.5-acre perch overlooking San Juan Channel where he lives with his wife, Lina Vander Houwen. It sits at the center of the three buildings, flanked by Linda’s cozy get-away and their home — a beautiful cabin originally constructed in 1988 before they bought the property. “It was just one room when we moved in,” Linda told me as we sat in their toasty living room. “Dave added the loft. The bathroom. This room where we are now. The deck. We just kept expanding as need be.”

May 19, 2020/by Mikaela Judd