Some of my favorite memories are of playing games. My mom taught me how to play cribbage on a ferry headed for Orcas Island when I was around 9. My friend and I were playing rummy on a train in Italy when we realized we had missed our stop and ended up…woe was us… in Rome! Evenings of our honeymoon, my husband and I spent on the mezzanine of the Old Faithful Inn playing cribbage (I’ve gotten pretty good over the years).
I have so many other memories playing games – from Rummikub to canasta, Bop it! to the original Mario Brothers, Miles Borne to Candy Land – at dining room tables, at picnic tables, on the couch. These aren’t necessarily all favorite memories… but they’re all good memories. This time of year we get so many articles on ‘How to not be rude to your family when you’re around them’, but I’ve yet to see one suggest, ‘Do something fun!’ So, for this holiday and winter edition of Venue, we’ve filled the pages with all sorts of things to inspire you at the table or on the couch: eat delicious food locally grown or made; play classic or new, regionally made and locally sold games; imbibe the best, responsibly; and enjoy your company, whether that is your own self, family, or (furry) friends!
We are fulling transitioned into fall, running towards all things pumpkin and evergreen. Seek our famous Columbia Basin sunshine each day. There are lots of opportunities to take a friend and have special moments all over our region this season – from events, to dinner, to a nice road trip for shopping. Embrace the long indoor evenings for connecting or crafting. The holidays come quick and busy, and, the holidays can be lonely: remember you are not alone. We look forward to seeing you again in the spring.
I am having so much fun meeting new people, finding businesses and learning history about our region. I am filled with gratitude for each of you who reads these pages, contributes to our advertising, and creates our content. I do this because I truly enjoy our region and all you people in it. I want us all to thrive, together. Please reach out with any ideas, stories, projects, history, photos, or something more.
To finding new joy in all our regular places, cheers!
Sincerely, Shawn Cardwell
