Port Townsend from a new perspective - out and about | Word on the Street

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I was standing at the Haller Fountain looking up Taylor Street past the gleaming copper roof of the Elks Building, the sun was shining, the block was buzzing with activity, and there was a cruise ship in at Union Wharf. 

It felt like an action-packed day in August. This spike in commerce is what our town needs after a year of COVID restrictions. Thanks to First Federal Community Foundation for the generous “Love Where You Live”—Port Townsend marketing grant that has helped support Port Townsend’s reawakening.

Customers are enjoying being out and about, visiting stores, and dining in streateries or indoors. Some businesses are experiencing close-to-August numbers now. Hotels are filling up. 

Visitors are taking missed vacations, many people now have flexible work schedules and our locals are taking time to get out in this great weather. This under predicted surge of activity may cause some waits at your favorite dining spot or shop as owners staff up. We urge you to remain patient and thankful as businesses ease out of restrictions and into “back to normal.”

The Port Townsend Main Street Program conducted a survey on the topic of the streateries that accommodate outdoor dining, and more than 70 percent of the 300-plus respondents supported them remaining in place. 

Respondents offered creative, practical, wide-ranging suggestions and we thank all who filled out the survey. 

The survey results were reviewed at the June 7 city council meeting. It was decided that the streateries program will go through the end of the year. 

To ease parking, 15-minute pick-up spots will be reduce to one parking space on each side of the street per block, this reflects a survey question with 65 percent favorability.

People have missed live music, and musicians miss playing for them. The free “Buskers on the Block” music series ended in May. It featured 21 outdoor performances at various locations and was a big hit. Many local musicians shared their talents bringing a lot of happiness to listeners and foot traffic into the business districts.

Don’t forget the ongoing grant activities of the “Love Where You Live” campaign. There’s a free self-guided trivia hunt named “Port Townsend Treasures,” reported by hunters to be a lot of fun, and the iLovePortTownsend.com website featuring our historic district businesses and the entrepreneurs who run them. 

Something to anticipate is the upcoming free “Hidden History” tours. This project is being funded by the First Federal Community Foundation grant and developed through the collaboration of the Key City Public Theatre and the Port Townsend Main Street Program.

In addition to thanking the First Federal Community Foundation for offering support, we thank the Port of Port Townsend and Windermere Real Estate for helping sponsor the campaign. The media sponsors are The Port Townsend Leader and KPTZ 91.9 FM.

The Port Townsend Main Street Program applied for and received a city of Port Townsend LTAC Tourism infrastructure grant. We were able to provide free hanging flower baskets to business locations in the historic districts that joined our watering program. The flower baskets are blooming beautifully under the care of our very dedicated gardener. Come check this local color. The bulk infrastructure grant will create a new water-view parklet downtown adjacent to Adams Street Park this summer.

There is new art around town and we celebrated Port Townsend Creative District Day on June 15.

The five art markers by local artist Jonah Trople signal that you are in a creative district where art is happening across five disciplines: visual arts, literary arts, culinary arts, performing arts and makers arts. These contemporary sculptures are made of century-old reclaimed fir which was salvaged from a 1907 building in Seattle. These “wooden” megalith art markers have a rustic look, with cracks and fissures and are near-human in stature. They are intentionally painted white and over time, they will silver out and gain a natural patina which will reflect the wharves and pier pilings that surround us.

There is also a wayfinding trail sign component to the project that leads from Uptown to Fort Worden and back. QR codes lead you to the new website under development at ptcreativedistrict.org. This project is funded by a grant from ArtsWA through the Washington State Legislature, generous local donors and in-kind support from the city of Port Townsend. 

Thank you for looking at Port Townsend’s historic districts from a new perspective. Visit ptmainstreet.org to see more about fun things to do while you’re out and about.

(Mari F. Mullen is the executive director of the Port Townsend Main Street Program.)