| What’s New and Cool in the San Juans Spring/Summer 2025 On the Food and Farm Front New Bistro on the Block There’s a new lunch spot in Friday Harbor! Olive’s Beestro features a bakery and café in the morning, transitioning to a full-service restaurant at night. The menu rotates, and they’re always adding new items, like the housemade hummus box with fresh veggies and pita bread. As Chef Benoit says, “I believe in small menus that rotate frequently, thus allowing our team the time it takes to put thought and care into each menu item, creating as little waste as possible.” For more information: Marie-Ann Benoit chefbenoit@gmail.com. Island Rise Need a donut for that early ferry ride? Stop in the new Island Rise Donuts and Café in Friday Harbor for fresh, made-from-scratch glazed donuts and other breakfast items like biscuits and gravy, eggs Benedict, or loaded hashbrowns with red peppers, tomatoes, cheese, and jalapeno. Or make it brunch with a BLT or chicken-fried steak. For more information, visit www.islandrisecafe.com. Nature, Stewardship, and Sustainability And the Emmy Goes To… The SeaDoc Society’s original web series has been nominated for two EMMY™ Awards by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Two “Salish Sea Wild” episodes are nominated in the Northwest Chapter’s Environment/Science — Long Form Content category. The series, which has six seasons, is produced by Bob Friel and hosted by SeaDoc Society Science Director Dr. Joe Gaydos. The two nominated episodes are “A Shocking Story About Sandpipers” and “Racing to Restore Endangered Abalone.” They can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eggmDsgC4c and www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P8Gmfr9Pb0. The team’s work has been nominated alongside the top television stations and filmmakers throughout Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. The winners will be announced this June. To view the entire season, go to https://www.seadocsociety.org/salish-sea-wild. New ‘Evolution’ for the Center The Center for Whale Research (CWR) is excited to share our involvement in the upcoming book The Evolution of Cetacean Societies: Uncovering the Social Complexity of Whales and Dolphins, edited by Dr Darren Croft, Dr Andrew Foote, Dr Ellen Garland, and Dr Stephanie King. This volume provides a comprehensive overview of the significant advancements in the study of cetacean social behavior and ecology over the past twenty-five years, exploring the cultural and genetic foundations of cetacean societies, their cooperative and competitive behaviors, their social complexity, and the deep connections between humans and these remarkable animals. The book is a collaboration among leading scientists across multiple disciplines, including CWR’s Executive Director, Dr. Croft, and Research Director, Dr. Michael Weiss, both of whom are contributing authors, with Dr. Croft also serving as an editor. It’s a must-read for anyone fascinated by marine mammal science, particularly the social lives of whales and dolphins. The anticipated publication date is January 2026, and preorders are available here. Kicking it in the Village Lopez Island is one of the top bicycling destinations in the world, and Village Cycles in Lopez Village has a variety of rentals for every cyclist—bikes, e-bikes, and hybrids. Starting the summer of 2025, there’ll be a new offering available in their summer rental fleet: NIU electric kick scooters! Owners Kenny and Aubrey Nguyen are dedicated to promoting micro mobility in Lopez Village as an eco-friendly alternative to cars. For more information: Kenny Nguyen info@villagecycles.net or visit https://villagecycles.net/ Arts & Culture Shapeshifters In celebration of its 20th Anniversary, The San Juan Islands Museum of Art is proud to present Shapeshifters – a major exhibition of contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous art, June 13 – September 15, 2025. Shapeshifters showcases the extraordinary diversity of contemporary Indigenous Northwest Coast Art. Works featured include luminous glass, bronze sculpture, red and yellow cedar carvings, basketry, serigraphs, argillite and multimedia art by some of the Northwest’s most renowned Indigenous artists. The title Shapeshifters embodies the Northwest Coast Indigenous peoples’ connection and respect for the cleverness of the Raven. It also reflects their diverse cultures’ ability to persevere and adapt to change for millennia. Indigenous stories tell us that “Raven created mankind on the Northwest Coast. His people’s art transcends the human experience. Raven always outwits the moment. He transforms to meet life’s challenges and shapeshifts to create new solutions for today’s dilemmas,” stated exhibit curator Lee Brooks. For more information: Wendy Smith wendy@sjima.org or visit www.sjima.org Making Hay While the Sun Shines Lopez Island has always been a place of abundance. Since time immemorial, these lands and waters have been stewarded by Straits Salish peoples. As beneficiaries of homestead policies, settlers continued to work the land and sea for sustenance and trade, serving guests and locals from their kitchen tables and trades-camp stoves. The first standalone restaurant on Lopez Island opened in 1946, 80 years after the first white settlers arrived. “Making Hay While the Sun Shines: 50 years of Restaurants, 1950-2000,” the new exhibit at the Lopez Island Historical Museum, charts the demographic and development shifts on Lopez through the lens of the island’s restaurants. From multi-decade institutions such as The Islander and The Galley, to short-lived experiments, restaurants have weathered the difficulty of running two businesses at a time: one in summer, one in winter … for the price of one. The story of restaurants on Lopez is a story of development, gentrification, housing, resilience, celebration and community. For more information: Amy Frost history@lopezmuseum.org or visit www.lopezmuseum.org. New Shops, Products, & Services Betina Roza If you’ve spent any time on San Juan Island, chances are you’ve spotted someone rocking one of Erin Heydenreich’s iconic beaded heart necklaces. Erin is the owner and designer behind Betina Roza Jewelry, and she’s been a favorite among the Roche Harbor Village Artists for over a decade. Erin handcrafts every piece of jewelry right here on San Juan Island, offering a mix of simple, everyday staples and one-of-a-kind statement pieces. Every winter, she travels to places like Tucson and Mexico to handpick every gem, bead, and material she uses. Her jewelry business has grown so much over the years that she’s now taking things to the next level with a brand-new boutique shop in Friday Harbor! Located right in the harbor at Cannery Landing, you can now find Betina Roza designs year-round. In addition to jewelry, you will find locally sourced clothing, decor, gifts as well as a rotating feature of other Island artists. For more information, contact Erin Heydenreich erin@betinaroza.com or check out https://betinaroza.com/ A Little Tallow Made right on Orcas Island’s Little Farm, a new line of tallow-based soaps, salves, balms, Moody Sticks and luxurious shampoo and conditioner bars offer a blend of high-quality ingredients. Carol and Allen specifically have chosen to only create with 100% grassfed and organic tallows as well and only use organic essential oils that are USDA Certified and steam distilled. This year they will fire up their gorgeous copper steam distiller using their own flowers. The Little Farm’s Small Batch offerings go quick, and it is their intention to keep the batches coming with new offerings each week, so check the website often for what’s cooking in The Little Barn. Contact: Carol Wetzel carol@littlefarm.life or visit https://littlefarm.life//soaps-and-skincare A Family Paddle Outdoor Odysseys is introducing a new guided family tour for the 2025 season, specifically designed with families with younger children in mind and offering their first-ever family package rate pricing. Starting at Turn Point County Park, where they’ll get you and the family ready for a stress-free paddle. Once on the water, enjoy getting acclimated to the boats and the surrounds, taking time to navigate this calm cove and making way across to Turn Island State Park. The duration of the paddle is flexible, based on each family’s comfort level. Once at Turn Island, guests can take the 30–45-minute hike around the perimeter of this uninhabited island, keeping an eye out for otters, eagles, and other wildlife on land, in the air, and in the water, while their guide prepares a fresh, locally-sourced lunch that can be adapted to any dietary restriction. During lunch, families and their guide can engage in fun and educational discussions about the unique island ecosystem and the creatures that inhabit it. Following some time on the beach to look for crabs, seashells, and other sea life, guests will return to their boats and paddle close to shore, exploring the coastlines of Turn Island and San Juan Island. For more information: Peter Yacobellis peter@outdoorodysseys.com or visit www.outdoorodysseys.com/sea-kayak-tours/tours/san-juan-island-family-paddle-and-hike Luminous Luminous Gallery | Studio, owned by Pacific Northwest fiber artist Dana Alkebu-Lan, invites visitors to experience a harmonious fusion of art, nature and community in the heart of the San Juan Islands. This colorful, light-filled space blends a working fiber art studio with an intimate gallery, creating an inspiring environment for a variety of events, workshops and retreats. Artist Dana Albeku-Lan’s vision for Luminous Gallery | Studio is to create a space where art and community come together in harmony, offering a space for artists, teachers and healers to share their gifts. Beyond its artistic offerings, Luminous Gallery | Studio has become a hub for creative and meaningful gatherings. The venue hosts a range of unique events such as sculpting workshops, painting classes, sound bath journeys, and wellness support groups. For more information: Dana Albeku-Lan danadana313@gmail.com or visit www.danaalkebulan.com/luminous-gallery-studio. |
