Category: Reviews
Winchester Inn Restaurant
Posted by Lisa in Dining Friday, 16 March 2012 12:00 No Comments
The Winchester Inn is one of our favorite dining places. The food is innovative, local, seasonal, and prepared with tremendous care. The wine list is superb, full of affordable greats as well as pie in the sky fabulousity, perfect for a range of events. If I were hosting a dinner party, this would be one of my first choices for a venue.
We started by sharing the Mini Wild Mushroom, Bacon, and Filet Mignon Wellingtons – moist chunks of tenderloin spread with mushroom duxelles and encased in a delicate pastry crust. Finished with a port wide reduction, cauliflower and baby pea pods, this is a delicious starter, one of my favorites.
Amuse
Posted by Lisa in Dining Wednesday, 14 March 2012 12:00 No Comments
One of Ashland’s fine dining options, Amuse is also one of our favorite places for a special occasion meal. The ambiance is elegantly simple, with clean lines and surprisingly comfortable seating. The menu is, of course, seasonal and local, with a few items persisting through the year.
The White Snake (2012)
Posted by Lisa in OSF 2012 Saturday, 10 March 2012 14:45 No Comments
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing two of Mary Zimmerman’s productions in the past; both of which blew me away. (If you get a chance to see Metamorphosis or The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, go. Immediately. You’ll be glad you did.) So it was with a great deal of anticipation that I purchased tickets to her newest production, The White Snake.
Billed as a beloved Oriental legend, this is the tale of a 1,700-year-old snake demon who spends a day as a woman and falls in love with a simple pharmacist’s assistant. With the help of her maid, another snake demon, she marries her love and helps him become a great success. But true love must undergo trials, and snake demons more than others.
Let me tell you now that this production joins my top ten plays from the sixteen years I’ve been attending OSF. I urge you to move it to the top of your ‘to see’ list immediately. It’s only playing through early July, and tickets will sell out soon. (I’m strongly considering traveling back in early June just to see it again.)
Director/author Mary Zimmerman excels at taking ancient stories and re-visioning them into modern terms. At the Preface I learned that Ms. Zimmerman casts the production without having a script in hand. The script was developed on the first days of rehearsal, and tailored to the skills and abilities of the actors. A tremendous burden for both the author and actors, but one fraught with tremendous potential. And the actors live up to the potential, beautifully. OSF regulars Emily Sophia Knapp and Christof Jean are particularly wonderful in their varied roles (and Jean’s heartfelt closing words will rip the tears from your eyes, matching the ones in his). Newcomers Amy Kim Waschke and Tanya McBride are truly excellent as the White Snake and Green Snake, respectively. The production is elegantly simple and I must offer loud kudos to Scenic Designer Daniel Ostling for doing such a good job of realizing Ms. Zimmerman’s vision.
Can you fall in love at first sight? Have all true lovers met in previous lifetimes? Can love survive doubt and the machinations of outside forces? With some fairly clear references to current politics, Zimmerman offers up a perspective in which love transcends physical limitations, like being human and being a snake.
Bring a hankie, or two, and go watch one of the best plays OSF has ever produced.
Ashland Springs Hotel
Posted by Lisa in Lodging Tuesday, 6 March 2012 12:00 No Comments
I’ve been visiting Ashland long enough that I remember when this was the Mark Anthony Hotel, as well as when it was closed for several years. It’s long been on my list of places to stay, seeming to be an elegant yet comfortable option. My primary concerns about any hotel are: a comfy bed, quiet at night, a good shower, and clean.
The bed is a bit mixed. The mattress is very comfortable – firm, yet not stiff. The pillows, however, are dreadful. There are a lot of them (six I think) but they are all very soft and flat. We asked the Front desk if they have firm pillows and they sent us a housekeeper with three new pillows, all flat and soft, but made of polyester/foam instead of feathers. SO missing the point. When was it that the hotels decided that a good night’s sleep means great mattresses and flat pillows? The sheets are cotton, the blanket down, and there is a lovely heavy cotton blanket providing the color and extra warmth if needed.
Cowslip’s Belle Bed & Breakfast
Posted by Lisa in Lodging, Reviews Monday, 5 December 2011 09:08 No Comments
One of Ashland’s original B&Bs, run by the same innkeepers since 1985 Cowslip’s Belle is truly luxurious accommodations – but won’t break your budget.
Located just three blocks from OSF theaters, this 1913 Craftsman bungalow provides travelers with vintage furnishings and modern comforts. Their breakfasts were, hands down, the best I’ve enjoyed in all my years of visiting. Scrumptious and served with a lot of interesting conversation and no sense of rushing. Jon & Carmen Reinhardt have been innkeepers for a long time, and they clearly enjoy their work.
The rooms are comfortably furnished with luxurious beds, private baths, air conditioning, ceiling fans, wifi, and private entrances.
This is one of the best places I’ve stayed in all my years of visiting Ashland.
Highly recommended.
http://www.cowslip.com/
Country Willows Bed & Breakfast Inn
Posted by Lisa in Lodging, Reviews Monday, 5 December 2011 09:07 No Comments
Most of the time I’ve stayed in Ashland, I’ve stuck to places within walking distance to the theaters. But there are a number of lovely options outside of the downtown core, one of which is Country Willows Inn.
Set on five acres of farmland with gorgeous views and beautifully landscaped gardens, the Inn is a delight for visitors to enjoy. Most of the rooms are in the elegantly restored 1896 farmhouse, with a sumptious private cottage and barn. There is a family of goats and geese adding to the atmosphere.
The Inn has incredibly good breakfasts, and wonderful hiking (or biking, borrowing one of the loaners from the Inn) trails to help burn it off. The rooms are very comfortable, with one of the best beds I’ve ever slept on.
Highly recommended.
http://www.countrywillowsinn.com/
Shrew’s House Bed and Breakfast
Posted by Lisa in Lodging, Reviews Monday, 5 December 2011 09:05 No Comments
One of the loveliest aspects of Ashland are the beautifully maintained Craftsman-style houses; it’s even better when you can stay in one. Shrew’s House B&B is a lovingly restored 1914 cottage, located just five blocks from OSF theaters.
The house is gorgeous, with wonderful common areas inside and out. As a special bonus, the pool is wonderful (and highly recommended during the summer months). There is a lot of privacy, each room has an outdoor sitting area and many have fireplaces and whirlpool baths. All of the rooms have wifi, private entrances, air conditioning, cable TV, and kitchenettes with microwave ovens and small fridges. A full breakfast is included.
This is a wonderful place, one of the best B&Bs in town.
Highly recommended.
http://www.shrews.com/
Anne Hathaway’s B&B and Garden Suites
Posted by Lisa in Lodging, Reviews Monday, 5 December 2011 09:04 No Comments
Every once in a while I like to visit Ashland with a very special girl, my dog Sasha. Since she’s a muscular 60-lbs, not some purse pooch, there aren’t a lot of options for us when we travel. Fortunately, Anne Hathaway’s B&B has pooch-friendly and comfortable rooms for the discriminating traveler.
Just a bit over four blocks from the theater, all of the rooms are air conditioned with private baths, wifi , and a subtle ‘green’ sensibility that adds to the excellence of this accommodation. Of special note are the hearty, healthy, tasty, breakfasts and the ample tea served at 4pm. Most of the food served is sourced from organic and local providers.
The B&B has fresh flowers in every one of its seven rooms. The nine Garden Suites have kitchenettes, private entrances, and decks overlooking the garden. Travelers staying in the suites have a continental breakfast and most of the suites have Jacuzzi tubs. (They can also pay a bit more and join the regular breakfast.) The B&B and Suites are two separate properties caddy-corner from one another. It began life as a boarding house, and has been run by the friendly and informative Deedie and David Runkel since 2002. (Check out their lively reviews of each season’s plays on their website!)
The innkeepers are making changes with an eye toward making the inn as green as possible. For example, they’ve installed hot water on demand heaters and new windows in the Garden Suites. The (100% cotton and scent free) sheets are dried outside.
The rooms are spacious and quiet. The beds are comfortable and the location is great.
Highly recommended.
http://www.ashlandbandb.com
Abbott’s Cottages
Posted by Lisa in Lodging Monday, 5 December 2011 09:03 No Comments
If you’re looking for an alternative to a hotel, a cozy B&B, or a room at an inn, you will definitely enjoy staying at Abbott’s Cottages. This collection of mostly 2 and 3 bedroom accommodations (there is a single studio option) offer visitors a wonderful opportunity to enjoy Ashland on their own schedule. Over the years I have stayed in each of the three (the studio, 2 bedroom, and three bedroom). Each unit offers a nicely appointed space, comfortable bed, kitchen (full size in the three bedroom, smaller in the other units).
Located on the north end of town, just off the main thoroughfare and surrounding a lovely courtyard, each unit also has a vine-covered outdoor seating area where you can enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. It is surprisingly quiet (and you may be visited by the local cat, a friendly boy who will graciously accept your skritchins and then catch lizards for fun). The three bedrooms even have upstairs balconies to enjoy.
The Cottages are very clean and comfortable with air conditioning, wifi, cable, and barbeques. Julia and Mark Roupp have been the owners for many years now, and although they aren’t on site, they are just a phone call away.
No pets, no smoking, they don’t take credit cards, and a deposit is due with your reservation.
Highly recommended.
http://www.abbottscottages.com
Larks Restaurant
Posted by Lisa in Dining, Reviews Sunday, 2 October 2011 13:36 No Comments
My partner and I have eaten at Lark’s many times over the years, most recently we had lunch with a new friend, Jeff King (currently playing XX in The Imaginary Invalid).
First off, I appreciate the fact that they offer non-Coke/Pepsi sodas, so you can actually have sugar instead of man-made chemicals in your drink. Then, they do an excellent job of providing a menu made from locally sourced and organic providers.
I had the house salad. This is a large plate of field greens (which vary by season) with goat cheese, candied hazelnuts, aged rosemary goat cheese and a marionberry balsamic vinaigrette. Served with a side of bread, this is a delicious salad that fills you up.
The boys had grilled cheese and soup. Half of a grilled Tillamook cheddar sandwich with tomato served alongside a cup of (that day) tomato-basil soup. The sandwich was golden on the outside and gooey on the inside and perfectly matched the sweet-sour tanginess of the tomato soup.
Service was a little odd; I think our server was in training. She did great, but the fact that her ‘work; was checked up on by another overly-inquisitive server was unsettling. Then again, it may be the fact that we were sitting with a celebrity. Three sodas and our meals came to less than $40 (not including our tip).
We often have a meal at Larks when we visit, and we think they are best at lunch and brunch. (Brunch is particularly fun as the menu changes based on what is available from local farmers, creameries, meat producers, and seafood providers.)
Greenleaf Restaurant
Posted by Lisa in Dining, Reviews Sunday, 2 October 2011 13:35 No Comments
Greenleaf is a lot of fun, especially during the warmer months when you can sit outside along the river. We were there on a chilly fall morning, so we sat inside.
We had a fairly typical breakfast: French toast for me, a ‘full house’ for him (two eggs, meat, and a choice of toast, muffin, scone, or bagel). The orange juice was fresh squeezed, the apple juice top quality. I had the bacon as a side, and it was lovely to have that natural (no nitrates) taste alongside the sweetness of the syrup. All of the food was well-prepared and tasty.
Service was good – she came by enough so that our water glasses remained full and coffee (a friend sat with us) remained hot and plentiful. Our breakfast, including juice and sides, came to $31 (not including tip).
Serving breakfast until noon, Greenleaf is an excellent choice for a good meal and a good price.