The Daily Astorian
Friday, October 30, 2015
Weekend Edition
CARVED OUT
Lounge gets into the Halloween spirit with pumpkin-carving contest
By KATHERINE LACAZE
EO Media Group
C
ANNON
BEACH
—
K nife-wielding customers — of-
ten hopped-up on pub fare and
libations — slowly transform
an enormous mound of pump-
kins on the deck at Driftwood Restaurant &
Lounge into a shining artistic display, with
entries ranging from sweet and simple to
slightly terrifying .
There are no rules when it comes to Drift-
wood’s annual weeklong pumpkin-carving
contest, which started last Friday and goes
through today. Since the carving takes place
on the deck, which is exclusively for patrons
21 and older, the contest is, by default, adults
only.
Other than that, the restaurant supplies
pumpkins and tools and lets patrons’ imagi-
nations run wild. Seeing what comes out the
other side is one of m anger Kyle Genin’s fa-
vorite aspects of the contest.
The Driftwood is a local hangout, so staff
and management often see familiar custom-
ers. However, the pumpkin-carving contest
lets them experience a different side of those
regulars , Genin said.
“You get to see their talents come
through,” he said. “It’s just fun to see what
the locals can do.”
‘Serious business’
3aul and Susie No¿ eld, who both are very
active in the community, started the tradition
of pumpkin-carving at the restaurant many
years ago, originally as a fun, non-competi-
tive activity to celebrate the fall season.
“The Driftwood is good about doing a lot
of local functions,” Genin said.
Three years ago, the activity transformed
into a contest.
“Now, it’s serious business,” Genin said.
Some people anticipate the contest each
year, bring their own supplies and spend
hours on their creations using stencils and
painstakingly drawn-out designs. Other peo-
ple happen upon the event by chance.
Thomas and Vanessa Phillips, of Tacoma,
Washington , said they were out for a drink
during their Cannon Beach getaway and de-
cided to participate.
Vanessa Phillips carved the Driftwood
logo — a salmon — and restaurant name into
her pumpkin, accomplishing a striking re-
semblance. Thomas Phillips graciously tried
resurrecting the pumpkin that was used in her
¿ rst attempt she started over when she didn’t
like how the ¿ sh was turning out. He added
numbers, eyes, symbols and other embellish-
ments to create a pumpkin that was, as he
described it, a “Charles Manson reference.”
Stephanie Crespin and Grant Garrett, of
Huntington Beach, California , took a different
approach. While waiting for their table, they
said, they sat on the beach, searched online for
ideas and then drew mock ups on napkins.
Crespin carved an image of Minnie
Mouse, because she loves Disneyland, she
said. Garrett’s was the product of an Internet
search result when “we Googled ‘pumpkin
carving easy,’” Crespin joked.
Garrett said he hasn’t carved a pumpkin
since he was 7. Crespin carves one every year
for Halloween, but because of travel, she did
not expect to have an opportunity this year.
See CONTEST, Page 3C
Photos by Katherine Lacaze/EO Media Group
ABOVE: Vanessa and Thomas Phillips, of Tacoma, Wash., carve pumpkins on the deck of Driftwood Restaurant & Lounge while
enjoying drinks last Saturday . TOP: Pumpkins take center-stage at Driftwood Restaurant & Lounge in Cannon Beach during the
restaurant’s weeklong pumpkin-carving contest, open to all patrons 21 and older.
Dr. Frankenstein’s monster
Grant Garrett and Stephanie Crestin, of Huntington Beach, Calif., carved pumpkins
during their first trip to Cannon Beach last weekend.
The annual event has grown to more than 100 entries.
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