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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2008)
AUGUSTI, 2008 A Rogue Romance lUStlOUt JUST OUT TRAVEL Take your honey to Ashland by Chelsea Fine hings begin to look different as you drive south after relocating from the Bay Area. Every aspect down Oregon’s Interstate 5 corridor, espe of the inn shows personal touches, from gourmet cially after you pass Exit 99. The scenic vistas breakfasts to tasteful art collections adorning each change and the forests get thicker as you cap the room to enchanted gardens. tail end of the Cascade Range and descend into Faiia and Unmack are proud to have the Ar the Rogue Valley. den Forest Inn listed as the No. 1 B & B on www. The Rogue Valley is considered to be a com tripadvisor.com for the Ashland area. Double-oc bination of Grants Pass, Medford, Ashland and cupancy rooms start at $160 a night, and suites all points in between; it spans about 50 miles on rent for $220 a night. the freeway, through two counties and diverse Ashland lends itself to timeless romance as landscapes. the Bard’s language of love runs rampant on the But the magic begins when you leave the free stages of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (15 S. way and venture deeper into the valley, especially Pioneer St., Ashland, 800-219-8161, www.osfash- if you are looking for a romantic getaway. A cou land.org). The festival is open February through ple seeking something different can definitely find October and highlights Shakespeare’s canon as it in the southwestern comer of the Beaver State. well classic and contemporary playwrights. A weekend in Ashland wandering through its Out-and-proud first-year artistic director Bill lush parks, sidewalk cafes, elegant restaurants and Rauch has selected a diverse cast of characters to eclectic galleries should be on any pair’s must-do present to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival audi list for a romantic weekend away. Whether cele ence this year. The 2008 season features 11 shows, brating an anniversary, birthday or just because, including an ethereal and psychedelic version of couples looking for a place out of the ordinary A Midsummer Night’s Dream and a passion-filled should look to the Arden Forest Inn (261 W. Othello, which is staged in the Elizabethan Hersey St., Ashland, 800-460-3912, Theatre under a thick blanket of stars. www.afinn.com). To tickle the funny bone, The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler by Ore gon’s own Tony-winning Jeff Whit- ty is playing in the Angus Bowmer Theater. Tickets for all shows start at $20, and reservations are highly T The large bed-and- breakfast, four blocks from the downtown plaza, features a beautifully landscaped courtyard, heated pool and lively breakfast discussions as pro prietors Bill Faiia and Corbet Unmack join guests for informal theater chats and delightful conver sation. The couple purchased the inn in 1995 recommended. After tasting the rich words of the theater, a romantic stroll a block or two down the plaza will bring you to the front door of Liquid Assets Wine Bar and Bottle Shop (96 N. Main St., 541-482-9463, www.liqui- dassetswinebar.com). The contemporary yet classic feel of the warm wood interior and relaxing lighting sets the tone for an evening of incredible wines paired with fresh, seasonal, lo cally grown entrees. Hushand-and-wife owners Jim Piotter and Denise Daehler-Piotter welcome everyone to their fine establishment as chef Jason Trujillo creates a weekly menu to complement more than 26 wines available by the glass. The Piotters feature a tasting of a red wine ON THE CHEAP! TRAVEL TIPS and white wine flight of obscure varietals that change weekly. The advantage of tasting wines in a flight is the ability to compare varieties and vintages side by side. Both the weekly menu and wine club informa tion can be found on the Liquid Assets Web site. Jim says he is particularly proud to offer more than 250 labels to choose from in the bottle shop. Part of the advantage of having a retail bottle shop coupled with the wine bar is the ability to buy a higher-quality bottle of wine to enjoy with your dinner rather than paying the markup that diners usually encounter in restaurants. For those who enjoy their hops more than their grapes, Liquid Assets serves six beers on draft and many others bottled. With appetizers starting at $5, the average entree running $17 and glasses of wine and desserts beginning at $8 each, Liquid Assets offers a wonderful and affordable venue for a romantic evening. The knowledgeable staff is welcoming and doesn’t mind assisting you to find the perfect blend of tastes and even pick out that perfect bottle to take home to remind you of your romantic weekend in Ashland. C helsea F ine is a freelance writer and photographer based in southern Oregon. • Fabulous festivals run year- round from Astoria to Ashland, and many of them only cost a few bucks at the gate. Whether your pleasure is the Umatilla County Fair on Aug. 2 in Hermiston or the fungus frenzy that is the Yachats Village Mushroom Fest from Oct. 17 to 19, check out www. oregonfestivals.org for lots of cheap festival ideas. • Old towns and flea markets are great ways to sample local artists and artisans—not to mention taste some local flavors, from Bandon fresh- picked cranberries to Florence fresh- caught fish-and the price tags usually let your eyes stay in their sockets. The little coastal town of Florence boasts a bountiful Old Town Market (Nopal and Bay streets, Florence, from May to October) that is worth your while. • Camp isn't just another word for queer comedy. If hotel rates have you pinched, consider pitching a tent with your buddies in places like Newport, Gold Beach or Coos Bay. 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