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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 21, 2016)
GRAB BAG book shelf • glimpse • wildlife • pop culture • words • q&a • food • fun Photo by Matt Love The Old Fish Trap in Chinook, Washington, is a great place to relax. A G LIMPSE I NSIDE An occasional feature by MATT LOVE The Old Fish Trap I rolled into Chinook af- ter a drive along the north- ern side of the river. The tide was extremely low and exposed the mud fl ats in the afternoon sun. They were incredibly beautiful, and I could barely take my eyes off them. I wish I could explain the appeal of mudfl ats to me. Perhaps it’s the metaphor of re- vealing the bottom of something as opposed to the surface. The Old Fish Trap beckoned, and I stopped in for a beer to be- gin my weekend and relax after an intense work week. When I try to relax, I don’t want to try any- thing new or involved. I just want quiet, stasis and simplicity. I walked in, did a quick visual inspection, noticed a piano and guitar, and ordered a lager from North Jetty Brewery. I sat down in a comfortable booth and felt contentment wash ashore in the exquisite silence of this joint. At the bar, some regulars discussed how a local “fi ngerless” man worked as a handyman. It sound- ed like great material for a short story. But I wouldn’t write it — I was supposed to be relaxing. Yes, this was my kind of som- nolent place. Wood, maroon and black dominated the Old Fish Trap’s décor, but there was much more to admire than colors and grainy textures. I loved the his- toric photographs of logging and fi shing, fi sh-themed fi ne art, vin- tage coff ee can collection, crab pot and propeller blade. I espe- cially loved the fake kitten asleep near the front window. Not a single customer was on a phone. People were talking. I visit these places because they don’t hustle or exude a shred of irony. They are exact- ly as they appear. I will never understand why people visit the coast and then patronize the same kind of establish- ments that they frequent at home, like the power couple from Seattle who go to the Seattle bar in Astoria. What’s the point? Can’t you drink your fancy liquorless drinks at home? A quasi old timer walked in. The female bartender said, “Art, do you want a PBR?” Art said, “Yes.” He said it slowly. The bartender brought over the beer and told Art about the upcoming April weekend in Chinook. “It’s go- ing to be super rowdy, and everybody is going to be turning up.” “I hope not,” said Art. I’m with Art. The Old Fish Trap is the best place around to turn it down, not up. Up is overrated. Matt Love is the author/editor of 14 books, including “A Nice Piece of Asto- ria.” His books are available through all coastal bookstores (except one) or his website, nestuccaspitpress.com NW word nerd By RYAN HUME Natatorium >Q tԥtܧriԥm@ noun plural, natatoria 1. arch. an indoor pool for swimming, esp. a free-stand- ing building that houses an indoor swimming pool. The pool buildings that littered the Oregon Coast in the early 20th Century, from Nye Beach to Seaside, relied on pumping in heated seawa- ter from the nearby Pacifi c Ocean, and off ered conces- sions and entertainment, such as nickelodeons and live music Origin: First recorded in 1890 and arising in New England from the Late Latin verb, natāre (meaning “to swim”) + -atorium (a loaned suffi x from Latin denoting a place). Natatorium literally means, “a place to swim.” The term was at its height of popularity in the U.S. around the 1920s, just as many of the buildings along the Oregon Coast were being construct- ed. The term fell steeply out Photo courtesy Cannon Beach History Center Riders rest on horses in front of the Cannon Beach Natatorium circa 1926-28. of fashion in the early 1960s, around the same time the last one on the North Coast, the Seaside Natatorium, closed. “Cannon Beach’s natatorium was built in 1924 by William Mahon and was often referred to as ‘The Nat.’” — Elaine Trucke, “Historic photos: Nata- torium was more than a place to swim,” The Daily Astorian, Friday, March 27, 2015, P. 2C “The building that now houses the aquarium opened as Seaside Baths, a natatorium, in August 1924, and it of- fered warm saltwater swimming.” —Katherine Lacaze, “‘History and Hops’ educates with frosty pints of craft beer,” The Daily Astorian, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, P. 3A “SEASIDE, Or., Oct. 18.—(Spe- cial.)—Work will be commenced about January 1 on a $30,000 natatorium in this city by J. E. Oates, who owns the site opposite the Moore Hotel.” —“Natatorium is Planned,” The Morn- ing Oregonian, Sunday, Oct. 19, 1913, P. 11 Hi Casual Cannabis Bring in this ad today and get 10% OFF We are a recreational and medical cannabis dispensary. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is dedicated to helping you fi nd the quality medicine that suits your needs. With over 25 strains ranging from high CBD to high THC and everything in between. Located on 193 Marine Dr. in Astoria. *limit one per customer 22 | April 21, 2016 | coastweekend.com 503-741-3119 w/Ngaio w/ w/Ngai w/N / gai ai i o Beal B Bealum ealu eal um um 5TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY! SAT 4/23 - $15 DOORS @ 8P ASTORIA ARMORY 407 17TH STREET | ASTORIA, OR
