Tales from Nightingales – Latest Issue

Guests, family and friends, and combinations thereof,

Wow! What a winter in Ashland; blustery, cold, snowy, rainy. Now, here we are in spring. The rhododendrons are popping up. The apple tree is blossoming. The deck is once again filling with greenery. The temperatures are rising.

OSF is open. “Romeo and Juliet” is fantastic and features many of our OSF seasoned actors, like Jonathan Luke Stevens and Tyrone Wilson. Be sure to sign up for the Campus Tour. This is my pet project. I assisted in writing the scripts, and I’m one of the docents. We take you into the theatres and regale you with stories about how it all works and comes together in that magical way.

Jessica Sage and Barry Kraft have done an absolutely incredible job with Rogue Theatre Company. Performances are held at the beautiful Grizzly Peak Winery, and the casts include many of our old-time favorites: Anthony Heald, Amy Lizardo, John Tufts, and Vilma Silva.

Collaborative Theatre Project is located in The Village in Medford, a fifteen-minute drive from Nightingales and well worth it. Coming up are “Into the Woods,” “Desperate Measures,” and “Bernhardt/Hamlet,” directed by Rick Robinson of the Oregon Cabaret Theatre.

Speaking of the Cabaret, Rick and Valerie have quite a season with such performances as “Five on Fire,” “Kinky Boots,” and “Poirot: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.” I never miss a production, and I always enjoy dinner with them prior to the performances. Their menu changes periodically, and they now have a full bar.

The wineries are thriving. Some of my local favorites are Long Walk, Irvine and Roberts, Weisinger, and Belle Fiore. Dana Campbell and Rellik wineries have introduced Trivia Night. The views are stunning, and they feature a variety of musical groups. Britt Festival has quite an eclectic summer season. My favorite is the orchestral summer festival running mid-June through early July.

Our restaurants are going strong; Kobe, Martinos, Osteria La Briccola, and two new ones, Cocorico and Bar Juillet, all a very short walk away. At Nightingales you can head out the door for hiking, biking, or walking in Lithia Park. Peter Finkle has added a number of new walks to his Walk Ashland tours. He’ll take you through the Railroad District and relate the history of the area. Take his public art walk, or a new tour that I’m quite anxious to take, Shakespeare in Ashland from 1887 to 1939.

Enjoy complementary wine and snacks on our beautiful deck. Coffee, tea, fruit and snacks are always available. The summer months are beginning to fill out with guests, so book your reservation. We have a two-night minimum with no deposit.

I can’t wait to see you again this year!

Pam