Exploring Twisp & the Methow Valley: Fire Lookouts, Art Walks, and More with Juliet Kennedy

Welcome to the latest edition of the Exploring Washington State podcast, where we bring you the best of Washington State.

In this episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Juliet Kennedy, the marketing director for the Twisp Chamber of Commerce. Juliet shared her insider knowledge of the hidden gems and unique experiences in Twisp and the beautiful Methow Valley.

We hear about Twisp Fest which is being held on September 27th and 28th 2024. This annual event features a community potluck, art walk, and much more. Juliet shares some of the special events happening this year at Twisp Fest.

Perhaps you want to see fireworks in winter? Christmas at the End of the Road is just for you. This annual event is held in Winthrop and is the celebration of the beginning of the holiday season. Maybe Mistletoe is your thing. Juliet shares details about Mistletoe Madness in Twisp.

Spring time brings wild flowers and outdoor activities throughout the Methow Valley. Juliet shares some of her favorite hikes in the area.

Summertime it’s all about staying cool. Juliet shares some fun things to do in Twisp during the summer including checking out the Twisp Farmers Market. One of the oldest farmers markets in Washington State. Of course Twisp has a 4th of July parade that features all of the creative and fun things and people in the Methow Valley.

Listening to this episode will make you pack up your car and drive to Twisp. There is so much to do and see in Twisp and the Methow Valley on of Washington States true gems.

Juliet Kennedy Twisp and Methow Valley Episode Transcript

Scott Cowan [00:00:04]:

Hello, friends, and welcome to the Exploring Washington State podcast. My name is Scott Cowan, and I’m the host of the show. Each episode, I have a conversation with an interesting guest who is living in or from Washington State. These are casual conversations with real and interesting people. I think you’re gonna like the show. So let’s jump right in with today’s guest. Alright. So I’m sitting here in a conference room in Twisp, so you might hear some background today with Juliet Kennedy.

Scott Cowan [00:00:31]:

Juliet, you are the head of marketing for the Twisp Chamber of Commerce, Grand Pubaugh. What what what’s your official title?

Juliet Kennedy [00:00:40]:

Yeah. I am the marketing director for the Twist Chamber of Commerce.

Scott Cowan [00:00:43]:

Alright. Cool. What’s your backstory before we get started with Twist specific? What’s what’s your backstory and how’d you end up here?

Juliet Kennedy [00:00:52]:

Yeah. I grew up in Snohomish and had a great childhood there, then went to college in Bellingham at Western, then, met my husband. We lived there for about 10 years and came to the valley about 5 years ago in 2019. He would come over here with his grandparents, hiking and camping and hunting and fishing, as a kid, and so he had some background here. And, my family came here just to recreate. So there’s a picture of my mother and I up at the top of, Goat Peak with Lightningville Austin. There’s a Polaroid of us somewhere in one of his catalogs, of me as a little girl hiking at the top with my mom. And, yeah.

Juliet Kennedy [00:01:28]:

We both just came over here as often as we could on weekends camping and hiking. And every time we’d go back home, I’d be in tears not wanting to leave. And so I figured if I felt that strongly about wanting to be here, that I should just live here. And so we made that happen.

Scott Cowan [00:01:40]:

Awesome. So when you went to Western, what’d you major in?

Juliet Kennedy [00:01:43]:

Anthropology and Spanish language.

Scott Cowan [00:01:47]:

Wow. What was the career plan for that? I always I’m kinda teasing you when I look at it. No. That’s great. Yeah. What was the career plan?

Juliet Kennedy [00:01:54]:

P I didn’t necessarily have one. I love, fossils, so archaeology was one of the things. Okay. Okay. Geology ish. But, people and just culture and, I was fascinated with how people work and function. And so I think just yeah. The anthropology kind of

Scott Cowan [00:02:08]:

And you met your husband at at Western?

Juliet Kennedy [00:02:10]:

He, didn’t go to Western, but I met him through a friend at Western. Yeah. He, went to tech school, right out of high school and then was a mechanic for about 20 years before becoming a teacher.

Scott Cowan [00:02:18]:

Oh, he’s a teacher now? Yeah. What’s he teaching? He works. Don’t say anthropology.

Juliet Kennedy [00:02:21]:

He definitely. He is the automotive and welding instructor for the Methode Valley School District. And they’re still teaching on campus here.

Scott Cowan [00:02:29]:

They’re still teaching automotive?

Juliet Kennedy [00:02:31]:

Yeah. He just, helped facilitate getting a new building built here and, was contracted when he was working as a mechanic to help construct the building and design it the way that a mechanic might want a shop designed and then was offered the position. And he also then got to take over the welding shop in that position as well. So he’s got a welding shop on one side, his classroom in the middle, and the automotive shop on the other.

Scott Cowan [00:02:51]:

And about

Juliet Kennedy [00:02:52]:

how many

Scott Cowan [00:02:53]:

about how many kids are in this program?

Juliet Kennedy [00:02:55]:

It depends. Each year, some people take it as electives and some take it as, like, their main focus in their program, but his classes range from anywhere from 9 to 18 students depending.

Scott Cowan [00:03:04]:

That’s really cool. Because how big That’s amazing. Not that you you’re not even prepared for these round of questions, but but, like, how many kids are going to school in the entire school there? Do you know about?

Juliet Kennedy [00:03:13]:

I’m not sure, but I know around 50 or so. 50 to 60 graduate each year.

Scott Cowan [00:03:17]:

That’s a big percentage of the kids are taking the automotive and the welding. That’s kinda cool.

Juliet Kennedy [00:03:21]:

It’s very cool. Yeah. There’s a lot of cool, like, programs that they have for, you know, developing career based education.

Scott Cowan [00:03:27]:

Okay. So you cried when you went home. Yeah. And you guys moved over here in 2019

Juliet Kennedy [00:03:35]:

Yep.

Scott Cowan [00:03:36]:

Just in time for the pandemic. Right. So you got to know all your names. Make any friends. Right. Got to know all your friends and all your neighbors and all that. But, and you live in out of Twist though?

Juliet Kennedy [00:03:48]:

Yes. Yeah. I live in the north part of the valley up at the very end of the road in Mazama.

Scott Cowan [00:03:53]:

So what was that like when you decided to move over here and to buy a house or rent a house? That’s not like a suburban cul de sac neighborhood where you got a bunch of things to choose from. Everything’s a little unique and, you know, everything’s a little different. Yeah. Was it a fun process?

Juliet Kennedy [00:04:11]:

It was. Yeah. We looked all over from anywhere from down south in Patarais up to Mazama, and we kinda had this picture of what we wanted to get in our heads of acreage and, sprawling land and mountain views and all these things. And, we had to kind of adjust our mindset a little bit as we looked, but there’s a lot of really quirky, cool houses and a lot of really funky ones, a lot of really amazing, really cool architect houses, but I was not necessarily looking for the right house itself, but just the right place. Mhmm. And we found this, beautiful, charming cabin on the water. And so we’re right on the Methow River, and we have the National Forest in our backyard. And it is just an absolute dream come true.

Scott Cowan [00:04:49]:

That’s very cool. Yeah. Yeah. And it’s and in my professional experience, you know, finding stuff up here, it’s, some of the really cool stuff is, like, unless you have all cash, there no bank will loan on them. You know? They’re super cool, but, like, yeah, we’re not gonna loan you money on it. Just weird, eclectic weird stuff, which is so much cooler than the cookie cutter stuff in a suburban cultus act division. So you’ve been here now about 5 years. And what got you involved with the Twist Chamber of Commerce? Because anthropology in Spanish to Chamber of Commerce seems like there must be a path there.

Juliet Kennedy [00:05:23]:

Yeah. My career outside of my education has also been quite eclectic. I, my family is in health care, so I have a handful of nurses in my family, both my parents. And then, so I, in school, throughout college, did my certified nursing assistant program and then worked through college as a nursing assistant in nursing homes and doing dementia care. Then I transitioned to a chiropractic assistant and worked that for a couple years and then, went to school for massage therapy and then became a massage therapist.

Scott Cowan [00:05:51]:

So when

Juliet Kennedy [00:05:51]:

I moved to town or to the Valley, I started off as a massage therapist and then now still do that but work for myself in my own business. Okay. When the pandemic hit, I stopped doing that in public just cause it wasn’t super comfortable for me. And so I transitioned to doing at home work and then, I had, throughout the years after school, did marketing on my own and for businesses that I worked for for the chiropractic clinic and things like that. And so, yeah, I just had personal experience and I’m a photographer and videographer and do some graphic design and so using those skills I started my own business doing marketing, called Rural Valley Life. And then this position came up and I applied for it and their main focus at the time for the interview was to really focus on updating the visitor information center. And so I had some ideas for that and what that vision would look like. And so they chose me and I’ve run with it.

Scott Cowan [00:06:40]:

And how long have you been with the Chamber?

Juliet Kennedy [00:06:42]:

About a year and a half.

Scott Cowan [00:06:43]:

About a year and a half. Okay. And what’s the Chamber’s focus now? I mean, have you you’ve updated the visitor, information. So what’s the chamber? So a

Juliet Kennedy [00:06:52]:

work in progress.

Scott Cowan [00:06:53]:

Yes. Well, it always will be. Right? You know, but so what’s the what’s kind of in 2024 at the time that we’re sitting down here today, what’s in your opinion, what’s the chain what’s what is the TWS Chamber focusing on for the near future?

Juliet Kennedy [00:07:08]:

Yeah. Well, big picture, I would say we focus on, you know, economic development and supporting local businesses. So we have about 90 chamber members that are, members of our Chamber of Commerce. Mhmm.

Scott Cowan [00:07:20]:

And we

Juliet Kennedy [00:07:21]:

partner with Winthrop as well, in a lot of ways and try and collaborate with them. So, yeah, uplifting local businesses, promoting Twist as a whole and holistically just as a destination for people to come visit. So we wanna really promote the town as a destination for visitors, but also really wanna support the local economy and make sure that visitors and locals get supported through our work.

Scott Cowan [00:07:41]:

So I’m gonna put you on a spot. This is this is this is a question you if anybody that listens to us that we don’t really do a lot of planning, so, you know, but I you didn’t know this one was coming. On the spot. You ready?

Juliet Kennedy [00:07:51]:

Yep. I mean,

Scott Cowan [00:07:51]:

there might be a long pause here folks.

Juliet Kennedy [00:07:52]:

Bring it on.

Scott Cowan [00:07:53]:

In your opinion, what is the how do I wanna phrase this question, underrated thing for tourists to do in TWISP?

Juliet Kennedy [00:08:06]:

Oh, that’s a great question. I would say, like, a walking tour of town. I think people come through and they’re here for outdoor recreation. They’re here to hike and camp and fish. Our town is certified as a creative district through the Washington Arts Commission. And so just walking through town, there are so many things to see. And the main street of town isn’t Highway 20. It’s a block off of that as Glover Street.

Juliet Kennedy [00:08:30]:

And so, yeah, checking out all the businesses. There’s so many eclectic little spots to hit in town, and I think that sometimes those get overlooked. And so I think really taking the time to wander through town and explore every nook and cranny because the campus that we’re on right now even is a collective of artists and small businesses. And, yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:08:48]:

So let’s let’s let’s let me ask you about Twist Parks. Mhmm. This used my understanding of it used to be a ranger station?

Juliet Kennedy [00:08:56]:

Yeah. From the Forest Service. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:08:57]:

Forest Service. So now describe it to me because I have I have a what I think it is, but I don’t think I’m right.

Juliet Kennedy [00:09:06]:

Yeah. It’s a, the Twistworks campus is a collective of local businesses, artists and creatives, also professionals, and they have a a focus on economic development. So they have a lot of programs that support small businesses as well. So the Chamber of Commerce partners with Twistworks Works a lot of the time to support small businesses with different programs.

Scott Cowan [00:09:23]:

See, I think of my thought of this was that it was like an incubator.

Juliet Kennedy [00:09:27]:

Yes. Yeah. I would say you’re pretty

Scott Cowan [00:09:28]:

Okay.

Juliet Kennedy [00:09:29]:

Spot on.

Scott Cowan [00:09:29]:

And that, and there’s some established businesses here now that have been here for 4 or 5 years that I’ve been coming up here. But I I my thought about Twistworks was that it was an incubator, space, but it’s a little different than that. Yeah.

Juliet Kennedy [00:09:44]:

I mean, I think that was the original intention of it. And then as things progressed, businesses have stayed, and there’s been really a draw to recreate and use the campus as a play as a destination in Twist. So Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:09:57]:

Yeah. Because the food truck here, Fork Yeah. I I told you that based when we were on the phone. My my story of when I stopped in one time, I was like, I gotta keep coming back for the food. And every time I’ve come up here, it’s closed. Every time I’ve just the timing of it has never I I’m not trying to say it wasn’t open. Right. It was early or late.

Scott Cowan [00:10:14]:

It’s just that old. The wrong day. Yeah. I was always closing. Today, the sign is I can see it from where I’m sitting. It says open. Yeah. Gotta go get it.

Scott Cowan [00:10:21]:

I’m gonna probably go check it out. Over there

Juliet Kennedy [00:10:23]:

and he’s fabulous.

Scott Cowan [00:10:24]:

So here’s the deal. So I normally, I ask these 2 questions later on. So we’re gonna ask them early today. Okay? Here’s 2. The third one that you’re worrying about, you still have to worry about. Alright. So I love coffee, and so every guest gets asked the same question. Where’s a good place a great place for me to go get coffee in Twist?

Juliet Kennedy [00:10:39]:

Yeah. Blue Star Coffee Roasters, right off the bat, they have coffee throughout the state. So they’re your distributors for coffee. They also have a great location in Twist, and that has to be paired with the Cinnamon Twist in town. And so you gotta grab a pastry or lunch or something from

Scott Cowan [00:10:54]:

Cinnamon Twist.

Juliet Kennedy [00:10:54]:

Cinnamon Twist. They have a iconic pastry there called the Cinnamon Twist. And it is a cinnamon twist pastry, and it’s delicious and, yeah, ridiculous. And when

Scott Cowan [00:11:03]:

you go to Blue Star, what do you get?

Juliet Kennedy [00:11:05]:

I it depends. Sometimes a Brevait, sometimes a white chocolate mocha if I wanna get a little something sweet. Iced coffees usually, and a peanut butter cookie. There’s peanut butter miso cookie there that’s to die for.

Scott Cowan [00:11:17]:

I have never had their iced coffees there.

Juliet Kennedy [00:11:19]:

Oh, delicious. I had

Scott Cowan [00:11:19]:

a Breve today. I had a Breve today before we sat down.

Juliet Kennedy [00:11:22]:

Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:11:24]:

Because that is kinda for me the highlight of coming coming to Twisp is the is is Blue Star. Alright. Lunchtime. Besides fork. Fork’s off the table now.

Juliet Kennedy [00:11:32]:

Alright.

Scott Cowan [00:11:32]:

Alright. No utensils on the table. Where’s a great place for lunch in Twisp?

Juliet Kennedy [00:11:36]:

Yeah. It depends on what you’re looking for.

Scott Cowan [00:11:38]:

Uh-huh.

Juliet Kennedy [00:11:39]:

And so if you’re looking to sit down, you can go to El Valle on right downtown in Glover. There’s also La Fonda Lopez.

Scott Cowan [00:11:45]:

Mhmm.

Juliet Kennedy [00:11:46]:

Twist River Taphouse is open on the weekends for lunch, which is a great spot. There’s riverside dining. It’s great. And then if you’re looking for a quick bite to eat, the lunch area Yucatan food truck, just downtown is or just outside of town in the industrial district is fabulous. A taco truck with, authentic flavors from the Yucatan Peninsula.

Scott Cowan [00:12:04]:

That seems out of place here.

Juliet Kennedy [00:12:05]:

It’s fabulous.

Scott Cowan [00:12:06]:

It does it just seems a little a little I mean, in a good way. Yeah. Okay. What’s what’s your go to lunch? What do you like? What what what and put me on the spot because, you know, you can say, but, like, today, for lunch today, what would what what’s kind of, like

Juliet Kennedy [00:12:21]:

Is fork still off the table?

Scott Cowan [00:12:23]:

No. For you fork if for today

Juliet Kennedy [00:12:25]:

Yeah. If I’m gonna grab lunch today, I’m gonna go to the fork and go to Lal and get my Sri Lankan food.

Scott Cowan [00:12:30]:

And what what dish are you getting?

Juliet Kennedy [00:12:33]:

Really, typically, I ask Lal what he wants to make me that day because he just knows. And so a curry of any sort, he has a different variety each time. So there’s, a mix of vegetable and fruit curries, and then he also makes, like, a delicious roti bread, and he has a really spicy awesome kind of salsa sauce that he puts on it. And, yeah. He’s also doing a lot of cool things right now, other things like burgers and cold brew coffee and all sorts of stuff.

Scott Cowan [00:12:57]:

What is a Sri Lankan burger?

Juliet Kennedy [00:12:59]:

I don’t know. You’re gonna have to come

Scott Cowan [00:13:00]:

sit down. I mean, come on. Now you gotta, like, that’s a okay. Alright. So when we were talking before, you we were talking about, in your opinion, and I think the opinion of the chamber, is there’s 4 signature events in TWISP. Yeah. Alright. Since it’s tail end of summer, pre fall, what’s happening in fall around here that people need to know?

Juliet Kennedy [00:13:24]:

Yeah. Very exciting. Coming up is Twist Fest, which is a seasonal event that is celebrating our community and harvest season, and it’s a 2 day event. So the 1st day is a community potluck, which is bringing back a tradition that used to happen, and it’s a beloved community tradition where we come to Twistbrook’s campus and we partner with the Methow Valley Interpretive Center. And this year, the Yakama Nation has donated salmon and the local barbecue joint, 19 08 Barbecue and Bourbon, is gonna be preparing the salmon.

Scott Cowan [00:13:55]:

K.

Juliet Kennedy [00:13:55]:

And our community is just encouraged to bring a dish, bring themselves in a good mood, and just come and enjoy, the community spirit and really celebrate what we’re all about here in Twist.

Scott Cowan [00:14:04]:

And what day is that gonna be?

Juliet Kennedy [00:14:05]:

That is on Friday, September 27th.

Scott Cowan [00:14:08]:

27th. Okay. Mhmm.

Juliet Kennedy [00:14:09]:

And then

Scott Cowan [00:14:10]:

And that’s is that more kind of like a that’s more of a, residence kind of focused

Juliet Kennedy [00:14:16]:

inward inward focused But also any newcomers or visitors are welcome as well. Yeah. Really anybody is welcome. But, it really is geared towards celebrating our community. So any visitors that also wanna participate in a celebration of who we are as a as a community would be.

Scott Cowan [00:14:29]:

Alright. And then the next day on Saturday?

Juliet Kennedy [00:14:31]:

Yeah. Well, right after, the, potluck is a 4th Friday event on Twistworks campus here, which has a band. So they’re, they have a pavilion outside for outdoor music, and so they’re doing that on that Friday night as well right after the potluck. K. And then on Saturday, 28th September, we are doing a full day event, a big festival, and it’s, Art Walk Centric. So there’ll be regional artists and creators and makers. All of our local restaurants and shops are gonna have specials and be open downtown. There’s a stage downtown that’s doing bands and performances from local and regional artists and singers and bands.

Juliet Kennedy [00:15:07]:

And then, the High Country Kickers are doing a line dance performance downtown, which is awesome. K. And fun seasonal games, so pumpkin bowling and tic tac toe and cornhole and all that kind of stuff, kids face painting. The farmer’s market is happening right before that, and so you’re encouraged to go to the farmer’s market and then pop over to downtown for all of the festivities. And, yeah, it’s just gonna be an awesome celebration. Alright.

Scott Cowan [00:15:29]:

You got 2 things coming out of that that I wanna talk about. You mentioned 4th Friday. Is that something that happens every 4th Friday, multiple times to the year?

Juliet Kennedy [00:15:36]:

Yeah. It’s, I wanna say it’s spring to fall.

Scott Cowan [00:15:39]:

Spring to fall?

Juliet Kennedy [00:15:39]:

Yeah. I don’t believe it happens throughout the winter, but they do all sorts of events year round. But, yeah, 4th Friday’s happening.

Scott Cowan [00:15:44]:

The farmers market Mhmm. What’s its season here?

Juliet Kennedy [00:15:47]:

It is April to October, and it’s every Saturday. We’re one of the oldest farmers markets in the state, one of the original ones, and it is just a fabulous market. It’s like a collective of farmers and crafters and creators, and they just it’s a celebration every weekend. And there’s incredible donuts that you’ve never had before. They’re just

Scott Cowan [00:16:05]:

The guys that

Juliet Kennedy [00:16:05]:

so good. Yeah. Orchard House Donuts. They’re

Scott Cowan [00:16:07]:

They had them at A dream. They were selling them out in front of, Blue Star one day

Juliet Kennedy [00:16:13]:

Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:16:14]:

And they only took cash. Yeah. And I never carried cash, so I went and found cash. And yeah. No. I was Right.

Juliet Kennedy [00:16:19]:

So. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:16:20]:

I’m like, oh my oh my god. You’re incredible.

Juliet Kennedy [00:16:22]:

So And they have a different special each week. So, like, you’re not gonna get the same donuts every week. They have, you know, their core signature donuts, but then they have a special savory and a sweet every week, and

Scott Cowan [00:16:31]:

it’s just I had to do some talking to them. I was like, why here? It’s always interesting when when when people are living off the beaten path, if you will, you know, not not like in, say, Seattle. You know, they’re living they’re they’re consciously choosing to move somewhere for a quality of life like you do. Right? And so these guys, they’re making donuts in in the Meadow Valley. It’s like,

Juliet Kennedy [00:16:54]:

Yeah. Sourcing locally.

Scott Cowan [00:16:55]:

This is super cool, but Yeah. What did

Juliet Kennedy [00:16:58]:

you And they just set up, they’re re they’re opening a shop on Twistworks Campus. They’re taking over the commercial kitchen.

Scott Cowan [00:17:03]:

They are. Yeah.

Juliet Kennedy [00:17:04]:

It’s exciting.

Scott Cowan [00:17:05]:

I don’t know if that’s good or bad. I don’t know. Because, like, I’ll know where they are all the time, so that can be bad.

Juliet Kennedy [00:17:09]:

Right. I think it’s a beautiful thing.

Scott Cowan [00:17:11]:

I know, actually. It is.

Juliet Kennedy [00:17:11]:

I needed, like, constant access.

Scott Cowan [00:17:13]:

Yeah. Do they deliver? Like, can you get Right.

Juliet Kennedy [00:17:16]:

Just to

Scott Cowan [00:17:16]:

to Zuber Eats Free, Motea. Okay. So 4th Friday is kind of spring, summer, maybe early fall. I mean, you know when you want to walk around snow and ice. I mean, it’s Right. Okay. And then the farmers market’s April, October, perfect, you know, growing season type thing. Alright.

Scott Cowan [00:17:34]:

And you’re doing this community potluck, and that’s the fall. Mhmm. Alright. In your opinion, fall fall activities here. Yeah. What should people like, what’s happening in this in this area? And I’ll let you stretch it out. It doesn’t have to be just twist, but it can be, you know, if you wanna talk about Winthrop. Sorry, kidding.

Scott Cowan [00:17:53]:

If you wanna talk about Winthrop or or or Mazama or Pateros or what wherever, what’s going on up here that people are enjoying?

Juliet Kennedy [00:18:02]:

Yeah. A lot, I would say. I mean, just regard like outside of our events, which are gonna be fabulous and you should come to them, our just our outdoor recreation. We have tons of larches. I think we’re kind of a little hidden gem still of larch territory. So up at the North Cascades and and high elevation, there’s some, But, also, if you’re going over Highway 20 on the Loop Loop Pass, it’s a corridor just lined with larches. There’s lots of hikes. It’s gorgeous out there.

Juliet Kennedy [00:18:27]:

Even just the valley floor along the river, all the cottonwoods turn to vibrant, gorgeous, mustard yellow color, and that is stunning in the fall. So, yeah. Fall colors and, like, foliage is just a main draw for me in particular. Okay. And yeah. I mean, Winthrop has a ton of awesome events in the fall too. They’re doing a Cider Grass Festival, with Bluegrass and local cider makers, and then, their car show, which is the Vintage Wheel Show, which is awesome, has vintage motorcycles, vintage cars, and all sorts of things. So Mhmm.

Juliet Kennedy [00:18:57]:

There’s lots to do in the valley around that time of year.

Scott Cowan [00:19:00]:

Fall. Okay.

Juliet Kennedy [00:19:01]:

Yeah. Yeah. Mostly, I would say that the recreating is perfect because it’s not too hot. Sometimes summer heat’s a little intense. But, yeah, perfect hiking, high elevation stuff. There’s still gonna be wildflowers and bloom way up high. Certain berries and things for foraging are also available in the valley at that time.

Scott Cowan [00:19:16]:

And Like what?

Juliet Kennedy [00:19:17]:

Like right now, we’re not quite to fall yet, but, you know, chokecherry’s going on right now, and then up at the high elevations, huckleberries and all that kind of stuff is usually August, September, so.

Scott Cowan [00:19:25]:

Okay. Awesome. Now as north central Washington changes to winter, it’s cold. Mhmm. It’s icy. We get snow on the ground. What amazes me is moving I lived in Tacoma and Seattle all my adult life until about 7 years ago. We moved to Wenatchee, and so, well, you grew up in Snohomish.

Scott Cowan [00:19:45]:

You kinda know Western Washington. If it snows, the whole the whole the whole region just goes shuts down. Oh my god. We can’t drive. And in Wenatchee, like, the roads are plowed by 6 AM. I mean, it’s it’s it’s amazing to me. And up here, you know, a little more isolated, The roads are still pretty well maintained, frankly. I mean okay.

Juliet Kennedy [00:20:01]:

I mean, plowed all the way up to the museum and all the way to my house.

Scott Cowan [00:20:04]:

Exactly. Is it really all the way okay. So you get those beautiful blue skies. Cross country skiing. Right? Yep. K. Not my thing, but

Juliet Kennedy [00:20:13]:

Epic network. Yeah. Yeah. The longest in the North America, I believe.

Scott Cowan [00:20:18]:

Really? Yeah. Let’s let’s

Juliet Kennedy [00:20:20]:

Matt Howe Trails.

Scott Cowan [00:20:21]:

Let’s talk about that a little bit. I didn’t know

Juliet Kennedy [00:20:22]:

about 120 miles of groomed cross country trails in the valley here.

Scott Cowan [00:20:26]:

Really?

Juliet Kennedy [00:20:27]:

Yeah. And, mainly a little bit north of Twist. Right. But we still have the Loop Loop, ski bowl. So we have downhill skiing and snowboarding here in Twist

Scott Cowan [00:20:35]:

just down south of the coast.

Juliet Kennedy [00:20:36]:

I do. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:20:37]:

Okay. So so what do you think of Loop Loop? I just besides the loop I love it. Linnea

Juliet Kennedy [00:20:41]:

is fun. Loop Loop. Awesome. Yeah. It is fun. It is an awesome little lift. So there’s one lift, but there’s probably about I mean, you can choose your own adventure, 15 ways to go down the mountain.

Scott Cowan [00:20:50]:

So Really?

Juliet Kennedy [00:20:50]:

Yeah. I mean, just yeah. Navigating through each little path and trail, there’s it you don’t have to do the same run over and over again. It’s just an awesome

Scott Cowan [00:20:57]:

thing. They also Did you snowboard up in Mount Baker area?

Juliet Kennedy [00:21:00]:

No. You know, it’s a crime, and I did not. But I grew up, snowboarding and skiing on Stevens Pass.

Scott Cowan [00:21:05]:

On Stevens. Okay. So how does Loop Loop compare to Stevens, from from a difficulty standpoint?

Juliet Kennedy [00:21:10]:

Yeah. I mean, they have all sorts of ratings on them. You know, like, there’s Black Diamond and then intermediate and green, not, like, necessarily bunny runs, but they also do, they have a smaller hill for, like, learners and entry level people. And then they also have, like, a tubing hill if you’re not into just, like, going full down the hill face first skiing or snowboarding. And then they do they have a luge as well, so you can hop on a sled and do luge down the mountain, which is awesome. And then, yeah, some sleigh rides and things like that. So they have a couple different activities for different levels. You can do intense stuff, and you can do all the way down to just

Scott Cowan [00:21:43]:

That’s very cool. Okay. They have

Juliet Kennedy [00:21:45]:

a great little lodge there too.

Scott Cowan [00:21:46]:

So so wintertime. Awesome there. So what what does the chamber do during winter? Do you guys have any, winter events that you put on?

Juliet Kennedy [00:21:54]:

Yeah. We have an epic one called mistletoe madness, which is, a very fun event. And, again, local businesses just put on specials. It’s a great time to go Christmas shopping. This year, we’re doing it in the same realm of time as the Christmas at the End of the Road, which is in Winthrop. So there’s it’s which is right after Thanksgiving. So Thanksgiving is on that Thursday. Friday is gonna be mistletoe madness, and then Saturday will be Christmas at the end of the road.

Juliet Kennedy [00:22:19]:

They do we aren’t able to do fireworks here for 4th July because of fire risk, and so that is our time in the winter to do this epic, like, 20 minute fireworks show, in Winthrop. It’s an insane fireworks show. It’s so awesome. And, mistletoe madness has all sorts of things. So, you know, last year we did fire dancers, and we have sleigh rides through town that kinda lead you all the way from Twistworks campus and leads you all the way over to the Twist River Taphouse and over by the bank and then back down to Hank’s. And so you get, like, kind of a little tour of town and get to shop all around. And, yeah, there’s carolers and performers all around, and it’s just an awesome Okay. Holiday celebration.

Scott Cowan [00:22:56]:

I never thought about and I should have after especially after this 4th July. So I actually think it’s really good that you guys don’t do fireworks on the 4th July

Juliet Kennedy [00:23:06]:

Mhmm.

Scott Cowan [00:23:06]:

Because in Wenatchee, we had, unfortunately, some kids set off some stuff. We were supposed to get evacuated from our house. It was, you know, it was in town.

Juliet Kennedy [00:23:16]:

Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:23:16]:

And I what I had heard was there was 20 fires that they were putting out. It it’s just so dry in in North Central Washington. It’s just it’s so to do it during the winter is really kinda cool.

Juliet Kennedy [00:23:27]:

Genius. Yeah. Yeah. I

Scott Cowan [00:23:28]:

know it is. It is genius. And you’re probably not competing with all the other fireworks vendors who are busy on that one particular day. You go, hey. We have something for you in November.

Juliet Kennedy [00:23:35]:

Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:23:36]:

Oh, gosh. I’m available. Totally. Okay. Cool. Alright. What do you like about winter here?

Juliet Kennedy [00:23:43]:

I love it just from growing up on the west side, having, like, 4 distinct seasons over here as opposed to kind of, like, a blend of a handful on the west side.

Scott Cowan [00:23:51]:

To the gray?

Juliet Kennedy [00:23:51]:

Yeah. I love it. I mean, yeah, having the transition from, you know, a gorgeous, beautiful blue sky summer to a really crisp colorful fall to a blue sky winter where you can really get out and enjoy it. Mhmm. It doesn’t feel drab at all. It’s, you know, crisp, beautiful, bright blue sunny days and lots of great skiing, recreating, snowshoeing, fat biking, ice fishing. I love to do that with my husband. You can throw a fire pit right out on in the middle of the lake and sit there and drill a hole and fish for trout in the lake.

Juliet Kennedy [00:24:19]:

It’s great. And, yeah, just I I find myself getting out a lot more in the winter than I used to and and getting less of the the blues in the winter than yeah. Really making the most of the seasons each time they come.

Scott Cowan [00:24:32]:

Alright. Same question I asked you earlier, but we’re gonna ask it seasonally. So what’s a wintertime activity you think is overlooked by people?

Juliet Kennedy [00:24:40]:

I would say ice fishing. I mean, there’s, like, so many great lakes here, and it’s just to be out on the middle of the lake sometimes, you know, you have the, like, ice creaking and cracking, which is a little thrilling, but you are on a foot of ice, so, like, a car could technically drive over it. And and so you’re you’re not gonna fall through. But, I mean, making sure the conditions are right. But ice fishing is just a really cool way to fish. I fished in every season. And until moving here, I wasn’t able to do it in the winter, really. And so that’s a great addition to our our outdoor recreation.

Juliet Kennedy [00:25:08]:

So I love that. And, I mean, ice skating, there’s the outdoor ice rink down here in Winthrop, and that’s fabulous. And, yeah, I really like the the loop loop is really just the place to be though. You gotta get up there, and and it’s a great little run. And they do a partnership with Mission Ridge as well in in Wenatchee. So there’s, like, a some reciprocity between passes. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:25:26]:

Okay. Yeah. I’ve never I mean, I’ve been up there. I’ve driven up there. I’ve never been there during the season. If you will, to take a look out and I’m like, I’ve been up to mission and it looks around. I don’t ski or snowboard.

Juliet Kennedy [00:25:40]:

Yeah. The wildlife too. I mean, the watching the snow hairs turn white is a pretty fun thing.

Scott Cowan [00:25:44]:

So let’s talk about animals here. What sort of what do you guys do you do any bird watching or anything like that?

Juliet Kennedy [00:25:50]:

I mean, I look at birds whenever I see them, but I get Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:25:53]:

But are there any because it’s it’s remote. Yeah. So you’re getting bears and cougars?

Juliet Kennedy [00:25:59]:

Yeah. I mean, up in Missama, specifically, I have a game cam out there, just behind the river at my house, and we’ve got, you know, everything from, yeah, cougars, bears, moose, coyotes, all sorts of things. Bobcats.

Scott Cowan [00:26:14]:

And do you have domestic animals of your own? Do you have cats?

Juliet Kennedy [00:26:17]:

Yeah. I have a a cat that lives indoor, outdoor, one cat that’s inside, and a and a 1 year old puppy.

Scott Cowan [00:26:22]:

And type of puppy?

Juliet Kennedy [00:26:23]:

He is a Shar Pei pit mix.

Scott Cowan [00:26:26]:

Interesting. So I wouldn’t want them out there with with cougars or or coyotes

Juliet Kennedy [00:26:31]:

or get to wander off leash for sure.

Scott Cowan [00:26:33]:

Yeah. Yeah.

Juliet Kennedy [00:26:33]:

And our other cat is a feral boy and he is pretty

Scott Cowan [00:26:36]:

He’s fancy. He can take care of

Juliet Kennedy [00:26:38]:

all the animals now. He’s pretty set. Okay. But our other indoor domesticated cat can’t go out because he has no skills. No skills. Yeah. Okay. Domesticated cat can’t go out because he has no skills.

Scott Cowan [00:26:43]:

No skills. Yeah. Okay. Alright. So now you said something that that I agree with, about west side versus the east side is that we have 4 distinct seasons. The other thing, though, about the east side of the state that I’m always ready for the next season. Like, summertime, like, I’m like, I am ready for it to cool off. Wintertime, I’m ready for it to warm up.

Scott Cowan [00:27:04]:

I I yeah. So at the end of winter now, as we’re transitioning into spring, what’s going on up here?

Juliet Kennedy [00:27:10]:

Yeah. I mean, the snow melt, we sometimes call it muddy March because we have a lot of water and it’s soaking into the ground. So, yeah. I mean, the wildflower bloom here is absolutely insane. I don’t know that many people know how epic it can be but, like, our hills just turn this vibrant bright yellow. Mhmm. There’s balsam root blooming everywhere. There’s fragrant lupine blooming in between all of that and it is, magic time.

Juliet Kennedy [00:27:36]:

It’s really like The Sound of Music. It’s just, like, it’s so enchanting. I can’t even begin to describe it. And the variety, it’s not just those 2. There’s, you know, scarlet gilea. There’s just a 1,000,000 different colors of flowers throughout the valley, and it is just so enchanting and so beautiful. And, that is, like, my thing that I look forward to most is the snow is melting, like, wildflower season just, like, is a dream. And then we also do a spring art walk.

Juliet Kennedy [00:28:00]:

So, we’re very art and creative centric here with the creative district. It doesn’t just include art. It’s restaurants and all sorts of creators and makers. And so the art walk really, similar to the Twisp Fest here, just bringing community together and making sure that we celebrate, small businesses and and boost the local economy.

Scott Cowan [00:28:17]:

And when does that happen?

Juliet Kennedy [00:28:18]:

That is, to be determined.

Scott Cowan [00:28:20]:

But typically, is that a late March, April thing?

Juliet Kennedy [00:28:23]:

Usually April to May.

Scott Cowan [00:28:24]:

So Late past the muddy season.

Juliet Kennedy [00:28:25]:

Yeah. Late April. And yeah. The flowers are blooming. The dry the ground is dry. Okay. Okay. Yeah.

Juliet Kennedy [00:28:31]:

The sun is shining. It’s beautiful out. Yeah. Definitely a perfect time to come visit. But, yeah, usually late April early May.

Scott Cowan [00:28:37]:

So then we go back to hiking and and biking. Anything

Juliet Kennedy [00:28:41]:

else lower elevations

Scott Cowan [00:28:42]:

typically, that’s the same as the snow melts.

Juliet Kennedy [00:28:45]:

Yeah. I mean, foraging again, similar. So depending on what’s coming up, but, you know, there’s all sorts of edible herbs and plants and things like that, which I love to do, wildlife watching. So, you know, bears are waking up after winter and that’s a beautiful thing. And the deer are migrating and there’s birds and things coming back after the winter. And so, yeah, it’s just I mean, there’s so much wildlife here to see. It’s incredible. And, the turtles are waking up and so you can go to the Twist Ponds and see the turtles.

Scott Cowan [00:29:13]:

Turtles? I wouldn’t

Juliet Kennedy [00:29:14]:

Oh, yeah. Really? Yeah. It’s great. And I had to look it up because I was so curious what turtles do in the winter and they just, like, bury themselves in the mud all winter And then pop back up, get some

Scott Cowan [00:29:24]:

sun. Mhmm. Interesting. I did not know that.

Juliet Kennedy [00:29:26]:

Yeah. Head into the twist ponds or the beaver ponds, and there’s turtles.

Scott Cowan [00:29:29]:

Really? I mean, I keep saying really, but, like, you’re lying to me, and I know you’re not. But he’s like, oh, he’s more like, oh, oh, that’s okay.

Juliet Kennedy [00:29:35]:

Check it out.

Scott Cowan [00:29:35]:

Yeah. No. Okay. So spring, what’s an overlooked, you know, once again, what should people, you know, what what do you think people overlook during spring?

Juliet Kennedy [00:29:44]:

I mean, I do think for some reason, wildflower season just doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. It’s, like, mind blowingly epic. I just really, like I had no idea growing up that it was so incredible over here during that time. So to me, wildflower is peak of that. You know, I like to hunt with my husband, and so turkey hunting is available in the spring, which is fun. And so getting out and talking to turkeys in the wild is great. Also getting a chance to see a ton of wildlife that way. And just getting out I mean, seeing the ground again for the first time after 6 months is pretty incredible.

Scott Cowan [00:30:15]:

See, that’s that whole that’s that whole I’m ready to see the dirt after, you know, the whole

Juliet Kennedy [00:30:19]:

Yeah. It’s a beautiful thing. So, I mean, yeah, just watching the the season change itself. So watching the snow recede and creep up the mountains and and the elevation rise for the snow and and the rivers change. I mean, getting the we the surge of the rivers is pretty incredible to see. And and I know there’s, I mean, the how rafting and and tubing and things like that start to become a thing as you get the

Scott Cowan [00:30:39]:

So where where are people rafting on the Methow? What where’s the because that’s Yeah. South from here primarily. Is there

Juliet Kennedy [00:30:47]:

I mean, Black Canyon, is a place that the Methow Rafting company goes often, and they do a a route down there. There’s also they just opened up tubing with them, with that company, and then also Abbey Creek, in Winthrop does tubing, a tubing shuttle from their place with the company, Winthrop Tubing. Okay. And so that depends just on water levels and, like, the ability of people and what the comfort level is with the, like, rate of the water coming through. So make sure it’s safe for everybody. But usually, that’s what they consider, like, gentle rapids. So you can be on a tube and still enjoy yourself and not feel stressed out about anything, and there’s nothing in the way. It’s just a fun lazy river kinda

Scott Cowan [00:31:21]:

Right.

Juliet Kennedy [00:31:22]:

Meander. But, yeah. There’s, a couple different places that the rafting company does throughout the seasons depending on water levels.

Scott Cowan [00:31:29]:

Alright. As we complete our annual journey here with the chamber so now it’s gonna be summertime. Mhmm. So we’ve transitioned away from the wildflowers and the bloom and all that. It’s now hot. There’s no other way of putting it. It’s hot. It’s brown.

Scott Cowan [00:31:43]:

It’s dry. Yeah. What do you guys do during the summer?

Juliet Kennedy [00:31:47]:

Yeah. River time for 1. Any any swimming hole, and lake time. So Lake Patterson, Davis Lake, all the there’s an awesome just conglomerate of lakes around. And then going up to high elevation to escape the heat is also a great idea. So going out into, you know, where the eastern entrance to the North Cascades National Park.

Scott Cowan [00:32:06]:

Right.

Juliet Kennedy [00:32:06]:

Going up to any of those alpine lakes out there and and recreating. And just getting even up outside of swimming in the water, just getting up at high elevation. So doing any of the fire lookouts, we have Lookout Mountain here that has a retired fire lookout, which is fabulous. And then, up at Goat Peak, there’s, Christina Estrada is up there right now looking over the valley and keeping a watchful eye over us right now with her dog Hudson.

Scott Cowan [00:32:27]:

Mhmm.

Juliet Kennedy [00:32:28]:

And then Leacher Mountain has a lookout, and Lightningville Austin is up there now and and does the the staffing of that for the summer. And so we’ve got a couple different fire lookouts, and you can usually escape the heat up there just because there’s a little more breeze and

Scott Cowan [00:32:41]:

So you’re way too young to know who Jack Kerouac

Juliet Kennedy [00:32:44]:

Oh, I know. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:32:45]:

Yeah. But but, you know, way too young. He he did a summer somewhere up here.

Juliet Kennedy [00:32:49]:

Yeah. Desolation. Desolation. Yep. And that’s, off of Ross Lake.

Scott Cowan [00:32:52]:

Off of Ross. Okay. So we’re gonna we’re gonna I’m gonna transition this to the North Cascades in a second. So okay. That was wrong. Alright. So we’ve kinda covered the the chambers for seasonal things that they do, and they’re good about promoting.

Juliet Kennedy [00:33:02]:

And our 4th July parade.

Scott Cowan [00:33:04]:

Okay. What’s the 4th July parade?

Juliet Kennedy [00:33:05]:

It’s awesome. Just a local community.

Scott Cowan [00:33:07]:

Yep. No fireworks.

Juliet Kennedy [00:33:08]:

No fireworks. Just fun. And, yeah, I mean, a bunch of people, local businesses and, community members. There’s bike children on bikes. There’s walking pedestrians. There’s fire trucks from the forest service. There’s Smokey the Bear. There’s, you know, people create their own rafts and floats and things to come through town, which are very always fun and eclectic.

Juliet Kennedy [00:33:27]:

They’re cool. Yeah. Dancers and the our football team has won state a couple years in a row. And so we have them come through and they do a little, like, pass, run, play, and throw the ball to the crowd. And and the mayor comes through on the float and they’re passing out candy. And it’s just an awesome, like, super fun celebration.

Scott Cowan [00:33:43]:

Kinda the old time America stuff before before we, you know, overly, you know

Juliet Kennedy [00:33:49]:

Small time.

Scott Cowan [00:33:49]:

Had Ryan Seacrest here. Traditional. Yeah. Yeah.

Juliet Kennedy [00:33:51]:

And then that transitions right into Met How Arts Fest, which is an awesome arts festival, and and that, happens here on Twistburn’s campus.

Scott Cowan [00:34:00]:

So Forest Service has been big here for a long, long time. Yeah. What, if anything, do you know about the smokejumpers?

Juliet Kennedy [00:34:09]:

I mean, one, that they’re incredibly brave and that we appreciate them because they put out a bunch of fires that happen around here. I mean, in my yard specifically last year, or the year before, you know, years blend together, but there was a lightning strike behind my house and, a smoke pillar of smoke was coming up and I watched the helicopter go down and scoop from the river all day long putting the fire out and then watched him release a couple fire smoke jumpers out of the parachutes and they hopped out of the airplane and or this the helicopter. Yep. And then dove right straight down onto the fire and put a hand line in and put out the fire and So so saved it.

Scott Cowan [00:34:42]:

We have this training center.

Juliet Kennedy [00:34:43]:

Yeah. There’s a, yeah, the smoke jumper base in the North Cascades. It’s the North Cascades smoke jumper base in based in Twisp.

Scott Cowan [00:34:49]:

Yeah. And, you know, I’m not an adventurous person. So the idea of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane doesn’t or helicopter Yeah. Doesn’t sound like a good idea to me. Yeah.

Juliet Kennedy [00:35:00]:

It’s insane in a great way.

Scott Cowan [00:35:03]:

Yeah. Would would have you ever have you ever jumped out of anything like that?

Juliet Kennedy [00:35:07]:

I have not. No. And I don’t really care to. But I do yeah. I mean, I admire the Admire. Yeah. And, like, I mean, yeah. It’s just an incredible thing that they do and so brave.

Juliet Kennedy [00:35:16]:

It’s just it it blows my mind that Right. Not only are they jumping out of an airplane, but they’re jumping into an incredibly dangerous area to fight fire to keep everybody safe. It’s really yeah. Do you Wildland remote firefighting.

Scott Cowan [00:35:27]:

Do you know how long that smoke jumper has been in approximately maybe down to within a week?

Juliet Kennedy [00:35:37]:

Yeah. The day of. No. We claim that we are the first, of the smokejumpers that we kind of it originated in TWISP. That is a 70 year long, argument that we have with, Missoula, Montana, I believe. Okay. And I mean, it did originate here and there as well. It was right around the same time, we had there were tests that were being done and then active fires happened and, smoke jumpers from TWSP went and jumped on.

Juliet Kennedy [00:35:59]:

Active fires happened and, smoke jumpers from Twist went and jumped out of airplanes and fought those fires. And I don’t know exactly the year, but I Have you been saying for 70 years? Yeah. 70 years that

Scott Cowan [00:36:12]:

So in the 19 19 fifties.

Juliet Kennedy [00:36:14]:

I I I think even before that. Yeah. 1939, I wanna say, but

Scott Cowan [00:36:17]:

I please

Juliet Kennedy [00:36:17]:

do not fact

Scott Cowan [00:36:18]:

check that. We’re gonna yeah. No. We’re it’s okay. Wow.

Juliet Kennedy [00:36:22]:

Yeah. It’s, yeah. It’s it’s a point of pride for us. And we have all sorts of cool history about that. You know, Sandy Moody is on our board and her husband was a smoke jumper and has a lot of history there, and he’s a super interesting person to talk to. And, yeah, it’s just it’s a it’s a cool fact about it.

Scott Cowan [00:36:37]:

Such a quirky, and I say that affectionately, community.

Juliet Kennedy [00:36:42]:

Yeah. Our catchphrase is fun, funky.

Scott Cowan [00:36:46]:

Yeah. I was up up on Portman Creek. Yeah. And there was this guy, and he was because you you Portman Creek’s a pretty quiet area, you know, not not real busy. And there was this guy out and he was had a, he had a camera on a tripod and he was filming the river. Mhmm. And I stopped, and I said, hey. What do you what do you, you know, what are you doing? He goes, oh, I do this, like I can’t remember exactly what he said, but, like, weekly for sure.

Scott Cowan [00:37:16]:

I wanna say every day. He films the rivers around here to document their flow.

Juliet Kennedy [00:37:21]:

Yeah. And

Scott Cowan [00:37:22]:

it’s an art project.

Juliet Kennedy [00:37:24]:

Yeah. It’s awesome.

Scott Cowan [00:37:25]:

And I’m like, Okay, cool. I mean, no, I mean, alright. And just the general quirky, like the artwork that’s over in the, off near the interpretive center that that whatever that ball that steel ball is called. Yeah. I am always fascinated by that thing. Every time I come to town, I take pictures of it.

Juliet Kennedy [00:37:43]:

It’s super cool. Yeah. And the big metal wasp outside of the community center, Barry Stromberger created that out of cars that were in the riverbank and that were, yeah, restored.

Scott Cowan [00:37:52]:

So why do you think this is your opinion. You know, small towns tend to go, you know, they go real ag heavy, some go real arts heavy, some go just, you know, why do you think Twist and Winthrop also, why do you think that they went so art? I mean, to me, they’re arts focused.

Juliet Kennedy [00:38:16]:

Yeah. You know, I don’t know the answer to that in a direct way but I know that just being a part of the community, there are so many talented people and we have this, like, incredible landscape to be inspired by all the time and I think that creativity feeds off of creativity, so people being inspired by other people’s work, and local arts places. So Met How Arts and Confluence Art Gallery and Twistworks. And they all promote art in a lot of ways. And we have the highest density of nonprofit organizations here that support art and things like that. And so I think, yeah, creatives inspiring other creatives.

Scott Cowan [00:38:52]:

Why? Why? I mean, it’s I think it’s a beautiful thing. I mean, it’s cool. Yeah. I I don’t know

Juliet Kennedy [00:38:56]:

exactly the the origin or the answer, but I think maybe we’re just different. We’re built different here.

Scott Cowan [00:39:00]:

We’re Well,

Juliet Kennedy [00:39:01]:

I think we’re creative and talented.

Scott Cowan [00:39:03]:

If you go back a couple of decades, at least, it’s no longer affordable up here. It used to be super cheap. This used to be cheap living. So if you were a struggling artist, you could afford to buy something or live up here versus see Seattle. Housing prices in Twisp and Winthrop are insane. You know? They’re it’s, you know, it’s not cheap here. But I wonder if that was it. Was that the you know, all my friends that are artists, sorry, guys, they’re not well off financially, which is the choice that they’ve could gladly make.

Scott Cowan [00:39:40]:

But you still need to have a roof over your head. You still need you still need a place to live, and you still wanna be part of a community where you’re welcomed.

Juliet Kennedy [00:39:46]:

Yeah. I think the pass opening up, I think highway 20 opening up opened the corridor for people coming over here, having an affordable place to live and having, yeah, being inspired by

Scott Cowan [00:39:54]:

turning each other. Because that was a long time ago, if you will, but it wasn’t that long ago.

Juliet Kennedy [00:40:00]:

Right.

Scott Cowan [00:40:00]:

Right. Okay. Alright. Interesting. So as we wrap up the chamber kind of centric thing of this, what do you what what do you think the 5 year vision is that the chamber wants to see happen here in the community? Do they have, like, a 5 year kind of a a a road map, if you will?

Juliet Kennedy [00:40:24]:

Yeah. I mean, I think, continuing McDonald’s.

Scott Cowan [00:40:27]:

Yeah. McDonald’s and a Starbucks. Absolutely not. Yeah. That’s the that’s the one thing I do love about this place is there.

Juliet Kennedy [00:40:32]:

Yeah. No chains.

Scott Cowan [00:40:33]:

The only chains you have are the Chevron gas station.

Juliet Kennedy [00:40:36]:

Right.

Scott Cowan [00:40:36]:

I mean, that’s it. You don’t have I think that’s the only well, you have a a a Scenics.

Juliet Kennedy [00:40:40]:

We also don’t have stoplights. Yeah. You

Scott Cowan [00:40:41]:

don’t have stoplights, which is Beautiful thing. Yes or no? I thought I’d hit. But you don’t have

Juliet Kennedy [00:40:48]:

Yeah. You

Scott Cowan [00:40:48]:

don’t have corporate America here.

Juliet Kennedy [00:40:49]:

Right.

Scott Cowan [00:40:49]:

Okay.

Juliet Kennedy [00:40:50]:

That’s we would hope to continue that.

Scott Cowan [00:40:53]:

Right.

Juliet Kennedy [00:40:53]:

Okay. We love our small businesses, our entrepreneurs.

Scott Cowan [00:40:57]:

Right. Yeah.

Juliet Kennedy [00:40:57]:

Yeah. Continuing to support that, through I know Twistworks has the Met How Investment Network, so really trying to uplift local businesses that need support financially, making sure that we can create, events that really stimulate the economy to make sure that we’re supporting small businesses and boosting the local economy where we can. My vision for just as the marketing director is expanding our reach and making sure that we get more people interested in visiting because just the amount of people that don’t know, you know, that haven’t driven through the North Cascades and come over to our side of the state Right. That have lived here in Washington their whole life. It’s a mind blowing statistic for people who haven’t done that. So, yeah, trying to get more reach and make sure that people are aware that we are an awesome, eclectic little town and, growing our art scene. I know we’re working with the creative district on wayfinding and really having some creative ways to, to promote and, like, envision our town in the future would be just, yeah, downtown vitality. So murals and and things like that are are in the works and and in the plan.

Juliet Kennedy [00:41:56]:

So, yeah, making it a a vibrant art community and making sure that we support our locals, but also encourage people to come and visit because that really drives our our economy here. And, yeah, we want we want local businesses to stay open and be open for a long time and be kind of a staple to our community, and that’s really what, yeah, what makes us twist.

Scott Cowan [00:42:13]:

For the sake of this conversation, I can grant you one wish. What would be the one thing you would like to see at Twist?

Juliet Kennedy [00:42:20]:

Oh, that is tough. Oh, You know, I it is a somewhat controversial topic, and just a complicated one with finances and funding, but I want a pool. A big, beautiful, awesome new pool because it’s badly needed. It’s for, yeah, I mean, a place for kids to have in the summer to to recreate, a place for our older population to have, for exercise, and a place for the community to enjoy. Right now, our pool is, not functioning.

Scott Cowan [00:42:48]:

It’s just,

Juliet Kennedy [00:42:49]:

out of service, and and we’re working towards a plan and a path to getting a new pool, and that is, yeah, just a complicated, not necessarily controversial, but just a complicated process and and working on where it’s gonna be and how that’s funded. And, but I I’m excited for the future of getting a new pool. Okay. Yeah. I

Scott Cowan [00:43:07]:

was just down at the pool Mhmm. Today, and I was wondering if it was just down for the season or

Juliet Kennedy [00:43:12]:

Yeah. They’ve they’ve been working on repairs every year, and it just, the facility itself, I think, needs just a a renovation and either whether it’s there or in the industrial district or somewhere else and and we’re looking the plan I think and the hope is that it’ll be a big nice aquatic center that has all sorts of options for all sorts of populations of people and a great place for locals to have a a respite from the heat in the summer and

Scott Cowan [00:43:35]:

Right. Okay. Living out of Mazama, living at the end of the road, I think those are your words. Mhmm. You’re close

Juliet Kennedy [00:43:42]:

You’ll have Ted from Winthrop argue with me about that.

Scott Cowan [00:43:45]:

Oh, well, Ted Ted.

Juliet Kennedy [00:43:45]:

Ted lives at

Scott Cowan [00:43:49]:

the end of the road. You’re you’re you’re you’re into the road adjacent. How’s that? Exactly. But you like to go up into the North Cascades. Yeah. And I think I told you this, when we were talking before. I drove over that for the first time this year

Juliet Kennedy [00:44:02]:

Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:44:02]:

I drove over that. In my entire life. You know? The first time. And, I went over on opening day, which I didn’t realize it was a thing. And I don’t think it’s a thing as much as it was 5 years ago or, you know, but it’s still kind of a

Juliet Kennedy [00:44:16]:

Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:44:17]:

There was a I joined this, Facebook group on the North Cascades and they were like, oh, is it gonna be open? And be careful. There’ll be lots of debris on the road and blah, blah. You know, like, everyone was like, you shouldn’t go over on opening day. It’s just my and so I was like driving over with a little bit of like trepidation. And, the road was beautiful. I I was like

Juliet Kennedy [00:44:35]:

Yeah. Stunning.

Scott Cowan [00:44:36]:

No. No. No. I’m talking about the road, like, like The conditions, the conditions I

Juliet Kennedy [00:44:38]:

mean, the crews that work up there

Scott Cowan [00:44:40]:

to say I interviewed I interviewed somebody from the department of transportation

Juliet Kennedy [00:44:43]:

about that. Impressive how hard they work to get it cleared out.

Scott Cowan [00:44:45]:

It’s crazy what they do. But I drove over and I was like, wow, this is just jaw dropping. And then the next day I drove back and I, had never stopped at the Northern State Hospital before.

Juliet Kennedy [00:45:00]:

Mhmm.

Scott Cowan [00:45:00]:

And that’s a bizarre, weird place.

Juliet Kennedy [00:45:04]:

Yeah. I haven’t.

Scott Cowan [00:45:05]:

You haven’t been there? No. So it is it’s an old mental hospital. It’s a sanitarium. I don’t know what the politically correct term is. Right? Okay. And it is no longer that. And it used to have as a way of funding itself, it had farm agriculture going on. Right? And we were raising they were, like, chickens and cows for milk.

Scott Cowan [00:45:35]:

So there’s the all these old farm buildings. They’re in they’ve been graffitied up. They’re falling apart. They’re kind of cool. And I don’t want to be there at night ever. Like, it’s kind of creepy, but it’s like, it’s, these big wide well maintained paths walking around everything. There’s a disc golf course going through us. And then there’s the old dormitories that are off, not off, off limits.

Scott Cowan [00:46:00]:

They’re all close. You can’t get into them. But in today’s age where, you know, everything is, you know, caution tape. And if there’s a crack in the road, we put yellow, you know, this is like, you’re walking in and there’s like broken glass and there’s pipes hanging and you kind of feel like, I don’t think I’m supposed to be here.

Juliet Kennedy [00:46:20]:

Right.

Scott Cowan [00:46:20]:

And it there was a beautiful sunny day and I’m like walking around. It was just like super, super cool. Yeah. Never been there before.

Juliet Kennedy [00:46:27]:

Yeah. I haven’t done the walk through. I mean, I know where you’re talking about, but

Scott Cowan [00:46:30]:

I know. Yeah. I haven’t done it. Go go spend an hour or 2 there. It’s it’s and if you’re in for thrills, go at night.

Juliet Kennedy [00:46:36]:

Right. I mean, I you

Scott Cowan [00:46:37]:

know, not me. And then, you know, I drove, stopped in concrete, which was interesting, and then worked my way back. And it was just like but over the over in the North Cascades pass, if you will, the whole area was just it was stunning. Yeah. And so, most of the listeners are gonna know about Diablo Lake Mhmm. And Ross. Mhmm. Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:46:59]:

But what’s going on up there that you think is cool? Because it’s kinda your, gonna go, backyard.

Juliet Kennedy [00:47:05]:

Yes. It is. Yeah. And my husband’s family has done a camp trip there for 30 years. It’s their tradition that

Scott Cowan [00:47:10]:

I am in New Haven. Awfully long camping trip. 30 years? They’re still up there?

Juliet Kennedy [00:47:13]:

Live there. Yeah. Every Labor Day weekend, they go to New Haven and his whole family, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, camp at, New Halem. And there’s all sorts of cool things there just in that little section alone. So there’s the, the Ladder Creek Falls, which is a little hike that you can do if you do it at night. It’s all illuminated with multiple colors, kind of like a light show that you go up there. So that’s a super fun thing. The creek is illuminated with like blues and pinks and fuchsia and green and yellow and the lights kind of fluctuate and change and it’s a fun little nighttime walk.

Scott Cowan [00:47:45]:

Okay.

Juliet Kennedy [00:47:46]:

There’s the Trail of the Cedars which has just historic information, some indigenous information and, which is also beautiful, just huge, epic, beautiful cedars right along the teal waters of the of Newhalem Creek there. And then the North Cascades Visitor Center is actually right in that same place. So if you take that, look, there’s a one little stoplight there. Yeah. If you go into that campground, and go up to the Visitor Center, it’s an awesome one. So I I just love Visitor Centers and I’m I’m specifically immersed in it right now working with the Twist Visitor Center, but, I have a fascination for them and just getting information. And Right. Though my husband will say, I don’t read any interpretive signs.

Juliet Kennedy [00:48:20]:

He’s the one that reads them and then relays the information to me. I’m just looking at everything. I’m like, oh, pretty picture, cool map, pretty animals. And don’t read a thing. We went and did a, like, a cross country road trip this summer and did, like, 7 national parks and I didn’t read an interpretive sign. And so he’d tell me all the fun facts that I needed to know. But I was like, look at that view, those mountains. My brother is appalled.

Juliet Kennedy [00:48:40]:

He’s like, how do you go to a national park and not read an interpretive sign? But I have a partner who helps me.

Scott Cowan [00:48:46]:

He does.

Juliet Kennedy [00:48:47]:

My information center. But, yeah, the I love that information center. It’s a great one. And then, so Newhalem itself has, like, a lot to do right

Scott Cowan [00:48:54]:

in that area. There’s also

Juliet Kennedy [00:48:55]:

the crypt there’s, like, a little crypt there and, you know, it’s escaping me who’s buried there right now, but one of the people who’s, you know, you’re gonna have to find out for yourself. Go check out the crypt in in New Halem. Alright. Yeah. And then coming over, there’s all sorts of hikes and cool things. You know, I’ve backpacked along, Colonial Creek and out Thunder Creek and Thunder Knob and, yeah. I mean, Blue Lake is incredible. There’s also all sorts of, trails that are kind of off the main trails.

Juliet Kennedy [00:49:23]:

So you’re looking at when you drive through, you know, cars on cars on cars parked along the highway. Avoid those ones because those are so busy, and there’s a million other hikes out there that are just incredible that you’re gonna see just as great of views and have just an epic spot. And yeah. And to have the whole trail yourself. So those are my preferences.

Scott Cowan [00:49:40]:

So is there one up there that you haven’t done that you, like, you go, I wanna do this one and I just haven’t done it for one reason or another?

Juliet Kennedy [00:49:47]:

You no. Yeah. I mean, all of them.

Scott Cowan [00:49:48]:

A bunch of them.

Juliet Kennedy [00:49:49]:

I’ve done a lot of hiking, but I feel like there’s hundreds of miles that I haven’t touched. So, you know, I I have I mean, yeah, I wanna do I wanna hike to the top of Desolation Peak where Jack Kerouac was. I haven’t done that yet. I’m on Ross Lake all the time. And for some reason, just getting to that point to hike it, it’s about 10 miles round trip from the bottom. But in order to get there, you’re either hiking the East Bank Trail to get out there or taking a boat from Ross Lake Resort out to, Desolation. And so

Scott Cowan [00:50:16]:

Is the fire station still there? Do you know?

Juliet Kennedy [00:50:19]:

The fire station.

Scott Cowan [00:50:20]:

Well, where he was stationed because he was stationed?

Juliet Kennedy [00:50:22]:

The fire lookout. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:50:22]:

The fire lookout.

Juliet Kennedy [00:50:23]:

Yes. Yeah. The lookout

Scott Cowan [00:50:23]:

still there. So the lookout’s still there? Okay.

Juliet Kennedy [00:50:26]:

Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:50:26]:

Yeah. I always thought it was really, for some reason, when I went through my Kerouac phase, that whole story of him being up there,

Juliet Kennedy [00:50:39]:

I

Scott Cowan [00:50:41]:

you know, when you read an author and you read about them, you think, like, you know them. Right? Which is which is completely unfair. But, you know, you do know I think we all do. And I can’t imagine how he survived for, for the summer. Looking at

Juliet Kennedy [00:50:54]:

the mountain from the highway, you can see it. There’s a lookout, and that is one but you’re looking out up Ross Lake to the north and seeing Desolation Peak out there, and it just looks so isolated and so in the middle

Scott Cowan [00:51:00]:

of nowhere.

Juliet Kennedy [00:51:00]:

And it is yeah. It’s daunting to think about being out there by yourself. Those those those

Scott Cowan [00:51:12]:

towers are not that big.

Juliet Kennedy [00:51:14]:

Right.

Scott Cowan [00:51:15]:

They’re they’re not I mean, they’re 14 by 14. They’re not that big.

Juliet Kennedy [00:51:20]:

Yeah. You should go up and hike Goat Peak right now and go talk to Christina Estrada. She’s up there on Goat Peak manning it with her dog Hudson.

Scott Cowan [00:51:27]:

That’s

Juliet Kennedy [00:51:28]:

yeah. She’s got a blog that is, full of fire lookout information and and Washington and North Cascade stuff.

Scott Cowan [00:51:36]:

Get me that link and we’ll put in the show notes. Okay? Alright. Cool.

Juliet Kennedy [00:51:38]:

Pacific Northwest Trail Chick.

Scott Cowan [00:51:40]:

Pacific Northwest Trail chick. Mhmm. Okay. Yeah. You know her? Yeah. I mean So why is she doing this? You can speak for her. Make make up a story. Just make up a story.

Scott Cowan [00:51:49]:

It’s it’s okay.

Juliet Kennedy [00:51:50]:

She has a passion for fire lookouts. I know that just because she’s hit, I wanna say, all of them in the state. If not all of them, then the majority of them. But I believe all of them, and does a lot for fire, lookout restorations. She was up at Lookout painting it last summer or the summer before, making sure that they are places that people can visit and enjoy. And she, up there right now, is not doing it just for fun. She’s looking out for fires. So she’s working and doing, looking out over the valley, making sure that lightning strikes don’t start up fires.

Juliet Kennedy [00:52:19]:

If they do, she’s reporting them to forest service and wildland crews, and they’re they’re going out and mopping them up.

Scott Cowan [00:52:23]:

So in today’s modern society, is she sending them a text? Is this I’m kind of being facetious, but Yeah. Radio, I think. Radio? Is it radio? It’s gotta be radio. She did

Juliet Kennedy [00:52:33]:

a cool thing this summer going up on, she she has horses and she horse backed up there and, like, had a pack team and brought all her stuff up there with her own horses, which is pretty cool. And then, and some people and some other horses too, or I think maybe mules. But, and I know the helicopter can land up there. There’s a helicopter pad and things like that, but, she did it with just horses and had a had a fun trip up there to kinda because she wasn’t gonna get to ride her horses all summer because she’s up there. So

Scott Cowan [00:52:57]:

Wow.

Juliet Kennedy [00:52:58]:

Having to say goodbye to them for a stint, she was wanting to

Scott Cowan [00:53:01]:

So she brought them with her? Mhmm.

Juliet Kennedy [00:53:02]:

Yeah. Are

Scott Cowan [00:53:03]:

they still up there? Or they were her friend

Juliet Kennedy [00:53:05]:

took them back down. Yeah. But but she’s she got to, like, have a little voyage with them to get all her gear up there.

Scott Cowan [00:53:09]:

That’s really cool. Alright. See, that’s the type of stuff up here. You know, you don’t experience it in Seattle or Spokane.

Juliet Kennedy [00:53:14]:

Right. Yeah. It’s pretty incredible. Alright. And she’s taken I mean, you should check out her Instagram because she takes incredible pictures of the northern lights and all sorts of things that you can see up there that you just it’s a different vantage point being up Right. Up in the mountains.

Scott Cowan [00:53:27]:

It’s pretty cool. Well, as we kinda wrap this up, I I kind of always ask a couple of questions, you know, 1 and here’s one, is what didn’t I ask you that I should have? What what what didn’t we talk about that we we should bring up right now? Is there what do you got?

Juliet Kennedy [00:53:42]:

Oh, that’s tough.

Scott Cowan [00:53:45]:

I mean, if I did my job, the answers I did a great job, Scott.

Juliet Kennedy [00:53:49]:

Yeah. I think we covered quite a bit. Yeah. I mean, I think the I talked about the arts district a lot, which includes all sorts of businesses like, the Downtown Thrifty Fox is an awesome quirky little place. It’s a thrift store that has just a million things that you could like, anything you wanna find, you’ll find it there. Our Industrial District having you know, we have machine shops and car repair and a lot of talented people that are working really hard all all the time and so outside of just the, like, fun businesses to visit, we just have a really cool community of hardworking, resilient people and and, yeah, I guess I know I’ve touched on it a handful of times, but our community, I just wanna reiterate that we’re

Scott Cowan [00:54:26]:

Here’s a question for you. What’s the number one industry here? Who’s the biggest employer?

Juliet Kennedy [00:54:33]:

It used to be logging and mining and then agriculture and it’s kind of evolved over time. Right now I my best guess is tourism industry and outdoor recreation.

Scott Cowan [00:54:44]:

Okay.

Juliet Kennedy [00:54:45]:

But really it is, I think, an eclectic variety. I I don’t have any statistics on that, but yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:54:51]:

So we’re not really heavy we’re not overly reliant on any industry. We’ve got more of a diverse Yeah. Footprint now.

Juliet Kennedy [00:54:58]:

Yeah. Which is quirk and characteristic of our town. No.

Scott Cowan [00:55:01]:

It is. Yeah. Alright. So share with the audience where they can find out more, and we’ll put links in the show notes too. But where’s where where do you want people to go and look to find out more about TWISP?

Juliet Kennedy [00:55:12]:

Yeah. They can go to TWISPWA, so twispwa.com, TWISPWA. That is our Chamber of Commerce website. And then, if they’re looking for town information, there’s a town of TWISP website. Okanogan County Tourism Council has a great website as well that has information about Twist, but then also any regional information that you’re gonna wanna find, if you’re coming through Twist and also doing a loop, kind of a cascade loop. So and and also the visitor center. Come by.

Scott Cowan [00:55:38]:

What what are the hours of the visitor center?

Juliet Kennedy [00:55:42]:

That’s a great question, Scott. It’s open most days of the week. I think Monday through Friday, but then also during the, farmers market hours on Saturday. We have a staff member there on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays. And, the communities it’s part of the community center. So the community center also has hours that vary, and there’s almost always someone there from the community center that’s willing to give information about traveling through to this. So

Scott Cowan [00:56:05]:

Alright. So here’s that last question. Mhmm. You ready? I warned you about this. Right? Okay. So let me set the table for you. You have to answer the question and you have to give your reason.

Juliet Kennedy [00:56:15]:

Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:56:16]:

K? It’s not hard. It’s it’s fun. Alright. It’s really straightforward. And I think I know what you’re gonna say, and I’ll admit if I’m right or wrong when you answer.

Juliet Kennedy [00:56:24]:

Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:56:24]:

K. Ready? Cake or pie, and why?

Juliet Kennedy [00:56:28]:

Oh, pie.

Scott Cowan [00:56:29]:

That’s honestly what I thought you were gonna say.

Juliet Kennedy [00:56:31]:

Did you really?

Scott Cowan [00:56:31]:

Well, because you like to forage. And we didn’t talk about forging, but you like to forage. So I was thinking pies. Okay. Pie.

Juliet Kennedy [00:56:36]:

Pie, right off the bat. The first thought that popped into my head was because, we had pie at our wedding instead of cake. My husband loves pie. I love pie. We had peach pie and a couple different mixed berry pies. I like making pie. And yeah. Fruit is like yeah.

Juliet Kennedy [00:56:51]:

Anything foraged from the earth. Okay. Fruit. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:56:54]:

You have to pick one type of pie. It’s the only type of pie you can ever have.

Juliet Kennedy [00:56:57]:

Oh, gosh. Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:56:58]:

What are you gonna pick? Oh,

Juliet Kennedy [00:57:01]:

Scott. I’m gonna say apple.

Scott Cowan [00:57:07]:

Apple? Mhmm. That’s so predictable. I wouldn’t have thought that actually, but but it’s so predictable. But why why apple?

Juliet Kennedy [00:57:14]:

Because it’s always good. Like, I I you know, like, a mixed berry, it can sometimes be too tart. I like the flexibility of a mixed berry, but, like, some you know, I’m not always in the mood for something too citrusy. Peach is usually good. Sometimes, depending on who makes it, it’s a little too syrupy and sweet. Apple is pretty consistently delicious every time. Yeah. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:57:35]:

Is there a pie that you don’t like? Like I’m like me, no pumpkin.

Juliet Kennedy [00:57:40]:

Oh, I like pumpkin.

Scott Cowan [00:57:40]:

So you know?

Juliet Kennedy [00:57:41]:

No. You know, like I like I wouldn’t I don’t need a chocolate custard type of pie. Okay. Like, I’m I’m I’m tending to lean towards the fruits. Though pumpkin vegetable, fine.

Scott Cowan [00:57:50]:

Horrible. It’s a horrible it should be it’s an abomination. It should be outlawed. And pumpkin spice season is bad. I just like I

Juliet Kennedy [00:57:57]:

just You’re not basic. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:57:59]:

I just talk to you. I’m so so I’ve never liked I mean, I just there’s this always this. So I small stuff.

Juliet Kennedy [00:58:05]:

Still come to Twist Fest. We’ll allow it. Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:58:07]:

What so I grew up in a very, very small family. I’m an only child. My mother is an only child. Wow. So my my grandmother, my mother’s mother. It’s not like she had a lot of grandchildren, like, it was just me Yeah. To remember.

Juliet Kennedy [00:58:21]:

Right.

Scott Cowan [00:58:23]:

Every Thanksgiving was like a slice of pumpkin pie. No. Thank you. I don’t like pumpkin. Here’s the response. Since when? And it would became it’s like, I don’t know if she was messing with me.

Juliet Kennedy [00:58:33]:

Funny. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:58:34]:

But my dad would look at me and he would just go. You know? And it was I’ve never

Juliet Kennedy [00:58:38]:

Since the beginning of time.

Scott Cowan [00:58:39]:

Since the beginning of time. It’s it’s horrible. I I don’t like pumpkin. And and it was so fake. We should every year, it’s like, since when? Like, no. It was funny. Thanks for sitting down with me.

Juliet Kennedy [00:58:48]:

Yeah. Thank you for coming.

Scott Cowan [00:58:50]:

I learned a lot about Twist, which is really kinda cool, and there’s a lot going on up here.

Juliet Kennedy [00:58:54]:

Yeah. And More than I can say in an hour and a pumpkin. Right.

Scott Cowan [00:58:57]:

Yeah. And it’s it is it is a really great and we threw Winthrop in kind of I you know.

Juliet Kennedy [00:59:03]:

Yeah. The whole valley, really.

Scott Cowan [00:59:04]:

The whole valley.

Juliet Kennedy [00:59:05]:

Yeah. We’re 10 minutes apart. We can’t you shouldn’t come to see 1 and not

Scott Cowan [00:59:08]:

3 there. It’s almost like going to Minneapolis and Saint Paul. It’s like they’re, like, by right

Juliet Kennedy [00:59:12]:

You gotta hit them both. Yeah.

Scott Cowan [00:59:13]:

Right. Right. There’s so much to do. So what’s your favorite thing in Winthrop?

Juliet Kennedy [00:59:17]:

Oh, that’s also tough. Yikes. My favorite thing. Like, give me a category of what I’m picking.

Scott Cowan [00:59:25]:

No. Favorite. Oh. The singular. Jesus. Singular? Week,

Juliet Kennedy [00:59:28]:

man. Alright.

Scott Cowan [00:59:29]:

And you’ll be judged for this.

Juliet Kennedy [00:59:30]:

I really will be. My favorite thing in Winthrop is Have

Scott Cowan [00:59:35]:

you ever gone to the Blues vessel?

Juliet Kennedy [00:59:37]:

You know, I haven’t actually. Okay. We typically travel that weekend and so we just it hasn’t lined up.

Scott Cowan [00:59:42]:

That sounds like a local thing. Like, it’s time to get it’s a good weekend

Juliet Kennedy [00:59:44]:

to get out of town. No. It’s supposed to be incredible, and I don’t know why we haven’t. I just other than, like, we typically choose to be on a camping trip that weekend. Okay.

Scott Cowan [00:59:51]:

It

Juliet Kennedy [00:59:52]:

just has happened that way. You know, the classic car festival is awesome. My husband loves cars. I know nothing about cars because I innately don’t have to with him knowing something so

Scott Cowan [01:00:03]:

he reads the interpretive signs too.

Juliet Kennedy [01:00:04]:

He’s amazing. I really I get to skate through life without a whole lot of responsibility. I like them just because, I mean, there’s a cool crowd of people that come that bring cars. There’s a cool crowd of people that come to see them. And, I mean, they’re beautiful. Like, they’re all shined up spiffy and, like, looking fresh. And so, like, it’s really cool to see them all throughout town and the colors and everything. I just like that festival.

Scott Cowan [01:00:24]:

Does your husband work on cars like that? Does he does he restore cars at all?

Juliet Kennedy [01:00:28]:

He doesn’t do restoration, but he can work on, like, the engine.

Scott Cowan [01:00:30]:

So he doesn’t have, like, he doesn’t have a car like that? He doesn’t have

Juliet Kennedy [01:00:34]:

No. He has a Subaru WRX that he’s real proud of.

Scott Cowan [01:00:37]:

Okay. Alright.

Juliet Kennedy [01:00:39]:

Yeah.

Scott Cowan [01:00:40]:

Okay. Those are those are I don’t fit in them. So, you know, those are those are fine. No. Those are fine.

Juliet Kennedy [01:00:47]:

Okay. He, convinced me to get out by, saying that there was child seats in the back, which we don’t have children yet, eventually, potentially. But, that there was child safety gears in the back or, like, locks in the back. And he showed me a video of how well it handles the snow by showing me a winter rally video. He’s like, look what it can do. It can, like we’ll be fine in the winter. I was like, yeah. Cool, man.

Juliet Kennedy [01:01:07]:

Go ahead.

Scott Cowan [01:01:07]:

No, Mark. You you do it. Alright. Well, thank you so much. This is

Juliet Kennedy [01:01:15]:

You’re welcome.

Scott Cowan [01:01:16]:

What is the what’s the, what is that racing that they call that where they and it’s a lot of Subarus that they like it’s, I think it’s Japanese where they’re like driving through incredible, like, like bizarre routes of it starts with the G and I can’t think of

Juliet Kennedy [01:01:31]:

it. Yes.

Scott Cowan [01:01:32]:

And so like, that’s like, Hey, let me show you how safe this car is by showing you that type of video. It’s like,

Juliet Kennedy [01:01:36]:

yeah, It can jump over a helicopter. It can,

Scott Cowan [01:01:38]:

like It’s all good. Trust me.

Juliet Kennedy [01:01:40]:

You’ll be fine. Yeah. You’ll be fine. Oh my god. Exactly. It’s awesome.

Scott Cowan [01:01:43]:

Anyway, thank you so much.

Juliet Kennedy [01:01:44]:

Yeah. Thank you. I’ve had a blast. Appreciate it. Come to Twisp!