Revisiting 2020: the 7th Annual Marko’s Variety Show – Virtual Edition

A holiday throwback: For six years, Marko’s Place held an in-person variety show near Christmas time to celebrate the holidays and friends. In  2020, Roslyn wasn’t going to let COVID get in the way of tradition. The 7th Annual Marko’s Variety show was held virtually, with emcee Roslyn Love hosting the event alone from the otherwise empty gathering place.  A variety of acts were submitted, and on the evening of Wednesday, December 23rd, many joined online to watch and share time with each other through a virtual celebration.  Merry Christmas and enjoy the show. 

Visit Roslyn in 360 Degrees!

Do you want to experience Winter in Roslyn, but can’t actually make it here to visit this year? Enjoy a 360 degree video experience of Roslyn and the surrounding area. Use your mouse or fingers to navigate within the video.  Of course, it’s not as good as the real thing, but we hope it makes you feel a bit like being here!

Roslyn Has Your Pet Pals Covered!

Visiting Roslyn with your pets? Don’t worry if you forget any supplies because Whole Pet has you covered! On the corner of West Washington and North 2nd Street, Whole Pet won’t leave you or your furry friends wanting more. Food, treats, toys, leashes, collars, and grooming supplies are just a sampling of the items waiting to delight your dog or cat. We even found a full assortment of pet garments ranging from sweaters to socks! Once your four-legged loved ones have had their fill, there is plenty to appease their pet loving humans; like stickers, mugs, greeting cards, coloring books and more. So don’t forget about your animal pals when you come to town – show them you care with a gift from Whole Pet!

Hotel Roslyn is Ready for Your Stay!

Hotel Roslyn is a brand new place to stay right in the heart of town. Studio and one bedroom suites are available, or indulge in a two bedroom townhome suite that can accommodate up to six guests. Roslyn is a basecamp for any number of year round activities, and Hotel Roslyn concierge services are also available if you need help planning your visit. For Summer visits, the hotel is located just around the corner from the popular Roslyn Farmers Market that kicks off on Sundays in mid-June. Planning a visit in Winter? Hotel Roslyn is in easy walking distance to anywhere in town, so you can just park the car and let it snow! The rooms are beautifully furnished (with many of the furnishings outfitted by nearby Mountain Elegance) and patio rooms are available for those who enjoy a morning coffee or evening cocktail outdoors. Click here to learn more or to make a reservation – and enjoy your stay in Roslyn!

The NorthWest Bicycle Improvement Company

Glenn BurkhartFor owner Glenn Burkhart, the Northwest Bicycle Improvement Company (NBIC) is a labor of love.  Though it opened in 2014 on 2nd street, the bicycle rental and service shop only recently moved to its current home on Pennsylvania Avenue.  The bike shop rents and services bicycles and also carries a wide assortment of products to ensure you have everything you need to ride the roads or the local trails.
Glenn has enjoyed bike riding for as long as he can remember, so the most important goal of the shop is to help spread the joy of riding in Roslyn.  I’m really passionate about the area.  I love the climate, I love the ecology that we have here,  Glenn says, Secondly, I want to support the community.   The staff is always happy to provide local trail information to help you on your way.  In the Spring and Summer, the NBIC also organizes group rides, often on Saturday mornings, where bikers can just show up and join a ride.  It’s just an awesome, magical thing when people are group riding, enjoying each other’s company, enjoying the weather, and enjoying riding bikes. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for those opportunities and be sure to check out the interactive Roslyn trail map available on their website.
The name of the shop, NorthWest Bicycle Improvement Company (a play on the historic Northwest Improvement Company that served as the company store during Roslyn’s coal mining era) is only partially tongue and cheek.  The team provides a wide set of bicycle maintenance, tune-up, and repair services to help you keep your bike performing at its best. Likewise, since the team at the shop possess decades of combined experience working on bicycles, you can be sure you’ll have only top talent repairing or optimizing your ride.
One thing visitors to Roslyn are quick to notice is the number fat tire bikes.  While not exclusively used for Winter riding, fat bikes are ideal for riding in snowy conditions and they help make riding a year-round recreation.  The wide tires provide more grip in the snow, and when the snow melts, they’re great for sand as well (of course, fat tire bikes are available for rent at the shop).  Another emerging trend is bikepacking. As the name implies, bikepacking is like backpacking, except you load up your bike with the necessary provisions and make your escape for days at a time.  If you’re feeling adventurous, a variety of gear and carrying systems are available for transforming your ride into a two wheeled caravan.
If you’re not comfortable on wheels, Snowshoes are also available for rent.  However, if you’re looking to enjoy a ride in Roslyn, regardless of whether you have a bike or need a bike, there is no better place to start your adventure than the Northwest Bicycle Improvement Company! Stop by and let Glenn get you started on your Roslyn ride!

Roslyn Through Time – Book Released

Have you ever wanted to go back in time and see Roslyn when it was the bustling coal mining town of the late 1800s and early 1900s? Roslyn Through Time, a new book by author Sue Litchfield, might just be the next best thing. The 96 page book is filled with interesting history and anecdotes about the rise of Roslyn and the people who called it home. Each page contains a modern day recreation of an historic photo, along with insightful information about the places, dates, and events captured within them. While the recreation of the photos was undoubtedly no small effort, they provide amazing context to the original photos by orienting the reader. Likewise, seeing just how much things have (and haven’t) changed over the years is an adventure unto itself. Roslyn Through Time is and joy to read and is a must-have book for any fan of Roslyn and the city’s rich history.

WhyRoslyn Insider Picks

Roslyn is certainly not limited on things to do, see, eat and drink. Still, we thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite picks – which we believe everyone should try at least once.

  1. Red Bird Cafe – The Corned Beet Reuben: This unique, vegetarian sandwich at the Red Bird Café will not disappoint. Brined and sliced beets, Kraut, Swiss cheese and 1000 Island dressing on Rye bread makes a marvelous meat free Reuben that will satisfy anyone.
  2. Red Bird Cafe – Bird’s Nest Stacker: Have you ever had an “Egg in the Basket” or a “Toad in the Hole”? These are colloquial names for an egg fried in a hole within a slice of bread. Red Bird Cafe - StackerDelicious in its own right, but now imagine two of these serving as the toast on a breakfast sandwich consisting of ham, bacon, and Havarti cheese. Hidden to the side of the menu, this dish is a fantastic way for any egg and meat lover to start their day.
  3. The Roslyn Theatre – The Loge: Many folks already know the building with the Marlon Brando mural is the Roslyn Theatre. It’s a great little theater with a modern digital projector and a fantastic sound system. Likewise, there is no better way to watch a movie at the Roslyn Theater than from seats in the Loge. The Loge is a small balcony area, perhaps about 15 total seats, that gives you a great vantage point for watching the film. Call ahead and reserve seats, because Loge seating goes quickly.
  4. The Roslyn Theatre – Popcorn with “Gravy”: We’ve all had popcorn at the movies, but the Roslyn Theatre serves popcorn reimagined. The “gravy” we recommend consists of butter and brewer’s yeast. Add a touch of salt, and you will have a tub of popcorn that keeps you content regardless of what movie you’ve chosen to see.
  5. Carek’s – Landjager: Around here, you hear a lot about Owen’s Meats. That said, if you’re in the mood for some delicious German style landjager, Carek’s in Roslyn has you covered. It’s available for purchase by the pound, and you can’t go wrong with either the traditional or Jalapeno flavor.
  6. Mama Valones: Bagna Cauda: Okay, we are cheating a bit to include a recommendation from Cle Elum, but this dish is too great to pass up. The Bagna Cauda is a traditional Italian dish centered around a simmering dip of oil, butter and garlic. The dip is heated at your table on a portable burner, and you are given a wide assortment of vegetables to cook up in the delicious garlic and oil stew (think fondue). Cabbage, artichoke hearts, olives, baby corn, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini typically come in the appetizer. The Bagna Cauda dinner also includes meat options. Either are a fun and tasty dish to share with everyone at the table.
  7. The Village Pizza – Honey on your Pie: We’ll be honest, you can’t go wrong with any pizza from Village Pizza. They are all made with care and love and they never miss a opportunity to delight. However, many fail to notice the honey bottles sitting amongst the condiments on the table. Before a visit to Village Pizza, we never would have considered dipping pizza crust in honey, but it’s encouraged here, and it’s fantastic.
  8. Basecamp – Breakfast Sandwich: This is a traditional breakfast sandwich that includes thick country ham on a kaiser roll. The thing that makes this menu item stand out above other traditional breakfast sandwiches is the hand crafted Beecher’s cheddar cheese that tops it.
  9. Roslyn Brewery – IPL & Root Beer: Everybody knows and loves the Brookside and Roslyn Lagers that are available at the brewery and in stores. One might not know that the brewery often has options which are not available in stores. Often, the India Pale Lager is available on tap. It has the hoppiness of an IPA with the light, refreshing, body of a lager. The #9 Root Beer, also only available at the brewery, is another local favorite. Stop into the brewery to enjoy either of these, but be advised the tasting room is for ages 21 and over, so bring a growler if you want to grab some root beer for the road.

These are just some picks that we feel should be on any visitor’s bucket list.  Did we miss some of your favorites?  Be sure to let us know in the comments!

The Coal Chute Cafe & Pub

Just before you reach Roslyn, nestled on the East side of the 903, you’ll find the recently opened Coal Chute Cafe & Pub. Care and craftsmanship has gone into making the environment inviting and the food delicious. There is ample seating indoors, and also an outdoor patio that overlooks the Duck Town neighborhood of Roslyn. The restaurant serves both breakfast and dinner, and offers coffee,  espresso drinks, beer, and specialty cocktails. We visited for breakfast (served until 11am) and pored over a menu featuring classic breakfasts, skillets, scrambles, specialty egg dishes, and more. I landed on the Meat Lover’s Skillet (pictured) and found it to be both tasty and filling. A nearby patron was very pleased with his Eggs Benedict while his family enjoyed Pancakes and Fresh Fruit.  If you’re visiting Roslyn, be sure to consider this great new dining option on your way into town.

Labor Day Weekend Fun in Roslyn

Labor Day Weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the year in upper Kittitas County. On Saturday, the two day High Country Log Show starts at 1pm, providing a weekend of entertaining logging competitions and fun for the entire family.  The Heritage Club will be holding the traditional Coal Miners Crowning of King Coal at the Miners’ Memorial in Roslyn on Sunday at 10am, just before the annual parade at noon.  While in town, be sure to explore the great downtown shops (including those in the historic NWI building) take in some music at The Roslyn Yard, and browse the popular Sunday Farmers Market! Come for a day or come for the weekend, you’ll be glad you did!

Summer Outdoor Cinema in Roslyn

There’s nothing quite like Roslyn Summer nights, and now there is a great way to enjoy them!  From now until early October, Basecamp Book and Bites is hosting an outdoor cinema series in The Roslyn Yard.  Admission is free (though donations to the Roslyn Fire Department are a welcomed way to show your appreciation).  Movies will begin at sunset and food and beverages will be available for purchase.  Be sure to bring a blanket so you can relax with your family and enjoy the feature.  The full schedules can be found below:

  • June 23 – Northern Exposure Episode 1
  •   June 30 – Northern Exposure Episide 2
  •   July 7 – Northern Exposure Episide 3
  •   July 14 – Northern Exposure Episode 8
  •   July 21 – Toy Story
  •   July 28 – Northern Exposure Episode 5
  •   August 4 – Little Mermaid
  •   August 11 – Lion King
  •   August 18 – Up
  •   August 25 – Meet the Robinsons
  •   September 1 – Walle
  •   September 8 – Monster’s Inc.
  •   September 15 – Explorers
  •   September 22 – Incredibles
  •   September 29 – Goonies
  •   October 5 – How to Train Your Dragon

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