Dear Friends of Doe Bay,

DOE BAY CLOSED... for a few days...

Our most popular newsletter of 2009 was the APRIL 1st announcement that Doe Bay had been sold to a pig farmer from Eastsound. Many readers were in tears before they remembered the significance of the date. I hoped to re-create that emotion with the teaser headline that DOE BAY is CLOSED. In fact, the closure is a reality, but thankfully very temporary. We are doing some major spa maintenance, upgrading the soaking tubs, deep cleaning and giving some of our staff a chance to catch their breath. We will have a GRAND RE-OPENING on January 15th! I will be here that weekend so if you come up, please introduce yourself to me. We have lots of activity all winter as you will see when you read the rest of this letter.

Why I Love Doe Bay # 107

a Perfect New Year's Day

Doe Bay remains a place that gives us more than it takes. A typical day at Doe Bay... Yesterday (New Year's day) was stormy with a high tide. Otter Cove was a cauldron. Watching it was like looking at a piece of art that transformed itself with every gust. The beach had disappeared and the large logs were being bounced around like pick-up sticks. Breakfast at the cafe was incredible.... I actually chose the veggie egg scramble over the huevos rancheros and the latte was better than I can make at home.

Half of our gang wanted to "Ride the Mountain" and half wanted to hike from Cascade Lake back to Doe Bay. We gave the boys a ride to the top with their bikes. (All the trails in the park are open to mountain bikes this time of year.) The rest of us drove the cars down and left them at the bottom. We then headed out to cross the island on foot. Back to Doe Bay before dark. A soak and a sauna were in order and enjoyed. Finally, dinner at the Doe Bay Cafe. The Cafe was packed so we ended up sharing our table with James, a law student from Wisconsin. Bruce Harvie's band, "The Hair of the Dog" (which bore an uncanny resemblance to his band, "The Leftovers" that played the night after Thanksgiving) rocked. Freddy & Abigael and their staff were slammed so Maureen was waiting tables, bussing and greeting guests. I took on dish washing which gave me a Sisyphus complex. No matter how fast I worked it was almost impossible to get ahead. A great night ended with a hillarious game of Catch Phrase with all the kids and their friends!

I hope your resolutions include more time at Doe Bay in 2010. Remembering that resolutions sometimes don't last too long, I suggest that you make a reservation today! I promise you, the winter is the best time to be on Orcas Island. Soaking in the spa while the stream roars next to you or while watching the white caps in Otter Cove is surreal.

Doe Bay is one of the most beautiful pieces of property in the world, but the People of Doe Bay are what make the place truly unique. Maureen and I have met, and in many cases employed, some of the most interesting people you could describe and our lives are enriched by the experience. So this newsletter will feature just a few of the people of Doe Bay. Good luck with the quiz in the right hand column!

Thank you and enjoy the rest of the newsletter and the New Year!
- Joe
The Proprietor
Joe@DoeBay.com

New to the Newsletter? Or just can't get enough, click on the following links to see some of our recent dispatches. Some of the contests in old newsletters are still open and the prizes are piling up, so please take advantage of us {Click here to read recent newsletters}

You are the first to know that the Third Annual Doe Bay Fest is scheduled for the weekend of Friday the 13th of August!

If you would like to volunteer to assist with DB Fest or would like your band to perform, please write Joe@DoeBay.com.

Also, readers of the newsletter will be the first to be offered Doe Bay Fest tickets. THE FESTIVAL WILL SELL OUT!

Watch for our '10 logo soon!

Doe Bay in the wintertime? YES! The winter is the quiet time on the islands. You'll find much more space on the island's trails and more time to get the local scoop on things to do. You'll glory in the rugged beauty of storm-watching or you can take advantage of a placid sunny day in the rainshadow. Winter in the San Juans is a perfect time to curl up with a project to complete using our wifi network or to recharge with a soak in our much quieter tubs.

Music in the Cafe

Friday January 15th @7PM
Yuni in Taxco
http://www.myspace.com/yuniintaxco
Band Members:

Sean Beszhak Ross Beamish Bryce Beamish Jim Saunders Isaiah Washington
Sounds Like The Beach Boys having a Séance

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Artsmith Salon Series begins again on January 18th!

Join Artsmith and the Doe Bay Cafe for a weekly Salon series featuring guest writers from around the country. The Cafe features special tapas/small plates and wine specials on these special Monday evenings throughout the winter/spring. Following the guest author, local writers and Doe Bay guests have an opportunity to read their own works each week in a special Writer's Open Mic. All lovers of food, wine and words are welcome! Reading begins at 7pm. Reserve a table for dinner by calling 360-376-8059.
Jan. 18 features the talents of Drew Dillhunt and local writer Margie Doyle.
Also of note, Judith Roche, a Seattle poet whose third book Wisdom of the Body (2007) won the American Book Award, will be offering a 3-hour workshop on Sunday March 28 in the Otter Lodge at Doe Bay Resort. For more information or to register, please email renekeep@yahoo.com.

Artsmith Salon Special – Join us for the Salon on Monday evening and stay for FREE! With two paid nights, add on Monday to your stay for FREE!!!

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Friday January 29th @ 7PM Alexander's Real Time Band

www.alexandersrealtimeband.com

Alan Alexander III is a composer, producer, singer and multi-instrumentalist with numerous credits. As a performing musician he has toured internationally (US, Europe, the Caribbean and Japan), headlining and opening for artists like UB40, Jimmy Cliff, Ziggy Marley, Taj Mahall, Third World and many others. He is perhaps best known as the former lead singer, principle composer and producer for the critically acclaimed world beat band, Dub Squad. Alan has composed source music and original scores for several motion pictures including: 'Hear No Evil' (20th Century Fox), 'Alien Invaders' (National Endowment for the Arts) and 'Street Talk and Tuxes' (Susan Shadburne Productions). He resides in Portland Oregon. For more info visit www.dubsquadmusic.net
Alan says, " Back to my favorite spot in the San Juan Islands. This will be our first gig on the road this year. We love the venue and the beauty of Orcas Island"!

(This is actually Pliny & Rene at open mic, but you get the idea!!!)

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VALENTINE'S DAY

FALL IN LOVE OR FALL IN LOVE AGAIN

AT DOE BAY

FEBRUARY 14, 2010

CALL 360 376-2291

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Master Improvisation Retreat Feb 19-28!

Master Improvisation Retreat surrounded by the beauty of Doe Bay on Orcas Island, this program offers a protective environment for creative growth through improvisation. Working in ensemble and individually with master improvisers Matt Smith and Rebecca Stockley, participants are immersed in daily sessions in a variety of improvisation disciplines. With two scheduled performances, participants explore and generate new structures for presentation. There are 2 additional Open Mic opportunities at the Doe Bay Cafe. Who: 14 improvisers What: Improv Workshop: 9 days of improvisation, performance, and reflection. Where: Doe Bay on Orcas Island When: From dinner Friday February 19th to the afternoon of Sunday, February 28th. Facilitators: Matt Smith and Rebecca Stockley Cost: $1,350 (Includes tuition, accommodation and food - for basic housing – private and double accommodations available at your expense) To apply for the Master Improvisation Retreat send request for application to matt@matt-smith.net. Enrollment pending interview. Study and improvise with seasoned improv professionals for 9 days. If you’re ready for a breakthrough in your: Life, Creativity, Performance, or Work, this is the workshop for you.

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Saint Patrick's DAY

GREEN BEER AND IRISH CHEER

AT DOE BAY

March 17, 2010

CALL 360 376-2291

The Sweet Spot yurt at Doe Bay. The yurt is a simple portable structure most often used by nomads in Central Asia. Photo by Kathryn Brady

Thanks to Cameron, we now have beautiful and detailed photos of every place to stay at Doe Bay. Just click on this link to get to the map. Then click on any site and you will see the photos.

CLICK HERE TO SEE

DOE BAY MAP

We not only guaranty a great place for a ceremony, a great experience for you and your guests and great food, drink and atmosphere, we guaranty that you will stay married longer if you get married at Doe Bay Resort & Retreat!

Contact Maureen@DoeBay.com. There are still weekends left this coming May or June.

There has never been a better winter to stay at Doe Bay. In the next few weeks, you'll be seeing more music, movies, and café specials popping up on the calendar than you could possibly imagine. You'll still be able to come to Doe Bay and have a personal retreat and some introspection, but you can also come and make like-minded friends, enjoy on-island hikes, and take part in on-site activities as never before. Watch our Events page for details:

Every Thursday is open mic, beer and pizza from 5 to 10 with the music starting at about 7; and

Almost Every Friday is live music at the café starting at about 7:00pm; and

Every Sunday is family food night and a movie in the café. Call for details. 360 376-2291

EVENTS

If you're thinking about organizing an Event between now and 2010, we'd love to talk to you. Yoga Retreats, Family Reunions, Weddings, Writer's Workshops, Spiritual Retreats, Film Workshops, Dance Intensives, and more have been hosted at Doe Bay with great success. Let us know when you're interested in making an event happen and we'll help make it the success you want it to be.

We can't wait to see you here again, or for the first time.

IMPORTANT UPDATE Weekend Wedding Dates SOLD OUT for 2010

We have a couple May, June or October weekends still available, but they are first come first serve. If you are interested in getting married at Doe Bay, let us know immediately! Write TODAY to Maureen@doebay.com

The Doe Bay Café Welcomed the New Year in Style

Dana and Bruce >>>>

New Year's Eve was a Feast and a great party. This year we started with Fabrice hosting a great open mic night. That was followed by Dana Lyons rockin the house until the midnight toast, followed by a medley of songs where it was hard to hear Dana because the audience knew and were singing the lyrics along with him!

FIREWORKS

There were impromptu fireworks over Doe Bay. Click here to watch and listen to the display. The enthusiasm of the pyrotechnicians is inspirational. (Full disclosure ... this was actually last year's fireworks, but again, you get the idea.) Also, if you drag your cursor over the display at left, you can call up one of the other weird Doe Bay videoes I have posted... I just discovered this feature.