~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."

The Barn is 2nd only to the Kiana Lodge for dinner night.

I love wandering around the Great Northern interior and the Log as the sun sets. I love the elegant, atrium/dining room. Especially for first timers, the first experience of being immersed in the interior/exterior film sites, at once-- the first scenes from the pilot, even--- is down the rabbit hole perfect.  Adam and I were reminiscing about that last night.  We miss it so much...

It was totally worth staying the night in Poulsbo for the one night for the dinner, then checking out en masse the next day when the ferries started running again. (The salt air is tonic for a hangover. ) There was time enough to grab a bite and see some sites once you got into North Bend, too.  

 Was someone at the front desk banging on the bell and saying 'The Twin Peaks Freaks are leaving! The Twin Peaks Freaks are leaving!'?

"It's not so bad as long as you can keep the fear from your mind." - D. Cooper

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer." - P. Atreides

"Whoever can see through all fear will always be safe" - L. tzu

We will probably never go back to the Kiana for a scheduled event because the common complaint we get every year is that the festival is too spread out. I have a feeling that were we to move the celeb dinner back to the island, we'd get run out of town on a rail.

That and the cost of doing business with the Kiana has increased to a price that is out of our range. ($2200-3500 just to rent the facility itself; this doesn't include the food or alcohol. Additional charges apply simply for HAVING a bar, plus charges for the bartender we are required by law to use, plus alcohol that we have to buy from them. And we're required to spend a minimum of $50 per person for the food and beverages. And if we run past 10pm, it's an additional $400 per hour. There's also linen charges per person, and oh, we have to pay for an event planner even though we are actually planning the event ourselves already. It's a rip. The conversation I had with the lady there was pleasant but definitely uncomfortable as it became clear that they were talking dollars we weren't even close to being able to pay)

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."

More or less. There's only one motel in that area and we had it booked out..

Oh, I can imagine how costly its gotten. Did the King County Tourism Department complain it was too spread out? I know Festers will *find* things to bitch about, but back in the day that was worth sucking it up for. For the fans. I know the Poulsbo Inn wasn't as posh as the Salish for the celebrities, and they didn't come to see the sites. It's all compromise, I know.

The 2009 Twin Peaks Festival

Dedicated in Loving Memory to The Number Six Sign

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

Someone's going to get arrested trying to look around at the trailer park this year, I just know it.

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

Sign me up for "Jailbreak " on Karaoke.

I know it helps not at all at the moment (when you would need it to) but the way things are going many venues may well be begging for business by the time July rolls around.  My own beloved Sol Duc Hot Springs moved there opening date back by two months this year.  Things are tough all over, except for drug dealers (legal and otherwise or so I would surmise having absolutely no knowledge of such things myself.)

"It's not so bad as long as you can keep the fear from your mind." - D. Cooper

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer." - P. Atreides

"Whoever can see through all fear will always be safe" - L. tzu

Oh no, the "too spread out" complaint has come from many a survey and/or mouth at every festival each year. If I have to hear one more complaint about the film night not being held in North Bend, I'm going to start throwing shit. (especially when people gripe at us for not providing transportation into the city for that) (and to be blunt/frank...the decision to keep film night at the SAM was primarily Greg, as the amount of work involved for him and his folks to bring the proper equipment to the North Bend Theater is more than they're willing to deal with anymore. I think if Jared and I really really forced the issue, Greg would comply, but the SAM has been so wonderful to us, I don't want to steamroll them unless absolutely necessary) We've had people complain about how far away the picnic is. And at least one person every year complains about the fact that the fest isn't held at one single location for the whole weekend. It's seriously funny and yet irritating at the same time.

I think the problem is that the fest attendee base has changed since we first started going. I remember the crowd that used to attend back in the day and they were definitely into having more of a guerilla fest experience. I'm sure it was hellish on the organizer(s) at the time, but bouncing from location to location worked so well and everyone was into it. But something has definitely changed...I noticed it in '02. Most of that old crowd had disappeared (I personally blame it on the disastrous last two years of Eric's reign...he soured people) and was replaced by a new crop of people who are still super awesome but definitely don't have as much patience for the adventure that Eric's fest style was.

Perhaps we'll look at planning something big for the 20th Fest? Kiana included. :)

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."

For the record, i appreciate every ounce of work that goes into this fest. I can't wait to meet you guys, and i know this year is going to be a blast.

I'm sure the venue matters for regular attendees, but just so you know from a newcomer; any place is boss for me.

That is an absolutely perfect picture. I have to echo Angel's sentiment that the Kiana was just a great setting. I really would like to get us back there one day, and I think the 20th anniversary of the fest would be awesome for that. It would require a bit of logistics planning and probably an increase in ticket prices just a little, but I think people would find it worth it.

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."

I hope it's over by the 20th! My lord. Yeah, there are pros and cons to traveling about, but there are 3 types of attendees and it's impossible to please all of them.

Type A) This type wants a full schedule and to see as much as possible. They complain about the dead time, and are anal about photo ops.

Type B) These just want to hang out in podunk North Bend, getting liquored up and eating at the local greasy spoons. They want the Festival to come to THEM.

Type C) They plan and amuse themselves as they go, are hard-pressed to complain, and are generally just happy to be there. Mostly veterans (they know what to expect) and newbies (who have no expectations.)

Unfortunately you're only going to hear from A & B, unless something really fucked up happens (see: Eric Thomas overbooking the movie theater and bus tours then promising refunds he never delivers, advertising Sheryl Lee and Ray Wise without having ever even called them--- which is why Ms. Lee says she will never come-- or Sherilyn Fenn pulling 2 surprise no-shows in a row), and they're the empty cans.

We have to remind people that the Fest ain't a Convention, but it's also not an Safari, or a Resort. The way it is now, you can be moderately busy or lazy and customize it yourself. Dunno, I think you and Jared have gotten the science of it down.

Yeah, that would be 2012, so another 3 years. To be very very honest, I would like to see the festival end after 20 years. I know that there will be fans popping up going "BUT WHY?!" and all I can do is shrug and say that the fest needs to be laid to rest eventually. It doesn't mean we can't still get people together every year and have our own party - I'm pretty sure that a number of us regulars would go no matter what. But I do think we're getting to a point where the festival has just about run its course. I mean, shit, this year when I contacted Catherine Coulson to see if she could fit the fest into her schedule, she literally said "Wow, the fest is still going?"

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."

I don't think it would be premature at all to put the last nail in next year, the 20-year anniversary of the show.

I mean, where the Shook's were doing it, the show was still culturally relevant. Some objects are considered antiques at 25 years. I'd hate to push the longevity of it even close to that far...

the big reason the fest has to end is that the younger folks just aren't picking up on the show. it's not like star trek or star wars, where there's some kind of je ne sais quoi that seems to transcend cultures and generations. we'll probably go the way of those creepy old ladies who are WAY too into dark shadows if you ask me.

(does that mean catherine's not coming? )

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."

Logic Hat Online- logichat.org

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

There are no independently wealthy fans who are that committed.

It's had a good long run. No need to ride til the wheels fall off.

But one way you could show your solidarity for the cause and divert living the rest of your days in regret over having missed out is to BUY A TICKET FOR THIS YEAR'S.

Wishing you could go isn't really encouragement enough for the organizers to keep on dumping money into the thing.

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."