You Have Reached Your Destination

"When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace."-Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust

This explains why every so often we feel the need to vacation right where we are.

Last week was February vacation, and those of us who were not at the shows stayed in town - despite the lure of warmer weather elsewhere. If we didn't live here, this is where we'd spend our vacations.

There's no place quite like it. No two stores are the same, and we never tire of the local restaurants (that has not always been true, but it certainly is now). People ask us all the time about the other businesses, so we figure lunches out (not to mention the new shoes and the facial) are all part of market research.

At this time of year, it's easy to support local businesses because there are so few of us open! Yes, the money we spend with our neighbors is likely to come back to us, but we're also lucky to have very talented neighbors. If we didn't know what we know about the benefits of shopping locally, the businesses near us would still be our first choice for just about everything.

We try hard to make Left Bank "someplace, not just anyplace." Spring merchandise will be arriving shortly, and we can't wait to see it! Audrey found a few new people at the shows this year, and some of our favorite artists are trying new things.

It may be February on Cape Cod, but it's far from dull (even without the state-of-emergency snow storms).

Come by sometime. We'll show you all the best things.

If you live or vacation here, let us know your favorite places in the comments. We can compare lists!

Ikebana Workshop

Mary Garrett, owner of Flowers by Mary, is our neighbor down the street on Cove Road in Orleans. She came by over the weekend to show us - and you - how to make really stunning ikebana arrangements in our many vases and containers. We must say, the gallery looks stunning right now. Here's a look at what she made, and how she made them:

Home for the Holidays

We had a party! There were treats, friends, music and a lot of art. Here are some photos:

Orleans - it's where the parties are.

We're planning two days of events in December, including an introduction to some of the gallery's neighbors. There are also cookies involved, but you're going to have to stay tuned for more details on that part.

On December 8 we're celebrating several Left Bank artists who will be Home for the Holidays: Phyllis Adams, Amy Brnger, Ed Chesnovitch, Fran Forman, Ellen Granter, Amy Keller, Chris Kelley, Katie Trinkle Legge and Denise Zompa. The Bert Jackson Trio will perform. Reception is Saturday, December 8, from 4 to 7pm.

Two events are scheduled for Sunday, December 9. 

At 12:30, learn the art of ikebana flower arranging with the gallery's neighbor on Cove Road, Flowers by Mary. Owner Mary Garrett is eager to share what she's learned in over 40 years in the industry. Her lectures and demonstrations have been presented at fundraisers and events, including Boston's annual Flower Show. Mary delights her audiences with a new approach to floral design, teaching serious techniques, in an easy-to-apply method. 

Mary Garrett's training began by chance while studying Horticulture at State University of New York, Cobleskill, when she took a side course in Floral Design. Mary has since worked in floral shops up and down the East Coast, learning and sharing with many designers along the way. Her shop on Cove Road in Orleans, Flowers by Mary, upholds all that is dear to her about her craft: integrity, caring, professionalism and a sense of adventure.

At 2pm, Diane Johnson will be at the gallery demonstrating whiteline woodblock printing. The white line process allows all the colors for a woodblock print to come from one block. The design is drawn onto a wood block and each line is carved into a v-shaped groove. Paper is attached to the block. A small area of the block is painted, then the paper is flipped back against it and burnished. This allows the paper to pick up the paint and to be embossed with a white line. The whole block is done in this method.

White line woodblock prints were originally created in Provincetown in the early 1900s by a small group of artists. The artform is also referred to as "Provincetown" prints.

The innkeeper of Nauset House Inn, Diane Johnson will also be signing copies of her book Dreaming Inn Cape Cod.

All three events are at Left Bank's Orleans location, at 8 Cove Road. 

Home for the Holidays

December 8, 4-7pm

Ikebana Workshop with Flowers by Mary

December 9, 12:30-1:30pm

White Line Woodblock demo by Diane Johnson

December 9, 2-3:30pm

Happy Halloween!

Watch out for zombies in your sugarbowl.

Jill McGowan - just arrived!

We have new shirts, dresses and jackets from Jill McGowan in Orleans! She makes some of our favorite, most frequently worn clothes.

It's party time!

They were a little nervous about breaking things, but Randy and the Oak Trees were a perfect addition to Left Bank Gallery! Many thanks to the band, and to everyone who came out on this cold, cold night. It was pretty worth it.

More pictures are on our Facebook page. Come see!

new in Orleans

Audrey's being particularly diabolic these days. She's found several new lines of sweaters and scarves that are exquisitely hard to resist. In fact, I took one for the team and bought a drapey sweater in blue boucle just this morning.

It seemed the least I could do.