I’m in the middle of a long weekend in Walla Walla, WA. It’s been a blast to visit 12+ years since I was last in town. I’ve seen more of the area in a few days than I did over 4 years of college; it’s funny how campus bubbles work. This weekend’s goal was to spend time in town, get into the mountains, and eat lots of good food.
On that note, Saffron is delicious (I’d say it’s only loosely a mediterranean menu); every dish we ordered was great, though the butterscotch pudding for desert is absolutely killer. The Maple Counter remains excellent for breakfast (get there early if it’s a weekend) and their apple pancake is a more-than-one-person (sweet, sweet, delicious) challenge.
There’s something about a town this size that just feels fitting. Small enough to understand in a few days, yet thriving enough that there’s more you can explore. My wish is that the Pacific Northwest had more towns with this kind of foundation.
One great thing about small towns is how quickly “town” gives way to countryside. My 6-mile out-and-back run this morning took me from west of downtown to the very east edge of town. My happy place is running water alongside a gravel track that points into early morning sun when the air is crisp.
While not a wine drinker, the vineyards do make for a beautiful contrast against the rolling mountains. This is from Kinhaven, which has a small, lovely tasting room (plus an adorable vineyard dog named Monty).
I’m still on a long article kick and have lately read a lot more of these than books.
- Richard Powers has a new book out that’s all about the ocean. I loved The Overstory, so this one was an instant preorder for me.
- Ed Zitron asks whether generative AI can actually reach economies of scale given the cash platforms burn through.
- Sean, an old friend from CoPress days, published a new interview and launched a new website for his project on sabbaticals (which I admire).
