Accordion enthusiasts find unity

When I was growing up on Orchard Prairie, the Crowders lived across the road from us. I remember two things about them: the main feature of their living room was a huge rag rug, and Mrs. Crowder could play the accordion.

She’d walk around that oval rug, flapping her elbows and producing some of the most amazing sounds my young, wide-eyed self had ever heard. I’m not sure what she played – probably “Lady of Spain,” the uncontested champion of all accordion tunes. In any case, I was duly impressed.

I’ve learned since then that some people find accordions comical, but certain things seem too sincere, too goodhearted to mock. So it is with an utterly straight face that I tell you about the 12th Annual Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration, June 22 to 25.

The schedule includes indoor and outdoor concerts, dancing, jam sessions, an accordion parade with horse-drawn wagons, and workshops such as “Right Hand Techniques” and “The Excitement of Translating Modern Music for the Accordion.”

It’s not all fun and games, though. This is serious business, with around $5,000 in prize money at stake.

Competitors choose among several divisions: jazz and original composition; patriotic march; and old-time, classical or popular music.

Last year’s Leavenworth Open winner – required to play three selections – came all the way from New Zealand.

You’ll find more information at www.accordioncelebration.com or (509) 548-5807.

Out to SeaFest

How many times have you had to hear, “Mommy! Daddy! Please tell me about dolphin psychology!”?

If you’ve reached your limit, consider SeaFest 2005, a gold mine of tours, demonstrations, hands-on exhibits and children’s activities at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Ore.

The center, an Oregon State University research facility, houses about 300 scientists and staff conducting marine-related research on the 49-acre coastal campus.

In its fourth year, SeaFest takes you behind the scenes to meet scientists studying marine biology, aquaculture, fisheries and deep-sea exploration. You can tour OSU’s near-shore and deep-sea research vessels or watch the U.S. Coast Guard’s demonstration of a search-and-rescue operation in Yaquina Bay.

Guest speakers will present lectures on the Indian Ocean tsunami, the importance of salmon to Native American cultures and, yes, dolphin behavior.

It’s all free, and you can learn more at www.hmsc.oregonstate.edu/seafest or (541) 867-0100.

Tall sails

Now if you like the idea of a life at sea for your kids, but science just doesn’t seem like the thing, what about oceanic crime?

The Victoria Tall Ships Challenge 2005 includes a pirate school for children. I’d imagine the curriculum covers looting, swaggering, eye-patch fashion, and care and feeding of your parrot.

Once you’ve gotten the next generation off to a good start, have a look at the Lady Washington, Johnny Depp’s co-star in “Pirates of the Caribbean” and one of 30 ships scheduled to make the scene.

You’ll also have the chance to tour Cuauhtemoc, a 23-sail, 270-foot Mexican Navy vessel, and Russia’s Pallada, at 350 feet one of the world’s largest tall ships.

It accommodates 143 marine cadets and as many as 56 professional crew members.

In addition to a ship parade in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, the event offers mock gun battles, the carving and launch of a First Nations dugout canoe, live music, food, art displays, scrimshaw carving, seamanship training and more. Demonstrations cover such maritime skills as making sails and building wooden boats.

You can purchase your $5 tickets in advance atwww.tourismvictoria.com or (800) 663-3883. There are pictures and descriptions of the ships at www.tallshipsvictoria.ca.

Wine and water

I must be the only person in the Western world who did not fall all over myself in love with the movie “Sideways.”

Those are two hours of my life I’d like back. But I don’t hold it against pinot noir.

So the 2005 Wine on the River tours offered by O.A.R.S., the West’s largest river company, caught my eye.

On June 26 to 29, they’ll take you rafting through the Class III whitewater of the Lower Salmon River and serve up gourmet meals prepared by Philippe Boullot, executive chef of the Heathman Restaurant in Portland.

Robert Wolf, president of the Oregon Pinot Noir Club, has selected wines to complement Boullot’s menu and he will act as your camp sommelier. The trip costs $916 per person.

Another tour, on Oregon’s Rogue River, showcases wine from Ironstone Vineyards. It runs Sept. 1 to 4 for $995.

Visit www.oars.com or call (800) 346-6277 to register.

Regional events

•Custer’s Last Stand Re-enactment, June 24-26, Hardin, Mont. More than 250 participants will relive this historic event, less than 20 miles from where it actually happened. (www.custerslaststand.org, 406-665-1672)

•Taste of Tacoma, June 24-26, Tacoma. Point Defiance Park hosts cuisine from area restaurants and a carnival. Organizers call it the “ultimate family picnic.” (www.tasteoftacoma.com, 425-283-5050)