All the art and music you can handle

Any night you find yourself having trouble falling asleep, just think of the organizers of the Anacortes Arts Festival.

That should tire you right out.

In yet another triumph of logistics and planning, they’re gearing up to welcome some 90,000 visitors to the 45th year of the event, which will take up more than 10 blocks of the historic downtown with 250 booths’ worth of juried artisans from Aug. 3 to 5.

You’ll find painting, photography, glasswork, ceramics, fiber art, jewelry, furniture, metals and more.

It doesn’t stop there, though. The Art at the Port Fine Art Show on the waterfront includes the North of Seattle Biennial, curated by Susan Parke from the Museum of Northwest Art.

The exhibit, “Fast Forward,” explores the historical influences on contemporary Northwest artists such as Jack Gunter, Jewels Durham and Kathryn Glowen.

For a behind-the-scenes look, swing by the Working Artist Area to watch Native artists, blacksmiths, sculptors, basket weavers and the festival muralist do their thing.

Not only that, the information I received noted that installation artist Gloria Lamson will be creating a piece of art using rope remnants.

Okey-dokey.

If you can tear yourself away from that particular attraction, two stages offer a bucket load of free musical entertainment.

The main stage, across from the beer garden, features “high-energy ethnic sounds” like Latin, blues, reggae and rock. Over at the KPLU jazz stage, Boulder Acoustic Society, Uptown Lowdown Jazz and others will perform a “variety of jazz sounds.”

Prefer to spend money on your music? The Concerts at the Port will take your $15 and serve up your choice of Pearl Django, folk artists Reilly & Maloney or jazz singer Greta Matassa.

I’m exhausted already, but there’s still more.

The Youth Discovery Area gives the junior members among you something to do, with hands-on activities like origami, tap dancing and mural painting, all revolving around the theme “The Shapes of Imagination.”

To keep your strength up, festival organizers have compiled a menu of offerings ranging from caramel apples and cotton candy to Chesapeake crab cakes, Caribbean cuisine, soul food and Lebanese dishes.

That’s just the tip of the sno-cone. You’ll find a complete list, along with event schedules and other details, at www.anacortesartsfestival.com. You can also call (360) 293-6211.

Tripping out

Have you been doing your part to keep our region’s resorts and spas afloat?

Their marketing people have evidently been putting their heads together to come up with a host of offers they hope you can’t resist. Have a look:

“Kirkland’s Woodmark Hotel, Yacht Club & Spa submits for your approval its “Romance Aweigh!” package to “celebrate summer love on the water.”

Careful there. They don’t mean what you’re thinking, I’m sure.

Rates start at $450 for a lakefront guest room, a private boat tour on a classically restored Chris Craft with champagne and hors d’oeuvres, a $200 credit at the hotel’s lakeside bistro, and a special Yacht Club “welcome gift” – also known as two Woodmark caps.

“Romance Aweigh!” is available through September 30; make your reservations at www.thewoodmark.com or (800) 822-3700.

“The folks at Alderbrook Resort & Spa on Hood Canal are just as exclamatory with their “Girls Night Away!” offering.

Overnight accommodations in a two-bedroom cottage or creek-view room, a “cocktail variety pack,” four bathrobes and $200 to use at the spa will set you and your girlfriends back $419 to $539.

Learn more at www.alderbrookresort.com or (800) 622-9370.

“Cave B Inn at SageCliffe has foregone the hyperbolic punctuation in favor of a more academic approach. Nevertheless, the “Center of American Food and Wine at SageCliffe’s First Annual TomatoFare at SageCliffe Harvest Party” still manages to make me crazy with their unrelenting proclivity for made-up words.

Plus, it’s quite a mouthful.

But I love tomatoes, so I will overlook that to concentrate on the 70 to 100 organic varieties of heirlooms they’re setting out Aug. 18 on the grounds near Quincy, Wash.

Chefs from around the Northwest will be on hand to dazzle you with their recipes and Cave B’s Estate Winery will pair the food with wine-tasting flights.

Tickets cost $30 in advance or $40 at the door. Details are at www.cavebinn.com or (509) 785-2283.

“Over on Orcas Island, recreation is on the menu with Rosario Resort’s “Set Sail for Adventure” package.

You’ll get two days of sailing lessons (I’ll give you lesson number one for free: Wear sunscreen), two nights at the resort and breakfast in the Mansion Dining Room. And when all is said and done, you’ll have yourself an American Sailing Association’s Basic Keelboat Certification.

Think how that will look next to your high school diploma.

The package is yours through September for $999 and up, based on double occupancy. See www.rosarioresort.com or call (800) 562-8820 to get answers to your questions.

Regional events

“Huckleberry Festival, Aug. 10-12, Trout Creek, Mont. Celebrate the little purple fruit with entertainment, huckleberry pancakes, parade, carnival, arts and crafts booths, dessert contest, family dance under the stars and more. (wwwvisitmt.com/406-827-3301)

“2007 Summer Championship Series, Sept. 21-23, Arlington, Wash. Model airplanes go toe-to-toe at the municipal airport. ( www.snohomish.org/360-273-3718)