Hello Friends of Renaissance!

I've got lots of news to share today; you might want to grab a cup of tea or coffee and settle in for a long read. I want to tell you about new people at Renaissance, new local delicacies in the cafe', and, of course, some new massage specials.

Let me start by introducing you to Amanda Hoge, a new massage therapist at Renaissance! I'm so very excited to have this warm, kind woman joining us from Alaska where she has most recently been providing massage (and filling many other roles) at the Baronof Lodge in Sitka, on Warm Springs Bay. Trained at the Massage College Of Bingham Hospital, Amanda is adept at treatment massage as well as classic Swedish massage.

Not surprisingly, with a massage practice in Alaska, Amanda has developed a proficiency in Hot Stone Massage, and since the weather these days is perfect for Hot Stone Massage, this calls for a Massage Special. Make an appointment for a Hot Stone Massage with Amanda and the cost will be the same as a one hour Swedish Massage. In other words, the Hot Stone is free! This is a great way to try Hot Stone Massage for the first time. Or, maybe you've been thinking of spoiling someone in your life.

No two ways about it, a Hot Stone Massage is a terrific way to spoil a deserving person, including yourself! We'll be running this special through the end of the year. Hmmmm, and maybe beyond, depending on just how cold it gets this winter.

Also, so you can get to know Amanda and her fantastic massage style, she'll be here at Renaissance this Saturday afternoon providing Two-for-One Chair Massages. Bring a friend!

This Saturday is turning into a regular party here at Renaissance. And it's not even our birthday!

Also on Saturday morning (9:30 to noon) Cathy Bangs and I will be teaching a short class on Strong to the Core. This smart program teaches a series of exercises developed by physical therapist Peggy Brill and presented in her book, The Core Program. It's a terrific series of exercises one can do at home to stay fit and strong to the core--the foundation of back health, good posture, and flexibility. Cathy and I will be leading class participants through each of the exercises to assure correct and safe execution of each one. The class cost ($55.00) includes a copy of Brill's excellent book. For those of you who just want the book, they're in and we've got lots of copies.

But Saturday just keeps getting better...

I am MOST excited to invite you to a Cheese and Apple Tasting this Saturday from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. We're celebrating the expansion of our menu to include local cheese plates and we'll be exploring the world of cheese and apple pairing. Expanding our 100 Mile Cafe' concept beyond toast has introduced us to 100 miles of farmstead and artisanal cheese-makers. Wow! Do we have some delicious cheeses to share with you, some this Saturday, and others on a rotating basis as the months unfold. This Saturday we'll be sampling cheese from our own Mt. Townsend Creamery, the Pleasant Valley Dairy, and the world-renowned Estrella Family Creamery, all making fantastic, and award-winning cheeses within 100 miles of Port Angeles.

And that's just half the story!

We'll be pairing those cheeses with unique, local apples from Johnston Farms. Kelly and Christie Johnston will be on hand to talk apples as we pair the tart with the creamy, the sweet with the tangy. The Johnstons are bringing a crazy delicious Japanese apple I tasted on their farm the other day and I can't wait for you to have this opportunity as well. We'll also taste Chehalis, Pink Pearl, Freedom, and others.

We live in an amazing area, rich with culinary gifts. This Saturday we'll get a good hint of that. There's no cost for the sampling.

Now, last but not least on Saturday's schedule, there's the Saturday matinee!

Every Saturday through the Thanksgiving weekend we'll be showing Strong Coffee, the inspiring documentary about Cafe' Femenino, the Peruvian Women Coffee-Growers organization that is building strong families, strong communities, and strong, enduring esteem. We're gonna drink a lot of their coffee while we're watching, too! If you care about your coffee or food dollar you will be inspired by this short movie and confident that consumer activism is the simplest, most pleasurable way to make a difference in the lives of families in the developing world, and right here in Port Angeles.

So let me recap on Saturday....

9:30 to noon: Strong to the Core Class    Call to reserve a spot; we still have some space available.

Noon to 5:00: Two-for-One Chair Massage from Amanda Hoge

2:00 to 4:00: We kick off our expanded menu at Renaissance with a delicious Local Cheese and Apple Tasting, featuring Kelly and Christie Johnston, from Johnston Farms.

3:00: Watch Strong Coffee, drink coffee, stay up late tonight!

Many of you have been asking "who's winning the race to 2000 massages, you or Meggan"? I love the question; largely because I relish the answer.

Yes, Meggan, through a series of vacations and some sick leave to care for sniffly kids, is letting me win. I am just a week or two away from reaching my 2000th massage here at Renaissance. To be sure, Meggan is close on my heels, however. And those are just two of the milestones we're working on here.

Cathy Bangs is steadily moving up on her 1000th massage, and as is the tradition, we must have a contest to see who can accurately predict the day on which she does that. Anyone who accurately predicts the date on which Cathy provides her 1000th massage receives a free massage at Renaissance. (Cathy doesn't work on Sunday or Monday, so don't pick one of those dates.)

Okay, you already know I'm a week or two away from 2000 and Meggan trails very close behind. Cathy reaches 1000 by Christmas, and as an organization we'll provide our 7000th massage before year's end. So... If anyone out there can accurately predict the dates on which each of those happen, we'll provide you a massage a month for a year.

Whew! After all that are you still with me?

Let me close by saying a deeply felt "thank you" to each of you who have made Renaissance the thriving presence on the bluff that it is today. As I reach my own massage practice milestone and we grow our massage staff and our 100 mile cafe', Thanksgiving feels particularly powerful to me. As always, I look to you and your generous presence here. Thank you, everyone, for your on-going support and enthusiasm for Renaissance.

'looking forward to the possibility of seeing you Saturday!

Lynn Keenan