Wow, this little town on the Columbia River is buzzing with excitement. A full filming crew is in town to film the Ring II. Last night we were able to watch over three hours of filming here in town.

The mayor of Astoria also has a small speaking part in the movie which is just a kick to watch. My daughter and son's girlfriend are very interested in film-making and the crew was very helpful in explaining things to them both. I was impressed with the time and attention they gave them in answering all of their questions.

It's interesting to see all that goes into the making of even one scene. Silence!! Action!! And Cut!!! Lots of fun and very educational.

Seaside was gorgeous yesterday, I spent a few hours out on the beach and then had a fantastic dinner at Kalypso. The pan-fried oysters were just wonderful as was the service and ambiance.

There is a new wine bar down on the waterfront that I hope to try soon. The trolley is up and running and the town is in full tourist season swing! www.oldoregon.com for those who would like a peek at this great place!

Tomorrow the Scandanavian Festival starts and runs for three days. I hope to attend at least one of the days. ***kim***

Sounds like a lot of fun.

This is a great weather week for all of the PNW, but to be on the Oregon Coast this week - I'm green with envy!

Thanks for the tip about pan fried oysters at Kalypso. On our way from Seattle to Cannon Beach or Ocean Shores, we stop in Olympia and have lunch of pan fried oysters at Bud Bay Cafe--they do a great job at a reasonable price.

One of our good friends is a filmmaker...yes, it sure is interesting. He comes and stays with us when he has shoots in the area.

You are lucking out with weather this week! We were in Cannon Beach last weekend and it was nice. Its too hot in PDX right now...thankfully we are headed to Seattle today where it will be cooler

Yes, it is warm here on the coast. Actually, I think the film makers were hoping for rain for one street scene, as they were really wetting down the road and putting water on the car windshields.

The little boy in the movie (maybe someone knows his name from the Ring) sure is a ham, he was a lot of fun to watch and hang around with under the tent. ***kim***

No offense to either of you but filming is one of the most painfully boring things I've ever seen.

The several movies I've seen filmed down here was like watching grass grow.

What about the time Marilyn Monroe stood over the subway grate on Lexington Avenue in NYC?

I guess it all depends on what your interests are. I enjoy watching all the commaradarie and hype.

It will really be rewarding when the film comes out in a few months to go and see it. I hear it is supposed to be REALLY scary and my family is telling me I would NOT like it.

I'll still go see it opening day. We were also able to see some of Free Willy when it was filmed here, that was cool. We saw the movie here in town and then went and drove by the house where it was filmed.

Kindergarten Cop was also cool with Arnold starring in that movie. Last summer I rode Maria Shriver's horse on the beach!! ***kim***

I'll be watching for the film. The Ring was a really good horror flick. Hope the sequel is as good.

Truth is stranger than fiction. We took my parents to see Astoria several years ago, when visited us. It was a misty, moody day, and they found Astoria intriguing.

A couple of years later, my father was diagnosed with an incurable cancer. When fate was closing in on him, he would joke, "Next year in Astoria!" Astoria became our family's sort of "Shangri La," a lighthearted diversion. When asked what we should do with his remains, he told us wryly, "Take me to Astoria."

Since that was all the instructions we could muster from him, when he died, we made a trip to the Astoria with his ashes and dropped them off a pier into the Columbia River, where he now rests. I still smile when I think of my father and Astoria.

That's heart-warming, Orcas. This little place is kind of surreal. We have this adorable little cottage with the most beautiful little backyard here. Surrounded by lush greenery, deer walking through your yard, it's almost kind of a Stepford-type place. LOL

When our kids were all small, we spent a month of the summer here as I wanted to give them a very old-fashioned type summer. They spent hours each afternoon at Tapiola pool, swimming and playing at the park. It has since been replaced by a large, modern indoor aquatic center.

Considering the changes this place hsa gone through the past couple of years,the locals seem to be handling it very well. When we first started coming here twenty years ago, it was a total sleeper and my husband used to comment, "one of these days this place is going to be a hot tourist destination."

The waterfront is gorgeous, with a little trolley running through town just a very nice community. A nice change of pace from the CA lifestyle. ***kim***

Having worked in the film industry for 15 years I am always amazed at the awe and adoration that the cast and crews receive. My job was to find filming locations for a major film company and while we did pay for the location sites I am surprised that anyone ever asked us back. Most didn't. Filming creates litter and the destruction of plants and lawns. Heaven help those who allow filming in their home interiors.

The filming itself is incredibly boring as most of the time is spent doing nothing.
I find it sad that the American public needs to idolize actors. One would think that life was much more exciting that to watch people sit around and wait. I fear the American public is easily amused. "Buzzing with excitement"? Must be a slow June in a slow town.