Latest news with #ThomasDambo
Eater
6 days ago
- Eater
Llama Happy Hour and Fried Watercress: What to Eat and Drink on Quirky Vashon Island
A 20-minute ferry ride from West Seattle, rural Vashon Island and its artisanal, arty spirit are forever saved from suburbanization by the lack of a bridge. But that shouldn't stop you from visiting. There's a vibrant cluster of high-quality restaurants, bakeries, shops, and cafes in Vashon Uptown (only mainlanders call it 'downtown'), which is only a seven-minute drive (or bus ride) from the ferry terminal. You can also commune with camelids at Llama Happy Hour and visit Oscar the Bird King, a giant recycled wood sculpture by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. Dubbed a haven for people too eccentric to live in Seattle, it's the only Puget Sound island without coastal commercial spots, notes Chris Austin of Vashon Tours. The island's 10 commandments caution, 'Thou shalt not make for thyself any carved image…that is not funky and brightly colored,' while woe will befall those who 'paint their houses beige and make their properties look like suburbia,' according to A Rough-Hewn Guide to Vashon and Maury Islands, a suitably whimsical book. And while you're visiting, you should eat and drink at these places: Breakfast The mushroom Swiss croissant at Vashon Baking Company. Nichole Banducci Vashon Island Baking Company has been beloved for its sweet and savory croissants and other baked goods for over 35 years. The hot mushroom and Swiss cheese croissant, packed to the gills with 'shrooms, and Maple Bacon Pecan Croissant, wonderfully crunchy and maple-y, are just two delights available here. Two wood benches in front allow for thoughtful people-watching. Breakfast alternative: The cozy living room-like, art-filled Cafe Luna is revered for its quiche (like 'deep-dish pizza,' is how a fan described the monster-sized slice), pastries like chocolate chip-packed croissants, coffee, smoothies, and grilled paninis. Morning Break Oscar the Bird King. Sharon McDonnell The Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie comes with a side of coffee history. This long white wooden store was the first location of the Seattle's Best Coffee chain. Specialty coffee pioneer Jim Stewart started his first coffee roaster in 1969 on Whidbey island, and after moving to Vashon in 1982 turned the century-old building into a coffee roastery called Stewart Brothers. After winning a regional coffee tasting contest (and hearing a company had dibs on the Stewart Brothers name), he renamed it Seattle's Best Coffee, then later sold it. When Eva Solea, who opened an herb, spice and organic food store about a block away in 1972, wanted to expand, she acquired the vacant building, along with its original coffee roasting equipment. Stewart, then retired, became her coffee mentor. Her family still sources coffee beans from his nonprofit Vashon Island Coffee Foundation, roasts it with his vintage machinery, and her shop, Minglement, is inside. Lunch Teriyaki at Pop Pop Bottle Shop. Pop Pop Bottle Shop A casual eatery with a teriyaki menu and bottle shop with a big selection of local craft beers, local ciders and global small-producer wines, Pop Pop Bottle Shop is owned by Adam Chumas, the former beverage director for Tom Douglas restaurants, and his partner, Christina McFadden. He's often at the cash register or pouring pints; she designed the bright, airy look with its long wood communal tables and bar. The liquor cases sport headings like 'Weird,' and contain finds like Sage Rat Wines (a reference to a local nickname for ground squirrels), Litha, a farmhouse ale brewed with chamomile, lavender, sage and spelt from Propolis Brewing in Port Townsend, and 'spontaneous wild ales' blended with peaches or grapes from de Garde Brewing in Tillamook, Oregon. Lunch alternative: Nepali food and gluten-free, no-refined-sugar and vegan baked goods are popular at Anu Rana's Healthy Kitchen, a bakery and café a Nepalese family opened in 2016. Momos (dumplings), Nepali-spiced salmon, butter chicken and tofu curries, and peanut noodles with kale are among the prepared foods staff will happily heat up. Pistachio, caramel and date tarts, peanut butter chocolate chip brownies (both made with almond flour sweetened by maple syrup) and pumpkin pie with cashew cream, tea and boba (bubble tea) are also local favorites. The boba comes in unusual flavors, like dragonfruit, mango and coconut, and in 31 combinations. Happy Hour Cider at Dragon's Head. Sharon McDonnell Cider tastings at Dragon's Head Cider offers (five 2-ounce or four 4-ounce pours) accompany a menu that includes applesauce donuts with strawberries and whipped cream cheese, a pulled pork sandwich with apple BBQ sauce, and anchovy-garlic whipped ricotta crostini with hazelnuts and peppers. In summer, its orchard is open Friday through Saturday with outdoor seating on Adirondack chairs and hammocks. Nashi Orchards, a pear and apple cidery offers tastings (but no food) on weekends (or weekdays, by reservation) in a sleek environment. Owners Jim Gerlach and Cheryl Lubbert became cider-makers by happenstance after buying a Japanese-style house with a 300-tree orchard in poor condition on Vashon in 2005. After much TLC and learning the business from scratch, they began selling cider in 2013. The llama farm Vashon Llamas is strictly BYOB and reservation-only: You bring wine, beer, and food, they supply a table, chairs, servingware, and llamas (who approach your table in summer). Dinner option one and a ferry ride back to Seattle The beef noodle bowl at the Ruby Brink The Ruby Brink A restaurant, bar, and butcher shop featuring produce from a long list of local farms and Asian touches, The Ruby Brink, acclaimed for its noodle bowls starring roasted and pickled vegetables, is a must-try. The spicy beef noodle bowl with ginger, mushrooms, jalapenos, 24-hour bone broth, and Korean hot sauce, topped by microgreens and edible flowers, is fantastic. So is the asparagus soup with shiitake mushrooms, leeks, and Aleppo pepper, and the brownie with sourdough starter. The menu's 'Things with Rice' section features a house-fermented and house-pickled vegetable bowl with kimchi slaw, while house-made hunter sausage with pickled mustard seed mayo stars on the 'Things on Bread' section. A Bloody Mary made with Korean peppers and pickled leek brine is on the cocktail list, overseen by Jake Heil, an ex-manager of Portland's Multnomah Whiskey Library. Dinner option two and a later ferry ride or an overnight stay on the island For superb Thai food, lesser-known dishes included, many Seattleites take the ferry to May Kitchen + Bar. Pad Thai, that old standby, is here served in a banana leaf with bits of banana blossom. And while you may not be inclined to order the fried watercress, one bite of the heap of greens deep-fried in rice flour and doused in tangy tamarind sauce will convert you. Don't let the unprepossessing façade fool you (look for the elephant statue on the roof, a symbol of Thailand), the interior is filled with beautiful carved teak, mahogany walls, and gilded lotus petal lighting fixtures. If you do stay here for the night, an ideal place to soak in the serenity of Vashon is Lodges on Vashon, a cluster of Scandi-chic wood-framed cottages with indoor and outdoor fireplaces snuggled amid evergreens, yet centrally located in Vashon Uptown. Eater Seattle All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Associated Press
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Giant trolls have a message for humans about protecting the planet
WOODSIDE, Calif. (AP) — Nestled in forests around the world, a gentle army of giant wooden trolls want to show humans how to live better without destroying the planet. The Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo and his team have created 170 troll sculptures from discarded materials such as wooden pallets, old furniture and wine barrels. Twelve years after he started the 'Trail of a Thousand Trolls' project, his sculptures can be found in more than 20 countries and 21 U.S. states. Each year Dambo and his team make about 25 new trolls, which stand up to 40 feet (12 meters) tall. 'I believe that we can make anything out of anything,' said Dambo, speaking from his farm outside Copenhagen. 'We are drowning in trash. But we also know that one man's trash is another man's treasure.' An installation of six sculptures called 'Trolls Save the Humans' is on display at Filoli, a historic estate with 650 acres of forests and gardens in Woodside, California, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of San Francisco. 'They bring us back to be connected to the earth and to nature,' said Jeannette Weederman, who was visiting Filoli with her son in July. Dambo's trolls each have their own personality and story. At Filoli, the troll Ibbi Pip builds birdhouses, Rosa Sunfinger plants flowers and Kamma Can makes jewelry from people's garbage. 'Each of them has a story to tell,' said Filoli CEO Kara Newport. 'It inspires people to think of their own stories, what kind of creatures might live in their woods and make that connection to living beings in nature.' Dambo's trolls don't like humans because they waste nature's resources and pollute the planet. The mythical creatures have a long-term perspective because they live for thousands of years and have witnessed the destructive force of human civilizations. But the six young trolls at Filoli have a more optimistic view of human nature. They believe they can teach people how to protect the environment. 'They want to save the humans. So they do this by teaching them how to be better humans — be humans that don't destroy nature,' said Dambo, 45, a poet and former hip-hop artist. 'They hope to save them from being eaten by the older trolls.' Dambo's trolls are hidden in forests, mountains, jungles and grasslands throughout Europe and North America as well as countries such as Australia, Chile and South Korea. Most were built with local materials and assembled on-site by his team of craftsmen and artists with help from local volunteers. 'My exhibition now has four and a half million visitors a year globally, and it's all made out of trash together with volunteers,' said Dambo. 'That is such a huge proof of concept of why we should not throw things out, but why we should recycle it.'
New York Post
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Giant trolls built from trash want to save humans from themselves
WOODSIDE, Calif. (AP) — Nestled in forests around the world, a gentle army of giant wooden trolls want to show humans how to live better without destroying the planet. The Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo and his team have created 170 troll sculptures from discarded materials such as wooden pallets, old furniture and wine barrels. 5 Giant troll sculpture made of reclaimed wood. AP 5 Giant wooden troll sculpture next to a small red car filled with plants. AP 5 The Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo and his team have created 170 troll sculptures from discarded materials such as wooden pallets, old furniture and wine barrels. AP Twelve years after he started the 'Trail of a Thousand Trolls' project, his sculptures can be found in more than 20 countries and 21 U.S. states. Each year Dambo and his team make about 25 new trolls, which stand up to 40 feet (12 meters) tall. 'I believe that we can make anything out of anything,' said Dambo, speaking from his farm outside Copenhagen. 'We are drowning in trash. But we also know that one man's trash is another man's treasure.' An installation of six sculptures called 'Trolls Save the Humans' is on display at Filoli, a historic estate with 650 acres of forests and gardens in Woodside, California, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of San Francisco. 'They bring us back to be connected to the earth and to nature,' said Jeannette Weederman, who was visiting Filoli with her son in July. Dambo's trolls each have their own personality and story. At Filoli, the troll Ibbi Pip builds birdhouses, Rosa Sunfinger plants flowers and Kamma Can makes jewelry from people's garbage. 'Each of them has a story to tell,' said Filoli CEO Kara Newport. 'It inspires people to think of their own stories, what kind of creatures might live in their woods and make that connection to living beings in nature.' Dambo's trolls don't like humans because they waste nature's resources and pollute the planet. The mythical creatures have a long-term perspective because they live for thousands of years and have witnessed the destructive force of human civilizations. But the six young trolls at Filoli have a more optimistic view of human nature. They believe they can teach people how to protect the environment. 5 An installation of six sculptures called 'Trolls Save the Humans' is on display at Filoli, a historic estate with 650 acres of forests and gardens in Woodside, California. AP 5 Dambo's trolls each have their own personality and story. At Filoli, the troll Ibbi Pip builds birdhouses, Rosa Sunfinger plants flowers and Kamma Can makes jewelry from people's garbage. AP 'They want to save the humans. So they do this by teaching them how to be better humans — be humans that don't destroy nature,' said Dambo, 45, a poet and former hip-hop artist. 'They hope to save them from being eaten by the older trolls.' Dambo's trolls are hidden in forests, mountains, jungles and grasslands throughout Europe and North America as well as countries such as Australia, Chile and South Korea. Most were built with local materials and assembled on-site by his team of craftsmen and artists with help from local volunteers. 'My exhibition now has four and a half million visitors a year globally, and it's all made out of trash together with volunteers,' said Dambo. 'That is such a huge proof of concept of why we should not throw things out, but why we should recycle it.'
Toronto Star
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Giant trolls have a message for humans about protecting the planet
WOODSIDE, Calif. (AP) — Nestled in forests around the world, a gentle army of giant wooden trolls want to show humans how to live better without destroying the planet. The Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo and his team have created 170 troll sculptures from discarded materials such as wooden pallets, old furniture and wine barrels.
Fast Company
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
‘We are drowning in trash': How this Danish artist's sculptures put a global spotlight on recycling
Nestled in forests around the world, a gentle army of giant wooden trolls want to show humans how to live better without destroying the planet. The Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo and his team have created 170 troll sculptures from discarded materials such as wooden pallets, old furniture and wine barrels. Twelve years after he started the 'Trail of a Thousand Trolls' project, his sculptures can be found in more than 20 countries and 21 U.S. states. Each year Dambo and his team make about 25 new trolls, which stand up to 40 feet (12 meters) tall. 'I believe that we can make anything out of anything,' said Dambo, speaking from his farm outside Copenhagen. 'We are drowning in trash. But we also know that one man's trash is another man's treasure.' An installation of six sculptures called 'Trolls Save the Humans' is on display at Filoli, a historic estate with 650 acres of forests and gardens in Woodside, California, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of San Francisco. 'They bring us back to be connected to the earth and to nature,' said Jeannette Weederman, who was visiting Filoli with her son in July. Dambo's trolls each have their own personality and story. At Filoli, the troll Ibbi Pip builds birdhouses, Rosa Sunfinger plants flowers and Kamma Can makes jewelry from people's garbage. 'Each of them has a story to tell,' said Filoli CEO Kara Newport. 'It inspires people to think of their own stories, what kind of creatures might live in their woods and make that connection to living beings in nature.' Dambo's trolls don't like humans because they waste nature's resources and pollute the planet. The mythical creatures have a long-term perspective because they live for thousands of years and have witnessed the destructive force of human civilizations. But the six young trolls at Filoli have a more optimistic view of human nature. They believe they can teach people how to protect the environment. 'They want to save the humans. So they do this by teaching them how to be better humans — be humans that don't destroy nature,' said Dambo, 45, a poet and former hip-hop artist. 'They hope to save them from being eaten by the older trolls.' Dambo's trolls are hidden in forests, mountains, jungles and grasslands throughout Europe and North America as well as countries such as Australia, Chile and South Korea. Most were built with local materials and assembled on-site by his team of craftsmen and artists with help from local volunteers. 'My exhibition now has four and a half million visitors a year globally, and it's all made out of trash together with volunteers,' said Dambo. 'That is such a huge proof of concept of why we should not throw things out, but why we should recycle it.'
