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Great Day in the Morning

2009-07-04T18:16:00.000-07:00

It was a perfect morning for a parade in Haines. This year's 4th of July theme honored our state's birthday and was called "Oregon: 150 Years Young." The Prospector featured the red, white and blue capped off by the presence of our own lil' Miss Betsy Ross. Thanks Madi Turner for making today memorable. You sure got a lot of "howdys" along the way. Next up for Sparky, the 1940 Chevy pickup will be Miner's Jubilee. Hope you can join us for some rollicking fun at the Bronc and Bull Blowout--the World's Best no-nonsense rodeo!

The Depths of Hells

2009-06-20T05:19:00.000-07:00

If you ever want to get really wet, a rafting trip through Hells Canyon is what you're looking for. Unfortunately, this pristine wilderness is losing some of its accessibility in as much as the U.S. Forest Service plans to terminate a long relationship with one of its prime tour operators, Hells Canyon Adventures. They say that the all day rafters are creating congestion on the river, blah, blah. But these guys do a great job of sharing the excitement, history and beauty of this special place. We saw bald eagles, black bear and rocky mountain goats. We safely negotiated several level four rapids at high flow, examined 2500 year old native pictographs and visited an old homesteaders cabin on the national registry. Hopefully a letter writing campaign or an influential senator can keep these guys in business for a long time. To top off our day we enjoyed a tasty meal at Mimi's in Halfway. Stop and see her and Eric sometime--they're the best!

A Moped Rally

2009-06-15T15:24:00.000-07:00

Well, we had our own little biker rally of sorts. Tired of being blocked off by vendors with the annual Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally, we decided to rendezvous with our kids at Long Beach, Washington. Our weekend included super accommodations at the Doveshire Inn, a bit of Moped excitement, some not so professional bowling and a few late night dips in the hot tub. Weather wasn't that great but we didn't mind. We also did some shopping and picked up a few more antiques for the shop. This week we go white-water rafting in Hells Canyon. Stand by . .

The Greatest Generation

2009-02-22T10:06:00.000-08:00

Marie and I made a recent journey to Spokane to celebrate her father's 80th birthday. Besides a nice dinner at a popular South Hill eatery, we took a few hours to videotape an oral history interview about her Dad's early life. In the process we found a tiny picture from Richard's military experiences working on the P-51 Mustang warbirds. A high resolution scan turned into a great photo that I felt compelled to share with you here. These guys look like they're right out of a movie poster! By the way, Dick is in the middle with the white hat. Thanks for the memories.

Bienvenidos

2009-01-12T12:15:00.000-08:00

Marie is tanned and refreshed and John, well, he's refreshed. This after 10 days in the warmth and tranquility of La Manzanilla, Mexico. We stayed with the very accomplished chef Eileen Zack and participated in her cooking classes, picking up a few new ideas for the Prospector menu. We also enjoyed the cuisine at most local restaurants, walked the beach and made several new acquaintances. The seafood was superb and the Mexican fare was equally delicious. Thanks to our good customers Katie and John for giving us the inspiration to go--we will never forget our great experiences in this sleepy little town! For more information, come on in and see our photos, or better yet . . . taste our new dishes in Thai, Middle Eastern and Mexican. Now . . . bring on Valentines Day!

No Murphy's Law

2008-10-21T19:18:00.000-07:00

Tonight we were blessed by the presence of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Murphy, residents of Portland, Oregon and graduates of Washington State University. They've been here before and modestly enjoyed our ambiance and beef brisket. But tonight they revealed their true identity when they saw a signed Joe Rudi baseball in our display case. Turns out the the Murphys are parents to Dale Murphy, 2-time National League MVP and beloved superstar of the Atlanta Braves. Dale is destined for the Hall of Fame and will always be remembered for his work ethic and dedication to the game. Besides, he is one of the truly good guys of professional sports. Today he heads up a foundation to deter young athletes from steroids. The Murphys promised a signed baseball from Dale to grace our front counter and in the process made John a very happy little kid again. Thanks to all the Murphy's and we look forward to you classin' up our joint in the near future!

Sparky Visits Haines

2008-07-07T14:16:00.000-07:00

Our 1940 Chevy Pickup "Sparky" made her Baker County debut at the 4th of July Parade in Haines. No ribbons, but the Baker City Garage had her lookin' mighty purty! Next up . . . the Miner's Jubilee Parade in downtown Baker City July 26th. Hope to see you there!

Back to Paradise

2008-06-16T17:46:00.000-07:00

Marie and John spent early June attending CoffeeFest on the Big Island. Marie improved her barista skills with a 5-hr. training while John haggled to find space in the espresso machine repair class. They stayed at the Lyman Farms organic plantation 2000 ft. above the Kona airport and learned about woofers and cherry. They also met some interesting (albeit laid-back) creatures along the way. And beside excellent coffee, the team returned with new recipes including Wasabi potato salad.

Winter white-out

2008-01-13T07:23:00.000-08:00

Marie and John took a couple weeks away from the Prospector to catch up with family and friends. After a quick jaunt to Seattle to see the kids, we left for Vegas and some time with the son and his three little ones. After freezing in Nevada and even a little snow one night on "the strip" we returned to the northwest to travel over a blizzardy Stevens Pass and on to Conconully. Five degrees and three feet of snow greeted us at the tranquility of the Carney cabin where we experienced snowmachine adventures beyond our expectations. Then, following a stop in Spokane for a frolicking wedding and birthday celebration, we returned home to another winter wonderland. Now it's time to get those fuzzy chocolate hearts ready for Valentines Day!

Alaska

2007-09-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

Realizing a life-long dream to visit the last frontier, John and Marie are now back in Baker City and are planning to bring new culinary delights to the menu. We will be adding salmon cakes, Thai spring rolls, twisted noodle Kielbasa and Italian sausage with spinach penne. And of course, don't forget about our ever-expanding choices of Marie's famous spiced truffles! It is also possible to book your group's holiday gathering at the Prospector. Talk to us about private events for 20 people or less. We hope to see you soon!

99 Years of Service

2007-05-10T20:10:00.000-07:00

Our building is constructed of volcanic tuff stone quaried from nearby Pleasant Valley. Dr. Ison used resources from his father's estate to craft this fine structure starting in 1908. Many people who have toured our upstairs have remarked, "how New York!" The architectural influence probably came from Virgil's time spent in Manhattan--first at Columbia University Medical School and then his internship on the Lower Eastside. His duties as a maternity doctor exposed him to some of the toughest Italian neighborhoods. A black doctor bag saved him from many a potential disaster when people realized he was no threat and only there to help their families and friends. This 1910 photo is believed to depict the first shipment of the Model-T to Baker City. The upstairs windows show the names of Dr. Ison's and his dentist brother-in-law Dr. Alexander MacDougall. At street level the Chinese On On and Co. Dry Goods was the first of many retail establishments to occupy the main floor over the years. Come see us soon to learn more about our building's colorful past.

Past is Home

2007-03-19T04:32:00.000-07:00

We recently made contact with the grand-daughter of Dr. Virgil S. Ison, the Columbia graduate that constructed our building and established his medical practice here back in 1910. He's seen here in a photo with his wife Mary and son Frank. Tawnya has gratefully provided more context to the "good vibe" that survives in our dwelling by sharing family photos and rare insights into Virgil's early days of doctoring in Baker City. She even has letters that her great-grandfather, Luther, sent during the Civil War! We continually look forward to bringing the past alive in this special place we call home.

First Hello

2006-11-12T10:33:00.000-08:00

Scrambling to escape life in an America that no longer had meaning, Marie and I have gone back to the future in Baker City, Oregon. We found this 100-year-old building at bargain basement prices and proceeded to dump the bulk of our retirement savings into creating the finest little bistro east of Mt. Hood. We hope you will stop by someday for a succulent curry dish or another fine entree from Marie's kitchen. And . . . if you have the patience John will wax poetically about 911 coverups and the new World Order.