The popcorn challenge started as a friendly banter between friends and competitors on facebook and I have to say when I first heard about it I thought it sounded like a fun friendly rivalry. This happens to be between Bob’s Sporting Goods and Dennis Company with great potential for cross promoting for all the businesses involved.

Yes, it is a fun and friendly contest and promotion but I was also schooled in popcorn machines. Who knew there was a difference?

As someone who enjoys vintage Americana and old movies I was delighted to learn about the Manley Popcorn Company and their machines. Click here for a history on the company that brought you movie theater popcorn!

Dennis Company in Raymond boasts a vintage Manley Popcorn Machine with Joe as the head popcorn chef. I have yet to taste corn popped in a Manly but I am excited for tomorrows challenge when I get to sample the corn popped in a iconic piece of American made history!

The Manley Popcorn Machine at the Raymond Dennis Company.

A Manley with great style looks to be early 1950′s my guess is it served  many bags of popcorn to movie patrons during the golden age of movies.

Not sure if this is a Manley but these wagons would park out in front of the theater selling popcorn to people heading into the theater. Eventually theater owners realized they could be reaping these popcorn profits themselves and movie theater popcorn was born.

Taste the difference yourself at the Popcorn Challenge noon tomorrow at the Lost Roo. The winner will be determined in a blind taste test by the esteemed judging panel consisting of Michael Lalewicz from the The Depot Restaurant, Mike Littawa from the Breakers Long Beach, Blane Walker from the 42nd Street Cafe, Betsy Millard from the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum, Brady Turner from Adrift Hotel & Spa, Andi Day from Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau, and Jan Grambo from the Lighthouse Oceanfront Resort. The real winner of the challenge will be ether Cowlitz County CASA or the Boys & Girls Club of the Long Beach Peninsula with the loser of the challenge donating $250 to the others charity of choice.

Our office will be closed from Thursday the 22nd through Monday the 26th so that we can all enjoy being with our families for the holidays. Our best wishes to everyone for the season and for the coming year!

SallyLeeByTheSea.com has a wonderful article on the holiday happenings –and Christmas Spirit– in Ilwaco this season.  From Crab Pot Christmas Tree (and crab pot carols) to the lighted boat parade (led by the US Coastguard) to the indoor Saturday Market, charming shops, and fireworks, you’ll want to be sure to check out her blog for wonderful photos and details.

Many of you are aware that our beachdog.com owners, Keith and myself (Keleigh), have been out of the office for a couple of months.  I’m more than delighted to report that we are once again on the Peninsula and, better still, my cancer is in remission!  W00t!

I haven’t been released to return to work just yet but I show up just about daily for a few hours to do a bit of this-n-that.  I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be on a daily basis, so it must be good for me.  Besides, staying home was making me nuts!

I’m asking friends to please feel free to drop in and visit me at home but to refrain from the same when they see my car at the office.  My time here at beachdog.com is very limited and I need to spend it wisely.

Clients, I’m taking a very limited number of appointments, but you can call the office (360-642-4431) and Wendy or Sabrina will fit you in as needed.  Honestly, Wendy, Sabrina and Ethan did such a great job while I was away, I hardly feel needed around here.  I think my 12+ hour days may be in my past (yay!).  It’s pretty clear that we have a great team in place right now, based on all the positive feedback received from YOU.  Thanks for letting me know how they were doing!

I have to share this photo with you, which could as well be me at that age.  It was taken by Becky Johnson at Sandsations this past month.

Here’s to a prosperous, healthy and FUN summer!

Keleigh