BIRMINGHAM MAIL SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, … · (two hours) and then to Seattle. ... American and...
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@birminghammail 16 BIRMINGHAM MAIL SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2017 ■ LINDSAY SUTTON visited Spokane and Seattle with Icelandair, who fly from UK regional airports via Reykyavik (two hours) and then to Seattle. Fares are from £467.30 return on selected dates, and direct flights are available from London. Visit icelandair.co.uk ■ He stayed at the Davenport in Spokane, where rooms are from £124 per night (marriot.com); Edgewater Hotel, Seattle (from £200 – edgewaterhotel.com) and Roosevelt Hotel, Seattle (from £104 – roosevelthotel. com). ■ Economy class car hire is from £146 for five days with rental cars.com. For further information see visitspokane.com; visitseattle. org; portseattle.org; citypass. com; cascadeloop.com More Bing I T’S a classic song that everyone lovingly associates with the festive period. Bing Crosby’s White Christmas has been a standard ever since he recorded it 75 years ago, during the Second World War. He first sang it in public on Christmas Day, and it remained the best-selling song of all time for 56 years. It was only knocked off that top spot by Elton John’s Candle in the Wind following the death of Princess Diana in 1997. Even so, it’s still the best-selling Christmas song to this day. It contains just 54 words and 72 notes but its wistful, melancholic lyrics, and longing for an idealised past of a snowy, winter wonderland – ‘just like the ones I used to know’ – has a special resonance. It was first heard on Bing’s US radio show only 18 days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, and it was released in 1942 when American and British troops were stationed abroad, still dreaming of a wholesome white Christmas back home. e song has even greater poignancy, given that its composer Irving Berlin, who was surprised at its success, lost his three-week-old son on Christmas Day 1928, and subsequently visited his grave on that day every year, without fail. Forty years on from Bing’s death, everyone still carries a torch for him in his hometown of Spokane in eastern Washington State, 200 miles or so inland from Seattle on the USA’s Pacific Coast. His home, a comfortable wooden structure with a covered front porch, is still there, and is open to the public. e custodian tells you with pride how Bing – his real name was Harry Lillis Crosby – scored the most No1 hits ever. His tally of 38 compares to e Beatles’ 24 and Elvis’s 18. Not to mention his film credits, his ‘Road’ films with Bob Hope still being remembered fondly. You learn how his father and uncles built the Crosby home on the fringe of Gonzaga University, which Bing attended until he dropped out to seek his musical fortune in Los Angeles. A children’s comic character called Bingo led to a Spokane school pal calling him just that, a name that was shortened to Bing and which stuck. ey’re happy to talk about their favourite son in Spokane, a one- time gritty city that is now a pleasant and interesting place in LINDSAY SUTTON RINGS IN A ‘WHITE CHRISTMAS’ IN THE HOME OF CLASSIC CROONER BING CROSBY NEED TO KNOW GET AWAY TRAVEL NEWS LATEST TRAVEL ADVICE, OFFERS AND NEWS DANCE AROUND THE WORLD IT’S time to dust off the sequins and top up the spray tan as P&O Cruises plays host to Strictly Come Dancing cruises in partner- ship with BBC Worldwide Ltd. Judge Craig Revel Horwood and Strictly favourites including Janette Manrara, Aljaz Skorjanec and Giovanni Pernice are among the stars appearing on the themed P&O Cruises. They include: A 14-night Spain, France & Italy cruise on Azura (A808) departing April 13, 2018, from £959pp; a 14-night Spain, France & Italy cruise on Ventura (N809) departing May 11, from £1,049pp; a 14-night Spain, France & Italy cruise on Britannia (B816) departing June 3, from £1,239pp and a 14-night Spain, Monaco & Italy cruise on Azura (A819) departing July 21, from £1,359pp. To book, contact P&O Cruises on 0843 374 0111, visit www. pocruises.com or pop into your local travel agent. WALK ON THE WILD SIDE IN SPAIN DISCOVER Spain’s wild Galician Coast, the Costa da Morte, on an exhilarating walk along the Lighthouse Way (Camino dos Faros). Highlights include historic lighthouses, shipwrecks and fishing villages, plus rugged cliffs, coves and capes. Feast on fresh seafood and excellent Albariño wine, before finishing at (and staying in) the Cape Finisterre Lighthouse. The 10-night trip costs from £830pp (two sharing) including B&B, some other meals, transfers to the start, luggage transfers and route information. Departs April-June and September- October. Flights extra. Call On Foot Holidays on 01722 322 652 (www.onfootholidays.co.uk). Janette Manrara and husband Aljaz Skorjanec its own right. Leaving the Crosby house, you can see the university building where Bing studied, before he was distracted by playing drums in a band. ere’s a statue of him outside the building he donated as a library to Gonzaga University – named after a Catholic saint – and where the Crosby Collection of papers resides. In the centre of rejuvenated Spokane, now a charming city clustered round the same-name river and its wonderful basalt rock waterfalls, is the re-named Bing Crosby eatre. It’s where he first saw the ‘greats,’ such as Al Jolson, and where he first performed himself. e 750-seat theatre, opened as the Clem eatre in 1915, was run down and threatened until being saved by hotel owner Jerry Dicker. He shelled out £500,000 to restore it but is frustrated by a lack of whole-hearted support, which means it struggles to break-even. As a fan, Jerry also spent thousands of dollars buying the definitive collection of Bing Crosby artefacts and says: “Everyone begged me to save the theatre and obtain the collection, but we need more use of the facility. “Bing is revered here but I’m constantly irked by the battle to keep the flame burning.” Talking of which, Spokane went from Boomtown to Burntown when e Great Fire of 1889 destroyed it. Apparently, the fire chief was out of town with the fire station key in his pocket – he struggled to maintain credibility in the aftermath. Meanwhile, an enterprising young man called Louis Davenport opened a restaurant in a tent, built up the business, transferred it to newly built stone premises, then built a swish hotel in 1913. Naturally, it was called the Davenport and was the last word in style and elegance. Once again, the wheel of fortune turned and less than 100 years on, it closed down and was in danger of being demolished. Up stepped a wonderfully named entrepreneur, Walt Worthy, who restored the hotel to its former glory. Today, it’s a real joy to stay there, with the staff showing obvious pride in the born-again ‘Living Room of Spokane.’ None more so than 88-year-old doorman John Reed, who has worn his red coat tails at the Davenport for 75 years, and has a guaranteed job for as long as he likes. Incidentally, the Davenport’s mattresses are so comfortable that singer Neil Diamond bought one and had it shipped to his New York home. Spokane is constantly surprising and complements high-tech Seattle well. It was put on the map by the Northern railroad that ran all the way across America from Chicago to service the productive silver mines, lumber industry and vast wheat fields that made Spokane a boom town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It’s had its ‘downs’ since then, but is now on the ‘up.’ Amazingly, in 1974, a guy called King Cole – ‘Nat’ to his friends – beat off international competition to put on the World Fair, attracting 5.5 million visitors to a city with barely 200,000 residents. e audacious project regenerated The Crosby family house, above, where young ‘Bing’ was brought up in Spokane, and left is the opulent foyer of the city’s stylish Davenport Hotel, complete with fountain Model of distinction: A life-size display of Bing in his family home museum Name up in lights: The front of Spokane’s Bing Crosby Theatre, a constant reminder of the city’s favourite son, and the plush and stylish interior, left
Transcript of BIRMINGHAM MAIL SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, … · (two hours) and then to Seattle. ... American and...
@birminghammail16 BIRMINGHAM MAIL SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2017
■ Lindsay sutton visited Spokane and Seattle with Icelandair, who fly from UK regional airports via Reykyavik (two hours) and then to Seattle. Fares are from £467.30 return on selected dates, and direct flights are available from London. Visit icelandair.co.uk
■ He stayed at the Davenport in Spokane, where rooms are from £124 per night (marriot.com);
Edgewater Hotel, Seattle (from £200 – edgewaterhotel.com) and Roosevelt Hotel, Seattle (from £104 – roosevelthotel.com).
■ Economy class car hire is from £146 for five days with rental cars.com. For further information see visitspokane.com; visitseattle.org; portseattle.org; citypass.com; cascadeloop.com
More Bing for your buck...IT’S a classic song that everyone lovingly associates with the festive period. Bing Crosby’s White Christmas has been a standard ever since he recorded
it 75 years ago, during the Second World War.
He first sang it in public on Christmas Day, and it remained the best-selling song of all time for 56 years. It was only knocked off that top spot by Elton John’s Candle in the Wind following the death of Princess Diana in 1997. Even so, it’s still the best-selling Christmas song to this day.
It contains just 54 words and 72 notes but its wistful, melancholic lyrics, and longing for an idealised past of a snowy, winter wonderland – ‘just like the ones I used to know’ – has a special resonance.
It was first heard on Bing’s US radio show only 18 days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, and it was released in 1942 when American and British troops were stationed abroad, still dreaming of a wholesome white Christmas back home.
The song has even greater poignancy, given that its composer Irving Berlin, who was surprised at its success, lost his three-week-old son on Christmas Day 1928, and subsequently visited his grave on that day every year, without fail.
Forty years on from Bing’s death, everyone still carries a torch for him in his hometown of Spokane in eastern Washington State, 200 miles or so inland from Seattle on the USA’s Pacific Coast. His home, a comfortable wooden structure with a covered front porch, is still there, and is open to the public.
The custodian tells you with pride how Bing – his real name was Harry Lillis Crosby – scored the most No1 hits ever. His tally of 38 compares to The Beatles’ 24 and Elvis’s 18. Not to mention his film credits, his ‘Road’ films with Bob Hope still being remembered fondly.
You learn how his father and uncles built the Crosby home on the fringe of Gonzaga University, which Bing attended until he dropped out to seek his musical fortune in Los Angeles. A children’s comic character called Bingo led to a Spokane school pal calling him just that, a name that was shortened to Bing and which stuck.
They’re happy to talk about their favourite son in Spokane, a one-time gritty city that is now a pleasant and interesting place in
LINDSAY SUTTON rings in a ‘White Christmas’ in the home of ClassiC Crooner Bing CrosBy
need to know
get awayTRAVEL NEWSLAteSt tRAVeL AdVICe,
oFFeRS And newS
dance around the worldIt’s time to dust off the sequins and top up the spray tan as P&O Cruises plays host to strictly Come Dancing cruises in partner-ship with BBC Worldwide Ltd.
Judge Craig Revel Horwood and strictly favourites including Janette Manrara, Aljaz skorjanec and Giovanni Pernice are among the stars appearing on the themed P&O Cruises.
they include: A 14-night spain, France & Italy cruise on Azura (A808) departing April 13, 2018, from £959pp; a 14-night spain, France & Italy cruise on Ventura (N809) departing May 11, from
£1,049pp; a 14-night spain, France & Italy cruise on Britannia (B816) departing June 3, from £1,239pp and a 14-night spain, Monaco & Italy cruise on Azura (A819) departing July 21, from £1,359pp.
to book, contact P&O Cruises on 0843 374 0111, visit www.pocruises.com or pop into your local travel agent.
walk on the wIld sIde In spaInDIsCOVeR spain’s wild Galician Coast, the Costa da Morte, on an exhilarating walk along the Lighthouse Way (Camino dos Faros).
Highlights include historic lighthouses, shipwrecks and fishing villages, plus rugged cliffs, coves and capes.
Feast on fresh seafood and excellent Albariño wine, before finishing at (and staying in) the Cape Finisterre Lighthouse.
the 10-night trip costs from £830pp (two sharing) including B&B, some other meals, transfers to the start, luggage transfers and route information. Departs April-June and september- October. Flights extra. Call On Foot Holidays on 01722 322 652 (www.onfootholidays.co.uk).
Janette Manrara and husband Aljaz skorjanec
its own right.Leaving the Crosby house, you
can see the university building where Bing studied, before he was distracted by playing drums in a band. There’s a statue of him outside the building he donated as a library to Gonzaga University – named after a Catholic saint – and where the Crosby Collection of papers resides.
In the centre of rejuvenated Spokane, now a charming city clustered round the same-name river and its wonderful basalt rock waterfalls, is the re-named Bing Crosby Theatre. It’s where he first saw the ‘greats,’ such as Al Jolson, and where he first performed himself.
The 750-seat theatre, opened as the Clem Theatre in 1915, was run down and threatened until being saved by hotel owner Jerry Dicker.
He shelled out £500,000 to restore it but is frustrated by a lack of whole-hearted support, which means it struggles to break-even.
As a fan, Jerry also spent thousands of dollars buying the definitive collection of Bing Crosby artefacts and says: “Everyone begged me to save the theatre and obtain the collection, but we need more use of the facility.
“Bing is revered here but I’m constantly irked by the battle to keep the flame burning.”
Talking of which, Spokane went from Boomtown to Burntown when The Great Fire of 1889 destroyed it.
Apparently, the fire chief was out of town with the fire station key in his pocket – he struggled to maintain credibility in the aftermath.
Meanwhile, an enterprising young man called Louis Davenport opened a restaurant in a tent, built up the business, transferred it to newly built stone premises, then built a swish hotel in 1913. Naturally, it was called the Davenport and was the last word in style and elegance.
Once again, the wheel of fortune turned and less than 100 years on, it closed down and was in danger of being demolished.
Up stepped a wonderfully named entrepreneur, Walt Worthy, who restored the hotel to its former glory. Today, it’s a real joy to stay there, with the staff showing obvious pride in the born-again ‘Living Room of Spokane.’
None more so than 88-year-old doorman John Reed, who has worn his red coat tails at the Davenport for 75 years, and has a guaranteed job for as long as he likes.
Incidentally, the Davenport’s mattresses are so comfortable that singer Neil Diamond bought one and had it shipped to his New York home.
Spokane is constantly surprising and complements high-tech Seattle well. It was put on the map by the Northern railroad that ran all the way across America from Chicago to service the productive silver mines, lumber industry and vast wheat fields that made Spokane a boom town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
It’s had its ‘downs’ since then, but is now on the ‘up.’ Amazingly, in 1974, a guy called King Cole – ‘Nat’ to his friends – beat off international competition to put on the World Fair, attracting 5.5 million visitors to a city with barely 200,000 residents. The audacious project regenerated
the Crosby family house, above, where young ‘Bing’ was brought up in spokane, and left is the opulent foyer of the city’s stylish Davenport Hotel, complete with fountain
Model of distinction: A life-size display of Bing in his family home museum
Name up in lights: the front of spokane’s Bing Crosby theatre, a constant reminder of the city’s favourite son, and the plush and stylish interior, left
birminghammail.co.uk SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2017 BIRMINGHAM MAIL 17
The sun comes up in Spokane, Washington
More Bing for your buck... NOW, how to get to this hidden gem called Spokane, but which is pronounced ‘Spock Ann’ by Washingtonians?
Well, how’s this for the trip of a lifetime, with added bonuses?
As a destination, Seattle sells itself – and it’s not as far as you might think.
I suggest you use Icelandair, travelling the two hours to Iceland, before the seven-hour journey over the Northern Canada route direct to Seattle. You can even stay
in Iceland for up to seven days in between flights, on the same return ticket.
Seattle is sensational. It has the lot – a wonderful West Coast setting; mega attractions (get a City Pass and you won’t go wrong); amazing history – it’s been home of gifted Native American Chief Seattle, not to mention Microsoft, Amazon, UPS, Cosco, Expedia, Starbucks, and Boeing.
You can tour Boeing’s factory and visit myriad nearby
aircraft museums. Then you can go on the
200-mile-long North Cascades Scenic Byway through glacier lakes and mountain passes to make your eyes water.
Another 200 miles on, taking in the Grand Coulee Dam, and you’re in Spokane for two or three days. Fly back to Seattle with Icelandair partner Alaskan Air, one of the most customer-friendly outfits in the world.
Quite a trip, quite an experience.
get away
A statue of Bing Crosby at Gonzaga University
An incredible itinerAry thAt stArts in icelAnd
the derelict railway area next to the scenic city centre falls, which boasted a locally invented gondola to take the crowds across the river.
The city’s parks director outbid Walt Disney to buy a huge children’s carousel, built in 1906. Initially, he was laughed at for his so-called extravagant ‘folly.’ Today, a special arena is being built to protect the working carousel, which is much loved by residents.
Another example of Spokane’s can-do willingness to chance its arm
is a talented eccentric called, believe it or not, Royal Riblet.
An inventor, he patented a trick cycle for circus use, a water
sprinkler, and an aerial tramway to his home, built
high up on a basalt outcrop above the Spokane Valley.
His fortress-style Arbor Crest residence is now a winery, which hosts weddings.
Mr Riblet would have approved: he had seven wives in his time, his last one being 32 years younger than him!
Bing Crosby
