The services, products, and other offerings listed below deliver outstanding quality or performance, in my opinion:

Page updated February 17, 2024

Auto

• Mequiars — Cleaners, polish, wax and more for auto exteriors and interiors.
• Chemical Guys — Cleaners, polish, wax and more for auto exteriors and interiors.
• Griot's Garage — Its In-Line Water Softener & Deionizer eliminates and reduces water spots left on your vehicle due to water that's "hard" and full of minerals.

Apparel

• Wigens Hats — Fine wool hats made in Sweden.
• Filson — Very high quality clothing and accessories for the outdoors.
• Goorin Brothers — Guys and gals caps and hats crafted in the U.S.
• JGilbert — Guys and gals boots and shoes; $$$ but comfortable.
• Tecovas — Guys and gals western-style boots, accessories; well made and very resonable $$.

Bed & Breakfast

• Summer Creek Inn, Rapid City, SD — Excellent base from which to visit Mount Rushmore, Deadwood, Sturgis, and other; owners Dan and Nancy Evangelisto are terrific.

Cooking

• Traeger Grills — Wood-pellet-based smoker grills; built in U.S.; smoke/grill fowl, beef, pork, and a lot more.

Food/Beverage

• Boarding House Restuarant (Issaquah, WA) — Salads, soups, and sandwiches. In Suite 7 in Gilman Village. 425.392.1100
• Shawn's Quality Meats and Smokehouse (Maple Valley, WA) — Beef from Painted Hills in OR. Great customer service.
• Golden Steer Meats (Bellevue, WA) — Quality meats and friendly service.
• Northwest Cellars — Your custom wine label on quality red and white wine.
• Icicle Ridge Winery — Family owned and operated in Peshastin, WA; featured on NBC's Today Show.

Music

• Tribute to Pacific Northwest Bands — The rock band in which I performed is recognized.
• The Kingpins — A hard-driving Victoria, BC, Canada blues band featuring Hank Lionhart. A fun-loving band of veteran musicians who play '50's/'60's R&B plus some of their own originals.
• Blue Hearts Duo— Traditional and original blues featuring Hank Lionhart.
• Uncle Wiggly's Hot Shoes Blues Band— Based in Victoria, BC and plays at hotspots on Vancouver Island.
• Keith Scott —Chicago-based blues/rock guitarist. Performs often in the northwest.
• Michael Bublé (last name pronounced "boo-blay") — Outstanding vocalist from Vancouver, BC.
• Diana Krall — Fabulous jazz pianist and vocalist from Vancouver Island, B.C.
  
• Dusty Strings (Seattle, WA) — Quality stringed instruments.
• Music Works Northwest — Non-profit; for all age groups.
• Dimitriou's Jazz Alley (Seattle, WA) — Top name live Jazz, Blues, R&B, and Pop with dining.
• Bake's Place Bar & Bistro (Bellevue, WA) — Live jazz/blues with intimate dining.
• Pearl Django — Gypsy jazz. Group formed by Neil Anderson (formerly with the Wailers).

Sports

• Bandon Dunes — Ultimate golf resort (Five 18-hole courses plus nine-hole par 3).
• Ecco Golf Shoes — Superbly designed and extremely comfortable, upper-end cost.
• Sun Mountain Carry Bags — Nicely designed and comfortable.
• Kangaroo Motorcaddie — Top of the line; great customer support.

Volunteering

• Boeing Classic — Volunteers are needed to help run this award-winning tournament, which has raised over $13M for Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Medical Centers and other Seattle area charities. If you have a passion for golf or are interested in helping in any way, your time and energy will be valued and appreciated by all. I have volunteered for the tournament from 2005 through 2022 (and registered for 2024) and found the experience to be one of my most-rewarding ever. For details contact the Boeing Classic at:

Web: www.boeingclassic.com
Phone: 425.292.3050