By now, you’ve read how special this year’s Real Twin Peaks 2024 event was for attendees visiting the Snoqualmie Valley in Washington. On February 24, VIP attendees were treated to a surprise visit from Kyle MacLachlan at the North Bend Theatre. The next day, Kyle held a special meet and greet in the new lobby lounge at Salish Lodge & Spa that was hosted by Pursued By Bear, his Washington state winery that opened in 2005.
TWIN PEAKS DAY MEET & GREET WITH KYLE MACLACHLAN
I first learned of this special meet and greet from fellow Bookhouse Boy Aaron Cohen on January 25, 2024.
The Salish Lodge posted this image of pie and coffee on the meet and greet page.
There were two times available for this meet and greet that would be held between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Tickets were approximately $109 which included a signed bottle of Pursued By Bear’s Baby Cub Red Blend. I purchased an additional bottle for my wife for an additional $60.
Since there was a panel discussion about Twin Peaks – Part 8 I facilitated prior to this event, I selected the later meeting time between 12:30-2:00 p.m. I arrived somewhere around 12:45 p.m.
ARRIVING AT SALISH LODGE & SPA
If you haven’t visited Salish Lodge & Spa recently, they renovated the lobby area in 2023. The gift shop is now located to the left when you enter the main doors. The former shop location is now home to a gorgeous lobby bar.
When I visit Snoqualmie Valley in August 2023 for the Neon Dream event at Twede’s Cafe, construction walls were still present in the lobby.
Concept artwork teased a spectacular new addition.
Holy smokes! I wasn’t prepared for the reveal.
The renovated lounge had it’s grand opening on November 22, 2023. It’s spacious and has plenty of seating – I want this to by my living room!
Even the fireplace has a new location. During previous visits, I loved sitting near the former spot by the front desk. Now, it’s a massive new addition and perfect for those chilly Washington nights.
After checking in to the small podium by the lounge, I got in line with John Thorne, Josh Eisenstadt, Cameron Cloutier and Jeremiah Beaver. We talked all things Twin Peaks while waiting for the line to move. It wasn’t moving fast because Kyle was having great conversations with every attendee. It was awesome to see how much time he was spending with each guest.
After a beat, I noticed a gentleman standing behind his holding a Twin Peaks Day Breakfast menu from Salish Lodge & Spa. I raved about the specially designed breakfast during Twin Peaks Day 2023. They brought it back this year, and I was standing next to the guy who made it happen. Chef Sergio Cox, whose uncle appeared briefly as an extra during Hank Jennings’ parole hearing in Twin Peaks episode 1.004, designed the menu. He has since left Washington state for Las Vegas, Nevada. But I was thrilled I could finally thank him in person.
While waiting, I also ran into David Isreal who runs Twin Peaks Tour in the Valley. I’ve been seeing him on nearly every trip I’ve made to Washington state since my return in September 2019.
MEETING KYLE MACLACHLAN
After about an hour, it was finally my turn to speak with Kyle. While I had seen him speak at the Festival of Disruption 2018 in Brooklyn, New York, my first encounter with him was at Spooky Empire held in Orlando, Florida in October 2022. We took a studio photo together and I had him sign a Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me DVD cover.
This meet and greet would be even better!
Kyle was set up on a small table in the lobby lounge. He brought along several props. This shot of fellow Bookhouse Gal Alexandrea Cyril Niell and Kyle holding “Oh Deer Diner” coffee mugs inspired by Alan Wake 2 is super fun! Kyle was a great sport with every photo opportunity.
Jeremiah from Take the Ring captured some shots of my conversation with Kyle. We spoke about Twin Peaks and I thanked him for the conversation at North Bend Theatre. We also discussed Portlandia where he played the Mayor of Portland. He said that role was a lot of fun as he just tried getting Fred Armisen to laugh.
I also asked him about his role in Inside Out 2 which is being released on July 14, 2024. He played Riley’s dad in the first animated feature and he mentioned he has only a few more things to wrap up with production.
We talked about being fathers and raising dogs. We also discussed acting as my son Athan had auditioned for the University of Central Florida’s Bachelor of Fine Arts – Musical Theatre program on February 24. His advice to Athan was to stay involved with everything, no matter how small the part and just keep at it. I’m happy to report Athan was accepted into the program and can’t wait to get started.
It was a long conversation and enjoyable conversation.
I showed one of the employees how to work my Canon EOS R5 and then posed for a photo.
Wow! What a shot. I’m sporting a Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department shirt that was sold via the Showtime store when season three aired in 2017. Replacing the quiet elegance of a dark suit and tie with the casual indifference of muted earth tones is a form of fashion suicide, but, uh, call me crazy – it works for both of us.
Unbeknownst to me, several of my fellow Twin Peaks fans were taking photos of this moment. Amy King was one of the first to share.
Then Melissa Jilk chimed in with her shot.
Finally, long time fan Chris Matthews grabbed a shot too. I first met him at the 1996 Twin Peaks Fan Festival and it was nice seeing him again this trip. His Frogmoth costume at the Mx Twin Peaks Adornment and Cosplay Gala was perfect!
MORE PHOTOS OF MEETING KYLE MACLACHLAN
After I met Kyle, I hung around the bar area to capture photos for others including Cameron Cloutier.
Definitely an interesting conversation between the two of them.
Kyle then signed a poster for Cameron’s fan film “Queen of Hearts.” He is already working on a sequel to the film – “Black Rose.”
When it was Josh Eisenstadt’s turn, he asked Kyle to record a short video for John Thorne who unfortunately had to leave the meet and greet early to catch his to Texas. Josh took John’s spot and Kyle made a rather funny video wishing he could have stayed for the event.
ALL : -) smiles after having a bottle signed.
Finally, I grabbed a shot of Jeremiah Beaver who produces outstanding Twin Peaks videos at TakeTheRing.com on YouTube. I remember speaking with Jeremiah in 2020 when I was exploring film locations in the California desert. His video about the Palmer House in Everett, Washington is exceptional (glad to have helped with some of the research for it).
PURSUED BY BEAR WINE
Kyle signed two Pursued By Bear – Bear Cub red wine blends from 2020 – one for my wife Katie and one for me.
Looks like I’ll be holding onto this bottle for a long time.
I love the little “Coop” with “Twin Peaks” that he drew.
This is the back of the bottle.
A closer look at the label of this “rambunctious, lively red wine blend.” It has playful notes of “raspberry, black currant and cocoa” and its “French oak barrel maturation lends it elegance.” I should have purchased three bottles so I could drink one of them.
After meeting with Kyle, I was introduced to Stacie Pike, Hospitality Manager from Pursued by Bear winery. She gave me this card featuring a new tasting room now open in Walla Walla. Located at 43 S. Palouse just off Main Street in downtown Walla Walla, reservations are recommended because space is extremely limited. They kindly require parties of 6 or fewer.
Kyle will be at the tasting room from May 3-5, 2024 for a tasting of Blushing Bear Rosé, along with two of their favorite reds. You can reserve space now for this Spring Celebration, which is $25 per ticket. If only I lived closer!
Stacie also gave me an awesome “Twin Peaks Day 2024” sticker with Special Agent Dale Cooper holding a glass of red wine.
It was designed by TrashByCash on Instagram whom I saw two nights earlier during the Twede’s Cafe VIP Party where Wisteria Lodge played music.
SALISH LODGE LOUNGE
I close this story with more looks at the beautiful new lounge in Salish Lodge & Spa. I can’t wait to return!
Thank you to the hotel staff, Pursued By Bear Winery and Kyle MachLachlan for an incredible memory I won’t soon forget.
Wow! What an experience! That must have been amazing!
Have you tried the wine yet?