Anyone been to the Sandcastle Competition at Cannon Beach? (Astoria: restaurants, eat)

[peaceloveandtattoos]

Hey all!
We are planning on checking out the Cannon Beach Sandcastle Competition this Sunday, and was wondering if anyone else has gone previously?

If so, what time is optimal for viewing the sand creations? (before high tide, etc.) The Cannon beach website says there will be a bbq as well, but lists no times for spectators.
We would like to see them when they are all done, but from what i have read, all cars must be off the beach by 1:30 pm due to high tide.

Any info would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

PS...We want to go to MOE'S after for a special fathers day dinner....can anyone tell me about it? All i really know is that it's right on the water.

[Leisesturm]

I don't know where you should go on CB, but I would give Moe's a pass, i.e. don't do it. Can you maybe hold onto your appetite long enough to make it to McGrath's?

H

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by Leisesturm

I don't know where you should go on CB, but I would give Moe's a pass, i.e. don't do it. Can you maybe hold onto your appetite long enough to make it to McGrath's?

H

Or head North and hit one of the multiple awesome places in Astoria.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

Originally Posted by Leisesturm

I don't know where you should go on CB, but I would give Moe's a pass, i.e. don't do it. Can you maybe hold onto your appetite long enough to make it to McGrath's?

H

You know it's kind of sad to find out that Moe's is considered "a pass".
Way back when, it used to be "thee-go-to place" on a trip to the coast.

[peaceloveandtattoos]

Can you guys elaborate? What is wrong with Moe's? My husband really wants to go there...i think he has fond memories of it....has it become not-so-delicious or something?

[pdxMIKEpdx]

Well, I think when Moe's had it's great reputation, there were just not that many great places to go eat when you went to the coast.
Their chowder was pretty darn good, and it was inexpensive, family dining.

I know that when we went to Lincoln City, Moe's was a go to place, as was Gracie's Sea Hag in Depoe Bay.
We also had a special seafood place we went to in Newport, but the name escapes me.

Moe's clam chowder used to be pretty good, and we would always get a quart or two of their chowder base to take home.
I think with the proliferation of small cafes, restaurants, and gifted chefs along the coast now, Moe's just couldn't keep up.
You can get better chowder at lots of other places, and now Moe's just seems average.
It's still better than canned chowder though.

I haven't been to Moe's for a year or two, but the impression I got last time I was there was that it's coasting on it's past reputation and mainly patronized by tourists who don't know any better.

For all I know, the original owners may have sold it and things changed. That happens.

Don't pass on it, try it out and give us some feedback!

[Minervah]

I know that when we went to Lincoln City, Moe's was a go to place, as was Gracie's Sea Hag in Depoe Bay. We also had a special seafood place we went to in Newport, but the name escapes me.

Oh dear. I haven't been to Gracie's in a few years but I hope it is still as good as it used to be.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by Minervah

Oh dear. I haven't been to Gracie's in a few years but I hope it is still as good as it used to be.

I don't know about "used to be," but Gracie's is almost always mentioned on any sort of "Best place to dine on the Oregon Coast" list that I've seen in the past 6-7 years. The folks at Oregon Coast Magazine must love it there, they're doing pieces on the Gracie herself at least once a year.

To be up front, my criteria for "Good food" is that I'd go out of my way to dine there again.

I personally feel that there isn't any real good dining options between Astoria all the way down to Florence.

There are certainly passable choices, but it seems most everything is about the quality of Shari's, maybe a step up. Most of it is geared towards tourists who want to go cheap on their vacation or are eating out because they're tired of hot dogs over an open fire. Or, working class locals who mostly want huge cheap portions of food.

[jjpop]

Personally, I love Mo's. I still think their clam chowder is hard to beat. mmmmm bacon...

[peaceloveandtattoos]

Thanks for all the input, guys Much appreciated