Fast talk, slow town
A journalist, a wellness counselor and a planning director took off their hats to nerd out about something that has crossed the minds of many Gilmore Girls geeks upon seeing La Conner for the first time: La Conner is, in many ways, Stars Hollow.
Not a carbon copy, not a cosplay convention, but the same kind of small-town magic that makes you feel like you just stepped into a long-running bit you’re delighted to join.
Previously, on Gilmore Girls…
Gilmore Girls is a TV show from the early 2000s that follows the lives of fast-talking mother-daughter duo Lorelai and Rory Gilmore as they navigate through the ups and downs of family, friendships, love and pursuing their passions. Think caffeine, ambition and a lot of walking-and-talking.
The show first aired in October 2000 and has gained a new wave of devoted fans since it debuted on Netflix in 2014, becoming one of the most rewatched shows of all time, and for good reason: it’s the coziest bonding experience for, in particular, female family members and friends.
Welcome to Stars Hollow, but make it Skagit
Aside from being the epitome of fall, what sets Gilmore Girls apart from other shows is the community it takes place in: Stars Hollow, a small Connecticut town inhabited by chatty residents and dotted by small businesses and historical buildings.
Sounds like La Conner, except that our town isn’t located inside the Warner Bros. Studios set in Burbank, and its inhabitants aren’t paid actors. We do, however, have a weekly parade of familiar faces and a talent for turning everyday life into story-worthy scenes. If you’ve ever walked First Street in autumn and felt the urge to talk faster and buy a scarf you didn’t plan on, you get it.
The Dragonfly Inn energy
On one of Heather Lichtenegger’s first drives through La Conner over a year ago, her car “screeched to a halt” in front of Katy’s Inn, the bed and breakfast at the corner of 3rd and Washington streets. That could have been Lorelai’s Dragonfly Inn, the counselor screamed internally.
It’s the kind of place where, in Stars Hollow logic, you would expect a quirky side character to emerge with a tray of muffins and unsolicited but lifesaving advice. In La Conner logic, that’s not actually that far off.
Coffee, diners and the Luke-ness of it all
Kari Mar, editor and publisher of La Conner Community News (and a recently converted Gilmore Girls devotee), noticed a few businesses resembling Luke’s Diner, where Lorelai and Rory religiously debrief about their day over a large mug of coffee and a plate of untouched food, surrounded by community members mingling with one another.
Mar believes Retro Diner on Morris Street is a close match to Luke’s, particularly thanks to the owners’ dry humor — a key trait of Luke Danes, a fan favorite in the show. To experience Luke’s homey vibe, Mar recommends Calico Cupboard Cafe and Bakery on 1st Street.
“I think our candy shop is better than Doose’s,” Mar said, referring to O’Neils Confectionery and Soda Fountain on 1st Street. While sharing a similar old-fashioned feel, Stars Hollow Mayor Taylor Doose’s candy and soda shop does not serve pizza, wings or hot dogs.
Town meetings, but with better scenery
Mar, Lichtenegger and Ajah Ellis — also known as la Conner’s planning director — spoke of a few happenings that could very well be side plots in the show, such as the Town’s upcoming logo redesign competition, the recent discovery of a Guy Anderson print that had been forgotten in town hall, or that time the community held a naming a parade for the unveiling of its public restrooms, led by “King and Queen Latrine.”
To Ellis, who is familiar with the inner workings of small governments, some of the things normalized in the show are plainly unrealistic.
“Who is passing this budget?! It’s 90% municipal festivals!” She exclaimed.
Stars Hollow doesn’t get this one
One of the most important differences Stars Hollow can’t claim, Mar said, is La Conner’s relationship to the Swinomish Tribe — the original inhabitants and caretakers of this land who have never stopped being that. Swinomish people are not a footnote to La Conner’s story, the way Indigenous communities are in Gilmore Girls; Swinomish culture, sovereignty and ongoing presence are a living influence woven through the town’s daily life, its sense of place and its understanding of history.
La Conner’s character isn’t just shaped by art and waterfront charm — it is inseparable from the enduring Swinomish community that continues to steward and enrich this region.
In Omnia Paratus, La Conner edition
The three women concurred that neighborly forgiveness and care are core to La Conner and Stars Hollow. There can be a bit of a kerfuffle over certain topics, which makes for some entertaining town meetings, Lichtenegger said, but at the end of the day, the residents in both towns enjoy one another and can have civil and productive discussions.
Mar agreed, recalling some conflicts between community members that were resolved and resulted in shared dinners and outings and how, when someone dies, the entire community grieves, much like in Stars Hollow.
As a newcomer who launched a newspaper less than a year ago, Mar was surprised by the outpour of support and generosity from the community, with many showing up to the newsroom to share news tips, help out with distribution, share words of kindness or just make sure she’s remembered to eat — the same energy that community members have given Lorelai since she arrived to Stars Hollow as a teenage runaway with a newborn.
It’s the combination of quirkiness, warmth and humanness that make La Conner and Stars Hollow special, and in a way, addicting.
“That’s why we keep coming back season after season, and hopefully people keep coming back to La Conner,” Ellis said.
Luisa Loi is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
