EXPLORE: Secret Summer with Kirsten Judkins of Kirsten Judkins Designs
EXPLORE NOT-SO-SECRET SPOTS TO EAT, SHOP & ADVENTURE THAT LOCALS RECOMMEND THIS SPRING & SUMMER!
Secret Summer gives you the scoop on the restaurants, shops, parks and places to explore that Kitsap community leaders & small business owners love to experience during the sunny months. Look for new Secret Summer articles on the regular around here and start planning your Summer adventures today!
kirsten judkins designs
Kirsten Judkins,
owner
Kirsten Judkins is a woman of many talents. Too many, in fact, to list here. However, quite a few of her talents could be summed up into one word. Creativity. Whether she’s drawing a logo, leading a team of creatives, sketching portraits, designing products of her own, or teaching kids about art, Kirsten’s world revolves around being creative. To top it all off, she’s also passionate about generosity as she is about being creative. A portion of every sale supports children in third-world countries, giving them access to education, clean water, and healthcare! Kirsten loves Kitsap and Kitsap is a better place because Kirsten (and her creativity) live here.
WE CAUGHT UP WITH KIRSTEn TO GET HER TAKE ON WHERE SHE LOVES TO GO FOR EATS, WATERING HOLES, LOCAL BUSINESSES, PLACES TO GET OUTSIDE, AND SPOTS TO TAKE FRIENDS FROM OUT OF TOWN.
EXPLORE KITSAP LIKE A LOCAL!
Kirsten, WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT KITSAP?
Kirsten’s Favorite Local Drink Spot:
‘Hotshots in downtown Poulsbo has always been a top favorite of mine. Sitting outside in Poulsbo on a Saturday, watching people walk around downtown feels like something out of a movie!’
Kirsten’s Favorite Local Eatery:
‘Tony’s Pizza in Bremerton is my lifelong favorite spot! My grandparents lived nearby, so some of my earliest memories around food were sitting at the tables with the red and white checkerboard tablecloths. Many family birthdays were spent having my photo taken on the Polaroid camera and then trying to find where they put it on the wall the next time I came in! I’m a classic kind of girl, so a hot pepperoni pizza is always my go-to. Nothing can beat it!
Kirsten’s Favorite Local Brand or Business:
‘This one is so hard for me because I love supporting local and Kitsap truly has so many wonderful businesses! Here are a few of my favorites…
1) Details in Poulsbo at Christmas time is pure magic. I know it’s summer but I’m giving an ultimate insider tip…The shop is wall-to-wall nostalgic/vintage meets modern (AKA my love language) with gorgeous trees and the coolest displays. I usually go more than once during the Christmas season to see what they change and add because it’s just that good!
2) Purpose Boutique is one of my favorite local businesses, and not simply because I’ve worked as their graphic designer for seven years, but I feel that I can truly say that because I loved the business long before I worked there! In fact, I loved the exclusive feel of shopping there and all the cute clothes so much that it was the reason I wanted to work for Purpose. Plus, the fact that a portion of every sale is donated to support women coming out of human trafficking makes every purchase truly have a purpose!
3) Kitsap Art Center is a place for art lovers of all ages that is so close to my heart. Taking their classes all through my teen years taught me skills to back my love of art and exposed me to a whole new world of art that I absolutely fell in love with.’
Kirsten’s favorite place to get outside:
‘I grew up around downtown Poulsbo so walking along the Poulsbo waterfront on a gorgeous sunny day… that’s a favorite for sure. The view of the water with all the boats just couldn’t be more beautiful and truly looks like a painting on a postcard. How could you not just fall in love with that view?’
Kirsten’s Favorite Sunny Day Activity:
‘Can shopping count? I have some really fun Saturday memories with my mom going to Port Orchard on a nice Saturday and walking through Josephine’s Mercantile! It’s so fun on a nice day to enjoy the drive around the water and wander through to see the new items Josephine’s has in!’
Kirsten’s Favorite Rainy Day Activity:
‘My absolute favorite thing to do on a rainy Friday night is going to a movie, specifically at Seefilm in Bremerton. I love the vintage feel of the theater and they have the best popcorn of any theater around! I feel like I’m in the minority now with so many preferring to stream but there’s simply no comparison to watching a film on opening weekend, in a theater with Seefilm popcorn. So that would 100% be my rainy day choice.’
Kirsten’s Favorite Spot to Take 1st Time Visitors:
‘I’m taking them to Sluy’s Bakery in downtown Poulsbo! Walking by the Nordic murals, perusing all the cute shops, and standing in line for all of Sluy’s iconic choices is a must-do for anyone coming to Kitsap!’
From Kirsten’s Camera Roll:
explore more of kitsap!
Stay in Kitsap
Scroll through to see some of our favorite options for your overnight stay in Kitsap.
If you only have a few hours on the bremerton waterfront and want explore public parks on foot, here’s a great walkable itinerary that takes you to easy accessible parks and public spaces to relax and play.