Come along and follow us to Fish With Lips Wine Bar & Gallery, the must-stop shop along Highway 101 in Garibaldi. It’s not unusual for friends to come up with a wacky idea or two while drinking vino, but this small business, run by Laurie Wandell and Wendy Woodrum, is truly a whale of a tale.

Their story begins in the lead-up to the Oregon Coast town’s inaugural Seafood and Spirits Festival. Thinking of ways to zhuzh up the event’s pavilion with a bit of color, the brainstorm quickly turned buzzy in the best way. “Why don’t we hang some papier-mache fish from the ceiling?” Eight months of crafting in her garage later, they and two other helpers had a haul of 80 fish, each as rotund and ready for romance as the next.

What started as a laugh ended up making quite a splash. The spherical swimmers were raffled off, raising $2,000 for the Historic U.S. Coast Guard Boathouse on Tillamook Bay. But Laurie and Wendy were hooked, line and sinker—both on how much fun they had letting their creativity flow and by the community’s positive reaction. So, in March 2025, Fish With Lips opened to its first customers.

Inside the remodeled building, you’ll find a gallery stuffed to the gills with its namesake papier-mache pieces, as well as nautical paintings, felt sea creature sculptures, and a rotating display of works from other local artists. Cast your net, and you’ll catch one-of-a-kind souvenirs and certified conversation starters for your home.

Of course, curious travelers are usually hungry too, so Laurie and Wendy curated a small-bites menu to accompany their selection of wines from Oregon, Washington, and California. Shark-uterie boards come with salami, cheese, crackers, olives, dried fruit, and chocolate, making for the perfect sharable snack. Feeling shellfish? You can get a “Tiny Wine Topper” that’s essentially a miniature charcuterie bowl stacked atop your glass.

There’s also focaccia bread and olive oil, burrata and balsamic, chicken tacos, and an expansive panini selection. Try not to salivate too much over the Peppy Pesto, Meatball, or The Smoke Stack, made with chicken, smoked bacon, peppers, Swiss cheese, and lemon garlic mayo on sourdough.

The wine bar pours reds, whites, rosés, and bubbles, but if beer is more your speed, Fort George provides what you need. Hard cider and non-alcoholic options such as lemonade, root beer, sodas, tea, and coffee are also available.

If you’re still looking for a reason to visit Fish With Lips, we have two words for you: caramel corn. Laurie recently got her home kitchen licensed, so now she makes batches of sticky goodness (and even a hot honey variety) for guests to munch on or take to go.

Locals have taken to gathering for a bit of gab and good times, which get even better out on the dog-friendly patio, especially when the weather cooperates (honest to cod, it does happen). So whether you’re on a day trip from Portland or taking the slow ride up the coast, swim on into Fish With Lips. It’s a kiss you’ll never forget.

Visit Fish With Lips Wine Bar & Gallery at 404 Garibaldi Ave., Garibaldi, OR 97118.