Puget Sound Area

November Rain….of Events

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It’s November and the rain is back in the Pacific Northwest.  It’s a time for feasting on the earth’s bounty and gathering with friends and family.  The holiday season is getting into full swing… so enjoy!

  • The Taste of Tulalip, Tulalip Casino Resort, Nov 9-10
  • Oak Bay Artists’ Studio Tour, Oak Bay/Victoria, British Columbia, Nov 3-4
  • Christmas Lighting Festival starts on Nov 30th, Leavenworth
  • Christkindlmarkt, Leavenworth, Nov 23-25
  • Dine Around Seattle, Nov 4-29 (Sunday thru Thursday)
  • Arts Alive, La Conner, Nov 2-4
  • Bellevue Club Holiday Bazaar, Nov 3, Bellevue Club 9 am – 6pm
  • Northwest Artists’ Holiday Show, Edmonds, Nov 3-4  
  • Cornucopia – Whistler’s Celebration of Wine & Food, Whistler BC, Nov 7-11
  • Fall Release Weekend, Walla Walla, Nov 1-3
  • On the Road to Paradise Fall Wine Festival, Ashford, Nov 3
  • Woodland Park Zoo, Turkey Toss Nov 23; Wildlights – daily 11/23 – 12/23
  • Seattle International Auto Show, Seattle, Nov 14-18
  • Seattle Marathon, Nov 25 – run run run away!
  • Vancouver Rotary Festival of Trees, Pearson Air Museum, Vancouver, WA,  Nov 23-25
  • Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights, Portland, OR  Nov 23 – Dec 30
  • Check out a Seattle Seahawks game at home, Nov 4 & 11
  • and more…

The Ravine Experience

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Experience the beauty of Fall at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.  The tree color is impressive and the various gardens on the grounds showcase a variety of grasses, ferns, water features, and a few left over blooms from the Summer.  This is a great way to fill a void.  For me, the areas that really shine are the wooded trails that lead to the brand new Ravine Experience.  What is the The Ravine Experience?  It is a 150 ft. suspension bridge that crosses a ravine and the forest floor while leading to and from are the nature trails in which to view unique topography, wildlife, and foliage.  The bridge is anchored on each side by a beautiful stone wall and be sure to notice the materials used to build this impressive structure.  This is a great space to visit on your lunch hour, take a peaceful walk (or an exhilarating run), or bring the family for a forest-like experience within the Bellevue, WA city limits.  Check on the pics below!

It just so happened that I stopped by as they were starting to prepare the grounds for the annual Garden d’Lights holiday light display.  That is next up. http://www.bellevuebotanical.org/

 

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Harvest Time and the Pumpkin Patch

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It’s that time of year…when the adults are decorating for the Fall season and the kiddos are carving their pumpkins for Halloween.  Farms are in abundance in Western Washington, whether they’re mixed into the suburbs or throughout the countryside.  Many pumpkin patches offer more than just pumpkins…you might find farm animals, corn stalks, hay bales, corn mazes, wagon rides, tractors, scarecrows, something good to eat, and more.  It’s a festival all in one!

I happened to stop by Enciso Family Farms pumpkin patch in Renton this year and picked my main pumpkin for seasonal viewing.  Also, a few small/mini pumpkins were purchased at Foley’s Produce just down the road on Hwy. 169 in Maple Valley.  The pumpkins at the produce stand were certainly unique… some green and came in odd shapes.  Pumpkins can be found at the grocery store, home improvement store and the like, but it certainly is fun to explore the farm and all that there is at harvest time.

Some pumpkin patches are large productions and others are understated.  A few of the larger “festivals” are Carleton Farms in Lake Stevens, Craven Farm in Snohomish (I visited this farm as a child), and Remlinger Farms in Carnation.  No pets are allowed on farms and do remember your camera!  You have until October 31st, a couple of weeks left to go get your pumpkins.  Enjoy!

Check out the individual farm websites (or those below) for more info.

http://www.festivalofpumpkins.org/

http://www.pugetsoundfresh.org/

http://thecouponproject.com/2012/09/pumpkin-patches-corn-mazes-pierce-county-king-county-puget-sound.html

http://seattle.cbslocal.com/2012/09/22/guide-to-puget-sound-corn-mazes/

 

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October Fun!

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October… the leaves have started to fall and will soon be ready for raking, photography, and play.  Some suggestions for frolicking Fall fun this month:

  • Issaquah Salmon Days, Oct 6-7
  • Oysterfest, Shelton, Oct 6-7
  • 8th Annual Oktoberfest Northwest, Puyallup, Oct 5-7
  • 10th annual Fresh Hop Ale Festival, Downtown Yakima, Oct 6
  • Pumpkin Bash and Trick or Treating, Woodland Park Zoo, Sat/Sun Oct 13-14, 20-21, 27-28
  • Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival, Port Angeles, Oct 12-14
  • Water Music Festival, Long Beach, Oct 12-14
  • Cedar River Salmon Journey, every weekend in October, five locations – http://www.cedarriver.org/programs/
  • Leavenworth Oktoberfest, Oct 5,6,12,13,19,20
  • Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour, Oct 6-7
  • Road trip to the Coast
  • Puyallup Art & Wine Walk, Oct 6
  • Oktoberfest, Langley, Oct 6
  • Head to your nearest nursery and check out their Fall offerings
  • Catch the Crush Wine Festival, Tri-Cities & Yakima Valley, Oct 13-14
  • Meerkerk’s Autumn Garden Festival, Greenbank, Oct 6-7
  • Electrical Extravaganza Show, Spark Musuem, Bellingham, Oct 13-14
  • Old Apple Tree Festival, Vancouver, WA Oct 6
  • Festival of Family Farms, Skagit Valley, Oct 6-7
  • Earshot Jazz Festival, Seattle, Oct 12 – Nov 4
  • Catch the Crush Wine Festival, Red Mountain, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley, Oct 13-14
  • Cranberrian Fair, Ilwaco, Oct 13-14
  • Take a hot air balloon ride over wine country (Yakima Valley/Walla Walla)
  • Navigate a corn maze

Bumbershoot 2012

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This year, I will describe Bumbershoot, which takes place every Labor Day weekend at the Seattle Center… in a word search (by just using the words). These words showcase the first day of Bumbershoot as a whole, as my experience (and maybe yours):

VIBE   SUN   BUMBERSHOOT   SEATTLE  CENTER   SPACE  NEEDLE   ANNIVERSARY   LAWN   PROGRAM   INTRODUCTION   SAMPLING   EXPOSURE   KIDS   WORDS   INTERNATIONAL   FOUNTAIN   SHORTS  FILM   MUSIC   DANCE   PERFORMING   VISUAL   ART   COMEDY   LINEUP   ACT   GALUMPHA   ELVISTRAVAGANZA   JC BROOKS & THE UPTOWN SOUND   THE HEAVY   LEAD  SINGER   BAND   AWOLNATION   RECORD   CD   BOOK   SIGNING   JOHN WATERS   AWESOME   THE JAYHAWKS   AND  MORE   BEER  GARDEN   WHITE   CORN DOG   VARIETY   ARMORY   FOOD   OPEN MIND   AMERICANA   SOUL   FUNK   ROCK   JELLO WALL   GLASS   SKYWARD   INDIE   TWEET   SEPTEMBER   SATURDAY   ONE REEL

Bumbershoot 2012 runs September 1-3 – now get ready to go!

September Events

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Football season has arrived and September is the official start of the Autumn season –  my favorite!   Will we jump into Fall or will we be blessed with an Indian Summer?  What to do this month you ask?  Well, check this out…

  • Wenatchee River Salmon Festival, Sept 20-23
  • Autumn Leaf Festival, Leavenworth, Sept 28-30
  • Bremerton Blackberry Festival,  Sept 1-3
  • Bumbershoot, Seattle Center, Sept 1-3
  • Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival, Sept 7-9
  • Puyallup Fair, Sept 7-23
  • Try out Bake’s Place in downtown Bellevue   http://bakesplacebellevue.com/
  • Wooden Boat Festival, Port Townsend, Sept 7-9
  • Deutschesfest, Odessa, Sept 14-16
  • Snohomish Pumpkin Hurl and Medieval Faire, Sept 15-16
  • See Memphis at the 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, Sept 18 – Oct. 7
  • Fremont Oktoberfest, Fremont area of Seattle, Sept 21-23
  • Take a drive and visit Portland’s Japanese Garden
  • Leavenworth Blues, Brews and BBQ Festival, Sept 15
  • Whidbey Island Farm Tour, Sept 15-16
  • Most Farmers Markets are still in full swing!
  • Fisherman’s Fall Festival, Seattle, Sept 22
  • Seattle Fringe Festival, Sept 19-23
  • Festa Italiana, Seattle Center, Sept 28-30 (It’s the Space Needle’s 50th Anniversary)
  • The Great Prosser Balloon Rally, Prosser, Sept 28-30
  • Aki Matsuri Japanese Fall Festival, Bellevue College, Sept 8-9
  • Take in a Seattle Seahawks game – two home games this month!

Vito’s Seattle

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Looking for some old school (classic) Italian cuisine in Seattle?  Vito’s is the place!  How many times have you driven by it?  Probably a lot considering it is located on First Hill on the corner of 9th and Madison. Vito’s has a 1950’s vibe, reminding me of a time when the men were taking their ladies out, while at the same time watching the door for an enemy to come through the door.  When you visit the “About Vito’s” section of the website, you will find a bit of history (it was established in 1953) and photos of what Vito’s looks like now.

Vito’s is a 21 and over establishment.  The restaurant and lounge are open from 4pm – 2 am daily, and open for a “Two Martini Lunch” on Fridays.  It is one open room with a horseshoe-shaped bar that separates the lounge and restaurant.  It is nice that it is open so all can enjoy the live music, provided five days a week.  Check out the Entertainment page on www.vitosseattle.com for a lineup of live entertainment.  On the night in which we visited, there was no live music but what was playing overhead had a “Shack” or “70’s” feel.  The conversation then transpired into the shows of the 70’s and those who hosted them, etc… An example?  Newlywed Game, Gong Show, Love Boat, and was Shack just a movie or a TV series?  Was it Chuck Berry or Chuck Barris that hosted the Gong Show?  We had our trusty smartphones, so we were able to confirm the answers right there and then.  The “Cougar Room” is available for meetings, private parties, and dining for groups up to 18.

Not only are parts of your meal house-made (like the Meatballs) but the selection and flavor are certainly there too.  What are the offerings?  Antipasti like Beef Carpaccio, Cozze, Calamari, and Bruschetta di Pomodoro & Tapendada. There is Dolci, Sides, Insalata E Zuppe, and Specialita Della Casa (Cioppino, Eggplant Parmesan, Scampi al Limone, Chicken Marsala, Pan Seared Sea Scallops).  There is also Pasta of course!  Our party chose the Spaghetti with Meatballs (or Sausage), Penne Bolognese, Vito’s Famous Cannelloni, and the Ravioli of the Day, which was a Pear Gorgonzola with Walnuts.  Yum!

I am looking forward to my next visit!  http://vitosseattle.com/ Twitter: @vitosseattle

Seattle Channel 21

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Seattle Channel 21 is a cable channel (Cable Channel 21) and website that showcases Seattle on a community level, whether it be a neighborhood store or weekend entertainment.  Community, news, arts, and shows that  “Connect to Life in the City”.  This is a needed mention for this Blog as it gives you much of what you might find here (minus the news, politics, and shopping).  You will find the Channel provides informative and interesting tidbits but will also find that you will probably feel proud that you live in an area with such history, innovation, and heart.

On the Seattle Channel this past weekend,  I saw a couple different pieces on the show/segment CityStream, where visits were made to Book Larder as well as to a hat shop, Byrnie Utz Hats, which has been around since the 1934.  Byrnie Utz Hats is located at 310 Union Street in downtown Seattle.  You’ll find something from every decade in this place!  There is no website to peruse, no computers to take your payment.  Visit and you will get old-fashioned quality service with a great selection.  Book Larder is located on Fremont Ave. N. in the Fremont district of Seattle.  It is a cookbook bookstore that also has readings and cooking demonstrations.  http://www.booklarder.com/

Visit http://www.seattlechannel.org/ or go to Cable Channel 21 to check it out and learn something new!

Lake Wilderness Arboretum

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Looking for a brief date with nature?  Drive to Maple Valley, WA and there you will find Lake Wilderness.  Lake Wilderness is just off the beaten path and consists of an Arboretum, a Lodge (used for weddings, conferences, and the like), a Golf & Country Club is nearby, and a Park that includes areas for picnicking, a baseball field, tennis courts, and Lake Wilderness for boating/fishing and swimming.  There are annual events…the Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show in December, a plant sale in May, Shakespeare is performed this year in August, and Music at the Park is at various times throughout the summer (among others).

The Lake Wilderness Arboretum is 42 acres and is in what I would consider a “natural” setting.  It is maintained by the Lake Wilderness Arboretum Foundation (a non-profit organization) in a Joint User Agreement with the City of Maple Valley.  The Arboretum is split up into different sections and is indicated so by markers.  There is a Rhododendron Garden, Shade Garden, Volunteer Garden, Alpine/Rock Garden, Hydrangea Collection, Maple Collection, Perennial Border, Legacy Garden, Wildlife Corridor, Azalea Garden, and Daylily Collection.  Each month brings us something new to see.  Enjoy a walk on the Tribal Life Trail, which showcases plants native to our area and gives information on how they were used by Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest.  The trees and a walk in the woods are awe-inspiring yet comforting.  Also, along side of the Park is the Green to Cedar Rivers Trail to explore.  Enjoy the trails!

The Lake Wilderness Arboretum is open from dawn until dusk.  Entry and parking are free.  Dogs are welcome (leash laws apply).  Tours can be scheduled.  Volunteers are much appreciated.   http://lakewildernessarboretum.org/ http://www.maplevalleywa.gov/

And while you are out and about, a stop at Foley’s Produce is suggested.  Foley’s Produce is located on Hwy 169, is  owned by Sean Foley, and carries local goods, much of it from the Yakima, WA area.  You are sure to find much of what you need to make a meal or a snack.  What can be found here?  Corn on the cob, cherries, green beans, peaches, apples (I purchased Ginger Gold which I had not had before), potatoes, peaches, lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, peppers, tortilla chips, local preserves, and much more.  There is also a garden section.  You can bet I will be going back on a seasonal basis to see what’s new.  Looking forward to the upcoming Fall…pumpkins and all!  See Foley’s Facebook page for current info.  http://foleysproduce.com/

 

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August in Washington

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August is typically the warmest month of the year in Washington State.  What to do?  Check out these suggestions:

  • Watch the 2012 Summer Olympics!
  • Sandcastle Championships, Aug 16th – Sept. 6th, Federal Way
  • Tomato Battle, Aug 11th, Pyramid Alehouse in Seattle
  • Watch the sunset from Queen Anne Hill
  • Anacortes Arts Festival, Aug 3-5
  • Walk Golden Gardens
  • Poverty Bay Blues and Brews Fest, Aug 25, Des Moines
  • See June and July for other “generic” ideas
  • Whidbey Island road trip
  • See “Rent” at the 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle
  • Olympic Music Festival, Quilcene
  • Camlann Medieval Village Summer Festival, thru Aug 26, Carnation
  • Port Townsend Blues & Heritage Fest, running thru Aug 5th
  • Evergreen State Fair, Aug 23 – Sept 3, Monroe
  • Art in the Garden, Aug 25-26, Bellevue Botanical Garden
  • Omak Stampede, Aug 9-12, Omak
  • Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival, Aug 11-12
  • Taste of Edmonds, Aug 10-12
  • Lake Chelan Fine Arts Festival, Aug 17-19
  • Tacoma Maritime Fest, Aug 25-26
  • Doe Bay Fest, Aug 9-12, Orcas Island
  • Seafair Fleet Week, Aug 1-5, Seattle
  • Seafair Air Show & Hydroplane Races, Aug 3-5, Seattle
  • Concerts at the Mural, Aug 3-24, Seattle Center
  • Pierce County Fair, Aug 9-12, Graham
  • Snoqualmie Railroad Days, Aug 17-19
  • Go Camping!
  • and so many more…