Playtime: Fun ahead for families– Wilderness school, Pokémon Go, Girls on the Run
We first talked about Pokémon Go, the mobile Augmented Reality game involving Pokémon characters popularized on cards of the same name, in 2016 — just after the app was released. Throngs of users crowded Pokéstops, where you gather supplies and catch the characters, at the Edmonds Waterfront playing the game. About two weeks ago, the…
After more than 10 years serving burgers in MLT, Seaun Richards is closing his restaurant
After a more than a decade selling burgers in Mountlake Terrace, local restaurateur and former City Councilmember Seaun Richards has closed 44th Street Sliders, formerly Red Onion Burger (and briefly Red Onion Cafe and Seafood Bar). During the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer people are venturing out to eat, and Richards said that staying open just isn’t…
Playtime: Remote and in-person art and craft options for kids this summer
Over the last couple of weeks, we (OK, I) have been hyper focused on taking the kids’ makeshift workspaces and preparing them for more long-term use — the Edmonds School District announced this week that the 20-21 school year would start with a remote learning schedule. It has been all kinds of cleaning out closets…
Sponsor spotlight: Cole Gallery announces the Summer Celebration of Art Show, on display through Aug. 30
One of the positive things that has come out of the Stay at Home order has been artists having time to dig into their art. Over the past couple weeks, Cole Gallery received 85 new paintings from over 25 of their artists. For many artists, being required to stay at home allowed them time to…
Recommended Reads: ‘Hidden Pictures’ tells story of an unlikely friendship and secret truths
Hidden Pictures, by Johanna Flynn Desperation and regret are a volatile basis for a friendship, or a reationship. Yet these powerful emotions draw together two unlikely souls who are each at very different, pivotal forks in the road of their lives. Gordon’s ancestors illustrate a glowing history of celebrated life tales as one of the…
Playtime: From sports camps to a forest preschool, many choices for families this summer and fall
Earlier this month when writing about Southwest County Park, I found out that along with being the “largest single parcel of open space within the Edmonds city limits,” it is a Snohomish County Park. When I went through the list of Parks and Facilities listed on their site, SnoCoParks.org, I recognized more names than I…
Mountlake Terrace Restaurant Guide: What’s open during Phase 2
Here’s the updated Mountlake Terrace restaurant list to reflect the status of eating and drinking establishments now that Snohomish County has entered Phase 2 of the governor’s Safe Start plan. As always, let us know about additions and changes in the comments below Mountlake Terrace Local Food Services during Phase 2 Business Address Phone…
Day Trip Discoveries: Go around the world at Woodland Park Zoo
The Woodland Park Zoo has always provided a wonderful excursion for families — kids and grandkids love seeing and learning about animals from around the world. Now reopened, the zoo provides a safe outdoor experience to enjoy during summer weather. The biggest news is the zoo’s new Malayan baby tapir, born June 10 to first-time…
Playtime: Remote Harry Potter and Reading with Rover library events, plus volunteer opportunities
After emerging from Southwest County Park recently, the kids and I ran into a parent from one of their schools, and within seconds it was dueling verbal firehouses from myself and my youngest, who has never met her before. I’ve noticed that when given the opportunity, even on phone calls to family members otherwise marked…
Hemlock State Brewing to begin offering wine
Thanks to new state legislation, Hemlock State Brewing is adding wine to its menu. Under SB 5006, microbreweries can receive an annual endorsement to sell Washington wines by the glass. The law limits breweries to include three wines to their menus. The law also allows wineries to sell beer by the glass. “We had always…
Playtime: Fun family hikes that allow for distancing
A popular subject amongst the group text we have going for our hockey friends is where to hike/walk with the kids. (We also talk a bit about how the kids talk to each other mid-video game as it seems to be its own language.) At our house, we’re looking for a mix of trying to…
Recommended Reads: Nazi-occupied Norway setting for spy thriller ‘The Jossing Affair’
The Jossing Affair, by J.L. Oakley The Jossing Affair is a historical thriller about a time in Norway that tested every aspect and emotion of human nature: The story of the World War II Nazi occupation of Norway, this fictional spy story is steeped in the true and fascinating historical facts of that period. The…
Snohomish PUD announces 2020 student art and photo winners
Three students from the Edmonds School District were among the winners of a K-12 art and high school photography contest sponsored by Snohomish County PUD. Seventeen students representing school districts across the PUD’s service territory were selected for their creativity in illustrating energy topics. The Edmonds School District winners included Jude DeWaal, a fourth grader…
Playtime: Virtual and in-person summer camp options for families
After picking up my second set of books from the Edmonds library since they opened for socially distanced hold pickups and returns (still a thrill), I saw campers and staff at the Edmonds Boys are Girls Club in their camp t-shirts hanging out on the basketball court next to the building. The club has been…
Enjoy virtual Swedish Midsommarfest June 26-28
Enjoy a virtual, colorful, kid-friendly (and free) virtual Swedish Midsommarfest, June 26 – 28, sponsored by Skandia Folkdance Society and Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Check out music and dance performances, costumes, dance tutorials and a traditional pole-raising ceremony, and make your own flower crown at home with a great demo. No flowers available?…
Recommended Reads: ‘Katy’s Song’ an enchanting story of contrasting lifestyles
Katy’s Song, by Alison Reese Sing a song of love with all your heart. Sing about what could be. But how do you keep a romantic melody playing if a sour note is hit? Katy’s Song is a fun duet between two endearing characters. A duet differs from a harmony. The performers take turns performing…
Day Trip Discoveries: Six close-by parks to hike this summer
Looking to get outdoors beyond neighborhood walks, now that Snohomish County is in Phase 2 and summer is starting? Parks have opened, although parking may be limited at some. Here are six parks that offer walking/hiking escapes close-by or a short drive away. All allow dogs on leash. Yost Park is in the heart of…
Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation announces scholarship winners
The Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation recently awarded $31,000 in scholarships to 17 area students, all of whom are pursuing higher education degrees in the visual arts. Two additional annual scholarships in the amounts of $1,500 each were awarded in 2020: Kristen Walter received a scholarship for the second year from the Pamela Mummy Foundation and…
Playtime: Locations for summer meal pickups, Juneteenth events, library update, Girls on Run activities
This week, I got a phone call from a librarian from the Edmonds Sno-Isle branch. It was, frankly, thrilling. A hold I made back in March was ready for me to come and pick up and I could drop off any library books I had at home during the library’s amended hours — Monday and…
Snohomish County COVID-19 briefing: When county will move to Phase 3, how restaurants are ensuring customer safety
Top stories from Snohomish County’s COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday: How close the county is to launching the Phase 3 reopening. Ways restaurants are working to keep customers safe. County launches second round of COVID-19 small business grants. We are now 10 days into Snohomish County’s Phase 2 reopening, and reporters during Tuesday’s briefing wanted to know…
Sponsor spotlight: Chef Dane Father’s Day catering options, weekly food truck menu
Chef Dane Catering Father’s Day options Order by 4 p.m. Thursday Pick up 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday www.chefdane.com Father’s Day Dinner Beefsteak Tomato Salad fresh mozzarella, basil, red onion, olive oil, aged balsamic, cracked black pepper Grilled Asparagus & Carrots lemon black pepper dressing Au Gratin Potatoes peppercorn cream, parmesan Baby Back Pork Ribs brown…
Playtime: Wrapping up the school year with a community forum and more anti-racism resources
As we approach the last week of school (the last day was moved up to June 19), one kid in my house still has a few Zoom meetings left even though he turned in his “last homework of the year,” and the other has to use this final week to wrap up his missing work….
Playtime: Summer reading, plus family-friendly peaceful protests
Sno-Isle librarians were in the middle of planning for their summer reading program when libraries closed on March 13th due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, our three local libraries offer wi-fi access from their parking lots and Sno-Isle has offered library cards online, moved Storytimes and Trivia online, laid out how to access books,…
Recommended Reads: A touching memoir of caring for aging parents until the end
Loving the Enemy, by Catherine Fransson “Hang in there. We’ll make it.” Author Catherine Fransson shares a touching memoir about a time in her life that so many people struggle through. It’s a time as an adult, when you are juggling your own life responsibilities, and at the same time caring for people you once depended…
Playtime: Antiracism resources for families
On Saturday morning, Mountlake Terrace High School’s Facebook page shared a letter from Principal Greg Schellenberg to Mountlake Terrace High School students and community members. Schellenberg formally denounced the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, adding “There is no room in the Mountlake Terrace community for racism, misogyny, bigotry and hatred.” Schellenberg…