News Flash! Pokemon Go fans head to CenturyLink Field for live music and access to the field, etc. to catch Pokemon!! Now until 7pm in Seattle - Friday, July 15th 2016 - "Less than a Latte" at $1 per person!

" Happy hour, live music, and Pokémon Go - What more could you ask for?! 

Join us for Summer Nights in the North Plaza from 4-7pm tomorrow to gain access to the Pokéstops inside the stadium, including the field!

We will even drop Lures to keep you playing 👍

Admission is just $1. Proceeds benefit The Alliance for Pioneer Square. "




For more info. go here.

Bon Odori Festival in Seattle - Saturday and Sunday, July 18th and 19th 2015 - various times!

Bon Odori Festival

Saturday, July 18th, 4PM to 10PM

Sunday, July 19th, 3PM to 8PM

Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple

1427 S. Main, Seattle (map)

" Bon Odori is a traditional summer festival in which we honor our ancestors who have passed on, remember and appreciate all they have done for us, and celebrate their ongoing presence in the lives we enjoy today.

Also known as Obon, the festival is an official Seafair event held at the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple. The main event is traditional music and dancing in the street in a giant oval. Many festival goers dress in Japanese kimono, yukata or happi coats. The event also features Japanese food booths and refreshment, taiko and martial arts performances, and craft exhibits and demonstrations. "

For more info. go here.

Kirkland Summer Concerts - Kids Concerts on Tuesdays at 10am July 7th-August 18th at Juanita Beach Park and Family Evening Concerts on Thursdays at 7pm July 9th-August 20th 2015 at Marina Park = Free music summer fun!

Yay...Summer Concerts are here! We started going to these when my son was an infant!

Take the kids and have fun watching some great local kindie bands!

Kids Concerts 

Every Tuesday at 10-11 AM,  

July 7th - August 18th

Juanita Beach Park - Juanita 

July 7th - Cowboy Buck & Elizabeth

July 14th - Johnny Bregar
July 21st -Recess Monkey

July 28th - Brian Waite Band
August 4th - Brian Vogan & His Good Buddies

August 11th - The Not It's
August 18th - Caspar Babypants

I haven't been to any evening concerts yet but I bet they are a lot of fun to go and enjoy!

                                           Evening Concerts
                                   Every Thursday at 7-8:30 PM, 

July 9th - August 20th

       Marina Park - Downtown Kirkland

July 9th -Abbagraphs  -Abba Tribute Band



July 16th - Bobby Medina - Jazz Latin Dance



July 23rd - Geoffrey Castle - Celtic Rock



July 30th -Long Stride - Roots Rock Reggae



August 6th - Creme Tangerine - Beatles Tribute



August 13th - Mycle Wastman - "The Voice" Finalist



August 20th - Prom Queen - Retro Pop

For more info. go here.

Skandia Midsommarfest at St. Edwards Park in Kenmore - Sunday, June 28th 2015 from 11am-6pm

" Midsommarfest activities, including music, dancing, food and crafts, all begin a 11:00 a.m. The grand parade and raising of the majstång (garlanded midsommar pole) are at 2:30 p.m.  "

For more info. go here.

REPOST: 30+ WAYS TO KEEP COOL IN HOT WEATHER...

Thought I would repost this post from 2012 since it will be in the 90's around Greater Seattle starting this weekend! Ready to keep cool when it gets HOT, HOT, HOT?! 

REPOST:

After moving here from the Midwest (via the East Coast!) we were surprised how many homes, apartments and condos didn't have air conditioning. Now after living here for several years we, of course, understood why a/c wasn't important when you only get a handful of 90+ days. (Of course if you are pregnant at the same time, that is another story!) 

On those 90+ days, however, it can be a little unbearable. So, some of the things we did during those times (like now) is stocked popsicles in the freezer, took a cool shower and let hair airdry during the day, and discovered some local spray parks. But my favorite discovery was one I heard on the radio here years ago and it really does work.

You open all of the windows at night before you go to bed (if it is safe to do so) and keep them open to let the cool air in. Then before it gets hot and sunny you close all of them as well as all of the shades. The key is to close them between 5 and 6am if possible and 7am at the latest. When I first tried this I couldn't believe how well it worked. Our house is always 10 degrees cooler than outside by doing this. It is really refreshing to come home to a house without a/c that is 75 degrees instead of 85 like outside. (As I write this it is 78 degrees in my house and 89 degrees outside.) I am a person that always prefers it colder than hotter and the excessive sun and heat are no friends of mine.

Other things we do is use electric fans, and on especially hot days, we put a bowl of ice in front of the fan and it works like a mini a/c. I also sleep with a cold wash cloth on my neck or forehead to keep cool. And on days when it is just too hot upstairs we sleep downstairs on the sofabed. It's kinda like a vacation from the bed, a mini-adventure! At least my preschooler thinks so!

I have found 30+ more ways to keep you (even while sleeping) and your home cooler too. So click on the links below to discover more of the ways to beat the heat.

The first one I am going to try is the cold water spray bottle you keep in the fridge!

Don't forget the usual suspects for the kids at home too, like water balloon fights, wet sponge fights or catch, supersoaker fights, sprinklers and kiddie pools.

And if you want to avoid the heat altogether short of going to visit Santa at the North Pole, don't forget to take advantage of the indoor malls, libraries, movie theaters, book stores and the like.

Stay cool!

For more info. on staying cool go here, here and here.  

Kids Eat FREE this summer at parks, schools, libraries and more in Washington State - Weekdays - Now through Mid-August depending on location!

" The Washington State Summer Food Service Program, or Summer Meals, provides free meals and snacks to all children and teens (18 years and younger) during the summer months. 
No proof of income, address or citizenship is ever required. "

It is mostly lunch times and snack times with some breakfast times and supper times depending on location in Washington State.

If memory serves I believe that even if you feel you don't need it, they want you to accept it if you are out and about with the kids at the park, etc. when they happen to be there doing these events because it keeps the program successful and the funding going for those that truly need it. 

For more info. go here.

Regal Summer Movie Express = $1 family movies at participating Regal Theaters - Tuesday and Wednesdays - June 23rd through August 19th 2015 at 10am

Yay...$1 movies are back and start next week in our area! This is a summer favorite of ours and I hope you go and get to enjoy them with your family too! Insider tip: First few weeks are typically not crowded but later on when the word gets out there will be long lines so arrive early...but don't worry they go pretty fast. 

Here is the 9 week schedule:

 (Note: Both movies shown play on both Tuesday and Wednesday) 

Week	Dates	Movies
Week 1	Tue June 23 Wed June 24	Nut Job Annie
Week 2	Tue June 30 Wed July 1	Earth to Echo Boxtrolls
Week 3	Tue July 7 Wed July 8	Paddington Turbo
Week 4	Tue July 14 Wed July 15	Rio 2 How To Train Your Dragon 2
Week 5	Tue July 21 Wed July 22	Mr. Peabody Book of Life
Week 6	Tue July 28 Wed July 29	Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb Penguins of Madagascar
Week 7	Tue August 4 Wed August 5	Madagascar 3 Dolphin Tale 2
Week 8	Tue August 11 Wed August 12	Muppets, Most Wanted Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Week 9	Tue August 18 Wed August 19	The Lego Movie The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water

For more info go here.

"Movies Under the Stars" outdoor family movies at Swedish Hospital in Edmonds - Various Fridays - Starts tonight, Friday, July 18th 2014 at Dusk

Featured Films:

July, 18, 9 p.m. - Father of the Bride (1991), PG - 105 minutes

Aug. 8, 8:30 p.m. - The Lego Movie, (2014), PG - 100 minutes

Aug. 15, 8:15 p.m. - Hook (1991), PG - 144 minutes

Sept. 5, 7:45 p.m. - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), G - 144 minutes

(Movies will be shown beginning at sundown. Movie times are approximate.)

" Movies will be shown on the Swedish/Edmonds patio, just outside the hospital café on the second floor. Chair seating on the patio will be available for the first 200 people. Moviegoers may also bring a blanket and sit on the lawn above the patio area. Free parking is available in the lot located just outside the hospital’s west entrance off of 76th Avenue. "

 

Image courtesy of Swedish Hospital

For more info. go here.

PinehurstFest at Pinehurst Playfield in Seattle - Saturday, July 12th 2014 from 2-5pm

For more info. go here.

REPOST: 30+ WAYS TO KEEP COOL IN HOT WEATHER...

Thought I would repost this post from 2012 since it will be in the 90's around Greater Seattle starting this weekend! Ready to keep cool when it gets HOT, HOT, HOT?! 

REPOST:

After moving here from the Midwest (via the East Coast!) we were surprised how many homes, apartments and condos didn't have air conditioning. Now after living here for several years we, of course, understood why a/c wasn't important when you only get a handful of 90+ days. (Of course if you are pregnant at the same time, that is another story!) 

On those 90+ days, however, it can be a little unbearable. So, some of the things we did during those times (like now) is stocked popsicles in the freezer, took a cool shower and let hair airdry during the day, and discovered some local spray parks. But my favorite discovery was one I heard on the radio here years ago and it really does work.

You open all of the windows at night before you go to bed (if it is safe to do so) and keep them open to let the cool air in. Then before it gets hot and sunny you close all of them as well as all of the shades. The key is to close them between 5 and 6am if possible and 7am at the latest. When I first tried this I couldn't believe how well it worked. Our house is always 10 degrees cooler than outside by doing this. It is really refreshing to come home to a house without a/c that is 75 degrees instead of 85 like outside. (As I write this it is 78 degrees in my house and 89 degrees outside.) I am a person that always prefers it colder than hotter and the excessive sun and heat are no friends of mine.

Other things we do is use electric fans, and on especially hot days, we put a bowl of ice in front of the fan and it works like a mini a/c. I also sleep with a cold wash cloth on my neck or forehead to keep cool. And on days when it is just too hot upstairs we sleep downstairs on the sofabed. It's kinda like a vacation from the bed, a mini-adventure! At least my preschooler thinks so!

I have found 30+ more ways to keep you (even while sleeping) and your home cooler too. So click on the links below to discover more of the ways to beat the heat.

The first one I am going to try is the cold water spray bottle you keep in the fridge!

Don't forget the usual suspects for the kids at home too, like water balloon fights, wet sponge fights or catch, supersoaker fights, sprinklers and kiddie pools.

And if you want to avoid the heat altogether short of going to visit Santa at the North Pole, don't forget to take advantage of the indoor malls, libraries, movie theaters, book stores and the like.

Stay cool!

For more info. on staying cool go here, here and here.  

Cinema Under the Stars in Everett - Fridays - July 11th through August 15th 2014 - Pre-show entertainment starts at 7:30pm, Movies begin at dusk! Food available for purchase. "Frozen" kicks it off tonight!

Lots of free fun with pre-show entertainment too!

" Outdoor movies on a giant 15-foot screen create a great evening of fun for the whole family. Make sure and pack the blankets and coats as it gets chilly later in the evening. Parking is plentiful, and the park offers public restrooms and is ADA accessible. Cash-only food vendors offer movie-night snacks: popcorn, hot dogs, and ice cream. "

 2014 Schedule:

July 11	Frozen Rated PG Pre-movie:Pacific Science Center: The Super Cool Science Show
July 18	Despicable Me 2 Rated  PG Pre-movie:Magician Louie Foxx
July 25	Iron Man 3 Rated PG-13 Pre-movie: Son of Reptileman
Aug. 1	The Lego Movie Rated PG Pre-movie: Imagine Children's Museum - Arts & Crafts
Aug. 8	Mr. Peabody & Sherman Rated PG Pre-movie: Imagine Children’s Museum-Arts & Crafts
Aug. 15	The Hunger Games - Catching Fire Rated PG-13 Pre-movie: Hilarious Improv Comedy by Taproot Theatre

For more info. go here.

Family Summer Concert Series at Magnuson Park presents The Usual Suspects tonight in Seattle - Friday, July 11th 2014 from 7-9pm

Head to Magnuson Park tonight for a fun family concert!

" The Usual Suspects are performing live in the Magnuson Park Amphitheater (between the Brig and Community Garden) as part of the Family Summer Concert Series this Friday, 7-9pm. Have fun in the sun while you listen, dance, sing-along to an amazing mix of rock and blues! FREE! "

For more info. go here.

Kirkland Summer Evening Concerts at Marina Park - Thursdays - July 10th through August 21st 2014 from 7-8:30pm

Head to Marina Park on Thursday nights with the family and kick back and relax with some live music performances!

Here's Line-up:

• July 10th 
  Richard Allen & LouisianaExperience
• July 17th 
  Sly Mr. Y
• July 24th 
  Mark DuFresne & Band
• July 31st 
  Tumbao
• August 7th
  Rain City Riff Raff
• August 14th
  Emily McIntosh
• August 21
  Hit Explosion 
  
  
  
  

  
  

  For more info. go here.

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

Sculpture Viewing (33 pieces!) at Bellevue City Hall and Downtown Park and in between Today, June 27th through October 12th 2014 - Special Opening Celebration tonight (June 27th) from 6-8pm

For more info. go here.

FREE Lunch, activities and chance to meet new friends for kids under 18 presented by Northshore YMCA - Mondays-Fridays - July 7th through August 29th 2014 from 11:30-1:30pm - Lunch served at Noon - 2 locations, 1 in Kenmore, 1 in Bothell

" The Northshore YMCA is offering free lunches everyday to anyone under 18 from July 7 - August 29 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.! More info in the link, along with additional activities that your child can be involved with this summer! "

http://wwwnew.nsd.org/Page/20656

For more info. go here.