Mountain View
Maria Shimizu Christensen
Loads of Festivals This Weekend
Need something to do this weekend? Our entire region is teeming with festivals. If you don’t live in one of the host towns, these events are a great opportunity for a day trip. The weather is going to be fabulous: sunny and in the low to mid 80s depending on where you end up. Stay hydrated!
The Capital Lakefair Festival Has Started and it Runs All Weekend
The Capital Lakefair festival in Olympia started today and runs through Sunday night. It’s a popular, long-running event that started in 1957 and is an important source of fundraising for non-profits and educational scholarships.
4 Days of Old Fashioned Fun at the King County Fair
Just in time for more reasonable weather in the low to mid 80s is a great reason to get outside for some family fun. The King County Fair is taking place at the Enumclaw Expo Center from Thursday, July 11th through Sunday, July 14th.
Washington’s Paid Family & Medical Leave Helped When I Had a Stroke
As I laid in a hospital bed last year after having a stroke, one of my first thoughts was that I was glad I had short term disability insurance through my employer. It was something I paid for through payroll deductions, and on that first day I had no idea how long I would be out of work. At least I would have some income coming in. That turned out to be significantly less help than I thought.
Free Shakespeare Shows with a Cute Dog
The Seattle Shakespeare Company’s Wooden O Theatre is at it again, bringing free outdoor performances of Shakespeare’s classic plays to parks all around the region. This year’s play is The Two Gentlemen of Verona, a comedy about love, friendship and betrayal. There’s a scene-stealing and adorable dog in this play, thought to be the famous bard’s first.
The Seafair Pirates Land on Saturday
For more than 70 years the Seafair Pirates have kicked off summer’s Seafair festivities, and it’s that time again!. The pirates will land at 1:00 pm at Alki Beach Park (2701 Alki Ave. SW) in their annual attempt to steal the key to the city.
Huge Greenwood Car Show This Saturday
The biggest car show in the Pacific Northwest, and a long Seattle tradition, takes places this Saturday, June 29th in the Greenwood neighborhood. Over 20 blocks of Greenwood Ave. are closed off to traffic for the Greenwood Car ShowGreenwood Car Show, with vintage and specialty cars lining both sides of the street. Wear comfortable walking shoes because there’s a lot to take in. Over a thousand vehicles are typically on display and car clubs from all over the region participate.
Tons of Activities at Kids Day in Auburn
The City of Auburn is celebrating the end of the school year and the beginning of summer vacation on Tuesday June 25th with a huge Kids Day event. The day takes place all over the grounds of Les Gove Park from 11 am to 4 pm. Most of the activities are free, but a few charge an extra fee, such as the giant slide and the bubble balls. Free activities include mini golf, a climbing wall, inflatables for both kids and toddlers, art activities, and a display area with large vehicles and equipment.
Dick’s Up for Best Regional Fast Food in the Country and You Can Vote
USA Today is holding their 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards to find the best of the best in a number of travel categories. Travel experts pick 20 choices for each category and readers are asked to vote for their favorites to narrow it down to 10 winners.
The Concert Truck Is Bringing Free Chamber Music to Local Parks
A partnership between The Concert Truck and the Seattle Chamber Music Society is bringing free classical music concerts to locations around the area, starting on June 20th. What’s different than most free concerts held in parks is that the concert truck is an actual truck. The side of the 16-foot box truck opens up to reveal a stage with a piano, lights, and sound system. It’s a beautiful and unique experience.
The Free Classic Workboat & Maritime Show Is This Weekend
We’re outdoorsy people and we love to get out on the water. Whether that’s on a motorboat, sailboat, ferry, or a kayak, the waters surrounding our region play a huge part in our lives even if we don’t actually love being on a boat.
Cheap Eats Food Walk: Discover Seattle's Chinatown International District
Seattle’s Chinatown-International District hosts 3 food walks this summer, and the first is this Saturday, June 15, from 11 am to 4 pm. 39 different restaurants are participating and they’ll be offering up menu items for $4, $6, and $8. This is a fantastic opportunity to try several foods from different venues without breaking the bank. Get a Thai iced tea or a sesame ball for $4, or a $6 dim sum platter from Dim Sum King. Beard Papa, located in Uwajimaya is offering 2 Japanese doughnuts for $4. There’s a huge variety of food on the menus, and it’ll be pretty easy to find something you like, or even something you’ve never had before.
4 Things to Do With Dad on Father’s Day
There’s a lot going on this Father’s Day weekend, but if the dad in your life is into cars or planes, there are four especially good events. This highly popular air show runs from June 15 to June 16 in Olympia and is chock full of aerial acrobatics, historic planes, activities for kids and much more.
This Weekend’s Lineup of Festivals and Fairs, June 7 to June 9
The weather forecast for the upcoming weekend is looking really good, with temperatures in the 70s and plenty of sun peeking through the clouds. It’s perfect for what we like to do best; get outside. There are plenty of festivals and street fairs going on around the region to help you take advantage of the good weather.
The Biggest Arcade in the Northwest Opens This Weekend
Unfortunately, the Northwest Pinball & Arcade Show only takes place for 3 days, so it’s not an ongoing thing, but it does happen every year. This is a huge show with hundreds of pinball and arcade games machines, many of which you you’ll get a chance to play. People come from all over the country to attend.
10 Festivals and Fairs Happening This Weekend
Western Washington is chock full of fun things to do this weekend, all over the Puget Sound region. If you haven’t made plans, now’s the time. Fantastic food and dancers highlighting cultures around the world. With a fashion show and hands on activities.
I Had Health Problems That Caused a Stroke and Didn’t Even Know It
When I had a stroke last year it was a complete surprise. I hadn’t felt sick. I’d started a new workout regimen and was feeling stronger every week. I ate healthy food and drank plenty of water. I was in my late 50s but didn’t feel old. How did it happen?
Mini Train Adventures: Free Rides for Kids and Adults
If you need something fun and free to do with the kids from springtime through the fall, consider taking them on a free train ride. You have two choices of trains and locations. Keep in mind these are short rides on model trains, so if you want to make a day of it you'll have to find other things to do in the area.
$25 Tickets to Big Concerts Available for One Week
Starting at 7 am PST/10 AM ET, Wednesday, May 8th, you can purchase concert tickets from Live Nation for $25 (not including taxes). Considering the astronomical prices of some concerts these days, this is a really good deal.
2024 Gerber Baby Photo Search: More Prizes, More Winners!
Your baby is the cutest baby in the world, right? That might be all the reason you need to enter this year’s Gerber Photo Search. The grand prize of $25,000 and a bunch of swag doesn’t hurt either. But just in case your baby isn’t a grand prize pick from among the many thousands of entries, there will be 10 additional winners for categories known as “Inchstone Moments”.
Maria Shimizu Christensen
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Author of a Seattle handbook for newcomers, Maria provides news, guides, and tidbits for city dwellers, visitors, and day trippers
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