Kent Parks hosts annual Holiday Bazaar!

Kent Parks & Recreation Dept. is hosting its annual Holiday Bazaar this Friday and Saturday at the Kent Commons, 525 Fourth Avenue North, Kent, WA.

Fri., December 5: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sat., December 6: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Here's a brief description from the city's website describing the event:

"The annual Holiday Bazaar features more than 100 vendors selling pottery, wooden toys, gourmet foods, wood craft items, handmade soaps and body products, wreaths, snowmen, stained and hand painted glass, wonderfully handcrafted jewelry, quilts, specialty items and gifts. Four raffle drawings, with items from the vendors are held each hour. "

Shop "local" this Christmas! Questions? Call 253.813.6795.

For complete details, visit the city's website.

Renaissance Yarns is moving!

If you haven't heard the news, let me be the first to announce that Renaissance Yarns is moving to Kent Station. The store will close its doors on East Meeker Street Sun., Nov. 30 - Tues., Dec. 2 and move to its new Kent Station location and open for business on Wed., Dec. 3.

Owner Nancy Skorupa is excited about her new store and is anxious to kick off the holiday open season. Stop by and say "hi" after the move, and mark your calendar for Fri., Dec. 12 (5 to 9 p.m.) for Renaissance Yarns' Home for the Holidays Open House to celebrate the new location.

Feel the fiber!

[Voted Best Arts & Craft Store in KING5's 2008 Best of Western Washington contest!]

Kent Winterfest: Sat., Dec. 6

Downtown Kent has a lot to offer at this year's annual Winterfest celebration on Saturday, December 6. Here is a brief schedule of events. For more info., visit the Kent Winterfest website.

9 am - Noon: Holly Jolly Breakfast at Maggie's on Meeker (they have delicious food!)
10 am - 6 pm: Holiday Shopping & Dining
11 am: Holly Jolly One Mile Walk with Mayor Suzette Cooke & Kent4Health
11 am - 9 pm: Morford Family Holiday Carousel
12 - 3 pm: Meet the Kent Fire Dept.
1 - 5 pm: Holly Jolly Horse Drawn Carriage free with Kent Food Bank donation
2 pm: Kids 'n Kritters Pet Walk
4 pm: Holiday Reading at the Kent Public Library
4:30 - 6:30 pm: Kent Lion's Parade, Santa's Arrival, Bike Giveaway, Annual Tree Lighting

Share your Holly Jolly spirit this holiday season with a food or monetary donation to the Kent Food Bank.

Santa is coming to town...Sat., Nov. 29 @ 10 a.m.

Kent Station is kicking off the holiday season with Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with the Rainier Brass Ensemble, at 10 a.m. on Sat., November 29 at the Kent Station Plaza. The jolly couple will be available to greet shoppers afterward at the Santa House where they can have their photos taken or they can take Santa's patented "naughty or nice" test.

In addition, Kent Station is accepting food and toy donations to be given to the Kent Food Bank during the holidays.

For more info. including Santa House hours, visit Kent Station online.

First Avenue South - Discover Kent's Historic District

If you haven't checked out downtown Kent lately, you are missing out on some great businesses as well as some wonderful dining and shopping options. Check out the latest list of local businesses, in the heart of downtown Kent:

Earthworks Gem Design Studio
Bella home and garde
City Frame
Heartbeat Yoga & Healing Arts
Vibe Bar & Grill
Cypriana
Wild Wheat Bakery & Cafe
Spiro's Greek Island Restaurant
Shindig Martini Bar
The Balanced Athlete
Discovery Shop
Bittersweet Restaurant
Goju Karate and Pilates
Salon Avoni
Howell's Religious Books
Distinctive Images Barber Shop & Styling Salon
NW Electrology & Permanent Make-up
Perk Up Place
Lemon Drop Skin Care & Massage

This weekend the historic district and businesses on Meeker Street are celebrating with their annual Holiday Open House. Visit www.kentdowntown.org for details.

Kent Winterfest: Kids 'n Kritters pet walk

For the second year in a row, Kent Winterfest - scheduled for Saturday, December 6 - is holding a Kids 'n Kritters Pet Walk for kids and adults. Walk your pets on a fun one mile-walk that weaves in and out of the streets of downtown Kent. King County Animal Care and Control will bring adoptable dogs, and Another Chance Pet Adoptions will have adoptable cats.

Register by bringing one large, clean bath towel or blanket to McMonigle Veterinary Clinic on Central Avenue. If you register before Nov. 24., you'll receive a free long-sleeved t-shirt the day of the walk.

All friendly dogs are welcome and must be on leashes. Cats and smaller pets can be carried or put in carriers or pulled in your own wagons. Costumes are not required but are encouraged. Free pet photos after the walk!

The walk begins at The Morford Family Carousel at Town Square Plaza and will be led by Santa. See you there!

Perk Up Place for Sandwiches, Salads & Other Tasty Treats

One of my favorite spots for lunch has become Perk Up Place at the corner of Gowe and First Avenue South (inside Titusville Station). I have tried several of their salads (grilled chicken salad and the shrimp louie). They're made individually by Shelly or Sue, and are made with fresh ingredients and in enormous portions. I had the shrimp salad for lunch and dinner yesterday and have enough left over for lunch today! I also tried a slice of Shelly's pumpkin bread which is homemade, and loaded with delicious spices. You have to try it!

Perk Up Place
Inside Titusville Station
202 W. Gowe St., Ste. C
Kent, WA 98032

Open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

You can call ahead for pick-up at 253-854-8868 or they'll deliver locally between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.! They also offer catering services with party trays, hot entrees, a fiesta taco bar, and dessert and pastry trays. Yum!

Kona Kai's November Events

Have you visited Kona Kai Coffee in downtown Kent? It is a charming Polynesian-themed coffee shop with great food and beverages. They also have a lot of upcoming events. Here is the latest list of November events:

11/07, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Free Chair Massage
11/07, 7 p.m.: Jazz by Darren Motamedy ($7 cover)
11/08: Open Mic Night (no cover)
11/12, 7 - 9 p.m.: Travel & Cruise Night by Catalyst Travel
11/14: Sing-a-long Bluegrass Band (no cover)
11/15: Groove Line ($3 cover)
11/21, 7 p.m.: Jazz by Darren Motamedy ($7 cover)
12/5, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Free Chair Massage

This 4th Avenue coffee shop also features delicious sandwiches, burgers and a new wine list, and they offer free WiFi. For more info., visit them online.

Kent's Santa Don needs your help

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This year is Santa Don and Christmas Carole (Vandel)'s last year as Santa in downtown Kent. This year our favorite holiday couple will be available to have pictures taken with children and pets at the Morford Carousel in the new Town Square Plaza in downtown Kent during the month of December. Bring your own camera and pictures are free. Their request: a donation to a local charity.

He also needs a backdrop for the photos. If you have something he can use or have any ideas, e-mail me or call Mark Mandolin at Chair & Trellis at 253-852-8520.

This is Santa's last year, so let's make it a special one for him!

[P.S. - Don't forget Winterfest 2008 scheduled for Saturday, December 6!!!]

Photo by Spyder-Web Photography

Reminder: Election Day at Earthworks!

Don't forget: Tuesday, November 4, 2008 is Election Day, and our friends at Earthworks are hosting a nonpartisan celebration of our electoral system. View my previous post for details!

And please, please, please make time to vote.

For kids' sake, don't tailgate

We live just outside the bus boundaries for my daughter's school, so I drive her to and from school every day, taking one of two well-traveled routes. Along those routes are dozens of kids waiting for the bus or walking to and from school. Although I'm normally a cautious driver anyway, I am particularly careful when driving on these roads. I am careful to do the speed limit, and I always watch for the students.

Unfortunately, that isn't true of every driver. Almost every day without fail, someone tailgates me, riding up on my bumper as if to push me along the road faster. They seem to have a need for me to know that I'm too slow for their tastes. Nothing irritates me more, especially when kids' lives are at stake. I try to understand their behavior - maybe they're having a bad day, aren't paying attention or are late for work - but nothing seems as important to me as the safety of those we share the road with. If you are one of these drivers, I ask you to please respect the safety of the students and other drivers drive a little more carefully. For kids' sake, don't tailgate.

The Grape Adventure

It looks like my favorite Kent wine shop, The Grape Adventure, has some fun things scheduled for November. Among their events:

Mon., Nov. 10 - Glamour Shots for Gals
Sat., Nov. 15 - Music by Neil Bryant
Wed., Nov. 19 - Dessert Wine Tasting

For their full calendar, including holiday shopping hours and scheduled wine tastings, please visit The Grape Adventure's website.

If you haven't visited The Grape Adventure yet, it is a locally-owned wine shop and tapas bar. It is a great place to find gifts for the wine or beer lover in your family or to unwind after a long day. It's a wonderful escape from the every day!