September 2019 Issue by seattleschild

GE A CO MI NG OF

SE P T E M B E R 201 9

Quinceañera! Bar & bat mitzvah! Bartaman!

E L T T A E IN S F RE E

YOUR GUI DE TO A K I D- FR I ENDLY CI T Y

R OM P

STYLE is no ordinary music class CHOMP

Create a comingof-age tradition that fits your family PLUS How to make middle school (slightly) less mortifying Screen-time rules to live by Perla Jasmin Luna celebra su quinceañera en la Iglesia Católica de Santa Teresa en Federal Way R S E AT T L E S C H I L D.C O M

Aaron Smith’s plan to bring culture to the cafeteria SHOP

Embracing zero waste with Scoop Marketplace Check out Kids Supper Club on the

Seattle’s Child app > PAGE 12

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>>Contents Seattle’sChild

September 2019 // Issue 476

WHAT PARENTS ARE TALKING ABOUT....... 3 DAD NEXT DOOR................ 7 ROMP........................................... 9 CHOMP....................................... 11 SHOP..........................................13 FEATURE COMING OF AGE IN SEATTLE.............................17 MAKING HOME....................23 CALENDAR............................25

Greenwood

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Back-to-School p.11

The Sammamish Montessori School In Redmond

Call 425-883-3271 for a tour. • Child-centered, joyful atmosphere with strong academic focus • Experienced, Montessori-certified teachers • Preschool, kindergarten, and STEAM Enrichment in g • Family owned and operated since 1977 N o w E n r o ll • Summer, before & after school programs • Prep Program, (starting ages 2 1/2-3)

www.sammamishmontessori.com • 425-883-3271 2

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„ Find us online at seattleschild.com Cover photo by JOSHUA HUSTON

Don’t miss these stories on seattleschild.com

School clothes Seattle district changes dress code

Family day trip Visit Mount Rainier or Mount St. Helens

Fun at Home Depot Mom’s review of kids’ workshops

»What Parents

„ Find more local news for families on seattleschild.com

Are Talking About Education, health, development and more

Caroline Wright reads Lasting Love to her two sons.

When the bottom falls out How do we manage to show up for our children while confronting the unimaginable? by C A R O L I N E W R I G H T / photo by J O S H U A H U S T O N

On March 3, 2017, a week before my 33rd birthday, I was diagnosed with a rare, very aggressive brain tumor called a glioblastoma multiforme. A week earlier I underwent a craniotomy to remove a very

large tumor from the frontal lobe of my brain and I had returned to my neurosurgeon to discover the results of its pathology. A hospital tech had just removed 41 staples from my scalp and placed them in a small plastic bag next to me on the crisp white paper stretched across the patient’s bench. I was the Patient, the object of discussion; not the writer, cookbook author or mother of my former life. It was official, in the wails of my husband and mother’s surprise and agony in that moment: My life, as I knew it then, was over.

After a diagnosis like that, it’s strange to think life didn’t actually stop. That I, as the patient, had to get in a car and go home and somehow continue. I was still a mom of two crazy little boys, then 1 and 4, and had just moved to Seattle. My diagnosis had just become another fact of our lives then to navigate around. Though the bottom fell out of my life and my whole world changed in an instant, some things stayed the same. Like parenting. The CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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Seattle’sChild September 2019 // Issue 476 “Seattle is my town. I know this city inside and out… or so I thought until I had kids.” Seattle’s Child is your guide to getting to know your city all over again. Finding things to do, places to eat, and how to get around — it’s a whole new ballgame with kids in tow. We’re interested in how parents make homes in a space-challenged urban environment, how families create community, and what parents are really talking about. Seattle’s Child reflects real Puget Sound families and their broad range of parenting experiences. ANN BERGMAN Publisher, Founder abergman@seattleschild.com BOO DAVIS Art Director bdavis@seattleschild.com SYDNEY PARKER Managing Editor sparker@seattleschild.com JULIE HANSON Website Editor jhanson@seattleschild.com JENNIFER MORTENSEN Calendar Editor calendar@seattleschild.com MIKE MAHONEY Copy Editor

«What Parents Are Talking About CONTINUED

JEFF LEE, MD Columnist ERIKA LEE BIGELOW, EMILY CHERKIN, JIAYING GRYGIEL, BRETT HAMIL, SIERRA KAPLANNELSON, SARAH BERGMAN LEWIS, JILLIAN O’CONNOR, JEKEVA PHILLIPS, JACKIE VARRIANO, CAROLINE WRIGHT Contributing Writers ISSY BELZIL Marketing & Sales Coordinator JANA WITT Accounting ADVERTISING KIM LOVE Ad Production Manager klove@seattleschild.com MELIA WILKINSON Advertising Sales Manager mwilkinson@seattleschild.com 774-253-2219 KRISTA NAVARRO Sales Account Manager knavarro@seattleschild.com RACHEL NEVARIL Sales Account Manager rnevaril@seattleschild.com

Seattle’sChild Seattle’s Child has been providing useful information to parents since 1979. In addition to our monthly magazine, look for our special themed publications — Explore, FamilyPages, School and SummerTime — distributed free throughout the Puget Sound area. Seattle’s Child is published monthly with combined issues in January/February and July/August.

ONLINE seattleschild.com Facebook facebook.com/seattleschild Twitter @SeaChildMag Instagram @seattleschildmag MAIL c/o Postal Plus 1211 E. Denny Way, Seattle, WA 98112 VOICE 206-441-0191 TO ADVERTISE advertise@seattleschild.com MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTION distribution@seattleschild.com STORY IDEAS editor@seattleschild.com CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS calendar@seattleschild.com Deadline is first of the month, one month prior to publication (Oct. 1 for November publication). Include date, time, cost, appropriate ages, address, contact information and description.

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gritty stuff — the physical scramble of unwilling diaper changes, forcible midtantrum costume swaps — was passed on to my husband or dad, while the emotional piece, the cornerstone of my role as Mom, was amplified. While Theodore, our babbling toddler, was then unaware of the emotional complexities of our world, Henry, our articulate and bright preschooler, was able to understand just enough of what was going on to be terrified. I had become both the cause and solution for Henry’s pain in one broken body. My husband and I devoured the only useful parenting book we had on the subject of parenting with a terminal illness, How to Help Children Through a Parent’s Serious Illness: Supportive, Practical Advice from a Leading Child Life Specialist by Kathleen McCue. A friend had given it to us days after the discovery of my tumor. It became our sacred text, and advocated honest, open, age-appropriate conversation within families to protect the bond between child and dying parent. An important requirement of these conversations, we learned, was that they needed to be child-led and unforced, so the child could take on what they needed to know when it was best for them. This resulted in bursts of random, insightful exchanges woven into our day, over breakfast or climbing the stairs. One day, walking Henry home from his preschool after my radiation treatment was over, we held hands, chatted and picked dandelions in the Seattle spring that was starting to feel like home. As he bent over to pluck a particularly fluffy specimen, he asked as his eyes flashed:

“You’re getting better though, right?” “I’m feeling a lot better,” I replied, recognizing the hope on his face. “I have a lot of energy to play with you now, just like I used to. But as far as the cancer goes, we don’t quite know yet. They will do more tests soon to tell its shape and size. I’m still fighting as hard as I can and doing everything the doctors say. We have to wait and see.” With that, Henry drew a big breath into his lungs and spilled it out over the fluffy crown of seeds held in his hand. He promised to hold the wish in his heart as we continued walking home. Parenting remains a space that requires holding unknown fears — like first days of school or any period of change or growth — with love. Love became our panacea, our religion of sorts. I had been writing daily in an online journal for my boys out of love to care for their future selves, while tucking them in at night in service of it, too. Writing was a space untouchable by cancer, something that made me feel less like a patient and more like myself. Then one day I woke up with an idea that would preserve the philosophy we had come to develop as a family in an immortal space: A children’s book, for them to discover at precisely the pace they needed, regardless of whether I was the one to read it to them. The result of that idea evolved into a book called Lasting Love, the simplest distillation of my parenting philosophy, for my sons: That a parent’s love is tangible, permanent, and lasts forever. As if the end of a vivid yet very surreal dream, Lasting Love was published by Rodale Kids, a division of Random House in New York, on Aug. 20; the most unbelievable part of it is that I am here to read it to them. Caroline Wright is a cookbook and children’s book author living in Seattle with her family. q carolinewrightbooks.com

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You lead by example, showing me how to be a woman who isn’t bothered by societal expectations or concerned with body image and beauty. You complimented me by telling me I was strong and healthy.

‘We can never go backwards’ Remembering a life well lived, and a mom who will be missed by S I E R R A K A P L A N - N E L S O N

Editor’s Note: Ann Nelson died Aug. 4 after slipping off a path while hiking in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. She was a mother of two, Sierra and Gabe, and wife of David Kaplan — a fellow UW physics professor. Ann was a world-renowned physicist, outspoken advocate for diversity in the science professions, more than 20-year active member of Seattle’s Mountaineers Club, and remembered by many who crossed her path as “a very kind person who really stood up for people who were marginalized.” Her daughter Sierra posted this tribute to her mom on Facebook; we are republishing it here for all of us moms wondering what gifts we might give our daughters:

You taught me to appreciate every flower, every tree and every berry. You taught me a love for reading and complex characters. You taught me an openness to the world and a love for learning languages and traveling. I’ll always admire your lack of assumptions or judgment in new places. I’ll miss your insights about people and the ironic things they do.

You gave me a love for creativity and art, even though you laughed at me when I got tired at museums and leaned on you. You showed me the joy of eating food you’ve grown or picked yourself, and the joy of trying new recipes and new flavors. You showed me how to be a proud nerd and show your love for nerdy fandom unapologetically.

I’ll miss being silly with you and laughing at the world and ourselves.

You taught me how to feel strong and yet not hard. You made me feel powerful and confident without the validation of others.

I’ll miss watching you throw yourself into every new passion. I’ll miss your enthusiasm when I became excited about something new.

You taught me it’s fine to answer a question wrong in class, and that there’s nothing embarrassing about failure.

You cared so deeply about many issues but never centered yourself. You were always brave in showing what you believed in and practiced what you preached. You used your position of power and reputation to lift others up, and never worried about being too outspoken. You showed me people are never done learning, and wanted me to help you understand new issues and activism today. You taught me a love for science and asking questions, and always encouraged my curiosity about every detail. You taught me about black holes and supernovas how many quarks there are in the universe, and about the weak force. You taught me how time works and why entropy means we can never go backwards. You gave me a love for the unknown, and the beauty in the questions we haven’t solved yet.

You taught me a love for hiking and climbing, reaching new summits, cooking around campfires, skinny dipping in freezing lakes and sliding down glaciers. You taught me how to be careful and prepared, never taking unnecessary risks. But you also taught me that some calculated risks are worth it and that we can never prepare for everything. You told me people fall and die at the parts of climbs that aren’t scary, because that’s when we’re not being as careful. And you told me that if you died hiking I should be comforted knowing you died doing what you love. You showed me how to be a mom. You were loving and supportive but always gave me space so I could try on my own and fall down sometimes. You were there whenever I needed you and made me feel that every moment you spent with me was special. Yet you lived your own life and accomplished so much. I don’t know how you did it without sacrificing anything. I am so proud to be your daughter. I know you’ll always be with me.

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«DadNextDoor into the light. It was always there, but it used to be constrained, because people like us didn’t do things like that. That is, until we did. Yes, it’s important to teach our kids good values, and to build good character, but that isn’t enough. Inevitably, the culture around them will have a huge impact on who they become and how they live their lives. We ignore it at our peril, but we aren’t helpless in the face of it. We can affect our children’s culture in two ways. First, we can expand their definition of “people like us.” Welcoming diversity into our communities does more than lift up the marginalized and oppressed. The common values that we share across cultures, like compassion, charity and the Golden Rule, inoculate us against the narrowmindedness and selfishness that ferment in the shadows of our darker side. Secondly, as we pay attention to the people around our children, we can also stay conscious of the “things like this” that they see us do. That starts in our homes and families, but quickly expands to their schools, peers, community, and beyond. Children develop too slowly to survive on their own — they need the protection of a pack, a tribe. That’s why they’ve evolved to be highly sensitive to the social norms and expectations around them. Infants and toddlers continuously observe how people interact, and have already absorbed attitudes around gender, race and class by the time they hit preschool. They’re hardwired to feel how we feel and copy what we do, because their place in the tribe depends on their ability to abide by its unspoken rules. Early on, we as parents get to set those rules, but gradually the culture around us exerts greater and greater influence. Once that happens, we have to consciously choose which culture our children are immersed in. Or better yet, we can work to create the culture they deserve. Either way, it’s a daunting task, but it has to be done. After all, we’re parents. People like us do things like this. ABOUT OUR COLUMNIST

Jeff Lee totally made an awesome papier-mâché monster in Seattle.

5 things to do

„ Find more things to do on seattleschild.com

Wetland boardwalks to explore

Right under your nose!

There’s a bowling alley at UW? The rumors are true! Find HUB Games Bowling Alley in — you guessed it — the UW HUB (Husky Union Building). Its 12 lanes are open to the public. Walk in and roll for $4-$5 per game, or reserve a lane for $21-$30 per hour.

1 Juanita Bay Park This park on Kirkland’s waterfront has three different boardwalks. Here you might spy river otters playing at the edge of the lily pads or turtles sitting on a log.

hub.washington.edu/hub-games/bowling

»Romp

2 Marymoor Park This boardwalk isn’t very long, but it’s in a spectacular spot, where the Sammamish River joins Lake Sammamish. Stroll through the willows and the cattails right out to the lily-padstrewn water.

Things to do with kids

3 Mercer Slough Nature Park Looking up the slough from the middle of this park, you can get a view of office towers through the trees, but this natural area feels far away from the bustle of Bellevue.

North Creek Park Nate Bogopolsky, STYLE’s education director, leads kids in song at Smilow Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club.

Music inspired by books Bushwick Northwest’s STYLE songwriting program for youth makes literature lyrical by J E N N I F E R M O R T E N S E N / photos by J O S H U A H U S T O N

We are all connected; it makes life beautiful. Everyone is different. Life is so colorful. First-grade students at Decatur Elementary School wrote those lyrics after reading Oliver

Jeffers’ children’s book Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth. In a 45-minute workshop presented by STYLE: Songwriting Through Youth Literature Education, these 6- and 7-year olds talked about the book’s message,

described how it might sound (“happy, dance-y, confident, a little like Taylor Swift”), and turned those ideas into an original song. At the Columbia City Library, another group of children gathered around a Native American storyteller for a different STYLE workshop: the tale of Thunderbird/ Seahawk. Kids learned how a

Most of this Bothell park is on an enormous peat bog, a wetland that teems with life. Look for small creatures in or near the water: snakes, beaver homes, water-strider insects and weasels.

Washington Park Arboretum Waterfront Trail

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This zigzag path takes you out on the lake and over to aptly named Marsh Island. Watch for birds and boats of all kinds.

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Native symbol became the logo for their favorite football team. They talked about ways art can honor culture. Then they wrote and recorded a sports anthem inspired by the experience. STYLE is not your average music class. It’s an educational program of Bushwick Northwest, which runs the popular and unconventional book club that writes, then performs songs inspired by books. “Through STYLE, we help students ignite a passion for literature,” says Bushwick Executive Director Geoff Larson. “We do that by bringing teaching artists — musicians, producers, sound engineers, sometimes storytellers and dancers — into classrooms to help students connect to what they are learning through something they already love: music!” Students work with teaching artists to build a theme and style

of song based on a book they are reading. Then they imagine themselves as musicians, writing and recording their original song. “It’s important to note that these kids aren’t writing book theme songs,” says Nate Bogopolsky, STYLE’s education director. “That would be boring. Our programs encourage kids to write songs that connect what they read to their own lives and experiences. They’re not really writing about books at all; they’re writing about themselves.”

Learn more 3 Find STYLE at local

libraries during the summer, and learn about their in-school programs at learningwithstyle.com 3 Experience a Bushwick Book Club performance. Find the event schedule at thebushwickbookclub seattle.com

Kids in STYLE also learn important life skills. Bogopolsky explains that before kids begin songwriting, they first have to discuss the book and talk about their approach. “They learn to voice their ideas and opinions. They make decisions together. They practice teamwork and respect.” “STYLE is as much about learning to communicate, collaborate and compromise as it is about music and literature,” says Larson. And when the students slip on headphones, step up to the microphone, and start recording, it’s about building confidence. “Also, kids come away from our programs with a really catchy song to annoy their teachers with for the rest of the year,” Larson jokes. Listening to a 6-year-old sing “We are all connected; it makes life beautiful” doesn’t sound too annoying. That’s a message we all need to hear more often.

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Escape from Seattle!

Visit a volcano Take a family trip to Mount St. Helens, where you’ll find educational and recreational activities that are fun for all ages. At the Mount St. Helens Visitors Center, relive the dramatic 1980 eruption, then explore the mountain’s magnificent regrowth on a walk along Silver Lake. parks.state.wa.us/ 245/Mount-St-Helens

BOW LING: SHUTTER STOCK, MOUNT ST. HE LE NS : AUSTIN P OST

«Romp

dly frien y l i d fam he „ Fin ood on t f app

„ More on feeding your family at seattleschild.com

hild /app C s ’ e l tt a om Se hild.c

Right under your nose!

Your cookie is ready for takeoff

At Water’s Table restaurant in Renton, kids get a raw, airplane-shaped sugar cookie (a nod to the restaurant’s neighbor, Boeing) to decorate with sprinkles and white or chocolate chips at the beginning of the meal. The cookie bakes while you eat and is brought back to your table in time for dessert!

ttles » sea

Water’s Table, located in Hyatt Regency Lake Washington, 1053 Lake Washington Blvd. N, Renton

»Chomp Eating with kids

For ravenous readers

Kid-friendly cookbooks Looking to get into the kitchen with your kid in a contemporary way? We asked Book Larder’s Lara Hamilton for three great picks to get your kids inspired. 3 Ottolenghi Simple:

A Cookbook By Yotam Ottolenghi This book covers a wide range of styles but also has some nice, really simple everyday baking dishes: “Simple savory and also simple sweet things.”

3 Dining In Aaron Smith brings new ideas to Seattle school cafeterias.

Cafeteria culture

Seattle Public Schools’ new director of nutrition services aims to serve every taste bud by J A C K I E V A R R I A N O / photo by J O S H U A H U S T O N

As you scratch supplies off of your back-toschool shopping list, there’s one item Aaron Smith hopes you won’t buy: a lunch box. This September, Smith is entering his first full school year as Nutrition

Services Director for Seattle Public Schools. When he moved from Chicago to take the position last November, he brought his innovative ideas with him. First up, Seattle schools will no longer have the same menu

across the board: “I’m working on breaking Seattle up into five regions, and as the year goes on and as we get feedback from those areas, we’re going to slowly start customizing and adding to the menu based on those students.” This approach takes into consideration the taste buds CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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By Alison Roman Hamilton says her 12-year-old daughter loves picking things to make out of this book: “Her writing style and tone is just very fun.” Also, keep an eye out for Roman’s next book out in October, titled “Nothing Fancy.”

3 Salt Fat Acid Heat

By Samin Nosrat One for “kids who like to know the why’s behind things.” This book is for kids who are more patient readers. Bonus is the four-part miniseries on Netflix that serves as a visual companion to the book.

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«Chomp You’re invited! Get free kids of kids from a variety of cultural backgrounds, while leaving room to introduce new cuisines. “That will be their base menu, but we’ll add a second option that might be Asian, Somali or American, so that they’re exposed to and see something different.” Other changes include dropping the hot option at the elementary level from three to one; instead, daily options will include a sandwich, a yogurt combo, and one hot entrée with a cooked vegetable. “We want to have more of a complete meal, something you’d eat at home,” says Smith. I’m not a fan of that fast compartment tray, because you don’t eat off a tray at home, you eat off a plate.” A new item for that lunch is a smoked, sliced beef brisket served with a piece of corn on the cob. Smith says the district has also formed a relationship with Trident Seafoods to bring in wild Alaskan salmon and cod. They’re switching from highly processed chicken patties to a natural, whole muscle chicken sandwich like something from the restaurant chain Chickfil-A and dropping boneless wings for a bone-in variety. “I don’t believe in boneless wings. Chickens have bones,” Smith says with a laugh. Above all, Smith says he needs to listen to the students. He knows that “taste buds change” during the transitions from elementary to middle to high school. Though exciting, parents shouldn’t expect to see updated cafeteria options just yet. Creating a new menu and thoughtfully implementing changes in every Seattle school is a slow process. Distributors need a several-months-long lead time to procure and supply the new ingredients. “Starting out the school year, the menu will be similar to last year,” says Smith. “I didn’t know much about Seattle and Seattle culture, and just didn’t want to come in and make random changes without any data to support it.” “We’re testing out things and checking responses from students in the communities and trying to customize that menu; 53,000 students, not all of them eat hummus. Not all of them eat chicken. We need to find out the best way to support their needs.”

at over 50+ res every day of th

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Q&A

How do you get the most bang for your buck in the city? Stash Slabinski Seattle firefighter and father of two

I was a stay-at-home dad for 10 years. We’ve loved the city’s summer camps. Memberships at the zoo and the aquarium are a wonderful value. In two visits, you pay off an annual pass. I love taking the boys on light rail to the stadium for an afternoon baseball game. It’s all moms and dads there.

»Shop

Things we love

Recycled baby style Broadview mom Annette Sindel upcycles thrift store sweaters into the softest baby gear. Originally a painter, Sindel started making children’s clothes when her

Lively + locally made

teens were babies. Her handmade line includes merino wool baby pants and hats, and cashmere leg warmers and fingerless gloves. 3 etsy.com/shop/ BlumenKinderSeattle

Cutline here cutline here cutline here cutline here.

The Lentz family hopes to share their passion for zero-waste living with Scoop Marketplace.

Smaller footprints How a new zero-waste store on First Hill is helping families to be better, not perfect by J I A Y I N G G R Y G I E L / photo by J O S H U A H U S T O N

New York blogger Lauren Singer is famous for fitting four years’ worth of trash in a single Mason jar. Very impressive, but a little extreme?

Stephanie Lentz, a Renton mom with a 2-year-old and 4-year-old, started her own zero-waste journey four years ago. She posts daily on Instagram (@scoopmarketplace), where she’s grinding her own wheat into flour for bread, and

dipping sliced apples into homemade peanut butter. She acknowledges that’s not realistic for every family, but her goal is to model what zero waste looks like in action: “Especially for a mom. Because there is no way my trash fits in a Mason jar.” Case in point: when her kids were in diapers, she used cloth, but allowed for disposable CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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Instant gallery When she had a preschooler, Ballard mom Leslie Pierson needed a fast and easy way to display the avalanche of kid art. So she created GoodHangups, using stickers and magnets to hang up work without damaging the art (or the walls). The stickers are removable and reusable, and will stick to any surface. 3 goodhangups.com

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overnights (less laundry, fewer rashes, well-rested kids). In June, Lentz opened a zero-waste grocery store, Scoop Marketplace, which sells all-organic, package-free food and home goods. Her First Hill storefront is a bright and airy space shared with The Works. She hopes the store can help people learn to shop with less garbage. “I just needed a grocery store that better aligned with my family values,” Lentz says. “There wasn’t one, so I created it.” Scoop Marketplace packs a lot into its small footprint. The shelves are lined with neatly labeled glass jars of bulk dried foods: staples like rolled oats, beans, lentils and flour, and all kinds of spices and teas. You’ll find everything from black lava salt to spirulina powder to Ashwagandha root powder. Bring your own containers (or buy them at the store), fill them and pay for your purchas-

es by weight. It’s perfect if you’re trying out a new recipe — just buy the amount you need. Scoop Marketplace also carries sustainable personal care items handpicked by Lentz. Take the reusable menstrual cup and custom cloth pads, for example; Lentz tried them out for two months before ordering them for the store. Other home products include vegan wax wraps (no bees involved here), stainless steel lunch boxes, glass straws and reusable facial rounds and nursing pads. “I’m more focused on improving the overall quality of life, and what is creating a more sustainable future for our community and planet. Having the store helps me with the mindset,” Lentz says. “Even if my family never used a single plastic fork, I still wouldn’t be having the impact I’m having with the store sharing what I’ve learned with people.” The former elementary school teacher is passionate about teaching people how to waste less and live more. She

Products including vegan wax wraps and glass straws can be found at Scoop Marketplace.

and her husband switched to a plant-based diet four years ago. As they learned more about how polluted the planet is, they embraced the zero-waste lifestyle, which is all about making intentional choices to reduce the amount of trash you create. If you’re trying to cut back, Lentz suggests thinking about what is sustainable for your life. Focus on being better, not perfect. You’re not comparing yourself with the person

with the Mason jar; you’re comparing with where you were last year. “My values are sustainability, community and education,” Lentz says. “I love sharing what I’ve learned and modeling a different lifestyle. I hope with what I’m passing along, you can improve the quality of your life while walking more gently on the planet.” q Scoop Marketplace, 151 12th Ave., Seattle, @scoopmarketplace

BE CURIOUS.

BLAZE A NEW TRAIL. Let Mother Nature inspire you with wetlands, waterways, and engaging educational programs for all ages.

Book your visit today at pacsci.org/mercer-slough.

The Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center is a collaboration between the City of Bellevue and Pacific Science Center.

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»TheBook Corner FOUR JOURNEYS THROUGH NATURE

As Pacific Northwest authors, we love children’s books that encourage readers to get outside and listen to nature. Here are our four favorite books for turning up the volume on story time. — Laura McGee Kvasnosky and Kate Harvey McGee Squeak! by Laura McGee Kvasnosky, illustrated by Kate Harvey McGee Ages 4-8

How could a mouse’s small “Squeak!” awaken animals all across the meadows and mountains? In a surprising cacophony of cause and effect, that’s exactly what happens. A lively, humorous read-aloud!

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson

WE’RE HERE FOR YOUR HEALTH kp.org/wa ©Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington

Ages 3-7

All the mystery and beauty of the woodland at night, plus a trio of adorable owlets who are missing their mother. With stunning illustrations and memorable text, this is a family favorite.

Run Wild by David Covell Ages 3-5

This book challenges you to chase the wind! Two children race across a day: through mud, a forest, a beach, and a thunderstorm. Loose, exuberant art shows the joys of running wild.

How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham Ages 3-7

In the busy city, a small boy notices a bird is injured. With the help of his parents, he nurses the bird back to health. Minimal text packs a punch in this tender tale.

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S E AT T L E ’ S C H I L D

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The tween years are a time of excruciating awkwardness, hormonally driven exploration, and newfound independence. But the uncomfortable bodily changes and door slamming is also cause for celebration. So pop in your retainer; we have inspiring stories and humble advice from former middle-schoolers who’ve made it through the turbulent tweens.

CH-CH-CHCHANGES

Perla Jasmin Luna celebrates her quinceañera at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Federal Way.

IS A RITE OF PASSAGE RIGHT FOR YOU?

Coming-of-age ceremonies are celebrated in cultures throughout Seattle. How do you say goodbye to childhood? by J I L L I A N O ’ C O N N O R / photo by J O S H U A H U S T O N

As our sweet little babies morph into surly teenagers before our eyes, how do we know when they are ready to take on real adult privileges and responsibilities? The first time they clean their room without being asked? The moment they sprout armpit hair? In cultures around the world, communities designate a certain age as the right time to come together and teach children the skills and values they’ll need to survive the transition into adulthood. For many, this takes the form of a traditional rite-of-passage celebration. We caught up with three local families who recently marked their child’s journey into adulthood with a cultural event — a Latino quinceañera, a Jewish bat mitzvah, and a Hindu bartaman — on how they made the most of the moment. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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<< Quinceañera Perla Jasmin Luna was nervous, but smiling on the day her quinceañera finally arrived. “We’ve been preparing for a year, but since I was a little girl I always knew I wanted this,” says Perla, 15. Her exhilaration was contagious; The congregation at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Federal Way buzzed with excitement, eagerly awaiting her entrance. A traditional quinceañera starts with a religious ceremony followed by a lavish party — often as grand as a wedding. Family members, close family friends, and sometimes church community members often serve as padrinos and madrinas, sponsoring special items and gifts for the event including the venue, cake or flowers. A quince court of young damas (maids of honor) and chambelanes (the equivalent of groomsmen), sit in the front pews in a show of support. Many quince girls will give a doll to a younger girl at the party, symbolizing the passing of childhood. Perla studied for months at St. Theresa’s under the tutelage of Hispanic Ministry Coordinator Alma Carrillo, who oversees spiritual preparations for girls approaching their quinceañera. Carrillo says the family, sponsors and quince court went on an eight-hour training retreat with the aim of strengthening the quince girl’s ties to her faith,

building confidence, and reaffirming her dedication to her education and religious service. Donning a glamourous, green, floor-length gown, custom-ordered from a quinceañera expo in Pasco, Perla shook out her last nerves before walking through the church doors, taking her first proud step on her journey into adulthood.

Varun Khanal went all the way to Nepal for his Bartaman ceremony.

Bartaman

Last summer, Varun Khanal, 12, traveled with his family from his home in northeast Seattle to Kathmandu, Nepal, for his bartaman ceremony. In the Hindu tradition, the bartaman marks a boy’s passage into manhood and assumption of moral and social responsibilities. “It’s like the person who does the bartaman is sort of coming of age — and then going into the big world,” explains Varun. Though looking forward to the trip, Varun really didn’t want to have his head shaved. In the ceremony, shaving off the hair symbolizes renouncing the material world in order to embrace spiritual purity. After his head was shaved, he was dressed in saffron fabric and his head was wrapped with a cloth full of porcupine needles, representing the natural tools often used by hermits. He then held a sack open to beg for rice and other food from his relatives in attendance. As his father, Bhushan, explains, “Varun was asking for rice because he’d now become the priest. It’s the journey of maturity.” A few days later, he celebrated his initiation into adulthood with a big party, surrounded by family and friends.

Bat mitzvah

Sadie Suskind is fairly used to

Practice made perfect for Sadie Suskind at her bat mitzvah.

Tips from a pediatrician and (imperfect) mom on how to guide our kids through adolescence

S E AT T L E ’S C H I L D

by S A R A H B E R G M A N L E W I S

For the past 20 years, first as a middle school teacher and now as a pediatrician, I’ve witnessed the intense and confusing shuffle toward adolescence in all its variations. Walking in and seeing a 15-year-old boy slumped on the edge of the exam table, disappointed that there hadn’t been upward accelera-

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What’s your right rite of passage?

attention. As a veteran contestant of the Fox show “MasterChef Junior,” the View Ridge 13-year-old has had her share of the spotlight. But becoming bat mitzvahed was a next-level commitment. To become bat mitzvahed (for boys, it’s called bar mitzvah) at Temple Beth Am, a reform synagogue in north Seattle, one must prepare with an ancient Hebrew language tutor and attend twice-weekly religious school classes for several years.

CONNECTING WITH TWEENS tion since our last visit with the same concern: “discuss height.” Listening to a 13-year-old girl confide in me that despite answering to the contrary with her parent in the room; she had in fact already gotten her period, but just didn’t want her mom to know about it yet. Talking to a patient about how we can stop his periods, a painful trigger for his gender dysphoria. He was as

delivered her d’var torah, the essay each b’not mitzvah student writes to explore the themes and meaning of her assigned torah portion. That evening, she had a big party. Her family lifted her up on a chair and bounced her in the air, dancing the hora, a traditional Jewish folk dance, surrounded by community and love.

“I worked on my Hebrew a lot. And it was a massive part of my daily life,” says Sadie. “I can’t stress enough how much I practiced!” On her bat mitzvah day, Sadie wore a formal dress and a special tallis, the traditional Jewish prayer shawl. “My tallis was passed down to me from my grandfather’s grandfather,” she explained. At the service, she recited prayers in Hebrew and publicly

desperate to start on testosterone therapy as his mom was desperate to “not do anything we’ll regret.” The physical changes tweens and teens experience are symbolic of the shifting emotional landscape that goes far deeper than acne and sprouting body hair. Parents and kids are seeking their bearings; it is often intense, and always dynamic. With my older daughter, Anya, on the precipice of tweenhood, it’s becoming apparent that, as with all previous stages I have experienced from the parenting seat, the “answers” will be more muddy than clear. Damn.

If you don’t participate in a culture that has a coming-of-age ceremonial tradition, your family can create your own tradition for marking the journey into adulthood. What lessons do you really want your child to learn? Which life skills do you think are most important to their success in your community? Decide which adults in your child’s life (relatives, friends, coaches, teachers, etc.) you’d like to include in the event, then devise challenges for your child to prepare for and overcome through the guidance of your trusted community. Any coming-of-age ceremony is an opportunity for our young people to emerge empowered to take on more adult responsibilities while strengthening connections to the important role models in their life. And, of course, a great excuse for a party.

Still, with as much humility as I have knowledge, I will attempt to give some advice. Because this is what I know: our kids need our guidance now more than ever. Here are a few ideas on how to survive the door slams and eye rolls and show up for our tweens and teens: Seek first to understand. I recently asked a 13-year-old patient in foster care, “If you had a magic wand, what would you most want to change about your life?” — “My hair,” he answered. I chuckled

FIND THE RIGHT FIT tter A heartfelt le ers to inbetween from a former l misfit middle-schoo illips’

Jakeva Ph

cket PHILLIPS leather ja by J E K E V A ect fit. still a perf is e on d be ul co is th sh I wi s about of those storie iddle m of ets cr se the king for a as e lik is at th school, but e adolescence. Th decoder ring to a foray is ol ho sc ele truth is, midd e, I found som u time in my lif n. Emotions yo al e. ci m so e a lik into the unknow in lt e infe ll d, alon thing that ow you had wi was an islan iddleost every day, didn’t even kn are finished my m I wore it alm und ways, you purgatory. I I re patches of he ith w fect you in profo w ht it ns ey rig decorated a lot of questio school journ discovered I at l going to have th fal s t r. punk band ers, you may no began: a lone rd stores co as re w and few answ I of s y, of in the back Needless to sa the best friends k enamel to uc rd St . ha in love or find ol ur so ho yo d trie in high sc u will change devastated. I y sayings I t. ar or er sh lit your life, but yo y . up itt me pins of w ery five minutes belong and ca gh in college. hi t to ou g ab in personality ev ed go e rn that that I lea an that you ar was terrified ies and e rt or pa m at be That doesn’t me up to it g in I scuffed ve a good time school was go p ties. I have m en slu tw a y to m not going to ha in in I fell concerts bend t, though. of the same. ost fully fits the figuring it all ou and spent m it still. It care sixth-grade that summer gs my g hu in d When my little ch an at s w r ow e re sid in my elb nd. e halls of Explo of my days in . The e a close frie self walked th e, I mpire Slayer shoulders lik for the first tim t of the Buffy the Va to os in m ak t ed os ov Middle School s m m lt re I wa I fe I’ve n’t uivocally that episode that ind” hes now; I do realized uneq s ght, Out of M pins and patc rty girl, she wa was “Out of Si red t every time no Bu ig ls. as be l w a loner. The pa la gir rl e gi need th gs asked the party in which this rs el all the thin cool — people ed by her teache I wear it, I fe her, girls want so profusely erhat punk, lit ew e m sh so at out, boys fell for — a th gh es that I am tre The nerd, thou and classmat the a nerd, a thea to be like her. red, right in st had a little bit of proach, at lea ally disappea a rebel, a ff, bu ie ov creature of re m geek, a er, a t being a loner classroom! a poet, a writ as looming clubs to join. Bu alone. No one party queen, September w ing ok freak. ain bo ag ic t m ye co d a meant, well, be , an , ce feminist I one invited me in the distan met define who noticed me, no ined to be so red Does the jacke I was determ er class, or ca ood inds me that m rw re de it Al t e bu to hang out aft th , d e am? No ie. body. I combe t glasses, no on look, is a menager that I had to ge for the right lab each one of us Mall looking me to be their me up with co ready. al to l le al hi w em a rushed over to th d .I It takes ure but I had trie ssed me notes om llection, to fig partner, or pa rnoon, my m ed. a complete co Then one afte not have exist e. That can r ar fo u ng yo pi ho op w might as well sh out just leave middle took me to go ly, especially I didn’t want to We spent the t be pretty lone knickknacks. nobody, so I se ores, st t like all of the rif s th em y st se school being a it du s. when ve whole day in my loner statu lue Va ound you ha a ar as le w op ch out to change pe other the last of whi g from party emingly so). ed se tir r as (o t w I ou t. et ed I was everythin er to it figur make Village in Ev ns l to class clown g I can say to girl to bad gir ceramic kitte cca e The only thin of looking at ge-waving wi ol experienc yself ho m d sc eun dl fo id d crystal- and sa I your m and clowns an erything. s on boys that ev ugh the y ro tr th is: g th in is ck girl. I cast spell in better nk mindlessly pi uld fall madly ss a day, or a pu liked so they wo r. I came acro lect Be a jock for outdoor wea frayed tried out for se artist. Try , as an me w it Be th t: k. wi e ke ee lov ged for a w up this leather jac was not well k phase), chan You may end but soccer (my joc e photography. on the inside, you started, someng to match th e iti d; ac ue wr pl ig e nd tr m ha in sa my mi in the ing lived in. I was to learned origa fort in know really spoke popular style, ed but take com thing about it e right thing the notes I pass fit quite th d it ly d fol al an uld tu on co en I it so that ev l find e me. I slipped ol way,” bought ur way. You’l the troublesom in class “the co nk will come yo nicely, despite r than nice, it s, listened to pu s. oe fit sh at ht th rig tte ng e be hi th tal; somet zipper. It fit first untry and me right. For the and rap and co I fit right, felt en realized it, ev I e for be d an .I without a tribe found myself

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21 >

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SCREEN-TIME STRATEGIES How to help your preteen manage time spent on their electronic devices

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Sep t em b er 2 0 1 9

Do you have a newly minted middle-schooler in the house? Despite middle school’s bad rap, it can be a time of exciting growth and change for families. I loved the 12 years I spent teaching seventh graders. It made me realize that most things remain true about this age group: kids want to fit in, appearance seems to matter, and hormonal changes complicate all of it. But there is one big difference for today’s middle-schoolers: smartphones. Thirty years ago, the fastest way to spread a rumor was to rush home after school and call ONE friend on the phone. Today, photos are instantly (Insta)’grammed, embarrassing moments are posted in real time, and all social plans occurs via social media, group chat, or text. It can feel daunting as a parent (and as a middle-schooler). However, there are a few things you can do to help your preteen prepare for middle school in screen-saturated 2019: If your child is not getting a phone for middle school, know that you are NOT alone, and the tide is turning. The front offices *still* have landlines for

student use, and they don’t require a Wi-Fi connection. (Alternatively, a “dumb” phone serves a purpose with fewer distractions.) Even if your child does not have a device, “secondhand distraction” is real. Even just a phone *near* them can detract from the learning experience. Talk as a family about how to handle this. Ask the school what their personal device policy is. Some schools have them; many do not. Request that they consider one. It is better for kids. Be aware of how much middle schools require kids to be online. This is a slippery slope: kids may need a screen to do homework, but they will be easily distracted by other apps and websites. Request paper versions of homework when you can: it is better for learning. Establish a quiet homework station in the house. Make it screen-free, if you can. If a computer is needed, keep personal devices away and turn off any notifications or alerts to minimize distractions. Prioritizing sleep is probably the number one thing you can do to positively impact your child’s overall well-being during middle school. Phones should charge in a common family charging area and be off and away for the night — for adults too!

< Connecting with tweens CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

until I saw his stricken face. The most critical step for aligning with our kids is to understand their perspective. We don’t have to agree, but listening to their dreams and struggles without judgment can create genuine intimacy. Rarely do our children need a quick fix when swimming through the social calculations of worthiness. Instead of prescriptive advice, try, “tell me more,” or “what was that like for

you?” and if you’re lucky enough to be trusted with their deepest insecurities and fears, “I hear you.” Spend time together. If your relationship is primarily based on your child asking for a ride or money and you telling them what to do, it’s not going to feel good to either of you. Figure out how you like to spend time together and make it happen regularly. It doesn’t need to be an expensive date, but maybe a TV show you binge-watch together. Provide solid information.

SEATTLEʼS PREMIER NANNY AGENCY “Your child deserves the best, and so do you”

I talk a lot in clinic about critical thinking and “checking your sources.” This is crucial when it comes to puberty and body concerns. Unfortunately, the innate goals of adolescence may prevent them from seeing you as a credible source. Facilitate time for your child with someone they look up to and trust, like an older cousin. Check out library books and casually leave them around. Many kids have more trouble with face-toface conversations, so the

car or bedtime is an ideal place to have visits. Know your child. Focus on your child’s passions rather than their achievements. Watching a tween can be a bit like watching a summer storm — they move fast. When a parent cites grades or athletic achievements as the greatest source of pride in their child, I often see deflation in my patient’s body language. In contrast, when a parent tells me, “They are an artist, CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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< Connecting

with tweens CONTINUED

they are working to find their voice, they have a good heart,” the child beams. We all want to be seen for who we are and feel a sense of belonging. As parents, can we get curious about how this person before us is evolving and have less ego invested in the outcome? Easier said than done, I know, but it’s critical. Take care of yourself. In order to be able to keep your sense of humor and take your child’s individuation less personally, you’re going to need some serious gas in your tank. Devote the time that you once spent on bedtime and changing diapers to give back to yourself. Exercise, restart therapy, visit the doctor, reconnect with a friend, or any other activity that feeds your soul. Watch your media diet. Asking tweens to limit their own media use is like asking a gambling addict to play just one round — their neurodevelopment is not there. Help your child edit when and what they watch, and digest the input. If they’re on social media, introduce them to body-positive accounts. Let them earn more screen time by watching shows together and dissecting the messages as a family. Be brave enough to pull the plug for a media cleanse when needed. They won’t like it, but your kids need you to be the parent. Focus on healthy habits. I see patients for eating disorders and obesity and everywhere in between. Whether a child needs to gain weight or take it off, I often say the same thing: it’s not about the food. This is not to say that what you eat doesn’t matter. Eating “real food” or “food that our ancestors would recognize as food” is the best medicine and impacts everything from mood to bones. However, when it comes to disordered eating, food is only the vehicle for struggles of control and love. Dive into the emotional issues beyond the food. Put the focus on practicing healthy habits rather than hitting a number on the scale. The same standards for healthy lifestyle should be in place for a heavier kid as for their beanpole sibling. Ask kids how they feel from the inside. Speak positively about your own body. Your kids are listening. Start these conversations early. Parents often ask when is the right time to have “the talk” about sex and puberty. Instead of “the talk,” envision a series of conversations that will take place over years. The best way to raise a teenager with a healthy sense of self is to foster knowledge of their bodies and preferences from toddlerhood. And don’t worry that you need to get it right the first go-round — looping back later or making a necessary repair is a powerful way to model authentic living. The best part of my job is watching families evolve. The single dad who brings his daughter to ensure she knows how to use a tampon and the family who proudly tells me that they stopped buying Capri Suns after our last visit inspire me. It may be uncomfortable, but the reward for parenting from a place of connection is high. If it’s any consolation, as Anya hits double digits, I will be right there scratching my head alongside you.

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»MakingHome

„ Find more nest-making ideas on seattleschild.com

Living large in small and unique spaces

Alex Lopiccolo and his son test out a home sensory space in Ballard.

Meet the King of Swings Alex Lopiccolo designs and builds home sensory gyms that help kids with therapeutic movement by J I A Y I N G G R Y G I E L / photos by J O S H U A H U S T O N

The other night, Alex Lopiccolo’s 4-year-old daughter just wasn’t ready to sleep. After her bedtime story, she

got into her swing with her two bunnies and swung for four minutes. That rhythmic, soothing motion did the trick. Within a minute of getting into bed, she was out. Lopiccolo designs and builds home sensory gyms for kids who need therapeutic movement. His own house, naturally, has a huge gym setup. The kids both have swings in their rooms. Their solarium, dubbed the Sensorimotor Exploration Lab, is basically

the world’s most amazing playroom, complete with a zipline, Lycra swings and lots of padded shapes for climbing and cushioned landings. “I live and breathe sensory therapy. So I have over 40 points of suspension in my house,” Lopiccolo says. Lopiccolo owns Sensory Digest and also works part-time as an occupational therapy assistant at a pediatric clinic. He started CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

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«MakingHome CONTINUED

designing sensory gyms eight years ago to fill a need he saw. “I love working as a therapist inside the clinic, but how would you customize a sensory guide if you don’t know what the child’s home environment looks like? Because the environment means everything when you’re talking about sensory processing,” Lopiccolo says. A home sensory gym might take the form of a bedroom Lycra maze to help kids relax and calm down — the stretchy fabric pulls you into fetal position. Or a super high-level “Ninja Warrior” obstacle course in a modified living room for building better body and spatial awareness. Sensory gyms can help hypermobile kids and those with low muscle tone improve joint stability and posture control. Plus, your family can earn the distinction of having the raddest house for playdates. No huddling over screens here! A home sensory gym runs from $1,200 to $2,200, depending on how big the client wants to go and the equipment they choose. The package includes design and all the equipment (hardware, safety mats, suspension, swings and Lycra). Lopiccolo customizes each gym to fit the child’s needs

Sensory gyms can help kids improve joint stability and posture control.

and the parents’ budget. The sensory gyms are aimed at kids ages 3 to 15. The swings will hold a 200-pound person, so the whole family can use them. How do you squeeze a sensory gym into an itty-bitty house? Lopiccolo sometimes installs in a spare bedroom, but he really prefers that people put sensory gyms in their living rooms. “By having it in the living room, it’s where the majority of kids will play and parents can keep an eye on them,” Lopiccolo

says. “Parents can take it up and down super easily. It looks nice on the ceiling; it doesn’t look like a clown factory.” Lopiccolo, based in Gig Harbor, travels worldwide teaching sensory motor workshops. “I’m the only one who really does it in the world,” Lopiccolo says. “I really enjoy it, watching kids use it and have fun with it and making it therapeutic.” q instagram.com/sensorydigest q facebook.com/SensoryDigest

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Our picks for September

by E R I K A L E E B I G E L O W

Sept. 7

Sept. 12

Sept. 13-14

Sept 20-22

Sept. 21

Mountain Fest Enjoy a free day of nature-based learning at Camp Long in West Seattle. Try rock climbing, rappelling and mountain-themed games and activities.

Green Lake Bat Walk Meet an expert guide from Bats Northwest on the grassy knoll near the Bathhouse Theater at Green Lake and take a sunset stroll while learning all about bats. Be sure to dress for the evening weather.

The Great Wallingford Wurst Festival It’s a weekend of delicious food, live music, bouncy houses, craft vendors, a book sale, a dessert buffet and more at this cozy, community festival at Saint Benedict Catholic School.

St. Demetrios Greek Festival Opa! It’s a weekend of traditional Greek music and folk dancing, Greek food, a Greek marketplace, a lively kids’ area and more at Montlake’s St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church.

Fishermen’s Fall Festival Celebrate Seattle’s fishing fleet at Fisherman’s Terminal during a day of musical entertainment, children’s activities, fishing industry-related competitions and exhibits, a salmon bake and more.

»Calendar

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What’s happening around town

are nd sh the a e v d, sa s on „ Fin dar event calen ld app

9/19

Chi Seattlee’sschild.com/app

ttl » sea

by J E N N I F E R M O R T E N S E N

Sunday, September 1 S E AT T L E A R E A

P H OTO CO U RT ESY OF S E AT TL E CH I L DR EN S’ FE STI VA L

Alki Point Lighthouse Tour. Take the last tour of this functioning, fully automated lighthouse on an active U.S. Coast Guard site before tours close for the season. First visitors welcome at 1 pm; last tour begins at 3:45 pm. FREE. Alki Point, West Seattle. wow.uscgaux.info Bicycle Sundays. Ride the 4-mile stretch of Lake Washington Boulevard between Mount Baker Beach and Seward Park while it’s closed to vehicle traffic. 10 am to 6 pm today and Sep. 8 & 15. FREE. Lake Washington Boulevard South, Seattle. www.parkways.seattle.gov Bumbershoot. Comedy, dance, art, poetry, theater, film, visual arts and music on many stages. Food, arts and crafts, kids’ activities, parades and spectacles. 11 am to 11 pm through Mon. $$$, free ages 7 and younger with adult. Seattle Center (Lower Queen Anne). www.bumbershoot.org Retro Gaming Weekend. Return to the ’80s for a retro gaming experience with old-school games and more. 10 am to 6 pm. $$$. Living Computers Museum + Labs, Seattle (SoDo). www.livingcomputers.org

Seattle Childrens’ Festival

EASTSIDE

Labor Day Steam Train Rides. Ride on one of the museum’s antique steam trains. See schedule online. 10 am to 4 pm today through Mon. $$ to $$$. Northwest Railway Museum, Snoqualmie. www.trainmuseum.org Flavors of India Festival. Performances and exhibits, food, marketplace, kids’ activities and more. Noon to 7 pm. FREE. Crossroads Park, Bellevue. www.flavorsofindia.us

Juanita Bay Wildlife Tour. Look for songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, turtles, beavers and more on this wildlife habitat tour conducted by a volunteer park ranger. Tours start in the parking lot, rain or shine. Ages 6 and older. 1 to 2 pm. FREE. Juanita Bay Park, Kirkland. www.eastsideaudubon.org

fair features animals, carnival, lumberjack show, concerts, music, rodeo, food, contests, exhibits, and a parade. 10 am to 10 pm through Sept. 2. $ to $$, free ages 5 and younger, and 90 and older. Evergreen State Fairgrounds, Monroe. www.evergreenfair.org

NORTH SOUND

Feeding Frenzy. See wild animals enjoy their favorite foods, and learn

BIG KID PICK

Evergreen State Fair. Old-fashioned

EVENT S ARE SUBJE CT TO C H A NG E Please call ahead or check the venue’s website before you go.

SOUTH SOUND

E VE N T P R I C I N G $: Under $10 / $$: $10–$20 / $$$: $20 and over

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Celebrating Creativity & Play For Over 22 Years!

about their feeding habits from keepers. 9:30 am to 6 pm through Mon. Included with admission. $ to $$$. Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Tacoma. www.nwtrek.org Olympia Harbor Days. Entertainment, food, kids’ activities, craft vendors, and vintage, working and retired tugboats. 10 am to 7 pm today, 10 am to 6 pm Mon. FREE. Percival Landing, Olympia. www.harbordays.com Washington State Fair. Farm animals, agriculture, home arts, rides, exhibits, kids’ activities, food, fireworks, rodeo shows and concerts. 9:30 am to 10:30 pm today, various times through Sep. 22 (closed Tuesdays and Sep. 4). $ to $$, free ages 5 and younger. Parking $$. Washington State Fairgrounds, Puyallup. www.thefair.com

Discover the history and culture of the Tulalip Tribes

FA R T H E R A F I E L D

Now Enroing For Fa Classes

Bremerton Blackberry Festival. Vendors, fun run, food, music, kids’ entertainment and more. 10 am to 6 pm today, 10 am to 5 pm Mon. FREE. Downtown Bremerton Boardwalk. www.blackberryfestival.org

Monday, September 2 Labor Day EASTSIDE

Drawing & Painting Intro to Ceramics Creative Drama & Art Kids Night Out Birthday Parties And More!

7526 20th Ave NE, Seattle, WA roaringmouse.org (206) 522 1187

HOURS Tue – Fri 10 AM – 5 PM

Mon Closed

Comprehensive Choral Education

FREE Admission the first Thursday of every month!

Grades K-12

Located less than a mile west of I-5 Exit 199 6410 23rd Ave NE Tulalip, WA 98271

Tuesday, September 3 S E AT T L E A R E A

End of Summer Celebration. End-ofsummer party with books, bubbles, crafts and popsicles on the lawns. 6 to 7:30 p.m. FREE. Queen Anne Branch Library, Seattle. www.spl.org Storytime for Kids. Enjoy dramatic readings of the best in new and classic kids’ books, followed by activities and entertainment. 11 am. FREE. University Book Store, Seattle (U-District). www.ubookstore.com

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First Thursdays. Explore museums for free today. Most offer free admission on the first Thursday of the month. Various times and locations. www.seattleschild.com

HibulbCulturalCenter.org

seattlegirlschoir.org Sep t em b er 20 1 9

FARF 5K Superhero Run. Kids’ fun run (8:45 am) followed by 5k run/walk (9 am) in Lake Wilderness Park benefiting the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund. Activities to follow including face painting, balloon animals and a photo booth. Costumes encouraged. Strollers are OK. $$ to $$$, free ages 11 and younger. Lake Wilderness Park, Maple Valley. www.farf5k.com

Thursday, September 5

360-716-2600 info@HibulbCulturalCenter.org

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Labor Day Half Marathon and 4-Mile Run/Walk. Flat course along the Sammamish River Trail, with a family-friendly party afterward. 6:30 am registration, 8 am start. $$ to $$$. Redmond Town Center, Redmond. www.labordayrun.com SOUTH SOUND

Sat & Sun 12 PM – 5 PM

Holiday Farm Tour. Meet ponies, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens and rabbits, and learn what it takes to be a farmer. 10 am and 11 am. $$. Pre-register. Kelsey Creek Farm, Bellevue. www.parks.bellevuewa.gov

Laurelhurst Salmon Bake. Celebrate summer while enjoying dinner, dancing and carnival games. 5:30 to 8 pm. $$. Laurelhurst Park, Seattle. www.parkways.seattle.gov

„ For our mobile-friendly, totally searchable, frequently updated calendar go to seattleschild.com

Scarecrow Video Children’s Hour. Preschoolers watch short films, read story books and do art and science activities related to a theme. Today, explore North American celebrations. 10:30 am today and Sat. www.blog.scarecrow.com

midnight today (fireworks at dusk), 11 am to 5 pm., Sun. FREE. Mukilteo Lighthouse Park. www.mukfest.com

more. 10 am to 6 pm today, 10 am to 5 pm Sun. $$$, free ages 10 and younger. Interurban Hotel, Tukwila. www.rentoncitycomiccon.com

Saturday, September 7

Friday, September 6

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Spy in the Skies. Learn about the spy plane Blackbird, then make your own Blackbird model at this Weekend Family Workshop. 11 to 11:45 am and 1 to 1:45 pm today and Sun. $$. Museum of Flight, Tukwila. www.museumofflight.org

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Back To School BBQ. Celebrate fall with a BBQ and games. 6 to 8 pm. FREE. RavennaEckstein Community Center, Seattle (Ravenna). www.seattle.gov San Gennaro Festival of Seattle. Authentic Italian food, entertainment, children’s activities, cooking demonstrations, and more. 6 to 10 pm today, 10 am to 10 pm Sat., 11 am to 4 pm Sun. FREE. South Angelo Street and Ellis Avenue South, Seattle (Georgetown). www.sangennarofestivalseattle.org Small Frye: Storytelling + Art. Kids ages 3 to 5 and their caregivers are invited to see a dramatic story reading by Seattle Children’s Theatre. Then, participate in an optional hands-on art class related to the story (11:15 am). Pre-register for the art class. 10:30 am. FREE. Frye Art Museum, First Hill. www.fryemuseum.org EASTSIDE

S’more at BAM. Make s’mores during Free First Friday at the museum, and learn about artist Oscar Tuazon’s sculpture. 5 to 7 pm. FREE. Bellevue Art Museum. www.bellevuearts.org NORTH SOUND

Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival. MukFest includes fireworks (Sat.), parade, mermaids and pirates’ tea party (Sun., $$), kids’ carnival ($), food for purchase, artist booths and more. 11 am to

Arts-A-Glow Lantern Festival. A magical evening with lantern art and performers, plus face painting, lantern making, circus acts, food and more. Bring your own lantern (tips online) and join the procession at dusk (around 8 pm). 5 to 10 pm. FREE. Dottie Harper Park, Burien. www.burienwa.gov Book Exchange. Bring your old sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, kids’ books and/or cookbooks to exchange for new-to-you titles. 11 am to 2 pm. FREE. Phinney Neighborhood Association, Seattle (Phinney Ridge). www.phinneycenter.org Caspar Babypants. Celebrate the release of Caspar Babypants’ 16th children’s album, Flying High!, at this Town Hall Saturday Family Concert. 10:30 am and 12:30 pm. $. The Great Hall, Downtown Seattle. www.townhallseattle.org Cedar River Salmon Journey. Watch the salmon migrate through the Ballard Locks and learn from volunteer naturalists on selected weekends through Sept. 11 am to 3 pm. FREE. Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, Seattle (Ballard). www.seattleaquarium.org Mountain Fest. Rock climbing, rappelling, mountain-themed games and activities, and opportunities for nature-based learning. 11 am to 5 pm. FREE. Camp Long, West Seattle. www.parkways.seattle.gov Renton City Comic Con. A celebration for comic book lovers of all ages. Activities include panels, cosplay contests, science demos, game rooms and

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Kirkland Kids Triathlon. Noncompetitive introduction to triathlons. 50-yard swim/ splash, half-mile bike, 400-yard run. Ages 3 to 12. 10:15 am check-in, 11 am start. $$$, pre-register. Juanita Beach Park, Kirkland. www.kirklandwa.gov NORTH SOUND

Fair on 44th Health & Safety Block Party. Games, bike rodeo, touch-a-truck, climbing wall, safety demonstrations, food and more. 10 am to 2 pm. FREE, 44th Avenue West, between 188th and 194th Streets Southwest, Lynnwood. www.lynnwoodwa.gov Skagit River Salmon Fest. Enjoy live music, food trucks, arts and crafts, a kids’ zone hosted by Children’s Museum of Skagit County, raptor shows, and more. 11 am to 6 pm. $. Edgewater Park, Mount Vernon. www.skagitriverfest.org SOUTH SOUND

Harvest Home. Celebrate the coming autumn 19th-century style with Victorian games, traditional music and dance performances, cider pressing, and hands-on activities.11 am to 5 pm. $, FREE ages 3 and younger. Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, Tacoma. www.metroparkstacoma.org

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Fuel STEM Curiosity

Discover & Tinker Third Saturday of Each Month 12 - 4 pm

FREE with Museum admission. More information at americascarmuseum.org S e p t e mbe r 2 0 19

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Sunday, September 8 S E AT T L E A R E A

Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival. Hawaiian music, dance, food, vendors, kids’ activities, and workshops (including lei making and hula). 11 am to 7 pm. FREE. Seattle Center, Seattle (Lower Queen Anne). www.seattlelivealohafestival.com Women of Wonder 10K or 5K Run/ Walk. Includes a woman-centric post-race celebration, plus a free kids’ dash (ages 10 and younger). 8 am registration, 9 am yoga, 9:10 am kids’ dash, 9:30 am 10K and 5K. $$$. Green Lake Park, Seattle (Green Lake). www.promotionevents.com EASTSIDE

Family Watershed Tour. Drive through the historic townsite of Cedar Falls and visit the Cedar Falls waterfall on this multigenerational family tour. 1 to 2 pm. $. Cedar River Watershed Education Center, North Bend. www.seattle.gov/utilities

Wednesday, September 11 SOUTH SOUND

The Tortoise and the Hare. Live performance of the classic tale. Part of Olympia Family Theater’s “Let’s Play” series: short, interactive shows perfect for kids under age 5. 10 am today through Sun. $. Olympia Family Theater, Olympia. www.olyft.org

Thursday, September 12 S E AT T L E A R E A

Boats Afloat Show. The West Coast’s largest floating boat show features nearly 200 power and sailing yachts, kids’ wooden boat building (Sat. and Sun.), boat rides, workshops and more. 11 am to 6 pm today and Fri., 10 am to 6 pm Sat. and Sun. $ to $$, free ages 12 and younger. Chandler’s Cove, Seattle (South Lake Union). www.boatsafloatshow.com Green Lake Bat Walk. Take a sunset walk while learning all about bats. Meet your guides from Bats Northwest on the grassy knoll near the Bathhouse Theater. Dress for evening temperatures, and look for the group by the trees if it’s raining. Ages 10 and older. 6:30 pm. FREE. Green Lake, Seattle. www.batsnorthwest.org BIG KID PICK

Last Chance to Register for DigiPen Academy Fall Semester! DigiPen Academy combines the best aspects of traditional homeschool co-ops and comprehensive schools. Featuring small class sizes running four days a week, this drop-off program gives students and their families the flexibility to choose from both general education courses and specialized programs in the arts and sciences.

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Friday, September 13 S E AT T L E A R E A

Children’s Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. Join Families of Color Seattle for a moon-cake-eating contest, games and prizes. 4 to 6 pm. FREE. Donnie Chin International Children’s Park, Seattle (Chinatown-International District). www.focseattle.org The Great Wallingford Wurst Festival. Food, rides, games, craft vendors, book sale, live music and more. 4 pm to midnight today, 10 am to midnight Sun. FREE. Saint Benedict Catholic School, Seattle (Wallingford). www.stbens.net Renton Multicultural Festival. Celebrate cultural diversity with live music, food, storytelling, dance, and hands-on activities for all ages. 6 to 9 pm tonight at Carco Theatre, Renton and 11 am to 3 pm Saturday at Renton Pavilion Event Center, Renton. FREE. www.rentonwa.gov Salmon Homecoming Celebration. Arts and crafts, salmon bake, powwow, canoe welcoming ceremony, and

„ For our mobile-friendly, totally searchable, frequently updated calendar go to seattleschild.com

singing and dancing. Schedule TBD, check website. Today and Saturday. FREE. Waterfront Park, Downtown Seattle. www.salmonhomecoming.org NORTH SOUND

Puget Sound Bird Fest. Guided bird watching and nature walks, speakers, exhibits, raptor show (2 pm, Sat.), kids’ activities (Sat. and Sun.) and more. No dogs. See detailed schedule online. Keynote speaker 7:30 pm to 9 pm tonight (pre-register), and main festivities 7 am to 6:30 pm Sat., and 7:30 am to 6 pm Sun. FREE, small fee for some activities. Frances Anderson Center and other Edmonds locations. www.pugetsoundbirdfest.org

for gold, and old-fashioned games. Noon to 4 pm. Free, donations appreciated. Job Carr Museum, Tacoma. www.jobcarrmuseum.org

Sunday, September 15 S E AT T L E A R E A

Bike the Bluff. Walk or ride a 5or 7-mile loop around Magnolia in this fundraiser for the Catharine Blaine K-8 School 5th graders’ class trip to IslandWood. Helmets are required. 10 am to 2 pm. $$$. Catharine Blaine K-8 School playground, Seattle

(Magnolia). www.bikethebluff.org Festival of Fruit. Live music, cider pressing, apple pie contest, tours of the orchard, kids’ activities and more. 10 am to 2 pm. FREE. Carkeek Park, Seattle (Broadview). www.pipersorchard.org Lei-Making Workshop. A Pacific Islander artist directs a lei-making workshop using fresh lua and pua (leaves and flowers) and discusses the significance of lei-making in Polynesian traditions. Ages 12 and older. 11 am to 1:30 pm. $$$. Wing Luke Museum, Seattle BIG KID PICK

(Chinatown-International District). www.wingluke.org Sunday Hat Parade. Celebrate the tradition of hats in Seattle’s black community with the Black Heritage Society of Washington State. Stroll through the museum in your finest hat, take your picture at a photo booth, and enjoy a display of historic hats. 1 to 4 pm. $$. Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), Seattle (South Lake Union). www.mohai.org NORTH SOUND

Pet Parade. Bring your furry

Saturday, September 14 S E AT T L E A R E A

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Fairytale Afternoon with Cinderella. Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet host a magical afternoon where children can make a mask for the ball and take a picture with Cinderella. 2:30 and 3 pm start times. $. Seattle Opera Center, Seattle (South Lake Union). www.seattleopera.org Family Fitness Day. Magnuson Series fun runs including 5K, 10K, 15K, duathlon, obstacle dash, and a kids’ dash. Kids’ dash at 9:45 am, all other events at 10 am. $ to $$$. Magnuson Park, Seattle. www.magnusonseries.org Frog Frolic. Family activities, naturalist-led tours, food, music, art exhibition and more. 1 to 5 pm. FREE. Shadow Lake Nature Preserve, Renton. www.shadowhabitat.org Greenlake Community Fun and Wellness Fair. Face painting, yoga, arts & crafts, live music, dancing, vendors, interactive demonstrations, and health & wellness information.10 am to 4 pm. FREE. Greenlake Community Center. www.parkways.seattle.gov Seattle Fiestas Patrias Parade and Fiesta. Parade begins at 14th Avenue South and South Henderson Street in South Park. Afterward, a fiesta takes place at South Park Community Center with food, dancing, music, kids’ activities and info booths. 11 am parade, festival 1 to 6 pm. FREE. www.seattlefiestaspatrias.org St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer. 5K fundraising walk/run with family activities. 8 am. $$, fundraising encouraged. Seattle Center Mural Amphitheatre (Lower Queen Anne). www.stjude.org Youth Rising in the Town. Celebrate the launch of free youth tickets at Town Hall with an all-evening forum takeover. Learn about opportunities for young artists, see art installations, and listen to live music. 6:30 pm. FREE. The Forum, Town Hall, Downtown Seattle. www.townhallseattle.org BIG KID PICK

NORTH SOUND

Touch-a-Truck. Climb, sit in and honk horns of dump trucks, a backhoe, vactor truck, police vehicles, a street sweeper, fire rigs and a garbage truck, plus enjoy train rides and treat vendors. Horn-free from noon to 1 pm. 10 am to 1 pm. FREE, nonperishable donations welcomed. No pets. Asbery Field, Marysville. www.marysvillewa.gov SOUTH SOUND

Pioneer Days Festival. Enjoy live music, storytelling, hands-on demonstrations of pioneer life, heritage crafts, panning

Play. Discover. Create.

CHILD CARE PROGRAMS RIGHT ON YOUR SCHOOL’S GROUNDS!

* Preschool * Before School Programs * After School Programs * Summer Camps

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friends to the park for a pet parade. Also celebrate the last day of the summer pop-up dog park. 11 am to noon. FREE. Park at Bothell Landing, Bothell. www.eventbrite.com

Friday, September 20 S E AT T L E A R E A

PARK(ing) Day. See on-street parking spots all over the city transformed into pop-up parks. 9 am to 7 pm. FREE. Various locations throughout Seattle. www.seattle.gov/transportation/ seattleparkingday.htm St. Demetrios Greek Festival. Traditional music and folk dancing, Greek food, marketplace, kids’ area and more. Noon to 9 pm today, 10 am to 9 pm Sat., noon to 7 pm Sun. FREE. St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Seattle (Montlake). www.seattlegreekfestival.com

Saturday, September 21 Museum Day. Enjoy a free trip to one of many museums all over the country. Grab a ticket online and exchange for admission to a museum, including the Seattle Art Museum, Museum of Glass, MOHAI and many more. See online for rules and participating museums. FREE. Various locations. www. smithsonianmag.com/museumday S E AT T L E A R E A

Fishermen’s Fall Festival. Celebrate the local fishing fleet with musical entertainment, children’s activities, fishing-related exhibits and competitions and food. 11 am to 6 pm. FREE, fee for some activities. Fishermen’s Terminal, Seattle (Magnolia). www.fishermensfallfestival.org Luminata Lantern Parade. Celebrate the autumnal equinox with a parade at Green Lake featuring music, lanterns, lights, costumes and more. 7 pm. FREE. Boat House on the south shore of Green Lake. www.fremontartscouncil.org Seattle Children’s Festival. Celebrate arts and cultures of the Pacific Northwest with hands-on activities, interactive workshops, live performances and more. See website for event schedule.10 am to 4 pm today and Sun. $$ suggested donation. Seattle Center, Seattle (Lower Queen Anne). www.nwfolklife.org EASTSIDE

Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play. Watch a Theater for Young Audience play based on Mo Willems’ books about best buds Elephant and Piggie. Best for grade-school-aged children. Families with younger kids should attend the all-ages shows on Sundays. 1 and 3 pm, weekends through Oct. 13. $$. Redmond Town Center, Redmond. www.secondstoryrep.org NORTH SOUND

Snohomish County Friendship Festival. Event promotes the inclusion and acceptance of people with Down syndrome. Short walk (3 pm), food, games and other family fun. Noon to 4 pm. $ to $$, fundraising encouraged. Harvey Airfield, Snohomish. www.dsasc.org FA R T H E R A F I E L D

Whidbey Island Kite Festival. Features colorful and impressive kite-flying displays, kids’ kite making, beginning sport kite lessons, and a teddy bear drop (ages 9 and younger, 1 pm).

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9 am to 8 pm today, 9 am to 5 pm Sun. FREE. Camp Casey Conference Center, Coupeville. www.whidbeykites.org

Sunday, September 22 EASTSIDE

Kirkland Oktoberfest Wiener Dog Race. Watch the running of the wiener dogs at Oktoberfest. All dachshunds welcome to race. 1 pm. FREE. Marina Park, Kirkland. www.oktoberfestkirkland.com

Thursday, September 26 S E AT T L E A R E A

Black Beauty. Large-scale puppetry, live music and a multigenerational cast gather on stage to share the story of a beautiful horse. 7 pm tonight; various times through Oct. 27. $$$. Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle (Lower Queen Anne). www.sct.org

Saturday, September 28 National Public Lands Day. Visit one of our many state and national parks today for free, including Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park. Day use only, additional fees for overnight. Various locations. www.discoverpass.wa.gov

Our Fall Farm Tours have been carefully crafted through years of experience in the ﬁeld of educating children.

Boys& Girls& Safe Places& Mentorship& Opportunities

We provide the fun in the FUNdamentals of learning at Remlinger Farms!

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Italian Festival. Celebrity chef demonstrations, food, music and dance, grape stomp, pizza toss, soccer clinic, Italian dog breeds, marketplace, children’s opera performance, kids’ activities and more. 10 am to 9 pm today, 10 am to 6 pm Sun. FREE. Seattle Center (Lower Queen Anne). www.festaseattle.com Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival. See beautiful wooden vessels, go on a free boat ride, or see craft and skill demonstrations by boat builders. Also enjoy food vendors, live music and kids’ activities. 10 am to 10 pm through Sun. FREE. Lake Union Park and The Center for Wooden Boats, Seattle (South Lake Union). www.cwb.org Sustainable Ballard Festival. Learn how to commit to local, environmentally sustainable actions. The event will have hands-on activities, live music on a solar-powered stage, urban farm animals, food carts and more. 11 am to 4 pm. Ballard Commons Park, Seattle (Ballard). www.sustainableballard.org EASTSIDE

Michelmasse Festival. Step into the Middle Ages with cider pressing, puppetry, music, crafts, archery and an optional feast ($$$). Noon to 5 pm, today through Sunday. $$, FREE ages 5 and younger. Camlann Medieval Village, Carnation. www.camlann.org Remlinger Farms Fall Festival. Caramel apples, steam train rides, pony rides, roller coaster, hay rides, acres of pumpkins and more. 10 am to 6 pm today, various times through Oct. 27. $$$. Remlinger Farms, Carnation. www.remlingerfarms.com

Sunday, September 29

www.RemlingerFarms.com

Home of the BrainDance

Dance Classes for All Ages AND

After-School Enrichment Nurturing Baby • Parent-Child Creative Dance • Dance & Art Ballet • Modern • Hip Hop Dance+Yoga+Art • Adaptive Dance ADULT CLASSES TOO!

Enrolling Now for Fall! creativedance.org

Before School After School Non-School Days Youth Athletics LEARN MORE AT

positiveplace.org

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Walk Now for Autism Speaks. Two-mile walk for families affected by autism; includes kids’ area and resource fair. Strollers, wheelchairs and wagons welcome; no pets. 9 am registration, 10:15 am walk. FREE, fundraising encouraged. Mural Amphitheatre, Seattle Center (Lower Queen Anne). www.autismspeakswalk.org

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September 2019 Issue

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