I bet if your power company gave you a month off from paying your utility bill, you'd say yes. Maybe it won't happen tomorrow, but an article I just read (in Sierra Club Magazine, I'm a member for the ski lodges and hikes but don't mind help saving money on my energy bills!) in a few decades large power bills will be a thing of the past. Or should I say, misery of the past. From our grade schoolers who still believe they matter (and let's keep it that way) we know it's possible to save the planet by going green. One major way is to build homes and offices that will both be energy self-sufficient and will actually produce zero carbon emmissions. Initially the building costs are higher (understandably a minus in the eyes of some builders that worry about pricing). But we know that over a bit of time (five years or eight years in many cases) built green homes pay for their own energy efficiency... and after that it's all profit in your pocket. At first an energy aware home (Green Built) costs you several thousand dollars than it's energy hogging competitor. But soon enough, it will pay for itself then SAVE you money. That's money in your pocket to update the kitchen, buy a new car, or take that special family holiday.
Hey, you know that company, Microsoft? Kind of big in Seattle, of course, being based here. Quite a rep for giving back to the community. And of course the cutting edge technology to do it right. Well, I love what I'm hearing because it now appears that Seattle City Light and Microsoft have teamed up to provide a really exciting customer service...and it's FREE! And it will save you money! And it will help reduce your energy costs! In fact Seattle City Light is one of the 1st 4 utility companies in the country to join in this innovative consumer support program. They provide an online application to help consumers keep track of their energy usage and then the program provides personalized recommendations for imporved energy efficiency! You can (and I think I'll try it and report back) sign up to be one of the first local customers to use the product! (Microsoft Hohm for Seattle.)
When I think about the central kernal of what Seattle is, I think about technology seamlessly integrated into life. And that can be seen in small things, like being named "The Smartest City in America" due to the highest number of graduate degrees and levels per capita. Or the amount of innovators working on Green Living solutions that can be profitiable enough to involve the mainstream business world.
Compared to those, publically accessable WiFi might seem unimportant, but think about...being able to work in numerous public locations, or use your computer to work or communicate while watching your children play in the park, or even just stopping off quickly to get on the net for some essential bit of business during a busy traveling day. It's the approaching future, and it's here now in Seattle.
The following parks and downtown locations have WiFi: Freeway, Occidental, Westlake, and Victor Steinbrueck Park, and it's also in the Plaza at City Hall. Users should log in using seattlewifi as their link.
On Sunday, November 29th the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council presents Magical Strings Celtic Yuletide Concert. Now in it's 31st year, Magical Strings will be performing at the Shorecrest Performing Arts Center at 3 p.m. As many families and fans in the community have made this a holiday tradition, tickets will go fast.
Phil and Pam Bonding, the center of this musical whirl of Holiday sparkle, are magical at holiday time.
The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park concert is the first of their holiday series (which goes from Portland to Mount Vernon) is, according to Phil, "always exciting, the energy is up and high because it's the first show of the season." This year is specially special...Brittany Bonding, one of their five children, has returned from NYC where she lived for years performing with major orchastras. It's her first year back and she is busy as she's the Concertmistress of the Bellevue Philharmonic, as well as playing with the Seattle Symphony. She will appear with the Magical Strings group and play a special solo as well as fiddling along with the Celtic music and jigs! Her brother Brenin, a notable cello player, will also join the group and since his wife is Sara Raney of the Raney Irish Dancers, there has for some years been a cross link and the dancers will be performing at the concert. More wonderful family, grandaughter Rowen, now 9, is an award winning Irish Dancer (The Tara Acadamy of Irish Dance is run by Sara Raney and her sisters) and will perform a solo.
Also appearing will be Irish Flute Player Hanz Areki as a guest performer (said to be the "quintessential world music musician"), lyrical juggler Thomas Arthur, vocalists Mark and Colleen Raney, and other special guests. Phil explained to me that he and Pam compose a lot of their own original music, and have just returned from a spectacular trip to Ireland which inspired some of this year's program. I am personally looking forward to a special arrangement for a violin and cello duet that sounds amazing!
Practically a household word in the Northwest, with dancing hammers and pulsating strings, Philip and Pam Boulding have created the distinctive music of Magical Strings, described by the Washinton Post as "warm, graceful and sonically gorgeous." Centered around a tightly-knit blend of Celtic harps and hammered dulcimers, the performance will be augmented by pennywhistles, valiha (Malagasy harp), concertina,and song and storytelling. During the past 25 years they have always drawn a great and loyal following worldwide, captivated by sparkling arrangements of Celtic music and their original joyful compositions, intertwining Celtic roots with classical and World Music influences.
Could there be more? Yes, just don't miss it! Please take a look at their Magical Strings website for further details and for other concerts they will be playing for this series in the Holiday Season! And don't forget to check out the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council website (and maybe bookmark it?) for gallery news and other events of the season.
If you'd like, here is a Hanz Araki tune to sample: http://popup.lala.com/popup/2810527689712221426
Tuesday evening, as part of the "Lighten the Load and Light Up the Future" project in Lake Forest Park, Piper Lauri Salogga of Natural Balance (Seattle), spoke to a group on "Peace and Vitality, Living Intentionally in Your Home."
The lecture was supposed to go from 7 to 8:30, but at 9:30 participants were still eagerly questioning Piper, whose sparkling intensity won her instant fans. At that moment, for everyone in the room, the most important thing was to understand how our arrangement and choices in our homes are affecting our moods, energy, ability to move forward in life, in fact. The school custodian, however, was begging us to leave so he could close up, and a last few eager questioners gathered around Piper in the dark chilly parking lot, unwilling to let her go.
Explaining that "our surroundings have a powerful effect on us" Piper went on to teach us some of the basics of feng shui, including the bagua, a directional map that you can place over your home to find out which areas are connected strongly with various aspects of your life. The ancient chinese energy management system includes the symbols of wood, metal, water, fire and air which need to be in balance for joyful and purposeful living. If you find yourself in a career predicament, check the area of your house which strongly influences career, and you will, according to feng shui teaching, find that there is some rearranging to be done! Color, type of material, symbols, all can have a negative or positive affect on how things are going in that area.
Natural Balance, Piper's business which addresses design and feng shui concerns in home and office, has been in existance for 11 years, although she has been working in the field longer. A child of an architect and a landscape architect, Piper has been living in the world of design her entire life. Her broad understanding of the principals of feng shui, which she calls the "magic door" to realizing your intentions in the world, was clear and inspiring. We learned that feng shui is not about thinking about it (or not only) but about taking action, in the form of a focus point, symbol, or element you put into your environment to bring a certainn desired focus into your life. By doing so you're "putting it out there" and there is story after story about how the universe responds to focused intention.
Some interesting and even funny stories came out of the evening from participants as well, including how when your fish keep dying it's a good idea to move them... but that's just the tip of the iceberg. For those who would like to see the outline of the class please go to "homework" on Light Up the Future, our project website.
And if you're in Seattle (or Lake Forest Park!), you might want to attend Piper and Sara's Sit and Sip event on 11/21, a home accessories exchange. There are only 100 seats available so make your reservations qucikly! The event takes place in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood center, a place I love to go for it's atmosphere of Seattle history, as it's an old three brick school with wooden floors and high ceilings!
Some classes Piper teaches (from her website)
Most of the classes go for 2 hours with time for Q & A... but if last night is anything to judge by, they are going to go quite a lot longer than that if the participants have their way.
Thank you, Piper Lauri Salogga, for an inspiring and really useful evening.
(for more information on our school fundraiser, please go to www.lightupthefuture.org)
What is our Lake Forest Park community like?
It's a vibrant, happening place with a lot going on and the ability to take advantage of all the neighboring community events, with Seattle Center a 25 minute drive. Here in our own backyard we have a variety of events, many built around Lake Forest Park Towne Center, a wonderful venue for all kinds of community activities.
happening events:
Build Trail at Cole Nature Park
Volunteers are needed Saturdays 9-3 until the trail is completed
Construction starts Oct. 3, 2009
Bring water, lunch, &; work gloves
Cole Nature Park is at 16715 30th Ave NE
The Gallery at Towne Center
"The World Around II" Oct 15 - Nov 22This exhibit features the paintings of Helen Drummond and Jan Primous and photographs of John Armstrong. These are 3 artists whose work documents the world around them, in it's many manifestations. The Gallery opened in September.
HALLOWEEN AT THE COMMONS
Oct 31, 2009
LFP Towne Centre, 17171 Bothell Way NE
Playtime at LFP Town Center
10:00 am-11:30am
Tuesday, Oct 27
Meet in front of the stage
Join other parents, grandparents, and caregivers with children ages birth to 5
for art, games, and conversation led by the Shoreline Family Support Center.
Listening Session with Representative Maralyn Chase
1-4pm, Sat Oct 24
Share your concerns about the economy, education, and whatever else you care about with Rep Maralyn Chase in an informal listening session
Teen Anime Review Group, Halloween edition!
3:30 - 5pm. Tues Oct 27
A KCLS event where costume are optional. Watch three episodes of anime with other fans.
Peace and Vitality; Living Intentionally In Your Home
by Piper Lauri Salogga, Natural Balance, Seattle
LFP Elementary, Tues 10/27, 7-8:30 p.m.
18500 37th Avenue N, Lake Forest Park
FREE
Helping Seniors Stay Independent - 7-8:30pm
Wed, Oct 28
Deciding when and where to move is a huge challenge for seniors, followed in intensity by choosing what to take. Learn about your housing options, including how to prepare for a move with planning and a positive approach to downsizing.
OCT 31
1-1:45pm Northwest Ballet Halloween Dance Recital
Get into the spirit of the season, there will be fun and spooky dances.
4 - 5:30 pm Trick-or-treat
Trick or treat at participating Towne Centre merchants. Look for balloons outside participating stores.
5:45 pm The Costume Parade
Strut your cool Halloween disguise at Third Place Commons. Parade starts at 5:45 outside the bookstore, or on the lower level.
6 - 7:30 pm Spooky games & contests for families!
Family fun based on author Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book.
7:30 - 9:30 pm Snake Suspenderz Family Dance Macabre
Dance to the music of Snake Suspenderz, perfectly fun and scary for the whole family.
And for book lovers, on Halloween all Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror and Newbery Award winning books will be 25% off at Third Place Books.
Don't forget to check the Third Place Books website for book readings and calendar.
Check out ";Light Up the Future's"; website for free home interior lectures
Look on Third Place Commons site for their event schedule.
The last Farmer's Market was Oct 2, but check out these recurring events:
Third Place Gamers
Every Sun 1:00 - 8:00 pm
Join us in the Commons to play a variety of board, card and party games.
Discussion Group
First and third Sundays, 8:45 am - 9:45 am
Join in spirited conversation on a variety of subjects.
Mah Jongg
Every Mon, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
The Shoreline-LFP Senior Center welcomes players of all skill levels to a day of Mah Jongg.
Teen Writing Group
Third Tues, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Teen writers share your work, open to all. Sponsored by the Friends of LFP Library.
KCLS Writers Workshop with/ Frances Dayee
Thurs 10:00 am - 12 noon
Writers get positive feedback, open to all, sponsored by Friends of LFP Library.
French Conversation
Tues, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Practice your French with Madame Genevieve Bodner.
Edward Jones Investments
Third Wed 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Investment topic changes each session.
Spanish Conversation
Thurs , 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Join advanced-to-beginning Spanish speakers for casual conversation.
Living With disAbilities
Fourth Thurs, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
For info, contact the Alliance of People with Disabilities at 206-545-7055.
Storytelling for Children
Fridays at 10:00 am
Magic: The Gathering Gamers
Fridays, 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Players of all levels welcome, regulars or drop-ins.
Downstairs lobby, LFPTowne Centre.
T‘ai Chi Saturdays
Sat 8:45 am - 9:45 am
All welcome at any level, come weekly or drop in
Seattle Pen Club
Third Sat, 11:00 am - 12 noon
Fountain pen fans welcome all who share their hobby.
Heroscape Game Day
Third Sat, 2:00 - 10:00 pm
Already play? Just learning? Come to Heroscape game day.
Friday & Saturday Night Music
presented by Third Place Books
Check the Calendar to see who's playing.
Don't forget Two Trading Tigers upscale resale for a great shopping spree!
and Snapdoodle Toys in neighboring Kenmore (3 minutes away) rated #1 Toystore in Western Washington!!
NOVEMBER ITEMS FOR YOUR CALENDAR:
11/3 Simple Tools to Create Harmony Within
(Christine Wallace, Earth Cathedral)
LFP Elementary, Tuesday 10/27, 7-8:30 p.m.
18500 37th Avenue N, Lake Forest Park
Free
11/21 Noon - 4 pm BIG JUMBLE SALE IN THE CAFETERIA! Treasures!
Seattle, North Seattle, West Seattle, Mercer Island, Shoreline, Edmonds, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Kirkland, Bothell, Lynnwood, Mukilteo, Woodinville, Redmond, Bellevue, Issaquah
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