Lake Forest Park, WA

Lake Forest Park WA Community Info:

Lake Forest Park WA is full of natural beauty and is all in all just a wonderful community! It is a great alternative to city living, but still close enough in to take full advantage of all Seattle has to offer.

Here are some of the Lake Forest Park WA things you may not have known:

• Speeding STRONGLY discouraged with many speed traps and camera tickets especially around schools.
  
• Hybrid drivers welcome!
  
• Lots of trees!
  
• Farmers Market
  
• Beach Access even if not deeded through one of the private clubs through public park

Want to know more about Lake Forest Park Wa and Lake Forest Park Living?

Here is a link to a Lake Forest Park Community Guide:

Lake Forest Park WA Living

You can also find more info here:

Lake Forest Park Blog

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.

Yuletide Concert Magical Strings Ensemble

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.

Piper Lauri Salogga maps participant's home

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)

• Designing Your Perfect Retreat, One Room at a Time (Perfect Retreat Party)
• OfficeShui^TM , practical powerful tips to create an inspiring and productive workspace
• Your Perfect Retreat groups
• Clearing the clutter, one corner at a time
• 7 Steps to a harmonious environment (Intro to feng shui)
• Intro to feng shui for architects and designers
• Numerology, the story of your life

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

• 4 -5:30 pm Trick or Treat at Town Center
• 5:30 Costume Parade--Everyone welcome
• 5:30 - 7 pm Be in the Graveyard Bash Video!
• 7-9 music from Snake Suspenderz Family Dance Macabre

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!

Free Lecture, Clear It Out, Creating and Maintaing Order by Sara Eisen, Nest, Seattle
(LFP Elementary, Tuesday 10/13, 7-8:30 p.m.)
What to Bring: The contents of your junk drawer in a bag; this will be fun!

If anyone has a free night the next four Tuesday nights, I have a great suggestion for you! As part of a fundraiser for Lake Forest Park Elementary, we have a FREE lecture series going on aimed at learning methods for decluttering, feng shui and energy clearing our homes! Five local experts have volunteered their time to get us going on our decluttering. After the first lecture (by Elizabeth Schermer of Fundamental Feng Shui, I'll blog about it), every participant I talked to had gone home and started right away on one closet or another, some area of their home.

My own family really benefitted right away. My son kept waking up at night and we redid his room after the first lecture... he told me that his room now feels cosy and warm! He has stopped getting up at night. That's just my little story, every participant I've talked to tells me something great has already taken place in their home. Don't worry if you're not a clutterbug, you just take it to the next level, finding out which possessions have a positive purpose in your life and which no longer serve you.

This coming Tuesday, 10/13, Sara Eisen of Nest, Seattle ("Seattle Interior Design and Home Organization Services with a Twist"), will be giving the lecture "Clear It Out, Creating and Maintaining Order". Sara is a warm whirlwind of ideas and an understanding that allows one to start thinking about one's home in terms of usage patterns and what really makes sense to support one's lifestyle. She is an expert at color coordination and choice, and how each color will affect our living in the space! Her site is a treasure trove of ideas and inspiration, great links and expert advice. Make sure to get on her mailing list to tap this great resource!

For more information go to www.lightupthefuture.org where you'll find the complete calendar and the explanation of the big JUMBLE SALE we'll be holding on Novemeber 21, 1-4 p.m., at Lake Forest Park Elementary.

The next lectures will be:

10/13 Clear It Out, Creating and Maintaining Order (Sara Eisen, Nest)

10/20 Interior Redesign, Transform Your Home, Transform Your Life (Gwen Williams, Space Transform)

10/27 Peace and Vitality, Living Intentionally In Your Home (Piper Lauri Salooga, Natural Balance)

11/3 Simple Tools to Create Harmony Within (Christine Wallace, Earth Cathedral)

All lectures go 7 to 8:30 with questions answered until 9 p.m. If you have ever wanted your own home decorating or Feng Shui expert, here's your chance to get a taste of that. This is my "Dream Team for Life".

Brief Report: On 10/6 our first lecture, Raising the Roof, Connect With Your Home and Change Your Life was presented by Elizabeth Schermer of Fundamental Feng Shui. It was well attended although about half the participants in the project will be at any given lecture. Elizabeth gave us a great outline from her full day class which starts to open up how to discover whether a possession is still serving a useful function in your life. If you discover how it's holding you back, there are comfortable ways to let go. We explored some of the positive effects the process of letting go can create in our life and our future. The homework processes, on the website, are opening things us for those of us who are using them!

DON'T FORGET that we'll have the Big Jumble Sale on November 21 from noon to four, come and shop for treasures! It's all happening at Lake Forest Park Elementary School, 18500 37th Avenue N, Lake Forest Park, and it's FREE! Yay!