Create Your Own Adventure - Free National Park Days

Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, Fort Vancouver National Historical Site, and Lewis & Clark National Historical park are all have free entry (along with all other National Parks) on Monday for MLK Day.
So go outside!

If you can't make it on Monday, National Parks will have free entry on the following dates in 2017:
February 20: President’s Day

April 15-16 and 22-23: Weekends of National Park Week
August 25: National Park Service Birthday
September 30: National Public Lands Day
November 11-12: Veterans Day Weekend

Of Sugar And Architects - Gingerbread Village

Every year a special kind of magic happens downtown Seattle around the holidays.  For the last 24 years the Seattle Sheraton bakers and local architects have teamed up to create amazing creations and sculptures in sugar. The level of detail and thought that goes into each structure is amazing. Past themes have included Star Wars, super heroes, video games and many others.  This years theme will take you into the world of Harry Potter!  You can visit these incredible gingerbread designs 7 days a week, 24 hours a day at the Seattle Sheraton from November 22nd 2016 through January 1st 2017.  

Sub Astra - Movies Under The Stars

There is something amazing about watching a movie outdoors.  The sounds and sights are amplified by the openness of the venue.  Add in a crowd that is unfettered by the limitations of the theater and you have a spectacle that is unlikely to be recreated at your local Cinerama.  Luckily in the Seattle area there are several locations where you can watch a film with the sky above you.  The Fremont Outdoor Cinema is the longest running of the bunch with Seattle Parks and Recreation (at both Westlake and Occidental Parks), Magnuson Park, Marymoor Park and  the Seattle Center all hosting their own movies within the last few years. With this many venues, there are movies playing 3 to 4 nights a week. As an added bonus, many of the showings encourage dressing up and several showings have movie trivia or other activities before the show starts.  Make sure to follow the link to see pre-ticket sales option and the rules and regulations of each site. Some of the locations have food trucks, beer gardens and other food and drink options. So gather up your low beach chairs, pack yourself some snacks and spread out a blanket under the stars....

Wednesday, July 6: Back to the Future – Marymoor Park

Thur. July 7: Ferris Bueller's Day Off - Magnuson Park

Wednesday, July 13: Jurassic World – Marymoor Park

Thur. July 14: Labyrinth- Magnuson Park

Friday July 15th:  Movies in the Park: Inside Out - Westlake Park

Saturday July 16th: DEADPOOL | 21+ - Fremont Studios

Wednesday, July 20: Inside Out – Marymoor Park

Thur. July 21: Star Wars: The Force Awakens- Magnuson Park

Friday July 22^nd: Movies in the Park: The Goonies - Westlake Park

Saturday July 23^rd: Pretty Woman 21+ - South Lake Union Discovery Center

Wednesday, July 27: Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Marymoor Park

Thur. July 28: The Incredibles- Magnuson Park

Saturday July 30^th: Mad Max: Fury Road 21+ - South Lake Union Discovery Center

Saturday July 30^th: The Princess Bride Quote-Along - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Wednesday, August 3: Aladdin – Marymoor Park

Thursday, August 4: Guardians of the Galaxy– Magnuson Park

Friday, August 5^th: Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same - Cal Anderson Park

Saturday, August 6^th: Grand Budapest Hotel 21+ - South Lake Union Discovery Center

Saturday, August 6^th: Mad Max: Fury Road - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Wednesday, August 10: Singin' in the Rain – Marymoor Park

Thur. August, 11: Zootopia - Magnuson Park

Friday, August 12^th: Spaceballs - Cal Anderson Park

Saturday, August 13^th: Galaxy Quest - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Wednesday, August 17: Zootopia – Marymoor Park

Thur. August 18: The Sandlot– Magnuson Park

Friday, August 19^th: Dudefest V - The Big Lebowski - South Lake Union Discovery Center

Friday, August 19^th:  Barbarella - Cal Anderson Park

Saturday, August 20^th: West Side Story - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Wednesday, August 24: The Princess Bride – Marymoor Park

Thur. August 25: The Goonies– Magnuson Park

Friday, August 26^th: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Cal Anderson Park

Friday, Aug 26^th:  Movies in the Park: Labyrinth - Occidental Square

Saturday, August 27^th: Life of Pi - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Friday, Sep 2^nd:  Movies in the Park: Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Occidental Square

Go Back In Time - The Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire

Knights, mythical creatures, majestic Queens … everyone has, at one point or another, been enamored with these images in their lives.  The charging horses and clash of metal of the joust or the quick wit and merry tune of the bards have been a part of so many of our stories and games throughout our lives.   I’m happy to tell you there is a place to experience these things in person…a sort of time machine if you will.

The Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire will whisk you back to the 1570’s where Mary, Queen of Scots, holds court and knights clash in combat for the favor of the Queen.   Beyond the sounds of battle, merchants of all kinds, from clothing and weapons to food and ale, peddle their wares to the various attendees.  The Village of Stonehaven is alive with more than fighting and commerce, bards and traveling troupes of entertainers perform during the course of the day on the various stages throughout the faire and magicians entertain young and old alike with their otherworldly skills.   

Perhaps the best part of the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire is the people watching.  Beyond the performers, merchants, knights and the Queen herself is a dedicated group of people who attend the faire to celebrate their passion for all things Medieval.   Many of the fairgoers have created amazing costumes and personas for the faire into which they transform as soon as they cross the castle gates.  Dressing in period outfits and speaking Ye Olde English isn’t necessary to enjoy the fair, but by the end of the day you may have a hard time walking away without envisioning your next visit as a nobleperson from the quaint shire of Seattle.  Huzzah!  http://www.washingtonfaire.com/

Shamble With The Undead – Red, White, and Dead Zombie Walk

There are some things that you have to experience in person.  The Red, White and Dead Zombie Walk in the Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood falls squarely in that category.  Every year around the Fourth of July holiday thousands of people channel their inner undead and shamble together for a record breaking zombie horde that George A. Romero would be proud of.  The event features live music (ironic), food, and free make-up tents for the cosmetically challenged living dead.  The festivities lead to a massive Thriller dance, including a quick tutorial, and culminates in the actual walk itself, which winds throughout Fremont.   The crowds start to thin out after the walk, but feel free to stick around for the evening happenings which have included music and outdoor movies in the past. Just know that if you hang around for the entire event, you may have trouble shaking the Zombie mentality the following day. http://www.zombcon.com/ 

Become A Bibliophile – Friends of the Library Book Sale

There is something about a book that an “e”version can’t replace.  The tactile feel of the pages, the slightly musty smell of old books aged like a fine wine.  If you have a visceral connection with books and you like them cheap, the Friends of the Library Book Sale at Magnuson Park is the place to go.  The sale is a biannual event, generally occurring in Mid-April and Mid-September, with over 100,000 books for sale at around the $1 range and an entire section of “Better” books at a slightly higher price for the more discerning palette.  The shear volume of literature available for purchase is nearly overwhelming and you can easily spend hours poring over titles in every genre from the classics to textbooks.  The event is well attended so be prepared to rub elbows with other bibliophiles (and book sellers) but it’s all worth it in the end.  The rewards far outweigh the effort. http://friendsofspl.org/booksale

Get Your Geek On -Emerald City Comicon

Once a year thousands of people gather under one roof downtown Seattle and wave their Geek Credentials proudly.  I am one of those people.  Emerald City Comicon is a destination not to be missed.  Since 2003, Emerald City Comicon has been hosting world class artists and celebrities for a weekend of shopping, sharing, exploring, cosplay, panels, and of course autographs.  This year was no different as the organizers of the Comicon continued to bring the big guns. William Shatner.  There I said it. I attended the Comicon, he attended the Comicon.  I didn’t get a chance to see him but then again he didn’t get a chance to see me either, so I think that makes us even (although we did see an amazing Captian Kirk circa 1967).  Other than celebrity sightings, the Comicon has an astounding array of vendors for everything from Golden Era Comics to custom-made fangs while you wait, with vintage toys, various games and collectables also being heavily represented.   DC Comics, XBOX, Image Comics and Dark Horse embodied some of the bigger names there, but they were far outnumbered by the smaller, independent publishers, web comics and of course the artists themselves.    We spent a single day roaming the exhibition hall, seeing old friends, playing games and meeting the incredible talent, and in that time we realized eight hours just may not be enough.   http://www.emeraldcitycomicon.com/