Local Spring Egg Hunts looking sunny-side up for Saturday

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On your marks…get set…

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EVERYBODY SCRAMBLE for eggs!

The annual Spring Egg Hunt is ON this Saturday, March 30, at the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center (6535 Ravenna Avenue NE). 10 AM SHARP.

Kids from the ages of one- to eleven-years-old are invited to bring their own basket (B.Y.O.B.) for collecting plastic eggs with goodies inside. Eggs recycled on-site will be reused at next year’s hunt.

The event is FREE, and the weather forecast looks AMAZING:

UPDATE (10:33 AM): By request, other local NE Seattle-area egg hunts on Saturday:

Spring Egg Hunt on the Nathan Hale High School Track/Meadowbrook Playfield, 10 AM

Spring Egg Hunt at the Laurelhurst Community Center, 10 AM

Community Egg Hunt at Cowen Park (put on by Calvary Christian Assembly in Roosevelt): Registration at 11:30 AM, hunt at noon. Crafts, games, inflatables, and Peaks Frozen Custard will be there.

If we’re missing any, let us know in the comments!

 

 

 

Spring AND Summer Parks and Recreation Brochure now available

Yes, it is only February 15, but it’s time to think about signing you and the kids up for spring and summer activities at community centers and pools across Seattle.

Spring/Summer 2013 Parks and Recreation Brochure, Northeast Seattle (click to download the 3.1 MB PDF)

Spring/Summer 2013 Parks and Recreation Brochure, Northeast Seattle (click to download the 3.1 MB PDF)

Registration for spring quarter classes starts March 12.

Registration for summer camps starts April 4.

And registration for summer quarter classes starts May 21.

Ravenna-area public school tour dates for new kindergarteners

The first day of the 2013-2014 school year is still months away, but open houses at area elementary schools for incoming kindergarteners have begun.

What follows is a list of schools in the Seattle Public School District that Ravenna neighborhood students can attend, and the dates and times of their upcoming open houses. We are happy to include information for local private schools if it is available — just let us know in the comments below.

To search for your address’ specific attendance area schools, enter your home address into the Seattle Public Schools address look-up tool. And if you are curious about the transportation zones around these schools, they can be found here (listed as 2011-12 school year; Thornton Creek and Jane Addams not available).

Wedgwood Elementary (2720 NE 85th St)
Thursday, January 24, 6:30-8 PM

The tour will start in the cafeteria with an introduction by the principal of Wedgwood lasting 10 to 15 minutes, followed by parent volunteers escorting families around the building. At 7:15 pm, families will reconvene in the cafeteria where the principal will field questions for 15 to 20 minutes before closing. Please note Wedgwood will not be hosting tours during the school day in order to minimize disruptions and maintain a quiet, distraction-free learning environment for our students. If you have any questions about daytime visits, please contact our Administrative Secretary, Joann Sparks at 206-252-5670 or josparks@seattleschools.org.

Ravenna Blog staff will be attending.

Bryant Elementary (3311 NE 60th St)
Thursday, January 31, 6:30-8 PM

No RSVP necessary.

Green Lake Elementary (2400 NE 65th St.)
Tuesday, January 29th, 6-7:30 PM, in the library

6:00-6:15 pm – WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
6:15-6:40 pm – GENERAL QUESTIONS FOR KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS & PRINCIPAL
6:40-7:15 pm – TOUR OF SCHOOL
7:20-7:30 pm – CLOSING IN LIBRARY

For questions, please send an email to Caroline.

Thornton Creek School (7711 43rd Ave NE)
Thursday, January 31, 7-8:30 PM, and MANY daytime tour dates

The daytime tours will start off with a brief introduction about the school from principal John Miner, followed by a brief question and answer session. Parent volunteers will then lead small groups in touring the school and visiting some classrooms. The evening open house will include a brief welcome from the general and special education kindergarten teachers, an introduction to the school from principal John Miner, and a question and answer session. Visitors will also have an opportunity to tour a few classrooms and talk with current parents.

Ravenna Blog staff will be attending the evening open house.

Jane Addams K-8 School (11051 34th Ave NE)

Evening Sessions will start in the auditorium:
Wednesday, February 13 at 6:30 PM for All grade levels
Thursday, February 28 at 6:30 PM for Middle School information only

Morning Sessions will start in the Library:
Wednesday, February 13 at 8:30 AM
Thursday, February 21 at 8:30 AM
Wednesday, February 27 at 8:30 AM
Tuesday, March 5 at 8:30 AM

Pinehurst K-8 School (11530 12th Ave NE)

No information on school tours at this time.

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Disclaimer: This is our first real foray into the World of Public Schooling with children of our own (Intern No. 1 will be attending kindergarten this fall). We appreciate any and all information, encouragement, and/or advice you more experienced Northeast Seattle parents may be willing to share with us as we start the journey. We, personally, have not attended elementary school in…a long time, and a few things may have changed between then and now. A few.

Welcome our newest sponsor, Roaring Mouse Creative Arts!

We’re very pleased to tell you that Roaring Mouse Creative Arts is now a Ravenna Blog sponsor.

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Roaring Mouse got its start back in 1989 when founder Lassie Webster started teaching arts-centric classes and workshops in elementary schools in the Seattle area. In 1997, a studio space was opened in the Sand Point area. And in 2004, the studio moved to its current location at NE 75th St and 20th Ave NE.

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Among the many classes and services at Roaring Mouse:

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Below is a video showing more of the studio space in use, accompanied by a narration explaining more about the studio:

And you can learn more about the Roaring Mouse preschool program at their open house on Saturday, January 12, 2013, from 10 AM – 2 PM.

Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center holiday Play Space and Tot Gym schedule

Parents of tots, we have a Christmas present for you.

Did you know that the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center (6545 Ravenna Avenue NE) is OPEN on Christmas Eve? OH YES, oh yes.

The community center’s Play Space is open from 9:15 AM – 5:30 PM. And we can tell you, from personal experience, sending the small, unruly ones down there with a parent to get their wiggles out before dinner, is a FANTASTIC idea.

It’s only three bucks a kid. (But they could charge 10, and it’d still be a great deal.)

BUT WAIT — THERE’S MORE!

Here’s the Play Space and Tot Gym schedule through Saturday, January 5, 2013:

Play Space

Christmas Eve: 9:15 AM-5:30 PM
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Wednesday the 26th: 2-8:15 PM
Thursday the 27th: 10:15 AM-8:15 PM
Friday the 28th: 10:15 AM-8:15 PM
Saturday the 29th: 9:15 AM-1:30 PM

Monday the 31st: 9:15 AM-5:30 PM
New Year’s Day: CLOSED
Wednesday the 2nd: 2-8:15 PM
Thursday the 3rd: 10:15 AM-8:15 PM
Friday the 4th: 10:15 AM-8:15 PM
Saturday the 5th: 9:15 AM-4:30 PM

Tot Gym

Wednesday the 26th: 10:15 AM-2 PM
Wednesday the 2nd: 10:15 AM-2 PM

Candy Cane Lane 2012 (PHOTOS)

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The Ravenna Blog staff walked Candy Cane Lane (NE Park Rd) on Thursday evening, and took a bunch of pictures (some with rather long exposures).

Enjoy.

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Candy Cane Lane prepping to open this Saturday night

The word on the street boulevard is that Candy Cane Lane will get totally lit* this Saturday, December 8.

The homes along NE Park Rd/Park Rd NE will be in full-on powered up festive mode from 4-10 PM. The theme for the street this year is “The Nutcracker,” with the gigantic holly bush in the roundabout transformed into a carousel.


View Candy Cane Lane in a larger map

A canned food drive donation station will once again sit at the end of the route, and viewers can also leave donations at the nearby Boulevard Grocery (2007 NE Ravenna Blvd).

In case you’re new to the area, or want to know more about this over-50-year-old Northeast Seattle tradition, the Seattle Times profiled the festive neighborhood feature back in 2010.

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Click the image to read the article at the Seattle Times.

 

Traffic through the area can get pretty bogged down, so we recommend approaching the area on foot or by bicycle. Metro bus routes 30 and 74 have stops nearby, as do routes 68, 243, 372, and 980.

Another feature to being car-free near Candy Cane Lane is that you can more easily stop into nearby Boulevard Grocery (a Ravenna Blog sponsor) to see the remodel, and try one of their holiday drinks: Eggnog, apple cider, and pumpkin spice or peppermint syrup for your lattes and whatnot.

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*Yeah, that was an attempt at a joke about a recently legalized substance.

December Story Times for NE Branch; City Librarian reading on Tuesday (PHOTOS)

Straight from the Northeast Branch’s Children’s Services Librarian, Erica Delavan, here are the Story Times for the rest of the year (via email; emphasis mine):

Toddler Story Time (Geared for ages 1-3)
Thursdays, December 6, 13, 20 at 10:15 & 11:15 a.m.
(No Story Time Dec. 27 or Jan. 3)

Preschool Story Time (Geared for ages 3-5)
Tuesdays, December 4, 11, 18 at 10:30 a.m.
(No Story Time Dec. 25 or Jan. 1)

Pajamas & Puppets (All Ages)
Wednesday, December 19 at 7:00 p.m.

Special Guest on December 4!
At Preschool Story Time on December 4, we will be joined by City Librarian Marcellus Turner. (We just call him MT.) He is looking forward to reading one of his favorite picture books to everyone!

The Seattle Public Library’s Northeast Branch (6801 35th Ave NE) is located one block south of Wedgwood Top Pot Doughnuts (6845 35th Ave NE), an important fact that is not lost on any member of the Ravenna Blog staff.

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UPDATE (12:19 PM): City Librarian Marcellus Turner read “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” by  Jon Scieszka (illustrated by Lane Smith).

 

Trick-or-Treat options around NE Seattle (UPDATES)

Friday, October 26

Children’s Home Society of Washington’s 20th Annual Fright Night Trick or Treat Walk in Lake City

Trick or Treat Walk from 5:15-6:15 PM (starts at the CHSW’s North Seattle Family Center (3200 NE 125th St, Suite 2) or the Lake City Computer Lab (12536 33rd Ave NE), then party from 6:30-8:30 PM at the Lake City Community Center (12531 28th Ave NE); sponsored by Lake City Lions Club

Details

Saturday, October 27

Kids Safe Trick or Treat at Roosevelt Businesses
12-3 PM along Roosevelt Way NE and NE 65th Street (look for flyers in participating businesses’ windows); sponsored by Wayward Coffeehouse and participating businesses

Details

Crafts and Facepainting at The Moonpaper Tent
918 NE 64th St in Roosevelt
5-8 PM; FREE but donations appreciated

Details

Roosevelt Trick or Treat Trail and Halloween Bash
5-9 PM, Roosevelt neighborhood businesses; sponsored by the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association and participating businesses (Cafe Racer is one)

Details and a MAP of participating businesses

Wednesday, October 31
HALLOWEEN

Annual Wedgwood Business District Trick-or-Treat
4-6 PM along 35th Avenue NE; sponsored by the Wedgwood Community Council and neighborhood businesses

Details

University Village Trick or Treat

4-6 PM, many stores and restaurants participating (“some treats for parents, too!”)

Details

Children’s author Jon Klassen visits the NE Branch this Sunday

If not for our deep and abiding love in this neighborhood (and our slightly fanatical desire to find out what’s happening here), we’d probably writing a blog about our favorite children’s books.

Happily, this weekend, both these passions intersect.

This Sunday, October 14, from 3-4 PM, Jon Klassen will be at the Northeast Branch (6801 35th Avenue Northeast) to talk about his books!

Manitoba-born Klassen is the author and illustrator of two picture books for children: The twisted and charming “I Want My Hat Back,” published in 2011, and the brand new “This is Not My Hat.”