Join American Sign Language (ASL) students from three Kent high schools – Kent-Meridian, Kentridge and Kentwood – as they interpret, choreograph and perform at this year’s “Feel the Music” event.
This year’s event is scheduled for May 31-June 1 at the Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $7/adults and $4/students with ASB and can be purchased at the event. Doors open at 6 p.m. Performances begin at 7 p.m.
Continuing our lists from January and February, our March 2013 list will include 31 more reasons that I Love Kent. Follow the series on our iLoveKent.net Facebook page, where we post a new reason to love Kent daily. Please comment, add your own suggestions and tell us what you love about Kent!
Mar. 1: Kent People – People like Mike Hanis and Merle and Marti Reeder make Kent a fun, friendly place to live.
Mar. 2: Farm animals – We have a lot of variety in Kent — llamas, alpacas, cows, chickens, goats and more.
Mar. 3: Allegro Performing Arts Academy – This local dance academy has such a wide variety of dance classes available to people of all ages. I also love that Allegro is active in the community, coming up with events like Kent’s Got Talent.
Mar. 4: Curran Law Firm – In addition to being a sponsor of iLoveKent.net, attorneys at the firm are very active in the community, including Greg Haffner who serves as the Kent Rotary president this year.
Mar. 5: Jack Becvar, our city’s historian, is one of my favorite Kent residents. He has a wealth of historical information about Kent, and he and his wife Mary Lou truly love our city.
Mar. 6: Mayor Suzette Cooke – Regardless of your politics, Mayor Cooke is an enthusiastic, friendly and approachable leader.
Mar. 7: Annual “Fun for Funds” Dinner Auction – Each year the Children’s Therapy Center and its Dynamic Partners host their annual “Fun for Funds” dinner auction to raise money to help children with special needs and their families.
Mar. 8: Seattle Thunderbirds – It is so much fun having a WHL hockey team right here in Kent. It is fun family entertainment and the hockey players are not only talented but friendly and humble. [See my story on the mentoring program at Neely O'Brien Elementary.]
Mar. 9: Lazy Larry’s Ranch – Located on 132nd, I watch the cows daily from my office window. What a delight to see these huge creatures romping around the pasture!
Mar. 10: Shindig Martini Bar - This classy bar in downtown Kent is a nice break from the usual sports bar. The martini selection is excellent, and happy hour makes these otherwise pricey drinks affordable.
Mar. 11: Regional Justice Center – This full-service municipal building was beautifully designed, housing our local courts as well as services like CASA, marriage applications and more.
Mar. 12: Wilson Playfields – Beautiful athletic complex on Kent’s East Hill, ideal for soccer and track events.
Mar. 13: Lake Meridian – It may be small, but it is ours. With views of Mt. Rainier, this calm, quiet lake is a nice departure from the hustle & bustle of our busy lives.
Mar. 14: Kent TV 21 – Want to know what’s going on in Kent? You can find it on Kent TV 21. The city’s own TV channel features programs regarding local events like the Kent International Festival as well as streaming Kent City Council meetings live.
Mar. 15: Small Business Development Center at Green River College – For business owners on a budget, the SBDC is a useful resource for starting and growing a business in Kent.
Mar. 16: McLendon Hardware – It may not be a big box store, but it has just about everything you could want. I love the garden section!
Mar. 17: Kent Station Easter Egg Hunt – Easter Egg Hunts at Kent Station have become a new Kent tradition. Free family fun.
Mar. 18: Soos Creek Trail – Located between Kent and Covington, Soos Creek Trail provides miles of paved trails for walking or running, and every once in awhile, you’ll see a horse on the path.
Mar. 19: Children’s Bookshop – This downtown store is a good resource for teaching supplies as well as educational books, toys and games for kids.
Mar. 20: Stefano Langone of American Idol fame is a graduate of Kentwood High School.
Mar. 21: Kaibara Park, downtown Kent
Mar. 22: Coldstone Creamery
Mar. 23: Arbor 360 Skate Park
Mar. 24: Petco is where Jelly Bean shops for her favorite food – Solid Gold Wee Bits and treats we don’t get at Mud Bay.
Mar. 25: Fig & Feather – a fun home decor and gift store on W. Meeker St. in downtown Kent
Mar. 26: Planned Parenthood – I’m glad we have affordable health care and family planning options close to home.
Mar. 27: Spiro’s Greek Island on First Ave. South has great food in a fun atmosphere right in downtown Kent.
Mar. 28: Historic homes on Scenic Hill keep a thread of Kent’s past running through the city.
Mar. 29: Shari’s Pies. Do I really need to explain this one?
Mar. 30: Sue Froyd, owner of AAA Pest Control and Maggie’s on Meeker, is a wonderful, generous woman.
Mar. 31: Kent Covenant Church opens its doors regularly to community events.
The City of Kent is celebrating National Youth Arts Month by hosting Kent Kids’ Arts Day on Sat., Mar. 2 at Kent Commons (525 Fourth Ave. N.) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). The day long festival will feature 14 hands-on art projects lead by professional artists. Geared toward children ages 4 to 12, the projects include Print Making, Recycled Robots, Sumi Painting, face painting, Wall of Words and more. In addition, Grammy award winner Bill Harley will perform at 3 p.m. in the Crystal Mountain Hall.
Admission is $10 per child and includes all of the art-projects. Parents accompanying their children and kids under the age of 2 will not have to pay an admission fee. For an additional $5, children can attend Harley’s Performance. Concessions by Pull My Ear Concessions and Sturgis Sweets Kettle Korn will also be available. Visit the city’s website for more information.
Folks at the City of Kent and local volunteers are busy planning another fun You We Me, an interactive evening of free family fun. This year’s event will be held at ShoWare Center on Fri., Mar. 1 and will feature a variety of activities for kids of all ages. In addition to collecting food for the Kent Food Bank, event highlights include:
Kent Food Bank will be on hand to accept donations of nonperishable food items. The event is organized by a cross-section of community groups, the Kent School District, Kent Parks, local youth groups, sports teams, scouts, churches, local businesses and service clubs. Come join the fun!
Photo by Jeff Heiss
UPDATED Jan. 31, 2013: As promised, I’m going to list 365 reasons I love Kent, Washington throughout the year, one reason for every day of the year. My reasons for loving Kent may be different than yours, but the ones on mu list represent people, places or things that I continue to make Kent, Washington my home. I’d love to hear your reasons! Add them in the comments below or visit our Facebook page.
January 2013
1. Danny Mumaugh, goalie for the Seattle Thunderbirds (why is Danny #1? because he’s #1)
2. Reds Wine Bar, celebrating its 2nd anniversary, this wine bar is located at the GRCC end of Kent Station
3. Kent Station, an outdoor shopping center in downtown Kent with dozens of shopping, dining and entertainment options
4. Sweet Themes Bakery, a fabulous new bakery in downtown Kent featuring custom cookies, pastries, cakes, soups, salads, sandwiches & more
5. Kent’s Historic District, it’s a small but quaint part of Kent that reminds us of our city’s past
6. Greater Kent Historical Museum, a fun blast from the past in the historic Bereiter house (855 E. Smith St.)
7. Titusville Station, located at the corner of First and Gowe in downtown Kent
8. ShoWare Center, 2-for-Tuesday
9. Thrift and discount stores (Value Village, St. Vincent de Paul, St. James Thrift Store, etc.)
10. Kelly Latte’s, 24220 132nd Ave. SE, Kent, mochas, lattes, smoothies and more
11. Tyler Alos, retired from the Seattle Thunderbirds
12. Mud Bay, 10457 Southeast 240th Street, Kent, Jelly Bean’s favorite spot for dog food, toys & supplies
13. Maggie’s on Meeker, one of the best breakfast spots in Kent
15. Green River Community College, quality education close to home
16. Teddy Bear Toss, Seattle TBirds fan “toss” their teddy bears onto the ice to be given to children in crisis
17. Nevermind Tavern, beer, wine & hot dogs in a friendly neighborhood bar
18. Nature’s Market, grocery store featuring organic, gluten free & other specialty items
19. Chad Gleason, commercial realtor and community volunteer
20. KWHS Munch Madness, Kentwood High School collected 55,000+ pounds of food for the Kent & Maple Valley Food Banks
21. ShoWalk, free indoor winter walking, Monday & Wednesday mornings
22. Dilettante, 514 Ramsay Way, a cafe at Kent Station serving coffee, tea, mochas, lattes, chcolates, pastries and more
23. Kent Library, 212 2nd Ave. N., a branch of the King County Library System right in downtown Kent
24. Luke Lockhart, Seattle Thunderbirds
25. Airways Beer & Bistro, 320 W. Harrison St., the name says it all – beer & bistro, cozy, friendly and delicious!
26. Murals in downtown Kent
27. Kent Food Bank, 515 W. Harrison St., Ste. 107, feeding individuals and families in and around Kent.
28. Bella home & garden, 417 Ramsay Way, Kent Station, beautiful home & garden store, gorgeous floral arrangements, unique gifts & more.
29. Blanc ‘n Schwartz Salon, 207 E. Meeker St., I just love Wade, Shelby and Nicolette. Fun environment, great service, love my “new” hair!
30. The Yellow House
31. Grocery Outlet, 23910 104th Ave. SE, locally owned, affordable grocery shopping.
We’d like to extend a special thank you to Jeff Heiss (Jeff Heiss Painting) for donating his time, talent and photography for this project.
Skating fans, get ready! 2012 Skate America is coming to Kent this weekend, Fri., Oct. 19 – Sun., Oct. 21, bringing world class figure skaters to ShoWare Center. Among the skaters are U.S. ladies champion Ashley Wagner who visited Kent for a media tour in September, Armin Mahbanoozadeh, a bronze medalist at 2010 Skate America, and Team USA members Douglas Razzano and Jeremy Abbott. For a complete list of competitors, visit Skate America online. 2012 Skate America is the opening event for the 2012 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.
The schedule for the three-day event includes:
Thurs., Oct. 18
Official Practice, 11 a.m.
Fri., Oct. 19
Practice, 11 a.m.
Pairs Short, Men’s Short, 7 p.m. (Sess. 1)
Sat., Oct. 20
Practice, 9 a.m.
Ladies Short, Short Dance, 12:30 p.m. (Sess. 2)
Men’s Free, Pairs Free, 7 p.m. (Sess. 3)
Sun., Oct. 21
Practice, 7:30 a.m.
Free Dance, Ladies Free, 11:45 am (Sess. 4)
Skating Spectacular, 6 p.m. (Sess. 5)
NBC will broadcast live coverage of the event from 4 to 6 p.m. EST on Sun., Oct. 21. The event will also be broadcast in Canada, Japan, Russia and the European Union, among others. For more information, or to buy tickets, visit 2012SkateAmerica.com.
Hosted by the Kent Parks Foundation and Arthur Murray Dance Studios, Local celebrities will gather in the Lindbloom Center at Green River Community College this Sat., Oct. 20 to dance their hearts out in the second annual Dancing with the Stars Kent. Proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to support parks programs including buying new computers for the Big Blue Bus, resistance trainer bike stands for Adaptive Recreation classes, lifeguard supplies for Lake Meridian, supporting Green Kent Partnership and drop-in soccer fields at West Fenwick Park.
Celebrity dancers include:
- State Representative Tina Orwall
- Senator Joe Fain
- Matt Schweitzer, Direction of Operations, Cal’s Classic American
- Kent Councilmember Elizabeth Albertson
- Barbara Smith, Executive Director of the Kent Downtown Partnership
- Patrick Briggs, Executive Assistant to Mayor Suzette Cooke
- Sharona Chandra, Chair of the Kent Arts Commission
- Commander Tracey Church
- Firefighter Ryan Dudley
- David Hobbs, Parks Program Coordinator
- Kent Councilmember Deb Ranniger (winner of last year’s Philanthropic Trophy)
Barbara Smith, pictured above, said, “I feel so honored to be asked to dance; one, because Arthur Murray dancers at Federal Way are fabulous instructions, and because we are raising money for programs to help kids through the Kent Parks Foundation. It’s just a win-win.”
Tickets are available online at KentParksFoundation.org. General admission tickets are available for $30 and VIP Dinner tickets are $100.
Join Dave and the folks at Shindig Martini Bar to welcome 2012 Skate America visitors to town. On Fri., Oct. 19, Shindig hosts The Fabulous Po’ Boys from 8 to 10 pm. No cover. Download the exclusive iLoveKent.net coupon and bring it to Shindig Martini Bar with your Skate America ticket stub to get $4 off martinis during Happy Hour, Friday – Sunday!
Shindig Martini Bar
222 First Ave. S., Kent, WA 98032
253-520-4705
Monday – Thursday: 3:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Friday: 3:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Saturday: 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Barry Manilow performs at the Amway Center in Orlando, FL on January 20, 2011. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel)
KENT, Wash., Sept. 19, 2012 — Singer/songwriter Barry Manilow is planning a visit to Kent on Jan. 11 to perform live at PANDORA Unforgettable Moments of Love on Ice, an evening of romantic skating performances at the ShoWare Center. This event marks the second year in a row that Unforgettable Moments of Love on Ice has come to ShoWare.
In addition to Barry Manilow, the show will feature Olympic, world and national medalists Nancy Kerrigan, Elvis Stojko, Kimmie Meissner and Ben Agosto. Hosted by skater Kristi Yamaguchi and Michael Weiss, the show will be televised by NBC on January 27, 2013.
Mayor Suzette Cooke says, “On behalf of the residents of Kent, I’m excited that PANDORA Unforgettable Moments of Love On Ice is coming back for a second time, and I’m thrilled to welcome one of the world’s most beloved performers, Barry Manilow, to our wonderful city!”
Tickets will range from $49.50 to $69.50, along with premium packages and “on ice” seating. Tickets go on sale Fri., Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. at the ShoWare Center box office, ShoWare Center online and by calling 253-856-6999.
Savor the Season — SeptemberFest is coming to Kent Station Thurs., Sept. 20 from 5 to 8 p.m. Sponsored by Reds Wine Bar and other Kent Station restaurants, the festival will include wine, beer, live music, Click 98.9′s Party Crew and more, all to support Children’s Therapy Center, a local nonproft. Held in the south parking lot, admission to the family-friendly event is free. To participate in the Reds Wine and Beer Garden, however, guests must be 21 or older and show a valid ID. For more info., visit Kent Station online or call marketing manager Sommer Ueda at 253-856-2301.
The first 25 guests will receive an additional $10 in food and drink tickets.
The first 100 guests will receive a free wine tasting, courtesy of Reds Wine Bar (must be 21 and have valid ID).
Join the fun at the 6th annual First Avenue Block party this Friday, Sept. 14. The fun starts at 3:30 p.m. with the kick-off to 2012 Skate America, followed by a line-up of great, live entertainment.Shop, dine and unwind with friends.
Merch
ants on First Avenue (Kent) are seeking artists and craftsmen to display their wares at the First Avenue Block Party in downtown Kent on Fri., Sept. 14 (3 – 9 pm). The event will be held on First Avenue South between Titus and Gowe Streets and will feature:
- Food & drink
- Entertainment
- Vendors
- Kick-off for 2012 Skate America
- …and much more!
Call Sue Froyd at 206-793-9693 for details.
Legendary rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd is coming to Kent this fall. The band returns with a fiery slice of Southern style guitar rock heaven in Last of a Dyin’ Breed, their newest studio release on Roadrunner/Loud & Proud Records due out Aug. 21. This is the kind of record guaranteed to feed the needs of the multi-generational Skynyrd Nation, and continue the renewed vigor the band exhibited with its last album, 2009′s God & Guns.
Thursday, September 27, 2012 @ 7:00PM
Ticket Prices:
$59.50, $49.50, $39.50
Tickets are on sale now.
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