American Cancer Society Discovery Shop – 25th Anniversary Celebration

You Are

Cordially Invited

to our

25th Anniversary

Celebration

Friday August 21, 2009

at Noon

Refreshments

will be served.

225 1st Ave. South

Kent

253 852-9696

25% off all purchases

Located on First Avenue South in downtown Kent, Cypriana has added an online store to its offerings. Now you can shop for the same great products – organic bedding & bath products; organic baby clothing, bedding and diaper bags; and brands like DreamSacks, Area and Nandina – at your convenience. Shop at Cypriana 24-7.

Enjoy the great selection of organic and all-natural products that owner Susan Thomas has to offer without leaving home. You’ll be thrilled with your purchases! I’ve bought several items – baby gifts, a bamboo throw and bath products – and every one of them has met or exceeded my expectations. My favorite – my DreamSacks bamboo throw in chocolate brown – luxuriously soft!

Cypriana makes it easy to go green!

Enjoy fresh produce from local farmers and arts & crafts from local artisans at the Kent Farmer’s Market. Starting today through September 26, the Kent Farmer’s Market will be available every Saturday at Town Square Plaza at the corner of Second Avenue and West Smith Street. Check it out for fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, baked goods, arts and crafts and more.

For more info., visit www.kentfarmersmarket.com or call 253-486-9316.

Sponsored by the Kent Lions Club

The Washington Recreation & Park Association (WRPA) has selected Town Square Plaza as Best Park in its class (population 35,000+). The award will be presented at the Association’s annual awards banquet, Thursday, April 30, at the Spokane Conference Center.
 
WRPA plays a vital role in promoting public support for parks and recreation and increasing awareness of the necessity to preserve, enhance, and utilize resources for a balanced lifestyle. The Association established seven awards to recognize organizations and individuals, both volunteers and professionals, for their contributions to the park and recreation field. 
 
Open since June 2008, Town Square Plaza’s 35,000-square-foot site was designed to link Kent’s historic downtown with Kent Station.  Its interactive water features, stage for performances, Farmers’ Market and multi-age appeal attract users from dawn to late evening during the summer months.  During the holidays it is the site of the Morford Family Carousel.
 
Kent Parks, Recreation & Community Services’ Director Jeff Watling congratulated staff involved, saying, “Town Square Plaza was originally designed as the third phase of a development to include a hotel, condos and a parking garage.  Several months before work was set to begin on our plaza, the developer for the rest of the project went bankrupt, leaving the project with a half-constructed parking garage.  The City of Kent forged ahead and followed through on our commitments.  This award is particularly gratifying in light of the issues we overcame.”

Thanks to Victoria Andrews with the City of Kent for this news:

Kent’s service clubs will celebrate Spring with the first annual Service Club Community Pride Day on Saturday, March 21, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The graffiti paint-out event is being co-sponsored by Kent Police and Kent Parks, Recreation & Community Services. The goal is to eliminate graffiti, reduce vandalism and keep Kent clean, beautiful and safe for children, families, seniors and visitors.

Teams of four or five will be coming from local Kent Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, Soroptomist, and Quota Clubs. Volunteers will meet at 8:00 a.m. at Town Square Plaza, located at Second Avenue and Harrison Street in downtown Kent. Refreshments will be provided by the 4th & Meeker Starbucks. After receiving instructions and supplies, the teams will fan out in their vehicles to assigned “hot spot” areas. At the end of the morning, the groups will return to Town Square Plaza for lunch, courtesy of Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Service club members and their families (including children 16 or older) are welcome to register as part of a team or as individuals. Please pre-register by March 13th. Teams will be finalized and assigned to their locations on the morning of the event. Supplies and paint are paid for by a graffiti abatement grant from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC). To register for this event, visit www.kentgraffiti.com or contact 253-856-5851.

The City of Kent, the Kent School District and the Kent Downtown Partnership are teaming up once again to bring the community Spring Into Art, a free, family-friendly, art-oriented day of fun in downtown Kent. Go an art walk, attend fitness workshops, discover your inner artist, candle making, bug-a-rama and more.

For a complete list of activities, locations and times, visit the event’s website at SpringIntoArtKent.com.

Thanks for all of you who follow my blog. I apologize for not being more consistent lately, but with my wedding coming up on 2/14, I’ve had my hands full.

That doesn’t mean that things in Kent haven’t been hopping though! There is so much going on here. People are excited about the ShoWare Events Center, changes at Kent Station, the new Costco in nearby Covington and new shops going into downtown Kent.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Darren Motamedy, an award-winning jazz musician and band director for the Kent School Districts. He was not only talented, but he was also patient, kind, amusing and surprisingly humble. I can see why his students look up to him and how teaching them to play music is such a passion for him. Watch for my profile on him in an upcoming issue of Kent Magazine.

This year’s Spring Into Art event is scheduled for Friday, March 13 in downtown Kent. See the new Spring Into Art website for details!

If you like shopping local or finding a store that carries unique items, then you will love Chair & Trellis on West Smith Street in downtown Kent. This store has some of the most beautiful home furnishings and decor that I’ve ever seen. The owners and staff are friendly and helpful, and they have something to suit every taste and budget. Their website has a small sampling of their offerings, but you’ll get a better feel for the store if you stop by. They are open 7 days a week. For more info., including specific hours, visit Chair & Trellis online.

Downtown Kent has a lot to offer at this year’s annual Winterfest celebration on Saturday, December 6. Here is a brief schedule of events. For more info., visit the Kent Winterfest website.

9 am – Noon: Holly Jolly Breakfast at Maggie’s on Meeker (they have delicious food!)
10 am – 6 pm: Holiday Shopping & Dining
11 am: Holly Jolly One Mile Walk with Mayor Suzette Cooke & Kent4Health
11 am – 9 pm: Morford Family Holiday Carousel
12 – 3 pm: Meet the Kent Fire Dept.
1 – 5 pm: Holly Jolly Horse Drawn Carriage free with Kent Food Bank donation
2 pm: Kids ‘n Kritters Pet Walk
4 pm: Holiday Reading at the Kent Public Library
4:30 – 6:30 pm: Kent Lion’s Parade, Santa’s Arrival, Bike Giveaway, Annual Tree Lighting

Share your Holly Jolly spirit this holiday season with a food or monetary donation to the Kent Food Bank.

If you haven’t checked out downtown Kent lately, you are missing out on some great businesses as well as some wonderful dining and shopping options. Check out the latest list of local businesses, in the heart of downtown Kent:

Earthworks Gem Design Studio
Bella home and garden
City Frame
Heartbeat Yoga & Healing Arts
Vibe Bar & Grill
Cypriana
Wild Wheat Bakery & Cafe
Spiro’s Greek Island Restaurant
Shindig Martini Bar
The Balanced Athlete
Discovery Shop
Bittersweet Restaurant
Goju Karate and Pilates
Salon Avoni
Howell’s Religious Books
Distinctive Images Barber Shop & Styling Salon
NW Electrology & Permanent Make-up
Perk Up Place
Lemon Drop Skin Care & Massage

This weekend the historic district and businesses on Meeker Street are celebrating with their annual Holiday Open House. Visit www.kentdowntown.org for details.

One of my favorite spots for lunch has become Perk Up Place at the corner of Gowe and First Avenue South (inside Titusville Station). I have tried several of their salads (grilled chicken salad and the shrimp louie). They’re made individually by Shelly or Sue, and are made with fresh ingredients and in enormous portions. I had the shrimp salad for lunch and dinner yesterday and have enough left over for lunch today! I also tried a slice of Shelly’s pumpkin bread which is homemade, and loaded with delicious spices. You have to try it!

Perk Up Place
Inside Titusville Station
202 W. Gowe St., Ste. C
Kent, WA 98032

Open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

You can call ahead for pick-up at 253-854-8868 or they’ll deliver locally between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.! They also offer catering services with party trays, hot entrees, a fiesta taco bar, and dessert and pastry trays. Yum!

This week is a busy one in downtown Kent. Here are a just of few of this week’s happenings:

TODAY: Marie Haggin Accessories opens in her new Kent Station location, next to Chico’s.

FRIDAY: PICC Halloween Trick-or-Treat Event (2 to 5 p.m.)

FRIDAY: Kent Station Trick-or-Treat Event and Costume Judging (4 to 6 p.m.)

Watch for KING 5 & Evening Magazine’s “Best of Western Washington” winners to be named! There are a number of Kent businesses named. Woo hoo!

This week I attended the Grand Opening of Cypriana on First Avenue South in downtown Kent. It was a fun celebration with tasty treats and some wonderful products and services. Owner Susan Thomas makes custom slipcovers and bedding. I perused the fabrics (natural, organic and “regular”) and she has some beautiful selections. After seeing samples of her work, I can see why her slipcovers and bedding are so in demand. She has a great eye for style and a wonderful attention to detail.

She also has added some new products since first opening a month ago. With friends and family having babies this fall, I was particularly impressed with the natural and organic baby lines she carries. The items are a little pricier than traditional baby clothes, toiletries and diapers, but the quality and the fact that everything is organic is SO worth it. In addition to buying a luscious chocolate brown Dreamsacks throw for my family room, I picked up the cutest bib and “baby sack” for my step-daughter’s newest arrival.

If you haven’t stopped by Cypriana yet, please give it a try. You’ll find some lovely things for your home as well as great gifts for friends and family.

There is a lot going on in downtown Kent this fall. Among the many events are:

Cypriana’s Grand Opening – 10/17/08 (4 to 7 p.m.) and 10/18/08 (1 to 4 p.m.)
PICC “Little Pumpkins” Halloween – 10/31/08 (2 to 5 p.m.)
Election Results Open House at Earthworks Gem Design Studio – 11/04/08
23rd Annual Holiday Open House – 11/14, 11/15 & 11/16 (times vary)

Last Friday I decided it was time for a massage, so I made an appointment with massage therapist extraordinaire Roxanne Lapping. The experience was much different than I expected. I had been to the studio before, so I knew the decor was beautiful and peaceful with amazing artwork and antique furniture. What I didn’t know was that Roxanne knows much more than how to give a good massage. She could tell how healthy I was by the feel of my muscles and skin and how they reacted to touch, but she was also able to sense that something else was going on – perhaps a food allergy! She offered helpful advice and some additional resources where I could get more information. It was a great experience. For more info., visit their website: Heartbeat Yoga & Healing Arts.

Heartbeat is located on First Avenue South in downtown Kent.

If you haven’t visited Earthworks on the corner of First Avenue South and Titus Streets in downtown Kent, make time to stop by. This jewelry boutique, owned by Steve & Donna St. Louis, is one of my favorite jewelry stores. I bought a gold & silver ring designed by Steve there a few months ago, and I just love it. It’s pretty, funky and different. They have unique jewelry, hand created by several different artists. They have a great selection, particularly of wedding jewelry. I stopped by last week to check out wedding bands for my fiance and they had a good selection ranging from affordable to pricey. What I liked is that there were unique choices…not just your usual gold and silver bands with the occasional diamond tossed in. In addition to their inventory, they also do customized designs, jewelry cleaning and appraisals – your one stop jewelry shop, I guess you could say. Stop in next time you’re downtown and make sure you tell them Dana said, “hi!”

This news is compliments of KDP. Thought I’d pass it along. If you aren’t familiar with American Charm, it’s a cute home decor and gift store on West Meeker in downtown Kent.

American Charm

On Friday, September 12, the merchants of First Avenue South are holding their annual Block Party from 4 to 9 p.m. Stop by and see what the night has to offer.

The evening will feature special menus from The Wild Wheat Bakery, Bittersweet and Spiro’s Greek restaurants as well as specialty food samples at Bella home & garden.

Stop by Earthworks Gem Design Studio and see jewelery designs from artists Holly Yashi, Tivi and Vinosus.

Watch Auburn Mountainview High School jewelery arts program make hand made glass beads, sip vintage wines in the wine garden, and enjoy local music.

Music by Debra Page will start off the evening, followed by Brazillian musician Eduardo Mendonca who will perform from 6:00 – 7:30. Sponsored by 4Culture by the Kent Arts Commission.

Wrap up the evening with the music of local band Grey Sky Falling sponsored by The Wild Wheat Bakery, Kent Downtown Partnership and The Merchants of First Ave South “…The Block that’s really Happening!” See you there!

After a two-year absence, I visited the Bittersweet restaurant on First Avenue South yesterday with a friend. Now owned by Sue Froyd, also the owner of Maggie’s on Meeker, the restaurant was much the same as I remembered. The menu features fresh salads, sandwiches and homemade desserts…pretty standard fare, but the food was delicious and the service was good. I ordered the spinach salad which was outstanding. Just the right size and the light creamy pepper dressing was wonderful! A nice lunch at an affordable price. The only disappointment was that the menu featured a wine list, but the restaurant does not have a beer and wine license any more.