Beyond Real Estate

This past weekend was not only Seafair, it was the 11th Annual KWJZ Smooth Jazz Festival out at the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville. My mom and I attended the festival on Saturday and had a blast.

You can read my full review of the events which included shows by Nils, Marian Meadows, Wayman Tisdale and The Crusaders at my main blog.

Thanks to KWJZ for putting such an awesome event! Although my mom has been to both days several times in past years, this was my first time. And next year, I’m going to both days! If you’re in Seattle and you love good music, you should check it out next year too.

In the arena,

I love jazz music and listen to our local KWJZ station here in Seattle. I heard over the weekend that this year the 10 Grands concert is coming to Benaroya Hall on May 17th.

If you haven’t heard of the 10 Grands, it’s a concert featuring 10 grand pianos played by well known musicians like David Lanz (one of my favorites), Deems Tsutakawa (a local artist), Tom Grant and several others. There’s even a meet and greet before the show and tickets for the whole thing are $75 including the meet/greet through KWJZ’s special pricing. I think I’m going to surprise my mom with tickets for Mother’s Day. She’d love that!

Concerts are always fun things to do in Seattle!

~ Annie

Today is the first day of Spring, the Equinox. Tomorrow is Good Friday and of course, Sunday is Easter. There are many events happening around Snohomish County this weekend. There’s bound to be an activity or two close to you for the whole family.

Check these out -

Easter Egg Hunts

Easter egg hunt in Edmonds. Prizes include eggs filled with toys, candy and other prizes. Starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Edmonds Lutheran Church, 23525 84th Ave. W., Edmonds. For ages 12 and under. Live music by Eric Ode. Sponsored by Edmonds and Trinity Lutheran churches. Free. Call 425-778-2159, or go to www.edmondslutheran.org, www.trinitylutheranchurch.com, www.ericode.com.

Dinosaur egg hunt at Everett Mall. Starts at noon Saturday for ages 3-5 only and at 1 p.m. start for ages 5-10. Also Saturday, “Dig It! The Fossil Workshop,” Everett Mall, 1402 SE Everett Mall Way, Everett. Free. Prizes. Call 425-423-8506 or go to www.digitfossils.com.

Egg hunt in Everett. 10 a.m. Saturday, Walter E. Hall Park, 1226 W. Casino Road, Everett. Free for all ages. Call 425-513-6178. Sponsored by Word of Grace South Everett Foursquare and Sonrise Chapel churches.

Marysville Parks and Recreation Easter egg hunt begins at 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Jennings Memorial Park, 6915 Armar Road, Marysville. For ages 8 and under only. Canned food donation to food bank requested for admission. Call 360-363-8400. Also sponsored by Marysville Noon Rotary Club and Grandview Village.

Arlington city egg hunt from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Held behind the Stillaguamish Athletic Club at 4417 172nd St. NE, near the Arlington Airport. Free admission. Activities for kids ages 1-12. Eggs redeemed for prizes and refreshments will be provided, but bring your own Easter basket and camera for pictures with the Easter Bunny. Go to www.ci.arlington.wa.us. Sponsored by city of Arlington and Arlington Firefighters Local 3728.

Egg hunt in Lake Stevens at 11 a.m. with free activities until 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Haggen store, 8915 Market Place NE, Lake Stevens. For all ages. Also Easter craft projects, face painting and more. Call 425-377-7100.

Egg hunt in Granite Falls beginning at noon Saturday in Eagle Park at E. Galena Street in Granite Falls. Pictures with the Easter Bunny and egg hunt for ages 1-10, in separate groups; child who collects the most eggs gets a prize; $5 and $7 for pictures with Easter Bunny.

Snohomish’s big Easter egg hunt starts at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Echo Lake Community Church, 13306 Lost Lake Road, Snohomish. Free, but canned food donations accepted. Call 360-668-5528.

Easter egg hunt in Stanwood area at 2 p.m., other activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Haggen store, 26603 72nd Ave. NW, Stanwood. For ages 2-12. The event is free and also includes Easter egg decorating, face painting, a visit from the Easter Bunny and more. Call 360-629-4400.

The Shiners’ Easter egg hunt in Mountlake Terrace begins at 11 a.m. on March 22 (Saturday) at the Nile Shrine Center located at 6601 244th St. SW in Mountlake Terrace. For small children to age 5, children ages 6-9 and children ages 10-13. Free. Call 425-774-9611.

Mountlake Terrace city egg hunt is at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Evergreen Playfield, 22205 56th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace. For ages 12 and younger with parent. Treat-filled eggs and other prizes. Free. Sponsored by the Mountlake Terrace Seniors Group. Call 425-672-2407.

Easter egg hunt in Lynwood starts at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Lynnwood Free Methodist Church, 6519 188th St. SW, Lynnwood. For ages 1-11. Prizes and candy-filled eggs. Free. Call 425-775-3696.

Country Village Eggs-travaganza in Bothell starting at 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday at the Country Village shops, 23718 Seventh Ave. SE, Bothell. Families can collect one egg per store; eggs contain candy, prizes or gift certificates. Call 425-605-0425, www.­countryvillagebothell.com.

Golden egg hunt in Arlington for adults that begins at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday in downtown Arlington. Three gold eggs are hidden at participating businesses. There will be prizes. Sponsored by the Downtown Arlington Business Association.

Lake Stevens Kiwanis egg hunt is at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Highland Elementary School, 3220 113th Ave. NE, Lake Stevens.

Breakfasts and other events

If I find anything else that looks fun, I’ll post it as well.
~ Annie

Add Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley to my list of Favorite Northwest Places.

My mom and I saw saxophonist Mindi Abair Sunday night at Jazz Alley and it was awesome! I had never been there before, although I’ve been to such venues as The Triple Door, and I must say it was very nice. Well designed, the sound is great and the view is equally spectacular from pretty much anywhere inside be it the balcony or the floor.

We sat in the balcony last night, right against the railing and had a great view of the entire stage and the band as well as Mindi. The staff is nice, helpful and quick. We both had coffee and never once had to ask for a refill - the waitress was right there with a fresh pot to refill our cups every time they got to the bottom. I’m sure between the two of us, we drank a whole pot, too!

After the show, we met Mindi and got her autograph. She’s a very sweet, energetic performer and I will definitely see her again the next time she is in Seattle.

Thanks Jazz Alley and KWJZ for putting on such a great show! And thanks Mindi for rockin’ the house!

~ Annie

Have you ever watched The Big Idea on CNBC? It’s a great show. I try to watch whenever possible. In my area, it’s on weekdays at 8pm.

Donny Deutsch hosts the show and talks to everyday, ordinary folks who’ve taken some idea and turned into a business. These are just simple ideas, often, that fill a need. Where someone thought there’s an idea! And put it to work.

Sometimes there are some pretty amazing things on the show. And many of them are products and companies we’ve heard of. Like “Creative Memories”‘ for example. It’s a scrapbooking company that was started by a mom who had shoeboxes full of pictures she’d taken and wanted to put them into albums she could feel proud to share with others. Today it’s a multi-million dollar company.

It’s a very inspiring show. Check your local listings and watch it. Maybe it will inspire you!