Mona’s Bistro & Lounge has put together a regular live music schedule that is sure to put Green Lake on the entertainment map in Seattle. Featuring some of Seattle’s best musicians and DJs, the music will focus on funk, soul, and jazz as they try and stay true to the sexy vibe that is Mona’s.

Music will be happening every Wednesday through Saturday nights from 10PM until closing and to help get you in the mood, they’ll have a special happy hour on music nights from 9pm to 10pm with $2 wells and drafts! There is never a cover charge at Mona’s.

In preparation for the new music nights Mona’s has upgraded their sound system, installed some ambient lighting and will be putting in a small stage. Mona’s has also updated their website with a calendar of all the musical acts. Mona’s has also created a Facebook group where you can stay up to date with the music.

This week’s music events at Mona’s Bistro & Lounge feature some of Seattle’s best musicians. Starting the music week on Wednesday will be the Unsinkable Heavies. Led by Nate Spicer’s Hammond B3 organ and Ben Bloom’s guitar, the Heavies are a subgroup of the mega all-star Funk Orchestra, Polyrhythmics but with a funky improvisational twist. They will be shooting some video of the band for some future YouTube postings so come down and take part!

Unsinkable Heavies

Thursday brings the Farko Collective, Seattle’s most groundbreaking, genre-stretching jazz fusion group today. The Collective is the brain child of electric bass prodigy Farko Rustamovich Dosumov. Originally hailing from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Farko became a US citizen and chose the incredibly fertile music grounds of Seattle, Washington to start his remarkable career. Farko has been in many other Seattle projects over the years and also holds down the bass with Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder.

Friday is DJ night at Mona’s and this week will be the dueling beats of Night Train and DJ Sloth. Both these DJs have been spinning in Seattle for years and at many of Seattle’s biggest DJ events. They’ll be spinning House, Disco, Nu-Disco edits, Soul and Funk…and a whole lot more.

Night Train

Saturday brings bassist Paul “PK” Kemmish to Mona’s along with noted keyboardist Marc Hager and drummer (and long-time Mona’s veteran) Guido Perla. PK returns to Seattle after touring the world with Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam for the last two years and we’re very happy to have him back! For you locals that have been around a while, you may recall PK as the bassist for Das Rut when they appeared for years on Thursday nights at the old Scarlet Tree. Well PK is back and he’s bringin’ it to Mona’s!

Paul “PK” Kemmish

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2012.

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Post tags: bars, local businesses, music, restaurants

Mona’s Bistro & Lounge (6421 Latona Ave NE) is launching a no-cover regular live music line up.

A variety of music, including jazz, funk, soul, Latin and disco will be offered beginning at 10 p.m. four nights a week (Wednesday through Saturday) at the east Green Lake bar.

Here are the show listings for February 2012, via Mona’s:

During our $2 Music Happy Hour from 9pm to 10pm our awesome bartenders will be playing their own choice of tunes to get everyone in the mood for the live music!

WED / FRI / SAT

Spinning funk, soul & Latin…

THE CHILL ZONE

9pm – 10pm ~ no cover

——————————————————–

THUR

Spinning funk, soul & disco…

FUNKLOVE (Victor Trey)

9pm – 10pm ~ no cover

 

Live Music Listings:

 

WED – Feb 1

organ-based funk, jazz & groove…

JOE DORIA’S FOG (Funky Organ Group…) (http://joedoriamusic.com/)

This week featuring Ari Joshua/Guitar & Mike Stone/Drums

10pm ~ no cover

 

THUR – Feb 2

Eclectic Funk jazz grooves with a progressive texture…

CURTIS SEALS AND THE SEASONING

10pm ~ no cover

 

FRI – Feb 3

Spinning House, Disco, Nu-Disco edits, Soul and Funk…

NIGHT TRAIN (Innerflight Music)

10pm ~ no cover

 

SAT – Feb 4

Eclectic Funk jazz grooves with a progressive texture…

CURTIS SEALS AND THE SEASONING

10pm ~ no cover

 

WED – Feb 8

Greasy dirty Funk & soul grooves…

UNSINKABLE HEAVIES

10pm ~ no cover

 

THUR – Feb 9

Fusion / Latin / Jazz with a ‘twist’…

FARKO COLLECTIVE

10pm ~ no cover

 

FRI – Feb 10

Spinning House, Disco, Nu-Disco edits, Soul and Funk…

NIGHT TRAIN (Innerflight Music)

DJ SLOTH

10pm ~ no cover

 

SAT – Feb 11

Funky jazz and groove explorations…

PK and What Army?

Featuring Marc Hager – keys and Guido Perla – drums.

10pm ~ no cover

 

WED – Feb 15

organ-based funk, jazz & groove…

JOE DORIA’S FOG

This week featuring SKERIK!

10pm ~ no cover

 

THUR – Feb 16

Fusing jazz with funk, soul, rock and world beats…

ARI JOSHUA & FRIENDS

10pm ~ no cover

 

FRI – Feb 17

Spinning House, Disco, Nu-Disco edits, Soul and Funk…

DJ SLOTH

10pm ~ no cover

 

SAT – Feb 18

Funky metered  fusion groove…

RAI

10pm ~ no cover

 

WED – Feb 22

organ-based funk, jazz & groove…

JOE DORIA’S FOG

This week featuring SKERIK!

10pm ~ no cover

 

THUR – Feb 23

Fusion / Latin / Jazz with a ‘twist’…

ISTVAN & FARKO

10pm ~ no cover

 

FRI – Feb 24

Spinning House, Disco, Nu-Disco edits, Soul and Funk…

DJ NIGHT TRAIN (Innerflight Music)

10pm ~ no cover

 

SAT – Feb 25

Latin Jazz, Salsa, Son, Haitian, Soukous and straight ahead Jazz…

ARTURO RODRIGUEZ & LEIF TOTUSEK

10pm ~ no cover

 

WED – Feb 29

Greasy dirty Funk & soul grooves…

UNSINKABLE HEAVIES

10pm ~ no cover 

Artist information:

JOE DORIA - Hammond Organ + Synth/Piano/Vintage Keys (http://joedoriamusic.com/)

Raised in the Northwest, Hammond organist Joe Doria has been making big waves on the music scene and is the most sought after organist in the area. Featured in numerous bands and CD’s, Audiences are dazed with his ability to comp both the bass lines and the chordal structure of a song, while at the same time adding depth and dimension to every song he performs. He is obviously at home and in touch with the Hammond, knowing the instrument and it’s history so well as to make it sing in any situation.

Never limiting himself to one style and constantly working with new projects, Joe can be heard on many cd’s and playing live in projects such as his latest “MCTUFF” (feat Skerik, Andy Coe and Tarik Abouzied), and The Joe Doria Trio.  Other projects include: Skerik’s Syncopated Taint Septet; “Arisawkadoria” feat. guitarist Ari Zucker and drummer Kevin “KJ” Sawka (Pendulum); Spellbinder feat. drummer “Michael Shrieve” (Santana); DOS(e) feat. John Wicks (Fitz and the Tantrums) and Skip Heller (Hyena Records); The Drunken Masters (w/drummer Mike Stone and guitarist Thaddeus Turner) , SwampDweller w/Mark Fendel; The Living Daylights (w/Jessica Lurie, Dale Fanning, Arnie Livingston) and many more….

As a musician’s musician you never know who will be playing with Joe on any night because so many great local musicians show up at his show…the only way to know is to go!

UNSINKABLE HEAVIES (http://www.facebook.com/Unsinkableheavies/)

Unsinkable Heavies are a subgroup of the mega all-star Funk Orchestra, Polyrhythmics. The music is decidably greasier, dirtier, and full of EGO ! Big solos, spinning leslies and a no holds barred, “taking it to the top” approach to classic soul/jazz tunes and their own compositions. “Raw Musical Adventurism” at it’s finest! Most performances include the added sax aphonic freakiness of Thomas Deakin from the Yogoman Burning Band , who adds to this dynamic rhythm sections ability to melt minds and stop time!

NIGHT TRAIN (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Innerflight-Music/136285900149)

Harp Attack!! Cruising the beat universe on his harmonica spaceship, the Night Train just probably graced a venue near you. This local favorite adds edgy and innovative sounds to dance floors across town. Starting in 2007 playing along side DJ’s adding live harmonica over a traditional DJ set, the Night Train has since become a DJ himself playing live harmonica over his own set! Musical styles that usually includes House, Disco, Nu-Disco edits, Soul and Funk! Currently in residency at monthlies: Strobe at Rebar and DROP at Lofi and a long time part of local DJ crew/record label Innerflight Music. Choosing from his bandolero straps of harmonicas, the Night Train… If you’re crossing the bridge between digital and analog, you’ll probably end up catching a ride on the Night Train.

DJ SLOTH (http://www.djsloth.com)

Over the past 7 years, DJ Sloth held residencies at Watertown with Andrew Cox and Kundabuffer, Shift at En and Spy.  He partnered with Kundabuffer producing the Bloom parties, produced mixes for Zenzi Burlesque and has played throughout the region venues such as Trinity, Capitol Hill Arts Center, Lo-Fi, Columbia City Theatre, the Baltic Room and End Up in San Francisco.  Sloth opened Sky Cries Mary’s reunion show at Fenix Underground as well as the Sky Cries Mary cd release party at Rendezvous and parties in Vancouver, BC and Chicago.

PAUL “PK” KEMMISH (http://www.reverbnation.com/pkwhatarmy)

Paul “PK” Kemmish has been a steadfast member of the Seattle music scene for nearly 20 years, helping found Rockin Teenage Combo, Dasrut and PK & What Army?. He then spent 2 years touring internationally with Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam. Currently, he is performing locally with Eric Barber’s MetriLodic, Beth Fleenor’s Figeater, The Harmonica Pocket and various side projects.

FARKO DOSUMOV (http://www.facebook.com/farkocollective)

The Farko Collective is Seattle’s most groundbreaking, genre-stretching jazz fusion group today. The Collective is the brain child of electric bass prodigy Farko Rustamovich Dosumov. Originally hailing from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Farko became a UScitizen and chose the incredibly fertile music grounds of Seattle, Washington to start his remarkable career.  Farko has been in many other Seattle projects over the years and also holds down the bass with Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder.

CURTIS SEALS (http://www.reverbnation.com/curtissealsandtheseasoning)

Born and raised in Syracuse New York, Curtis has been in the mix of the northwest music scene for some time and his trio, “The Seasoning” is the new flavor with an entertaining mix of eclectic funk/jazz grooves and progressive textures…  Curtis also plays with Northwest bands Gruvbox, jazz fusion group Klyntel, Carmel Latte, Fonky2death, and the tribute bands of Michael Jackson/Prince (MVP) and Pfunk(Endangered Species.) The beat goes on…

ARTURO RODRIGUEZ (http://www.arturorodriguez.com)

Coming from a musically infused childhood, the ever-versatile Arturo Rodriguez shares his passion for percussion with thePacific Northwest and beyond. An accomplished musician, author, and teacher, Rodriguez has performed worldwide, sharing the stage with music legends that include Tito Puente, Dave Valentin, Paul Horn, and Pete Escovedo.  Never one to stand still for very long, LP endorsed percussionist Arturo Rodriguez is both a popular face and a powerful force on the local Seattle music scene; One night you might catch him tearing up a Salsa set with his quintet configuration at The Triple Door and the next performing more intimate Latin jazz with his trio configuration at Axis. While moving through the musical boundaries of jazz, pop, rock, and even folk music, Rodriguez has an amazing talent for bringing and keeping people together in a social setting.

LEIF TOTUSEK (http://leiftotusek.com/) 

Leif Totusek is an American born guitarist, band-leader and composer. A major player on the scene in London, Seattle, Boston, who has played, collaborated and been special guest with African Artist Mose Fan Fan, Ali Birra, Geoffrey Oryema, Diblo Dibala, Orchestra Virunga, Tabu Ley Rochereau and many other important artists.He is also well versed in the be-bop idiom, and many other musical styles and cultural music.

ARI JOSHUA (http://arijoshua.com/)

Born in Cape Town, South Africa but his early days as an artist were spent in Seattle, WA., where he grew up and first discovered his musical calling. His hard work and raw talent were quickly recognized, and Ari was awarded a scholarship to study music on the East Coast.  “Moving to New York and studying music for 5 years was one of the richest experiences of my life,” says Ari. “It was from my fellow students and mentors at The New School, and Mason Gross School of the Arts that I began to appreciate the true power of musical expression.”  Ari graduated in 2001 with a degree in Jazz and Contemporary music from The New School In New York City.

Despite being relatively under the radar, Ari Joshua has recorded and performed and rubbed shoulders with a list that reads like a highly diverse Who’s Who of the music scene today: Robert Glasper, Stone Gossard, Peter Buck, Joe Doria, Michael Kang, Kevin Sawka, Michael Shrieve, The Benevento Russo Duo, Barrett Martin, EJ and Marcus Strickland, Reggie Watts, DJ Swamp, Blake Lewis, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Tom Morello, Mike McCready, Skerik, Matt Butler’s Everyone Orchestra, David Tiller, Matt Sircely, New Monsoon, David Brogen (ALO), Shawn Smith (Brad, Satchel), Handful of Lovin, Richie Beirach, Kenny Barron, Reggie Workman, Ted Dunbar, Jack Wilkins, Vic Juris, Hal Galper, Jimmy Owens, Milo Petersen, George Garzone, Armen Donelian, Richard Boukas, Bobby Sanabria, Bill Kirshner, Jimmy Cobb, Gary Dial, Classical Guitarist Virginia Luque, Ralph Peterson, Noah Baerman, Larry Ridly, Mike Richmond, Ralph Bowen, Bill Fielder, Badal Roy, Robert Bedford and many, many more.

RAI

Rai is a local quartet featuring Russ Grabski (guitar), Lennox Holness (bass) and Mike Saskor (guitar.)  Rai’s music blends rock, funk, and jazz into an infectious groove.  Rai shows create music with great energy that seems to get people dancing.  They have developed a loyal fan base since they started out in early 2000.  The members of Rai are no strangers to the scene though, over the years they have played events with such acts as Jazz is Dead, Merl Saunders, String Cheese Incident, Galactic, Zen Tricksters, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Garaj Mahal, Steve Kimock Band, Jerry Joseph, Robert Walter’s 20th Congress, Charlie Hunter, and Jiggle the Handle to name a few… If You like bands like The Allman Brothers and Steve Kimock, you will groove to RAI!

Mona’s is open daily from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. The kitchen is open Sunday-Thursday from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. Happy hour is 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

For more information, contact Mona’s at (206) 526-1188 or info [at] monasseattle.com.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2012.

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Post tags: bars, local businesses, music, restaurants

The camps will be held at the Green Lake Bathhouse (7312 West Green Lake Dr N) Feb. 21-25, 2012. Financial aid is available.

SPT provided the following information about the theater camps, which were created by SPT Artistic and Education Director Shana Bestock:

Circus Skills for Actors – Under the direction of Sam Vance, students will develop their physical theater skills in this unique partnership between SPT and Teatro ZinZanni! Classic clowning, circus skills, mime, lazzi and character development–all these skills are great tools whether kids are beginners or seasoned actors. Students will practice flexibility and specificity, deepen their craft, and have fun working in an ensemble. Plus, they’ll get a few master classes from world-famous professional circus performers! The week culminates in a sharing for family and friends full of laughing, gasping, and applauding! Open to students in grades 3-5.

Orpheus In the Underworld – Under the stage direction of SPT Artistic Associate Kelly Kitchens and the music direction of Seattle Opera Youth Program Director Barbara Lynne Jamison, students will dive into Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld. This camp continues SPT’s successful and growing relationship with Seattle Opera. Open to students in grades 6-12.

Technical Internships and Teaching Assistant positions available for grades 9-12; get service learning hours while having fun, giving back to your community, and gaining valuable life and leadership skills.

For more information about theater camp registration or scholarships, please call Kenna at (206) 523-1370 or check the SPT education page.

The Seattle Public Theater is a My Green Lake advertiser.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2012.

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Post tags: advertiser, kids, music, teens, theater

Photo courtesy Dana Waters.

The annual Candlelight Christmas Concert at the Green Lake Church of Seventh-day Adventists (6350 East Green Lake Way N) will be on Friday Dec. 16, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

The concert includes Christmas music, including the Magnificat by Giovanni Pergolesi, and familiar carols performed by the Adult, Children’s and Youth Choirs and the Green Lake Church Orchestra. The concert will conclude with singing of congregational carols by candlelight.

The concert is free. An offering will be collected to benefit the Nickelsville homeless encampment (7116 W Marginal Way SW).

Doors open at 7:10. Child care is provided and a reception follows the concert.

For more information, call (206) 522-1330.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: christmas, music

Green Lake United Methodist Church // Photo credit: pixelgerm

Frederick N. West’s Balkan-styled  Christmas Cantata will be performed together with Kent Stevenson’s Gospel Magnificat at Green Lake United Methodist Church (6415 1st Ave NE) on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are $15 advance and $20 at the door ($15 for students and seniors).

From brownpapertickets.com:

PI Music critic Douglas McLennan cited West’s Christmas Cantata as “an imaginative and spirit-filled work that tells of Christmas through Eastern European and Middle Eastern ears.”  The Cantata draws on the opening lines of the Magnificat, magnificat anima mea dominum, and then tells the traditional Christmas story employing Balkan dance rhythms and harmonies.  The piece is scored for string quartet, timpani and hand bells and features Balkan soloist Mary Sherhart.  R.M. Campbell of the Seattle P.I. offers praise: “Sherhart, a superb singer with dark colors in her mezzo-soprano voice, has long experience in Balkan music, . . .. Her commitment to this cause is profound.” 

Kent Stevenson’s Gospel Magnificat displays his lifetime of immersion in gospel music with a palette ranging from traditional spirituals to the joyous strides of contemporary gospel and jazz with rhythmic influences from his travels to Brazil. The Gospel Magnificat will be performed by the combined voices of the City Cantabile Choir and the Shades of Praise and Jubilation Choirs of St. Therese Parish in Seattle.

The text of the Magnificat is the canticle of Mary, which proclaims a vision of a fair and just world where the poor are filled with good things and the proud are scattered.

For more information, call (206) 948-8988.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: christmas, music

Green Lake United Methodist Church // Photo credit: pixelgerm

There will be two Seattle Peace Chorus concerts at Green Lake United Methodist Church (6415 1st Ave NE) this weekend.

We are All Immigrants is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011 at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are $17 in advance, through Brown Paper Tickets, and $20 at the door.

From the Seattle Peace Chorus:

Through music and spoken word, this concert will honor the rich diversity of cultures woven into the fabric of American life. The chorus will perform songs from the Native American tradition, from the British Isles, from African, European, and Latin American countries, with each piece sung in the language of its country of origin. The chorus will also perform a suite of spirituals, a powerful touchstone relaying the sorrows, joys and faith of the enslaved immigrants of African descent.

Together with singers from The Seattle Peace Chorus, this concert will feature a network of local, celebrated artists, including; Los Nietos; traditional Mexican music with  Elspeth Savani and David Trejo, Native American flute music from Peter Ali, Tom Creegan and Uilleann Pipe virtuoso, Thione Diop and Gospel Piano from Kent Stevenson.   The Peace Chorus invites ticket holders to join them for a pre-concert discussion on the state of immigration policy in Washington with Jorge Barron, Executive Director of Northwest Immigrants Rights Project, on Saturday at 6:30.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: music

Collage artist Kate Endle and children’s musician Caspar Babypants (a.k.a. Chris Ballew of The Presidents of the United States of America) will be at Mockingbird Books (7220 Woodlawn Ave NE) on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 11 a.m.

The husband-wife team will be in the store to celebrate their new books, My Woodland Wish and Bunny Rabbit in the Sunlight.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: kids, literary, local businesses, music

Betsy uses music and storytelling to teach children Hebrew through American Sign Language.

Storytimes are scheduled for 11:00- 11:30 a.m. on several Wednesdays throughout the remainder of 2011: Sept. 28, Oct. 12, Oct. 26, Nov. 9, Nov. 23, Dec. 14 and Dec. 28.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is bringing the series of storytimes to Mockingbird Books as a part of The PJ Library program. The PJ Library sends free books every month to Jewish kids aged 0-5 ½ years.

For more information, contact Amy Hilzman-Paquette, The PJ Library Program Manager, at amyhp [at] jewishinseattle.org.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: kids, music

The 35th Pathway of Lights, the annual lighting of the path around Green Lake, is scheduled for Saturday, December 10, 2011, 5-8 p.m., rain or shine.  Admission is free.

The “walk of lights” is lit up by luminarias that line Green Lake’s pathway. Walkers are encouraged to bring their own lights and candles to add to the ambiance.

As many of 10,000 participants have attended in the past.

Volunteers are needed to help place and light the thousands of luminaria and to clean up after the event. Individuals, businesses, community organizations, and school and scout groups are welcome to participate. Event setup will be 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., the lighting of the candles takes place at 5 p.m., and cleanup is from 8 – 9 p.m. More volunteer information can be found in this PDF.

Music groups of 20 people are less are also needed to play unamplified holiday music at the event. Musicians will be located at four sites around the lake: the Green Lake Community Center on the east side, the Green Lake Small Craft Center (the Aqua Theater) on the south side, the Bathhouse Theater (Seattle Public Theatre) on the north side and the arch on the east of side of the community center. Performances last 30-45 minutes.

Warm drinks and treats will be available at the four music sites, as will donation bins for non-perishable food items for Northwest Harvest.

The Pathway of Lights at Green Lake is sponsored by Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Seattle Parks and Recreation Green Lake Advisory Council. This year, the event will also be made possible with the help of community sponsors, including Green Lake Windermere Real Estate Company, Lake & Company Real Estate, Green Lake Masonic Lodge #149, North Seattle Sarah, Viewhalloo Designs and The Hearthstone.

For more information about the Pathway of Lights, volunteer opportunities, music at the event, or sponsorship options, please contact Carl Bergquist, Assistant Coordinator at the Green Lake Community Center, at (206) 684-0780 or Carl.Bergquist [at] seattle.gov.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: music, parks and rec, volunteer, walking

There will be live music featuring Bobby Medina and the Red Hot Band. Ice cream, hot dogs, soda, popcorn and kettle corn will be served, and there will be clowns, games, face painting and a raffle.

The event is free.

For more information call (206) 441-8510 or email office [at] mlkclc.org.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: building community, kids, music, party, woodland park