Around Town: Jazz ensemble wins award

Neighborhood Grills to open in LFP

The target date for Neighborhood Grills to open their fourth restaurant in Lake Forest Park is May 21. Lake Forest Bar &Grill will offer the same varied menu, fun, casual atmosphere and friendly neighborhood service as the three existing Neighborhood Grills; Greenlake Bar &Grill, Eastlake Bar &Grill and Southlake Grill.

“We are thrilled to be opening in Lake Forest Park,” said owner, John Schmidt. “The community there has welcomed us with open arms and we cannot wait to be a part of this great neighborhood.”

The 5,700 square foot restaurant will seat up to 160, with additional seats being added as early as June when the outdoor patio will be completed. Lake Forest Grill management is being promoted from within the company and the newly hired staff members are currently being trained at sister stores, Greenlake Bar &Grill, Eastlake Bar &Grill and Southlake Grill.

Neighborhood Grills opened their first location, Greenlake Bar &Grill in October of 2000, then expanded four years later, opening Eastlake Bar &Grill in November of 2004. With sales increasing rapidly and a cult like fan following, John Schmidt found a third location in the booming South Lake Union neighborhood and Southlake Grill opened in February of 2007. Neighborhood Grill’s now employs over 175 team members at all four restaurants and looks forward to growing more in the coming years.

Lake Forest Bar &Grill, General Manager is Collin Mager, previously the GM at Greenlake Bar &Grill.

The new restaurant is located at 17535 Ballinger Way NE in Lake Forest Park.

For menu, locations and further information visit www.neighborhoodgrills.com or call 206-364-1261.

Free Zumba class at YMCA

The Dale Turner Family YMCA, invites active older adults to a free event from 10:30 a.m. to noon May 16. Sponsored by Tylenol Keep Moving, the event will feature a Zumba Gold class beginning at 10:30 a.m., followed by a potluck, and a lecture on arthritis prevention and treatment.

Zumba is a cardio Latin dance class, combining dynamic music and easy to follow moves into a fun and effective aerobic workout. The class is currently offered five times a week at the Dale Turner Family YMCA and this special edition of Zumba Gold will be modified for all fitness levels.

The Tylenol Keep Moving Program helps to create a wellness experience that focuses on exercise, nutrition and healthy, active living. Whether it’s 15 minutes or an hour per day, every small step may help to reduce mild to moderate arthritis pain.

For more information on this event and to register, contact the Stacy Segal at the Dale Turner Family YMCA, 206-569-7001 or a ssegal@seattleymca.com.

Jazz ensemble wins award

The King’s Junior High jazz ensemble “Celebration” has won the 2009 DOWNBEAT award for jazz vocal groups in the Junior High division.

King’s Junior High “Celebration” is a select ensemble of approximately 30 singers (15 boys and 15 girls) and an all-student rhythm section.

Under the direction of Darla Pumphrey, “Celebration” performs many styles of music including gospel and jazz. The group has won many awards, including First Place and Outstanding Overall Festival Choir — Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, First Place — Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, Most Inspirational — Pacific Jazz Festival, First Place – Reno Jazz Festival, First Place — Columbia Basin Jazz Unlimited Festival, and they were chosen to sing at the 2007 IAJE Conference in New York City. Goals for members of “Celebration” are excellence in music, being the best at all they do and finding ways to serve others.

Be part of the neighborhood

Volunteers from the Echo Lake Neighborhood Association will be in the new Sky Nursery building at 18528 Aurora Avenue North from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, to provide information about free memberships in the association.

Stop by for a cup of coffee, show proof of residency in the area between Aurora and I-5 and 205th to 185th Streets and receive a coupon good for 10 percent off most purchases at Sky. For more information, contact board member Shari Tracey at 206-542 5763.

Champion Tree Contest begins

Shoreline’s Community Wildlife Habitat Project is once again looking for a few big trees. While last year’s contest was limited to trees within our park system, this year property owners can nominate their own trees. The contest, which takes place within the City of Shoreline, aims to increase awareness of the storm water runoff services, habitat value and beauty mature native trees provide for our urban forest canopy.

Champions are determined by an international system of measurement using height, circumference and crown spread for each species.

If a tree is the biggest tree when compared to other trees of the same species, then it’s a champion.

This contest will run through Sept. 5.

Nominate a tree at www.sustainableshoreline.org/ChampionTree.html. Anyone with questions can contact Barbara at 206-542-3242 or guthdall@msn.com or Boni at birdsbeesfishtrees@gmail.com.