Groups and Activities

WALKING/HIKING GROUP

To All Hikers & Walkers!

Co-Leads: Marion Boike (mkboike@msn.com) and Mary Nassif (mary.nassif@comcast.net)

Weekly walks/hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. on Mondays and are "weather permitting." We also offer Thursday late afternoon/evening walks or hikes twice a month at 4:30 p.m. Of course, all are welcome to take advantage of these new times for recreation and friendship.

JUNE MONDAY MORNING WALKS & HIKES

MONDAY, June 5th, 9:30 a.m. WALK! Some Favorite Gardens in Issaquah Highlands. We need to make a change to this Monday's walk, so we're planning to enjoy some of our favorite gardens. We will start at Caffe Ladro [1200 12th Avenue NE] in Issaquah Highlands, walk through the lupines in bloom around the pond, up the hill on the gravel path and down the steps, and then visit the wonderful garden in the Sunset Walk Community and the two pea patch gardens. Then we'll walk past parks and ponds through the neighborhood and end back at Ladro to enjoy a treat on their shady patio. Sound inviting? Then plan to join us on Monday morning at 9:30. The whole walk is about 2 miles, with only the one hill--some have skipped the hill and met us at the garden.

Our Mary is back in town, so please contact either of us to let us know that you are walking with us on Monday.

MONDAY, June 12th, 9:30 a.m. EASY HIKE! Evans Creek Preserve. If ground conditions allow, we will follow the trails in the Preserve and look for trillium in bloom and birds nesting! some up-and-down trails, some rocks and roots, but well tended. Approximately 3 miles. [Evans Creek Preserve (lower access), 4001 224th Avenue NE, Redmond]. This is a fairly easy 3-mile hike. There are hills and a wooded dirt path through the meadow and wetland areas.

MONDAY, June 19th, 9:30 a.m. HIKE! Snoqualmie Point Park. This is a new hike for us, and we hope lots of fun. There is plenty of parking at this trailhead, and we hope on a Monday morning, not many hikers! Park as close to the top of the lot as possible. We'll meet at the top of the lot. First, we can explore the outdoor shelter and the view. Then we will cross the grand meadow toward the stage area. We will tuck into the foreest that goes all the way to Rattlesnake Ridge. We will walk a mile or so and turn around so that our round trip back to the parking lot is approximately 3 miles. [37580 Winery Road, Snoqualmie]

MONDAY, June 26th, 9:30 a.m. WALK! East Lake Sammamish State Park. This is a new walk for us as we will explore a different part of this park as we travel to the boat launch and back.

JUNE LATE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING WALKS & HIKES

THURSDAY, June 8th, 4:30 p.m. WALK! Larsen Lake and Gardens. We will meet in the parking lot of the Kelsey Creek Starbucks [180 148th Avenue SE, Bellevue], where there is ample parking and we can relax with a beverage after the walk. We will walk the Lake-to-Lake trails around Larsen Lake and the blueberry fields (all part of the Lake Hills Greenbelt) to Phantom Lake, where we can explore the Bellevue Demonstration Garden and the Community Gardens (tBUG) as well as beautiful Phantom Lake. Our walk will be on level dirt and paved pathways with the round trip estimated to be 3.5 to 4 miles.

THURSDAY, June 22nd, 4:30 p.m. WALK! Preston Trail. We will begin at the soccer fields in Preston, just off of I-90. There is plenty of parking there. A wide blacktop path, straight and level, will take us to an end point. Out and back, the walk is aobut 3 level miles. [Preston Athletic Fields and Park, 30634 SE 87th Place, Preston]

BONUS JULY MONDAY MORNING WALK

MONDAY, July 3rd, 9:30 a.m. WALK! Larsen Lake and Gardens. We will meet in the parking lot of the Kelsey Creek Starbucks [180 148th Avenue SE, Bellevue], where there is ample parking and we can relax with a beverage after the walk. We will walk the Lake-to-Lake trails around Larsen Lake and the blueberry fields (all part of the Lake Hills Greenbelt) to Phantom Lake, where we can explore the Bellevue Demonstration Garden and the Community Gardens (tBUG) as well as beautiful Phantom Lake, which should be full of water lily blooms in early July. Our walk will be on level dirt and paved pathways with the round trip estimated to be 3.5 to 4 miles.

Let Mary (mary.nassif@comcast.net) or Marion (mkboike@msn.com) know if you plan to join us on any of these walks. Guests are always welcome.? ?) )? ? ???????????

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ART GROUP

Date/Time: Summer Pause

Location: Virtual fathering on Zoom

Topic: Open paint session

Lead: Barb Bruemmer at j_bbruemmer@comcast.net

We are now the "Art" Group rather than the "Watercolor" Group to reflect our members' interests in all art mediums. This summer we will suspend our usual meeting times and resume those meetings on September 12th via Zoom. Look for more information in the fall. For this summer, we may do some group events in person, either painting on location or getting reference photos and sketching. If you are interested in participating or if you have some suggestions on great locations, please contact Barb.

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BOOK CLUB

Lead: Annette Aries at caajaa@gmail.com

There are no plans to meet over the summer. The Book Club will start up again in September. The first meeting will be on Tuesday, September 25th, and 1:00 p.m., location to be announced.

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CRAFT GROUP

Lead: Heather Garland at hlgarland13@gmail.com

Our next Craft Group meeting will be on Sunday, June 18, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. We will be gathering at the Game Room in Silver Glen Apartments, 1750 152nd Avenue NE, Bellevue--hostess TBD. Julie Dreher will be our hostess. If you're interested in attending or want more information, please contact Heather Garland at hlgarland13@gmail.com.

Note: Crafters will continue meeting through the summer! Heather will be in touch with details as they come together.

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EXCURSION GROUP

A July 10th Adventure - Mark Your Calendars!

On July 10th, there will be an outing to the Skagit Valley area that includes a walk around Padilla Bay and lunch in La Conner.

All Trails describes the trail this way: "Try this 4.4-mile out-and-back trail near Anacortes, Washington. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 hour and 17 minutes to complete. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and mountain biking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of the day. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Padilla Bay is a shallow tidal bay. The trail is gravel and heads along the bay shore. The trail surface is packed gravel, and typically at least 5 feet wide. The estimated grade is flat (1% or less)."

We can meet at the Sammamish Landing at 9:30 a.m. and so far have two drivers for the drive to Padilla Bay. After the walk we can go to La Conner for lunch at Nell Thorn Waterfront Bistro & Bar on the canal and perhaps a little shopping or a stop at a farm stand for fresh raspberries, then back home in the afternoon. This adventure would be weather permitting, depending on heat, smoke, or rain, so if needed an alternative dte would be chosen.

If you are interested in joining the group, please contact Kathy Drasbek at knaparker@msn.com.

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GARDEN GROUP

Lead: Sandy Cobel at srcobel@comcast.net

The Garden Group will be "on hiatus" for the summer. We will resume our monthly get-togethers in September and look forward to seeing you then!

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GOURMET CLUB

Date/Time: Thursday, June 15, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.

Location: Luanne Caylor's house

Co-Leads: Kay Broman at kekfbroman@centurylink.net and Liz Cooper at lizcooper55@gmail.com

Hostess: Luanne Caylor

Topic: "Eat Hawaii" -- from Long Ago to Pacific Bounty Classics

Aloha! Were you sorry to miss the May Gourmet presentation "Eat Hawaii"? Well, never fear. Since so many of you couldn't make it, we have changted it to June 15 at 11:00 a.m. at Luanne Caylor's house. You will still get all the splendor of Hawaii in person and then we will go to lunch at Ohana Eastside on Gilman Boulevard. Please let Luanne know how many are coming and how many want to go to lunch after.

Note: The Gourmet Club has decided to shift away from the monthly Zoom meetings and meet every other month to do something in person, with some sort of theme or focus--events and activities TBD. So, after June our next Gourmet Club meeting will be in October. We have also decided to change our monthly meeting date to the second Thursday of every other month. Details of this change still have to be firmed up, but we will be contacting the current group for their input. Should anyone want to weigh in with their thoughts about the Gourmet Club, Kay and Liz are willing to entertain ideas. Until then, Happy Eating!

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HAPPY HOUR

Lead: Bobbie Izuo at bobbieizuo@hotmail.com

There will be no Happy Hour gatherings during our summer break. We will resume our get-togethers in September. The first Happy Hour will be on Wednesday, September 13th, at 4:00 p.m.

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LUNCH BUNCH

Date/Time: Thursday, June 22, 2023, at 11:30 a.m.

Location: Enzo's Bistro, 120 NW Gilman Blvd., Issaquah

Organizer: Marion Boike at mkboike@msn.com

In June we will meet on June 22nd at 11:30 at Enzo's Bistro at 120 NW Gilman Boulevad in Issaquah. You may sign up at the June 1st meeting and luncheon or contact Marion Boike (mkboike@msn.com) to be put on the list for our reservation. Please let Marion know by Tuesday, June 20th, if you plan to attend.

The Lunch Bunch will continue to meet over the summer--on the fourth Thursday in July, but on the fifth Thursday in August. If you would like to organize the July 27th or August 31st locations, please contact Marion.

Camille Kelling will continue to coordinate Lunch Bunch for the IWC 2023-2024 club year. We will revert to the prior plan of having different volunteers take charge of each month. Camille will have a clipboard at the meeings. Be thinking of one of yor favorite places you'd like to introduce to the "Bunch" and sign up for a month next year.

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MAH JONGG GROUP

Dates/Times: Friday, June 15, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., and Friday, June 23, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Location: Third-floor community lounge, 3941 226th Place SE, Issaquah (in Providence Point)

Lead: Diane Edwards at diedwards43@gmail.com

Mah jongg is an interesting and challenging tile game of luck and skill traditionally played with four people. If you'd like to learn, we can teach you. Questions are encouraged. Contact Diane with any questions. Everyone is welcome to join in on the fun!

Note that we will continue to meet during the summer--same time, same place.

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