Lake Stevens property owners looking for ways to eat more healthfully this year should check out Urban Pantry. They offer catering, carry out, and even delivery options. When you or a family member has special dietary needs, it can be really hard to find tasty choices. Urban Pantry has you covered! Their focus on healthy eating has led them to explore ways to bring allergy-friendly options to their menu. Those who need to eat gluten-free or who have other allergy needs can rest assured that Urban Pantry will work with them to create a delicious meal. Those who have found that a vegan, keto, or paleo diet works best for their health can also find tasty options at Urban Pantry. Feel free to come in for lunch or dinner during open hours, which are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Urban Pantry offers a variety of cuisines. There are Italian, American, Mexican, Asian, Indian, barbecue, and Pacific Northwest specialities. If you’re throwing a party on Lake Stevens party, call Urban Pantry to decide on a great menu that will be both delicious and nutritious and safe for all your guests. You can also get party planning services and referrals to photographers, equipment rental, musicians, and much more. They even do weddings!

In addition to dining in and catering, Urban Pantry offers home meals. These are ideal for anyone--from busy professionals to families on the go. Rather than having to subscribe to a service and pay for food you may or may not like, just call up Urban Pantry and make an order.

Visit Urban Pantry to learn more about their menus and find out about daily specials or call 425.374.7060.

Many people living in Monroe have already discovered Highway 2 Fusion Diner. If you have not yet, give it a try. The location may look a little deceiving but it is definitely worth checking out. This restaurant is very well reviewed, clean, offers delicious comfort food, an accommodating kitchen, and an attentive waitstaff. Chefs Octavio Lepe and Justin Bentley are masterful in the kitchen and pump out consistently good food. They are also very friendly and welcoming to all who come into the diner.

Most people come for breakfast food, which is served all day. Try eggs benedict, a monte cristo, biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash, pancakes, waffles, french toast, huevos rancheros, machaca, or chilaquiles, among many other dishes. There are also a variety of three egg omelettes such as veggie, kielbasa, lumberjack, meat lovers, Denver, and the HWY 2 Ultimate Omelette. Other offerings include soups, salads, seafood, sandwiches, enchiladas, tacos, carnitas, burgers, and fish and chips. Kids also have many choices such as grilled cheese, hamburger, cheeseburger, chicken tenders, or a cheese quesadilla served with a choice of fries or fruit. Wash down your meal with soda, juice, coffee, a smoothie, beer, wine, or a mimosa.

Highway 2 Fusion Diner is located at 19721 US HWY 2, a short drive for anyone living in Monroe. This location also means that owners can utilize fresh ingredients from surrounding farms. All patrons can expect fresh food made with care, a coffee cup that never goes empty, and the ability to make changes to menu items to accommodate allergies and food preferences. Make a reservation online or by calling 360.217.8564. Catering is also available for your next event or meeting. Business hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Read more about Chefs Octavio and Justin, view the full menu, and find contact information about Highway 2 Fusion Diner.

A wide variety of birds fly over Snohomish real estate, with some of the most majestic being bald eagles. Most people across the country do not have the opportunity to see these beautiful birds as often as residents of the Pacific Northwest. Come to learn more about these amazing creatures at Year of the Eagle: A Year in the Lives of Pacific NW Bald Eagles. This event will take place on Saturday, January 19th from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Snohomish Library.

Join nature photographer and author Kevin Ebi to hear some amazing stories of a group of resident bald eagles. This is a rare group that stays in the same area of the Pacific Northwest year round. This gives people like Kevin a very unique opportunity to study how these birds develop, learn to fly and hunt, and start their own families. Kevin spent three years at one nesting site doing his best to document the story of these bald eagles in their home environment. He used his extensive photography experience to document everything he could and residents of Snohomish real estate have the awesome chance to hear about his time at the site through his pictures and stories. Kevin’s images have been featured by such publishers as National Geographic, BBC Earth, Smithsonian, and Outdoor Photographer. One of his pictures even appeared on a U.S. postage stamp.

If this event spurs your interest in local birds, head out for the next event of Snohomish Winter Birding, a guided winter birding expedition, on Saturday, January 26th, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. This event starts at the Snohomish Wildlife Refuge and will continue at a few other sites, to which participants can follow in their own vehicle. The Snohomish Valley is home to more than 80 “wintering” bird species. Expect to see swans, geese, ducks, song birds, and even raptors. Be sure to dress warm and be prepared for muddy conditions. Read more about both of these events and keep an eye out for others at Snohomish Winter Birding.

All who call Lake Stevens home are invited to consider signing up for Community Education Classes through the Lake Stevens School District. The winter schedule is out now, and it features many returning favorite classes as well as several new ones. The new classes include Decorating Basics and Accessorizing Your Home with Patty Goodman, Becoming a Budget Expert with Alicia Sheppard and Wells Fargo Bank, and The Five Components of Life Balance with Monika Kristofferson.

Learn about some practical ways to find a healthy work/life balance in The Five Components of Life Balance. This is an area many of us struggle with and all who come to the class will leave with a solid plan to move forward feeling more balanced. The class will take place on Thursday, January 24th from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in ESC Conference Room B and the cost is $20.

Delve into your own decorating style by signing up for Decorating Basics, which will take place on Thursday, January 31st from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in ESC Conference Room A. The class fee is $20 and participants are invited to bring pictures of rooms in their Lake Stevens home they would like a little help in decorating to discuss with the instructor and other participants.

Keep with the decorating theme and come to Accessorizing Your Home on Thursday, February 21st from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in ESC Conference Room A. Learn how to give your home personality by using accessories. The class fee is $20 and all will walk away with some great ideas.

The last new class offering, Becoming a Budget Expert, is free of charge and will provide tools and resources to become a pro at saving and budgeting. Walk away with the ability to build a personalized plan for your finances. Choose from a session on Tuesday, January 29th or Thursday, March 21st from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in ESC Conference Room B. Call 425.335.1500 to be added to the roster.

Read more about all of these classes as well as other offerings and register for Lake Stevens Community Education.

Christmas is over, and many crafters living in Snohomish got cash gifts for new supplies. Other knitters and crocheters are finally done with creating gifts for others and have plans for new projects for themselves. And then there are the people who want to try a new craft. Every crafter is welcome at Country Yarns. The shop is on holiday break until Thursday, the 27th, when it will be open for regular hours again. On Thursdays, the shop is open from 1 to 8:30 p.m. On Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday it’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Country Yarns has a regular schedule of classes and gatherings. Come in on Thursdays at 6 p.m. for the Yarn Divas! Group. Bring your latest project and meet up with friends while everyone works on their knitting or crocheting. You can also purchase supplies in the shop. On Tuesday mornings at 10 a.m., the Knotty Knitters Group meets. It’s open to both knitters and crocheters. The cost to participate is $5 and includes help with your project from shop employees. To reserve your spot for any class, call 360.568.7611 or email info@countryyarns.net.

Country Yarns has everything that fiber artists living in Snohomish might need. The owner, Teresa Wilson, developed her own line of richly colored yarns, made from blends of wool, silk, and Tencel. The line is called Artistry, and it’s exclusively available at Country Yarns. The shop also carries a variety of other beautiful yarns, including Brown Sheep, Fiesta, and Wonderland Yarns. There’s also a great variety of quality tools, including yarn bowls and bags to organize hooks and needles. Find a delightful selection of books, with techniques and patterns. There are also many lovely hand-crafted buttons, including those of DragonHouse Designs.

Plan your visit to Country Yarns today!

Enjoy dinner away from your Lake Stevens property at Francisco’s Kitchen and Cantina. Bring the whole family, meet a friend, or relish in a date night in this upscale casual restaurant that opened up in the late summer of 2018. Located in downtown Lake Stevens at 1915 Hartford Drive, Francisco’s offers Mexican-style northwest food. Start out with guacamole, potato tacos, bacon wrapped scallops, wings, shrimp cocktail, fresh shrimp ceviche, a soup, or salad. Next, order tacos, chicken, seafood, or steak. Three tacos on local corn tortillas are served with rice and beans. Choose from skirt steak, rib-eye, carnitas, al pastor, fish, or rajas. Chicken and seafood selections include chicken limon, chicken en rajas, grilled shrimp skewers, and lemon butter salmon. Steaks are served with a choice of potato and seasonal vegetables. Select from a choice of carne asada, New York, rib-eye, or filet mignon. Add a steak topper such as sauteed mushrooms, chimichurri sauce, peppercorn sauce, mushroom sauce, or the signature seafood topper.

Operating hours for the restaurant are Sunday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Call (425) 512-8587 with any questions or to phone in an order to grab on the way home to your Lake Stevens property. Francisco’s Kitchen and Cantina is very well reviewed. Guests have been raving about the stylish interior and calming atmosphere. The service is speedy and friendly and the food is fresh and tasty. People have been enjoying the upscale and unique take on Mexican cuisine in this prime downtown location. Stop in for happy hour for a drink and a great deal on food or for a nice dinner. Follow the restaurant on Facebook or take a look at the full menu and more details about Francisco’s Kitchen and Cantina.  

Take a break from cooking at your Monroe real estate and grab lunch or dinner at the Amarillo Restaurant and Tavern. Feel like you are deep in Texas without leaving Monroe. This new restaurant, open since September of this year, serves only the finest cuts of meat. All beef is Certified Angus Beef, the chicken is hormone free, and the pork baby back ribs are from Farmland. This restaurant follows the traditional Texas methods. The meats are seasoned with dry rubs and smoked over hickory hardwood. No electricity is used in the cooking process of the barbecue meats.

Be sure to come hungry. The menu is extensive and full of tasty offerings. Start out with fried bread-n- butter pickles, wings, sliders, a salad, soup, or cowboy caviar. Next, dig into the barbecue. Munch on beef brisket, chicken, pulled pork, corned beef, sausage, baby back ribs, or a combo. In addition to the barbecue, there are also burgers, steaks, sandwiches, and meat alternatives. Side dishes include coleslaw, campfire beans, potato salad, fries, veggies, and baked potatoes.

Located in downtown Monroe on East Main Street, the Amarillo has found its place in the 115 year old Paradise Tavern. Owners waited to find the right location for their restaurant and took the time to renovate the structure and remodel the interior. It was definitely worth the effort. Future plans are to renovate the back patio to offer outdoor seating. Operating hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Dine in or consider calling in a to-go order to grab on your way home to your Monroe real estate. Visit the Amarillo’s website to read more about the restaurant, make a reservation if dining with a large party, find an events calendar, and look at the full menu.

All who call Snohomish home are invited to celebrate the holidays in a unique way. Come out with friends or loved ones for a night of food, fun, and the opportunity to solve a crime with the Murder Mystery Company. The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year will be presented in Snohomish on Saturday, December 22nd and Saturday, December 29th at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $60 each and the event takes place at French Creek Manor, located at 9931 167th Ave. SE in Snohomish. Dinner is included and guests will start out with a crisp garden salad and then enjoy a a choice of chicken marsala, beef tips with beef burgundy, or pasta primavera. Alcoholic beverages will be available to purchase during the show. A third course will be presented as well. The venue is wheelchair accessible and anyone with food allergies can call ahead to make arrangements.

Wear your most festive holiday attire to the show that will last between two and two and a half hours. Arrive about 30 minutes before the show begins to get your picture taken, chat with the mystery experts, get drinks, and get settled into your table. Enjoy your food while the comedic actors work through the holiday themed plot that includes a murder. The audience gets to participate by gathering clues and trying their best to solve the crime.

The themes of the shows change regularly and are all great fun. Enjoy an evening full of of food, fun, and murder away from your Snohomish home every time there is a new theme. Take a trip back to the 80’s, to a prom night, to a wedding, to a magic show, to the time of gangsters, or to a masquerade. Read more about upcoming themes, find a menu, and a list of frequently asked questions about the Murder Mystery Company. 

Experience the rich flavors of Thai cuisine near your Monroe home at Thai on Main Street. From spicy curries to warming soups, you can’t go wrong with any of the menu offerings. Locals recommend the crab rangoon. These are wontons stuffed with cream cheese and imitation crab, then deep fried to crispy perfection. The smooth cream cheese and tangy crab create a delicious combination of tastes and textures. Other yummy choices include barbecue pork tenderloin, served with a sweet BBQ sauce. On the lighter side, try the summer rolls. Veggies, shrimp, and noodles are wrapped up in rice paper and served with a peanut sauce. On a cold day, any one of the soups will help you to take the chill off. Tom kah soup is a traditional Thai choice, made with lemongrass, mushrooms, galangal root (which has a citrus taste), and your choice of meat, all cooked in coconut milk.

For main courses, both vegetarians and meat eaters can find delicious choices. Protein choices include tofu, chicken, pork, shrimp, beef, calamari, or a seafood combination. The street noodles are another local favorite. These wide noodles are served with the house brown sauce, egg, green onion, and a sprinkling of cilantro on top. Phad thai noodles are another highly recommended option. Thin rice noodles are served with egg, ground peanuts, and a signature tamarind phad-thai sauce. In addition to the noodle dishes, you can choose from a variety of curries and vegetable dishes. Kids are more than welcome at Thai on Main Street. They even have their own menu choices, including fried rice and noodles.

If you want Thai food in the comfort of your own house, order delivery. This option is available after 4:30 p.m. to those with a Monroe home within five miles of the restaurant’s location at 115 West Main Street.

Visit Thai on Main Street to see the full menu and plan your meal out! 

Provide enrichment for your children outside of you Lake Stevens home over winter break by attending an event at the Lake Stevens Library. There will be several opportunities to get out and have fun with other children while taking a break from school. Come a little early or stay a little late to grab some books and movies to take back to your Lake Stevens home. Keep your kids reading and engaged while home for the holidays.

Little Science Lab will take place on Thursday, December 27th from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. This event occurs through a partnership with the Imagine Children’s Museum and is for preschoolers and their caregivers. This program takes place every week and requires advance registration. Watch your child’s eyes light up as they learn new things about the big world around them through science, engineering, technology, and math.

Minecraft Build Challenge will also take place on Thursday, December 27th from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. This program is for children in grades 5 through 12. Children can meet their friends from school or make new ones while building a Minecraft structure. Keep their minds active and engaged while having a break from school. Space is limited and advanced registration is required.

Fiddler in the Forest by Idea Hatch will take place on Saturday, December 29th from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. This very special performance will include live music and feature forest animals that join a dreaming fiddler in a beautiful and magical forest. This event is meant for school children in grades K-2. Please register in advance so the library can know how many people to expect.

Check the calendar to find more details about all of these events, see what is coming up in the future, and register. There is always something going on at the Lake Stevens Library.