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.

The holidays and the winter season bring something special to each and every Snohomish property. The crispness in the air, the possibility of snow, and the beautiful natural glow of the season is truly mesmerizing. Come celebrate nature’s light at Winter Aglow! This concert is presented by the Cantabile Chamber Choir with Dustin Willettes as Artistic Director. The talented singers have been traveling throughout the area bringing the music of Lauridsen, Gjeilo, Esenvalds, Whitacre, and many more to several venues throughout the region. They reach Christ the King Lutheran Church in Snohomish on Sunday, December 9th at 5 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at Brown Paper Tickets www.brownpapertickets.com and cost $14 for general admission, $8 for students, or $43 for families. At the door, prices will increase to $16 for general admission, $10 for students, or $45 for families.

The subject matter of the pieces will include many wonders of the season and send everyone back to their Snohomish property feeling ready for winter. Envision the beautiful and shimmering Northern Lights. Think on the mystery of moonlight and the special qualities of starlight. Experience winter solstice festivals, Chanukah, and Christmas all through music and songs. All audience members are invited to fill out a survey for a chance to win a night at the La Conner Channel Lodge. The drawing will take place on December 9th.

Watch for other performances throughout the year put on by the Cantabile Chamber Choir. This 28 member auditioned ensemble is based in La Conner and is dedicated to making beautiful music. The choir travels throughout the region performing and also is very invested in mentoring young singers. Read more about this choir, learn how to be a donor, find information about upcoming concerts and tickets, and find out how to audition for the Cantabile Chamber Choir. 

There are many opportunities to enjoy the arts while living in Monroe. This is especially true during the holiday season. Come out to enjoy concerts, plays, live comedy, discussions and much more.

Sky Performing Arts is proud to present A Christmas Story. Laugh along with Ralphie as he tries to convince everyone that a Red Rider BB gun is the perfect gift. Tickets are available now for the remaining showtimes on Friday, December 7th, 2018 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, December 8th at 2 p.m. or 7:30 p.m., or Sunday, December 9th at 2 p.m.

The Lights of Christmas Festival provides another opportunity to celebrate the season on Saturday December 8th. The Monroe Concert Band will perform at 5:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m at Warm Beach Camp in Stanwood.

Holiday music will be once again performed by the Monroe Concert Band on Friday, December 14th at 7 p.m. at the Wagner Performing Arts Center. Admission is free to the MCB Concert: A Joyful Christmas, however donations are gladly accepted, which will in part go to Housing Hope. Everyone who comes will receive a free ticket for a chance to win prizes that include gift certificates for dining, movie passes, and many other great items.

Cascade Community Theater has been working hard on their production of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka. Be taken to a magical place of chocolate and sweets. This is the perfect show to enjoy time with friends. Tickets are on sale now for shows on Saturday, December 15th at 2 p.m. or 7 p.m., Sunday, December 16th at 2 p.m., Friday, December 21st at 7 p.m., or Saturday, December 22 at 2 p.m. or 7 p.m. All performances will take place at the Wagner Performing Arts Center.

All who live in Monroe are also invited to Socrates Cafe monthly discussion group at the Monroe Public Library. Discuss all that you have experienced in regards to the arts over the past month. This group meets the third Saturday of each month. This month, it will take place on Saturday, December 15th at 1 p.m. Keep an eye on all available opportunities to enjoy the arts and find links to purchase tickets at the Monroe Arts Council. 

With Thanksgiving behind us, it’s time to look toward the December holidays. This weekend, everyone living in Lake Stevens homes can come out and celebrate the season with friends and neighbors. First of all, you can get some Christmas shopping done while helping raise funds for the Lake Stevens School District by attending the 32nd Annual Dickens Fair. It will be held this Saturday, December 1st from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Head out to Cavelero Mid High School, located at 8220 24th Street SE. Admission is a donation for the Lake Stevens Community Food Bank. Bring either a non-perishable food item or donate money.

Keep things simple by using the complimentary parking shuttle operated by the Lake Stevens Kiwanis Club. Donations will be collected for the Kiwanis Scholarship Fund. Park near Lake Stevens Middle School, 1301 91st Avenue NE or Hillcrest Elementary School, 9315 4th Street SE and let the shuttle take you to the Dickens Fair. Once there, you’ll find more than 150 vendors will be on site, selling hand-crafted goods of all sorts. Shop for food, clothing, toys, jewelry, and home decor items. Follow the Facebook page to get all the details and find out about some of the vendors who will be present. You can also find photos from years past on the Dickens Fair page at the Lake Stevens School District site. 

Once the Dickens Fair is over, Winterfest 2018 begins. The event will be held on Main Street in Downtown Lake Stevens. Everyone from Lake Stevens homes is invited for the fun. Beginning at 4:30 p.m., come for caroling and face painting. Refresh yourself with a cup of hot cocoa and cookies. At 5:30, Santa arrives to help light the tree! Afterwards, get photos with him at the Community Center. The whole event is free. Visit the event Facebook page to get more details and see photos of the tree. 

All youth who live in Lake Stevens are invited to take advantage of the abundance of water in the area and try crew. The Lake Stevens Rowing Club has released their 2019 Youth Spring Schedule and there are opportunities for all levels of athletes. Anyone who is at least 5 feet tall and can lift 20 pounds overhead can participate. Choose from a competitive racing team, or a home team. Both have the opportunity to compete in dual meets, and the competitive team will go on to Youth Regionals and the Scholastic Championship. The season runs from February 5th through May 21, 2019.

Practice for the racing team will take place Monday through Friday from 2:45 to 5:30 p.m. Practice for the home team will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:45 to 5:30 p.m. The season fee for the racing team is $750 and $425 for the home team. Register by January 5th to take advantage of $25 off. Anyone who is unsure if crew is right for them can try it out for free through Experience Crew. Any junior and youth rowers ages 12 to 18 can come try it out for two weeks. Be sure to sign up for this opportunity soon, as it is only offered at the beginning of each season. It is a great way to try rowing without a huge commitment.

The Lake Stevens Rowing Club is a wonderful asset to all who live in Lake Stevens and the surrounding area. There are programs available for all ages and skill levels. Not only are there opportunities to learn about crew, but also things like CPR certification and other special events. Anyone not interested in getting out on the water themselves can certainly also come out to support the athletes and watch some great competition. Learn more about the Lake Stevens Rowing Club, the Junior Spring Program, and register online. 

Quick, the town of Sno-Who-Mish needs help to chase the conniving Grinch away from Snohomish real estate! No one wants him to ruin their holiday! The 2018 Chase the Grinch Outta Snohomish Fun Run will take place on Sunday, December 2nd, 2018 at 9 a.m. Choose from a 5K or 10K distance. Each will start at “Cheermeister Village,” located at 405 Third Street in Snohomish. The route will take runners along the beautiful Centennial Trail, which is mostly flat. It is an out and back course and runners will be greeted with cheers, hot chocolate, and yummy snacks upon their return. Kids will have a chance to run too. Those 13 and under can participate in a half mile race starting at 8:15 a.m. There will also be entertainment and chances for plenty of pictures when the racing is over. Even if running is not your favorite thing, come out anyway to support those who are participating. It will be a great time.

Register early to take advantage of lower costs. Pre registration is open now until Wednesday, November 28th. The cost for the 5K race is $40 through November 28th and $55 for the 10K. On the day of the event, the cost goes up to $45 for the 5K and $60 for the 10K. The cost for the Kid’s Dash is $10. All proceeds go toward the efforts to revitalize Historic Downtown Snohomish and anyone who is willing to help further can bring a toy in its original packaging to help the cause of the Snohomish Boys and Girls Club.

Everyone participating in the run is encouraged to wear festive clothing to get into the holiday spirit and spread cheer to all who live in Snohomish real estate. Those who take part in the 5K or 10K will receive a swag bag that includes a shirt and official medal. Find more information about the run on the event’s Facebook page and register using this link.