Enjoy an evening away from your Snohomish home trying to solve a murder 1980’s style. The Murder Mystery Company offers a tasty dinner that is served in conjunction with the show. Laugh out loud and work with other people in the audience and the actors to solve the murder mystery. Try to put together the clues to discover who the murderer is and why they did it. Come out for a rendition of Totally 80s Totally Murder on March 9th, March 24th, or April 7th among other dates. All of these shows start at 7 p.m. at French Creek Manor located at 9931 167th Ave. SE in Snohomish. Purchase your tickets in advance for a price of $60 for general admission or $79 for the VIP package.

Have a great time getting decked out in your favorite 80’s gear for the show. Dust off your jean jacket, buy a new bottle of hairspray, and strut around in your favorite leg warmers while trying to solve the mystery. Go back to your concert going days and join Poison Ratenstein who came to rock out with fans until he became bummed out when hearing about the murder. Everyone in attendance is invited to work alongside the detective to put together the pieces and get on with their bodacious evening.

Be sure to make your meal selection and print your tickets at your Snohomish home before coming out for the show. Cellular data signals are less than ideal at the site, so don’t rely on being able to pull the tickets up on your phone. All guests can enjoy free parking and know that the venue is handicap accessible. Watch the calendar for other themed mystery dinner parties, as they change frequently. Also keep this idea in mind for a private birthday party, team building activity, or other event. Visit the Murder Mystery Co. to find more details and to purchase tickets.

Wine lovers living in Snohomish will want to attend the annual Chamber of Commerce Wine Festival. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, March 3rd at Crossroads Event Center, located at Thomas Farms, 9010 Marsh Road. There are two tastings, one from 1 to 4 p.m. and the second from 5 to 8 p.m. General admission tickets for either tasting session are $30 each. This includes 5 tasting tickets and a $5 food voucher for the food truck court. Participants will receive a commemorative wine glass to take home. Ticket holders also receive a coupon for $1 off the purchase of a glass of wine and 10% off the purchase of 6 or more bottles from the wine shop.

Get a group of friends together to take advantage of the VIP package. This includes 6 admission tickets for $125, which is a discount of $5 per ticket. VIP ticket holders also receive all the benefits of general admission tickets. Both general admission and VIP ticket packages are available to purchase online at the Chamber of Commerce website. Designated driver tickets will be available at the door. These are just $10 and include a $5 food voucher. Parking is free for all attendees. Keep in mind that this event is open to people living in Snohomish and the surround area who are 21 years of age or older.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the work of the chamber of commerce. Visit the Chamber of Commerce to purchase tickets today. Online ticket sales will end on Friday, March 2nd at noon. Don’t miss this fun event, where you can discover the amazing wines grown in the Pacific Northwest and around the world. The food truck court will have something to suit everyone. Take an afternoon to relax and have fun at this beautiful setting.

If you have a hankering for delicious, fresh-baked pastries, pies, and quiches, you should get yourself to Sky River Bakery as fast as you can. The bakery opens at 7 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. However, the owners have been up for hours by that time, getting the day’s offerings ready. Sweet tooths will find plenty of choices at the Monroe real estate location. Choose from muffins, cinnamon rolls, coffee cakes, sticky buns, cookies, maple bars, and many more delectable offerings. The Lotta Lemon and Morning Glory muffins are long-time favorites. Those looking for something savory or for a quick lunch won’t be disappointed either. Order a quiche, a pizza, or a biscuit with ham or sausage and cheese. Order a coffee or espresso to perk up and get through the day.

Sky River Bakery is also a wonderful place to get special occasion desserts for events at residential Monroe real estate. The pies have perfect flaky crust and come in apple, blackberry, raspberry, cream pies, rhubarb, and strawberry. Pumpkin pies are available during the holidays. There are 10 kinds of cheesecakes, cupcakes, and other specialty desserts.

If you’d like to make a special order, just call Sky River Bakery at 360-794-7434. You can call to order your favorite muffin or to get a birthday cake or other special occasion treats. The bakery also offers wedding cakes. Choose from five flavors, chocolate, carrot, yellow buttermilk, apple, or banana walnut. For frosting, go for chocolate, vanilla, mocha, or rum. Cakes can be stacked or tiered, and the bakery will work with the florist to decorate the cake with flowers that coordinate with your wedding colors. Give the bakery a call to set up a tasting appointment. You can also email andrew@skyriverbakery.com.

Visit Sky River Bakery to get more details about the daily offerings and specialty items. Check out the special web offer to get $2 off your order.

Bring some great movies, books, and music back to your Lake Stevens property after attending special programs at the Lake Stevens Library. The calendar is always full of activities and the beginning of March is no different. Preschoolers and their caregivers are invited to the library on Thursday, March 1st from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. for Preschool Storytime. Youngsters ages 3 to 5 can come participate in fun activities that will help them to prepare for a lifelong love of reading. No advance registration is required for this program. Stick around on this same day for Little Science Lab. This event does require advance registration and will take place on March 1st from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Little Science Lab works in partnership with Imagine Children’s Museum to provide a 30 minute science workshop every week. If March 1st does not work, feel free to register for a different date. Children ages 3 to 5 can learn about technology, math, engineering, chemistry, and other science topics that help them to better understand the world around them. Each participant must have an adult present with them to ensure everyone has a great time and learns a ton.

Friday March 2nd is Read Across America Day. Libraries and schools all over the country celebrate Dr. Suess’ birthday and work hard to instill a love of reading in every Lake Stevens property and every home across the country. The Lake Stevens Library will participate in this endeavor by providing a gift to every child 12 and under when they check out a book. These will be available for as long as supplies last. Bring your children to the library to grab some books and choose a few titles for yourself as well. Join the National Education Association in their mission to get books into as many hands as possible.

The Lake Stevens School District offers a wide variety of community education programs to those who call Lake Stevens home. Winter 2018 is jam packed with fun and enriching opportunities to learn something new, get exercise, practice skills, and meet new people. Adults have the chance to take advantage of many fitness programs such as Over 40 Basketball, Over 18 Co-Ed Basketball, and Non Competitive Adult Co-Ed Volleyball. These programs require registration and a fee. However, there are several fitness opportunities as well that are free of charge such as Free Hatha Yoga at Team Fitness on March 7th from 6 to 7 p.m or Free Community Boot Camp at Team Fitness offered Saturdays from 9 to 10 a.m. through March 24th.

Many lifestyle and hobby classes are available as well. Fill your Lake Stevens home with amazing home baked smells with what you learn from attending Pie Decorating and Design or Cupcake Decorating and Design with Terry Myer. Learn how to add techniques such as cutouts, braiding, and crimping to your pies. The cost is $25 and even includes a pie to take home. Choose from February 24th or March 3rd from noon to 2:30 p.m. The cupcake class also costs $25 and will take place March 24th and March 31st also from noon to 2:30 p.m. Participants will learn to use piping bags and sprinkles to add an artistic touch to cupcakes and will be able to take some home to enjoy. Other available class listings include Chalk Lettering, Community of Kindness, Get out of your Gut Rut, Declutter and Make Money Selling Your Stuff, An Introduction to Voiceovers, Introduction to Tower Gardening, Basic Dog Obedience, and Advanced Canine Good Citizen Prep.

The Lake Stevens High School pool also offers members of the community the opportunity to come swim. Choose from open swim, swimming lesson, water aerobics, swim teams, lifeguard training, and the ability to rent the facility for special events. Visit the Community Education page on the Lake Stevens School District website to find more information and a full schedule of pool activities as well as all other community classes. 

Some might think that living in Monroe wouldn’t be a good place for finding great Mexican food. But that’s because they haven’t heard of El Lago Mexican Restaurant. Located in the Lake Tye Building, El Lago provides amazing, authentic Mexican cuisine along with lovely lakeside views.

El Lago is a great choice for either lunch or dinner. Lunch portions are a little smaller than dinner but still include favorites like enchiladas. Or try one of the famous chimichangas, which is a tortilla stuffed with your choice of ground or shredded beef, chicken, or pork, covered in cheese and fried, then served with guacamole, sour cream, rice and beans. Order pollo en mole to eat chicken as you never have before. A boneless chicken breast is served with mole, a uniquely tangy, sweet and spicy sauce, with salad, rice, and beans as well.

The fajitas at El Lago are one of their most popular dishes, and it’s easy to see why. There’s a plate of fajitas for every palate: steak, pork, chicken, shrimp, and even vegetarian. The sizzling plate is brought to the table, cooked with bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and carrots, served with guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, rice and beans. And then there are the Hawaiian fajitas, which might just be El Lago’s most famous dish. In addition to the sizzling, savory meats and the flavorful veggies, the Hawaiian fajitas also have bacon and melted cheese. This is truly heaven on a plate.

El Lago offers weekly specials to everyone living in Monroe. Come in on Mondays for specially mixed and priced margaritas, and be sure to try the house margarita. On Taco Tuesdays, snag two crispy tacos for the price of one. Get a group of friends together to share the different tacos around, and you’ll soon discover new favorites.

Visit El Lago to see the full menu, read about the restaurant’s history and culinary inspirations, and make reservations. 

The Lake Stevens Library offers a wide variety of programming to those living in a Lake Stevens property. Bring the little ones to the library for one of the Ready Readers programs. Toddlers ages 19 to 35 months and their caregivers are welcome to come hear stories and get moving on Tuesday, February 13th from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Youngsters can stay for playtime or a craft following the program. Bring little ones aged 0-18 months in for Baby and Me Storytime also on Tuesday, February 13th from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Babies can get an early jump on discovering a love for reading by being exposed to amusing stories and fun songs. Preschoolers ages 3 to 5 can come for activities and interaction with other children during Preschool Storytime on Thursday, February 15th from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Storytimes are available every week and patrons are invited to keep an eye on the calendar for other great events as well. Preschoolers can stick around after storytime for the Little Science Lab or come just for this event. Children ages 3 to 5 and their caregivers are invited to register for this chance to learn more about the natural world. A break from school means extra programming and early elementary students ages 5 through 9 can register for No School? Let’s Slime. Children will get their hands dirty and engage their brains by making and playing with slime from 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Friday, February 16th.

The Lake Stevens Library has plenty of opportunities for adults to come take part in programming as well. Adults aged 20 and over can visit the library for the STARS Training Series: Beyond Happy, Mad, and Sad - Building emotional literacy in young children on Saturday, February 17th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. This workshop currently has a waiting list and will help adults better assist their children in understanding emotions. It is a useful skill for a child to be able to not only identify their own emotions, but to recognize them in others as well. Come in for one of these programs and grab a few books or DVD’s to take back to your Lake Stevens property on the way out. Check out the calendar and find links to more information about the library. 

Della Terra brings fresh food directly from local farms to the tables in Snohomish real estate. In addition to providing catering, this company also plans special events, cooking classes, and pop-ups throughout the region. There are a few opportunities coming up to check out their delicious cuisine. Tickets are available for $89 each for A Sweet (And Savory) Valentine's Dinner at The Hungry Pelican. This event will take place on Friday, February 9th, 2018 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Bring your valentine for an amazing seven course meal that will consist of fresh ingredients from the local harvest of the season. Sip on local wines as you enjoy the meal. Chef Cody Castiglia will present a menu consisting of Rosemary and Cheese Popovers, Grape and Goat, Penn Cove Mussels, Truffle Toast, Smoked Salmon Ravioli, Surf and Turf, and a Selection of Mini Desserts. There will be gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian options available. Also be aware that the menu could change slightly depending on what locally sourced items are available.

Those hoping to learn skills for cooking an amazing dinner in their own Snohomish real estate can sign up for Sweet (And Savory) Cooking for Valentine’s Day. This class will take place on Monday, February 12th, 2018 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. also at The Hungry Pelican. The class costs $59 and will be fun and engaging. Chef Cody Castiglia of Della Terra will be on site to walk participants through creating a delicious four course dinner that can easily be made at home. Impress your beloved by making Grape and Goat, Smoked Salmon Ravioli, Surf and Turf, and Chocolate and Cranberry Crème Brulee. View other upcoming Della Terra events, find more details, and purchase tickets. 

The Monroe YMCA offers a variety of fun and engaging classes and events to people of all ages who call Monroe home. Seniors are invited to the facility on Saturday, February 10th, 2018 for Senior Swing Dance. Get up and moving and feel the beat as you laugh and have a great time with friends from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the YMCA Group Exercise Room 1. This event is the annual fundraiser for Senior Programming, and the tickets cost $15 each. Participants can get in a swing dancing lesson for the first hour from dance instructors Mike and Stephanie Smith and then put what they have learned into practice during the second hour of dancing. Take a little rest during the event and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea with friends while thinking about which dessert to bid on. In addition to the dessert dash there will also be raffle items available. Support all of the programs that mean so much to seniors who live in a Monroe home.

Take a look at the main page for the Monroe/Sky Valley YMCA to see all that this facility has to offer. Follow links to view information about classes, membership, camps, jobs, events, child care, and so much more. There are many benefits of membership. Come in for free group exercise classes, use state of the art fitness equipment, take advantage of personalized workouts, swim in heated indoor pools and spend time in the sauna, make a plan with a certified Wellness Coach, and also get 12 guest passes so you can bring along friends or family members. Join with the Monroe/Sky Valley YMCA and enjoy access to all six YMCA facilities in Snohomish County. There are no contracts involved and there is also a 30-day money back guarantee. Memberships range from $20 a month for youth to $105 a month for families with two adults and children. Program memberships are available for a reduced cost, and day passes are available as well. Financial assistance is available, so do not let the monthly dues deter you from considering joining.

Sam’s Cats and Dogs, Naturally is a one-stop-shop for everyone’s pet supply needs and it is proud to call Monroe home. Their goal is to provide top of the line pet products and information for everyone in the area, allowing pet guardians to form better relationships with their pets through the service and support that they provide. At Sam’s Cats and Dogs they make sure that everything they sell will keep pets healthy and strong, since it’s their mission to “make the bond between pet and guardian strong, vibrant, healthy, and happy as possible”.

The shop provides multiple services to its customers from ordering special items to aiding in the search for the perfect gift. Plus, their fully fenced dog park is open every day with plenty of agility toys and equipment as well as a minimum of mud issues - no matter the weather. Since the park is privately owned it is properly cared for and guardians can trust that their dog will be safe running in their “off-leash” area. Another well loved service of Sam’s at their Monroe location is their full service grooming option for cats and dogs. Nail trims can be done for $10 any day of the week, even on a walk in basis, and full grooming is available from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. seven days a week. Guardians who need to set up an appointment for their pets should call 360-217-8342 for scheduling. While an estimated quote can be given over the phone at the time of scheduling, the true price will be set when the pet is met in person so that Sam’s can offer the best price they can give.

Pet guardians who call Monroe home have a wealth of information at their fingertips at Sam’s Cats and Dogs, Naturally. This family owned and locally operated pet store is community focused and offers their area a place to gather for the latest information in pet nutrition and behavior, while keeping their customers needs met as quickly as possible by their helpful and friendly staff. Sam’s can help guardians find the perfect food for their pet depending on the needs of the animal and their price range, and since they offer only the finest food for pets made from premium human grade ingredients and the latest approaches to the manufacturing process, guardians can trust that their pets are getting the very best. There’s sure to be something for even the pickiest pet!

Visit Sam’s Cats and Dogs to learn more about everything the amazing shop offers, email samscatsanddogs@gmail.com, or call their Monroe location at 360-805-5060. Sam’s Cats and Dogs, Naturally loves to hear from their customers!