Nearby street

A side street near where I live. This scene will be much greener in a month or so when the trees leaf out.

Pipe Band and Lassie concert at Shorecrest

From the concert last night at Shorecrest High School featuring the bagpipers and the highland dancers. Shorecrest has a Scottish Highlander theme. Held at the performing arts center that stuck up in the middle of the picture of the Cascade mountains that I posted a few days ago. Looked on the map and Shorecrest High is only two blocks outside the official city limits of Lake Forest Park.

Shorecrest High School - Front Steps

The front steps of Shorecrest High School where all four of my kids have attended. It's actually located in Shoreline but it's attendance area includes all of Lake Forest Park

Lake Forest Mall - upper level

Upper level of the Lake Forest Park mall on a typical gray day. Third Place Books is at the center. One rumor is that this mall is located on an Indian burial ground which might explain the difficulties that some of these businesses have experienced over the years. I try to stay local whenever I can so I try to shop here whenever possible. We are so apt to lose all of our commerce to the global enterprises.

There can be beautiful water vistas and verdant views when the sun is out but often it is drizzly, gray and dark.

Dragon

This is really not a theme...of structure painted to look like water creatures. I realized that I already featured Turtle Rock.....

This dragon lives in the playground of Lake Forest Park Elementary School. It had been there for awhile when my son started elementary school 20 years ago. I don't know who designed and put it there. Every once in awhile, it does get repainted. I heard that a high school student repainted the dragon for her high school senior project.

I've seen better color combinations but the kids like it.

Cascade mountains over Shorecrest High School

View facing east from the softball field across the top of Shorecrest High School towards the Cascade Mountains. You can't see those mountains very often!

Shorecrest High School is actually located in Shoreline but its attendance area includes all of Lake Forest Park. The Performing Arts Theater prominent in the center of the picture. Shorecrest very fortunate to have this facility. All four of my kids have attended Shorecrest, it IS a school with heart. Shorecrest has a diverse student body with about 30% minority, mostly Asian. Diverse economically with families with a variety of resources. Kind of a real life mix. I think that's positive.

NOTE: Completely different mountain range from yesterday though the photos were taken just a few miles apart. Check out my main blog for the chilly nature of that softball field

The Olympics

View from a neighborhood above Richmond Beach in neighboring Shoreline just west of Lake Forest Park. Brilliant day here in the Seattle area. View is across Puget Sound to the Olympic Mountains with Bainbridge Island in the middle distance.

As they say around here "The mountains are out today"

This view is looking west, I also have some pictures of the Cascade Mountains looking east

Lake Forest Park Library

King County Library System has a branch library in the Lake Forest Park mall. My girls have spent many many hours here. Entrance from the lower floor of the mall. A small branch, closed on Sunday. I'm grateful that it's here

Sleepy ducks on the slough

These ducks live in Bothell, east of Lake Forest Park. Cuddled up underneath an overhang of dirt and grasses on the shores of Bothell Slough at Bothell Landing. Picture taken around 9am two days ago. Sleeping in with their heads tucked beneath their wings on one foot.

Our street on February afternoon

Entrace to our court yesterday afternoon...sunny in February. Twelve houses, built in the early 1970s arranged around an L-shaped cul-de-sac. Nice family neighborhood. We've lived here over 20 years

Bothell Slough

A view of Bothell Slough, part of the Sammamish River that runs from Lake Sammamish to Lake Washignton. At Bothell Landing Park maybe 5 miles east of Lake Forest Park just east of the tip of Lake Washington. Closest Department of Licensing Office, I was with my youngest daughter on her latest unsuccessful attempt to pass the driver license written test.

About 9am on a misty morning (today!) looking east into the slough. Lots of bird life, the gulls looking for breakfast and waterfowl in the picture at the bottom and center left.

Turtle Rock

The neighborhood just to the east and a bit north of me is known as "Turtle Rock" The evidence! Sometime, before we moved here (and we've been here 20 years) somebody painted this rock in their front yard to look like a turtle. I know it has been repainted at least once. This landmark gives the neighborhood it's name. People routinely say "I live in Turtle Rock" Looks like it could use at least a washing this spring.

Music at Third Place Books

Last night, a acoustic string gypsy swing group called Hot Club Sandwich played down at Third Place Books. I went with two of my daughters and a few of their friends and enjoyed it quite a lot. Danced too! There was a young man in a wheel chair as part of our group and his uncle and cousin brought him down close to experience the band.

Cakes at Honey Bear

Check out the cakes available at the Honey Bear Bakery at Third Place Books. A lot of temptation close to home. They taste as good as they look. I may be going to listen to some gypsy jazz this evening with Ilana so I may get some pictures.

Spring is coming

My camellia bush, in front of my house, is covered with buds. Two years ago, I had hundreds, maybe thousands of blooms. Last year not so much. I neglect this bush but it's doing great

Winter afternoon

Taken around 1pm the other afternoon (in February) at the top of Ballinger Way as it heads down into Lake Forest Park. The key here are the taillights on the cars. A lot of time, it's dark around here. Not right now, the sun is out!

Third Place Books

Third Place Books is a large bookstore and gathering place in the Lake Forest Park mall. A marvelous place, it is SO important to this area. I always try to leave my money there. Authors and musicians come to speak and perform almost every night. Several restaurants including a great bakery. New and used books. Plenty of tables and chairs for gatherings. Places to read. I love the place!

I am sure I will post more pictures of Tbird Place Books.

Snowy back yard view

View from my friend's backyard during a recent snowy time. They live up on a hill in a wooded area. Not sure what's behind them, but it's very hilly and not developed. They have a beautiful landscaped yard.

Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Thorson

Burke-Gilman trail

A well developed jogging and biking trail, the Burke Gilman runs along Lake Washington through Lake Forest Park. This picture was taken near the entrance to the Lake Forest Park Civic Club. The traffic sign is on the frontage road that runs right along the lake. I believe this trail is on the site of some old interurban tracks and runs from the University district out to Woodinville and beyond.

Lake Forest Park Precints

Picture from the caucuses yesterday. Map of the precincts (Democratic Party) caucusing at North City Elementary. The 32nd District includes the cities of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park as well as parts of Kenmore and the Juanita area of Kirkland. The line at the bottom left is the Seattle city limit. The big oval in the middle is Lake Washington. Puget Sound is the boundary on the left. The Snohomish County Line is the border at the top. Probably the upper 4 precincts pictures are in Lake Forest Park but I'm not sure. Our precinct is one in the top row, bordering on the Snohomish County Line, second from the right, edged in pink.

Everybody in our precinct is a Lake Forest Park resident. About 60 people came from our precinct.

Blogging about Lake Forest Park is challenging because it's less than 4 square miles!

Democratic Party Caucus

The scene from North City Elementary School, the location of the Democratic Party caucus for Precinct 32-0734 which is located in Lake Forest Park. 60 people attended. Considered a large precinct, the final 6ally was

5 delegates for Barack Obama
2 delegates for Hilary Clinton
1 delegate undecided.

Puget Sound is nearby

Seattle (and the area just north) lies with LakeWashington on the east and Puget Sound on the west. The city of Lake Forest Park borders on Lake Washington. But Puget Sound is nearby. Maybe 5 miles due west. Today's picture was taken at Edmonds, a town just across the county line bordering on the Sound. I did an errand there last week and just walked a block up the hill to get this shot. Complete with Washington State Ferry on it's way to Kingston

Winter view of Lake Washington

Photo courtesy of Lee and David. Taken from their deck overlooking Lake Washington

Lake Forest Park is known for it's scenic views and vistas. Spectacular views of mountains and Lake Washington. Heavily wooded.

A winter vista during some rough weather. I'm thinking that this could be a sunrise shot as the view over Lake Washington is towards the east.

LFP Civic Club

Lake Forest Park Civic Club is a private space located on Lake Washington at the foot of Ballinger Way. However, anybody living in a certain area is eligible to join and the dues are very reasonable. The view from the parking lot (last summer NOT now in February) Being a member gives you a swimming beach and dock on Lake Washington plus a boat ramp. Not public public access on the north end of Lake Washington. A club house for rent and fairly good picnic areas. Play area out of sight to the left.

Lake Washington is a very large lake 22 miles long, maybe 10 miles across.

I spent a LOT of time here when my kids were young. Just a mile from our house. You piled whoever was home plus a certain number of neighbor kids and went down for an hour or so of sand and swimming in the afternoon. Sometimes it's good just to spend some time at the lake....

From Wikipedia

Lake Forest Park is a city in King County, Washington just north of the Seattle city limits. A bedroom community by design, most of the city consists of single-family housing on medium to large-sized lots, with an emphasis placed on retaining the natural features of the landscape. Less than 4% of the city land is zoned commercial; most of that is in one location, and there are no industrial areas whatsoever. Notable features include a large amount of lakefront and lakeview residential property, assorted parks and nature preserves, convenient access to the Burke-Gilman Trail, a summertime-only farmer's market, and a large new and used bookstore / food court where community members socialize. The population was 13,142 at the 2000 census.

LFP Town Center

The main (really the only) commercial center of this small community. There are other business along Hwy 522 Bothell Way down towards Lake City. But this is the main shopping area. The back of the complex with the birds on the roof.

Mixture of national and local businesses in this mall which has struggled throughout the years. Been remodeled several times. Now dominated by the very fine Third Place Books on the top floor.

Welcome sign on Ballinger way

Ballinger Way (State Hwy 104) is the main road through Lake Forest Park from Shoreline and running diagonally to meet Bothell Way (State Hwy 522) and Lake Washington. The sign marking the city limit on Ballinger Way heading south. A little worse for wear on this gray February day. Who though of this design?

Fourth of July picnic

Residents of a Lake Forest Park join together for a neighborhood potluck last summer. OK, it's my neighborhood. Nice time and good food. And a great game of water balloon volleyball!

Greater Lake Forest Park

This blog intends to participate in the Daily City Blog project. I live in Lake Forest Park, a residential community just north of the Seattle city limits in King County. I will feature pictures of our small community (just 3 square miles!) supplemented by pictures from our neighboring community to the west, Shoreline, Washington

From the official website of Lake Forest Park

The community of Lake Forest Park constitutes three square miles at the north end of Lake Washington. To the south, Lake Forest Park begins at the city limit of Seattle. To the north, Lake Forest Park ends at the Snohomish county line. To the east, the city is bounded by Lake Washington and at 55th Avenue NE where the city of Kenmore begins. The city's western boundary is at the city of Shoreline's city limit. Lake Forest Park is a distinctly forested environment,a green oasis just 12 miles from downtown Seattle.

The first picture is a view of Ballinger Way, the main arterial of Lake Forest Park, last spring during very typical weather