Live Irish music on St. Patricks Day at Paddy Coyne's in Bellevue, March 17, 2009.

Saturday, 3-10 to Sunday, 3-11

Bellevue Chamber Chorus presents ‘Choral Journeys’ at the Theatre at Meydenbauer Center and Mercer Island Congregational Church

This musical excursion takes listeners through the songs of China, India, Spain, Estonia, Scandinavia, Argentina, and the U.S. En route, savor a potpourri of sacred and secular music from classical to folk, plus, hear the regional premiere of a new work by American composer and conductor André Thomas.

The Saturday show is at 7:30, located at 11100 NE Sixth St., Bellevue and the Sunday show is at 3 p.m., 4545 Island Crest Way, Mercer Island, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/

Saturday, 3-11

Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra presents Masterworks Concert II

The show will include Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 9” and Arr. Ralph Ford’s “Video Games Live” in this show of living composer’s work. It includes a pre-concert lecture by KING FM’s Steve Reeder.

7-10 p.m., 11100 NE Sixth St., Bellevue, ww.byso.org

Saturday, 3-17

Third Annual St. Patty’s Day Dash in Lake Hills

Bring your friends and family for a run on this 5K course, which has been mapped out on the trails surrounding the Lake Hills area. New this year is a special 1K course for kids. Participants are encouraged to dress up and show their Irish spirit. Awards will be given for most spirited and other fun categories. Lucky, the leprechaun, will make a surprise appearance and will be available for photos. Snacks and drinks will be provided after the race. Price: $20 – $55.  Souvenir T-shirts are included in the cost and will be available for pick up two weeks after the event.

8-11 a.m., 15231 Lake Hills Blvd., Bellevue. 425-746-1160, www.samena.com

Saturday, 3-17 to Sunday, 3-25

Pacific Northwest Ballet school presents ‘Snow White’ at McCaw Hall

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? Snow White, of course. Cast out of her father’s home, Snow White seeks refuge with seven dwarves. Determined to derail Snow White’s happiness, the evil Queen repeatedly attempts to harm the poor maiden. The Queen thinks she’s succeeded after Snow White bites a poison apple and falls into a deep slumber. The Prince sees the sleeping Snow White, falls in love, wakes her, and a grand wedding is planned. Danced by the students of Pacific Northwest Ballet School, “Snow White” is a narrated, hour-long, version of this beloved classic. Running Time: one hour with no intermission. Tickets range from $22 to $67, and lower rates are available for children.

Times vary. 321 Mercer St.,  Seattle. 206-441-2424, www.pnb.org

Tuesday, 3-20 to Sunday, 3-25

STG Presents the national tour of “Mama Mia” at Paramount Theatre

A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget.

More than 45 million people around the world have fallen in love with the characters, story and ABBA music that “Mama Mia” the ultimate feel-good show. Writer Catherine Johnson’s funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.

Times vary. 911 Pine St., Seattle. 1-877-784-4849, www.stgpresents.org

Saturday, 3-24

Sing-a-long Sound of Music at the Theatre at Meydenbauer Center

Get ready to yodel in Bellevue. This is your chance to sing a long to the most successful movie musical of all time. This family event encourages audience participation and includes subtitles for all the songs. The cost is $17-$62. Groups rates are available.

The sing-a-long is 7-10:30 a.m., at 11100 NE Sixth St., Bellevue. 425-450-3810, www.meydenbauer.com

Friday, 3-23 to Sunday 3-25

KIDSTAGE presents ‘Hot Mess’ at First Stage Theatre

This play dives headfirst into the whirlwind world of beauty pageants. Behind the glitz and glamour, six girls attempt the impossible: inviting an outsider into their clique and teaching her the tricks of the trade. But will these girls be able to walk the fine line between courtesy and competition on this cutthroat stage? Exploring the ever-evolving world of teenage girls, “Hot Mess” is a cheeky comedy that paints an in-depth portrait of how young women communicate and behave with each other when the stage lights are off.

The show is at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23-24 and at 2 p.m., Feb. 25 at 120 Front St. N., Issaquah.  425-392-1942 x100, www.villagetheatre.org

Wednesday, 3-14 to Sunday, 3-25

‘It Shoulda Been You’ a new musical comedy at Village Theatre

The bride is Jewish. The groom is Catholic. Her mother is a force of nature, his mother is a tempest in a cocktail shaker. And when the bride’s ex-boyfriend crashes the party, the perfect wedding starts to unravel faster than you can whistle “Here Comes the Bride.” Plots are hatched, pacts are made, secrets are exposed – and the sister of the bride is left to turn a tangled mess into happily ever after. A musical comedy for anyone with parents, “It Shoulda Been You” is set to shine on the mainstage.

Times vary. 303 Front St. N., Issaquah. 425-392-2202, www.villagetheatre.org

Saturday, 3-24 to Sunday, 3-25 & Friday, 3-30 to Saturday, 3-31

Lyric Light Opera of the Northwest presents ‘South Pacific’ at Kirkland Performance Center

Set in an island paradise during World War II, two parallel love stories are threatened by the dangers of prejudice and war. Nellie, a spunky nurse from Arkansas, falls in love with a mature French planter, Emile. Nellie learns that the mother of his children was an island native and, unable to turn her back on the prejudices with which she was raised, refuses Emile’s proposal of marriage. Meanwhile, the strapping Lt. Joe Cable denies himself the fulfillment of a future with an innocent Tonkinese girl with whom he’s fallen in love out of the same fears that haunt Nellie. When Emile is recruited to accompany Joe on a dangerous mission that claims Joe’s life, Nellie realizes that life is too short not to seize her own chance for happiness, thus confronting and conquering her prejudices. The cost is $35-$37.

Times vary. 350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland . 425.893.9900, www.kpcenter.org

By Josh Suman | Photos by Chad Coleman

The Eastside is full of people who identify through their active lifestyle. From hiking Mount Si to paddle boarding Lake Washington or kayaking through the area’s network of waterways, getting into the great outdoors is one of the most attractive elements of life in the Puget Sound region.

But once the clocks are set back and the sunshine begins to wane, the elements become an obstacle.

Not anymore.

Indoor activities throughout the area can be an outlet for releasing pent-up energy and a great way to feel the rush without venturing into sub-freezing temperatures or a torrential downpour.

Here are a few spots we found that offer all the excitement, without the risk of hypothermia.

iFly Seattle Indoor Skydiving

Whether you’re a first-time flyer or seasoned skydiver, iFly Seattle offers an experience unlike any other.

With professional flight instructors, a state-of-the-art vertical wind tunnel with controllable airflow and all the flight gear required, iFly promises an experience full of “excitement, adrenaline and adventure.”

Rates vary from $59.95 for a first-time flyer package to $525 for 30 minutes of fly time for seasoned flyers. Group and party reservations also are available.

349 Tukwila Parkway

206-244-4359

www.iflyseattle.com/ifly-indoor-skydiving

lysa@iflyseattle.com

K1 Speed Seattle Indoor Go Kart Racing

With the only track in Washington running green-friendly, 20-horsepower electric karts, K1 Speed is the premier indoor go kart facility in the area.

The half-mile etched concrete surface includes seven turns with drifting capabilities. Karts travel up to 40 mph and don’t “bog down” like their gasoline-powered counterparts.

A yearly license is available for $5.95 and Arrive and Drive packages begin at $20. Corporate reservations and parties also are available.

2207 NE Bel-Red Road, Redmond

425-555-9999
www.K1speed.com

Sky High Sports Indoor Trampoline

Featuring nearly 25,000 square feet of wall-to-wall trampoline space, Sky High Sports is a one-of-a-kind experience.

The facility includes five jumping courts, with one reserved exclusively for kids, as well as a foam pit and two dodgeball courts.

Sky High Sports also offers AIRobics, a specially designed course that mixes traditional aerobic exercise with the exhilaration of jumping.

All trampolines feature a specially designed, spring-loaded frame that is covered by two-inch thick safety padding and court supervisors are always on hand to deal with safety concerns. And with trampoline walls surrounding each court, the risk of falling off is never a worry.

Jumpers under 18 must have a parent-signed waiver. Rates begin at $11 per hour with specials and a private court for parties also available.

1445 120th Ave. NE, Bellevue

425-990-JUMP (5867)
sea.jumpskyhigh.com

Stone Gardens Indoor Climbing Center

Indoor climbing finally has a home in Bellevue with the opening of the Crossroads location of Stone Gardens, which has twice the climbing space of the original Seattle location.

21,000 square feet of climbing terrain spread across two top rope and lead areas as well as a pair of walls dedicated specifically for bouldering, which have bouldering problems ranging from V-0 to V-12.

Routes are set professionally by the team at Stone Gardens and are designed to accommodate the most novice of climbers while still presenting routes challenging enough for seasoned veterans.

The facility also features a kids area and is home to a youth climbing team.

Walk-ins are encouraged and private reservations also are available.

15600 N.E. Eighth St., Bellevue

425-644-2445; http://www.stonegardens.com
bellevue@stonegardens.com

top rope and lead areas as well as a pair of walls dedicated specifically for bouldering, which have bouldering problems ranging from V-0 to V-12.

Routes are set professionally by the team at Stone Gardens and are designed to accommodate the most novice of climbers while still presenting routes challenging enough for savvy veterans.

The facility also features a kids area and is home to a youth climbing team.

Walk-ins are encouraged and private reservations also are available.

15600 N.E. Eighth St., Bellevue

425-644-2445; www.stonegardens.com
bellevue@stonegardens.com

By Gabrielle Nomura | Photos by Chad Coleman, additional photos courtesy of Nightmare at Beaver Lake

At first glance, Dana Young is the last person who would scare you.

The stay-at-home mom loves to bake and solve puzzles. She volunteers in her kids’ schools and greets her Microsoft  husband at the end of each day.

Plus, her 5-foot-2-inch stature is not what you’d call intimidating.

But beware – appearances can be deceiving. Each Halloween season, this suburban mom (pictured above) transforms like a werewolf beneath a full moon. Young and 300 other volunteer actors are what make the haunted adventure, Nightmare at Beaver Lake, come alive with gory ghouls and spooky characters each year.

Their one mission – scaring you.

This is not the typical haunted house with mechanical crows, pop-up monsters and the lackluster finale of a man holding a rubber chain saw.

It’s a nightmare come to life, a thrill-seekers paradise.

“Our haunt is different because it’s theatrical, actors are coming up and interacting with you,” says Young, who has played every character from lunatics to half-animal/half-humans. “There are a lot of ways actors can scare you including startling, staring, sniffing and acting in a way that’s unexpected. Even if you came through the haunt twice, it would be different each time.”

This improvised show put on by the actors is an essential part of the haunt, which takes place over three-quarters of a mile of haunted wood in Beaver Lake Park in Sammamish. The path winds through sets with spooky graveyards, carnival kitchens or giant, swirling vortexes with trippy black light and clowns, depending on the theme that year. This October, visitors will face a haunt called “We Know What Scares You.”

As usual, Young is looking forward to the adrenaline rush she loves, scaring the wits out of people’s minds – and sometimes, even something wet from people’s pants.

“We do have a Pisser Pants Award for whoever can confirm making an adult pee their pants first,” said Young, the proud recipient of last year’s award.

Young emerged as the winner when, in character as a ghoul, she went up behind a woman and sniffed, like an animal surveying its prey.

That was all it took. Young’s victory was confirmed by a security guard on hand, who happened to be carrying a flashlight.

Several of these or similar “little accidents” happen each year.

“Instead of trying to keep it a secret, people always seem to throw their hands up in the air and say, ‘Oh my God, I just peed my pants,” Young says.

But Young isn’t on a mission to make people pee-their-pants-scared, per se.

“At 5’2,” I don’t mess with anyone who’s shorter than I am,” Young says. “My favorite part is when they scream, and then they laugh.”

Bringing the joy of scaring people to Sammamish was originally for the teenagers there, who, between school and home, were fairly bored on the plateau, according to responses from a survey put out by the Sammamish Rotary Club in 2004, asking participants how the city could be improved.

That same year, the haunt was born, giving something for teenagers to both attend and participate in. Nearly 4,000 people screamed their way through the nightmare over a four-night period.

Last year, more than 9,700 people enjoyed the haunt over 11 spooky nights. Teens, as well as community members like Young bring it to the next level each year; adding more elaborate sets, such as a giant trebuchet and organizing an event filled with actors that jump out of nowhere, and somehow, know visitors by name (a sneaky trick).

But aside from the customer who pays to get spooked, Nightmare at Beaver Lake benefits people in need by donating food and money to charities.

Visitors receive $1 off their ticket if they bring a food donation, and last year, the haunt raked in 2,430 pounds of canned goods and non-perishable items that were donated to Eastside Domestic Violence Program. Additionally, organizers made donations totalling $7,000 to groups that helped out with the haunt, the Issaquah Senior Center and Sammamish Youth Board, among others.

The fact that scaring people helps others is what makes Nightmare a perfect volunteer activity for ordained minister, Rev. Shane Mitchell, who’s been involved since the haunt’s early years.

Finding a safe, positive and fun environment to let human emotions of hate, anger or even insanity be channeled in a way that benefits charity is one big “love fest,” as Mitchell puts it.

“When I found scare, I found a way to  express those things society says we can’t do,” Mitchell says. “That was cathartic for me.”

Mitchell, an advanced scarer, once frightened a teenage girl through the haunt, onto the shuttle that takes visitors back to the parking lot, and even jumped into the car with her confused dad, speaking in a deranged voice that he was going to “live under her bed from now on.”

The girl was freaked out – but she couldn’t get enough of it, Mitchell says.

Scaring is a free, legal high that really does benefit everyone involved, Young says. The visitor gets an unforgettable Halloween, charities receive a donation and the person doing the scaring benefits in many ways, too: finding a passion for set, costume and makeup design, having the time of one’s life each October and finding a community of like-minded individuals.

“Many of us are the freaks, the geeks the misfits,” Mitchell says. “We may not have been the kids on cheerleader squads or the football team, but we need something that we can be a part of too, and that’s what we find in scare.”

Schedule and ticket information:
Oct. 20, 7-7:45 p.m. Family Scare; 8-10 p.m. Full Scare
Oct. 21, 7-7:45 p.m. Family Scare; 8-11 p.m. Full Scare
Oct.22, 7-7:45 p.m. Family Scare; 8-11 p.m. Full Scare
Oct. 23, 7-7:45 p.m. Family Scare; 8-10 p.m. Full Scare
Oct. 24, Closed
Oct. 25, Closed
Oct. 26, 7-7:45 p.m. Family Scare; 8-10 p.m. Full Scare
Oct. 27, 7-7:45 p.m. Family Scare; 8-10 p.m. Full Scare
Oct. 28, 7-7:45 p.m. Family Scare; 8-11pm Full Scare with special guest character Jason Voorhees available for photos and autographs
Oct. 29, 7-7:45 p.m. Family Scare; 8-11 p.m. Full Scare with special guest character Jason Voorhees available for photos and autographs
Oct.30, 7-7:45 p.m. Family Scare; 8-10 p.m. Full Scare
Oct. 31, 7-7:45 p.m. Family Scare; 8-10 p.m. Full Scare

Prices: Family Scare, $8; full scare Sunday-Thursday $12; Friday and Saturday, $15. Bring a can of food to donate and save $1 off the ticket price. Beaver Lake Park: 244th Ave. SE, Sammamish; www.nightmareatbeaverlake.com.

By Gabrielle Nomura | Photos by Chad Coleman

When someone compliments her for what she’s wearing, Bellevue fashion blogger, Rebecca Klein likes being able to say, “Why thank you. It’s vintage.” There are plenty of reasons to compliment vintage and secondhand clothing, whether it’s for bringing back a winning retro look, having the smarts to save money in the economic slump or for benefitting the earth by recycling gently-used garments at consignment stores.

With 1970s chic making a comeback in off-the-shoulder Dolce & Gabbana peasant blouses and Yves Saint Laurent wide-leg trousers and pantsuits, snagging an up-to-date look, even from older garments is easy for those who don’t mind sifting through the racks.

Gucci, St. John, Dior, Coach, Nordstrom and Macy’s are some brands found at the Re-Dress Shop, a consignment store on 140th Avenue that allows people to bring in their designer and better-name-brand clothing and receive half of what the item sells for.  The store gets a little of everyone coming in, from women in their 20s, to businesswomen who come in looking for professional attire. High-end retail outlets such as Neiman Marcus on the Eastside make for even better secondhand shopping in Bellevue, says Re-Dress Shop owner, Kelly Boyd. The people who shop at the Bravern and Bellevue Collection are often the same people who bring in their clothes for consignment.

The high-end recycled clothing found at Your Sister’s Closet is another example where one can find evidence that fashion-savvy women live in Bellevue. An institution of secondhand styles, Your Sister’s Closet has been in its location for 30 years. In addition to the clothing, customers love the selection of handbags, petite through plus sizes, free coffee and designer labels from Chicos, Anne Taylor, to Prada, Chanel and St. Johns, says owner Jennifer Kang.

“It’s not a department store where you simply find what’s trendy,” Kang says. “Everybody has unique taste and they can express that through what they find here. I love that every item has a unique story.”

Rebecca Klein,
Fashion blogger:
eastsidefashion.com

Wearing: (Top) Dolce & Gabbana dress. $222.99. (Below) Miss Lucille hat,
$31.99; Max Studio dress, $31.99.
Source: Your Sister’s Closet.
Black peep-toe heels: $27.90.
Source: Forever 21

Where to go:

Between Friends Consignment & Gifts
137 106th Av. N.E., Bellevue  |  425-455-0343

Mercer Island Thrift Shop
7710 S.E. 34th St., Mercer Island  |  206-275-7760

Re-Dress Consignment Shop
1645 140th N.E. #B8, Bellevue  |  425-746-7984

Plato’s Closet
14125 N.E. 20th St., Bellevue  |  425-603-9494

Your Sister’s Closet
11810 N.E. 8th Street, Bellevue  |  425-223-2100

Goodwill Industries
14515 N.E. 20th St., Bellevue  |  425-649-2080

Highly inappropriate and insanely funny comedian, Mitch Fatel will hit the stage at Parlor Live Comedy Club on November 4 through November 6.

Born in New York, the stand-up comedian began performing at the age of 15 and attended New York University, Tisch School of the Arts and majored in Film and Acting Studies. Fatel made the first leap into the world of comedy as an intern on the Howard Stern show. He went on to perform on the Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. He also worked as a correspondent on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

In 2004, he released a CD entitled Miniskirts and Muffins and in 2006, Mitch took home honors as the “Best Stand-Up Comedian” at the Aspen Comedy Festival. Fatel had his own half-hour special in 2007 on Comedy Central Presents which was ranked number six by viewers in the “Stand Up Showdown”.

He will bring his “magical” act to Bellevue for three nights in early November. Read up on his current tour, Mitch Fatel is Magical, at www.mitchfatel.com. 

Q&A

*The SCENE interview with comedian Mitch Fatel  has been edited slightly for inappropriate content.

Participating merchants include…

The leaves are turning and the days are getting shorter. Time for warm sweaters, chunky boots and a little pumpkin picking fun. 

Release your inner child at Dr. Maze’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Farm in Redmond for a day of corn mazes, hayrides and pumpkin picking. 

The Pumpkin Patch offers three dozen varieties of pumpkins and winter squash, as well as Gourds and other fall decorative objects.

For some nighttime fun, bring a flashlight and navigate the corn maze until 10 p.m., on Fridays and Saturdays. 

The last corn maze entry on Flashlight Nights is at 9:30.

Dr. Maze’s Farm

Open Fri-Sat:  10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

& Sunday: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Corn Maze entry is $7 per person.

Hayrides are $2 per person.

The farm is conveniently located at 15410 NE 124th Street in Redmond, halfway between Redmond and Woodinville at the intersection of NE 124th St. and Redmond-Woodinville Rd (SR 202).  

LivingSocial, the popular social shopping site has officially launched its Daily Deals program in Bellevue, giving residents and visitors the chance to save up to 90 percent on the hottest local restaurants, hotels, spas, boutiques and other top attractions in the area.

The online discount site kicked off the Eastside market today with a huge deal on Bikram Hot Yoga Bellevue, offering 20 yoga classes for only $20. According to the website, this is a 92 percent savings off the regular $260 value. Each daily deal stays active for only 24 hours. 

Support local businesses in the Bellevue area while saving big bucks.

Visit www.livingsocial.com for daily deals. 

It’s time to explore the community you live in, meet new faces and make friendly with the neighbors. In other words, it’s time to mingle people.

The Bellevue Downtown Association invites residents to join in the fun at the first annual Bellevue Mingle, Thursday, October 14, from 5 to 7 p.m.

The social event is open to all condo and apartment dwellers that live in Downtown Bellevue and will take place at the Bellevue Arts Museum.  It will give downtown condo and apartment residents a chance to meet their neighbors, enjoy complimentary bites from downtown restaurants, taste local wine, check out the art exhibits, and more.

To RSVP for The Bellevue Mingle, visit bellevuemingle.com.  The first 200 RSVP’s will receive a free gift bag at the door. For more information visit bellevuemingle.com.

Ever wondered about the allure of hot yoga or eating clean?

Fitness Forward Studio, a fitness center based in Bellevue, is hosting a community Health Fair on Saturday, October 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

The event will include presentations by Bellevue Foot Zone, ONVO and STOTT Pilates. Also on hand will be representatives from The Essential Baking Company, West Bellevue Moms, Bill the Butcher, Spuds Organic Delivery, Hot Yoga Inc., NUNN and more. 

An introduction to Fitness Forward Studio’s new TRX Suspension Training system will take place at 11:30 a.m. 

Suspension Training is based on a functional exercise created by Randy Hetrick, CEO of Fitness Anywhere and former Navy SEAL. The TRX Suspension Trainer delivers a total-body muscle-sculpting workout through self-adjusted resistance. Members of Forward Studio will be on hand to give demonstrations and answer questions about the new training system.

“We’re very excited to bring TRX Suspension Training to our facility and feel that it is a great way  to differentiate ourselves from other fitness gyms,” said Debbie Potts, owner and trainer of Fitness Forward. “And what better way to do it with such a functional, effective and practical piece of equipment?” 

Learn more about the TRX Suspension Training at the upcoming Fitness Forward Health Fair, at #118 105th Ave NE in Bellevue. For more information, call 425.466.3653 or visit http://fitnessforward.net/.