Britt over at Seattle Parks and Recreation was kind enough to send me a list of the free or nearly-so family events (and one fundraiser) happening this summer at the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center.  The first one is coming up THIS WEDNESDAY. *bounce bounce bounce*

$1 Super Summer Economy Busters

Big Bounce Bonanza
Ages: 12 & under
Bounce your way down to Ravenna for our 3rd annual Big Bounce Bonanza! Big and little kids will have age appropriate bouncers along with other activities guaranteed to wear ‘em out!
6/30 Wed 1–3 p.m.

Pirate P”arrr”ty
Ages: 5 & under
Ahoy mateys! We be a meetin’ at 11 a.m. at Ravenna fer adventure as you hunt fer hidden treasure. Lads and lasses, come dressed in yer finest pirate garb and be prepared fer some swashbuckling fun, grub, and kiddie spirits
7/22 Thurs 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Annual Kids Carnival
Ages: 12& under
A Ravenna tradition! Celebrate summer with your friends! Laugh and play while you enjoy carnival games, a bouncy toy, face painting, bingo, and lots of fun!
7/14 Wed Noon–2 p.m.

Final Fling/Playground Birthday Party
All Ages
Salute goodbye to the summer and help us celebrate our playground’s 2nd birthday! Balloon Buffoon will be on hand to create his impressive balloon creations! Barbeque dinner and cake provided.
8/25 Wed 6–8 p.m.

Fantastic Family Fun at Ravenna

Chalk it Up for the Community Garden
All Ages
A first-of-a-kind event here at Ravenna-Eckstein, the Chalk it Up Event is a fundraiser for our Community Garden Project. It’s simple! Teams of one or more purchase a 5’ x 5 ‘ space on our hard court play area at the back of the center. This year’s theme… of course… is “How I grow my Garden…” Join us for an evening of family fun, farm to table food, creative energy, and a little community building! Registration forms available on June 28.
7/28 Wed 6–9 p.m.
Activity Fee: $25, Teams of 1 or more.

National “Night Out”
All Ages
“Night Out” is a national crime prevention event. It is designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts, and unite our community. It is a great chance to learn about crime prevention, while also celebrating your community and spending time with your neighbors. Meet firemen and policemen and explore a real fire truck and a police car!
8/3 Tue 6–8 p.m.
Activity Fee: Free

Wacky Western Wednesday
Ages: 12 & under
Attention cowboys and cowgirls! Throw on your best western attire and cowboy duds and head on over to the community center! Eat some good ol’ fashioned cowboy chow, and come ready to party like cowboy, minus the campfire! Special guests include a mobile petting zoo (complete with a pot belly pig, goat, donkey, chicken, and bunnies) and pony rides on miniature and regular horses!
8/11 Wed Noon–2 p.m.
Activity Fee: $3

Another (hopefully) regular weekly post for you: Things to do in Ravenna (or close to) on the weekends.  And we’ll throw in a forecast, too.

Saturday options (AM clouds, PM sun; high of 72!):

• University District Farmers Market, 9am-2pm; University Heights Community Center parking lot, University Way and NE 50th Street
• Family Story Time at the Northeast Branch of the Seattle Public Library, 10:30-11am
• Wine tasting at McCarthy & Schiering, 11am-5pm; 6500 Ravenna Ave NE; Darioush Napa Valley Wines (Darioush Khaledi in the Ravenna shop from 11:30am-2pm)
• Kids’ Story Time (with Mrs. Wigglesworth) at Ravenna Third Place Books, 11-11:30am; 6504 20th Avenue NE
• Paper Airplanes! at the Northeast Branch of the Seattle Public Library, 2-4pm; Museum of Flight representatives lead hands-on activities; ages 6 and up
• Drink Manny’s at Ravenna Alehouse and fight Crohn’s disease and colitis, 5pm-close; 2258 NE 65th Street, 21 and over

Sunday options (partly cloudy; high of 73!):

• Meadowbrook Farmers Market, 11am-3pm; Seattle Waldorf School campus, 2728 NE 100th Street

Saturday AND Sunday:

• Ravenna Third Place Books is having one of their big ol’ 40% Off All Used Books Sales this weekend. B.Y.O.Wheelbarrow, note the flyers.

The forecasts are via weather.com, for the 98115.

Darn tasty beer.

Like tasty, locally-brewed beer?

Like fighting disease?

This Saturday at the Ravenna Alehouse, you can do both, AT THE SAME TIME.

Julee Pratt and her team, The Gut Girls, will be participating in the Take Steps Challenge on July 18th to raise money for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). If you want to help the cause, you can donate to the team, participate in the walk yourself, or head to the Ravenna Alehouse (2258 NE 65th St) this Saturday between 5pm and closing and drink Manny’s Pale Ale. Or do all three.

From Julee’s “Fundraiser for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America” facebook page (emphasis mine):

Please join me at the Ravenna Alehouse on Saturday, June 26th to help raise funds for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation! I will be participating in the Take Steps Challenge on July 18th at Magnuson Park and this fundraiser will help me and my team, The Gut Girls, to reach our goal! Many of you know that this foundation is more than just a charity to me. I encourage you to view my personal fundraising page for more information. It can be found here. There is also a direct link on my Facebook profile page.

The proprietor of the Ravenna Alehouse is a dear friend of mine and he has generously worked with Manny’s to arrange for this fundraiser. For every Manny’s purchased between 5PM and closing on Saturday, June 26th, a portion of the proceeds will be donated directly to support me and my team’s fundraising with the CCFA!

Learn more about Crohn’s Disease, and Ulcerative Colitis (what Julee herself has) and Proctitis at the CCFA’s website.

Thank you to Mai Ling over at Maple Leaf Life for the info.