As always, ShoWare Center has lots of family-friendly entertainment coming Kent’s way. Here’s what’s on tap over the next few weeks:

Jan. 7, 7:35 pm
Seattle Thunderbirds Hockey
T-Birds vs. Kelowna

Jan. 17 & Jan. 28
High School Hoops Action
Jan. 17 – Comcast Showcase
Jan. 28 – Les Schwab Shootout

Jan. 22, 2011, 12:30 and 3:30 pm
Disney Live:  Mickey’s Magic Show

Feb. 10, 8:00 pm
Ladies Night Out, Vol. @ – Valentine’s Day Edition
Featuring Bell Biv DeVoe, Al B. Sure and SWV & Jon. B.

Feb. 17, 7:00 pm
Harlem Globetrotters 2011 World Tour
Celebrating 85 years of storied history

Feb. 24, 7:00 pm
Hillsong United – Aftermath Tour

For a complete schedule or to buy tickets to any event, visit ShoWare Center’s online box office.

Contributed by Susan Pearson 12/13/10

The bridge into the main entrance of the recently re-opened Jenkins Creek Park in Covington near the Wax Road traffic circle (SE 267th Pl) is out. It collapsed into the creek some time this weekend.

The Kent/Covington My Little Gym location (24030 132nd Ave SE, Kent, WA 98042) offers parents a bit of a break on Black Friday. Drop off your child from 9 am to 1 pm the day after Thanksgiving, so you can do a bit of shopping – or relaxing – while your child has fun and gets some indoor exercise – climbing, swinging, tumbling and more! See the My Little Gym website for details.

Kent Station celebrates the 2010 holiday season with the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus this Saturday, November 27. The jolly couple will welcome shoppers and visitors at 10 a.m. at the Fountain Stage outside Kent Station’s AMC Theatres.

Following their official welcome, Santa and Mrs. Claus will hold court at the Hip Santa House where children and well-behaved pets may have their photos taken, and adults can take Santa’s patented “naughty or nice” test. Photos are offered at a discount in exchange for donations of nonperishable food items and new, unwrapped toys for the Kent Food Bank. A complete list of Santa’s hours and photo packages is available at the Kent Station website.

Beginning at noon, Kentwood High School’s Royal Court from the Madrigal Feast will sing Christmas tunes from their upcoming performance, adding to the festive atmosphere. In addition, the community is invited to participate in the Giving Tree on display at Kent Station Plaza. The Giving Tree benefits Kent Youth and Family Services, a nonprofit organization that serves kids, teens and families in South King County.

Sponsored by BECU and supported by Calvary Community Church of Sumner, the Giving Tree will feature tags with needs (e.g., coats, hats, shoes) and wants (e.g., books, toys) for 400 area kids, along with tags asking for board games for Kent Youth and Family Services’ Head Start/ECEAP program. Shoppers may drop off their donated gifts through December 15 inside AMC Theatres near the arcade.

“The holidays are a time of celebration and giving, and Kent Station wants to be a part of that by giving back to the community,” said Kent Station general manager John Hinds. “We encourage shoppers to join us by donating to the Kent Food Bank and Kent Youth and Family Services this holiday season. We can all help by making a sad time for some a little merrier.”

For more information about Kent Station or its holiday festivities, visit the Kent Station website at www.kentstation.com or contact Sommer Ueda at 253-856-2301. For more information about Kent Youth and Family Services, visit KYFS online at www.KYFS.org. Visit the Kent Food Bank online at www.skcfc.org/kentfoodbank/ for more information about its hours and offerings.

Located on 18 acres in the heart of downtown Kent, Kent Station is an urban shopping village developed by Tarragon a Seattle based company. The 470,000 sq. ft., mixed-use development features locally-owned and national retail stores, professional office space, and dining and entertainment, including a 14-screen AMC Theatres Cineplex and a branch campus of Green River Community College.

Support Kentwood choir students by attending the Kentwood Madrigal Feast on Fri., Dec. 10 and Sat., Dec. 11 (beginning at 6 p.m.). The annual Madrigal Feast will be held at Kent Covenant Church (12010 SE 240th St., Kent, WA 98031). You’ll enjoy an evening of feasting, drama and music.

Tickets:  $25 adults, $15 for seniors, active military, and children under 12

Visit Kentwood Choir Boosters online for more info. or email Daisy Emans.

This Friday, November 5, 2010 from 6 to 7 p.m., Kent Station is hosting a free concert to raise funds for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Join shoppers, dinners and fellow patriots at Kent Station’s Fountain Stage for a concert by the Green River Community College concert choir. They will sing a medley of fun Christmas tunes including Silent Night, Carol of the Bells and a jazz version of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.”

The choir will sing in honor of our soldiers defending U.S. rights overseas while trying to raise money to send “Christmas to Afghanistan.” Cash and check donations will be accepted during the concert.

Project U(th), a group of savvy local teens serving kids and teens in Kent and Covington, qualifies for a Pepsi Refresh Grant of $50,000 and they need the community’s help to earn the grant. The top 10 vote getters in the $50,000 category will receive and grant, and Project U(th) is currently ranked 111th. Please take a few minutes to sign up and then vote once each day to help Project U(th) win.

Register Now

Vote Now

Visit Project U(th) on Facebook.

IHOP in Covington is now open for business. Located in the new Covington Esplanade plaza off 272nd, IHOP is open seven days a week, Sun-Thurs from 6 am to 10 pm and Fri-Sat from 6 am – 12 am. For more info., call 253-656-0152 or visit the restaurant’s website.

We are proud to announce that our sister site, iLoveKent.net, tied for 5th place in the KING5 Evening Magazine’s “Best of Western Washington 2010″ contest. The local site tied for fifth with Wallyhood in the category of Best Neighborhood Blog. To even be mentioned in the same category as the West Seattle Blog is quite a honor. Woo hoo!