What to do in August
by Karen Gaudette
This article was originally published in August 2011
August is all about squeezing the last bits of fun from summer: a last dip in the lake, a last camping trip, a last lazy day at the park, gazing up at golden light trickling through the lace of rustling, sun-faded leaves. Thankfully, the abundant local harvest rolling into our stores — melons, corn, peaches, tomatoes, beans, squash, eggplant — will evoke summertime on our taste buds for weeks to come.
Starry skies
Look up into the night Saturday, August 13, to catch the annual Perseids meteor shower. This year’s full moon might make it tougher to glimpse falling stars, but the moonlit skies will be breathtaking nonetheless (provided our cloud cover stays away). Throwing a star party? Make a fruit salad with starfruit, simmer cocoa with star anise and other spices, and serve Moonstruck chocolates and Cypress Grove Chevre Midnight Moon cheese. Find even more meteor showers to savor »
Scrub-a-dub
Whip up a homemade body scrub to wash away every last bit of sunscreen, chlorine, bug repellent and other summertime essences that cling to our skin. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup olive oil, plus a few drops of your favorite essential oil (explore PCC’s health and body care department for fragrant options from Aura Cacia). Apply with your hands or with a wash cloth in the shower. Step out with soft, smooth, moisturized skin.
Zucchini bonanza
What to do with all that zucchini? Celebrate August 8, National Zucchini Day (also known as Sneak Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Doorstep Day). Or, you can always cook and bake (doesn’t a chocolate zucchini cake sound nice right about now?). Find inspiration in our recipe database.
Free summer tunes
Catch free concerts Thursdays in August from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the east lawn of West Seattle’s Hiawatha Park playfield (2700 California Ave. S.W.). Swing by West Seattle PCC for picnic food, then head across the street to the park for local music, from Massy Ferguson to Caspar Babypants. The Kid Picks Mobile will sample healthy treats at each performance to kids 12 and under. Visit their website for a list of all the bands.
Coming into season
Local organic peaches from Twin Springs Farm in Kettle Falls, Wash., local organic nectarines and local organic slicing tomatoes from Pride of the Umpqua in Roseburg, Ore., local organic Bartlett pears (late August), local organic Gala apples (late August).
Last chance for local organic cherries (say it ain’t so!), apricots, rhubarb and Walla Walla onions.