Orcas Today: Thursday, October 1st

Yogalele
October 1st at 8:30am at Orcas Center
Start your Thursdays right with energizing and relaxing Yogalele! Yogalele is yoga with ukulele. Yogalele combines peaceful breathing and stretching with calm plucking and energizing strumming. No experience necessary, suitable for all ages levels (yoga and musical), and you don’t even need a ukulele – non-players love the live music vibration while players feel closer to their instruments and their music. Each session begins with a brief review of the chords that will be used, followed by a series of uke-accompanied asanas, some with sound, some more internalized. Wrist-friendly and balance-enhancing, Yogalele is truly for everyone. Tuition choices include sliding scale single class or 9-week pass options. Pre-register at orcascenter.org/classes or pay via cash, check or QR code upon arrival. Please bring a mat and, if you wish, a ukulele. Questions? Email Anita at anita@rockisland.com.

Chair Yoga at Orcas Senior Center
October 1st from 10:00-10:45am
Join the Senior Center for Chair Yoga, a soothing practice tailored for seniors and those with disabilities, held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. This gentle technique incorporates the use of a chair for support, enabling participants to explore balance poses without the concern of falling. Susie Frank, an Orcas resident of over 30 years, brings her expertise, having practiced yoga since 2009. While Susie suggests a $15 donation per class, no one will be turned away due to financial constraints. For inquiries, reach out to Susie directly at 360.298.4484 or sissooz@yahoo.com.

Etch a Sketch Circle
October 1st at 1:30pm at the Orcas Senior Center
Join the Etch A Sketch Circle with Anita Orne of AnitASketch every Thursday for a fun hour of art and conversation. Each session begins with a prompt and quick demo, followed by relaxed sketching, chatting, and sharing. Anita will offer tips along the way, and when we’re done, we’ll simply “shake it off” for next time! No experience needed, just curiosity and a sense of play. By donation. (Etch A Sketches not provided, but easy to find new or used.)

Spirit of Drumming Group
October 1st at 1:30pm at the Orcas Senior Center
Discover the joy of drumming with the Spirit of Drumming Group at Orcas Senior Center on Thursdays! This beginner-friendly group focuses on exploring the elements of drumming. There’s no cost to participate—just bring a drum and join the fun! Everyone is welcome! For more information, text Ezekiel Barr at 360.376.3033.

On Stage at Orcas Center: Karen Hall
October 1st at 7:00pm
Karen Hall: Delusions & Grandeur. Blending Bach’s Suite No. 1 in G Major with original comedy, Hall explores identity, expectations, and success through the eyes of a fool. The production received Best Solo Performance from Stage Raw’s 2025 Los Angeles Theatre Awards and an Outstanding Theatre Award at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Hall has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, appeared for four seasons as the cellist on Glee, and worked with artists including Shawn Mendes, Geoff Emerick, and Yoshiki.

Little Summit Trail – Difficult

2.2 miles. 430 feet elevation gain/loss Little Summit rests above Mountain Lake on the eastern side of Mount Constitution. The Little Summit Trail starts at one of the best picnic vistas in Moran State Park, with several tables for visitors to relax on as they enjoy views of Mount Pickett and the south sound. The trail continues along the sloping ridge of the mountain towards the summit through variable terrain populated by switchbacks, ant hills, and ancient Lodgepole Pine growth. Several vantage points along the trail offer breathtaking views and photo opportunities of eastern Orcas Island, including Mountain Lake and Twin Lakes, and the waters of the Salish Sea. Take the mid-way cutoff towards the Cold Springs Trail for further hiking or continue the ascent towards the summit and see the best view in the San Juan Islands.

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Matthew’s Smokehouse and Deli – By Simon

A Brief Overview Southern cooking, at its essence, is comfort. Comfort for both body and soul, and a place for people to come together in an environment, created as much by the food as anything else, and share experiences. Fueled by salt and fat, southern cooking is not a tame cuisine and takes a skilled and sure hand to wield it well. A chef must walk the path of authentic southern cooking lest they move towards unflattering imitation, slathered in store-bought barbecue sauce, reliant on little more than sugar to mask the clear lack of flavor. It is unexpected then, at least to me, to find something so outlandish as a Southern-style smokehouse located here on Orcas Island, especially in the building that once housed what was perhaps “just another American-Italian semi-fine-dining restaurant”. While I came away from my meal somewhat conflicted, certain things were never in doubt. Clarity, however, eludes me when examining the intricacies of the ownership of the establishment. Despite this fact…

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