Orcas Today: October 23rd-25th

Kids Storytime at the Orcas Island Library
October 23rd from 11:00am-11:30pm
Join Jenny for storytime in our kids section!

Art with Carla at the Orcas Senior Center
Fridays from 1:00-3:00pm
Led by experienced artist Carla Stanley, this lighthearted class focuses on the creative process with a strong belief in your artistic potential, regardless of skill level. The class is $10 (or $8 for OSC members). Contact Carla at 360.317.5652 or onlyonorcas@gmail.com to secure your spot. Uncover your artistic potential and join creative Fridays at Orcas Senior Center!

Needlework Circle at The Orcas Senior Center
Fridays from 2:00-6:00pm
Join this weekly gathering for knitters, crocheters, embroiderers, and all needleworkers at Orcas Senior Center, every Friday at 2pm. Come hang out—no project required! Whether you haven’t knitted in years, want to learn to crochet, or just want to relax and chat, you’ll find a wonderful selection of donated yarn, needles, books, and plenty of friendly advice. For more information, contact Edy Hansen at edy@orcasseniors.org or 206.413.6167s

Art Opening at Orcas Center: The Art of Expression
October 23rd from 5:30-7:00pm
The Visual Arts Committee  of Orcas Center announces the opening of a new show featuring works from “Art with Carla” – a weekly event at the Orcas Island  Senior Center. Wonderful art is the result when community members come together  to express themselves in an environment with no rules, no right or wrong. This  show, entitled “The Art of Expression” is an exhibit of curated pieces in many  medias from Carla Stanley’s group. “The Art of Expression” will be on display from October 23 to November 18. Meet  Carla and the artists, enjoy live entertainment, complimentary refreshments and  a wine bar at the opening on Friday, October 23rd.

4th Annual Adult Spelling Bee
October 23rd at 7:00pm at the Orcas Center
Brush up on your vowels, mind your silent letters, and get ready for one of our favorite nights of the year! Come compete, cheer on your favorite spellers, or simply enjoy an evening celebrating words, wit, and the occasional linguistic curveball. Glory—and bragging rights—await!

Orcas Island Farmers Indoor Market
October 24th from 10:00am-2:00pm at the Orcas School Cafeteria
Enjoy live music, local produce, handcrafted goods, and plenty of community connection—all in a warm, inviting space with ample seating.  Featuring live music by Kady Fox.

Explorations in Wool
October 24th & 25th from 10:00am-4:00pm at Warm Valley Orchard
This two-day workshop offers hands-on instruction in processing locally grown island wool, spinning and dyeing yarn, weaving, and knitting. Choose from hand weaving or knitting, with intermediate knitters exploring lacework techniques. All experience levels are welcome. Learn more and register at rootedarchipelago.com.

Table of Contents Book Club
October 24th at 11:00am at the Orcas Library
4th to 7th graders can grab a free book thanks to Friends of the Orcas Island Public Library and join us for an informal book discussion.

Native Pollinators of the San Juan Islands
October 24th at 1:00pm at the Orcas Library
Please join us for a native pollinator presentation by Russel Barsh.  Russel is the author of the Kwiaht field guide to Butterflies of the San Juan Islands, and co-author of Kwiaht’s 2026 illustrated book, Naming and Knowing Indigenous Plants of the San Juan Islands. Following the presentation, Russel will be available to answer any questions you may have about identifying and protecting our native pollinators. This event is free and open to all.

Dia de Los Muertos Lantern Making Workshop
October 25th from 12:00-1:00pm at Creative Space
Planning to join the procession on Dia de los Muertos or joining the fun at the Festival? You should have a lantern! There will be two lantern-making workshops at Creative Space next to the Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union in the Post Office Building. Sunday October 25 at noon and just before the festival on November 1 at 3pm.

Mount Pickett Trail – Easy to Difficult

7 miles. 900 feet elevation gain and loss The Mount Pickett Service Road and Trail runs through Moran State Park’s Natural Area Preserve which is one of the oldest undeveloped areas in the San Juan Islands. The parking at the Cascade Falls trailhead is the quickest route to the Service Road that leads towards Mount Pickett. An alternative starting point is the picnic shelter and parking at Mountain Lake; follow the trail to the southern end of the lake and continue east-southeast to the Mount Pickett trail. In addition to the undisturbed natural beauty of the area, Mount Pickett is also one of the most remote hiking locations on Orcas Island. Featuring a Natural Area Preserve; the densely wooded trail takes hikers away from roadways and campsites into the rustic woodland beauty that the Pacific Northwest is known for. Pack and prep for a challenge; Orcas Islanders use this trail as a test for their hiking and climbing endurance.

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New Leaf Cafe – By Howie

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. Period, full stop, buck stops there, you get the idea. Though I don’t garner the opportunity to savor a good breakfast often, it warms my heart, body, and soul when I gain said opportunity. Our previous restaurant on the list had to be pushed back due to unforeseen circumstances, but it made for a wonderful brunch in the end. My esteemed colleague and I set sail for a early-afternoon adventure of the taste buds, and if you couldn’t tell by my praise, it was a fine voyage indeed! New Leaf Café is a restaurant located in one of the three buildings belonging to Outlook Inn, one of the premier places to stay for a visit on the island. They have gone through several Iterations and have since settled to doing Brunch and Dinner. However, due to the times we live in, Brunch is the only meal they could serve this season, but we, as food connoisseurs, were not deterred from this fact, boldly striding into the calming atmosphere of New Leaf Café with our heads high, and our appetites… uh… also high? We were hungry, okay? While my esteemed colleague opted for one of his favorites…

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