Wine social group meeting in Valley

A social wine group called the “WA I-90 Grape Escapers” has formed in the Valley, and aims to share its love of the social element of vino enjoyment.

The group is aimed at residents from Mercer Island to North Bend, and intends to meet at least monthly, visiting homes, local wine bars, wine-tasting locations and wine country.

The Grape Escapers welcomes wine lovers, snobs and newcomers alike. The only requirement is the ability to drink wine, laugh hard, and maybe learn a little in the process.

To learn more, visit www.mustlovewine.com/group.php?group_id=104.

Valley Center Stage new season begins

Valley Center Stage will present more than twenty events this year at their downtown North Bend studio theater.

The season opens on Saturday, Sept. 6 with the Cascade Jazz Trio, the resident band for Valley Center Stage. The Jazz Trio plays the first Saturday of each month and their shows vary with different themes and special guests. They will be producing nine different evenings of jazz each month, including Oct. 4 and Nov. 8 dates.

The first of six full-length theatrical productions is the A.R. Gurney comedy “Sylvia,” set for Sept. 12 to 26.

For information, call Gary Schwartz at (425) 417-5667.