Most can probably agree that summer in Seattle is practically nonexistent. So it is no surprise that once the sun makes an appearance, everyone scurries around trying to make the best of the temporary weather.

Though Seattle has adapted to the rain, making most of the entertainment indoors, during the summer the entertainment is just as exciting and even more beautiful. So here are just some of the things you can do if you plan on being home based for the next couple months.

Seattle Ferris Wheel

Standing 200 feet high, the Seattle Ferris Wheel is the newest edition to the entertainment the city has to offer. Located on Pier 57, the wheel holds 42 gondolas, each being air-conditioned during summer and fully heated the rest of the year.

On clear days one can see the Puget Sound from all sides, the Seattle skyline and the breathtaking mountains that surround it. What is even more enticing is that the gondolas have glass floors so you can look down at everything below you.

Pier 57

Overall, Pier 57 has tons to offer those who visit it. There is a vintage carousel, which is a great time for kids or the kids in us. Also included are neat shops like Pirates Plunder and Zongo Gifts. If you ever want to get a bite to eat but want to have an excellent view while doing so, check out the restaurants on the pier, including the Crab Pot, which appeared on the popular Travel Channel’s show “Man vs. Food.”

Seattle Aquarium

The Seattle Aquarium is one that never gets boring. Filled with tons of sea creatures from walruses to different species of fish, the aquarium is a fun learning experience for all ages.

Woodland Park Zoo

There is never a dull moment at the zoo. Who doesn’t like to look at all the animals they wouldn’t normally get to see? Visitors get to take a break from the city life and see all that would be provided on an African safari.

UW Waterfront Activities Center

This is one of the most fun and most cheap activities you can do in this weather. Whether you are alone or with your friends, you can rent a canoe or paddleboat for about $9 an hour. Taking them out underneath the 520 bridge is a definite adventure, or you can choose to relax and gaze at the scenery and nature that surrounds you. Another cool thing about canoeing in that area is that the ducks are very friendly and get really close to the boats.

Alki Beach

Alki Beach is always a good time, especially with friends. The area provides an endless amount of restaurants for every taste bud, or if you are just looking for a place to relax, a comforting beach with bonfire pits, beach volleyball courts and a beautiful view of the Seattle skyline.

Seattle is a wonderful city no matter the time of year and during summer it is one of the most attractive places in the Pacific Northwest. From the 425 to the 206, you should never be bored.

For more fun activities you can use to occupy your summer, visit SeattleSouthside.com.

No matter if you’ve been on campus for two years or five, you can’t deny that there are a few things you want to do before you leave.

Yes, the BC campus is small and we are only a community college, but there have been some interesting and questionable things that happen here. At least a few times a quarter, especially holidays, BC always comes through with something makes students do a double take.

From random people dressed up in big furry costumes to people blowing confetti in your face, if you pay attention, there is a lot to see.

But for all the graduates, there is good news: The year is not over. There is still plenty of time to conquer all the things you may have on your BC bucket list. And if you have never thought of a BC bucket list, get ready to have some fun.

This list is not for the mentally sane, so if you aren’t into doing weird things or having others stare at you like you’re crazy, stop reading now.

Dress up as a mermaid, or merman, in the fountain. You absolutely can not say that after years of passing the fountain, you have not thought of jumping in it. For what? No reason. You would be able to say that you have gone in the fountain, and that is satisfaction enough.

Start a food fight. Ahh yes, the classic cafeteria food fight. If you’re lucky enough you have been involved in one. But for most of the population, the thought of that is no more than a mere daydream.

Out of everything you can do, this is probably the easiest. Not to encourage bad behavior, but if you get enough people into it, you can have a blast (at least that’s what the movies make it look like).

Go to a BC event outside of school. I know at times we just want to get out of school and never come back unless we have to, but it turns out BC has awesome and fun events outside of normal class hours.

The BC drama department puts on entertaining shows that are filled with some great actors and actresses (like our arts editor!).

Different club events can be really fun too. You learn a lot about the supported cause or origin of the club, and many of them benefit students. And the fact that there is usually free food is a plus!

There are a ton of ways to get involved in all that BC has to offer, don’t regret that you never did.

Relax in the locker room sauna. Did you know both the locker rooms in the gym have a sauna? You’re not alone. It is the back corner. It is unclear if anyone actually goes in it, but why not do it? Sounds like a perfect end-of-finals treat.

Switch all the keyboard letters in the computer lab. I’m just kidding. Don’t do it. Even if it would be funny to watch people…

For many, BC was either the great transition you needed, or the place that opened up many doors. Even if it was stressful at times, it will be missed. Don’t leave without checking off your BC bucket list.

It seems as though Memorial Day Weekend marks the beginning of the best time of the year. From May 25 and on, weather gets warmer and the days get longer, providing more time for crazy, stupid fun.

Once it hits, your options open up from just going to the mall or getting coffee, to traveling, camping and many more adventures.

Because this particular weekend is technically the unofficial kick-off, it is only natural to start it off right and the Pacific Northwest is a great place to do that. There are plenty of ways to spend the three days and make sure it is a memorable one.

The Northwest Folklife Festival: The infamous Folklife Festival is one that pioneers the start of outdoor concerts and cultural events in the Seattle area. From May 25-27, experience diverse foods, art and music all for your enjoyment.

It’s one of the few times a year when running into the Seattle Center’s International Fountain is encouraged and running into a magician on a unicycle is totally normal. Whether alone or with friends, if you enjoy walking around in the sun, listening to live music and watching Seattle unfold, this is the place for you. For an indepth schedule of Folklife, visit www.nwfolklifefestival.org.

Sasquatch Festival: Similarly to Folklife, Sasquatch is the legendary annual concert put on every year at the Gorge. Always having a killer line up, Sasquatch is an awesome outdoor concert consisting of camping and live music from the best artists out there.

Even if you get tired of listening to the music, the campground is huge and the thousands of people hanging out and having fun guarantee there will never be a dull moment. For more information and ticket sales, visit www.sasquatchfestival.com.

International Film Festival: Running from May 17-June 10, the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) provides an artistically cultural experience with films as close as Kirkland and as far as Senegal. Witness some of the most talented directors and actors as they present original storylines displaying their creativity. For tickets and more information, visit www.siff.net.

Lake Chelan: If staying in the area isn’t your forte, taking a few friends and a swimsuit to Lake Chelan may be the thing for you. The water is some of the most clear you will ever see and a great refresher on a hot day. You can rent a room at one of their many waterfront hotels or camp on the water or at a park. Either way, you are bound to have a blast. It is easy to rent a boat, water skis or jet skis and spend dawn to dusk on the crystal clear lake.

There are tons of options for Memorial Day weekend. Whether you like to relax on the water or jam to the latest most popular artists, there’s something for everyone.

Paperclips, Band-Aids, coffee mug, salt and pepper shakers. What do all these things have in common? At first glance, probably nothing, but they are all the little things you need to bring when transferring but are most likely going to forget.

As if the transferring process wasn’t excruciating and meticulous enough, it pretty much doesn’t end till you’re done unpacking that last box on moving day.

It’s easy to remember all the basics like clothes, a computer and bedding, but what about all the other items that probably never crossed your mind? They are the things that seem so trivial but once you’re without them, you feel incomplete.

The upside, though, is that you can pretty much break up everything you need into four categories: Wardrobe, room, cleanliness and school.

Wardrobe 

Of course you’re going to remember to bring your clothes, but make sure you remember all the different types of clothing you’ll need for all seasons (or just in one day if you’re staying in Washington).

▪Lazy/comfort clothes and shoes: Used for either going to class or working out. Slippers are also a must for hanging around the house.

▪Dressy outfits: For if you are invited to a formal event.

▪Winter wear: Different types of coats, from a heavy winter one to a light jacket.

 

Also mittens, hats and scarves.

▪Rainwear: Rain jacket, rain boots and an umbrella.

▪Swimwear: Swimsuit, beach towels and sunscreen.

 Room 

You will already have a bed, dresser and desk, but do you have all the things you’ll need to put in them?

▪Bedding: Pillows, comforter, sheets, blankets.

▪Closet: Clothing hangers, shoe rack, mirror and jewelry organizer.

▪Food: Small refrigerator/microwave, Tupperware, coffee mug, drinking cups, silverware, salt and pepper, napkins and plates.

▪Decorations: Posters, pictures and decals. This includes poster putty and tacks.

▪Electronics: Batteries, Computer, camera, headphones, MP3 player, TV/DVD player, radio and alarm clock.

▪Sewing kit: Scissors and safety pins.

Cleanliness 

Don’t forget the things that will keep you and your room fresh all day.

▪Bathroom: Bathrobe, towels/face towels, soap, tissues, toilet paper, razors and a bag to carry it all in.

▪Hair care: Conditioner, shampoo, blow dryer and straightener.

▪Aid: Band-Aids, medicine/aspirin, Neosporin and a first-aid kit.

▪Clothes: Laundry detergent and a laundry basket.

 School 

All the little things necessary to get the best grades possible!

▪Memory: USB drives and CDs.

▪Organization: Folders, binders and planner.

▪Writing utensils: Pens, pencils, highlighters and sharpies.

▪Class: Backpack, calculator, dictionary and thesaurus.

There are a ton of random things that can make your move a little less stressful if you remember them. Whether you’re transferring or just moving to a new location, don’t forget all the little things that really do matter.

Whether it’s for business advice or what to wear on a Friday night, Michael Yoon knows it all. Elected as co-president of the Business Leadership Club and president ofthe Fashion Club, Yoon is a bigger part of the school than many people know.

Yoon’s interest in fashion stemmed when he was in high school and attended his first fashion show in Seoul, Korea that was sponsored by Gucci, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, and many more. “When I got home all I could think [of] was one word in my head – ‘fashion’,” said Yoon. “That show changed my life.”

From then on, the latest trends, designers, and styles were constantly flowing through his mind. To Yoon, that experience made him realize that “fashion is the key for people to enjoy and express [the] different and hidden characteristics within a person.” So it was only natural for Yoon to want to create a fashion-oriented club once he got to Bellevue College. But this ambition wasn’t always the first thing on his agenda.

Yoon’s parents, who are very traditional Korean parents, disapproved of his ambition. “They aspire for me to work in lucrative fields, such as medicine, law and business – [which are] studies that do not interest me at all,” said Yoon.

Though Yoon respected his parents’ wants, he could not shake the true passion that was in his heart. So against their wishes, he took a few design courses. Unfortunately Yoon’s parents found out about his secret agenda to reach his goal of having a career in fashion and informed him that they would no longer pay his tuition. For most this ultimatum would be reason enough to set their dreams aside, but for Yoon this was a challenge he was willing to take on.

“This inspired me to major in business,” said Yoon. He took this as an opportunity to expand his skills that he would later be able to use in the fashion industry. But Yoon learned afterwards that studying business can be a bit hectic at times. “My first few business courses were strenuous,” said Yoon. “I quickly grew exhausted and needed motivation to continue my schooling.” His solution? To create Bellevue College’s first Fashion Club in fall quarter 2011. Because Yoon could not “pursue an education in fashion,” he said, he used the club as a way “to channel [his] interests and passion for fashion with others who have similar motives.”

With the goal to “inspire the creativity of fashion amongst Bellevue College students by sharing and creating new styles,” Fashion Club meets every Friday from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. in C211 and invites everyone with an interest in fashion. “Fashion Club is full of enthusiasm,” said Yoon. “Each member wears their own personal style of fashion and share their fashion tips and gets feedback from other members as well.” Members also get to be part of multiple photo shoots that allow them to gain more modeling experience and appeal to their own character. Yoon already has experience from modeling for a Korean online clothing store in high school and also getting the opportunity to model at his high school graduation. No wonder he was voted most fashionable!

The club has expanded significantly since being just an idea in a fashionable young man’s head. With 66 official members already, numbers increase every week, as well as the participation in the club’s events.

This is probably because Fashion Club creates an environment where everyone feels welcome. According to Yoon, the members are really close to each other like one big family. “We welcome new ideas and never judge individual’s thoughts,” he said.

Combined with Ellie Kow, co-president, John Dang, the secretary, Daisuke Sato, the project manager, and Koichi Sato, communications/advertising, Yoon has high hopes for the club this year with the goal to incorporate more ideas of fashion into the club and inspire members to use their creativity to share and create new ideas that can help the club. In the very end, the ultimate aspiration would be to have a huge fashion show like UW did last quarter.

Although Yoon’s main niche is Fashion Club, he continues to attend to his business side. The Business Leadership Club has hosted many events over the past couple quarters such as the Cultural Potluck. “It has honored me to be the co-president of such a prominent club such as the Business Leadership Club,” said Yoon. He has many plans in the months to come not only for Fashion Club, but for the Business Leadership Club as well.  On May 17, they will be hosting “Alumni Night” where students can meet successful graduates from the college and network with them. “This is going to be the biggest event we’ve done this year with rare opportunities, so don’t miss out and come join us!” said Yoon in encouragement to all students who want to build more business connections.

While these two clubs may seem like they never intertwine, Yoon has found a way to combine them. With recruiters from Nordstrom, Campus Point, and Verizon, both clubs are collaborating to host the event “Dress in Success” on April 24 to inform students on how to dress for job interviews, internships, or a networking event like Alumni Night.

Another event that is very exciting for Fashion Club will be held during Earth Week where they are planning an Eco-Fashion Show. Co-hosted with the Sustainability Club and Dj Club, they are making clothes using mainly newspaper, cans, and recycled bags. Creativity is a necessity for this event and will truly make it one that will be talked about for a while.

Whether fashion is your thing or not, Fashion Club and Michael Yoon show us that fashion is more than just the clothes you wear. It is a combination of what you like, the goals you set out for yourself, and the boundaries you push all coming together to express who you are.

We look forward to see what Yoon has in store for BC next as well as in the election for Vice President of Student Affairs and Pluralism.

Although the sun may have not come out as much as it does in other places around the country, when it makes a little surprise “hello,” us Washingtonians take notice. And for a second time in this past week, we had a little taste of what is to come for spring, and immediately when I think spring, I think of the fact that I finally get to take off my puffy jacket and trade it in for some less gloomy clothes.

So for this week, I will be talking less about myths and instead be giving advice on what to wear and what you can expect to be in style this spring.

 

Advice:  Color block!

Why: I know this was also in last year, but it seems we just can’t get enough. This year designers like Sophie Theallet, Marc Jacobs, and Tommy Hilfiger all had some color blocking in their spring collection. Glamour Magazine tells readers that this look can take any simple outfit and make it look “glam.” They advise to keep it low-key and stick to three colors max so you don’t distract from the overall look.

Advice:  Bold prints.

Why: Now reading about this new trend seems like a very interesting idea, but to be honest I don’t know how many people can pull it off. But you might as well give it a try! When I say bold prints, I don’t mean your usual cheetah. I mean eye-popping, weird, polygon, tropical jungle-type stuff that makes everyone you pass do a double-take. You can either choose to go all out and have the print all over, or you can choose to just pick one item of clothing to make a statement. Another idea that Cynthia Rowley had in her spring collection was to take the whole outfit, have the same print, but use different colors so it was bold but not cluttered.

Advice:  Orange and tangerine.

Why: I have never been a fan of orange, but looking at orange clothing for this coming spring and bathing suits for summer, I might just have to change my mind. Orange and tangerines are actually a really good choice when wanting to look like you have an extra glow. If you can find the right shade and the right clothing item, it can make you look sun-kissed and very cute.

Advice:  Metallic!

Why: Metallic isn’t only an option when thinking of something to wear to your Greek-themed school dance. Now it has taken over the runway. Just like the eye-popping bold prints, metallic basics are a new way to capture people’s attention while ironically maintaining a simple but futuristic look. Pair metallic bottoms with a solid colored top and possibly some jewelry to match, and you’ve got yourself one trendy outfit.

 

This is just a little taste of what you can expect to be popular this spring. Hope I gave you some awesome outfit ideas for when the flowers start to bloom!

I really  hate going out at night in this weather. It makes it almost impossible to look cute and not freeze your butt off at the same time. And since the sun didn’t stay out as much as I had hoped and it is back to being really cold, I’m in a dilemma. That is until I discovered a couple tricks to make your outfit night-life appropriate but weather appropriate as well, and I just had to share them.

So continuing with the trend of providing advice that I believe is very necessary, here are some items of clothing to debunk the ultimate winter myth: You can’t be cute and warm.

 

Item:  Tall boots.

Why: For women, the length should hit just below the knee and for men, a little above the ankles. Black boots especially can keep your outfit semi-formal without crossing over into a casual night.

You can buy them in many different styles to match whatever you’re wearing and keep all your little piggies happy. Add some wool socks and they will be in heaven.

Item:  Maxi dress.

Why: This one is more for the ladies, unless that’s your thing, guys, in which case that’s cool too. But I know what you’re thinking: A dress… in winter? Yeah, why now?! If you aren’t trying to bear the cold in a cocktail dress, a maxi dress is the perfect second. Because they are usually so loose and long, you can wear layers under them like tanks and leggings.

Item:  Fur (or faux fur) sweater collar.

Why: I have heard some mixed opinions about fur collars but in my opinion this is one trendy piece of clothing. Either you can buy a sweater already with the fuzzy lining or you can buy it as an attachment. This is genius! It allows you to take any item you already have and in five seconds transform it to be perfect for winter.

Item:  Leather pants—for the gals.

Why: There is a reason bikers wear them—they are warm. Leather pants just sounds like something you would wear at night without thought, so the fact that they are naturally warm is an excellent plus.

Item:  Corduroy pants – for the guys.

Why: They come in a ton of colors and can be worn casually or when going out at night with just a switch of a few pieces of clothing. Best of all, they are thick and will keep you warm while you walk from your car because she insisted on going to that fancy restaurant that takes up all the nearby parking.

 

You don’t always have to sacrifice warmth for style. With these items, we can wait out a little longer for the sun.