Welcome to Best of Redmond! Redmond's twice-weekly newsletter and podcast about all the amazing things happening in Redmond for the next seven days!

🚔 City Responds to Resident Complaints

Redmond police recently wrapped up a months-long investigation into a massage business after neighbors reported suspected illegal activity. Investigators worked with regional law enforcement, served search warrants, made arrests, and the business closed. We don't usually spend much time on crime here, but this one matters for a simple reason: people spoke up, and the city followed through. If something around your neighborhood genuinely feels off, use the proper reporting channels instead of assuming someone else will handle it. In this case, those reports clearly made a difference.

⚽ Marymoor Becomes Redmond's Soccer Headquarters

Marymoor Park turns into Redmond's soccer headquarters on Sunday, July 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a giant championship watch party. The match will play on a huge outdoor screen, with Redmond High's marching band, Rhythms of India, DJ Charma, Sounders guests, family activities, food trucks, beer, and wine around the park. Parking will be tight, so biking or taking the 2 Line to Marymoor Village is probably the easier move. Bring a blanket, sunscreen, and enough time to enjoy more than just the game.

🎵 Free Live Music at SoulFood Coffeehouse

HighersElves brings a mellow folk set to SoulFood Coffeehouse on Wednesday, July 15, starting at 5 p.m. The duo leans into acoustic melodies, close harmonies, and the kind of outdoorsy sound that fits an easy summer evening. The show is free, and SoulFood is one of those places where people actually settle in instead of grabbing coffee and leaving. Get there a little early if you want a decent seat, order something before the music starts, and plan on hanging out for a while. This one's simple, local, and easy.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Lavender Festival Returns to Woodinville

JB Family Growers opens its Lavender Festival on Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Woodinville. Vendor booths run until 5 p.m., with local makers, food, lavender products, and plenty of room to wander the fields. Even if lavender usually isn't your thing, the rows are great for photos and the farm gives kids space to explore without everything feeling overly programmed. Go earlier in the day for cooler weather, easier parking, and fewer people between you and the best photo spots.

🚲 Bicycle Bling

Redmond's Pedal Forward Eastside rebate program gave qualifying residents up to $2,000 toward a new e-bike, with other households eligible for $500. The application window is closed now, but the bigger story is where the city is heading. Between better trail access, more bike infrastructure, and programs that make e-bikes less expensive, cycling keeps becoming a more realistic option for commuting around the Eastside. Keep an eye on future city announcements, because incentives like this tend to get attention fast and any next round could fill up quickly.

🧘 Stress Less at the Redmond Library

Redmond Library is hosting Stress Less: Yoga for Calming Anxiety on Friday, July 17, from 4 to 5 p.m. for teens who could use a real break from school, sports, jobs, social media, and everything else piling up. The free hour includes gentle yoga, breathing exercises, and simple mindfulness tools, with no yoga experience required. This isn't about perfect poses. It's about giving teens a few practical ways to slow down when their brains won't cooperate. Registration is smart, and comfortable clothes are probably the only thing they need.

🐾 Seattle Humane's Ice Cream Social Returns

Seattle Humane's Ice Cream Social takes over Marymoor Park on Saturday, July 18, from noon to 2 p.m. for dogs, their people, and anyone who thinks free ice cream is a reasonable weekend plan. There'll be open space for pups, trainers to answer questions, games, prizes, giveaways, and treats for the humans too. Your dog does not need to be social-media ready or perfectly behaved. Sniffing every tree is completely acceptable. RSVP ahead so organizers know you're coming, then bring water, waste bags, and a leash for an easy afternoon outside.

🎼 Shakespeare Meets a Live Orchestra

All the World's a Song brings Shakespeare and a live orchestra together at the Redmond Performing Arts Center on Saturday, July 18, from 4 to 6 p.m. Actors perform scenes from the plays while the orchestra handles the big emotional moments, so it lands somewhere between a concert and a stage show. You don't need to remember anything from high school English to follow it. Tickets range from free to $12, which is unusually reasonable for a live performance like this. Check availability before you go, because the cheaper seats may disappear first.

🕰️ Redmond History Minute

Okay, it's time for the Redmond History Minute, where we share an interesting piece of history, trivia, or tidbit about life in and around Redmond.

What year did Nintendo of America move its headquarters to Redmond?

A) 1976

B) 1982

C) 1990

D) 1998

Answer revealed at the bottom of this newsletter.

🔮 Redmond Rumor Mill

We've been hearing that a recovery gym may be looking at space somewhere near the Burke-Gilman Trail.

The idea sounds less like a normal gym and more like a place for cold plunges, infrared saunas, compression therapy, and other recovery treatments aimed at cyclists and runners. We have not confirmed the business, location, or timing, so this is still firmly in rumor territory.

Where do you think something like this would make the most sense?

If you've got a guess or have heard something, head to our Facebook page at facebook.com/BestOfRedmond and drop it in the "Redmond Rumor Mill Guesses" post.

🗳️ Your Picks: Best Outdoor Dining in Redmond

Alright, that's it for this week.

Head on over to facebook.com/BestOfRedmond, find the post called "Your Picks," and drop your vote in the comments. We want to know who you think has the best outdoor dining in Redmond.

📻 Don't Miss the Podcast

If you enjoyed this newsletter, you're gonna love the companion podcast. Find it at bestofredmond.com.

We'll see you in the next one... or maybe before then, walking around Redmond.

🎯 History Minute Answer

The answer is B – 1982

Nintendo of America moved its headquarters to Redmond in 1982, years before the city became known around the world as a major technology hub. Nintendo's Redmond connection goes back further than a lot of people realize, and the company became a major part of the Eastside's gaming story long before many of today's biggest local employers arrived.

Welcome to the Best of Redmond.

2

I'm Jennifer Davis

3

Dan Schulz: and I'm Dan Schultz,

and this is Redmond's twice weekly

4

newsletter and podcast about all of

the amazing things happening right

5

here in Redmond for the next seven days

6

Redmond Police recently wrapped up

a months-long investigation into

7

a massage business after neighbors

reported suspected illegal activity.

8

Investigators worked with regional law

enforcement, served search warrants,

9

made arrests, and the business closed.

10

Now, we don't usually spend too much

time on crime on this newsletter, but

11

this one matters for a simple reason.

12

People spoke up, and the

city followed through.

13

If something around your neighborhood

genuinely feels off, use the proper

14

reporting channels instead of

assuming someone else will handle it.

15

In this case, those reports

clearly made a difference.

16

So let's keep our eyes open

17

Jennifer Davis: Marymoor Park turns

into Redmond's soccer headquarters on

18

Sunday, July 19th from 10:00 to 3:00

with a giant championship watch party.

19

The match will play on a huge outdoor

screen with Redmond High's marching

20

band, Rhythms of India, Charma,

Sounders guests, family activities, food

21

trucks, beer, and wine around the park.

22

Parking will be tight, so biking

or taking the 2 Line to Marymoor

23

Village is probably the easier move.

24

Bring a blanket, sunscreen, and enough

time to enjoy more than just the game

25

Dan Schulz: Hires Elves brings a mellow

folk set to Soul Food Coffee House on

26

Wednesday, July 15th, starting at 5:00 PM.

27

The duo leans into acoustic melodies,

close harmonies, and the kind of outdoorsy

28

sound that fits in an easy summer evening.

29

The show is free, and Soul Food is one of

those places where people actually settle

30

in instead of grabbing coffee and leaving.

31

Order something before the music

starts, and plan on hanging out a while.

32

This one's simple, local, and easy.

33

Jennifer Davis: JB Family Growers

opens its Lavender Festival on

34

Saturday and Sunday, July 18th and

from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM in Woodinville.

35

really nice to get out

there in the evening, I bet.

36

Vendor booths run until 5:00 PM with

local makers, food, lavender products,

37

and plenty of room to wander the fields.

38

Even if lavender usually isn't your thing,

the rows are great for photos, and the

39

farm gives kids space to explore without

everything feeling overly programmed.

40

Dan Schulz: Redmond's Pedal Forward

Eastside Rebate Program gave qualifying

41

residents up to $2,000 toward a new e-bike

with other households eligible for $500.

42

The application window is

closed now, but the bigger story

43

is where the city is headed.

44

Between better trail access, more

bike infrastructure, and programs that

45

make e-bikes less expensive, cycling

keeps becoming a more realistic option

46

for commuting around the Eastside.

47

Keep an eye on future city announcements

because incentives like this tend

48

to get attention fast, and the

next round could fill up quickly

49

Jennifer Davis: Redmond Library is hosting

Stress Less: Yoga for Calming Anxiety

50

on Friday, July seventeenth from four to

five for teens who could use a real break

51

from school, sports, jobs, social media,

and everything else piling up on them.

52

The free hour includes gentle

yoga, breathing exercises, and

53

simple mindfulness tools with

no yoga experience required.

54

This isn't about perfect poses.

55

It's about giving teens a few

practical ways to slow down when

56

their brains won't cooperate.

57

Registration is smart, and

comfortable clothes are probably

58

the only thing they need.

59

Dan Schulz: Quick question.

60

If your neighbor came to you and said,

"Hey, I've got this weird wet spot here

61

in the yard and it's not drying up,"

would you know what you would tell them?

62

Uh, probably not because most people

wouldn't, and that's usually an

63

underground water leak, and most

plumbers don't even handle that.

64

In fact, they'd tell you to call

a specialist, and that's where

65

Simply Leak Detection comes in.

66

They're the company that a lot of plumbers

call when they can't find the leak.

67

Non-invasive, no digging, they

pinpoint exactly where the leak is.

68

They have over 300 5-star reviews,

and they cover Redmond, Kirkland,

69

Bellevue, This message brought to

you courtesy of Simply Leak Detection

70

Jennifer Davis: Seattle Humane's

Ice Cream Social takes over Marymoor

71

Park on Saturday, July 18th from

noon to 2:00 for dogs, their people,

72

and anyone who thinks free ice

cream is a reasonable weekend plan.

73

There will be plenty of space for pups,

trainers to answer questions, games,

74

prizes, giveaways, and treats for the

humans too your dog does not need to be

75

social media ready or perfectly behaved.

76

Sniffing every tree is

completely acceptable.

77

RSVP ahead so organizers know you're

coming, then bring water, waste bags,

78

and a leash for an easy afternoon outside

79

Dan Schulz: All the World's a Song brings

Shakespeare and a live orchestra together

80

at the Redmond Performing Arts Center on

Saturday, July 18th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM.

81

Actors perform scenes from the

plays while the orchestra handles

82

the big emotional moments.

83

So it lands somewhere between

a concert and a stage show.

84

You don't need to remember anything

from high school English to follow it.

85

Tickets range from free to $12,

which is unusually reasonable

86

for a live performance like this.

87

Check availability before you go because

the cheaper seats may disappear first.

88

Jennifer Davis: all right, everyone,

it's time for the Redmond History

89

Minute, where we share an interesting

piece of history, trivia, or tidbit

90

about life in and around Redmond.

91

Today's question is: What year

did Nintendo of America move

92

its headquarters to Redmond?

93

Was it A, all the way

94

1990; or D, 1998?

95

And your time starts now

96

Dan Schulz: Oh my God.

97

I do not believe it was 1976.

98

I think that's too far ago.

99

Our, our country's bicentennial.

100

think it was a year before I

graduated from high school.

101

Yes, I'm dating myself.

102

I think it was be 1982.

103

That is my final answer.

104

Jennifer Davis: Okay then, that long

105

Dan Schulz: wow because that

means I'm elderly or what?

106

Jennifer Davis: Um, I'm saying

107

Can you believe it was that long ago?

108

Dan Schulz: Finally

109

Jennifer Davis: What is that?

110

Like 45 years ago?

111

Dan Schulz: All right, let's wrap it up.

112

Do your little, uh, give me,

finish the trivia question.

113

Jennifer Davis: It's pretty amazing.

114

Nintendo of America moved its

115

before the city became known around

the world as a major technology hub.

116

Nintendo's Redmond connection goes back

further than a lot of people realize, and

117

the company became a major part of the

Eastside's gaming story long before many

118

of today's biggest local employers arrived

119

Dan Schulz: Well, we've been hearing that

a recovery gym may be looking at space

120

somewhere near the Burke-Gilman Trail.

121

Now, the idea sounds less like a normal

gym and more like a place for cold

122

plunges, infrared saunas, compression

therapy, and other recovery treatments

123

aimed at cyclists and runners.

124

We have not confirmed the business,

location, or timing, so this is still

125

firmly in rumor territory, and I should

also add that everything that I just

126

said seems very uncomfortable for me.

127

I just want to put it on record.

128

Where do you think something like

this would work that would make sense?

129

If you've got a guess or have heard

something, head on over to our Facebook

130

page at facebook.com/bestofredmond

131

and drop it in the Redmond

Rumor Mill Guesses post.

132

And while you're there, find

the post called Your Picks and

133

drop your vote in the comments.

134

We would like to know who you think

has the best outdoor dining in Redmond

135

Jennifer Davis: If you've enjoyed

this podcast, you're gonna

136

love the companion newsletter.

137

Find it at bestofredmond.com,

138

and we'll see you in the next one

139

Dan Schulz: Or maybe before

then, walking around Redmond.