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!

🎉 Ananda Mela Brings Two Days of Food, Music and Culture to Redmond

If you're looking for something to do this weekend, Ananda Mela is taking over Redmond City Hall on Saturday and Sunday, August 8 and 9, from noon until 9 p.m. It's one of the biggest cultural celebrations of the summer with live music, dance performances, incredible Indian food, shopping, and family activities throughout the day. Best of all, admission is completely free. Whether you stay for an hour or spend the whole afternoon there, it's a great chance to experience something different without leaving Redmond.

🎶 Rockin' on the River Returns Wednesday Night

Wednesday nights in Redmond are a little more fun when Rockin' on the River rolls into town. This week's free concert features Chicago Transit Experience, a nine-piece band recreating the music of Chicago with a full horn section and plenty of energy. The music starts at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 5, on the Great Lawn between City Hall and the Senior & Community Center. Food trucks will be serving dinner before the show, so bring a lawn chair or blanket and settle in for a summer evening outside.

🎬 Jurassic Park Hits the Big Screen at Marymoor

There's something special about watching a movie outside on a summer night, and this week it's Jurassic Park at Marymoor Park on Wednesday, August 5. The gates open at 7:00 p.m., giving you time to grab something from the food trucks and enjoy the pre-show entertainment before the movie starts at dusk, around 9:00 p.m. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and settle in under the stars. Tickets are $10 plus a $2.50 park fee, kids 5 and under get in free, and parking is free. It's one of those classic summer nights that's hard to beat.

🎵 Tedeschi Trucks Band Comes to Chateau Ste. Michelle

One of the biggest concerts of the week happens just a few minutes from Redmond. Tedeschi Trucks Band brings its Future Soul Tour to Chateau Ste. Michelle on Tuesday evening with Lukas Nelson opening the show. Gates open about ninety minutes before the 6:00 p.m. performance, giving you plenty of time to grab dinner or a glass of wine before the music starts. Summer concerts at the winery usually sell well, so don't wait until the last minute if you're planning to go.

🚲 New Bel-Red Bike Lanes Are Getting People Talking

If you drive or ride between Redmond and Bellevue, you've probably noticed the changes on Bel-Red Road. New buffered bike lanes now connect sections between West Lake Sammamish Parkway and NE 30th Street, creating a safer route for cyclists traveling between the two cities. The project also reduced vehicle traffic to one lane in each direction through part of the corridor, so it's generated plenty of discussion from both drivers and riders. Whether you're on two wheels or four, it's worth taking a look at how the new layout works.

🫐 Learn the Secrets of Northwest Berry Picking

Blackberries are everywhere this time of year, but not every berry growing in the Pacific Northwest belongs in your pie. The Redmond Library is hosting Berry Picking Basics on Friday, August 7, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. You'll learn how to identify common edible berries, avoid lookalikes, and even get ideas for recipes once you get home. If you've ever wondered which berries are safe to pick on local trails, this is an easy way to learn from people who know their stuff.

🐾 Bassett Bash Returns to Woodinville

If your dog loves making new friends, Bassett Bash is back as part of the Celebrate Woodinville Festival on Saturday, August 8. The event runs from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at DeYoung Park and raises money for Basset Rescue of Puget Sound. Registration is $25 for your first dog and $10 for each additional dog from the same family. Even if you don't own a basset hound, it's a fun afternoon watching dozens of happy dogs parade around while supporting a great local rescue organization.

📚 Fonda Lee Visits Brick & Mortar Books

Award-winning author Fonda Lee returns to the Eastside on Monday, August 10, to celebrate her new science fiction novel, The Last Contract of Isako. She'll be joined by local author Elaine U. Cho for a conversation at Brick & Mortar Books beginning at 6:30 p.m. If you're into science fiction, fantasy, or just enjoy hearing authors talk about the writing process, this should be a fun evening. These events often fill up, so arriving a little early isn't a bad idea.

🏛️ Get Answers from Labor & Industries

If you've got questions about wages, paid sick leave, workplace safety, or an L&I claim, here's a chance to talk to someone face-to-face. The Washington Department of Labor & Industries is holding a free information desk at the Redmond Library on Wednesday, August 5, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, interpreter services are available if needed, and small business owners can also get information about workplace requirements. Sometimes it's easier getting answers from a real person than searching online.

🎵 Dark Star Orchestra Heads to Chateau Ste. Michelle

If classic Grateful Dead music is more your style, Dark Star Orchestra takes the stage at Chateau Ste. Michelle on Friday, August 7, with the show starting at 6:00 p.m. The band is known for recreating legendary Grateful Dead concerts note for note while still adding a little personality of its own. Gates open about ninety minutes before showtime, giving everyone plenty of time to settle in before the music begins. Bring a few friends and enjoy another great summer concert close to home.

🔮 Redmond Rumor Mill

Okay... here's one we've been hearing from a few different people.

Rumor has it a Persian bakery and café could be looking at a space near Redmond Town Center. We've heard talk of fresh bread, saffron lattes, and rose water pastries, and apparently the owner has built a loyal following selling at local farmers markets. We haven't been able to confirm any of it yet, so for now it's still just a rumor. But if it turns out to be true, this could become a pretty popular stop for coffee and pastries.

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 Walking Trail 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 has the best walking trail in Redmond. Is it the Sammamish River Trail, Farrel-McWhirter Park, Watershed Preserve, or somewhere else? Let us know what your favorite is and why.

📻 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.

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 podcast

4

and newsletter where we explore all

of the amazing things happening in and

5

around Redmond for the next seven days.

6

Jennifer, what's going on around town now?

7

Jennifer Davis: Well, if you're looking

for something to do this weekend,

8

Ananda Mela is taking over Redmond City

Hall on Saturday from noon until 9:00.

9

It's one of the biggest cultural

celebrations of the summer with live

10

music, dance performances, incredible

Indian food, shopping, and family

11

activities throughout the day.

12

Best of all, admission is free.

13

Whether you stay for an hour or spend

the whole afternoon there, it's a

14

great chance to experience something

different without leaving Redmond.

15

Dan Schulz: Wednesday nights in Redmond

are a little more fun with Rockin'

16

on the River as they roll into town.

17

This week's free concert features Chicago

Transit Experience, a nine-piece band

18

recreating the music of Chicago with a

full horn section and plenty of energy.

19

The music starts at 6:00 PM, Wednesday,

August 5th, on the Great Lawn between City

20

Hall and the Senior and Community Center.

21

Food trucks will be serving dinner

before the show, so bring a lawn

22

chair or a blanket and settle

in for a summer evening outside.

23

Jennifer Davis: There's something special

about watching a movie outside on a

24

summer night, and this week it's Jurassic

Park at Murray Moore Park on Wednesday.

25

The gates open at 7:00, giving you time

to grab something from the food trucks and

26

enjoy the pre-show entertainment before

the movie starts at dusk, around 9:00 PM.

27

Bring a blanket or a lawn chair

and settle in under the stars.

28

Tickets are 10 bucks plus a $2.50

29

park fee.

30

Kids five and under get in

free, and parking is free with

31

your admission to the park.

32

It's one of these classic summer

night things that's hard to beat

33

Dan Schulz: One of the biggest

concerts of the week just happens

34

to be a few minutes from Redmond.

35

The Tedeschi Trucks Band begins its

Future Soul Tour at Chateau Ste.

36

Michelle on Tuesday, tonight, with

Lukas Nelson opening the show.

37

Gates open around 90 minutes before

the 6:00 PM performance, giving you

38

plenty of time to grab dinner or a

glass of wine before the music starts.

39

Summer concerts at the winery usually

sell well, so don't wait until the

40

last minute if you're planning to go

41

Jennifer Davis: If you drive

or ride between Redmond and

42

Bellevue, you've probably noticed

the changes on Bel Red Road.

43

New buffered bike lanes now connect

sections between West Lake Sammamish

44

Parkway and Northeast 30th Street,

creating a safer route for cyclists

45

traveling between the two cities.

46

the project also reduced vehicle

traffic to one lane in each direction

47

through part of the corridor, so

it's generated plenty of discussion

48

from both drivers and riders.

49

Whether you're on two wheels or

four, it's worth taking a look

50

at how the new layout works.

51

Dan Schulz: Blackberries are everywhere

this time of the year, but not every

52

blackberry growing in the Pacific

Northwest belongs in your pie.

53

The Redmond Library is hosting

Berry Picking Basics on Friday,

54

August 7th from 2:30 to 4:30 PM.

55

You'll learn how to identify common edible

berries, avoid lookalikes, and even get

56

ideas for recipes once you get home.

57

If you've ever wondered which berries

are safe to pick on local trails, this

58

is an easy way to learn from people

who know their stuff, and I am guilty.

59

I should know that.

60

Not gonna stop old fat head here from,

uh, grabbing the berry and eating it.

61

Jennifer Davis: Now here's something

most homeowners don't think about.

62

You could have a water leak

right now and not even know it.

63

Underground leaks don't

show up like a burst pipe.

64

There's no water on the floor.

65

Your water bill just quietly

creeps up month after month until

66

one day you're paying double and

wondering what the heck happened.

67

Simply Leak Detection finds those

leaks without tearing up your yard.

68

They use non-invasive tech to

pinpoint exactly where the problem is.

69

Over 300 five-star reviews on Google.

70

They cover the Holy Side, Redmond,

Kirkland, Bellevue, all of it.

71

if your water bill's been climbing

or your meter's spinning when nothing

72

is running , Then give Lincoln and

73

visit them at simplyleakdetection.biz.

74

That message brought to you

by Simply Leak Detection

75

Dan Schulz: If your dog loves making

new friends, Basset Bash is back as

76

part of the Celebrate Woodinville

Festival on Saturday, August 8th.

77

The event begins 12:30, runs till 3 PM

at the DeYoung Park and raises money

78

for Basset Rescue of Puget Sound.

79

Registration is $25 for your first

dog and $10 for each additional

80

dog from the same family.

81

even if you don't own a basset hound,

it's a fun afternoon watching dozens of

82

happy dogs parade around while supporting

a great local rescue organization…,,

83

Jennifer Davis: Award-winning author Fonda

Lee returns to the East Side on Monday,

84

August 10th to celebrate her new science

fiction novel, The Last Contract of Isako.

85

She'll be joined by local author Elaine U.

86

Choe for a conversation at Brick

& Mortar Books beginning at 6:30 PM.

87

If you're into science fiction,

fantasy, or just enjoy hearing

88

authors talk about the writing

process, this should be a fun evening.

89

These events often fill up, so arriving

a little bit early is a good idea

90

Dan Schulz: If you've got questions

about wages, paid sick leave, workplace

91

safety, or an L&I claim, here's a

chance to talk to someone face-to-face.

92

The Washington Department of Labor and

Industries is holding a free information

93

desk at Redmond Library on Wednesday,

August 5th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.

94

Walk-ins are welcome.

95

Interpreter services are also

available if needed, and small business

96

owners can also get information

about workplace requirements.

97

Sometimes it's easier getting answers

from a real person than searching online

98

Jennifer Davis: If classic Grateful

Dead music is more your style, Dark Star

99

Orchestra takes the stage at Chateau St.

100

Michelle on Friday, August 7th,

with the show starting at 6:00.

101

The band is known for recreating

legendary Grateful Dead concerts

102

note for note, while still adding

a little personality of its own.

103

Gates open about 90 minutes before

showtime, giving everyone plenty of time

104

to settle in before the show begins.

105

Bring a few friends and enjoy another

great outdoor concert close to home

106

Dan Schulz: Rumor has it a Persian

bakery and cafe could be looking at

107

a space near Redmond Town Center.

108

we've heard talk of fresh bread,

saffron lattes, and rose water

109

pastries, and apparently the owner

has a built-in loyal following

110

selling at local farmers markets.

111

Many of you may know him.

112

We haven't been able to confirm

any of this yet, so right

113

now it is truly just a rumor.

114

But if it turns out to be true,

this could be a pretty popular

115

stop for coffee and pastries.

116

If you've got a guess or you've heard

something, head on over to our Facebook

117

page at facebook.com/bestofredmond

118

and drop it in the Redmond

Rumor Mill Guesses post.

119

And while you are at our Facebook

page, find the post called Your Picks

120

and drop your vote in the comments

to this question: where do you think

121

the best walking trail is in Redmond?

122

Jennifer Davis: If you've enjoyed

this podcast, you're gonna

123

love the companion newsletter.

124

Find it at bestofredmond.com,

125

and we'll see you in the next one

126

Dan Schulz: Or before then,

walking in and around Redmond.