La Vie en Redmond

Just heard from our contacts at Redmond-based Pushing Boundaries that they will be featured at 9 and 10 p.m. tonight, Thursday, March 18, on Q13 Fox News and also on q13fox.com after tonight.
Pushing Boundaries is the only place in Washington state where people with paralysis — due to spinal cord injuries or neurological disorders — can receive intensive exercise therapies to help them gain mobility. The activities also prevent serious complications that can stem from inactivity, such as weight gain, heart disease, diabetes and depression.
The dedicated staff at this amazing non-profit organization hosts regular tours so that you can see what they do and how much of an impact it has on people with paralysis and their families.
Pushing Boundaries will host its second annual “Success Beyond Paralysis Fundraising Luncheon” at noon Thursday, April 29 at the Marriott at Redmond Town Center. There is no cost to attend the event but guests are encouraged to make donations that will dramatically change lives.
To learn more about Pushing Boundaries and the fundraising event, call Shawna Hanson at (425) 869-9506 or e-mail shawna@pushing-boundaries.org.

The Redmond Saturday Market is unarguably one of the city’s top attractions, both for local folks and others passing through — perhaps staying at the nearby Marriott properties or the new Hotel Sierra at Riverpark.
Held each Saturday, May through October, at Leary Way and Bear Creek Parkway, the Redmond Saturday Market features produce, specialty food items and arts/crafts, all grown or created in the state of Washington, along with free entertainment and great people-watching.
This year, the market celebrates its 35th anniversary with a grand opening ribbon-cutting at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 1.
A 20-piece pep band from Redmond High School will get the crowd revved up right after that ceremony.
A Redmond Fire Department truck will be on site all day, welcoming visits from kids.
KidsQuest Children’s Museum will also be there from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
From noon- 2 p.m. Joe Calhoun and the Lost River String Band will entertain on the main stage.
The Redmond Historical Society will hand out free cookies from 9 a.m.-noon.
Baby alpacas from the “Heart of Dreams” Alpacas will also make an appearance.
Lunch customers will be able to choose from pizza, tamales, crepes, kettle corn, shaved ice and baked goods.
Look for updates on the Redmond Saturday Market in the Redmond Reporter this spring and summer. In the meantime, you can sign up for a weekly electronic newsletter called The Market Thymes.
Visit www.RedmondSaturdayMarket.org or e-mail info@redmondsaturdaymarket.org.

A free St. Patrick’s Day celebration begins at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 17 at Cascade Plaza Assisted Living and Memory Care, 7950 Willows Rd. NE in Redmond. The event will include live music from John Bonomi and refreshments. Wear green and join in the fun.
For information, call Danielle Sekins, director of marketing at (425) 885-4157.

Think spring! Easter is Sunday, April 3.
The City of Redmond’s annual “Eggstravaganza” is returning with a Flashlight Egg Hunt at Farrel -McWhirter Park on the evening of Friday, April 2 and a Traditional Egg Hunt Saturday morning, April 3 at the Redmond Senior Center.
• The Flashlight Egg Hunt, designed for tweens, teens and families, begins at 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 2 at Farrel-McWhirter Park, 19545 NE Redmond Rd.
Tickets are $10 per person if you pre-register, or $12 per person at the event. Kids 2 years and under are admitted free.
Activities, desserts, drinks and souvenirs are included.
• The Traditional Hunt, at the Redmond Senior Center, 8703 160th Ave. NE, will be offered in two sessions from 8-10 a.m. or 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 3. Each time slot includes breakfast and the egg hunt.
This day’s events are geared to children ages 3 and up and their families.
Register early for price breaks as follows:
$10 for adults (13 years and up)
$8 for kids (ages 3-12)
$8 for seniors (age 50 and up)
Kids 2 years and under are free.
On the day of the event, adult tickets will cost $12 and kids/seniors will be admitted for $10.
Optional photos with Mr. Bunny will be available with a $3 donation.
For more information about “Eggstravaganza” events, call Redmond Parks and Recreation at (425) 556-2300.

Since Redmond’s Underhill’s Furniture store closed last year, the quaint building in the heart of downtown Redmond has been dormant until recently. I wondered what was going on there, did some asking around and learned that the building will become the new location of the city’s Washington state liquor store.
I don’t know the opening date yet but do know that the Redmond Historical Society has been collaborating with the City of Redmond and Magellan Architects to incorporate some fun and educational Redmond history displays in the windows of the new store. I’ll bring you more information soon, but look for installation of the history displays to start in early March.

Once again, Cirque du Soleil will pitch its Grand Chapiteau (the distinctive blue and yellow big top tent) at King County’s Marymoor Park in Redmond, for the KOOZA production that opens on Thursday, June 3.
According to a press release, KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil that combines the circus traditions of acrobatic performances and clowning.
“KOOZA is about human connection and the world of duality, good or bad,” said the show’s writer and director David Shiner. “The tone is fun and funny, light and open. The show doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it’s very much about ideas, too.”
Watch for more information in the Redmond Reporter, about this and other entertainment events that will make this city “the place to be” this summer.
For KOOZA tickets or show information, call 1-800-450-1480 or visit http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/kooza/default.aspx

On Jan. 27, we ran a story about a Redmond “Rocketman” whose design for a Space Shuttle Program commemorative patch was one of 15 finalists in a NASA contest:
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/red/lifestyle/82813567.html

We heard from Dave Ginsberg this week that his design placed fifth among the top 15 finalists in the NASA employees’ “People Choice” voting. And he placed sixth among the top 15 in the unofficial collectSPACE “Fans’ Choice Poll.”

Ginsberg noted, “It was an honor to have had my design considered in such high regard by so many who cast their votes.” He added, “An e-mail I received from NASA says, ‘The quality of the submissions and the emotion behind the designs shows tremendous commitment and loyalty to the Space Shuttle Program. The judges were so impressed with the quality and imagination of the designs and found the task of selecting a difficult one.”
Ginsberg concluded, “Again, my appreciation goes out to all who voted for my design and provided supportive comments and critiques.”

Have you ever shopped for a date in Redmond?
A few years back, before Valentine’s Day, I wrote a series of stories called “Looking for Love in Redmond,” which profiled a number of local folks — of different ages and different stages in their lives, some widowed, some divorced, some just getting started in the dating game — about their experiences with the dating scene in Redmond.
It was fun to write and actually went on to win Third Place for Best Comprehensive Coverage in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2008 “Build a Better Newspaper Contest.”
One of the questions I asked some single adults was whether they’d ever “shopped for dates” while cruising the aisles at a grocery store, hardware store or other location where it wouldn’t be totally obvious that they were flirting.
In other words, when you go to a “singles bar,” it’s assumed that you are single and hoping to meet someone special. At Safeway or Whole Foods? Well, people assume you’re there to pick up dinner, while picking up a date could be an unexpected bonus.
I was reminded of the “looking for love in everyday places” concept when I spotted this story written by a colleague from the Redmond Reporter’s parent company Sound Publishing. Jenny Manning of the Whidbey News Time wrote about an Albertsons supermarket in Oak Harbor that hosted a pre-Valentine’s day event with prizes and opportunities to chat with other shoppers.
Would this idea fly in Redmond? Would you be interested if one of the local grocery stores sponsored a “Meet Market?” Which store would be your pick and why? Ideas are welcome at mdecker@redmond-reporter.com.
And here’s a link to the “Meet Market” story from our sister publication:
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/wnt/news/84056212.html

Redmond’s Old Fire House Teen Center is hosting a dance party exclusively for junior high students, from 7-10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5. Students must have their school ID to attend and supervision will be provided.
Admission is $6 or $5 with a can of food for Hopelink’s food bank.
For more info, e-mail Rana Shmait at rshmait@redmond.gov

No, this isn’t about a reality TV show to discover hidden talent in Redmond.
But I’ll soon be interviewing a few individuals who can potentially put Redmond in a national — or universal — spotlight.
Christopher Lu, an eighth grader from Redmond, has been chosen as one of seven national finalists in the MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) Junior Piano Competition. The competition takes place in Albuquerque, N.M. this spring.
Also, local artist/designer Dave Ginsberg is one of 15 finalists in a NASA contest to create a patch commemorating the end of the Space Shuttle program, scheduled to fly its last mission later this year.
As another fun tidbit, Redmond High School student Peter Castro will be a cast member in SecondStory Repertory’s upcoming production of the romantic comedy-musical “She Loves Me.”
Watch for more info about that in the Redmond Reporter, too.