La Vie en Redmond

The City of Redmond’s Old Fire House (OFH) Teen Center, 16510 NE 79th St., has lots going on this fall, such as a “Back to School Bash” at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10.
The event will include a fashion show with outfits created from thrift store finds, as well as craft booths and a dance party.
Tickets are $7 or $5 with a winter coat donation for someone less fortunate.
FREE holiday activities in the month of October include a Zombie party in the OFH computer lab, at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27 and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration, with Mexican cuisine and cultural activities, at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29.
Also, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays are free Activity Days at the OFH.
Participants must be between the ages of 13-18 and enrolled full-time in a local high school or junior high school. Supervised activities include:
• “I Heart Hip Hop: Experts to Beginners,” Wednesdays at 3 p.m.
• OFH Movie Project, offering tips on all aspects of film and video making, Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
• Young Producers Club, offering feedback on music and songwriting, Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
• Iron Chef, a fun cooking challenge, Thursdays at 3 p.m.
For questions about Activity Days, call Rana Shmait at (425) 556-2371 or e-mail rshamait@redmond.gov.
For other information about the Old Fire house, including rentals for parties, all-ages concerts, etc. contact Chris Cullen at (425) 556-2341 or ccullen@redmond.gov.
Also, check out the story about the soon-to-be formed OFH Glee Club in the Friday, Sept. 3 print edition of the Redmond Reporter and online now (under Entertainment) at www.redmond-reporter.com.

Redmond people and businesses have a strong showing in the “Best of Western Washington” contest being sponsored by KING 5’s “Evening Magazine” show.
Voting goes through Oct. 12 and winners will be announced on Oct. 24. New nominees and contest standings are constantly being added/updated.
Here’s just a sampling of the Redmond businesses in the running, so far:
BEST WINERY: Northwest Totem Cellars and Betz Family Winery.
BEST FUN PLACE FOR KIDS: Great Play, Orange Blossom Society, South 47 Farm. (Note: South 47 Farm is technically no longer open to the public, but a portion of the property there, known as Dr. Maze’s Farm, will be open throughout the fall with a corn maze, hayrides, pumpkin patch and so on.)
BEST LOCAL BANDS: @five, Big Dog Revue, Bramble Brothers, Sealth, Seven Mile Ride. (Also, Bleu Sturgeon, which is listed as a Woodinville band, actually has a Redmond tie, too. Band leader Neil Sturgeon is an executive at Redmond-based Ally Marketing.)
BEST ANIMAL TRAINING: Blue Dog Pet Training and Sitting, Canine Behavior Center.
BEST BARBECUE: Carolina Kitchen (Alas, this business is closed but in its former location, there’s a new restaurant/deli called Pacific Coast Bakery, currently featured on the Redmond Reporter Web site.)
BEST MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS: Mills Music, Pacific Music.
BEST GYM: Crossfit Training, Redmond Athletic Club, The Bar Method.
Again, this is just a sampling of many Redmond businesses, nominated in many different categories for “Best of Western Washington” honors.
It’s up to you to choose your favorites but please do show support for the local folks who are working hard to make Redmond a great place to live, work and play.
Much more information is available at:
http://best.king5.com/contests/best-of-western-washington/4779

The Big Picture, a plush entertainment center at Redmond Town Center, is adding big-screen football viewing to its repertoire.
For the bargain price of $7 per person, you can guarantee a seat and score your first cocktail (well drink); by the way, this venue is only for guests 21 or older.
Also available will be Chicago-style hot dogs and Polish sausage (Yes! Go Bears!), personal-sized pizzas, beer, wine or soda for purchase.
The game schedule is:
• Thursday, Sept. 9: Super Bowl re-match, Minnesota vs. New Orleans.
Kick-off at 5:30 p.m., doors open 5 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 12: Double-header, doors open at 12:30 p.m.
Seattle vs. San Francisco, kick-off at 1:15 p.m.
Cowboys vs. Redskins, kick-off at 5:20 p.m.
• Monday, Sept. 13: Monday Night Football Double-header, doors open at 3:30 p.m.
Baltimore vs. New York Jets, kick-off at 4 p.m.
San Diego vs. Kansas City, kick-off at 7:15 p.m.
To reserve tickets or for additional information, call (425) 556-0566 or visit www.thebigpicture.net.

Redmond has an active Russian community and a big event at King County Marymoor Park this weekend will likely draw Russian culture enthusiasts from all throughout the region.
Yarmarka 2010, The Slavic Culture Festival, hosted by the Russian Community Center with the support of the Consulate General of Russia in Seattle, will run from 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 at Marymoor Park, 6046 W. Lake Sammamish Parkway in Redmond.
The event will feature performing artists from several states, international cuisine and folk art.
Admission is free and parking is $5 (cash only).
For more information, call (206) 227-9904 or (425) 343-3731.

While recently chatting with Mary Kellison, pastoral assistant and director of adult faith formation programs at St. Jude Catholic Church in Redmond, I asked her how their unique Special Needs Mass program was doing.
It’s still going strong, she said. The “All God’s Children” services, designed for people with special needs, their families, friends and caregivers, take place on the second Saturday of every month except for January and April. People of all faiths — not just Catholics – attend the worship services which are especially accommodating to individuals with developmental disabilities such as autism and sensory integration disorders.
A light lunch reception follows each of the services, at which time there is a craft activity and opportunities for parents and caregivers to network.
Kellison noted that she was sad to hear of the recent closure of the Redmond Top Food store, because staff there had been kind enough to host some fundraisers for the church’s special needs outreach programs. Individuals or businesses wishing to offer donations or assistance, so that more people with special needs and their families can be included at St. Jude, can contact Mary Kellison at (425) 883-7685 or visit www.st.jude-redmond.org/.

The American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties is looking for ordinary individuals who have performed extraordinary deeds. Do you know someone who has used CPR to save a life, pulled a person from a burning building or raised money to help someone in need?
On March 31, 2011, the Red Cross will present awards to local heroes who saved lives, exemplified the Red Cross mission or made significant, positive differences in their communities in the areas of emergency response, preparedness and prevention.
The nominee must be a resident of, or employed within, King County or the heroic act must have occurred in King County. The heroic act must be ongoing or have occurred between Dec. 1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2010.
If you can nominate a hero — especially someone from Redmond — visit www.seattleredcross.org, call (206) 726-3543 or e-mail melissa.hopkins@seattleredcross.org.

Among my stories in progress, look for some news about Back-to-School trends and events at Redmond Town Center, such as a Great Denim Days promotion and a “Quest for the Perfect Jeans” campaign.
Also, Redmond Town Center has three new stores to announce, according to marketing director Christina Henning:
Air Beauty Bar opens this week on the upper level of Center Street Plaza, specializing in airbrushed makeup and tanning.
Red Mango (a frozen yogurt shop) is under construction in Center Street Plaza and anticipates a fall opening.
Subway will begin construction soon on 166th Avenue Northeast, across from Macy’s.
More details are coming soon … have a great summer weekend in Redmond! And be sure to check out and congratulate the Redmond people and businesses who are featured in our 2010 “Best of Redmond” pull-out section in today’s print edition of the Redmond Reporter.

You, our Redmond Reporter readers, have cast your votes and soon (next week!) our “Best of Redmond” winners will be announced.
Meanwhile, many Redmond people and places have also been voted as Eastside favorites by the readers of 425 Magazine.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing many Redmond luminaries recognized by 425, including …
• Beaux Bowman at Black Raven Brewery, voted “Best Brewery”
• Dwayne Clark, CEO of Aegis Living, voted “Best Retirement Facility”
• Many people at Microsoft, voted “Best Large Business,” “Most Giving” and “Best Family First Company”
• The staff at Emmaus Counseling, voted “Best Family Therapy”
• Ben Wobker of Redmond Physical Therapy, voted “Best Physical Therapist”
• Scott Franklin and staff at DanceWorks, voted “Best Dance Studio”
• Alan Burke at Classic Nursery, voted “Best Landscaper”
• Bev and Luke Currier and Maika Manring at The Bar Method, voted “Best Group Activity”
Congratulations to all of them!

All the world’s a stage for Redmond actors. Look for upcoming Redmond Reporter features about Redmond teens performing in a school version of “Grease” July 9-17 at Redmond’s SecondStory Repertory; and “All Shook Up,” July 17-24 at the Village Theatre in Issaquah.
Also coming soon is a feature on Redmond High School graduate Mike Oliver (Class of 2002), performing in “Man of La Mancha” at Seattle’s Taproot Theatre, July 9-Aug. 7.
Support the arts here in Redmond and the region. Summer, with its lovely weather and boring re-runs on TV, is the perfect time to check out some live entertainment.
The City of Redmond’s Arts in the Parks series offers free, kid-friendly performances Tuesdays at noon, July 13-Aug. 17; and Fridays at 7 p.m., July 16-Aug. 20 for music and drama more geared to teens and adults. Events take place on the green space outside Redmond City Hall.
Details are available at http://www.redmond.gov/arts and http://www.experienceredmond.gov
Or call (425) 556-2316.

It’s Monday … and a cloudy one at that. But look on the bright side. There’s lots of free and cheap fun coming up next weekend.
Redmond Town Center will hold a sidewalk sale with bargains galore, arts and crafts and entertainment from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 25 and 26 and noon-4 p.m. Sunday, June 27.
And the Ananda Mela festival, a joyful tribute to the culture of India, happens from noon-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 26-27, on the campus of Redmond City Hall, 15670 NE 85th St. The free festival will feature a wide range of entertainment — music, dance, a magician and more — displays about the history and art of India, food from India, etc.
For a full schedule of events and details about the performers, visit http://www.anandamela.org