La Vie en Redmond

The Redmond Zombies will rise again for another “Thrill the World” event at Redmond Town Center on Saturday, Oct. 23.
Teresa Osborn, a dance instructor for the City of Redmond’s Parks and Recreation department will offer lessons in September for those who want to learn Michael Jackson’s famous “Thriller” dance and perform it with a huge crowd of fun-loving zombies of all ages at the Town Center.
The event will be a fundraiser for SecondStory Repertory, the professional theatre company at Redmond Town Center, which features performing arts education for kids and teens, including a summer production of “Grease” that we’ll soon be covering in the Redmond Reporter.
For now, kick back, relax and watch this zany YouTube video with highlights from last year’s “Thrill the World” event in Redmond and info about the new event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og-mZ5V8LE8

As a professional journalist, I am not often at a loss for words, but it’s hard to adequately describe last night’s phenomenal dress rehearsal for Cirque du Soleil’s “KOOZA” show, which officially opens tonight at Marymoor Park.
The show is magical and mind-blowing from start to finish. There truly is something from everyone to enjoy: terrific music and comedy, dazzling costumes and sensational demonstrations of everything from grace and subtlety to strength, agility and sheer dauntlessness.
During recent interviews with “KOOZA’s” artistic director, Adam Miller and Mike Tyus, who plays The Trickster, both expressed amazement at the range of talent within the cast — and last night, seeing was believing.
It would be difficult to pick a favorite act in “KOOZA.” The show includes contortionists, a flying trapeze artist, a high-wire act and much more. But I’d have to say my favorite was the “Wheel of Death.” Unbelievable. Enough said.
Besides bringing great entertainment to Redmond, Cirque du Soleil’s presence is a real boon for business and tourism in the city. The Cirque performers stay here at Redmond hotels and many Cirque fans from out-of-town stay, eat and/or shop locally, too.
If you possibly can, go to “KOOZA,” cheer loudly and let Cirque du Soleil know Redmond wants them back, again and again.

Redmond High School’s talented music students are wrapping up their school year with concerts that are free and open to all in the community.
The performances take place at the Redmond High Performing Arts Center, 17272 NE 104th St., as follows:
Bands and Jazz Band, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 26
Orchestras, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 3
Chamber Choir and Jazz Choir, 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 4
Shows typically include a fun mix of classical and popular music.

Redmond Derby Days, the annual summer community festival, is seeking volunteers to help out on Friday, July 9 and Saturday, July 10. Students can earn service hours for school and it’s a way to get a close-up look at a lot of fun activities.
For information, call (425) 556-2352, e-mail fswong@redmond.gov or visit the Derby Days Web site,
http://www.redmond.gov/derbydays/

The weather is still a little “iffy,” we know. Sunny one minute, raining the next. But when those sunbreaks happen, it’s great to be out in the fresh air, perhaps sharing a drink or a bite to eat with friends. Maybe it’ll happen this weekend. Here are a few of Redmond’s al fresco dining destinations to keep in mind.
• Black Raven Brewing Company, 14679 NE 95th St., will now offer to the 21 and over crowd — and as weather permits — a Saturday beer garden with sales of grilled brats and Andouille sausage. Food from nearby Flying Saucer Pizza can also be ordered and delivered to Black Raven.
For more information about Black Raven, call (425) 881-3020 or visit www.blackravenbrewing.com.
• Also for those 21 or over, The Matador, 7824 Leary Way NE has an outdoor seating section and great deals on generous portions of appetizers during both early and late Happy Hours. Call (425) 883-2855 or visit www.matadorrestaurants.com/location-redmond.html
• Spazzo on the upper level of Redmond Town Center has outdoor seating and Happy Hours, as well. Call (425) 881-4400 or visit www.schwartzbros. com/spazzo.cfm.
• Ruby’s on the lower level of Redmond Town Center has some tables outdoors and is a big hit with the kids. Call (425) 861-7829 or visit http://www.rubys.com/2-locations/locations.aspx

As my Redmond Reporter colleagues and I are out and about in Redmond, people often ask, “Do you ever hurt for story ideas?” The answer, happily, is a resounding “NO!”
Redmond is chock-full of interesting residents, workers and visitors so there’s always plenty going on.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Queen Rania of Jordan at a reception on the Microsoft campus. Just a few minutes ago, I did a phone interview with Adam Miller, the artistic director of Cirque du Soleil’s “KOOZA,” which is headed to a run at King County’s Marymoor Park in Redmond.
Watch for coverage of “KOOZA” here at www.redmond-reporter.com and in our print editions which publish on Fridays.
But on a more local level, I’m also working on stories about Redmond High School students competing in a game design contest, Entrepreneurship students from RHS, the 20th anniversary of the Redmond Senior Center, a huge Indian cultural festival that will bring dazzling entertainment to the Redmond City Hall campus, SecondStory Repertory’s upcoming season … and much, much more.

Revelers at the Northwest Folklife festival (Memorial Day weekend, May 28-31 at the Seattle Center) will be able to feast their eyes and ears on some splendid entertainment as seen and heard in Redmond and neighboring communities.
If you’re planning to attend Northwest Folklife, you might want to time your visit(s) to coincide with these performances:
FRIDAY, MAY 28:
• Shotty, as seen/heard at Redmond’s Old Fire House Teen Center and Redmond’s Oddfellow’s Grill, at 6:50 p.m. on Northwest Folklife’s Vera Stage.
SATURDAY, MAY 29:
• Electric violinist Geoffrey Castle, who was the headlining performer at String Jam ‘10, a fundraiser for Lake Washington School District orchestra programs — and an attempt to break a Guinness World Record for the most string musicians playing in unison. String Jam ‘10 was at the Juanita High School Field House in Kirkland. But at Northwest Folklife, Castle will perform on the Fountain Lawn Stage at 12:20 p.m.
• Molten Vocals, as seen/heard in a City of Redmond-sponsored impromptu arts event, “bursting into song” in downtown Redmond. They’ll perform at 1 p.m at Northwest Folklife’s Intiman Choral Courtyard.
• Amitie — A French Musical Voyage, as seen/heard at Redmond’s SoulFood Books and Cafe in Redmond and featuring Redmond resident Danick Jawer, at 2:20 p.m. on the Northwest Court Stage at Northwest Folklife.
SUNDAY, MAY 30:
• EMP’s Sky Church will feature a Northwest Folklife “Pop 425 Showcase” with musicians seen/heard at Redmond’s Old Fire House Teen Center. The line-up includes ….
• Box at 12 p.m.
• Lena Palladina at 12:40 p.m.
• Zephyrs at 1:20 p.m.
• Abby Santos at 2 p.m.
• Seahouse at 2:40 p.m.
• And at 7:35 p.m. at Northwest Folklife’s Mural Amphitheatre performance, the featured entertainers are Eduardo Mendonca and Show Brazil who’ve been seen/heard at City of Redmond events and at Redmond Town Center’s summer concert series.
• At 9 p.m., folk artist Jim Page, as seen/heard at SoulFood Books and Cafe, will play at Bagley Wright Theatre during Northwest Folklife.
For much more information about Northwest Folklife’s schedule of entertaiment, visit http://nwfolklife.org/programs.

The Redmond Senior Center presents its third annual Trash or Treasure event from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, June 12 at 8703 160th Ave. NE.
Professional appraisers will be on hand to tell you whether your family heirlooms, sports memorabilia or vintage dolls are worth more money than you ever knew.
Prior registration is strongly suggested and the appraisal fee is $5 per item with a limit of six items per person. There’s special pricing for sports memorabilia and furniture can not be expected.
Appraisers giving “verbal market evaluations” will include Kathleen Victor of Victor Appraisal Services, Bette Bell of Guildmark Appraisal & Estate Sale Service, Donald Jensen who spent seven years on “Antiques Roadshow,” Dacia Hanson, owner of Old Renton Book Exchange, Charles Kapner, local sports historian and collector and Julie Scott, whose specialty is Victorian dolls and toys.
You can register in person at the Redmond Senior Center or call (425) 556-2314 to request a registration packet.

I’m working on a story about some Redmond nurseries which have been named among The Green Gardening Program’s recommended 2010 Natural Yard Care Nurseries. These are nurseries that offer safe, environmentally friendly lawn and garden products as well as workshops on how to grow edible plants.
If you love tomatoes as much as I do — meaning good tomatoes, not the “cardboard” kind you get at most supermarkets — you might want to check out the “Tomato-Tastic Weekend” festivities at Pacific Topsoils’ Gray Barn Nursery and Garden Center, 20871 NE Redmond-Fall City Rd. (the corner of 208th and Sahalee Way).
Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2, gardening experts will be on hand to answer all your questions about growing tomatoes, from the big Beefsteak to the petite Cherry.
Kids will be able to create an artistic print using fruits and vegetables and to plant a tomato start to grow at home.
For more information, call (425) 898-8265 or visit www.graybarn.com

Look for a story in next week’s Redmond Reporter about a huge rummage sale to fight breast cancer, which will take place in the gym at Rosa Parks Elementary School (22845 NE Cedar Park Crescent in the Redmond Ridge neighborhood) next Saturday, May 1. The sale will run from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and will include furniture, sporting goods, outdoor items, kids’ stuff, clothes, etc. All proceeds from the sale, sponsored by The Pink Pumas, will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day fundraiser.
That same day, Saturday, May 1, a group of Girl Scouts will host a pancake breakfast in the Commons at Rosa Parks Elementary and will donate their earnings to earthquake relief for Haiti. The breakfast will run from 9 a.m.-noon and will include pancakes, fruit topping, whipped cream, syrup, coffee, cocoa and juice. Breakfast will be $5 per person and extra donations may be given, too.
More details will be added in my upcoming story.