La Vie en Redmond

Redmond Police Department will hold a “Tip-a-Cop”
event from 4-9 p.m. Thursday, April 8 at the Claim Jumper restaurant at Redmond Town Center, 7210 164th Ave. NE.
During those hours, volunteers from Redmond Police will serve customers at the Claim Jumper and tips collected will be donated to Special Olympics of Washington.
If you’re planning to dine out tomorrow night, consider going to Claim Jumper and contributing to this great cause.

“History is Happening in Redmond!” is the motto of the Redmond Historical Society, a dedicated group of residents and business people who work hard to educate the community about Redmond’s rich heritage.
The society holds regular presentations at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center (ORSCC), 16600 NE 80th St. Those are free and open to the public. You can also visit the Redmond Historical Society’s office on the ground floor of the ORSCC. They have many volumes of historic photos and artifacts for you to study.
• WALK THROUGH REDMOND’S “OLD TOWN”
Tours of Redmond’s “old town” area are scheduled for the spring and summer seasons.
Tours are scheduled on Sundays from 1-2:30 p.m. on the following dates: April 18, May 16, June 20 and Sept. 19, unless it rains on those dates.
There is an $8 fee to cover research costs and tours begin at the steps of the Justice White house at 7730 Leary Way.
Tour leader Tom Hitzroth will walk you through Redmond’s oldest business district and will tell you spicy stores about Redmond’s randy pioneer days.
To sign up for the tours, or learn more about the Redmond Historical Society, call (425) 885-2919 or e-mail info@redmondhistoricalsociety.org.
• STITCH YOURSELF INTO THE THREADS OF REDMOND’S HISTORY
Redmond Historical Society member Joanne Westlund is collecting 100 quilt squares to be made into a special quilt to commemorate the City of Redmond’s centennial celebration.
If you have a favorite Redmond image, such as a historic building or your old home, consider turning it into a quilt square.
The names of those who contribute squares will be stitched into the quilt’s border.
For more information, call (425) 898-0399 or e-mail Joanne Westlund at jmwestlund@verizon.net.

The City of Redmond’s Eggstravaganza events — a flashlight egg hunt at Farrel-McWhirter Park on Friday, April 2 and traditional egg hunt and pancake breakfast at the Redmond Senior Center on Saturday, April 3 will be a popular way to celebrate Easter and spring this weekend. Visit www.redmond.gov and www.redmond-reporter.com for more details.
There’s also an egg hunt for kids, teens and adults at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, April 4 at Redmond Assembly of God, 16601 NE 95th St; call (425) 885-2334 or visit www.redmondag.org to learn more.
Also this weekend, Whole Foods Market Redmond, 17991 Redmond Way, has some free educational events featuring the award-winning, Redmond-based non-profit organization Nature Vision.
Between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 3, environmental educators from Nature Vision will show kids how to make salmon bracelets and leaf rubbings.
And at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, April 3, kids can join Nature Vision guides for a free, one-hour walk along the trail behind the Whole Foods Market. There’s no need to sign up in advance; just meet at the coffee counter in the store.
For more information about these Nature Vision events, call Whole Foods Market at (425) 881-2600.

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.”