Best of Redmond: Redmond Washington News, Events, Restaurants & Things to Do

About Best of Redmond: Redmond Washington News, Events, Restaurants & Things to Do

Best of Redmond is your insider guide to everything happening in town. Every Tuesday and Thursday, Dan and Jennifer share the best events, restaurant recommendations, new business openings, and neighborhood news... plus the Rumor Mill, where we share what we've heard might be coming next.

Publisher

Dan Schulz and Jennifer Davis – Eastside Seattle community podcasters with a passion for talking about all the amazing local businesses, neighborhood news, and weekly recommendations for Redmond WA residents.

Category

leisure · news · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Feb 2026

Latest episode

29 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

78 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Oct 2026

   Dog Swim Club Near Marymoor? Ghost Hunters & Best Corn Maze on the Eastside

   📰 This Week in Redmond October 29, 2026 👻 What Do Ghost Hunters Actually Do All Night? Find Out Tomorrow Tomorrow is your one chance to find out what real ghost hunters actually do all night. North by Northwest Paranormal hosts Paranormal Investigation: Behind the Hauntings at the Redmond Library, 15990 NE 85th St., from 2 to 4 p.m. They'll share stories from investigations around the Pacific Northwest, talk about ghosts and unexplained phenomena, and show the tools and technology investigators use. Then it turns into a hands-on investigation demo. All ages are welcome, and kids 15 and younger should come with an adult. Get all the details here: https://kcls.bibliocommons (https://kcls.bibliocommons/).com/v2/events/6a82011bd4b10d003006ddf5 🎃 Two Rounds of Trick-or-Treating, Zero Doorbells You can do two rounds of trick-or-treating without ringing a single doorbell this weekend on Saturday. SoulFood CoffeeHouse, at 15748 Redmond Way, hands out treats from 3 to 6 p.m., hosted by members of the coffeehouse community. Redmond Town Center runs its own trick-or-treat from 4 to 6 p.m. Look for the pumpkin decal in store windows. Participating shops hand out a free treat while supplies last, and you need to bring your own bag. Both land on Halloween itself, so you can hit one and then the other. SoulFood details: https://soulfoodcoffeehouse.com/events/trunk-or-treat/ (https://soulfoodcoffeehouse.com/events/trunk-or-treat/) Redmond Town Center details: https://redmondtowncenter.com/events/968-trick-or-treat (https://redmondtowncenter.com/events/968-trick-or-treat) 🍎 The Redmond Saturday Market's Last Day Lands on Halloween This weekend on Saturday is your last shot at the Redmond Saturday Market until spring. The market closes out its 2026 season from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 9900 Willows Rd NE, with free parking in the lots next door. Expect dozens of local vendors selling produce, eggs, honey, flowers, baked goods and crafts, plus food to eat on the spot. It's dog friendly and takes EBT. The market is celebrating 51 years, so this is one Halloween stop that comes with apples instead of candy. Stock up on fall produce while you still can. 🎬 The Library's Halloween Movie Stars David Bowie in a Goblin Wig David Bowie in a goblin-king wig is the Redmond Library's pick for a Halloween movie, and it's free. The library at 15990 NE 85th St. is screening Jim Henson's Labyrinth (1986) this weekend on Saturday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. It's billed as a kid-friendly spooky movie, so it's a gentle pick for trick-or-treaters who aren't ready for real scares. All ages are welcome, and you don't need to register. Wear the costume, grab a seat, and you'll still be out in time for evening candy. 🎭 You Write the Plot at Wednesday's Improv Show On Wednesday, you get to tell the performers what happens next. Eastside Improv's students take the stage for a Student Showcase from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Redmond Senior & Community Center, 8703 160th Ave NE, with doors at 6:15. Beginner, intermediate, advanced, musical improv and 50-plus classes all perform. You shout out suggestions, and they build scenes that will never happen again. It's family friendly. Tickets are required, and the price is on the ticket page. If cost is a problem, Eastside Improv says to email them and they'll get you in, no questions asked. Get tickets here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/eastsideimprov/2453179 (https://www.tickettailor.com/events/eastsideimprov/2453179) 🎷 Bring a Horn Tonight and You're in the Band Tonight, anybody who can hold a horn is invited to sit in at SoulFood. Open Jazz Night runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at SoulFood CoffeeHouse, 15748 Redmond Way. It's a casual, all-ages jam for players at every level, from nervous beginners to people who've been gigging for decades, and it's set up so younger players can learn from the veterans. Don't play? You can just listen with a coffee. There's no pressure either way. Bring your instrument, or just bring your ears. Simply Leak Detection Ever open your water bill and think, that can't be right? No puddles. Nothing dripping. But the number doubled. Turns out that's normal. Most of Simply Leak Detection's calls come from people who can't see any water at all, because it drains straight down into the ground. Lincoln and his team find those leaks without tearing up your yard. Over 300 five-star reviews on Google. Serving Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue and the whole Eastside. Call 253-800-1412 or visit SimplyLeakDetection.com. 📞 (253) 800-1412 🌐 https://simplyleakdetection.com/ (https://simplyleakdetection.com/) 🎶 Hear a Toltec Flute Sunday Without Leaving Redmond A flute from a Maya tradition sounds nothing like the one from your kid's band class, and this weekend on Sunday you can hear the difference. Peter Ali brings A Musical Journey with Native & Mesoamerican Flutes to the Redmond Library, 15990 NE 85th St., from 2:30 to 4 p.m. He plays flutes from Plains, Woodland, Maya and Toltec traditions and shares the stories behind them. It's part of National Native American & Alaska Native Heritage Month. Seating is first come, first served, so get there a few minutes early. It's a good pick for curious kids and grown-ups alike. 📜 Redmond History Minute It's time for the Redmond History Minute, where we share a piece of history, a tidbit, or some trivia about life in and around Redmond. Today's trivia question is... Before Microsoft arrived, one of Redmond's most important companies was Physio-Control. What did it invent? A) The personal computer B) The portable defibrillator C) The first MRI machine D) Wireless internet 🐕 An Indoor Swimming Pool Just for Dogs Near Marymoor? Sources say a dog swim club is in permit talks somewhere near Marymoor. Think a heated indoor pool just for dogs, with swim lessons and open swim hours. Supposedly the concept is already running in Ballard, and the waitlist there is six months long. None of it is confirmed, not the location, the timing, or who's behind it. So here's our question: would your dog actually jump in, or just stand at the edge and judge everybody? If you've got a guess or have heard something, head to our Facebook page at facebook.com/BestOfRedmond (https://facebook.com/BestOfRedmond) and drop it in the Redmond Rumor Mill Guesses post. 🏆 Your Picks And while you're at our Facebook page, find the Your Picks post and answer this question... We want to know what you think the best corn maze on the Eastside is. 🎧 Love the Newsletter? There's a Podcast Too If you enjoyed this newsletter, you're gonna love the companion podcast. Find it at bestofredmond.com (https://bestofredmond.com/). ✅ History Minute Answer The answer is B, the portable defibrillator. Physio-Control was founded in 1955 by Dr. Karl William Edmark, a surgeon who was haunted by watching patients die on the operating table from cardiac arrest. His company created the Lifepak series of portable defibrillators. In 1974, Physio-Control built a $2 million headquarters on 11 acres overlooking the Sammamish River in Redmond. That was more than a decade before Microsoft showed up. Before Redmond was saving your documents, it was saving your life.

2. 

   27 Oct 2026

   Ghost Hunters Hand Over Their Gear, Firefighter Trunk or Treat & a Book Vending Machine Rumor?

   🎬 Five Bucks and Fishnets Get You Into Rocky Horror Friday Five bucks gets you into a Rocky Horror screening Friday night, and nobody will blink if you show up in fishnets. SoulFood CoffeeHouse, at 15748 Redmond Way, is showing the 1975 cult classic from 7 to 9 p.m., with doors at 6:30. You pay the $5 at the counter. Costumes are encouraged, and props and popcorn are for sale, so there's no need to raid your own pantry for supplies. A coffeehouse crowd makes this a friendly first Rocky Horror for anyone who's never done the Time Warp in public. Show up a little before 7 if you want a good seat. 🐾 Bingo Night Friday Feeds You and Helps Shelter Pets Halloween bingo Friday night comes with dinner, prizes and a good cause. The EmpowerEdu Social Impact Project Club is hosting Halloween Bingo & Game Night from 5 to 7 p.m. in Room 142 at the Redmond Senior & Community Center, 8703 160th Ave NE. Expect lots of bingo and board games, gifts for winners, and a light dinner and snacks included in the entry fee. It's $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and kids under 12. All donations and revenue go to Homeward Pet Adoption Center, the nonprofit, no-kill shelter in Woodinville. Bring the family and your competitive streak. 👻 Ghost Hunters Are Handing Over Their Gear at the Library Real ghost hunters are bringing their gear to the Redmond Library Friday afternoon, and then they're handing it to you. North by Northwest Paranormal hosts Paranormal Investigation: Behind the Hauntings from 2 to 4 p.m. at the library, 15990 NE 85th St. They'll talk ghosts, hauntings and unexplained phenomena from investigations around the Pacific Northwest and show the tools investigators actually use. Then the room turns into an interactive investigation with hands-on demonstrations. All ages are welcome, but kids 15 and younger need to come with an adult. The link's in the show notes and in the newsletter. https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/events/6a82011bd4b10d003006ddf5 🚒 Trick-or-Treat With Redmond Firefighters at City Hall Friday Redmond firefighters are handing out candy Friday night, and you can bring the kids straight to City Hall for it. The Redmond Fire Department is hosting a free Trunk or Treat from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 15670 NE 85th St., with trick-or-treating and games. Redmond Parks is joining in too, with a festively decorated vehicle from Farrel-McWhirter Park. It lands the night before Halloween, so it works as a warmup lap for little ones or as the main event for anybody who'd rather skip the dark neighborhood streets. Bring a bag and a costume. 💀 No Painting Skills Needed for This Glittery Sugar Skull You don't need any painting skills to walk out with a glittery Day of the Dead sugar skull this weekend on Sunday. Crave4Art hosts a Sugar Skull Celebration paint party at Ixtapa Redmond Ridge, 22350 NE Marketplace Dr., from 4 to 6 p.m. Your design comes pre-traced, you choose classic, flower crown or top hat, and all supplies are included. It's $40 for an 11x14 canvas or $44 for a 16x20, tax included, and you can order food and drinks there. A second session runs Monday at 6:30 p.m. Book ahead, since there are no refunds. The link's in the show notes and in the newsletter. https://www.crave4art.com/venue-ixtapa-redmond-ridge 🌲 Redmond's Most Useful Halloween Costume Is a Pair of Work Gloves Redmond's most useful Halloween costume this year might be a pair of muddy work gloves. Green Redmond Day is this weekend on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Smith Woods, near 176th Avenue NE and NE 124th Street. It's the city's annual volunteer morning for planting native trees and shrubs to restore local parks and green spaces. Since 2009, Green Redmond volunteers have planted more than 15,800 trees across 20 Redmond parks, and Saturday is a chance to add to that count. The sign-up link's in the show notes and in the newsletter. https://www.redmond.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=3542 🌬️ Is Your Tree Ready for the Next Windstorm? A stressed tree is more likely to come down in a fall windstorm, and the City of Redmond wants you to look at yours before the next one hits. Signs worth a closer look include a leaning trunk, dead branches, or fungus growing at the base. If something seems off, a certified arborist can tell you how risky it is. The city assessed nearly 18,000 of its own trees in 2023 and 2024, with follow-up work scheduled to continue through November. While you're at it, sign up for AlertRedmond, the city's emergency notification system, for Redmond-specific alerts on hazardous weather, local emergencies and public safety. The link's in the show notes and in the newsletter. https://www.redmond.gov/506/Emergency-Alerts 📜 Redmond History Minute It's time for the Redmond History Minute, where we share a piece of history, a tidbit, or some trivia about life in and around Redmond. Today's trivia question is... Warren Perrigo, one of Redmond's two founding settlers, came to the area after serving in which conflict? A) The War of 1812 B) The Mexican-American War C) The Civil War D) The Spanish-American War 📚 A Book Vending Machine Near the Saturday Market? We've heard a book vending machine operation is being planned for a high-foot-traffic spot near the Redmond Saturday Market. Think curated paperbacks from $5 to $12, rotating titles, and nobody behind a counter. It sounds gimmicky until you hear the numbers from a pilot in Tacoma. None of it is confirmed, not the exact spot, the timing, or who's running it. So here's our question: what's the one paperback you'd want to find in a Redmond vending machine? 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 And while you're at our Facebook page, find the Your Picks post and answer this question... We want to know [who / what] you think the best [CATEGORY] is. 🎧 Love the Newsletter? There's a Podcast Too If you enjoyed this newsletter, you're gonna love the companion podcast. Find it at bestofredmond.com. ✅ History Minute Answer The answer is C, the Civil War. Warren Wentworth Perrigo was a decorated Civil War veteran from Maine. After the war, he and his wife Laura headed west, arriving in Seattle in 1866 and settling near Lake Sammamish in 1871. He bought 80 acres, built the Melrose House inn, and blazed many of the first trails and roads connecting the early Eastside settlements, which made him essentially the region's first trail builder. Laura died after 16 years in Redmond, and Warren eventually sold the hotel and moved to Seattle. A soldier turned innkeeper turned road builder.

3. 

   22 Oct 2026

   A Redmond Pumpkin Patch in a Swimming Pool, Brewery Cookies & Best Fall Colors in Redmond?

   📰 This Week in Redmond October 22, 2026 🏊 This Pumpkin Patch Is in a Swimming Pool Picture a swimming pool full of jack-o'-lantern beach balls. That's the Beach Ball Pumpkin Patch Family Swim, this weekend on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Redmond Pool, 17535 NE 104th St. Families swim among the floating pumpkins, play for prizes, and stop by water safety stations, and it's open to all ages. It's a pumpkin patch where nobody tracks mud into the car. Registration runs through Wave Aquatics, so check the price when you sign up. The link's in the show notes and in the newsletter. https://www.waveaquatics.org/ (https://www.waveaquatics.org/) 🎃 No Knives, No Carving, Just Bring Your Own Pumpkin Bring a pumpkin and a costume to the Redmond Senior & Community Center on Monday night. The Spooky Spectacular runs 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 8703 160th Ave NE, and it's for all ages. There's face painting, a photo booth, arts and crafts, and mini games, plus hot dogs, veggie dogs, chips, Halloween candy, and drinks. The pumpkin decorating is no-carve, so the supplies are provided and nobody needs a knife. You just bring the pumpkin. Admission is $5 to $6, and space is limited, so register ahead. The link's in the show notes and in the newsletter. https://www.redmond.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=3560 (https://www.redmond.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=3560) 🍯 A Master Beekeeper Wants You to Taste Honey Like a Pro You've probably never tasted honey the way a Master Beekeeper does. This weekend on Saturday, Iron Bee Apiary from Sammamish runs a honey tasting in the Red Room at Pomegranate Bistro, 18005 NE 68th St., Suite A-150, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., with doors at 1:45. A certified Master Beekeeper walks you through award-winning local honey, single-source honey from their own hives, and exotic honeys from around the world. Seats are $49.05, plus a $30 food or drink minimum paid to the restaurant. Tickets aren't refundable, but you can give yours to a friend. Parking is free. Tickets are in the show notes and in the newsletter. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seattles-ultimate-honey-tasting-experience-registration-1991841297941 (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seattles-ultimate-honey-tasting-experience-registration-1991841297941) 🐟 Learn About Salmon, Finish the Hunt, Win a Prize Your kids can win a prize this weekend just for learning about salmon. On Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., FISH and GoRedmond run a free Salmon Discovery Walk and Scavenger Hunt on the Sammamish River Trail by Redmond City Hall, 15670 NE 85th St. Find their outreach booth on the trail, then take a flat, easy 30-minute walk along the river while you learn about the salmon that swim in it. Finish the scavenger hunt for a prize. GoRedmond is also handing out preloaded ORCA cards and transportation giveaways while supplies last. Details are in the show notes and in the newsletter. https://www.issaquahfish.org/discoverywalk/ (https://www.issaquahfish.org/discoverywalk/) 🍪 Decorate Halloween Cookies at a Brewery, No Baking Required Six sugar cookies, four icing colors, and a pile of sprinkles are waiting for you at Postdoc Brewing on Wednesday night. Sweet Creations by Cris, a Redmond cottage bakery, runs a Boujee Halloween Cookie Decorating Workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. at 17625 NE 65th St., Suite 100, with doors at 5:45. Everything's baked and prepped, so you just decorate and box them up to take home. No experience needed. Class tickets are $60.94, it's capped at 15 people, and the class description lists it as 21 and over, so this one's a grown-ups' night. Tickets are in the show notes and in the newsletter. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/boujee-halloween-cookie-decorating-workshop-tickets-1990719868716 (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/boujee-halloween-cookie-decorating-workshop-tickets-1990719868716) ♟️ Checkmate Over a Pint at Black Raven Tuesday Night Black Raven Brewing's Redmond taproom turns into a chess hall on Tuesday night. The Eastside Chess Club meets there on the last Tuesday of every month, from 6 p.m. until the taproom closes at 9, at 14679 NE 95th St. Show up, order a beer, and find someone to play. Every skill level shows up to these things, so don't let rusty openings stop you. Black Raven's Redmond location is 21 and over only, so the kid chess prodigies will have to sit this one out. Simply Leak Detection A lot of people put off calling about a leak because they're scared of what it'll cost. But fixing it costs money no matter what. The question is whether you're guessing or you actually know. Simply Leak Detection finds the exact spot first, so you can decide whether a repair makes sense or the line needs replacing. Either way, you're deciding with real information. Over 300 five-star reviews on Google. Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue and the whole Eastside. Call 253-800-1412 or visit SimplyLeakDetection.com. 📞 (253) 800-1412 🌐 https://simplyleakdetection.com/ (https://simplyleakdetection.com/) 🥏 He Swam the Strait of Gibraltar, Then Coached Frisbee to Help Refugee Kids A Seattle school counselor who swam the Strait of Gibraltar built an Ultimate Frisbee team to help immigrant and refugee kids heal, and on Wednesday you can meet the filmmaker who told his story. The Redmond Library screens Ultimate Citizens, about counselor Jamshid Khajavi, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the West Meeting Room, 15990 NE 85th St. A Q&A with filmmaker Francine Strickwerda follows. It's free, no registration needed, and recommended for high schoolers and older. Bring a teenager. They'll get more out of it than you'd think. 📜 Redmond History Minute It's time for the Redmond History Minute, where we share a piece of history, a tidbit, or some trivia about life in and around Redmond. Today's trivia question is... Between 1951 and 1967, Redmond grew its land area by about how much through annexations? A) It doubled in size B) It grew five times larger C) It grew more than thirty times larger D) It stayed about the same The answer is at the bottom of this newsletter. 🔥 Redmond Rumor Mill: Brazilian Barbecue Near the Light Rail? Rumor has it a Brazilian churrascaria is scouting a spot near the light rail station. It isn't the all-you-can-eat kind where servers keep bringing skewers to your table. Picture a tight eight-item menu, tabletop grills, and good caipirinhas instead. The operator apparently runs a catering company and wants a permanent home. None of this is confirmed. We don't have a name, an address, or an opening date. So would you give up the endless meat parade to grill it yourself? If you've got a guess or have heard something, head to our Facebook page at facebook.com/BestOfRedmond (https://facebook.com/BestOfRedmond) and drop it in the Redmond Rumor Mill Guesses post. 🗳️ Your Picks And while you're at our Facebook page, find the Your Picks post and answer this question... We want to know what you think the best place to see fall colors is. 🎧 Love the Newsletter? There's a Podcast Too If you enjoyed this newsletter, you're gonna love the companion podcast. Find it at bestofredmond.com (https://bestofredmond.com/). ✅ History Minute Answer C) It grew more than thirty times larger. When Redmond incorporated in 1912, it was just three square blocks, and for decades it stayed small. After World War II, the city went on an annexation spree. It took in Education Hill in 1951, which nearly tripled its size, then Overlake in 1962, Viewpoint in 1964, and Bear Creek in 1966. By 1967 Redmond was more than thirty times its original size. In about 15 years it went from a small farming village to more than 17 square miles.

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Apple Podcasts (US)

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Contact Best of Redmond: Redmond Washington News, Events, Restaurants & Things to Do

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