dramatic day trips

enchantinghikes

plus M A P S and more

top regionalcuisine

shopper'sparadise

art-filledescapades

2014INSIDER'SGUIDE

be

llev

ue v

isito

r g

uid

e 20

14 v

isitb

elle

vu

ew

as

hin

gto

n.c

om

DESTINATIONNORTHWEST

t h e b e st lo ca l fo o d, w i n e , a n d w i l d wo n d e rs

EraGemESTATE - RETRO - ANTIQUE

12000 NE 8TH ST, SUITE 101 BELLEVUE, WA 98005 (206) 832-6850

EraGem.com

FINE ESTATE JEWELRYLOCATED IN DOWNTOWN BELLEVUE

EraGemESTATE - RETRO - ANTIQUE

12000 NE 8TH ST, SUITE 101 BELLEVUE, WA 98005 (206) 832-6850

EraGem.com

FINE ESTATE JEWELRYLOCATED IN DOWNTOWN BELLEVUE

SEE OUR STUNNING VARIETY of over 200 sophisticated retail stores, where you will find the best-known brands and unique gifts. Plus 25 destination dining options, an array of dynamic entertainment & nightlife and two luxury hotels... all connected by sky bridges and just minutes from Seattle in the center of Bellevue, Washington.

The Place To Be For Inspiring Fashion, Artful Dining and Vibrant Nightlife.

BELLEVUE SQUARE BELLEVUE PL ACE L INCOLN SQUARELocated on Bellevue Way between NE 4th and NE 10th Streets

Experience more at bellevuecollection.com and plan your getaway. 425.454.8096.

The Bellevue ColleCTion

TBC_BelleVisitorGuide_Ad_2014_final.indd 1 1/21/14 4:14 PM

Seattle Met Magazine • February 2014 • Single Page • Back Cover (LHP) • Trim: 8.375”x 10.875” Bleed:8.625 ”x11.125 ” Job # 224504

BE

LLE

VU

E S

QU

AR

E 4

25 4

54 0

952

MA

XM

AR

A.C

OM

224504_Max_SeattleMetFeb_x1a.indd 1 1/3/14 9:58 AM

Your urban oasis awaits right outside our doors. Enjoy the ultimate in outdoor activities, shopping, dining, and entertainment when you book your “Date Night” package at Hyatt Regency Bellevue. Starting as low as $205 per night, enjoy a welcome amenity, movie certificate good for two at Lincoln Square Cinemas, breakfast for two in bed, complimentary valet parking and a late 2 p.m. checkout. Also included in the package is a $75 dinner gift certificate valid at over 45 restaurants and lounges within The Bellevue Collection, home to 250 shops.

Try something different in 2014. The next time you need a date-away call us at 800 233 1234 or visit us online at bellevue.hyatt.com and reference offer code WA425. Hyatt. You’re More Than Welcome.

HYATT name, design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. ©2014 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.

Hyatt Regency Bellevue. A perfect weekend date-away.

HYATT REGENCY BELLEVUE ON SEATTLE’S EASTSIDE 900 Bellevue Way NE Bellevue, Washington, USA 98004-4272

6 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

Welcome

We are so glad you are here. We may be the epicenter of Washington’s tech industry and the state’s fifth-largest city, but most days Bellevue feels more like a bustling town. Wander just past downtown’s cosmopolitan retail core—two of our four major shopping centers are here—and within moments you’ll find yourself in the middle of the stun-ning, 20-acre Downtown Park. Stroll west beyond Old Bellevue’s quaint Main Street, with its chef-run local restaurants and boutique shops, and you’ll soon arrive at the edge of the nearly 34-square-mile Lake Washington.

Bellevue also serves as a jumping-off point for exploring the state’s amazing natural, cultural, and culinary diversions. From here it’s easy to hop a floatplane and head to the islands for whale watching—as our writer did in “Extreme(ly) Washington” (p. 36)—climb aboard a helicopter to drop into the state’s glaciated back country, head for a rain forest, or just ride a gondola for peeks at pristine Mount Rainier.

And, there is the local flavor. As the second-largest premium wine-producing state in the nation, Washington is home to more than 750 wineries. From downtown it’s a mere 20-minute drive—or a 90-minute bike ride, as we explain in our “Tasting Tour” story (p. 30)—to Woodinville, the Puget Sound’s principal wine-touring destination.

Culture, cutting-edge technology companies, a diverse population, and great culinary explorations are just a few of the reasons we call Bellevue home. We hope you enjoy discovering all that Bellevue and our region have to offer. Welcome, and enjoy the views.

Published in conjunction with SagaCity Media

President Nicole Vogel vice President, custom media Jeff Adams

account executives Colleen Bagdon, Dixie Duncan

senior advertising coordinator Danielle Williams

senior vice President, editorial & oPerations Bill Hutfilz

senior editor Julie H. Case associate editor Angela Cabotaje

coPy editor Margaret Seiler art director Chuck Kerr

contributing writers Amanda Castleman, Paul Clarke, Andrew Collins,

Rebekah Denn, Heather Hansman, Melena Jankanish, Dan Raley, Cassie Sawyer, Haley

Shapley, Seth Sommerfeld, David Volk, Allison Williams, Jessica Winterbauer, Amanda Zurita

Production manager Mary Bradford

Published byVisit Bellevue Washington

11100 NE Sixth St | Bellevue, WA 98004425-450-3777 | visitbellevuewashington.com

executive director Stacy Graven

director of sales Jane Kantor, CMP

marketing and communications manager Sharon Linton

marketing assistant Kaitlyn Brajcich

advisory committee

The Bellevue Visitor Guide is a publication of SagaCity Media in conjunction with Visit Bellevue Washington. For advertising inqui-ries contact Jeff Adams at 206-454-3007. For editorial inquiries contact Julie H. Case at 206-454-3028. All rights reserved.

Putter Bert KidsQuest

Children’s Museum

Jennifer Fischer Bellevue Downtown

Association

Patrick Foran City of Bellevue

Kim Fredericks Bellevue Chamber

of Commerce

Jennifer Leavitt Bellevue Collection/

Kemper Development Company

Elizabeth Martin-Calder

Bellevue Arts Museum

Cathy Munson Shops at the Bravern/

Schnitzer West

Sue Popma Crossroads Bellevue

Donna Rios Hilton Bellevue

Jerry Stotler The Hotel Bellevue

Heather Trescases Eastside Heritage

Center

Carl Vander Hoek Old Bellevue/Vander

Hoek Corporation

Colin Walker City of Bellevue

Claudia Balducci Mayor, City of Bellevue

Stacy Graven Executive Director, Visit Bellevue Washington

WELCOME TO BELLEVUE.

Fro

M T

op:

MAr

V H

eSTo

n, S

Hu

TTer

STo

Ck.C

oM

, SCr

een

SHo

T: C

ou

rTe

Sy V

iSiT

Bel

leVu

e W

ASH

ing

Ton

David Yusen Heavy Restaurant Group, Committee Chair

Go to visitbellevuewashington.com from your smartphone for maps, event calendars, things to do, and deals.

oyster perpetual submariner date

rolex oyster perpetual and submariner are trademarks.

8 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

Contents

in multicultural Bellevue, global cuisine reigns supreme. eight expats dish about where they go to get a taste of home.

22Man Eats World

FEATURES

From snowy slopes to clear-blue skies, Bellevue and its surrounds sport plenty in terms of outdoor adventure.

Drink like a local: Pedal to fine wine by day before strolling to craft cocktails and northwest spirits by night.

30Tasting Tour

Fro

M T

op:

oli

ViA

Br

enT,

riC

HAr

D D

uVA

l, g

Ary

luH

M /

DAn

iTAD

eliM

on

T.Co

M

36Extreme(ly) Washington

Hollywood HillTasting Room7 DAYS A WEEK

Warehouse Wineryand Tasting Room

SAT & SUN

100 tasting rooms in Woodinville.

Start here.Start here.

BEST BRAND

BEST BROKERS

BEST PROPERTIES

Selling Seattle/Bellevue & the Eastside since 1992

call us at

425-454-4141

BEST BRAND BEST BROKERS BEST PROPERTIES

10 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

Contents

13 BelleViewsExplore peaceful parks, terrific trails, and more in town.

43 Sip & SavorFrom brunch to burgers, seek out some of the city’s best tastes.

49 Sports & LeisureDiscover scenic hikes, winter wonders, and rolling fairways.

53 Arts & CultureThe creative scene is hopping with exhibits and theater galore.

57 Shop & Styleindulge in prime pampering and high-fashion retail finds.

61 Music & NightlifeStep out after dark for a bevy of live-music venues and bars.

67 Kids & FamilyHands-on local fun abounds for kids, teens, and their parents.

70 ResourcesDirections and where to stay once you arrive.

71 MapsHandy maps to help you find your way around the region and city.

DEPARTMENTS

ON THE COVER

photo by Colin Walker / Bellevue parks & Community Services

13 13

43 49

53 57

61 67

Clo

CkW

iSe

Fro

M T

op

leFT

: Co

ur

TeSy

Cr

oSS

ro

ADS

SHo

ppin

g C

enTe

r, M

err

ill

iMAg

eS, C

ou

rTe

Sy S

TeVe

nS

pASS

Mo

un

TAin

reS

or

T, C

ou

rTe

Sy T

He

Bel

leVu

e Co

lleC

Tio

n, C

ou

rTe

Sy C

ro

SSr

oAD

S SH

opp

ing

Cen

Ter

, Co

ur

TeSy

pu

rpl

e CA

Fé A

nD

Win

e B

Ar, C

ou

rTe

Sy C

iTy

oF

Bel

leVu

e, C

ou

rTe

Sy e

ArlS

visitseattle.orgphot

o: N

ick

Hal

l

Come discover what makes Seattle great.

©2014 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Westin and its logo are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates. For full terms & conditions visit westinbellevuehotel.com

FREE TIME

The Westin Bellevue gives you lots of ways to make the most of your free time. With the Shopping Package you can spend more time exploring Bellevue—for less, with a $100 gift card per night that

you stay to use at the Bellevue Collection. Enjoy all that Bellevue has to offer with the finest shopping in Washington and sleep easy

knowing you can relax in our signature Westin Heavenly Bed®

www.westinbellevuehotel.com/shoppingpackage

visitbellevuewashington.com 13

BelleViews

Swing On Bythere’s a reason they call bellevue a city within a park. the glittering sky-

line emerges between two lakes and dueling mountain ranges, with mount rainier hovering to the south—all surrounding a bustling retail core, a tech epicenter, and parks full of everything from wetland sloughs to treetop zip-line courses.

Co

lin

Wa

lke

r /

Be

lle

vu

e P

ar

ks &

Co

mm

un

ity s

er

viC

es

Discovery Challenge

visitbellevuewashington.com 13

14 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

BelleViews

Fro

M l

eFT:

Mer

ril

l iM

AgeS

, Co

lin

WAl

ker

/ B

elle

Vue

pAr

kS

& C

oM

Mu

niT

y Se

rVi

CeS

Tech tycoons may have built Bellevue into a city of skyscrapers, glittering brightly as a circuit board, but look beyond the mirrored glass to where green spaces recharge visitors’ bat-

teries, including Bellevue Downtown Park (10201 NE Fourth St), which turns 30 in 2015.

This 20-acre park lies immediately south of The Bellevue Collection shopping area. The crown jewel in the park system’s emerald necklace, it includes a meadow encircled by a canal and shade trees. Obelisks dot a prome-nade, and waterfalls cascade into a petite pond. Picnickers gravitate toward the six-acre lawn, which unfurls views of the skyline and Mount Rainier, the Lower 48’s most glaciated peak.

Washington’s second-largest downtown center owes this oasis to its visionary former mayor Cary Bozeman, who pushed for a proper park. “Cities have a responsibility to provide open spaces to sustain the quality of urban living,” he says.

Bellevue has certainly taken that idea to heart. Parks, trails, and other protected areas make up 12 percent of its land now. And that’s without counting the 60 miles of streams, which help salmon migrate to and from the

Pacific Ocean. Small wonder that locals affec-tionately call it a “city in a park.”

This wonderland lounges along 16 miles of lake shoreline. The best place to make a splash remains Enatai Beach Park (3519 108th Ave SE), where Cascade PaddleSports rents boats from June to September. Watch for beavers, blue herons, and bald eagles.

Nearby are the ripening U-Pick blueberry fields of Mercer Slough Nature Park (1625 118th Ave SE), an 1869 farm woven into the park system, alongside 320 acres of wetlands.

Today Bellevue’s parks are booming—and only getting better, as the Bellevue Botanical Garden adds a new education and visitor cen-ter, opening in summer 2014. In the meantime, plenty of space exists to get your green on.

VILLAGE GREENSSneak off to the city’s great parks By Amanda Castleman

VUEPOINTS

Washington is home to three national parks. olympic national park, 142 miles west of Bellevue, has rain forests and mountains. north Cascades national park, 82 miles north, is home to 300 glaciers. Mt. rainier national park, 75 miles south, is where you’ll find ancient forests and one iconic 14,410-foot peak.

Bellevue Downtown park

Bellevue may be renowned for high-end luxury, but the city on lake Washington also has deals aplenty for those in the know.

bellevue arts museum, located across the street from the art of fash-ion at Bellevue Square, is focused on design, art, and craft, with free admission on the first Friday of the month. on other days, adult admis-sion is just $10, and the museum also offers family admission for two adults and up to four kids for $25.

not far from downtown, tourists can visit for free bellevue botanical garden (12001 Main St), home to more than 100 species of rhododen-drons, more than 100 different kinds of fuchsia, and a swinging suspen-sion bridge; kelsey creek farm (410 130th pl Se), with its working farm and playground; and the mercer slough nature Park (1625 118th Ave Se), which features a free, guided nature walk every Saturday.

There’s no need to skimp on enter-tainment, either. bake’s Place (155 108th Ave ne) has free live music most weekdays, while crossroads mall (15600 ne eighth St) hosts bands and performers from 7 to 9pm Friday and Saturday, and from 6:30 to 8pm Thursday. Book lovers can attend author events at university book store (990 102nd Ave ne), barnes and noble (626 106th Ave ne), and the bellevue library (1111 110th Ave ne) nearly every month. Bellevue also offers free family-friendly outdoor movies at bellevue downtown Park (10201 ne Fourth St) on Tuesday nights in July and August, and the free live at lunch concert series in downtown runs from noon to 1:30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday July through September.

—David Volk

Cheap Thrills

kelsey Creek Farm

visitbellevuewashington.com 15

BelleViews Cl

oCk

WiS

e Fr

oM

To

p: M

err

ill

iMAg

eS, C

ou

rTe

Sy T

He

SHo

pS A

T TH

e B

rAV

ern

, Co

ur

TeSy

TH

e B

elle

Vue

Coll

eCTi

on

, Co

ur

TeSy

Cr

oSS

ro

ADS

SHo

ppin

g C

enTe

r

Find Your Center

Lake Washington, the state’s second-largest natural lake (the Duwamish tribe calls it, literally, “great-amount-of-water”), offers a variety of ways to enjoy kayaking, canoe-

ing, fishing, and more as you get on the water this year.

From Bellevue, and easily accessible from the I-90 bridge, you can venture out on a kayaking adventure that leaves from Enatai Beach Park (3519 108th Ave SE) June through September. Paddle in a kayak or canoe on the lake to see spectacular waterfront homes, with views of Mount Rainier in the distance. One of the most popular destinations is Mercer Slough Nature Park, an immense, 320-acre wildlife habitat and freshwater ecosystem. Or travel into the heart of the park by water on a three-hour guided canoe trip, which leaves from Enatai Beach Park. Priced at less than $20, trips run on weekends May through Septem-ber and provide a glimpse into the fascinating wildlife of Mercer Slough, including otters, herons, turtles, red-tailed hawks, and eagles.

If relaxing is more your style, dip your toes in the water at Meydenbauer Beach Park (419 98th Ave NE), located near the heart of downtown Bellevue. The park is a popular destination for picnics and swimming, with

a lifeguarded swimming area open late June through Labor Day. A fishing dock here pro-vides opportunities to catch rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and yellow perch. Just be sure you have a current fishing license, avail-able from the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov).

For a romantic or special evening, take a sunset dinner cruise, offered by Waterways Cruises (waterwayscruises.com). Depart from Kirkland Marina Park (25 Lakeshore Plaza Dr) and enjoy a delicious four-course

LAkE TO LAkEWhere to get on the water By Melena Jankanish

Meydenbauer Beach park

dinner served alongside live music and stun-ning evening views aboard a Waterways yacht. In late November and December, celebrate a Northwest holiday tradition by sail-ing on the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship (argosycruises.com), departing from various ports, including Kirkland Marina Park. An onboard choir performs two 20-minute concerts of Christmas favorites, and guided activities appeal to children and adults alike. Rumor has it that even Santa might make an appearance onboard.

bellevue’s malls are shopping destina-tions in their own ways. here are the hallmarks of three of them—and we don’t even get into the jaw-stretching reuben sandwiches of goldberg’s famous delicates-sen at factoria mall, or the 16-lane bowling alley at lincoln square. even with a cheat sheet on hand, we bet you can’t pick just one.

—Rebekah Denn

CROSSROADS SHOPPING CENTER vibe Diverse community centered says it all There are board games on the public Market tables. for the kids indie toy stores or Wig-gleWorks for climbing and bouncing For a cupcake fix new york Cupcakes dine korean barbecue, made-to-order Thai food at o’Char’s, croissants baked on site at The French Bakery, Mediterranean hummus, or bubble tea wild card Branches of city hall, a police station, and the county library Practical Bed Bath & Beyond, pier 1, and Half-price Books

BELLEVUE SqUARE vibe Cosmopolis of shopping says it all The nordstrom store has its own cocktail-and-small-plates bar. for the kids lego store for play, Janie & Jack shop for high-end apparel, and an indoor play area For a cupcake fix pinkabella dine Steaks at ruth’s Chris, italian gelato at D’Ambrosio’s, or indian at Moksha—or head to lincoln Square for Asian dumplings at Din Tai Fung wild card A Tesla showroom Practical Both a Microsoft and an Apple store

THE SHOPS AT THE BRAVERN vibe Haute couture en plein air says it all At Vovito espresso shots are pulled on a la Marzocco Strada Mp, granting baristas extreme control over the extraction process. for the kids Wednesday storytimes with songs and snacks For a cupcake fix Trophy Cupcakes dine Asian-fusion at Wild ginger or dry-aged beef at John Howie Steak wild card The “junk” workout at David Barton gym Practical Sur La Table, one floor below Jimmy Choo and Ferragamo

16 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

BelleViews

B ellevue offers a rustic respite that belies its metropolitan status. With acres of open space and wooded areas, there are plenty of oppor-tunities for an adventure alfresco.

Whether a beginner or a seasoned hiker, you don’t want to miss these trails.

The Mercer Slough Boardwalk can sat-isfy your wanderlust with a winding journey through the wetlands of the Mercer Slough Nature Park. Elevated above a peat bog nearly 100 feet deep, the wooden walkway cuts a ser-pentine path through cattails, water lilies, and rhododendrons. Loops of varying distances make the trail appropriate for a walk, hike, or jog of any level.

Pick up a map at the Winters House Visi-tor Center (2102 Bellevue Way SE) or at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center (1625 118th Ave SE), where rangers lead guided nature walks every Saturday at 2pm. Follow the Periphery Loop to the Mer-cer Slough Blueberry Farm for a day of berry picking, or take a trip down Heritage Trail to encounter one of the park’s hidden gems: a beautifully decrepit building. A relic of the 1920s, this old boiler house was originally built to heat a series of greenhouses. Today, pipes jut out from its decades-old walls, and its first story sits below the water, completely submerged in its aquatic surrounds. Take a good look inside, and you can even spot origi-nal shelving.

Just two miles north is the Ravine Expe-rience, a five-foot-wide, 150-foot-long steel suspension bridge that hangs over a ravine in the Bellevue Botanical Garden (12001 Main St), and a must for adventure-seekers. The bridge immerses visitors in the beauty of the understory without disrupting the flora and fauna of the forest floor. Look down to find

tall Oregon grapes sprouting yellow flowers, lush green clusters of sword ferns, and insects like the banded alder borer with its signature black and white stripes. Look up to marvel at the towering treetops of big-leaf maples and western red cedars. Shutter-happy sightseers will find plenty of photo ops. While portions of the Botanical Garden will be under con-struction until summer 2014, the suspension bridge and most trails remain open for explo-ration daily, from dawn to dusk.

For the full effect during construction, park at Wilburton Hill Park and take the Lake-to-Lake Trail one-third of a mile to the Botanical Garden’s temporary entrance at Yao Garden. Built to honor the relationship between Bellevue and sister city Yao, Japan, the garden dazzles during springtime when it’s abloom with vibrant azaleas, rhododen-drons, and viburnums. Find serenity on one of the many stone benches before making the five-minute walk to the Ravine Experience. As you explore, you may just discover that this experience isn’t just about immersing your-self in nature. Trek across the suspension bridge and enjoy the sensation of walking in moon shoes as you travel deeper into the old-growth forest.

Fro

M T

op:

leW

iS T

ur

ner

, Mer

ril

l iM

AgeS

A TALE OF TWO TRAILS Exotic strolls in the city By Jessica Winterbauer

VUEPOINTS

There are countless ways to explore the area on foot. To hit the trail with locals, check out meet-ups such as the Bel-levue running/Walking Club (meetup.com/running-395). or, to see art, map a path past 123 sculptures and exhibits at visitbellevuewashington.com/about-bellevue/maps.

Mercer Slough Boardwalk (above) and the Bellevue Botanical garden ravine experience

visitbellevuewashington.com 17

BelleViews pH

oTo

S Cl

oCk

WiS

e Fr

oM

To

p: e

li B

ro

Wn

ell

/ k

ing

Co

un

Ty p

Ark

S, C

ou

rTe

Sy M

iCr

oSo

FT, S

Hu

TTer

STo

Ck.C

oM

, Co

ur

TeSy

liTT

le F

ree

liB

rAr

y, C

ou

rTe

Sy C

iTy

oF

Bel

leVu

e. il

luST

rAT

ion

S: S

Hu

TTer

STo

Ck.C

oM

Speed cyclists can take a spin on this 400-meter banked track in Marymoor Park. In August, the velodrome hosts the USA Cycling Masters Track Nationals Championships.

OH SO LOCAL From art to parks to secret libraries, here are some ways Bellevue is one of a kind

+

little Free libraries—most just bigger than a bird-

house—have popped up in yards around the city. Mark your words at littlefree

library.org/ourmap.

35Eastside gaming

companies are busy

developing the next

generation of games and first-person

shooters.

VELODROME

Four

ferns are plantedin the 53-acre Bellevue Botanical Garden.

Onene

sculptures and art installations appear in downtown Bellevue this June through october.

the city has more than

740+

—most just bigger than a bird-

house—have popped up in yards around the city. Mark your words at littlefree

library.org/ourmap.

Four

parks.

750ferns are plantedin the 53-acre

Botanical Garden.

750

anyone can paddle the

320-acre wetland nature park, the mercer slough.

square miles of Bellevue’s 36.47 total square miles are water.

4.5

best place to live in the United States, according

to Livability.com

13th13131313

visitbellevuewashington.com 17

The Root

The Halo franchise’s Master Chief

18 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

BelleViews

18 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

no

rm

an

see

ff

How does it feel to be inducted into the rock and roll Hall of Fame?It’s an incredible honor. It’s just really one of those honors that you never think you’re going to get in your life.

How did growing up here influence you?I think that it’s not a company town. It’s not like L.A. where you go knock on doors and do all this stuff. I think around here, it’s all about friendships. You play music together, and it gets better and better, and you get your breaks. It’s more personal.

What do you like to do when you’re back in the area?Last year, when we were pushing our book (Kicking and Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul and Rock & Roll), we were doing an interview with the Sunday Morning show. We went back to the house where Nancy and I grew up, over in Lake Hills. We were standing out in the street with the producer and the camera people, and we didn’t want to bother the people inside. We were out there talking, and the people

started looking out the window and some-one came out and said, “May I help you?” So we explained, and they were really nice and let us look around. I hadn’t been in that house for, God, 30 years.

Where do you like to play in town?When we were a club band, it was fun to play up at Parker’s, which has been pulled down now. It was a great big roadhouse up on Aurora North. In the ’70s, we used to play what is now KeyArena. In the ’80s, we played more at the Paramount and the Gorge. Now, I like Benaroya. Benaroya is great. For us as a band, it’s more personal and intimate. The big places are a real thrill, and that’s where we play when we go up in Canada and other places in the States, but for Seattle, it’s got to be special.

Do you and nancy ever disagree?Not really. We’re pretty good at being dedicated to the song. The songs tell us what is appropriate. The minute you start arguing about whose song is most appro-priate, you’re talking about ego.

How is your working relationship?It’s changed many times over all the years. It’s just, you know, life has changed—relationships always change. And that’s a good thing for Heart. We don’t want to just go out there and do the same old same old. We’re always looking to stir things up.

What does Heart have planned for 2014?We’re mostly going to just be out there playing. We’re going to go to the Grammy Foundation—they’re doing their first ever Grammy cruise. We play before the ship takes off, and again when it docks.

What do you like to do on a day off?Definitely sleep and spa things—feel-good girly things. I like a good massage with acupuncture, then maybe an Epsom salt bath and a steam shower, and then to bed.

We know you can rock with the best of them, but do you have any hidden talents?I think Nancy and I have comedy talent that we never show. I think we could probably be a female version of Monty Python.

HEART TO HEART Rock legend Ann Wilson talks about life, music, and her Bellevue roots

We don’t want to just go out there and do the same old same old.

nancy and ann wilson

of heart

LOOKING FOR THE BEST PLACE TO STAY IN BELLEVUE? The Courtyard and Residence Inn hotels in Bellevue have received TripAdvisor’s prestigious 2013 Certificate of Excellence, awarded to us for maintaining exemplary service and features, as described in online reviews and ratings from guests just like you! See for yourself!

"OUTSTANDING VALUE WITH EXCELLENT SERVICE!"Alexandra B from Vancouver, CanadaWe stayed here (2 adults, two teenagers) for the weekend while visiting Seattle. Everything about our visit was first-rate. The staff were helpful, friendly and highly professional. The rooms were impeccable and were well laid out. Would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone visiting the Seattle/Bellevue area.

RESIDENCE INN SEATTLE BELLEVUE/DOWNTOWN605 114th Avenue SE, Bellevue, WA 98004425-637-8500 · Marriott.com/BVURI

"A WELL-RUN, COMFORTABLE PLACE TO STAY IN DOWNTOWN BELLEVUE" JHBingham from Liberty Lake, WashingtonThe Courtyard Bellevue Downtown is an extremely good choice for a trip to Bellevue. It has easy freeway access, while still being close to all of the action in downtown. Bellevue Square is within walking distance, as are all of the restaurants in the Lincoln Square area. The staff at the Courtyard are very friendly & seem like they want to make your stay enjoyable. My room was quite spacious & had a great view onto NE 8th. The bed was extremely comfortable/impeccable and were well laid out. Would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone visiting the Seattle/Bellevue area.

COURTYARD SEATTLE BELLEVUE/DOWNTOWN 11010 NE 8th Street, Bellevue, WA 98004425-454-5888 · Marriott.com/BVUDT

"GREAT STAY" Rachel G from Dublin, IrelandI stayed here for nearly three weeks while working nearby. I’d definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a central Bellevue location - it is surrounded by shops and restaurants. There’s an Express bus to Downtown Seattle within a 5-minute walk. The property has all the facilities you’d expect. It was spotlessly maintained. All the staff - from reception to bar/restaurant to cleaners - were friendly and professional. Thumbs up all around!

COURTYARD SEATTLE BELLEVUE/REDMOND 14615 NE 29th Place, Bellevue, WA 98007425-869-5300 · Marriott.com/BVUCH

For Reservations call 1-800-MARRIOTT or visit Marriott.com

20 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

Calendar

co

lin

wa

lker

/ b

elle

vue

Par

ks

& c

om

mu

nit

y se

rvi

ces

at Meydenbauer Center; Feb 21–23

27 Wintergrass Bluegrass Festival performances, music workshops, jam sessions, and dances. Hyatt regency Bellevue; Feb 27–Mar 2; acousticsound.org

march 7 Fragile Fortress

and liFe Whimsical carvings and wood sculptures from northwest artist Dan Webb, and a 30-piece exhibit of life-size terracotta sculptures from kathy Venter. Bel-levue Arts Museum; Mar 7–June 15

13 vogue knitting live experience knitting with workshops, fashion shows, and a yarn marketplace. Meydenbauer Center; Mar 13–16; vogueknittinglive.com

15 tea for ruby A kid-friendly stage adap-tion from evergreen City Ballet. Theatre at Meydenbauer Center; Mar 15–16

28 sleeping Beauty A fresh take on this fairy-tale classic. Bellevue youth The-atre; Mar 28–30; Apr 4–6; ci.bellevue.wa.us/byt.htm

aPril 18 Pratidhwani enjoy

a South Asian show-case of classical and contemporary music, theater, and dance. Theatre at Meydenbauer Center; Apr 18–20

26 sheep shearing Wool-spinning demos, wagon rides, and animal viewings. kelsey Creek Farm; Apr 26; farmerjayne.com

may 2 Peter Pan Join Bel-

levue youth Theatre on a journey through neverland. Theatre at Meydenbauer Center; May 2–4

3 Passport to Wood-inville Tasting rooms pair regional wines with bites from local restaurants. Woodinville; May 3–4; woodinville winecountry.com

28 Bellevue Jazz Festival 50 free and ticketed performances from rising stars and national artists. Various locations; May 28–June 1; bellevuejazz.com

june 14 lake to lake Bike

ride pedal from lake Washington to lake Sammamish and raise funds for Bellevue’s youth camp scholarships. lake Hills Commu-nity park; June 14; bellevuewa.gov

14 Grand opening: Bellevue Botanical Garden’s visitor and education center. June 14; bellevue botanical.org

27 Bellwether The biennial sculpture exhibition displays

dozens of works—indoors and out— between City Hall and Downtown park. Various locations; June 27–oct 12

28 Bellevue straw-berry Festival This eastside Heritage Center annual event offers entertain-ment, food, and fam-ily fun. Crossroads park; June 28–29; bellevuestrawberry festival.org

july 1 summer outdoor

movies in the Park eight Tuesdays of kid-friendly movies in Downtown park; July 1–Aug 19; inome.com/ summermovies

4 Bellevue Family 4th Activities, food, and music culmi-nate with a fireworks display. Downtown park; July 4

4 Bellevue’s Four on the 4th 4k This dog-and-human jog and walk benefits the Seattle Humane Society. Ashwood park; July 4; belle vuedowntown.org

18 kirkland uncorked regional wine, art, and food on lake Washington’s shore. Marina park; July 18–20; kirkland uncorked.com

25 Bellevue arts Fair Three fairs in one— BAM ArTSfair, 6th

Street Fair, and Bel-levue Festival of the Arts. Downtown Bel-levue; July 25–27; bellevuefest.org

august 2 music in the Gar-

den picnic on the lawn at an alfresco concert. Bellevue Botanical garden; Aug 2

tBD taste of main Sample fine cuisine, dessert, and wine from old Bellevue eateries. old Bel-levue; tasteofmain bellevue.com

sePtember 6 aki matsuri east-

side nihon Matsuri Association cel-ebrates Japanese culture with taiko drumming, martial arts, and ikebana demonstrations. Bellevue College; Sept 6–7; enma.org

24 Fashion Week This exciting week of fashion features runway shows of well-known brands and innovative inde-pendent designers. The Bellevue Collec-tion; Sept 24–28; bellevuecollection.com/fashionweek

october 11 Farm Fair old-time

activities, crafts, and tractor and pony rides. kelsey Creek Farm; oct 11

31 Bam Biennial new works from northwest artists in the medium of wood. Bellevue Arts

Museum; oct 31–Mar 29, 2015

november 7 Cultural Cross-

roads Festival A multicultural cel-ebration with ethnic music and dance, world cuisine, and a bazaar. Crossroads Shopping Center; nov 7–9; cross roadsbellevue.com

december 1 snowflake lane

and Celebration lane Snow falls nightly around live toy soldiers. Fea-tures music and a light show. Bellevue Way and ne eighth St; nov 28–Jan 1, 2015; bellevue collection.com

magic season ice arena Chaplin’s Bellevue Subaru ice Arena is the region’s largest open-air rink. Downtown park; nov 28–Jan 11, 2015; magicseason.com

Garden d’lights More than half a million lights create a blooming winter wonderland. Bellevue Botanical garden; nov 29–Jan 3, 2015; gardendlights.org

tBD kidsQuest Ginger-bread lane grand gingerbread displays and gingerbread house–decorating workshops for kids. Bellevue; kidsquest museum.org

extended run

20 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

january 1 a World of Paper

isabelle de Borch-grave presents more than 50 dresses and accessories, made from paper. Bel-levue Arts Museum; through Feb 16; bellevuearts.org

30 Crafting a Contin-uum More than 60 works in everything from wood to fiber illustrate innovations in craft over the past 50 years. Bellevue Arts Museum; Jan 30–Apr 27

30 Giorgio armani trunk show Shop the italian fashion house’s fall 2014 collection at neiman Marcus. The Shops at The Bravern; Jan 30; thebravern.com

february 15 Chop shop: Bodies

of Work Award- winning dancers and choreogra-phers gather for workshops and per-formances. Theatre at Meydenbauer Center; Feb 15–16; meydenbauer.com

15 vertFest This fundraiser for the northwest Weather and Avalanche Cen-ter has backcountry races, demos, and clinics. Alpental; Feb 15–16; summitat snoqualmie.com

21 Dante’s inferno: the Ballet Follow Dante’s journey through the nine circles of hell in this performance from Shunpike-Burmer Music. Theatre

bellevue family 4th at downtown Park

for more events Check our online calendar at visitbellevuewashington.com/events

2014 CalenDar oF events

monsoon east and facing east (opposite page)

gr

AnT

gu

nD

erSo

n /

TAn

DeM

STo

Ck.C

oM

MAN EATS WORLD

o n e w ri te r g o es d i n i n g w i t h ex p ats a n d d i scove rs l o c a l resta u ra nts

se r i o u s l y tra n sce n d i n g b o rd e rs

BY ANDREW COLLINS

PHOTOS BY OLIVIA BRENT

23VISIT BELLEVUE

VISITBELLEVUEWASHINGTON.COM

They beckon me to a table that looks awfully large for just the three of us, but then Quynh Nguyen introduces herself and her friend, Vikki Nakamura, and as Nguyen orders some of her favorite dishes, I begin to understand the need for elbow room. Over 90 minutes, a seemingly endless procession of Tai-wanese delicacies appears before us: steamed eggplant in garlic sauce, five-spice beef wraps, sliced lamb sautéed with barbecue sauce.

We’re at Facing East, a bustling restaurant in a prosaic strip mall a few blocks north of Bellevue Square. It’s a Sunday afternoon, a little past the brunch rush, but still a band of eager customers waits by the front door. This restaurant has a serious buzz among local expats, and now I get what all the fuss is about. For starters, there’s a beloved Taiwanese pork burger—crispy pork belly with chiles and cilantro in a fluffy bao, or steamed bun. And there’s dessert, a condensed milk–capped moun-tain of shaved ice garnished with red bean, taro root, and pressed barley, which leaves us all licking our spoons. I’ve never been to Taiwan, but I now feel as though my taste buds may have.

Nguyen, who was born in Vietnam, lives nearby in Kirk-land, where she ran a catering business for several years. She dines often in Bellevue, lured by the city’s wealth of international restaurants. About 28 percent of Bellevue’s population identifies as Asian, and about one in three resi-dents is foreign-born. Whatever you happen to crave on

a given day—sweet-corn tamales? spanakopita? tonkotsu ramen?—you can likely find it in this vibrant community of first-rate ethnic eateries.

Before we part ways, Nguyen recommends a few more standouts, including Smacha, a new Chinese-Taiwanese tearoom that grows and harvests organic teas, which they roast in the store. And there’s Din Tai Fung, the third U.S. outpost for the accomplished purveyor of creative Taiwan-ese cuisine (and soup dumplings); and Cantinetta, a trendy Italian spot on Old Bellevue’s Main Street “restaurant row.”

italian goes thai, thai goes veganCantinetta’s dark, high-ceilinged space with rustic wrought-iron chandeliers and an exhibition kitchen is both romantic enough for a special occasion and casual enough for a low-key nosh with friends at the curvy marble bar. Or a conversation with a chef. It’s here where, one evening, I enjoy creamy buffalo mozzarella with pears, prosciutto, and arugula, followed by feathery sweet potato gnocchi with soppressata, olives, and tomatoes. And it’s where chef-owner Emran Chowdhury fields a few questions about his devotion to Italian food—he operates Cantinetta res-taurants here and in Seattle, as well as Bellevue’s Mercato Stellina Pizzeria, and the new Bar Cantinetta in Seattle’s Madison Valley.

“I grew up in a truly multicultural city, Toronto,” says the Bangladesh-born chef, “and at a very young age, I came to love Italian food.” As an adult, Chef Chowdhury trained in Tuscany, mastering the simple, seasonal style of Italian cuisine that most strongly influences his approach at Can-tinetta, where he changes the menu on a monthly basis.

I wonder i f the two women waving

and smi l ing in my direct ion have

mistaken me for somebody else.

They beckon me to a table that looks awfully large for just the three of us, but then Quynh Nguyen introduces herself and her friend, Vikki Nakamura, and as Nguyen orders some of her favorite dishes, I begin to understand the need for elbow room. Over 90 minutes, a seemingly endless procession of Taiwanese delicacies appears before us: steamed eggplant in garlic sauce, five-spice beef wraps, sliced lamb sautéed with barbecue sauce.

restaurant in a prosaic strip mall a few blocks north of Bellevue Square. It’s a Sunday afternoon, a little past the brunch rush, but still a band of eager customers waits by the front door. This restaurant has a serious buzz among local expats, and now I get what all the fuss is about. For starters, there’s a beloved Taiwanese pork burger—crispy

Quynh nguyen at Facing east (far left), and Monsoon east’s bún tôm núong, grilled shrimp with crispy vegetarian roll (left), and dining area (below)

VISIT BELLEVUE

24VISITBELLEVUEWASHINGTON.COM

Where Bellevue Goes For

10146 Main Street . Bel levue 425-450-0520

Easy Reservations @ 520BarAndGrill.com

& Cocktails

Fun

FoodAt FareStart, every meal

helps fund job training

and support for

less-fortunate people in

our community. Giving

back has never been so

easy...or so delicious.

Enjoy three amazing

courses for $29.95 each

Thursday evening at our

Guest Chef Night.

FULLANTHROPY

7th & Virginia(206) 267-7601

www.farestart.org

Chowdhury has his favorite local restaurants, too, including nearby modern Vietnamese bistro Monsoon East. This snazzy space with two sleek, dimly lit dining rooms and a convivial bar with terrific early-evening and late-night happy hour menus specializes in contemporary, fusion-y fare. Think pan-seared Alaskan halibut with pep-percorns and the citrusy cilantro-like herb, ngo om, and braised Oregon pork shank with bok choy and a char siu–pineapple glaze. There’s also a list of elaborate cocktails, some using local Headlong White Dog Whiskey from the Woodinville Whiskey Company. Chowdhury recommends the claypot caramelized catfish, as well as the soft egg noo-dles with oyster mushrooms, and I happily vouch for the deconstructed duck-confit rolls.

Just around the corner from Monsoon, on a dazzlingly sunny autumn afternoon, I meet Chilean-born Ignacio Contreras at Araya’s Place, a few blocks south of his office in Lincoln Square, where he works as a user-experience researcher for Microsoft. Contreras is vegan, and he points out some of the challenges of finding both healthy and delicious meatless and dairy-free options at restaurants—many of them use too much oil, salt, or sugar in their vegan options. He’s a huge fan of the balanced, boldly flavorful Thai food at Araya’s, a cheery, informal restaurant decked with paintings, masks, and statuary. You can order à la carte, but we opt for the buffet of spring rolls, panang tofu curry, eggplant with yellow-bean sauce, stir-fried rice noodles, and several other similarly delicious dishes.

the modernists’ cuisineBellevueite Joni Savage, who was born in the Philippines and is now a taxonomist for a major recipe website, men-tions International Deli, an impressively stocked Russian market, where I discover plates of smoked eel and white-fish, myriad varieties of caviar, pierogi filled with everything from bacon and potato to sour cherries, decadent cakes slathered in rich frosting, and all sorts of packaged foods with Russian labels—soft drinks and teas, kefirs and farm-ers cheeses, jams and jellies, candies and chocolates. In this same shopping plaza, Kelsey Creek Center, you’ll find two other restaurants lauded by discerning locals: Szechuan Chef, for its credible Chinese food, and Kukai Ramen & Izakaya, which serves a memorable shio ramen with French sea salt, kelp, and a Japanese citrus base.

Not far from Kelsey Creek Center is the warmly deco-rated, softly lit Indian restaurant Spice Route, which I’ve learned about from Anjana Shanker, a native of Coorg in southern India, and a research and development chef at Modernist Cuisine, the brainchild of former Microsoft exec Nathan Myhrvold. The culinary lab is likely best known for its Leviathan 2,438-page, 52-pound tome Modernist Cuisine: The Art of Science and Cooking.

I ask Shanker how working at Modernist Cuisine has influenced where she eats, and how she views different foods and cooking styles from around the world. “My ten-ure there has refined my cooking technique and palate,” she explains. “I now apply modern techniques to the fla-vors from my past and remain committed to using local,

Chowdhury has his favorite local restaurants, too, including nearby modern Vietnamese bistro Monsoon

Chowdhury has his favorite local restaurants, too, including nearby modern Vietnamese bistro Monsoon

VISIT BELLEVUE

26VISITBELLEVUEWASHINGTON.COM

Spice route’s tandoori chicken

(above) and buffet (right)

Experience the true “Spirit of Hospitality” at the Hilton Bellevue

300 112th Avenue SE Bellevue, WA 98004425-455-1300 | www.bellevuehilton.com

• 353 oversized guestrooms featuring Hilton Serenity Collection® bedding• Wired and wireless high-speed internet in guestrooms and meeting rooms• Largest hotel guestrooms on the east side• PRECOR fitness center

• Seasonal heated outdoor pool & year round Hot Tub• Basil’s Kitchen restaurant & bar• Tully’s Coffee Shop in Lobby• Close to world-class shopping, dining and just 10 minutes from downtown Seattle

Undergoing Full Renovation

(February 01-April 30, 2014)

Towncar or Van Pick-Up to and from the Airport and

Your Residence, Hotel or Business•

City Tours, Wine Tours and Boeing Tours

•Group Transportation for Concerts,

Sporting Events or a Night on the Town

Call For Rates

206-271-6999www.oztowncarservice.com

seasonal, and sustainable ingredients. It’s important for people to know that those two things can go hand in hand. You can love local, fresh ingredients and also modernist techniques.” She speaks highly of the weekend buffet at Spice Route, with its “amazing variety of southern Indian vegetarian dishes,” including dahi vada (lentil “doughnuts” topped with yogurt and spices), gobi Manchurian (fried cauliflower with a house-made Indo-Chinese sauce), and malai kofta (ground veggie dumplings simmered in nuts and a mildly spicy cream sauce). She also recommends the excellent northern Indian grocery next door to Spice Route, Apna Bazar, a cornucopia of spices, chutneys, frozen and jarred sauces and snacks, and fresh produce.

issei influenceChiho Lee, who moved to the States from Japan in 2005 and lives in Kirkland with her husband and two-year-old son, is a fan of I Love Sushi. “Corny name,” she admits, “but you get the same quality as in Japan. I had a wonderful gunkan maki of sea urchin over botan ebi shrimp the other day at the sushi bar. They also offer the osechi box, filled with Japanese tradi-tional dishes for New Year’s—can’t get more authentic than that.” Lee offers a tip for assessing a Japanese restaurant’s culinary chops: “I check to see whether they serve more than one type of miso soup. I Love Sushi has three kinds—Manila clam, nameko (a tiny Japanese mushroom), and Alaskan king crab. That’s pretty impressive.”

I give in to temptation, and at I Love Sushi—a sun-filled, split-level restaurant with tables overlooking rippling Lake Bellevue—I tuck into an exquisitely prepared Hokkaido scallop drizzled with white truffle oil.

a chef and cookbook author tells allTalented chef and cookbook author Lisa Dupar was born in Mexico City, grew up in the American South, and now resides in Bellevue. At her restaurant Pomegranate Bistro, in Redmond, Dupar serves food that reflects myriad influ-ences: her Southern roots, the Pacific Northwest’s seafood and produce, and what she has learned from the cooks who work in her kitchen, many of whom are Hispanic.

“I noticed during brunch, the guys would often make and eat these amazing breakfasts—like chilaquiles—and I’d think, wow, we need to get some of these dishes on the menu!”

Dupar ranks another cuisine altogether among her favorite Bellevue ethnic spots: Mediterranean Kitchen. “We usually go with our Lebanese friend Sam—he’s a regular there—and let him do the ordering. There’s this incredible shish tawook (charbroiled chicken marinated in lemon and garlic), and all dishes come with a savory yellow-lentil soup. I could probably make an entire meal of that.”

We talk about her acclaimed cookbook, Fried Chicken & Champagne, which features many favorite dishes from Pomegranate. It’s a literary tour of down-home comfort foods, world-beat treats, and fancier classics—a mix of “the humble and the haute,” she says. This strikes me as an apt description of Bellevue’s culinary scene. Here you can find simple-yet-hearty tom kha coconut soup or huevos ranche-ros in an informal cafe. And you can savor artfully plated goat-cheese ravioli with orange, fennel pollen, and crispy beets or wagyu beef sukiyaki at an upscale bistro. Bellevue’s diverse, fast-growing community has spawned a tremen-dous supply of high-quality ethnic cuisine, with options to suit every style and budget. Pretty impressive, indeed.

araya’s Place 31 Bellevue Way ne; 425-453-1366; arayasplace.com Cantinetta Bellevue 10038 Main St; 425-233-6040; cantinettabellevue.com Din tai Fung 700 Bellevue Way ne, Ste 280; 425-698-1095; dintaifungusa.com Facing east 1075 Bellevue Way ne, Ste B-2; 425-688-2986; litadesign.wix.com/facingeastrestaurant i love sushi 23 lake Bellevue Dr; 425-455-9090; lakebellevue.ilovesushi.com international Deli 15015 Main St, Ste 110; 425-865-0439 kukai ramen & izakaya 14845 Main St; 425-243-7527; kukai-ramen.com mediterranean kitchen 103 Bellevue Way ne, Ste 103; 425-462-9422; mediterraneankitchens.net monsoon east 10245 Main St; 425-635-1112; monsoonrestaurants.com Pomegranate Bistro 18005 ne 68th St; 425-556-5972; duparandcompany.com/pomegranate-bistro smacha 14603 ne 20th St; 425-643-2117; smacha.com spice route 2241 148th Ave ne; 425-643-4144; spiceroutecuisine.com szechuan Chef 15015 Main St, Ste 107; 425-746-9008; szechuanchefbellevue.com

VISIT BELLEVUE

28VISITBELLEVUEWASHINGTON.COM

seasonal, and sustainable ingredients. It’s important for people to know that those two things can go hand in hand. You can love local, fresh ingredients and also modernist techniques.” She speaks highly of the weekend buffet at Spice Route, with its “amazing variety of southern Indian vegetarian dishes,” including topped with yogurt and spices), cauliflower with a house-made Indo-Chinese sauce), and malai koftaand a mildly spicy cream sauce). She also recommends the excellent northern Indian grocery next door to Spice Route,

The ‘humble and the haute’ strikes me as an apt descript ion of Bel levue’s cul inary scene.

lisa Dupar at pomegranate

A great Northwest city like Bellevue deserves a world-class event venue.

Meydenbauer Center is a premier resource for everything you need to pull off a wildly successful event—our 54,000 square feet of flexible event and meeting space, theatre, and executive conference suite will accommodate any size gathering.

And the best part is, this resource is renewable. Our talented team of Guest Services Managers is always ready to help you with every detail from keynote to closing ceremony.

Another greAt nAturAl resource.

Bellevue’s Convention Center

meydenbauer.com425-637-1020

Contact us today to start planning your next great event!

LET’S GO TO A SHOW!

www.theatreatmeydenbauer.com11100 NE 6th Street, Bellevue, WA 98004

The Theatre at Meydenbauer o� ers a diverse range of live performances and fi lm and is located in the heart of Bellevue; just steps from hotels, dining and nightlife.

Musical Theatre - Warren Miller Ski Films Classical and Contemporary Dance - Orchestral Music

20th Century American Theatre - Chinese Opera - Choral Music Indian Dance and Music - Traditional Holiday Performances

Charlie Schuck

Rex Tranter

Ryan Creary

any worthy imbibing itinerary should go like this: Begin with an afternoon bike ride to nearby Woodinville—where some of the finest wines, brews, and spirits in the state are within a pedal of each other. Then head back to Bellevue for an after-dark cocktail scene that’s generating some serious nightlife buzz.

B Y P A U L C L A R K E

T a s T i n g T o u r

D r i n k i n g i n t h e l o c a l l i q u i d c u l t u r e i s a s e a s y a s s p i n , s t r o l l , s i p

v i s i t b e l l e v u e w a s h i n g t o n . c o mv i s i t b e l l e v u e

Caption TkTkTkriC

HAr

D D

uVA

l. o

ppo

SiTe

pAg

e: C

Hu

Ck k

err

, SH

uTT

erST

oCk

.Co

M

Matthews Winery

It’s a sunny day, and I’m work-ing up a thirst cycling the miles of trails that crisscross the area. Fortunately, this happens to be wine country, just 12 miles north of Bel-levue, where some of the best Washington wineries, brew-eries, and craft distilleries are easy to tour on two wheels.

Pedal 7.5 miles on the 520 Bike Trail to Marymoor Park in Redmond (or drive there and park), where the water-skirting Sammamish River Trail ambles north another seven miles to Woodinville.

The state’s oldest win-ery, Chateau Ste. Michelle (14111 NE 145th St), opened here in 1976, and today the city has more than 100 win-eries and tasting rooms,

producing around 2.5 mil-lion cases of wine each year. Wineries like family-owned Matthews Winery (16116 140th Pl NE), newly opened Fidelitas (14467 Woodin-ville-Redmond Rd NE), and always-popular Novelty Hill Januik (14710 Woodinville-Redmond Rd NE) have made this area an oenophile’s must-sip destination.

Bolstering Woodinville’s liquid character are brew-eries ranging from micro to massive, including new-comers like Dirty Bucket Brewing (19151 144th Ave NE, Ste 101) and Brickyard Brewing (5817 238th St SE, Ste 3) and local beer pioneer Redhook Brewery (14300 NE 145th St).

A 2008 change in state liquor laws made it easier for craft distillers to set up shop, and spirit makers like Pacific Distillery (18808 142nd Ave NE, Ste 4B) and Woodinville Whiskey Company (16110 Woodinville-Redmond Rd NE, Ste 3) have added even more drinking allure.

With a blossoming booze industry, Woodinville has remained accessible and easy to enjoy by bike. Rides can range from the long and adventurous—such as the 38-mile Woodinville-Snohomish trail—to the short and leisurely, such as my stop-and-go pedal along bike paths and side streets that meander through Woodin-ville’s main tasting areas.

As I pedAl down A quIet sIde street In woodInvIlle’s wArehouse dIstrIct, the sound of trAffIc gIves wAy to the gentle purr of my bIke tIres spInnIng over AsphAlt.

From top: Chateau Ste. Michelle,

Fidelitas

v i s i t b e l l e v u e

Touring wineries, breweries, and distill-eries by bike is fun, but it takes some careful preparation. if you’re planning on doing more swigging than sipping, be sure to swap the bike for a bus (most king County Metro and Sound Transit buses

have bike racks up front), or make alter-native transportation arrangements for your return trip.

if you’re looking for a more leisurely ride and want to keep your options open, load your bike (and a designated driver, if necessary)

into a car for the round-trip to Wood-inville, and use the cycle for neighbor-hood excursions.

Some bike shops offer seasonal rentals or demos, like Gregg’s Cycles (105 Bellevue Way ne, Bellevue; greggscycles.com)

and Woodinville Bicycle (13210 ne 175th St, Woodin-ville; woodinville bicycle.com).

Bike paths are abundant here, but trails can be rush-hour busy at times. Cycle with care and use designated bike paths or side streets

when possible. To make the most

of a cycling explora-tion of Woodinville, visit the websites for king County Parks (kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/trails) and Woodin-ville Wine Country (woodinvillewine country.com).

sofT Tail spiriTs

At the stand-up bar in this distillery ’s small tasting room, I work my way through a flight of grappa—an Italian-style spirit distilled from pomace, the pressed skins and seeds from wine grapes. Soft Tail, one of the first distilleries to open in Wash-ington following the passage of the 2008 law, works with area wineries to source the season’s most flavorful fruit for its grappa and apple-based vodka. The sangiovese boasts a dry scent of autumn leaves and an earthy flavor brightened with the tang of cassis, while the Giallo—a blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and syrah that’s aged in French oak barrels for six to nine months—offers touches of toffee around the bright flavor of baked apples and pears. Lucky for cyclists, the weekday tasting room is about 8.5 miles from Mary-moor Park by bike, mostly on the Sammamish River Trail. 12280 NE Woodinville Dr, Ste C (Tuesday–Friday) and 14356 Woodinville-Redmond Rd NE, Redmond (weekends); softtailspirits.com

DisTefano Winery

Before unlocking my bike, I stop next door at DiStefano Winery, established here in 1983 and one of Woodin-ville’s first wineries. Owner Mike Newton and his family

are still making prestigious Bordeaux-style wines from Columbia Valley grapes. I pause at a rustic barrel-based table inside and sample their vino, including a flinty and fruit-bright sauvignon blanc and an elegant cabernet franc–backed Sogno blend. 12280 NE Woodinville Dr; distefanowinery.com

The ColleCTive on Tap

Next I make my way to The Collective on Tap, a few blocks from Soft Tail and DiStefano via Northeast 175th Street and 177th Place. The Collective covers both bases, with a hearty founda-tion of pork tacos and Reuben sandwiches to ensure I stay well fed while tasting, plus 41 taps emphasizing Washing-ton brews to keep the liquid theme alive. The tap list is always changing—a webcam lets you view the day’s selec-tion online before riding out for a visit—and during my trip, I drink super local with a Triplehorn Saxon Rauchbier, brewed less than two miles away. 17802 134th Ave NE; collectiveontap.com

goose riDge vineyarDs

It’s back in the bike saddle again for the last 2.5-mile leg south on the Sammamish River and Tolt Pipeline Trails to Woodinville’s Tour-

ist District, where a tight cluster of tasting rooms allows for hours of sipping. Near the historic Hollywood Schoolhouse and other out-standing choices like Canon de Sol Winery, Long Shad-ows Vintners, and Airfield Estates Winery , Goose Ridge Vineyards pours tastes of its Bordeaux and Rhône varietals and blends. I grab one of the leather arm-chairs next to the fireplace and sample a “reserve tast-ing ” that includes a bold, earthy 2008 reserve mal-bec; a juicy and boisterous 2009 meritage blend full of cherry, tobacco, and toffee; and a silky, melon-rich 2010 riesling ice wine. 14450 Woodinville-Redmond Rd NE, Ste 108; gooseridge.com

PLAN YOUR TRIP

From top: goose ridge Vineyards, The Collective on Tap

v i s i t b e l l e v u e w a s h i n g t o n . c o m

pHo

ToS

By

riC

HAr

D D

uVA

l.

THe

Coll

eCTi

Ve o

n T

Ap: z

ACH

AlT

enH

oFe

n.

illu

STr

ATio

nS:

SH

uTT

erST

oCk

.Co

M

You’re practically guaranteed to find something you like at established standards like Lot No. 3 and Monsoon East, while outstanding newcomers are playing an equally impor-tant role in defining the city’s liquid culture. Busy streets and bourbon flights don’t mix well with two wheels, so I swap my bike helmet for a tie and venture out for the night.

Bar CoDe

This stylish, modern cocktail bar in the TEN20 building debuted in October 2013, bringing a sense of renewed vigor to Bellevue’s nightlife. Fittingly, Bar Code’s menu leans to fresh versions of familiar tried-and-trues—an old-fashioned made from Woodinville Whiskey rye or a Bar Code Tonic that i n c o r p o r a t e s c i n c h o n a -and-citrus-infused gin—as well as more adventurous options like Brews Cruise, a mix of Jamaican rum and house-made cold-brew coffee

liqueur. 1020 108th Ave NE, Ste 100; barcodebellevue.com

prime 21

On the 21st floor of Bellevue Place, Daniel’s Broiler has been a Bellevue staple for years, and Prime 21, which opened in the restaurant’s former cigar bar in August 2013, puts the steak house’s liquor credentials on full dis-play. In a clubby, comfortable room with views of the city, bartenders mix spirit-driven drinks for a growing crowd of devoted regulars. Bourbon is the star here, served in origi-nal drinks such as the Spirit of 21—mixed with lemon, Italian bitter liqueur, and honey. The menu extends further afield, too, with classics like a rum-rich Airmail cocktail and a gin-based Clover Club. For those who prefer their drink neat, the bar features one of the best selections of bour-bon and scotch whiskey in the Northwest, including regional spirits such as John Jacob

Rye Whiskey from Seattle’s Fremont Mischief Distillery. 10500 NE Eighth Ave, 21st Fl; schwartzbros.com/daniels-broiler/daniels-bellevue

naga aT ChanTanee Thai

A Thai restaurant seems an unlikely place to launch a mixology revolution, but Naga’s cocktail menu has earned it a national repu-tation for being one of the country’s most distinctive drinking spots. This is a good place to let the bartenders off leash; they’re likely to come back with something alluring like a Lady Diabla, made with strawberry-soaked tequila, cassis, and ginger beer; a rosé sangria, made with Brazil-ian cachaca and elderflower liqueur; or a classic tiki drink (the bar’s specialty) such as a Death in the Pacific, swim-ming with three types of rum, almond syrup, and absinthe. 601 108th Ave NE, Ste 100A; chantanee.com/bar

v i s i t b e l l e v u e

my sIp-And-spIn tour through woodInvIlle hAs left me sAted, but bellevue’s burgeonIng cocktAIl culture beckons me bAck to town.

Fro

M T

op:

Wil

l Au

STin

, Co

ur

TeSy

SCH

WAr

Tz B

ro

THer

S r

eSTA

ur

AnTS

From top: Bar Code, prime 21

Please call us at 425-284-5900 or visit heathmankirkland.com • 220 Kirkland Avenue, Downtown Kirkland, Washington

the he athman hotel kirkl and and trel l is re staur an t.The per fec t pair ing .

Details. � ey’re what separate the ordinary � om the extraordinary. In a hotel, they’re the di� erence between accommodations and accommodating , a stay that’s pleasant and one that’s truly memorable, a good meal and a unique culinary experience.

Details. � ey’re why service is still an art at the Heathman Hotel Kirkland and Trellis Restaurant .

VISIT BELLEVUEVISITBELLEVUEWASHINGTON.COM

EXTREME(LY) WASHINGTON

36

HOW HIGH ARE YOU pREpAREd TO GO?

Washington state is at its most glorious from on high, whether viewed from the top of a backcountry

ski hill, the front seat of a floatplane, the jumping-off point of a zip line, or even the 14,410-foot summit of

Mount Rainier. All it takes is a little gumption.

HOW TO GET AN OUTdOOR RUSH

IN BELLEVUE'S BACKYARd

BY ALLISON

WILLIAMS

gr

AnT

gu

nD

erSo

n /

TAn

DeM

STo

Ck.C

oM

heli-skiing the north cascades

38 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4 visitbellevuewashington.com

HELL-BENT HELI-SKIING

The North Cascades aren’t close to anything. But that’s

the best feature of the angled peaks—all it takes is a little work to access the wildest, most untouched land in the state. And an ASTAR B2 chopper.

Before taking off in a helicopter, a skier must cross the north-south Cas-cade mountain range on Highway 2, then head to the old-timey western town of Winthrop. An epic ski begins, oddly enough, at the elegantly rustic Freestone Inn, home of feather pil-lows, soaking tubs, and one North Cascades Heli-Skiing Heli Barn crammed with demo gear and skis as fat as snow tires.

Don’t take it personally when you’re asked to step on a scale; weight distribution is carefully calibrated. After practice with avalanche bea-cons and reminders not to wave ski poles near helicopter blades, it’s time for takeoff.

Within moments, no houses or cars are in sight, just the occasional glimpse of the snowed-in North Cascades Highway winding between the slopes. After a 10-minute flight, choppers drop skiers among the jag-ged peaks, below granite spires, and above glades of trees in a 300,000-acre zone—and always above perfect, untouched powder.

And yes, this is powder. One, two, even three feet of light, airy, sugary snow. It’s into an open bowl one run, onto a tree-covered slope the next, always room for long, smooth turns. Guides direct the bird to the razor-edge ridgelines so fine that there’s nowhere to go but down.

Skiers need to fuel up at the same time the chopper does, so during lunch the pilot returns to base and leaves the group stranded, gloriously, in the wilderness, the only sounds the whomp of a distant avalanche.

A single day is seven runs of about 12,000 vertical feet. Additional runs are available for a fee, depending on the snow conditions. Most skiers will be daydreaming of those feather pil-lows back at the lodge. From $1,077 per person.

north Cascades Heli-Skiing

VISIT BELLEVUEVISITBELLEVUEWASHINGTON.COM

38

think an outdoors-man can’t enjoy a loud, rumbly snowmobile? the machines can quickly cover ground that would take a hiker all day to navigate—and they’re pretty fun to whip around corners. guided snowmobile tours leave from moun-tain springs lodge in leavenworth and head as far as the 5,814-foot-high sugarloaf lookout.

LESSEREXTREMES

visitbellevuewashington.com 39

Like any flight, floatplane routes on Kenmore Air have

one seat that’s just better. No, not some exit-row or bulkhead seat, but the one beside the pilot, knees just inches from important-looking dials and switches. For this shotgun view, you have to request it—it’s worth it.

From takeoff on Lake Union, pow-ering past floating homes and between sailboats, you’re elbow to elbow with the pilot—who also acts as ticket agent, baggage handler, dockhand, navigator, and flight attendant (so don’t expect peanuts). Then it’s over the Ballard Locks, Elliott Bay, and wide-open Puget Sound for a 45-minute flight. Whidbey Island is a patchwork of small farms to the right, a lighthouse

SOAR, SAIL, SEE WHALES

kayaking the san juan islands

Don’t float? Several outfitters offer boat tours, and captains share sightings, so an orca encounter is almost guaranteed. San Juan Outfitters has kayak and boat tours. both western Prince and san juan safaris leave from near the friday harbor whale museum, which houses three orca skeletons.

LESSEREXTREMES

in Port Townsend is just visible out the left. Rain? No problem. Only fog grounds this 50-year-old seaplane.

Landing at Roche Harbor on San Juan Island is smoother than most airliner touchdowns, and it’s time to leave the aircraft in favor of a human-powered sea kayak on the San Juan archipelago. Sky-blue double kay-aks form a floating wagon train that slowly bobs out of the sleepy marina, past docks, beach houses, and pocket-sized islands dotted with a few trees. By the time the flotilla reaches Haro Strait, which separates the United States from Vancouver Island, there’s nothing but a distant sailboat here, a passing ferry there, and little wind to disturb the surf.

By law, watercraft cannot venture within 100 yards of marine mam-mals; too bad the animals never got the memo. Harbor seals, insatiably curious, pop up in dark blue waters, and the black fins of killer whales break the waves. When they’re close, no one breathes—in awe, not fear. The resident orca pods are so familiar to locals that some whales even have names and known personalities.

Even if orcas don’t appear, there are waterfowl, otters, lighthouses, and rugged bits of shoreline to distract the kayaker. And one has to dig deep—where are you, core muscles?—to paddle back to Roche Harbor in time for the floatplane trip back to dry land in Seattle. From $242 per person.

opp

oSi

Te p

Age:

gr

AnT

gu

nD

erSo

n /

TAn

DeM

STo

Ck.C

oM

THiS

pAg

e, F

ro

M T

op:

Co

ur

TeSy

ken

Mo

re

Air

, gAr

y lu

HM

/ D

AniT

ADel

iMo

nT.

CoM

kenmore air over the san juan islands

Step, pause, breathe, repeat. That’s all it takes to get to the

summit of 14,410-foot-tall Mount Rainier, as long as you can repeat for seven or eight (or more) hours in the pitch dark and the kind of cold that makes bones ache.

The reward is worth every tentative step, but an ascent up “the mountain,” takes careful planning or a spot with one of three local guide companies: Rainier Mountaineering Inc. was founded by local climbing legend Lou Whittaker in 1969, while the newer Alpine Ascents and International Mountain Guides offer similar trips. Climbing can require up to a year of athletic training but no special skills.

It starts at Paradise. After gear checks and safety talks, the walking

truly begins up the crowded trails

in the wildflower-laden Paradise meadows. Eventually the route hits a snowfield, which means crunching, slow steps up to Camp Muir, named for the famous naturalist. John Muir was bowled over by the mountain’s beauty on his own climb in 1888, call-ing it “the grandest excursion of all.”

No one sleeps easy at Camp Muir. Earplugs and a facemask help; nerves don’t. The flat step is halfway up a mountain but as busy as the park-ing lot below, crowded with tents and an old stone hut, and the thin air still carries the chatter of dozens of climbers looking to borrow a cup of noodles or brag about frostbite. Sometime around midnight it’s time to hike again, but now clad in helmets, crampons, and harnesses that tether climbers together. There’s no talk-

ing; because ropes must stay taut for safety, every climber gets a 40-foot island of solitude to step, pause, breathe, and repeat. Mountaineers attempting Everest also often come to Rainier because it has every scary ter-rain type as that sky-high peak. From Muir on up, there are deep glacier cre-vasses and dangers on an epic level. It’s too dangerous to even look at the crevasses and caves cut like hatchet marks into the glacier’s icefall; to peer into their eerie light-blue depths is to waste unnecessary seconds on a shift-ing, lethal mountain.

In the dark, it’s hard to tell each person’s tiny headlamp from the stars. Metal crampons hit rock, a screech like nails on a chalkboard—this is Disappointment Cleaver, a promon-tory as discouraging as its name. Then

BAG MOUNT RAINIER

not every hike in mt. rainier national Park has to go to the sum-mit; the 5.5-mile skyline trail from Paradise’s visitor center delivers spectacular views of the tatoosh range; the paved 1.75-mile alta vista trail has gla-cier and meadow panoramas. outside the park, crystal mountain’s gondola whisks riders to a 6,872-foot viewpoint and the state’s highest restaurant.

LESSEREXTREMES

VISIT BELLEVUEVISITBELLEVUEWASHINGTON.COM

40

JAM

ie &

Ju

Dy

Wil

D /

DAn

iTAD

eliM

on

T.Co

M

ZIp TRIpOf course zip-lining is safe. After all, you’re wearing a hel-

met and harness, and two separate carabiners attach to the zip line. Kids do it. But when the time comes to step off a stable 50-foot platform and sail through the leafy Washington out-doors, it seems preposterous. Who jumps off a perfectly good ledge?

Woodinville’s Adventura adven-ture park at Redhook was erected in the middle of the region’s winery and brewery playground; it’s an off-the-ground jaunt to do before flights of the chardonnay kind.

Orientation is kind of like camp; you’re kitted out with harness and helmet, then asked to parrot back instructions to master the safety protocol. Practicing the prescribed routine—hook one carabiner to the thick cable, then the other, and always with a buddy—sparks easy camaraderie within the group as everyone exchanges names before agreeing that no one looks good in this odd crotch-cradling, bubble-headed, getup.

Then it’s up on the play structure, a rope-a nd- lo g jungle g y m located five stories off the ground. The initial ascent up via a rope cargo net is the hardest part—they have challenges like this on Survivor—and the reason you need

the sun starts to rise, and the long, freezing slog ends at Mount Rainier’s summit crater. In the protected bowl, flat and big as four empty football fields, it isn’t about the view but the company; conversation erupts after hours of silent stepping, and climb-ers eat candy bars as rewards.

Eventually everyone strolls to the highest point, where the wind whips at the tiny American flags that mark the true summit, Columbia Crest. The snow here has been so disturbed it’s as if this were the sight of a snowball fight, and strangers share cameras and pose for photos. Below, the state’s smaller hills and mountains ripple like water, still misty with morning clouds. But on top of Mount Rainier it’s as sunny as high noon. Turns out the climb also ends at paradise.

discovery chal-lenge, inside bellevue’s eastgate Park, features ropes courses and a 150-foot zip line. the northwest trek Zip wild course, near mount rainier, has swinging bridges suspended above a safari-like animal preserve. friday harbor’s Zip san juan has eight zip lines through the island forest. down near the columbia gorge, skamania lodge’s Zip line tour is a canopy trip with an 800-foot-long ride.

LESSEREXTREMES

closed-toe shoes. This tangle of coarse rope swings in every plane, making the inch-by-inch climb humbling. It looked so easy from below, and now you’re flailing like a too-green sailor caught in the rigging.

But then, finally, on the sky level of the play park, stability: a series of small platforms, all separated by goofy, tricky passages. Travel by grasping a rope swing, navigat-ing a tangle of slack lines, taking a giant leap, or going hand-over-hand through suspended loops. Every route has a trick testing balance and coor-dination. It only takes one fall, and a catch by the secure harness, to lose

the fear. Former strang-ers yell encouragement or advice, and no one cares anymore about their dorky helmets or graceless movement.

Until, of course, it’s time to take the zip line down. The final fall isn’t about dexterity, it’s about letting go. “You can go upside down,” the staffer says, as if that would make the 50-foot drop more reasonable.

And so, halfway down to the rural valley floor, almost everyone flips upside down in a moment of fast, free, pure, giddy abandon. Washington’s greenery becomes a blur, and feet hit the hard dirt of Woodinville while the shriek still echoes off the brewery next door.

Mount rainier

Adventura

Cou

rTe

Sy A

DVe

nTu

rA

Heli-skiinG Freestone inn 31 early Winters Dr, Mazama; 509-996-3906; freestoneinn.com mountain springs

lodge 19115 Chi-wawa loop rd, leavenworth;509-763-2713; mtsprings.com north Cascades

Heli-skiing 509-996-3272; heli-ski.com WHale WatCHinG Friday Harbor Whale museum 62 First St n, Friday Harbor; 360-378-4710; whalemuseum.org kenmore air

425-486-1257; kenmoreair.com san Juan outfit-

ters 360-378-1962; sanjuan islandoutfitters.com san Juan safaris

360-378-1323; sanjuansafaris.com Western Prince

360-378-5315; orcawhale watch.com mount rainier alpine ascents 206-378-1927; alpineascents.com Crystal mountain

33914 Crystal Mountain Blvd, Crystal Mountain; crystalmountain resort.com inter-national mountain Guides 360-569-2609; mountain guides.com rainier moutain-

eering inc. 360-569-2227; rmiguides.com ziP-lininG adventura 14300 ne 145th St, Woodinville; 866-981-8665; adventuraplay.com Discovery

Challenge 14509 Se newport Way, Bellevue; 425-452-4240; ci.bellevue.wa.us/challenge-course.htm northwest trek

zip Wild 11610 Trek Dr e, eaton-ville; 360-832-6117; nwtrek.org skamania lodge zip line tour 1131 Skamania lodge Way, Stevenson; 509-427-0202; zipnskamania.com zip san Juan

360-378-5947; zipsanjuan.com

425.454.8497www.bellevuesquare.oilandvinegarusa.com

Bellevue Square Shopping Center

GET MORE WITH EVERY STAY!

240 all Suite hotel featuring private bedroom and separate living room

Complimentary Cooked-to-Order breakfast

Complimentary Evening Reception featuring beer, wine, cocktails & snacks

Flexible Meeting Space and Open-Air Atrium

3225 158th AVE SE Bellevue, WA 98008 425-644-2500 l www.seattlebellevue.embassysuites.com

3225 158th AVE SE Bellevue, WA 98008

PRECOR Fitness Center

Heated indoor pool, hot tub, and sauna

Close to world-class shopping, dining, and just 10 minutes from downtown Seattle

Cascades Grille restaurant and room service

Embassy Suites Seattle-Bellevue

Palomino610 Bellevue Way NE | Bellevue, WA

425.455.7600 | palomino.com

Open for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Happy Hour Daily

Walking distance to shows, shopping, and validated parking!

visitbellevuewashington.com 43

Sip&Savor

BETWEEN THE BUNSBeefing up our survey of Bellevue’s best burger joints By Rebekah Denn

The Pacific Northwest may be renowned for seafood, but we do burgers like nobody’s business. Here are a few prime options for indepen-dent patty places and local chains.

CREATIVE CHOPSAt Lunchbox Laboratory, a burger is never just a burger. Rather, it might be a Dork burger (duck and pork) or a Tear Jerker with “Satan’s tears ketchup” and habanero mayo. No matter the kitchen’s experiment of the day, the results are sure to be piled ridiculously high on a bun. Add even more indulgent goodness—provided your calorie-counter can handle the strain—with a side of hot tater tots and a Nutella shake.

NO-FRILLS FAVORITEHigh-tech workers don’t always go for the new glitzy thing. Case in point: the long queues of

Microsoft employees favoring the decidedly old-school pleasures of Wibbley’s Gourmet Burgers. The patties are juicy and grilled to order, the milkshakes creamy, and the fries crisp. Warning: In another old-fashioned touch, no credit cards are accepted. 

MAjORLy MOBILEThe seasonal Buns on Wheels food truck makes regular Bellevue stops from spring to fall, featuring grass-fed beef patties on buns from Seattle’s Grand Central Bakery, with sides like truffle fries or poutine. 

BEST GRILL MARkSFollow your nose through a nondescript strip mall to Broiler Bay, with big, flat, quarter-pound patties grilled to order, served on soft buns with mayo, ketchup, tomato, and a sprin-kling of shredded iceberg. The place is low on

ambience but high on charbroiler fans; the Zagat restaurant survey recently named it the best hamburger in the greater Seattle area.

CAR-HOP TO ITEnter a ’50s time warp at the locally owned Burgermaster chain, where orders are taken from, and delivered to, your car.  Old-fashioned burgers come with American cheese, served on a toasted bun. Extra geek points: Microsoft was headquartered next door before moving to Redmond, and one account has it that Bill Gates’s favorite meal—on his secretary’s speed-dial, no less—was a Burgermaster burger, fries, and chocolate shake.

Broiler Bay 10636 Main St; broilerbay.com Buns on Wheels bunsonwheels.com Burgermaster 10606 northup Way; burgermaster.biz/bellevue lunchbox laboratory 989 112th Ave ne, Ste 105; lunchbox laboratory.com/bellevue Wibbley’s Gourmet Hamburgers 2255 140th Ave ne, Ste B; wibbleys.com

Cou

rTe

Sy l

un

CHB

oX

lAB

or

ATo

ry

lunchbox laboratory

Sip&Savor

44 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

inspired dishes like Snoqualmie Oats Pan-cakes (with a blood orange cream that might inspire you to lick the plate) with a $3 mimosa or fragrant pear cider. Or sidle up to a DIY Bloody Mary bar on weekends.

Speaking of bloody Sunday, at industrial-chic Lot No. 3, the morning claims-to-fame are the candied Plate O’ Bacon and seven types of Bloody Marys. And Canadian import Earls brings to the States our northern neighbor’s signature drink: the Caesar (vodka, Clamato, and spices).

GRAB-AND-GO GO-TOSIf you don’t have time to linger over a meal, there’s still plenty to be had. Pick up a bagel at Blazing Bagels—there are more than two dozen varieties—or drop into Top Pot Dough-nuts, where the sweet smell of sugar and bread coaxes you toward the hand-forged delights. Next door, Jujubeet offers up a minimalist environment and healthy smoothies, which you can also get at Evolution Fresh juice bar (press a button on the counter to get the menu to appear on the wall).

Blazing Bagels 555 108th Ave ne, Ste C; blazing bagels.com the Brief encounter 2632 Bellevue Way Chace’s Pancake Corral 1606 Bellevue Way

Se earls 700 Bellevue Way ne, Ste 130; earls.ca eques 900 Bellevue Way ne evolution Fresh 545A

Bellevue Way; evolutionfresh.com Jujubeet 10602 ne ninth pl; jujubeet.com lot no. 3 460 106th Ave ne; lotno3.com Paddy Coyne’s irish Pub 700

Bellevue Way ne, Ste 100; paddycoynes.net top Gun seafood restaurant 12450 Se 38th St; topgunrestaurants.com top Pot Doughnuts 10600 ne ninth pl; toppotdoughnuts.com

the most important meal of the day gets its due at these tasty spots for breakfast and brunch:

CLASSIC DINERSFor breakfast, sometimes nothing beats com-fort. The wood-paneled Chace’s Pancake Corral knows a thing or two about nostalgia, having served up favorites like banana pan-cakes and pecan waffles since 1958.

You can also get the neighborhood feel at The Brief Encounter, a cozy cafe with a sign proclaiming that “all happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast”—its roots also date back more than half a century.

INTERNATIONAL OPTIONSEnjoy the tastes of other countries’ cuisines at places like Paddy Coyne’s Irish Pub—you can’t go wrong on Saturday and Sunday with the hearty Irish Breakfast, including a traditional plate of bangers, black and white pudding, and more. And, in Factoria, brunch makes the rounds in the form of dim sum—think savory dumplings stuffed with cilantro and shrimp, steamed hum bao, and beef shiu mai—at local favorite Top Gun Seafood Restaurant.

A BEVy OF BRUNCH BEVERAGESThe food at Eques, inside Bellevue Place, seriously belies its hotel setting. Pair regionally

Clo

CkW

iSe

Fro

M T

op

leFT

: Co

ur

TeSy

eAr

lS, C

ou

rTe

SypH

o C

yClo

CAF

é, C

ou

rTe

Sy l

oT

no

. 3

in ahead-of-the-curve Bellevue, fast food goes gourmet with eats that won’t skimp on speed or flavor.

Don’t expect to find greasy burg-ers and flash-fried potatoes at the lavender-painted drive-through stand in Factoria. instead, organic juice bar pours a rainbow array of juiced-to-order blends, ginger teas, and organic coffees. Try the fruity, grapefruit-laden pink Sour or the all-about-veg green Slim, infused with kale and cucumber.

A slice may seem just like standard fast-food fare, unless it’s coming from old Bellevue’s mercato stellina. The pizzeria tops quick-fired, brick-oven pizzas with a variety of epicurean fixings: think porchetta, farm eggs, pears, and truffle oil.

Want good eats to come to you? Pho cyclo café, on the east side of downtown, brings pho—steaming beef broth swimming with noodles and flank steak—to the people. Banh mi sandwiches, crispy and chewy baguettes packed with charbroiled pork or sautéed chicken, are also available for delivery.

For the epitome of grab-and-go gourmet, turn to the food trucks. el maestro del taco devotees line up across from the Crossroads parking lot to order rave-worthy tacos, tortas, and burritos filled with classic pollo and asada as well as cabeza (cheek) and lengua (tongue). And check online to see when skillet street food is in town, serving elevated comfort food—a fried-chicken sandwich topped with jalapeño aioli and kale slaw, or a grass-fed beef burger slathered with smoky bacon jam—from a gleaming Airstream trailer. —Angela Cabotaje

el maestro del taco 156th Ave ne and ne eighth St mercato stellina 10000 Main St, Ste 104; mercatostellina.com organic Juice Bar 3727 Factoria Blvd Se Pho Cyclo Café 500 108th Ave ne; phocyclocafe.com skillet street Food skilletstreetfood.com

BRUNCH OF CHAMPIONS... and adult beverages, too By Haley Shapley

The NEW Fast Food

Brunch at Earls (above) and Lot No. 3’s Smoking Pig Bloody Mary (below)

Pho cyclo café

AT THE CORNER OF 4TH AND 106TH IN DOWNTOWN BELLEVUEValidated parking is available in the Bellevue Towers garage

WWW.HEAVYRESTAURANTGROUP.COM

COMFORT FOOD • CLASSIC COCKTAILS • CRAFT BREWS

CAFE AND WINE BAR COMFORT FOOD, CLASSIC COCKTAILS & CRAFT BREWS

PRIVATE EVENTS, CATERING & WORKSHOPS

3 UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

1 CONVENIENT LOCATION

Sip&Savor

46 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

STANDOUT DINING STARS OF THE CITyGreat food, totally unchained By Rebekah Denn

The kind of restaurants that draw culinary tourists to a city began appearing in Bellevue only 12 years ago. Today, they are a matter of course. Here’s where to try some of

Bellevue’s best bites:

bis on main It’s tempting to call this white-tablecloth restaurant old school, but it keeps up with the times. A renovation expanded its seating seven years ago, and now it has well-respected chef Tom Black handling its French-American cuisine. There’s romance in the atmosphere, and cassoulet and truffled pommes frites on the plate.

cantinetta The menus change frequently, and different handmade pastas are rolled out on different days, so the tortelli with fava beans served one summer’s eve might well morph into little triangles of pansotti stuffed with roasted cauliflower and sage come autumn. Plus, the rustic-but-refined setting—with iron chandeliers and a generous back bar—makes the restaurant an ideal destination regardless of season.

el gaucho At this special-occasion steak house the service is as unimpeachably excel-

lent as the food. The restaurant is famed for dry-aged steaks, but no one will frown at din-ers who go the lighter route with a tableside Caesar salad or a plate of seafood linguine.

gilbert’s on main The name might sound run-of-the-mill, but Gilbert’s is the real thing: piled-high Reubens; matzo ball soup; breakfast scrambles with lox, eggs, and onions; and an East Coast vibe. 

john howie steak John Howie opened top-tier seafood restaurant Seastar here in 2002, when national chains were a more common sight than independent chef-owned desti-nations. In 2009 he opened John Howie Steak, a modern steak house with rare (no

pun intended) cuts of beef including Japa-nese wagyu and a 25-page wine list ranging from two-ounce sips to four-figure bottles. The place appeals to high rollers and budget diners alike, the latter thanks to a happy hour that features a half-pound prime sirloin burger with Kurobata bacon on a house-made bun.

monsoon east Updated twists on Vietnamese dishes and a spacious, chic space make this a place to explore new flavors in comfort. Craft cocktails and a serious happy hour menu keep the bar busy.

Purple café and wine bar The selection of New American small and large plates is wide, but it’s the wine list that is the star, with tast-ing flights available as well as glasses and bottles. What really gets us in a modern wine-heavy hangout is the “kid’s flight”—regular, chocolate, strawberry, and caramel milk—so that everyone has a place at the tasting table.

Bis on main 10213 Main St; bisonmain.com Cantinetta 10038 Main St; cantinettabellevue.com el Gaucho 450 108th Ave ne; elgaucho.com/el-gaucho-bellevue.html Gilbert’s on main 10024 Main St; gilbertsonmain.com

John Howie steak 11111 ne eighth St, Ste 125; johnhowie steak.com monsoon east 10245 Main St; monsoon restaurants.com/east Purple Café and Wine Bar 430 106th Ave ne; purplecafe.com seastar 205 108th Ave ne; seastarrestaurant.com/bellevue

El Gaucho (left) and John Howie Steak (right)

Clo

CkW

iSe

Fro

M T

op

leFT

: AM

oS

Mo

rg

An, C

ou

rTe

Sy J

oH

n H

oW

ie S

TeAk

, neA

l g

olD

en-l

ekW

A

gilbert’s on main

Just 10 miles north of Bellevue, Woodinville Wine Country is

home to over 100 award-winning wineries and tasting rooms.

Check out our exciting 2014 Calendar of Events online now at woodinvillewinecountry.com

Out here, good company and great wine are always in season.

MONSOON

10038 Main St.Bellevue, WA 98004

425.233.6040www.cantinettabellevue.com

15500 Six Penny Lane, Newcastle, Washington 98059 | www.newcastlegolf.com | (425) 793-5566

Beautiful Views 900 feet above the Puget Sound

Fresh Pacific Northwest Menu

English Style Pub with Daily Happy Hour

The Golf Club at Newcastle offers two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses with spectacular views of Seattle, Lake Washington and the Olympic Mountains. Newcastle has more than 8,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting spaces. Located just 15 minutes from Bellevue it is the perfect setting for that next personal or business event.

HYATT house™ Seattle/Bellevue, accentuates this sleek and stylish city with easy access to I-90, plus upscale shopping, dining and entertainment in downtown Bellevue. Real kitchens. Real living rooms. Real breakfast and Wi-Fi that really are free. With extras like the H BAR and an indoor pool it’s a place you can live, not just stay. To book visit hyatthousebellevue.com.

Hyatt and Hyatt House names, designs and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. ©2014 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.

HYATT House Seattle/Bellevue3244 139th Ave SE Bellevue, WA 98005425 747 2705

Miles from where you live. Close to how you live.

Aerial Adventure just minutes from Bellevue!www.adventuraplay.com 866. 981.8665

Adventure is Calling!

visitbellevuewashington.com 49

Sports&Leisure

VIEW TO A THRILLEastside trails lead to peaks and waterfalls By Heather Hansman

Head east from downtown and within 30 minutes you can find every kind of hike: amblers past waterfalls, leg-burning climbs, treks to sprawling views, and trails

that grant access to high mountain lakes.

SNOqUALMIE FALLSOffering a beautiful view that’s accessible for almost anyone, the one-mile trip to Sno-qualmie Falls is great for families and small children. After an initial incline, the well-maintained trail flattens out, and the 268-foot waterfall is spectacular. directions Take I-90 east 18.2 miles to exit 25, then turn left onto snoqualmie Parkway. Continue approximately five miles, turn left onto railroad avenue se, and drive half a mile to snoqualmie falls Park.

MAILBOx PEAkLooking for a leg burner? The switchbacks of Mailbox Peak should do it. The trail to the top climbs a lung-busting 3,100 feet in three miles. Mailbox is one of the hardest hikes in the range, but the effort comes with a reward: views of Mount Si and Rattlesnake Ridge from the narrow summit. In the future it’ll get eas-ier. There’s a new trail, which will be longer but less steep, in the works. directions Take I-90 east to exit 34. Turn left onto 468th street and follow it to the junction with the middle fork snoqualmie road. turn right and continue up middle fork snoqualmie road to the end of the pavement.

POO POO POINTPoo Poo Point is popular with paragliders because its wide summit gives them an open

launch site. It also gives hikers an expansive view of Lake Sammamish and, when gliders are active, some added eye candy. There are two routes to the top: You can either hike four miles out and back from the Chirico Trail-head, or take a longer, rolling route from the Issaquah high school, which is seven and a half miles round-trip and winds through old-growth forests. directions From I-90 take exit 17 and turn right. after 0.6 miles turn left on e sunset way. in two blocks, turn right onto second avenue se and park near the high school.

COAL CREEk NATURAL AREAA good hike for history buffs, the nearly three-mile Coal Creek trail will take you through the remains of a coal mine. You’ll also hike by North Fork Falls, which has

gr

eg S

Hee

HAn

poo poo point

LeisureLeisure

50 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

Sports&Leisure

BURROUGHS MOUNTAIN LOOPOn a clear day you can see Mount Rainier from the city, but to get the most spectacular views of the highest peak in the state head to Mt. Rainier National Park and the 7.4-mile Burroughs Mountain Loop, where you’ll encounter pica, mountain goats, and wild-flowers. Check trail conditions before you go,

because the high-elevation parts of the trail (and the road in) often hold snow through July. directions take i-405 south to highway 169, to highway 410, to the south side of mount rainier. the trail leaves from the sunrise visi-tor center. from the mt. rainier national Park white river entrance turn right on to sunrise road and follow it 17 miles.

benches where you can sit and take in the view. directions Take I-90 east to exit 13. Turn right and continue to the red town trailhead park-ing lot, about three miles away.

RATTLESNAkE LEDGEIf you want big views without a long hike, Rattlesnake is the route for you. It’s steep but short, and you’ll be rewarded with vistas of Mount Si and Rattlesnake Lake. directions Take I-90 east to exit 32. Turn right on 436th Avenue SE and go about four miles to the rattlesnake lake parking area.

MOUNT SIA standard Seattle proving ground, Mount Si is the most heavily used trail in the state, for good reason. The eight-mile trip grants views of the Puget Sound and the whole Snoqualmie Valley. It’s popular with trail runners as well as those training to summit Mount Rainier. directions Take I-90 east to exit 32. Turn left, drive a half-mile, and take a left on n bend way. in a quarter-mile turn right on mount si road.

Fro

M T

op:

TH

oM

AS H

or

An, J

eSSe

STA

nle

y

Burroughs Mountain loop

Mount Si

visitbellevuewashington.com 51

Sports&Leisure Fr

oM

leF

T: C

ou

rTe

Sy S

TeVe

nS

pASS

Mo

un

TAin

reS

or

T, C

ou

rTe

Sy T

He

go

lF C

luB

AT n

eWCA

STle

mount baker Sochi Olympian Angeli Van-Laanen still calls this locally owned ski resort her favorite. The hill is huge among boarders and skiers alike, thanks in part to epic snow-falls and trees, bowls, and double blacks galore. Vertical: 1,500 feet Trails: 38

23% easy 35% medium 42% expertGo: I-405 north to I-5 north to WA 9 north to WA 542 east (138 mi)

crystal mountain This resort is perched in the northeast corner of Mt. Rainier National Park. Ascend beyond more accessible, wide-open runs to above the tree line for lots of steeps and deeps. Don’t ski? Ride the Mt. Rainier Gondola to the Summit House Restaurant for dinner and an up-close view of Rainier’s peak. Vertical: 3,100 feet Trails: 57

11% easy 54% medium 35% expertGo: I-405 south to WA 167 south to WA 164 east to SR 410 east (76 mi)

white Pass Southeast of Mt. Rainier National Park, White Pass has dry powder, 1,500 acres of alpine terrain, 18 kilometers of cross-country double-track trails, and some of the state’s best tree skiing. Vertical: 2,050 feet Trails: 45

15% easy 65% medium 20% expertGo: I-405 south to WA 167 south to WA 512 west; WA 161 south to WA 7 south to US 12 east (141 mi)

Crystal mountain crystalmountainresort.com mount Baker mtbaker.us sno-Parks parks.wa.gov/winter stevens Pass stevenspass.com the summit summitat snoqualmie.com White Pass skiwhitepass.com

It takes only a short drive and a good pair of mittens to get into wild, winter fun. These options are all within three hours of Bellevue.

sno-Parks There are 120 public Sno-Parks in the state, including 10 along I-90. Hyak has 13 kilometers of Nordic tracks and skate lanes, plus a sledding hill. In addition to a sled, skis, or snowshoes (rent a pair at REI in Redmond), you’ll need a Sno-Park permit (parks.wa.gov/winter/vendors).Go: I-90 east to exit 54, south at off-ramp, left at intersection, then right (45 mi)

alpental and the summit at snoqualmie The family-friendly Summit features night skiing, more than 50 kilometers of Nordic trails, and weekend tubing. Alpental offers more steeps and deeps, as well as 523 acres of backcountry. Don’t miss hand-dipped corn dogs at Bob’s Espresso in a parking lot across from The Summit.Vertical: 2,280 feet Trails: 108

14% easy 45% medium 41% expertGo: I-90 east (45 mi)

stevens Pass Pair groomers with gulches and bowls on two mountains with three separate faces, add in a park full of bonks and boxes, top it all off with night skiing from six lifts, and you have one great destination for skiers and boarders. Vertical: 1,800 feet Trails: 37

11% easy 54% medium 35% expertGo: I-405 north to SR 522 to SR 2 east (75 mi)

Drive through a rustic entryway, past pillars covered with vines, and up a steep, winding road. The fog is so thick, visibility is a challenge. This could be Scotland on a typical golf day. yet this is Bellevue, where the game comes in ways as imaginative as any in europe.

the golf club at newcastle (15500 Six penny ln, newcastle) is the crown jewel of three fairway offerings located in and around this suburban destination. South of the city center, newcastle provides a pair of 18-hole courses, Coal Creek and China Creek, with rolling fairways and superb greens. At 900 feet above sea level, the newcastle complex looks out on the entire puget Sound region.

“We get a lot of people who just want to drive up the hill and have some lunch and see some views,” says Mark rashell, newcastle’s direc-tor of golf.

non-duffers and families often come for that view, or to hit a round at rusty putter, an 18-hole putt-putt course.

on the northeastern outskirts of Bellevue, willows run (10402 Willows road ne, redmond) offers more golf than any course in the northwest: 63 holes. owned by Vulcan, Microsoft cofounder paul Allen’s company, the facility consists of two links courses, a miniature course, and a nine-hole putting course.

north of downtown, bellevue municipal (5500 140th Ave ne) is a traditional 18, weaving through thick trees, and is one of the busiest courses in the northwest. A new driving range is in the works, and neighboring Microsoft provides a large source of clientele.

“They’ll come in the mornings, play nine holes, and go to work,” says Fred Mabbott, Bellevue Muni teaching pro-fessional, of the software engineers.

—Dan Raley

SNOW BOUNDFind thrills and chills in the mountain surrounds By Julie H. Case

Get on the GREEN

Stevens Pass

The Golf Club at Newcastle

visitbellevuewashington.com 53

Arts&Culture

Whether it’s grass figures mowed directly into the lawn, life-size art made out of earplugs, or plastic bags crocheted into vines, Bellwether—Bellevue’s

sculpture exhibition—is renowned for its innovative artwork. Since 1992, this biennial event has delighted residents and visitors alike by bringing art to the people. Hundreds of submissions are pooled from all over the U.S. and Canada, and the final artwork is handpicked by a jury of local and national arts professionals. The result is an eclectic collection of sculpture and installation that transforms Bellevue’s landscape from late June through the second week of October.

All of the pieces are located along a three-quarter-mile walking route through the heart of down-town Bellevue, where whimsical designs are hung indoors, arranged outside, and even built into the natural environment. Begin at Bel-levue City Hall, where the bulk of

the artwork resides both within and around the building. From here, the art walk contin-ues through the pedestrian corridor (NE Sixth St) and along Bellevue Way. The final destina-tion is fountain-flanked Bellevue Downtown Park. Pack a lunch, grab your camera, and marvel at more than 40 unique works of art. You can walk at your own pace or tag along for a free, two-hour tour.

Bellwether showcases traditional materi-als—wood, bronze, and stainless steel—as well as more unexpected elements, such as woven grass, Mason jars, and clothespins. Art-ists are challenged to consider sustainability in their message, method, or material. This year’s theme is “connect,” and a number of pieces reflect upon how humans connect with each other, the com-munity, and nature. Fittingly, the exhibit features a strong digital component, including a smart-phone app that lets art lovers scan QR codes to learn more about their favorite creations.

Can’t make the exhibition? While Bellwether traces the route for a future per-manent art walk in downtown, there are other ways to experience art in the meantime. The city has more than 120 permanent public art installations. Pick up an art walking map at City Hall (or download it at visitbellevue washington.com) to find an abstract canoe illu-minating the night sky with its neon network of wires and tubes or a multicolored Dale Chi-huly chandelier dazzling shoppers year-round in the Lincoln Square atrium.

Bellevue City Hall 450 110th Ave ne Bellevue Down-town Park 10201 ne Fourth St

pHo

ToS

Cou

rTe

Sy C

iTy

oF

Bel

leVu

e

Chihuly chandelier at lincoln Square

SCULPTURE SEASONExplore Bellevue’s artistic bounty By Jessica Winterbauer

City Hall is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Downtown park is open from dawn until 11pm daily. Download an art map at visitbellevue washington.com or set up a free walk-ing tour with arts specialist Mary pat Byrne at mpbyrne@bellevuewa.gov.

VUEPOINTS

Elements 1, 2 and 3 by ulrich Pakker, part of Bellwether 2012

54 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

Arts&Culture

THEATER WORkSLocal productions steal the spotlight By Melena Jankanish

From riveting Shakespeare perfor-mances in the park to electrifying, award-winning musicals that rocket straight to Broadway, Bellevue and the Eastside are producing theater in

a class all their own. Issaquah’s Village Theatre is a leading

producer of musical theater in the Pacific Northwest. With stages in Issaquah and Everett, the unique and exciting productions are garnering national attention thanks to fresh takes on beloved musicals and lively comedies such as upcoming Funny Girl (May 15–July 6) and The Foreigner (January 23–March 2). Village Theatre is one of the few resident theaters in the nation dedicated to the development of new musicals with the Village Originals program, which has workshopped more than 85 new musicals from local and national playwrights since the year 2000. From first table reading to opening night, the program supports new musicals as they blos-som into national hits. Million Dollar Quartet,

a Village Original, went onto Broadway’s main stage in 2010, and many plays staged at Village Theatre have gone on to win Tony Awards. Every season, new works from the Village Originals program are eligible to become part of Village Theatre’s five-show lineup, where they are featured alongside classics.

For a more relaxed and unique theater-going experience, grab a blanket and pack a picnic lunch to savor the Seattle Shakespeare Company’s “Wooden O” free outdoor classical theater performances, held during the summer months in parks throughout Mercer Island, Sammamish, Issaquah, and also around the Seattle area. Past performances have included

The Tempest and Henry V, and are a testament to the vitality and longevity of classical works that are still enjoyed in the present day.

The arts also come alive in Bellevue at the Theatre at Meydenbauer Center, a state-of-the-art performing arts center that hosts community events ranging from ballet and modern dance to arts education and cultural performances reflecting Bellevue’s diverse population. Upcoming shows and concerts include StoneDance Productions’ Chop Shop: Bodies of Work (February 15–16), a contempo-rary dance festival; Pratidhwani’s Shaadi.CON (April 18–20), a Bollywood-inspired musical; and the annual Bellevue Jazz Festival (May 28–June 1). Also see beloved holiday classic The Nutcracker (December 12–14 and 18–22), pre-sented by the International Ballet Theatre.

seattle shakespeare Company Wooden o seattle shakespeare.org/woodeno theatre at meydenbauer Center 11100 ne Sixth St; meydenbauer.com/theatre-meydenbauer village theatre 303 Front St n, issaquah; villagetheatre.org

Les Misérables at Village Theatre

TrAC

y M

ArTi

n

village theatre is one of the few resident theaters in the nation dedicated to the development of new musicals.

Explore the waterfront wonders of Kirkland, Washington!

Plan your visit at explorekirkland.com

In the Heart of Bellevue

• Complimentary Parking & Shuttle Within 5 Miles

• Pet Friendly

• On-Site Fitness Center

• On-site Dining at Bellevue Grille

100 112th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA425-445-3330

toll free: 800-235-4458www.sheratonbellevue.com

Bellevue • 990 102nd Avenue NE • 425.462.4500 ubookstore.com/bellevue • 1.888.335.READ

Let us share it with you.

425-452-4240www.bellevueziptour.com

Feel Wild in the CityM

ARV

HES

TON

FEATURING

INFORMATION

ABOUT:

Deals • Hotels • Attractions Shopping • Dining • Events Calendar What’s Nearby • Maps • Itineraries

FIND OUT ABOUT THINGS TO DO

VisitBellevueWashington.com

FEATURING

INFORMATION

ABOUT:

VisitBellevueWashington

visitbellevuewashington.com 57

Shop&Style

INDULGE IN BELLEVUEExplore the luxurious side of leisure By Angela Cabotaje

From caviar facials to high-fashion designer styles, this city sure knows how to embrace the finer things in life.

SWANky SHOPSBookending downtown with dozens of luxury showrooms are two retail powerhouses: The Bellevue Collection—a triple threat com-prising Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square, and Bellevue Place—to the west and European-inspired out-door shopping center The Shops at The Bravern to the east.

Well-heeled patrons can start by strolling The Bravern’s court-yards, where outdoor fireplaces, fountains, and stately architec-ture embody the storied piazzas and public squares of the world’s best shopping cities. Brands of note include the Pacific North-west’s only Neiman Marcus, plus local outfits of design houses Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Salvatore

Fro

M l

eFT:

Co

ur

TeSy

TH

e B

elle

Vue

Coll

eCTi

on

, Co

ur

TeSy

JAr

Bo

The Bellevue Collection

Ferragamo, and Tory Burch. And for those with an Italian-fashion fixation, Gucci’s new 8,000-square-foot showroom—slated to open in June 2014—will be a world flagship location.

A few blocks west is The Bellevue Collec-tion, where a brightly lit array of stores cater to both high-end and midrange clientele. One of the more notable blocks in Bellevue Square

begins with candy-colored wares at Kate Spade New York before lead-ing to the luxurious leather goods of Michael Kors, smart suits at Hugo Boss, and tasteful diamonds from Tiffany & Co. Fittingly, this stretch of showrooms culminates at Nordstrom, a department store with local roots and its very own bar, called Habitant. Sidle up to the counter for a craft cocktail—like the Billionaire, a concoction of Maker’s Mark, house-made grenadine, and lemon juice—just feet from racks of Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, and Helmut Lang.

Continue the shopping spree in Old Bel-levue, where cozy boutiques dole out hot commodities with a side of charm. Hedge & Vine is filled with everything from hand-made Italian pewter and fine crystal to wine and Parisian antiques, while local label Jarbo offers an alluring mix of beautiful basics, from cashmere sweaters to edgy leather jackets. Also here: Fran’s Chocolates, a confectioner doling out heavenly bites of salted caramel and decadent dark-chocolate truffles decorated with a speck of gold leaf.

Want to pop more tags? Dig up dis-counted designer duds at

nordstrom rack in Factoria (market placeatfactoria.com) or north Bend premium outlets (premiumoutlets.com), 30 miles east of Bellevue, where 50 shops include Coach, Banana republic, and loFT.

VUEPOINTS

Jarbo

58 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

Shop&Style

Clo

CkW

iSe

Fro

M T

op

leFT

: Co

ur

TeSy

no

ir l

ASH

lo

un

ge,

JAM

i DAV

iS, i

lyA

Mo

SHen

Skiy

POSH PAMPERINGBeauty routines get the VIP treat-ment in Bellevue, too, with a litany of salons and spas that cater to your every primping need.

With Lady Gaga beats blasting in the background, Noir Lash Lounge layers on the style in a neo-Baroque setting. No sterile salon chairs here— contemporary chaise lounges and glossy black décor infuse Noir with a hip, edgy vibe—and the lash menu ranges from the VIP-worthy Addict for the Dramatic to the semipermanent-mascara treatment LashDip.

A few doors down, local brand Julep lavishes love on nails with pre-mium manis and pedis that come with sea salt scrubs, reflexology massages, paraffin wraps, and a complimentary bottle of formaldehyde-free polish.

You don’t have to go far to find other ways to elevate your beauty routine to luxe status. A caviar- and pearl-extract-infused anti-aging treatment at Paule Attar Salon and Spa, just north of The Bellevue Collection, runs a cool $149, while Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa at The Bravern tops them all with its $986 Diamonds Are Forever spa package for two, an opu-lent lineup featuring a 50-minute hot stone massage, a sugar-exfoliating manicure and pedicure, and a micro-dermabrasion facial that pampers you all the way from head to décolleté.

the Bellevue Collection Between ne eighth St and ne Fourth St on Bellevue Way; bellevue square.com elizabeth arden red Door spa 700 110th Ave ne; reddoorspas.com Fran’s Chocolates 10036 Main St; franschocolates.com Hedge & vine 10028 Main St; hedgeand vine.com Jarbo 10240 Main St; design10301.com Julep 221 Bellevue Way ne; julep.com noir lash lounge 225 Bellevue Way ne;

noirlashlounge.com Paule attar salon and spa 10223 ne 10th St; pauleattar.com the shops at the Bravern 11111 ne eighth St; thebravern.com

Noir Lash Lounge

INDEPENDENT STyLEMeet three local design stars By Amanda Zurita

INDEPENDENT DESIGNER RUNWAy SHOWCASE In fall 2012 The Bellevue Collection debuted the Independent Designer Runway Showcase, a design competition highlighting the area’s up-and-coming talents. Designers battle it out for a $5,000 cash prize and a monthlong display in the shopping center, but the long-term reward includes help from a team of local experts, who provide feedback to contestants throughout the competition. The winner of 2013’s showcase was self-taught leather designer Aykut Ozen, whose impeccable craftsmanship (one of his jackets can take as many as 80 hours to create) and rock-and-roll vibe won over the judging panel. “[The show-case] helped me share my work and vision with a greater audience and really raised awareness for independent design, as a whole, in our area,” Ozen says. ozencompany.com

FARINAz TAGHAVI AT BELLEVUE SqUAREAs a 6-year-old in Iran, Farinaz Taghavi waited every week to be taken to the fabric market to see the fresh arrival of lush textiles, a pas-sion that became a career when she began designing soon after graduating from college. Taking inspiration from her world travels and the ways different cultures define femininity, Taghavi launched her namesake womenswear brand in 2002. Her collections focus on well-tailored shirts and blouses meant to highlight the shape and personality of every woman. “It’s exciting to watch customers wear my clothing, not the other way around,” says Taghavi, who recently opened her flagship store—and only retail location—in Bellevue Square. 2038 Bel-levue Way; 425-453-1688; farinaz.com

HOLLy zHANG PEARL GALLERy AT THE BRAVERNGrowing up with few creature comforts in rural China, jewelry designer Holly Zhang moved to Beijing as a young woman and fos-tered her love of fashion as an interpreter for a pearl company. After transferring to an Amer-ican jewelry import business, she eventually ended up in Bellevue and, in 2011, launched the Holly Zhang Pearl Gallery at The Bravern featuring her own designs. Her modern looks—definitely not your grandmother’s pearls—are perfectly suitable for both a day at the office and a night at the opera. 700 110th Ave NE, Ste 162; hollyzhang.com

Fashion designer Aykut Ozen (left), winner of the 2013 Independent Designer Runway Showcase

Holly zhang

Shop&Style

visitbellevuewashington.com 59

Salt Mine Arium

Fro

M T

op:

Co

ur

TeSy

SAl

T M

ine

Ariu

M, C

ou

rTe

Sy r

eD D

oo

r S

pA

RARE TREATSSpa days get a boost from Mother Nature By Julie H. Case

Precious minerals and seasonal inspirations make for unique and decadent treatments.

PUMPkINWhy call a truce when it’s all peace and bliss? A pumpkin apple spice treatment at Truce starts with a pumpkin body peel, followed by an all-over herbal spice exfoliate. Then add on a facial, coconut oil hair treatment, and head massage. Once the body has purged its toxins, a berry mask nurtures with antioxidants. All this is followed by a massage and a full body hydra-tion that even includes the lips. The result? A face that glows and elbows that belong on a six-month-old. Of note: Treatments change regularly to reflect what is in season. 600 Bel-levue Way NE, Ste 400; trucespa.com

HONEyStart the day with sun salutations in a room perched above Snoqualmie Falls at Salish Lodge & Spa—yoga classes are held daily—then alternate between hot pools and steam rooms at the spa, before a seasonally inspired treatment. An iced-apple scrub so thoroughly sloughs away layers of dry skin, you’ll squeak. For a truly memorable spring or summer treat-ment DIY: aestheticians pluck your choice of herbs from the Salish garden (think lavender, mint, or basil), pound them into honey from on-site hives, and mix up a tailored treatment. 6501 Railroad Ave, Snoqualmie; salishlodge.com

SALTSalt has 84 minerals, and while some docs prescribe a brine (it’s an antibacterial), 45 min-utes in rooms built of 38,000 rosy pink pounds of Himalayan salt at Salt Mine Arium makes you glow from the inside. Fall into a reverie as a salt mist is pumped into the room, circulat-ing negative-charged ions through the lungs for increased oxygen flow. Recharge beside trick-ling waterfalls growing salt crystals. Need more? Sprinkle in a rock salt massage or salt scrub. 1850 130th Ave NE, Ste 4; saltminearium.com

WATERWith 8,000 square feet of spa space, hot and cold hydrotherapy pools, and a couples scrub room, Yuan Spa is where to soak up a day.

Need more than just an emotional pick-me-up? HydraFacials are said to reduce fine lines immediately. Or opt for microneedles: 200 surgical-grade needles rolled across the face for increased serum penetration. 1032 106th Ave NE, Ste 125; yuanspa.com

SEAWEEDThink head to toe, and 24,000-square-foot Gene Juarez may come to mind thanks to everything from cuts and colors to Vichy hydrotherapy, but feet really get their due here. Private pedi rooms mean you’re pampered in private. Feet are seriously scrubbed with a seaweed exfoliate—which also contains refreshing lemongrass and spearmint—before being dipped in warm paraffin, deeply mas-saged, and treated to a glossy polish. 550 106th Ave NE, Ste 105; genejuarez.com

PEARLSThe beach has nothing on Red Door Spa. Aes-theticians at this spa tucked into The Bravern start the Seawater Hydrating Pearl Facial with an exfoliation gentle enough for even a redhead. Next, a layer of algae-and-pearl con-coction loads the skin with minerals, followed by a massage that drives minerals from the sea-water pearl potion deep into pores, hydrating the skin. Added plus: Every service at the spa ends with a complimentary makeup applica-tion. 700 110th Ave NE; reddoorspas.com

Red Door Spa

visitbellevuewashington.com 61

Music&Nightlife

CHEERS TO THAT Where to drink in the neighborhood By Cassie Sawyer

Want to know where to meet that single, find the best single malt, or just get a taste of the local scene? We explore the best bars for everything from games

to shopping to local brews.

BEST SINGLE MALT Lot No. 3’s impressive drink menu reads like a whiskey lover’s dream. There’s a page dedi-cated purely to manhattans and the classic old-fashioned, a bundle of boilermakers, and more than 25 scotch choices. Comfort food items like meatloaf, mac and cheese, and pulled-pork sandwiches help balance the booze, and hopefully keep you going until late. 460 106th Ave NE; 425-440-0025; lotno3.com

BEST ACCESSORy FOR SHOPPINGOur favorite new addition to Nordstrom in Bellevue Square isn’t a new clothing line but a cocktail bar, Habitant. Perfect for a pre- or post-shopping drink, and a place for those non-shoppers (aka spouses) to hang while retail therapy commences. The cocktails are crafted with ingredients such as muddled blue-berries and locally made spirits, sure to change the way you feel about “mall bars” everywhere. 100 Bellevue Way SE; 425-455-5800, ext 5010; shop.nordstrom.com

BEST IN LOCAL BEERSBellevue Brewing Company opened in December 2012 as a much-needed addition to the Bellevue beer scene. Its beers range from

a floral hop-driven IPA to a full-bodied, nutty Scotch Ale. The industrial space in northeast Bellevue is a nice spot to enjoy a couple of rounds with friends—and even minors are wel-come until 8pm. The menu offers revamped brew-friendly grub, from hot sandwiches, hearty salads, and handmade pizzas to an Oat-meal Stout Float with Snoqualmie vanilla ice cream. 1820 130th Ave NE, Ste 2; 425-497-8686; bellevuebrewing.com

BEST FOR THE SINGLE SCENEParlor Bellevue has it all; it’s like an adult Disneyland with 19 pool tables, a comedy club and events space, insane happy hour spe-cials, and a nightclub. In fact, it was just voted by the Bellevue Downtown Asso-

Wil

l Au

STin

Bellevue Brewing Company

62 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

Music&Nightlife

ciation as the best place “to see and be seen.” Put all of those things together, and you’ve got one hot spot for singles, especially at happy hour—which runs every day from 11am to 7pm, 10pm to close Monday through Thursday, and all day on Sunday. 700 Bellevue Way NE, Ste 300; 435-289-7000; parlorlive.com

BEST DIVE WITH GAMES Sometimes you just want to hang out in a dive bar, drink a pitcher of beer, and shoot some pool with friends. With sports on the 15 TVs, pinball machines, darts, and classic pub grub, Mustard Seed Too is the city’s best spot to relax and imbibe on the down-low. 1428 156th Ave NE; 425-746-8852; mustardseedtoo.com

Fro

M T

op:

Wil

l Au

STin

, Co

ur

TeSy

pu

rpl

e CA

Fé A

nD

Win

e B

Ar

Check out these Bellevue spots for great early-evening and late-night deals.

kORAL BAR & kITCHENHappy hour here is seven days a week from 3 to 6pm and 9pm to midnight. That means half off select small plates like smoked salmon deviled eggs, fried-chicken sliders, and artichoke crostini. it’s also 50 percent off select wines by the glass, and $1 off beers on draft. 900 Bellevue Way NE, Ste 100; 425-623-1125; koralbellevue.com

520 BAR AND GRILLThis neighborhood pub has happy hour seven days a

week from 2 to 5:20pm (from 3pm on weekends), and again from 9pm to close. Make a toast to wine for $5.20 a glass, or grab a Stella for $4. prosciutto and fontina grilled cheese sand-wiches, lamb gyro bites with tzatziki and feta, and pork sliders with coleslaw and french fries are just a few of the 11 food options avail-able for $6 a plate. 10146 Main St; 425-450-0520; 520barandgrill.com

PURPLE CAFé AND WINE BARFrom 3 to 6pm daily it’s $2 off well drinks, draft beers, and wines by the glass—of which there are about 80 to choose from. gorgonzola-stuffed dates, mini baked brie, steamed Manila clams with sausage and fennel, and sweet potato fries are some of the snack items that come in under $8. 430 106th Ave NE; 425-502-6292; thepurplecafe.com

PEARLBuffalo Trace manhattans, Bombay gin martinis, wine by the glass, and appetizers are half off in the bar 3 to 6pm and 9 to midnight. Do surf-and-turf right with a smattering of small plates: blue cheese steak strips with port demi-glace, pan-seared prawns in a garlic butter sauce, and crispy fried cala-mari. 700 Bellevue Way NE, Ste 50; 425-455-0181; pearlbellevue.com

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAk HOUSEThe “Sizzle, Swizzle, Swirl” hour runs from 3:30 to 6:30pm daily, and again from 9 to 11pm, except Sunday when it’s 9 to 10pm. The buzz is a prime cheeseburger with fries for a mere six bucks. of note: specialty manhat-tans and martinis come in at discounted prices, too. 565 Bellevue Square; 425-451-1550; ruthschris.com

—Cassie Sawyer

HAPPIESTThe

of Hours

Purple café and wine bar

mustard seed too

not sure what to sip? Ask your friendly barkeep to mix a cocktail using local liquors, like Westland Distillery’s Deacon Seat whiskey, Captive Spirits’ Big gin, and oola Distillery’s namesake vodka.VUE

POINTS

“…DESIGNED FORTHE SERIOUS COCKTAIL DRINKER.”

1020 108th Ave, #100Bellevue, WA, 98004

425-455-4278barcodebellevue.com

Seattle Times, Jan. 2014

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Barcode Add_Final.pdf 1 1/19/2014 7:32:59 PM

bakesplacebellevue.com • 155 108th Ave NE ste 110 Bellevue • 425.454.2776

NAMED BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE 2013

VOTED BEST PLACE TO BE ENTERTAINED+ FOR A FIRST DATE 2013

BELLEVUE’S BEST PLACE TO BE ENTERTAINED

At Bake’s…we’re a little bit diff erent. Not only will you fi nd seasonally-inspired cuisine, a cozy, well-stocked bar serving your favorite beverage and a spacious patio (weather permitting); you’ll discover a place to enjoy great entertainment and relax.Stop by on weekdays for lunch, happy hour and dinner—accompanied by mellow live music in the evening—or make a reservation for one of our energetic dinner shows featuring renowned touring artists on weekends. And catch the game and other special events on our gigantic screen! See our website for hours, schedule and details.

64 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

Music&Nightlife

HEARD AND SCENEWhere to go when only a live show will do By Seth Sommerfeld

When it comes to live enter-tainment it’s easy to make an all-inclusive night of it. Bake’s Place is the only restaurant and bar dedicated to bringing in

almost-nightly music. A large open room fea-tures a professional stage and lighting setup, yet doesn’t sacrifice its refined lounge feel, making this the place to dine and enjoy everything from jazz and R&B to pop and rock tributes.

Another spot, Cypress Lounge & Wine Bar at the Westin Hotel, hosts some exceptionally chill night music. Every Friday, the fireplace-adorned, low-lit room offers an intimate space to hear a singer-songwriter. KORAL Bar & Kitchen turns live music into ambience three nights a week (Wednes-day, Friday, Saturday) and features everything from Polynesian reggae to a jazz trio. Blue Martini Lounge has the strongest club vibe in town, and even has an ele-vated stage directly behind the bar. Thursday to Saturday, bands play until 11pm, followed by a DJ until 2am.

The most elevated music in town, however, can be found on the 21st floor of the Bank of

America building, at Daniel’s Broiler, where a pianist plays nightly until midnight. The coolest aspect? Patrons can actually have their drinks served on the piano: 10 seats sur-round the clear-top baby grand. And Bellevue’s most unusual concert venue is nestled snugly in a shopping center. The Market Stage at Crossroads Bellevue may have an odd vibe, but it sports a surprisingly solid sound system. Where else can you grab any of 18 different types of ethnic cuisine while watching a set from Pearl Django?

For summer concerts in the open air, there’s no better place to be. The region’s two best outdoor stages are here. Chateau

Ste. Michelle mixes songs and sommeliers by bring-ing A-list talent to the lawn outside its Woodin-ville winery. Past acts have included Bellevue’s own Heart, the Beach Boys, and Harry Connick Jr. Even closer to downtown is Red-mond’s Marymoor Park,

which hosts a diverse lineup that has mixed iconic talents such as Willie Nelson with modern hit makers like the Lumineers. The massive lawn in front of the stage is the per-

fect place to sprawl on a blanket and soak in tunes on a warm Northwest night.

Bake’s Place 155 108th Ave ne, Ste 110; bakesplace bellevue.com Blue martini lounge 700 110th Ave ne, Ste 295; bluemartinilounge.com Chateau ste. michelle 14111 ne 145th St, Woodinville; ste-michelle.com Cypress lounge & Wine Bar 600 Bellevue Way ne; westinbellevuehotel.com Daniel’s Broiler 10500 ne eighth St; schwartzbros.com/daniels-broiler koral Bar & kitchen 900 Bellevue Way ne, Ste 100; koralbellevue.com the market stage at Crossroads Bellevue 15600 ne eighth St; crossroadsbellevue.com marymoor Park 6046 W lake Sammamish pkwy ne, redmond; marymoor concerts.com

Bake’s Place

for summer concerts in the open air, there’s no better place. the region’s two best outdoor stages are here.

Fro

M T

op:

DAn

iel

SHee

HAn

, CH

riS

TopH

er n

elSo

n

marymoor Park

This is MyBellevueA new app connecting you with the city

. . . on the go!

www.bellevuewa.gov

425-981-7000shuttleexpress.com

Best Bellevue Airport Service

Airport or Anywhere!✓ Share ride and private airport service✓ Group & corporate events✓ Barrel Wine Tours✓ Brewery and specialty charters✓ Private service for any occasion

La Residence Suite HotelLa Residence Suite HotelLa Residence Suite Hotel “Your home away from home”

Come stay at our comfortable

boutique hotel in downtown Bellevue

Nightly, weekly

& monthly rates

available!!

1 & 2 bedroom suites with full kitchens FREE continental breakfast FREE high speed internet Next to Bellevue Square Mall, Theaters

& Restaurants Near Meydenbauer Center & downtown

parks

For Reservations please call 425.455.1475 or visit us at www.bellevuelodging.com

www.kidsquestmuseum.org • 425.637.8100 • Bellevue

Treehouse Waterways

Real semi truck cab Toddler area

Over 650 free programs & special events

KidsQuest Children’s Museum

Come explore, play and learn with us

I II I

I II I

I II I

I II I

I II I

I I II I I

I I II I I

I I II I I I

I I I II I I I I

I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

Argosy Cruisesfrom Kirkland

argosycruises.com206.623.1445

EXPERIENCE LAKE WASHINGTON.• Live-narrated tour around Lake Washington• Sweeping lake views• Departs seasonally from Kirkland’s City Dock

It all happens in

bellevuedowntown.com

Downtown Bellevue

Bellevue Jazz FestivalMay 28 - June 1, 2014

Bellevue Family 4th of July Celebration

July 4, 2014

6th Street Arts and Crafts Fair

July 2 5 - July 27, 2014

Bellevue Magic Season Holiday Festival

November 28, 2014 - January 11, 2015

visitbellevuewashington.com 67

Kids&Family

PLAy TIMEKeep the entire clan entertained with hands-on fun for tots and teens By Angela Cabotaje

MORNINGEven the pickiest of eaters can find something delicious to devour in Bellevue, thanks to fluffy dollar pancakes from Chace’s Pancake Cor-ral, sprinkle- or coconut-covered doughnuts at Top Pot, and more exotic options, like Fuji Bakery’s tasty array of green-tea dan-ishes and pastries studded with sweet red beans.

Once stomachs are sat-isfied, set out in search of some late-morning fun. The younger set can burn off energy at Factoria’s KidsQuest Children’s Museum—doors open at 10am Tuesday through Saturday, and at noon on Sunday—

where little ones can send scarves whizzing up pipes, float balls through a network of water-ways, and climb aboard a real big rig.

For tweens and teens, more active pursuits beckon from farther south. The Golf Club at

Newcastle’s 18-hole Rusty Putter course features prime views of evergreen-covered hills and glimpses of Lake Washington for some prime family time, w h i l e E a st g a t e Pa r k ’s Discovery Challenge ropes course is an aerial adventure for those 9 and older with a series of swinging planks,

tightropes, and—opening in April 2014—zip lines high up in the trees.

AFTERNOONAfter all that action, it’s best to fuel up fast. Say buon giorno to gourmet pizza at Pagliacci in Old Bellevue, where slices and whole pies are served with everything from prosciutto and goat cheese for adults to extra pepperoni and fresh mozzarella for kids.

Reenergized jumping beans can find plenty to fawn over on the other side of downtown at Kelsey Creek Farm, a charming slice of country life complete with a red barn. Call to reserve a hands-on group tour with Farmer Jayne in advance, or just drop by to admire the flock of furry and feathered friends roaming the pastures every day until 3:30pm.

While babies and toddlers nap in their strollers, head back downtown for a laid-back approach to the afternoon.

Tor

ri H

oW

ArD

WiggleWorks kids

little ones can send scarves whizzing up pipes, while tweens and teens can seek an aerial adventure high up in the trees.

68 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

where children between the ages of 4 and 12 can unleash their creativity during Get Crafty Sat-urdays, from 1 to 3pm. A museum exhibit serves as inspiration for each week’s guided art proj-ect, so kids can make faux stained glass or paper lanterns. Parents and teens can find plenty to admire among the hallways of modern art, including stunningly detailed wood carvings by Northwest artist Dan Webb (March 7–June 15) and a rooftop sculpture garden.

EVENINGFor dinner, it’s a two-way tie.

Take your brood to Bellevue Square for a litany of family-friendly restaurants followed by some après-meal shopping. Southwest-Mexican eatery Cactus has Wikki Stix for kids (and margaritas for adults), plus compli-mentary chips and salsa to quell any hungry mouths. There’s also Moksha, which doles out authentic Indian favorites and vegetarian dishes in a setting so swanky, teens will feel totally grown up.

The mall is open until 9:30 most nights, so there’s plenty of time to browse and window-shop after dessert. Set the clan loose to hunt out familiar characters at Sanrio and the Dis-ney Store, plan their next big build at LEGO, or solve some playful puzzles at Marbles: The Brain Store. Plus, on the third floor, Puget

Sound–themed Kids’ Cove is a shoes-off play area dotted with a miniature ferry, lighthouse, and tugboat.

If it’s fast fare you seek, Crossroads is an equally great option. The Public Market has a diverse array of ethnic eats—from udon, sushi, and Korean barbecue to Thai, Indian, and burritos—along with tried-and-true picks like pizza, pasta, and sandwiches.

Another perk? The second Saturday of each month, Crossroads hosts a family evening with chess and board games, live entertainment, free popcorn, and $1 off admission to WiggleWorks Kids, a drop-in facility with padded play equip-ment for little ones.

Bellevue arts museum 510 Bellevue Way ne; bellevuearts.org Bellevue Downtown Park ne Fourth St and 100th Ave ne Bellevue square 575 Bellevue Sq; bellevuesquare.com Cactus Bellevue Square, level 2; cactusrestaurants.com Chace’s Pancake Corral 1606 Bellevue Way SeCrossroads 15600 ne eighth St; crossroadsbellevue.com Discovery Challenge 14509 Se newport Way; 425-452-4240 (reservations) Disney store Bellevue Square, level 1 Fuji Bakery 1502 145th pl Se; fujibakeryinc.com the Golf Club at newcastle 15500 Six penny ln, newcastle; newcastlegolf.com kelsey Creek Farm 410 130th pl Se; farmerjayne.com kids’ Cove Bellevue Square, level 3

kidsQuest Children’s museum 4091 Factoria Square Mall Se; kidsquestmuseum.org the leGo store Bellevue Square, level 1 marbles: the Brain store Bellevue Square, level 1 moksha Bellevue Square, level 1; mokshadining.com Pagliacci Pizza 8 100th Ave ne; pagliacci.com

sanrio Bellevue Square, level 2 top Pot Doughnuts 10600 ne ninth pl; toppotdoughnuts.com WiggleWorks kids Crossroads, Ste F-15; wiggleworkskids.com

Explore the 20-plus acres of Bellevue Down-town Park, which boasts manicured lawns and a cascading water feature that culminates in a reflecting pool—a local hangout for Bel-levue’s resident ducks. After naptime, walk a few blocks north to Bellevue Arts Museum,

Clockwise from left: Crossroads, Bellevue Arts Museum, LEGO Store, Downtown Park

Clo

CkW

iSe

Fro

M T

op

leFT

: Co

ur

TeSy

Cr

oSS

ro

ADS

SHo

ppin

g C

enTe

r, C

ou

rTe

Sy S

uSA

n S

Tyn

er,

Cou

rTe

Sy T

He

Bel

leVu

e Co

lleC

Tio

n, C

ou

rTe

Syle

go

, JAM

ie &

Ju

Dy

Wil

D /

DAn

iTAD

eliM

on

T.Co

M

GET REAL CLOSE!Woodland Park Zoo is located just minutes north of downtown Seattle. Open daily at 9:30 a.m.

Ryan Hawk, WPZ

For information on zoo tours, call 206.545.2022 or contact us at tours@zoo.org

Guided tours available Wed. - Sun. at 10:45 a.m.

www.zoo.org

625 116th Avenue NE

Bellevue, WA 98004

PH 425-455-9444

Fax 425-646-0229

www.coasthotels.com

Convenient location

176 rooms

Complimentary internet & continental breakfast

7500+ sq. ft. meeting space

On-site restaurant & bar

Business center

Fitness center Bellevue Parks &Community Services

CIT

Y OF BELLEVU

E

W

AS H I N G TO

N

70 b e l l e v u e v i s i t o r g u i d e 2 0 1 4

Resources

GETTING HEREpo

rT

oF

SeAT

Tle

/ D

on

Wil

Son

downtown Coast Bellevue425-455-9444amenities: Fitness and business center, valet laundry, outdoor poolinternet: Free Wi-Fidining: The eastside Bar & grill, room service, complimentary continental breakfastguest rooms: 176

Courtyard by marriott Bellevue Downtown 425-454-5888amenities: indoor pool, fitness and business center, 24-hour market, on-site coin laundry, valet dry cleaning, refrigerator, HDTV, safeinternet: Free high-speed Wi-Fi and wired internet access (DS3)dining: Breakfast, dinner, lounge, room serviceguest rooms: 253

extended stay america—Bellevue Downtown425-453-8186amenities: pet friendly, free parking, free local calls, on-site laundry, fully equipped kitchen-ettes, newly renovatedinternet: Free Wi-Fidining: Free grab-and-go breakfast guest rooms: 148

Hilton Hotel Bellevue 425-455-1300amenities: Fitness and business center, outdoor pool with whirlpool, valet laundry internet: Wi-Fi for $9.95/day dining: Basil’s kitchen and Bar, Tully’s Coffeeguest rooms: 353

Hotel Bellevue425-454-4424amenities: Athletic facility with three pools, tennis courts, classes, full-service spa, and more. pet friendly, safe in room, valet laundry, complimentary town car service.internet: Complimentary wired or Wi-Fi in roomdining: polaris, Cosmos lounge, Splash, and luna express restaurants guest rooms: 67

Hyatt regency Bellevue425-462-1234amenities: newly renovated, StayFit gym and lap pool, HDTV, refrigerator, club level internet: expanded wired/Wi-Fi (fee), complimentary Wi-Fi in lobbydining: eques (breakfast), koralguest rooms: 732

la residence suite Hotel425-455-1475amenities: Fitness center, laundry facility, free meeting roominternet: Wired and Wi-Fidining: Complimentary breakfastguest rooms: 24

marriott residence inn Bellevue Downtown425-637-8500amenities: Full kitchens, fitness center, indoor pool, Microsoft lounge/business center internet: Free Wi-Fi and wired

dining: Complimentary hot breakfast buffet and dinner buffet Monday to Wednesdayguest rooms: 231

red lion Hotel Bellevue425-455-5240amenities: Fitness and business center, outdoor pool, valet laundry, free parking, 24-hour food service internet: Free Wi-Fidining: Jonah’s restaurant & lounge, room serviceguest rooms: 181

sheraton Bellevue425-455-3330amenities: Fitness and business center, HD television, refrigerator, microwave, club level, pet friendly, complimentary parking, local shuttleinternet: Free Wi-Fi in public areas, $10.95/day in guest roomsdining: Bellevue grille & lounge, Azteca Mexican restaurant, room serviceguest rooms: 178

silver Cloud Bellevue425-637-7000amenities: Free parking, complimentary local shuttle, fitness center, valet laundry, microwave, refrigeratorinternet: Free Wi-Fidining: Complimentary full breakfastguest rooms: 98

the Westin Bellevue425-638-1000amenities: 25-meter lap pool, Jacuzzi, WestinWorkouT, Truce

Spa, valet, laundry, in-room safe, business center, newly renovated internet: Wired and Wi-Fi high-speed internet access for a fee; complimentary in lobbydining: Cypress lounge & Wine Barguest rooms: 337

eastgate (south bellevue) Days inn Bellevue425-643-6644amenities: pet friendly, business center, laundry facility, free phone calls to anywhere in north America, unlimited access to on-site exercise room internet: Free Wi-Fidining: Free continental breakfast guest rooms: 106

embassy suites Hotel425-644-2500amenities: Separate living room in suites; indoor pool, sauna, and spa; atrium with river, waterfall, and ponds; on-site restaurant; large meeting spacesinternet: High-speed Wi-Fidining: Cascades grille, complimentary breakfast and evening reception with beer, wine, and snacksguest rooms: 240

extended stay america—Bellevue Factoria425-865-8680amenities: pet friendly, fully equipped kitch- enettes, free parking, free local calls, on-site laundry facilities, newly renovated

internet: Free Wi-Fidining: Free grab-and-go breakfastguest rooms: 150

Hyatt House425-747-2705amenities: Fitness center w/indoor pool and whirlpool, daily paper, free parking, free shuttle, valet laundryinternet: Free Wi-Fidining: Complimentary buffet breakfast, full-service restaurant and bar open 7 days a weekguest rooms: 160

larkspur landing Bellevue425-373-1212amenities: Business and fitness center, fully equipped kitchenettes, complimentary laundry facilities, free local calls, pet friendlyinternet: Free Wi-Fi and wired internetdining: Complimentary breakfastguest rooms: 126

silver Cloud Hotel Bellevue—eastgate425-957-9100amenities: Fitness center, valet laundry, microwave, refrigerator internet: Free Wi-Fidining: Full-service restaurant on siteguest rooms: 145

overlake (northeast bellevue) Courtyard by marriott– Bellevue/redmond 425-869-5300amenities: indoor pool, fitness center, business library, valet laundry, complimentary parking

internet: Free Wi-Fi (DS3)dining: The Bistro restaurant, proudly serving Starbucks, breakfast, and dinnerguest rooms: 152

extended stay america—redmond425-885-6675 amenities: laundry facilities, kitchenette, pet friendlyinternet: Free Wi-Fidining: grab-and-go breakfastguest rooms: 163

Fairfield inn and suites seattle Bellevue/redmond425-869-6548amenities: Fitness and business center, pet friendly, indoor pool and spainternet: Free high-speed internet accessdining: Complimentary hot breakfast buffetguest rooms: 144

marriott residence inn Bellevue redmond425-882-1222amenities: on-site and valet laundry, safe deposit boxes at front desk, fully equipped kitchensinternet: Free Wi-Fidining: Complimentary hot breakfast buffet daily, complimentary hospitality hour Monday to Thursdayguest rooms: 120

See the map on p. 72 for lodging locations, or browse the latest hotel listings at visitbellevue washington.com/hotels.

By Air bellevue is just 17 miles north of sea-tac airport on i-405. trans portation from sea-tac is available through shuttle Express, Shared Ride Vans, STITA taxi, and stila limousine. king county metro transit buses and sound transit route 560 provide daily service to and from the bellevue transit center.

Driving From seattleTake Sr 520 east across the evergreen point Bridge to Bellevue Way ne. go south on Bellevue Way for approximately two miles to downtown Bellevue.

or take i-90 east over lake Washington, merge north onto i-405, and proceed north to exit 13A west (ne Fourth Street westbound), then continue into downtown.

From everett, vancouver B.C., and Points northTake i-5 south to exit 182, merge onto i-405 south, and then take

exit 13A west (ne Fourth Street westbound) and continue into downtown Bellevue.

From tacoma, olympia, and Points southTake i-5 north to exit 154 onto i-405 north toward Bellevue. Take exit 13A west (left onto ne Fourth Street westbound), and continue into downtown Bellevue.

From Points eastTake i-90 west to exit 10, merge onto i-405 north, then take exit 13A. Take a left onto ne Fourth Street westbound, and continue into downtown Bellevue.

sea-tac international airport

90

90

405

405

5

520

522

520

202

MeydenbauerBay

LakeSammamish

Bel-Red RoadNorthup Way

NE 8th St.

Belle

vue

Way

Lake

Was

hing

ton

Boul

evar

d

156t

h Av

e N

E

140t

h Av

e N

E

148t

h Av

e N

E

ElliottBay

LakeUnion

Woodinville-Redmond Rd NE W

oodinville-Redmond Rd NE

To Sea-TacAirport

(23 minutes)

To The Golf Clubat Newcastle

(16 minutes)

To Snoqualmie Pass(50 minutes)

To Mt. Rainier National Park

(2 hours)

To Sea-TacAirport

(23 minutes)

MarymoorPark

Mercer Slough

Crossroads

Factoria Mall

BellevueBotanical Garden

Crossroads

Woodinville(20 minutes)

Bothell(20 minutes)

Factoria

LakeWashington

Redmond(18 minutes)

DowntownSeattle

(18 minutes)

Capitol Hill

Beacon Hill

Mercer Island

Overlake

Kirkland(10 minutes)

Bellevue

Eastgate

DowntownBellevue

5

University ofWashington

Husky Stadium

CenturyLink Field

Safeco Field

EnataiBeach Park

Kelsey CreekPark

RobinswoodPark

3/4 inch = 1 mile

More than 80 of the state’s 740-plus wineries, a half-dozen breweries, and four craft distilleries call Woodinville home.

Downtown Seattle, the Space needle, and pike place Market are just 12 miles from Bellevue.

redmond’s 640-acre Marymoor park has a 40-acre off-leash area, a bird-watching trail, the state’s only velodrome, and access to the Burke-gilman Trail and Sammamish Slough.

Kirkland, about five miles north of Bellevue on lake Washington, teems with waterfront parks, boutiques, and restaurants.

picturesque Snoqualmie Falls is 30 minutes away, while hiking and skiing are within an hour east of Bellevue at Snoqualmie pass.

Mt. rainier national park, with two visitor centers, hiking, and snowshoeing, is roughly two hours south of downtown Bellevue.

6

Bellevue Shopping Areas

Central Business District

Stadiums

parks1

2

3

4

5

1

2

3

4

5

6

greater region

n

S

W e

PE

DE

ST

RI

AN

C

OR

RI

DO

R

Dow

ntow

nPa

rk

.5 m

ile

loop

Bove

e Pa

rk

McC

orm

ick

Park

Linc

oln

Squa

re

Belle

vue

Gal

leria

Belle

vue

Squa

re

The

Brav

ern

Mey

denb

auer

Bay

Mey

denb

auer

Beac

h Pa

rk

Mey

denb

auer

Cent

er

Ashw

ood

Park

La R

esid

ence

Suite

Belle

vue

Arts

Mus

eum

Wes

tin

Silv

er C

loud

City

Hal

l

Coas

t Bel

levu

e

Gro

up H

ealth

City

Hal

l Pla

za

Sher

aton

Red

Lion

Hilto

n

Hot

el B

elle

vue

Exte

nded

St

ay A

mer

ica

Tran

sit C

ente

r

Cour

tyar

dby

Mar

riott

Ove

rlake

M

edic

al C

ente

r

Old

Belle

vue

Libr

ary

Belle

vue

Plac

e

Hya

tt Re

genc

y

Mar

riott

Resi

denc

e In

n

God

dard

Par

k

Child

ren’

s H

ospi

tal

NE

8th

St.

NE

12th

St.

100th Ave. NE

112th Ave. NE 112th Ave. SE

Bellevue Way NE (104th Ave. NE) Bellevue Way SE (104th Ave. SE)

116th Ave. NE

NE

4th

St.

NE

2nd

St.

NE

6th

St.

NE

1st

St.

NE

10th

St.

102nd Ave. NE

106th Ave. NE

108th Ave. NE

110th Ave. NE

114th Ave. NE

108th Ave. SE

102nd Ave. SE

110th Ave. SE

101st Ave. SE

Mai

n St

.

Exit

13B

Exit

13B

Exit

13A Ex

it 13

A

Exit

14

405

1 2 3 4

5 6

3/4

inch

= 0

.2 m

iles

Shop

ping

Are

as

park

s

plaz

as

pede

stria

n pa

ths

Hot

els

Arts

& e

vent

s

Hos

pita

ls

publ

ic S

ervi

ces

1

4

6

6

The

Belle

vue

Colle

ctio

n (e

ncom

pass

ing

linc

oln

Squa

re, B

elle

vue

Squa

re,

and

Belle

vue

plac

e) fe

a-tu

res

250-

plus

sho

ppin

g an

d en

tert

ainm

ent

dest

inat

ions

.

The

Shop

s at

The

Bra

vern

is

hom

e to

hig

h-en

d an

d lu

xury

sho

ppin

g.

old

Bel

levu

e, o

n M

ain

Stre

et, f

eatu

res

inde

-pe

nden

t bou

tique

s,

galle

ries,

and

loca

lly

owne

d re

stau

rant

s.

The

20-a

cre

Dow

ntow

n pa

rk h

as a

hal

f-mile

wal

k-in

g lo

op a

nd a

cas

cadi

ng

wat

er fe

atur

e th

at e

nds

in

a re

flect

ing

pool

.

Mey

denb

auer

Bea

ch

park

, on

lake

Was

hing

-to

n, h

as a

fish

ing

dock

, pi

cnic

are

a, a

nd a

san

dy

swim

min

g be

ach.

The

perf

orm

ing

and

visu

al a

rts

are

on

disp

lay

year

-roun

d at

M

eyde

nbau

er C

ente

r an

d Be

llevu

e Ar

ts

Mus

eum

.

5

3

2

n S

We

eas

tgat

e/Fa

ctor

iaH

otel

are

a, 1

0 m

infr

om d

ownt

own

(see

p. 7

1)

Day

s in

nem

bass

y Su

ites

exte

nded

Sta

y Am

eric

aH

yatt

Hou

sela

rksp

ur l

andi

ngSi

lver

Clo

ud H

otel

ove

rlak

e H

otel

are

a,

10 m

in fr

om d

ownt

own

(see

p. 7

1)

Cour

tyar

d by

Mar

riott

exte

nded

Sta

y Am

eric

aFa

irfiel

d In

n an

d Su

ites-

Mar

riott

Mar

riott

res

iden

ce in

n

COMFORT meets WELLNESS

WELCOME

thehotelbellevue.com

Ask us where to go for a

uniquely local experience in Bellevue.

Your friends at Red Lion are here to make sure you have a local experience to take home with you. We don’t just hand you a map of the city and wish you good luck – our team is excited to tell you all about the favorite local restaurants, family fun, outdoor adventures and local landmarks. Just ask us!

redlion.com • 800-Red Lion

Bellevue Botanical Garden Bellevue Downtown Park

@redlionhotels/redlionhotels