Happy Tuesday, Eastside. In today’s edition: Good Housekeeping travel award for Bellevue, Snowflake Lane parade viewing experience, Santa brunch fundraiser, and more.

Let’s get to it — Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Citywide transportation and housing updates: Bellevue City Council approved seven speed safety camera locations for 2026. It advanced curb pricing, adopted co-living housing changes to meet state law, and reappointed two convention center board members — read the full story.

Open kitchen dining concept: Well-established Japanese chain Sushi Tei will open its first U.S. location at The Bellevue Collection in September 2026, taking the former P.F. Chang’s space, with 50-plus locations across Asia — get all the opening details.

What wowed travel testers: Bellevue has been named Best Sustainable and Scenic City in the 2026 Good Housekeeping Travel Awards, highlighted for more than 100 parks, downtown accessibility, and the Bellhop all-electric shuttle service — see what testers found.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.

Highlights this week

• Experience Bellevue’s dazzling Garden d’Lights
• Celebrate Snowflake Lane’s nightly holiday parade
• Celebrate 25 years of IBT’s Nutcracker
• Join the Crossroads litter cleanup
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%
• A tiny hearing aid is taking the US by storm

🫶 We got your back

Long-term closure impacts drivers: Renton has extended the closure of Houser Way N. between Lake Washington Boulevard N. and the Lowe’s access road through May 15, 2026, for the I-405 widening. Crews finished phase one of a new water main and began storm-drain structures, and the remaining work runs into mid-April. Detours go via Garden Ave N. and N. 8th St. See the detours and schedule.

Art Deco-inspired workspace: The Agency Seattle has opened an Old Bellevue office on Main Street, with a Madison Park location slated for January 2026. The boutique brokerage blends real estate with art and community programming via The Agency Art House and starts with 35 brokers, aiming to grow. Get all the details.

Cold-night pint plans: At Black Raven Brewing Co., wintery goodness arrives with Festivus, a spice-kissed pale ale brewed with cranberries and orange peel, plus a berry-forward collab with Kulshan. Perfect for post-commute thawing, low-stakes board games, and quietly pretending those holiday lights are intentional mood lighting.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy for regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify who you are and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.

📆 Around town this week

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

This week

🎻 Geoffrey Castle’s Celtic Christmas @ Meydenbauer Center Theatre | Tuesday (12/9) at 7:00pm – Holiday season calls for a little Celtic sparkle to brighten things up. Geoffrey Castle’s Celtic Christmas returns for its 19th year, with the Seattle Irish Dance Company, Dan Connolly, Emily McIntosh, and an all-star band, delighting even teenagers, touring seven Washington cities.

🌿 Winter Wreath Making Class @ Big Block Brewery Redmond | Wednesday (12/10) at 5:30pm – Big Block Brewing is trading pints for pine this week with a winter wreath workshop. All the fresh greens, textures, and a sustainable vine base are provided, you bring your creativity and a steady hand — everything else is provided. No experience, just good company.

🕯 Candle Pouring Workshop at Lady Yum @ The Village at Totem Lake | Wednesday (12/10) at 6:30pm – Trade your grocery-store candles for the real thing at Lady Yum in The Village at Totem Lake, where Noir Lux leads a festive pour-your-own session, champagne and a macaron included. Your candle needs an hour to cure, which pairs with sipping, chatting, and holiday gossip.

🍷 Old Vine Release Holiday Party @ Airfield Estates Winery | Friday (12/12) at 6:00pm – If your idea of holiday spirit comes in Old Vine form, join the winemakers in Woodinville for a guided sip-through of Chardonnay, Cabernet, and Sauvignon Blanc from the estate’s elder vines. Expect polished small plates, good stories, exclusive bottles, event-only savings, and pleasantly grown-up cheer.

❄️ Snowflake Lane Parade Viewing Experience @ Bellevue Arts Museum | Friday (12/12) at 6:30pm – This is your last shot to snag a holiday party at BAM, with a third-floor perch over Snowflake Lane. Skip the sidewalk stampede and watch the magic with real views, actual warmth, and none of the rogue antlers in your face.

This weekend

🥕 Holiday Farmers Market @ The Pickering Barn | Saturday (12/13) at 9:00am – Take a break from mall madness and wander the farmers market. Stock up on produce, mushrooms, meat, and dairy, then snag jams, hot sauces, candies, drink mixes, dried bouquets, and a wreath for good measure. Food trucks, friendly faces, no fake snow.

🧹 Keep Bellevue Beautiful – Crossroads Area Cleanup @ Stevenson Elementary School | Saturday (12/13) at 9:00am – Grab your gloves and your most stylish “I swear I’m a morning person” face, because this quick one-hour cleanup is all about making the Crossroads Area shine. It’s low commitment, high impact, and a solid excuse to feel virtuous before 10 am. Show up, spruce up, and walk away feeling good about giving back.

🎅 Santa Brunch – 2nd Annual Kirkland Mainstreet Fundraiser @ Moss Bay Hall | Saturday (12/13) at 10:00am – Santa is making a pit stop at Moss Bay Hall for brunch benefiting Kirkland Mainstreet. Expect buffet favorites, Santa photos, kids crafts, cookie decorating, coffee, cocoa, and brunch cocktails, because Santa knows parents need backup. Tickets online or at the door, $35, under 3 free.

🍪 Christmas Basics Flow Cookie Class @ JJ Mahoney’s Irish Pub | Saturday (12/13) at 12:30pm – Trade holiday chaos for a cookie class where you learn how to flood icing, outline cleanly, and make festive cookies that look intentional. Low stress, high sugar, and you take home the good stuff, not just sticky fingers. Perfect for quality time, judgment-free.

💎 Sip & Create: Pendant-Making Workshop @ Picket Fence Art Studio | Sunday (12/14) at 5:00pm – If your jewelry box needs an upgrade, sip wine, snack, and let Yana of YanaYa show you how to wire-wrap a gemstone like you meant to do it all along. No experience, all tools, and a take-home pendant, ages 15+, zero pressure, maximum bragging rights.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/9 Garden d’Lights Senior Social @ Bellevue Botanical Garden – 9:30 am
• 12/10 Wu Fei @ Carlson Theater – 7:30 pm
• 12/11 Brian James @ Village Wines – 7 pm
• 12/13 The Brewery Comedy Tour @ Postdoc Brewing – 8 pm
• 12/13 Kenya & Tanzania @ Mirra – 10 pm
• 12/14 Sing Along Messiah @ Saint Michael and All Angels – 2:30 pm
• 12/14 Latin Sunset Social w/ DJ Estrella @ Salsaymotion Dance Academy – 6 pm

🏠️ This house is wild

Listed by: Kathleen E. Pennington (John L. Scott HWP)

Lot 9 at TROVE, Warner’s Corner, is a sun-soaked custom by Rick Burnstead Homes, all about light and height with 10-foot ceilings and walls of windows. Five bedrooms including a main-level bedroom and an office, a generous great room, and a chef’s kitchen with custom cabinetry and Wolf/Sub-Zero. Designer fixtures throughout, plus a primary suite with a spa-caliber bath.

Bonus living space above the detached 2-car garage adds a wet bar, under-cab fridge, shelving, a 3/4 bath, and a walk-in closet with washer/dryer hookup. Set on a bright, sunny lot in a boutique 10-home enclave, all play, no pretense.

Take a peek inside →