Happy Friday, Eastside. Hope you get a chance to relax this weekend. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Eastside Buzz serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.

📰 In the news

Local happenings: Issaquah’s stalled 700-student high school will start construction next spring, regional cities scramble to meet new housing mandates, and Bellevue’s swim club stays open — catch up here.

State-level stories: Washington anglers and hunters poured billions into trips, officials safeguarded 77,000 acres of old-growth forest, and the State Fair rolls out drones and discounts — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: Homeowners are delisting homes rather than cutting prices, the S&P 500 hit record on AI gains, and Ford recalled 500,000 SUVs for brake hose flaws — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Join Saturday’s free youth accounting program
• Help remove invasive plants at Park Pointe
• Get expert gardening advice from Master Gardeners
• Join HHRD Washington fundraiser for meaningful impact
• Help beautify Heritage Park this Tuesday
• Shark robot vacuums are 51% off on Amazon ’til 9/2

Keeping appliances out of landfills since 2015

Before you haul that broken thing to the curb, call Expert Appliance Repair. For ten years, they’ve been proving that most “dead” appliances just need the right fix. It’s cheaper than buying new and better for the planet.

They service all common kitchen appliances as well as washers and dryers. Their certified technicians handle everything from older models to smart appliances, often completing repairs in one visit.

Quality parts, fair pricing, and timely service – that’s what you get with Expert Appliance Repair.

Schedule your repair online or call 206-466-3323 today.

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🫶 We got your back

Sandwiches: Tired of turkey on wheat? Try these epic sandwich spots on the Eastside for over-the-top fillings that turn every lunch into a party.

Brews: Washington boasts 500+ breweries and 100+ distilleries so you can sip hop-fresh beer on a farm one minute and sample barrel-aged spirits in an old warehouse the next. Our favorite craft hot spots make any road trip taste like an adventure.

Books: Ready to kick off a local book club? These simple steps will have you swapping stories and making friends in no time.

Wine: Whether you’re a casual sipper who still calls everything “red or white” or the friend who won’t shut up about tannins and terroir, Valentinas Wine Bar pours the good stuff. Come for the glass (or bottle), stay for the vibe that makes weeknights feel like weekends.

Home: Labor Day means special deals on all sorts of things, and American Home Shield’s warranty coverage is no exception. For a limited time, they’re offering 50% off select plans than cover your big ticket appliances (yup, even the ones older than dirt).

📆 Around town this weekend

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.

Have an event to share? Submit it here for free →

Today

🪔 Mosaic Lamp Workshop | Friday (8/29) at 5:00pm – Light up your life (literally) by crafting your own Turkish mosaic lamp. No experience? No problem—this workshop is beginner-friendly and comes with all the materials you’ll need. Plus, Turkish tea and sweets are included to keep the vibes cozy while you create.

🎸 Nick Mardon Trio Live @ Bake’s Place | Friday (8/29) at 8:00pm – Nothing says summer’s last hoorah like a blues-rock blowout at cozy Bake’s Place. Seattle shredder Nick Mardon and his crew return to torch the joint. Expect jaw-dropping riffs, a bass-and-drums groove that refuses to quit, and enough Hendrix-Vaughan nostalgia to make you feel delightfully ancient.

This weekend

🎒 Back To School Shopping @ Redmond Town Center | Saturday (8/30) at 8:00am – New notebooks, fresh kicks, and maybe a latte to survive it all—RTC’s got you covered. Spend $100 and score a free $20 gift card to sweeten the deal. Pro tip: the offer runs all weekend, but supplies won’t last, so don’t sleep in.

📱 Creative Phone Photography @ Redmond Library | Saturday (8/30) at 11:30am – Grab your phone, ditch cookie-cutter filters, and join John and Lisa Merrill for a masterclass in phone photography that goes beyond “I forgot to hit portrait mode.” You’ll learn to harness light, design, and those camera tricks, then organize your masterpieces into stories worth sharing.

🌍 Ubuntu Sankofa Festival @ Lake Sammamish State Park | Saturday (8/30) at 12:00pm – Ready to swap your usual burger-and-fries routine for a taste of bobotie and peri-peri chicken by the lake? Head to Lake Sammamish’s Meadow Shelter for free Southern African eats, live music, impromptu dance-offs, and board games, just don’t forget your Discover Pass.

🥂 Labor Day Weekend Sunday Brunch @ J. Bookwalter Tasting Studio Woodinville | Sunday (8/31) at 11:30am – This Labor Day Weekend, swap your usual burnt toast for a fancy brunch at J.Bookwalter Tasting Studio. Treat Mom to bottomless mimosas, artisan quiches, and just enough decadence to make her forget your cooking fails. Quality time approved, bragging rights obligatory.

🎷 Happy Hour: Tenderpile’s Smile Aisle Yacht Jazz @ 425Cellars | Sunday (8/31) at 3:30pm – Skip Napa, and perfect your patio posture at 425 Cellars this Sunday. Smile Aisle’s yacht jazz, with a dash of Pat Metheny inspired nuance, pairs beautifully with your PNW pours. Sip slowly, nod along, and pretend you’re on a sunlit deck.

🎤 Cypress Hill & Suicidal Tendencies @ Marymoor Park | Sunday (8/31) at 6:00pm – Think you’ve mellowed out too much? Cypress Hill and Suicidal Tendencies are back, ready to make your head nod and your knees ache. Perfect reason to skip yoga, break out that vintage tee, and pretend you still know every lyric.

Next week

🏃 2025 Harvest Half Marathon @ Marymoor Park | Monday (9/1) at 8:30am – Head to Redmond for the Harvest Half Marathon’s relentlessly flat, certified course, aid stations stocked like your favorite deli, and a post-race party loaded with swag, snacks, and more prizes than you can shake a gel packet at. Ask your club about a discount code.

🌳 Heritage Park Beautification | Tuesday (9/2) at 12:00pm – Nothing says summer like getting your hands dirty to keep our favorite green spot looking sharp. Swing by Heritage Park for a casual beautification session, complete with hedge trimming, native blooms, and enough coffee to justify skipping your desk for a couple hours.

🎱 Bingo @ The Lime | Tuesday (9/2) at 7:00pm – Nothing spotlights your competitive side like a dabber in one hand, a drink in the other, and yelling “Bingo” with your fellow locals at The Lime, hosted by Chris Boland. Prizes, hearty laughs, and friendly banter await, just don’t blame us when you’re hooked.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 8/29 Josiah Bogle @ Milbrandt Vineyards – 5 pm
• 8/29 Ali Diane @ Alexandria Nicole Cellars – 5 pm
• 8/30 Ubuntu Sankofa Festival @ Lake Sammamish – 12 pm
• 8/30 Chicago @ Chateau Ste. Michelle – 7 pm
• 8/30 DJ Prashant @ Mirra – 10 pm
• 8/31 Music Festival @ Confluence Park – 2 pm
• 8/31 Chris Stanley @ Alexandria Nicole Cellars – 4 pm
• 8/31 Cypress Hill and more @ Marymoor Park – 6 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Eastside edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Muusa Liinpaa (COMPASS)

Belvedere keeps things interesting with two main suites, a chef’s kitchen loaded with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, and a bonus room ready for movie marathons or impromptu dance parties. Five bedrooms and 4.25 bathrooms mean everyone gets their own space, while the open-concept layout lets the mountain and city views steal the show from nearly every angle.

A generous deck off the dining area and a private patio set the scene for sunset cocktails or lazy weekend brunches. Tucked beside Cougar Mountain, this spot blends peaceful vibes with easy access to trails, top schools, and city perks.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →