Good morning, Eastside! In today’s edition: Sukoshi opening, crow roosting, a WhistlePig spirits dinner, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

Curated Asian beauty showcase: Asian beauty retailer SUKOSHI will open its first Washington store at Bellevue Square on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 10 a.m. Expect opening day giveaways for early shoppers — see giveaway and location details.

Freshen up your nest: Two floors of curated finds await at CLEMENTINE, from home decor and candles to kitchen tools, wall art, and accent furniture. Head upstairs for lamps and extras, and leave with fresh ideas and a great-smelling bag.

Franchise owners take helm: Tanaka Ramen Izakaya will open in Kirkland in late 2026 at the former Island Soul location, bringing ramen, rice bowls, and small plates as the brand expands on the Eastside — get all the details.

Pink-court pickle vibes: Ready for an indoor rally? Bellevue Pickleball Club serves up four signature pink courts, easy app booking, and open play, classes, and leagues. Perfect for squeezing in dinks with neighbors when the weather, inevitably, does its thing.

Rainy-day energy burner: Let littles climb, slide, and tunnel through a sprawling play structure at Funtastic Playtorium. Built for ages 1–10 with a separate toddler area, it buys you a coffee break and five minutes of peace… maybe ten. An easy win on gray afternoons.

Saucy burrito morale boost: Whether you like it smothered and fork required or grabbed to go between conference calls, El Burrito Mojado rolls tender fillings just right, with the saucy Burrito Mojado for extra oomph. Call it a midweek morale boost your group chat will actually thank you for.

Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.

Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had it’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.

A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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🎨 PNW Gnomes Paint Night @ The Lime | Monday (1/12) at 6:00 PM – Paint Night is taking over The LIME with PNW gnomes, pre-sketched 9×12 canvases, and just enough gold and silver to keep them classy. No experience needed, all materials included, $35, step-by-step guidance, raffle prizes, and you leave with art that actually finds a wall.

🐾 Pajama Pawty 2026 @ Pickles Playland | Tuesday (1/13) at 7:00 AM – Pull on your comfiest pajamas and head to Pickles Playland for a movie night with pillow forts, pups, and zero judgment. Think childhood sleepover, but with dog hair, better snacks, and the bedtime you actually keep. Bring the dog, leave the shoes.

🍷 Northern Italy @ Spirited Grape | Wednesday (1/14) at 6:00 PM – Whether you can pronounce Nebbiolo or just call it the good stuff, this guided tasting tours Northern Italy without leaving your barstool. Sip through Barolo, Valpolicella, and crisp Alpine whites, swap notes with fellow wine nerds, and leave smarter, happier, and well hydrated.

🎨 Alla Prima Oil Painting @ Picket Fence Art Studio | Thursday (1/15) at 9:30 AM – Ready to finally get along with oil paint? Brenno Kenji’s five-week alla prima class starts with still life, then moves into master studies and stronger compositions, welcoming all levels in a supportive studio, with an optional materials kit if your old brushes have retired.

📓 Nature Journaling for Relaxation @ Sammamish Library | Thursday (1/15) at 10:00 AM – Trade the to-do list for monthly nature journaling, where you slow down, notice details, and actually breathe. Whether you sketch like Audubon or draw like a potato, it is a calm reset, a curiosity boost, and a guilt-free reason to wander our own backyard.

🐦 Crow Roosting @ Together Center | Friday (1/16) at 4:30 AM – Bring layers and a flashlight, then watch crows make their dusk commute to a Redmond roost after leaving Bothell, followed by a talk with UW’s Dr. Doug Wacker. Free, with a suggested $10 to keep the crow science going, registration required, and spots are limited.

🥃 WhistlePig Spirits Dinner @ El Gaucho | Friday (1/16) at 6:00 PM – El Gaucho Bellevue is doing what Bellevue does best: dressing up and drinking well. Five courses paired with WhistlePig’s farm-to-bottle ryes, spanning octopus, Wellington, and chocolate, plus exclusive swag. Limited seats, so secure yours before the whiskey fans do.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

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📻 Eastside report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 51°F – Low: 44°F – Precip: 65%

Rain likely after 1pm. Mostly cloudy. High near 51, with temperatures falling to around 49 in the afternoon. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 44. South southeast wind 2 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 51°F – Low: 47°F – Precip: 83%

Rain. Cloudy, with a high near 51. South southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 47. South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Most popular house this week

Set on 1.3 acres at the end of a Woodinville cul de sac, this home enjoys a wooded backdrop. An open kitchen with soapstone counters and a custom live edge island opens to multi level decks. The living room features vaulted ceilings and a wood burning fireplace. Upstairs has three bedrooms and two remodeled baths.

Downstairs adds a private bedroom or office, a rec room with a fireplace, a full bath, and a laundry with built in cubbies. The fenced backyard layers decks and centers on a fire pit for s’mores. Includes A/C and a newer roof. Close to restaurants, wine country, and Northshore schools.

Take a peek inside →