Rise and shine, Eastside! In today’s planning-your-week edition: Paws & Pride Dog Walk, Sip & Succulent workshop, and a Jane Goodall musical + all our favorite events happening over the next seven days.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Roadwork could affect commutes: Weekday single-lane closures on Issaquah-Hobart Road start today through June 1 between SR 18 and Southeast 104th Street for shoulder mowing. Expect alternating traffic through a six mile work zone -- see dates and access info.
Celebrating community and self-expression: Registration is open for Bellevue’s Paws & Pride Dog Walk at Downtown Park on June 6, with free registration, live performances, and donations benefiting Youth Eastside Services and Seattle Humane -- get all the event details.
A fresh urban respite: Amazon has opened The Meadow, a 1.75-acre public space at the Bellevue 600 office development, offering neighbors a place to gather during construction and a pedestrian path that will remain -- get all the details.
New picks for STEAM kids: Bellevue's Wise Camps has added optional specialty add-ons to its 2026 S.T.E.A.M. Academy, with Dance and Music for the first and third weeks and Typing and Drama in the middle session. The nonprofit's three July dates (13-17, 20-24, and 27-31) run 9 AM to 3:30 PM at Tyee Middle School and Chinook Middle School for ages 4-15, with lunch included and core stations like Rocket Scientists, Biotech, and Medical Marvels filling out the day -- see the full schedule.*
The bill everyone over 50 should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
Retirees are making moves: After gold's best year in nearly five decades, more folks than ever are moving part of their savings into precious metals. Not all of it... just enough to hedge against inflation. AHG put together a free guide that explains how it works -- grab your copy here.* Highlights this week: |
02 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Eastern flavors, local vibes: Give Hye Life Cafe & Bar a whirl this week for khachapuri straight from the oven, dolma and borsch that hit cozy mode, and a bar pouring Armenian wines and classic cocktails. Easy spot to gather with friends, sip something interesting, then debate dessert.
Sweat smarter this week: Shred415 Bellevue splits class time into four 15-minute intervals that alternate treadmill bursts and strength work, so you get equal parts cardio and muscle without thinking too hard. Friendly coaches, high-energy playlists, solid amenities, and a Kids Lounge mean you can squeeze real sweat into your Eastside routine without overhauling your life.
Fresh spins, zero skips: Silver Platters is the Eastside standby when your playlist feels stale, with walls of new and used vinyl, CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays plus staff who know their deep cuts. Drop in this week, talk shop, and leave with something you didn’t know you needed.
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03 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
The slower you walk, the more it works: Tai Chi walking is trending online. Turns out it's centuries old — slow deliberate steps, paced breath, attention on the body. Thirty minutes a day burns fat, lifts your mood, and builds balance. No gym, no treadmill, no pounding on the joints. Take the quick quiz to see if it fits, then use code BASELOCAL for a discount on the coaching plan. *See how it works →
Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old).*See what it covers →
Two sprays before bed, no more snoring? It really is that simple. No mouthpiece to wrestle with, no CPAP mask, no nose strips that peel off at 2am. This doctor-developed throat spray has been keeping sleepers quiet for 30 years, and first-time orders are 40% off right now. *See the results →
Senior discounts shouldn't be a scavenger hunt: Every restaurant has its own rule, every hotel its own threshold, and you're supposed to remember to ask each time. AARP just bundles them — 15% off at Denny's, up to 35% off Avis, up to 15% off Wyndham and Best Western, $577 average savings on auto insurance through The Hartford, and dozens more — for $15 your first year. Cancel anytime. *See what's included →
Pain relief without the side effects: Your medicine cabinet probably has three or four things in it just for pain, and every single one of them comes with side effects that can make daily life... not so fun. Thankfully there’s a new drug-free alternative that lasts for years, requires no refills, and costs a heck of a lot less. *See how it works → |
04 — The event calendar Our favorite events this weekAll the best things to do this week. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🌵 Sip & Succulent @ Suite Restaurant & Lounge (Bellevue) | Tuesday (5/12) at 6:00 PM – Trade spreadsheets for soil at Suite in Bellevue, where you’ll sip, pot succulents, and build a wood shadow box even a notorious plant killer can keep cute. Step-by-step help, all supplies and aprons included, with bites and drinks for purchase, relaxed, hands-on therapy.
🌸 Flower Hour @ The Aaron Education Center at the Bellevue Botanical Garden | Thursday (5/14) at 5:00 PM – If your idea of happy hour involves moss and granite, join a post-work stroll through Bellevue Botanical Garden’s Rock Garden with plant whisperer Nicole Price. Expect history, quirky landforms, and tough little beauties thriving in stone. Wear real shoes, then register under Learn at bellevuebotanical.org.
🥕 Issaquah Farmers Market @ Pickering Barn | Saturday (5/16) at 9:00 AM – Head to the Issaquah Farmers Market, the Saturday ritual that happens rain or shine. Load up on just-picked produce, flowers, and dangerously good pastries, then linger to trade gossip with neighbors you actually like. Errand, outing, and breakfast, all in one smugly wholesome loop.
⛰ Geology of the Alps @ Red Town Trailhead - Cougar Mountain (Bellevue) | Saturday (5/16) at 9:00 AM – Trade brunch for bedrock and join geologist Tom Doe at Cougar Mountain’s Red Town Trailhead for a 3-mile, 500-foot meander through rocks, glaciers, and coal history. Expect interactive stops, a little creek walking, and zero actual digging. Registration required, no pets, two per party.
🐑 Spring Farm Fair & Preschool Open House @ Bear Creek United Methodist Church (Woodinville) | Saturday (5/16) at 10:00 AM – Bring the kiddos to meet baby animals, do spring crafts and sensory play, and roam a calm, nature-connected preschool that lets kids lead. It is a free open house, perfect if you are preschool-curious, or just want a sweet morning with zero bouncy castles.
🚶 Take Steps @ Marymoor Park (Redmond) | Saturday (5/16) at 10:00 AM – Lace up for Western Washington Take Steps, a feel-good morning walk where we get our steps in, catch up with neighbors, and back IBD research, care, and support. It’s community, fresh air, and a cause with guts, literally. Build a team, show up.
🐒 Me…Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of Young Jane Goodall @ Kirkland Performance Center | Saturday (5/16) at 1:30 PM – A new, family-friendly musical about young Jane Goodall, her stuffed pal Jubilee, and a backyard of worried chickens, hungry squirrels, and very good puppies. Based on Me…Jane, it celebrates observation and curiosity, so you get actual quality time, not screen time. Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar → |
05 — The Eastside report Weather forecastToday — High: 72°F — Low: 51°F — Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. North wind 2 to 9 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. North wind 2 to 8 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 82°F — Low: 56°F — Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. North wind 2 to 8 mph. Later: A chance of rain after 5am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. This house is wildOrchard Hill Estates is a 6.72-acre build-ready site in Education Hill, offering views of mountains, Sammamish River, and downtown Redmond. Approved for 17 detached homes plus up to 2 affordable units, or 26 townhomes plus up to 3 affordable units. It sits steps from Sammamish River Trail and light rail, five minutes to Microsoft, with studies and engineering in place.
Take a peek inside → |
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