Could a Maker's Kitchen Be Coming to Redmond?

Welcome to Best of Redmond! Redmond's twice-weekly newsletter and podcast about all the amazing things happening in Redmond for the next seven days!📰 Cougar Spotted Near Westside ParkOkay, so this definitely got people's attention over the weekend. A cougar was spotted near the pickleball and basketball courts at Westside Park in Redmond, and wildlife officers ended up tracking it through the Bridle Crest Trail area before hazing it away from the neighborhood. Officials said there were no attacks or injuries, but they did temporarily close parts of the trail system while checking the area. If you walk those trails early in the morning or around dusk, probably keep your head up for a bit. Especially if you've got kids or dogs with you.🎭 Open Poetry Night at SoulFoodSoulFood CoffeeHouse is doing another one of its long-running poetry nights on Thursday, May 21 from 6 to 8 p.m., and honestly, these things have become a real Redmond institution at this point. Featured readers go first from 6 to 7, then they open it up for anyone who wants to jump in during the second half. Michael Dylan Welch curates the whole thing, and the crowd usually ranges from serious local poets to people reading in public for the first time. Good excuse to hang out in the bookstore café for a couple hours and hear something different.🎵 Bach 2 Rock Live at NW BrewingNW Brewing is hosting live music from Bach to Rock student bands on Thursday, May 21, and this feels like one of those easy local nights where you just show up, grab food, and hang out for a while. The younger musicians get a real stage setup, the crowd's usually super supportive, and the whole thing leans more community hangout than formal concert. Expect rock covers, nervous first songs, proud parents filming everything, and probably at least one kid who's weirdly good at guitar already. Good excuse to get out on a Thursday night without spending much money.👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Sing-a-long Family Movie NightThe Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village is doing a free family movie night on Thursday, May 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and yes, they're encouraging people to actually sing along. The movie's rated G or PG, popcorn's included, and the whole thing is built for families with younger kids who just want an easy evening out without spending a fortune. Registration only requires one person per family, and groups are capped at six people. Honestly feels like one of those old-school community center events people forget still exist until somebody tells them about it.⚽ Reign FC Legend Lauren Barnes at Brick & Mortar BooksThis one's probably gonna pull a pretty solid crowd. Reign FC legend Lauren "Lu" Barnes is joining author Clelia Castro-Malaspina at Brick & Mortar Books on Thursday, May 21 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. for a conversation about women's soccer, sports history, and Castro-Malaspina's new book Girls with Goals. The event is tied into the city's Fútbol for All series leading into World Cup 2026, and former pro player Justi Baumgardt is moderating the discussion. They're also doing prize drawings and a meet-and-greet afterward if you've got younger soccer players in the family.🕰️ Redmond History MinuteOkay, it's time for the Redmond History Minute, where we share an interesting piece of history, trivia, or tidbit about life in and around Redmond.Before Microsoft moved to Redmond in the 1980s, what was the land around the future campus mostly used for?A) A private airfield B) Dairy farms and farmland C) A horse racing track D) Chicken FarmAnswer revealed at the bottom of this newsletter.🔮 Redmond Rumor MillOkay, this one feels extremely believable for Old Redmond. We've heard a "maker's kitchen" concept could be in early talks for a spot downtown. Supposedly the idea mixes cooking classes, private events, and ticketed supper-club-style dinners all in one space. Kind of that Portland-style food community vibe where half the fun is just hanging out with strangers eating something fancy at a long table. We don't know where it would go, who's behind it, or whether the deal is even real yet. But honestly... could Redmond support something like that?If you've got a guess or have heard something, head to our Facebook page at facebook.com/BestOfRedmond and drop it in the "Redmond Rumor Mill Guesses" post.🗳️ Your Picks: Best Hidden Spot in RedmondAlright, that's it for this week.Head on over to facebook.com/BestOfRedmond, find the post called "Your Picks," and drop your vote in the comments. We want to know who you think is the best hidden spot in Redmond.📻 Don't Miss the PodcastIf you enjoyed this newsletter, you're gonna love the companion podcast. Find it at bestofredmond.com.We'll see you in the next one... or maybe before then, walking around Redmond.🎯 History Minute AnswerThe answer is B – Dairy farms and farmlandBefore Microsoft built its campus in Redmond, huge parts of the area were still rural farmland. Dairy farms, berry fields, and open agricultural land covered a lot of what eventually became the tech corridor. In fact, longtime locals still talk about how quickly Redmond changed once Microsoft arrived in the mid-1980s and turned the city into one of the biggest tech hubs in the country.The original Microsoft Redmond campus, which opened in 1986, was built on land previously used for chicken farms in the 1920s. The real story is that brothers Tito, Martino, Silvio, and Alfonso Morelli operated a massive 45-acre chicken ranch on the property starting in 1918.