Cowpunk Cocktail Bar Rumor? + Old Fire House News & Best Autobody in 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!📰 The Old Fire House Teen Center Is Coming Down… But There’s a Next Chapter Redmond’s music history is hitting a turning point this week. The city has confirmed plans to demolish the longtime Old Fire House Teen Center building, which for decades quietly played a huge role in Pacific Northwest music culture. Bands practiced there, teens hung out there, and a lot of local musicians got their start inside those walls. The good news is the story doesn’t end here. The city is planning to rebuild a new Teen Center designed for the next generation of Redmond teens and musicians. The old building may go away, but the mission isn’t going anywhere.🍷 Trivia Night at Samā Cellars If your idea of a good Friday night involves wine and showing off random knowledge… Samā Cellars has you covered. They’re running Trivia Night on Friday, March 6 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at their Redmond tasting room. Grab a glass of wine, form a team with friends, and see how much useless information your brain has stored over the years. Questions usually bounce around between pop culture, history, music, and a few curveballs. Show up a little early if you want a good seat because these trivia nights tend to fill up fast.👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Teen Clothing Swap in Redmond Here’s a pretty smart community event happening Saturday morning. The Teen Clothing Swap runs Saturday, March 7 from 10:00 am to noon and gives teens a chance to trade clothes they no longer wear for something new to them. Bring clean items you’re ready to pass along and browse what other people brought. It’s a simple idea that saves money and keeps good clothes out of the landfill. If you’ve got a teenager whose style changes every five minutes, this is probably worth checking out.🎲 Turntabletop Supermix at Uncle’s Games Board game fans might want to stop by Uncle’s Games at Redmond Town Center on Saturday, March 7 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. It’s called Turntabletop Supermix and the “Game J,” MJ, runs the whole thing like a DJ set for board games. Instead of spinning records, he rotates through a mix of different tabletop games so people can learn something new without committing to a full three-hour rulebook session. It’s free, open to anyone, and you can bring your own favorite game if you want to share it.🐾 Write Letters to Congress… Dogs Welcome This one’s a little different. Pickles Playland on 164th Ave NE is hosting a “Letters to Congress” community night on Thursday, March 5 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. The idea is simple. Show up, write letters to your elected representatives about issues you care about, and talk with neighbors while you do it. Pickles will have snacks, $1 wine, and their usual crowd of friendly dogs hanging out. If you’ve been meaning to get more involved in civic stuff but didn’t know where to start, this might be a low-pressure way to do it.🕰️ 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.Question: In 1913, the Japanese government sent 40 businessmen to Redmond. What were they there to learn about?A) Logging techniques B) Dairy farming C) Railroad construction D) How to start tech companiesAnswer revealed at the bottom of this newsletter.🔮 Redmond Rumor MillAlright, here’s the latest thing floating around town.We’re hearing rumors about a possible cowpunk-themed cocktail lounge opening somewhere off 164th Ave NE. Think rhinestones, rockabilly vibes, and craft cocktails instead of the usual bar setup.Now to be clear… this is still firmly in rumor territory. We don’t know which exact space it might take over, who’s behind it, or whether permits have even been filed yet.But the idea of a rockabilly-style cocktail spot in Redmond definitely got our attention.So the question is…Which empty spot do you think they’re looking at?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 autobody 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 autobody in Redmond.🍕 Best Pizza in Redmond – Still Waiting on the WinnerQuick update from our Best Pizza in Redmond giveaway.We randomly picked a winner from everyone who voted, and the winning choice was Jet City Pizza. Specifically the old Redmond location… which actually closed back in 2021.Here’s the problem though. The winner hasn’t claimed the prize yet.So if your email starts with LONG, check your inbox. There’s a $50 gift card waiting for you. Just reply to the email to claim it.And if we don’t hear back soon… we might have to redraw.📻 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 farmingJames Clise's Willowmoor Farm was so advanced that the Japanese government sent a delegation of 40 businessmen, led by Baron Shibuwasa, to Redmond to study its dairy operation. They spent several days touring the farm and learning how it worked. At the time, Willowmoor was considered one of the most modern dairy operations anywhere. For a few days in 1913, a farm in Redmond was literally teaching the world how to produce milk.