Forest Bathing in Redmond? + Bike Trail Closures & Best Happy Hour

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!📰 ‘Quack-tical Rescue’ in Redmond Storm Drain So this happened on Sunday, April 12… Redmond police pulled off a full-on duckling rescue after five little guys fell into a storm drain. Officers carefully lifted each duckling out while mom waited nearby, and yeah, they actually got all five back to her safely. No injuries, no drama, no tickets issued… just a very patient duck watching the whole thing go down. Honestly feels like something you’d see at the end of a news broadcast. If you need a quick win for humanity this week, this is it.☕ Walk & Talk Litter Pickup Party This is happening Sunday, April 19 at 11:00 AM at SoulFood Coffee House, and it’s exactly what it sounds like… coffee plus cleaning up the city. You show up, grab a free 16oz drip coffee or tea, then head out with a group to walk around Redmond picking up litter. They provide trash bags, you bring gloves if you’ve got them. It runs until about 3:00 PM, but you don’t have to stay the whole time. Easy way to meet people and do something useful without it feeling like a chore.👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Sunday Crafternoon at the Library Sunday, April 19 from 12:00 to 1:30 PM, the Redmond Library is doing one of those low-key, just-show-up-and-make-something afternoons. It’s called Sunday Crafternoon, and they’ve got all the supplies ready for a seasonal craft project. Kids, teens, adults… basically anyone can jump in, no registration needed. It’s inside the library on NE 85th Street, so easy parking and no weather issues. If you need something simple to do with the kids that doesn’t involve screens, this is a solid move.☕ Aussies & Kiwis Cuppa & Chat Friday, April 17 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, there’s a casual meetup at Victor’s Celtic Coffee for Aussie and Kiwi women living in the area. It’s basically a “just show up and hang out” kind of thing… coffee, conversation, no pressure. They describe it as the old-school drop-in style where you don’t need a plan, which honestly sounds kind of refreshing. It’s free, but you should register ahead so they know you’re coming. If you’re new to the area or just want a smaller, more relaxed group, this could be your people.🐾 Singles Event with Dogs… But in Kirkland Okay, we try to keep this Redmond-only… but this one’s worth the exception. On Saturday, April 18 from 12:00 to 3:00 PM, Pickles Playland in Kirkland is doing a “Barks & Sparks” singles event, and yeah, it’s exactly what you think. You hang out, meet people, and there are things like puppy cuddling, dog lick art, and awkward photo stations. Entry is free, then you pay for individual experiences if you want in. You don’t even have to be dating… just show up and meet people who like dogs. Honestly, kind of genius.📚 Project Hail Mary Book Club Night Monday, April 20 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, Brick & Mortar Books is doing their general book club, and this month it’s Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. With the movie buzz right now, this is actually great timing if you’ve been meaning to read it… or at least pretend you did. It’s open to anyone, no long-term commitment, just show up and join the conversation. The shop’s right at Redmond Town Center, so you can grab food before or after. Easy weeknight plan that doesn’t feel like work.🚴 Bike Bling: Rides, Closures, and a Big Trail Win If you ride in Redmond, this week’s got a lot going on starting Thursday, April 16 at 6:20 PM with the Eastside Tours Evening Ride, plus the LUMPS Redmond Eastside Pie Ride happening Friday. These are part of the Cascade Training Series, so expect groups, pace options, and people who actually know what they’re doing. Heads up though… the SR 520 Trail is closed daily from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on April 16–18 and again April 22–24 between West Lake Sammamish and 148th Ave NE. The upside? The Redmond Central Connector is fully open and now connects cleanly into Eastrail, which is actually pretty awesome.🕰️ Redmond History Minute Okay, 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 Redmond Town Center was a shopping mall, what was on that land?A) A dairy farm B) An 18-hole golf course C) A lumber mill D) A drive-in movie theaterAnswer revealed at the bottom of this newsletter.🔮 Redmond Rumor Mill So here’s something we’re hearing… there might be a “forest bathing” wellness studio opening somewhere near Marymoor later this fall.The idea is guided sensory experiences, tea ceremonies, that whole slow-down-and-unplug thing… and apparently this concept has been doing really well down in Portland.What we don’t know yet is the exact location, who’s behind it, or when it’s actually opening.But the big question is… would people here actually go for something like this?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 Happy Hour in Redmond Alright, that's it for this week.We're looking for your pick, Redmond. We want to know what you think is the best Happy Hour in Redmond. 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 happy hour in Redmond.📻 Don't Miss the Podcast If 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 Answer The answer is B – An 18-hole golf courseRedmond Golf Links opened in 1932 during the Depression and ran all the way until 1981. The clubhouse was actually a former home of a Washington Supreme Court justice. So yeah… if you're walking around Redmond Town Center, you're basically walking on what used to be fairways.