Nashville Hot Chicken in Redmond? Blazing Bagels Closes & Best Oil Change

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!📰 Blazing Bagels Shuts Down All Locations Blazing Bagels closed all its locations this week after filing for bankruptcy, and yeah, this one caught a lot of people off guard. They had spots across the Eastside including Redmond, and were a pretty reliable go-to for a quick breakfast sandwich or a dozen bagels for the office. The company hasn't said much publicly yet beyond the filing, so details are still thin. If you haven't already figured out your backup bagel spot, now's a good time to start thinking about it.🎵 Bach to Rock Live at NW Brewing Bach to Rock bands are playing live at NW Brewing this Thursday, March 19 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. These are student musicians doing everything from rock covers to newer stuff, and the vibe is pretty casual... a little loud, usually packed with proud parents and curious regulars. NW Brewing's got food and beer handled, so you're set once you walk in. Show up a little early if you want a decent table.🧠 Music, Memory & Meaning Workshop There's a music-based storytelling workshop at the Redmond Library this Friday, March 20 from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. A board-certified music therapist is running it... you listen to music, see what memories come up, and turn that into short writing prompts and group conversation. It's designed for adults 55 and older and you don't need any music background at all. Get there a little early since library programs tend to fill up fast.🚲 Bicycle Bling We got a message from a listener this week that said: "Hey guys, love the pod. I'm actually just recovering from a bit of a health scare and my doctor gave me the green light to start some light cardio. I'm a bit wobbly and looking for the absolute flattest, widest, and least intense spot to ride in Redmond. I'm not ready for the Lycra-clad speedsters on the main trails yet... where should I go?"First off, glad you're back on the saddle. If you want to avoid the Tour de France energy on the main Sammamish River Trail during peak hours, head over to Farrel-McWhirter Park. There's a connector trail that runs between Farrel-McWhirter and the Puget Power Trail, and it's remarkably flat... none of that hilly Redmond Ridge stuff where your heart rate spikes just looking at it. The vibe out there is more "people strolling around looking at farm animals" than serious cycling, so you won't feel any pressure to keep up with anyone. Park at the main Farrel-McWhirter lot, say hi to the goats for a little therapy, and then do an out-and-back toward Avondale. It's paved, it's wide, and it's usually way quieter than the Marymoor stretch.🎤 Cards & Karaoke at Marymoor Village Cards & Karaoke is this Saturday, March 21 from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at the Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village. It's part card games, part sing-along, and it's set up as a casual hang... no pressure to grab the mic if you don't want to. This one's 14 and up, spots are limited, and it'll run you $16 to $20 depending on when you register. Sign up ahead of time so you don't get shut out.🕰 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.Video game company Valve, creator of Steam and Half-Life, was founded in which Eastside city?A) Redmond B) Bellevue C) Kirkland D) WoodinvilleAnswer revealed at the bottom of this newsletter.🔮 Redmond Rumor Mill So here's one we're hearing right now... there might be a Nashville hot chicken spot getting shopped around in downtown Redmond. The standalone hot chicken thing has been blowing up in suburban areas, and apparently the numbers are working well enough that someone local is seriously looking at it. What we don't know is who's behind it, where exactly it would go, or how far along the deal actually is. Do we finally get a legit hot chicken place here?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 Oil Change in Redmond Alright, 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 oil change 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 C – KirklandValve Corporation was founded in Kirkland in 1996 by former Microsoft employees. They created Half-Life, Portal, and Steam, which now basically dominates PC gaming. So between Nintendo, Microsoft, and Valve, the Eastside quietly built a huge chunk of the modern gaming industry.