New Coffee Roaster at Town Center? + Dogs at the Library & Best Veterinarian in Redmond

📰 Microsoft’s Return-to-Office Is Officially HereMicrosoft’s return-to-work mandate officially kicked in Monday, February 23, which means thousands of employees are now back on campus at least three days a week. Look, working from home was pretty great for a lot of people. No commute. Real lunches. Sweatpants. But here’s the upside for the rest of Redmond. Coffee shops, lunch spots, and Town Center businesses are about to feel that weekday energy again. More foot traffic. More packed patios. If you run a local business, this week might feel very different.🎭 The Drowsy Chaperone Jr. Hits the StageThe Drowsy Chaperone Jr. opens Friday, February 27 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Redmond Academy of Theatre Arts, 18001 NE 76th St, Suite 100. This is a Broadway Junior version of the Tony-winning comedy, and it’s full of over-the-top characters, old-school musical numbers, and ridiculous plot twists. It’s rated PG, so it works for families, especially if you’ve got kids into theater. Tickets are available now. If you want a local Friday night show that isn’t just dinner out, this is a good one.🎵 SoulFood Drag NightSoulFood Drag Night is happening Saturday, February 28 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at SoulFood CoffeeHouse, 15748 Redmond Way. Hosted by the Haus of Enby, this monthly show brings big personalities, sharp humor, and a room full of energy. Tickets are $10, and it’s one of those nights where you just settle in and let the performers run the room. If you’ve never been to a drag show at SoulFood, this is your excuse.🐾 Study With Dogs at the LibraryStudy with Dogs is Wednesday, February 25 from 5:00 to 6:00 pm at the Redmond Library. Therapy dogs from Reading with Rover will be there so middle and high school students can do homework in a way less stressful environment. No registration required, just show up. It’s simple but kind of genius. Homework is less terrible when there’s a dog next to you. If you’ve got a teen with midterms coming up, this is an easy win.🍺 Trivia Wednesday at Northwest Brewing Pint & PieTrivia Wednesday is February 25 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Northwest Brewing Pint & Pie, 17635 NE 67th Ct, Redmond. They run this every week, and it’s one of those low-pressure, show-up-with-friends kind of nights. Grab a pint, split a pie, and see if your random knowledge is actually useful. Teams usually fill up fast, so get there early if you want a table. Solid midweek excuse to get out of the house.🎲 Riftbound Nexus Nights at Uncle’s GamesRiftbound Nexus Nights runs Friday, February 27 from 6:30 to 9:00 pm at Uncle’s Games in Redmond Town Center. Entry is $10, and every player gets a Riftbound booster pack just for participating. It’s a best-of-one format unless turnout is smaller, then they may switch it up. If you’re into trading card games or you’ve got a teen who is, this is a built-in Friday night plan.🕰️ 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.What happened in 1963 that transformed Redmond from a farming village into a Seattle suburb?A) Microsoft was foundedB) The Evergreen Point Floating Bridge openedC) The railroad arrivedD) They discovered gold in MarymoorAnswer revealed at the bottom of this newsletter.🔮 Redmond Rumor MillWe’re hearing that a popular Seattle coffee roaster is scouting space in Redmond Town Center. This one’s known for their single-origin pour-overs and very serious coffee people vibes. Nothing confirmed yet, and no official announcement. Could be early talks. Could be nothing. But if it’s real, Town Center mornings might look very different. So… who do you think it is?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 Veterinarian 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 veterinarian 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 – The Evergreen Point Floating Bridge openedWhen the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge opened in 1963, it directly connected Redmond to Seattle across Lake Washington. That one piece of infrastructure changed everything. Commutes got easier. Development accelerated. Farms started turning into neighborhoods. And Redmond began its shift from small agricultural town to full-fledged suburb.