Pupchella Weekend, Puzzle Swaps & a Redmond Korean BBQ Rumor

Best of Redmond — May 12, 2026🚨 Redmond Police Are Warning About Vehicle Prowls Okay, quick heads up if you park at trailheads, apartment lots, gyms, or shopping centers around Redmond. Redmond Police say they've seen a recent spike in vehicle prowls, and they're asking people to stop leaving backpacks, laptops, chargers, purses, and other stuff visible inside parked cars. Apparently a lot of these break-ins are happening fast, sometimes in broad daylight, and mostly when thieves can immediately spot something worth grabbing. Nothing groundbreaking here, but it's probably worth doing the annoying extra step of tossing things in the trunk before you head inside somewhere.📚 Free English Classes at the Redmond Library If you've got friends, neighbors, parents, or coworkers trying to improve their English skills, the Redmond Library is doing free English Language Learners classes every Wednesday from 5 to 6 PM through June 10. These are drop-in classes taught by an experienced instructor, so people don't need to register ahead of time or commit to the whole series. They cover reading, writing, grammar, and conversation practice, and it's all happening at the Redmond Library meeting room. Space is limited, though, so showing up a little early probably isn't a bad idea if someone plans to go regularly.🪩 Disco Dodgeball at the Redmond Community Center This honestly sounds like somebody combined PE class with a wedding DJ and somehow made it work. The Redmond Senior & Community Center is hosting a Disco Dodgeball tournament Friday, May 15 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM, and teams of 6 to 10 people can sign up to compete under disco lights while music blasts in the background. They're doing round-robin games, playoff brackets, snacks, photo booths, and even a best dressed award for people who fully commit to the ridiculousness. You don't need to actually be good at dodgeball either. This feels way more about showing up with friends and laughing at each other.🚲 Bike Everywhere Day on the Eastrail If you bike to work, bike for fun, or just want free coffee before work, Eastrail Partners is doing a Bike Everywhere Day stop Wednesday morning at Feriton Spur Park in Redmond. They'll have coffee, treats, swag, and City of Kirkland staff hanging out along the trail talking with commuters and riders heading through the area. It's one of those quick stop-in community things that's easy to miss unless somebody tells you about it ahead of time. If your morning route already runs near the Eastrail, this is probably worth building an extra five minutes into your commute for.🧩 Monthly Puzzle Swap at Uncle's Games Here's a weirdly wholesome thing happening Sunday afternoon at Uncle's Games in Redmond Town Center. They're hosting their monthly Puzzle Swap from 1:30 to 5:30 PM, where people bring completed puzzles and trade them for different ones from the community collection. So instead of buying a brand new puzzle every time somebody in your house gets obsessed with one for two days straight, you can just keep rotating through new ones basically for free. It's low-key, super casual, and honestly sounds like the kind of thing puzzle people get VERY excited about once they discover it exists.🐾 Pre-Pupchella BBQ at Aloft Redmond If your dog hears the words "BBQ" and immediately loses their mind, this one's probably for them. Aloft Seattle Redmond is hosting Pre-Pupchella: Bones, Brew + BBQ on Saturday, May 16 from 3 to 5 PM at The Backyard and W XYZ Bar, and they're doing free BBQ snacks for both humans and dogs, plus live music, drinks, and adoptable pups from Motley Zoo Animal Rescue. Beer, wine, and cocktails will be available for purchase, and apparently this is basically the kickoff event for the bigger Pupchella festival happening Sunday at Redmond Town Center. Just keep your dog leashed, vaccinated, and reasonably chill around other dogs.🎨 Recycled Dreams at Together Center There's a free art exhibit running through May 30 at Together Center, 16305 NE 87th St Suite 110, Redmond, WA 98052, called Recycled Dreams, and the whole thing is built around artwork made from reused and discarded materials. Local artists took old, broken, forgotten stuff and turned it into sculptures, mixed-media pieces, and installations that actually look pretty cool from the previews they've posted. The exhibit was put together with VALA Eastside and focuses a lot on sustainability without feeling preachy about it. Good option if you want something quiet and different for an hour without spending money.🔮 Redmond Rumor Mill Okay, so here's the latest thing floating around Redmond restaurant circles. Word is a Korean BBQ spot with individual tabletop grills is looking at space somewhere near Redmond Town Center. Apparently there's already a Bellevue location doing pretty well, and people are saying the company has been scouting the Eastside for another spot sometime in late 2026. Now... we don't know if this is actually signed, approved, or even close to happening yet. Could just be early discussions. Could disappear tomorrow. But honestly, tabletop Korean BBQ in Redmond feels like one of those things people would absolutely show up for. The question is: where would they even put it?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.🕰️ Redmond History Minute The Redmond Saturday Market — the oldest farmers market on the Eastside — was founded in 1976. How much did they pay to lease the land for their first location?A) $100 a month B) $1 a year C) They got it free D) Two bushels of zucchini🎯 History Minute Answer The answer is B – $1 a year. Master Gardener Georgia Erskine founded the market in 1976 by recruiting friends and forming a board of directors. They leased vacant land in downtown Redmond, just north of the old post office, for a dollar a year. Since then, the market has moved four different times and now has over 70 vendors. It's been running for 50 years and is still volunteer-led.🗳️ Your Picks: Best Family Dentist 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 family dentist in Redmond.📻 Companion Newsletter & Podcast Newsletter: bestofredmond.com Facebook: facebook.com/BestOfRedmond✨ This Week’s PartnersMercurys Coffee – Redmond These guys have been perfecting their craft since 1998, and their Redmond spot serves up 100% organic coffee that'll make you rethink your usual order. You've got to try their Blonde Hawaiian with white chocolate and macadamia nut, or go for the Bees Knees with honey and cinnamon. They're known for drinks on the sweeter side, but just ask for less syrup if that's your thing. Grab one of their massive cinnamon rolls from Rising Bakery while you're there. Trust us, this place gets busy for a reason.La Tia Angelina Every Tuesday, you've got a decision to make. You can grab some boring lunch, or you can head over to La Tia Angelina for their legendary Taco Tuesday deal. We're talking dollar fifty tacos made with authentic recipes straight from Jalisco, Mexico. This isn't some chain restaurant trying to do Mexican food. This is a real family operation that's been perfecting their craft for five years. The husband and wife team even have their five kids helping out sometimes. You'll find their food truck parked behind the bus stop near the QFC in Bellevue, right next to the Tikka Masala restaurant. They offer student discounts too if you're at Bellevue College. These folks care about their community, and it shows in every single taco they make.📍 2444 Bel-Red Rd, Bellevue, WA 98007 📞 (425) 524-8222 🌐 https://latiaangelina.com/Mercurys Coffee 🌐 https://mercurys.com/La Tia Angelina 🌐 https://latiaangelina.com/