Secret Chef Dinners? Redmond Arts Festival & Best Fruit Stand 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!🎨 Redmond Arts Festival Takes Over Town CenterThe 15th Annual Redmond Arts Festival is back Friday, July 31 through Sunday, August 2 at Redmond Town Center, and this is probably the biggest thing happening around town this weekend. More than 60 Pacific Northwest artists will be there selling original work, and you can actually meet the people who made it. They've also got live music and hands-on art activities for kids throughout the weekend. Admission is free, so walk around, grab something to eat, and make an afternoon out of it.🎷 Jump In at Open Jazz NightOpen Jazz Night is happening Thursday, July 30 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and you can either join the band or just hang out and listen. Bassist John Roth hosts the night, and they've got an upright piano plus a microphone for singers. Musicians of all experience levels are welcome, so you don't need to be some kind of jazz legend to participate. Not interested in getting onstage? That's completely fine too. Show up early, grab a seat, and enjoy a pretty relaxed Thursday night.👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Yoga Story Time at the LibraryYoga Story Time is happening Friday, July 31 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Redmond Library for kids ages two and older. Certified instructor Neha from Soul Lumos combines a children's story with simple, beginner-friendly yoga movements, so the kids get to use their bodies and their imaginations. A caregiver needs to stay, but registration isn't required. Bring a yoga mat or a large towel if you've got one. They’ll have a few extra mats available, but probably not enough for everybody.🐾 Meet the Pigs at Farrel-McWhirterThe pigs at Farrel-McWhirter Park are getting their own meet-and-greet Sunday, August 2 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Volunteers and park docents will introduce everyone to the farm's resident pigs, share a few animal facts, answer questions, and explain how the park's farm programs work. The event is free and should be fun for kids, animal people, or anybody who's somehow lived in Redmond for years without meeting the pigs. Advance registration is requested, so get your name on the list before heading over.🕰️ 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 major transportation project in 1916 permanently lowered Lake Washington and helped end the region's steamboat era?A) Opening of the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Ballard LocksB) Completion of SR-520C) Construction of the I-90 floating bridgeD) Arrival of the railroadAnswer revealed at the bottom of this newsletter.🔮 Redmond Rumor MillSo there's this rumor floating around Old Redmond about a possible chef's counter pop-up incubator.The idea would be a shared space where local chefs take turns hosting limited, ticketed dinners with a completely different menu every time. No permanent restaurant menu. Maybe not even a sign out front. Just a mailing list, a handful of seats, and a new chef running the show for each dinner.We don't know whether this is real yet.Have you heard anything about 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.🗳️ Your Picks: Best Fruit Stand 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 fruit stand 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 A – Opening of the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Ballard LocksWhen the Lake Washington Ship Canal opened in 1916, the water level in Lake Washington dropped by about nine feet. That permanently changed shorelines around the Eastside, dried up the Black River, and connected the lake to Puget Sound through the Ballard Locks. It also helped bring an end to the steamboat era, which had once been one of the main ways people and goods moved around the region. The project completely reshaped the geography of the area, and its effects are still visible today.