Thai Coffee Rumor Near Town Center? + Free Tax Help & Dog Parks Return

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!📰 Pop-Up Dog Parks Are Back in Redmond Okay, so Redmond’s pop-up dog parks are officially open again starting Tuesday, April 7, 2026, and they’re running through mid-August. The main one is at Luke McRedmond Park, 15644 Redmond Way, open daily from dawn to dusk, and Hartman Park joins in starting April 17. These are fully fenced with separate areas for big and small dogs, plus regular maintenance. It’s basically a free off-leash hangout spot while the city plans a permanent dog park. Bring water and expect it to get muddy early in the season.💼 Last-Minute Free Tax Help at the Library If you haven’t filed your taxes yet, this is your window on Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Redmond Library, 15990 NE 85th Street. AARP volunteers are doing free one-on-one tax prep, and it’s walk-in only with the last appointment starting at 3:00 PM. No income or age limits, which is rare. You’ll need your ID, last year’s return, and all your tax docs. Show up earlier rather than later… this kind of thing fills up fast right before the deadline.🧠 True Crime in Redmond: Murder at Avondale (1895) There’s a local history talk happening Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 10:30 AM at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse, 16600 NE 80th Street. This one dives into a real murder from 1895 on Avondale Road and how two neighboring families ended up in a deadly feud. Doors open at 10:00 AM, and it’s free for members or about $5 if you’re not. They’ll walk through the investigation and court drama, then do Q&A after. Get there a little early if you want a seat… these talks tend to fill up.🎲 Warhammer Night at Uncle’s Games If you’re into Warhammer or have been curious about it, there’s open play on Monday, April 13, 2026 starting at 6:00 PM at Uncle’s Games in Redmond Town Center, 7325 166th Ave NE. They’ve got tables, terrain, and space for everything from Warhammer 40k to Kill Team and more. You can play, build, or paint while hanging out with other players. It’s a super low-pressure setup whether you’re brand new or deep into it. Just show up and grab a table… no registration needed.🕰️ 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.Bellevue Square, the Eastside's first shopping mall, was built on land that was previously:A) A strawberry farm B) A cemetery C) Lake Bellevue D) A horse racing trackAnswer revealed at the bottom of this newsletter.🔮 Redmond Rumor Mill Alright, here’s one we’re hearing right now…Word is a Thai coffee shop — burnt banana lattes, chocolate Thai tea, the whole vibe — is quietly looking at space near Redmond Town Center. The concept just launched in Capitol Hill and apparently they're already scouting the Eastside for a second location.Now… nothing’s confirmed yet. No lease signed, no official announcement, and no timeline that we’ve seen.But if this one lands, it’s a pretty interesting addition to the area.So the question is… where would it even go?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 Pet Groomer 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 pet groomer 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 A – A strawberry farmIn 1946, Kemper Freeman Sr. built the first suburban shopping mall in the Pacific Northwest on land that had been strawberry farms just a few years earlier. Japanese American farmers had cultivated those fields before WWII internment. Where you buy Nordstrom shoes today, people once picked strawberries.