Meetings for the week of May 25th

Wednesday, May 27th

Planning Commission, 6:30pm (link) 

BelRed Look Forward LUCA If Commissioners feel the work on BelRed's new zoning code is complete at the end of this meeting, it is likely they will approve having a Public Hearing, which would likely be at the beginning of July.

    BelRed has the potential to hold 23% of the city's target for new housing units, and 20% of the new jobs. There was a previous plan for developing BelRed that allowed higher density only around the stations and also imposed a street grid - developers would have to pay for their half of the street. Growth in BelRed has not met expectations, so this LUCA will allow taller buildings across almost all of BelRed's 860 acres, offer some incentives for life sciences uses, ground floor active use spaces, and residential, and also make the street grid requirements more flexible. Commissioners are likely to discuss exactly how flexible they should be in terms of minimum block sizes, etc.

     As with Wilburton, the street requirements for sidewalk width, planters or no planters, emergency vehicle access, etc. will determine how much space on each parcel remains for the building, and this is receiving intense lobbying from the building community (see letters in the Written Communications pdf). There were also changes made during the recent Critical Areas Ordinance update that changed setbacks from streams and the rules about underground/daylighted streams that will make development more feasible. There were also changes to setbacks to adjacent homes that were part of the Omnibus LUCA. Staff has mentioned the possibility of creating additional sweeteners for properties that have to pay for street upgrades as part of a future code update.

    The Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is currently a base of 0.5-1, with incentives available near stations that can raise it to a FAR of 4.0. Some of the towers downtown might use a FAR of about 8, and have trouble fitting on the lot with that, even with 20 story towers. The base FAR is 2.5-6 in most areas, and the max FAR being proposed would be 8.0 for non-residential and Unlimited for residential in the High density areas and 6.0 in the Medium density areas. This is partly because development in BelRed, excluding the BR-GC district, with either 10 or more dwelling units is required to either create affordable housing or pay a fee or property in lieu of that.

    Included in the agenda memo are two questions that will be discussed at the meeting:  Does the commission support allocating fees-in-lieu between multiple priority amenities, and does it have alternative suggestions for prioritization? Does the commission support setting a maximum percentage of fee-in-lieu usage per project?

    Of course, there are many more details that will govern what can be built in BelRed going below the radar, things like the green/sustainability requirements, tower separation distances, noise-proofing standards, grocery incentives, affordable commercial space, public art, outdoor plazas, trail dedication, natural drainage, etc. With so many potential residents likely to live in this area in the future, it's important to get these livability factors right. There is at least one community member who doesn't have a financial interest looking at these details, but it would be a good place to be involved if you have the time. If you are interested in BelRed, the Master Planning for the neighborhood park has also just started, and you can fill out the survey for that until June 7th.

     If you want to dig into the details, they don't make it easy for you to see the changes on the map.You can see on the first two pages of the Strike Draft to see what the new zoning categories will be called, and page 14 has the heights that will be allowed in the categories. You can see the old categories on the city's current zoning map, but you'll also have to look at slide 16 of the powerpoint from the January 14th meeting to see where the max height will be 250' (west of roughly 138th), and where the max height will be 100' (east of approx 138th). The General Commercial north of Northrup also gets lower FAR, as does the Lowrise designation that covers most areas south of BelRed Rd.

Introduction of Downtown Livability 2.0 This will potentially streamline development by explicitly allowing things that developers have been seeking authorization for through departures, but since the Downtown code was last updated in 2017, major changes are probably not needed, and this should not alter FAR or building heights. Likely changes: Enhance downtown vibrancy after 5 p.m. by evaluating a range of evening-oriented uses like entertainment and cultural venues and exploring incentives for rooftop and outdoor amenity spaces to promote evening activation and social gathering opportunities. • Preserve the historic development pattern along Main Street in Old Bellevue by strengthening incentives and design standards that provide smaller storefronts and fine-grained block patterns as well as encouraging existing facades to be retained through the amenity incentive program. • Revise code provisions that constrain housing production and increase development costs such as restrictive building floor plate limits and certain requirements in the perimeter overlay. • Clarify and reconcile code language that is currently unclear or internally inconsistent. • Support implementation of the Grand Connection through updated clear and objective standards. • Refine building design requirements, including floorplate dimensions, weather protection height and depth, and build-to line requirements. • Update active use criteria and requirements. • Recalibrate amenity incentive criteria and points to make the amenity incentive system more effective. • Minor updates to pedestrian, transportation and landscaping requirements to ensure a welcoming pedestrian environment and consistency with existing transportation standards.     

This is also an opportunity for staff to receive suggestions about the outreach plan - a three page plan is attached. For comparison, you can see the end of the BelRed agenda memo to see what outreach occurred for that. 

Thursday, May 28th 

Public Hearing for BASIS Bellevue (K-5 school) permit in Lake Hills for 300 students (across NE 4th from the Grade 6-12 school), virtual, 6pm (link)

Commentary:

Paying for the Grand Connection: The headlines usually say that the Grand Connection "has been funded," but even with the recent progress on generating $41M (in present value dollars) through the Tax Increment Financing (TIF), and the allocation of $2M from the federal government, there's still a big gap in covering this $200-225M project. I attended the recent special meeting of the City Council on May 20th where the TIF was approved, and I was the only member of the public present. This level of public engagement is not in line with the budget impacts these decisions will have on Bellevue's future, so I wanted to provide more info before the City Council votes to award the Grand Connection work to contractors on June 2nd. 

The city's current plan is to activate the previously approved Transportation Benefit District (TBD) sales tax to fund approximately 40 percent (approximately $141.4 million) of the Grand Connection Crossing total cost (principal and interest associated with debt issuance). Additional funds would be from Tier 2 funding sources (philanthropic private funds and dedicated/specific funds of the city) representing approximately 36 percent of the total Grand Connect Crossing cost (approximately $127.8 million). TIF would support the remaining amount 24 percent of the total costs ($84.4 million, present value $41.0 million) (see pages 8 and 81 of the Final Project Analysis). 

By activate, it means Bellevue will start charging an additional 0.1% sales tax. Approximately half of the TBD sales tax revenue might go to supporting the Grand Connection if we assume a consistent amount is used for bond payments over the 25 years, and there might still be another ~$5M annually for other transportation needs in Bellevue.  

That $127.8M is a big chunk of the project cost, so it would be nice to know how much of that will come from donations and how much from city funds. There is a group called Friends of the Grand Connection that is responsible for raising philanthropic funds to support the project. It is also probable that any funds raised will displace contributions toward other projects in Bellevue. For instance, Amazon donated $5M toward the $43M cost of the Wilburton Trestle work. 

The dedicated/specific city funds category might mean that funds which would have gone to other sidewalk and bike route projects will instead be used for the Grand Connection. In the context of recent spending on similar improvements, the 10-block stretch of multiuse path in progress along 100th Ave NE will cost $8.3M, and the widened path on the south side of Main St. between 108th and 112th is $2.7M.  The curb pricing plan to charge people to park on the street is expected to raise $2.3M annually (Council mtg 12/2/25) toward curbside, wayfinding, and ADA improvements.  The new speed cameras will also generate some revenue. There was also a recent allocation of $748k for the Urban Core Bike Network Connections Phase 1 work (Council mtg 4/28/26), which could be compared with the Bike Bellevue plans to see how construction prices are trending, and I think this one was an example of state grant funding that might be less affected by Grand Connection costs.  

The obvious alternative would be to make a deal with Sound Transit for the segment between Downtown Bellevue and Wilburton, so that any fare enforcement that would have happened there is instead shifted to the adjacent segments, and some staffing is present to monitor for excess usage (there could be a rule about not taking more than one round-trip per hour). There would need to be improved signage showing the arrival of the next train and amenities like coffee windows and planted pathways on the Wilburton side to provide a sense of place for people to linger between trains. This wouldn't provide connectivity after Link operating hours, but there might be an extension of BellHop service to cover that, and I'm not sure how many people would use the crossing in the dark anyway. The piece that would be hard to replace is the connectivity for bikes. Right now, there's a good multiuse path along Main St (just rode on it for the first time this week!) that will provide a safe but somewhat steep route for cyclists getting off the Link at the East Main Station, and the Grand Connection of course connects to the Link at the Downtown Station. During non-peak hours, it's easy to take a bike on the train, but as the train becomes more crowded, it may be necessary to add additional cars for cyclists to ride comfortably, and Sound Transit should probably start ordering more train cars now if we anticipate this need.  

I could be persuaded that the Grand Connection is the right thing for Bellevue, but I think there should have been a vigorous discussion about it with the context made clear, and this short summary doesn't even cover the other transportation needs that Bellevue anticipates needing funds for. 

Minutes: 

Planning Commission, 4/22/26 (link)

Upcoming meetings:      

6/1 Public Hearing at HSC for the 2027 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plan

6/2 Council will award the Grand Connection work 

6/3 Arts Commission meeting

6/3 Deadline to comment on Sign Code regulations (see 5/20 Weekly Permit Bulletin)

6/4 City of Bellevue's RFP deadline for Performing Arts Center - Market Analysis, Operations Validation, and Fit Study (RFP #26059)

6/4 BSD School Board Meeting

6/9 Council takes action on the TIP update, and will consider Sign Code changes

6/10 2026 CPAs: Request to set Public Hearing (Evans Plaza upzone), High Density Residential LUCA: Introduction 

6/11 Transportation Commission: Select chair and vice chair, discuss Factoria and Eastgate transportation policies 

6/24 Planning Commission: Parking Reform LUCA: Request to set Public Hearing, Great Neighborhoods Factoria Update (and Request to set PH)

7/8 Planning Commission: BelRed Public Hearing, Great Neighborhoods Eastgate Update (and Request to set PH)

7/22 Planning Commission: Evans Plaza PH, Transportation Conformance PH, and Parking Reform LUCA PH 

7/30 BSD School Board Meeting, also 8/13 and 8/27 

Opportunities:

The Great Neighborhoods surveys for Eastgate and Factoria (link) will close on Monday, May 25th.

There is a Road Safety Assessment survey that asks about safety concerns in specific areas of BelRed and Wilburton. There is a questionnaire and an interactive map that you can put pins on. https://www.engagingbellevue.com/2026-rsa - also see walk audits on 6/6, 7/25, and 8/22

There is a survey about the new BelRed park's master plan that's open through June 7th. https://bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/parks/planning-and-development/current-projects/belred-neighborhood-park

Safe Routes to School Survey and Interactive Map is on Engaging Bellevue. The city would like to hear from parents, students, teachers, administrators, bus drivers and neighbors about their experience walking, biking, rolling and driving near schools. Please complete this four-question survey and tell us about things you like, as well as things you see that could improve safety near your neighborhood school. Your feedback will be incorporated into the Safe Routes to School Action Plan.

Engaging Bellevue has a map for residents to pin the kinds of community features they'd like to see in different parts of BelRed, as part of the BelRed Look Forward LUCA.   https://www.engagingbellevue.com/belred-luca There are 21 responses so far, about community and art space, festival streets, bike connections, streams, traffic and parking, and small businesses.

Other opportunities:

Signup now to participate in the Community Walk Audits on June 6th, July 25th, and August 22nd, as spaces will fill quickly. (link)

Bellevue Essentials, a 10-week civic engagement course, is accepting applications for the 2026 cohort. The program will run from September to November, and participants will be able to meet leaders and learn how the city operates. Info sessions will be held on June 18th, and June 29th. https://bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/community-development/neighborhoods/classes-and-events/bellevue-essentials

There are openings for high-schoolers and an adult on Bellevue's Youth Link Board, and you have until May 29th at 5pm to apply. Mentors are also needed.

Jubilee Reach applications are being accepted until May 29th. (link) Do you love your home but is yardwork or an outside project too much to manage due to physical or financial hardship? Potential projects are yard clean-ups, bark/gravel spreading, and fence/gate/shed/deck repair and painting.

Verity Credit Union has $5,000 grants for non-profits and microbusiness, applications due May 31st.

BelRed Arts has a call for an artist to do an installation on the exterior of their building, deadline is June 1st.

A $50,000 award from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund is expanding opportunities for young Bellevue residents to lead development of innovative climate solutions. There will be information on the Engaging Bellevue website and a June 3 program from 7-8pm. Individual grants will be up to $5,000 each.(link)

If you are interested in joining the BSD EdTech Design Team (open to students, families, and staff), there is an interest survey to complete by June 5th, and applicants will be notified by June 12th.

Bellevue's city Arts Program is seeking experienced public artist(s) for a large scale installation in Factoria, apply by June 7th.

Bellevue is offering grants to arts and cultural organizations for capital projects and facility maintenance, possibly including land/building acquisition. Apply by June 15th.

Sign up to be notified about the application timeline for e-bike rebates this summer. https://bellevuewa.gov/pedal-forward-eastside This is separate from the WA state e-bike rebates that have applications at ebikerebate.wsdot-sites.com, and the Eastside ones have a higher dollar value.

Bellevue is providing marketing resources and permitting guidance to businesses, organizations and individuals planning World Cup-related events. See bellevuewa.gov/world-cup.

Bellevue, Issaquah, and Redmond are helping building owners and managers comply with the Washington Clean Buildings Law - benchmarking, energy management plan, guidance for incentives, etc. See the Eastside Clean Buildings Incentive Program. 

Fun and Educational Events this month:

See the latest at https://newbellevue.com/?page_id=82 

5/22-24 All performances of BYT's Cinderella, Enchanted Edition are sold out

5/23 Trailhead Direct starts - access the Issaquah Alps and Mount Si from South Bellevue

5/23 ACTV Studio HIIT Class hosted by Vuori and Shred415 at Bellevue Square, free to register, 8-9am (link)

5/23 CeesaySays Training Camp workout, 8:30-9:30am

5/23 Saturday morning walk at Downtown Park, 9am (link) - recurs weekly

5/23 Keep Bellevue Beautiful - West Bellevue, 9-11am (link)

5/23 Conservatively (not politically) Speaking Toastmasters Club at St Madeleine, 9-10:30am (link)

5/23 Basics of Successful Vegetable Growing at the Bellevue Demonstration Garden, 10-11:30am (link)

5/23 Needlepoint clinic with Denise Forsyth at Rain City Needlepoint, 10am

5/23 Kin On Cross-Cultural Community Cafe at Westminster Chapel Church, 10am-noon - bringing together seniors, youth, and families affected by dementia across cultures - also 6/27, 7/25, 8/22, and 9/26, and volunteers to help with greeting guests and serving hot drinks are needed.

5/23 Photowalk at Bellevue Downtown Park with Kate Hailey Photography, free signup, 10am-noon (link)

5/23 CommUnity Jam: Multicultural Arts Festival at Jing Mei Elementary, free, no tickets needed, 11am-4pm - with traditions of harvest festivals, storytelling, Afro-beats, House, Bachata, & Reggaeton, part of Cross-Cultural Center Without Walls

5/23 Rasa Seattle hosts Dance with Rani dance workshop at Highland Community Center in Bellevue, $25, 11am-1pm - Dance is Shri Krishn Govind, see event description for dress code

5/23 Vaunt Gallery's Art Amplified in the W Bellevue Penthouse, 11am-7pm - also 5/24

5/23 Little Masters Club Heritage & Me summer cultural workshop at BBG, 1-3:15pm - spots are limited, please pre-register to enjoy story-telling, a Song Dynasty tea whisking experience, Chinese floral art, and forest bathing meditation - see IG post

5/23 Market Bonito pop-up at Bellden Cafe, 2-5pm, offering sewing help - bring your garment. hems will be made.

5/23 Queer Creative Connections at Bellevue Library, 2:15-4pm (link) - also 6/27, 7/25, and 8/22

5/23 Signups for June swim lessons at the Bellevue Aquatic Center open at 3pm (link) - adult and kid lessons

5/23 Market Bonito: Paint your own Muneca Lele with the Space Needle at Bellden Cafe, $80, 3-5pm - guided by Maria G. Casey, a renowned Latina artist, spaces limited

5/23 AI Safety and Awareness workshop on where AI is going at the Kirkland Library, free, 3:45-5:15pm (link)

5/23 Eastside FIRE Goal Sharing and Budgets at Capital One Cafe, 4-6pm (link)

5/23 Bollysteps Dance showcase Nachle 14 at Meydenbauer Center, 5-8pm (link) - there are also shows on 5/24 at 11:30am (link) and 5pm (link)

5/23 Math Club at Bellevue Library: Tangrams and Fractals for kids K-5, 2-4pm (link) - different activities each week

5/23 Pasifika Luau Experience — Live Polynesian Show + Island Buffet, $100, 5-8pm (link)

5/23 Bellevue Fashion Show 2026 at the Bellevue Family YMCA, $25, 5:30-8:30pm (link) - organized by Empire of God and former mayor Lynne Robinson

5/23 New Age Flamenco at Hye Life, 6pm

5/23 Eastside Improv Spring Show at Theatre33, 7-8pm (link)

5/23 The Chicago Transit Experience at Bake's Place, 8-9:30pm (link)

5/23 Gen-Zindagi - 2010s and up pop, house, and high nakhra, 10pm (Eventbrite)

5/24-5/25 Puppy Yoga will have golden retrievers this weekend, Mochinut has free tote bags if you order a dozen, Jo Malone has free pressed juice on Saturday to match their vegetable-inspired scent collection

5/24 Shut Up and Write at Cafe Hagen, 9-10am (link) - recurs weekly

5/24 BelRed Bike Club starts at Marymoor in Redmond and rides through Bellevue, Issaquah, and Sammamish, 30 miles, register on Strava, 9am

5/24 Beyond Yoga free mat Pilates class at Bellevue Square, free, 10am (Eventbrite) - sold out

5/24 Potted Plant Garden Workshop at the Lakemont Town & Country Market, $50, 11am-noon (link)

5/24 Vaunt Gallery's Art Amplified in the W Bellevue Penthouse, 11am-5pm

5/23 Bollysteps Dance showcase Nachle 14 at Meydenbauer Center, 11:30am (link) and 5pm (link)

5/24 Food, water, clothes, and harm reduction supplies are available at Crossroads Park near the bathrooms on Sundays from noon-2pm

5/24 Artvana Paint & Sip at The Redd Dog, $55, 1pm (link)

5/24 Board Games and Boba with the Millenial Social Club at Lincoln Square, 1-5pm (link) - recurs weekly

5/24 All White Affair at Mirra

5/25 City Hall and KCLS Libraries will be closed for Memorial Day, Link is running on a Sunday schedule

5/25 Murph Fitness Challenge community workout at Samena, 8am (link)

5/25 Indian food and Indegenios Art Workshop, 1pm

5/25 Korean-English Language Exchange at Crossroads, 6:30-8:30pm (link) - recurs weekly

5/25 A Capella Joy Chorus rehearsal at Crossroads, 7-10pm (link) - new members welcome

5/25 Chessbar meetup at Tapster, 7pm - recurs on Mondays

5/26 Tuesday Trails 50+ Hike to Redmond Watershed, $8, 10am-2pm (link) - meet at NBCC and ride to the trailhead

5/26 East Side Runners does Trail Tuesdays from Bridle Trails Shopping Center at 6pm - recurs on Tuesdays until the end of August

5/26 Midlakes United vs. Bigfoot soccer match, 6:30pm - food truck will be Pizzamaniac

5/27 2026 Breakfast for Justice at Meydenbauer Center, 7am, supporting legal aid in King County

5/27 Tai Chi on the Terrace at the Westin, free, 8am (link) - also Thursday evenings

5/27 Washington Hospitality Association: State of the Industry online presentations, Restaurant 10am, and Lodging 1:30-3pm

5/27 Muse Maree co-working in the Spring District

5/27 Thrive Entrepreneur Friends Meetup at Capital One Cafe, 10am - recurs

5/27 Beyond the Build Habitat for Humanity Annual Luncheon in Seattle, noon-1:30pm (link)

5/27 Community Connect: Utilities Budget and Rates Open House at City Hall, 11:30-1:30pm (link)

5/27 Mod Pizza fundraiser for Chinook Middle School PTSA with code MODGIVES25

5/27 Lego Brick Builders activity at Bellevue Library, 1:30-2:30pm (link) - recurs weekly through 7/1

5/27 Newport Way Library Teen Volunteer Council Meeting, grades 9-12, 2-3:30pm (link)

5/27 Tri Pointe Homes Design Studio event with refreshments, Eastgate, 4-6pm

5/27 Beyond the Session: Town Hall to support funding for WA state education, online, 7-8pm (link)

5/27 Resource and Career Fair for teens and families at the Kirkland Teen Union in Kirkland, free, 7-8:30pm (link)

5/28 @Scale Systems and Reliability Conference - date moved to 6/25

5/28 Developmental Disabilities and Early Childhood Supports Resource Fair at Microsoft in Redmond, 9am-2pm (link)

5/28 Eastside Pathways Ages and Stages meeting about Performance Measures, 10am-noon, (link)

5/28 TRACKS 50+ Park Walks meets at NBCC to go to Killarney Glen Park, 11am-1pm (link)

5/28 Sound Transit Board of Directors meeting, 1:30-4pm (link) - Perhaps this will be the big decisions on Sound Transit's future? Agenda not out yet.

5/28 Bellevue Farmers Market, 3pm

5/28 Eastside Leadership Initiative's Believe event, $25, 5-7pm (link) - highlighting smaller and newer non-profits

5/28 Painting & Prosecco at Kitchen & Market (Yarrow Bay in Kirkland), 5-7pm (Eventbrite)

5/28 Spanish Practicing Meetup at Bellden Cafe, 5:30-6:30pm (link) - recurs every other Thursday through early summer

5/28 Tai Chi on the Terrace at the Westin, free, 5:30-6:30pm (Eventbrite)

5/28 Public Hearing for BASIS Bellevue (K-5 school) permit in Lake Hills for 300 students (across NE 4th from the Grade 6-12 school), virtual, 6pm (link)

5/28 LGBTQ+ Game Night at Mox Boarding House, 6pm

5/28 Bellevue Women's Book Club reads Alison Elspach's The Wedding People, 6:30-8pm (link)

5/29 Bike Classes at Bellevue Library for Bike Everywhere Month, free, Intro to Bike Commuting at11:15am (link) and Bike Maintenance for Every Commuter at 12:30pm (link) - registration not required

5/29 Deadline to apply for Bellevue's Youth Link Board, with teen openings and possibly an adult opening

5/29 Art Opening at BelRed Art Studio: Visualizing Korean Cinema: “From Screen to Canvas: Reimagining Korean Cinema Through Youth Perspectives”, organized by Studio S Fine Arts, free, 4-8pm (link)

5/29 Artventory Intro to Jazz Funk Dance workshop for ages 13+ at SBCC, free, register, 4:30-6pm (link)

5/29 Bellevue High School Orchestra Night Market fundraiser, 5-9pm - enjoy live music from the orchestra and purchase dinner or treats from local food trucks.

5/29 Bellevue Women's Book Club: The Wedding People by Alison Elspach, 6:30-8pm (link)

5/29 Improv and Flow: Free Community Jam hosted by the Improv Place at Theatre33, 7pm

5/29 Open Mic Night at Third Culture Coffee, 7-9pm - signups start at 6pm

5/29 Paint and Sip: Mom's Bouquet at Northwest Arts Center, non-alcoholic beverages, 16+, 7-9pm

5/29 From the Ground Up rap concert at Third Culture Coffee, free, 7:30pm (peytspencer.com/rsvp)- by Microsoft engineer Peyt Spencer, also 5/30

5/29 New Moon Aerial performers at Suite, no cover, 8-9pm

5/29 Jake La Botz performs at Spring District Studios, 8pm-midnight (link) - They're Coming For Me deftly ties threads from La Botz's background in Chicago blues, gospel, early rock 'n roll, American folksong traditions, and a dash of country twang into a grooving knot of warm-timbred Americana.

5/29 Umami Jazz Fusion at Bake's Place, 8-9:30pm (link)

5/30 Pollinator Fest at 21 Acres in Woodinville

5/30 King County Fire Chiefs Association Diversity and Recruitment Workshop at Bellevue College, ages 16+, 8am-3:30pm - register by May 25th and receive useful information on navigating the hiring process

5/30 ARC Lifeguard Recertification class at Bellevue Club, 10am-8pm (link) - recurs 5/31, 6/27, and 6/28

5/30 Garden Tool Sharpening at the Bellevue Demonstration Garden, 18+, free, 10-11:30am

5/30 Rock Garden Plant Sale at BBG, 10am-1pm

5/30 Pollinator Fest at 21 Acres in Woodinville, 10am-3pm

5/30 Forest to Fork 2026 in Woodinville, ages 8+, 10am-1pm (link) - wait-list, kid-friendly ways to enjoy local edible plants in season

5/30 Inclusive STEAM Storytime Professional Development for Teachers in Kenmore, free, 10am-noon (link) - led by the Adaptive Library Initiative (ALI)

5/30 Free Lakeshore Kids Event: Garden Wonders Featuring Magic Stix™, 11am-3pm (link)

5/30 Lovable Founder Series: Eastside Edition at GIX in the Spring District, free, 11am-3pm (luma) - event full, but volunteers needed, and there may be opportunities to present - founder showcase, demo, and breakout rooms to build with free credits

5/30 Free Lakeshore Kids Event: Garden Wonders Featuring Magic Stix™, 11am-3pm (link) - create a bookmark

5/30 MAPS Eid Celebration at Downtown Park, 11:30am-7pm (link) - cultural activities, traditional attire, handicrafts, food stalls, and children’s games 

5/30 Arctic Elevation wellness Grand Opening, noon

5/30 Workshop: AI Across Generations and Cultures at Jing Mei Elementary, free, 1-5:30pm (link) - families, elders, youth, small businesses all welcome

5/30 Kirkland Civic Orchestra plays at Juanita High School, 1pm (link)

5/30 Ranger-led Hike at Mercer Slough Nature Park, 2-3:30pm

5/30 Math Club at Bellevue Library: Math Card Games for kids K-5, 2-4pm (link) - different activities each week

5/30 Improvised Character Lab at Theatre 33, $50, 2-4pm (link)

5/30 Recoop Spa birthday party Open House, 2pm to close, also on Sunday

5/30 Nature Journaling for Teens at Newport Way Library, Grades 5-9, 2:30-4:30pm (link) - recurs on last Saturdays of the month

5/30 Screening and artist talk at Bellevue Library, Illuminate: Bright Tongue film by Soo Hong, 3-4:15pm (link)

5/30 Monthly Eastside LGBTQ+ Happy Hour at Duke's Seafood, 3-5pm (link)

5/30 Sounds of Vacation fundraiser at Meydenbauer Center to support Listen and Talk serving deaf and hard-of-hearing children

5/30 Sam Miller comedy at Forum Social House, 7pm (link)

5/30 Bellevue Chamber Chorus concert "Let's Dance" at First United Methodist Church on 108th, 7:30pm (link) - includes professional dancers performing a galliard, hora, Irish dance, Csardas, samba, salsa, merengue, tango, and swing - there will also be a Seattle performance on 5/31

5/30 From the Ground Up rap concert at Third Culture Coffee, free, 7:30pm (peytspencer.com/rsvp)- by Microsoft engineer Peyt Spencer

5/30 Laurel Canyon Legacy: Carole King's Tapestry at Bake's Place, 8-9:30pm (link)

5/31 Last day to donate fitness/summer athleisure wear at Title Nine and support The Sophia Way, and be entered to win a $100 Title Nine gift card - see list for which items are requested to be new or gently used

5/31 Mercer Slough Canoeing with Bellevue Park rangers from Enatai Beach Park, ages 5+, 8:45am-noon, must pre-register

5/31 Teddy Bear Tea Party at KidsQuest, kids $20-25, adults $16, 9am-noon - two workshop times available, tea party bites by Bellden Cafe, and color-changing tea!

5/31 Vinyasa to Yin with Sumeda Khosla at Fabletics, free, 9:30-11am (Eventbrite)

5/31 Bellevue Book Club: Virginia Evans' The Correspondent at Bellevue Library, 11am (link)

5/31 Nonda Matcha pop-up at Macadons at Lexus Bellevue, noon-4pm

5/31 Giant Bird Puppetry with Emily McHugh in Issaquah, 18+, 1-5pm (link) - participate in four crafting sessions and perform in two parades

5/31 Lost Bird Project Documentary Screening at BBG, $10, 2-3:30pm (link)

5/31 Prisms and Refractions: Poetry Workshop with Catherine Broadwall at VALA Art Center in Redmond, free, 2-4pm (link)

5/31 Teatro Canzoni, 6pm

5/31 Full Moon Meditation with Art of Living at Downtown Park, 7:30-8:30pm (link)

6/1-6/2 fwd:cloudsec at Meydenbauer Center (link)

6/1-6/6: Final Birthday Celebration week for Ada's Books in Seattle, which is closing its doors

6/1 Startup425 Coworking

6/2 Tuesday Trails 50+ Hike to Twin Falls, $8, 10am-2pm (link) - meet at NBCC and ride to the trailhead

6/2 First Farmers' Market of the season at Crossroads, noon-6pm (link)

6/2 Glowlight Med Spa's Summer Skin Party has event specials, a flower bar, and the chance to win a year of Botox, 4-7pm

6/3 Innovation and Investment - Seattle Investor Summit + Showcase in Redmond, $450, 8:30am-6:30pm (link)

6/3 The Exchange/Innovation Exchange: Your Ideas Build Our Community event hosted by the City of Bellevue at Meydenbauer Center, 8am-5pm (link) - registration closes June 1st at 5pm (link)

6/3 Trips and Tours goes on a Historic Sightseer lunch cruise, 55+, $85, 10am-3pm (link) - meet at NBCC and optional home pickup, cruise is on Lake Washington and Lake Union, with taco bar, snickerdoodle cookies, tea and coffee

6/3 Intro to Digitization class at Bellevue Library Makerspace, 11:30am-12:30pm (link)

6/3 PCBs Awareness and Removal workshop at Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, free, noon (Eventbrite)

6/3 Made in Bellevue

6/3 Pride on the Plaza at Bellevue City Hall, 3-6pm (link) - food, live music, and performances

6/3 Catapult Accelerator Showcase hosted by Venture Mechanics at a Seattle location, 3:30-7:15pm (link)

6/3 A $50,000 award from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund is expanding opportunities for young Bellevue residents to lead development of innovative climate solutions. There will be information on the Engaging Bellevue website and a June 3 program will be held online from 7-8pm. Individual grants will be $1,000 - $5,000 each.(link)

6/4-6/5 Innovate QA 2026 at the Westin (link)

6/4 Philanthropy conference AFP Advancement NW at Meydenbauer Center

6/4 2nd Annual Muster and Mingle veterans event at Cascadia Pizza, 3:30pm

6/5 Story Time at the Garden for Preschoolers at BBG, 10-10:30am

6/5 Muse Maree co-working Downtown

6/5 Artventory Intro to Bollywood Dancing workshop for ages 13+ at SBCC, free, register, 4:30-6pm (link)

6/5 Bellevue Chamber Annual Gala: Celebrating Bellevue, 4:30-8:30pm (link) - early registration until 5/22

6/5 Hopelink fundraiser Farm Fresh Feast at Columbia Collective in Woodinville, $250 - register by 5/8

6/5 Spring into Summer at Fleur (their Kirkland location, not the Bellevue one), 6-9pm - charm bar, vintage clothing, salt bread

6/5 MFA Thesis Exhibition at Henry Art Gallery at UW in Seattle, free, 6pm (link)

6/5 Plymouth Housing's summer gala in Ballard, 7pm (link)

6/5 The West Coast Feed: The New Seattle Sound at Bake's Place, 8-9:30pm (link)

6/6-6/7 Free Fishing Weekend, see details from WDFW, does not include salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut, or shellfish.

6/6 Keep Bellevue Beautiful - West Lake Sammamish Cleanup, 9-11am (link)

6/6 Kids Workshop: Goalie Game at Home Depot, free, 9am (link)

6/6 Fleur Wrapped Bouquet workshop, $125, 9am (link)

6/6 Journaling the Garden at BBG, free, 9-11:30am (link)

6/6 Free AI Agent Workshop: Empowering Professionals, offered by Microsoft and iLink, 9:30am-4pm (Eventbrite) - not found?

6/6 The Individual Investor's Edge with Wayne Thorpe at Bellevue College, 9:30am-noon (link)

6/6 Spring Fernfest Plant Sale at BBG, 9:30am-4pm

6/6 U-District Boardgames Social meets at Mox in BelRed, 10am-1pm (link) - repeats on first Saturdays

6/6 Paws and Pride Dog Walk around Downtown Park, 10am-2pm - mimosa/beer garden, vendor booths, and a stage packed with activities like RuPaw's Dawg Costume Contest, DJs, and Drag Queen performances

6/6 NEW TIME Community Walking Audit of NE 8th and 116th NE with Bellevue's Transportation Department, free signup, 10am- noon (link) - there will also be one on 7/25 along BelRed Rd., and one on 8/22 on Northrup Way

6/6 Global Running Day BelRed Run-iversary: Lululemon, solidcore, and TruFusion, 10am - register on Strava

6/6 Waterwise Gardening free master gardener workshop at the Bellevue Demonstration Garden, 10-11:30am

6/6 Fruit jars pottery workshop at Eastside Pottery, 11am

6/6 Seattle WDAI x Lovable Vibe Coding Session 2 in a five-part series at Sammamish Library , 11:30am-1:30pm (link)

6/6 Youth Nature Journaling Club at BBG, free, noon-1pm, ages 6-11 must be accompanied by an adult

6/6 BelArts Ballet presents Alice in Wonderland in Kirkland, 3pm (Eventbrite)

6/6 Mayweather Boxing + Fitness: Boxing for Belonging at Downtown Park, free, 4pm (link) - bring mat or towel and your water bottle - also 6/13, 6/20, and 6/27

6/6 Cascada Flamenca Music and Dance Show by Flamenco Haven, 7pm (Eventbrite)

6/6 Cascade PBS Ideas Festival in Fremont Seattle, $55-120

6/6 Bellevue Healthcare Professionals Meetup at the W Living Room Bar, 7-10pm (link) - recurs on 7/4 and 7/25 (last Saturday of the month thereafter)

6/6 DoctorFunk: A Prescription for Soul at Bake's Place, 8-9:30pm (link)

6/7 Deadline to respond to a survey about the new Bel Red park's master plan (link)

6/7 Big Backyard 5K and 10K at Marymoor Park in Redmond to raise money for King County Parks, 9am (link)

6/7 Name those Plants, Flowers, and Mushrooms at Hazel Wolf Wetlands Preserve in Sammamish, 10:30am (link) - part of the Forterra Nature Discovery Series

6/7 Fish Pond art gathering at BBG, free, 11-12:30pm (link) - no registration required, the 100 unglazed fish will be available first come, first served.

6/7 Shades of Brilliance Art Walk in Downtown Park, noon-6pm (link) - a celebration of BIPOC artistry, culture, and community

6/7 Crochet Coffee, and Chat at Woods Coffee/Hotel 116, 1-3pm (link) - wait-list

 6/7 Bellevue Knotty Knitters at Lincoln Square, 3-5pm (link) - also 6/21

6/8-6/13 Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra auditions, 5-9pm (link)

6/8 Winemaker Dinner at Bis on Main, includes six wine pairings, 6pm, call to reserve

6/8 Monday Night Networking at 13 Coins, 6-8pm (link) - recurs monthly

6/9 Quiet Reading Party at Bellevue Library, 5:30-7:30pm, recurs 7/14 and 8/11

6/11 Opening Day soccer watch party in Redmond at the Marriott, 11am

6/11 My Owners Circle Eastside networking at Bis on Main, 3-4:30pm (link)- recurs 7/9

6/11 Seattle AI, Data, and Security meets at Bellevue City Hall, free, 4:30-8pm (link) - speakers from SAP, General Motors, AiGovOps, and AMD

6/11 Flower Hour: The Perennial Border at BBG, 5-6pm (link)

6/11 Eastside Pathways Annual Bash, 5:30-7:30pm

6/11 Community Meeting about Utility Budgets and Rates, virtual, 6pm (link) - Proposed utility budget and rate updates, Infrastructure and capital improvement projects, Financial planning and affordability considerations, and Customer assistance resources - also see the in-person Community Connect Open Houses happening in May.

6/12 Pride in the Park(ing) Space in the Spring District - street pop-ups from 1-6pm, with a drag queen storytime from 4-6pm. The USA vs Paraguay game will be showing at Bellevue Brewing starting at 6pm

6/12 Midlakes United vs. West Seattle Junction FC, 4pm - food truck will be El Gran Taco

6/12 Artventory Intro to Hip Hop Dance workshop for ages 13+ at SBCC, free, register, 4:30-6pm (link)

6/12 Drag Queen Paint & Sip at Bel Red Arts Studio, 6-8:30pm - join Maya Mem Sab for performances set to Bollywood hits

6/12 Sundown Society: music and Porsche design in Redmond, free, 6pm

6/12 USA vs. Paraguay evening soccer match

6/12 Nick Mardon Trio: Guitar Magic at Bake's Place, 8-9:30pm (link)

6/13 Bows Across Cultures: Archery and Cultural Festival at Bellevue City Hall

6/13 State Rep Osman Salahuddin's campaign kickoff at the Marriott Redmond, free, 11am-1pm, (link)

6/13 Chado demonstration and Chabana exhibition at BBG, free, 11am-3pm (link) - no registration, free matcha and sweets for first 30 guests at each hourly demonstration

6/13 Eastside Alchemy Market at Highland Community Center, noon-5pm

6/13 Teens Create: Crochet Charms at Bellevue Family YMCA, $18/$20, 12:30- 1:45pm

6/13 Bubble Play Zone and Soccer-themed Mini Golf at the Downtown Park south parking lot, free, 1-3pm (link)

6/13 Green Week Ukrainian Food Festival in Kirkland, 1-8pm

6/13 Veterans Town Hall in Issaquah, 1:30-3:30pm - hosted by Everyone for Veterans

6/13-6/14 International Ballet Theatre's Stars of Tomorrow show, 2-4pm (link)

6/13 Summer Social Soiree at Ascend, 2:30-4:30pm - also 7/11, 8/8, and 9/12

6/13 Mara & The Charm: Rock with a Wild Heart at Bake's Place, 8-9:30pm (link)

6/14 BelRed Run-iversary with REI, 10am - register on Strava

6/14 Resounding Love concert at BYT (on the grass?), free, 5-7pm

6/14 Burbank Comedy Festival PNW Audition Night at Forum Social House, 7-9pm (link)

6/16 Trips and Tours goes to Tulalip Casino and Seattle Premium Outlets, 55+, $10, 9:45am-4pm (link) - meet at NBCC and optional home pickup - there is also a Pt Defiance Zoo Trip on 7/14

6/18 Audubon Bird Walk at BBG, $5, 9-10:30am (link)

6/18 Chamber Lunch: Mid-Year Economic Forecast, 11:30am-1pm (link) - features Brent Beardall of WaFd Bank, early bird pricing through 6/5

6/18 BelRed Run-iversary: Bring your friend, 5:30pm - register on Strava

6/18 Bellevue Essentials Info Session at Crossroads Community Center, 6-6:30pm (link) - Bellevue Essentials, a 10-week civic engagement course, is accepting applications for the 2026 cohort. The program will run from September to November, and participants will be able to meet leaders and learn how the city operates. There will also be an in-person info session on 6/29 at City Hall

6/19 KCLS Libraries will be closed for Juneteenth

6/19 Matchday Mix: Pre-Game Cocktail Masterclass at the Westin, $30, 11am (link)

6/19 USA vs. Australia Soccer viewing party in public spaces along the Grand Connection, 1-3pm

6/19 Kokedama Moss Balls floral arrangement class at BelRed Arts Studio, 4-5pm

6/19 Brian James: Country Soul at Bake's Place, 8-9:30pm (link)

6/20 Keep Bellevue Beautiful Downtown Cleanup meets at Bellevue City Hall, free, 9am (Eventbrite)

6/20-6/21 Olympic Air Show in Tumwater, 9am-5pm (link)

6/20 Bellevue Youth Theatre Tie Dye Family Event, 1-5pm - season reveal, lawn games, and raffle - space is limited, so RSVP now

6/20 IACS Night Market at Crossroads Park, 4-9pm (link, link)

6/20 Lonely Hearts Club: Music of the Beatles at Bake's Place, 8-9:30pm (link)

6/21 The Concert Truck (sponsored by the Seattle Chamber Music Society) at Downtown Park, 4-5pm

6/22 Solstice Evening Shinrin Yoku Walk at BBG, 5:30-7pm (link)

6/22 Greener Living: Repair and Reuse, virtual, 6-7pm

6/23 Bellevue Downtown Association State of the City Breakfast at Meydenbauer Center, 8-9:30am (link)

6/23 Midlakes United vs. Snohomish United soccer match, 6:30pm - food truck will be Pizzadillaz