Sprung for Spring

Just weeks ago Puxatawny Phil saw his shadow and, much to the nation’s disappointment, we were thus assured six more weeks of winter. I wonder though, if Phil’s groundhog den was stationed in the Pacific Northwest if he wouldn’t have predicted differently. You wouldn’t know it by walking around Puget Sound that we’re still in the midst of winter. Everywhere I turn signs of the forthcoming spring are whispering to me - "come out and play". The white and pink blossoms on the tree lined streets, warm sunny afternoons, shorts and sandals, and gardening tools are all beckoning me to take notice and rejoice. Spring isn’t just right around the corner; it’s pushing itself through the blinds on sunny mornings, it’s sitting on the restaurant’s deck at lunchtime, and it’s blinding us during the 5 o’clock commute home.

And if spring really is that close that means it’s time for my family to start planning some outdoor fun. As an extra special bonus this year my sister and her children are coming to visit us from Kansas City, and the whole family is excited about the trip. My sister has never been to the Great Northwest and I plan to show it off, starting right in my hometown of Redmond, Wa.


Because our family home is too “cozy” to accommodate five more people, I’ve booked my sister’s family adjoining suites at The Marriott at Redmond Town Center. Its location close to great shopping, food, and fun will be perfect for the time I haven’t already planned for all the activities that Redmond has to offer. With the Marriott’s current special weekend package, my sister and her husband can finally have that wine weekend they’ve been talking about for years (a surprise gift from me) and I can have a fun Easter day with my nieces and nephew.


Eggstravanza is now in its 14th year and, when my kids were younger, was a tried and true family tradition - which I now get to relive with my sister's children. I’m so excited to have an excuse to go again – and have already started scheduling the day. Since the egg hunt does not start until 10am, there is plenty of time to enjoy the huge pancake feast earlier in the morning hosted by the Redmond Lions Club. The kids will be in heaven with all the arts, crafts, music, and pictures with the Easter Bunny himself. This year even features a teen-centered Great Flashlight Hunt the night before for my own two “I’m not REALLY too old for this” teenagers.


After such a fun day for the Kansas kids, and a relaxing weekend for their parents, I’ll plan out a few day trips around Redmond showing off all the parks, including Marymoor Park and its climbing wall and all the great play fields there. We might even be able to watch a soccer or baseball tournament, as Redmond is one of the most popular places around to hold sporting events. Another afternoon will be filled with a delicious picnic at Idylwood Beach Park and a walk through Redmond enjoying all the inspiring displays of renowned local artist, Tony Angell. His displays are all over Redmond – at the library and along the Sammamish River Trail, to name just a few locations.


It’s hard to believe that I’ve got all of this packed into four short days, but with so much going on in my amazing hometown of Redmond I want to show it all off. I’ve been trying to convince my sister to move west for years and I’m hoping this trip will have her falling in love with Redmond just as we did - with the added benefit of proving to Puxatawny Phil that spring really has sprung after all.

Redmond named as Best Place To Raise Your Kids (in Washington) by Business Week

Redmond has achieved the status of being named "one of the best places to raise your children" (in the US) per Business Week's 2010 poll.

Working alonside OnBoard Informatics, a New York area provider of real estate analysis, Business Week decided to select one town and two runners-up for each of the 50 states, limiting selection to towns that have at least 45,000 residents and a median income of between $40,000 and $125,000. Additional data included in the study included school performance, number of schools, household expenditures, crime rates, air quality, job growth, family income, museums, parks, theaters, other amenities, and diversity.

The chosen "best city" in Washington, is our beloved Redmond. We're very proud and, frankly, not surprised. We know WE love it here.

New Traditions

Sometimes the best things come from stressful events. My family learned that last year during the big “power outage 2008”. Last years power outage had us spending part of our December in one of Redmond’s hotels, and then discovering one of the best local traditions that we never knew about. This year, our family decided that our Redmond winter 2008 was so much fun that this year we should continue every aspect of that new tradition – but with a twist. We decided to try a new hotel every year. This year we checked into Redmond’s newest hotel, Hotel Sierra.

For those unfamiliar, Redmond has five great hotels that are consistently offering package promotions. No matter what time of year it is, you can find a great hotel promotion built around something perfect for you.

For our weekend at Hotel Sierra were pleased to discover that it is within an easy walk of Redmond Town Center. This was perfect as our weekend was centered on Redmond Lights, Redmond Town Center and holiday shopping.

Friday afternoon we checked into the Sierra, awed by its beauty and entranced by the promise of an indoor swim and a comforting whirlpool relaxation session later in the day. Knowing in advance that the rooms offered kitchenettes (swanky kitchenettes, at that!) we brought in snacks and cold drinks to revitalize ourselves during shopping excursions.

After dinner out at The Matador we headed back to the hotel to drop the kids off at Redmond Town Center for a movie, while hubby and I checked out the in-hotel bar and lounge. Our mellow night was rounded out by a nice long soak in the hotel’s whirlpool by the indoor pool.

After a delightful and filling continental breakfast (one of the Sierra's perks), the family and I headed over to Redmond Town Center to kick off our holiday shopping. We all split up, promising to meet back at the Desert Fire restaurant for lunch. If you have not been to Redmond Town Center before, let me fill you in on this jewel in the Eastside’s crown. There are more shops here than you can possibly go through in one day. From chic house wares stores to cute boutique clothing shops and beyond, there were stores here that suited everyone on my shopping list (and even a few that suited...well, me). I could have easily shopped all day long, but knowing that Redmond Lights started at 3pm, I needed to get my loot back to the hotel and meet the family for lunch.

Desert Fire is a good choice for a local lunch. It’s consistently good food, great portions, helpful staff – and lucky for us, in Redmond Town Center. Knowing we didn’t want to stray too far from the action that was promised that afternoon, we were comfortably fed at lunch, and went back to the hotel to rest a while.

By 3pm, we were ready to get to Redmond Lights. Even though we’d been last year, we were still awed by the sheer number of people that turn out for this local event. There is an amazing amount of things to do, see and hear at Redmond Lights. From the local bands playing, the arts/crafts, to the carolers, the entire experience leaves you in amazing sprits. Although all of us in my family usually want to go different things at the same time, we can all agree on a few areas. For instance, the lighted walk along the Sammamish River trail is both relaxing and energizing, and something we love to do together as a family. The quiet solitude of the lights is beautifully offset by the uplifting spirit of the music. Moreover, if the beauty of the scenery doesn’t astound you the cool night air will. But even the cold is the perfect compliment to the event. It really feels like the beginning of the winter season.

As usual, we wrapped up our night with a big late dinner out at Pomegranate Bistro – a family favorite and headed back to the hotel for another dip in the pool and nightcap in the lounge. Once our Redmond weekend is over, we really feel like we can jump into the winter season – decorating, sending out holiday cards, and planning parties. But our weekend in Redmond will always be the beginning of our holiday season, and we owe this newfound tradition to a power outage.

It's been almost a week since we stayed at the Sierra and enjoyed the music and memories of Redmond Lights together. And although I'm already starting to feel the stresses of this winter season lie heavily on my calendar, all I have to do is close my eyes and I can feel the whirpool at the hotel and see the luminaries of the river walk and remind myself that next years Redmond Lights is only 357 days away.

BOO! It’s a scary Hallo-weekend in Redmond.

It’s hard to believe that Fall is upon us once again and 2009 will soon be only a memory. As a child I trick or treated throughout the neighborhoods of Redmond – trying to avoid those houses that repeatedly gave out raisins or pencils, and doubling back to the houses that handed out the king size Butterfingers and KitKats. Now that I am a mother, I see the fall season just a little differently, though I still long for a king size candy bar now and then.

Fall is not just about candy and costumes, but also about appreciating the changing of the leaves, the crisp air, the preparations for winter, and spending time with your loved ones. When I start feeling nostalgic, I know it’s time to enjoy some fun events and plan a family weekend. I’ve spent quite a few years enjoying all the fall activities and events in Redmond. This year holds some oldies but goodies, and some great new fun experiences for young, old and in between.

Who doesn’t love a Zombie dance? On the weekend before Halloween, in cities throughout the world, there are Zombie Block Parties. This year, the Redmond Zombies will be out as they attempt to break the world record for simultaneous dance. Starting late in the afternoon, the Zombie Block Party promises a good time, great music, fun food and the biggest simultaneous “Thriller” dance that Redmond, and hopefully the world, has ever seen. I can’t wait to try this one out!

Want to do something a little different this year? Me too. With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, I’m planning a Hallo-weekend in Redmond for my family. Friday night we’ll be checking in to one of Redmond’s great hotels (see their current specials I’m taking advantage of). Early that evening, I’ll begin the fun for all of us when I drop my teenage mutant off at The Old Firehouse. He’ll be attending the pre-Halloween Monster Mosh while the rest of us finish preparing our costumes at one of my favorite local costume shops. At the Monster Mosh he’ll dance to some great local bands, hang out with friends, and get a chance to have his first “grown up” Halloween party with the ghouls of his choice.

On Halloween day we’ll start the morning off with a hearty breakfast and head over to either Serres or South 47 farms for a fun hayride and walk through the corn maze. Both farms produce seasonal fruits and veggies that are and delicious, and there’s no better place to get the feeling of the fall season in your own backyard. Later we’ll head out for a late lunch and a movie.

As a mom, I have to multi-task. Since I have some shopping to do for my date night later that evening, my little one will enjoy her Trick or Treat time while I find that just right dress for my evening out. I’ve found no safer or easier way to take my little ghoul out for some candy grabbing action than at Redmond Town Center merchants Trick or Treat event. And Mommy gets some girly time on the side.

Since the teenage mutant in our family needs to spend some quality time with his ghastly buddies, we’ll take him over The Old Firehouse again for “El Dia De Los Muertos”. Starting mid evening, he’ll be getting a fun lesson in history while they create sugar skulls, altars and and eat traditional foods and treats of this centuries-old celebration.

Later that evening, Hubby and I can leave our darling zombie children at the hotel with a spooky movie while we head out for a dinner. This year we have booked a table at Redmond’s Pomegranate Bistro where we’ll dine on our favorite fall treats. Later we can take a walk through town and crunch leaves under our feet and hold hands to stay warm.

All in all, our family has planned for a lot of new memories in our Hallo-weekend. I hope I have given you some great ideas to plan yours. I hope that like me, you get more candy than raisins in your bag this year. Happy Halloween, everyone.

Derby Days Staycation 2009

My daughters and I are festival fanatics and staycation experts. So this year, at the last minute, we decided that our July 2009 “staycation” would coincide with Redmond’s Derby Days, a festival we’ve made it a point to hit for the last five years in a row. Redmond calls itself the bicycle capital of the NW and if the turnout at Derby Days was any indication, they are quite right.

Friday evening I picked up the kids from summer day camp, headed home to throw some weekend essentials in a bag and headed out to Redmond to check in at the Redmond Inn. This hotel is just south east of the downtown core of Redmond and is in a quiet and convenient spot. I was delighted to find an overflowing over-the-shoulder cooler from the management welcoming me to town for Derby Days. It was filled with some high tech aluminum water bottles, tasty snacks and more. Not only was I impressed by the service, but I was surprised by the cool factor of the gift. It really was a very cool bag that I will use frequently.

Although the room was nice and cool already, we decided this was the perfect time for a quick swim. We all threw on our swim gear and kicked our Friday evening off to a great start with a dip in the hotel pool. Though on the smaller side, it suited three gregarious children quite nicely. Other guests joined us as well and it turned into quite a fun little party.

Next, the kids and I decided to head over to the Derby Days concert, which, by then, was in full swing. The Beatniks are a Seattle must-see and one of our personal favorites. So, of course, we danced and sang along to many of the songs. By sunset, three little girls needed some quiet time and we returned to our room at the Redmond Inn.

Redmond Inn’s Kings suite with 2 beds was roomy, with comfortable beds, a nice bathroom, vanity, desk and television, plus wireless internet for those adults (like me) who can’t seem to stop working, even during a staycation. As the kids zoned out on TV for a while, I finished some work, browsed the web and relaxed. We woke up the next more relaxed, refreshed and ready for breakfast.

The hotel also provided us with a complimentary breakfast at the Family Pancake House next door. Quickly seated, we placed our orders – and were treated really well. The Family Pancake House, or as some repeat diners referred to it –FPH, has a very extensive breakfast menu, great service, a fine cup of coffee and very affordable prices.

Back at the hotel, the girls and I packed up our light bags effortlessly and checked out of the hotel. Even at checkout, the staff at Redmond Inn was efficient and thoughtful, offering to help us with our minimal luggage.

We headed over to Derby Days straight away. Parking was incredibly easy to find that early in the morning and we watched the parade participants practicing. It was fascinating to see all the work the vendors go through to get their booths ready. It really made me appreciate the festival from an entirely different angle.

We officially started our morning at this years combined parade. It was amusing watching all the children on their decorated bicycles. So many Redmond businesses and organizations were represented in the parade as well. Our favorites were (in no particular order) the jazzercise dance group; the KCLS “wizards”; the Seahawks mascot, Blitz; McGruff, the crime dog; and the pirates (Argh!).

First things first: The booths. The kids are a sucker for a great booth with fun giveaways. First stop were the Redmond booths. Paint the Township Redmond was offering an amazing airbrushed tattoo, so much better than the regular face painting you normally see at such festivals. Free water bottles, a wine corkscrew (for Mom) and cute flower shaped suckers got us off to a great start. We moved on to the other vendors – many of which used the “spin the wheel, win a prize” tactic. The kids scored a lot of free candy.

With the children now hopped up on a major sugar high it was a great opportunity to take them to the blow up houses to burn off some of that energy. I was able to relax in some shade while they bounced for an hour.

Next stop was food. From great Indian food and Asian choices to your basic hot dog and burgers, there was something for everyone in the family. We also stopped by the PCC Kids Pick mobile booth for some delicious tastes of their healthy options for kids.

The entertainment at the Microsoft stage was a delightful background for the gorgeous summer day. No matter where you were at Derby Days, you could still appreciate the sounds of whoever was on stage at the time.

Somewhere around 2pm that afternoon the major portion of Derby Days began – the bicycle race. It’s always so fun to watch these amateur and professional racers prepare for the beginning of the race, and nothing is more exciting than the starting gun and the determined strength of the riders as they begin the fight to stay in first place. Though our young family has yet to stay through the end of the race I’m really looking forward to the day that I can see the winners face as they cross the finish line.

Just before dinnertime on Saturday, we were all very hot and tired and decided to stop for the day. Overall, I was very impressed with the service and rooms at the Redmond Inn, the relaxing breakfast at the Family Pancake House and the packed day at Derby Days. This is a staycation that has now become a family tradition.

The Perfect Family Easter Event - Eggstravaganza

For those of you who might be in Redmond this Saturday, April 11th, here's an Easter event to check out: The 13th annual Eggstravaganza at the Redmond Senior Center.

This event is so much fun. Kicking off your day with a pancake feed with a group of supercharged kids is always a blast. All of the kids are keyed up for the egg hunt, which starts at 10am, and the adults (or as I like to call them, “Super Tall Kids”) are equally as excited. I know I usually have to hold myself back from joining the hunt, and I can see myself on every parents face. It’s events like this that bring back such incredible memories from childhood. Seeing the kids really get into all the arts and crafts, face painting, and discovering that there really is an Easter Bunny makes dealing with the inevitable sugar high well worth it.

The Redmond "Eggstravaganza" really knows how to put on a great event fit for the entire family. They provide a pancake feed at 8am and 10am, which makes it easy for just about everyone to get there, eat great food, and participate in all the fun. Even better, this event is completely affordable with prices a staggeringly cheap $5 to $7 – and that includes breakfast! And it’s totally worth the extra $3 donation to make the memories last longer to get a photo of your child with the Easter Bunny.

You’ll definitely see me there this Saturday. Just watch for the syrup covered, face painted Mom who looks like she wants to find some eggs of her own.

Spring Is Around The Corner

Is that the Sun? A Pacific Northwest morning arrives crisp and clean with brilliant blue skies overhead and the promises of spring underfoot. The sun is a welcome sight after four months of snow, snow, rain, snow, wind, snow and more snow. I find myself already making plans to take advantage of the longer days and warmer weather ahead.

While these plans invariably include weeding and mulching lonely flowerbeds, trimming rose bushes, and shopping for new garden gnomes, my plans always include breaking out my outdoor gear. In fact, I spent this morning tuning up my bicycle to include new tires, brake and shift cables, and installing new reflectors. Given the brief window of opportunity the weather affords during this season of intermittent weather I need to be ready to hit the trails at a moments notice.

What better place to grab those moments than in Redmond? One of my favorite relaxed rides is the Sammamish River Trail. It follows the Sammamish River from Marymoor Park to Woodinville, making it an almost 20 mile round trip. The views from the trail are spectacular and varied, including the snow-capped Cascade Mountains, majestic Mount Rainier, and of course the breathtaking Sammamish Valley. The trail gets a lot of use, which is part of the fun; bicyclists, skaters, walkers, joggers, and even the occasional horse and rider all share the same path.

With all that to offer, it’s the short “off-trail” excursions that make this trail an absolute local favorite, including both the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery and the Redhook Brewery. Easing onto the Bear Creek Trail just north of Marymoor, I can satisfy my well-earned hunger at one of Redmond Town Center’s many eateries, or grab a new book and slow down the pace for a while with a coffee and good story.

Another great destination is the Redmond Puget Power Trail, which is just over three miles long and leads to Farrel McWhirter Park. The park is a great jumping off point for the Watershed Preserve Trails where I stop and take in the splendor of the lilies in Beaver Pond. The Watershed Preserve Trails are a system of multi-use trails that include an ADA accessible boardwalk known as Tree Frog Loop.

On more adventurous days I’ve taken the Sammamish River Trail north to Blyth Park in Bothell to ride the Burke-Gilman Trail. It’s easy to lose myself on this wide and winding path as I cruise through Seattle neighborhoods with the rare street crossing to slow my momentum. On more than one occasion I’ve ended up in downtown Seattle, phone in hand, trying to find a friend willing to make the drive to Gasworks Park for a late lunch and a lift home.

Though I am a native of Redmond, every year I find new areas of my own backyard to discover and treasure. The trail system in Redmond is a great starting point for local adventure. With the days getting longer and the temperature rising it won’t be long before I’m back on two wheels exploring the great Pacific Northwest. Perhaps we’ll meet on the trails.