Monday, November 27, 2023
Redmond Lights Holiday Haiku - Michael Dylan Welch
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Spectacular "Spectra at Marymoor" Apartments
click photo to enlarge |
click photo to enlarge |
click photo to enlarge |
click photo to enlarge |
Saturday, September 30, 2023
Tendril Pat Receives Humanities Washington Award.
Tendril Pat |
"Tonight I received the 2023 Humanities Washington Award, the Highest Award in Washington state for Public Humanities . This award recognizes my contributions over the years to Living traditional Arts and folk life in the state of Washington.
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Mayor Birney's Story: "Bike Days in Redmond"
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Saturday, September 2, 2023
Redmond Rainbow Crosswalk
Beautiful art! But don't stare down at it when you're in the crosswalk. Drivers may get distracted and not recognize it's a crosswalk. |
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Redmond Town Center's Heron Art
Saturday, April 1, 2023
Nature Beckons With a Double Rainbow and Hail Shower
This double rainbow photograph was taken by a friend on Sunday at Cottage Lake and confirmed by my next door neighbor. On the same day we experienced ~ 20 minute hail shower. It came out of the blue!
Thursday, March 2, 2023
EVENT: "APex Artist Reception" at Victor's this Sunday, March 5th, 2:30-4:30
Marco Coady's "APex Art Corner" at Victor's (click picture to enlarge it) |
Monday, January 16, 2023
UPDATED OPINION, 2/23/23: Redmond Town Center's New Owner Proposes Amendments Allowing 12-Story Buildings
Imagining a new town center |
OPINION: It's all so confusing and I'm still unclear. The new owner of Redmond Town Center, Fairbourne Properties, is proposing "zone text amendments" that would allow two 12-story buildings on his property in exchange for "public benefits" such as, affordable housing, environmental stewardship, and business diversity (eg. retail retail, retail; restaurants, entrepreneurs, recreation, small business, commercial, The benefits are vague and Council is working to clarify them.
A partial summary of the proposed amendments appear as follows:
1) Increase maximum height to 12-stories through an incentive program of 3 extra levels for above grade parking per building, electric bike space and decent pedestrian lighting.
2) One amendment involves the owner offering "exceptional amenities" for additional height. I crave colorful, covered plazas and courtyards, eclectic and cultural artworks, sustainable-public-rooftop-patios-with-pristine-views, public spaces for daycare and pets, and above all else, well lit performing arts spaces welcoming and entertaining all, including commercial and retail employees. Pickleball is a craze and rooftop courts to activate the Center are being looked at.
3) It's my understanding, the final amendment, if passed, could expand "Town Center Mixed Use" into certain parcels along Bear Creek Parkway; serviced by an office gateway. The expansion plan is unclear; and it may never happen.
-- Bob Yoder, Opinion, 1/30/2023, Updated 2/22/23, Resident of Redmond, WA.
SOURCES:
Council "Planning and Public Works" Committee of the Whole memo, 1/3/2023, excerpted and edited. Unfortunately, the city red-lined this memo.
City Council memo, 1/17/2023 - discusses privately initiated text amendments.
FAIRBOURNE Properties (owner)
Hines, RTC owner's consultant and outreach arm. (Patrick Woodruff is the Hines lead; he's local and enthusiastically seeking ALL opinions and feedback.)
Engage with the community and the owner HERE)
Carol Helland, Director of Planning and Community Development. (Ask for Ms. Helland's contact information at info@redmond.gov or Mayor@redmond.gov)
Arnold Tomac, Past President Redmond City Council, a Town Center founder, and co-founder of the Ped/Bike Advisory Committee. Arnie's BIO.
-- Bob Yoder, 2/23/23
Saturday, December 10, 2022
"Redmond Lights" Redux
Pam and Zo at popular art installation (click pic to find Zo) |
It was a blustery, cold and very rainy night but we went Redmond Lights anyway. A friend was working a booth and asked me to come. Pam and Zo tagged along too but they were not a happy puppies.
There wasn't much new: Same five light installations. Relatively scant residents, and fun music on the pavillion. Unfortunately, food trucks don't have much room for parking at the downtown park. We did see an espresso wagon and ice-cream van. Sounds silly, but the colorful restroom lights fit in well with the show.
-- Bob Yoder, 12/10/2022, opinion
Friday, December 2, 2022
Awesome Art Planned For Redmond Lights, "Luminary Walk" Goes by the Wayside
Michael Dylan Welch was a Redmond Poet In Residence |
"Thank you for your inquiry on Redmond Lights. This year’s Redmond Lights will consist of a month-long celebration of light and art in Redmond’s Downtown Park from December 1 – January 4. Enjoy art and light installations every night from 5 – 11 p.m. and Friday night celebrations Dec. 2, 9, 16 from 6 – 9 p.m. This does not include a luminary walk like past Redmond Light Celebrations. For more information on Redmond Lights art installations and Friday night celebrations, please visit Redmond Lights | Redmond, WA."
-- Redmond Customer Service, 12/2/2022
Comment/ Bob Yoder:
Judging by the site map it appears all the outdoor art is installed in the Downtown park. Find descriptions of the art elsewhere on the site or probably by QR code.
The Luminary Walk first started under Mayor Rosemarie Ive's Administration decades ago. I'm assuming the Walk was cancelled owing to Senior and Community Center construction.
-- posted by B. Yoder
Monday, October 31, 2022
Utility-Box-Art -Wraps On Leary, the City Can Do Better
from sidewalk |
facing Leary Way |
Info on the artist can be found on the Cultural Art web pages -- Arts & Culture | Redmond, WA
and our communications team is working on some stories and posts coming soon. We will also be adding signage next to the boxes in the coming months.
The artists were paid $250 each.
-- Photos and opinion by Bob Yoder, 10/31/2022
click on the photos to enlarge
Sunday, September 11, 2022
"Lyrical Currents," A Poetic Map of Redmond and the Sammamish River
Redmond's Poet Laureate, Laura Da' created this lyrical nature walk through the downtown natural, cultural and historical places of Redmond. QR Code will open the map guiding you through five special places.
Laura Da' is a poet and teacher. A lifetime resident of the Pacific Northwest, Da' studied creative writing at the University of Washington and this Institute of American Indian Arts. She is Eastern Shawnee. Da' lives near Seattle with her husband and son.
To take the tour, on your phone, click on the small Google square next to the microphone symbol, hover over the QR code and click on it as if taking a picture.
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
Thursday, August 4, 2022
"Water Lily Impressions" by Lynn Colwell
"Water Lily Impressions" by Lynn Colwell |
Thursday, July 7, 2022
11th Annual Redmond Arts Festival
Redmond Town Center, 2022 |
VALA Eastside and Redmond Town Center are excited to gather artists, craftspeople, and designers for the 11th Annual Redmond Arts Festival at Redmond Town Center. This two-day outdoor festival takes place July 8th-9th, 2022, and features approximately 60 artist booths, a community art project, and live entertainment. The festival is produced in conjunction with Redmond’s annual Derby Days celebration at Redmond City Hall which features a parade, music, food, and kids' activities, and has an expected combined attendance of over 15,000 people. The entire City of Redmond is activated with art and festivities on these days.
ARTS FESTIVAL DATES/TIMES
Friday, July 8th 12pm-8pm
Saturday, July 9th 12pm-8pm
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Saturday, March 26, 2022
"Art and Memory" Exhibition
Exhibition on Display March 1st - 31st at VALA Art Center, 8020 161st Ave NE, #104, Redmond
Sunday, March 6, 2022
Redmond Historical Society Office And Displays Are Open!
Schedule a meeting to see the office and displays
Halee Turner, Redmond Historical Society's Administrative and Collections Manager. |
One of our favorite displays was Redmond's chicken industry. The society mapped each farm, and there were many. As I remember, some of the farmland was sold to Microsoft. The posters were very interesting.
Probably, the most cherished and fascinating exhibit was of wood sculptor Dudley Carter. View the intriguing film clip, see some special pictures of him, you'll be amazed! Do you see the animal art he carved into this log? Hint: click both pics!
Dudley Carter art is displayed in the office. |
-- Bob Yoder, 3/6/2022