With more than 20,000 attendees recorded in 2010, Aki Matsuri, held this year Sept. 10-11 at Bellevue College, has blossomed. It’s now the region’s largest Japanese gathering, along with Seattle’s Japanese Cherry Blossom festival.
The Bellevue Reporter sat down with Superintendent Amalia Cudeiro to discuss the start of school next week, Sept. 6, and important topics in the school district.
The Bellevue School District and the Bellevue Education Association (BEA) reached a tentative agreement today on a new contract to start the 2011-2012 school year. The agreement comes one week before the start of school and means classes will start on Sept. 6 as scheduled.
Weekly arts roundup Sept. 2-11
Traveling in Europe, Jan Lawrence noticed an interesting trend: People take more time to savor the moment – whether it’s on a leisurely stroll or treating oneself to an espresso and croissant in the morning.
The cafes throughout Europe stay open all day, offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and wine offerings at night.
Nine months ago, these European customs would inspire Lawrence to open ViaVita – a cafe, restaurant and wine bar in downtown Bellevue.
A fact-finder has been called in to help negotiations between the Bellevue School District and Bellevue Education Association.
Out & About activities for Aug. 27 – Sept. 6
Tomoshibi means small light in Japanese, and for 21 years, that’s exactly what the Tomoshibi library provided for the Japanese community in Bellevue.
Until it ceased operation last May, the library was a beacon for new immigrants finding their way in the U.S., a place to meet new people, read books and speak their native language.
Now, volunteers behind the Tomoshibi Library hope to revive the community hub at the Jubilee REACH Center run by the Jubilee Church. Volunteers hope to raise $45,000 to make the move.
Friday, Aug. 26 is girl’s night out during the Bachelorette Fashion Show at the Sky Ultra Lounge.
With the beginning of school only a few weeks away, Bellevue’s school district and teachers’ association are still working with a state mediator to find a compromise on terms for a new contract.
Surprising facts about the opera, theater, ballet, museums
Weekly arts roundup
Gallery by the Bay is once again will present a garden show of art Aug. 26-28. Friends, fans and patrons of the arts are invited to the annual “Art in the Garden” show at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
This year, Taste of Main is noon – 5 p.m., Aug. 20 on Main Street in Old Bellevue. With the purchase of $40 passport for adults (suggested donation for children’s entry), includes a swag bag of goodies, a sampling of food and drink from the various restaurants on Main Street, and access to sales, giveaways, and wine tasting from local businesses.
This Friday may call for a rare manicure, and certainly, getting dressed to the nines. After all, I’m going to see my first-ever opera, “Porgy and Bess” at Seattle Opera.
The show received rave reviews from esteemed critics and news outlets, including my grandma, who enthusiastically reported back that the three-hour, $15 stand (Seattle Opera’s equivalent of the cheap seats … the cheap stand?) was worth it.
A new school and language programs are included in Bellevue School District’s 2011-2012 budget, despite hefty federal and state budget cuts.
A pair of old sneakers dangling from a telephone wire, suspended above a concrete parking lot. This may seem a bit mundane of a scene for an art subject.
But for painter Brian Forrest, it’s a muse. Conveyed on a canvas, the scene becomes an expressionist’s view of a yellow building, sandwiched between two textured blue planes – the sky above and the parking lot below.
In my year or so of working for Reporter newspapers, I’ve found that our Eastside community is a colorful one. I’m talking about diversity. Diverse|City is my attempt to fairly and accurately cover race, diversity, cultures and traditions here on the Eastside and in the Pacific Northwest. So, as my jichan (grandpa) would say in true multicultural fashion, konnichiwa, ya’ll. Check back here each week to stay fresh on the diversity beat.
In his former life as President of Quadrant Homes, Stephen Dennis attended meetings, interacting with people constantly and hardly slowed down to take a break. Now, the retired Bellevue resident writes novels, often in the peace and quiet of his cabin on Whidbey Island.
In fact, BAM’s artsfair was recently ranked as one of the top 100 fairs in the nation. Now in its 65th year, the fair BAM Artsfair is packed with community programs for all ages; including a giant chalk mural for children; an impressive lineup of independent artists from across the nation and varied exhibitions.
