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Arts in the Garden Artist Steve Hopkins The 16th annual Arts in the Garden will take place at the Bellevue Botanical Garden from August 22–24, 2025. The three-day event features 27 artists, live music, and local food trucks. Admission is free. Premium parking will be available onsite for $10, and free parking will be offered at Wilburton Hill Park. Event hours are Friday, August 22, from 12 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, August 23, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, August 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Artists include Amanda Sarah Metals, Bedrock Industries, Forest Green Enterprises, Mad Mosaics, Katy LaReau Glass, and Wishpoosh Design. Artworks range from copper and recycled glass pieces to mosaics, concrete sculptures, and kiln-formed glass and wood designs. Live music is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. The Bellevue Ukesters will perform on Saturday, August 23, from 1 to 2 p.m., and Take Seventeen will perform on Sunday, August 24, from 12 to 2 p.m. Food trucks will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Saturday, vendors include MoMo’s Kebab and El Koreano. On Sunday, MoMo’s Kebab will return along with Taco Cortes.

Photo Credit: Bellevue Police Department The Bellevue Police Department is featured in the latest episode of the popular children’s program Blippi, giving millions of young viewers an inside look at local law enforcement. Titled “Blippi Meets Police Heroes & Their K9 Dog!”, the episode introduces Blippi’s 25.5 million subscribers to some of the tools officers use daily to keep Bellevue safe. The segment includes a jiujitsu demonstration, tours of a police car and motorcycle, and an introduction to Kole, one of the department’s three K9 officers. “It was a pleasure to welcome Blippi to the Bellevue Police Department, because this agency takes great pride showing community members of all ages how officers keep this city safe,” said Bellevue Police Chief Wendell Shirley. The episode, filmed in mid-May, premiered on August 9. As of publication, the 10-minute video has received more than 159,000 views. The Bellevue Police Department’s feature on Blippi highlights its broader focus on community outreach, guided by its Prevention, Intervention, and Enforcement (P.I.E.) philosophy.

Photo Credit: Northwest Chocolate Festival The Northwest Chocolate Festival is returning to Bellevue for its 17th year, bringing together over 100 artisan chocolate makers from more than 30 countries. This event will take place on October 4 and 5, 2025, at the Meydenbauer Center. Attendees can sample a wide variety of chocolate offerings, including milk and dark chocolates, truffles, bonbons, caramels, and drinking chocolate. The festival features tastings, chef demonstrations, and workshops as part of the Cacao & Chocolate Education Program. All workshops are included with the festival pass. A highlight of the 2025 festival is the inaugural Women in Chocolate Business Summit on October 3, 2025. This one-day conference will focus on leadership and innovation by women in the craft chocolate industry, featuring keynotes, expert panels, and networking opportunities. Tickets are available for early access, single-day, and weekend passes, all of which include access to tastings and programming. The Northwest Chocolate Festival is recognized as one of the best chocolate shows in the world and is a must-visit for chocolate enthusiasts. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the official website at nwchocolate.com. Photo Credit: Northwest Chocolate Festival

Photo Credit: Sound Transit The opening of the full East Link Extension, connecting Seattle’s light rail system to the Eastside, has been pushed back again. The new target date is April 25, 2026, according to Sound Transit’s June 2025 System Expansion Monthly Status Report. The agency had previously projected an early 2026 start with a potential January 16 opening date. Earlier timelines targeted late 2025. The delay affects the segment of the 2 Line that crosses Lake Washington via I-90, including new stations at Judkins Park and Mercer Island. These stations were most recently expected to open in early 2026. Sound Transit cites ongoing construction work, additional testing and training requirements, and time needed to resolve remaining issues as reasons for the postponement. The 14-mile East Link Extension includes 10 stations stretching from Seattle’s International District to Judkins Park, across I-90 to Mercer Island and South Bellevue, through downtown Bellevue and the Bel-Red area, and ending at Redmond Technology Station. A phased opening approach was approved by the Sound Transit Board in August 2023. The first phase, between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology Station, began service on April 27, 2024, with stops at East Main, Bellevue Downtown, Wilburton, Spring District/130th, Overlake Village, and Redmond Technology. An additional 3.4 miles of track and two more stations, Marymoor Village and Downtown Redmond, opened on May 10, 2025, as part of the Downtown Redmond Link Extension. Once complete, the 2 Line will connect the Eastside to Seattle’s 1 Line via the I-90 floating bridge and provide access to the Operations and Maintenance Facility East in Bellevue, supporting more frequent service and future expansion toward Federal Way. Sound Transit said it remains committed to meeting quality and reliability standards before opening the remaining segment.

Photo Credit: Mendocino Farms Mendocino Farms has officially opened its newest location in Downtown Bellevue. Situated at 10667 Northeast 4th Street, the fast-casual eatery offers a diverse menu featuring salads, sandwiches, and soups. Highlights include half sandwich combos paired with a deli side or soup, sandwiches like the “Not So Fried” chicken, vegan Bahn Mi, and turkey avocado salsa verde, plus kid-friendly options like crispy chicken tenders and pepperoni pizza melt. Salad choices range from kale and apple rainbow to Thai mango, while soups feature lemon chicken & farro and corn & hatch chile. This Downtown Bellevue location is the third Mendocino Farms spot to open on the Eastside, joining existing locations in Totem Lake and Redmond. The company also operates locations in Seattle’s South Lake Union and Downtown Seattle at Rainier Square. The South Lake Union location was the first in Washington, opened in response to demand from the brand’s fan base. Mendocino Farms’ dedication to supporting local farmers and communities shines through in its ever-evolving menu, especially in the creative offerings found in the Chef’s Selection. The new restaurant is located in a newly constructed pavilion on the same property as the Key Bank building, positioned directly in front of it. The space spans 3,137 square feet, providing ample room for diners to enjoy their meals. Photo Credit: Mendocino Farms Photo Credit: Mendocino Farms Photo Credit: Mendocino Farms

Downtown Bellevue City Skyline With Bellevue Downtown Park The City of Bellevue is partnering with Govstream.ai to test new artificial intelligence tools aimed at making the permitting process faster, easier, and more consistent. The goal is to help staff manage applications more efficiently, reduce wait times, and support housing and economic development as the city continues to grow. The pilot program is part of a public-private design partnership in which Govstream.ai develops AI tools and the city tests them in real-world use. In this first phase, the AI acts as a “smart assistant” for permitting staff, connecting to building codes, maps, and other resources. This allows staff to quickly find accurate information and guide customers through complex requirements, helping to improve both speed and consistency. “This partnership reflects our vision as a city where people want to be,” said City Manager Diane Carlson. “The initiative will help reduce the turnaround time and complexity of permit applications—an objective Bellevue has prioritized for several years. We think it will reduce headaches for residents and staff alike.” Govstream.ai’s platform uses city data, records, and application history to give step-by-step guidance, aiming to make the permitting process clearer and more predictable. “Bellevue’s forward-thinking approach shows how thoughtful AI can boost staff capacity, elevate customer service, and advance housing goals,” said Safouen Rabah, CEO of Govstream.ai. The project includes safeguards to ensure AI is used ethically and responsibly, protecting data privacy, preventing bias, and promoting fairness. If the pilot is successful, future phases could explore ways to simplify the application process even further and speed up the initial review of submissions. Once all phases are complete, the city will decide whether to make the tools a regular part of its permitting process.

Photo Credit: Bellevue School District The Bellevue School District is moving forward with $20 million in budget cuts for the 2025–26 school year as it works to address ongoing financial shortfalls. Superintendent Dr. Kelly Aramaki outlined the district’s fiscal situation during the August 7, 2025 school board meeting, citing years of operating costs exceeding revenue and a steady depletion of cash reserves. Since 2018, the district has consistently spent more than it has brought in—about $10 million more per year since the COVID-19 pandemic—draining reserves below the 5% minimum required by board policy. Factors include rising costs, increased student needs, and what Aramaki described as inadequate state funding. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has placed the district on its financial warning list. In recent years, the district has cut over $20 million from its budget, closing two elementary schools, consolidating operations, reducing central office staff, and scaling back programs. Despite these measures, expenses have continued to outpace revenue. The $20 million in new cuts—up from an earlier estimate of $16 million—are needed after the district was only able to achieve about $6 million in reductions this year, short of its $10 million target. The upcoming cuts are expected to eliminate between 150 and 170 positions, about 7% of staff. The spending reduction plan was developed with community input and parameters set by the school board, and was first formally proposed on February 6, 2025. The district says the goal is to “right-size” spending and restore financial stability. Enrollment has rebounded to pre-pandemic 2020 levels, thanks to expanded programs and outreach, but the district will end the 2024–25 school year with a negative fund balance after using reserves to fill state funding gaps. On July 10, the district entered “binding conditions” with OSPI, giving it access to proceeds from surplus property sales to rebuild reserves. The school board recently approved the sale of $30 million in surplus property, with the transaction expected to close by spring 2027. Additional revenue from increased local levy authority will begin in 2026, adding $5 million per year initially and $10 million annually in later years, but officials say this will not fully solve structural funding problems. Aramaki emphasized that ongoing annual cuts will be necessary to keep spending within revenue until the state addresses underlying funding issues. He praised community support, highlighting a recent $45,000 donation from Bellevue Lifespring to pay off student meal debt ahead of the new school year.