Last Chance: Vote for the Best of Downtown Bellevue

This is your last week to vote for the Best of Downtown Bellevue Haute Picks. In spirit of picking the "best of," we thought we'd share our Downtown Bellevue Network picks for these awards:

Best Coffee Spot: Starbucks at the Lodge
Best Happy Hour: The Parlor Billiards and Spirits
Best cocktail: Vertigo Viagra
Best Power Lunch: Manzana
Best Lunch Under $10: Chipotle
Best Workout Spot: Elite Fitness Bellevue
Best Romantic Dinner: Vertigo Lounge & Grill
Best Place for a Mani/Pedi: Gene Juarez
Best Casual Business Meeting Spot: Wintergarden @ Hyatt Hotel
Best Massage: Massage Center Bellevue
Best Haircut: Obadiah Salon
Best Sweet Tooth Fix: Red Mango
Best Wine List: Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar
Best Wine Retailer: Vino 100
Best Boutique: Rag Men's Style
Best Seafood Restaurant: Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar
Best Steakhouse: Daniel's Broiler
Best Place for a First Date: 520 Bar & Grill
Best Place to See and Be Seen: Lucky Strike Lanes
Best Uniquely Bellevue Experience: Bellevue Collection

Ask Lea: Spring Fashion Forward

Lea,
I’m really good at the whole cold weather sweater, trench, boots thing, but I just feel lost when it comes to warmer weather! I feel like a fashion “faux-pa” with my bucket hat and cargo pants on. Where can I shop in the Bellevue area that will get me headed in the right direction?
- Frightened by Fashion


Dear Frightened by Fashion,

Just hearing that you’re ready to whip out your “bucket hat” gives me chills up my spine! I’m by no means a self-proclaimed celebrity stylist or anything, but I do know what to do (and not to do) when it comes to seasonal fashion. Downtown Bellevue has a plethora of shopping from boutiques and specialty stores to Nordstrom and Macy’s.

This spring you want to choose bright colors. Canary Yellow, Royal Purple, Kelly Green, Dodger Blue, and Hot Pink are all great colors for this spring. The brighter the better, so store away all of your deep browns and olives.

Floral prints, stripes, and global-inspired prints are very in this spring. This doesn’t mean you’re allowed to dig out your mother’s old flower-print hippie blouse, but it does mean that you can have a little fun! Skirts and dresses are featuring bold florals and Aztec, Indian, and tribal designs.

At Bellevue Place, Rag is getting men fashionably ready for warmer weather. Along with their designer suits, they’re featuring bold colors for spring and more business casual wear. In my opinion, you can’t beat a bright floral Power Tie! Rag’s signature ties are made of the finest silk, hand stitched, and designed by Duncan Quinn.

Don’t limit color just to your clothes, make a statement on your feet too. Posh on Main has a wide variety of styles, and patent leather heels are a hot item. Ladies, don’t cringe at the thought of “hours on heels” at your next social function because Posh on Main has a solution for you this spring. Check out their new Cole Haan heels that have Nike Zoom technology. Now there’s no excuse to say pain is the price for fashion. An easy everyday outfit to show off you shoes is the perfect pair of jeans. La Ree, women’s boutique on Main, has a nice selection and feature a variety of designers.

So now you’re probably thinking that your pockets will be empty once you update your spring wardrobe. Well, you’re in luck! This weekend Bellevue plays host to the annual “Eastside Upside-Down Sale.” Rag Mens Style, Posh on Main, and La Ree, among other local boutiques will offer 50 – 80% off contemporary designs by popular designers. This sale is for the guys and gals and will be at Chinook Middle School on Saturday and Sunday. Click here for more details: Eastside Upside-Down Sale.

Have something you want to ask? Write me at lea@downtownbellevue.com!

Bellevue, Voted by Fortune as BEST Place to Live and Launch a Business

Winners were announced today on CNN, where the best places in the country were to live and launch a business. Out of the best 100 cities that were listed, Bellevue, WA was on the very top of that list as the #1 place to "Live and Launch!"

The rankings were based on the following: affordable housing, plentiful leisure activities, plentiful cultural options, job growth, sunny weather, short commute time, and good health care access.

The strong points, as stated for Bellevue, were a talented workforce and growing Downtown area! The con was the high priced cost of living. Also stated as a great benefit of starting a business in Bellevue was that businesses with less than $135,000 in taxable revenues don't have to pay Business and Occupations tax (B&O).

View the Following Links for this article:

• Full "No. 1 champion: Bellevue, Wash" article
• Smaller "ranking article"
• Full List of 100 Best cities to "Live and Launch"
• How they pick the 100 best
• Reader Comments
  

Is the Downtown Bellevue Office Market Slowing?

City Center Plaza in Downtown Bellevue has begun to sneak up upon completion. This half million square foot building according to the Puget Sound Business Journal in a recent write up, has only El Gaucho as a signed retail tenant.

Other buildings in the area such as, Tower 333 and The Bravern Office Commons, have almost 100% occupancy, including tenants such as Microsoft and Expedia.

Dex and Sharebuilder, which we reported to be rumored to move into City Center Plaza have either relocated elsewhere (Dex) or are looking at other possibilities in Seattle (Sharebuilder). It has also been rumored for a while now that Microsoft might want more office space in Bellevue, and that they could be a large potential tenant for the City Center building as well.

The City Center building is thought to have been holding out for larger tenants, but if any more time passes, they might have to start looking into signing many smaller businesses to the building.

Is this a sign that the commercial real estate market is coming to a slow in Bellevue, or is the vacancy just a result of a stubbornness to lease the building to smaller companies hoping that a large tenant will come along swooping up the whole building?

Photo referenced from PSBJ: Dan Schlatter

Diving Into the Bellevue Square Remodel

In a report put out by the Bellevue Reporter, a few details not already posted here on the Downtown Bellevue Network about the Bellevue Square remodel were uncovered:

• A Burberry retail store in the next several months will join Bellevue Square on the the first floor within the Nordstrom wing.

• The clock in Center Court will be removed. A new clock tower in its place will be positioned outside, between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square.

• A new 1,000 sq ft play area for children will be constructed on the third floor. The play area will consist of the famous tug boat, a new ferry boat, a ski boat, an Orca whale, and a giant light house. In addition to the play area, the third floor will also now include a coffee shop and "child-oriented retail shops."

The Bellevue Square remodel is on pace to be complete by the fall of 2008.

Chantanee Thai Restaurant To Move

Chantanee, a favored Thai restaurant in Downtown Bellveue, currently located behind Sports Authority in a remote alley for the last 14 years, has announced that they will move locations.

Their 6,000 sq ft new location will be located a couple of blocks away, at Key Center in the Downtown core. The move is expected to happen by September of this year.

A new menu, with new dishes, along with a full bar is expected to coincide with the opening of the new location. Chantanee will also add a happy hour to their menu, free WiFi, and outdoor dining.

Unfortunately, the move comes with a couple of downsides. Parking during the daytime will not be free, and it will become more of a hassle getting in and out of Key Center. Also, with escalating rent and costs of supplies, prices at Chantanee will increase after the move.

All and all, we think this will be a great move for Chantanee and ensures their presence in Downtown Bellevue for years to come.

Stroll Down Bellevue Memory Lane

Here is a great slide show that was put together by the Eastside Heritage Center. For some of us, it brings us back down Bellevue memory lane. For others that haven't been in Bellevue as long, it puts in perspective how far Bellevue really has come. Regardless, we can all enjoy it!

Bellevue Square Elevator Renovation

Bellevue Square's elevator, located in center court, is now closed and going through an entire renovation. As the current state of the project shows (see pictures below), they have completely gutted the current elevator and are starting over from scratch.

The new elevators promise to be "high speed" in nature. The old and sluggish elevator will be replaced by two elevators able to accommodate more people, more often.

Renderings of the final product reveal a very contemporary, glass-like shaft, wrapped with dark colored wood.

The new elevators are expected to be complete in early fall 2008.

Editorial on Downtown Bellevue Transformation

James Vesely of the Seattle Times wrote an editorial in response to last week's article on a younger generation moving into Downtown Bellevue, as well as the growing nightlife.

He reminisces upon the old days of when he used to visit the local Downtown Dairy Queen and sit under the trees, which is now the construction site of The Bravern. Downtown Bellevue is in the midst of a transformation that will catapult the city into a fast paced urban lifestyle. It is important while this happens, that traditions of the past are brought forward as well.

While attending an opening party for The Bravern weeks ago, it was mentioned that The Bravern should invite Dairy Queen to be a tenant. Although this comment was mostly meant as a joke, it has some sincerity behind it. This was a popular spot that many locals enjoyed going to on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Likely Dairy Queen will not be coming back, and as we start seeing new developments go up and improvements to Downtown be made, we'll see familiarity distance itself. Just in recent weeks, we have seen The Boat at Bellevue Square vanish as well.

What would you miss if gotten rid of?

18 Cranes Up in Bellevue

The City of Bellevue's Website just recently posted a listing of all 18 cranes (as of March 10th) and their locations within Bellevue. The majority of these cranes are due to the construction growth in Downtown Bellevue.

Projects with cranes: Bravern - 4, Advanta - 3, Bellevue Towers - 2, City Center Plaza, One Main Street, Vue Hanover, 1020 Tower, Belcarra, Hyatt, Ashwood, Bellevue Community College, and Metro 112.

There are many other projects in the works, so don't expect to see a lack of cranes in the skyline anytime soon.

Jazz at Vertigo

Vertigo Lounge and Grill has 17 jazz performances scheduled in March and 6 already slated for April! Some of the Northwest's best talent will be playing at Verigo in the next month, including Darren Motamedy and Michael Powers.

Recently Vertigo added plasma TV's throughout the venue to view performances, allowing guests to get a good experience no matter where they sit. Vertigo is so serious about this whole "jazz thing" that they've actually dedicated a whole Website to it:

www.jazzatvertigo.com

If your looking for something to do tonight (3/14), Darren Motamedy will be playing at Vertigo! Sit down for dinner, and enjoy live music...you can't beat that! Also worthy to mention, there is no cover before 10pm!

Ask Lea: Easter Sunday Brunch

Dear Lea,
What restaurants in Bellevue are having brunch on Easter Sunday?

- Hunting for Eggs

Dear Hunting for Eggs,
Many restaurants in Downtown Bellevue offer breakfast on Sundays regularly. However, there are some that are hosting a special Easter Sunday brunch this March 23rd. So whether you celebrate Easter, or just love breakfast, gather your chicks, bunnies, and "honeys" for a special morning with the family:

• 0/8 Seafood Grill - $38 for adults, $16 for kids under 12, Free for kids 4 & under: special brunch buffet
• Daniel's Broiler - $27.95 for adults, $9.95 for kids 6-10, Free for kids 5 & under: special pre-set brunch and dinner menu
• Maggiano's Little Italy - $34.95 for adults, $16.95 for kids 5 & over, Free for kids 4 & under: special family-style brunch menu
  

I hope this helps you put all your eggs in one basket...or your ducks in a row.

Enjoy,
Lea

Have any questions you'd like to ask me? Write me at lea@downtownbellevue.com

Marriott Breaks Ground in Downtown Bellevue; Again

More construction activity has commenced! The most recent block in Downtown Bellevue that has broken ground, is the South East quadrant of the intersection at 110th Avenue and NE 3rd Place.

The site has been cleared and construction has begun. The premise will be home to a full service Marriot and will consist of a parking garage to accommodate 440 parking stalls, 376 hotel rooms, and is planned to have 7,500 square feet of retail space for a restaurant.

This will be the second Marriot in Bellevue currently under construction; the other location is located at SE 8th Street and 114th Avenue NE and will be a Residence Inn. Marriott has one existing hotel, a Courtyard by Marriot, located on NE 8th Street across from The Bravern construction.

Downtown Bellevue Condos Cater to Younger Generation

The Seattle Times ran an article this morning about "who" is moving to Downtown Bellevue. With all of the booming Downtown businesses that will be moving in, such as Expedia, Microsoft, and Yahoo, and those who've already made the move to Downtown Bellevue this last year, such as Microsoft, and Eddie Bauer, young working professionals will be brought into the area.

With a new revitalized nightlife in Downtown Bellevue, the developers state that the fastest group moving into the area is young professionals in their 20's and 30's.

With 3,200 apartments and condominiums under construction, and 2,000 in the pipeline, the current state of 5,000 residents is expected to double in two years. The article goes on to speculate that by 2020 we could see the current population triple.

Paragon Hotel in Demolition

The old Paragon hotel, as reported in February, is now in the process of being demolished. This 208-room hotel, which was built in 1969, has gone through many transitions in it's time, previously known by other names such as the Thunderbird, Red Lion, and Double Tree.

The Seattle Times posted this video showing the progress of the demolition at the site Monday:



Once completing the 4-week demolition at the site, room will be made for additions to a new Interstate 405 overpass across the freeway, built at NE 10th. The overpass is expected to open in 2009.

Bellevue Square Store Openings and Boat Closure

Mercer - Store Opening

This small women's boutique opened it's 5th store in Bellevue Square. It has had local success for some years now at its University Village store. Mercer is located on the first floor next to Eddie Bauer and across the way from Movado.

Lacoste - Opening May
The clothing company most known for its famous polo shirts, will open its first store in the Pacific Northwest at Bellevue Square. The store has not yet opened, but the exterior of the first floor store across the way from Tiffany's is wrapped in Lacoste marketing posters announcing the future store opening.

"The Bellevue Square Boat" Closes
The legendary Bellevue Square Boat has been dismantled. The boat on the first floor will be permanently moved to the third floor, where Kemper Development Co.'s sign states they are "building a fabulous new play area."

The boat has been celebrated over many generations. This new play area will not be within the regular flow of customer traffic anymore and will turn into a planned destination for anybody to take advantage of it on the 3rd floor.

It is too early to fully criticize this move to remove the boat because the new play area is not yet finished. Having said that, the boat was always a very popular choice for parents and children alike. This new play area has quite a reputation to live up to, following the steps of the all-so-famous "Bellevue Square Boat."

Residence for Rent at Washington Square

When Washington Square rolled out their condo pre-sales in 2006, not everybody had the intentions of moving into the units. Some bought for investment purposes.

Recently we found a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 724 sq foot unit on the rental market for $1,500 a month. This unit is on the 16th floor at Washington Square and has a great view of the developing Downtown Bellevue skyline.

This condo, which would likely sell in the mid $400,000's, rents at a reasonable price compared to new apartment units in Downtown Bellevue. A comparable unit at Avalon Meydenbauer rents for $1,500.

It will be interesting to see, as more of these condos start coming to market, if there are many investors or if the majority of buyers are individuals planning to move in.

New Renderings of Bellevue Towers Urban Garden

The Urban Garden at Bellevue Towers, located between the two towers, will be 70 feet above street level and will feature half an acre of eco-landscaped greenery.

The private park will be exclusive to Bellevue Towers residents and their guests.

Featured within the park is an outdoor fireplace, water feature, pet areas, walking paths, and a terrace with views of downtown Seattle.

The Urban Garden at Bellevue Towers gives this condo development yet another thing to differentiate it from the others.

The Village Bellevue - Rentable Office Suites

Su Development's Elements Too project, which is currently under construction and slated for completion in Fall of '08, has just signed it's first retail tenant. The apartment complex, which has 48,000 square feet of commercial retail space, has committed The Village Bellevue to 14,000 square feet.

The Village Bellevue will offer an executive office environment for individuals to come and work as they please. The way it works is very simple. You pay $300 - 400 a month and have access to all the office resources you could imagine, including: WiFi, copy/fax center, printers, fireside lounge, conference rooms, full admin support, snacks, and more. It is perfect for the person who works from home and owns their own business, but wants to get out of the house and into a more professional environment.

In addition to the space being used for work reasons, The Bellevue Village will offer frequent professional development events, as well as live entertainment to its members as an added benefit.

As an incentive, the first 50 members to sign up will receive no initiation fee ($500 value), as well as a discounted monthly rate of $300 a month.

The Eastside's Edge

An editorial was ran in the Sunday Seattle Times by Lynne Varner, which spoke to the growing strength of the Eastside cities in comparison to Seattle. Lynne begins by stating that there is a different mood in Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Issaquah and Renton. She calls it the "Jimmy Choo effect."

Jimmy Choo is a high end shoe boutique that will be opening at The Bravern. A pair of shoes at Jimmy Choo runs well over $500. The editorial goes on to use this store opening as an example of the Eastside's economic status.

The local per-capita income on the Eastside is estimated this year to be $47,356, which is 19.7% above the national average. Nine of the top 10 wealthiest zip codes in the Puget Sound are located on the Eastside.

A large portion of the article speaks to Downtown Bellevue's growth, although the article is supposed to be about the Eastside as a whole. She defends her facts very well and makes a great case for why the Eastside cities are not dueling, but are "two powerhouses working together."