Details:  A sunny day spent in Bellevue Community Park.  It’s an urban oasis, just a block from the huge Bellevue Square Mall, and surrounded by high rise condos and office buildings.

Photo credit: personal collection

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Post from: The Seattle Traveler

The Seattle Police Department, Washington State Patrol, and police departments in neighborhood cities, have all added extra officers to the duty roster this weekend in anticipation of St. Patrick Day festivities.  They want you to have fun, and lots of it, but they don’t want you endangering anyone else while you’re doing it.

Don’t rely on the luck of the Irish!  Use good judgment and select a designated driver, get a hotel, take a cab, or walk, but don’t drink and drive.

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Post from: The Seattle Traveler

Details:  There are several ways to get from Seattle to Bellevue and the East Side (of Lake Washington).

You can drive around Lake Washington to the north through Bothell.  You can drive around to the south through Renton.  Or, you can take on the floating bridges (I-90 or 520) and drive directly across. 

Photo credit:  flickr

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Post from: The Seattle Traveler

• Alexis Hotel (downtown), scoring 81.38 (out of 100)
• Bellevue Club Hotel (Bellevue), scoring 85.20
• Fairmont Olympic Hotel (downtown), scoring 82.19
• Inn at the Market (downtown), scoring 85.77
• Salish Lodge & Spa (Snoqualmie), scoring 82.41

All fine hotels, and, no surprise here, a little on the spendy side.  Still, a great option for a special occasion, if you’re on an expense account, or if price is no issue.

Post from: The Seattle Traveler

Duke Ellington (1899-1974) was one of the great musicians to emerge out of America’s jazz scene, earning a reputation as a pianist, composer, and bandleader.  In 1965 he performed his first Concert of Sacred Music in an attempt to merge jazz with Christian liturgy.  Calling them the “most important thing I’ve done,” Ellington did two additional sacred music concerts in 1968 and 1973.

The SRJO performance features guest singers Dee Daniels and James Caddell, plus the Northwest Chamber Chorus.

Location:  First Presbyterian Church, 717 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, just off of Hwy 520.  Excellent parking.

Date:  Saturday, December 30th at 7:30 pm.

Tickets:  $24-28, available through Earshot Jazz, (206) 547-6763

SRJO offers a two-CD collection of Sacred Music Concerts performed between 2001 and 2005.  Highlights include the epic pieces “Praise God and Dance” and “In the Beginning God,” the spirited “Ninety-Nine Percent” and “Don’t Get Down on Your Knees to Pray Until You Have Forgiven Everyone,” and the stirring ballads “Heaven” and “Too Good to Title.”  It is available through Amazon.

Post from: The Seattle Traveler

When I have days like that, I will head to a nearby wine shop, pick up a bottle of red wine, grab a sandwich from a local deli, and settle into my hotel room for the evening.  Better still, if you’re traveling with friends and can turn it into an evening of relaxed conversation.

Vino 100, located near Bellevue Square, is the perfect wine shop if you’re looking for an evening like that.  Located near Bellevue Square shopping mall, they emphasize good quality wines that are also affordable.  They boast an inventory of over 100 wines under $25, and also offer frequent wine tastings and wine classes.  The store is part of a concept chain, with locations across the country.

I’ve made purchases at Vino 100 a couple of times, and have found the staff to be consistently knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful.  They seem to know their stuff, without being snobby or pretentious. 

If you’re in the Bellevue area, stop by, taste a bit, and pick up a couple bottles of something new.

Location:  Vino 100 is located at Lincoln Square, 700 Bellevue Way Northeast, #110 in Bellevue.

Hours:  Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Check the website for wine tasting and class schedules

Post from: The Seattle Traveler

When I was growing up, I collected Barbie’s.  Well, I didn’t really “collect” them; I just had lots of them, and played with them.  I’d get together with other girls in the neighborhood, and in ignorant bliss to the politcal incorrectedness of dolls, we’d stage all kinds of great adventures.

So, when I first heard about the Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art, I wanted to see if a visit would rekindle those fond memories of my childhood.

The Museum opened in 1992, and you can tell that it’s been a labor of love.  The setting is an elegant Victorian house, with display all around.  The collection currently is estimated at over 3,000 dolls, some of which are available for purchase.  There’s also other childhood memorabilia, along with the dolls, including a collection of teddy bears, toys, and dollhouses.

After a visit to the Museum, I went home and found the storage boxes where my dolls were stored.  I pulled them off the shelf, opened the boxes, and lovingly looked at them.  It was a wonderful side-trip down memory lane.

The museum is designed for collectors, with dolls in pristine displays and condition.  This is a “don’t touch” museum.  Dolls that are available for purchase are fairly expensive, priced for the “collector” rather than for kids to play with. 

The exhibit, “Mother and Daughter’s at Play with Their Dolls” starts on October 28th and runs through January 2007.  Older children will probably enjoy time spent at the museum.  Younger ones will likely get bored easily.

The Museum if also available for rental for groups up to 260 people.

The Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll art is located at 1116 106th Avenue NE, in Bellevue.  Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 am-5 pm, Sunday 11 am-4 pm.  Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $5 for children, and kids under 5 are free.

Post from: The Seattle Traveler