Downtown Bellevue Network » Announcements

Bellevue Downtown Association Announces 2012 Haute Picks

Lauren — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:41:26 +0000

The Bellevue Downtown Association has announced the winners of the 10^th annual Haute Picks awards.

The public submitted online votes for 20 categories in this “best of downtown Bellevue” contest from February through April 2012. The awards honor local businesses for helping make the community a great place to live, work, and play, according to a press statement.

The winners are known for offering superior customer service, products, and experiences.

The Haute Picks winners are:

Best Casual Business Meeting Spot: 520 Bar & Grill (6th-year winner), 10146 Main Street, 520barandgrill.com
Runners-up: Bellevue Club and Starbucks Coffee Company

Best Place for Sushi: FLO Japanese Restaurant (3rd-year winner), 1188 106th Avenue NE, florestaurant.com
Runners-up: Blue C Sushi and Sushi Maru

Best Cocktail (Drink and Place): “Gaucho Cosmopolitan” at El Gaucho, 450 108th Avenue NE, elgaucho.com
Runners-up: “Appletini” at Parlor Collection and “Medina Martini” at 520 Bar & Grill

Best Power Lunch: El Gaucho (3rd-year winner), 450 108th Avenue NE, elgaucho.com
Runners-up: Daniel’s Broiler and Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar

Best Coffee House: Starbucks Coffee Company (7th-year winner), 10 Downtown Bellevue Locations, starbucks.com
Runners-up: Café Cesura, Top Pot Doughnuts and Vovito Caffè & Gelato

Best Retail Boutique: Blue Luna, 10619B NE 8th Street, bluelunafashion.com
Runners-up: Aritzia and La Ree Boutique

Best Happy Hour: Pearl Bar & Dining (3rd-year winner), Lincoln Square – 700 Bellevue Way NE, pearlbellevue.com
Runners-up: El Gaucho and Palomino

Best Romantic Dinner: Daniel’s Broiler (3rd-year winner), Bellevue Place – 10500 NE 8th Street, schwartzbros.com
Runners-up: Bis On Main, El Gaucho and John Howie Steak

Best Lunch Under $10: Chipotle Mexican Grill, 10503 NE 4th Street, chipotle.com
Runners-up: Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches and MOD Pizza

Best Seafood Restaurant: Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar (6th-year winner), 205 108th Avenue NE, seastarrestaurant.com
Runners-up: Blue C Sushi and McCormick & Schmick’s

Best Place for a First Date: Parlor Collection (6th-year winner), Lincoln Square – 700 Bellevue Way NE, parlorcollection.com
Runners-up: 520 Bar & Grill and Black Bottle Postern

Best Steakhouse: John Howie Steak (3rd-year winner), The Bravern – 11111 NE 8th Street, johnhowiesteak.com
Runners-up: Daniel’s Broiler, El Gaucho and Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Best Place for a Haircut: 7 Salon, 101 Bellevue Square, 7salon.com
Runners-up: Rudy’s Barbershop and Salon Tewl

Best Sweet Tooth Fix: Trophy Cupcakes (3rd-year winner), The Bravern – 700 110th Avenue NE, trophycupcakes.com
Runners-up: Belle Pastry, Cupcake Royale and Oh! Chocolate

Best Place for a Mani/Pedi: Gene Juarez Salons & Spas (4th-year winner), Bellevue Galleria – 550 106th Avenue NE, genejuarez.com
Runners-up: Casabella Spa & Nails, Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa and Happy Nails and Spa

Best Uniquely Downtown Bellevue Experience: “Snowflake Lane” (6th-year winner), Bellevue Way NE & NE 8th Street, bellevuecollection.com
Runners-up: Bellevue Arts Museum and Bellevue Downtown Park

Best Place for a Massage: Herban Therapies Boutique Day Spa, 11000 NE 10th Street, herbantherapies.com
Runners-up: Massage Center of Bellevue, Truce Spa and Yuan Spa

Best Wine List: Purple Café and Wine Bar (3rd-year winner), Bellevue Towers – 430 106th Avenue NE, thepurplecafe.com
Runners-up: Daniel’s Broiler and El Gaucho

Best Place to See and Be Seen: Munchbar, 505 Bellevue Square, munchgroup.com/Bellevue
Runners-up: Blue Martini Lounge, El Gaucho and Parlor Collection

Best Workout Spot: Bellevue Club (4th-year winner), 11200 SE 6th Street, bellevueclub.com
Runners-up: David Barton Gym and Elite Fitness Training

‘2012 Summer Outdoor Movies in the Park’ Schedule Announced

Lauren — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:12:28 +0000

Intelius Inc. has released the 2012 schedule for downtown Bellevue’s fourth annual “Summer Outdoor Movies in the Park” series.

The movies will be projected onto a 40-foot screen on Tuesday evenings from July 10 through Aug. 28 at the Bellevue Downtown Park. The public is invited to arrive at 7:30pm for pre-movie activities. The movies will start at dusk.

This family-friendly event, presented by the Bellevue Parks and Community Services and sponsored by Intelius Inc., is free and open to all ages. The event serves as a donation drive for local non-profit organizations. Cash and item donations will be accepted in lieu of admission.

The 2012 Summer Outdoor Movies in the Bellevue Downtown Park includes:

Date Movie Charity
July 10 Puss in Boots The Sophia Way
July 17 Happy Feet 2 Highland Community Center
July 24 Zookeeper Ashoka
July 31 Adventures of TinTin Kindering
August 7 Soul Surfer iCareWeCare
August 14 Big Miracle Bellevue LifeSpring
August 21 Dolphin Tale Boys and Girls Club of Bellevue
August 28 We Bought a Zoo YouthCare

Bellevue Galleria To Permanently Transform Into Lifelike Halo Game Experience

Michael — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 07:45:00 +0000

It was announced in recent press release that Bungie, the video game company that created Halo, will purchase the entire Bellevue Galleria complex from the current owner. Bungie, which is a current tenant, leases 85,000 square feet of office space at the Galleria.

Bungie has purchased the property with the intent to remove all current tenants and transform the property and building into a larger than life laser-tag-like Halo game experience for the public to enjoy. The experience will have 3 floors in which to maneuver and several individual hiding areas.

The experience will allow participants the ability to choose their favorite levels in which they want to emulate. The building will be available in its entirety to be rented out by large parties and will also offer gameplay by the hour to the public daily.

Construction for the project will start in the summer, and it will be open by January of 2013.

For additional details and a mock-up for the new building layout, click here.

Downtown Bellevue Snow Photos – Contest Winner

Michael — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:27:04 +0000

We received some really great photos that were taken in Downtown Bellevue over the last couple of days. Our winner was a panorama shot of Downtown Bellevue, which was submitted by Jorge G.

Enjoy some of our favorite pictures that were submitted below.

[View with PicLens]

Downtown Bellevue Network Partners With Seattle Times as Local News Partner

Michael — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:32:38 +0000

Today we are excited to announce that the Downtown Bellevue Network has partnered with the Seattle Times as a part of their Local News Partner Network.

What this means is that the links to our stories will often be featured on the Seattle Times homepage and in other sections of their website. It becomes an efficient way for the Seattle Times to diversify and localize content for their readers. For us it represents an opportunity for a more diverse audience to read about Downtown Bellevue.

In the future you may see collaboration between the 2 organizations, but it’s important to note that we are not obligated to provide any specific content on our sites, and we also have no financial responsibilities to each other. The networks benefits from the partnership mutually.

See the official announcement from the Seattle Times.

The Downtown Bellevue Network launched in May of 2007 (over 4 and a half years ago) with the vision of bringing access to more of the lifestyle news that was starting to take place in Downtown Bellevue. We look forward to expanding our existing and loyal readership base.

The Downtown Bellevue Howie Hunt Returns

Michael — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:04:20 +0000

John Howie has heard over and over how much fun was had during the first Downtown Bellevue Howie Hunt, held in early March. The competition was hot and the stakes were high, so the always competitive and game loving Chef, in conjunction with the Bellevue Downtown Network, has agreed to another late summer round of the lunchtime treasure hunt that left entrants begging for more.

Beginning Tuesday, August 16th, for two consecutive weeks on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, four rubber burgers or four toy sushi will be hidden somewhere in downtown Bellevue. Clues to their whereabouts will be posted at 11:00 a.m. on those days through the our email list (sign-up here), on Facebook, or on Twitter. The lucky discoverers will have until the end of September to redeem their findings for any lunch sandwich at John Howie Steak located in The Shops at The Bravern (the burger) or any two raw bar lunch menu items (up to a $20 value) at Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar located in the Civica Building (the sushi). Seastar’s raw bar lunch menu includes a wide array of deli salads and sandwiches as well as sushi, poke and sashimi.

As aspiring dining detectives have found, the clue driven Howie Hunt takes them on a merry chase throughout the heart of Bellevue’s retail area, involving many of the merchants. To add a little more spice to the game, Howie has added another element for participants. Whether or not they have been the first to solve the daily clue and claim a prize, if they take a self-photo at the destination, “like” and post it on either the John Howie Steak Facebook page or Seastar Facebook page, they are eligible to win an even bigger prize. At end of contest, one snapshot will be chosen from each restaurant page and the lucky photographer will receive a $200 gift certificate.

Chef John is still missing 3 miniature starfish and 3 toy cows that were claimed during the original Howie Hunt. These Howie Hoarders are still welcome to redeem their goodies for a salmon lunch at Seastar or Steak Frites at John Howie Steak.

Giveaway dates are August 16 – 18 and 23 – 25, with redemption by September 30, 2011. Individuals may only redeem one rubber hamburger or toy sushi during the entire length of the promotion. Winners must bring in and surrender the toys to be awarded their winnings.

‘Downtown Bellevue Howie Hunt’ Wrap-up

Michael — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:50:18 +0000

Over the past 2 weeks scavengers have explored Downtown Bellevue to find miniature cows and sea stars to redeem for lunches at John Howie Steak or Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar.

Each of the 6 days was a new adventure, keeping those following the campaign on their toes! Thank you to all who ventured out during the ‘Downtown Bellevue Howie Hunt.’ We had great fun with this campaign. Special thanks go out to the teams at John Howie Steak and Seastar.

Also, we couldn’t have pulled this off without the help of the Downtown businesses in Bellevue that helped to host the prizes. Below are the clues that were given on each of the 6 days, coupled with the winning locations:

Tuesday, March 1st
Day 1: Clue – A prize to you we will anoint – from the concierge at Bellevue’s highest point
Location: Bellevue Towers Concierge North Tower

Wednesday, March 2nd
Day 2: Clue – Your sweet “reward” awaits in Bellevue’s most luxurious cupcake selling place.
Location: Trophy Cupcakes at The Bravern

Thursday, March 3rd
Day 3: Clue – Gourmet kitchens and twenty stories high in the Ashwood Neighborhood you must try.
Location: Ashton

Tuesday March 8th
Day 4: Clue – Wells Fargo banking and a good cup of joe to find the prize that only Matt the Valet will know
Location: Civica Valet – Matt

Wednesday March 9th
Day 5: Clue – Swedish, Deep tissue or Cross Fiber Friction a good massage will cure your affliction. You “knead” to head to the Galleria before the delicious prize says “see ya!” Also a 2010 BDA Haute Picks winner.
Location: Galleria – Dr. Matheny

Thursday March 10th
Day 6 Clue: 733 places to rest your head and 53,000 event sq ft, is where you’ll find the next Howie Treat!
Location: Hyatt Regency Bellevue Concierge

If you were one of our lucky winners, you have until March 31st to redeem your lunch at John Howie Steak or Seastar.

We look forward to doing this again!

- Downtown Bellevue Network Team

Downtown Bellevue Network & John Howie Restaurants Team Up for ‘Downtown Bellevue Howie Hunt’

Michael — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:27:16 +0000

John Howie wants to clue you in on a little bit of fun that he has planned to spice up your weekday work day – the Downtown Bellevue Howie Hunt. Always competitive – a man who loves a baseball game as much as a board game, Chef Howie, in conjunction with the Downtown Bellevue Network, has put together a treasure hunt with big stakes (well, make that big steaks) as prizes which will also make winners Star-y (as in Seastar) eyed.

Beginning Tuesday, March 1st, for two consecutive weeks on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, four miniature size toy cows OR four miniature size starfish will be hidden each day somewhere in downtown Bellevue. Clues to their whereabouts will be posted on those days through either the Downtown Bellevue Network’s e-mail list, Facebook, or Twitter. The lucky discoverers will have until March 31 to redeem their findings for a free lunch at John Howie Steak, located in The Shops at the Bravern (cows) or Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar located in the Civica Building (starfish).

Those who discover a hidden cow will enjoy lunchtime Steak Frites at John Howie Steak – a tender, juicy, red wine marinated American Wagyu beef hanger steak served with a generous portion of crispy French fried potatoes. If their hidden trophy is a starfish then they will dine on a lunch of Applewood Grilled Pacific Northwest Red King Salmon, lemon, vermouth and butter with roasted fingerling potatoes and grilled asparagus at Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar.

Giveaway dates are March 1, 2 and 3; March 8, 9 & 10 with redemption by March 31, 2011. Individuals may only redeem one miniature cow or starfish during the entire length of the promotion. Winners must bring in and surrender the toy cows or starfish to redeem their winnings.

Sign-up now to receive clues >