Lt. Marsha Harnden of the Bellevue Police Department reported that the man was sitting on the escalator handrail.

“It would appear to be an accident. I don’t think he realized how high up he was,” Harnden said.

Residents can warm up to the holiday season at the covered, open-air ice rink in Bellevue Downtown Park. Admission is $10, including skate rental, or request a pass from the popular Bank of America for free skate Mondays.

At 7 pm each night, snow will fall and live toy soldiers will entertain holiday shoppers along Snowflake Lane – the sidewalks of Bellevue Way and NE 8th Street – at The Bellevue Collection. The first night this event is performed on November 25th.  You can typically expect more fanfare and a special appearance by Santa, as well as the Bellevue Fire Department and their firetrucks.

Enjoy festive live music by the outdoor fireplace at The Bravern or catch a holiday performance at The Theatre at Meydenbauer Center.

The Bellevue Botanical Garden will also feature its annual Garden d’Lights display from 5-10pm Nov. 26 through Dec. 31. Admission is $5.

Produced by the Bellevue Downtown Association, Bellevue Magic Season runs through Jan. 8, 2012. See below for all of the 2011 Bellevue Magic Season events:

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Magic Season Ice Arena brought to you by Bank of America | November 25 – January 8
Produced by the Bellevue Downtown Association

The Magic Season Ice Arena brought to you by Bank of America presents the region’s only open-air holiday ice skating experience. The festive venue offers shelter for all-weather skating and stunning views of the park’s waterfall. For more information call (425) 453–1223 or visit magicseason.com.

• Bellevue Downtown Park – NE 1st Street and 102nd Avenue NE
• $10 admission (Includes $3 skate rental fee)
• Advance Discount Admission Pass – Purchase 10 skating passes for $75 (a $25 savings)
• Free Skate Mondays – Compliments of Bank of America (Show your Bank of America debit or credit card to receive two free skate admissions on Mondays, or pick up Free Skate Monday passes at a downtown Bellevue banking center. For participating branches and promotion details, visit magicseason.com)

Snowflake Lane | November 25 – December 24
Produced by The Bellevue Collection

• Experience the grandeur and tradition of Snowflake Lane along the sidewalks of Bellevue Way and NE 8th Street at The Bellevue Collection. Snow falls nightly as live toy soldiers and winter characters, music and a dazzling light show brighten the night.
• Bellevue Way and NE 8th Street
• Shows nightly at 7 p.m.
• Free

Celebration Lane | December 26 – December 31
Produced by The Bellevue Collection

Ring in the New Year with evening performances of Celebration Lane.

• Bellevue Way and NE 8th Street
• Shows nightly at 7 p.m.
• Free

For more information call (425) 454–8096 or visit bellevuecollection.com.

Garden d’Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden | November 26 – December 31
Supported by KeyBank and 98.1 Classical KING FM

Brought to you by the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society, Garden d’Lights festival features over half a million lights which transform the Bellevue Botanical Garden into a blossoming winter wonderland. For more information call (425) 452-6844 or visit gardendlights.org.

Bellevue Botanical Garden – 12001 Main Street

• Open nightly, 5-10 p.m. (Last entry at 9:30 p.m.)
• Advance tickets available online at gardendlights.org
• $5 admission; children 10 and under free
• Free parking at Wilburton Hill Park
• Free admission nights compliments of KeyBank: Nov. 28, 29, 30 and Dec. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14

The Theatre at Meydenbauer Center | November 25 – December 31
Presented by 98.1 Classical KING FM

The Theatre at Meydenbauer Center hosts a magical holiday series of musical and dramatic productions by regional and local performance groups. For tickets call Brown Paper Tickets at 800- 838-3006 or visit brownpapertickets.com. For more information on holiday performances call (425) 450-3810 or visit theatreatmeydenbauer.com. The Theatre is located at NE 6th Street and 112th Avenue NE.

• November 25-27: Bellevue Youth Theatre presents A Christmas Carol
• December 4: Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra presents The Magic of Mistletoe December 9-11, 16-18 & 21-23: International Ballet Theatre presents The Nutcracker
• December 19: Meydenbauer Center presents Magical Strings A Celtic Yuletide
• December 28-29: Ballet Bellevue presents The Sleeping Beauty
• December 31: Seattle Choral Company presents Carmina Burana

Enchanted Holidays at The Bravern | November 18 – December 24
Presented by the Shops at The Bravern

Enchanted Holidays kicks off November 18 at 6 p.m. with a special holiday tree lighting led by Santa, pony rides and festive live musical entertainment. For more information and additional Enchanted Holidays activities visit thebravern.com.

• The Shops at The Bravern – 11111 NE 8th Street (NE 8th Street and 112th Avenue NE)
• Tree lighting ceremony and Santa’s arrival supporting The Moyer Foundation – Nov. 18, 6 p.m.
• Photos with Santa – Wednesday-Sunday Nov. 25-Dec. 24 and every day Dec. 14-24, 12-6 p.m.
• Pony rides every Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 26-Dec. 24, 12-6 p.m.
• Live entertainment every Friday, 7-8 p.m.
  • December 2: Captain Smarty Pants (Seattle Men’s Chorus Ensemble)
  • December 9: Sensible Shoes (Seattle Women’s Chorus Ensemble)
  • December 16: Sensible Shoes and Captain Smarty Pants
  • December 23: The Dickens Carolers

KidsQuest Children’s Museum’s Gingerbread Lane | December 1 – 21
Hosted by Hilton Hotel Bellevue

Enjoy the magic of the season with a display of unique gingerbread creations and KidsQuest Children’s Museum’s family gingerbread workshops. Local architecture firms, bakeries and businesses partner with KidsQuest Children’s Museum to custom design, bake and create awe- inspiring gingerbread structures displayed at the Hilton Hotel Bellevue. KidsQuest offers family gingerbread workshops with all the materials, snacks and holiday cheer. Visit kidsquestmuseum.org for more information and to sign-up for workshops.

• Hilton Hotel Bellevue – 300 112th Avenue SE
• Gingerbread House Displays: Dec. 1-21
• Gingerbread Family Workshops: Friday, Dec. 9, 6-8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 10, 10-11:30 a.m., 12:30-2 p.m. and 2:30-4 p.m.
• Family Concert: Saturday, Dec. 10, 11:30 a.m.

For more information visit www.bellevuemagicseason.com.

A Special Edition ‘Taste of Giving’ dining coupon book, good for coupons of restaurants at The Bellevue Collection will be available for $25. All sales from the book will go directly to Hopelink.

Tom Colicchio is a veteran of the restaurant industry and may be best known for his role as head judge on Bravo TV’s reality cooking series, Top Chef. Colicchio has recently been involved in efforts to ensure the nation’s school children have access to healthy school lunches, and he has testified before Congress on reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act.

COOKING DEMONSTRATION SCHEDULE

Chefs: Live at the Collection Cooking
Demonstration Schedule: Center Court, Bellevue Square

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14

• 7:00 pm Ruth’s Chris Steak House
• 8:00 pm Boom Noodle

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15

• Noon Pagliacci Pizza
• 1:00 pm McCormick & Schmick’s
• 2:00 pm Din Tai Fung
• 3:00 pm Munchbar
• 4:00 pm Palomino

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16

• 11:30 am Pearl Bar & Dining
• 1:00 pm Chef Tom Colicchio
• 3:00 pm Earls Kitchen & Bar

Eastside fashionistas put on their stylish best for the week, from Sept 28-Oct 2, for the 2011 edition of Fashion Week at the Bellevue Collection. Events ranged from the Glambition: Girl Power Hour Anniversary Party that kicked off the celebration starting Wednesday, to the nightly runway shows including the Nordstrom Fashion Show and Front Row Fashion Presented by Vogue Magazine on Saturday, finally closing out with the Undressed Runway Show for REPORT shoes and SEVEN Salon on Sunday. This year’s Fashion Week made sure Bellevue was style-ready for the season from head to toe.

It wasn’t just about the clothes and shoes, the runway shows were the opportunity to bring awareness to local causes and community projects. 100% of the tickets from the Front Row Fashion event went to The Moyer Foundation, a local charity formed by baseball pitcher Jamie Moyer and his wife Karen, devoted to raising funds and sponsoring programs to assist children in distress. For several years, the Detlef Schrempf Foundation has partnered with Nordstrom to use their runway show to benefit a local charity or community program, and this year’s show supported the Bellevue Youth Theatre, which provides opportunities for children and young adults to channel their creative energy through performance arts.

The Hyatt Regency Bellevue is transformed into a glamorous, brightly-lit runway where all the featured shows take place. For the headline evening shows, the event draws a large crowd of well-heeled fashion mavens eager to see what styles and trends will be represented. Before the doors open for the show, guests sipped cocktails and nibbled on appetizers in a lounge-styled setting of floor to ceiling drapes, plush couches and booths. For the sold-out Nordstrom Fashion Show, they had a special boutique area set up with some of the latest seasonal accessories and shoes, available for guests to try on and purchase.

So what were some of the trending themes that appeared most consistently, and what did the runway selections suggest for the fashion-minded crowd?

Bright, Bold Color – It’s a simple way to make an eye-catching statement, whether it’s worn as a single color in an all-over outfit, or color blocked in a bright top and equally bold pant or skirt. And it doesn’t have to be in large amounts; a small dose of a bright hue as an accent flourish on a jacket can be enough to add interest to a neutral piece.

Battling Hemlines – The traditional notion of long dresses for night and knee-grazing skirts for day is being flipped. More above-the-knee hems for cocktail dresses were seen, making bare legs the focal point, balanced out with longer, modest-length sleeves. Longer hemlines in light wool fabrics or transforming a floor-sweeping maxi dress into a fall outfit is the trend for day. As long as the skirt’s length is tailored to fit the wearer and the right height of their boot or chunky heel, the look is able to fashionable and not frumpy.

Pattern Recognition – Strong geometric patterns like stripes or the classic plaid are being refreshed in modern silhouettes, unusual color combinations and rich fabrics. The boldness of stripes or the crisscross of a tartan is a way to keep the eye constantly moving and acts as fashionable camouflage for areas you don’t wish to bring attention to.

Feathers, Fur and Sequins – Dramatic flourishes like fur (real or faux), the flutter of a feathered hemline, or a dazzle of sequins are on everything, from day to night. Sequins are a strong presence on evening wear, going for all-out bling covering a cocktail dress, but it’s also seen on blouses or skirts, in neutral, frosted metallic hues and toned down by cozy cardigans for wearing in the daytime. Feathers and fur are an eye-catching addition to a nighttime look, and the look of fur can still be transformed for the day, used in smaller doses on coat collars or even a statement handbag.

Statement Accessories – Layered infinity scarves or ones with a showcase pattern, as well as large layered necklaces were seen across several runway shows. They’re easy items to add to neutral or simple outfits, making a look fresh. Hats are also another way to make an outfit feel dramatic and keep the winter chill away.

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This all-ages event will offer fashion and beauty tips and personalized consulting, as well as a fall fashion runway show. Guests can enjoy drinks and appetizers, complimentary cosmetic bags filled with samples, and an after-party in Bellevue Square’s Center Court.

The show takes place at 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30. Tickets are on sale now for $50 each on the Bellevue Collection website. All proceeds benefit Bellevue LifeSpring. Ticket holders are also offered exclusive access to VIP Shopping Night on Saturday, Oct. 1.

Fashion Week runs Sept. 28-Oct. 2. To see all of the events go to our Bellevue Fashion Week Events section

The Bellevue Collection has a YouTube channel, where they regularly post videos about nightlife, dining, events, and topics of interest. The Bellevue Collection is made up of all the shops, restaurants, and hotels located at Lincoln Square, Bellevue Square, and Bellevue Place. It houses over 250 retail brands and one of the biggest annual fashion weeks.

Bellevue Collection’s YouTube channel is a fun way to get a glimpse of what Bellevue has to offer and is a good resource for visitors. One of my favorite videos on their channel is a recap of the Microsoft Store Opening.

Bellevue’s taking the lead in the push towards making its city more ecologically conscious. The Bellevue Collection is the first major retail center in the area to install ChargePoint electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in fifteen locations throughout Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square and Bellevue Place.

It’s a concerted effort to “go green,” with The Bellevue Collection working with ChargePoint’s parent company, Coulomb and their ChargePoint America program, which is setting up 4600 stations in nine regions across the country. This national program seeks to prepare businesses and communities to be EV-ready.

Fifteen ChargePoint stations are located throughout The Bellevue Collection: 5 ports in the Bellevue Square West Garage on the 2nd level near the Sky Bridge, 4 ports in the Bellevue Square Northeast Garage on the 1st floor near Nordstrom, 4 in the Lincoln Square Garage on the first level (P1), and 2 ports in the Bellevue Place Garage on the first level (P1).

The ChargePoint stations are fully networked and available to all drivers with plug-in vehicles. A 24/7 support number is listed at all stations for any questions and there are smart phone applications available for operation instructions, as well as the ability to locate unoccupied stations.

“Snowflake Lane” will kick off at 7pm Friday, Nov. 26, with music and nightly light shows along the sidewalks of Bellevue Way and NE 8th Street at The Bellevue Collection.

Live toy soldiers and winter characters will entertain downtown residents and visitors during the free show every night through Dec. 24. Santa will arrive at his workshop in Bellevue Square for photos at 7pm Friday, Nov. 26.

The Bellevue Collection will also present “Celebration Lane” on Dec. 26-31 at Bellevue Way and NE 8th Street. The free shows will run at 7pm nightly.

Stores will offer exclusive deals and gifts with purchases. The first 200 guests who check in after 7pm at guest services in Bellevue Square’s Center Court will receive a wristlet. Guests will also have a chance to win a $1,000 Bellevue Collection gift certificate, from 7pm - 10pm, in Center Court.

From 7pm September 10th - 9:30pm September 18th, customers presenting receipts dated September 10th - September18th totaling $200 or more from any Bellevue Collection store, restaurant or entertainment venue, are eligible to receive a complimentary copy of Vogue: An Illustrated History of the World’s Most Famous Fashion Magazine.

To see a listing of participating stores, visit http://bellevuecollection.com/event/bc_calendar.php. The Bellevue Collection is located on Bellevue Way, between NE 4th Street and NE 10th. The Bravern will also celebrate fall fashion on September 10th, beginning at 5pm.

The atmosphere is thick with anticipation when the lights go down; the buzzing crowd immediately drops to a silent hush, awaiting the start of a fashion show. Suddenly the surrounding video screens burst alive with pictures and light, the music booms throughout the hall, and the runway is awash in the bright house lights as the first model struts their way along the catwalk, electrifying the crowd with that first glimpse of 2010’s Front Row Fashion.

For the last several years, The Bellevue Collection has produced Fashion Week, the annual celebration of fall looks and trends, working with local retailers to generate excitement and inspiration for the latest styles to be incorporated into one’s wardrobe. The momentum for this event has grown, most notably since last year’s partnership with Vogue Magazine, a pairing that continued into this year, furthering Bellevue’s growing profile as a fashion-conscious city.

The headline runway show, Front Row Fashion, incorporating a mix of looks from several stores within The Bellevue Collection, was held on Saturday night to a packed crowd of fashionistas. The evening transformed the Bellevue Hyatt into a luxurious lounge with cocktails and appetizers, with guests parading their own favorite evening looks. Along with getting ideas for what upcoming trends to take note of, the event was held for a good cause, with proceeds benefitting The Moyer Foundation, a local non-profit organization, founded by Mariners pitcher Jamie Moyer and his wife Karen, supporting over 200 programs that help children in distress.

Front Row Fashion is a particularly unique show in that it presents pieces from over a dozen different stores, offering looks that are accessible for anyone looking to incorporate something new into their wardrobe. Following the show was an exclusive VIP Shopping Night held at Bellevue Square Mall so that guests could buy exactly what they saw on the runway at a special discounted price. The main trend categories being presented were inspired by this year’s September issue of Vogue, including: Fur and Feathers, Under Wraps, American Sportswear, Urban Luxe, Animal Magnetism, Sweater Girls and A Night on the Town. The looks included flirty feather vests and skirts, rugged military patterns and details, faux furs and leopard prints, and classic cardigans made dazzling with jeweled details. The finale evening were composed of mostly cocktail-length hemlines, with fitted silhouettes. Classic pieces with interesting details and smart accessory choices like layered jewelry or a unique handbag were familiar themes running throughout the show; nothing too outrageous or too avant-garde to be seen at a special event or even around the office. Comments overheard after the show included the compliments over the selection of wearable styles and the ease of envisioning certain pieces being able to work within one’s own wardrobe.

The runway lights have come down, the catwalk is put away for another year, but the inspiration for fashionable living has left its mark on Bellevue. Of course the greatest accessory for any ensemble is the confidence one has in wearing clothing that truly represents one’s own personal sense of style.

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