Old Main, Chocolates, and French Pastries

Hello:

I am going to continue my posts about things to do, see, and eat in Bellevue, WA while you are at Vogue Knitting Live.



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If you don't mind a bit of a walk, it is just a bit less than a mile from the Meydenbauer Convention Center to Old Main Street.  This is not a big district, but just one short block of nice restaurants with outside dining (a bit of a rarity here), and some fun shops.

First, a bit about one thing that makes Bellevue such a great city.  Our population has more that 1/3 of the residents born outside the USA.  Bellevue is a really diverse city.  This is reflected in the faces of the people you will see, but also in the types of restaurants.  YUM! 

Old Main Street is a fun stop that is not so "mall oriented."  The above map gives you a route that passes Quiltworks Northwest  where you can check out their huge selection of beads and buttons.  They have generously offered a Coupon with a 15% Discount for people attending Vogue Knitting.

Old Main is just a one - two block section of a much longer street.  There are two restaurants there that I can personally vouch for. Neither are cheap, but if you are looking for a treat, both of these are nice.  Bis on Main  serves American cuisine.  I was going to write "food," but just "American Food" doesn't do this restaurant justice.

This is the restaurant where my neighborhood friends often go for birthday lunches with the girls. 


Monsoon serves Vietnamese food.  It is wonderful.

If you are looking for vegetarian selections, this is a good place.


There are many very yummy restaurants between these 2 and the Hyatt/Meydenbauer.  I can't mention them all, but I did want to give a few where I have personally eaten.  The restaurants at Bell Square and Lincoln Square are perfectly fine, it is just that most are chains (though not all). 

Once you have eaten, and are looking for some dessert, or are just looking for something very Pacific Northwest to either eat or buy for a gift, where do you go?

On Old Main, there are 2 chocolate shops.  I have bought chocolates from one of them.  I usually send my sisters and sisters-in-law a small box of salted caramels from Fran's Chocolates every year for Christmas.

The chocolate from this shop is to die for.  There are only 3 stores, and Bellevue is so lucky to have one of them.  When I was there the other day, taking photos for this post

people kept coming in to buy boxes of chocolates, or Easter chocolates for gifts, but,

in addition to the gifts they were buying, they all left with one piece to eat for themselves.  No one left with an empty mouth.  It was really funny.

Another really yummy stop is Belle Pastry.

Whether you want cookies or croissants,

cakes or tartes,

you want to take your treats with you or eat in,

this is a wonderful stop.

I want to mention 2 more places on Old Main.  The first is Glassybaby.

The Pacific Northwest is know for it's glass arts.  This little shop (there are 3:  Seattle, New York, and Bellevue), and the small votive candle holders they sell are the brain child of Lee Rhodes.  Read her story, and the story of the shops and her product.

The shop is a delight for the eyes, and the heart.

In the little courtyard BEHIND Glassybaby is Cafe Pirouette.

I haven't eaten there, but, this little bistro and creperie was recommended to me by 2 different people.

 It looked like a delightful place to eat.

That's all for today's post.  Tomorrow morning I hope to put up one more that will give some great places to walk in Bellevue. 

I barely got to work on my new socks, Braveheart Socks, today as I was working on my taxes.  Ugh!  I hate how complicated it all is even though I am using TurboTax, and am just filling in the numbers.

Time to take a break from all of that, and do a bit of sewing, then get back to Braveheart.

Peace
f1bercat
shaping the world with almost finished taxes.

Where to Eat Close to the Meydenbauer

Hello!

Our bald eagle was chasing off or being chased off by a crow this morning, and I was able to run outside and get a photo as he/she rode the wind back up the hill.

So, back to Vogue Knitting Live, Pacific Northwest.

If you haven't read my post from yesterday, you might not be aware that Vogue Knitting Live, Seattle is actually being held in my city, Bellevue, which is east across Lake Washington from Seattle.

Today, I want to show where I recommend you park (for free), and then talk about some of the closest places to eat.

Our big shopping center, Bellevue Square, is on Bellevue Way between NE 8th St. and NE 4th St. There are many parking structures all around Bell Square.  The one I recommend is on the corner of Bellevue Way and NE 4th St., at the SE corner of Bell Square.

The black arrows show the entrances.  You have to be headed South on Bellevue Way, or West on NE 4th St.

This parking lot is much smaller than most of the lots at Bell Square, only 2 levels.  Exit at the corner near the big Macy's sign

 and walk North on Bellevue Way.  (the red lines and arrows).  At the light for NE 6th St., cross over.  You will be at the Bellevue Arts Museum.

I'm putting a plug in for visiting the museum while you are here.  This museum has an arts and craft focus.  The first Friday of every month is free, so you can visit for free.  The current exhibits are:  Love Me Tender, art made from money (I kid you not, these are amazing):  Italian Design and the Photography of Aldo and Marirosa Ballo; and Maneki Neko, Japan's Bekoning Cats.

Walk down NE 6th along side the Arts Museum.  This street has been ...  narrowed  ... so it is very pedestrian friendly.

The blocks in Bellevue are "super blocks" so they are very long.  But when you come out on the east end, you will see a California Pizza Kitchen.  One possible place to eat. 


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Across this street is another  retail complex, The Galleria.

There are a few possible restaurants, including Rock Bottom Brewery.  It's not local, but it does have decent pub fare.

To the left of this complex is a big Barnes and Nobles Bookstore.  I am sure there will be a "bookstore" at the Marketplace at Vogue Knitting Live (btw, I am working the door of the Market there on Friday night from 5:45 - 8:30 and again on Sunday afternoon from 12:00 - 2:30 ), but if you need a non-fiber book, that is a good place to stop.  Of course it has a Starbucks.

Continue walking East along side the Galleria.  There is no longer a regular street here, no cars, but there is a pedestrian walkway.  When you get to 108th Ave NE, you will see the Bellevue Transit Center just across the street.  

If you come in on the bus, this is most likely where you will stop.  You can catch a bus to Seattle, if you are headed there.

There are many places to eat all around the Transit Center, including 2 more Starbucks.

City Center Bellevue,

right next to the Transit Center, also has places to eat.

 Continue straight through the Transit Center to the next street, 110th St. NE.  When you cross it, you will be at the Meydenbauer Convention Center.

Ok, the building on the corner is really part of the Bravern (more shops and restaurants as well as offices).  But you can see the Meydenbauer Convention Center right next to it.

That's it for close places to eat.  Tomorrow I will walk you to Old Main Street.  You will probably be in the mood for some amazing chocolates or french pastries by then.

Remember that Quiltworks Northwest is offering a 15% off coupon for the weekend.

Shameless Self-Promotion:  If you bring one of my books, Salt and Pepper at the Pike Place Market is a good choice, I will be happy to autograph it.  You can find me guarding the door of the Marketplace at Vogue Knitting Live Friday night from 5:45 - 8:30 and again on Sunday afternoon from 12:00 - 2:30.  I hope to be knitting the socks I am currently designing, my Braveheart Socks. 

I only have the cast on photo.

I am designing these toe-up and knitting them 2-at-a-time.  I have the toes finished, and am working on the foot/instep motif.  I can't decide if they are going to be too fussy.  Doc is a good sport, though, and has definitely proven himself to be sock worthy.  When the feet are finished, I will post a photo so you can see the design.

Until tomorrow,

Peace,
f1bercat
shaping the planet with sock toes.

What To Do in Bellevue at Vogue Knitting Live

Hello:

You might have heard that Vogue Knitting Live is coming to Bellevue, WA, my home town.  You might have heard this from ME, as I am very proud and excited that we are hosting the first Vogue Knitting Live in the Pacific Northwest.

You might be thinking, "f1bercat, I know a bit about Seattle, but nothing about Bellevue".

You might be asking, "f1bercat, when I am at Vogue Knitting Live, where will I eat?"

You might be wondering, "f1bercat, what is there to do in Bellevue?"

Well,  think, ask, and wonder no more.  Over the next few days, I hope to give visitors to Bellevue some ideas of what my lovely little city has to offer.

First off, Geography.  Know that Seattle sits between 2 great bodies of water, Puget Sound on the West, and Lake Washington on the East.

View Larger MapDriving Directions

If you continue going east, over one of the 2 floating bridges (the 90 or the 520) to the east side (get it?  EASTSIDE?) of Lake Washington, you will be in Bellevue.

Right away, I have some advice.  First of all, if you are flying in to our airport, Seatac, you will not be crossing one of the bridges, you will be driving around the southern part of Lake Washington on the 405 Freeway.  This freeway will take you right through the edge of downtown Bellevue.  But, if you do plan to cross Lake Washington while you are here, take the southern floating bridge, the 90.  It is bigger, has an alternating car pool or high occupancy lane, and is free.  The 520 Bridge is in the process of being ...  remodeled... so there is currently a toll for crossing it.

Vogue Knitting Live is taking place at 2 locations in downtown Bellevue, the Hyatt Regency Hotel,

 and the Meydenbauer Convention Center.

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These 2 places are less than a mile apart, and the city is relatively flat there.  Believe me, you don't want to be walking a mile on my side of the city (the Eastside) where the hills are quite steep.   The Hyatt is on the corner of NE 8th Street.  This is right across the street from 2 shopping areas called The Bellevue Collection.  The big one on the west side of NE 8th St. is Bellevue Square, and the smaller one on the east side of NE 8th St. is Lincoln Square.  There is a movie theater, stores, and lots of places to eat, as well as a bowling alley.

If you were sad that you won't have time to get to Seattle to visit the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum at the Seattle Center, stop by Lincoln Square, at the Bellevue Collection and see the beautiful Chihuly instillation in the lobby.

 The Hyatt is linked to Lincoln Square by an aerial walkway,

And Lincoln Square and Bell Square (as we locals call it) are also linked by an aerial walkway.

The parking at the Meydenbauer is not cheap.  On weekends you can often park right across the street at the Bellevue City Hall for free.  But, the parking at Bell Square is free.  So, that is one place you might park.  Lincoln Square sometimes charges for parking, so I would try Bell Square first.

Right behind the Meydenbauyer is The Bravern.  This building has Microsoft Offices ( it is not the ginormous Microsoft Campus) as well as a really nice steak restaurant (a bit expensive), and other shops. They offer complimentary 6 hour parking with validation at one of the restaurants or shops; no purchase is required.

There is little to no street parking in Bellevue.  Be warned.  There are some spots at Downtown Park.

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That would be about a 1.5 mile walk to the Meydenbauer Convention Center.  One good thing about parking at Downtown Park is that there are some great shops and restaurants on Old Main right next to the park, and, if you parked there, you would not have to walk far to get to your car.

In between the Meydenbauer and Old Main is Quiltworks Northwest and Beads and Beyond.


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This is my favorite place to shop for beads for my knitting.  It is a quick 1/2 mile walk from the Meydenbauer, and a nice place to stop on your way to Old Main Street.

They have tons and tons of beautiful beads.

they have charms,

they have buttons,

they have glass and porcelain buttons from the Czech Republic.  They also have fabric.  After all, it is QUILTworks Northwest.

When I stopped by last week to take some photographs for this post, they gave me a link for a coupon for Vogue Knitting Live Participants.  Let's hope I am able to put the link up correctly, but you can print it out and bring it in for 15% off of their regularly priced merchandise.  You will be tempted.  Believe me.

Tomorrow I will write more about Old Main Street, and the shops and restaurants you can find there.

One little piece of shameless self-promotion.  If you want a great souvenir of your trip, and especially if you plan to actually go into Seattle and visit the famous Pike Place Market,  you might want to pick up my picture book, Salt and Pepper at the Pike Place Market.

If you see me at Vogue Knitting Live (I will be there every day volunteering and knitting with my Eastside Stitchers Buddies), I would be happy to autograph it for you.  You can get the book from Amazon or at the Market in the bookstore on the 2nd level.

I might be working on the next round for Sock Madness (if it is posted by then), or on the new socks for my husband, Doc, that I am currently designing. I hope to call them, Braveheart Socks.  More on these later.

That's it for now.  Hope to see you next weekend.

Peace,
f1bercat
shaping the planet with Vogue Knitting Live in my own backyard