2010 Haute Picks winners just announced

Bellevue Downtown Association just announced the winners of the 2010 Haute Picks, with 20 winners selected by online and paper ballot.  Congrats to all the winners, particularly our Main Street neighbors 520 Bar and Grill (best casual business meeting spot) and Gotta Have Shoes (best retail boutique).

Other category winners include our One Main VIP club sponsors, Pearl Bar and Dining (best cocktail drink and place), and our neighbor Elite Fitness (best workout spot).

With so many great businesses surrounding One Main Street, it's time to check out the complete list and explore the neighborhood!

Bellevue Farmer's Market returns for the season

It finally feels like spring is in the air - The Bellevue Farmer's Market is returning to 1717 Bellevue Way NE on Thursday, May 13th from 3 to 7 p.m.

To help you get in the local, organic shopping mood, there's a great write-up with interesting statistics (like how many visitors have shopped at the market in years past), at http://bellevue.com/article.php?id=113.

Andrew Will Winemaker Dinners at Bis on Main

One Main Street neighbor Bis on Main will host two wine dinners with award-winning Vashon Island winery Andrew Will, Sunday, May 2nd at 5:30 and Monday, May 3rd at 6:30.

The six-course dinners will be prepared by Chef Christopher Peterson and presented with seven Andrew Will wines, including the 2007 Two Blondes, 2007 Ciel du Cheval, 2007 Champoux and 2007 Sorella. We will also feature the 2007 Sangiovese, 2008 Pinot Gris and a pre release 2008 Cabernet Blend from four different vineyards. The dinner will be hosted by David Oldham, winery manager and assistant wine maker.

In addition, this wine dinner will become a part of the Bis on Main cookbook, due out in October of this year. The book will include many photographs from the dinner, as well as all the recipes.

The cost is $110 per person with limited seating available. For reservations call 425-455-2033 or email bisonmain@msn.com.

Tax Credit Extended at One Main Street

Hot off the presses: now at One Main Street in Bellevue, get up to $8,000 closing cost credit from now to May 31, 2010. That's not just for first-time buyers!

But if you are a first-time home buyer if you add up this $8,000 buyer bonus and your $8,000 tax credit that means you could get up to $16,000 in tax credits and closing cost credits!

We're coming up on the last weekend to qualify for the Federal Housing Tax Credit of up to $8000 for first-time buyers and $6500 for current homeowners.  To qualify, all offers must be signed around by Friday, April 30th, 2010 and closed by June 30, 2010.

It's decision time!

For complete information about the tax credit, visit this Website:
http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/
and talk to your personal tax advisor to find out whether you qualify.

One Main Street is open daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and we are happy to show you our furnished models and beautiful homes, ready to move in today. http://www.onemainstreet.com/.

A Bright Look at the Future

And now for something completely different: New York Times columnist David Brooks writes about optimism for America in a commentary about, “The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050,” by Joel Kotkin. Part of Kotkin's optimism stems from the new urban design decisions that are being made today, with the revitalization of urban downtown cores and the trend towards suburban town centers. This creates a healthy, locally-focused, pedestrian-friendly environment, which no surprise is good for the economy, earth and people alike.

At One Main Street we're already ahead of that trend, scoring a near-perfect 91 on http://www.walkscore.com/ in the most pedestrian friendly part of vibrant downtown Bellevue. From One Main Street, you're part of the friendly neighborhood of Old Bellevue with neighborhood business owners that know the names of their regulars.

Bellevue Square, downtown workplaces, the transit station, casual and fine dining, movies, bowling, billiards, comedy, day spas, parks and the Meydenbauer Bay waterfront are all within a mile of your front door, making it possible to stay in your own neighborhood for almost everything you want and need. Which is what this article is talking about - the value of finding connections where you live.

Seattle Restaurant Week has Bellevue Deals Too

Despite the name, Bellevue is also getting in on Seattle Restaurant Week, a new promotion running April 19th through 29th that will offer three course dinners for $25.

According to Nancy Leson's Seattle Times post on her blog, All You Can Eat, this promotion was initially created by a group of restauranteurs and chefs who wanted to write their own rules and allow more restaurants to participate than previous promotions allowed. What does that mean?  More restaurants are participating - over 100 to be exact.

Bellevue restaurants who are in on the deal include Artisenal Brassserie, Barrio, Purple Cafe, Seastar and Wild Ginger. Also on the Eastside are Woodinville's Barking Frog, Bennett's Pure Food Bistro on Mercer Island, and in Kirkland, Anthony's, Bin on the Lake, Lynn's Bistro and Trellis.

Might be worth making advance reservations!

Winemaker Dinners at Pearl Bar and Dining

Join Pearl Bar & Dining this spring for some very special Winemaker Dinners. Held on Thursdays throughout April and May, these events will highlight some of our favorite local winemakers. Next Thursday, April 15th the featured winery is Woodward Canyon Winery and Thursday May 6th it's Dunham Cellars, both from the Walla Walla area.

Reception begins at 5:15 p.m. dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for each event are $75 per person plus tax and gratuity; limited seating available. For more information and reservations call 425-455-0181.


Get all the details at http://pearlbellevue.wordpress.com/2010/03/30/spring-winemaker-dinner-series/

Artisanal Spring Fling this weekend at The Bravern

Looking for a fun and free experience to welcome the warm weather season that the whole family can enjoy? Join Artisanal Brasserie & Winebar and The Artisanal Table Pizzeria Enoteca at The Bravern for a ”Spring Fling” weekend! From noon – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11, both Artisanal restaurants will celebrate the beginning of spring with a host of events. Free gelato, live music, raffle contests, coloring contests for the kids, a cooking demo and more.


Details: http://bellevuelocaltable.com/blog/?p=1153

And of course stop by One Main Street for a tour while you're around town. Furnished models are open daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m .at 10000 Main Street. http://www.onemainstreet.com/.

Big Grand Opening weekend at One Main Street

Whew! Excuse us while we wipe our brows, we are still trying to recover from a very busy month of March, and a huge grand opening weekend that saw over 400 groups tour One Main Street in Old Bellevue.

If you came to tour during one of our busy days, and you have other homes you'd like to see, or if you'd like to tour again at a time when you'll have our full attention to answer all your questions, please let us know if we can schedule a private tour for you. To reach us, call 425.452.6246 or e-mail info@onemainstreet.com.

We are onsite daily now from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 10000 Main Street, Bellevue. (We'll be open this Saturday, but closed on Sunday to celebrate the Easter holiday.)

If you haven't had a chance to visit us yet, it's a great time to stop by -- with the days getting longer, the sky getting brighter and the beautiful lake, city and mountain views getting better. We hope to see you in Old Bellevue soon!