Heart of Bellevue

No one should feel unsafe or unwelcome in Bellevue, plain and simple. That’s why the City of Bellevue is rallying the community around a clear, powerful message: hate has no home here.

Although most of us are just emerging from hibernation, others like Titans FC - a local youth soccer club with premier programs suited for players of all backgrounds and skill levels - have braced the elements to build strength and stamina through dedicated practice on the field.

Bellefleur opened a new Bellevue pop-up location just off Main Street – opening doors to a fervor of appreciative shoppers ready for that signature experience.

Introducing our newest (and biggest) concert series yet… Bellevue Beats!

As a state industry association, the Washington State Food Truck Association represents the interests of mobile restaurants across county and demographic lines. It’s delicious work.

As we head into the final stretch of National Women's History Month, we‘ve been reflecting on the many amazing women we’ve met through our Heart of Bellevue campaign.

Across nine clubhouses and six school sites, BGCB serves 800 – 1,000 youth per day, providing hot meals, homework help and a safe place to find support. Even as COVID-19 surged, the organization never closed its doors. In fact, it's been quite the opposite.

Outfitted with a bold philosophy and creative instincts, Amandine Leforestier has grown her artistic roots using her bold philosophy as a successful illustrator and independent fashion designer.

Decompressing at a luxury spa is a perfect way to blow off steam, but many of us struggle to carve out time for a bit of self care. That's what Yuan Spa is here for.

Chance Merchant's candid portraits and brilliant landscape photos have earned him a sizable following on social media. We caught up with Chance to hear more about his journey with the camera here in Bellevue.

The City of Bellevue’s Parks & Community Services department is underway on an expansion project aimed to revitalize the park’s entrance and welcome folks on busy Bellevue Way to the lush Downtown Park scenery.

Sierra Sharp made a self-described “modest attempt” to introduce a taste of normalcy back into daily life when she struck an alliance between the Issaquah, Newcastle and Bellevue salons in her district.

One local pastry chef has taken an innovative approach to keep his small business afloat and his team employed.

In a world rife with virtual connections and remote collaborations, you might think cosmetic services have become a moot point - but seasoned beautician Joyce Poon disagrees.

Arts Program staff with the City of Bellevue have been mulling over an idea to spruce up average city sidewalks and strengthen a sense of place through the imaginative lenses of local artisans and creatives.

Keeping things running at one of the industry’s best-known video game studios takes creativity and skill. Fortunately for Bungie COO Patrick O’Kelley, his background in literature and time spent at Amazon and Microsoft gave him both.

Tom Thanu found few Indian eateries in the area that offered an authentic, familiar taste harkening back to home. So he opened one of his own.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began its rapid onslaught last March, local chef and restauranteur John Howie has chartered and delivered over 10,500 meals to healthcare workers, first responders and nonprofit welfare organizations like the Salvation Army and the Boys & Girls Club Bellevue chapter.

If you’re looking to dial up the romance to ensure Valentine’s Day has a bit more fanfare this year, these local artisans and merchants serving the Heart of Bellevue community are as savvy as Cupid’s arrow and can swiftly guide you in the right direction.

As an independently-owned and operated businesses in the Bellevue Collection, Urbanity deals in street cred and swagger rather than national marketing tactics. Here's their Heart of Bellevue story.

We rounded up a collection of (dare we say) seductive offerings from some of Bellevue’s best restaurants – check them out and get your orders in for an easy and fabulous Valentine’s Day celebration.

For any gent with a love of style, slipping into that perfect-fitting t-shirt can be just as rewarding as placing the final knot on a suit and tie. That’s very much the ethos of J.Hilburn. If that sounds like you (or a guy you know), then add the company’s Heart of Bellevue studio to your shopping list.

For civic-minded teens in the Puget Sound area, Bank of America’s prestigious Student Leaders program – which provides paid summer internships in partnership with local nonprofits – is a win-win. 

As the Downtown neighborhood grows every day, we reached out to Edita Lee at Brio to learn what makes the Heart of Bellevue a great place to call home and how they’re continuing to welcome new residents during this time.

The Heart of Bellevue has the gear and apparel you need to suit up or unwind at home. From performance apparel to the comfiest yoga pants around, here are a few Downtown spots worth checking out.

After 11 years working as a civil engineer, Quyen Dang decided to pioneer her own business in a completely different industry: hospitality. We reached out to Quyen to learn more about her perspective as a local business owner, the hurdles her team cleared and what she appreciates most about connecting with the Heart of Bellevue community.

Need something sweet? Ease back into your work routine after a holiday hiatus with a few of these sweet tooth suggestions found in the #HeartofBellevue community...

Anyone who has roamed Old Bellevue might have stumbled across an extraordinary little storefront called Aquaria. Owner Fiona Tu shares with us her passion for "aquascaping" and her plans for 2021.

After months of committed service and combined resources, the Mobile Meal Alliance program is extending through the new year. Starting tonight, the Bellevue Boys & Girls Club will host their first Mobile Meal Alliance food truck from 4-7 p.m., continuing every other Friday through February.

When your “Near Year, New Me” ambition starts to wear off, avoid the notorious New Year slump with these health and wellness suggestions to crank your motivation into high gear. Whether you prefer to jog through an urban refuge or practice your plank at home, the #HeartofBellevue has plenty of opportunities to help move your resolutions off the back burner! 

As the holidays come to a close and 2021 welcomely arrives, the perfect opportunity to refresh your mind, body, tastebuds and wardrobe presents itself. From self-care to shopping sprees, we rounded up a few of our favorite experiences to kick off a fantastic new year!

If you’re looking for a little fresh air with a festive twist, nothing beats a walk under the holiday lights with a warm drink in hand during the Season of Cheer presented by Symetra!

From creating a unique partnership between non-profits and small restaurants to helping bring cheer back Downtown for the holiday season, Symetra has looked for ways to creatively support the community they call home. 

Whether for yourself or for a gift, snag the latest winter styles for the coziest garbs around! Swing by these local Heart of Bellevue stores for last minute gift inspiration or to treat yourself to some chic new threads for your virtual holiday festivities! Here are our latest picks.

Whether you need to finish gift hunting or need a break, follow these recommendations or give us a holler @bellevuedowntown to voice your own discoveries around town - either way, we're inspiring you to support local businesses in the Heart of Bellevue. 

Where can seasonal fruits and veggies, freshly-cut flowers, handcrafted meats, one-of-a-kind artisanal wares and tasty cuisine be found in one central hub? At the Bellevue Farmers Market, of course!

Whether you're searching for a perfect and unique surprise or want to give the gift of local this year, here are ten Downtown gift ideas from some of our favorite Heart of Bellevue shops!