What's Happening

Downtown Bellevue is about to see a few major road closures due to construction of the East Link light rail project. Here is a quick snapshot of the what, where, and when.

Mid-week blues got you down? Then it is time to mix it up and we know exactly where to start. Did you know that multiple places in Downtown Bellevue feature weekly live music performances? No? Well that’s okay because we have compiled a list of the best places to find live music Downtown.

We are so excited to welcome 11 new members to BDA! Interested in learning more about what it means to have your business featured through the BDA? Then please contact us. We would love to chat with you!!

Our annual Four on the 4th Dog Jog & Walk is just two days away, and it is the perfect time to discuss an unlikely topic… dog poop. You will be surprised at how much you don't know...

Vulcan Real Estate presented an in-depth look into its major Downtown Bellevue projects at the June Bellevue Downtown Association (BDA) Breakfast, including Bellevue Plaza and 555 108th.

Time to break out your best patriotic gear - the 4th is only a week away!! Whether you’re spending the 4th with your friends, your boo, or your family, Downtown Bellevue has exactly what you need to have the best 4th of July ever. It’s not very often that you get to party on a Thursday, right? Check out the best of Downtown Bellevue this year.

University of Washington has taken things to a whole new level. Partnering with the city of Bellevue, they have worked together to provide innovative ideas in the hopes of improving livability for residents.

Looking to explore Downtown Bellevue? Great idea! You know what else is a great idea? Bring your best canine friend to explore the city with you.

Need help figuring out what to do for your dad? We have exactly what you need to ensure a fantastic Father's day.

Business and civic leaders packed the house at the May Breakfast to hear former Gov. Gregoire lead a discussion with the experts behind Microsoft's $500M commitment to affordable and workforce housing. Read more to learn about the data, dialogue, and future direction of Eastside's housing market.

Now that summer is in full swing with the start of June and school is coming to an end, it is time to start thinking about all the great things that you can be looking forward to this summer and over the next few months. Downtown Bellevue is the best place to start looking.

What time is it? It's Ju Ju time. To celebrate the Chinese New Year, the year of the pig, go see a life-sized fiber glass pig named Ju Ju at City Hall from now until the end of June. Then, seize the day in Downtown Bellevue this New Year and hit the town.

The commute can be one of the main reasons an employee decides to leave a job, or why they take a new job. We’ve pulled together five ways you can help attract and retain your top talent by taking a closer look at their commutes, read on for how you can get started at your company.

Memorial Day is here and so is the Summer weather. Want to do something special but not sure what? Then why not try a Downtown Bellevue stay-cation!? We have compiled a list of the best things to do Memorial Day Weekend and these, you don't want to miss.

Plan your route to see over 40 live shows at this year's Bellevue Jazz & Blues Festival! Almost all shows are free and not ticketed, which means you can drop in to several venues each night.

At April’s BDA Breakfast, more than 200 attendees gathered at Meydenbauer Center to hear Bellevue Mayor John Chelminiak give a State of the City address. Key themes including intentionality, boldness and inclusivity emerged from the optimistic account of Bellevue’s present and future. 

As people throughout the region and all over the world celebrate Earth Month, Puget Sound Energy has already been working on ways to reduce its carbon footprint, and it wants to help customers do the same.

Despite the soaring skyscrapers and booming business in our community, financial stresses are a reality for many Bellevue families. In December, the BDA Breakfast Series broached the topic of homelessness and recently, BDA member Bellevue LifeSpring shared some additional statistics on homelessness, reminding us of how important the issue is.

If you're traveling through downtown Bellevue next week starting around 9 pm, please be aware of overnight closures on I-405 and on NE 8th Street for East Link light rail construction.

The Bellevue Downtown Association is thrilled to welcome several thousand Amazon employees to the neighborhood over the next four years. They will occupy a combination of existing office space and planned new development under construction. We’re proud to have Amazon as a BDA member, along with the many other members who are bolstering our economy and enhancing downtown’s vitality. We look forward to supporting the company’s future growth in Bellevue and the region.

Put on your stretchy pants because Restaurant Week is back! More than a dozen Downtown Bellevue restaurants will have three-course dinners and two-course lunch specials.

After years of planning and two years of construction, Meydenbauer Bay Park is open! We heard from the project team on challenges, achievements, and what's next for the Bellevue park network.

After years of public discussion and evaluation, a hearing examiner is expected to rule on the permitting for the Energize Eastside project’s transmission upgrades for the south segment of Bellevue. The BDA is prepared to advocate for this critical transmission upgrade. Read more to learn why and how to engage.

The Diaper Derby is a competitive race to collect diapers for babies living in poverty or crisis. Join EBC in helping kids beat the odds by giving them what they need for a healthy start in life, and parents what they need to take care of their family.

Sound Transit is celebrating an incredible milestone! Contractors are halfway done with construction of the East Link light rail extension. The East Link extension will become the “Blue Line” when we open for service in 2023. People will notice that some stations and trackways look complete and ready to service, but all 14-miles and 10 stations of the “Blue Line” will open all at once in 2023, after testing and pre-revenue service.

The Tateuchi Center, now known as Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE), will receive a stunning update inside and out.

Everybody's Irish on St. Paddy's Day! Starting Friday 3/15-Sunday 3/17, thanks to our BDA Member Restaurants, here's where to celebrate this weekend.

After months of gray skies and rainy nights, it can be easy to convince yourself that binge watching tv shows in bed is the only thing to do, but Reality Breaks Escapes is here to convince us otherwise. 

I-405 is the spine of the Eastside and tens of thousands of users are all too familiar with its pain points. In February, WSDOT and Sound Transit project leaders shared updates on when and how this corridor will keep us moving today and in the future.

The City of Bellevue and Cascade Water Alliance are offering a series of seven free gardening classes, starting tomorrow! Join for one or all of these classes no matter your skill level.  

The BDA welcomes its newest members, Breakthrough Fundraising Group, Visit Bellevue Washington, and Fairfield Inn and Suites.

The BDA Board of Directors approved the Transportation Committee’s recommended Downtown Access Strategy update. Over the course of four meetings, BDA Members worked toward creating an effective advocacy framework for addressing policy issues by acknowledging competing views and finding shared goals. The update marks the first revision to the strategy since it was adopted in 2011.

Join the City of Bellevue at the Meydenbauer Bay Park Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, March 16th from 11 am – 2 pm. The new park will feature a pedestrian pier, boat rentals, a new beach house and more.

There’s more than snow in the air this week, Valentine’s Day is just a few days away! Wow your sweetie with some of these Valentine’s deals at BDA Member restaurants here in Downtown. 

On Thursday, February 7, the Bellevue Downtown Association and over 500 attendees celebrated our Downtown at the largest Annual Celebration in its 45-year history. Featuring two keynotes, two award honorees, networking and dinner, it was an evening to remember.

Microsoft announced recently that it is committing $500 million to advance affordable housing solutions. Microsoft’s message included a call to action, encouraging individuals, business, and the state legislature to contribute to the cause. The Mayors of Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Issaquah, Renton, Sammamish, Auburn, Kent and Federal Way are pledging to take vital and concrete steps to address the issue. The Bellevue Downtown Association is tracking the housing issue and advocating policy changes to encourage development of more affordable units.

Congratulations to BDA Member Alaska Airlines! They've recently hired their 10,000th Washington State employee, and they're not stopping there. The Economic Impact Report highlights plans to continue to expand in our state.

Lunar New Year occurs on February 5th, and it will be the year of the boar; an omen of fortune and good luck! Celebrate at these Bellevue cultural events happening throughout the week.

The City of Bellevue will mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a trio of events. On Thursday, John Carlos, a track star who raised his fist for human rights after winning a medal at the 1968 Olympics, will deliver an address. On Monday, MLK Day itself, join a tree planting at Eastgate Park and a celebration at Crossroads Mall. Read on for details.

The Bellevue Downtown Association will host its 45th Annual Celebration on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at Meydenbauer Center. More than 500 business and community leaders from around the region will celebrate the growth and evolution of Downtown Bellevue. Registration is now open!

We're about to hit three weeks of region-wide congestion as the Alaskan Way Viaduct comes down, read on for what the "period of maximum constraint" means for your commute to Bellevue.

The December BDA Breakfast program centered on the issue of homelessness in Bellevue. Diving into the subject were five panelists from leading organizations tackling this challenge on the frontlines. The fact-filled forum explored data, myths vs reality, trends, and solutions. With more than 150 people in attendance, the community came out in full force to learn about this issue and how Bellevue is responding.

Make the most of your Magic Season experience by not fussing with parking. Explore alternative transit options to your favorite Downtown Bellevue holiday traditions.

As recommended by the BDA Land Use & Livability Committee, the Bellevue City Council unanimously selected the Grand Connection I-405 lid concept for evaluation and design. Future design work of the crossing is expected to start in Q1 2019 and go into 2020. Read more about the BDA's official message and next steps for Grand Connection.

Join us for a special BDA Breakfast and a conversation about the resources and community response for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Bellevue. An expert panel will highlight the core issues in play, what the data and trends are telling us, how agencies and non-profits are meeting critical needs, and where opportunities exist for greater partnership and problem solving on one of the region’s biggest challenges. 

The holiday season brings tons of festive fun, but also an increase in commercial shipping causing recycle bins to spill over with cardboard, plastic and paper. Learn why it's important to do more than get the lid shut and tips for a healthy recycle bin.

Construction for the 22nd annual Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink presented by Alaska Mileage Plan is underway with Opening Day scheduled for Friday, November 23! Learn more about the region's largest open-air holiday ice skating experience.

Former First Lady of Washington state Mona Lee Locke calls Bellevue Arts Museum, "a jewel on the Eastside, and a human need" as the museum prepares for an exciting lineup of upcoming exhibits.

Brad Jones, Executive Director at Visit Bellevue shares ten-year plan to implement five strategic priorities to providing a positive visitor experience to bring people to Bellevue and keep them coming back.