Bringing home the bacon

(L-R) Tony Bacon (captain), Tyler Hay, Chris Scalzo, J.R. Ashe, Jeff Chaney, John Besteman and Morgan Edwards.

As the dust settled on the hard-fought spring Bellevue Club basketball season, Team Bacon is all smiles after coming out on top in the Member Draft League championships.

Second annual Pour on the Plaza approaching

Pour on the Plaza, an annual night of appetizers, live music and wine, is quickly approaching on Saturday, Aug. 14 from 2-5 p.m. Enjoy appetizers from participating restaurants and wine from more than 20 wineries, all while listening to the sounds of Brian Nova.

Your $95 ticket to this event will help support Room to Read, a global organization focused on literacy and gender equality in education.

A list of participating wineries and online registration can be found here.

Take a walk

If you're out and about in downtown Bellevue this summer, you can see more than 30 pieces of art between Bellevue City Hall and Downtown Park. The installations are part of the 2010 Bellwether Art Walk, which runs through Oct. 17. Start at City Hall then head west on Southeast Sixth Street, turning at Bellevue Way to Downtown Park. From wood to metal, moving to static, there are bound to be a few favorites. 

For more information or to download a map, visit the City of Bellevue website.

'Music in the Garden' coming in August

Bellevue Botanical Garden's Pops in the Park event has gotten a makeover—and a new name.

The first Music in the Garden event is happening Aug. 7, 5:30-8:30 p.m. The entire family is invited to this event, with free face painting for children and music by Kelley Johnson and the John Hansen Trio. Admission is free with donations accepted. Feel free to bring a blanket and picnic dinner, but please no alcohol or pets.

For more information please e-mail the garden or call 451.3755.

In-house triathlon expert

The Bellevue Club's own Shannon Paterson is featured in the "Ask the Experts" section of the latest edition of Runner's World magazine. A fierce competitor in national triathlons and marathons, Shannon is also a personal trainer, spin instructor and triathlon coach at Bellevue Club.

She was also featured in the March 2010 issue of REFLECTIONS Magazine.

This weekend: artsfair and 6th Street Fair

Find fun for the entire family right in your backyard this weekend at the 64th annual Bellevue Arts Museum artsfair. Held at Bellevue Square and the Bellevue Arts Museum Friday-Sunday, you'll find plenty of activities.

In addition to the 325 artists that will be selling items at the fair, there will also be kids' activities, dance, jazz and theater performances and glassblowing. The Bellevue Arts Museum will also be free.

The best part? The artsfair is free!

When you've had your fill of the artsfair, head over to the 6th Street Fair, also running Friday-Sunday. More than 140 artists will have their work on display, plus there will be musicians performing jazz, blues and rock.

Congrats, Bellevue! No. 4 in the nation!

Money Magazine recently released its list of the top 100 best places to live in the United States ... and Bellevue was ranked No. 4! With unemployment lower than in the Seattle metro area and a skyline that boasts new skyscrapers, green trees and (on a clear day) mountaintops, Bellevue is a great place to live and work.

Sip and shop this weekend

If you're looking for something to do this weekend, head over to the Kirkland waterfront. Tonight, Saturday and Sunday is the Kirkland Uncorked festival.

Visit the Tasting Garden to try wine, watch grilling demonstrations, listen to live music or visit a wine shop. While the Tasting Garden has an entrance fee (a portion of which benefits the Hope Heart Institute), the Kirkland Uncorked Promenade is free! Here you'll find more than 40 artist booths along with food, a boat showcase and the Kirkland Classic Car Show.

If your four-legged friends attend with you, you can also enter CityDog Magazine's cover dog model contest.

For more information about this event, visit their website.

Annual Cougar Mountain bike climb is coming

Club member Joel Blatt is once again organizing the Cougar Mountain Bike Climb for Cancer. This year's even is happening Aug. 7.

The approximately two-mile, time-trial ride is free! Donations to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center or the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance are encouraged.

More information can be found on the climb's website.

The man behind the wheel

Bill Bonney has never lost his grip on the important things in life—like the handle of a water-ski towrope, for instance.

The Bellevue Club water-skiing instructor and Eastside native has been towed behind a rope for the past 46 years, competing in nationals 10 times.

"I grew up skiing on Lake Washington, but what really got me going was when I started competing," he says.

Bill's first competition in his early 20s was a far cry from the glassy slalom courses he now frequents. Instead, it was a grueling pull across the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Port Angeles to Vancouver Island and back. He quickly transferred over to slalom competitions and found his watery niche.

"I love the thrill of skiing through the slalom course and making it where it feels effortless. A lot of times you grunt through it, but sometimes it all just comes together," he says.

Bill has been instructing even longer than he's been competing. As a student at University of Washington in the '70s, he spent one year out of the water and decided to never let that happen again.

"I thought I'd better do something to ski so I started teaching lessons," he says.

Now an American Water Skiing Association-certified instructor with a competition-quality Malibu ski boat, Bill has taught countless kids and adults to water-ski on Lake Sammamish.

His lessons run from beginner to advanced water-skiing or wakeboarding. Bill is an experienced wakeboarder as well, but he draws the line at teaching flips.

"I'll teach spins and jumps, but as soon as they want to start flipping, they'll have to go somewhere else," he says with a chuckle.

As an instructor, Bill's favorite moment is watching a student succeed for the first time. His best advice to first-timers:

"Stay compact and low. Let the boat pull you out. So many people want to get out of the water so bad that they push with their legs, stand up too early and get pulled over the front. Once you're up, you need to keep your knees bent and head up. Or, I like to say, bend your knees and look at the trees." 

Waterskiing and wakeboarding lessons are offered by the Bellevue Club all summer with Bill Bonney on Lake Sammamish. All levels welcome. Ages 10 and up only.

Register online, call 688.3177 or stop by the Athletic Services Desk.

Golfing for good—Mack Strong charity tournament

Bellevue Club member and former Seahawk Mack Strong is hosting the third annual Team-Works Charity Golf Tournament and Auction on Monday, July 12, at the Golf Club at Newcastle.

The event benefits Team-Works Academy, a program designed to educate and empower Native American youth. The tournament starts at 1:30 p.m. and tickets include golf fees, lunch, drinks and a prize bag.

Later in the evening, Mack will be hosting the auction and banquet. Items up for bid include a Mexican beach vacation, luxury Mariners suite, Winemakers Dinner and more.

Visit their website for more information.

Spend your summer by our pool

Now is a fantastic time to join the Bellevue Club, as we have a new member summer promotion available through Aug. 31, 2010. Your entire family will enjoy membership—from swimming to Pilates, we have something for everyone. For more information, call 425.688.3242  or e-mail christyd@bellevueclub.com. Private facility tours are available.

And members, don't forget that you can receive up to $250 in referral credits for each new membership that you refer.

Bellevue Club best-kept secrets No. 2: Birthday parties!

Birthdays are important, and you want your son or daughter's day to be perfect. The Bellevue Club can help not only create a very special day for your child but also take care of all the details—including clean-up! From food and activities to goodie bags and decorations, the Club can help your child have it all on their day for the best value around.

Bellevue Club birthday parties are scheduled Saturdays and Sundays, with four two-hour time slots available: 1-3 p.m., 2-4 p.m., 3-5 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. We have a variety of party activities available for different age groups.

What does your child enjoy?

Pool Parties

• Pool Runner (6 and up)

• Inflatable Obstacle Course (9 and up)

Gymnasium Parties

• Toddler Play (2-4)

• Inflatable Bouncy Slide (5 and up, max 15)

• All-Sports Play (6 and up)

Other Parties

• Art Party* (3 and up)

• Deluxe Art Party* (6 and up)

• Climbing Wall Party (6 and up, max 10)

• Ballet Dance•• (4 and up)

• Hip-Hop Dance** (6 and up)

• Kindermusik** (1-4, max 15)

* Additional cost for supplies.

** Pending instructor availability.

Our parties are the best value around (we've done price comparisons!)

Up to 10 kids for $185. 

Up to 15 kids for $200.

Up to 20 kids for $215.

You can also upgrade your party for an additional cost with a theme package! If your daughter loves butterflies or your son digs pirates, why not add themed dinner and cake plates, cups, napkins, utensils and table covers? Available themes include:

Sports Party

Pirate Party

Surf Party

Hula Girl Party

Pink Princess Party

Butterfly Party

Cake Celebration

Beach Ball Party

Make your theme package deluxe and also get goodie bags! You can also add balloons, an additional instructor or a personal party assistant for an extra fee.

Your child and guests will be having a blast and working up an appetite! While the requisite birthday cake can be brought from home, all other food needs to be catered through the Club. Our full party menu can be found here.

Still have questions about Birthday Parties at the Bellevue Club? Ready to book your child's party? Call us at 425.637.4640 or fill out our online form.