Overlake - Redmond, WA

As an offshoot of the large suburb of Bellevue, the neighborhood of Overlake resulted from the expansion of the downtown area following the construction of Lake Washington Floating Bridge in 1940. With Bellevue now connected to Seattle via the bridge, more people moved to the area in and around downtown Bellevue. The area received its name due to its location across Lake Washington from Seattle.

As home to the Microsoft Corporation, Overlake owes much of its growth to the business brought in by this behemoth tech company. The Microsoft Visitor Museum serves as the closest museum to residents and provides an educational journey through the beginnings of this world famous company.

Among the yearly celebrations, the Cultural Crossroads Festival remains the most popular festival in this area. Occurring each November, this festival features a full weekend of live music, dancing and entertainment to celebrate the diversity of cultures around the world.

The restaurants of Overlake represent a diverse range of cultures and traditions. While the neighborhood still includes American classics such as pub food and diners, the highlights here prove to be ethnic cuisine. Although some restaurants lie near the center of the neighborhood, many of the best places to eat make their homes in the southern section near the neighborhood of Crossroads.

Sukho Thai serves some of the best Thai food in all of Bellevue. Vegetarians love this spot in particular because the whole menu features either vegetarian, vegan or pescatarian dishes. Stop by during lunch to try out the all-vegetarian buffet. While Sukho Thai takes pick-up orders, many people prefer to dine in here to enjoy the wide range of curries or pad Thai.

When it comes to nightlife, Overlake includes the usual neighborhood dive bars. Mugshots Burger n’ Brew serves as a popular dive bar for locals looking to hang out with friends in a laid-back atmosphere. Happy hour at this bar runs every weekday from 4 to 6 p.m. and includes the “Three for All” menu of $3 well drinks, burgers and bottled beers. Guests at this bar keep themselves busy shooting pool, playing pinball or watching a sports game on one of the many TVs inside.

For a livelier experience, residents like to hang out at Steve’s Bar & Grill. Steve’s becomes fairly crowded on Sunday game days for the Seahawks with “Steve’s Seahawk Sunday” specials. Locals flock to this pub on these occasions to enjoy free food with the purchase of an adult beverage throughout the game. In addition to the Sunday specials, Steve’s also includes happy hour prices from 4 to 7 p.m. during the week. On weekends, residents enjoy heading to this neighborhood pub for weekly karaoke night on Fridays and live music on Saturday nights.

With a few centrally located restaurants and shops, Overlake remains walkable only for a small portion of residents. Most residents need to use a car to get to the restaurants and shops in nearby Bellevue and Redmond. The main public transportation options lie on Bel-Red Road in the form of multiple bus stops. Some residents choose to get around by bicycle during the warmer months because of the neighborhood's flat topography, and it includes bike lanes on 8th Street and 140th Avenue.

Despite the ample public transportation options, many residents still own cars for commuting. Some businesses and stores have set up in the neighborhood, but many people need to travel elsewhere from time to time. Drivers don’t have much trouble finding parking spots in this area with plenty of businesses and strip malls hosting free parking. Convenient access to Highway 520 can be found by taking 140th Avenue south.

With Lake Sammamish lying just to the east of the neighborhood, Overlake gives locals numerous options for outdoor activities in the form of free public parks. Ardmore Park lies just south of the neighborhood and acts as a quiet and secluded park for playing, relaxing or walking. The park includes a play area for small children, open grassy areas for games and a nature trail that winds through the forest. Parking remains limited at Ardmore Park, but drivers can easily locate space on the streets.

When looking for a livelier park experience, head to Marymoor Park to the northeast. This popular park attracts visitors from Redmond and Bellevue alike for its well-developed grounds and extensive amenities. Some crowd favorites at Marymoor Park include the outdoor climbing wall, pool and the off-leash dog park. In the summertime, don’t miss the Marymoor Park Concert series at the outdoor concert stage for some premium live entertainment.

The cost of living in Overlake runs a good deal higher than in many neighborhoods in Washington state. However, compared to the nearby neighborhoods of Bellevue and Redmond, the average rental rate remains slightly cheaper. With its close proximity to the trendy and well-developed town of Redmond, Overlake maintains higher than normal prices for transportation and real estate.

Overall, gas prices in this neighborhood rank about 19 percent higher than the national average. A one-way ticket on the county bus line costs around $3. One-bedroom residences can be found for around $1,315 per month. If you’re headed out to a bar, expect to pay around $4 to $5 for a beer on tap.

The center of commerce in this neighborhood lies to the south at the corner of 148th Avenue and 8th Street in the form of the Crossroads Bellevue This shopping mall contains the usual retail stores, such as Old Navy and Half Price Books. However, Crossroads Bellevue also includes some unique features, such as a stage for live music, a movie theater and a fitness gym.

As the closest major shopping mall, residents of Overlake usually head to Crossroads Bellevue to find the usual lineup of department stores, jewelry shops and electronic retailers. If you have an upcoming costume party to attend, head to A Masquerade Costume for all your festive dress and decor needs. Although small in size, this fun and quirky costume shop contains something for every occasion, from Halloween and Christmas to throwback-themed 80s parties. Since the shop lets you rent or purchase its costumes, you don't have to break the bank to get an outfit for a single night out.

Despite lacking the boutiques and high-end stores of neighborhoods like Downtown Bellevue, Overlake still contains some options for high-class clothing and accessories. The Bespoke Clothier has long maintained a reputation as a hidden gem in Overlake with its custom tailoring services for men's and women's suits. Serving the greater Bellevue and Redmond area, this popular tailor shop also features handmade shirts and suits made by the store's owner. If you have something specific in mind, call to make an appointment and start designing your very own custom suit for your next special occasion.

Many residents buy their weekly groceries at the nearby Trader Joe's on NE 24th Street or at one of the Safeways. However, some specialty grocery stores have also set up in Crossroads, including the Mexican-themed La Superior and the Middle Eastern Desi Big Bazaar. Those looking for local produce should visit the Crossroads Farmers Market, located in the parking lot of the Crossroads Shopping Center. Every Tuesday afternoon throughout the summer, this market sells local produce grown by Washington farmers along with artisan baked goods and food truck fare.