Blog https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/ Blog Fri, 14 Mar 2025 10:33:43 +0000 The Lone Piper https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/the-lone-piper/ https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/the-lone-piper/#comments https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/the-lone-piper/ Fri, 24 Sep 2021 10:00:00 -0700

Man playing bagpipes with trees behind himThere is nothing quite like the sound of a lone piper, generously offering their song to the setting sun.

For many, the bagpipes elicit an emotional response that resonates deeply. That powerful, one-of-a-kind skirl sparks an uncommon blend of both sorrow and happiness, mesmerizing listeners as it

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𝗞𝗶𝗿𝗸𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝗿𝗸𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/kirklandparkswalker/ https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/kirklandparkswalker/#comments https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/kirklandparkswalker/ Fri, 24 Sep 2021 10:00:00 -0700

Man in front of Juanita Heights Park signKirkland resident Perry Clawson has always appreciated the City’s lush network of parks and natural areas, but during the pandemic, that appreciation grew into something more.

A Kirkland community member for 20 years, Perry lives in the Finn Hill area with his family and their dog Angus. He and

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𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/glassinatoratjuanitabeach/ https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/glassinatoratjuanitabeach/#comments https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/glassinatoratjuanitabeach/ Tue, 17 Aug 2021 10:00:00 -0700

Glass sculpture at Juanita BeachWe would like to extend a gracious thank you to Kirkland resident Karen Lightfeldt for her generous contribution to the City’s collection of vibrant public art!

Karen commissioned local artist Andrew Carson to create the mesmerizing new wind sculpture, called “Glassinator,” which is made of

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The Bumble Bees of Juanita Bay Park https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/the-bumble-bees-of-juanita-bay-park/ https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/the-bumble-bees-of-juanita-bay-park/#comments https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/the-bumble-bees-of-juanita-bay-park/ Wed, 21 Jul 2021 16:00:00 -0700

Man in Juanita Bay holding a net catching beesMost people try to keep their distance from bees, having developed an instinctive wariness after a painful sting or two. But Bellevue resident and citizen scientist Jim Maurer does the exact opposite. He not only seeks bees out on purpose, but actively pursues them in a quest for data.

Jim is a

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The Mandarin duck of Kirkland https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/the-beloved-mandarin-duck-of-kirkland/ https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/the-beloved-mandarin-duck-of-kirkland/#comments https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/the-beloved-mandarin-duck-of-kirkland/ Sun, 25 Apr 2021 12:00:00 -0700

Mandarin duck up against waveI first heard that there was a Mandarin duck in Kirkland on Sunday, April 11.

Somebody posted a picture of him on social media, and I was blown away by how gorgeous he was. I wanted to see him with my own eyes and capture him with my own lens so bad I felt itchy. I was obsessed. The social media

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A day at the bay https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/a-day-at-the-bay/ https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/a-day-at-the-bay/#comments https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/a-day-at-the-bay/ Sun, 11 Apr 2021 18:00:00 -0700

With vaccination rates rising and COVID-19 safety precautions being more incorporated into the collective “new normal,” I’ve been feeling a bit more eager to share about all of the wonderful things that Kirkland has to offer. The best thing about working for the City of Kirkland is having a perfect

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A magical summer evening in Kirkland https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/a-magical-summer-evening-in-kirkland/ https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/a-magical-summer-evening-in-kirkland/#comments https://www.explorekirkland.com/blog/post/a-magical-summer-evening-in-kirkland/ Thu, 16 Jul 2020 12:00:00 -0700

There is something magical about a sunny summer evening in downtown Kirkland.

Flowers in the marketplaceWhether you’re a resident, an employee or a guest, the sparkling waters of Lake Washington combined with the vibrant green parks, whimsical public art and beachy downtown shopping district make for an intoxicating

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