Home to two of the region’s four Slayer espresso machines, the Italian-inspired specialty cafè will offer hand-crafted espresso, coffee and beans in Premium Blend and Single Origin varieties, as well as a full selection of gourmet teas and chai beverages.   Along with coffee and tea drinks, Vovito Caffè & Gelato will feature house-made gelato, sorbetto, a wide variety of paninis, salads and baked goods -– all made fresh daily.

The café will open at 6:30 am Monday through Friday (8:30 am on Saturdays and 10:00 am on Sundays) to satisfy coffee and breakfast cravings, including freshly prepared Panini breakfast sandwiches, pastries, fresh orange juice and gelato smoothies.

Vovito is a welcome addition to The Shops at The Bravern, which has been seeking a coffee purveyor.  “We’re extremely pleased to have Vovito Caffè & Gelato open at The Bravern,” said Mark Netherland, senior investment manager for project developer Schnitzer West, LLC.  “The quality of the product we can now offer visitors was worth the wait.”

Founded by Eastside entrepreneurs Ariff and Shairose Gulamani, Vovito Caffè & Gelato represents the third start-up venture for the couple.  It was a personal passion for unique artisan products that led the two to begin development of the Vovito concept a year ago.   Bellevue seemed the perfect location to launch their flagship store.

“We see Bellevue as the new hub,” says Ariff Gulamani. “It’s vibrant, it has the right demographics, and it has become the new center of activity for the region. We were very excited when we heard about The Bravern.  Its inviting, upscale environment is the perfect setting for our concept.”

Much like vintners and sommeliers, Vovito’s baristas will further refine the art of coffee, exploring the nuance of single origin sources right down to the farms or hillsides; to blending, brewing and extracting for various flavor profiles and themes.

“Vovito will offer the very best coffee for connoisseurs,” Ariff points out. “For us, this is an opportunity to build social connections around coffee while connecting people in the café with our sustainable business relationships with direct coffee farmer co-ops where we will source the world’s best coffee beans.”

After much recipe research, consultation with Italian Master gelato chefs and menu development, Vovito Caffè & Gelato will offer flavor-rich gelato and sorbetto made fresh daily. The café will open with 24 flavors of colorful gelato and sorbetto, as well as delicious gelato cakes. The gelato offering, says Shairose Gulamani, will accommodate customer preferences with new gelato flavors featured every month.  And there is a focus on fresh, healthy ingredients:  “Most people don’t realize that gelato has fewer calories and less sugar A006Ed fat than ice cream,” she explained. “It’s a great way to treat yourself.”

Vovito Caffè & Gelato will occupy 2,444 square feet in The Shops at The Bravern and seat approximately 35 inside the shop. Vovito Caffè & Gelato plans to open its doors July 25 with grand opening festivities set for July 30. Reflecting the Italian origins and artisanship of its signature products, Vovito Caffè & Gelato will feature Italianate design throughout, from the custom-made, curved gelato cases to the stone counters and stairs to the warm colors enveloping the interior design of the space. Comfortable and contemporary bar stools and ledges line the walls, with table seating provided for small or large groups as well as lounge chairs for a relaxed alternative. The café will offer free WiFi service and will be family friendly and wheelchair accessible.

There’s a lot going on here, true.  But check out what the grand prize winner gets and it all makes sense that this is a sweepstakes worth dropping one’s John Hancock for.

One person will win the grand prize – and will get to bring along five friends for the following:

1. Whisk off to Whitefish Montana, where you and your crew will:

• • Meet master brewers and take a tour of the Great Northern Brewery
  • Make your own brew
  • Design the label for your signature suds

2. Learn to fly fish with the masters and walk away with rods and cases as gifts

3. Go on a multi-day river rafting trip for your party of six

4. Spend a night in Glacier National Park at a mountain chalet where you can take a load off with a luxe spa package

5.Fly via private plane to California for two practice sessions with the Sacramento Kings

6. Hop back on the plane and heading to Las Vegas, where the group will stay for free at a world-famous hotel and resort and enjoy:

a.VIP poolside cabana

b. Dinner at a five-star restaurant

c. VIP table service

7. The winner also gets:

a. Complimentary Flip video camera and a Canon camera

b. Black Star Beer gear and other swag (hoodie, hats, shirts)

8. GET THIS:  The winner and his/her five friends who went along for the ride will receive round-trip airfare tickets in order to take a vacation from their Black Star Beer vacation.

Readers can enter the sweepstakes at www.facebook.com/blackstarbeer.  All they have to do is “like” Black Star Beer on FB and they’re in.  Deadline is August 19 – there’s three-and-a-half weeks left to take a crack at living a summertime dream.

The first-ever “Job Sector Survey” aims to collect measurable data about the sentiments, challenges and aspirations of King County employers. Results will be broken down by industry sector, geographic area and company size. This will form a data-rich illustration to guide elected officials, policy-makers and community leaders when making decisions that impact the local economy.

“The survey will tell us what employers on “Main Street” face every day and what they need to succeed,” said Phil Bussey, president & CEO of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. “By capturing many different business voices—from storefront retailers to multi-national companies—we will finally have a substantive and relevant information base to determine the best ways to keep and grow jobs.”

“Seattle businesses have been remarkably resilient during the economic downturn, and we must remain innovative in our efforts to support business growth and ensure shared prosperity,” said Steve Johnson, acting director of the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development. “It’s essential that government understands the needs of businesses and remains pro-active in its efforts to support business and job growth.”

“Seattle and King County are truly unique in the depth and diversity of industry sectors,” said Bob Drewel, executive director of the Puget Sound Regional Council. “Our task is to assess the strengths of those sectors and then to sustain and to grow them. This survey will be a vital piece of information for regional leaders at all levels.”

Invitations for the online survey will be distributed to employers by each of the partner organizations beginning July 12. A link to the survey will also be posted at http://itstimeforbusiness.com and a hard copy will be available upon request. Responses will be collected until July 24. Each survey respondent will be entered to win two Southwest Airlines Green LUV tickets.

Since multiple organizations will be sending invitations, a single employer may get the survey from several sources. To verify data, participants will be asked to provide contact information. These details will remain confidential and no attribution to individuals will be made.

Partner organizations include:

Associated General Contractors of Washington, Association of Washington Business, Building Owners and Managers Association of Seattle King County, City of Seattle Office of Economic Development, Downtown Seattle Association, enterpriseSeattle, Fremont Chamber of Commerce, Greater Seattle Business Association, Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, King County, King County Bar Association, Madison Valley Merchant Group, Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, National Investors Relations Institute Seattle, Prosperity Partnership, Queen Anne Chamber of Commerce, Seattle Business Coalition, Seattle Hotel Association, Seattle’s Convention & Visitors Bureau, Seattle Nightlife and Music Association, SODO Business Association, Tabor 100, Technology Alliance, Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, Trucking Association, Urban Enterprise Center, Washington Research Council, Washington Restaurant Association, Washington Retail Association, Washington Roundtable, Washington Technology Industry Association

Additional partners are welcome. For details, contact George Allen at the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce at georgea@seattlechamber.com or (206) 389-7268.

Contestants were asked to demonstrate their positive experience with Microsoft Office 2010 or other Microsoft product. Three finalists were selected out of 33 submissions, with the $10,000 grand prize winner to be announced on May 12 at the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Tradeshow at Qwest Field.

Finalists are:

4^th Avenue Media, a marketing company located in Bellevue

Thinkspace, an office space and operations management company located in Redmond

Questkids Clothing, a handcrafted clothing company located in Seattle

The contest was open to any business or organization with seven or fewer full-time employees, so long as they had a Washington state business license and complied with all contest rules.

The contest is part of an ongoing effort by the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Microsoft Corporation to help small businesses increase productivity and profits through technology training and tools.

March’s host, the PowerPlay Arcade has more than 105 gaming stations, from the to-scale Ferrari simulator with life size rear-ends and 62″ high definition televisions as windshields to the 16 Sega Outrun 2 full motion simulator suites that are inspired by Hummer and Harley Davidson. Then there is the Laser Maze which challenges players to race against the clock by navigating the room without breaking the beam just like Mission Impossible.

Each guest will receive a game card that will allow them to enjoy all that PowerPlay has to offer!

YPN @ Lucky Strike Lanes
Date: Thurs, March 25, 2010
Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Lucky Strike Lanes 700 Bellevue Way NE, Suite 250, Bellevue 98004
Members: $15 pre-paid ($20 after 3/23, $25 at the door)
Non-members: $20 ($25 at the door)
Register: Online or contact Larry Pike at larryp@seattlechamber.com | 206.389.7215

About our host
Lucky Strike Bellevue is a sleek, sexy, upscale entertainment venue. The 50,000 square feet includes 16 bowling lanes, pool tables, a private Luxe Lounge, 3 bars, a large open lounge and Power Play which is an adult high-end gaming lounge with more than 125 different arcade games. Lucky Strike can hold parties from 8 guests up to 1450. A happy hour is offered daily from 4-7 p.m. in their lounge with 1/2 off appetizers and drink specials. You can find a live DJ on Friday and Saturday nights with no cover for entry. Whether you are planning a birthday party, holiday party, corporate event or just stopping in with friends or family, Lucky Strike Bellevue will create a memorable experience for every guest.

Why get involved in YPN?

• Exposure to what is going on in Seattle
• To build your business network with other young professionals
• Unique access to regional business leaders and political figures

Flint Men’s Grooming

10235 Main Street
Bellevue, WA  98004

425-453-1445

Sunday & Monday: Closed
Tuesday– Friday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00am – 7:00pm

11-A 103rd Ave NE
Bellevue, WA  98004

(425) 455-0980

10000 Main Street, Suite 104
Bellevue, WA  98004

(425) 452-6246

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