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New Retail Outlet – Pickleball Life – to Open on Bainbridge Island, the Birthplace of Pickleball, Later This Month October 5, 2026 by The Island Wanderer Posted in: Bainbridge Island, Businesses and Community Resources, DestinationBainbridgeIsland, Events, Living on B.I., News You Can Use, Other Musings, People, Arts, Culture, Music, Food and Wine, Visit Bainbridge - New shop from Island Life founder and former Disney merchandise artist Alex Sanso grew organically from years of customer demand By Denise Stoughton More than 60 years after pickleball was born on Bainbridge, the island is getting its first retail outlet dedicated to all things pickleball. Pickleball Life, a new retail concept from artist, designer and Island Life Artisan Gifts founder Alex Sanso, will open Thursday, October 29, in Downtown Winslow, next door to Island Life. A Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting is planned for approximately 4 p.m. that same day. The idea for Pickleball Life grew organically… Continue Reading

Tonight: Enjoy First Friday Art Walk in Downtown Winslow, Plus, Artist Mary Ann Proctor Debuts at the Library October 2, 2026 by The Island Wanderer Posted in: Bainbridge Island, Businesses and Community Resources, DestinationBainbridgeIsland, Events, Living on B.I., News You Can Use, Other Musings, People, Arts, Culture, Music, Food and Wine, Visit Bainbridge - It’s that time of the month for islanders to discover the vibrant heart of Bainbridge’s creativity at the First Friday Art Walk tonight – October 2nd – in beautiful Downtown Winslow. Immerse yourself in a captivating blend of art, food, and drinks as you meander through charming streets and indulge in a feast for the senses. Browse a diverse array of galleries, showcasing the works of talented local artists, and be inspired by their masterpieces. Savor delectable culinary delights from our eclectic eateries, accompanied by refreshing drinks that perfectly complement the lively atmosphere. Explore unique shops offering handcrafted treasures and embrace the… Continue Reading

Bainbridge Island Oktoberfest is Back – Bigger Than Ever – Saturday October 3rd at Waterfront Park; Plus, BICSC Resource Fair, Across the Street September 30, 2026 by Kevin Dwyer Posted in: Bainbridge Island, Businesses and Community Resources, DestinationBainbridgeIsland, Events, Living on B.I., News You Can Use, Other Musings, People, Arts, Culture, Music, Food and Wine, Visit Bainbridge - After an incredible inaugural event in 2025, Bainbridge Island Oktoberfest returns Saturday October 3 with an expanded footprint into Waterfront Park, as well as more entertainment, more activities, and even more Oktoberfest fun. "We're bringing back everything you loved, including German food, local beer and cider, stein holding, costumes, activities for all ages, and plenty of live entertainment," backers say. This is a little taste of Munich, Germany, where the original Oktoberfest takes place every year around this time. What to expect? Beer & Cider, German food, Live Music, Contests, Fun for all ages, plus "The Stein." The fest will… Continue Reading

30 Years in the Planning Stages, the Lost Valley Trail Will Finally Be Dedicated on Thursday Oct. 1, Completing the Longest Cross-Island Route September 28, 2026 by The Island Wanderer Posted in: Bainbridge Island, DestinationBainbridgeIsland, Events, Living on B.I., News You Can Use, Other Musings, Parks & Recreation, Visit Bainbridge - The new Lost Valley Trail opens Oct. 1, fulfilling a 30-year vision and completing the final link in Bainbridge Island’s longest cross-island trail route. The public trail will be celebrated with a Ribbon Cutting at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, hosted by the three project partners: the City of Bainbridge Island, the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation, and the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District. “This is a landmark moment for our island trail network,” said Mary Meier, Executive Director of the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation. “Lost Valley pushes us past the 50-mile mark for public… Continue Reading

Potpourri: City Seeks Grant for Affordable Housing Project; Pop-Up Poetry; Manhattan Short Film Fest and Book Festival This Weekend September 25, 2026 by The Island Wanderer Posted in: Bainbridge Island, Businesses and Community Resources, DestinationBainbridgeIsland, Events, Living on B.I., News You Can Use, Other Musings, Visit Bainbridge - The Bainbridge Island City Council voted 4-3 to authorize City Manager John Mauro to prepare and execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) and apply for a $2 million Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) grant for the proposed 625 Winslow Way affordable housing project - to be located the site on the corner of Winslow Way and Highway 305 where the former Police Station was once located. Councilmembers Mike Nelson, Lara Lant and Deputy Mayor Kirsten Hytopoulos voted against the motion, according to The Bainbridge Review. The CHIP grant, administered by the Washington… Continue Reading

It’s Back! The Manhattan Short Film Festival at BIMA this Coming Thursday thru Sunday. Tickets are going Fast! September 23, 2026 by Kevin Dwyer Posted in: Bainbridge Island, Businesses and Community Resources, Events, Living on B.I., News You Can Use, Other Musings, People, Arts, Culture, Music, Food and Wine, Visit Bainbridge - Hear ye, hear ye, all Yee cinema lovers, theater goers, long-suffering worshipers of the Silver Screen, and maybe some wannabes out there, the Manhattan Short Film Festival is back for another year of fun-filled film watching and scoring. Movie Maven, Tj Faddis Come and view 10 engrossing short films from around the world at the Film Festival – now in its 28th year – Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. Showtimes are 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. The latter show… Continue Reading

Calling All Book Lovers: Check out the 3rd Annual Bainbridge Island Book Festival This Coming Weekend in Downtown Winslow September 21, 2026 by Kevin Dwyer Posted in: Bainbridge Island, Businesses and Community Resources, DestinationBainbridgeIsland, Events, Living on B.I., News You Can Use, Other Musings, People, Arts, Culture, Music, Food and Wine, Visit Bainbridge - The Bainbridge Island Book Festival is set to host 24 authors at its third annual celebration of literature, ideas, and community September 25-26, including keynote Edwidge Danticat. Danticat is a New York Times bestseller, Oprah Book Club author, MacArthur Fellow and winner of multiple prestigious literary awards. Her newest novel, Déy, was longlisted for the 2026 National Book Award on September 17. She is the author of several books, including Breath, Eyes, Memory, an Oprah Book Club selection, Krik? Krak!, a National Book Award finalist, The Farming of Bones, The Dew Breaker, Brother, I’m Dying, Create Dangerously, Claire of the Sea… Continue Reading

Check out the Screening of The Plastic Detox Movie Sunday at Lynwood Theatre; Find Your Voice with Crescendo Community Choir; and More September 18, 2026 by The Island Wanderer Posted in: Bainbridge Island, Businesses and Community Resources, DestinationBainbridgeIsland, Events, Living on B.I., News You Can Use, Other Musings, People, Arts, Culture, Music, Food and Wine - Zero Waste Bainbridge Island is hosting a special screening of The Plastic Detox movie this Sunday, September 20, from noon-2 p.m. at the Historic Lynwood Theater. " I was prepared for another depressing documentary on plastic proliferation and its deleterious effects on the environment and our bodies," says Diane Landry, the voice of Zero Waste. "It does address that, but to me, the message is ultimately uplifting in that the film shows how we can take some control over whether plastic and its potentially toxic chemical additives invade our body. And as a good movie does, it offers suspense." Zero… Continue Reading

Tracing the Legacy of Scott James and the Evolution of Bainbridge Prepares, which will be Hosting a Slew of Events in the Days and Months Ahead September 16, 2026 by Kevin Dwyer Posted in: Bainbridge Island, Businesses and Community Resources, DestinationBainbridgeIsland, Events, Living on B.I., Other Musings, People, Arts, Culture, Music, Food and Wine, Visit Bainbridge - Bainbridge Prepares - the emergency preparedness nonprofit - just celebrated its 15th year. The organization, which has mushroomed from five volunteers to more than 575, making it the largest volunteer-based organization in Kitsap County, is hosting or co-hosting a slew of major events in the next few months and in 2027. BP, as it is known to its followers, was started in 2011 by Islander Scott James, a self-described social entrepreneur and author of Prepared Neighborhoods: Building Resilience One Street at a Time. His goal was to increase the readiness of islanders in the face of potential threats, such as… Continue Reading

A Little Stardust, a Little Magic: How Hyla Senior Marshall Bonow Took Science to the Stage at Battle Point Observatory September 14, 2026 by The Island Wanderer Posted in: Bainbridge Island, Businesses and Community Resources, DestinationBainbridgeIsland, Living on B.I., News You Can Use, Other Musings, Parks & Recreation, People, Arts, Culture, Music, Food and Wine, Visit Bainbridge - By Denise Stoughton There are plenty of reasons to spend any summer night looking up. This past Saturday, September 12, Bainbridge Island had another one: a local high-school senior who thinks quantum mechanics might go down a little easier with a dose of magic. Hyla School senior and Battle Point Astronomical Association volunteer Marshall Bonow took the stage at Battle Point Observatory for The Magic of Science; an unusual combination of science talk and magic show that grew from two interests he has been pursuing since childhood. For Bonow, magic came first. It began at a friend’s birthday party when… Continue Reading

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