Located on the east side of Lake Washington, Bellevue is one of Seattle's most upscale suburbs and is about a 20- to 30-minute drive from downtown. In recent years the city has become less of a suburb and more of a city in its own right. With several large galleries that host shows and installations by regional and national artists, the Bellevue Art Museum is one of the cultural underpinnings of this city's newfound urbanism. This museum also gives the public opportunities to interact with artists. To this end, the museum stages each July the Northwest's largest and most highly regarded art fair. During the rest of the year, it features artists in residence and frequent artist demonstrations. The museum also has several classrooms in which art classes are held throughout the year. Stop by if you happen to be on the Eastside and are an art aficionado.