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🐹 A Sunny Boomuary in the Ham 🍔🍔

🐹 A Sunny Boomuary in the Ham 🍔🍔

January 20, 2025

Good morning, Bellingham. This is your Monday update from The Hamster Wheel.

The early part of this week look pretty chill in the Ham, but prepare for a hum of activity as the week progresses. The Fire & Story Festival and the Bellingham Folk Festival begin on Thursday!

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Val & Evan

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

🍰 Birthday Callout 🍰

A very happy birthday to:

Kama Solevad 🎉
Downtown Johnny 🎉

In today’s Hamster Wheel:

Boomuary Sale
Baba the Storyteller
Food & Drink
Music & Nightlife

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Buck near Railroad Trail - 📷 by Lora Hewlett-Coad.

Boulevard Park Sunset - 📷 by @dugdog2win.

Pileated Woodpecker Cavity, Samish Crest - 📷 by Jana Burk

Tag @bellinghamsterwheel on Instagram or reply to this email to get your photos in The Hamster Wheel.

Weather Forecast

Monday: 42°F 🌡️ 30°F | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 NNE 2 mph

Tuesday: 44°F 🌡️ 30°F | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 NNE 2 mph

Bellingham Bay Tides

Day	Time	H/L	FT
Mon	2:32 AM	L	2.95
Mon	9:16 AM	H	8.79
Mon	4:42 PM	L	2.75
Mon	10:16 PM	H	5.24
Tue	3:06 AM	L	4.25
Tue	9:38 AM	H	8.64
Tue	5:29 PM	L	1.99

Moon Phases

Weather & Tides from NOAA. Moon data astronomyapi.

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Where Cheap Burgers Are an Annual Tradition

If you've driven past Boomers in the last couple of weeks, you likely thought, "That place is slammed; what's up?" What's up is Boomer's annual Boomuary Sale, which runs from January 7 through February 28, during which all burgers are discounted to $3.66.

Growing up in Bellingham, Boomer’s was a go-to spot for us kids. We’d swing by after swim lessons, drop in before a family hike, and maybe even skip a few classes in high school to pound a mushroom swiss during an extended lunch. 😬

Essentially, Boomer’s is a taste of childhood, and for as long as I can remember, folks have queued up under cold January rains and put up with long waits to get their hands on one of those $3.66 sandwiches. It’s like a local sport!! Hamsters are weird that way. 🤷‍♂️

West African Storytelling

Whatcom Hill Waldorf School is hosting an all-ages community event featuring Baba the Storyteller tomorrow (Jan 21) at 6:30 PM at Bellingham High School. Look forward to an evening of stories, music, and wisdom shared by a true master of the craft.

Baba the Storyteller is one of the few U.S.-born practitioners of the ancient West African storytelling tradition known as Jaliyaa. He has received numerous awards for his folklorist, musician, and community leader work. “Entry is by suggested donation (to help cover the cost of the venue) and should not be a barrier - all are welcome!”

In other news…

🍫 Tickets are now available for the 4th annual Fairhaven Chocolate Walk, where participants can explore Fairhaven Village while sampling chocolates from 18 different businesses. Expect goodies from local chocolatiers like Evolve and K’ul Chocolates, and out-of-town favorites such as Gig Harbor Candy Company.

Individual tickets are available for $35, with an optional VIP upgrade for those 21 and over. The VIP experience, which adds $15, includes champagne, bourbon, cordial, and port tastings—perfect for a date or a fun outing with friends around Valentine's Day. Get details and tickets.

⛵️ The Port of Bellingham Board of Commissioners meets tomorrow (Jan 21) at 4 PM. Attend in person at the Harbor Center or stream live on the port’s YouTube channel. Review the agenda for this meeting online.

🏙️ The City of Bellingham Design Review Board meets tomorrow (Jan 21) in City Council Chambers, located on the 2nd floor of Bellingham City Hall at 3 PM. Watch the meeting in person or virtually. During this meeting, the board will look at two interesting developments on the north end of downtown.

The first is a proposed apartment complex in the vacant lot at the corner of D St. and Girard St. This is the location, until recently, of a small neighborhood pea patch garden. Map.

The second is a proposed “Mercy Old Town Senior Housing” building on the vacant land sharing the block with the new Lighthouse Mission building. Map.

Food & Drinks

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Monday Food Trucks
A Que Tacos @ Goods Local Brews
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Calcutta by Simmering Tava @ K2
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
Falafel Feast @ 4370 Meridian St
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
Outpost Eats @ Kulshan Brewery (James St.)
Tacos El Tule @ West Marine (Meridian St)

Tuesday Food Trucks
A Que Tacos @ Goods Local Brews
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Calcutta by Simmering Tava @ K2
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
Falafel Feast @ 4370 Meridian St
Galley 2 Go @ Stones Throw Brewery
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
Outpost Eats @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Tacos El Tule @ West Marine (Meridian St)
Tam Tam Pizza @ Fringe Brewing
The Galley @ Ponderosa Beer + Books

Mow the lawn? Nah.

Killer Condos & Apartments

1201 11th Street UNIT 308
This little beauty is in the Judson Plaza building in Fairhaven. There must be a little magic involved in how well the Judson Plaza blends into the historic buildings surrounding it—a seamless part of Fairhaven's aesthetic with the benefits of modern construction. Also, check out those tall ceilings in the living area!! Listing.

1305 W Clearbrook UNIT 7
This one's all about the location. It's a one-block trot to the south entrance to Whatcom Falls Park and a block off Lakeway, so downtown is a couple of minutes drive. It's also far enough north of Yew Street Hill to get sun fairly early in the morning, which I prioritize in picking a home. 🌞 Listing.

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE THEATRE & EVENT

Into the Woods:
New Prospect Theatre | Fri, Sat, Sun 7 PM; Sat, Sun 2 PM; understudies Fri 2 PM

Tower of Air
iDiOM Theater | Thurs, Fri, Sat 7:30 PM

Deep Blue Sound
Bellingham TheatreWorks | Thurs, Fri, Sat 7:30 PM

Miss Behaved
Wink-Wink | Fri, Sat, Sun 7 PM

High School Musical
Lynden Christian High School | Sat 7 PM

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
Mount Baker Theatre | Tue 7:30 PM

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Bachata : WWU Salsa and Bachata Club @ Viking Union MPR | Mon 7 PM
Swing : B’ham Hop @ Hotel Leo Crystal Ballroom | Tues 7 PM
Cuban Salsa : Beginning Cuban Salsa @ Rumba Northwest | Tues 6 PM
Cuban Salsa : Intermediate Cuban Salsa @ Rumba Northwest | Tues 7:15 PM
Scottish Country : Scottish Dancing Workshops @ Fairhaven Library | Wed 7 PM
Tango : Tango Practica @ The Majestic Ballroom | Wed 6:30 PM.
Two-Step : Two-Step Workshop with Bex Bee @ Cof& | Thurs 7 PM
Bachata : Bham Bachata @ ‘ONO Kitchen & Bar | Thurs 7:30 PM
Honky Tonk : Honky Tonk Dance with Steel Reserve @ Cof& | Thurs 8 PM
General Dance : Flow Fusion @ Karate Church | 7 PM
Square Dance : Dear Crow & Friends, Bex Bee calling @ Orion | Fri 8 PM
Square Dance : Square Dance Workshop @ The Blue Room | Sat 2 PM
Square Dance : All-Ages Square Dance @ The Blue Room | Sat 7 PM
Samba : Mastering the Art of Rebolado @ Cof& | Sat 6 PM
Cuban Salsa : Technique and Partnerwork in Rueda de Casino @ Cof& | Sat 7 PM
Contra/Country : Contra/Country + Yiddish Squares @ Norway Hall | Sat 7 PM
Morris : Morris Dance Workshop @ BAAY | Sun 1 PM
Salsa : The Salsa Collective @ The Majestic Ballroom | Sun 5:30 PM

Help Spread The Word

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Music & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

Monday Games & Trivia
Trivia Night @ Ono Kitchen & Bar | 7 PM
Trivia Night @ Paws for a Beer | 6:15 PM
Trivia Night @ Zeeks Pizza & Fountain Brewing | 6 PM

Hakuna matata

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Have a great Monday!!