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🐹 B'ham Has A Plan? 🤨🤨

🐹 B'ham Has A Plan? 🤨🤨

November 13, 2024

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

It’s another blustery morning in the city of subdued excitement. The National Weather Service warns that we should expect “Southeast winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 55 mph” until 4 PM this afternoon.

Have fun and be safe out there!

~ Val & Evan

In today’s Hamster Wheel:

City Buys Land for Greenways
Hope for the Slopes
Food & Drink
Music & Nightlife

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: 56°F 🌡️ 46°F | 🌧️ Light Rain | 🌧️ 100% | 💨 SSE 17 to 21 mph

Thursday: 54°F 🌡️ 43°F | 🌧️ Light Rain | 🌧️ 90% | 💨 SSE 7 to 12 mph

Bellingham Bay Tides

Day	Time	H/L	FT
Wed	2:59 AM	H	6.67
Wed	8:08 AM	L	3.47
Wed	2:09 PM	H	9.02
Wed	9:13 PM	L	-0.22
Thu	4:11 AM	H	7.63
Thu	9:01 AM	L	4.55
Thu	2:35 PM	H	9.15
Thu	9:51 PM	L	-1.52

Moon Phases

Weather & Tides from NOAA. Moon data astronomyapi.

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Sealion at Maritime Park - 📷 by Richard Marcus.

Autumn trees in Cordata neighborhood - 📷 by Richard Marcus.

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

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

City Buys Land for Greenways Program

Bellingham City Council has approved the purchase of 116+ acres of state trust land using $2.19 million from the Greenways levy funds. The acquisition represents the largest single property purchase in the Greenways Program’s history outside the Galbraith Mountain easement.

“A field in the lowland area of the westernmost parcel.” 📷️ by COB

The property, north of Mount Baker Highway between Hannegan Road and Dewey Road, will allow the city to build a new neighborhood park and create a trail connecting to the future Bay to Baker Trail.

Bellingham Plan Open House at WWU

Over the last year, the city has worked on updating the City’s Comprehensive Plan, which guides Bellingham's development, capital investments, and other programs. Plan updates will be completed in 2025. Once done, the City will implement new zoning rules and regulations.

Tomorrow (Nov 14), the city is holding an open house event at the Western Washington University Viking Union. This event, from 11:30 AM-1 PM, is an opportunity to meet with city staff, learn about the Bellingham Plan, and voice your thoughts on the proposed strategies. Details.

In other news…

🏘️ The Whatcom Housing Alliance and City of Bellingham are hosting a Middle Housing Neighborhood Walking Tour of the Lettered Streets Neighborhood tomorrow (Nov 14) at 2 PM. Join City Planning Director Blake Lyon and get a closer look at how middle housing and architectural designs have shaped our city while exploring Bellingham's oldest neighborhood. Details.

⛵️ Join the Community Boating Center tonight (Nov 13) at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal for Navigators Night, an evening of local food and drinks, talks by CBC founders Deb Dempsey and Executive Director Bryan Rust, and insights from community partners about the Center’s efforts in building community around the water. Attendees can participate in a fundraising campaign for Phase 2 of The Wheelhouse Campaign. Details & Tickets.

⛷️ The Mt Baker Ski Area reported Monday that the slopes “could theoretically open in the next few weeks” if snow accumulation continues and a favorable longer-range forecast is established. Check out the Snow Report for the latest update video.

💃 Hankering for an evening of contemporary dance? Catch one of three remaining performances of Around from the Bellingham Repertory Dance studio, featuring works by choreographers from across the country.

Held at the Firehouse Arts and Events Center, this show is about the movement of relationships. “Dancers explore arcs, orbits, throughlines, familiarity, distance, and seasonal cycles.” Details & Tickets.

Local Business Updates

Haggling With Local Folk

Ben Man Holiday Open Studio

Ben Mann, a born-and-raised Hamster, has made his colorful, whimsical art a local staple, from local signage to public murals.

Now through Dec 22, Ben’s hosting an open studio at his gallery in Fairhaven. It’s a chance to step inside his world, see new work up close, and pick up something special for the season. Fun fact: Ben and I used to wait tables together back in the day; shout out to the crew at Anthony’s Homeport! If you’re out and about, stop by his studio to enjoy some local art and find a piece that brings a bit of Bellingham’s spirit home with you. Details.

Paws For a Beer

Amy & Rylan Schoen, who own Paws For A Beer, are reaching out to the community for support to keep their beloved dog-friendly bar open. For eight years, Paws For A Beer has been a special place for pups and their owners. Due to rising costs and limited growth, the bar is facing financial challenges. Amy & Rylan hope you will continue visiting with your furry buddies, consider purchasing dog food and supplies from their The Dog Shop, and spread the word about this unique community space. Read their letter.

Food & Drinks

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Wednesday Food Trucks
A Que Tacos @ Goods Local Brews
Big Stick Barbecue @ Stemma Brewery
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Dumpling Girls @ Goods Local Brews
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
Galley 2 Go @ Stones Throw Brewery
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
Mobile Mouth Hole @ Lowes Parking Lot
Outpost Eats @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Sammies Vegan @ Wander Brewing
Tacos El Tule @ West Marine (Meridian St)
The Galley @ Ponderosa Beer + Books

Thursday Food Trucks
A Que Tacos @ Goods Local Brews
Big Stick Barbecue @ Stemma Brewery
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Dumpling Girls @ Goods Local Brews
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
Galley 2 Go @ Stones Throw Brewery
Greektown @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
Mobile Mouth Hole @ Lowes Parking Lot
Nana J’s @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Sammies Vegan @ Wander Brewing
Tacos El Tule @ West Marine (Meridian St)
Tam Tam Pizza @ Lost Giants Cider Co.
The Galley @ Ponderosa Beer + Books

Help Spread The Word

Refer three Bellingham friends to join our newsletter community, and we’ll include a birthday callout to one person you specify on their B’day 🎂. Get your referral link here. Your current referral count is: 0. You’re so close!.

Music & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

Thursday Games & Trivia
Dungeons & Dragons @ CHeBA Hut | 6 PM
Trivia Night @ Stones Throw Brewery | 7 PM
Trivia Night @ Great Northern Bottle Shop | 7 PM

Hakuna matata

To All Our Readers

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Have a great Wednesday!!