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🐹 Cold Moon 🌕️🌕️

🐹 Cold Moon 🌕️🌕️

December 18, 2024

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

Yikes, another windy night!!! We’re over it. 🌬️ 😆

~ Val & Evan

In today’s Hamster Wheel:

Cold Moon
Hamster Plushies
Food & Drink
Music & Nightlife

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Samish Crest in the fog - 📷 by Sandi Heinrich.

Sunset over Lake Whatcom - 📷 by Kyle D Bickel.

Samish Crest in the fog - 📷 by Sandi Heinrich.

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

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: 53°F 🌡️ 39°F | 🌧️ Light Rain Likely | 🌧️ 60% | 💨 SSW 5 to 14 mph

Thursday: 54°F 🌡️ 44°F | 🌧️ Light Rain Likely | 🌧️ 70% | 💨 E 8 mph

Bellingham Bay Tides

Day	Time	H/L	FT
Wed	12:24 AM	L	-2.10
Wed	8:29 AM	H	9.69
Wed	1:50 PM	L	6.78
Wed	5:13 PM	H	7.63
Thu	1:09 AM	L	-1.37
Thu	9:09 AM	H	9.47
Thu	3:15 PM	L	6.24
Thu	6:09 PM	H	6.91

Moon Phases

Weather & Tides from NOAA. Moon data astronomyapi.

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Cold Moon Over The Ham

Local artist and Hamster Wheel reader Kellie Shepherd Moeller sent us several gorgeous moon photos she took here in Whatcom County. She mentioned they were of the “Cold Moon.” This term was new to me so I did a little Googling. 🌕️😄🌕️

The "Cold Moon" is the last full moon of the year, which rises in December near the winter solstice. This will correspond with the coldest season of the year in many parts of the northern hemisphere. It’s also referred to as the "Moon Before Yule" and the "Long Night Moon," highlighting its position just before the Yule celebrations and the extended darkness of winter nights.

Thank you, Kellie, for sharing these fantastic photos with us 🙏. You can check out more of Kellie’s artwork, photography, and calligraphy on her website: https://www.salt-lightcalligraphy.com/

Bellingham’s Scottish Country Dancers

Are you looking for something fun to do on Wednesday nights? The Bellingham Scottish Country Dancers meet weekly (September – May) for adult dance classes at the Fairhaven Library from 7-9 PM.

These classes are open to everyone, regardless of age and ability. “Basic and Intermediates are combined into one class giving the Basic dancers the chance to dance with more experienced dancers and Intermediates the chance to sharpen up on the basics. Basic steps and formations are covered in the first half hour of class, followed by dancing for the remainder of the class.” Details.

In other news…

⛷️ The Mt Baker Ski Area announced that access to the slopes will be closed today (Dec 18) due to “a forecast for significant rain in the Cascades from this Atmospheric river storm system arriving now.” They plan to reopen tomorrow (Dec 19) and mention that “longer range forecasts are calling for cooler temps and nice snow-producing storm systems to start rolling in around Christmas Day.”

🌊 The National Weather Service is warning that minor coastal flooding may impact Whatcom County today (Dec 18) from 6 AM until Noon. “Inundation of 2 to 2.5 feet above ground level is possible along shorelines and low-lying coastal areas.” Expect the most significant impact at high tide, which is forecasted to peak at +9.69 feet around 8:29 AM.

Local Business Updates

Haggling With Local Folk

Adopt a Hamster or a Whole Hamster Fam!!!

This one is way too fun! 🙂 Bellingham artist Katrina Martin offers a line of hamster-themed plushies, accessories, stickers, hats, and gifts through her website.

Each hamster character has its own ID card and backstory. “Marshmallow is our crafty queen and can often be found making cute little gifts for her friends.”

How did we just learn about this business 😆. It’s like Katrina created our mascot!!

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE THEATRE

A Christmas Carol:
Idiom Theatre | Thurs, Fri, Sat, 7:30 PM

Shrek The Musical:
BAAY Theatre | Fri, Sat, 2 PM; Sat, Sun, 7 PM

Hadestown:
Mount Baker Theatre | Wed, 7 PM

The Nutcracker:
Mount Baker Theatre | Fri, Sat, 7 PM; Sat, Sun, 1 PM

The Secret Garden, The Musical:
Lincoln Theatre | Thurs, Fri, 7:30 PM; Sat, 2 PM

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever:
Anacortes Community Theatre | Thurs, Fri, 7:30 PM

DANCE

Tango : TangoLeo Practilonga - White Party @ Hotel Leo's Crystal Ballroom | Wed 7 PM Details.
Scottish Country : Bellingham Scottish Country Dancers @ Fairhaven Library | Wed 7 PM Details.

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

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Music & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

Hakuna matata

To All Our Readers

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Have a great Wednesday!!