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🐹 Liking Lichens 💚💚

🐹 Liking Lichens 💚💚

December 04, 2024

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

So much fog!!! It’s been like driving through pea soup for the last couple of days in the Ham. Hopefully it will lift before the holiday light displays this weekend.

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Val & Evan

In today’s Hamster Wheel:

NMA Holiday Potluck
Dick’s at Yeager’s
Food & Drink
Music & Nightlife

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Fog at Boulevard Park - 📷 by Mya Chamberlain.

Old City Hall - 📷 by JR Johnson.

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

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: 50°F 🌡️ 38°F | ☀️ Sunny | 🌧️ 30% | 💨 ENE 2 mph

Thursday: 51°F 🌡️ 45°F | 🌧️ Chance of Rain | 🌧️ 50% | 💨 ESE 5 mph

Bellingham Bay Tides

Day	Time	H/L	FT
Wed	12:23 AM	L	-1.92
Wed	8:39 AM	H	9.29
Wed	1:42 PM	L	7.34
Wed	3:05 PM	H	7.82
Thu	1:07 AM	L	-1.73
Thu	9:20 AM	H	9.25

Moon Phases

Weather & Tides from NOAA. Moon data astronomyapi.

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

You’ll be Liking Lichens at this NMA Holiday Potluck

The Northwest Mushroomers Association is hosting a public holiday social and potluck tonight at 6 PM followed by a 7 PM presentation by Bellinghamster Adrienne Alms with stories about lichens, ethnolichenology, and her adventures doing lichen surveys last summer.

Adrienne writes that: “These ancient beings are the ones who first came onto the land and broke down the rock into soil for plants to grow, eventually allowing animals to move onto land. Lichens have been (and still are today in some cases) used commercially in dye, perfume, cosmetics, and scientific industries. They have been and still are used as important food sources and for medicinal and magical purposes in many different cultures all across the world.“

This is a great opportunity to meet a passionate local community 🍄, and learn about these symbiotic organisms made up of both algae and fungi. The gathering is being held at the Squalicum Boathouse at 2600 N Harbor Loop Dr.

Dick’s at Yeager’s for 12 Hour Sale

Yeager’s is one of the last vestiges of old Bellingham 🐟️, and Dick’s 🍔 is classic PWN… and tomorrow (Dec 5) they are joining forces at Yeager’s annual 12 Hour Sale.

The Dick’s Drive-In Food Truck is scheduled to be at Yeager’s from noon to 3 PM. The 12 Hour Sale, which runs from 9 AM to 9 PM, includes free drinks from Extreme Bean Espresso, Santa pictures in Toyland, free gift wrapping from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and KISM Radio live. 🥳

In other news…

🔥 A burn ban has been announced by the Northwest Clean Air Agency for the Columbia Valley urban growth area (including the Peaceful Valley and Paradise Lakes developments) in Whatcom County. They note that a “high-pressure system is preventing harmful wood smoke from clearing out” and that “fine particles in wood smoke are harmful because they can be inhaled deeply into lungs and damage delicate tissues.” This ban prohibits all indoor and outdoor burning unless a woodstove is your only adequate heat source.

❄️ Gruff Brewing is hosting a Winter Makers Market, tomorrow (Dec 5) from 4-8 PM, featuring over a dozen local artists & craftspeople. “Grab a hot buttered spiked cider or mulled wine and get your holiday shopping done with one-of-a-kind gifts.”

🎅 Evergreen Beauty College at 1414 Cornwall is hosting its annual Santa Event today from 3 PM to 7 PM. Kids (K-12) get free haircuts! Free mini-facials, mini-manicures, and selfies with Santa are available to visitors of all ages. No appointment is necessary, and services are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

🚴 Walk & Roll Bellingham is holding a happy hour gathering at Structures Brewing on Holly St. today (Dec 4). Learn how Walk & Roll envisions a more bikeable and walkable downtown, and let your voice be heard as they prepare to present ideas to city leaders for making downtown better for everyone – more friendly, safe, accessible and, welcoming.

🎉 This weekend is packed with winter festivities. Here’s a heads-up to help you plan your weekend:

Bellingham Southside: The Holiday Port Festival is at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal from 11 AM to 5 PM all weekend, featuring live music, dance performances, and the annual gingerbread house display. Stick around on Saturday for the Bellingham Yacht Club Lighted Boat Parade, which begins at the Cruise Terminal and passes by the Taylor St. boardwalk all the way to Boulevard Park.
Bellingham Downtown: The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony is from 5:30 to 7 PM on Saturday, with free cocoa, cookies, and activities.
Ferndale: The Holiday Tree Lighting at the Riverwalk is from 6 PM to 8 PM on Saturday, featuring Santa, treats, and their new 30-foot illuminated tree.
Lynden: The Lighted Christmas Parade begins at 6 PM Saturday on Front Street, showcasing a lineup of decorated vehicles and floats.

Local Business Updates

Haggling With Local Folk

12 Days of Giving at Bellingham Coin Shop

This looks fun 🎉🎉! R.B. from Bellingham Coin is celebrating the season by giving away 12 interesting items. Starting Wednesday, December 4th, you can enter the drawing by visiting Bellingham Coin Shop or Vintage Depot at 1806 Cornwall Ave, or by sending a postcard with your name and contact information to the same address. One entry is allowed per day; daily drawings will take place Monday through Friday, beginning Friday, December 6th at 6:15 PM on their Facebook Live event page. If your name is drawn, you’ll have one minute to call the shop at 360-392-8524 to claim your prize. 😁

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

Harbor & Maritime

Whatever Floats Your Boat

Rad Kayak the ad says 😆
Anyone who knows me knows I’m a sucker for a fixer-upper. I hope someone with a bit of time and patience will grab this little fiberglass beauty and polish her up so she gets a second (or third, or fourth) life. Listing.

85' 1995 MetalCraft
Or, with a slightly richer investment, you can travel in style 😜. The Northern Song has operated as a 12-passenger Eco Cruise boat in SE Alaska. If I had the 💲💲, I’d make a career change. Listing.

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!!