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🐹 Man and His Llama 😍🦙😍

🐹 Man and His Llama 😍🦙😍

February 28, 2025

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

Did you see that bizarre rainbow over the bay yesterday morning? We couldn't decide what to call it. A rainbow? A cloudbow? A glowing orb over the Salish Sea? Every once in a while, nature gifts us with magical moments that are hard to define.

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Val & Evan

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Sun Over The Bay - 📷 by Cynthia Mason

Sunrise from East Kelly Road - 📷 by Sam Gillette

Crow at Taylor Dock - 📷 by Carrie Koreis

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

Weather Forecast

Friday: 57°F 🌡️ 40°F | ☀️ Sunny | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 N 2 mph

Saturday: 57°F 🌡️ 43°F | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 🌧️ 40% | 💨 S 3 mph

Sunday: 52°F 🌡️ 42°F | 🌧️ Chance of Rain | 🌧️ 40% | 💨 SW 3 mph

Bellingham Bay Tides

Day	Time	H/L	FT
Fri	5:47 AM	H	8.90
Fri	11:24 AM	L	3.85
Fri	4:47 PM	H	7.89
Fri	11:27 PM	L	0.09
Sat	6:08 AM	H	9.00
Sat	12:08 PM	L	2.64
Sat	5:51 PM	H	7.71
Sun	12:07 AM	L	1.15
Sun	6:32 AM	H	9.08
Sun	12:55 PM	L	1.45
Sun	6:58 PM	H	7.44

Moon Phases

Weather & Tides from NOAA. Moon data astronomyapi.

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Attend the Whatcom Farm Expo

This Saturday is the 9th Annual Whatcom Farm Expo at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds in Lynden. It’s a free event, and a wonderful opportunity to explore local agricultural resources, meet community groups, and learn about the services available to farmers and Whatcom residents.

Expect hands-on demonstrations and informative seminars led by local experts. Sessions include holistic pasture management, meat bird production, tractor preventative maintenance, hay quality, winter orchard pruning, and the role of native plants and trees in farm ecosystems. These presentations are designed to provide practical insights and foster knowledge-sharing among participants.

Honestly, this photo 👆️ doesn’t correspond to anything in particular. I spotted it on the Expo website and couldn’t help myself. It’s just a great photo of a man and his llama friend. 🦙🤷 Llamas are so dang cute. 😍

Thomas Wood Exibit at The Lightcatcher

This is the last weekend to view Thomas Wood's works at The Lightcatcher, where his pieces have been on display since last September. My friend JR and I visited this exhibit called "Under the Inspiration Tree" last week, and the breadth of styles and mediums Thomas worked in throughout his life was astonishing. From works in oil or pastel to sculptures and block prints.

If you can peel away from work today at 1 PM, Chief Curator Amy Chaloupka is offering a conversational tour of the exhibition.

While you’re there, dip into the side gallery to view the Verdant exhibit with three works from French Masters on long-term load from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

In other news…

🦋 The Center for Biological Diversity sued the federal government this week seeking Endangered Species Act protections for sand-verbena moths (Copablepharon fuscum) which live exclusively on dunes on the Salish Sea coastline in Washington state and Vancouver Island, B.C..

“These beautiful golden moths are stuck in the path of rising sea levels and will become climate change victims unless we immediately start protecting their unique habitat,” said Drew Baloga, a legal fellow at the Center.

These moths (which I had never heard about until now), are nocturnal and grow to have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are dependent throughout their lifecycle on the rare yellow sand verbena (Abronia latifolia) which grows on glacially derived sandy substrates in the Puget Sound. They are the only Copablepharon species known to live west of the Cascades Mountains.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Single and looking to mingle in a safe, sweet, and creative way? The Not-Creepy Gathering for People Who Want to Fall In Love offers a fresh, structured approach to making genuine connections. Eschewing the typical bar scene and dating apps, this event features creative writing exercises, one-on-one conversations, and group activities designed to spark authentic interaction in a relaxed, supportive environment.

Welcoming singles of all orientations and ages, the gathering encourages participants to set aside their fears and embrace vulnerability. It's an opportunity to break out of routine, share your story, and connect in a way that’s both fun and real. The event is being held this Sunday (March 2) at Wink Wink from 6-8 PM. Tickets and details.

🐶 The Humane Society posted that another litter of puppies has been dropped off at the Division Street shelter 🤦, bringing their current pup count to 56 under the age of 12 weeks!

They report that staff is “feeling a bit on edge these days - tired and worn out trying to keep up with providing quality care and services for the animals in our shelters and community.” The Humane Society is offering half off the standard adoption fee through March 9th to promote adoption.

Local Business Updates

Haggling With Local Folk

London Themed Ice Cream Shop Opening Downtown

Beginning this Saturday at noon, there will be another ice cream and milkshake option in downtown Bellingham. Love from London will offer eleven ice cream flavors from Edaleen Dairy, one rotating sherbet option, 20+ toppings, British candy and sodas.

The shop at 1303 Commercial St. looks adorable. I stopped by yesterday to take a peek. 👆️ It sports a fun British theme with train station benches, a king's guard statue, and the iconic red phone booth. And the ice cream servings look enormous 😲👇️, so bring an appetite… or a friend, or both.

It's always good to see a new business open downtown. We wish the proprietors behind Love from London the very best of luck, and the sale of many ice creams! 🍦 We’ll bring our kids by this week to give it a try and show support. 👍

Bellingham Dockside Market

Seafood From The Salish Sea

The Bellingham Dockside Market is open tomorrow (Saturday), from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Fishermen's Pavilion in Squalicum Harbor.

SHOP DOCKSIDE

Desire Fish Company (Gate 7)
Frozen Alaskan king, Coho and sockeye fillets and portions

Drayton Harbor Oyster Co
💙(Fresh) Pacific oysters, 💙(Fresh) Taylor Shellfish clams and mussels, To-go seafood soups and chowders, Ekone tinned seafood, Anna's sourdough bread

DJ Fish Co
Frozen WA king salmon fillets, Smoked king salmon

Icy Fresh Seafood
IQF side stripe shrimp whole and tails, IQF coonstripe shrimp tails

Jean C. Family Fisheries
Frozen black cod sides and portions, Smoked black cod, Frozen rockfish portions, Frozen ling cod portions, Frozen albacore tuna

Lummi Seafood Market
💙(Fresh) Live green sea urchin, 💙(Fresh) Fresh sea cucumber, Refreshed whole and filleted local coho salmon, Refreshed local king salmon fillets and whole, Frozen local spot prawns, Canned local king salmon, regular and jalapeno, Smoked king salmon, vacuumed packed and frozen, 💙(Fresh) Live Dungeness crab, Frozen local geoduck

Sea to Shore Seafood Co.
Salmon (various portions), Frozen boneless skinless halibut, Smoked frozen salmon, Shelf-stable smoked salmon, Alaska Weathervane scallops

Slack Tide Fisheries
Frozen local king salmon fillets and portions, Frozen Alaskan sockeye salmon fillets and portions, Canned Coho salmon, 💙(Fresh) Live Dungeness crab

LUNCH AT DOCKSIDE

Lummi Island-based Legoe Bay Reefnetter Food Truck will be onsite this Saturday to serve reefnet-caught pink salmon and chips, salmon tacos, and smoked salmon chowder.

Bellingham’s own It's the Sweet Things will serve salmon & crab pastries, jalapeno cheddar biscuits, smoked salmon artichoke spread, and freshly baked desserts.

Food & Drinks

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Friday Food Trucks
A Que Tacos @ Goods Local Brews
Back East BBQ @ Wander Brewing
Big Stick Barbecue @ Stemma Brewery
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Calcutta by Simmering Tava @ K2
Dumpling Girls @ Goods Local Brews
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
Falafel Feast @ 4370 Meridian St
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)
New Public Vegan @ Evil Bikes (700 Harris Ave)
Outpost Eats @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Tacos El Tule @ West Marine (Meridian St)
Tam Tam Pizza @ Lost Giants Cider Co.
Tezpoteco Taco @ Stemma Brewery
The Galley @ Ponderosa Beer + Books

Saturday Food Trucks
A Que Tacos @ Goods Local Brews
Back East BBQ @ Wander Brewing
Big Stick Barbecue @ Stemma Brewery
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Calcutta by Simmering Tava @ K2
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
Nana J’s @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
New Public Vegan @ Evil Bikes (700 Harris Ave)
Outpost Eats @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Sammies Vegan @ Bellingham Farmers Mkt.
Tam Tam Pizza @ Bellingham Farmers Mkt.
Tam Tam Pizza @ Dockside Mkt.
Tam Tam Pizza @ Lost Giants Cider Co.
Tezpoteco Taco @ Stemma Brewery
The Galley @ Ponderosa Beer + Books

Sunday Food Trucks
Back East BBQ @ Wander Brewing
Big Stick Barbecue @ Stemma Brewery
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Calcutta by Simmering Tava @ K2
Dumpling Girls @ Goods Local Brews
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
Greektown @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
Nana J’s @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
New Public Vegan @ Evil Bikes (700 Harris Ave)
Outpost Eats @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Tam Tam Pizza @ Lost Giants Cider Co.
Tezpoteco Taco @ Stemma Brewery

Because it’s fun to be a lookie-loo

Crash an Open House

51 North Point Drive (Open Fri, Sat 2-4 PM)
This home is gorgeous. The cluster of rooflines at differing elevations reminds me of a patch of saprotrophic mushrooms growing out of a stump. 🍄 Plus, the colors and surfaces, inside and out, are rich and luxurious. Love it! Listing.

6260 Rutsatz Road (Open Sun 1-3 PM)
This is a simple daylight rancher with a two-car garage, but look at the property and location! Ten-plus acres of well-tended blueberries abutting the middle fork of the Nooksack River. And Rutsatz Road is off the beaten track, so this little slice of paradise is tucked away. 🙂 Listing.

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Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

THEATRE - DANCE - FILM

Bellingham High School:
Footloose the Musical | Fri, Sat 7 PM; Sat, Sun 2 PM

Ferndale High School:
The Hunchback of Notre Dame | Fri, Sat 7 PM

iDiOM Theater:
Exit the King | Fri, Sat 7:30 PM

Lynden High School:
Hello Dolly | Fri, Sat 7 PM, Sun 3 PM

Squalicum High School:
Gretel! The Musical | Fri 7 PM

Unsubdued Theatre Collective @ Lairmont Manor:
Seven Senses: A Feast | Sat 5:30 & 7:30 PM

Unsubdued Theatre Collective @ Wink Wink:
The Time of Cherries | Thurs, Fri, Sat 7:30 PM

WWU Performing Arts Center Concert Hall:
No Man’s Land Film Festival | Fri 5:30 & 9 PM

COMEDY

Larrabee Lager Co.:
Laughs at Larrabee | Fri 8 PM

The Upfront Theatre:
Cupid’s Arrow | Fri 7:30 PM
Fifty Shades of Velvet | Fri 9:30 PM
Cupid’s Arrow | Sat 7:30 PM
Punch Line | Sat 9:30 PM

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Line Dancing : Country Night @ Bar 211 | Fri 8 PM
Party : Promiscuous @ Wild Buffalo | Sat 9 PM
Party : Corinthian Yacht Club Winter Dance @ Elks Lodge | Sat 7 PM
Line Dancing : Wild Woman Week @ Kulshan Brewing | Sat 5 PM
Salsa : The Salsa Collective @ The Majestic Ballroom | Sun 5:30 PM

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

Friday Games & Trivia
None Scheduled

Saturday Games & Trivia
None Scheduled

Sunday Games & Trivia
Bingo @ Paws For A Beer | 3 PM
Trivia Night @ Stemma Brewing Co. | 5:30 PM

Hakuna matata

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Have a great Weekend!!