The Hamster Wheel
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🐹 Plunge & Wassail ❄️❄️

🐹 Plunge & Wassail ❄️❄️

December 30, 2024

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

We made it folks… another year in the books! 🥳 We’re excited to see what this next loop around the sun will bring. Happy nearly New Year!!

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Val & Evan

In today’s Hamster Wheel:

Wassailing
Polar Bear Plunge
Food & Drink
Music & Nightlife

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Juvenile Fishing Pond in Whatcom Falls Park - 📷 by Phil Terzian.

Short Eared Owl (Asio flammeus), Edison WA - 📷 by Eduard Schwan.

Streetlights and Fog - 📷 by Richard Marcus.

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

Weather Forecast

Monday: 47°F 🌡️ 36°F | 🌧️ Light Rain | 🌧️ 70% | 💨 S 7 mph

Tuesday: 46°F 🌡️ 38°F | 🌧️ Light Rain | 🌧️ 60% | 💨 E 2 to 7 mph

Bellingham Bay Tides

Day	Time	H/L	FT
Mon	6:34 AM	H	9.29
Mon	11:00 AM	L	7.58
Mon	2:14 PM	H	8.33
Mon	10:46 PM	L	-1.98
Tue	7:04 AM	H	9.40
Tue	11:39 AM	L	7.47
Tue	2:56 PM	H	8.27
Tue	11:28 PM	L	-2.20

Moon Phases

Weather & Tides from NOAA. Moon data astronomyapi.

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

“Consider us poor wassailers, who travel through the mire”

Earlier this month, we learned about a holiday tradition called wassailing, which originated in late-medieval England. The word wassail comes from the Old English phrase "wes hál," meaning to "be in good health."

In its earliest form, this tradition entailed feudal lords giving gifts to their peasants in exchange for blessings and goodwill. This occurred on the last night of the Twelve Days of Christmas, known as Epiphany Eve.

Over time, the wassail morphed into several versions. In one, friends and family would gather and drink spiced ale, wine, or cider from a large communal drinking bowl while singing to their collective good health. In another, poorer families would carry an empty bowl to a landowner's home and sing a wassail song to request that it be filled with money, food, or ale.

“Good master and good mistress, as you sit by the fire,
Consider us poor wassailers, who travel through the mire.
Good master and good mistress, if you will be but willing
Come send us out your eldest son with a sixpence or a shilling.”

In rural England, the wassail took on another flavor entirely. Farmers and ranchers would gather with spiced cider or ale, and wassail (sing and bang pots and pans) to their animals, gardens, and orchards. They hoped these blessings would ward off bad luck and bring prosperity to their farm.

We hosted a gathering of dear friends over the weekend and brewed up a pot of mulled wine in honor of this tradition. The company was delightful, the food was filling, and the wassail? …well …we will try a recipe with less brandy next year. 🥴

Start the New Year With a Frigid Plunge

Yes it’s a tradition. I don’t know why it’s a tradition. It seems crazy to me that it’s a tradition. And, yes we’re doing it this year. 🤦‍♂️

You have two nearby options for polar bear plunges:

The City of Bellingham is holding a Padden Polar Dip & Resolution Run/Walk on the first (Jan 1) at 11 AM. “Kick the New Year off on the right foot with a stroll or jog around beautiful and serene Lake Padden. Then get ready to take the plunge into the chilly and invigorating lake with all the other hearty souls.” Details.
Birch Bay is holding its 42nd Annual Polar Bear Plunge at noon the same day (Jan 1). This event is at the Birch Bay Beach Park located at 7930 Birch Bay Drive, and will include games, live music, the plunge, and swag for sale. Get in, get out, drink hot cocoa! Details.

In other news…

📰 Local Read!! “Chum salmon are swimming as far as Interstate 5 for the first time in over a century.” 🐟️🐟️ Earlier this month, the Salish Current published an excellent article by Jacob O’Donnell, a recent graduate from the Western, that details how daylighting Padden Creek has impacted salmon’s access to spawning grounds upstream from I-5.

The article The salmon come home after home is restored, is a great read and the topic hits close to home for me. I grew up on the southside and spent almost every summer day tromping up and down that streambed on one childhood adventure or another. It’s wonderful to hear that restorations have had an impact on the long-crippled chum run. Be sure to give it a read.

🚒 Ragfinery, one of our favorite nonprofit businesses in Bellingham, posted yesterday that their downtown location was impacted by a fire early Sunday morning.

“No one was hurt thank goodness! [..] We appreciate everyone’s support so much in this difficult time!” They are accepting donations to assist with fire recovery.

Ragfinery opened in April 2014 as part of ReUse Works which included the now closed Appliance Depot. The Forest Street location has been a source for secondhand garments, fabric, and upcycled goods, and a home to “grow a culture of creative textile reuse through education, entrepreneurial opportunities, and job training.”

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Monday Food Trucks
A Que Tacos @ Goods Local Brews
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
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
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
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

7605 Birch Bay Drive UNIT A, Blaine
If you’re going to live in Birch Bay, this is the way to do it!! Walk straight off the back deck and onto the beach. 😍 Plus, this one is big enough for a family, with three bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Very tempting indeed. Listing.

317 N State Street UNIT 104
I’ve always thought the Cliffhouse Condominium building would be the ultimate condo spot in Bellingham, but I’ve never seen the interior of any of the units. Seeing the pics in this listing confirms my feelings. Check this beauty out. Listing.

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE THEATRE & EVENT

48 Hour Theater Festival :
iDiOM Theater | Fri, Sat 7 PM; Fri, Sat 9 PM

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Salsa : The Salsa Collective @ The Majestic Ballroom | Sun 5:30 PM Details.
Tango : Tango Practica @ The Majestic Ballroom | Wed 6:30 PM.
Tango : Tango Milonga @ The Majestic Ballroom | Sat 6 PM.
Jazz : Trad Jazz Society Dance @ VFW Hall | Sat 2 PM Details.
Party : NYE Dance Party @ Uisce Irish Pub | Tue 9 PM Details.
Party : NYE Dance Party @ The Thirsty Badger | Tue 8 PM Details.

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

Monday Music
Bella Ciao | Open Mic | 7 PM
Greens Corner | Irish Music Session Celtic | 6 PM

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!!