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🐹 St. Patrick Forever! 🍀🍀

🐹 St. Patrick Forever! 🍀🍀

March 14, 2025

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

Rain’s in the forecast this St. Patrick’s Day weekend, but don’t let it dampen your spirits—just picture yourself on a misty Irish dale. 😆 Dodge those puddles and raise a pint. 🍀

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Val & Evan

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Mushroom at Lake Padden - 📷 by Karen Allen

Friendly Squirrel - 📷 by Eduard Schwan

Sunbow at Taylor Dock - 📷 by David L.

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

Live at the Mount Baker Theatre

Dragons & Mythical Beasts

Sunday, March 16

Calling all brave heroes! Unveil a myriad of dark secrets and come face to face with some of the most magnificent monsters and terrifying beasts ever to walk the earth. Discover the colossal Stone Troll, the mysterious Indrik, the dream-eating Baku, the Tooth Fairy (not as sweet as you’d think), an adorable Unicorn, and a majestic Griffin.

From the creators of the international smash hit Dinosaur World Live, who bring spectacular puppets to life, this award-winning show is back in the U.S. by popular demand, direct from London’s West End. Don’t miss this spell-binding adventure live on MBT’s historic Main Stage!

Weather Forecast

Friday: 51°F 🌡️ 39°F | 🌧️ Light Rain | 🌧️ 90% | 💨 E 8 mph

Saturday: 49°F 🌡️ 40°F | 🌧️ Light Rain | 🌧️ 100% | 💨 SSE 8 to 13 mph

Sunday: 50°F 🌡️ 37°F | ⛈️ Showers And Thunderstorms | 🌧️ 90% | 💨 S 9 to 13 mph

Bellingham Bay Tides

Day	Time	H/L	FT
Fri	6:30 AM	H	8.36
Fri	12:31 PM	L	3.06
Fri	6:15 PM	H	7.07
Sat	12:22 AM	L	1.97
Sat	6:43 AM	H	8.25
Sat	1:01 PM	L	2.29
Sat	7:03 PM	H	7.06
Sun	12:56 AM	L	2.79
Sun	6:57 AM	H	8.17
Sun	1:33 PM	L	1.58
Sun	7:53 PM	H	7.06

Moon Phases

Weather & Tides from NOAA. Moon data astronomyapi.

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Orcas Visit B’ham Bay

In the late afternoon on Tuesday, Southern Resident Orca J-Pod members took a detour on their travels through the Salish Sea and were viewed swimming through Bellingham Bay. Hamster Wheel reader Kim Wiley send us this beautiful photo 👇️ of three members of J-Pod in the I&J Waterway on the southeast side of Bellwether Way.

I couldn’t track down any details about which whales made it into the port facilities, but the Orca Conservancy posted that the J-Pod has since crossed the Puget Sound and is now in the Haro Strait. We’d love to see more photos if you were by the water on Tuesday! 🐳

A Weekend+ of St. Patrick’s Day Festivities

There’s lots to do this weekend if you’re looking for St. Patrick’s Day activities. 🍀 The options below all include Celtic music or community activities, but I’m sure you can find a green beer or a guy in a leprechaun hat at your local pub. 😉

Saturday:

Runnin’ O’ the Green: A 5k and 8k race starts at 10 AM at West Laurel and Cornwall Ave, ending at Boundary Bay Brewery with awards. Details.

Sunday:

St. Patrick’s Day Brunch at Hotel Leo: An Irish-inspired brunch with live music and drinks from 8 AM to noon. Details.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade: Begins at noon at Laurel Street, winding through downtown Bellingham to Depot Market Square. Details.

Monday;

Boundary Bay Brewery: Live music starts at 11 AM with: The Devillies, Lindsey Street, and Harper Stone. Penk O’Donnell Irish dancers will perform in the taproom.
Stones Throw Brewing: A free event from 3 to 8 PM with an Irish Red Ale beer release, a Celtic Jam Session, and live music by Flattery.

In other news…

🦅 This weekend the Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival returns to Blaine, Birch Bay, and Semiahmoo, offering birding enthusiasts a packed schedule of events. Highlights include guided field trips like the Reifel Bird Sanctuary bus tour and Semiahmoo Spit walk on Friday, a Saturday Birding Expo with live raptor presentations, and a Sunday Birding Breakfast. Register for many free, unlimited-capacity events like kids’ activities, keynote speaker Lyanda Lynn Haupt’s presentation, and ticketed options.

🏃‍♀️ The 31st Chuckanut 50k ultra race kicks off Saturday (March 15), at Fairhaven Park, with registration now full at 750 runners!! The day starts with a 7 AM. early start, followed by the 8 AM mass start on the smooth Interurban Trail bookending 30k of technical terrain with a 5,000-foot climb over Chuckanut Mountain Ridge.

Kids’ half-mile loops run from 10 to 10:30 AM. Hamster Wheel reader Sandi Heinrich of Epic Celebrations will host a photo booth, adding to the finish line festivities with food trucks and sponsor tents from noon to 4:30 PM. Come cheer the runners on!

✉️ This Sunday (March 16), To Whom It May Concern is at New Prospect Theatre, where locals read real, received, or imagined letters on stage, accompanied by a live musician. The event features everything from heartfelt correspondence to improvised pieces based on audience prompts, all paired with local craft beer and wine. Launched in 2013 by producer Jayne Entwistle, the show has grown from a one-off experiment into a beloved series with over 30 archived performances. Get tickets. Can’t make it? Tune in Sundays at 8:30 PM on KMRE 88.3 FM or subscribe to the podcast.

🚶‍♂️ Join Walk & Roll Bellingham for the inaugural Slow Stroll on Saturday (March 15), at 3 p.m., starting at Elizabeth Park’s southeast corner (Elizabeth St. and Madison St.). This 2.2-mile walk explores a practical route from the Columbia neighborhood to downtown via the Old Village Trail, ending with a loop through Maritime Heritage Park’s Salmon Art Trail before returning. Expect stairs and slopes, so wear comfy shoes and weather-ready gear.

Bellingham Dockside Market

Seafood From The Salish Sea

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

SHOP DOCKSIDE

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

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

Crab Bellingham
Frozen-at-sea whole albacore tuna (F/V Connie H), 💙(Fresh) Taylor Shellfish clams and mussels, Lummi Island Sea Greens dried sugar kelp, San Juan Island Sea Salt

Icy Fresh Seafood
IQF side stripe shrimp whole and tails, IQF coonstripe shrimp tails, Frozen spot shrimp tails, 5lb bag mixed shrimp

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

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

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

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

LUNCH AT DOCKSIDE

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

Tam Tam Pizza
Bellingham’s own Tam Tam Pizza will be at Dockside this Saturday, serving Salmon with Garlic-y Greens pizza, Pepperoni pizza, and Cheese pizza. You can also find Tam Tam Pizza at Fringe Brewing on Tuesdays and at Lost Giants Cider Company from Thursday-Sunday.

It's the Sweet Things
Bellingham’s own It's the Sweet Things will serve Smoked Salmon Pastries, Dungeness Crab Pastries, Almond or Chocolate croissants, Marionberry Crumbles, Raspberry Almond Pound Cake, Smoked Salmon Artichoke Spread, Baguettes, Cookies, and Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars.

Food & Drinks

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Sunday
Annual St. Patrick’s Day Brunch

Start your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations with a festive meal at our Annual St. Patrick’s Day Brunch this Sunday, March 16, from 8 AM to 12 PM at Hotel Leo. Enjoy a delicious Irish-inspired menu, live music, and festive drinks before heading to the Bellingham St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Reservations are filling up fast—book your table today! 🍀🥂

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
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
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
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

3900 E Smith Road (Open Sun 12-2 PM)
Dream of owning a hobby farm? Fish the Nooksack from your backyard? This one is 25 acres with 1500 feet of riverfront and only a few minutes drive out of town. It has a barn, shop, and an orchard. This one checks all the boxes for us. Listing.

1005 15th Street (Open Sat 12-2 PM)
Victorian-style homes aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I adore them. They can be over the top, but this one is lovely. Built in 1890, it has a craftsman interior, views across Bellingham Bay, and a whopping 4000 square feet of living space. And, that spot on South Hill is sweet!! 😁 Listing.

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Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

THEATRE - DANCE - FILM

BAAY Theatre:
Beetlejuice Jr. | Fri, Sat 7 PM; Sat, Sun 2 PM

BAAY Theatre:
Snoring Beauty | Sat, Sun 11 AM

iDiOM Theater:
Serial Killers | Sat 7 & 9 PM

Mount Baker Theatre:
Dragons & Mythical Beasts | Sun 3 PM

The Claire:
Lion King Youth Production | Fri, Sat 7 PM; Fri, Sat, Sun2 PM

COMEDY

The Upfront Theatre:
IMPROV the Musical | Fri 7:30 PM
March Madness | Fri 9:30 PM
IMPROV the Musical | Sat 7:30 PM
March Madness | Sat 9:30 PM

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Line Dancing : Country Night @ Bar 211 | Fri 8 PM
Party : St Pat's House @ Wild Buffalo | Sat 8:30 PM
Party : Digital Kiss @ Blue Room | Sat 11 PM
Party : Bad Bunny Party @ Bar 211 | Sat 10 PM
Silent Disco : Sunset Silent Disco @ Zuanich Point Park | Sat 6:30 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!!