🐹 Breezy's Gold 🥇⛷️🥇

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

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

Or, hit reply to send me photos via email. 📧

A lot has changed about Bellingham in the last few decades, some good, some challenging. One change that feels unequivocally positive, at least to me, is the more equitable distribution of parks and maintained woodlands across our various neighborhoods.

Thirty years ago, there was a lopsided focus on south-side projects. Whereas today, places like the renewed Little Squalicum Beach, the Squalicum Pier, Cordata Park, Julianna Park, and others have become part of the fabric of north-end life. It’s easy to forget these are all newer green spaces!

This week adds another name to that list. Storybrook Park has opened in the Birchwood neighborhood, transforming seven acres of underutilized woodland formerly known as Maplewood/McLeod Park into a fully realized neighborhood park, with a nature-themed playground shaped by input from Birchwood Elementary students, improved and accessible trails, lighting, benches, and picnic tables.

There is also a new public art installation, Stand in Reflection, 👆 featuring “a gathering of slender cedar poles that invites visitors into a space where nature’s beauty and human presence blend.”

The park officially opened on February 6, with a community ribbon cutting scheduled for 2:45 this Friday afternoon at the Maplewood Avenue entrance. It would be a great chance to check out the park, but try to carpool. Parking is tricky! 😬

How cool is this! 🥇 Western alum Breezy Johnson captured her first Olympic gold medal over the weekend in Cortina d’Ampezzo, winning the women’s downhill. She also placed fourth in the Olympic team combined event alongside longtime friend Mikaela Shiffrin, and is set to race again in the Super-G later this week.

Western News has a lovely spotlight on Johnson that is worth a read. It traces the injuries and setbacks she overcame on the road to the 2026 Winter Games, and includes a sweet video of her reflecting on the balancing act of competing at the highest level while finishing her degree.

CIVIC CORNER

Wednesday
Ferndale City Council, 8:00 pm, City Hall
Bellingham Parks and Rec. Advisory Board, 7:30 pm, Pacific Street Operations Center

Friday
Storybrook Park Ribbon Cutting, 2:45 pm, Storybrook Park

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Wednesday
Stream Team: Help Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) maintain older sites that need love. Meet at NSEA’s campus by 8 am and your group leader will shuttle everyone to the site. You can expect to be back to NSEA at 12 pm. Register.

Saturday
Julianna Park: Join Bellingham Parks & Rec, and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association in removing invasive species, planting native trees, and sprucing up one of Bellingham’s newest parks. Register to participate.
Locust Beach: Join RE Sources at Locust Beach to help ensure our beaches are clean and pollution stays out of Bellingham Bay! Impress your bae (or your friends) by showing them you care about protecting our local waters! Cleanup supplies and snacks from the Bagelry will be provided. Register to participate.

Valentine’s Dance, Revolution Fusion (Thurs 7-10 pm)
Lesson (7-8pm): Closed Embrace Blues with Lizsea! This week will be a continuation of Lizsea's monthy Traditional Blues class.

Rom Com Trivia, Aslan Depot (Thurs 6-8 pm)
A free trivia night from 6 to 8 pm centered on romantic comedies, with teams of four or fewer, and first-place prizes.

Valentine’s Triva, Horseshoe Cafe (Thurs 6:30-8:30 pm)
Kick off Valentine’s weekend in the Ranch Room with a night that’s equal parts playful, competitive, and unapologetically fun.

Valentine’s Charcuterie Workshop, Beach Cat North Paw (Wed 6-7:30 pm)
A hands-on Aloha Board workshop, where each ticket includes a build-your-own board to take home, a premium charcuterie kit with local cheeses and accompaniments, an aloha charcuterie boat, one included drink, and a personalized gift. Tickets.

Rom Com Trivia, Lost Giants Cider Company (Wed 6 pm)
A special Valentine’s Edition Rom Com Trivia night, with a $2 buy-in per person, teams of up to six, winner-takes-all prizes, and raffle giveaways.

Valentine’s Paint & Sip, Lighthouse Pub (Wed 4-6 pm)
A glass of wine, finger foods, while creating a Valentine’s-themed painting designed by Paint For Joy.

WWU Performing Arts Center
Fresh Plays From The Cascades (theater) | Thurs-Sat

Bellingham Theatre Guild
American Son (theater) | Thurs-Sun

Bellingham Circus Guild
My Circus Valentine (circus) | Thurs-Sat

The Claire
The Nerd (theater) | Fri-Sun

iDiOM Theater
Serial Killers (theater) | Sat

Mount Baker Theatre
Nick Offerman (comedy) | Sat

Bellingham Circus Guild
Vaudevillingham (circus) | Sun

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Flow Fusion - Karate Church - Thurs 7 pm
Hip Hop, House, Shuffle - Lost Giants Cider - Fri 6 pm
Dance Fusion - BSAC - Sat 10:30 am
Contra - Fairhaven Library - Sat 7 pm
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 4:30 pm
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Belly Dance - Karate Church - 1 pm

An Evening with Sparrow Smith and the Resonant Rogues comes to the New Prospect Theatre on Thursday, February 12, from 8 to 10 pm, featuring the Appalachian-rooted songwriting and multi-instrumental work of Sparrow Smith with longtime collaborators. The night opens with Matt Heckler, a Catskills-based fiddler and songwriter whose songs draw from folk traditions around the world, setting the stage for an intimate evening of roots music and storytelling.

The Whatcom County Historical Society presents an evening focused on Mariella of Out-West at the Roeder Home on Thursday at 7:30 pm, featuring a talk by WCHS member Dr. Laura Laffrado. The program explores Bellingham author Ella Higginson’s 1902 novel, recently reissued by Chuckanut Editions, with discussion of its early twentieth-century Whatcom setting, literary reception, and the backlash it sparked at home. This free public program takes place at the Roeder Home with seating available for up to 50 attendees.

Cat Valley, Biblioteka, and Old Town Scouts bring three distinct flavors of underground rock to The Shakedown tonight, February 11, at 8 pm. Bellingham’s Cat Valley mixes garage punk energy with reverb-soaked guitars and layered vocals rooted in Pacific Northwest DIY rock, while Seattle’s Biblioteka delivers a blend of punk, grunge, and garage rock fronted by vocalist and bassist Mary Robins. Rounding out the night, Old Town Scouts offer indie-tinged rock from the gritty streets of Bellingham.

Bellingham Backcountry Women’s Meetup, Kulshan Sunnyland Taproom – A free gathering for women backcountry users from 6 to 8 pm, featuring a short talk on injury prevention and cross-training by DPT Ursula Casey followed by casual conversation, trip planning, gear talk, and community connection.

Fletcher Jordan: WA State Top 200 Peaks, Backcountry Essentials – A talk at 7:30 pm with accomplished mountaineer Fletcher Jordan, who will share stories and insights from completing Washington’s Top 200 Peaks by prominence, including demanding climbs across the Cascades and the varied terrain the list reveals.

Wednesday Music & Trivia →

Jim Page and Steeplechase, The Orion – Part of the Winter Starlight Series, this evening brings longtime folk songwriter Jim Page and traditional roots ensemble Steeplechase to the Odd Fellows Temple Room, with music starting at 7 pm.

Thursday Music & Trivia →

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